July 17, 2020

Delaware River Report / Conditions July 17, 2020

There is a little light rain falling this morning but not enough to bump the flows.  Rain total should be around .06″.  The cloud cover is great though.  Wind will be 5 – 10 from the West.  We may see some scattered thunderstorms but most of them miss us.  It looks like another comfortable day to be on the water – way better than the bright sun and 90 degree days we were dealing with a week ago.  The fishing should be the same though with the best shot at dry flies being closest to the dams in the coldest water.  The best shot below Hale Eddy will be early in the morning and again after the sun drops.  People have been picking up some fish on nymphs during the day.

Lucy and Mark found some smallmouth downriver yesterday. Samantha Dennis photo

Despite the cooler temps and cloud cover the lower Beaverkill, lower East Branch, and Mainstem temperatures all peaked over 70 degrees yesterday.

Give those rivers a break until they cool down. 

Hatching:
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Slate Drake – #12-2xl – 12 – Isonychia bicolor
Light Cahill – #14 – Epeorus vitreus, stenocron sp., invaria
Sulphur – #16 – 18 – E. dorothea
Tiny Olive – #22 – 26 – Pseudocloeon sp.
Green Caddis – #16 – Ryacophillia sp.
Tan Caddis – #18 – 20 – Hydropsyche sp.
Dark Blue Wing Olives – #18 – 20 – E. deficiens, lata
Light Blue Wing Olive – 16 -20 – E. attenuata, cornutella

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

July 16, 2020

Delaware River Report / Conditions July 16, 2020

We have good cloud cover this morning with a slight chance of a stray shower.  We shouldn’t see any real precipitation.  The air temp will hit 77 degrees with wind 10 – 15 mph from the South.  Sounds like a pleasant day to be on the water compared to the sunny hot days we;ve been dealing with lately.  There are some Tricos out in the morning.  If you don’t see fish eating them by 10 am switch spots.  The cloud cover may help the lower WB daytime fishing but the best bet for dry fly action mid day is still going to be closer to the dam.  There are mid day sulphurs and olives up there along with the occasional cahill and isonychia.  Lower down it’s still a lot of nymphing and wet flies until the sun drops.  There was no pulse release last night since today will be cooler with cloud cover.

The lower Beaverkill, lower East Branch, and Mainstem temperatures all peaked over 70 degrees yesterday.   Even the East Branch at Harvard peaked over 70 degrees.

Give those rivers a break until they cool down. 

Hatching:
Click on the fly to see the patterns in our online store

Slate Drake – #12-2xl – 12 – Isonychia bicolor
Light Cahill – #14 – Epeorus vitreus, stenocron sp., invaria
Sulphur – #16 – 18 – E. dorothea
Tiny Olive – #22 – 26 – Pseudocloeon sp.
Green Caddis – #16 – Ryacophillia sp.
Tan Caddis – #18 – 20 – Hydropsyche sp.
Dark Blue Wing Olives – #18 – 20 – E. deficiens, lata
Light Blue Wing Olive – 16 -20 – E. attenuata, cornutella

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

July 15, 2020

Delaware River Report / Conditions July 15, 2020

The release from Cannonsville was pulsed for a short period overnight.  The flow is already dropping this morning.  These pulses are being done to keep the Lordville temperature from exceeding 75 degrees while conserving water.  A steady release splitting the difference seems like a better idea.  The current release from Cannonsville is probably 540 cfs.  The recording says 699 cfs but that is incorrect.  Until we get a steady higher release or a weather cool down the best dry fly fishing during the day will continue to be above Hale Eddy.  The lower West Branch should have some dry fly action early before the sun hits the water and again in the evening when the sun drops behind the hills.  Nymphing is your best bet lower during the day.  Today will be 84 degrees with no wind.  There will be a mix of clouds and sun.

The lower Beaverkill, lower East Branch, and Mainstem temperatures all peaked over 70 degrees yesterday.

A quick pulse overnight but the flow is already dropping

Hatching:
Click on the fly to see the patterns in our online store

Slate Drake – #12-2xl – 12 – Isonychia bicolor
Light Cahill – #14 – Epeorus vitreus, stenocron sp., invaria
Sulphur – #16 – 18 – E. dorothea
Tiny Olive – #22 – 26 – Pseudocloeon sp.
Green Caddis – #16 – Ryacophillia sp.
Tan Caddis – #18 – 20 – Hydropsyche sp.
Dark Blue Wing Olives – #18 – 20 – E. deficiens, lata
Light Blue Wing Olive – 16 -20 – E. attenuata, cornutella

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

July 14, 2020

Delaware River Report / Conditions July 14, 2020

Today’s weather sounds a lot like what we saw yesterday – again.  The air temp will be close to 80 degrees, wind 5 – 10 from the North, and a mix of sun and clouds.  And like yesterday there is a 20% chance of a storm that won’t hit us.  So the fishing should be the same again.  Afternoon sulphurs and olives close to the dams in the coldest water.  Some evenings there have been a second round of hatches up there towards dark.  The lower West will be more nymphing and wets during the day with a shot of some hatches as the sun drops.  Fishing a dry and dropper in the shallow riffles over drop offs can work too.

The lower Beaverkill, lower East Branch, and Mainstem temperatures all peaked over 70 degrees yesterday.   Even the East Branch at Harvard peaked over 70 degrees.

Give those rivers a break until they cool down. 

Ethan with a good fish. Dan Treadwell photo

Hatching:
Click on the fly to see the patterns in our online store

Slate Drake – #12-2xl – 12 – Isonychia bicolor
Light Cahill – #14 – Epeorus vitreus, stenocron sp., invaria
Sulphur – #16 – 18 – E. dorothea
Tiny Olive – #22 – 26 – Pseudocloeon sp.
Green Caddis – #16 – Ryacophillia sp.
Tan Caddis – #18 – 20 – Hydropsyche sp.
Dark Blue Wing Olives – #18 – 20 – E. deficiens, lata
Light Blue Wing Olive – 16 -20 – E. attenuata, cornutella

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

July 13, 2020

Delaware River Report / Conditions July 13, 2020

Today’s weather sounds a lot like yesterday.  80 degrees, a mix of clouds and sun, and wind 5 – 10 mph from the North.  We have a slight chance of an afternoon storm but it sounds like a very slight chance.  That’s not bad for mid July.  The flow at Stilesville is a steady 534 cfs.  The best day time shot at dry fly fishing will be in the cold water closest to the dams.  Sulphurs and olives should cover most of your fly needs. A few caddis, isonychias, and cahills will round it out.  If your out on the river early keep an eye out for Tricos.  If you don’t see the clouds of spinners keep moving.  Nymphing has been effective in the faster runs and drop offs.

The lower Beaverkill, lower East Branch, and Mainstem temperatures all peaked over 70 degrees yesterday.   Give those rivers a break until they cool down. 

Dan Williamson with one in the net yesterday

Hatching:
Click on the fly to see the patterns in our online store

Slate Drake – #12-2xl – 12 – Isonychia bicolor
Light Cahill – #14 – Epeorus vitreus, stenocron sp., invaria
Sulphur – #16 – 18 – E. dorothea
Tiny Olive – #22 – 26 – Pseudocloeon sp.
Green Caddis – #16 – Ryacophillia sp.
Tan Caddis – #18 – 20 – Hydropsyche sp.
Dark Blue Wing Olives – #18 – 20 – E. deficiens, lata
Light Blue Wing Olive – 16 -20 – E. attenuata, cornutella

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

July 12, 2020

Delaware River Report / Conditions July 12, 2020

We did have a mix of sun and clouds yesterday with a few brief but heavy rainstorms.  The West Branch came through them fine and looks good this morning.  We’ll see 82 degrees and sunshine today.  It looks like most of the rain is behind us with just a slight chance of some storms this week.  The fishing will be pretty much the same with the best daytime surface activity closest to the dam in the coldest water.  Nymphing and wets will work on the lower West Branch with a shot at some sulphurs and olives starting in the evening.  We’ve seen some isonychias and tricos around so those hatches should pick up this week.  There are even a few cahills around still so don’t put that box away yet.

Dan releasing a small rainbow in the sun yesterday. Chris Calabrese photo

Hatching:
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Slate Drake – #12-2xl – 12 – Isonychia bicolor
Light Cahill – #14 – Epeorus vitreus, stenocron sp., invaria
Sulphur – #16 – 18 – E. dorothea
Tiny Olive – #22 – 26 – Pseudocloeon sp.
Green Caddis – #16 – Ryacophillia sp.
Tan Caddis – #18 – 20 – Hydropsyche sp.
Dark Blue Wing Olives – #18 – 20 – E. deficiens, lata
Light Blue Wing Olive – 16 -20 – E. attenuata, cornutella

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

July 11, 2020

Delaware River Report / Conditions July 11, 2020

It’s been a long time since we had a good soaking rain.  While there were a couple of brief periods of heavy rainfall yesterday for the most part it was just a steady rain with a few breaks. The light rain helped the fishing yesterday with a mix of olives and sulphurs.   The West Branch looks fine out front this morning.  No real color to the water and a 687 cfs flow at Hale Eddy.  The release hotline has the release from Cannonsville at 699 cfs.  We’re not sure why they would release more today than on a 90 degree bright sun day like we had a few days ago.  The ground absorbed most of the rain. The rivers on the Eastern side of the drainage are still rising a bit but we’re leaving them and the Mainstem alone until the water temps improve anyway.  Today will be 82 degrees with good cloud cover.  We may see some scattered thunderstorms in the afternoon but a lot of those seem to miss us.  If we do get hit it should only be .36″ of rain.  Wind will be 10 – 15 mph from the South.

The West Branch came through the storms just fine

Hatching:
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Slate Drake – #12-2xl – 12 – Isonychia bicolor
Light Cahill – #14 – Epeorus vitreus, stenocron sp., invaria
Sulphur – #16 – 18 – E. dorothea
Tiny Olive – #22 – 26 – Pseudocloeon sp.
Green Caddis – #16 – Ryacophillia sp.
Tan Caddis – #18 – 20 – Hydropsyche sp.
Dark Blue Wing Olives – #18 – 20 – E. deficiens, lata
Light Blue Wing Olive – 16 -20 – E. attenuata, cornutella

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

July 10, 2020

Delaware River Report / Conditions July 10, 2020

They pulsed a release from Cannonsville overnight but the flow is already dropping again.  We’re not sure why they even dropped the flow yesterday with the bright sun and heat that was in the forecast.  We didn’t need a staff of hydrologists and bureaucrats looking at million dollar modeling programs to tell us the temp at Lordville was going to exceed 75 degrees yesterday.  We knew that was going to happen by looking at our $250 Dell laptop.

Today is going to be cooler with the air temp reaching 80 degrees.  Wind will be 5 – 10 mph from the South.  We may see some storms roll in during the afternoon but they are always scattered and unpredictable.  Click on the graphs below for the latest flows.  If we do get hit the streamer fishing has real potential.  Otherwise the best bet for dry fly action during the day is still going to be close to the dams in the coldest water.  Sulphurs and small olives will cover most of what you’ll see up there.  There are a few tricos around but they have been spotty.  If you don’t see them move.  That hatch should get stronger over the next week.   Lower on the West has been nymphing and wet flies during the day.

The lower Beaverkill, lower East Branch, and Mainstem temperatures are all starting off at 70 degrees today.   Give those rivers a break until they cool down.  Even the Upper East Branch at Harvard peaked over 70 degrees yesterday so fish that one close to the dam for cold water.

Hatching:
Click on the fly to see the patterns in our online store

Slate Drake – #12-2xl – 12 – Isonychia bicolor
Light Cahill – #14 – Epeorus vitreus, stenocron sp., invaria
Sulphur – #16 – 18 – E. dorothea
Tiny Olive – #22 – 26 – Pseudocloeon sp.
Green Caddis – #16 – Ryacophillia sp.
Tan Caddis – #18 – 20 – Hydropsyche sp.
Dark Blue Wing Olives – #18 – 20 – E. deficiens, lata
Light Blue Wing Olive – 16 -20 – E. attenuata, cornutella

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

July 9, 2020

Delaware River Report / Conditions July 9, 2020

There were quite a few isolated storms yesterday and we finally saw some rain on the lower West Branch.  There was a small bump in flows but most of the rain soaked into the ground and the river flows are starting out roughly the same as yesterday.  Some sections saw some color in the river but it cleared quickly.  The release from Cannonsville has been cut back.  The release hotline says 699 cfs but the flow at Stilesville is 540 cfs so it is lower than the recording says.  Today is going to be a hot one hitting 90 degrees.  There is a 10% chance of storms but we’ll mostly see sunshine.  Wind will be 5 – 10 mph from the South.  We should cool down and see some more rain showers over the weekend.  Sulphurs and olives are still hatching with some isonychias and cahills mixed in.

Tim with a brown yesterday afternoon. Chris Calabrese photo

Hatching:
Click on the fly to see the patterns in our online store

Slate Drake – #12-2xl – 12 – Isonychia bicolor
Light Cahill – #14 – Epeorus vitreus, stenocron sp., invaria
Sulphur – #16 – 18 – E. dorothea
Tiny Olive – #22 – 26 – Pseudocloeon sp.
Green Caddis – #16 – Ryacophillia sp.
Tan Caddis – #18 – 20 – Hydropsyche sp.
Dark Blue Wing Olives – #18 – 20 – E. deficiens, lata
Light Blue Wing Olive – 16 -20 – E. attenuata, cornutella

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

July 8, 2020

Delaware River Report / Conditions July 8, 2020

It was a warm night so there is some fog on the river this morning.  Today we have an 80% chance of some thunderstorms.  We’ll see since most of them have track South of us lately.  If we do get hit the total precip should be less than 1/4″ which will soak right into the ground.  Wind will be 5 – 10 mph from the South.  The cloud cover is a nice bonus for the day though.  Olives and sulphurs should cover most of what you’ll see out there.  Isonychias and cahills are also good choices for the riffles.  Nymphing and swinging wets on the lower West will be good bets early.  The sulphurs are hatching in Deposit in the afternoon.  Keep your flies small and low floating.

The lower Beaverkill, lower East Branch, and Mainstem temperatures are all starting off at 70 degrees today.   Give those rivers a break until they cool down.

Hatching:
Click on the fly to see the patterns in our online store

Slate Drake – #12-2xl – 12 – Isonychia bicolor
Light Cahill – #14 – Epeorus vitreus, stenocron sp., invaria
Sulphur – #16 – 18 – E. dorothea
Tiny Olive – #22 – 26 – Pseudocloeon sp.
Green Caddis – #16 – Ryacophillia sp.
Tan Caddis – #18 – 20 – Hydropsyche sp.
Dark Blue Wing Olives – #18 – 20 – E. deficiens, lata
Light Blue Wing Olive – 16 -20 – E. attenuata, cornutella

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

July 7, 2020

Delaware River Report / Conditions July 7, 2020

The clouds finally moved in yesterday afternoon after a very clear day.  Today looks better with cloud cover already and a slight chance of some thunderstorms this afternoon.  We’ll take the cloud cover.  The high will be cooler at 84 degrees with wind 5 – 10 mph from the South.  The bugs are the same with small olives and sulphurs making up most of the food on top.  There are some isonychias and cahills out there too.  Nymphing or swinging wets is your best bet early.  There are afternoon hatches on the upper rivers close to the dams.  Think small bugs to start.

The lower Beaverkill, lower East Branch, and Mainstem temperatures are all starting off at 70 degrees or hotter today.   Give those rivers a break until they cool down.

First Delaware trout!  Bruce Miller photo

Chris found a good rainbow a dark

Hatching:
Click on the fly to see the patterns in our online store

Slate Drake – #12-2xl – 12 – Isonychia bicolor
Light Cahill – #14 – Epeorus vitreus, stenocron sp., invaria
Sulphur – #16 – 18 – E. dorothea
Tiny Olive – #22 – 26 – Pseudocloeon sp.
Green Caddis – #16 – Ryacophillia sp.
Tan Caddis – #18 – 20 – Hydropsyche sp.
Dark Blue Wing Olives – #18 – 20 – E. deficiens, lata
Light Blue Wing Olive – 16 -20 – E. attenuata, cornutella

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

July 6, 2020

Delaware River Report / Conditions July 6, 2020

The lower Beaverkill, lower East Branch, and Mainstem temperatures are all starting off at  70 degrees today.   Give those rivers a break until they cool down.

It’s going to be warm again but we should have some cloud cover and possible thunderstorms today.  The amount of rainfall should be less than 1/10″ and the wind will be light.  We may have some wind gusts to deal with if the storms hit us but that should be brief as they push through fast.  The release from Cannonsville was increased to 740 cfs yesterday but has been dropped to 625 ish (we guess).  The recording says 699 cfs but the flow at Stilesville as 637 this morning.  Daytime dry fly action is still best closest to the dam but we should see olives and sulphurs on the lower West in the evening.  Hopefully the colder water from the release and good cloud cover pushes those bugs earlier in the day.

Hatching:
Click on the fly to see the patterns in our online store

Slate Drake – #12-2xl – 12 – Isonychia bicolor
Light Cahill – #14 – Epeorus vitreus, stenocron sp., invaria
Sulphur – #16 – 18 – E. dorothea
Tiny Olive – #22 – 26 – Pseudocloeon sp.
Green Caddis – #16 – Ryacophillia sp.
Tan Caddis – #18 – 20 – Hydropsyche sp.
Dark Blue Wing Olives – #18 – 20 – E. deficiens, lata
Light Blue Wing Olive – 16 -20 – E. attenuata, cornutella

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update: