Upper Delaware, New York
West Branch Delaware Fishing Report: October 3, 2026
The West Branch remains low after another release reduction, with cold water, green reservoir tint, good wading access, and a late dry-fly window.
- Status
- fair
- Flow trend
- falling
- Best window
- Late afternoon into evening
- Best methods
- nymphs, wet flies, dry flies
Quick Summary
The West Branch is near 343 cfs at Hale Eddy and 271 cfs at Stilesville. Hale Eddy continues to ease down after the latest release reduction, while Stilesville has held near its morning flow. A current local update confirms green reservoir tint, which can improve streamer cover without putting fish or insects down. Start with nymphs or a streamer and watch for small olives and scattered larger mayflies later.
Conditions Snapshot
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Status | Fair. Cold, accessible water is favorable, but bright sun and a changing release make the surface window less dependable |
| Flow | 343 cfs at Hale Eddy; 271 cfs at Stilesville |
| Gauge Height | 2.39 feet at Hale Eddy; 7.69 feet at Stilesville |
| Water Temp | 53.1 F at Hale Eddy; 52.3 F at Stilesville |
| Clarity | Green reservoir tint confirmed in a current local update |
| Trend | Falling at Hale Eddy; stable at Stilesville |
| Best Window | Late afternoon into evening |
| Best Method | Nymphs early; streamers in tinted water; dries for established later rises |
| Wadeability | Good in familiar sections, but recheck crossings while the release change moves downstream |
Weather
The National Weather Service forecast for Hancock calls for sun, a high near 66 F, and north wind around 3 mph. Skies remain clear tonight with a low near 44 F. No active NWS alert covered the forecast point at the morning check.
River Notes
Hale Eddy fell from 448 cfs Friday morning to 343 cfs at the latest official reading. Stilesville dropped from 338 to 271 cfs, then held steady through the latest observations. A current local update reports a 217 cfs Cannonsville release under the Flexible Flow Management Program. Check the gauge before stepping into a crossing used yesterday, and expect trout to shift toward deeper seams, riffle edges, and pool heads as the river settles.
The October 3 local update lists small olives as the main hatch, with Light Cahills, hebes, tan caddis, and sporadic Isonychias. It also notes more Isonychia spinners than duns recently. The National Weather Service calls for sun, while the local update expected morning cloud before afternoon clearing. Use the cloud edge as a possible surface window, but wait for repeat rises before changing to a dry.
Hatch Activity
| Hatch | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Winged Olive | 16-20 | The best late-day dry-fly prospect, especially in shaded soft water |
| Hebe | 18-20 | A small olive sulphur that may mix into the late window |
| Light Cahill | 14-16 | A scattered larger mayfly; carry it but confirm the natural before fishing the dry |
| Isonychia | 12-14 | Recent activity has favored spinners over duns; nymphs and wets remain useful in broken water |
| Tan Caddis | 16-20 | Fish a pupa through riffle margins before any surface activity |
Recommended Flies
| Category | Fly | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nymph | Isonychia Nymph, Pheasant Tail, Frenchie, or caddis pupa | 12-20 | Drift riffle edges, pool heads, and deeper seams while the sun is high |
| Wet | Isonychia Wet or soft hackle | 12-18 | Swing through broken water and let the fly lift near the bank |
| Dry | BWO Comparadun or CDC Olive | 16-22 | Use a long leader only after finding repeat rises |
| Dry | Light Cahill or Rusty Spinner | 12-18 | Match the visible insect; spinner activity may be more useful than Isonychia duns |
| Streamer | Woolly Bugger or slim sculpin | 6-10 | Use the green reservoir tint along shaded banks and deeper seams |
Tactics
Start with a compact nymph rig through riffle edges and pool heads, or cover shaded banks with a slim streamer where the green tint provides concealment. The lower flow calls for less weight and a quieter approach than yesterday. Watch soft tailouts later in the day and change to a single dry only after a fish rises more than once. The river is accessible, but do not assume yesterday's crossing depth while Hale Eddy is still dropping.
Gauge Links
| Gauge | Flow | Temp | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| WEST BRANCH DELAWARE RIVER AT HALE EDDY NY | 343 cfs | 53.1 F | USGS 01426500 |
| WEST BRANCH DELAWARE RIVER AT STILESVILLE NY | 271 cfs | 52.3 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 3 local conditions update reviewed separately for release, clarity, hatch, and method context.