The West Branch of the Delaware River is widely recognized as the finest wild brown trout fishery in New York State and one of the premier tailwater trout rivers in the eastern United States. Fed by cold, clear releases from Cannonsville Reservoir, the West Branch flows 40 miles from Deposit south through the upper Delaware valley before joining the main stem Delaware at Hancock — where it meets the East Branch in the confluence known simply as The Junction, one of the most storied pieces of trout water in the Northeast.
The Cannonsville tailwater effect is what sets the West Branch apart from its Catskill freestone neighbors. Cold reservoir releases maintain ideal trout temperatures through the summer months, when surrounding freestone streams run low and warm. This thermal advantage extends the quality fishing season dramatically — the West Branch fishes well from April through November, with productive hatches occurring in nearly every month. Summer, typically dead time on Catskill streams, is prime time on the West Branch. Spinner falls on summer evenings can be extraordinary, with large wild browns rising freely in the long, flat pools.
The fish themselves are exceptional. Wild, stream-bred brown trout averaging 14-18 inches are common, with fish over 20 inches encountered regularly by skilled anglers. These are not put-and-take fish — they are the product of decades of quality management and favorable habitat created by the reservoir tailwater. The West Branch fish are selective, educated, and powerful. Landing a 20-inch wild West Branch brown on a dry fly is an achievement any fly fisher would be proud of.
The river flows through a broad, pastoral valley with easy access via Route 10 and various county roads. Wading is generally straightforward on the wide, gravelly flats, though the main channel can run deep and swift during higher releases. Always check the current Cannonsville release rate before wading — releases can change quickly and significantly. The classic hatches of the upper Delaware — Hendricksons, Sulphurs, Green Drakes, Cahills, and the famous Isonychia (Slate Drake) — play out over an extended season on the West Branch. The Green Drake hatch in late May and early June is legendary here, producing frenzied evening rises that test even the most experienced anglers.
