Upper Delaware Fly Fishing Report

Sunday

River Flow Table

Beaverkill - 820 cfs.

Wilowemoc - 540cfs.

Upper East Branch -245 cfs

Lower East Branch - 1310 cfs.

West Branch - 460 cfs.

Main Stem - 3160 cfs.

Our fly shop is now open daily. We are fully stocked with the essentials and the best local fly patterns in the area. If you are planning to fish and want to get the scoop on what's happening on all area rivers, stop in. Our guides will be in and around the shop from 8:30 am until they leave for their trips. You can pick their brains on the latest hatches, techniques and locations. Our staff will be available to you on a daily basis from now through the end of June

This morning we have a pretty heavy frost in the mountains. Hopefully this will be our last one. The sun is out and we are expecting another bright sunny day. Yesterday was beautiful and it did a lot for the insects and rivers. Yesterday was also the first day where I saw a few hendrickson's mixed in with the Quill Gordons and other insects.

At this time the fishing is pretty good if you are targeting the correct water. All of our guides did well yesterday. Most of the action was on nymphs but there was a steady supply of takes. I will post some photos after the weekend.

All Upper Delaware Rivers except the Upper East Branch and West Branch are running high. With fairly normal spring conditions. All Upper Delaware waters are still colder than their historical average for today's date. The fishing remains slow overall but we have been taking some impressive trout through persistence and targeting the correct places.

Yesterday was a another good BUG day. The rivers continue to pump out more bugs each day and in some areas the Blue Quills and Quill Gordons are emerging in solid numbers. There were even a few hendrickson's popping on the Main Stem late yesterday afternoon.

Today we are forecast for a warm sunny day. Tomorrow looks like some more snow squalls before giving way to bright sun for the rest of the week. This is a forecast for more bugs.

Currently conditions are still good for fising from boat or on foot. For wade anglers the Upper East and Upper West branches have the best wading opportunity at the current flows. These rivers also have the most reliable insect activity at this time. The East is too low for drift boats and the West is getting marginal for floating.

There are Stoneflies, Midges, Smalle Caddis, Blue Quills and Quill Gordons and Hendrickson's on the water. All of these insects are emerging in higher numbers each day. At this time several sections of river are pumping out enough bugs to draw attention. Some warm water is all that is needed for the river environment to switch gears.

Today's Upper Delaware Fly Selection

Blue Quill CDC Duns, Quill Gordon Cripples, Hendrickson Knock Down Duns, Hendrickson Cripples, Red Quill Cripples, Elk Over CDC Caddis, X Caddis, Peacock Klinkhammers

BH Copper Johns, BH Pheasant Tails, Ice Caddis, KT Pupas, BH Stoneflies, Flash Back Pheasant Tails, Cased Caddis

Small Zonkers, BH Wooly Buggers , Sculpins, Bottom Wigglers, Muddlers, Small Atriculated Flies

Streamers of 3" or less will be most effective at this time.

BEAVERKILL AND WILLOWEMOC

Both the Beaverkill and Willow are fishing decent under normal spring high water conditions. Both are cold with some color in the deeper pools. The Willow has more fishable water at this time. Both have had their first stocking of Trout from the state and most anglers are doing very well on Nymphs and Streamers.

In a few days both should be low enough for some sustained surface feeding to be possible. Currently there are sporadic risers here and there. If you are specifically looking for surface activity the best places will be the areas of slower water that historically hold lots of fish. A good starting point and a good reference is to check Hazel Bridge and Cairns Pool. If there is rising activity there then most similar pools should offer you action.

EAST BRANCH

The Upper East is currently the most wader friendly stretch of water at this time. There are the beginnings of decent Mayfly activity and sporadic rising activity. This section of river is on the verge of being good.

The last few days despite the lousy weather and snow squlls Quill Gordons have been emerging well!

The streamer fishing is decent but you have to be persistent and work the water. The Trout are still cold. The later portion of the day has been best.

The Lower East is in the same boat as the Beaverkill and WIllow. Fishing well under spring conditions.

We had 2 boats out yesterday and both had good steady action with nymph rigs. Our guests had some really nice fish come to net yesterday.

Most of the fish came on our Caddis Pupa patterns.

WEST BRANCH

We had boats on the West recently. Both Sam and Zach fished different sections with about the same results. Slow fishing. Yesterday the West had improved insect activity.

Finding risers depends on where you are. Within a few days there should be more widespread surface activity.

The West has some sporadic activity with Caddis, Blue Quills and Quill Gordons. There are risers at times and anglers looking for top water action should seek out the slower protected sections of river. This river is also about to pop. Anglers can expect to hear reports of good fishing here any day now.

Cannonsville Reservoir is now spilling over lightly. This is a good condition as it should bring some warmer water into the stream.

MAIN STEM

The Main Stem is still very high and cold. The waters are mostly clear at this time but the deeper pools have that springtime green color.. The flows are now getting to decent fishable levels.

I Saw some heavy insect activity at times yesterday especially late in the day. (after 6:00 pm)

There were many different insects in the air and on the water. There are lots of Stonefilies about. There are also Caddisflies, Blue Quills, Quill Gordons, Hendricksons and Midges. Rising Trout are still very sporadic and not quite on yet but that should change quickly.

The Main has decent nymphing if you are able to get your flies into the slow seams and pockets.

This river is also on the verge of getting good fast.

Now is the time to give us a call if you want to get out with our guides in the month of May. If you would like to get out give us a call in the fly shop. 607-290-4022.