Delaware River, West Branch - NY

Fishing Outlook & Conditions

Water Temp:

50

West Branch Angler's Tip of the Week

9/8, Flows are currently at 679 and dropping at Hale Eddy after some much needed rain received last week! This is a great flow for wade and boat anglers. This wet late summer has been very good for our local rivers. This has presented some awesome fishing opportunity. Stained, water gets fish really fired up. Keep the streamer, and big bug stick handy! There still has been ample opportunity to fool fish on the surface. For bugs, on the West Branch, Blue Winged Olives is your primary hatch. Sulphur's, Flying Ant's, ISO's, Cahill's, and Caddis around as well. You can expect to see a mid afternoon (usually kicking off between 3-Dark). The last 15 minutes of light, "15 minutes of fury" as we like to call it has been consistent with a fish eating a good mix of BWO's, Sulphur's, ISO's, Cahills, and other various spent insects. A good tip for the anglers looking to fish dries into the darkness: put on something you can see, you can get away with any pattern when the light is very low.

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Map of Delaware River, West Branch

Water Flow Data

Orvis-Endorsed guides nearby

West Branch Angler
Cross Current Guide Service

5-Day Outlook as of 9/8/26

Buggy weather ahead! Good time for terrestrials!

Techniques & Tips as of 9/8/26

The bugs are consistent as they get here on the West. Been seeing solid bugs throughout the system. BWO's, Sulphur's, Flying Ants, Iso's Cahills, and Caddis are all around! If you're not finding fish with their heads up it's a safe bet that they're nymphing. Blind fishing large prospecting patterns in likely areas, size 12-14 Terrestrials, Caddis, Iso's, and Cahill's have all been bringing fish up recently. Tightline/indicator/dry dropper are all effective ways to target fish subsurface.

Local Species Available

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    Trout

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    Browns and Rainbows

West Branch Angler's Recommended Fly Patterns

"Must-have" fly fishing patterns in descending order of importance:

Name: Colors: Size(s):
Clousers BLK/WHT/OLV 4-6
Deceivers BLK/WHT/OLV 4-6
Buggers BLK/WHT/OLV 4-6

Clousers

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West Branch Angler's Recommended Gear

Description: About Delaware River, West Branch

The West Branch of the Delaware is widely considered the best wild trout fishery in the East Coast. Cold water released for the Cannonsville Reservoir keeps the water temperatures cold all season. If technical dry-fly fishing is your passion, this is the river for you.

Nearest Airport:

Binghamton Airport (BGM), Binghamton, New York

Hatches:

BWO's, Ant's Sulphur's, Iso's, Caddis

Best Time to Fish:

Day

Best Stretch:

West Branch

Best Access:

Stilesville, Norboard, Gentlemen's Club, Barking Dog, Gamelands, Balls Eddy, Shehawken