September 19, 2012

Delaware River Report / Conditions September 19, 2012

That was some rain. We had it falling both calmly and in driving sheets throughout the day yesterday, and on the West Branch, it seems that the ground absorbed most of the water. We have had a slight bump in flows on the West, but the East / Beaverkill obviously took the brunt of it, with the East Branch near Fish’s Eddy peaking near 25,000 cfs (yes, you read that correctly). This is blowing the Main Stem out as well, so the West looks like the only game in town for the next few days. We are looking at a brighter day today, but temperatures are not supposed to get above 65, which will be a good thing for those heading out in the afternoon, as well as the evening. The bugs took advantage of the lower atmospheric pressure brought on by the storm yesterday, and the side of the shop is covered with a little bit of everything listed below. Thanks rain!

A little stained, but not bad at all this morning on Home Pool. Photo by: Bart Larmouth

Tricorythodes species – #22 male and female (waning)

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

Heptagenia hebe – Olive Sulphur – #16 & #18

Pseudocloeon– Tiny BWO- #22-26

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 18, 2012

Delaware River Report / Conditions September 18, 2012

One mystery solved! The big peak in flows two days ago? Well, there is a new ‘release master’ at the Cannonsville Dam, and they didn’t exactly give her the best on-the-job training her first day, so she raised the flow instead of dropping it as she was supposed to. I can’t make this stuff up people. Now if there was only some way to bribe her…… Anyway, yesterday was a pretty good day out there, with sporadic hatches throughout the afternoon on pretty much every section of river. Today, it’s already raining steady, and has been since about 6AM or so. Up to 2″ is predicted, based on whatever weather witchdoctor you check with. This may make the river a bit unfishable by late in the day today, but it means some nicer flows by week’s end and hopefully some amazing fishing to boot!

Fish head!

Tricorythodes species – #22 male and female (waning)

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

Heptagenia hebe – Olive Sulphur – #16 & #18

Pseudocloeon– Tiny BWO- #22-26

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 17, 2012

Delaware River Report / Conditions September 17, 2012

Ok this is just getting ridiculous. Mid afternoon yesterday, the wise(a**) powers that be decided to spike the release from 446 to over 1,000 CFS, then IMMEDIATELY drop it back down again. I can understand keeping it at a level for a certain period of time in order to maintain some mythical flow downriver, but a true spike makes no sense, and served only to truly ruin last night’s fishing, as well as blow a TON of the ever-so-popular “green stuff” down river. So today, we’re down to 331 or so at Hale (while the upper East has been cut down to a 100 cfs release) and while I would make the guess that it will stay like that until at least midnight, I obviously cannot guarantee that fact. The good news is that there are more clouds in the forecast for today, and we are going to continue to see the cooler temperatures that have been helping us out as of late. With rain in the forecast over the next two days, the possibility of some great olive hatching and Iso spinner falls just keeps going up. Just the like flow. Maybe.

Basically this is what happened.

Tricorythodes species – #22 male and female (waning)

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

Heptagenia hebe – Olive Sulphur – #16 & #18

Pseudocloeon– Tiny BWO- #22-26

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 16, 2012

Delaware River Report / Conditions September 16, 2012

And down we go – to “364” today supposedly. I’m not even sure if the graph at Stilesville can be trusted anymore, but Hale is a good judge, and it is now down over 250 CFS to 423. This should slow things down a bit for the morning, as the river equilibriates a bit, but will hopefully not affect the hatches adversely, as we had such cold overnight temperatures. There were great hatches of Heptagenias, and the fish gobbled them right down, all the way into the dark. The occasional Steno made an appearance, and that definitely got the larger fish’s attention. Clouds of iso spinners have been seen all over, but they seem unwilling to fall. Eventually they will, and here’s hoping to be there when they do!

Here’s a buttery brown, without a ton of colors yet for spawning. He’s in the minority, as many fish are already getting their fall colors on.

Tricorythodes species – #22 male and female (waning)

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

Heptagenia hebe – Olive Sulphur – #16 & #18

Pseudocloeon– Tiny BWO- #22-26

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 15, 2012

Delaware River Report / Conditions September 15, 2012

Sounded like it was a tough one out there yesterday, from reports I received and also judging by the lack of bugs on the building this morning – just a few small caddis around an October caddis or two. The bright sun stuck around all day yesterday, and we had a bump in the flows in the evening, which definitely cooled off the water, slowing things down a bit in the evening. We had rain overnight along with some cool temps. Today and tomorrow are looking excellent however, with daytime temps in the mid-60s, which will help the fishing improve likely all the way to Buckingham if the flows stay up (who knows if that will happen). Look for some clouds today – could bring the olives back out again!

Iso oh Iso, where art thou? Photo by: Jeff White

Tricorythodes species – #22 male and female (waning)

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

Heptagenia hebe – Olive Sulphur – #16 & #18

Pseudocloeon– Tiny BWO- #22-26

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 14, 2012

Delaware River Report / Conditions September 14, 2012

Just received a funny email from a customer, describing the West Branch flow chart from USGS as looking like “a saw blade.” What a perfect analogy! We’re heading up the tooth right now, with an “announced” release of 571 CFS, up from yesterday. This shouldn’t shock the river in a big way, but may shut down the morning fishing just a little bit. Yesterday was definitely tough depending on where you were with the bright sun keeping things down a bit, but the evening saw some fish sporadically rising to Heptagenias. With cloudier weather moving in there should be a little bit more predictable action throughout the day today, and the slightly bigger release should help the Main Stem fish even better.

Tricorythodes species – #22 male and female (waning)

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

Heptagenia hebe – Olive Sulphur – #16 & #18

Pseudocloeon– Tiny BWO- #22-26

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 13, 2012

Delaware River Report / Conditions September 13, 2012

No big drop in flows last night, just down to a 464 release which should not dramatically affect the hatching, holding areas, etc. It will allow downriver to warm up a bit more (especially with 80-degree temps predicted), so we will likely “lose” the lower Main today insofar as decent hatching is concerned. The entire West Branch fished fairly well, but the Main as a whole was pretty slow until the sun started settling in the evening. Then Junction through Stockport produced, but below Cemetery Pool not much was seen other than everyone’s favorite – the river chub feeding on Heptagenias. Today we are looking at warmer (air) temps, but there are supposed to be clouds mixed in as well, unlike our Rocky Mtn. Bluebird day we had yesterday. This is definitely good news for those of you looking to fish the afternoon, so get out there and get after them!

Here’s one from last fall – an AMAZING picture of a hatching Isonychia taken by Bob Lewis.

Tricorythodes species – #22 male and female (waning)

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

Heptagenia hebe – Olive Sulphur – #16 & #18

Pseudocloeon– Tiny BWO- #22-26

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 12, 2012

Delaware River Report / Conditions September 12, 2012

Wheeeee! Down to the bottom of the coaster we are starting to head again. the release from Cannonsville dropped to 500 CFS overnight. Not super-hyper-mega dramatic, but it’s definitely an indicator of which way we are heading – down that is. We may see a big drop tonight, and a pickup on the weekend. Who knows? Regardless of this, the fishing was  pretty decent yesterday, and I am getting some good reports from the upper Main (And the parking area at Stockport looked like a day in May). Olives in the evening, and the Heptagenias started in earnest down there around 3PM. Let’s hope the wind stays down, and the sun stays away today, and we could expect another good one out there.

I think what the DEP does induces more nausea than one of these.

Tricorythodes species – #22 male and female (waning)

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

Heptagenia hebe – Olive Sulphur – #16 & #18

Pseudocloeon– Tiny BWO- #22-26

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 11, 2012

Delaware River Report / Conditions September 11, 2012

Not too much of a yo-yo at midnight last night – the flow has been reduced to 585 CFS, down from about 600. This means no substantial change in the river level, and the fish have had some time to acclimate to new lies and feeding lines, as well as the Main Stem cooling dramatically. This could make for a pretty decent day today, so long as the clouds remain in place. Yesterday was a bit slow fish-wise, most likely a result of the bump in flows. The bugs were active, and we did see plenty of Tricos in the morning, but they were promptly blown off by the heavy, steady winds we experienced early until mid afternoon. Otherwise, fish were actively eating small (size #18) olive emergers, which were very difficult to see on the water. Keep your eyes open for rises – if you don’t see what the fish are eating, try the small olive!

A nice, DARK brown that ate a Light Cahill Sunday. Photo by: Art Bartholomew

Tricorythodes species – #22 male and female (waning)

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

Heptagenia hebe – Olive Sulphur – #16 & #18

Pseudocloeon– Tiny BWO- #22-26

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 10, 2012

Delaware River Report / Conditions September 10, 2012

Here we go again. The release this morning is now up to   596 cfs, and I am still unaware as to why these sudden changes are taking place. Naturally, this will affect the morning fishing (likely adversely), but as everything settles by the afternoon, good things should happen with the colder water temps. Yesterday was a decent one – bugs pretty much throughout the day, with fish up and eating. The only issue was how spooky the critters were (not like that is a new scenario) – boat and wader shy, you had to be on your game, but there were fish to be had at least – can’t complain there! Today is set to be a cooler day all around with the sun peeking through the clouds sporadically, which means we can hope for an early evening spinner fall if the temps do stay below 70 as they are predicted. Fingers crossed, I’ve got some jumbo Iso parachute spinners I can’t wait to throw!

Yep. Those are Tricos. We had numbers like this last week, but they are finally starting to wane. Photo: DRC

Tricorythodes species – #22 male and female (waning)

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

Heptagenia hebe – Olive Sulphur – #16 & #18

Pseudocloeon– Tiny BWO- #22-26

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 9, 2012

Delaware River Report / Conditions September 9, 2012

The big storm moving through yesterday was definitely full of style, but not a whole lot of substance (i.e. rain). The flows went up slightly, but the ground soaked up the hard rain and kept us from rising too dramatically. The bugs and fish anticipated the storm, as the morning hours prior saw NO activity from either one of them – they just laid down on the bottom and waited it seemed. Even the little ‘bows in the riffs wouldn’t come out and play. It was a sad state of affaris. Evening (post-storm) saw a big flurry of activity – caddis in particular, and the fish decided their lockjaw had lasted long enough. With a very cool overnight, water temps in the river are looking great for today, and with more cloud cover predicted, it has the potential to be a great day out on the water!

Chimarra caddis. 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)

September 8, 2012

Delaware River Report / Conditions September 8, 2012

This is where I attempt to NOT sound like a broken record. However, screw whomever is in charge of the releases on this river. We’ve just been cut back to 325 CFS (which at least is according to “plan”) from 476. This will definitely make things a bit sluggish to start, but there are clouds predicted all day, which can do nothing but help us. The forecasted Tornado Watch is not my favorite, but I will definitely believe that when I see it. Honestly, rain in any form is a good thing. Last night was definitely slow, but the Stenos made an appearance, which definitely makes me happy on the inside – let’s hope that continues, and everyone busts loose prior to the “severe” weather heading our way.

Although they are still around, the flying ants have been a hard hatch to catch so far this year. 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)