Upper Delaware, New York
West Branch Delaware Fishing Report: October 1, 2026
The West Branch is falling after a release reduction, with 518 cfs at Hale Eddy, cold water, clouds, and a useful afternoon dry-fly window.
- Status
- good
- Flow trend
- falling
- Best window
- Afternoon into evening
- Best methods
- streamers, nymphs, dry flies
Quick Summary
The West Branch is near 518 cfs at Hale Eddy and 401 cfs at Stilesville after releases were reduced. Both gauges are falling, with morning water temperatures near 54 F and 53 F. Cloud cover and a green reservoir tint support streamers and nymphs early, while small olives and scattered larger mayflies provide an afternoon dry-fly chance.
Conditions Snapshot
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Status | Good. Cold water, useful wading flow, and clouds support several methods |
| Flow | 518 cfs at Hale Eddy; 401 cfs at Stilesville |
| Gauge Height | 2.78 feet at Hale Eddy; 7.94 feet at Stilesville |
| Water Temp | 54.3 F at Hale Eddy; 53.1 F at Stilesville |
| Clarity | Green reservoir tint in the current local report |
| Trend | Falling after a reservoir-release reduction |
| 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 a chance of morning showers, then mostly cloudy skies, a high near 73 F, and southwest wind around 3 mph. Rainfall should remain below one-tenth of an inch. No active NWS alert covered the forecast point at the morning check.
River Notes
Hale Eddy fell from 596 cfs Wednesday morning to 518 cfs at the latest official reading. Stilesville dropped from 459 to 401 cfs. A current local report says the Cannonsville release was reduced and expects flows to continue dropping through the day. Check both gauges before using a familiar crossing because the release change is still moving through the river.
Small olives remain the most dependable surface insect. Light Cahills, hebes, and Isonychias are less numerous but provide larger search patterns 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 | 16-18 | The most numerous current mayfly; watch soft seams under afternoon clouds |
| Hebe | 18-20 | 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 morning level is wadeable, but the falling release can alter depth and fish position through the day.
Gauge Links
| Gauge | Flow | Temp | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| WEST BRANCH DELAWARE RIVER AT HALE EDDY NY | 518 cfs | 54.3 F | USGS 01426500 |
| WEST BRANCH DELAWARE RIVER AT STILESVILLE NY | 401 cfs | 53.1 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 an October 1 local conditions report reviewed separately for release, clarity, hatch timing, and methods.