Fly Fishing Report for the Upper Delaware and Catskill Rivers
Weekend Outlook
A great Wild Rainbow for Mike Gartland. Tis beauty too a #18 nymph in a pothole surrounded by 6" deep water.
Cooler weather combined with overcast skies has led to some great action over the last few days. The Upper Delaware trout know the days are getting shorter and they are feeding at every opportunity.
Over the next few days we are expecting cooler nights with warm daytime highs, around 70 degrees.
River conditions vary greatly on our local rivers. At Cannonsville Reservoir the big YO-YO release into the West Branch continues. The rivers flow is a crap shoot each day and today they chose to go with low water. There is a paltry 282 cfs. release. after it being 800 cfs.+ then 500 cfs+ the fish must be running for cover.
The other rivers are all fishing well at low water conditions. Over the next few days anglers can expect to have unlimited wade access on the Beaverkill, Willowemoc, East Branch and Main Stem.
Our guides have been spread out around the system this week and most reports have been good.
The Beamoc waters are low and you can hit every run and pool. The fish are hungry and a combination of Nymphing and Dry Fly will get you fish. Yesterday we had guests on the Beaverkill and they fished big Dry Flies blind. They had steady action from mostly 12" range WIld Rainbows. These fun size Bows are abundant in every riffle and are eager to eat.
The Upper East continues to operate on it's timeless schedule. There are insects and trout eating them daily. The water is cold, low, clear, barely moving in the pools and a bitch to fool a mature wild trout in. If the flow remains in the 80 to 250 cfs. range you will need to be near flawless in your presentations. For those who love this challenge it's game on.
The Main Stem has been fishing well every day but she has been fickle due to the Yo-Yo release on the West branch. Every day we have been hooking up lots of big wild fish. When, where and how has been different every day. There is currently varying turbidity each day and how it fishes depends on clarity. Every day I have been searching for clear water during the non hatch periods. The last 2 days have been heavier turbidity so I have been finding fish in the clear water that is knee deep or less. Yesterday we had hot action long line nymphing in the flats that were on average 6" to 8" deep. When the bugs come we have been moving to the pools and especially the tailouts of the pools. I have not had a bad day on the Main in quite a while.
Right now the bigger bugs are fading away. There are a few Isonychia but they are fading fast. The giant October Caddisfly is about but after that it is all Blue WIng Olives, Midges ad a mixed bag of smaller caddisflies.
We have been mixing it up between several Olive patterns and Rusty spinners each day. The Trout are not real fussy especially when the water is off color.
If you are planning to fish in the coming days stop by the shop. We will set you up with the flies that are working well.
If you would like to get out for a trip give us a call at 607-290-4022
