Delaware River Report

Monday, June 28

Quick Report: Sulphurs, blue-wing olives and caddis continue to provide good flyfishing action on the Delaware fishery, despite continuing hot weather. The Cannonsville Dam on the West Branch is now releasing 445 cfs, and river temperatures range from the low 50s to about 60 degrees. Minimal release on the East Branch, and low flows on the Main Stem. Fishing is best during the early morning and late evening.

Dear Flyfisher:

We continued to pick up some good fish during the week, although the sizzling hot weather and bright blue skies made day-time fishing slow. Mos of our top-water action – except for afternoon sulphurs on the upper reaches of the West Branch – occurred during the early morning or late evening.

I guided a group of Connecticut flyfishers for most of the week, who quickly learned about the magic of "the golden hour" on the Main Stem – that period just before dark when big fish start sipping spinners and tiny duns from the river’s surface. We picked up eight good fish one evening, which is a tribute to their fishing abilities and the river’s continued productivity.

Evening fishing can be challenging, particularly in the large, slow-moving pools where big browns and rainbows can take a long look at what they’re about to eat. Your presentation to the fish, followed by an absolutely dead drift, are critical to success. Without them, it can be an arm-wearying and frustrating evening.

I’ve seen a good number of flyfishers who have been beaten down by this type of fishing. While they see trout rising, they get caught up in a constant and losing game of switching flies and long, flailing casts. It’s the wrong combination. What’s needed is a good, soft presentation and a drag-free drift. And, frankly, if you get both of those, it really doesn’t matter too much what fly you have tied to the end of your tippet.

This isn’t easy fishing. But, for those who can master it, fishing the evening rise on a slow-moving pool can be one of flyfishings’ most exciting experiences. If you haven’t tried it, you’re missing out on an experience that could produce a lifetime memory.

As usual, the water releases from the Cannonsville and Pepacton reservoirs remain a mystery until they happen. Over the weekend, the Cannonsville was pumping over a 1,000 cfs into the West Branch, driving temperatures into the 40s. This morning, the release had been cut back to 445 cfs. The East Branch is starved for water, with only a minimal release. That tends to limit fishing only to the river’s upper reaches, where the 145 cfs release is good enough to bring down water temperature for a mile or two. Below that, the water temperature scales into the high 60s and low 70s.

The story is about the same for the Delaware’s Main Stem, which depends on the flow from the two tailwater rivers. The flow at Calicoon was just 674 cfs, well below normal. And, water temperatures climbed into the 70s. That means that fishing the Main Stem is largely limited to its upper reaches, roughly between Hancock and Buckingham.

Despite the warm weather and the drought that has afflicted the Northeast, we continue to score well, and would love the opportunity to guide you on this splendid year-round fishery. With the cool water releases from the dams, the summer months provide some great fishing that is lost on streams that must depend on a natural flow.

In the coming week, we expect to see one of the summer’s staples emerge on the rivers -- tricos. Trout love ‘em, and if you’ve never tried fishing this fly, you’ll love ‘em, too. Give me a call or drop me an e-mail and we’ll set up a date.

Adrian