| The West Branch, East Branch and the Main Stem of | | | | sport on fly and light tackle. A spring run of American |
| the Delaware are generally what is referred to as the | | | | shad has an almost cult following of light tackle |
| Upper Delaware River System. These three rivers are | | | | enthusiasts greeting them as they migrate from the |
| all outstanding fisheries in their own right with each | | | | sea to their spawning grounds. Shad are also great fun |
| having its own unique character. Also part of this | | | | on a fly rod, and with the right techniques not all too |
| system is the fabled Neversink River. | | | | difficult to catch. |
| The West Branch begins at the base of Cannonsville | | | | The Neversink River can be best broken down into |
| Reservoir. It's a tail water fishery with cold water | | | | "above the reservoir" and "below the reservoir". The |
| almost always found in its upper reaches, even during | | | | section above the reservoir is a smaller river |
| the hottest days of summer, often extending the full | | | | comprised of two branches and is for the most part |
| length of the river into the main Delaware. The West | | | | private with very limited access. The lower stretch, |
| Branch has abundant insect hatches. The variety of | | | | below the reservoir is an excellent tail water fishery |
| aquatic insects with the gentle flow of the river make | | | | with a combination of wild and stocked brown trout, |
| the West Branch a dry fly fisherman's dream. Early | | | | rainbows and brook trout. The fish average in the 12-13 |
| season and high water flows often make streamer | | | | inch class with the occasional 18- 20 inch fish making |
| fishing outstanding. | | | | an appearance. The Gorge area, known officially as |
| The East Branch is made up of two parts, the upper | | | | the Neversink River Unique Area is very secluded and |
| and lower. The "upper" is that part upstream of its | | | | picturesque, situated in close to 5,000 acres of pristine |
| junction with the Beaverkill. Mostly a brown trout river | | | | forest lands. Fishing this area requires a good bit of |
| and also a tail water, the upper section usually remains | | | | hiking and stealth tactics to fool its wary trout. |
| cool all season long. Beginning at Pepacton Reservoir, | | | | Much has been written about the selectivity of the |
| it's spring creek like, "closer" and more overgrown than | | | | Delaware River trout and how specialized fly patterns |
| the lower section. Stealth tactics provide the best | | | | are needed to catch fish. Quite simply, these are wild |
| angling description. | | | | fish in a fertile river with an abundance of food. With all |
| The lower section of the East Branch is a wider and | | | | the natural food available they are not likely to eat |
| more open waterway. Not that this makes it any | | | | anything but a perfectly presented fly. And, |
| easier to fish, it's just the character changes. A mix of | | | | presentation is more important than the pattern, |
| browns and rainbows are found here. This is an early | | | | although when you get both right, life gets better! |
| season fishery as the water warms during summer | | | | These fish are dodging bald eagles, ospreys, |
| and sends the trout migrating to cooler water. Some | | | | mergansers, mink, otter, bigger fish, and other |
| head upriver and some go downriver to the junction of | | | | predators trying to eat them from the moment they're |
| the East and West Branches where the cooler water | | | | born. They grow up nervous. It's these nervous fish |
| coming from the West Branch is more to their liking. | | | | that head for cover at the slightest unnatural thing that |
| The main stem of the Delaware River begins at the | | | | live to be adults. These nervous fish breed with other |
| junction of the East and West Branches. This river | | | | nervous fish and over the generations we end up with |
| harbors some hard fighting rainbows. During the hottest | | | | a predisposition to nervous fish. Yes, you often need |
| days of summer many of the trout move to the colder | | | | "flush in the film" dry flies ( like parachutes and |
| water of the West Branch. Some deep pools and | | | | comparaduns and snowshoe and cdc emergers) to |
| springs in the main river also give them a place to | | | | fool them on the slow runs and quiet pools. But I can't |
| hunker down during warm water periods. As you | | | | help repeating, most of what is needed is a perfect |
| travel down the Delaware River, it becomes an | | | | presentation. Fortunately, the fish will let you know |
| exceptional smallmouth bass fishery offering great | | | | when you have one! |