Upper Delaware, New York
West Branch Delaware River Fishing Report: June 1, 2026
The West Branch is cold, steady, and in a useful wading range at Hale Eddy, with the June 1 Delaware report pointing to afternoon caddis plus March Browns, Gray Fox, Cahills, Green Drakes, olives, sulphurs, and a few cold-water Hendricksons.
- Status
- good
- Flow trend
- stable
- Best window
- Afternoon into evening, with the best dry-fly work during calm low light
- Best methods
- dry flies, nymphs, wet flies
Quick Summary
The West Branch is a good New York option this morning. USGS showed 601 cfs, 2.95 feet, and 45.7 F at Hale Eddy at 7:45 AM EDT, still a comfortable fishing range for wading with normal caution. The June 1 Delaware report showed a 500 cfs Cannonsville release and pointed to a much more manageable wind day, with caddis expected to be more active during the afternoon. Current official weather for Hancock calls for sun, a high near 70 F, northeast wind near 5 mph, and only an isolated shower chance after mid-afternoon.
Conditions Snapshot
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Status | Good |
| Flow | 601 cfs at 7:45 AM EDT |
| Gauge Height | 2.95 feet |
| Water Temp | 45.7 F |
| Clarity | Not reported by official gauges; verify at your access |
| Trend | Stable to slightly higher than yesterday morning |
| Best Window | Afternoon into evening, with the best dry-fly work during calm low light |
| Best Method | dry flies; nymphs; wet flies |
| Wadeability | Good overall, with normal caution in ledge water and deeper seams |
Weather
For Hancock, NY, the National Weather Service forecast calls for a high near 70 F with sunny skies and northeast wind around 5 mph. There is an isolated rain shower chance after 3 PM, with expected rainfall under a tenth of an inch if a shower develops. No active NWS alerts were returned for the checked Hancock point during the 9 AM refresh. Tonight is mostly clear with a low near 44 F and patchy fog possible before daybreak Tuesday.
River Notes
Hale Eddy is cold enough for trout and in a steady, approachable level for both wading and floating. The 500 cfs Cannonsville release gives the upper West Branch dependable cold water without putting the gauge into a high-water wading posture. Fish bank seams, riffle shelves, tailouts, and softer inside lanes before stepping deep. Clarity is not reported by the official gauge, so verify it at your access, but the current flow and cool temperature keep the West Branch in play even if nearby freestones become more technical under sun.
Hatch Activity
The June 1 Delaware report supports a broad early-June box rather than one narrow hatch. Caddis should be the first thing to watch during the afternoon. March Browns, Gray Fox, Cahills, Green Drakes, olives, and sulphurs are all in the mix, with a few small Hendricksons still possible in the coldest water. Keep Green Drake or Coffin Fly patterns ready for low light, but do not ignore smaller olives, sulphurs, caddis, and spinners if fish are feeding selectively.
| Hatch | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Sedge / Tan Caddis | 14-18 | Expected to be more active in the afternoon; fish pupa, wets, spent caddis, and adults around riffles and edge seams |
| March Brown / Gray Fox | 10-14 | Good larger profile for broken water, banks, and prospecting |
| Invaria Sulphur | 14-16 | Best later in the day if yellow mayflies draw steady rises |
| Cahill | 12-16 | Carry for lighter mayflies mixed into the afternoon and evening hatch |
| Hendrickson | 16 | Only a cold-water leftover at this point, but worth a few small patterns on the upper tailwater |
| Isonychia | 10-12 | Nymphs and wets are useful in faster seams before surface feeding sets up |
| Blue Winged Olive | 18-22 | Worth having for shade, clouds, or quieter fish on small bugs |
| Green Drake / Coffin Fly | 8-10 | Low-light pattern to keep ready, not the only plan |
| Rusty / Ginger Spinner | 10-20 | Important evening option if the surface goes flat enough for spinner work |
Recommended Flies
| Category | Fly | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dry | Elk Hair Caddis or Spent Caddis | 14-18 | Search riffles, bank seams, and soft edges when caddis are moving |
| Dry | March Brown / Gray Fox Parachute | 10-14 | Use as a visible mayfly in broken current and against banks |
| Dry | Sulphur Comparadun | 14-16 | Match yellow mayflies in the softer afternoon or evening water |
| Dry | Green Drake or Coffin Fly | 8-10 | Keep ready for low-light drake water if heavier rise forms show |
| Dry | Rusty or Ginger Spinner | 10-20 | Fish calm evening lanes with a longer leader and careful first cast |
| Dry | Small Hendrickson | 16 | A backup pattern for the coldest upper-tailwater fish if you see the bug |
| Nymph | Isonychia Nymph | 10-12 | Good searching fly in faster seams before fish commit to the surface |
| Nymph | March Brown or Green Drake Nymph | 8-12 | Useful early or when larger mayflies are active but rises are scattered |
| Nymph | Caddis Pupa | 14-18 | Dead drift or swing through riffle tails before adult caddis show |
| Wet | Partridge and Yellow or Partridge and Orange | 12-16 | Good bridge pattern when bugs are present but fish are not locked into one lane |
| Streamer | Small Olive Sculpin | 4-8 | Best early, late, or if a shower adds a little stain |
Tactics
Start with a dry-dropper, caddis pupa, Isonychia nymph, or wet fly in riffles and bank seams if the river is quiet. Watch the water through the afternoon for caddis movement, sulphurs, larger mayflies, and olives before committing to a single dry. The wind forecast is light enough that longer leaders should be manageable, but make the first cast count in flat tailouts. The Hale Eddy temperature is safely cold this morning; still, carry a thermometer if you move downsystem or into freestone water and stop targeting trout if temperatures approach 68 F.
Gauge Links
| Gauge | Flow | Temp | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| WEST BRANCH DELAWARE RIVER AT HALE EDDY NY | 601 cfs | 45.7 F | USGS 01426500 |
Sources
Official sources checked: USGS station 01426500 and the National Weather Service forecast and alerts for the Hancock, NY area. This report is an original Custom FlyBox summary based on current official gauge and weather data, with local public conditions reports reviewed separately for hatch, access, and method context.