May 25, 2021

Delaware River Report / Conditions May 25, 2021

Yesterday was a tough one. There was quite a bit of bright sun for most of the day. People found a few fish but mostly on caddis.  The caddis are around in good numbers but there is some luck involved in being in the right place at the right time to find the sporadic rises and cover them.  Overall nymphing was the best option.  Enough march browns and gray fox have hatched that we are seeing some spinners in the air in the evening.  We haven’t seen them hit the water in good numbers yet so keep those in your boxes just in case.  Sulphurs should show soon in good numbers.

Today should be a little warmer hitting 77 degrees with wind 5-10 mph from the South.  We should have better cloud cover.  There is a good chance of 1/4″ of rain tomorrow.  That will soak right into the ground but still be good for the rivers.  Most of those storms tend to slide South of us but we’re hopeful.

What’s Hatching:
March Brown – #10-2xl – M. vicarium
Gray Fox – #12-2xl –  M. vicarium
Dark Hendrickson – #16 – E. X
Blue Wing Olives – #16 – 18 – Baetis vagans
Apple Caddis – #16 – 18 – Light Brachycentrus sp.
Grannom Fly – #14 – 18 – Dark Brachycentrus sp.
Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

May 24, 2021

Delaware River Report / Conditions May 24, 2021

It did cool down overnight and the air temp is 49 degrees this morning.  The air temp will hit 70 degrees this afternoon with a mix of clouds and sunshine.  Wind will be 5 – 10 mph from the South.  It sounds like a pleasant day to be on the water after the heat.  There are still a lot of caddis around plus the last of the small hendricksons.  March browns and gray fox have been coming ff sporadically and we should see the sulphurs in good numbers soon.  We have a chance of rain later in the week that would be good for the Beaverkill and Willowemoc.

Pierce with a good one yesterday. Steve Shen photo

What’s Hatching:
March Brown – #10-2xl – M. vicarium
Gray Fox – #12-2xl –  M. vicarium
Dark Hendrickson – #16 – E. X
Blue Wing Olives – #16 – 18 – Baetis vagans
Apple Caddis – #16 – 18 – Light Brachycentrus sp.
Grannom Fly – #14 – 18 – Dark Brachycentrus sp.
Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

May 23, 2021

Delaware River Report / Conditions May 23, 2021

We had just enough rain overnight to knock the dust down on  the back roads.  The rivers are pretty much where they were yesterday morning.  The cloud cover and wind felt good yesterday.  There were some fish working when the wind dropped – mostly slashing caddis where we were.  Nymphing was a good option during the wind.  Today is going to be cooler with a high of 79 degrees.  We may see a stray thunderstorm which would be great.  Wind will be 10 – 20 mph from the North.  The air temp will drop to 49 degrees tonight so pack a fleece if you stay late.

What’s Hatching:
March Brown – #10-2xl – M. vicarium
Gray Fox – #12-2xl –  M. vicarium
Dark Hendrickson – #14 – E. subvaria (male)
Dark Hendrickson – #16 – E. X
Light Hendrickson – #14 – E. Subvaria (female)
Blue Wing Olives – #16 – 18 – Baetis vagans
Apple Caddis – #16 – 18 – Light Brachycentrus sp.
Grannom Fly – #14 – 18 – Dark Brachycentrus sp.
Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

May 22, 2021

Delaware River Report / Conditions May 22, 2021

Hopefully Wunderground has the forecast nailed down and today will be the last day we see in the 80’s for a while.  We’ll hit 83 degrees with good cloud cover.  Wind will be 10 – 15 mph from the North.  It already sounds better than yesterday.  Tomorrow we should drop back into the high 70’s at least.  Hopefully the cloud cover makes the caddis more active during the day and pushes the mayfly hatches a little earlier.  Watch for spinner falls in the morning and at night.  There are still some #16 hendricksons around and the spinners are definitely around some river sections.

The last few days of bright sun and hot air temps have driven up the water temps on the lower East Branch, Beaverkill at Cooks Falls, and Upper Mainstem.  The river temps peaked above 65 degrees yesterday afternoon so please check the gauges or use a thermometer before you fish the lower river sections.  It’s disgusting that we have to temp the lower river sections in May with both Cannonsville and Pepaction over 99% capacity.

A good one in yesterday’s sunshine. Bruce Miller photo

What’s Hatching:
March Brown – #10-2xl – M. vicarium
Gray Fox – #12-2xl –  M. vicarium
Dark Hendrickson – #14 – E. subvaria (male)
Dark Hendrickson – #16 – E. X
Light Hendrickson – #12 – E. Subvaria (female)
Blue Wing Olives – #16 – 18 – Baetis vagans
Apple Caddis – #16 – 18 – Light Brachycentrus sp.
Grannom Fly – #14 – 18 – Dark Brachycentrus sp.
Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

May 21, 2021

Delaware River Report / Conditions May 21, 2021

We saw some clouds yesterday but did not get the cloud cover we were led to believe we’d see from Wunderground.  There were some fish landed during the day on caddis but the better dry fly fishing happened after the sun started to drop.  Nymphing and swinging wets were the best bets during the day.  If you do see some slashes in the fast water mid day go with caddis patterns.  Today looks similar to yesterday with the air temp hitting the upper 80’s, a few clouds, and wind 5 – 10 mph from the West.  We are seeing some hendrickson spinners on some sections so don’t leave the river too early.

What’s Hatching:
March Brown – #10-2xl – M. vicarium
Gray Fox – #12-2xl –  M. vicarium
Dark Hendrickson – #14 – E. subvaria (male)
Dark Hendrickson – #16 – E. X
Light Hendrickson – #12 – E. Subvaria (female)
Blue Wing Olives – #16 – 18 – Baetis vagans
Apple Caddis – #16 – 18 – Light Brachycentrus sp.
Grannom Fly – #14 – 18 – Dark Brachycentrus sp.
Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

May 20, 2021

Delaware River Report / Conditions May 20, 2021

The releases have been cut back from both Cannonsville and Pepacton Reservoirs. The 5 am update at Stilesville shows the flow at 417 cfs.  Hale Eddy is 601 cfs but will probably show lower at the next update.  Today is going to be hot again with the air temp reaching 83 degrees. Luckily we should see some clouds moving in during the afternoon and there is a slight chance of a shower or thunderstorm.  We need some cloud cover.  Wind will be 5 – 10 mph from the South.  There are still a lot of caddis and some hendricksons hatching in sections.  The march brown and gray fox are slowly pushing up river too.  In the bright sun it’s fishing a lot like July so don’t get off the river too early.  Hopefully it fishes more like May now with the clouds coming in this afternoon.

Nikcy Bulleit with a good one yesterday. Steve Shen photo

Jonny King with a solid fish. Bruce Miller photo

What’s Hatching:
March Brown – #10-2xl – M. vicarium
Gray Fox – #12-2xl –  M. vicarium
Dark Hendrickson – #14 – E. subvaria (male)
Dark Hendrickson – #16 – E. X
Light Hendrickson – #12 – E. Subvaria (female)
Blue Wing Olives – #16 – 18 – Baetis vagans
Apple Caddis – #16 – 18 – Light Brachycentrus sp.
Grannom Fly – #14 – 18 – Dark Brachycentrus sp.
Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

May 19, 2021

Delaware River Report / Conditions May 19, 2021

Yesterday was bright and sunny.  Probably a bit too sunny.  A lot of the bugs and fish laid low during the day so nymphing was the best bet early.  People did find some rising fish mid afternoon but the best action was towards dark.  It felt a lot like summer fishing out there.  Today looks similar with lots of sunshine and a high of 83 degrees.  Wind will be 5 – 10 from the North.  Wunderground shows some clouds moving in tomorrow afternoon which will be a big help.  The river flow are dropping slowly and most of the rivers are at a decent level for floating and wading.

Steve Shen with a nice one on a dry yesterday. Nicky Bulleit photo

What’s Hatching:
March Brown – #10-2xl – M. vicarium
Gray Fox – #12-2xl –  M. vicarium
Dark Hendrickson – #14 – E. subvaria (male)
Dark Hendrickson – #16 – E. X
Light Hendrickson – #12 – E. Subvaria (female)
Blue Wing Olives – #16 – 18 – Baetis vagans
Apple Caddis – #16 – 18 – Light Brachycentrus sp.
Grannom Fly – #14 – 18 – Dark Brachycentrus sp.
Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

May 18, 2021

Delaware River Report / Conditions May 18, 2021

The river flows are still dropping and it seems lie the reservoirs are just about done spilling.  We’re on a warming trend and today should hit 76 degrees.  We’ll see mostly sunshine with 5 – 10 mph wind from the North.  Caddis are still strong with some hendricksons in areas and march browns / gray fox in others.  It’s time to keep an eye out for sulphurs at dusk in the lower river sections.  The rest of the week looks similar to today with a bit more cloud cover.  We’re not seeing a lot of rain in the 10 day forecast.

Theo with a good fish yesterday. Steve Shen photo

What’s Hatching:
March Brown – #10-2xl – M. vicarium
Dark Hendrickson – #14 – E. subvaria (male)
Light Hendrickson – #12 – E. Subvaria (female)
Blue Wing Olives – #16 – 18 – Baetis vagans
Apple Caddis – #16 – 18 – Light Brachycentrus sp.
Grannom Fly – #14 – 18 – Dark Brachycentrus sp.
Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

May 17, 2021

Delaware River Report / Conditions May 17, 2021

The river flows dropped a bit more overnight and everything looks good this morning.  We did have some brief rain showers yesterday but not enough to affect the flows.  Today looks beautiful with the air temp hitting 71 degrees and sunshine.  Wind will be 5- 10 mph from the West.  There is a slight chance of a thunderstorm.  That would be helpful if we could get some cloud cover with it.  Depending on where you fish it will be caddis and hendricksons  or caddis and march brown / gray fox.  The caddis have been very prominent over the last week.

What’s Hatching:
March Brown – #10-2xl – M. vicarium
Dark Hendrickson – #14 – E. subvaria (male)
Light Hendrickson – #12 – E. Subvaria (female)
Blue Quill – #16 – 18 – Paraleptophlebia adoptiva
Blue Wing Olives – #16 – 18 – Baetis vagans
Apple Caddis – #16 – 18 – Light Brachycentrus sp.
Grannom Fly – #14 – 18 – Dark Brachycentrus sp.
Little Black Caddis – #18 – 20 – Chimarra sp.

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

May 16, 2021

Delaware River Report / Conditions May 16, 2021

The river flows have dropped to decent levels for floating and wading.  The West Branch at Hale Eddy is 1,300 cfs this morning.  Today looks like a great fishing day with the air temp climbing to 70 degrees, cloud cover, and wind 5 – 10 from the South.  We may see a stray shower or thunderstorm in the afternoon but the precipitation will be negligible.  A lot of river sections are seeing heavy amounts of both apple caddis and grannoms.  There are still hendricksons hanging on in areas and march browns / gray fox in others.

Steven found some yesterday. Steve Shen photo

What’s Hatching:
March Brown – #10-2xl – M. vicarium
Dark Hendrickson – #14 – E. subvaria (male)
Light Hendrickson – #12 – E. Subvaria (female)
Blue Quill – #16 – 18 – Paraleptophlebia adoptiva
Blue Wing Olives – #16 – 18 – Baetis vagans
Apple Caddis – #16 – 18 – Light Brachycentrus sp.
Grannom Fly – #14 – 18 – Dark Brachycentrus sp.
Little Black Caddis – #18 – 20 – Chimarra sp.

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

May 15, 2021

Delaware River Report / Conditions May 15, 2021

Everyone is talking about the huge amounts of caddis they saw on the rivers yesterday.  Overall it sounded like a good fishing day.  Today looks just as nice with the air temp hitting 68 degrees, sunshine, and wind 5 – 10 from the North.  there is a shot of a stray shower or thunderstorm so bring the raincoat.  The flows are dropping on the all the rivers.  The East Branch and Beaverkill are in great shape for wading.  The West Branch is coming down slowly but is 1,600 at Hale Eddy this morning.  There are sections that are wadeable at this level.

Tony with a nice one yesterday. Steve Shen photo

What’s Hatching:
March Brown – #10-2xl – M. vicarium
Dark Hendrickson – #14 – E. subvaria (male)
Light Hendrickson – #12 – E. Subvaria (female)
Blue Quill – #16 – 18 – Paraleptophlebia adoptiva
Blue Wing Olives – #16 – 18 – Baetis vagans
Apple Caddis – #16 – 18 – Light Brachycentrus sp.
Grannom Fly – #14 – 18 – Dark Brachycentrus sp.
Little Black Caddis – #18 – 20 – Chimarra sp.

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

May 14, 2021

Delaware River Report / Conditions May 14, 2021

The East Branch flow at Harvard has come down quite a bit and is 684 cfs.  The Beaverkill at Cooks Falls is 715 cfs.  There are definitely more wade opportunities opening up.  The West Branch flow is dropping slowly and sits just over 2,000 cfs this morning.  There is no significant rain in the 10 day forecast so the river flows should continue to fall over the next week.  Yesterday was a nice day to be on the water but today looks even better.  We have frost this morning but will hit 68 degrees this afternoon.  Sunshine with wind 5 – 10 from the North.  The bugs hatching differ from river section to section but definitely carry hendricksons, march browns, olives, and a wide range of caddis patterns.

Dick with a good fish yesterday. Jeremy Shurites photo

Tony found a nice fish yesterday. Steve Shen photo

What’s Hatching:
March Brown – #10-2xl – M. vicarium
Dark Hendrickson – #14 – E. subvaria (male)
Light Hendrickson – #12 – E. Subvaria (female)
Blue Quill – #16 – 18 – Paraleptophlebia adoptiva
Blue Wing Olives – #16 – 18 – Baetis vagans
Apple Caddis – #16 – 18 – Light Brachycentrus sp.
Grannom Fly – #14 – 18 – Dark Brachycentrus sp.
Little Black Caddis – #18 – 20 – Chimarra sp.

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update: