Upper Delaware Fly Fishing Report
SUNDAY
Yesterday afternoon and last night some thunder storms moved through the region again. The overall amount of rain was light and it has had little effect on the river flows. It did however bring the temperatures down a bit.
There is rainfall in the forecast for the next 48 hours and hopefully more will fall on the Upper Delaware region.
At this time all Upper Delaware rivers including the tailwater are at temperature sensitive ranges. Anglers who are practicing catch and release should be monitoring water temperatures.
Our guides have been fishing at daybreak and having our guests off of the water by early afternoon. This is a good plan until the waters cool down a bit.
At this time our best choice is still the Beaverkill and Willowemoc. Both have great hatches and cooler water. Anglers should however be aware of temps. in the lower Beaverkill. Green Drakes and a host of other insects are on the water.
River Flow Table
Beaverkill - 272 cfs.
Wilowemoc - 225cfs.
Upper East Branch -143 cfs
Lower East Branch - 542 cfs.
West Branch - 261 cfs.
Main Stem -1100 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. At this time even the Upper River has questionable water temps. Hopefully the forecast rainfall will help out.
The Lower East is in the same boat. Very low water for the time of year. The conditions ar just OK for morning fishing.
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 when insects are present.
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.
When we are fishing the Main Stem we are doing so at daybreak or fishing for Smallmouth Bass and Shad as an alternative.
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.
