Upper Delaware Fly Fishing Report
Friday
Weekend Preview
The Upper Delaware rivers are now fishing well with low water conditions. All of our rivers are currently cold and gin clear. The insect hatches are reliable and the trout are feeding well especially towards dark. Last nigh on the section of water where I had my guests we had a heavy spinner fall of March Browns that caused heavy feeding.
Over the next few weeks the larger insects will continue to emerge. We should start to see some Green and Brown Drakes around the 25th give or take a few days.
Below are a few shots of yesterday's action. Our guests had another great day of fishing.
River Flow Table
Beaverkill - 185 cfs.
Wilowemoc - 105cfs.
Upper East Branch -115 cfs
Lower East Branch - 383 cfs.
West Branch -229 cfs.
Main Stem -770 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
Currently there are Hendrickson's, March Browns, Sulfurs and more emerging from all Upper Delaware Rivers. There is good spinner activity every night.
Today's Upper Delaware Fly Selection
March Browns, Sulfurs, Blue Quill CDC Duns, Quill Gordon Cripples, Hendrickson Knock Down Duns, Hendrickson Cripples, Red Quill Cripples, Elk Over CDC Caddis, X Caddis, Peacock Klinkhammers, Apple Caddis, March Brown Duns, March Brown Cripples
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 low water conditions. . Both rivers have excellent wading access at this time and there is very little angler pressure on these waters. At this time the Beaverkill and WIlloemoc are a good choice.
Hendricksons are still emerging and there is good spinner activity late in the day. Apple Caddis and several other species of caddis are also on the Beaverkill in good numbers. These water are excellent for Caddisflies.
March Browns are starting to show up in places and a few sulfurs should be about late in the day. At this time a rusty spinner is a great choice for any fussy fish.
Anglers should nymph early and start looking for risers in mid afternoon.
EAST BRANCH
The East is very low through it's entire length. The Upper River is so low that most places have little current. A release of some rainfall is really needed.
The lower East has decent conditions. The water is low and clear. There are march browns, sulfurs and caddisflies. There is good spinner activity every night.
Fish are getting tough to approach with the very low flows. The East is living up to it's reputation as being a tough dry fly river.
WEST BRANCH
The West is also very low. The insect activity is very good and this river should be bug soup for the next month. Anglers will easily find rising fish at this time.
Angler activity will also be at it's peak over the next month and with the greatly reduced amount of water the Trout are in for a beating. This river really needs some rainfall or an increased release from Cannonsville.
MAIN STEM
With the low water the Main Stem is now handling all of the drift boat anglers over a much reduced area of river. The Upper River is a daily parade of drift boats especially on the Buckingham stretch. The water temperatures are good and the trout are rising.
Despite the heavy pressure the fishing is good. The insect life has been incredible over the last 10 days or so. Both the insects and Trout are now fully established in their daily routines.
March Browns, Sulfurs and Olives are on the water in solid numbers. Yesterday our guests were treated to the heaviest spinner fall of the year. There is also a good amount of Stoneflies and Caddisflies about.
