Hearing the same thing.
Lower west is over 70 degrees too.
Unlike the Big Horn and Missouri Rivers...<!-- google_ad_section_end -->
This my post from last year on this same problem.
http://www.njflyfishing.com/vBullet...n-forum/t26616-releases-3-a-2.html#post241395
This is the problem with a man made ecosystem. In its nature it is based on an elusion. The problem with elusions is they always reveal their truths. GB stated that the west branch is the best Fishery in the US. I could make a compelling argument just on that base alone. Unlike the Big Horn and Missouri Rivers in Montana the Upper Delaware system is dependent upon human intervention to maintain the system. Without it the system would collapse. Brown trout and Rainbows are not indigenous to the northeast. The reason is adaptability. Native Brook trout through natural selection have the ability to overcome the 5 to 6 weeks in the summer when the O2 levels are diminished and the water quality is not conducive to most other species of Salmonids. Bookies have earned the right to survive the onslaught of warmer water temperatures.
On top of the elusion of the man made ecosystem. The systems main purpose is to provide drinking water to millions of people. When the North East experiences a prolonged drought It will magnify the release problem. I am not talking about 5 or 6 months of low perception. I am talking about 5 or 6 years and longer of it. It has happened in the past it will happen again. When it happens the fishery will become unsustainable below the wanted resource. (water). We are already starting to see Belly up Polices (Just keep it cool enough so the trout are not belly up). without a drought
When a sustained drought does hit. Add the increase in population over the past few decades. The flow problems would amplify expediently. The water rights of thirsty humans will always supersede the climate controlled fishery. What flow rates should be released today will not be the case in the future. Let’s just enjoy the fishery while we can. In the future it will be striped away .<!-- google_ad_section_end -->
I hope this helps...This my post from last year on this same problem.
http://www.njflyfishing.com/vBullet...n-forum/t26616-releases-3-a-2.html#post241395
This is the problem with a man made ecosystem. In its nature it is based on an elusion. The problem with elusions is they always reveal their truths. GB stated that the west branch is the best Fishery in the US. I could make a compelling argument just on that base alone. Unlike the Big Horn and Missouri Rivers in Montana the Upper Delaware system is dependent upon human intervention to maintain the system. Without it the system would collapse. Brown trout and Rainbows are not indigenous to the northeast. The reason is adaptability. Native Brook trout through natural selection have the ability to overcome the 5 to 6 weeks in the summer when the O2 levels are diminished and the water quality is not conducive to most other species of Salmonids. Bookies have earned the right to survive the onslaught of warmer water temperatures.
On top of the elusion of the man made ecosystem. The systems main purpose is to provide drinking water to millions of people. When the North East experiences a prolonged drought It will magnify the release problem. I am not talking about 5 or 6 months of low perception. I am talking about 5 or 6 years and longer of it. It has happened in the past it will happen again. When it happens the fishery will become unsustainable below the wanted resource. (water). We are already starting to see Belly up Polices (Just keep it cool enough so the trout are not belly up). without a drought
When a sustained drought does hit. Add the increase in population over the past few decades. The flow problems would amplify expediently. The water rights of thirsty humans will always supersede the climate controlled fishery. What flow rates should be released today will not be the case in the future. Let’s just enjoy the fishery while we can. In the future it will be striped away .<!-- google_ad_section_end -->
I always found that gauge to be odd in its temp readings. It must be on a cold water seep. If Hancock and fishes eddy are both reading 70 ish the mainstem is cooked . I never trust the lordville gauge.Grad G Tony.... Further there is no way the river around Lordville is at 70 with Hancock and Fishes Eddy coming in at 74 degrees. It's gotta be at least 75 there.
This is what I was worrying about a few days ago looking at the weather this weekend. It actually could get worse. Only a moderate chance of rain tomorrow and continuing 80 degree plus weather for the next few days. It's not unreasonable to think the lower main and lower EB could hit 80 degrees.
Anybody know at what point heat stress induced morbidity kicks in for rainbows and browns? Are we looking at fish kills in the upper D with the reservoirs over 90 percent full? Aren't there emergency releases built into FFMP when a heat wave threatens the fishery?
Sorry if I'm getting all Chicken Little up here - I went swimming today in the upper main and it was like bath water. Scary hot. And the best part is I got to watch a couple of nimrods throw nymphs from a drift boat in a 75 degree river while drinking my afternoon beer.
But the fish will move to where the O2 is greater. There will be no massive fish kill because NY is not releasing water. The Rainbows which are the least toletant to high temperature and pollution, have been in that river system since 1884. Well before the present system was in place, They have survived major drought, floods. pollution from the towns industrys well as before sewage treatment plants. Now im not saying the old days were good days. Just trying to point out that every time we have warm weather there is no need to yell the sky is falling.
But the fish will move to where the O2 is greater. There will be no massive fish kill because NY is not releasing water. The Rainbows which are the least toletant to high temperature and pollution, have been in that river system since 1884. Well before the present system with the dams and water releases. They have survived major drought, floods. pollution from the towns industries and well before sewage treatment plants. Now im not saying the old days were good days. Just trying to point out that every time we have warm weather there is no need to yell the sky is falling.
I agree 100%. The problem arises from the uneducated fishermen. He will unknowing brain starve the fish of Oxygen while fighting the fish. This is why these posts are the most important.
DELAWARE RIVER REPORT / CONDITIONS MAY 11, 2015
May 11, by Jeff White
Take today off from fishing. The Lordville gage is showing 69 degrees already this morning. We believe that the Lordville gage registers cooler than the actual river temperature so the Mainstem is a little over 70 degrees already. It looks likes the potential for rain has been decreasing and we are only looking at around a 1/10th of an inch this afternoon with air temperatures in the 80’s. A little more rain should fall overnight but much of it will be soaked up by the ground and vegetation that is leafing out. The air temps will remain warm tonight but will begin to drop on Tuesday night offering a little relief. We are watching the system closely and making decisions day by day.
We are not going to fish or take anyone fishing today. Like yesterday we suggest everyone take today off to give the fish a break. Hopefully mother nature provides us some relief over the next few days.
The West Branch at Hale Eddy peaked at 67 degrees yesterday. The lower West Branch, East Branch, and Mainstem all peaked over 70 degrees. Callicoon peaked over 75 degrees.
- See more at: The Delaware River Club River Conditions / Blog
Guys that are flyfishing I tend to believe know this Is a bad idea already. I applaud guides that are not fishing right now knowing it's a direct hit on their wallet. Last year there were some reports of a guide or 3 targeting fish in the thermal refuges which sucks. And so it goes
Just watched a young guy and an old guy launch a drift boat on the lower east branch, casting dry flies at the one or two fish that are still rising. Morons. My guess is they planned this week ahead of time and have a "hell or low water" philosophy about it. Not going to be deterred by trout-pocalypse 2015. I was a hundred yards away but even from there I could tell the old guy was an asshole. There was just a big invisible cloud of asshole-ness surrounding him.
Anyway, I agree that most fly fishermen aren't going to be out there in these conditions. And even if they are, any fish kills caused by fishermen would be minimal. I'm pretty satisfied by WDLuver's optimism.
Still, if you look at the charts, the current flows are only about 100 cfs above the 60 year minimum. Trout have survived in the system for twice that, but it's still a tough situation out there right now. Glad I'm not a guide.:crap:
Just watched a young guy and an old guy launch a drift boat on the lower east branch, casting dry flies at the one or two fish that are still rising. Morons. My guess is they planned this week ahead of time and have a "hell or low water" philosophy about it. Not going to be deterred by trout-pocalypse 2015. I was a hundred yards away but even from there I could tell the old guy was an asshole. There was just a big invisible cloud of asshole-ness surrounding him.
Anyway, I agree that most fly fishermen aren't going to be out there in these conditions. And even if they are, any fish kills caused by fishermen would be minimal. I'm pretty satisfied by WDLuver's optimism.
Still, if you look at the charts, the current flows are only about 100 cfs above the 60 year minimum. Trout have survived in the system for twice that, but it's still a tough situation out there right now. Glad I'm not a guide.:crap: