Upper Delaware Fly Fishing Report

SATURDAY

This weekend visiting anglers will find all Upper Delaware river to be in really good shape. The recent rainfall and cooler weather has improved fishing conditions everywhere.

Over the last few days our guides have had the option of choosing from multiple locations with great water flows and solid water temperatures. During that time our guests have had some great opportunity with a variety of fly fishing methods.

Starting tonight thers is more rainfall in our forecast which should produce even better conditions for next week if they are accurate.

Recently our guides have been covering a lot of water. Yesterday we had boats on the East, West and several sections of the Main Stem Delaware. On every beat there was good fishing. The Trout are active at this time and they are taking advantage of any time there is an accumulation of insects on the water.

Nymphing is still very productive and we have been taking some huge Brown Trout on streamers despite the clear water conditions.

Below are a few photos from Sam's float on the West Branch

River Flow Table

Beaverkill -437cfs.

Wilowemoc - 320 cfs.

Upper East Branch -349 cfs

Lower East Branch -1210 cfs.

West Branch - 692 cfs.

Main Stem -2330 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

The INSECTS

Currently there are Golden Drakes, Cornuta Olives Green Drakes, Brown Drakes, Isonychia, 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.

THE FLIES

Today's Upper Delaware Fly Selection- Cornuta Olives,Olive Knock Down Duns, Green Drake Cripples, Baxter House Hackle Wing Spinners, Iso Spinner, Hackle WIng Rusty Spinners, Sulfurs,Sulfur 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 Articulated Flies, Streamers of 3" or less will be most effective at this time.

The RIVERS

Currently there is no bad choice of water in the Upper Delaware System. We actually have better conditions now than earlier in the spring.

The Beaverkill and Willowemoc are in great shape. The flows are in a nice place and anglers should have plenty of options. The best action on the surface is early and late in the day. Nymphing is consistent all day long in the riffles. Now is an excellent time to to fish a stimulator with a a pair of nymphs dropped below.

The East Branch is fishing well. I have been on this river a few days recently. There are good amounts of Sulfurs during the day and the Trout are feeding sporadically. The evenings have been excellent with multiple species of Mayflies and Spinners drawing steady attention from the Trout. Streamer fishing has been productive here.

The West Branch has been crowded but the fishing has been decent. The action is with Olives and Sulfurs from mid day on.

The Main Stem is flowing well. There is some nice action whenever insects are present. There are Isonychia and Yellow Drakes on the water in sparse numbers throughout the afternoon and the Trout are looking for these larger meals. Now is a good time to prospect the water with an oversized Iso or Drake pattern. There has been very crazy feeding action right at and after dark.

Nymphing and Streamers will take their share of fish during the non hatch times.

The Smallmouth Bass action is now heating up in the lower river. We have been taking some nice Bass recently. Most of the larger bass have come on Woolly Buggers and small Atriculated Sculpin type patterns.

We are now taking reservations for Guided Smallmout Bass and Evening Hatch Trout trips for the months of July and August. Give the fly shop a call today for details! 607-290-4022