September 2, 2012

Delaware River Report / Conditions September 2, 2012

Well, they did it tow us again. Take a look at the graph below. After bumping us to 750 for about 10 hours, they shut off the valves (so to speak),and we’re back to a 325 release. The increased flow had definitely affected the river, and honestly shut it down quite a bit last night. Couple that with this precipitous drop in flow, and unfortunately, we may not have the best day today. If the predicted cloud cover makes it, that will definitely help, but the warm temps and sun will definitely heat the water up quickly on the lower West Branch, which will likely push some of our afternoon hatches later on into the evening.

Stilesville live graph

Tricorythodes species – #22 male and female

Ephemerella dorthea – Sulphurs – #16 (sporadic), #18 & #20

Isonychia bicolor – Isos – #12-2XL and BIGGER!

Heptagenia hebe – Olive Sulphur – #16 & #18

Pseudocloeon– Tiny BWO- #22-26

Epeorus vitreus – Pale Evening Dun – (Female) -#14 (sporadic)

Epeorus vitreus – Light Cahill – (Male)- #14 (sporadic)

Ephemerella invaria – Large Sulphurs / Light Cahills – #14 (waning)

Ephemerella deficiens– Dark. BWO -#12-20 (when cloudy)

Ephemerella attenuata– Light BWO- #16-20 (when cloudy)

Hydropsyche- Tan Caddis- #18

Ryacophilia- Olive Caddis- #16

Baetis species – #18 & #20 (when cloudy)

September 1, 2012

Delaware River Report / Conditions September 1, 2012

Alright, will someone please explain to me what is going on with the flows here? Not that I am complaining – I LOVE the additional water, but it doesn’t quite jive with the flow plan, and Montague looked pretty good to me. Ah well, this must be one of those gift horse / mouth scenarios. Regardless, last night was a bit of hit-and-miss. Certain areas / pools fished well, while others were definitely slower, likely because of the colder slug of water moving through. That shock should stabilize, and will do nothing but help us as long as it keeps up! Bright sun again predicted for today, so look for slower daytime fishing (Deposit excepted) and hopefully some fantastic late afternoon hatches.

Still a few of these hatching as well. Baetis vagans male dun. Photo by: Bart Larmouth

Tricorythodes species – #22 male and female

Ephemerella dorthea – Sulphurs – #16 (sporadic), #18 & #20

Isonychia bicolor – Isos – #12-2XL and BIGGER!

Heptagenia hebe – Olive Sulphur – #16 & #18

Pseudocloeon– Tiny BWO- #22-26

Epeorus vitreus – Pale Evening Dun – (Female) -#14 (sporadic)

Epeorus vitreus – Light Cahill – (Male)- #14 (sporadic)

Ephemerella invaria – Large Sulphurs / Light Cahills – #14 (waning)

Ephemerella deficiens– Dark. BWO -#12-20 (when cloudy)

Ephemerella attenuata– Light BWO- #16-20 (when cloudy)

Hydropsyche- Tan Caddis- #18

Ryacophilia- Olive Caddis- #16

Baetis species – #18 & #20 (when cloudy)

August 31, 2012

Delaware River Report / Conditions August 31, 2012

Sometimes your the windshield, sometimes your the bug. Last night was one of those latter kinda nights. Despite calm winds, good temps in both the water and the air,”it” just never happened. Or as one guide put it, “well. That sucked.” Seems it was one of those nights where all the stars lined up and it just flat out didn’t matter. Ah well. New day today! And the biggest news? More water! The release from Cannonsville has been bumped to 509 CFS – this is great news for all of you looking to fish the Main down to Stockport. Couple this release with our cold nights, we might just get the upper Main back sooner than we had hoped! These cool over night temps are still helping us out in general, and I’ve already seen some Trikes kicking about Home Pool. It is also supposed to be a bit warmer today, and that could bring our ants back into play as well. Fingers crossed!

Booyeah! Water!

Tricorythodes species – #22 male and female

Ephemerella dorthea – Sulphurs – #16 (sporadic), #18 & #20

Isonychia bicolor – Isos – #12-2XL and BIGGER!

Heptagenia hebe – Olive Sulphur – #16 & #18

Pseudocloeon– Tiny BWO- #22-26

Epeorus vitreus – Pale Evening Dun – (Female) -#14 (sporadic)

Epeorus vitreus – Light Cahill – (Male)- #14 (sporadic)

Ephemerella invaria – Large Sulphurs / Light Cahills – #14 (waning)

Ephemerella deficiens– Dark. BWO -#12-20 (when cloudy)

Ephemerella attenuata– Light BWO- #16-20 (when cloudy)

Hydropsyche- Tan Caddis- #18

Ryacophilia- Olive Caddis- #16

Baetis species – #18 & #20 (when cloudy)

August 30, 2012

Delaware River Report / Conditions August 30, 2012

Not too shabby out there last night! There was a good mix of bugs once the sun started to drop in the sky, and the fish poked their noses up as well. Hebes, stenos, and Isos made their presence known.We had a very cool over night temperature, so I would suspect everything to start a little bit late this morning, but it bodes well for afternoon hatching. The bright sun will not help the cause, of that I am sure, but as it goes down, we should be looking at some nice evening activity!

Isonychia shucks in the shallows. Photo by: Jeff White

Tricorythodes species – #22 male and female

Ephemerella dorthea – Sulphurs – #16 (sporadic), #18 & #20

Isonychia bicolor – Isos – #12-2XL and BIGGER!

Heptagenia hebe – Olive Sulphur – #16 & #18

Pseudocloeon– Tiny BWO- #22-26

Epeorus vitreus – Pale Evening Dun – (Female) -#14 (sporadic)

Epeorus vitreus – Light Cahill – (Male)- #14 (sporadic)

Ephemerella invaria – Large Sulphurs / Light Cahills – #14 (waning)

Ephemerella deficiens– Dark. BWO -#12-20 (when cloudy)

Ephemerella attenuata– Light BWO- #16-20 (when cloudy)

Hydropsyche- Tan Caddis- #18

Ryacophilia- Olive Caddis- #16

Baetis species – #18 & #20 (when cloudy)

August 29, 2012

Delaware River Report / Conditions August 29, 2012

Well that was a nice little bump! Take a look at the graph below, and you’ll see what I mean. The rain may have shot us up a whole bunch yesterday, but the clear weather following it yesterday allowed the river to drop right back down. Currently, we’re near 500 CFS, and I’d bet that we’re back down in the 450 range by later today. The sudden jump in flows slowed the bite down a little bit yesterday, but as evening came along and the wind died down, we saw some decent hatching down here at the club, and good numbers of fish up and rising. The cool night means that the tricos will get pushed back slightly this morning (if it stays calm as it is), but should also mean some extended morning activity from our other winged friends, so long as the sun stays off the water. Otherwise, we’re looking at a pleasant and cooler day that should bring some early hatching activity in the evening.

A chunky monkey!

Tricorythodes species – #22 male and female

Ephemerella dorthea – Sulphurs – #16 (sporadic), #18 & #20

Isonychia bicolor – Isos – #12-2XL and BIGGER!

Heptagenia hebe – Olive Sulphur – #16 & #18

Pseudocloeon– Tiny BWO- #22-26

Epeorus vitreus – Pale Evening Dun – (Female) -#14 (sporadic)

Epeorus vitreus – Light Cahill – (Male)- #14 (sporadic)

Ephemerella invaria – Large Sulphurs / Light Cahills – #14 (waning)

Ephemerella deficiens– Dark. BWO -#12-20 (when cloudy)

Ephemerella attenuata– Light BWO- #16-20 (when cloudy)

Hydropsyche- Tan Caddis- #18

Ryacophilia- Olive Caddis- #16

Baetis species – #18 & #20 (when cloudy)

August 28, 2012

Delaware River Report / Conditions August 28, 2012

Holy Water! Did we just get hit by some rain this morning, and it is showing! Take a look at the graph down below – 885 and rising at Hale Eddy. The good news is that the water, as high as it shot up, is staying clear and clean for the most part. There were also more bugs on the side of the house than I have seen in a fortnight at least – everyone out of the pool I guess. Isos, stenos, tricos, psedos…..I guess every bug that ends in “O.” The fish started rising late, around 7:00 or so, and continued right on into dark. We’re looking at Partly Sunny today, so if these heavy clouds stick around, we’ll have some great action throughout the day, and possibly some streamer action as well!

Browns are starting to get colored up! Photo by: Jim Swift

Tricorythodes species – #22 male and female

Ephemerella dorthea – Sulphurs – #16 (sporadic), #18 & #20

Isonychia bicolor – Isos – #12-2XL and BIGGER!

Heptagenia hebe – Olive Sulphur – #16 & #18

Pseudocloeon– Tiny BWO- #22-26

Epeorus vitreus – Pale Evening Dun – (Female) -#14 (sporadic)

Epeorus vitreus – Light Cahill – (Male)- #14 (sporadic)

Ephemerella invaria – Large Sulphurs / Light Cahills – #14 (waning)

Ephemerella deficiens– Dark. BWO -#12-20 (when cloudy)

Ephemerella attenuata– Light BWO- #16-20 (when cloudy)

Hydropsyche- Tan Caddis- #18

Ryacophilia- Olive Caddis- #16

Baetis species – #18 & #20 (when cloudy)

August 27, 2012

Delaware River Report / Conditions August 27, 2012

Holy mackerel. Ok,most wouldn’t mind having caught a mackerel last night compared to what happened. Our photo today explains what happened last night:

Yep. That’s it. It was totally dead out on the river last night, and not just in Home Pool. Talkig to everyone at Lydia’s, it was pretty obvious the river did not perform as expected. Today however, temperatures are going down, and we’ve got what looks like rain clouds outside right now. Let’s hope that’s the case, as a little bit of change would do us well!

Tricorythodes species – #22 male and female

Ephemerella dorthea – Sulphurs – #16 (sporadic), #18 & #20

Isonychia bicolor – Isos – #12-2XL and BIGGER!

Heptagenia hebe – Olive Sulphur – #16 & #18

Pseudocloeon– Tiny BWO- #22-26

Epeorus vitreus – Pale Evening Dun – (Female) -#14 (sporadic)

Epeorus vitreus – Light Cahill – (Male)- #14 (sporadic)

Ephemerella invaria – Large Sulphurs / Light Cahills – #14 (waning)

Ephemerella deficiens– Dark. BWO -#12-20 (when cloudy)

Ephemerella attenuata– Light BWO- #16-20 (when cloudy)

Hydropsyche- Tan Caddis- #18

Ryacophilia- Olive Caddis- #16

Baetis species – #18 & #20 (when cloudy)

August 26, 2012

Delaware River Report / Conditions August 26, 2012

Our blog host was down yesterday Morning, so my apologies on a lack of post! Nothing too earth Shattering on Friday, great evening fishing for sure! Here’s today’s update –

What a difference just 50 CFS can do. Since the release was increased to 400 out of Cannonsville, we’ve (FINALLY!) had some consistent evening fishing down here (below Hale Eddy). The lower temps mean better conditions for the bugs, who are now more than willing to hatch. The ants were out but not in force, and for some reason they were ignored. I find that unacceptable. That being said, there were plenty of Hebes out, and the fish were keyed in on them, as well as the small flush of #18 deficiens that came floating down right before dark. With cooler temps today and some more cloud cover, this has the potential to be a great day out there from just before lunchtime all the way until dark-thirty.

I get tons of questions about these guys on a daily basis. To put much of it to rest – we do NOT have a sizable hopper ‘hatch’ on the river. Main reason? Not a ton of grassy, open fields adjacent to the river. There are places where you will find them, but they are definitely the exception rather than the rule. Photo by: Jeff White

Tricorythodes species – #22 male and female

Ephemerella dorthea – Sulphurs – #16 (sporadic), #18 & #20

Isonychia bicolor – Isos – #12-2XL and BIGGER!

Heptagenia hebe – Olive Sulphur – #16 & #18

Pseudocloeon– Tiny BWO- #22-26

Epeorus vitreus – Pale Evening Dun – (Female) -#14 (sporadic)

Epeorus vitreus – Light Cahill – (Male)- #14 (sporadic)

Ephemerella invaria – Large Sulphurs / Light Cahills – #14 (waning)

Ephemerella deficiens– Dark. BWO -#12-20 (when cloudy)

Ephemerella attenuata– Light BWO- #16-20 (when cloudy)

Hydropsyche- Tan Caddis- #18

Ryacophilia- Olive Caddis- #16

Baetis species – #18 & #20 (when cloudy)

August 24, 2012

Delaware River Report / Conditions August 24, 2012

Slightly disappointing out there last night. I got all excited for the ants, and we were seeing them in clouds above the lawn, but they never really materialized out on the water. There was some sporadic action, but nothing overly consistent until near dark, when a flush of Stenos, Sulphurs, and Heptagenia hebes made their appearance. True to form, I left my sulphur box in the car, so I just force fed the fish an Iso dun – works like a charm! Can you say ‘cheeseburger?’ Today we’re looking at slightly warmer temps throughout the day, which is good news as far as ants are concerned. Here’s hoping they’re back out in the early afternoon, and stick around until after the shop closes and I can go after them again!

This explains it all. Image by: Bart Larmouth

Tricorythodes species – #22 male and female

Ephemerella dorthea – Sulphurs – #16 (sporadic), #18 & #20

Isonychia bicolor – Isos – #12-2XL and BIGGER!

Heptagenia hebe – Olive Sulphur – #16 & #18

Pseudocloeon– Tiny BWO- #22-26

Epeorus vitreus – Pale Evening Dun – (Female) -#14 (sporadic)

Epeorus vitreus – Light Cahill – (Male)- #14 (sporadic)

Ephemerella invaria – Large Sulphurs / Light Cahills – #14 (waning)

Ephemerella deficiens– Dark. BWO -#12-20 (when cloudy)

Ephemerella attenuata– Light BWO- #16-20 (when cloudy)

Hydropsyche- Tan Caddis- #18

Ryacophilia- Olive Caddis- #16

Baetis species – #18 & #20 (when cloudy)

August 23, 2012

Delaware River Report / Conditions August 23, 2012

Apologies on the late post, had an odd early morning rush of customers today!

I am going to tell you that you should have been here yesterday. Don’t hate me, it’s the truth. The good news? Today and tomorrow could even be better! We had the fly ants make their appearance during the afternoon, and the river lit up. The predominant size and color is seen below – around a #14, dark brown in color. The fish were on these all the way into the evening, when they decided to start getting under my skin by changing what they were eating – fish to fish. Within the same 12′ square area, I watched 4 separate fish each take a Ant, a Steno, a dorthea, and an Olive Spinner. They then switched it all around. Fun yet infuriating! Today the forecast calls for a bit more sun and humidity – just what we need to keep these ants going. Get ready to see a sign in the shop window with only two words on it to explain my absence this afternoon if all goes right – “Flying Ants!” No further explanation necessary!

PLENTY of these last night! Size#14. Photo by: Jeff White

Tricorythodes species – #22 male and female

Ephemerella dorthea – Sulphurs – #16 (sporadic), #18 & #20

Isonychia bicolor – Isos – #12-2XL and BIGGER!

Potomanthus distinctus – Golden Drake – #12-2xl (sporadic)

Ephemerella pseudocloeon- Tiny BWO- #22-26

Epeorus vitreus – Pale Evening Dun – (Female) -#14 (sporadic)

Epeorus vitreus – Light Cahill – (Male)- #14 (sporadic)

Ephemerella invaria – Large Sulphurs / Light Cahills – #14 (waning)

Ephemerella deficiens- Dark. BWO -#12-20 (when cloudy)

Ephemerella attenuata- Light BWO- #16-20 (when cloudy)

Hydropsyche- Tan Caddis- #18

Ryacophilia- Olive Caddis- #16

Baetis species – #18 & #20 (when cloudy)

August 22, 2012

Delaware River Report / Conditions August 22, 2012

Water! Well, 50 more CFS of it at least. It’s one of those “don’t look a gift horse” scenarios. That being said, just that little bit of water cooled the West Branch down significantly down here, and it is evident from the number of bugs on the side of the house this morning that the insects approve as well. Fishing was decent last night down here as the ‘slug’ of water didnt hit until right near dark. Upriver fished well as the fish and bugs had some time to acclimate to the new found H2O prior to their normal evening shenanigans. Today we’ve got some storms rolling through the area, so we’ll see pressure changes throughout the day, which as we all know will affect the hatching in SOME way – let’s hope for the better!

There were quite a few of these guys out yesterday, but the fish showed only passing interest. Photo by: Jeff White

Tricorythodes species – #22 male and female

Ephemerella dorthea – Sulphurs – #16 (sporadic), #18 & #20

Isonychia bicolor – Isos – #12-2XL and BIGGER!

Potomanthus distinctus – Golden Drake – #12-2xl (sporadic)

Ephemerella pseudocloeon- Tiny BWO- #22-26

Epeorus vitreus – Pale Evening Dun – (Female) -#14 (sporadic)

Epeorus vitreus – Light Cahill – (Male)- #14 (sporadic)

Ephemerella invaria – Large Sulphurs / Light Cahills – #14 (waning)

Ephemerella deficiens- Dark. BWO -#12-20 (when cloudy)

Ephemerella attenuata- Light BWO- #16-20 (when cloudy)

Hydropsyche- Tan Caddis- #18

Ryacophilia- Olive Caddis- #16

Baetis species – #18 & #20 (when cloudy)

August 21, 2012

Delaware River Report / Conditions August 21, 2012

UPDATE!!!! Just after I published this, the release from Cannonsville has been increased to 400 cfs – it’s not a big jump, but every little bit helps!

What an Olive day yesterday! Rain throughout the afternoon, coupled with humid air and cooler temps made for some really exceptional hatching (well, at least for August!). The fish were up sporadically throughout the day, but when they were up it was a pretty impressive show. The evening shut down a bit early, as the water temps dropped back well below 60. This will make for a later Trico hatch today, but will keep the river from heating up too much, as we are starting near 51 on the West Branch – that’s the lowest it has been in well over a week. The sun will be bright early, but clouds roll in later this afternoon (so they say), which should make for some interesting afternoon action.

A pretty, buttery brown!

Tricorythodes species – #22 male and female

Ephemerella dorthea – Sulphurs – #16 (sporadic), #18 & #20

Isonychia bicolor – Isos – #12-2XL and BIGGER!

Potomanthus distinctus – Golden Drake – #12-2xl (sporadic)

Ephemerella pseudocloeon- Tiny BWO- #22-26

Epeorus vitreus – Pale Evening Dun – (Female) -#14 (sporadic)

Epeorus vitreus – Light Cahill – (Male)- #14 (sporadic)

Ephemerella invaria – Large Sulphurs / Light Cahills – #14 (waning)

Ephemerella deficiens- Dark. BWO -#12-20 (when cloudy)

Ephemerella attenuata- Light BWO- #16-20 (when cloudy)

Hydropsyche- Tan Caddis- #18

Ryacophilia- Olive Caddis- #16

Baetis species – #18 & #20 (when cloudy)