Delaware River Report / Conditions July 8, 2012

I don’t get to say this too often, and I do try to avoid it, but today I can’t resist – you should’ve been here yesterday! The weathermen could not have been more wrong in their forecast, and it worked out to the benefit of everyone on the river yesterday. Rain early, coupled with overcast skies to keep the nuclear hot (ha-ha) sun off the water led to fantastic hatches from just after 12PM on, well until 8:30 or so in the evening. The fish seemed a bit less picky than they have been as of late, and the only real issue was the thick, THICK fog resultant from the super-humid air and super-cold water doing the lambada. As for today, the release from Cannonsville is still around 790, but will likely drop in anticipation of the power generation picking up downstream again for the week. Until then, we should have some great hatching still, and today is considered “mostly cloudy” which as you all know, it nothing but a good thing!

Phil Towzell holds a HUGE West Branch Rainbow caught last night in the fog. Realize that Phil is about 6’5″, and has no problem palming a basketball. That fish was THICK! Photo by: Bart Larmouth

Hatches:

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

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

Potomanthus distinctus – Golden Drake – #12-2xl

Stenonema fuscum – Grey Fox – #12-2xl

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

Ephemerella dorthea – Sulphurs – #16

Ephemerella invaria – Large Sulphurs / Light Cahills – #14

Ephemerella cornuta – Light BWO – #14 (sporadic)

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