Upper Delaware, New York
West Branch Delaware Fishing Report: August 16, 2026
The West Branch remains cold and fishable at Hale Eddy, with 679 cfs, 49.1 F water, a falling flow, and a useful midday sulphur-and-olive window before afternoon showers or storms build.
- Status
- good
- Flow trend
- falling
- Best window
- Midday on the colder upper West Branch, then watch storm timing before evening
- Best methods
- dry flies, nymphs, wet flies
Quick Summary
The West Branch is still the strongest New York trout option in this morning's report set. USGS showed 679 cfs, 3.10 feet, and 49.1 F at Hale Eddy near the morning check, with the flow a little lower than yesterday and a 500 cfs Cannonsville release keeping the upper river cold. Wading is limited but useful on known bars, banks, and inside seams; do not treat this as easy crossing water. The best chance is still midday dry-fly fishing on the colder upper West Branch, with nymphs and wet flies better on the lower West when fish are not rising, and thunderstorms are the main timing issue later today.
Conditions Snapshot
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Status | Good. Cold tailwater temperatures and a manageable falling flow make the West Branch fishable, but storms and limited wading still matter |
| Flow | 679 cfs at Hale Eddy during the morning check |
| Gauge Height | 3.10 feet at Hale Eddy |
| Water Temp | 49.1 F at Hale Eddy |
| Clarity | Not reported by official gauges; current local context does not indicate blown-out water |
| Trend | Falling over the last day at Hale Eddy |
| Best Window | Midday on the colder upper West Branch for sulphurs and olives; keep a close eye on afternoon shower and thunderstorm timing |
| Best Method | Dry flies and emergers over working fish; nymphs, wet flies, or a dry-dropper in broken lower-river water |
| Wadeability | Limited. Stay on soft edges and familiar access points, and avoid unnecessary crossings |
Weather
For Hancock and Hale Eddy, the National Weather Service forecast calls for mostly cloudy weather, a high near 78 F, light southeast wind around 2 to 7 mph, and showers and thunderstorms developing after early afternoon. Rain chances continue tonight, with cloudy weather and a low around 63 F. Cloud cover should help presentation, but thunder and heavier showers are a real safety and timing constraint; leave the water when storms approach.
River Notes
The West Branch has eased slightly from yesterday's morning level while staying in a good cold-water summer range. Hale Eddy was 679 cfs and 49.1 F near the morning check, compared with 700 cfs and 49.5 F yesterday morning. That is enough flow to give fish cover and enough cold water to keep the upper river in play, but it still asks for cautious footwork.
Current Upper Delaware source context shows the Cannonsville release at 500 cfs and keeps the midday sulphur window on the colder upper West Branch as the best dry-fly target, though that hatch is getting spotty as summer moves on. Small olives, Isonychias, Cahills, and tan caddis are still part of the box. If you want to nymph, favor the lower West where algae is less likely to turn every drift into cleanup duty.
Hatch Activity
Official gauges do not report hatches. Current Upper Delaware source context supports spotty summer sulphurs, small Blue Winged Olives, Isonychias, Light Cahills, tan caddis, and some terrestrial or spinner opportunity.
| Hatch | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sulphur | 16-20 | Still the main daytime dry-fly target on the colder upper West Branch, but activity is no longer broad or automatic |
| Blue Winged Olive | 16-24 | Small olives can matter in the same soft, cloudy windows as the remaining sulphurs |
| Isonychia | 10-14 | Useful as a searching dry, wet fly, or nymph in riffles and broken bankside current |
| Light Cahill | 14-16 | Carry for softer light and sparse mixed mayfly activity |
| Tan Caddis | 16-20 | Pupa, soft hackles, and small adults remain worth having around riffles |
| Rusty Spinner and Terrestrials | 12-24 | Use small spinners, ants, and beetles around shaded banks, flats, and evening targets where storms allow |
Recommended Flies
| Category | Fly | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dry | Sulphur Sparkle Dun, Comparadun, or CDC Emerger | 16-20 | First choice when upper-river fish are actually working to sulphurs |
| Dry | BWO Comparadun or CDC Olive | 16-24 | Match smaller mixed-in olives during cloudy or rainy windows |
| Dry | Isonychia Parachute or Light Cahill | 10-16 | Search banks and faster lanes when fish are not locked on small mayflies |
| Dry | Rusty Spinner, Winged Ant, or Beetle | 12-24 | Carry for shaded banks, spinner activity, and picky summer trout |
| Wet | Soft Hackle Sulphur, Soft Hackle Pheasant Tail, or Isonychia Wet | 12-18 | Swing through the film before and during sparse hatch activity |
| Nymph | Pheasant Tail, Perdigon, or Frenchie | 14-18 | Use in cleaner lower-river seams when the surface is quiet |
| Nymph | Isonychia Nymph | 10-12 | Fish faster edges with a controlled lift or swing at the end of the drift |
Tactics
Start by watching for actual riseforms on the colder upper West Branch. If fish are up, use a long leader, one accurate dry, or a dry-and-emerger pair, and make the first drift count. If the surface is quiet, move to lower-river seams with a compact nymph rig, an Isonychia nymph, or a soft hackle rather than dredging algae-heavy upper water. Keep the storm forecast in mind: thunder, rising side channels, or dirty runoff should end the session, not just change the fly.
Gauge Links
| Gauge | Flow | Temp | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| WEST BRANCH DELAWARE RIVER AT HALE EDDY NY | 679 cfs | 49.1 F | USGS 01426500 |
Sources
Official sources checked: USGS station 01426500 and 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, method, clarity, and safety context.