October 2, 2015

Delaware River Report / Conditions October 2, 2015

It looks like Hurricane Joaquin’s path is taking it out to sea so the Upper Delaware System should come through this weekend just fine.  The release from Cannonsville has been cut back to 150 cfs while the runoff satisfies the downstream flow targets.  The nights have finally turned cool and it feels like Fall.  We had air temperatures in the 40’s last night so the rivers are starting off cool this morning.  Much of the runoff up here has subsided and the clarity is decent.  We should have cloud cover for most of the day with moderate winds and a few gusts in the low teens.  We may see a little rain moving through overnight but the precipitation totals look negligible in the forecast.  The West Branch looks decent for nymphing this morning until the small olives hatch in the afternoon.  The cooler weather should begin to push the Fall hatches soon.

Bob Lewis took this cool picture of Home Pool earlier in the month

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.

October 1, 2015

Delaware River Report / Conditions October 1, 2015

The West Branch has dropped back after the rain and is flowing at 543 cfs thsi morning.  The clarity looks decent and you can see rocks on the bottom of the river as you cross the 191 Bridge.  The lower East Branch is dirty but should begin to clear as the Beaverkill water filters through.  Same for the Mainstem.  It looks like it could be a decent streamer day followed by the afternoon olives in the slower pools.  The great news is the West Branch at Walton flowing into Cannonsville is over 800 cfs this morning. It’s going to feel cool out there with air temperatures peaking around 59 degrees.  We may have some unpleasant wind gusts from the North.  If that happens look for risers in the wind protected areas.  It shouldn’t matter if you are streamer fishing.

In the net

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 30, 2015

Delaware River Report / Conditions September 30, 2015

We did get some decent rain overnight but like we predicted most of it was immediately soaked into the ground.  We should receive a little more today (around 1/4″) and then dry up in the afternoon with no additional precipitation until Friday evening.  The rivers are coming up and there is some color coming in form some of the feeder streams (definitely Sands Creek in Hancock).   Hale Eddy is currently 621 cfs this morning and rising.  The Beaverkill is currently flowing at 274 cfs and may likely be dirty if history tells us anything.  It looks like a decent olive day with overcast skies and light rain right now.  Watch the river levels if you are fishing today.  There is still a chance for an odd storm to dump on us bringing the feeder creeks up to flood stage.  Check the gauges often today using the links below for the latest flows.

Reservoir numbers:  The current storage for the NYC Water Supply is 76.6% capacity.  Normal storage for September 30th is 71.9%.  We are above normal storage with decent rains falling plus additional rain in the forecast.  The WB inflow to Cannonsville Reservoir at Walton is 261 cfs this morning and rising.  The other reservoir feeder with a gauge is Trout Creek running at 44 cfs and rising.  There is absolutely no reason NYC DEP should have completely shut off the directed releases in one move on Monday.  A stepped down program makes so much more sense for the health of the river system below the dams.   Stepping down the releases would not have been a threat to the NYC water supply.

Dave and Beth from the weekend. Photo by Bob Lewis

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 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

September 27, 2015

Delaware River Report / Conditions September 27, 2015

The release on  the West Branch has been stepped down slightly again this morning. The water remains off-color but is clearing slowly and there has been less algae. Streamers continue to be the best bet. If the cloud cover sticks around, that may help get the bugs going today. Look for olives and isos especially as the sun goes down.

Jesse with a nice brown. Photo by Jared Makowski.

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

September 26, 2015

Delaware River Report / Conditions September 26, 2015

The release and the conditions on the West Branch remain the same this morning. Expect turbid water and less insects than we would like. The East Branch is clear but very low. We’ve had success fishing streamers, even with all the sun, due to the off-color water on the West Branch. We’re anticipating another sunny day with temperatures in the low 70’s and light winds. Have your dry flies ready in the evening.

Lee and Rob found a nice brown. 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

September 25, 2015

Delaware River Report / Conditions September 25, 2015

The release on the West Branch has dropped marginally this morning but it shouldn’t make much of a change to the conditions. Looks like it will be a carbon copy of yesterday with highs in the low 70’s, sun and low winds. The cool evening temperatures continue to keep the river in good shape. We’re still seeing mainly olives on the river during the day and cahill and iso spinners in the evening. Be ready when darkness falls.

Dave with a West Branch brown on a sunny day. Photo by Jared Makowski.

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

September 24, 2015

Delaware River Report / Conditions September 24, 2015

The release on the West Branch has been increased this morning.  This is another day it would be better for the system if NYC DEP would release the extra water needed for the down stream flow targets from the Pepacton Reservoir.  We are coming off another cool night but the daytime temperatures are warming up a bit with highs expected in the mid to high 70’s today.  We should be mostly sunny with winds only gusting to 7 mph.  Sounds like a pleasant Fall day ahead of us.  We should see olives mixed with a few sulphurs in the evening.  It seems like a good forecast for a spinner fall this evening so if you are out on the water at dark bring your isonychia and cahill spinners.

Patrick with a nice start to Fall. Photo by Bob Lewis

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

September 23, 2015

Delaware River Report / Conditions September 23, 2015

The sun didn’t make things easy yesterday but some people did find success.  Streamers have been moving some fish on the West Branch.  We have that Fall chalky color in the river right now making the fish feel a little safer in the sunshine.  If you find them chasing but not committing try dropping down a fly size or two.  Nymphing has been productive in certain areas- look for edges and drop offs in water knee deep or less.  Olives are the main hatch right now.  We are still seeing some tricos but fewer and fewer each day. Today should be another great Fall day with air temperatures approaching 75 degrees and some sunshine.  The cool nights will continue to be in the 40’s which is great news for the lower rivers in the system.

Fred with a nice fish yesterday. 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

September 22, 2015

Delaware River Report / Conditions September 22, 2015

The system seems to be in the same shape today as yesterday morning with a slight drop in water temperature.  We had another cool night that really felt like Fall.  There was some hatching during the day yesterday but it seemed scattered and light. Olives are still making up the bulk of the mayflies hatching but we have seen some oddball sulphurs still out there.  The cooler weather should bring the fall isonychias and heptagenia flies.  We have noticed an increase in caddis activity – definitely a sign of Fall!

Jonathan watching the slick for a nose. Photo by Fred Nelson

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

September 21, 2015

Delaware River Report / Conditions September 21, 2015

The cooler weather has helped drop the water temperatures and we are looking pretty good this morning.  The Cannonsville release was increased slightly to 1,114 cfs so basically no change from yesterday.  Accuweather was incorrect and instead of cloud cover we had a decent amount of sun for most of the day.  The hatching definitely improved from Saturday and we saw decent numbers of olives (#16 -26) in the evening.  We saw a number of isonychia and cahill spinners right before dark.  The isonychias went back to the trees but enough cahills hit the water to get the fish interested.  Our cool weather should continue today with highs close to 70 with light winds from the east.

Bruce Miler enjoying the Fall weather

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