FLY FISHING REPORTS: New York Fishing Reports: East Branch of the Delaware River

A.M. / P.M.

(Billion Gallons) Cubic Feet Per Second (CFS)

The West Branch has dropped considerably over the last few days making limited wading a possibility. However, floating the river remains the best option for fishing. Streamers have been effective when cast near the bank and quickly retrieved especially from sunrise to approximately nine or 10:00 a.m.. Dry fly action has been limited to early morning and the last hour before dark.

Fishing tactics are similar to the West Branch. Streamers have been working very well and rising fish may be found in the long, flat pools right before dark. The East as well as the West branch are currently suffering form an abundance of water, hot sunny weather, and complete inaction by the NY State DEC and the River master. All week the sun has been baking the surface of the reservoirs. This hot top water then spills over the dam and into the river. The water master could allow water to flow from the bottom of the dam (at 47 degrees) to equal the amount that is spilling over the top but he has not done this. The DEC could call the river master and use the thermal bank to release cold water to mitigate the problem. They have not done this either. It’s just another typical week on the Delaware with those in power asleep at the switch not even trying to protect this great fishery. I have made a phone call to Wayne Elliot, the head of the DEC region 4, to get an idea of what the DEC is going to do about the warm water. I will keep you posted as new information becomes available.

The Main has the same conditions as the East and West with action limited to morning and evening fishing.

The lower Beaverkill below it’s junction with the Willowemoc is at a perfect fishing level. One of the oddities of this strange weather year is that the Beaverkill contains the coldest water in the Upper Delaware system at this time. The lower kill is fishing similar to the West and East branches of the Delaware with most of the dry fly action taking place early and then late in the day. The angler looking for some action during the heat of the day should consider the Willowemoc or the Upper Beaverkill at the covered bridge campground. The campground has been fishing well and contains some of the last good hatches of green drakes and coffin fly spinner falls for this season. You may want to note that a .00 pass per car is required to fish the water at the covered bridge.