Upper Delaware, New York
West Branch Delaware Fishing Report: October 12, 2026
The West Branch is falling near 648 cfs at Hale Eddy after overnight runoff, with some color below and small olives offering the main afternoon dry-fly chance.
- Status
- fair
- Flow trend
- falling
- Best window
- Late afternoon
- Best methods
- nymphs, wet flies, dry flies
Quick Summary
The West Branch is near 648 cfs at Hale Eddy after peaking around 913 cfs overnight, while Stilesville is near 256 cfs after the Cannonsville release dropped to 200 cfs. The lower West has some color but remains fishable. Start with nymphs or wet flies, then look for small olives during the late afternoon under mostly cloudy skies.
Conditions Snapshot
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Status | Fair. The river is fishable, but overnight runoff, some color, and a large release change call for careful section selection |
| Flow | 648 cfs at Hale Eddy; 256 cfs at Stilesville |
| Gauge Height | 3.04 feet at Hale Eddy; 7.65 feet at Stilesville |
| Water Temp | 53.6 F at Hale Eddy; 53.8 F at Stilesville |
| Clarity | Some color on the lower West Branch |
| Trend | Falling from the overnight runoff peak, with the reduced release moving downstream |
| Best Window | Late afternoon |
| Best Method | Nymphs and wet flies; dries for established olive rises |
| Wadeability | Limited. Check depth and clarity before crossing while runoff and the release cut work through the system |
Weather
The National Weather Service forecast for Hancock calls for mostly cloudy skies, a high near 67 F, and northwest wind around 6 mph. No active NWS alert covered the forecast point at the 8 a.m. check. Patchy fog is possible tonight.
River Notes
Hale Eddy rose from about 420 cfs Sunday morning to an overnight peak near 913 cfs before falling to 648 cfs. Stilesville is down near 256 cfs as the 200 cfs Cannonsville release reaches the upper river. That split means conditions differ sharply by section: the lower West carries runoff and some color, while the upper tailwater is losing depth.
The current regional report says the river fished well through Sunday's rain. Small olives remain the leading hatch, with Isonychias, tan caddis, hebes, and occasional Light Cahills also present. Cloud cover should help the afternoon surface window, but let repeated rises determine whether it is worth changing from a subsurface rig.
Hatch Activity
| Hatch | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Winged Olive | 16-18 | The main current hatch and best late-afternoon dry-fly possibility |
| Hebe | 18-20 | Small fall mayflies may mix with the olives |
| Isonychia | 14 | Nymphs and wets can cover riffles and broken water before adults appear |
| Light Cahill | 14 | A scattered larger mayfly; match it only when naturals appear |
| Tan Caddis | 16-20 | Pupa remain useful in riffles and pockets |
Recommended Flies
| Category | Fly | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nymph | Isonychia Nymph, Pheasant Tail, or Frenchie | 14-18 | Drift pool heads, riffle margins, and softer seams while the river clears |
| Nymph | Caddis Pupa | 16-20 | Work riffles and pockets with a controlled drift |
| Wet | Isonychia Wet or soft hackle | 14-18 | Swing through broken water before the surface window |
| Dry | BWO Comparadun or CDC Olive | 16-18 | Use a long leader after finding a fish that rises repeatedly |
| Dry | Light Cahill | 14 | Carry for isolated larger mayflies |
| Streamer | Woolly Bugger or slim sculpin | 6-10 | Cover shaded banks and deeper seams where visibility permits |
Tactics
Start subsurface in softer seams and along pool heads, particularly below runoff inputs. Check the Hale Eddy gauge and water color before committing to a crossing. In the afternoon, watch pool tails and slicks for repeated olive rises before changing to a long-leader dry. The falling release can expose shallow approaches quickly, while lower-river runoff can still leave uncertain footing.
Gauge Links
| Gauge | Flow | Temp | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| WEST BRANCH DELAWARE RIVER AT HALE EDDY NY | 648 cfs | 53.6 F | USGS 01426500 |
| WEST BRANCH DELAWARE RIVER AT STILESVILLE NY | 256 cfs | 53.8 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 the October 12 regional report reviewed separately for release, clarity, hatch, and method context.