Upper Delaware, New York
West Branch Delaware River Fishing Report: June 28, 2026
The West Branch remains the best New York trout option, with cold release water, steady flows, light wind, and a useful sulphur-and-caddis program.
- Status
- good
- Flow trend
- stable
- Best window
- Midday clouds into the evening spinner window
- Best methods
- dry flies, wet flies, dry-dropper, nymphs
Quick Summary
The West Branch remains the best trout option in the active New York report set. USGS showed 581 cfs and 47.3 F at Hale Eddy, with Stilesville steady at 507 cfs and 44.2 F during the morning check. Current Upper Delaware and Catskills source context points to humid, partly cloudy weather with sulphurs, Blue Winged Olives, Isonychias, Light Cahills, tan caddis, and spinners still in the mix. Start with nymphs, wets, or a dry-dropper in the riffles and seams, then switch to single dries when fish settle into a hatch or spinner fall.
Conditions Snapshot
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Status | Good; cold tailwater temperatures, steady release flows, and very light wind give anglers a practical trout plan |
| Flow | 581 cfs at Hale Eddy; 507 cfs at Stilesville |
| Gauge Height | 2.91 feet at Hale Eddy; 8.08 feet at Stilesville |
| Water Temp | 47.3 F at Hale Eddy; 44.2 F at Stilesville |
| Clarity | Not reported by official gauges; current local context does not point to a major West Branch color problem |
| Trend | Stable release water at Stilesville and a slightly lower Hale Eddy flow than yesterday morning |
| Best Window | Midday cloud cover into the evening spinner window |
| Best Method | Nymphs, wets, and dry-dropper rigs before steady rises; sulphur, olive, Cahill, Isonychia, caddis, and spinner dries for feeding fish |
| Wadeability | Limited but workable from familiar edges and softer access points; a boat remains the easier way to cover the river |
Weather
For Hancock, NY, the National Weather Service forecast calls for patchy morning fog giving way to partly sunny skies and a high near 82 F. Wind should be very light from the northeast, around 1 mph, and the forecast precipitation chance is low. Tonight is expected to be partly cloudy with patchy fog after 2 AM and a low near 59 F. No active NWS alerts were returned for the Hancock point during the morning check.
River Notes
The upper West Branch has the cold-water advantage again today. Stilesville remains near the 500 cfs release level, and Hale Eddy is just under 600 cfs, which is enough water for drift boats and enough push to make wading selective. Work from known access points, stay on the softer edges, and do not cross pushy mid-river slots just to reach one rising fish. The light wind is helpful for dry-fly accuracy, while the humid clouds should keep summer mayflies and caddis relevant before the evening spinner period.
Hatch Activity
Current Upper Delaware and Catskills context continues to center on sulphurs, Isonychias, Blue Winged Olives, tan caddis, Light Cahills, and evening spinners. Expect many fish to feed just under the film before obvious surface takes develop.
| Hatch | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sulphur | 16-18 | Primary summer hatch to plan around; carry emergers, duns, cripples, and spinners |
| Blue Winged Olive | 16-22 | Clouds and humidity favor olives; use low-profile dries or emergers for careful risers |
| Isonychia / Slate Drake | 10-12 | Nymphs, wets, and larger dries fit riffles, fast seams, and broken bank water |
| Tan Caddis | 16-18 | Fish pupa and soft hackles before adults become obvious |
| Light Cahill | 14-16 | Good larger pale mayfly option in riffles and late-day glides |
| Rusty Spinner | 10-20 | Important in the evening if wind stays low |
Recommended Flies
| Category | Fly | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dry | Sulphur Sparkle Dun or Comparadun | 16-18 | First dry choice when pale duns show and fish feed cleanly |
| Dry | Sulphur Emerger or Cripple | 16-18 | Use when rises are subtle or fish are taking in the film |
| Dry | BWO Comparadun or CDC Dun | 18-22 | Good under clouds and for small, deliberate rises |
| Dry | Light Cahill Parachute | 14-16 | Covers larger pale mayflies in broken water and evening slicks |
| Dry | Rusty Spinner | 10-20 | Carry a range for the last-light spinner fall |
| Nymph | Isonychia Nymph | 10-12 | Let it lift or swing at the end of the drift near riffle edges |
| Nymph | Pheasant Tail or Frenchie | 14-18 | Compact mayfly dropper before the main hatch |
| Wet | Soft Hackle or Flymph | 12-16 | Swing through riffle tails when bugs are active but rises are scattered |
| Other | Caddis Pupa | 16-18 | Useful below the surface when tan caddis are active |
Tactics
Start with an Isonychia nymph, small mayfly nymph, caddis pupa, soft hackle, or dry-dropper through seams, riffle edges, and shaded banks. If fish begin rising consistently, lengthen the leader, drop to a single dry or dry-and-emerger pair, and make fewer casts from a better angle. Keep a spinner box ready for evening. At this flow, wade deliberately from known edges and leave the mid-river push alone.
Gauge Links
| Gauge | Flow | Temp | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| WEST BRANCH DELAWARE RIVER AT HALE EDDY NY | 581 cfs | 47.3 F | USGS 01426500 |
| WEST BRANCH DELAWARE RIVER AT STILESVILLE NY | 507 cfs | 44.2 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, access, and method context.