A whole host of flies are hatching, from Sulphurs, various Caddis flies and Blue-Winged Olives in the mornings, to Isonychias, more Sulphurs and Light Cahills in the evenings. Last week while fishing the Willowemoc above Livingston Manor it was heartening to see so many nymph cases/shucks on the rocks in the stream - the prolific insect life a testament to the health of the river. And with so much water in the systems, the trout are growing and faring well, and fishing has been productive. From the Willowemoc to the Beaverkill to the East Branch, local trout fishers have not been disappointed, whether fishing during the mornings, afternoons or evenings.
Beaverkill River Weekly Fishing Report - June 9, 2024
Recent showers and thunderstorms have added some much-welcomed water to our rivers and streams - although we hope for more to keep up the good flows. On Sunday afternoon, June 9, 2024, the Beaverkill at Cooks Falls was flowing at 282 cubic feet per second, which is a hair above the median average flow of 280 cfs over 110 years of record-keeping. The highest flow recorded was 1520 cubic feet per second in 1973; and lowest recorded flow over 110 years was just 96 cfs back in 1936.
It’s been quite a week for trout fishers! Traditionally, the last two weeks of May/ first two weeks of June are anticipated as the best time for trout fishing and catching trout on our Catskill streams. The past week proved to be correct, as scores of cars lined the banks and Fisherman Parking Areas, and reports of good fishing continue to come in.
Even though it’s still early June, fishing seems to be the best in the evenings for dry fly fishing, probably due to temperatures and water levels. Fortunately we’ve had a few cool nights and some replenishing rain. Fly-fishers are reporting numerous types of flies about now, including some remaining Coffin Flies (these are the Spinners of the Green Drakes, and very large, in size #8 and #10) along with medium-sized Isonychias, Light Cahills, and Sulphurs. Tiny Blue-winged Olives are an important hatch, as well as various caddis flies: fly-fishers have a number of flies to choose from.
Beaverkill River Weekly Fishing Report - May 19, 2024
We're happy to report good fishing conditions over the weekend. Last week’s rains replenished our rivers and streams somewhat, and water levels had spiked up last Wednesday but by Saturday had receded back to an average flow and dropping a bit on Sunday. On Sunday afternoon the Beaverkill at Cooks Falls was flowing at 484 cubic feet per second, which is below the median average flow on this date of 529 cubic feet per second over 110 years of record-keeping. This allows anglers to enjoy easy wading in all our free-flowing streams.
Fly hatches continue to be the large March Browns (sizes #10 and #8) and Gray Foxes, which look almost identical to the March Browns but in a smaller version (sizes #12 and #14) along with small caddis, olives and Sulphurs. Most anglers are finding better luck later in the day rather than in the mornings or mid-day, in fact fishing up until dark is proving effective.