Upper Delaware, New York
West Branch Delaware Fishing Report: July 12, 2026
The West Branch is again the best New York trout option in this set, with cold release water, steady 600-plus cfs flow at Hale Eddy, and sulphurs, olives, Cahills, Isonychias, and caddis in the summer mix.
- Status
- good
- Flow trend
- stable
- Best window
- Cold-water daytime dry-fly windows on the upper West Branch, with the cleanest evening chance if wind stays light
- Best methods
- dry flies, nymphs, wet flies
Quick Summary
The West Branch remains the clear trout option among the active New York reports today. USGS showed 653 cfs and 45.9 F at Hale Eddy, with Stilesville at 525 cfs and 44.2 F during the morning check, so the river still has dependable cold release water while nearby freestones are in warm-water caution. Current Delaware context points to the normal summer program: fish the coldest water first, expect nymphs and swung wets to cover the slower periods, and be ready for sulphurs, olives, Cahills, Isonychias, caddis, and spinners when trout feed on top.
Conditions Snapshot
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Status | Good on the cold tailwater; choose the West Branch over warmer freestone trout water today |
| Flow | 653 cfs at Hale Eddy; 525 cfs at Stilesville |
| Gauge Height | 3.00 feet at Hale Eddy; 8.09 feet at Stilesville |
| Water Temp | 45.9 F at Hale Eddy; 44.2 F at Stilesville during the morning USGS check |
| Clarity | Not reported by official gauges; current Delaware reports indicate fishable summer clarity, with algae still possible around Deposit |
| Trend | Nearly steady from yesterday morning at both Hale Eddy and Stilesville after the recent release pulse settled back |
| Best Window | Cold-water daytime dry-fly windows on the upper West Branch, with the cleanest evening chance if wind stays light |
| Best Method | Nymphs and wet flies between hatches; dries, emergers, and spinners when trout feed on top |
| Wadeability | Limited. Use known crossings and softer edges; 600-plus cfs at Hale Eddy is not low-water wading |
Weather
For Hancock and Hale Eddy, the National Weather Service forecast calls for a sunny day with a high near 85 F and very light southeast wind. Tonight is forecast partly cloudy with a low near 60 F, followed by another warm sunny day Monday. There were no active NWS alerts at the morning check. The air temperature is warm enough that anglers should stay disciplined about cold-water selection, but the West Branch release water is in good shape for trout.
River Notes
The West Branch is steady and cold this morning. Hale Eddy is exactly where it was during yesterday's morning check, and Stilesville is also holding near 525 cfs, so anglers should not expect a major change in access or boat handling from Saturday. The extra release water gives trout room and keeps temperatures favorable, but it also makes wading selective. Stay high in the cold-water influence for daytime dry-fly fishing, move lower only when nymphing or swinging wets makes more sense, and check flies often if algae starts fouling rigs near Deposit.
Hatch Activity
The summer Delaware menu is still centered on cold-water mayflies and caddis. Sulphurs remain the main upper West Branch hatch, olives matter in shade or softer slicks, Cahills and Isonychias are useful larger profiles, tan caddis can fill the gaps, and terrestrials are worth carrying along grassy banks. Save the spinner box for calm last light.
| Hatch | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sulphur | 16-20 | Primary cold-tailwater mayfly; carry duns, emergers, cripples, and soft hackles |
| Blue Winged Olive | 18-24 | Best in shade, soft slicks, or any cloud cover that develops over cold water |
| Light Cahill | 14-16 | Useful visible searching dry and a reasonable evening profile on broken water |
| Isonychia | 10-12 | Nymphs and wets belong along riffle edges; dries can prospect when rises are sparse |
| Tan Caddis | 16-18 | Pupa, soft hackles, and low-riding adults can pick up fish between mayfly pushes |
| Rusty Spinner | 14-20 | Keep ready for a calm evening fall on flats and tailouts |
| Ants and Beetles | 14-20 | Useful summer backups along shaded banks and soft edge water |
Recommended Flies
| Category | Fly | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dry | Sulphur Sparkle Dun, Comparadun, or CDC Emerger | 16-20 | First choice when upper-river sulphurs bring fish up |
| Dry | BWO Comparadun or CDC Dun | 18-24 | Use in shade, clouds, and quiet slicks |
| Dry | Light Cahill or White Wulff | 14-16 | Visible dry for pale mayflies and broken water |
| Dry | Isonychia Parachute or Comparadun | 10-12 | Prospecting fly along riffles and heavier seams |
| Dry | Rusty Spinner | 14-20 | For the evening flat-water window |
| Dry | Ant or Beetle | 14-20 | Bank-side summer backup when hatch activity is uneven |
| Nymph | Pheasant Tail, Frenchie, or Split-Back Mayfly | 14-18 | Light nymphing through soft seams before surface activity develops |
| Nymph | Isonychia Nymph | 10-12 | Work riffle edges and let the fly finish with a controlled swing |
| Wet | Soft Hackle Pheasant Tail or Soft Hackle Sulphur | 14-18 | Good when trout flash under emergers but will not take a dry |
| Nymph | Tan Caddis Pupa | 16-18 | Useful dropper before or between mayfly windows |
Tactics
Start high in the system if the goal is daytime trout on top. In quiet water, use a long leader, one dry or a dry with a short emerger dropper, and approach from downstream without lining fish in the slicks. If rises are scattered, nymph soft seams with modest weight or swing a wet fly through riffle edges before changing locations. Keep wading conservative at Hale Eddy's current flow, and do not leave the cold tailwater to target trout in freestone water that is approaching 68 F.
Gauge Links
| Gauge | Flow | Temp | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| WEST BRANCH DELAWARE RIVER AT HALE EDDY NY | 653 cfs | 45.9 F | USGS 01426500 |
| WEST BRANCH DELAWARE RIVER AT STILESVILLE NY | 525 cfs | 44.2 F | USGS 01425000 |
Sources
Official sources checked: USGS stations 01426500 and 01425000, plus the National Weather Service forecast for the Hancock and Hale Eddy, 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, method, clarity, and safety context.