Upper Delaware Fly Fishing Report
THURSDAY
Yesterday afternoon and last night some thunder storms moved through the region. Some of the storms were heavy. The heaviest rainfall was very localized and most of it fell around Roscoe. The Beaverkill and Willowemoc were most effected and this morning they are high with some turbidity. The heavy flows in the Beamoc will directly effect the Lower East Branch and the Main Stem for a few days. Currently the river temps. in these rivers are in the low to mid 60's.
Most other river sections had a small gain in flow but nothing major.
There is a 60% chance of additional thunder storms passing through the region again this afternoon.
This morning we have a few options for floating our guests. Both the Lower East Branch and Main Stem now have enough water for some quality fishing.
Currently the big bugs are on the water and the Trout are getting fat. Over the last few floats my guests have been fishing huge green drake patterns and having solid action. The fish are now conditioned to looking for the big stuff and blind casting is hot. We have had our guests fishing every fast water section with Green Drake Cripple patterns. This technique has been producing steady action.
Right now the nymph action is very good. Our guests have been taking good fish on dries but they have been running the numbers up on nymphs.
Right now a nymph rig with 3 flies fished under a float is deadly. Over the last few days I have been setting up my rigs as follows. A BH March Brown followed by a smaller BH pheasant tail or bh soft hackle followed by either an Ice Pupa or Pheasant tail. The last flie should be a #16 or #18 at this time. All of these flies are tied in line and fished abour 2.5 to 3 feet below the indicator. At this time you want your flies suspended in the water column not on the bottom.
River Flow Table
Beaverkill - 1020 cfs.
Wilowemoc - 599 cfs.
Upper East Branch -162 cfs
Lower East Branch - 1340 cfs.
West Branch - 274 cfs.
Main Stem -1380 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 Green Drakes, March Browns, Sulfurs, Stoneflies, Caddisflies and more emerging from all Upper Delaware Rivers. There is good spinner activity most nights. Anglers should now target the areas around the faster riffles and pocket water. Most of the insects that are emerging now are fast water dwellers and all of the late day spinner activity will happen in these same areas.
Today's Upper Delaware Fly Selection
March Brown Cripples, Green Drake Cripples, Baxter House Coffin Fly, Kens Coffin fly, Hackle Wing March Brown Spinner, Hackle WIng Rusty Spinners, 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 well at low water conditions. Both rivers have excellent wading access at this time.
This is one of my favorite times to fish these waters. The insect hatches are now transitioning to species that thrive in the faster riffles and pocket water. The Beamoc waters are perfect for these insects! Over the next 4 weeks anglers should have no problem finding active insects and Trout.
March Browns, Green Drakes and Sulfurs are on the water. 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.
The nymphing is excellent. The best tactic for the Beamoc water is high sticking in the Pocket water. At this time the Pocket Water and Riffles are full of fish.
EAST BRANCH
The East is very low and looking pretty sad in a lot of places.
The Green Drakes are emerging and this is a spectacle on this river every year. With the low water and lack of reservoir release there iis not much quality in the fishing.
We really need some rainfall on this river soon.
The Lower East is in the same boat. Very low water for the time of year. The conditions here however are a bit better due to the water from the Beaverkill entering at East Branch.
Wading access is unlimited at this time.
Anyone fishing the East should be aware of the water temperatures and avoid catch and release fishing when it is over 70 degrees.
WEST BRANCH
The West is at low water conditions. There is a lot of weeds and algae in the drift.
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.
Hendrickson's are still on the water especially in the upper section. There are also Caddisflies, March Browns and Sulfurs.
MAIN STEM
The Main Stem is low and getting to thermally challenged levels again. We are still fishing and floating some sections with great results. Anglers should be aware of water temps. especially late in the day.
The nymph action on the Main Stem is excenllent at this time. Our guests have been hooking up with wild rainbows in most every riffle that we fish. Over the last week we have easily had double digit catches daily.
The Upper River will continue to be a daily parade of drift boats especially on the Buckingham stretch. This should continue through mid June.
Green Drakes, Stoneflies, March Browns, Sulfurs and Olives are on the water in solid numbers. The fish are feeding well whenever insects are present.
