The West Branch of the Delaware River, where the West Branch Angler Resort is located, is the crown jewel of the upper Delaware. The river is a tailwater fishery that receives good cold water from Cannonsville Reservoir. Cannonsville is owned and operated by New York City, and by law must provide releases for the needs of states, cities, and towns down river on the Main Delaware River. The releases are monitored continually by the New York DEC, as the health of this wild trout fishery is of major importance to the area. The releases are accomplished through a valve system, that can be opened inch by inch, so that flows can be raised or lowered incrementally, thus avoiding sudden changes to the river levels and water temperatures. Wild Browns are the main specie in the West Branch, amounting to about 90% of the total trout population, with Wild Rainbows making up the final 10%.

This river is wonderful to behold. Though a large river, for the most part the West Branch fishes small. It meanders slowly through farm land and woodlands, moving almost spring creek like in most places, with rising trout working to such a variety of hatches that it is almost easier to say what doesn't hatch on the West Branch of the Delaware. The hatches during 2002 were excellent, from mid-April through June. The Early Quills and the Early Black Stones were again abundant, and the Hendrickson was good, but still not as strong as we have come to expect over the years. During May, the Apple Caddis was fair. BH Tan Caddis Pupa worked extremely well for almost all of the early and mid season. Stenonema such as March Browns were again excellent in May with tremendous hatches throughout the system. Green Drakes and Brown Drakes were terrific this year all through the system. The Green Drake as the best most of us have ever seen with the hatches lasting over 3 weeks! Cahill and Gray Fox were good during the summer. The Sulphur hatches were also good, but not as strong as last year. Lack of rain kept these hatches good into August, as cold water releases from Cannonsville were steady to deal with the drought. Streamer patterns were very weak, since the Alewives were not coming out of the reservoir. The Trico was fair this season, which we believe was due to cold high water releases late in August and September.. The Isonychia has been without question the strongest hatch of the part two seasons. However, this year there were far less than we have gotten used to. The Yellow Drake, Ephemera Varia, and the Golden Drake, aka Potamanthus were both sporadic during July and early August as usual, and Heptigenia Hebe was good beginning in late August, with Sulphur patterns effectively imitating the Hebe through October. The BWO's were effective all season, as we saw sizes ranging from 18 to 28. End of season fishing with Midge & BWO patterns in size 26 and 28 were effective in November as well. See our Hatch Chart for the West Branch.

The East Branch of the Delaware is a tailwater fishery that receives water from Pepacton Reservoir, as well as from the Beaverkill which is a freestone river. Pepacton is a New York City reservoir and is a reserve for drinking water for the city. The Lower East Branch tends to work more like a freestone, with early season runoff offering good trout fishing through May. In June, since NYC releases only minimal flows from Pepacton, the water temperature rises to the point where the Rainbows tend to slip back to the Main Delaware, and Smallmouth Bass, and Shad become excellent targets for fly anglers. The Upper East Branch, closer to Pepacton, still carries a good trout population, and offers some good fly angling for most of the year. The hatches on the East Branch are similar to the West Branch. Fall trout fishing on the lower East Branch will usually be very good, since water releases are often increased during that time.