Angler 119's Delaware River Fishing Report

If all goes well I'll be casting to big browns on the Owyhee River in eastern Oregon starting Thursday.  On August 2nd I'll be driving over to Silver Creek in Idaho for a shot at the monster fish that sip dries there.  Scheduled to head  east on the 11th and should be back on the Delaware within a day or two. Enjoy the sulfur hatch in the Deposit area.  If you don't have a long ride home stay 'til dark  and fish down river.  With the warm temps the hatching is late but the fish feed and there aren't as many boats and people. If you have some free time on your hands do a rain dance! Good luck to all, will be in touch in a couple of weeks.

If you've checked the Stilesville water level you know that the release has been bumped from 500 to 777 cfs.  This is a substantial increase which will alter conditions on the West Branch and the upper big river. How will they be affected?  Some things we know for sure.  The algae in the water will be increased short term as the higher flow will wash it loose from the shore lines , rocks and obstructions where it has been lodged.  The increased current may also disturb the algae growing on the stream bottom (as does wading and anchoring in it).  Within about 36 hours there should be a marked decrease in the algae in suspension as the system flushes out. The insect hatch consequences are harder to predict.  Often a sizable increase in the cold water will shut off the sulfur hatch for a day with the hatch being heavier the following day.  On the whole the increased flow (if it continues for an extended period) should increase the bug activity throughout the WB and even down the b