Notes on a River

7.28.20

The hot sun-baked days of midsummer render much of the Catskills’ otherwise bountiful fisheries off limits to the conscientious troutist.  Whole stretches of river that were teaming with fish in the cold and high water of spring will be vacant; the trout having fled to deeper, cooler sanctuaries. And where the trout are found, an occasional dip of the thermometer is necessary to ensure sufficiently oxygenated water and a viable catch and release. 

Summer is a season for being selective. It’s been a good spring; take the afternoon off. Snooze in a hammock, and return in the morning to run nymphs through the riffles, or float spinners at dusk under the fog that lingers over the persistently cool tail waters below the reservoirs. Or give the trout a break altogether and hit the warm water for bass and carp.

There are a variety of flies that might perk a trout’s interest in summer but the fish by this point are likely to have made the mistake at some point in the season of eating one with a hook. Having developed a scrutinous eye, these ‘educated’ fish can be tricky to fool. And if they are keyed into a plentiful hatch of one of the smaller bugs the imitation may have a hard time competing for attention in a crowded field. Even if they appear to be dining on Olives it can be worth drifting a Slate Drake past them in case the larger meal entices. 

Written by T. Polecat Dubbins

Notes on a River

May 5th 2020

Twice as April turned to May heavy rains left the waters too high for accessible fishing. As the flow subsided however, the smaller creeks and tributaries added a sense of drama to the quiet of the mountains. Tumbling from their sources, these usually low creeks were full and noisy, and the fishing became more enticing.

The water takes on beautiful blue-green hue at this time of year, and as Spring buds start to emerge, the sense begins to grow of the world opening up after a long Winter. A welcome, warming sun lights up the tips of rapids, but betrays the fly fisher’s approach. It’s in the shadows that we can find joy in these creeks.

Written by Peter Crosby

Notes on the River

April 18th 2020

This has been a strange time for all of us. With the focus of the world on staying safe and dealing with Covid-19, the start of the 2020 fishing season has been subdued to say the least.

Life on the river has been quiet. The low temperatures of March have had a lasting impact on the water, with cold creeks feeding wider rivers. The fish have been relatively dormant during the early part of April, with two notable Caddis hatches spotted on the Willow and Beaverkill. The rivers have largely been devoid of fly fishers, with one or two solo locals here and there braving the cooler temps.

This has also led to some lovely early Spring evenings, where the water has never looked so enticing. After a torrential downpour last weekend, the rivers rose several feet and the Willowemoc threatened to burst its banks in Livingston Manor. An overnight snowfall returned our rivers to Winter, but we fully expect the fish to liven up in the next two weeks as Spring starts to take hold.

Written by Peter Crosby