Upper Delaware, New York
West Branch Delaware Fishing Report: September 4, 2026
The West Branch is beginning to fall after overnight storms, but 1,610 cfs and off-color water at Hale Eddy still favor boats and cautious edge fishing.
- Status
- tough
- Flow trend
- falling
- Best window
- Upper river near Stilesville, or lower-river boat water after visibility improves
- Best methods
- streamers, dry flies, wet flies
Quick Summary
The West Branch is beginning to recede after another round of overnight storms, but the lower river remains high and off-color. USGS showed 1,610 cfs, 4.53 feet, and 59.7 F at Hale Eddy during the morning check; Stilesville remained cold and steady at 491 cfs and 50.2 F. Current Upper Delaware context puts the better wading option near Stilesville and the better lower-river option in a boat with streamers. Dry-fly anglers should wait for cleaner seams and visible rises rather than forcing a hatch plan into stained water.
Conditions Snapshot
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Status | Tough. Hale Eddy is starting to fall, but lower-river flow, stain, and push remain limiting |
| Flow | 1,610 cfs at Hale Eddy and 491 cfs at Stilesville during the morning check |
| Gauge Height | 4.53 feet at Hale Eddy; 8.06 feet at Stilesville |
| Water Temp | 59.7 F at Hale Eddy; 50.2 F at Stilesville |
| Clarity | Not reported by official gauges; current local context describes off-color water below storm-affected feeders |
| Trend | Falling slowly at Hale Eddy after an overnight peak; stable at Stilesville |
| Best Window | Upper river near Stilesville, or lower-river boat water after visibility improves |
| Best Method | Streamers in stained water; olives, caddis, Cahills, Isonychias, and wet flies if cleaner water produces rises |
| Wadeability | Limited. Avoid lower-river crossings and pushy feeder-influenced sections |
Weather
The National Weather Service forecast for Hancock calls for mostly sunny skies, a high near 78 F, and northwest wind at 2 to 6 mph. Tonight should be mostly clear with patchy fog and a low near 54 F. No active NWS alerts were present during the morning check. The dry forecast should help the river recede, but the existing runoff still needs time to move through the system.
River Notes
Hale Eddy rose again overnight and was easing from its morning crest by the official check. That is an improvement in direction, but 1,610 cfs is still poor crossing water for most wade anglers. The Cannonsville-controlled upper section is the cleaner, colder choice because Stilesville has held near 491 cfs while storm runoff enters farther downstream.
Treat visibility as the deciding condition below the feeders. From a boat, work streamers through soft banks, inside bends, and slower seams where trout can hold out of the main push. On foot, stay high in the system and fish from the bank before stepping in. A sunny day may reduce surface activity, so wait for a clear rise rhythm before switching to small dry flies.
Hatch Activity
Official gauges do not report hatches. Current Upper Delaware context supports Blue Winged Olives, late sulphurs, tan caddis, Light Cahills or Summer Stenos, and Slate Drakes or Isonychias. Stain and brightening skies may limit visible dry-fly activity outside the cold upper tailwater.
| Hatch | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Winged Olive | 16-24 | Look in shaded slicks and soft upper-river seams |
| Sulphur | 16-20 | Late and sporadic, with the best chance in cold upper tailwater water |
| Tan Caddis | 16-20 | Fish pupa or soft hackles when adults are sparse |
| Light Cahill or Summer Steno | 14-18 | Carry for mixed evening mayfly activity |
| Isonychia or Slate Drake | 10-14 | Use a nymph, wet fly, or searching dry along broken edges |
Recommended Flies
| Category | Fly | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Streamer | Olive or black Woolly Bugger, sculpin, or sparse baitfish pattern | 4-8 | First choice in stained lower-river boat water |
| Dry | BWO Comparadun, CDC Olive, or olive emerger | 16-24 | Use only where fish establish a steady rise |
| Dry | Sulphur emerger, Light Cahill, or Summer Steno | 14-20 | Cover mixed late-season mayfly rises in cleaner water |
| Wet | Isonychia Wet or Soft Hackle Pheasant Tail | 12-18 | Swing through riffle margins and soft transition water |
| Nymph | Isonychia Nymph, Pheasant Tail, or caddis pupa | 12-20 | Keep the drift in softer edge water and check for debris |
Tactics
Check the Hale Eddy trend and feeder color before committing to a section. Near Stilesville, cover bank seams and soft slicks with a dry, emerger, or wet fly while staying out of the stronger lanes. Below the feeders, a streamer from a boat is the practical starting point until visibility improves. Do not attempt lower-river crossings at this flow, and leave extra room around woody banks and floating debris.
Gauge Links
| Gauge | Flow | Temp | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| WEST BRANCH DELAWARE RIVER AT HALE EDDY NY | 1,610 cfs | 59.7 F | USGS 01426500 |
| WEST BRANCH DELAWARE RIVER AT STILESVILLE NY | 491 cfs | 50.2 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 clarity, hatch, method, release, and access context.