West Branch Delaware River Fishing Report: June 19, 2026

Quick Summary

The West Branch remains the best trout option in the New York report set. USGS showed 571 cfs at Hale Eddy around 9:00 AM and 499 cfs at Stilesville, with cold water of 47.1 F at Hale Eddy and 44.4 F at Stilesville. The Cannonsville release and Hale Eddy flow are essentially steady from the 8 AM pass, and a current local Delaware-system report says yesterday's brief heavy shower did not dirty up the system. Start subsurface unless fish are already showing, then watch for sulphurs, olives, caddis, Cahills, Isonychia, and spinner activity during the softer late-day window.

Conditions Snapshot

Field	Value
Status	Good; cold tailwater temperatures and moderate flow give clear opportunity
Flow	571 cfs at Hale Eddy around 9:00 AM; 499 cfs at Stilesville around 9:00 AM
Gauge Height	2.89 feet at Hale Eddy; 8.08 feet at Stilesville
Water Temp	47.1 F at Hale Eddy around 8:45 AM; 44.4 F at Stilesville around 9:00 AM
Clarity	Not reported by official gauges; current local context says yesterday's brief shower did not materially hurt the rivers
Trend	Stable to slightly falling at Hale Eddy; steady release water at Stilesville
Best Window	Late afternoon into evening, with the best dry-fly chance when glare and wind ease
Best Method	Nymphs, wet flies, and dry-dropper rigs before fish rise; dries for sulphurs, olives, caddis, Cahills, Isonychia, or spinners when feeding is organized
Wadeability	Limited but workable in the usual softer edges; avoid pushing into heavy mid-river current

Weather

For Hancock, NY, the National Weather Service forecast calls for sunny weather with a high near 77 F and northwest wind around 9 mph. Tonight has a slight chance of showers between roughly 7 PM and 10 PM, then partly cloudy conditions with a low near 54 F. This is a more workable fishing forecast than yesterday's thunderstorm setup, though anglers should still watch late-day sky changes and get off exposed water if thunder develops.

River Notes

The upper and middle West Branch have the best combination of cold water, cover, and current in the current New York trout lineup. Hale Eddy remains near 570 cfs while Stilesville is just under 500 cfs, which keeps the river attractive for both boats and careful wading along protected edges. Current local context points to a 500 cfs Cannonsville release and no major color problem from yesterday's short heavy shower. Fish nymphs and wets through riffle margins and softer seams first; if clarity and rise forms look good, slow down and wait for heads before changing to fine tippet and small dry flies.

Hatch Activity

The current Delaware-system report keeps sulphurs, Blue Winged Olives, tan caddis, Light Cahills, Isonychia, and mixed spinners in the rotation. It also supports blind-casting Isonychia or Cahill patterns in riffles before a steadier evening hatch forms. Sun and northwest wind can push the best surface action later; clouds or a light evening shower would help olives and sulphurs.

Hatch	Size	Notes
Sulphur	14-18	Main tailwater hatch; carry emergers, cripples, duns, and spinners
Blue Winged Olive	16-22	Best with clouds, shade, or light rain; keep smaller patterns ready
Light Cahill	14-16	Useful when larger pale mayflies mix into evening activity
Isonychia	10-12	Nymphs, wets, and larger searching dries fit riffles and broken water
Tan Caddis	16-18	Pupa and soft hackles are good before adults draw surface eats
Rusty Spinner	10-20	Evening option if the wind drops and fish settle into flat-water rises

Recommended Flies

Category	Fly	Size	Notes
Dry	Sulphur Sparkle Dun or Comparadun	14-18	First dry choice when pale duns are on the water
Dry	Sulphur Emerger or Cripple	14-18	Use for picky fish taking just under or in the film
Dry	BWO Comparadun or CDC Dun	16-22	Good in shade, clouds, or a light shower
Dry	Light Cahill Comparadun	14-16	Carry for larger pale mayflies late in the day
Dry	Isonychia Parachute	10-12	Searching dry or dry-dropper top fly in broken water
Nymph	Isonychia Nymph	10-12	Fish riffle seams and swing near the end of the drift
Nymph	Caddis Pupa	14-18	Dead drift or swing through riffle tails and edge water
Nymph	Pheasant Tail or Frenchie	14-18	Good smaller mayfly dropper before the hatch
Wet	Partridge and Yellow or Leadwing Coachman	12-16	Swing when bugs are active but fish are not taking cleanly on top
Streamer	Small Sculpin or Woolly Bugger	6-10	Useful if the river carries a little stain from recent storms

Tactics

Cover water with a dry-dropper, light nymph rig, or swung wet fly until fish show you where the surface game is. On a sunny day, do not spend too long blind-casting dries over empty flats; watch foam lines, riffle tails, shaded banks, and slow seams for repeat risers. If fish start eating sulphurs or olives, lengthen the leader, lighten the tippet, and change stage before changing insect. Keep wading conservative at Hale Eddy-level flows, especially where pushy current hides ledges or slick bottom.

Gauge Links

Gauge	Flow	Temp	Link
WEST BRANCH DELAWARE RIVER AT HALE EDDY NY	571 cfs	47.1 F	USGS 01426500
WEST BRANCH DELAWARE RIVER AT STILESVILLE NY	499 cfs	44.4 F	USGS 01425000

Sources

Official sources checked: USGS stations 01426500 and 01425000, plus the National Weather Service forecast 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.