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IMPORTANT MESSAGE!!!!!

FOR YEARS NOW I HAVE TALKED TO MOST OF YOU AT THE SHOP ABOUT THE FIGHT THAT WAGES ON FOR MORE CONSISTANT COLD WATER RELEASES FOR THE UPPER DELAWARE FISHERY. FEW UNDERSTAND THE COMLEXITY OF THIS FIGHT, THOSE THAT DO UNDERSTAND ALL THE COMPONENTS AND ARE GREAT SUPPORTERS OF FUDR. PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT FUDR'S FIGHT HAS BEEN GROWING LARGER AS OF RECENT AND I HOPE YOU SEE THE IMPORTANCE AND NEED TO SUPPORT FUDR'S EFFORTS IN THE FIGHT TO CHANGE THE FLAWED FFMP PARAMETERS.

GO TO WWW.FUDR.ORG, IF YOU CAN NOT DONATE YOUR TIME THEN SUPPORT WITH YOUR MUCH NEEDED $$$ WE ARE IN THE FOREFRONT OF A BATTLE AND AMUNITION COSTS $ PLEASE HELP !!!!!! THANKS, COZ

SEE THE PROBLEMS AND FLAWS WITH THE FFMP

1. Prior to the emergency releases on 6/10/08 temps at Lordville and below were 80 and 82 degrees.

2. Water temps during emergency release on 6/10 and 6/11 of 600+cfs the temps went from 82 to 71 degrees at Lordville on the Main Branch and the fishing for the last two days on the West (temps in the 50s) and Upper Main Branch (temps in the low 60s) was GREAT!!!! Lots of bugs and lots of water for the fisherman and fish to spread out and be HAPPY. THIS IS WHAT FUDR IS FIGHTING FOR SINCE THEIR ORIGINATION AND AS YOU CAN SEE BY THE ABOVE INFO A RELEASE OF 600CFS OUT OF CANNONSVILLE WORKS!!!!!!! JUST IMAGINE WHAT THIS RIVER SYSTEM WOULD BE LIKE IF EVERY MONTH FISHED AS IT DOES IN MAY?????????????

"WEST BRANCH"

Today's Report - July 19, 2008.

GOOD RELEASES MAKE FOR ANOTHER GREAT DAY ON THE UPPER DELAWARE...YESTERDAY FISHED REALLY, REALLY WELL!

The flow at Hale Eddy is 879cfs with a temp of 44 degrees. The water release is at 840cfs. Good Sulphers yesterday on the Upper West, plenty of Cahills, and lots of Olives the last couple hours before dark. Fish were up and feeding well yesterday. They have been mostly 18s and 20s, but there has been a mix of larger Sulphers as well in the 16-14 range. There has also been a good number of Cahills with fish on them also, particularly when it is sunny in the early afternoon. Olives have been hatching pretty good on the cooler overcast days or later into the evening, with fish on them as well. The Upper West has been starting with Sulphers in the afternoons and as you get down stream, they have been coming off later in the day. Look for spinner falls later in the evening or early in the morning. There has also been a few days where we have gotten a good number of Tricos in the late morning with lots of fish feeding on them. The rest of the weekend should fish really well.

For further river level and temperature updates click on USGS West Branch Gauges below.

Up to the minute flows and water temps.

• West Branch's Hancock Gauge
• West Branch's Hale Eddy Gauge

The WEST BRANCH DELAWARE RIVER begins at Cannonsville reservoir a flows south some 17 miles to the town of Hancock, New York before joining the East Branch and forming the Main Branch or “BIG D”. The West Branch has the widest variety of structure, greatest number of islands and public access areas of all the three branches. The released water from Cannonsville reservoir creates this wonderful tail water and keeps the West Branch cooled most of the season making the West Branch a favorite among many anglers.

Season: April 1st to September 30 th Cannonsville reservoir down to NY/PA border.

Open year round catch & release only PA border down stream.

Species – Brown and rainbow trout, a few brookies. Browns in the 20” class are common. Higher number of browns than rainbows.

Water levels are described in (cfs) cubic feet per second .

• 400 cfs < 100% wadeable! Fish become spooky & concentrated.
• 600 cfs 85% wadeable! Less spooky & spread out
• 800 cfs 65% wadeable! Big fish become more active.
• 1000 cfs 40% Wade with caution!!! Big water! Big fish!
• 1500 cfs > Wading is Not advised! Drift boat recommended! Look to the banks for big fish!

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"MAIN BRANCH"

Today's Report - July 19, 2008

The flow at Callicoon is 1540cfs and temp is 79 degrees. Lordville is 1330 and 68 degrees. Temperatures are still less than ideal for the trout fishing but as the day goes on the water temps will continue to cool from the cold water release out of Cannonsville. There is a good chance that the Upper Main will fish okay today. The lower river below Long eddy has had great smallmouth fishing with large numbers of fish being caught. Look for Sulphers and Olives on the Upper Main.

EAST BRANCH

Today's Report - July 19, 2008

The flows for the East Branch are 179cfs at Harvard with a temp of 63 degrees, and the Big East at Fish's Eddy is 366cfs with a temp of 73 degrees. The East Branch is on the drop water temps will rise on the Big East but will remain cool on the Little east along rt 30.Temperatures are still pretty warm once you get below its junction with the Beaverkill...so if looking to fish the East Branch, look to the Upper East for cooler temperatures, better bug activity, and a better chance of getting into some fishing action.

For updated river levels and temperatures for Upper and Lower EB click USGS East Branch Gauges below.

Up to the minute flows and water temps.

• East Branch's Harvard Gauge
• East Branch's Fish's Eddy Gauge

The EAST BRANCH DELAWARE RIVER can be broken into upper and lower sections. The “Upper East” begins at the outlet of Pepacton reservoir and flows downstream for 17.5 miles before reaching the Beaverkill and forming the “Lower East” at the town of East Branch. The water of the “Upper East” is smaller and runs cooler than that of the “Lower East” due to the proximity to the dam. There is much more vegetation and trees along the banks providing shade that also helps keep the water cooler longer. The “Upper East” is best fished on foot, however, during high water levels a canoe can prove to be a welcomed option. The “Lower East” travels from the town of East Branch and flows about 17 miles to its mouth at the famous “Junction Pool” in Hancock, New York. The “Lower East” is much wider and has a greater variety of structure than the Upper East and for that reason it has become a favorite among guides for float fishing in spring and early summer when water conditions and temperatures are prime. Historically there is less cold water released from Pepacton Reservoir than Cannonsville reservoir in any given year. The influence of the Beaverkill’s warmer water in summer is another factor that contributes to the warming of the Lower East Branch to temperatures that are not conducive to hatch and feeding activity.

Season:

1. April 1 st to September 30 thPepacton Dam downstream to Shinhopple Bridge.
2. April 1 st to Oct 15 thShinhopple Bridge downstream to the mouth at Hancock.
3. October 16 th to November 30 th C& R only Shinhopple Bridge to Hancock.

Species – Brown & rainbow trout, some brookies, good numbers of smallmouth and a summer shad run in the Lower East

Water levels are described in (cfs) cubic feet per second.

Upper East

• 300 cfs< 90 % wadeable, fish can be spooky.
• 500 cfs 70 % wadeable, fish start to move from deep.
• 700 cfs 55% wadeable, big fish become more active.
• 900 cfs> Dangerous wading, few wadeable areas.

Lower East

• 800 cfs< 90% wadeable, fish concentrated and spooky.
• 1000 cfs 80% wadeable, drift boat accessible.
• 1200 cfs 65% wadeable, Big fish start to become more active.
• 1500 cfs 50% Wade with caution! Big water big fish!
• 1700 cfs> Dangerous wading! Drift boat recommended! Look to the banks for big fish.

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Beaverkill

Today's Report - July 19, 2008

The Beaverkill at Cooks Falls is 129cfs and 73 degrees. Water levels are on the drop and water temps will rise throughout the weekend. The BK is to low and warm to fish. Go the the Upper East, West Branch or upper main stem of the D.

Willowemoc

Today's Report - July 19, 2008

The same as the BK.

IMPORTANT NOTE!

For the most part water levels are directly related to water temperatures. The higher the water the colder the temperature. The high water can be contributed to three factors: large run off due to melting snow or heavy rain, large man made releases from the reservoirs, or a combination of both. Keep in mind that water temperatures are the single most important factor for trout and bug activity. Too cold and the fish become lethargic and feeding is reduced. To hot, water O2 levels deplete, fish seek thermal refuge in deep holes & surface feeding is reduced to late evening as water cools.

We hope the above information has given you a better understanding of the “Upper Delaware” river system. We have spent over 20,000 hours on the water guiding clients from around the world. There is not a day that goes buy that we do not learn something new each time we ply the fabled waters of the “D”.

Remember! Safety First!

Good luck,

COZ