September 22, 2017

Delaware River Report / Conditions September 22, 2017

Update:  The Cannonville release will be increased on the following schedule today

8 AM – 755 cfs

9 AM – 856 cfs

10 AM – 890 cfs

The release from Cannonsville peaked at 815 cfs around 5 PM last night.  This morning it has been dropped back a little to 654 cfs until further notice.  The increased cold water release should help the Mainstem temperatures during this heat wave.  Lordville peaked over 70 degrees yesterday so this is a welcome relief.  The Montague Flow target is at least partially responsible for the release since they have cut back the release from Lake Wallenpaupack for the weekend.  While the additional cold water is certainly welcome it made for tough fishing yesterday.  The increased released colored the upper river and let loose the normal algae we see when the water rises.  It hit the lower river by early evening bringing some color and increased debris but most of the algae filtered out up top.  We did have quite a few tiny olives out in the evening.  It took a long time for the fish to get happy and there was finally some rising towards dark.  Today should be better provided they keep the release steady and don’t pull any Yo Yo moves.  There were a few Heptagenia hatching but they never really seemed to get going.  The increased cold water will also open up more water on the Mainstem where the isonychia hatch has been stronger.

Jim working the wet flies in the rising water

Hatching:
Slate Drake #12 – 14 – Isonychia bicolor
Light Cahill – #14 – Summer Sulphurs, Stenocron spp.
Little BWO – #22 – 26- Pseudocloeon sp.
Blue Wing Olives – #18 – Baetis sp.
Olive Sulphur – #18 – 20 – Heptagenia hebe
Little Tan Sedge – #16 – 18 – Glossosoma sp.
Green Caddis – #16 – Ryacophilia sp.
Tan Caddis #16 – 18 – Hydropsyche spp.

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

September 21, 2017

Delaware River Report / Conditions September 21, 2017

Update.  The release from Cannonsville is being increased on the following schedule:

9 Am – 453 cfs
10 Am – 554 cfs
11 Am – 654 cfs
12 Pm – 755 cfs
1 Pm – 815 cfs

Yesterday was another day of sunshine.  There were a few light clouds around in the afternoon but they never amounted to much.  Nymphing or fishing small wets was the best daytime bet again.  There were some small olives with a few heptagenia later in the afternoon into evening.  Definitely heavier on the tiny olives.  They did not change the release overnight so we are starting off roughly where we were yesterday.  Conditions will also be similar with air temperatures in the high 70’s and moderate winds.  We’ll have the sun during the day again.  There have been some fish eating olive spinners in the morning if you get on the water before the fog burns off.  If you don’t see fish eating don’t waste a lot of time.  Drive around or walk to a different pool until you find them.  The lower East and Main water temperatures have been heating up in sunshine with the low flows.  Check the temps with a thermometer if you’re fishing in the afternoon.

Find the cold water on the West and upper East

Hatching:
Slate Drake #12 – 14 – Isonychia bicolor
Light Cahill – #14 – Summer Sulphurs, Stenocron spp.
Little BWO – #22 – 26- Pseudocloeon sp.
Blue Wing Olives – #18 – Baetis sp.
Olive Sulphur – #18 – 20 – Heptagenia hebe
Little Tan Sedge – #16 – 18 – Glossosoma sp.
Green Caddis – #16 – Ryacophilia sp.
Tan Caddis #16 – 18 – Hydropsyche spp.

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

September 20, 2017

Delaware River Report / Conditions September 20, 2017

We began yesterday with a 240 cfs release from Cannonsville.  By noon they were increasing the release and it finally settled at 570 cfs around 5 pm.  Before midnight the release was dropped and sits at 353 cfs.  Interesting is the nicest word I can think of to describe the releases over the last five days.  Yesterday was tough in the bright sun with tiny olives and a few heptagenia hatching towards dark.  We had a cooler night plus the air temperature should stay in the high 70’s today.  It still seems warm for mid September but it definitely feels cooler than the previous few days.  We should have a partly cloudy sky today which really means sunshine.  There may be some olive spinners on the water before the fog burns off.  Once the fog is gone look for shaded banks or nymph the deeper drop offs.  We’re still finding the best success with smaller nymphs.  Evening should be the same as yesterday with a mix of olives and heptagenias.

Jim and Samantha working wets on the shaded side of the river

Hatching:
Slate Drake #12 – 14 – Isonychia bicolor
Light Cahill – #14 – Summer Sulphurs, Stenocron spp.
Little BWO – #22 – 26- Pseudocloeon sp.
Blue Wing Olives – #18 – Baetis sp.
Olive Sulphur – #18 – 20 – Heptagenia hebe
Little Tan Sedge – #16 – 18 – Glossosoma sp.
Green Caddis – #16 – Ryacophilia sp.
Tan Caddis #16 – 18 – Hydropsyche spp.

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

September 19, 2017

Delaware River Report / Conditions September 19, 2017

The Cannonsville release was dropped to 225 yesterday.  This morning it was brought up to 240 cfs.  The low water and bright sun spiked the water temperatures on the lower West Branch and Mainstem.  Definitely check the water temperatures today before you fish the West and we should avoid trout fishing on the Main altogether.  Unfortunately this situation seems like total unnecessary political posturing as the decree parties try to come to a flow agreement.  While we’d love to see an agreement signed that is mutually beneficial to all river users, putting the downstream ecosystem in peril to prove a point seems reckless and spiteful.  The current storage for the NYC Reservoir System is 84.4%.  Normal storage for September 18th is 76.6%.
Please let the principles know that protecting the river ecosystem is much more important than some political posturing / power play:

Here’s the contact information for the 1954 U.S. Supreme Court Decree Party Principals/Designees :

Paul Rush (NYC): prush@dep.nyc.gov, 845-334-7107
Mark Klotz (NY): mark.klotz@dec.ny.gov, 518-402-8233
Jennifer Orr (PA): jeorr@pa.gov, 717-772-5633
Dan Kennedy (NJ): dan.kennedy@dep.nj.gov, 609-292-4543
David Wunsch (DE): dwunsch@udel.edu, 302-831-8258

We should have cooler weather today but that is relative since we’ve been in quite a heat wave.  The air temperature will peak around 78 degrees.  We should have sunshine for most of the day.  We do have some heptagenia and olives on the buildings this morning.

Hatching:
Slate Drake #12 – 14 – Isonychia bicolor
Light Cahill – #14 – Summer Sulphurs, Stenocron spp.
Little BWO – #22 – 26- Pseudocloeon sp.
Blue Wing Olives – #18 – Baetis sp.
Olive Sulphur – #18 – 20 – Heptagenia hebe
Little Tan Sedge – #16 – 18 – Glossosoma sp.
Green Caddis – #16 – Ryacophilia sp.
Tan Caddis #16 – 18 – Hydropsyche spp.

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

September 18, 2017

Delaware River Report / Conditions September 18, 2017

The afternoon storms never really appeared so we had sunshine until a few clouds rolled in around 7 pm.  It felt like summer out there by late afternoon.  There were sporadic fish working but the most of the action happened after the dun dropped behind the hills.  White flies, olives, plus the normal cahills / stenos, and heptagenia.  Add in the oddball flying ant and you were covered.  The best action was underneath nymphing small patterns or swinging small wet flies in the riffles.  Despite the conditions some nice fish were landed so stick with it and be patient.  Today will be very similar with cooler air temperatures.

Theo and Clem with a nice rainbow yesterday. Photo by Jared Makowski

Chris with a nice brown over the weekend. Photo by Jared Makowski

Hatching:
Slate Drake #12 – 14 – Isonychia bicolor
Light Cahill – #14 – Summer Sulphurs, Stenocron spp.
Little BWO – #22 – 26- Pseudocloeon sp.
Blue Wing Olives – #18 – Baetis sp.
Olive Sulphur – #18 – 20 – Heptagenia hebe
Little Tan Sedge – #16 – 18 – Glossosoma sp.
Green Caddis – #16 – Ryacophilia sp.
Tan Caddis #16 – 18 – Hydropsyche spp.

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

September 17, 2017

Delaware River Report / Conditions September 17, 2017

So the release from Cannonsville has been cut back and it looks like we are back to 300 cfs this morning.  We peaked just under 700 cfs last night.  This doesn’t seem like the most spectacular move in the history of river management.  This seems like a good opportunity to try ramping the flows up and down. The higher release added color to the West Branch and knocked loose a lot of algae on the upper section by mid afternoon.  We should clear up today and have way less junk in the water as it all filters out.  The flow at hale Eddy is still dropping this morning but should level out soon.   The flow on the lower Main is still rising this morning but we should see that peak and drop this afternoon.  Yesterday was a mix of flying ants, some olives, cahill / stenos, and heptagenias in the evening but the bugs were spread out in the higher flows.  Nymphing seemed to be the best option.  smaller nymphs and wet flies seem to be working best matching the size of the olives and heptagenias.  Today should be another warm one with a possible storm in the afternoon.  Precipitation should be light under 1/10th”.

Jim found a dark rainbow this week. Photo by Bob Lewis

Hatching:
Slate Drake #12 – 14 – Isonychia bicolor
Light Cahill – #14 – Summer Sulphurs, Stenocron spp.
Little BWO – #22 – 26- Pseudocloeon sp.
Blue Wing Olives – #18 – Baetis sp.
Olive Sulphur – #18 – 20 – Heptagenia hebe
Little Tan Sedge – #16 – 18 – Glossosoma sp.
Green Caddis – #16 – Ryacophilia sp.
Tan Caddis #16 – 18 – Hydropsyche spp.

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

September 16, 2017

Delaware River Report / Conditions September 16, 2017

Update – There is color in the West Branch due to the increased release.  The closer you are to Cannonsville the more color and floating algae you will have to deal with.  It is definitely clear enough to fish down here.

The release from Cannonsville has been increased to 600 cfs this morning.  Maybe they plan on cutting back on Lake Wallenpaupack releases and they need the water to meet the Montague Flow Target although the Montague graph doesn’t show the need yet.  Anyway we’ll take it.  600 cfs is still decent for wading and opens up some additional floating options.  Kind of the best of both worlds.  The increased release should cool the Mainstem which has had rising water temps due to the low flows and sunshine over the last few days.  While the higher temperatures haven’t been an issue for the trout it has slowed the hatching down there.  Today should be cooler but still warm with air temperatures in the mid 70’s.  Winds should be 10 mph and less and then dropping in the evening.  Stick with the olives, cahills / stenos, heptagenia, and isonichias and you should be fine.  Have a few flying ants just in case.

Water

Hatching:
Slate Drake #12 – 14 – Isonychia bicolor
Light Cahill – #14 – Summer Sulphurs, Stenocron spp.
Little BWO – #22 – 26- Pseudocloeon sp.
Blue Wing Olives – #18 – Baetis sp.
Tricos – #22 – 26 – Tricorythodes
Olive Sulphur – #18 – 20 – Heptagenia hebe
Little Tan Sedge – #16 – 18 – Glossosoma sp.
Green Caddis – #16 – Ryacophilia sp.
Tan Caddis #16 – 18 – Hydropsyche spp.

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

September 15, 2017

Delaware River Report / Conditions September 15, 2017

We were hit by a very brief storm in the the early evening but the rivers look fine this morning.  The West Branch flows barely budged and remain pretty much the same as yesterday morning.  The Beaverkill flows didn’t budge the the East Branch saw a small bump overnight.  The Mainstem is climbing slowly but should level out by mid- day.  Everything looks clear in Hancock.  There were a few olives out and some white flies on the Mainstem.  Nymphing or swinging wet flies is definitely the way to go during the day.  Were should keep some clouds around this morning with some periods of sunshine.  It looks like the storms are done and we’re in for a few days of nice Fall weather.

Hatching:
Slate Drake #12 – 14 – Isonychia bicolor
Light Cahill – #14 – Summer Sulphurs, Stenocron spp.
Little BWO – #22 – 26- Pseudocloeon sp.
Blue Wing Olives – #18 – Baetis sp.
Tricos – #22 – 26 – Tricorythodes
Olive Sulphur – #18 – 20 – Heptagenia hebe
Little Tan Sedge – #16 – 18 – Glossosoma sp.
Green Caddis – #16 – Ryacophilia sp.
Tan Caddis #16 – 18 – Hydropsyche spp.

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

September 14, 2017

Delaware River Report / Conditions September 14, 2017

We were hit with some rain in the evening and again overnight but it all soaked right into the ground.  The river flows dropped slightly overnight and are running clear this morning.  The was some decent hatching in the evening and once again it was ruled by the olives. The normal cahills / stenos, isonychias, and heptagenia provided some filler but the olives were the main meat.  If you are far enough down on the Main there are still some white flies coming off at dark too so definitely have a few of those spinners down there.  Today should be cooler with the potential of some more rain in the afternoon.  Overall it doesn’t look like much precipitation so we should come through just fine.  The clouds and light rain should help the fish feel more comfortable eating on the surface today. Winds look light topping out around 6 mph.

Hatching:
Slate Drake #12 – 14 – Isonychia bicolor
Light Cahill – #14 – Summer Sulphurs, Stenocron spp.
Little BWO – #22 – 26- Pseudocloeon sp.
Blue Wing Olives – #18 – Baetis sp.
Tricos – #22 – 26 – Tricorythodes
Olive Sulphur – #18 – 20 – Heptagenia hebe
Little Tan Sedge – #16 – 18 – Glossosoma sp.
Green Caddis – #16 – Ryacophilia sp.
Tan Caddis #16 – 18 – Hydropsyche spp.

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

September 13, 2017

Delaware River Report / Conditions September 13, 2017

It seems like everyone had a good day on the river yesterday.  By mid-afternoon the ants were on the water in some sections.  The fish did not care about the bright sun and were eating them happily.  While there were ants on the water of just about every size and color the majority seemed to be small and black.   In the evening we saw a decent amount of hatching.  There was quite a variety on the water with cahills / stenos, isonychias, heptagenia, and of course our daily olives in a a number of sizes.  There wasn’t one standout pattern though.  Small olive emergers worked well but a lot of the fish were willing to eat isonychias.  Today looks like a great day to be on the water.  We should have clouds all day with a slight chance of rain in the afternoon. Rain totals should be around .02″ so not really a factor.  Winds should be 7 mph and less.  Definitely have your olives ready today.

Iso eater from last night

Hatching:
Slate Drake #12 – 14 – Isonychia bicolor
Light Cahill – #14 – Summer Sulphurs, Stenocron spp.
Little BWO – #22 – 26- Pseudocloeon sp.
Blue Wing Olives – #18 – Baetis sp.
Tricos – #22 – 26 – Tricorythodes
Olive Sulphur – #18 – 20 – Heptagenia hebe
Little Tan Sedge – #16 – 18 – Glossosoma sp.
Green Caddis – #16 – Ryacophilia sp.
Tan Caddis #16 – 18 – Hydropsyche spp.

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

September 12, 2017

Delaware River Report / Conditions September 12, 2017

We had to deal with the bright sun for most of yesterday.  Nymphing was the best method early.  When the air temperature rose in the afternoon we had a lot of flying ants coming out of the ground.  Some found their way to the water making some fish happy.  You were still better off finding shaded banks and protected areas.  There were some olives mixed in plus a few isonychias here and there.  On the Main we didn’t see any on particular but that stuck out but the fish seemed happy to eat an isonychia.  Today will be a little warmer but otherwise a repeat of yesterday.  Hopefully more ants!  Tomorrow we may see an afternoon shower which should bring back our olives in good numbers.

Tim from over the weekend. Photo by Bruce Miller

Hatching:
Slate Drake #12 – 14 – Isonychia bicolor
Light Cahill – #14 – Summer Sulphurs, Stenocron spp.
Little BWO – #22 – 26- Pseudocloeon sp.
Blue Wing Olives – #18 – Baetis sp.
Tricos – #22 – 26 – Tricorythodes
Olive Sulphur – #18 – 20 – Heptagenia hebe
Little Tan Sedge – #16 – 18 – Glossosoma sp.
Green Caddis – #16 – Ryacophilia sp.
Tan Caddis #16 – 18 – Hydropsyche spp.

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

September 11, 2017

Delaware River Report / Conditions September 11, 2017

The olives were out again by mid afternoon yesterday.  Unfortunately so was the sun and wind.  There were some fish eating off the surface early but it was tough to find a steady one that would stay up in the sun.  Nymphing and swinging wets was definitely more productive until the sun dropped behind the hills.  There are enough isonychias and cahill / stenos around that you can try some larger nymphs along with the small olive nymphs.  Mix it up until you find something the fish want.  Streamer fishing has been decent in the morning from first light until the fog burns off the water.  Today is another sunny day but the winds will be lighter.  We are on a warming trend so keep an eye out for flying ants over the next few days.

Hatching:
Slate Drake #12 – 14 – Isonychia bicolor
Light Cahill – #14 – Summer Sulphurs, Stenocron spp.
Little BWO – #22 – 26- Pseudocloeon sp.
Blue Wing Olives – #18 – Baetis sp.
Tricos – #22 – 26 – Tricorythodes
Olive Sulphur – #18 – 20 – Heptagenia hebe
Little Tan Sedge – #16 – 18 – Glossosoma sp.
Green Caddis – #16 – Ryacophilia sp.
Tan Caddis #16 – 18 – Hydropsyche spp.

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update: