Al with a Delaware River Rainbow

River Report - October 13, 2011.

All branches continue to drop to reasonable flows. the WB release continues at 1550 due to the unpopular FFMP release plan. Hopefully, we will get a better plan installed before the 2012 season, one that will include a 600 cfs min. release at  Cannonsville on the WB from April 1 through Sept 30. Due to the high flow and murky water there is little hatching activity and dry fly fishing on the WB but streamer fishing is fair to good.

The EB is clear and continues to drop, however, it is still a little high for good fishing for this time of the year with the light Fall hatching activity. The lower the water the more effective the hatching for dry fly fishing when hatches are light.

I was on the river yesterday with my friend Dave and we hooked 4 rainbows, 2 decent ones. The relatively high water diluted the hatches of Psuedo's, Iso's and small Stenos,  so that the rises were few and far between. Hopefully, this will increase as the water drops further, hopefully this weekend.

The Main Stem conditions are somewhere in between the 2 branches with sporadic hatching and occasional rises. Light rain is predicted for the next few days, hopefully it won't raise the river much.

Click here to learn how to tie a Hi Viz Isonychia parachute

Current Flows and Temps  - (scroll down for links to the gages and reservoir levels)

West Branch at Walton -452 cfs  (Reservoir Inflow)
West Branch at Stilesville  - 1550 cfs  58 - 59 F
West Branch at Hale Eddy  - 1720 cfs  58 - 61 F West Branch at Hancock    58 -  60 F
East Branch at Harvard  -   877 cfs   47 - 50 F
East Branch at Fishs Eddy  1470 cfs  51 - 54 F      
Mainstem at Lordville  -  3350 cfs    57- 59 F
Mainstem at Callicoon  -  3480 cfs   57 - 60 F
Beaverkill at Cooks Falls - 430 cfs   temp unavail.    

Note: see all the pertinent flow gages on the upper Delaware River system listed below, as well as the current percentage of the reservoir capacities so just click on! 

- Click Below for up to the minute flows and water temps. West Branch's Walton Gauge  (Reservoir Inflow) West Branch's Stilesville Gauge West Branch's Hale Eddy Gauge West Branch's Hancock Gauge Beaverkill's Cooks Falls Gauge East Branch's Harvard Gauge East Branch's Fish's Eddy Gauge Main Stem's Lordville Gauge Main Stem's Callicoon Gauge Current Reservoir Levels Maps Delaware River Basin Storage Graphs

Hatches:  

Slate Drakes #12, #10  (Isonychia bicolor)

Little Blue Winged Olive #22, # 26 (Pseudos)

Smaller Stenos #16, #14

Charcoal Caddis #16-18 (Dk Brachycentrus sp))

October Caddis #8 - #10

Heptagenia hebe #18 - #20

Various small Ephemerella species, mostly slate wings and dark bodies #16-22

For more information please refer to: Al Caucci's Online Match the Hatch Chart

Click here for my 2011 Delaware River Trout photos. 

Click here for my 2010 Delaware River Trout photos. 

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Click here to learn about guided fishing packages on the Delaware

Fish with your thermometer to find the best hatching temperature. The size of these fish make the West Branch one of the top wild trout rivers in the world for dry fly fishing.

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HOW TO FISH THE WEST BRANCH AT VARIOUS FLOW RATES

200 - when the river drops below 200 cfs, floating is not possible and wading is easy. Fish the areas of moving water as the slow pools can get difficult. The lower stretches can get warm on sunny days.

200-400 - This is a nice level as wading is easy and there is enough flow to keep the river moving. Floating can mean a lot of dragging too. Look for fish in the tails of riffs and in the deeper stretches of pools. Lower stretches can warm up on hot, sunny, summer days.

400-700 - Great wading and floating along the entire river. The whole river stays cool and usually fishes nicely. Look for active fish throughout the river system.

700-1000 - This level is the best of both worlds. There is plenty of water to float and you can wade the river nearly everywhere. At this level look for fish out of the main current.

1000-1500 - At this level floating comes into its own. Wading is still possible in some areas, but floating is easy and gives you the ability to reach all the working fish. You will start to find fish along the banks at this level. The fish will look for slower water in which to position themselves.

1500-2500 - the river really changes character at this level. Wading is really not possible, but floating the river can yield really nice fishing. Fish can be caught on streamers and you need to find surface feeding fish along the banks and back eddies. At this level big browns can be active during the day and will take streamers.

2500+ - At this level floating is possible and fishing can be good. Wading is not possible and is dangerous. Streamers cast to the banks will take fish. Dry fly action is limited.