Catskill Mountains fly fishing adventures. We are located just two hours north of New York City. We specialize in walk wade and drift boat fishing trips for beginners all the way to seasoned veterans on the fly.
When it comes to fly fishing the Upper Delaware it is important to have the right polarized lenses. The overwhelming support of the Smith Low Light Igniters amongst guides is unparalleled.
The Smith Low Lights as we call them are the best all around sunglasses you can buy for the Delaware, Beaverkill and Willowemoc. The Smith Low Lights allow you to see at all times of day. From first light to last light and high sun in between.
There is a rumor this is the last year Smith will make this lens. I highly doubt that however if it is true ill be buying a few pairs before they are out of stock.
They sell them in the Guides Choice and in the Redding model.
Over the next few days the Catskill Region and Upper Delaware River System will see extreme winter temperatures. What will this mean for the Delaware River System? Let’s see…
Seven Day Forecast
Over the next seven days we will be lucky to get the mercury over the freezing mark. It feels like the sun has had its mask on for about a month now. The sky is gray and the ground is hard and icy.
As the winter temperatures fall you will see the rivers “lock up” a bit. The edges will freeze and runoff melt will seize. As you will see looking at the flows charts, any new runoff that was destined for the river will freeze. Shelf ice is inevitable with these extreme winter temperatures. .
What does this mean for fishing?
Fishing will get very very tough for the angler. The ice on the tip of the rod will make it tough to fish for a long time. The fish will drop into the deepest holes and be glued to the bottom. Indicator nymphing deep slow holes with an indicator is your best bet.
My good friend and mentor George Cherundolo and I experimented with Kelly Galloup’s Boogieman Streamer over the past decade. Together George and I have tested many articulated streamers on the Delaware River System and this my friends is it!
Why the Boogieman Fly?
The Boogieman is the perfect eastern river streamer. Tied with lead eyes to get the fly down fast when slapping banks is crucial. However making it dance is the second part of the equation. To be blunt, this fly gets down and dances very quick.
George and I have dubbed the fly above the “green machine.” As George would say “this fly is a killer.” We will usually start with green and mix it through the color spectrum. Sometimes darker in the brown and black and sometimes lighter in the white to tan areas.
Size of Fly
The size of the Boogieman is also perfect. From 3.5” to 4.5” it will almost get chewed on by any size trout. We have landed fish at or above the 24” mark and also have taken smaller fish with a big appetite.
How to Fish It
When fishing these from a drift boat in high water it is essential to hammer the little pockets and back eddys. Upon your fly arriving in the spot, one big mend allows the weighted fly to sink into the strike zone without leaving the bank. Upon mending the angler will strip the fly back with the tip of the rod in the water. This will almost create a fool proof way of streamer fishing. With aggressive strips away from the bank the trout will most often set themselves due to the force of the strip. As long as your rod and line are not bowed from the current, the angler will have a direct connection to the fish.
History of the Boogieman Fly
Kelly Galloup introduced the Boogieman in 2010. This fly will catch almost any fish that eats other fish and has been a staple in many guides boxes since its inception. This fly closely imitates the Heifer Groomer however has a few minor tweaks. The lead eyes and wool head give it profile and weight, while the cactus chenille and barred feathers make it come alive in the water.
I went out yesterday and nymphed a handful of fish up. All were caught long line suspension nymphing small pheasant tails. The water was just under 500 cubic feet per second and gin clear. The river is only open in some sections so please make sure you fish legally and have a valid NYS fishing license.
Roscoe has been busy lately with many new businesses opening up. I spent the later afternoon eating greek on main street and warming up.
Tips: Indicator fish slow pools deep. Minor twitched can mean a fish. They are in full winter mode and slow this time of year
