River Information

Recent increases in cold water releases have changed the hatching activity to mostly early afternoon activity. Sulphurs, Stenos, Potomanthus, Isonychia, Tricos and Psuedos have all been spotted on the West Branch is the past couple of days. Match the hatch fishing can be good when you are in the bugs. If the hatching activity slows down try fishing small pheasant tail or hare’s ear nymphs in 18-20 to represent the sulphur and pseudo nymphs that are active at this time. Terrestrials have also been important with large hatches of flying ants in some areas of the West Branch. Our anglers have had success on dries, nymphs, and streamers in the past couple of days. Large fish sipping dries sporadically have been good targets through out the day. Keep an eye on the water since the fish have been very selective and the hatch may change while you are fishing. Typically the olives and the sulphurs have been hatching together making it a challenge to match what each individual fish is on. Fish feeding on Stenos and Isonychia will often rise sporadically with a more pronounced rise form. Fish feeding on small sulphurs and Pseudos will have small dimple like rises and are often more consistent.

The most common flies have been Pseudos (22-24), Sulphurs (E. dorothea in sizes 16-20), Stenos (sizes 12-16 in duns,emergers and spinners) Tricos (duns and spinners in sizes 22-24), Caddis tan and charcoal (14-18).

Check out our 2008 River Update Photo Gallery here

Check out our 2007 River Update Photo Gallery here.

The size of these fish make the West Branch one of the top wild trout rivers in the world for dry fly fishing.

Click Here for Al Caucci Fly Fishing and the Delaware River Club's photos from around the world.

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HOW TO FISH THE WEST BRANCH AT VARIOUS FLOW RATES

200 - when the river drops below 200 cfs, floating is not possible and wading is easy. Fish the areas of moving water as the slow pools can get difficult. The lower stretches can get warm on sunny days.

200-400 - This is a nice level as wading is easy and there is enough flow to keep the river moving. Floating can mean a lot of dragging too. Look for fish in the tails of riffs and in the deeper stretches of pools. Lower stretches can warm up on hot, sunny, summer days.

400-700 - Great wading and floating along the entire river. The whole river stays cool and usually fishes nicely. Look for active fish throughout the river system.

700-1000 - This level is the best of both worlds. There is plenty of water to float and you can wade the river nearly everywhere. At this level look for fish out of the main current.

1000-1500 - At this level floating comes into its own. Wading is still possible in some areas, but floating is easy and gives you the ability to reach all the working fish. You will start to find fish along the banks at this level. The fish will look for slower water in which to position themselves.

1500-2500 - the river really changes character at this level. Wading is really not possible, but floating the river can yield really nice fishing. Fish can be caught on streamers and you need to find surface feeding fish along the banks and back eddies. At this level big browns can be active during the day and will take streamers.

2500+ - At this level floating is possible and fishing can be good. Wading is not possible and is dangerous. Streamers cast to the banks will take fish. Dry fly action is limited.

For more information please refer to: Al Caucci's Online Match the Hatch Chart