Upper Delaware, New York
West Branch Delaware River Fishing Report: June 7, 2026
The West Branch at Hale Eddy is cold, steady, and wadeable, making it the better trout choice while warmer Delaware-system sections need a break.
- Status
- good
- Flow trend
- stable
- Best window
- Morning shade and the evening dry-fly window, with lower warm-water sections avoided
- Best methods
- dry flies, nymphs, wet flies
Quick Summary
The West Branch at Hale Eddy is in good shape for trout this morning: USGS showed 566 cfs, 2.88 feet, and 45.7 F at about 7:45 AM EDT. That is essentially unchanged from yesterday morning, so the upper West Branch remains the safer New York trout option in this report set. Current local Delaware-system context points to Green Drakes moving upriver, sulphurs, Cahills, March Browns, Gray Fox, olives, caddis, and evening spinner work, but it also flags a real warm-water problem on lower river sections. Fish the cold tailwater influence, check temperatures if you move downstream, and leave trout alone where the water is in the upper 60s or warmer.
Conditions Snapshot
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Status | Good |
| Flow | 566 cfs at about 7:45 AM EDT |
| Gauge Height | 2.88 feet |
| Water Temp | 45.7 F |
| Clarity | Not reported by official gauges; local context suggests no meaningful rain bump overnight |
| Trend | Stable from yesterday morning |
| Best Window | Morning shade and the evening dry-fly window, with lower warm-water sections avoided |
| Best Method | dry flies; nymphs; wet flies |
| Wadeability | Good at Hale Eddy from a flow standpoint, with normal caution around ledges, boat traffic, and deeper seams |
Weather
For Hancock, NY, the National Weather Service forecast calls for a high near 77 F with partly sunny skies becoming mostly sunny through midday. Northwest wind should run 6-10 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph. Tonight is forecast to be partly cloudy with a low around 53 F. No active NWS alerts were found for the Hancock point at report time, and the hourly forecast shows only low precipitation chances through the main fishing day.
River Notes
At 566 cfs, Hale Eddy is a practical wading level and still cold enough for a full trout plan. Start with the upper West Branch and other cold release-influenced water instead of chasing warmer downstream sections. Local Delaware-system reports noted that the Mainstem, the East Branch near Hancock, and the Beaverkill at Cooks Falls reached or exceeded 70 F yesterday; that is a conservation issue, not just a comfort issue. If you leave the cold tailwater, carry a thermometer and stop targeting trout before water approaches 68 F.
Hatch Activity
The upper Delaware is in a mixed early-June hatch period. Expect the best surface fishing to be late in the day, while midday fish may respond better to nymphs, wets, or a larger dry blind-cast through riffles. Green Drakes, sulphurs, Cahills, March Browns, Gray Fox, olives, tan caddis, dark sedges, and spinner falls are all relevant, but match the actual rise form instead of forcing one large bug.
| Hatch | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Dark Blue Winged Olive | 16-22 | Useful in shade, broken water, and over smaller rise forms |
| March Brown / Gray Fox | 10-14 | Good larger mayfly profile for riffles, pool heads, and bankside seams |
| Sulphur / Light Cahill | 14-18 | Carry emergers, duns, and spinners for the late-day window |
| Green Drake / Coffin Fly | 8-10 | Worth having near dusk, especially as drakes move farther up the system |
| Tan Caddis / Dark Sedge | 14-18 | Fish pupa, soft hackles, and adults around riffles and evening activity |
| Rusty or Sulphur Spinner | 10-20 | Most important on calm slicks and tailouts near dark |
Recommended Flies
| Category | Fly | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dry | Green Drake or Coffin Fly | 8-10 | Keep ready for dusk, but downsize if fish are eating sulphurs or olives |
| Dry | March Brown or Gray Fox Comparadun | 10-14 | Good searching dry in riffles and along bank seams |
| Dry | Sulphur Sparkle Dun or Spinner | 14-18 | Primary late-day mayfly choice in softer seams and tailouts |
| Dry | Elk Hair Caddis or Spent Caddis | 14-18 | Useful when caddis are active or fish are trash-feeding in low light |
| Dry | BWO Comparadun | 18-22 | Match small olives in shade, chop, or picky pools |
| Nymph | Isonychia Nymph | 10-12 | Work riffles and faster seams before visible surface feeding develops |
| Nymph | Caddis Pupa | 14-18 | Dead drift or swing through riffle tails and soft edges |
| Wet | Partridge and Yellow or Leadwing Coachman | 12-16 | Swing when bugs are present but rises are scattered |
| Streamer | Small Olive Sculpin or Bugger | 4-8 | Best early, late, or in shaded broken water if visibility is good |
Tactics
Treat the West Branch as a cold-water refuge today. Watch a pool or riffle before stepping in, cover bank water first, and use a dry-dropper, caddis pupa, Isonychia nymph, or soft hackle if the surface is quiet. During bright or windy midday periods, blind-casting larger mayflies through riffles can be more productive than waiting over flat water. If the evening stays calm, slow down, lengthen the leader, and sort out whether fish are on drakes, sulphurs, caddis, olives, or spinners before changing flies repeatedly.
Gauge Links
| Gauge | Flow | Temp | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| WEST BRANCH DELAWARE RIVER AT HALE EDDY NY | 566 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, release, access, and method context.