Upper Delaware, New York
West Branch Delaware Fishing Report: October 4, 2026
A small release increase has the West Branch rising modestly, with cold green-tinted water, cloud cover, and a better late dry-fly window than Saturday.
- Status
- fair
- Flow trend
- rising
- Best window
- Late afternoon into evening
- Best methods
- nymphs, streamers, dry flies
Quick Summary
The West Branch is near 372 cfs at Hale Eddy and 303 cfs at Stilesville after a small Cannonsville release increase. Both gauges are rising, but the change is modest and wading remains practical in familiar sections. Mostly cloudy weather should help small olives and streamers compared with Saturday's bright conditions. Start below the surface and watch for repeat rises later.
Conditions Snapshot
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Status | Fair. Cold water and cloud cover help, but the river remains low and the release is changing |
| Flow | 372 cfs at Hale Eddy; 303 cfs at Stilesville |
| Gauge Height | 2.46 feet at Hale Eddy; 7.77 feet at Stilesville |
| Water Temp | 53.2 F at Hale Eddy; 52.2 F at Stilesville |
| Clarity | Green reservoir tint reported in the current local update |
| Trend | Rising modestly following a release increase |
| Best Window | Late afternoon into evening |
| Best Method | Nymphs early; streamers in tinted water; dries for established later rises |
| Wadeability | Good in familiar sections, with crossings rechecked as the release increase moves downstream |
Weather
The National Weather Service forecast for Hancock calls for mostly cloudy skies, a high near 62 F, and southeast wind from 3 to 7 mph. Patchy fog is possible early tonight before mostly cloudy skies and a low near 49 F. No active NWS alert covered the forecast point at the morning check.
River Notes
Hale Eddy has risen from roughly 343 cfs Saturday morning to 372 cfs, while Stilesville increased from 271 to 303 cfs. A current local update places the Cannonsville release near 258 cfs and attributes the bump to downstream flow needs. The increase adds some depth without taking wading out of play, but check every crossing rather than relying on yesterday's route.
The October 4 local update continues to list small olives as the main hatch, with Light Cahills, hebes, tan caddis, and scattered Isonychias. Green reservoir tint remains present. Cloud cover improves the odds of daytime streamer follows and may extend the olive window, though the low flow still calls for quiet presentations.
Hatch Activity
| Hatch | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Winged Olive | 16-20 | The main surface prospect, with clouds improving the chance of activity before dusk |
| Hebe | 18-20 | A small olive sulphur that may mix into the later window |
| Light Cahill | 14-16 | A scattered larger mayfly; confirm the natural before changing flies |
| Isonychia | 12-14 | Nymphs and wets remain useful through riffles and broken water |
| Tan Caddis | 16-20 | Fish a pupa through riffle margins before surface activity |
Recommended Flies
| Category | Fly | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nymph | Isonychia Nymph, Pheasant Tail, Frenchie, or caddis pupa | 12-20 | Drift pool heads, riffle edges, and deeper seams before the surface window |
| 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 after finding repeat rises |
| Dry | Light Cahill or Rusty Spinner | 12-18 | Match the visible insect and rise form late in the day |
| Streamer | Woolly Bugger or slim sculpin | 6-10 | Cover shaded banks and deeper seams where the green tint provides concealment |
Tactics
Start with a compact nymph rig through pool heads and riffle margins, or cover shaded banks with a slim streamer. The modest flow increase allows slightly more weight than Saturday, but the river is still low enough to reward a quiet approach. Watch soft tailouts and slower seams as the afternoon develops. Change to a single dry only after a fish rises repeatedly. Recheck crossings while the release bump moves downstream.
Gauge Links
| Gauge | Flow | Temp | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| WEST BRANCH DELAWARE RIVER AT HALE EDDY NY | 372 cfs | 53.2 F | USGS 01426500 |
| WEST BRANCH DELAWARE RIVER AT STILESVILLE NY | 303 cfs | 52.2 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 4 local conditions update reviewed separately for release, clarity, hatch, and method context.