The season opens April 1 on the Upper Delaware. The water is cold, the bugs are starting, the fish are hungry, and the river is empty compared to summer. For anyone who fishes seriously, the four weeks from mid-April to mid-May are the best weeks of the year on this river. The cabin sits five minutes from the Shehawken Access on the West Branch, which makes it the right base for a spring fishing trip.
Why spring on the Delaware, specifically.
The Upper Delaware is a year-round trout fishery, but spring is the window that brings everything together. The water comes out of Cannonsville and Pepacton Reservoirs cold and consistent, the early-spring hatches are reliable, and the wild trout that have been holding through winter come up to feed on the surface. The river is also at higher flows than summer, which spreads the fish out and rewards anglers who can read varied water.
The other practical advantage: the river is uncrowded. Most weekenders don't show up until Memorial Day. Hardcore fly fishers know April and early May are the best time to be on the water, and they show up, but the crowds are nothing like July weekends.
The hatches, week by week.
- Early April: Quill Gordons, Blue Quills, and Blue Winged Olives. The water is still cold and the hatches are sparse. Nymphing produces.
- Mid-to-late April: Hendricksons, the headline hatch of the entire season. Big bugs, daytime emergence, fish key to them hard. The 7-to-14 day Hendrickson window is the most-anticipated week on the river. Match the dun and the spinner.
- Late April and May: Caddis come in heavy. Apple Caddis, Grannoms, Tan Caddis. Often the best action of the day shifts to a sunset rise on caddis.
- May: March Browns and Gray Foxes in the afternoons. Bigger fish start moving to the surface.
The hatches start on the East Branch a few days earlier than the West (warmer water). If you want to follow the Hendricksons across the system, fish the East first and work west as the days warm up.
The shad run, the other spring fish.
American shad run up the Delaware from the Atlantic every spring to spawn. The peak window is roughly mid-April to mid-May, with fish moving up the Main Stem from the lower river. They reach the Hancock area in the second half of April most years.
Shad fishing is a different deal from trout fishing: chuck-and-duck with weighted shad darts, swung wet flies on a sink-tip, or small streamers. Less technical, more about timing the run and the temperature. If the river is between 50 and 55 degrees, the shad will be there.
Shad average 2 to 5 pounds, fight harder than trout per pound, and are popular with anglers who don't usually fly fish. They make a great first-day-of-spring trip if the trout aren't quite on yet.
What to bring, for spring conditions.
- Waders that don't leak. Cold water is no joke in April.
- Wading staff. Higher flows make a real difference.
- Studded boots for slick algae-covered rocks.
- A 5-weight for hatch fishing, a 6 or 7-weight for shad and streamers.
- Layers. Mornings start in the 30s and afternoons can hit 70.
- Sunscreen. The May sun off the water is no joke even at 60 degrees.
The cabin has a wood stove, a dryer, and a deck with a hose for cleaning boots, which sounds minor but matters after a wet day of wading.
When to book, for the Hendrickson window.
The Hendrickson hatch typically falls between April 20 and May 5, depending on water temperature. The last week of April is the highest-probability window and the cabin books up for it months ahead. Book by late January for the best chance.
The first half of April is also a good booking opportunity: the rates are off-peak, the river is quiet, and you can hit the early Blue Wing and Quill Gordon action if the weather cooperates. May after Mother's Day is also strong, with caddis-and-March-Brown action.
For the broader fishing context, the Upper Delaware fly fishing page covers the river system in depth. The blog post has more on day-to-day strategy.
Where to stay.
If you're reading this and not yet booked, here's the quick pitch: the better stay for couples and small groups is a private cabin on a quiet lake within an hour of here. Three bedrooms, private dock, paddle boards, a kayak, a row boat, and a fire pit. About 3 hours from NYC. 4.86 stars on Airbnb, Guest Favorite. See it on Airbnb, or check availability and ask a question first.
