Upper Delaware Fly Fishing Report

WEDNESDAY

Fishing conditions in the Upper Delaware remain good for the date. The recent rainfall has all of our rivers in good condition.

The Upper Delaware Trout fishing is now in transition. The larger insects of spring are quickly becoming a memory and for the next 2 months most of the Dry Fly fishing will be with Sulfurs, Olives, Tricos, Midges and Terrestrials. This is a very steady time of year. Both the insects and the Trout fall into a daily routine that does not vary much from day to day.

At this time of year we still offer both full and half day trips for Trout. Most of this fishng is on the West Branch and Upper Main Stem. Full day trips are a mix of nymphing and fishing the evening hatch with dry flies. We also have evening hatch float trips that put you on the water at the exact time for fishing to rising Trout. These evening trips will be availble through the end of August. We are also now offering both Full and Half day floats for Smallmouth Bass. These trips are on the Main Stem Delaware and are full of action. We target Smallies with bot Fly Rods and Ultra Light Spinning rods.

Yesterday I fished the West Branch for the first time in a while. The fishing was pretty good and we had action on both nymphs and dry flies. There was a mix of insects throughout the afternoon and evening. The main staple was large and small Sulfurs but there were some larger insects at times. The larger insects were Isonychia, Steno's and Yellow Drakes. The larger insects were not on the water in mass. Overall the action was steady.

Here is our best Trout of the day which was taken on a Sulfur Cripple right at dark.

We have also been targeting certain water with streamer flies at time and below is a nice Rainbow from Ricks Trip on Tuesday

Recently our guides have been covering a lot of water. Recently we have had boats on the East, West and several sections of the Main Stem Delaware. Currently there is something for everyone. Just about every technique for taking a trout with the fly rod is possible at this time.

River Flow Table

Beaverkill 720 cfs.

Wilowemoc - 505 cfs.

Upper East Branch -337 cfs

Lower East Branch -1500 cfs.

West Branch - 616 cfs.

Main Stem -2950 cfs.

The INSECTS

Currently there are Yellow 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 Sulfurs and Olives are now the Main Staple in the Trout's diet. The larger insects are only on the water at times and rarely in large numbers

THE FLIES

Today's Upper Delaware Fly Selection- Cornuta Olives,Olive Knock Down Duns, Sulfur Knock Down Duns, 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 currently dropping into a very nice flow range. 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 a bit less crowded now and should remain so throughout the summer. The action is with Olives and Sulfurs from mid day on. The West currently has a release of 500 cfs and it is at a good fishing flow for wade or boat anglers.

Our guides are now fisihng the West both full day and evening hatch floats. Our first few floats here have been decentpretty good. OUr guests have been taking some nice trout on both nymphs and dry flies.

The Main Stem is flowing heavy from the recent rainfall. At the current flow drift boat anglers will have lots of options. Wade anglers will be a bit limited for a few days.

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. The Main Staple in the Trouts diet is still Sulfurs and Olives and this should carry through the summer.

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