Upper Delaware Fly FIshing Report

HIGH WATER CONDITIONS and the STREAMER BITE!

This morning dawned bright and sunny but with a heavy frost. The crisp cold is expected to depart rapidly as some warm weather is moving in. BY afternoon we are forecast for 60 degrees. The remainder of the week is forecast to be sunny with 70 degree days. This should improve the fishing conditions quickly.

Currently the local rivers are starting to come down a bit. Here are the current slows

EAST BRANCH DELAWARE RIVER AT HARVARD NY 3,910

BEAVER KILL AT COOKS FALLS NY 1,800

EAST BRANCH DELAWARE RIVER AT FISHS EDDY NY 6,110

WEST BRANCH DELAWARE RIVER AT HALE EDDY NY 5,280

DELAWARE RIVER AT LORDVILLE NY 13,700

DELAWARE RIVER AT CALLICOON NY 13,800

For the next few days the system will be best fished with drift boats. At the current flows only experienced river runners should be out there. Wade anglers will find limited access at this time.

There is bank and light wading opportunity along the Willowemoc and Beaverkill. The other rivers will need to come down a bit. If you are heading out use a wading staff and please be careful.

At this time the West Branch is spilling over at Cannonsville Reservoir. There are alewife spilling into the West Branch for the first time in long while.

Pepacton is now spilling over into the East Branch as well. This could also produce a wash of alewife into the river but we have not seen any yet.

This coming week should be a good week for streamer fishing. We have a few openings for float trips if you want to get out. Anglers planning to fish will do best choosing large streamer patterns fished very slowly in the deeper pools.

Alewife patterns should also produce in the East and West branches. Alewife are small silver sided fish that are normally 3" - 5". I like white and silver and Grey and white. Some flash is always good on sunny days. We have several patterns in stock that will imitate these well.

Anglers who have never fished the Alewife spill should note that the typical cast and strip method might not work well. I have always had the best results fishing these patterns almost dead drift with just enough stripping to pulse the fly occasionally. The strikes almost always come on the pause.

Floating line is best for this type of fishing as it allows you to mend and sink your fly directly into the areas you expect to find the Trout. It is also worth mentioning that your need to be fishing your bait fish patterns right along the river bottom. The Trout are cold and they will not chase very far at this time.

I always tell my guests that you need to be in the bottom 1/3 of the water column to have a shot. Anglers need to mend their line frequently until this depth is reached. It is best to not move the fly at all until you are near the bottom.

If you would like to get out for a streamer trip this week give us a call 607-290-4022. If you are heading out on foot stop by for some killer streamer patterns.