Delaware River (East
Branch).
. . . a brief introduction.
As with most rivers, they can be divided
into different sections
and the East Branch is no exception.
There are two distinct sections, one from Pepacton Reservoir
to the town of East Branch and the other continuing
to the junction of the West Branch. Both have
different characteristics in appearance, flows, and
the type of fishery that exists in them.
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Downsville to the Beaver Kill
The lower
East Branch begins as a tailwater below the Pepacton reservoir in the town
of Downsville. This is a medium sized stream at this point and moves at
a slow pace. Many of the pools have weed growth making the river
look like a large spring creek.
If you're looking to fish some
nymphs deep, this is not he stretch. Riffled sections
are limited, the best fishing is done to rising fish during
good hatches. This is best in May and June and then
again in the fall.
The fishery is made up mostly of
wild and stocked brown trout. My records show that the majority
of the fish are wild and the closer you travel upriver towards
the dam the higher the percentage. In the Downsville area, you
may have a chance at some brook trout, also wild fish.
The flows are well managed maintaining a solid fishery with
clear cold water throughout the year.
East Branch to Hancock
Once
the river is joined by the Beaver Kill at the town of East Branch,
the river changes. From here to the junction of the West
Branch, the flows are really influenced by the Beaver Kill.
The cold water releases coming out of Pepacton reservoir have
little effect this far down. Usually if the lower Beaver
Kill is low this section is low and so on.
There is more riffle water to be found
were you can find some good nymph fishing during none hatch periods.
Most fisherman concentrate on these sections and rightly so.
The only problem with this part of the
river is in its ability to maintain suitable water temperatures in the
summer months. The temperatures can and usually do rise into the
upper 70's in the summer. By this time, most anglers move onto other
rivers, but you can still find fish if you pick the right days, especially
after summer rains that raise the water levels.
The fishery is quite different as well. Most of the trout are rainbows.
This is the natural extension of the fishery that exists in the main stem.
Brown trout are also present but more
of them are stocked or hold over fish. It must also be said that
the stocked fish do hold over well. This is very evident in the early
season before the stocking begins and some very nice fish are caught.
Some of the fish are better than 15", an indication that they have been
in the river for more than one year.
Shad are another species present
in the river. The fish make their turn into the East Branch
some time around the end of May. The first few miles or
so above Hancock have a number of popular holes where anglers
pursue these fish. One method of fishing is to find fish
visually and then cast to them. This can usually be accomplished
in late May or June during low clear water conditions.
Hatches are most abundant in May and June and then again in the fall.
Once again, this is because of the higher water temperatures that exist
in the summer. The Hendrickson hatch is usually a great one.
Green and Brown Drakes also hatch in good numbers on this part of the river. |
