It's a game changer

On Friday they bumped the flow up to 625 cfs, on Monday it was raised to 925 cfs, then dropped back to 600 cfs.  Why? Minimum flow requirements at Montague. Pursuant to an agreement reached by those parties affected by the Delaware River flow the River Master is to maintain a minimum average daily flow of 1750 csf at Montague. If the power plant is running at Wallenpaupack a good deal of the water is supplied as a result of the power generation. If, however, Wallenpaupack is not operating at full capacity the River Master will call for any flow deficiency to be made up by running water from the NYC reservoirs. With the near drought conditions there will be a continued need for water to be supplied by the NYC reservoirs. The amount to be supplied depends on if the power plant is running and for how long. All fishermen should be aware that flows will be changing on an hourly basis.

In addition the water beneath the thermocline is fast becoming depleted. It happens every year in the fall. The water being released will be warmer and will contain the silt which was suspended above the thermocline. Most years the water turns gray and is more hazardous for wade fishermen as it becomes harder to see eel holes and trip stones. Trout have no trouble coming up and refusing your fly in the muddiest water. Just a guess but with this summer's dry conditions and the absence of "gully washing" rainstorms, perhaps there will be less color in the water than most years.

The fishing - For the last six weeks you didn't need to read fishing reports to know where to go, and what flies to fish, you didn't even have to look at the releases. Now you do. The Sulfur Zone  will be out of play for most waders when the release is at 1,100 cfs like this morning. Doesn't matter as the rest of the WB that slept through the last month will come alive again with the increased flows of cold water. There will be an increase in bug life (probably mostly olives). It will take the fish a day or two to adjust to the water temp and flow increase but there should soon be good daytime fishing. Was on the middle section yesterday from three-thirty until dark. It started slowly but by five there were lots of bugs and feeding fish.  If you go be aware of water levels. An increase of 500 cfs is no small matter. If you have worked your way across the river before the rise getting back to the car might well entail a long walk or a dangerous crossing.