July 4, 2017

Delaware River Report / Conditions July 4, 2017

Happy Fourth of July! Yesterday’s sun made the fish wary. Look in the shaded areas for rising fish and use stealth when approaching them. Blind casting in the riffles and along the seams can produce fish. Check your sub-surface flies often for algae if you’re fishing higher up in the system. Today’s weather looks like a carbon copy of yesterday’s with sun and light winds. We’re seeing the same mix of sulphurs, olives, cahills, and isonychias out there with some hatching earlier in the day.

Hatching:
Slate Drake #12-2xl – 12 – Isonychia bicolor
Sulphur – #16 – 20 – Ephemerella dorothea
Brown Drakes #10-2xl – Ephemera simulans
Light Cahill – #14 – Ephemerella rotunda
Light Cahill – #14 – Ephemerella invaria
Pale Evening Dun / Pink Lady – #14 – Epeorus vitreus
Little BWO – #22 – 26- Pseudocloeon sp.
Light BWO – #14 – Drunella cornuta (previously Ephemerella cornuta)
Blue Wing Olives – #18 – Baetis sp.
Dark Blue Sedge – #14 – Psilotreta spp.
Little Tan Sedge – #16 – 18 – Glossosoma sp.
Green Caddis – #16 – Ryacophilia sp.
Tan Caddis #16 – 18 – Hydropsyche spp.

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

May 2, 2017

Delaware River Report/Conditions May 2, 2017

We got hit by thunderstorms last night. The rivers are not wadeable today. But our guides will be out on the West Branch throwing streamers. We’ll update the blog with the flows once our power comes back on.

November 4, 2016

Tying the East Branch Caddis

Watch more Delaware River Club tying videos here.

September 27, 2016

Delaware River Report / Conditions September 27, 2016

The West Branch is up slightly this morning but is still in good shape for wading and floating.  The release from Cannonsville has been raised slightly to 594 cfs.  We had some light rain overnight but it wasn’t enough to change the flows.  The buildings are covered in small olives this morning which is a good start to Fall.  Along with the olives we’ve been seeing more caddis and #14 isonychias.  If the clouds stick around today we could see some decent fishing in the bigger pools.  Winds will be light under 10 mph all day.  We have light rain in the forecast from Thursday through Saturday night.  If we keep the clouds and light rain going this could be a very good weekend to be on the water.

Hatching:
Slate Drake – 12-2xl- 14- Isonychia bicolor
Sulphur – #16-20 – E. dorothea
Light Cahill – #14 – 16
Tiny Blue Winged Olive – #22 – 26 – Psuedocloeon spp.
Blue Winged Olive – #18 – 20 – E. lata
Light Blue Winged Olive – #16 – 20 E. attenuatta
Tan Caddis – #16 – 20 – Hydropsyche spp.
Dark Brachycentrus sp. – #14 – 18 – Dark Grannom
Little Black Caddis #18 – 20 – Chimarra sp.
Blue Winged Olives #16 – 18 – Baetis vagans (updated name: Baetis tricaudatus)

September 26, 2016

Delaware River Report / Conditions September 26, 2016

The release from Cannonsville is 521 cfs this morning.  The cold nights have really helped the water temperatures on the lower East Branch and Mainstem and everything looks good this morning.  The weather looks great today with clouds, air temperatures in the high 60’s, and some light rain tonight.  Winds will gust around 10 mph.  Isonychias and olives are the main hatches now with a few light cahills still around.  The fall caddis hatches seem to be coming on offering some fishing when the get stuck on the water.

Hatching:
Slate Drake – 12-2xl- 14- Isonychia bicolor
Sulphur – #16-20 – E. dorothea
Light Cahill – #14 – 16
Tiny Blue Winged Olive – #22 – 26 – Psuedocloeon spp.
Blue Winged Olive – #18 – 20 – E. lata
Light Blue Winged Olive – #16 – 20 E. attenuatta
Tan Caddis – #16 – 20 – Hydropsyche spp.
Dark Brachycentrus sp. – #14 – 18 – Dark Grannom
Little Black Caddis #18 – 20 – Chimarra sp.
Blue Winged Olives #16 – 18 – Baetis vagans (updated name: Baetis tricaudatus)

June 10, 2016

Delaware River Report / Conditions June 10, 2016

Another chilly night means the water temperatures continue to stay cool even though the levels are dropping. The air temperatures are starting to rise and we will have some decent wind to contend with this afternoon. The release from Cannonsville remains at 500 cfs so the West Branch and upper Main Stem are both wade and boat friendly. We’re still seeing good numbers of Sulphurs, Isonychia, Stenos and Light Blue Winged Olives.

Geoff with a beautiful brown and a good cigar. Photo by Bob Lewis

Hatching:
Slate Drake – 12-2xl- Isonychia bicolor
Green Drakes – 8-2xl – 10-2xl – E. Guttalata
Brown Drakes – 10-2xl- E. simulans
March Browns – #10-2xl – Maccaffertium vicarium (formerly Stenonema vicarium)
Gray Fox #12-2xl- Maccaffertium vicarium (formerly Stenonema fuscum)
Pink Lady – #14 – Epeorus vitreus
Sulphur – #16-18 – E dorothea
Light Blue Winged Olive – #14 E. cornuta
Tan Caddis – #16 – 20 – Hydropsyche spp.
Dark Brachycentrus sp. – #14 – 18 – Dark Grannom
Little Black Caddis #18 – 20 – Chimarra sp.
Blue Winged Olives #16 – 18 – Baetis vagans (updated name: Baetis tricaudatus)

June 9, 2016

Delaware River Report / Conditions June 9, 2016

We had some rain showers yesterday morning but the heaviest precipitation fell to the south. The rivers are dropping down to the levels we had before Sunday’s rain and are fine for floating or wading. The cool nights have helped to lower the water temperatures throughout the system. The East Branch and Main Stem are finally cooling down. Today looks like a sunnier version of yesterday with strong wind gusts and another cool evening. The hatching remains the same with Sulphurs, Isos, Tan Caddis and Olives.

Jared netted a good looking brown yesterday.

Hatching:
Slate Drake – 12-2xl- Isonychia bicolor
Green Drakes – 8-2xl – 10-2xl – E. Guttalata
Brown Drakes – 10-2xl- E. simulans
March Browns – #10-2xl – Maccaffertium vicarium (formerly Stenonema vicarium)
Gray Fox #12-2xl- Maccaffertium vicarium (formerly Stenonema fuscum)
Pink Lady – #14 – Epeorus vitreus
Sulphur – #16-18 – E dorothea
Light Blue Winged Olive – #14 E. cornuta
Tan Caddis – #16 – 20 – Hydropsyche spp.
Dark Brachycentrus sp. – #14 – 18 – Dark Grannom
Little Black Caddis #18 – 20 – Chimarra sp.
Blue Winged Olives #16 – 18 – Baetis vagans (updated name: Baetis tricaudatus)

June 8, 2016

Delaware River Report / Conditions June 8, 2016

The thunderstorms yesterday mostly hit the West Branch. Luckily they were brief, the river did not get muddy and is up only a small amount. The cool night has the water temperatures starting off a little lower today. These next few days of milder air temperatures and lows in the 40’s will help the system stay fishable. Sulphurs, Isonychia, Light Blue Winged Olives and tan caddis were the most common hatches.

Bob with a nice rainbow.

Hatching:
Slate Drake – 12-2xl- Isonychia bicolor
Green Drakes – 8-2xl – 10-2xl – E. Guttalata
Brown Drakes – 10-2xl- E. simulans
March Browns – #10-2xl – Maccaffertium vicarium (formerly Stenonema vicarium)
Gray Fox #12-2xl- Maccaffertium vicarium (formerly Stenonema fuscum)
Pink Lady – #14 – Epeorus vitreus
Sulphur – #16-18 – E dorothea
Light Blue Winged Olive – #14 E. cornuta
Tan Caddis – #16 – 20 – Hydropsyche spp.
Dark Brachycentrus sp. – #14 – 18 – Dark Grannom
Little Black Caddis #18 – 20 – Chimarra sp.
Blue Winged Olives #16 – 18 – Baetis vagans (updated name: Baetis tricaudatus)

October 17, 2015

Delaware River Report / Conditions October 17, 2015

The release from Cannonsville has been raised another 100 cfs to 1,099 cfs this morning. That will make the lower West Branch more difficult to wade. The best bet is still the Main Stem and sections of the upper East Branch that are open to fishing. We saw varieties of spinners in the evening, make sure you have something that floats flush in your box. The forecast is calling for a chilly and windy day with a mix of clouds, sun and possibly a sprinkle or two.

Fall is in full swing on the river.

Hatching:
Slate Drake #14 – Isonychia bicolor
Olive Sulphur #18 – 20 – Heptagenia hebe
Light Cahills #14 – various steno species (invaria, etc)
Tiny Blue Wing Olives #22-26 – Pseudo sp. (now classified as Acentrella sp.)
Charcoal Caddis #14 -16 – dark Brachycentrus sp.
Tan Caddis #16-18 – Hydrosyche sp.
Blue Winged Olives #16 – 18 – Baetis sp.

October 16, 2015

Delaware River Report / Conditions October 16, 2015

We continue to receive water from Cannonsville to meet downstream targets. The forecast is calling for scattered showers and overcast conditions throughout the day but no significant precipitation amounts. Watch for fish rising in the afternoon and early evening. Wading the Main Stem remains the best option given the higher flow from the West Branch.
The upper West Branch (from Deposit to the NY/PA border) and upper East Branch (from Pepacton Dam downstream to the Shinhopple Bridge) are now closed to fishing for the season. The lower West Branch, lower East Branch and Main Stem remain open but are now catch and release only. For more information, view the Delaware County fishing regulations and the border water regulations.

Home pool showing off it’s fall colors.

Hatching:
Slate Drake #14 – Isonychia bicolor
Olive Sulphur #18 – 20 – Heptagenia hebe
Light Cahills #14 – various steno species (invaria, etc)
Tiny Blue Wing Olives #22-26 – Pseudo sp. (now classified as Acentrella sp.)
Charcoal Caddis #14 -16 – dark Brachycentrus sp.
Tan Caddis #16-18 – Hydrosyche sp.
Blue Winged Olives #16 – 18 – Baetis sp.

September 29, 2015

Delaware River Report / Conditions September 29, 2015

Due to the forecasted rain NYC DEP decided they could save some water by dropping the Cannonsville release from over 1000 cfs immediately down to 300 cfs.  There was no gradual step down, no thought about giving the insects on the sides of the stream-bed room to migrate, no regard whatsoever for downstream users.  Hopefully Accuweather really is accurate this time and we get a lot of rain spread out from today through Sunday.  We expect the first inch or so to soak right into the ground so we are watching the radar carefully.  Feel free to call Paul Rush at DEP and let him know your thoughts about dropping the release from 1200 cfs to 300 cfs in one move.  845.334.7107 or email at prush@dep.nyc.gov

If there was ever a question on whether or not NYC DEP cared about anything downstream of the dams…

Hatching:
Slate Drake #12 – Isonychia bicolor
Sulphur #18-20 – E. dorothea
Light Cahills #14 – various steno species (invaria, etc)
Tiny Blue Wing Olives #22-26 – Pseudo sp. (now classified as Acentrella sp.)
Charcoal Caddis #14 -16 – dark Brachycentrus sp.
Tan Caddis #16-18 – Hydrosyche sp.
Blue Winged Olives #16 – 18 – Baetis sp.

September 28, 2015

Delaware River Report / Conditions September 28, 2015

The release from the reservoir continues at the same level as yesterday. The West Branch remains off-color and the East Branch is clear but very low. The forecast is calling for cloud cover today and sporadic rain over the next few days. Cooler air temperatures for the rest of the week should keep the water temperature down throughout the system. Streamers have been working well the past few days, but look for rising fish as evening falls.

Not bad for Vince’s second fly fishing experience. Photo by Bruce Miller.

Hatching:
Slate Drake #12 – Isonychia bicolor
Sulphur #18-20 – E. dorothea
Tricos #22 – 26 – Tricorythodes sp.
Light Cahills #14 – various steno species (invaria, etc)
Tiny Blue Wing Olives #22-26 – Pseudo sp. (now classified as Acentrella sp.)
Charcoal Caddis #14 -16 – dark Brachycentrus sp.
Tan Caddis #16-18 – Hydrosyche sp.
Blue Winged Olives #16 – 18 – Baetis sp.
Flying ants #16-24