Delaware River Report / Conditions July 22, 2012

You know, I don’t know who is the all-mighty hand behind the flows, but he needs to make up his mind already!  As of this morning, the release was once again bumped down to around 420 CFS, so hopefully if you’re looking to float today, you don’t have too strong of an attachment to the bottom of your boat. Yesterday ended up being more of the same that we’ve had for most of the summer. The overcast skies in the morning broke away pretty early in the day and remained sunny with some inconsistent clouds to offer some reprieve. However, this made for a not-so stellar hatch during  the day and the evening. But, not even a little bad weather and lack of bugs can prevent a real angler from catching fish! The isos are still your go-to in these kind of conditions and the mid-day sulphur hatch has remained fairly consistent from day to day. Olives have also proven to be useful, since at this point in the season, those fish have quite literally seen everything we can throw at them, especially with the sulphur patterns. And, for the truly adventurous out there, the pseudos and tricos have been seen(or not been seen) in the morning if you’re carrying your 7x and have eyes much better than mine.  Today is probably going to be similar to yesterday, but the weatherman is predicting thunderstorms this afternoon. I’ve learned not to get my hopes up.

A nice little football that fell victim to an iso. Check out the white on his fins! Photo by: Jim Swift

Hatches:

Epeorus vitreus – Pale Evening Dun – (Female) -#14

Epeorus vitreus – Light Cahill – (Male)- #14

Potomanthus distinctus – Golden Drake – #12-2xl

Isonychia bicolor – Isos – #12-2XL and BIGGER!

Ephemerella dorthea – Sulphurs – #16

Ephemerella invaria – Large Sulphurs / Light Cahills – #14

Ephemerella deficiens–  Dark. BWO -#12-20

Ephemerella attenuata- Light BWO- #16-20

Ephemerella pseudocloeon– Tiny BWO- #22-26

Hydropsyche- Tan Caddis- #18

Ryacophilia- Olive Caddis- #16

Baetis species – #18 & #20