Stream conditions of the Beaverkill River, hatch updates, fly fishing tips and suggestions on fly patterns and techniques.
After a few weeks of violent weather, we’ve experienced a bit of August’s Alms, golden gifts of brightness, breezes and bliss; warm and welcoming with the promise of crisp and cooler evenings, the sweeter side of summer.
Stream flows have been favorable after the flooding has abated, thanks to continual rain showers; both the Beaverkill and Willowemoc have maintained a well-above-average flow, and agreeable air temps have kept water temperatures down into the 60s for most of the week.
Mid-July, the “dog days” of summer. Thanks to frequent rain showers, some area streams are at or just below the average flow. The Beaverkill at Cooks Falls was flowing at 175 cubic feet per second midday on Sunday, which is just above the Median average flow of 160 based on 112 years of record-keeping. The Willowemoc was flowing at 34.5 cfs, which is below the 40-year average flow of 43 cfs on this date. Water temperatures have been warm once the sun hits the water - after a brief respite last Monday through Wednesday of water temperatures in the 60s, the Willowemoc had reached the mid-70s this week; and Beaverkill also reached the mid- to upper- 70s afterwards. And anglers are reminded that the Beaverkill at Horton is closed to all angling during the months of July and August to provide a thermal refuge for the trout.
Hatches have been Blue-Winged Olives in tiny sizes #18 - #22, smaller Sulphurs, especially in size #18, Light Cahills and some Isonychias. Over on the West Branch, in addition to Sulphurs, Cahills and Isonychies, some Yellow/Golden Drakes (potomanthus) in sizes #10 and #12 were seen.
With temperatures predicted in the 90s this week, those who wish to fish for trout will need to check out the Tailwater fisheries - the Rondout, Neversink, East and West Branches of the Delaware River all provide good trout fishing thanks to the cooler water found below the NYC reservoirs, from which coldwater bottom releases provide a respite for the trout and fun fishing in the heat of summer. Tailwater anglers would do well to carry along the lighter-colored Sulphurs and Light Cahills as well as some tan Caddis and Isonychias.
These past few cooler nights have provided a bit of a respite in water temperatures, with a bit of a spike in water levels Thursday evening thru the wee hours of Friday morning thanks to that chilly rain, but for the next week as temperatures rise again, trout fishers would do well to carry a thermometer and check water temperatures before going fishing, or plan to head to the cooler tailwater fisheries. The typical lighter-colored mid- summer hatches of Sulphurs and Light Cahills are about, along with Yellow Sallies and tiny Blue-Winged Olives, along with the darker Isonychia starting up again. Tricos have not been very prolific these past couple of weeks, but August is a good time to use terrestrials. Trout Town Flies’ fly-fishing guide Rob Eggleton reported on a productive fishing outing this past week. He had a customer use “hoppers” - or grasshopper imitations, and was happy to report on his success in catching fish. Joe Rist, owner of Trout Town Flies, reported that hoppers are working in the mornings on the Beaverkill and Willowemoc, and fly fishers should also carry some Beetle and ant patterns.
