Upper Delaware, New York
West Branch Delaware River Fishing Report: June 13, 2026
The West Branch at Hale Eddy is cold, stable, clear again after storms, and fishable, with sulphurs, Cahills, olives, caddis, and evening spinner chances while warmer Delaware-system freestones rest.
- Status
- good
- Flow trend
- stable
- Best window
- Morning through evening on the cold tailwater
- Best methods
- dry flies, nymphs, wet flies, dry-dropper
Quick Summary
The West Branch at Hale Eddy remains the practical trout choice in the New York report set. USGS showed 596 cfs, 2.94 feet, and 47.3 F around 8:45 AM EDT, which is a stable, cold, wadeable tailwater reading. Current local Delaware-system reports now describe the West Branch as clear again after last evening's storm color, with Cahills, olives, caddis, sulphurs, and evening spinners in play. Nymphs or swung wets remain the safer daytime plan before surface activity develops. The safety note is less about the West Branch itself and more about where not to move: the Main Stem, lower East Branch, and Beaverkill have been reaching warm trout-stress temperatures.
Conditions Snapshot
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Status | Good |
| Flow | 596 cfs at about 8:45 AM EDT |
| Gauge Height | 2.94 feet |
| Water Temp | 47.3 F |
| Clarity | Not reported by official gauges; local public reports describe the West Branch as clear again after temporary storm color last evening |
| Trend | Stable near 600 cfs after a small storm bump |
| Best Window | Morning through evening on the cold tailwater |
| Best Method | Nymphs, wet flies, and dry-dropper rigs before bugs; dry flies when sulphurs, Cahills, olives, caddis, or spinners draw rises |
| Wadeability | Good from a flow standpoint, with normal caution around deeper seams, slick ledges, and boat traffic |
Weather
For Hancock, NY, the National Weather Service forecast calls for sunny weather and a high near 84 F, with light northwest wind increasing to 2-7 mph. Tonight should be mostly clear with a low around 59 F. No active NWS alerts were posted for the point checked at report time. Sunday brings a better shower and thunderstorm chance, so today is the cleaner weather window.
River Notes
Hale Eddy is still sitting in a comfortable range for a mixed wade-and-float plan. The release-influenced temperature is the reason to stay here: the West Branch is cold while several nearby freestone or mixed-system reaches have been pushing to roughly 70 F or warmer. Last evening's thunderstorms briefly added color, but current local context has the West Branch back to clear and in good shape. Fish the riffles, inside seams, shaded banks, and soft edges with caddis pupa, Isonychia nymphs, small mayfly nymphs, or a dry-dropper while the sun is up. If fish begin working the surface, slow down and identify whether they are on sulphurs, small olives, caddis, Cahills, or spinners before changing patterns.
Hatch Activity
The current Delaware mix is a late-spring/early-summer box: sulphurs, Cahills, olives, caddis, Isonychia, and spinners. Local public reports continue to describe nymphing and swung wets as the steadier daytime options, with sulphurs more important from midafternoon into evening on the right sections. The latest West Branch context noted a solid sulphur hatch yesterday, so keep both visible dun patterns and trailing emergers ready.
| Hatch | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sulphur | 14-18 | Best from midafternoon into evening where the hatch builds; carry emergers, duns, and spinners |
| Light Cahill | 14-16 | Useful in softer evening water and mixed mayfly activity |
| Blue Winged Olive | 16-22 | Check smaller rise forms and shaded lanes; more important under softer light |
| Isonychia | 10-12 | Nymphs and wets are good searching choices in faster seams before a dry-fly window |
| Caddis | 14-18 | Fish pupa and soft hackles around riffles, then adults or spent caddis if trout key on the surface |
| Rusty Spinner | 10-20 | Carry several sizes for the last-light fall |
Recommended Flies
| Category | Fly | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dry | Sulphur Sparkle Dun or Comparadun | 14-18 | Primary dry when pale mayflies start coming off |
| Dry | Sulphur Spinner | 14-18 | Have ready for evening fish in flat seams |
| Dry | Light Cahill Comparadun | 14-16 | Use when larger pale duns mix with sulphurs |
| Dry | BWO Comparadun or CDC Dun | 16-22 | Match small, deliberate rises in shaded water |
| Dry | Elk Hair Caddis or Spent Caddis | 14-18 | Good around riffles and evening caddis activity |
| Nymph | Isonychia Nymph | 10-12 | Work faster seams and swing near the end of the drift |
| Nymph | Caddis Pupa | 14-18 | Dead drift or swing through riffle tails and soft edges |
| Nymph | Pheasant Tail or Frenchie | 14-18 | Useful as the small mayfly dropper |
| Wet | Partridge and Yellow or Leadwing Coachman | 12-16 | Swing when bugs are active but surface takes are scattered |
| Streamer | Olive or Black Woolly Bugger | 6-10 | Secondary low-light option, not the first plan under bright sun |
Tactics
Start with a dry-dropper, a two-nymph rig, or swung wets in riffles and inside seams while the sun is high. Keep moving until you find current speed and depth that match active fish, then simplify to a single dry when trout begin rising with intent. On flat water, use longer leaders, careful reach casts, and one accurate presentation rather than repeated fly changes over the same fish. Carry a thermometer if you leave the West Branch, and stop targeting trout anywhere temperatures approach 68 F.
Gauge Links
| Gauge | Flow | Temp | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| WEST BRANCH DELAWARE RIVER AT HALE EDDY NY | 596 cfs | 47.3 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.