Fishing Report for the Catskill Mountains

Delaware River System Fishing Report – October 2025

It’s been a challenging second half of the season across the Upper Delaware system. Early in the year, conditions looked great — spring brought healthy flows and plenty of cold water throughout the West Branch, East Branch, and Main Stem. Trout were active, hatches were steady, and anglers enjoyed consistent dry-fly action from April through early July.

Since mid-July, however, the story has changed. Persistent drought conditions have dropped flows dramatically, and fishing has become tougher throughout the system. The West Branch, usually the most reliable of the three, has been especially affected by unpredictable release schedules from the Cannonsville Reservoir. Those erratic changes in flow and temperature make it difficult to find stable conditions, and the fish have become more finicky as a result.

The East Branch has been running very low, with water temps pushing higher than ideal during sunny stretches. The Willowemoc and Beaverkill are both extremely low — in some places you can nearly walk across without getting your knees wet. That’s kept daytime fishing pressure light, but it also means you’ll need to focus on deeper pockets, shaded runs, or cooler spring-fed sections if you want to find active trout.

The Main Stem Delaware has also felt the pinch, with lower flows and warmer afternoons limiting opportunities, especially through the middle of the day.

If you’re planning to fish right now, nymphing or streamer fishing is your best bet. Dry-fly activity has been short-lived — usually a quick window right before dark for a few late-season olives or isonychias showing.

Hopefully some fall rain brings relief soon, but for now, patience, stealth, and subsurface tactics are the keys to success across the Delaware system.

Some Guided Fly Fishing Trips

All of these fish are dry fly fish aside from the walleye and fall fish. We had a bad Hendrickson year but it was made up by the green drakes we had. Looking forward to moving into the night season. I have very few prime night trips left. Fall is also almost booked and if you want to get in September or October you need to text me as soon as possible. Thank you to all of our great clients. Next day off is July 4th. I will go on vacation until the 10th and then be back on everyday. Looking forward to making big fish eat on top. -Matt

Quick Report

Don’t have much time. Ill make it quick. Bugs are weird. Main diet has been caddis lately. Fish will eat a Hendrickson properly as there are some in the drift. No crazy good consistent Hendrickson hatches. March Browns arrived on the big river yesterday which was weird. Trout don’t always eat them for a week or two. Fish are findable but with the current pressure and lack of bugs a good cast is needed. We’ve only found a few “pods” and are waiting for a big break in bugs. I think we are still jumping the gun. Lots of rain in forecast. Hopefully we don’t lose too many bugs during the high water. Fish below were taken on dry flies.

Early Spring Catskills Fly Fishing Report

Today is April 16th 2025. Todays trip shifted back into the season so I am able to catch on on some computer stuff. We have passed the 20th trip mark this week for the 2025 season. So far the rivers have been low to medium with gin clear water. We haven’t had much of a streamer season do to the water being clear and low. The nymphing has been the primary source of eats for our clients. However, watching a bobber for over 20 days so far has gotten old (even on the 20 fish days). The wings are beginning to hatch and next week the system should be seeing noses break the surface in certain locations.

So far in my opinion the system is in great shape for what we are dealing with. Since the state is now on its 4th year of “fixing the aqueduct” we were very worried going into winter with reservoirs in the 60th percentile. However with the brutal winter and snow pack we have gotten the reservoirs up to 95% as I write this today! As long as we have a somewhat normal rainfall this spring we could have a great year and avoid ramifications of the 2024 drawdown.

Here are a few photos from the first 20 trips of the season. 3 of these bigger fish have come on dry flies. The new boat has already allowed us to access other water traditional Driftboat’s cannot. Clackacraft did a great job with the Headhunter II.