Upper Delaware, New York
West Branch Delaware Fishing Report: September 5, 2026
The West Branch has fallen to about 913 cfs at Hale Eddy and clarity is improving, opening limited wading and better dry-fly prospects than yesterday.
- Status
- fair
- Flow trend
- falling
- Best window
- Late afternoon into evening after checking clarity
- Best methods
- dry flies, wet flies, streamers
Quick Summary
The West Branch is recovering from the week's storm runoff. USGS showed 913 cfs, 3.52 feet, and 55.2 F at Hale Eddy during the morning check, down sharply from yesterday, while Stilesville held near 483 cfs and 49.3 F. Current local river context reports improving clarity and some wadeable spots, though crossing the lower river remains a poor choice. Olives, flying ants, Hebes, Isonychias, and Cahills give dry-fly anglers a reason to watch the softer water later in the day.
Conditions Snapshot
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Status | Fair. Flow and clarity have improved substantially, but the lower river still carries extra push |
| Flow | 913 cfs at Hale Eddy and 483 cfs at Stilesville during the morning check |
| Gauge Height | 3.52 feet at Hale Eddy; 8.05 feet at Stilesville |
| Water Temp | 55.2 F at Hale Eddy; 49.3 F at Stilesville |
| Clarity | Improving on the West Branch; inspect feeder-influenced sections before fishing |
| Trend | Falling at Hale Eddy; stable near Stilesville |
| Best Window | Late afternoon into evening after checking clarity |
| Best Method | Olive, ant, Hebe, Cahill, or Isonychia dries where fish rise; wet flies and streamers in broken or stained water |
| Wadeability | Limited. Some edge and upper-river access has returned, but avoid ambitious crossings |
Weather
The National Weather Service forecast for Hancock calls for patchy morning fog followed by mostly sunny skies, a high near 76 F, and northwest wind at 1 to 6 mph. Tonight should be partly cloudy near 52 F with areas of fog after midnight. No active NWS alerts were present during the morning check. Continued dry weather should let the West Branch keep falling and clearing.
River Notes
Hale Eddy has lost roughly 700 cfs since yesterday morning, changing the practical plan from boat-focused storm fishing to selective wading and bank access. The upper river remains the colder, steadier option. Below Oquaga Creek and other feeders, judge each section by visibility and current speed rather than assuming the whole West has cleared at the same rate.
Start from the bank and look for clean seams, sheltered slicks, and consistent rises. The bright forecast may delay surface activity, while the falling water can make streamers and wet flies useful along shaded banks and riffle margins. Lower East Branch, Main Stem, and Beaverkill conditions remain more affected by runoff, so do not use the West Branch improvement as a system-wide safety signal.
Hatch Activity
Official gauges do not report hatches. Current Upper Delaware reporting supports olives, flying ants, Hebes, late sulphurs, tan caddis, Light Cahills, and Isonychias. Expect the most dependable surface chance in cleaner, softer water rather than fast runoff seams.
| Hatch | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Winged Olive | 16-24 | Watch shaded slicks and soft seams later in the day |
| Flying Ant | 16-22 | Carry dark and cinnamon patterns for quiet bank water |
| Hebe | 16-20 | A small mayfly option for afternoon risers |
| Light Cahill | 14-18 | Carry for mixed evening mayfly activity |
| Isonychia or Slate Drake | 10-14 | Fish as a nymph, wet fly, or searching dry around broken water |
Recommended Flies
| Category | Fly | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dry | BWO Comparadun, CDC Olive, or olive emerger | 16-24 | Match steady risers in cleaner slicks |
| Dry | Flying Ant or Hebe dry | 16-22 | Use a low-profile pattern and long leader in quiet water |
| Dry | Light Cahill or Isonychia Parachute | 10-18 | Cover larger evening mayflies and broken-water feeders |
| Wet | Isonychia Wet or Soft Hackle Pheasant Tail | 12-18 | Swing through riffle margins and soft transitions |
| Streamer | Olive or black Woolly Bugger or sparse sculpin | 4-8 | Work stained banks and inside seams without over-weighting the rig |
Tactics
Recheck Hale Eddy before leaving and inspect the first intended access point from shore. Fish near-bank cushions and soft seams before wading deeper. If no rise develops, swing a wet fly or retrieve a sparse streamer along broken edges. For dry flies, use a long leader and change only after confirming the rise form and insect. Avoid lower-river crossings while the flow remains elevated.
Gauge Links
| Gauge | Flow | Temp | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| WEST BRANCH DELAWARE RIVER AT HALE EDDY NY | 913 cfs | 55.2 F | USGS 01426500 |
| WEST BRANCH DELAWARE RIVER AT STILESVILLE NY | 483 cfs | 49.3 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.