Upper Delaware, New York
West Branch Delaware River Fishing Report: June 20, 2026
The West Branch remains the best New York trout option, with cold Cannonsville release water, moderate Hale Eddy flow, and a workable northwest breeze forecast.
- Status
- good
- Flow trend
- stable
- Best window
- Late afternoon into evening, with nymphs and wets before organized rises
- Best methods
- nymphs, wet flies, dry-dropper, dry flies
Quick Summary
The West Branch remains the clearest New York trout recommendation in this morning's report set. USGS showed 566 cfs at Hale Eddy and 499 cfs at Stilesville around the 8 AM Eastern check, with cold water of 45.9 F at Hale Eddy and 43.9 F at Stilesville. Current Delaware-system source context remains centered on the West Branch as the safest cold-water option while the lower system and freestones need temperature checks. Start with nymphs, wets, or a dry-dropper in riffle margins and seams, then look for sulphurs, olives, caddis, Light Cahills, Isonychia, and spinner activity as the light gets softer.
Conditions Snapshot
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Status | Good; cold tailwater temperatures and moderate flow give anglers a practical trout option |
| Flow | 566 cfs at Hale Eddy around 8:00 AM Eastern; 499 cfs at Stilesville around 8:00 AM Eastern |
| Gauge Height | 2.88 feet at Hale Eddy; 8.07 feet at Stilesville |
| Water Temp | 45.9 F at Hale Eddy around 7:45 AM Eastern; 43.9 F at Stilesville around 8:00 AM Eastern |
| Clarity | Not reported by official gauges; recent local context did not point to a major color problem on the West Branch |
| Trend | Stable; Stilesville remains near the 500 cfs release level and Hale Eddy is close to yesterday morning |
| Best Window | Late afternoon into evening, with a possible earlier riffle opportunity if fish respond to larger mayflies |
| Best Method | Nymphs, wet flies, and dry-dropper rigs before fish rise; dry flies once sulphurs, olives, caddis, Cahills, Isonychia, or spinners bring fish up |
| Wadeability | Limited but workable in softer margins and known access points; do not push into heavy mid-river current |
Weather
For Hancock, NY, the National Weather Service forecast calls for mostly sunny weather with a high near 74 F. Northwest wind is forecast at 9 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph. Tonight should be partly cloudy with a low around 52 F. The wind is not calm, but it is still a fishable forecast; use sheltered banks and expect the best dry-fly work when glare and chop ease later in the day.
River Notes
The upper and middle West Branch have the best cold-water profile in this New York morning pass. Hale Eddy is a moderate 566 cfs, while Stilesville is holding at 499 cfs with water in the mid-40s. That keeps boats in play and gives careful waders some edge water, but the current is still pushy enough that crossing and mid-channel wading should stay conservative. The practical move is to fish subsurface first, watch for consistent rise forms instead of chasing every single fish, and keep the lower, warmer Delaware-system water on a thermometer-first basis.
Hatch Activity
Current regional source context continues to support an early-summer Delaware mix: sulphurs, Blue Winged Olives, tan caddis, Light Cahills, Isonychia, and spinners. Bright sun and northwest wind can make the surface bite uneven, so use the hatch list as a readiness plan rather than a promise of all-day dry-fly fishing.
| Hatch | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sulphur | 14-18 | Main tailwater hatch; carry emergers, cripples, duns, and spinners |
| Blue Winged Olive | 16-22 | Best in shade, clouds, riffle edges, or if a light shower develops |
| Light Cahill | 14-16 | Useful when larger pale mayflies mix into the evening activity |
| Isonychia | 10-12 | Nymphs, wets, and larger searching dries fit broken water and riffles |
| Tan Caddis | 16-18 | Pupa and soft hackles are practical before adults draw surface eats |
| Rusty Spinner | 10-20 | Evening option if wind drops and fish settle into flat-water rises |
Recommended Flies
| Category | Fly | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dry | Sulphur Sparkle Dun or Comparadun | 14-18 | Use when pale duns are on the water |
| Dry | Sulphur Emerger or Cripple | 14-18 | Good for fish feeding in or just under the film |
| Dry | BWO Comparadun or CDC Dun | 16-22 | Keep ready for shaded seams or a cloudier window |
| Dry | Light Cahill Parachute | 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 riffles and let the fly 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 surface activity develops |
| 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 | Low-light option if fish are tight to banks or the river has slight stain |
Tactics
Open with a light nymph rig, swung wet fly, or dry-dropper through riffle margins, inside seams, and shaded bank water. If you find steady risers, lengthen the leader and match the stage before changing insect; sulphur emergers and cripples often matter more than simply changing dun patterns. In the wind, work shorter accurate presentations from stable footing instead of forcing long casts across conflicting currents. Keep wading conservative at Hale Eddy-level flows and leave warmer lower-system trout alone if a thermometer says they are near the stress range.
Gauge Links
| Gauge | Flow | Temp | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| WEST BRANCH DELAWARE RIVER AT HALE EDDY NY | 566 cfs | 45.9 F | USGS 01426500 |
| WEST BRANCH DELAWARE RIVER AT STILESVILLE NY | 499 cfs | 43.9 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.