Delaware River Report / Conditions April 16, 2012

Perfect dry fly weather yesterday! Overcast, cool, with a high humidity and a few passing showers. Bugs and fish were pretty cooperative throughout the system, the only exception being the relatively short spinner fall in the evening – instead of lasting well into dark, it cut off around 6:30 or so. Today is the day we have dreaded all season, however. Projected highs in the mid 80s, with bright sun, preceded by a warm night that didn’t drop below 55. The rivers are going to cook, no way to sugar coat it. We are hoping for clouds and thunderstorms in the late afternoon to keep them from going up TOO high into the 60s. I expect that there will be a rush of bugs and feeding this morning in anticipation of whats to come, but the bright sun and heat will likely shut both bugs and fish down until the evening, and maybe beyond. Let’s keep our fingers crossed!

A nice Main Stem Brown caught by Steve Shen on his day off. Photo by: Bob Lewis

Hatches:

Ephemerella subvaria – Hendricksons – #12 & #14

Paraleptophlebia adoptiva (Blue Quill) – #16 & #18

Light Brachycentrus Caddis – Apple Green – #16 & #18

Dark Brachycentrus Caddis – Charcoal – #16 & #18

Baetis species – #20

Chimmarra (little black) Caddis – #18 & #20