Upper Delaware, New York
West Branch Delaware River Fishing Report: June 8, 2026
The West Branch at Hale Eddy is cold, steady, and wadeable, while sunny 80-degree weather keeps lower Delaware-system trout water on a thermometer-first plan.
- Status
- good
- Flow trend
- stable
- Best window
- Morning shade and evening spinner/caddis water, with warmer lower sections rested
- Best methods
- dry flies, nymphs, wet flies
Quick Summary
The West Branch at Hale Eddy is the best New York trout option in this report set again this morning. USGS showed 561 cfs, 2.87 feet, and 45.7 F at about 7:45 AM EDT, nearly unchanged from yesterday morning and still cold enough for a full trout plan. Current local Delaware-system context reports a 500 cfs Cannonsville release, sulphurs from midday into evening, Light Cahills, tan caddis, March Browns/Gray Fox, Blue Winged Olives, and warmer lower-river sections that again pushed to or above the upper-60s stress range yesterday. Fish the cold West Branch influence, keep a thermometer handy if you leave it, and stop targeting trout where water approaches 68 F.
Conditions Snapshot
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Status | Good |
| Flow | 561 cfs at about 7:45 AM EDT |
| Gauge Height | 2.87 feet |
| Water Temp | 45.7 F |
| Clarity | Not reported by official gauges; no meaningful overnight flow bump shown at Hale Eddy |
| Trend | Stable from yesterday morning |
| Best Window | Morning shade and evening spinner/caddis water, with warmer lower sections rested |
| Best Method | dry flies; nymphs; wet flies |
| Wadeability | Good at Hale Eddy from a flow standpoint, with normal caution around ledges, deeper seams, and boat traffic |
Weather
For Hancock, NY, the National Weather Service forecast calls for sunny skies and a high near 80 F. Wind should be light, generally southeast to south at 0-3 mph through the main fishing day. Tonight is forecast to be mostly clear with a low around 52 F. No active NWS alerts were found for the Hancock point at report time, but bright sun and the warmer afternoon forecast matter for lower Delaware-system trout temperatures.
River Notes
At 561 cfs, Hale Eddy is in a practical wading range and cold enough to anchor the day around trout. The Cannonsville release was reported at 500 cfs, which keeps the upper West Branch a better choice than exposed freestone or lower mainstem water during this warm stretch. Local Delaware-system reporting noted that the Mainstem, East Branch at Hancock, and Beaverkill at Cooks Falls peaked at or over 68 F yesterday. That makes the safety call straightforward: stay near cold tailwater influence, take temperature readings if you move downstream, and give trout a break when water is near the upper 60s.
Hatch Activity
The upper Delaware is in an early-June mixed hatch window. Sulphurs should matter from midday into evening, with Light Cahills, tan caddis, March Browns/Gray Fox, dark Blue Winged Olives, and dark sedges also in the box. If the surface is quiet, run nymphs or wet flies through riffles and softer seams rather than waiting over flat water in bright sun.
| Hatch | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Dark Blue Winged Olive | 16-18 | Best in shade, chop, or over smaller rise forms |
| March Brown / Gray Fox | 10-14 | Useful as a larger mayfly profile for riffles, bank seams, and blind-casting |
| Sulphur | 16-18 | Primary midday-to-evening mayfly; carry emergers, duns, and spinners |
| Light Cahill | 14-16 | Relevant in softer evening water when pale duns or spinners are present |
| Tan Caddis / Dark Sedge | 14-18 | Fish pupa, soft hackles, and adults around riffles and late-day activity |
| Rusty or Sulphur Spinner | 10-20 | Most important near dark on calm slicks and tailouts |
Recommended Flies
| Category | Fly | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dry | Sulphur Sparkle Dun or Spinner | 16-18 | Start here when lighter mayflies draw consistent rises |
| Dry | Light Cahill Comparadun or Spinner | 14-16 | Good late-day option over pale rise forms |
| Dry | March Brown or Gray Fox Comparadun | 10-14 | Search riffles and bank seams before a focused hatch develops |
| Dry | BWO Comparadun | 16-18 | Use in shade, broken water, or over smaller sipping fish |
| Dry | Elk Hair Caddis or Spent Caddis | 14-18 | Good around riffles and mixed evening feeding |
| Nymph | Isonychia Nymph | 10-12 | Work faster seams before surface activity gets organized |
| 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 active but rises are scattered |
| Streamer | Small Olive Sculpin or Bugger | 4-8 | Low-light or shaded-water choice if visibility stays good |
Tactics
Start on cold West Branch water and watch before stepping into likely risers. If fish are not up, cover riffles and inside seams with an Isonychia nymph, caddis pupa, soft hackle, or a larger dry-dropper. In bright midday sun, blind-casting a bigger mayfly through broken water can be more useful than waiting on flat pools. For the evening, lengthen the leader, slow down, and sort out whether fish are eating sulphurs, Cahills, caddis, olives, or spinners before making repeated fly changes.
Gauge Links
| Gauge | Flow | Temp | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| WEST BRANCH DELAWARE RIVER AT HALE EDDY NY | 561 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.