Beaverkill Fishing Report - May 3, 2026

The Merry Month of May

At last - it’s the merry month of May, often referred to as “the sweetest month”. The earth is humming with new life: the birds seem to be singing a little more melodiously, the landscape adorned with a multiplying tapestry of colorful blooms, the days are getting longer and temperatures are beginning to warm. It’s now wild turkey season, and lots of fly hatches have been seen on our rivers and streams!

All of our rivers and streams have been stocked, and trout fishers were found up and down stream throughout our region; it was nice to see so many anglers out again, with a good number of out-of-state cars as well residents’ in the DEC’s Fisherman Parking Areas.

Fly hatches have been fairly steady over the past week, some in the mornings and a greater number in the afternoons, with tremendous numbers of flies noted on Friday and into the weekend, despite the return to chilly water temperatures back down in the 40s. Fly hatches included a variety, from Blue Quills toHendricksons to Grannom Caddis; however for the most part, the trout were not actively rising to feed off the surface (much to the disappointment of many dry-fly fishers) but were rather taking wet flies and nymphs below. This is probably due to the cooler water temperatures, as well as the activity stage of the flies under the surface.

Unlike mayflies, such as Hendricksons (Ephemerella subvaria) which transform from egg to nymph to adult and lack a pupal stage, Caddis flies undergo a complete metamorphosis, from larva to pupa to adult. The larvae of the Caddis fly are worm-like and live on the stream bottom, usually inside protective cases made of rocks or twigs, where they feed off the bottom. They metamorphose into the pupa stage when the larva leaves the home case, developing wing pads and legs to enable it to swim upwards to the surface. Their bodies are actually smaller and more refined in the pupa stage, and as free-swimming creatures, they are vulnerable ‘targets’ to the trout. When the Grannom Caddis are about as they have been the past week and a half, the trout are focused on the wiggling caddis pupae below the surface and will feed heavily on them, rather than rising to flies on the surface, especially when water temperatures are below 50 degrees.

Beaverkill Weekly Fishing Report - April 19, 2026

April 19, 2026

It’s been a wild weather week - with temperatures reaching into the high 70s and even 80s last Tuesday/Wednesday - and on Sunday at this writing, snow/sleet mixed with rain and hail….which is typical of Springtime in the Catskills!

Our rivers and streams are still below the average level; on Sunday evening the Willowemoc measured at 172 cubic feet per second but was edging upward toward the 40-year median average flow of 262 cfs; the Beaverkill, at 654 cfs was rising toward its 112-year median average flow of 957 cfs.

April spring blooms are so pleasing to the eye - the cheerful daffodils, the deep blue/purple myrtle along the driveway and delicate star-shaped white blooms of the Shadbush against the softest greens of the early leaves now beginning to appear on the mountainsides. On walks in the woods with Millie we’ve noticed the dainty pink and white oxalis, or wood sorrel, and even a few trout lilies in bloom; and are beginning to see the red maples pushing out their red buds. The Quill Gordons, the first major dry fly hatch of the spring that coincides with the blooming of the daffodils, have already been seen in the afternoons. These are fairly large mayflies in sizes #12 - #14. And the Blue Quills, slightly smaller dry flies in sizes #16 - #18, are now appearing, also about midday. These coincide with the bright yellow blooms of the forsythias.

But by far, the most anticipated spring hatch that usually occurs during the end of April, is coupled with the first sightings of violets, bright yellow Colts Foot, and the budding of the wild cherry trees: the Hendrickson hatch, which is perhaps the most beloved hatch on the Beaverkill and Willowemoc.

Hendricksons were hitting the windshield along the Neversink, and that sighting was confirmed by an angler who had success fishing over the weekend on that stream. There was a hatch of dark mayflies that at first resembled Quill Gordons, but closer inspection revealed three tails, a sure sign of a Hendrickson. The flies came off late in the afternoon and were spotty, but resulted in a beautiful brown trout that was about the length of the net.

The Hendrickson hatch is the indicator of the “good fishing” to come and is one of the most prolific on our rivers and streams. There are days when the number of flies hatching reach uncountable numbers, the air is filled with the delicate blue-gray mayflies; and the surface of the stream is teeming with so many rising trout it is difficult to decide which fish to cast to next, as there are so many to choose from!

Records we’ve kept over the years of our observations of the hatch while fishing indicate Hendricksons hatching on the Beaverkill as early as April 19 and as late as May 20. Notes were also made on the degree of the hatch – from “few” to “good”, “heavy” and “terrific”. Interestingly, the time period that had the most “terrific” hatch notes reported was between April 22 and April 28; and then again from May 4 through May 11. And not to be deterred by weather conditions, great fishing was had some years ago during a Hendrickson hatch in a heavy April snowstorm, with flies hatching as heavily as the snow was falling - certainly not a day for the faint of heart to be out on the river. (If you haven’t already done so, be sure to add some Hendrickson dry flies to your flybox this week!)

In addition to the beginnings of the Hendrickson hatch there have also been good hatches of Blue Quills, as well as size #16 Grannom Caddis flies of a dark dun color with a green egg sac.

The Grannom Caddis is a prolific Spring-hatching caddis fly, in sizes #14 - #16, often with a green egg sac. They tend to hatch in large numbers, which can cause trout to rise and feed voraciously.

It’s getting to be prime time for fishing - and the weather forecast for this week calls for temperatures a bit more in line with what we expect in April - as well as overcast, partly sunny days - prime for fishing. Make time to get out and enjoy all that our Catskill rivers and streams have to offer!

Beaverkill Weekly Fishing Report - April 12, 2026

April 12, 2026

The Promise of Spring!

Conditions on our trout streams during this first half of April have been easier for fishing access than expected, especially after such a long, cold, and snowy winter. With water levels below the historic average and water temperatures flirting up toward 50 degrees Fahrenheit on the Beaverkill and Willowemoc this past week, anglers were seen on both streams. However easy for wading and fishing access, river levels, especially on the Willowemoc, are noticeably low - in fact, less than half the median average flow over the past 40 years; unusual for this early time in the season. The Beaverkill is also low, measured on Sunday afternoon at 527 cubic feet per second, as compared to the median average flow of 976 cfs over 112 years of record-keeping.

On Friday, despite a full schedule of events to come, the 70+degree afternoon beckoned and it was difficult to pass up a chance to sample the fishing even if just for an hour. The Willowemoc was looking very fishable and had warmed to an appealing 49 degrees, but after a few fruitless casts we headed up to the Mongaup, which offered similar temperatures. I was surprised to see a good number of what appeared to be Quill Gordons in the air! There were none to be seen on the surface, nor were there any rises, but it was encouraging to see these early mayflies out and about.

It’s the time of year when the major fly hatches have begun….we’ve already seen tiny (size #18 - #20) Blue Winged Olives in the air on Opening Day, and Quill Gordons (larger bluish-colored flies, about size #14) this past week. Early hatches include the small Black Caddis (size #16) and the larger Brown and Black Stoneflies, (both sizes #12 and #14) which are active along streambanks, especially on cool and overcast days. And now fly-fishers eagerly await the Hendrickson hatch, which usually begins at the end of the month, and is a hatch the Beaverkill is famous for. However, most successful anglers this past week were still fishing below the surface, using wet flies and nymphs.

With so many in the area, our towns were buzzing with activity, high spirits, and the camaraderie that comes with meeting old friends and new, sharing the spirit of good will, working together to protect our Catskill waters. We share in an appreciation for all that nature has gifted us with, as well as for those who have preserved these lands and waters for all to enjoy. It’s time to get out and experience all that our Catskills rivers and streams have to offer - hope to see you streamside!