Upper Delaware, New York
West Branch Delaware River Fishing Report: June 25, 2026
The West Branch remains cold and fishable on the 500 cfs Cannonsville release, with clouds helping the sulphur, olive, and spinner program before late-day storms.
- Status
- good
- Flow trend
- stable
- Best window
- Midday sulphurs through evening spinners; watch the thunderstorm window late
- Best methods
- dry flies, wet flies, dry-dropper, nymphs
Quick Summary
The West Branch is still the best cold-water trout option in the active New York report set. USGS showed 586 cfs and 46.2 F at Hale Eddy, with Stilesville steady at 507 cfs and 44.6 F during the morning check. The Cannonsville release is 500 cfs, and current Upper Delaware reports continue to point to sulphurs, Cahills, Isonychias, olives, caddis, and evening spinners. Clouds should help the dry-fly odds compared with a bright day, but the National Weather Service has showers and thunderstorms likely later, so fish with a weather eye and leave the water if thunder builds.
Conditions Snapshot
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Status | Good; cold release water, stable flows, and cloud cover make the West Branch fishable, with storms the main timing risk |
| Flow | 586 cfs at Hale Eddy; 507 cfs at Stilesville |
| Gauge Height | 2.92 feet at Hale Eddy; 8.08 feet at Stilesville |
| Water Temp | 46.2 F at Hale Eddy; 44.6 F at Stilesville |
| Clarity | Current local public reporting did not indicate a color problem; official gauges do not report clarity |
| Trend | Stable to slightly falling over the overnight USGS check; Hale Eddy eased from 591 to 586 cfs and Stilesville held at 507 cfs |
| Best Window | Midday sulphurs through the evening spinner window, with the best surface chance before thunderstorms become unsafe |
| Best Method | Nymphs, wets, or dry-dropper rigs while prospecting; dry flies for sulphurs, olives, Cahills, Isonychias, caddis, and spinners when fish show |
| Wadeability | Limited but workable in softer edges and familiar access points; avoid heavy current and get off the water for lightning |
Weather
For Hancock, NY, the National Weather Service forecast calls for mostly cloudy skies, a high near 80 F, light south wind, and showers or thunderstorms becoming likely late in the afternoon. Tonight has a higher rain and storm chance, with new rainfall around a quarter to a half inch possible. No active NWS alerts were returned for the Hancock point during the morning check, but lightning is a material safety concern if storms form over the valley.
River Notes
The release-driven upper West Branch is in a steady, useful shape. Stilesville has been locked at the release level and Hale Eddy slipped only a few cfs overnight, so anglers should not be fighting a major flow change this morning. The colder water gives trout a better margin than the nearby freestones, and the cloud cover should keep fish more willing in riffles, seams, and soft tailouts. If rain arrives gently it may help olives, but do not stay exposed through thunder, rising wind, or a hard storm cell.
Hatch Activity
Upper Delaware source context remains centered on sulphurs, with Light Cahills, Isonychias, Blue Winged Olives, tan caddis, and spinners also relevant. Clouds and possible light rain favor olives and emergers; evening spinners remain worth planning around if storms do not interrupt the window.
| Hatch | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sulphur | 16-18 | Main hatch to plan around; carry emergers, duns, cripples, and spinners |
| Light Cahill | 14-16 | Useful larger pale mayfly in riffles and mixed evening activity |
| Isonychia / Slate Drake | 10-12 | Nymphs, wets, and larger dries fit broken water before steady rises |
| Blue Winged Olive | 16-22 | Better under clouds or light rain; keep small olive dries and emergers ready |
| Tan Caddis | 14-18 | Pupa, soft hackles, and adults can cover riffle water between mayfly windows |
| Rusty Spinner | 10-20 | Evening option if the air calms and storms stay away |
Recommended Flies
| Category | Fly | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dry | Sulphur Sparkle Dun or Comparadun | 16-18 | Primary dry once pale duns show and fish feed on top |
| Dry | Sulphur Emerger or Cripple | 16-18 | Use for selective fish feeding in or just below the film |
| Dry | BWO Comparadun or CDC Dun | 16-22 | Good choice if clouds thicken or light rain starts without thunder |
| Dry | Light Cahill Parachute | 14-16 | Good larger pale mayfly option in riffles and late-day water |
| Dry | Isonychia or Slate Drake Dry | 10-12 | Useful searching dry or dry-dropper top fly in broken water |
| Nymph | Isonychia Nymph | 10-12 | Fish riffles and let it lift or swing at the end of the drift |
| Nymph | Pheasant Tail or Frenchie | 14-18 | Compact mayfly dropper before the hatch builds |
| Wet | Soft Hackle | 12-16 | Swing through riffle tails when bugs are active but fish are not taking cleanly on top |
| Streamer | Small Woolly Bugger, Clouser, or Deceiver | 4-10 | Use around shaded banks, riffle edges, or during darker pre-storm light |
Tactics
Start with a dry-dropper, soft hackle, or compact nymph rig in broken water until rises become repeatable. When fish settle into the hatch, simplify to a single dry or a dry-and-emerger setup and spend more time on drag control than on fly changing. Keep leaders long on flats, but do not overlook riffles where Isonychia nymphs and sulphur emergers can move fish before the main surface event. Watch the sky closely; lightning and fast-rising storm runoff are reasons to stop, not to wait out one more fish.
Gauge Links
| Gauge | Flow | Temp | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| WEST BRANCH DELAWARE RIVER AT HALE EDDY NY | 586 cfs | 46.2 F | USGS 01426500 |
| WEST BRANCH DELAWARE RIVER AT STILESVILLE NY | 507 cfs | 44.6 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, clarity, release, and method context.