Upper Delaware, New York
West Branch Delaware Fishing Report: September 30, 2026
The West Branch is falling gently, with 596 cfs at Hale Eddy, cold water, cloud cover, and several practical fishing options.
- Status
- good
- Flow trend
- falling
- Best window
- Afternoon into evening
- Best methods
- streamers, nymphs, dry flies
Quick Summary
The West Branch is near 596 cfs at Hale Eddy and 459 cfs at Stilesville, with morning water temperatures near 53 F and 52 F. Hale Eddy has eased about 30 cfs since Tuesday morning, while Stilesville remains nearly steady. Cloud cover and a green reservoir tint favor streamers and nymphs early, with small olives and scattered larger mayflies offering an afternoon dry-fly chance.
Conditions Snapshot
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Status | Good. Cold water, useful flow, and clouds support several methods |
| Flow | 596 cfs at Hale Eddy; 459 cfs at Stilesville |
| Gauge Height | 2.94 feet at Hale Eddy; 8.02 feet at Stilesville |
| Water Temp | 53.1 F at Hale Eddy; 52.0 F at Stilesville |
| Clarity | Green reservoir tint in the current local report |
| Trend | Falling gently at Hale Eddy; stable at Stilesville |
| Best Window | Afternoon into evening |
| Best Method | Streamers and nymphs early; dries for established rises later |
| Wadeability | Good in familiar sections at the morning level |
Weather
The National Weather Service forecast for Hancock calls for fog before 10 a.m., then mostly cloudy skies, a high near 74 F, and light west wind up to 3 mph. A Special Weather Statement warns of visibility at or below one-half mile in patches before 9 a.m. Slow down on the drive and wait for enough light to judge unfamiliar crossings.
River Notes
Hale Eddy fell from 627 cfs Tuesday morning to 596 cfs at the latest official reading. Stilesville ranged only from 459 to 467 cfs over the same period. A current local report describes good wading and floating levels and a green reservoir tint on the West Branch. That color can help streamer fishing, but check the fly often for suspended algae.
Small olives remain the most dependable surface insect. Light Cahills, hebes, and Isonychias are less numerous but give anglers a larger search pattern for riffles and broken water. Nymph or swing wet flies through the morning, then look for repeat rises in soft seams during the afternoon.
Hatch Activity
| Hatch | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Winged Olive | 16-20 | The most numerous current mayfly; watch soft seams under afternoon clouds |
| Hebe | 16-20 | A small olive sulphur that may mix with the afternoon hatch |
| Light Cahill | 14 | A scattered larger mayfly worth carrying |
| Isonychia | 12-14 | More spinners than duns have been observed recently; fish nymphs and wets in broken water |
| Tan Caddis | 16-20 | Fish a pupa through riffles before surface activity |
Recommended Flies
| Category | Fly | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Streamer | Woolly Bugger or sparse sculpin | 6-10 | Cover shaded banks and deeper seams while cloud and reservoir tint persist |
| Nymph | Isonychia Nymph, Pheasant Tail, Frenchie, or caddis pupa | 12-20 | Drift riffle margins, pockets, and pool heads |
| Wet | Isonychia Wet or soft hackle | 12-18 | Let the fly lift toward the bank at the end of the drift |
| Dry | BWO Comparadun, Light Cahill, or Rusty Spinner | 12-20 | Match the visible insect and rise form |
Tactics
Start with a streamer along shaded banks or a compact nymph rig in riffle margins. If fish follow without taking, reduce the streamer profile or move to a wet fly. Shift to a single dry only after finding repeat rises. The river is wadeable at the morning level, but reservoir releases can change independently of local rain, so check both gauges before using a crossing.
Gauge Links
| Gauge | Flow | Temp | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| WEST BRANCH DELAWARE RIVER AT HALE EDDY NY | 596 cfs | 53.1 F | USGS 01426500 |
| WEST BRANCH DELAWARE RIVER AT STILESVILLE NY | 459 cfs | 52.0 F | USGS 01425000 |
Sources
Official sources checked: USGS stations 01426500 and 01425000, plus the National Weather Service forecast and active alert feed for the Hancock, NY area. This report is an original Custom FlyBox summary based on current official gauge and weather data, with a September 30 local conditions report reviewed separately for clarity, hatch timing, and methods.