April 11, 2013

Delaware River Report / Conditions April 11, 2012

UPDATE: The West has gotten a little bit of color since this morning, but is by no means blown out.

The rain we have been hoping for finally made it. That being said, the Beaverkill and East Branch seem to have taken the brunt of it, making two big jumps in the last 36 hours. As such, the East and Main are pretty much blown out – they will likely settle throughout the day, as the flows decrease, and the rain lets up. The West Branch was spared, but did make a nice jump up over 1000 CFS at Hale Eddy, but leaving us nice and clear. We’re already dropping, but Home Pool is still probably around 1,200 CFS. If this decline is gradual, we could be set up for some great fishing in the coming week & weekend. Fishing was slow yesterday, and the bugs didn’t really come out to play, except for the upper reaches of the West Branch (No-Kill section). The air pressures have calmed down, and with little wind predicted today, we could be seeing some decent activity on that front. Otherwise, it at least LOOKS like perfect olive weather up here with overcast skies, and tons of humidity.

Yeah. The East Branch jumped a little.

What’s Hatching:

Chimarra species – Charcoal Caddis – #16 & #18

Taeniopteryx fasciata – Early Black Stonefly- #18

Brachyteraspecies- Early Brown Stonefly – #12/#14

Baetis species – BWO – #16 & #18 – Very sporadic, getting started

Paraleptophlebia adoptiva – Blue Quill – #16 & #18 – Same as Baetis

Current Flow Conditions:

April 10, 2013

Delaware River Report / Conditions April 10, 2013

Ok, that was weird. With the weather the way it was yesterday, I (and everyone else, judging by the plethora of phone calls) expected it to be a banner day for both bugs and fish. Instead, it ended up being one of the slower days thus far. Every now and then when you think you have this thing figured out, Mother Nature has to drop you down a peg! Last night we had some serious (albeit brief) rain come down, and push the flows up a tad. The water temps remained steady, which was definitely a boon. The lower river has warmed up in-line with the upper portions, so we should start to see bugs hatch river-wide – when they decide to. Today is a wild card – it’s our first cloudy day with decent air / water temps – could be great, but after yesterday, I’m not putting any money down yet!

Norm Price caught this 18″ Brown right out front in Home Pool yesterday, proving that at least SOME of the fish were active! Photo: Pam Cavanaugh

What’s Hatching:

Chimarra species – Charcoal Caddis – #16 & #18

Taeniopteryx fasciata – Early Black Stonefly- #18

Brachyteraspecies- Early Brown Stonefly – #12/#14

Baetis species – BWO – #16 & #18 – Very sporadic, getting started

Paraleptophlebia adoptiva – Blue Quill – #16 & #18 – Same as Baetis

Current Flow Conditions:

April 9, 2013

Delaware River Report / Conditions April 9, 2012

We’re definitely looking down the barrel of our first truly warm day of the year today, and with temperatures in the water already starting in the mid-40s, we’re likely going to have a great day of dry fly fishing out on the water today. Yesterday saw smatterings of fish feeding on top system-wide, with most being fairly irregular when it came to their rises. No real steady guys, but that also was a result of not-so-steady hatching. That’s a nice way of saying that the stoneflies and caddis were out, and they never do anything ‘regularly’ on this system. The warmer temps are definitely going to start pushing the mayflies to hatch, and don’t be surprised if you see some odd ball early guys out there – Hendricksons, and even March Browns. This won’t necessarily signify that they are starting, but are instead a product of the super-early season last year. We’ll definitely have a few broods in selective places hatching a bit off-schedule. We will definitely let you know when those guys start in earnest!

That being said, be ready for these guys! A Paraleptophlebia adopitva (Blue Quill). Photo by: Jeff White

What’s Hatching:

Chimarra species – Charcoal Caddis – #16 & #18

Taeniopteryx fasciata – Early Black Stonefly- #18

Brachyteraspecies- Early Brown Stonefly – #12/#14

Baetis species – BWO – #16 & #18 – Very sporadic, getting started

Paraleptophlebia adoptiva – Blue Quill – #16 & #18 – Same as Baetis

Current Flow Conditions:

April 8, 2013

Delaware River Report / Conditions April 8, 2013

Another breezy day out on the water yesterday, but there were definitely fish rising the in the lee of the wind, chasing stoneflies and caddis. We also had our first small rush of mayflies when the water temp got up into the low 40s – some small baetis (BWO) and Paraleps (Blue Quills). With water temps starting higher today, and warm weather persisting through the week, we should start to see them all get popping very very soon.

Sometimes you’ll see stoneflies drying their wings upright, like a mayfly. It can fool you at a distance! Photo: Bart Larmouth

What’s Hatching:

Chimarra species – Charcoal Caddis – #16 & #18

Taeniopteryx fasciata – Early Black Stonefly- #18

Brachyteraspecies- Early Brown Stonefly – #12/#14

Baetis species – #18 – COMING SOON!

Current Flow Conditions:

April 7, 2013

Delaware River Report / Conditions April 7, 2013

The witchdoctors “predicting” the weather did it again to us yesterday – the wind that was supposed to lay down by noon decided to extend its stay until about 4PM, well after the rivers started to cool again. Needless to say, the breezes kept any chance of dry fly fishing from occurring. That being said, we’re now looking at a day with temps near 60, with overcast skies and very little wind, a chance of some showers here and there. Perfect mayfly weather – now we just have to see if they decide to show up! The warmer overnight has us starting over 40 today, so I think there’s a good chance for some action as the day progresses.

Henry Marshall caught this THICK rainbow this weekend while fishing with our guide Kevan Smaracko. Glad to see the rainbows back in the river after spawn and looking that healthy! Photo: C/O Henry Marshall

What’s Hatching:

Chimarra species – Charcoal Caddis – #16 & #18

Taeniopteryx fasciata – Early Black Stonefly- #18

Brachyteraspecies- Early Brown Stonefly – #12/#14

Baetis species – #18 – COMING SOON!

Current Flow Conditions:

April 6, 2013

Delaware River Report / Conditions April 6, 2013

Well the water temps did come up yesterday, and the wind certainly did the same. A very strong down stream wind pushed through starting in the early afternoon, and did not let up until well into the evening. This shut the dry fly fishing down, but we did manage to have some active fish throughout the day taking streamers and (shudder) nymphs. Today we’re looking at a mirror-image of yesterday wind-wise – we have lots of it this morning, and it is supposed to taper off by lunchtime. This could produce some really decent stonefly and caddis dry fly fishing as the water continues to heat up. Ignore other reports claiming to see “tons” of olives – aside from the occasional Baetis and Blue Quill popping, the olives have DEFINITELY not started in earnest. With these rising overnight temps, that will certainly be changing soon!

This would be what the fish are keying in on, so long as the weather cooperates! Photo: Bart Larmouth

What’s Hatching:

Chimarra species – Charcoal Caddis – #16 & #18

Taeniopteryx fasciata – Early Black Stonefly- #18

Brachyteraspecies- Early Brown Stonefly – #12/#14

Baetis species – #18 – COMING SOON!

Current Flow Conditions:

FLOWS AS OF 8:00 AM:
West Branch at Stilesville, NY	218 cfs @ 36º
West Branch at Hale Eddy, NY	477 cfs @ 38º
East Branch at Harvard, NY	219 cfs @ 38º
East Branch at Fish’s Eddy, NY	869 cfs @ 39º
Mainstem at Lordville, NY	1,760 cfs @ 41º
Beaverkill at Cooks Falls, NY	500 cfs @ N/A
Cannonsville Reservoir Level & Release	89.1% – 218 CFS release

April 5, 2013

Delaware River Report / Conditions April 5, 2013

Yesterday was it – our first day of decent pods of rising fish. As soon as the water temperature rose above 40, the stoneflies and caddis were out, and the fish were on them. Primarily, they were eating the stoneflies, but they would take a charcoal caddis pattern as well. I love it when they are dumb like this. It doesn’t last too long! If you look at the chart below, you can see we are starting MUCH warmer that we did yesterday, so the feeding period should start earlier and last considerably longer. With air temps predicted in the 50s as well, it should be a wonderful day to be out on the river!

There were plenty of these guys flitting around yesterday! A Chimarra caddis. Photo: Bart Larmouth

What’s Hatching:

Chimarra species – Charcoal Caddis – #16 & #18

Taeniopteryx fasciata – Early Black Stonefly- #18

Brachyteraspecies- Early Brown Stonefly – #12/#14

Baetis species – #18 – COMING SOON!

Current Flow Conditions:

April 4, 2013

Delaware River Report / Conditions April 4, 2013

Well it looks like the nice weather is coming after all. We’re looking at temps in the 50s today, which is a welcome respite from the mid-20s temps of the last few days. With the DEP cutting our flow now down  to 235 CFS, the water will certainly heat up faster, and the mayflies that have been patiently waiting for warmer water temps will likely be ready to pop in short order. The warmer weather should persist through the weekend, so we should be in for our first good piece of dry fly fishing!

Another Honorable Mention from our contest – Kurt Huhner with a nice Bone on his first day ever of saltwater fishing! Photo: Kurt Huhner

What’s Hatching:

Taeniopteryx fasciata – Early Black Stonefly- #18

Brachyteraspecies- Early Brown Stonefly – #12/#14

Baetis species – #18 – COMING SOON!

Current Flow Conditions:

April 3, 2013

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!

April 2, 2013

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!

April 1, 2013

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!

March 27, 2013

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