Delaware River Report / Conditions September 13, 2015

We have some sad news to share this morning.  Yesterday we lost our dear friend Sandy Bing.  Many of you have probably seen Sandy on the river over the years, mostly standing on his favorite rock in Homepool.  That’s where he earned the nickname “The Great Grey Heron” for his patience and precision.   Sandy loved the Delaware and was deeply involved in the fight for better releases.  He will be missed.

Yesterday’s rain kicked off the olives (#20 – 26) and we had decent hatching for most of the afternoon.  The fish responded and were happy eating on top.  We had reports of a lot of small fish feeding but some people were able to find some decent fish.  Despite the constant rain yesterday most of the rivers in the system didn’t budge overnight.  The West Branch remains at a decent level for wading and floating.  The clarity is fine.  The cooler night and rain also dropped the water temperatures on the upper Mainstem and lower East Branch.  Both of those rivers are starting off in the low 60’s this morning.  We should have cloud cover today with a few minor showers.  The precipitation totals should be negligible.

Sandy Bing getting it done on the West Branch a few years ago

Hatching:
Slate Drake #12 – Isonychia bicolor
Sulphur #18-20 – E. dorothea
Tricos #22 – 26 – Tricorythodes sp.
Light Cahills #14 – various steno species (invaria, etc)
Tiny Blue Wing Olives #22-26 – Pseudo sp. (now classified as Acentrella sp.)
Charcoal Caddis #14 -16 – dark Brachycentrus sp.
Tan Caddis #16-18 – Hydrosyche sp.
Blue Winged Olives #16 – 18 – Baetis sp.
Flying ants #16-24