Upper Delaware, New York
West Branch Delaware Fishing Report: July 19, 2026
The West Branch remains the best New York trout option in this report set, with cold release water, fishable flows, sulphurs and olives, and an Air Quality Alert as the main non-river constraint.
- Status
- good
- Flow trend
- stable
- Best window
- Midday sulphurs on the upper West Branch, with a calmer evening if air quality is workable
- Best methods
- dry flies, wet flies, nymphs
Quick Summary
The West Branch remains the strongest trout option in this morning's New York report set. USGS showed 617 cfs and 49.5 F at Hale Eddy, with Stilesville steady at 507 cfs and 45.1 F during the 9 AM refresh, so the upper tailwater still has cold release water and enough flow for good summer cover. Current Delaware reporting now lists a July 19 update with a 500 cfs Cannonsville release, a little color on the West Branch after last evening's storms, upper-river algae, and sulphurs, Cahills, Isonychias, olives, and caddis. The National Weather Service forecast is cooler and mostly sunny, with an Air Quality Alert active for the area.
Conditions Snapshot
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Status | Good on the cold West Branch tailwater; air quality and normal limited wading are the main constraints |
| Flow | 617 cfs at Hale Eddy; 507 cfs at Stilesville |
| Gauge Height | 2.98 feet at Hale Eddy; 8.08 feet at Stilesville |
| Water Temp | 49.5 F at Hale Eddy; 45.1 F at Stilesville during the 9 AM USGS refresh |
| Clarity | Not reported by official gauges; current local reporting notes a little color on the West Branch after storms, plus algae on the upper river |
| Trend | Stable release-driven water at Stilesville with Hale Eddy up from yesterday morning after rain and tributary input |
| Best Window | Midday sulphurs on the upper West Branch, with a calmer evening if air quality is workable |
| Best Method | Dry flies and wets during surface activity; nymph cleaner seams if algae is not fouling rigs |
| Wadeability | Limited. Fishable from the bank and edges, but avoid broad crossings and heavier mid-river pushes |
Weather
For Hancock and Hale Eddy, the National Weather Service forecast calls for mostly sunny skies, a high near 75 F, and northwest wind around 8 mph. Tonight is forecast clear with areas of fog after midnight and a low near 50 F. The forecast is much calmer than yesterday's storm setup, but an Air Quality Alert is active; anglers sensitive to smoke or poor air should shorten the outing or wait for better air.
River Notes
The upper West Branch is in a solid July tailwater shape: cold at Stilesville, still cold at Hale Eddy, and flowing enough to give trout cover without making the whole river a boat-only problem. Hale Eddy is higher than yesterday morning, so expect a little more push below tributaries and take wading one step at a time. Storms left some localized road, tree, and power issues in the drainage; check your access route before committing to a remote pull-off. If upper-river algae makes nymphing messy, shift toward rising fish, soft hackles, and dry-dropper work instead of dragging a heavy rig through the same fouled lane. If you leave the tailwater influence, carry a thermometer and stop targeting trout before water approaches 68 F.
Hatch Activity
Current official gauges do not report hatches. Current Delaware reporting and normal July tailwater timing support sulphurs as the main upper-river bug, with olives, light Cahills, Isonychias, tan caddis, terrestrials, and rusty spinners filling the box. The midday sulphur window is still the first hatch to plan around near Deposit, while lower West Branch nymphing is the better choice if you want to fish subsurface and avoid the worst upper-river algae.
| Hatch | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sulphur | 16-20 | Main upper West Branch hatch; carry duns, emergers, cripples, and soft hackles |
| Blue Winged Olive | 16-24 | Useful in shaded slicks, smoke-filtered light, and any softer cloud-influenced window |
| Light Cahill | 14-16 | Good pale dry for broken seams and evening searching |
| Isonychia | 10-12 | Work nymphs and wets near riffle edges; keep a larger dry ready |
| Tan Caddis | 16-20 | Pupa and soft hackles can bridge gaps between mayfly pushes |
| Rusty Spinner | 14-20 | Carry for calm last light |
| Ants and Beetles | 14-20 | Bank-side summer backup when fish are not locked on mayflies |
Recommended Flies
| Category | Fly | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dry | Sulphur Sparkle Dun, Comparadun, or CDC Emerger | 16-20 | Primary upper-river match |
| Dry | BWO Comparadun or CDC Dun | 18-24 | Use for smaller olive fish in slicks and shaded lanes |
| Dry | Light Cahill or White Wulff | 14-16 | Visible pale mayfly and broken-water searching option |
| Dry | Isonychia Parachute or Comparadun | 10-12 | Larger profile for riffles and heavier seams |
| Dry | Rusty Spinner | 14-20 | Keep ready if the evening lays down |
| Dry | Ant or Beetle | 14-20 | Summer bank option between hatch windows |
| Nymph | Pheasant Tail, Frenchie, or Split-Back Mayfly | 14-18 | Fish cleaner seams if upper algae is not a problem |
| Nymph | Isonychia Nymph | 10-12 | Work riffle edges and finish with a controlled swing |
| Wet | Soft Hackle Sulphur or Soft Hackle Pheasant Tail | 14-18 | Good emerger choice when fish flash under naturals |
| Nymph | Tan Caddis Pupa | 16-18 | Useful dropper below a larger dry or between mayfly pushes |
Tactics
Start with observation on the cold upper river instead of immediately tying on weight. If fish show to sulphurs or olives, fish one accurate dry or a dry with a small emerger dropper and keep false casting to a minimum. If there are no heads, prospect clean riffle edges with a soft hackle or a modest nymph setup and move if algae fouls every drift. Watch air quality, drink water, and be conservative wading at Hale Eddy's higher flow.
Gauge Links
| Gauge | Flow | Temp | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| WEST BRANCH DELAWARE RIVER AT HALE EDDY NY | 617 cfs | 49.5 F | USGS 01426500 |
| WEST BRANCH DELAWARE RIVER AT STILESVILLE NY | 507 cfs | 45.1 F | USGS 01425000 |
Sources
Official sources checked: USGS stations 01426500 and 01425000, plus the National Weather Service forecast and active alerts 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, method, clarity, and safety context.