Upper Delaware, New York
West Branch Delaware River Fishing Report: June 9, 2026
The West Branch at Hale Eddy is cold, steady, and wadeable this morning, but sunny mid-80s weather keeps the rest of the Delaware system on a thermometer-first trout plan.
- Status
- good
- Flow trend
- stable
- Best window
- Early shade and the evening dry-fly window; avoid warm lower sections
- Best methods
- dry flies, nymphs, dry-dropper
Quick Summary
The West Branch at Hale Eddy is the best New York trout option in this report set this morning. USGS showed 561 cfs, 2.87 feet, and 45.1 F at about 7:45 AM EDT, essentially unchanged from yesterday morning and cold enough for a full trout plan. Current local Delaware-system context reports a 500 cfs Cannonsville release, early and late dry-fly windows, Green Drakes moving up the system, sulphurs, Light Cahills, March Browns/Gray Fox, Blue Winged Olives, caddis, and serious warm-water concerns on the Mainstem, lower East Branch, and Beaverkill. Fish the cold West Branch influence, carry a thermometer if you leave it, and stop targeting trout where water approaches or exceeds 68 F.
Conditions Snapshot
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Status | Good |
| Flow | 561 cfs at about 7:45 AM EDT |
| Gauge Height | 2.87 feet |
| Water Temp | 45.1 F |
| Clarity | Not reported by official gauges; stable Hale Eddy flow points to a predictable tailwater setup unless local access shows stain |
| Trend | Stable from yesterday morning |
| Best Window | Early shade and the evening dry-fly window; avoid warm lower sections |
| Best Method | dry flies; nymphs; dry-dropper |
| 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 mostly sunny skies and a high near 84 F. Southwest wind should stay light, around 1-5 mph. Tonight is forecast to be mostly cloudy with a low around 60 F. No active NWS alerts were found for the Hancock point at report time, but the bright, warm forecast is enough to make trout-temperature discipline the main safety issue away from cold release water.
River Notes
At 561 cfs, Hale Eddy remains in a practical wading range and has enough cold release influence to carry the day. The reported Cannonsville release is 500 cfs, which keeps the upper West Branch in much better shape than the warmer lower Delaware-system water. Current local context noted that the Mainstem, East Branch at Hancock, and Beaverkill at Cooks Falls all reached or exceeded 70 F yesterday. That does not make the cold West Branch unfishable, but it does make the route choice important: stay with cold water, recheck temperature if you move downstream, and do not fish trout through upper-60s or 70-degree water.
Hatch Activity
The upper Delaware is still in a mixed early-June hatch window. Green Drakes are moving up the system, sulphurs and Light Cahills matter in the better dry-fly windows, and March Browns, Gray Fox, Blue Winged Olives, dark sedges, and tan caddis remain relevant. With sun and warmth in the forecast, expect nymphs or dry-droppers to be steadier midday and save the most selective dry-fly work for shade, riffles, and evening water.
| Hatch | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Green Drake / Coffin Fly | 8-10 | Moving up the system; commit to it only when bigger bugs or spinner falls are actually present |
| Sulphur | 16-18 | Core early-summer mayfly; carry emergers, duns, and spinners for afternoon and evening windows |
| Light Cahill | 14-16 | Useful over pale rise forms, especially late in the day |
| March Brown / Gray Fox | 10-14 | Still useful in colder sections, riffles, and bank seams |
| Dark Blue Winged Olive | 16-18 | Best in shade, chop, or over smaller rise forms |
| Tan Caddis / Dark Sedge | 14-18 | Fish pupa, soft hackles, and adults around riffles and late-day activity |
Recommended Flies
| Category | Fly | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dry | Green Drake or Coffin Fly | 8-10 | Carry for big-bug water, but do not force it over smaller rises |
| Dry | Sulphur Sparkle Dun or Spinner | 16-18 | Start here when lighter mayflies draw steady rises |
| Dry | Light Cahill Comparadun or Spinner | 14-16 | Good late-day option over pale duns or spinners |
| Dry | March Brown or Gray Fox Comparadun | 10-14 | Search riffles, bank seams, and broken water |
| 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 steadies |
| Nymph | Caddis Pupa | 14-18 | Dead drift or swing through riffle tails and soft edges |
| Nymph | Pheasant Tail or Frenchie | 14-18 | Good smaller dropper behind a larger dry |
| Wet | Partridge and Yellow or Leadwing Coachman | 12-16 | Swing when bugs are active but rises are scattered |
Tactics
Start on cold West Branch water and watch the first good slick or riffle before wading through it. If fish are not up, run an Isonychia nymph, caddis pupa, Pheasant Tail, or dry-dropper through broken water and inside seams. In bright midday sun, blind-casting a larger mayfly or fishing subsurface through riffles is more practical than waiting over flat pools. For evening, lengthen the leader, slow down, and sort out whether fish are eating sulphurs, Cahills, caddis, olives, Green Drakes, or spinners before changing flies repeatedly.
Gauge Links
| Gauge | Flow | Temp | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| WEST BRANCH DELAWARE RIVER AT HALE EDDY NY | 561 cfs | 45.1 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.