Delaware River Report / Conditions July 8, 2016

We did get hit hit by a brief heavy storm yesterday that was followed by a half hour or so of steady light rain.  The rain felt good but we’ve been so dry most of it soaked into the ground.  The river flows bumped slightly and quickly fell back to their pre-storm level.  Water clarity is fine this morning.  The West Branch remains in great shape for both floating and wading and is only starting off 10 cfs higher than yesterday at Hale Eddy.  We are still fishing the mid-day sulphur hatch on the upper West Branch.  Some pools are fishing better than others so if you’re not seeing fish move around a bit.  Areas that get afternoon shade are definitely worth a close look.  Nymphing was productive during the day on the lower West Branch and a few people were able to find fish willing to eat a blind casted isonychia in the riffles.  Some of the sulphurs are getting smaller so start to carry some #20s.  We are are also seeing fish ignoring the sulphurs and eating the tiny #22 – 24 olives.
The weather should be cooler today with air temperatures reaching the mid-80’s.  Winds should be nothing with gusts around 4 mph.  We do have a chance of some late afternoon thunderstorms but those have been spotty at best.  Bring your rain coat just in case.

Larry’s West Branch brown yesterday. Photo by Michael Brewer

Hatching:
Slate Drake – 12-2xl- Isonychia bicolor
Sulphur – #16-18 – E dorothea
Light Cahill – #14 – 16 – S. ithaca & canadense
Tiny Blue Winged Olive – #22 – 26 – Psuedocloeon spp.
Blue Winged Olive – #18 – 20 – E. lata
Light Blue Winged Olive – #16 – 20 E. attenuatta
Tan Caddis – #16 – 20 – Hydropsyche spp.
Dark Brachycentrus sp. – #14 – 18 – Dark Grannom
Little Black Caddis #18 – 20 – Chimarra sp.
Blue Winged Olives #16 – 18 – Baetis vagans (updated name: Baetis tricaudatus)