June 5, 2014

Delaware River Report / Conditions June 5, 2014

We had some more rain this morning.  The Mainstem and Lower East Branch both have some color but the West Branch looks good.  Most of the color seems to be coming off the Beaverkill / Willowemoc.  The color seemed to get the fish interested in streamers in some areas which was a nice change of pace.  The fish seemed interested in feeding on top in both the clear water and the dirty water to a mix of March Browns, Gray Fox, Green Drakes, Sulphurs, and tan Caddis.

Dick with a Mainstem brown yesterday. Photo by Bruce Miller

Hatching:

March Brown #10 – 2xl  – S. Vicarium

Gray Fox # 12-2xl – S. Vicarium (formerly fuscum)

Sulphurs #16 -18 E. dorothea

Light Cahill #14 – E. Invaria

Pale Evening Dun #14 Epeorus vitreus

Green Drake #8-2xl E. Guttalata

Tan Caddis #16 – 18- Hydrosyche sp.

Charcoal Caddis #16-18 – Dk Brachycentrus sp.

June 4, 2014

Delaware River Report / Conditions June 4, 2014

Looking at the USGS graphs this morning it seems most of the thunderstorms found the Beaverkill and missed us here on the West Branch.  There are reports the Beaverkill is off color.  Walton received some water and is dropping from 568 cfs this morning- Cannonsville is currently at 98.6% so I don’t expect any spill from these storms.  The flow at Hale Eddy is bouncing around form periods of rain but doesn’t seem significant.  Today looks like another warm and sunny day with some clouds coming in during the evening.  Fish should be working in the shaded areas.  Grey Fox, March Browns, Green Drakes, and tan caddis have all worked well.  We are also just beginning to see a few Brown Drakes and some of the large, early Isonychias.

Young found success with a March Brown Spinner last night  photo by Steve Shen

Hatching:

March Brown #10 – 2xl  – S. Vicarium

Gray Fox # 12-2xl – S. Vicarium (formerly fuscum)

Sulphurs #16 -18 E. dorothea

Light Cahill #14 – E. Invaria

Pale Evening Dun #14 Epeorus vitreus

Green Drake #8-2xl E. Guttalata

Tan Caddis #16 – 18- Hydrosyche sp.

Charcoal Caddis #16-18 – Dk Brachycentrus sp.

June 3, 2014

Delaware River Report / Conditions June 3, 2014

The bright sun during the day hurt the rising activity again.  There were some fish eating caddis and the occasional March Brown/Gray Fox during the day but nymphing was definitely more productive.  We had a few clouds roll in and out but not enough to make a huge difference.  There were a lot of bugs on the water at dark, pretty much any kind you could think of.  The trick became figuring out which one they were eating.  Today looks warm, humid, with a few thunderstorms mixed in which should help the fishing.

Dead Spinners on the West Branch

Hatching:

March Brown #10 – 2xl  – S. Vicarium

Gray Fox # 12-2xl – S. Vicarium (formerly fuscum)

Sulphurs #16 -18 E. dorothea

Green Drake #8-2xl E. Guttalata

Tan Caddis #16 – 18- Hydrosyche sp.

Charcoal Caddis #16-18 – Dk Brachycentrus sp.

June 2, 2014

Delaware River Report / Conditions June 2, 2014

The bright sun has made the mid day dryfly fishing sporadic.  There have been some fish working but you need to be patient and cover them well on the first shot.  Nymphing has been decent throughout the day in the riffles.  The evenings have been fishing well once the sun drops enough to put some shade on the water.  Look for a mix of March Browns, Gray Fox, Tan Caddis, Sulphurs, and maybe a few Green Drakes.  We were in jackets last night and the temp dropped but today is going to feel like Summer.

Brown Drakes should offer some fishing soon!

Hatching:

March Brown #10 – 2xl  – S. Vicarium

Gray Fox # 12-2xl – S. Vicarium (formerly fuscum)

Sulphurs #16 -18 E. dorothea

Green Drake #8-2xl E. Guttalata

Tan Caddis #16 – 18- Hydrosyche sp.

Charcoal Caddis #16-18 – Dk Brachycentrus sp.

June 1, 2014

Delaware River Report / Conditions June 1, 2014

June 1st and we’re wearing fleece this morning.  That’s great news for the water temps.  The daytime highs are going to start climbing and it will feel like Summer soon enough.  Stilesville dropped again which is not ideal for sunny days- the water will warm quicker now until we get rain or the release is increased.  Nymphing will be the best option during the day in the sunshine.  Look for risers in the shade and then the top water action should pick up as the sun drops.  We’ve had okay action on caddis during the day in some pools and a mix of Gray Fox, March Browns, and Stenos in the evening.  As of 8 am this morning the release line has not been updated.  The way I interpret the FFMP we should have 500 cfs coming out of Cannonsville.

Ian with a nice one. Photo by Steve Shen

Hatching:

March Brown #10 – 2xl  – S. Vicarium

Gray Fox # 12-2xl – S. Vicarium (formerly fuscum)

Sulphurs #16 -18 E. dorothea

Small Dark Hendrickson #16 – E. X

Green Drake #8-2xl E. Guttalata

Tan Caddis #16 – 18- Hydrosyche sp.

Charcoal Caddis #16-18 – Dk Brachycentrus sp.

May 31, 2014

Delaware River Report / Conditions May 31, 2014

The current release from Cannonsville has been dropped to 401 cfs.  The temperatures seem to be holding but all the rivers are low- perfect for wading.  Today looks sunny and warm with some rain and clouds rolling in this evening.  The have been some Sulphurs and Green Drakes but the majority of the hatching is still March Browns, Gray Fox, and caddis.  Crazy year- we still have small Hendricksons on the West Branch.  If the sun is bright today look for caddis in the riffles during the day and hopefully a spinner fall tonight.

Hatching:

March Brown #10 – 2xl  – S. Vicarium

Gray Fox # 12-2xl – S. Vicarium (formerly fuscum)

Sulphurs #16 -18 E. dorothea

Small Dark Hendrickson #16 – E. X

Green Drake #8-2xl E. Guttalata

Tan Caddis #16 – 18- Hydrosyche sp.

Charcoal Caddis #16-18 – Dk Brachycentrus sp.

May 30, 2014

Delaware River Report / Conditions May 30, 2014

Yesterday was spinner day.  There were enough spinners on the water for an hour or two that your biggest problem was getting the fish to eat your fly.  Too many bugs sounds good.  We mostly ran into small Hendricksons, some March Browns, Gray Fox, and a few sulphurs in areas.  The rusty spinner imitating the Hendrickson spinner was the key.  The release from Cannonsville is 528 cfs.  The entire system is wadeable.  We should be in the 70’s today with some mild winds and some sun- if you believe the weatherman.

Hatching:

March Brown #10 – 2xl  – S. Vicarium

Gray Fox # 12-2xl – S. Vicarium (formerly fuscum)

Small Dark Hendrickson #16 – E. X

Dark Hendrickson #14 – E. Subvaria

Charcoal Caddis #16-18 – Dk Brachycentrus sp.

Blue Winged Olives #16 – 18 – Baetis vagans

May 27, 2014

Delaware River Report / Conditions May 27, 2014

Well it took a while but the system is in great shape and good for both wading and floating.  The temperatures dropped on the West Branch over night due to the decease in the amount of warm spill and the cold release of 525 cfs.  We are still seeing Hendricksons on the West Branch and the beginning of the March Browns.  The East Branch and Mainstem have March Browns and the fish are eating them.  The hatch should continue to improve throughout the week.  If you go down far enough there have been some sightings of a few Green Drakes.  The sun has hurt the mid day activity but the evenings have been fishing great.  Definitely have your spinner box full.

Photo by Jordan Davenport

Hatching:

March Brown #10 – 2xl  – S. Vicarium

Gray Fox # 12-2xl – S. Vicarium (formerly fuscum)

Small Dark Hendrickson #16 – E. X

Light Hendrickson #12 – E. subvaria

Dark Hendrickson #14 – E. Subvaria

Apple Caddis #16 – Lt Brachycentrus sp.

Charcoal Caddis #16-18 – Dk Brachycentrus sp.

Blue Winged Olives #16 – 18 – Baetis vagans

Little Black Caddis #18-20 – Chimarra sp.

May 25, 2014

Delaware River Report / Conditions May 25, 2014

Just about all of the rain missed us and the rivers are finally dropping back.  The WB is almost wadeable but the best wading access is still the Beaverkill and Willowemoc.  We should be in great shape over the next couple of days with warmer temps and a few clouds mixed in.  Of course the weatherman was incorrect on the winds yesterday and it did blow for a while making the fishing tougher.  In between gusts we found fish rising to #16 Hendricksons and then spinners at dark.  There were some March Browns on the WB yesterday but I didn’t see any fish recognize them as food yet.  The EB and MS are better options for the big bugs but that should change over the next few days as the hatch grows and fish begin to realize there’s a big meal floating by.

Dave with a great WB brown. Photo by Steve Shen

Beth with a nice fish yesterday. Photo by Steve Shen

Hatching:

March Brown #10 – 2xl  – S. Vicarium

Gray Fox # 12-2xl – S. Vicarium (formerly fuscum)

Small Dark Hendrickson #16 – E. X

Light Hendrickson #12 – E. subvaria

Dark Hendrickson #14 – E. Subvaria

Apple Caddis #16 – Lt Brachycentrus sp.

Charcoal Caddis #16-18 – Dk Brachycentrus sp.

Blue Winged Olives #16 – 18 – Baetis vagans

Little Black Caddis #18-20 – Chimarra sp.

May 24, 2014

Delaware River Report / Conditions May 24, 2014

Hatching seemed a little slower yesterday during the day but the streamer bite was decent while we had cloud cover.  There were some Gray Fox and March Browns on sections of the system with fish eating them.  As a bonus the weatherman was wrong on the wind predictions and we never had to deal with the 26 mph gusts.  It turned on at dark.  Today looks decent with some cloud cover and light winds, maybe a brief thunderstorm or two rolling through.  On the West Branch make sure you have #16 Hendrickson duns and spinners.  Caddis have been coming off all over the system offering some daytime fishing.

Roger with a nice fish this week. Photo by Bruce Miller

Hatching:

March Brown #10 – 2xl  – S. Vicarium

Gray Fox # 12-2xl – S. Vicarium (formerly fuscum)

Small Dark Hendrickson #16 – E. X

Light Hendrickson #12 – E. subvaria

Dark Hendrickson #14 – E. Subvaria

Apple Caddis #16 – Lt Brachycentrus sp.

Charcoal Caddis #16-18 – Dk Brachycentrus sp.

Blue Winged Olives #16 – 18 – Baetis vagans

Little Black Caddis #18-20 – Chimarra sp.

May 23, 2014

Delaware River Report / Conditions May 23, 2014

Luckily most of the heavy storms missed us yesterday.  We even had bright sun mid- day that slowed the fishing down for a while.  Later in the afternoon we had a very brief heavy shower that seemed to kick start the fishing on the West Branch and Mainstem.  Most fish were landed on Hendrickson and Hendrickson spinners with a few caddis mixed in for good measure.  Some people are beginning to see Gray Fox and March Browns eaten on the Mainstem.  We have sighted a few of the big bugs on the West Branch so it won’t be long now.  Today looks a little cooler, light rain, and some wind gusts that disappear by primetime (if you believe Accuweather is accurate).

Dave looking happy yesterday. Photo by Steve Shen

Hatching:

March Brown #10 – 2xl  – S. Vicarium

Gray Fox # 12-2xl – S. Vicarium (formerly fuscum)

Small Dark Hendrickson #16 – E. X

Light Hendrickson #12 – E. subvaria

Dark Hendrickson #14 – E. Subvaria

Apple Caddis #16 – Lt Brachycentrus sp.

Charcoal Caddis #16-18 – Dk Brachycentrus sp.

Blue Winged Olives #16 – 18 – Baetis vagans

Little Black Caddis #18-20 – Chimarra sp.

May 22, 2014

Delaware River Report / Conditions May 22, 2014

A big brown and a big cigar. Boris knows how to live! Photo by Steve Shen

Bob Lewis can fish as well as guide. Photo by Bruce Miller

The rivers fished well yesterday- lots and lots of Hendricksons on the building this morning.  Looks like a great mix of duns and spinners.  The weather held and the fish rose willingly.  Caddis were still everywhere but the fish loved the Hendricksons more.  Today looks like another warm day with some rain mixed in so keep and eye on the flows.  Cannonsville is currently 102.8% capacity.  The system is still dropping as a whole.  The Beaverkill and Willowemoc offer the best wading opportunities right now so we’ll watch what the rain does to us.

Hatching:

March Brown #10 – 2xl  – S. Vicarium

Gray Fox # 12-2xl – S. Vicarium (formerly fuscum)

Small Dark Hendrickson #16 – E. X

Light Hendrickson #12 – E. subvaria

Dark Hendrickson #14 – E. Subvaria

Apple Caddis #16 – Lt Brachycentrus sp.

Charcoal Caddis #16-18 – Dk Brachycentrus sp.

Blue Winged Olives #16 – 18 – Baetis vagans

Little Black Caddis #18-20 – Chimarra sp.