Delaware River Report / Conditions April 3, 2013
Well needless to say, it was a COLD one out there yesterday. Absolutely frigid, and I didn’t even see a spin fisherman out and testing the waters. The high winds and cold kept the bugs off the water, and the water temps suppressed. The overnight lows also pushed those temps down, and we’re starting at about 35F in every part of the river. Today is looking just as chilly as yesterday, with just slightly less wind. If we make it to tomorrow, we should be in store for some excellent weather, and hopefully our first good long stretch of dry-fly fishing!
Although he was late to the photo contest, Eunan Hendron sent us this shot of an AMAZING salmon fly he tied called the Rosy Dawn. Photo: Eunan Hendron
Taeniopteryx fasciata – Early Black Stonefly- #18
Brachyteraspecies- Early Brown Stonefly – #12/#14
Baetis species – #18 – COMING SOON!
| FLOWS AS OF 8:00 AM: | |
| West Branch at Stilesville, NY | 259 cfs @ 36º |
| West Branch at Hale Eddy, NY | 575 cfs @ 35º |
| East Branch at Harvard, NY | 256 cfs @ 35º |
| East Branch at Fish’s Eddy, NY | 1,020 cfs @ 35º |
| Mainstem at Lordville, NY | 2,220 cfs @ 35º |
| Beaverkill at Cooks Falls, NY | 527 cfs @ N/A |
| Cannonsville Reservoir Leve & Release | 89.0% – 250 CFS release |
Delaware River Report / Conditions April 2, 2013
Opening day was definitley not what we expected. After gorgeous conditions in the morning, Mother Nature decided to put a serious beat-down on us around 10:30 AM, with 50 MPH wind gusts throwing little tiny hail balls (think 1-2mm) like BBs, followed by some decent rain. The wind kept up all day, and blew most every fishermen off the water as the temperature dropped into the mid-30s. So unfortunately, no real exciting fish stories. This morning we got up to even a greater shock, as you can see from the photo below. No idea when that was deposited, but the thermometer outside has us at a balmy 22º F. Water temps are starting low, so I wouldn’t expect any real action on the river until both it and the air have warmed up substantially.
Nothing like a surprise dusting of snow to make you realize it’s Spring. Photo: Bart Larmouth
Brachyteraspecies- Early Brown Stonefly – #12/#14
Baetis species – #18 – COMING SOON!
| FLOWS AS OF 8:00 AM: | |
| West Branch at Stilesville, NY | 326 cfs @ 36º |
| West Branch at Hale Eddy, NY | 715 cfs @ 35º |
| East Branch at Harvard, NY | 303 cfs @ 35º |
| East Branch at Fish’s Eddy, NY | 1,280 cfs @ 37º |
| Mainstem at Lordville, NY | 2,640 cfs @ 37º |
| Beaverkill at Cooks Falls, NY | 710 cfs @ N/A |
| Cannonsville Reservoir Leve & Release | 89.0% – 325 CFS release |
Happy Season Opener / River Report April 1, 2013
Here we are! Trout Season is upon us once again. Last night we had some rain, and this morning looks like the first true Springtime morning we have had all year. Low fog, and warmer temps helped keep the rivers in the high 30s overnight, which means we will be hitting 40 much earlier today. That’s the magic number to see fish start to really get active both on top, and chasing nymphs down below. The early stoneflies are out in force, and so long as the wind keeps down, they are on teh water and the fish are keying in on them. The only bit of unhappy news is that the release from Cannonsville has been dropped to 345, and will remain there for pretty much the entire month of April due to the FFMP and flood control measures, so everyone pray for rain, and get out there and fish!
Jeff Biller holds a nice streamer-caught brown from this weekend. Photo: Jeff White
Taeniopteryx fasciata – Early Black Stonefly- #18
Brachyteraspecies- Early Brown Stonefly – #12/#14
Baetis species – #18 – COMING SOON!
| FLOWS AS OF 8:00 AM: | |
| West Branch at Stilesville, NY | 345 cfs @ 37º |
| West Branch at Hale Eddy, NY | 744 cfs @ 38º |
| East Branch at Harvard, NY | 281 cfs @ 40º |
| East Branch at Fish’s Eddy, NY | 973 cfs @ 41º |
| Mainstem at Lordville, NY | 2,020 cfs @ 40º |
| Beaverkill at Cooks Falls, NY | 690 cfs @ N/A |
| Cannonsville Reservoir Leve & Release | 89.7% – 345 CFS release |
Weekly Contest Winner
We had two submissions from this week’s winner, and I couldn’t choose between them, so here they are – Congrats to Art Bartholomew!
Art Bartholomew with one of his first Bonefish ever! Photo Courtesy Art Bartholomew
Art Bartholomew and best friends (left to right) Mildred, Darla, and Scott collecting fly tying material this winter. Photo: Bart Larmouth
Season is almost here….and kinda is!
Although it has been a cold March, we still have had some brave souls heading out on float trips, and we are already moving fish on the West Branch. Jeff Biller and Dave Price went out with Jeff White yesterday, and not only caught our first dry fly fish of the year, but also this guy:
Jeff Biller and Dave Price with a SLOB of a WB Brown! Photo: Jeff White
The shoulders on this fish were incredible, showing that everyone has wintered well, and we should be catching some nice, fat, early season fish this year.
Taeniopteryx fasciata – Early Black Stonefly- #18
Brachyteraspecies- Early Brown Stonefly – #12/#14
Baetis species – #18 – COMING SOON!
| FLOWS AS OF 8:00 AM: | |
| West Branch at Stilesville, NY | 700 cfs @ 36º peak 39º @2PM |
| West Branch at Hale Eddy,NY | 892 cfs @ 36º peak 41º @2PM |
| East Branch at Harvard,NY | 274 cfs @ 37º peak 41º @2PM |
| East Branch at Fish’s Eddy,NY | 802 cfs @ 37º peak 40º @2PM |
| Mainstem at Lordville,NY | 2,150 cfs @37º peak 37º @2PM |
| Beaverkill at Cooks Falls,NY | 397 cfs @ N/A |
| Cannonsville Reservoir Level & Release | 91.9% – 700 CFS release |
Weekly Photo Contest Winner
A nice shot from Club regular Steve Lynch! Congrats!
Steve Lynch holds a fat brown. Photo Courtesy of: Steve Lynch
This Week’s Winter Photo Winner
Is Larry Elliott – Well done sir!
Larry Elliott tails his FIRST PERMIT! Way to go! Photo Courtesy of: Larry Elliott
Second Winter Photo Contest Winner
Congrats to Chris Calabrese – we love the look and bamboo to boot!
Chris Calabrese with a nice brown taken on a bamboo rod. The DRC trucker hat helped I am sure! Photo courtesy of: Chris Calabrese
First Photo Contest Winner – Norm Price!
Congratulations to Norm Price – his submission of he and his Grandson Brendan with an awesome West Branch Brown was an easy choice. Keep those entries coming!
Norm Price with his Grandson Brendan and a fine West Branch Brown! Photo: Norm Price
Announcing our First Annual Winter Photo Contest!
This winter has been long and cold, no two ways about it. I appreciate the calls from all of the rest of you out there suffering from cabin fever as well. In an attempt to break it up a little bit, we are announcing our first annual Winter Photo Contest! Here is the gist of it: send us any photo you have with DRC logo paraphernalia in it – be it a hat, sticker, shirt, whatever, to flyfish@thedelawareriverclub.com. We will pick winners weekly, up until we open on April 1. Each winner will receive a DRC fly box with a dozen early-season flies. See below for a good example (being de facto staff, he’s exempt. Sorry Larry!), and good luck to all!!
Larry Clark, Sr. with an excellent Florida Snook caught under the lights. Photo courtesy of Larry Clark Sr.
Show Report / Iced Over Home Pool
Thanks to everyone who came by and visited us at the show this past weekend, we had a great time visiting, and it is always good to break the cabin fever with fishing talk. Our annual Float Trip Giveaway (for visitors to our booth at the show) will be drawn next week – the winner will be posted here!
Also by popular demand, here is a photo of what Home Pool looked like this afternoon with the major ice floes running through / freezing it up. The warm temps and rain expected tomorrow will likely blow it all out, so I grabbed a panoramic shot whilst the rain poured today. Click on the photo for a larger view. Happy Wednesday!
Frozen up nicely. Photo: Bart Larmouth
Somerset is Here!
Come see us at Somerset! We are set up at the end of “tyers row.” We look forward to seeing everyone!
