Fly Fishing Report for the Upper Delaware and Catskill Rivers

Mid September Action

Over the last several weeks the Fly Fishing conditions have continued to improve.

Fall is in the air and recently our weather has ranged from pretty cold to hot and humid. There is some color change in the mountains and leaves are already falling. Yesterday leaves were falling all day.

Right now anglers can expect to find action with Dry Flies, Nymphs and Streamer flies. The Dry Fly fishing is reliable every day. The video below shows some recent action.

The regular rainfall this September has all of our rivers far above their normal historical flow rates. The latest round of rain which began yesterday afternoon and continued through this morning should spike the rivers upward. This spike in flow should wash out in a few days.

Currently anglers on foot will find the fishing access to be challenging. The Beaverkill, Willowemoc and Upper East Branch of the Delaware have been the best bet. They are fishing well at high water conditions. The West Branch Delaware, Main Delaware River and Lower East branch have been the Domain of Drift Boats all month. They will most likely remain that way for a while.

Now is the time to book a float trip with our guide staff. Most days we can find rising fish throughout the day.

The Insect hatches have not changed much. Isonychia, Cahills, Sulfurs, Caddisflies and Terrestrials are on the water in varying numbers. Blue Wing Olives are the main hatch and will remain the staple in the trouts diet until winter sets in. With the high water the Trout have been pretty easy. They don't have time to look the flies over so the catching is good.

If you plan on fishing stop by the shop and we will set you up with the correct fly patterns.

With the spike in water the nymph fishing will be tough but we should see a good streamer bite kick in. Yesterday we had some action with streamers before the hatch go going. With the higher water some areas may have some turbidity. Currently the West and Main Stem are off color. The Beamoc Waters and Lower East are also cloudy. The Upper East is clear.

In the Murky stuff the larger flies in dark colors will draw attention. As the waters clear downsize the flies and use more transparent imitations. Yesterday our fish came on this pattern in the gin clear Upper East.

As I mentioned the best opportunity for wading is in the Beaverkill and Willowemoc. We have a few young guides that have been apprenticing with us all summer and they have been hitting these waters hard on foot. Over the last week they have been working the river over with streamers and nymphs when the water is lower.

The streamer bite is good. There have been a few days where they have been running the numbers up. The best action has been early and late day. Woolly Buggers and other baitfish imitations in the 3" and smaller range are working best.

The nymphing is good whenever you can get good wading access to the heads of pools and the pocket water. Generic Bead Head nymphs and our Ice Pupas are a great choice to feed them. Right now most of the fish are on the smaller side. Some larger Trout have been in the mix and these have mostly been the streamer eaters.

Below is a fish from Guide Luc's trip over the weekend. The pocket water nymphing is always great through the end of October.

Now is the time to give us a call to book a float or wade trip with our guide staff. Before you know it the super hot action of October will be upon us. Our guide staff will be available for Upper Delaware trout fishing through November.

Call today 607-290-4022

I will be back in Florida around the first of November. The area where I guide is not in the area of the Red Tide blooms that dominated Florida news over the last few months. I am expecting another great winter of chasing gamefish around the flats and back country.

I am now taking bookings for the winter season. The November fishing is always great. During this month a lot of the fishing is for fish busting on bait. This is exciting action on the fly. Normally these November and early December trips produce a mixed bag with Jacks, Mackerel, Bonito, Ladyfish, Bluefish and Spotted Trout.

From December through April our main targets are Snook, Redfish and Spotted Trout. Visit our Tampa Bay page for the details.