Upper Delaware Fly Fishing Report
Fall is in the air in the Catskills!
Over the last few days cooler weather has settled into the Upper Delaware and Catskill Regions.
The fishing has responded to the weather in a positive way in most places.
Currently all of our local rivers are running cold. The current water temperatures are perfect for both insects and trout to be active. We are however a bit challenged in some places with low water conditions.
The Beaverkill, Willowemoc and Lower East Branches are very low and despite the good temperatures the Trout remain vulnerable due to the lack of habitat. At the current flows these rivers are barely moving. Good fishing will return as soon as some significant rainfall occurs. Until then I do not endorse any catch and release fishing for Trout in these waters.
Now the good news.
The Upper East Branch, West Branch and Main Stem are in good conditions for Trout fishing. There is currently a good release from Cannonsville and the Main Delaware is cold as far down river as you want to go. Yesterday our guides were all out with Smallmout Bass floats and we had water temps of 60 degrees down to Narrowsburg.
Prior to yesterday I had been out most every day for Trout and the action is good.
Below are some recent photos
Anglers planning to fish in the coming days should find pleasant cooler weather and mountain that are already showing their autumn colors.
There are solid numbers of insects on the water. Not much change yet as anglers will still have Isonychia, Sulfurs, Cahills, Olives, Caddisflies and Flying Ants.
The cool weather olives have not yet started so the best activity is still late day. The non hatch period nymph fishing is excellent. At this time you can run the numbers up if you target the correct water types. My guests have been fishing long line indicator and high stick indicator methods. The best flies by far have been Ice Caddis Pupa and Small Pheasant Tails. Currently the best nymph action remains in the mid to upper water columns.
All of my recent trips have had steady hookups with big rainbows on nymphs. At the current temperatures the Trout are hot and difficult to handle in the riffle water.
Anglers who want to get out for a great day of Trout fishing should give us a call. We are quickly filling up the prime dates in October and early November. 607-290-4022