West Branch Upper Delaware Wild Browns

[Troutman]

Has anyone been fishing the the West Branch Upper Delaware lately ? The Special regulation area in particular. Its the C&R stretch in Deposit . I notice the fishing hasnt been as good as years past. when I do go. I havent even seen guided drift boats anymore either. I was told that the Cannondale dam had some sort of malfunction that had dried up the river somewhat. Then the temperatures had risen to lethal numbers. Caused a kill of many wild trout species . can anyone confirm this ?

[Vance]

It is best if you go to Trouttownflies Joe always has the latest scoop on the rivers. Last I heard the Cannonsville was flowing over the dam if that is true there should be a lot of water in the WB. Bill the mailman

[joe_panella]

I was up there in June, fishing the lower Beaverkill, and was told at Dette the water was warmer from spilling over the dam. I did not hear anything about a malfunction though.

[Rusty Spinner]

Has anyone been fishing the the West Branch Upper Delaware lately ? The Special regulation area in particular. Its the C&R stretch in Deposit . I notice the fishing hasnt been as good as years past. when I do go. I havent even seen guided drift boats anymore either. I was told that the Cannondale dam had some sort of malfunction that had dried up the river somewhat. Then the temperatures had risen to lethal numbers. Caused a kill of many wild trout species . can anyone confirm this ?

So......you are correct in that the fishing isn't even remotely close to being as good as it once was, but that has zero to do with the dam or any dams. That river is likely the most heavily fly fished river in the entire US, and it doubled during Covid. Lodges are booked well over a year out as are guides. Not only are there scads of newer guides, but the numbers of private boats continues to explode in numbers each year to where private boats far outweigh guide boats. So that's your problem up there and there is no easy fix. Yes, NYC mismanages flows and always has, but that's not the reason fishing is getting tougher with each passing year. This year, after the City bailed on some of the portal work and drained Cannonsville nearly empty ahead of that project, they allowed the reservoir to once again fill to the point it was spilling over, and that water was 80+ degrees which shut down fishing in the upper WBD which very seldom happens. But no fish die offs, just too much warm water for hatches or trout to feed. That is over now.

As someone that has booked cabins up there for the last 25 years, we used to book in January for early May and always got the cabins or Lodge we wanted. Now it's tough to book only one full year in advance and I have begun booking two years out to compensate.

[Troutman]

Has anyone been fishing the the West Branch Upper Delaware lately ? The Special regulation area in particular. Its the C&R stretch in Deposit . I notice the fishing hasnt been as good as years past. when I do go. I havent even seen guided drift boats anymore either. I was told that the Cannondale dam had some sort of malfunction that had dried up the river somewhat. Then the temperatures had risen to lethal numbers. Caused a kill of many wild trout species . can anyone confirm this ?

So......you are correct in that the fishing isn't even remotely close to being as good as it once was, but that has zero to do with the dam or any dams. That river is likely the most heavily fly fished river in the entire US, and it doubled during Covid. Lodges are booked well over a year out as are guides. Not only are there scads of newer guides, but the numbers of private boats continues to explode in numbers each year to where private boats far outweigh guide boats. So that's your problem up there and there is no easy fix. Yes, NYC mismanages flows and always has, but that's not the reason fishing is getting tougher with each passing year. This year, after the City bailed on some of the portal work and drained Cannonsville nearly empty ahead of that project, they allowed the reservoir to once again fill to the point it was spilling over, and that water was 80+ degrees which shut down fishing in the upper WBD which very seldom happens. But no fish die offs, just too much warm water for hatches or trout to feed. That is over now.

As someone that has booked cabins up there for the last 25 years, we used to book in January for early May and always got the cabins or Lodge we wanted. Now it's tough to book only one full year in advance and I have begun booking two years out to compensate.

Thank you for the explanation sir !!!. I do remember about 10 years ago how the fishing was. It was FABULOUS for sure !!!. The the past 3 has been no so good. Still good to get out. but Ive been exploring the east branch more. Just gotta find those hidden gem spots .

[Rusty Spinner]

I was talking to a guide and good friend that lives on the lower WBD just yesterday after I posted last. He agreed that the intense pressure is changing trout behavior, and even during hatches, we are seeing far fewer trout rise to flies. I watched in horror last late April and early May when I spent 5 days on the river, mostly wade fishing. I would watch boat after boat anchor up on the same rising fish only to put that fish down in a single cast or maybe 2 or 3 casts and then the guide or rower would pull anchor and head down to the next head they saw poking up and repeat. This went on for hours and hours, day after day, month after month, and now year after year. The fish I do catch have broken mandibles more often than not, meaning they are not always being handled properly when released. And the size of the fish is getting steadily smaller.

[tightlooper]

The other issue is with the former Hale Eddy boat ramp. I haven't floated down the WB in years because of this. As someone with a drift boat, I'd fish the Main from April until usually the first week in June or whenever it got too hot. Then I'd move to the WB. I'd normally put the boat in at Stylesville and take out at Hale Eddy; OR, put in at Hale Eddy and take out at Balls Eddy. If you don't own land on the river or know someone who does, floating the WB without a reservation at a "resort", leaves you with very few options. This is why you see far less private boats on the WB. Rebuild the Hale Eddy boat ramp and it will be back to what it was.

[Rusty Spinner]

The other issue is with the former Hale Eddy boat ramp. I haven't floated down the WB in years because of this. As someone with a drift boat, I'd fish the Main from April until usually the first week in June or whenever it got too hot. Then I'd move to the WB. I'd normally put the boat in at Stylesville and take out at Hale Eddy; OR, put in at Hale Eddy and take out at Balls Eddy. If you don't own land on the river or know someone who does, floating the WB without a reservation at a "resort", leaves you with very few options. This is why you see far less private boats on the WB. Rebuild the Hale Eddy boat ramp and it will be back to what it was.

You lost me there. Lots of public access launches on the West. Hale Eddy was never supposed to be a launch, just a public access site. I also used to put in or take out there, but no bueno most times as it was never built as a launch. And now, of course, they put boulders there to thwart the drifters that were using it to launch or take out. Deposit to Balls isn't bad if you don't have private access at Dreamcatcher or West Branch Angler when fishing the upper WB. I do that float typically. Otherwise it's just a half day float down to the lodges.

[Troutman]

I was talking to a guide and good friend that lives on the lower WBD just yesterday after I posted last. He agreed that the intense pressure is changing trout behavior, and even during hatches, we are seeing far fewer trout rise to flies. I watched in horror last late April and early May when I spent 5 days on the river, mostly wade fishing. I would watch boat after boat anchor up on the same rising fish only to put that fish down in a single cast or maybe 2 or 3 casts and then the guide or rower would pull anchor and head down to the next head they saw poking up and repeat. This went on for hours and hours, day after day, month after month, and now year after year. The fish I do catch have broken mandibles more often than not, meaning they are not always being handled properly when released. And the size of the fish is getting steadily smaller.

Yes. the 1s I do catch now are smaller in size. my average size was 16-18 inches. My biggest was 24 inch wild brown. What a FIGHT that was !!!!.

[Troutman]

The other issue is with the former Hale Eddy boat ramp. I haven't floated down the WB in years because of this. As someone with a drift boat, I'd fish the Main from April until usually the first week in June or whenever it got too hot. Then I'd move to the WB. I'd normally put the boat in at Stylesville and take out at Hale Eddy; OR, put in at Hale Eddy and take out at Balls Eddy. If you don't own land on the river or know someone who does, floating the WB without a reservation at a "resort", leaves you with very few options. This is why you see far less private boats on the WB. Rebuild the Hale Eddy boat ramp and it will be back to what it was.

You lost me there. Lots of public access launches on the West. Hale Eddy was never supposed to be a launch, just a public access site. I also used to put in or take out there, but no bueno most times as it was never built as a launch. And now, of course, they put boulders there to thwart the drifters that were using it to launch or take out. Deposit to Balls isn't bad if you don't have private access at Dreamcatcher or West Branch Angler when fishing the upper WB. I do that float typically. Otherwise it's just a half day float down to the lodges.

There are plenty of public access as Rusty stated. On both sides of the river to launch. Deposit NY has a few in that stretch alone.

[Troutman]

here's a question I have thou. Ive floated down from Deposit down to past Junction pool. I ran into a few areas that was posted no fishing in certain sections in the river. Im taking that a private section belonging to clubs. How does that apply when your floating in the water. I know you cant wade or cant anchor or touch bottom. but no fishing just floating thru ?

[Rusty Spinner]

here's a question I have thou. Ive floated down from Deposit down to past Junction pool. I ran into a few areas that was posted no fishing in certain sections in the river. Im taking that a private section belonging to clubs. How does that apply when your floating in the water. I know you cant wade or cant anchor or touch bottom. but no fishing just floating thru ?

No issues. Private landowners can only block you from their property below the high water mark, and you can wade, anchor, etc. in the entire WBD. A recent Court ruling not yet getting much attention makes it the same now on the East Branch. Any posted signs are intended only to keep people from property located above the high water line. You can wade both rivers in their entireties.

[tightlooper]

If you put in in Deposit, where exactly are you taking out?

[46er]

Up in the ADK's some landowners stretched wire with a sign saying no trespassing across waters passing thru their property to keep canoer's/kayaker's out. Lots of legal battles fought and still going on.

https://www.kayakmapspa.com/river-law

[Troutman]

If you put in in Deposit, where exactly are you taking out?

If your doing drift boats. there are 2 spots I do on the PA side. 1 is on the west branch still . its about 2 miles up from the town of Hancock . the other is on the main stem about 2 miles down stream . If I float down on my kayak. I usually pull out @ junction pool

[Troutman]

here's a question I have thou. Ive floated down from Deposit down to past Junction pool. I ran into a few areas that was posted no fishing in certain sections in the river. Im taking that a private section belonging to clubs. How does that apply when your floating in the water. I know you cant wade or cant anchor or touch bottom. but no fishing just floating thru ?

No issues. Private landowners can only block you from their property below the high water mark, and you can wade, anchor, etc. in the entire WBD. A recent Court ruling not yet getting much attention makes it the same now on the East Branch. Any posted signs are intended only to keep people from property located above the high water line. You can wade both rivers in their entireties.

Thank you for the education sir !!!! its appreciated

[Troutman]

Up in the ADK's some landowners stretched wire with a sign saying no trespassing across waters passing thru their property to keep canoer's/kayaker's out. Lots of legal battles fought and still going on.

https://www.kayakmapspa.com/river-law

Nice read thankyou !!!!

[tightlooper]

Found around the internet:

1.Stilesville (about a mile north of the state police barracks)
2.New England Wood Pellet (Formerly Norbord Corp. (at the Deposit bridge))
3.Barking Dog area, slighly downstream of the Deposit bridge

4. Balls Eddy (Pennsylvania state access)
5. Shehawkin (Pennsylvania state access)

If you put in at either of the first 3 places, the next take-out spot is Balls Eddy followed by Shehawkin. That's a long day, especially when the river is at 650cfs. I believe Barking Dog down to Balls eddy is 12 miles. I personally don't like long floats like that because it leaves less time to fish. I used to like putting in at Hale Eddy and floating down to Balls Eddy or Stilesville down to Hale eddy.

[Rusty Spinner]

Found around the internet:

1.Stilesville (about a mile north of the state police barracks)
2.New England Wood Pellet (Formerly Norbord Corp. (at the Deposit bridge))
3.Barking Dog area, slighly downstream of the Deposit bridge

4. Balls Eddy (Pennsylvania state access)
5. Shehawkin (Pennsylvania state access)

If you put in at either of the first 3 places, the next take-out spot is Balls Eddy followed by Shehawkin. That's a long day, especially when the river is at 650cfs. I believe Barking Dog down to Balls eddy is 12 miles. I personally don't like long floats like that because it leaves less time to fish. I used to like putting in at Hale Eddy and floating down to Balls Eddy or Stilesville down to Hale eddy.

Deposit to Balls Eddy is considered a whole day float. The others are all half day floats. That's at 500 cfs average. At 650, you're moving slightly faster when not anchored. I do some afternoon floats from Deposit down to the Dreamcatcher Lodge when I'm staying there. Also, Barking Dog down to Balls is about 10 miles, not 12.

[tightlooper]

Found around the internet:

1.Stilesville (about a mile north of the state police barracks)
2.New England Wood Pellet (Formerly Norbord Corp. (at the Deposit bridge))
3.Barking Dog area, slighly downstream of the Deposit bridge

4. Balls Eddy (Pennsylvania state access)
5. Shehawkin (Pennsylvania state access)

If you put in at either of the first 3 places, the next take-out spot is Balls Eddy followed by Shehawkin. That's a long day, especially when the river is at 650cfs. I believe Barking Dog down to Balls eddy is 12 miles. I personally don't like long floats like that because it leaves less time to fish. I used to like putting in at Hale Eddy and floating down to Balls Eddy or Stilesville down to Hale eddy.

Deposit to Balls Eddy is considered a whole day float. The others are all half day floats. That's at 500 cfs average. At 650, you're moving slightly faster when not anchored. I do some afternoon floats from Deposit down to the Dreamcatcher Lodge when I'm staying there. Also, Barking Dog down to Balls is about 10 miles, not 12.

Yeah, I get yah. I like to camp out in a few areas for a few hours though and those extra 4-5 miles won't allow that.