Upper Delaware, New York
West Branch Delaware Fishing Report: October 5, 2026
A larger Cannonsville release has the West Branch rising with cold water and better depth, though northwest wind will restrict the dry-fly window.
- Status
- fair
- Flow trend
- rising
- Best window
- Late afternoon in wind-protected water
- Best methods
- nymphs, dry flies, streamers
Quick Summary
The West Branch is near 448 cfs at Hale Eddy and 369 cfs at Stilesville after the Cannonsville release settled near 322 cfs. The river is rising but remains wadeable in familiar sections. Northwest wind gusting above 20 mph will make surface fishing harder, so start with nymphs or a streamer and look for protected water late in the day.
Conditions Snapshot
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Status | Fair. The release adds useful depth, but rising water and strong wind complicate presentation |
| Flow | 448 cfs at Hale Eddy; 369 cfs at Stilesville |
| Gauge Height | 2.63 feet at Hale Eddy; 7.89 feet at Stilesville |
| Water Temp | 54.1 F at Hale Eddy; 52.9 F at Stilesville |
| Clarity | Green reservoir tint reported in the current local update |
| Trend | Rising after a release pulse, with the release reported near 322 cfs |
| Best Window | Late afternoon in wind-protected water |
| Best Method | Nymphs early; streamers along shaded structure; dries for established rises out of the wind |
| Wadeability | Good in familiar sections, but recheck crossings as the higher release moves downstream |
Weather
The National Weather Service forecast for Hancock calls for a high near 60 F with mostly sunny skies. Northwest wind should run 7 to 12 mph with gusts as high as 23 mph. Tonight should be mostly clear with a low near 39 F. No active NWS alert covered the forecast point at the morning check.
River Notes
Hale Eddy has risen from roughly 372 cfs Sunday morning to 448 cfs, while Stilesville increased from 303 to 369 cfs. The current local update reports that Cannonsville was pulsed before settling near a 322 cfs release. That increase provides more depth than the weekend low, but anglers should check each crossing rather than assume yesterday's route remains unchanged.
Small olives remain the main reported hatch, with Light Cahills, hebes, and scattered Isonychias also present. The green reservoir tint continues. Wind is today's main constraint: concentrate on protected banks, bends, and pockets where a leader can turn over and natural drift remains manageable.
Hatch Activity
| Hatch | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Winged Olive | 18-22 | The main reported hatch; search protected soft water late |
| 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 |
Recommended Flies
| Category | Fly | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nymph | Isonychia Nymph, Pheasant Tail, or Frenchie | 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 where wind masks the presentation |
| Dry | BWO Comparadun or CDC Olive | 18-22 | Use a long leader only after finding repeat rises in protected water |
| Dry | Light Cahill | 14-16 | Use as a searching dry in riffles or when larger naturals appear |
| Streamer | Woolly Bugger or slim sculpin | 6-10 | Cover shaded banks and deeper seams where reservoir tint provides concealment |
Tactics
Start with a compact nymph rig through pool heads and riffle margins, or work a slim streamer along shaded banks. Look for bends and banks that block the northwest wind. If olives appear, wait for a fish to rise repeatedly before switching to a single dry. The higher release permits slightly more weight than Sunday, but recheck crossings while the flow increase moves downstream.
Gauge Links
| Gauge | Flow | Temp | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| WEST BRANCH DELAWARE RIVER AT HALE EDDY NY | 448 cfs | 54.1 F | USGS 01426500 |
| WEST BRANCH DELAWARE RIVER AT STILESVILLE NY | 369 cfs | 52.9 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 5 local conditions update reviewed separately for release, clarity, hatch, and method context.