The much-needed rain showers and storms this past weekend provided a welcome respite to our free-flowing rivers and streams, which are so dependent on rainfall. The warmer days have raised water temperatures as well, with the Willowemoc Creek on Saturday afternoon registering up into the low 70s this past weekend, and the Beaverkill at Cooks Falls reaching 76 and close to 77 degrees during the same period. Stream levels have dropped to below the average for this mid-June period; the Willowemoc flowing at 42.7 cubic feet per second, about half its average flow, as compared to the 40-year median average flow of 81 cfs; with the Beaverkill at Cooks Falls faring a bit better at 166 cubic feet per second as compared to the median average flow of 292 cfs based on 112 water years of record.
A trip to the Beaverkill one evening last week proved fruitful; despite air temperatures of 80 degrees dropping to 78 by the time we reached our destination, water temperatures were 66 degrees and fishable. There was not much activity, only two sporadic rises were seen down in the pool and hardly a fly to speak of on the water; but using an Adams I had tied that week in the faster riffle area above the pool brought the reward of a feisty 11-inch wild brown trout that actually leaped out of the water three times before bringing it into the net.
Another walk down to the Willowemoc one morning this past week revealed low water conditions and, only upon closer inspection by entering the water up to our ankles, we were able to see thousands of tiny almost microscopic Sulphur Caddis flies, in about a size #28, buzzing just above the water’s surface! The tiny flies did not appear to be interesting to the trout at that point, but a number of red-winged blackbirds and cedar waxwings put on quite an animated display up and downstream.
Fly hatches continue to be the lighter flies, Sulphurs and Light Cahills, along with Blue-Winged Olives and caddis flies in various sizes. Trout fishers would do well to bring along and use a water thermometer before beginning to fish, and choose fishing destinations according to conditions. Temperatures can fluctuate widely depending on shade or whether the sun is on the water as well as the time of day. Best times to fish during low water levels and higher water temperatures are now in the early mornings and late evenings, as trout become lethargic when water temperatures warm, and will largely stop eating and will move very little in order to conserve energy. As the water warms, its dissolved oxygen content is decreased, and trout can suffer from oxygen deprivation and heat stress. Try your luck in the faster water and riffle areas, and choose areas with shaded, tree-lined streambanks, which are preferred to those that are cleared of vegetation, as can be evidenced by monitoring water temperatures with a thermometer.
Fortunately this week temperatures are predicted to be a bit cooler with added showers and thunderstorms in the forecast.