Upper Delaware, New York
West Branch Delaware Fishing Report: July 16, 2026
The West Branch remains the best New York trout option in this morning's set, with a 500 cfs Cannonsville release, cold upper-river water, fishable Hale Eddy flow, and smoke in the forecast.
- Status
- good
- Flow trend
- falling
- Best window
- Midday sulphurs on the colder upper West Branch, then the calmer last-light spinner window if smoke and wind allow
- Best methods
- dry flies, nymphs, wet flies
Quick Summary
The West Branch is still the strongest trout choice in this New York report set. USGS showed 547 cfs at Hale Eddy and 516 cfs at Stilesville during the morning check, with Stilesville at a cold 45.5 F and the Cannonsville release reported at 500 cfs. Current Delaware reporting points to sulphurs, tiny olives, Cahills, Isonychias, and caddis, but also notes enough upper-river algae that nymphing is better aimed at the lower West Branch while the colder upper water remains the better dry-fly lane. Smoke is in the National Weather Service forecast again, so make the day flexible and do not ignore air quality if it worsens.
Conditions Snapshot
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Status | Good on the cold West Branch tailwater; smoke is the main non-river constraint |
| Flow | 547 cfs at Hale Eddy; 516 cfs at Stilesville |
| Gauge Height | 2.84 feet at Hale Eddy; 8.09 feet at Stilesville |
| Water Temp | 45.5 F at Stilesville during the morning USGS check; Hale Eddy's latest reported USGS temperature was 56.3 F on the prior afternoon |
| Clarity | Not reported by official gauges; recent local Delaware reporting has described stable flows and continued upper West Branch opportunity |
| Trend | Falling from yesterday morning's higher Hale Eddy reading and back near the recent stable release range |
| Best Window | Midday sulphurs on the colder upper West Branch, then the calmer last-light spinner window if smoke and wind allow |
| Best Method | Dry flies on the colder upper West Branch when fish show; nymphs are the better bet on the lower West where algae is less limiting |
| Wadeability | Limited but improving. Hale Eddy near 547 cfs is more manageable than yesterday, but crossings and heavy seams still need care |
Weather
For Hancock and Hale Eddy, the National Weather Service forecast calls for smoke, mostly sunny skies, and a high near 83 F. Wind should be west around 0 to 9 mph, which is manageable enough for dry-fly work if the smoke is not a personal health issue. Tonight is forecast partly cloudy with smoke and a low around 58 F. The river is cold enough in the upper tailwater to support trout fishing, but anglers sensitive to smoke should shorten the session or wait for a cleaner window.
River Notes
The current official flow profile is favorable for the West Branch compared with the warm freestones. Stilesville is cold and steady, and Hale Eddy has dropped from yesterday morning's pushier reading into a range that gives both boats and careful wade anglers options. The material 9 AM source change is tactical: current local Delaware reporting notes algae in the upper river, so fish the cold upper West Branch as a dry-fly game and shift subsurface work toward the lower West Branch where nymphs can be cleaner and more effective. Stay honest about the temperature gradient as you move downriver; carry a thermometer and stop targeting trout before water approaches 68 F.
Hatch Activity
Current Delaware and Catskills reporting continues to support a mid-summer tailwater box: sulphurs on the upper West Branch, tiny olives mixed into the hatch, Isonychias, summer Cahills, tan caddis, terrestrials, and rusty spinners at last light. The hatch does not need to be heavy everywhere to be useful; look for cold slicks, inside seams, shaded banks, and feeding lanes where a few fish show consistently.
| Hatch | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sulphur | 16-20 | Primary upper West Branch summer mayfly; carry duns, emergers, cripples, and soft hackles |
| Blue Winged Olive | 18-24 | Tiny olives can mix with sulphurs, especially in soft slicks and shaded lanes |
| Light Cahill | 14-16 | Useful visible dry and evening profile on broken water |
| Isonychia | 10-12 | Nymphs and wets are good through riffle edges; a larger dry can cover sparse rises |
| Tan Caddis | 16-18 | Pupa and soft hackles can fill gaps before and after mayfly activity |
| Rusty Spinner | 14-20 | Carry for last light if wind and smoke allow calm surface water |
| Ants and Beetles | 14-20 | Bank-side summer backups when hatch activity is uneven |
Recommended Flies
| Category | Fly | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dry | Sulphur Sparkle Dun, Comparadun, or CDC Emerger | 16-20 | First choice for upper-river sulphur fish |
| Dry | BWO Comparadun or CDC Dun | 18-24 | Use for small olive fish in slicks and shaded lanes |
| Dry | Light Cahill or White Wulff | 14-16 | Visible dry for pale mayflies and broken-water prospecting |
| Dry | Isonychia Parachute or Comparadun | 10-12 | Good larger profile along riffles and heavier seams |
| Dry | Rusty Spinner | 14-20 | Keep ready for calm last light |
| Dry | Ant or Beetle | 14-20 | Summer bank option when hatch activity is uneven |
| Nymph | Pheasant Tail, Frenchie, or Split-Back Mayfly | 14-18 | Fish soft seams before the surface window develops |
| Nymph | Isonychia Nymph | 10-12 | Work riffle edges and let the fly finish with a controlled swing |
| Wet | Soft Hackle Sulphur or Soft Hackle Pheasant Tail | 14-18 | Good during emerging bugs or when fish flash below dries |
| Nymph | Tan Caddis Pupa | 16-18 | Useful dropper between mayfly pushes |
Tactics
Start in the coldest water and decide quickly whether the fish are looking up. If the upper West Branch is showing algae on your nymph rig, do not keep cleaning flies all morning; wait for the dry-fly window there, swing soft hackles where they stay clean, or move lower for subsurface work. When fish rise in flat water, lengthen the leader, use 5X or 6X where appropriate, and make one careful presentation instead of repeated false casts. At the current flow, wade deliberately, avoid broad mid-channel crossings, and use a boat or bank angles for heavier seams.
Gauge Links
| Gauge | Flow | Temp | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| WEST BRANCH DELAWARE RIVER AT HALE EDDY NY | 547 cfs | 56.3 F latest reported prior afternoon | USGS 01426500 |
| WEST BRANCH DELAWARE RIVER AT STILESVILLE NY | 516 cfs | 45.5 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, release, access, method, clarity, and safety context.