Discover "America's stream"

Winding through the heart of the Catskill Mountains of New York, the Beaverkill River has long been a captivating trout fishery; from the days of the original Lenape inhabitants through today its status as a hallowed trout-fishing stream continues.  Considered the birthplace of fly fishing in the United States, the Beaverkill is America’s most beloved and famous trout stream. 

Learn about the river including water flow data and hatch charts. Explore its famed pools and trout flies. View historical and contemporary art and photography. Discover the history of the river in the revised and updated second edition of The Beaverkill: The History of a River and its People. Purchase a signed copy at Beaverkill Books—2-day shipping available.  

Whether you’re just discovering the magic of the Catskills, a beginning angler unfamiliar with this revered fishery, or a seasoned fly fisher interested in the many stories behind the people and places associated with it, The Beaverkill: The History of a River and its People by Ed Van Put provides a compelling account of an important American landmark.  Through careful research and lucid storytelling, The Beaverkill chronicles the turbulent history of the river and surrounding area, offering a riveting look at the development of dry fly fishing, the ecological and environmental struggles from industrialization, and the men and women who fought to protect and restore its blue-ribbon status.

Updates

• The Floating Fly interviewed Ed Van Put for their excellent series on dry fly masters. The interview covers favorite trout flies, tying, patterns, and more. Read the interview here.

• Ed was recently interviewed for The Wading List - you can check out that piece here.

• The Poughkeepsie Journal recently featured Ed Van Put in an article here, discussing an upcoming presentation on Artists Who Fished the Catskills, which features artwork of the Catskills and trout fishing from a range of artists, illustrators, and painters, including many from the Hudson River School who were drawn to the area. Interested in learning more? Send us an email.

• August 2021: Introducing “The Remarkable Life of James Beecher” — this is the moving biography of a man who selflessly devoted his life to the liberation and betterment of others during a tumultuous time in U.S. history, with his equally determined wife Frances at his side. A member of the famous Beecher family and son of Lyman Beecher, James Beecher sacrificed a life of privilege to serve as missionary, soldier, preacher, and humanitarian. The Remarkable Life of James Beecher explores his early ordeals in China to an astoundingly courageous career as colonel of an all-black regiment of freed slaves in the Civil War, through unimaginable horrors and post-war turmoil. The book follows Beecher throughout his extraordinary life, including the spiritual salvation he sought after the war as an early pioneer and fisherman in the wilds of the Beaverkill Valley with his wife Frances. For fans of U.S. and Civil War history, fly fishing, the Beaverkill Valley, and those who appreciate a good story, well told.