Best month to fish the West Branch Delaware River

Month-by-month fishing quality

Why these months?

Two things decide your odds on the West Branch Delaware River: flow and season. You need the river in its fishable-flow band — so a freestone in spring runoff is out no matter how good the hatch would be, while a dam-fed tailwater holds shape year-round. On top of that, the hatches and water temperatures line up best in July and August and June and September, which is why those months edge out the rest. The West Branch Delaware River's season runs year-round cannonsville reservoir tailwater; prime june–september as a cold-water summer refuge.

The West Branch below Cannonsville Reservoir is one of the Catskills' three legendary Delaware System tailwaters — cold bottom-release water that stays fishable through the hottest weeks of summer, when warmwater closures shut down trout fishing elsewhere in the Northeast. Wild and holdover browns and rainbows key on prolific sulphur, isonychia, and blue-winged olive hatches, and the river's reputation for technical, long-leader dry-fly fishing to selective trout draws anglers from across the country.

Where to fish the West Branch Delaware River

The Hale Eddy-to-Deposit stretch right below the reservoir runs coldest and holds the highest trout density; downstream toward Hancock the river warms slightly and opens up for easier wading. Reservoir releases set the level day to day, so check the gage before committing to a wade versus a float.

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