Meridia

West Branch Anglers

Status: active | Rating: 4.7/5 (3 reviews)

Tailwater specialists on the West Branch Delaware below Cannonsville Dam. Cold-water releases create year-round trout fishing unmatched in the Northeast. We run drift boats daily from April through November and offer winter nymphing clinics.

Details

  • Species: Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout
  • Tags: Fly Fishing, Nymphing, Dry Fly, Streamer, Freshwater, Intermediate, Advanced, Year-Round, Full Day, Float Trip, Catch & Release, Gear Provided, Lunch Included, Drift Boat

Waters Serviced (3)

DestinationType
West Branch Delaware Riverriver_section
East Branch Delaware Riverriver_section
Upper Delaware Riverriver_section

Affiliated Lodges (2)

Reviews (3)

Robert Kim5/5Master of the West Branch

Jeff has been guiding this water for 25 years and it shows. He read every seam perfectly. We landed over 20 fish including a gorgeous 22-inch brown.

Dan Mitchell5/5Best tailwater guide in the region

Booked a winter nymphing trip. Cold but incredible fishing. Jeff knew exactly where the fish were holding. Would book again in a heartbeat.

Alison Porter4/5Great drift boat experience

Smooth float, great instruction. Water was a bit high but Jeff adjusted and we still caught fish. Lunch on the river was a nice touch.

FAQ — West Branch Anglers

Raw guide data (JSON)
{
  "id": "9c73e4af-4e15-473f-9501-051d104683f7",
  "organizationId": null,
  "name": "West Branch Anglers",
  "guideName": "Jeff Dugan",
  "slug": "west-branch-anglers",
  "bio": "Tailwater specialists on the West Branch Delaware below Cannonsville Dam. Cold-water releases create year-round trout fishing unmatched in the Northeast. We run drift boats daily from April through November and offer winter nymphing clinics.",
  "yearsExperience": 25,
  "city": "Deposit",
  "stateProvince": "NY",
  "countryCode": "US",
  "isVerified": true,
  "status": "active",
  "createdAt": "2026-03-23T22:16:17.655Z",
  "updatedAt": "2026-03-29T16:38:42.883Z",
  "reviews": [
    {
      "id": "b50de53c-b80e-4013-a95f-509671ece8dd",
      "guideId": "9c73e4af-4e15-473f-9501-051d104683f7",
      "authorName": "Robert Kim",
      "rating": 5,
      "title": "Master of the West Branch",
      "body": "Jeff has been guiding this water for 25 years and it shows. He read every seam perfectly. We landed over 20 fish including a gorgeous 22-inch brown.",
      "tripDate": null,
      "verified": true,
      "createdAt": "2026-03-29T16:38:43.447Z",
      "updatedAt": "2026-03-29T16:38:43.447Z"
    },
    {
      "id": "f3ed2b00-ed26-45b6-bdd1-f4b6b38a0e6e",
      "guideId": "9c73e4af-4e15-473f-9501-051d104683f7",
      "authorName": "Dan Mitchell",
      "rating": 5,
      "title": "Best tailwater guide in the region",
      "body": "Booked a winter nymphing trip. Cold but incredible fishing. Jeff knew exactly where the fish were holding. Would book again in a heartbeat.",
      "tripDate": null,
      "verified": true,
      "createdAt": "2026-03-29T16:38:43.447Z",
      "updatedAt": "2026-03-29T16:38:43.447Z"
    },
    {
      "id": "35d4e5b9-a16c-432f-8293-d831eaaa2ffb",
      "guideId": "9c73e4af-4e15-473f-9501-051d104683f7",
      "authorName": "Alison Porter",
      "rating": 4,
      "title": "Great drift boat experience",
      "body": "Smooth float, great instruction. Water was a bit high but Jeff adjusted and we still caught fish. Lunch on the river was a nice touch.",
      "tripDate": null,
      "verified": true,
      "createdAt": "2026-03-29T16:38:43.447Z",
      "updatedAt": "2026-03-29T16:38:43.447Z"
    }
  ],
  "credentials": [],
  "geom": null,
  "tags": [
    {
      "slug": "fly-fishing",
      "name": "Fly Fishing",
      "tagType": "fishing_style"
    },
    {
      "slug": "nymphing",
      "name": "Nymphing",
      "tagType": "technique"
    },
    {
      "slug": "dry-fly",
      "name": "Dry Fly",
      "tagType": "technique"
    },
    {
      "slug": "streamer",
      "name": "Streamer",
      "tagType": "technique"
    },
    {
      "slug": "freshwater",
      "name": "Freshwater",
      "tagType": "water_type"
    },
    {
      "slug": "intermediate",
      "name": "Intermediate",
      "tagType": "ability"
    },
    {
      "slug": "advanced",
      "name": "Advanced",
      "tagType": "ability"
    },
    {
      "slug": "year-round",
      "name": "Year-Round",
      "tagType": "season"
    },
    {
      "slug": "full-day",
      "name": "Full Day",
      "tagType": "trip_format"
    },
    {
      "slug": "float-trip",
      "name": "Float Trip",
      "tagType": "trip_format"
    },
    {
      "slug": "catch-and-release",
      "name": "Catch & Release",
      "tagType": "trip_format"
    },
    {
      "slug": "gear-provided",
      "name": "Gear Provided",
      "tagType": "trip_inclusion"
    },
    {
      "slug": "lunch-included",
      "name": "Lunch Included",
      "tagType": "trip_inclusion"
    },
    {
      "slug": "drift-boat",
      "name": "Drift Boat",
      "tagType": "boat_type"
    }
  ],
  "faqs": [
    {
      "id": "b58c5489-496f-4c03-9be0-b35b49a1f8c5",
      "question": "Why is the West Branch so special?",
      "answer": "The West Branch Delaware below Cannonsville Dam is a cold-water tailwater — dam releases keep water temperatures in the 40s-50s even in summer. This creates year-round trout habitat and prolific insect hatches. It's the closest thing to a Western tailwater in the Northeast.",
      "sortOrder": 0
    },
    {
      "id": "ca765f8d-1837-4762-a3fc-dc053ab1b7b6",
      "question": "Do you guide in winter?",
      "answer": "Yes — the West Branch fishes year-round thanks to the cold dam releases. Winter nymphing can be excellent on warmer days when midges hatch. We run clinics from December through March for anglers who want to extend their season.",
      "sortOrder": 1
    },
    {
      "id": "4e49aa42-0d95-48da-bf6e-ca4069802147",
      "question": "How far in advance should I book?",
      "answer": "Peak season (May-June) books 2-3 months out. Weekends fill fastest. Weekdays are easier to get, especially in July-August and fall. Winter trips are usually available on short notice.",
      "sortOrder": 2
    }
  ],
  "destinations": [
    {
      "slug": "west-branch-delaware",
      "name": "West Branch Delaware River",
      "type": "river_section"
    },
    {
      "slug": "east-branch-delaware",
      "name": "East Branch Delaware River",
      "type": "river_section"
    },
    {
      "slug": "upper-delaware-river",
      "name": "Upper Delaware River",
      "type": "river_section"
    }
  ],
  "accommodations": [
    {
      "slug": "west-branch-angler",
      "name": "West Branch Angler & Resort",
      "type": "resort",
      "primary": true
    },
    {
      "slug": "delaware-river-club",
      "name": "Delaware River Club",
      "type": "fishing_lodge",
      "primary": false
    }
  ],
  "species": [
    {
      "slug": "brown-trout",
      "commonName": "Brown Trout",
      "category": "freshwater",
      "seasonality": null,
      "notes": "Trophy tailwater browns to 24 inches"
    },
    {
      "slug": "rainbow-trout",
      "commonName": "Rainbow Trout",
      "category": "freshwater",
      "seasonality": null,
      "notes": "Year-round in cold releases"
    }
  ],
  "reviewCount": 3,
  "avgRating": 4.7,
  "imageUrl": null
}