If someone tells you that the West Branch is like the Maddy, it’s because they haven’t spent much time on the Madison. The only similarity I noticed is that both rivers hold flowing water. The flowing water in the West Branch is largely due to the strong work of Trout Unlimited and the Delaware River Foundation (DRF), two groups that have lobbied to ensure minimum flows in the Delaware River System.

Reservoirs on the West and East Branches of the Delaware as well as the Neversink River provide water for New York City. In the late 1980s and early 90s, the city’s thirst reduced these rivers to the volume of a grizzly bear’s tinkle. TU, DRF, and other groups went to work, convincing the state and the city to increase flows during low water periods. In 2002, a new minimum flow pilot program was implemented on the West Branch, ensuring 225 cubic feet per second in the river. This minimum flow is great for the local economy (which reaps significant benefits from visiting anglers), the coldwater ecosystem, as well as the striped bass and shad in the lower river. Unfortunately, these improvements are still threatened by political whim and will require continuous effort to protect. Please get involved by supporting TU and the DRF for the sake of the environment, the trout, and the local communities.

The Delaware River system offers the angler great hatches and large wild trout. Right now it’s prime time for the hendrickson hatch. In addition to hendricksons, I saw march browns, a gray caddis, sulphurs, blue-winged olives, and midges. The river is often coated with a mat of emergers, duns, and spinners and the trick is figuring out the insect and the life form that the fish are keying in on. Delaware River fish see a lot of flies, both natural and artificial, and they demand fine tippets and realistic imitations. Also, your drift has to be just about perfect, so make sure you can cast proficiently before going head-to-head with these fish.

A drift boat is a great way to access the West Branch and a local guide, almost like a good golf caddy, is invaluable for locating feeding fish and selecting a fly. I had a great day on the water with guide Wayne Aldridge of the West Branch Angler. The morning started out really slow, but things picked up in the mid afternoon. While sight fishing rising trout in front of a bedrock outcropping, we boated our biggest trout of the day, an 18-20” brown taken on a cdc hendrickson comparadun and 6x fluorocarbon.

By evening, the hendrickson spinner fall was in full swing and the fishing became epic. Large browns were feeding voraciously, chomping bugs like Pac-man. Sometimes it took a few casts to get my fly in the right spot at the right time, but our efforts were rewarded by these strong and beautiful trout (see the photos HERE).

In addition to the three unique rivers that compose the Delaware, rivers and streams in the Catskill Mountains are of interest to the angler. American fly fishing originated here, on the Beaverkill and the Willowemoc. TU has worked hard on local and national levels to protect these rivers for the sake of our natural and cultural heritage.

These rivers are located in the heart of the eastern seaboard and are easily accessible to millions of people. I wonder how many east coast anglers have traveled thousands of miles to fish the Madison, but have yet to experience the Delaware. After all, I’ve heard the Madison is the Delaware of the West…

Please look at my photos CLICK HERE