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.
This weekend we had great weather after the snow squalls Thursday and Friday. Fish caught here and there but the systems still not jumping yet. This weeks weather looks perfect for this time of year. Rains late in the week should bring the rivers up some. Big sun early in week will make some rivers tough to fish. Weatherman says winds will be down this week. Hope so.
Matt Jansen and I drove some rivers today and casted at a few bridge fish. Found one section of river with crazy midge larva covering rocks. Here’s a pinch of a few I grabbed for a pic.
It was a great opening day because I had two of my wilder guys on the boat. These nuts fished 29 degree air, 20 mph winds and snow all day. Nature was raw to us. These are the days the $400 jacket pays for itself. Our gear allowed us to stay out and good thing we did. Most fish were found in the slower sections. The warmer temps we had this week were set back by the cold temps. It’s amazing to think that just yesterday we had fish rising on the edges. Today if a bug hatched it would have been in the trees before it dropped its shuck.
This is going to be short. We took advantage of the warm weather the last few days. Today we got 2 inches of snow and the next few are going to seem like winter. On the water until Sunday. The pictures below are from the past two days. Happy opening day! Pick up a piece of trash today today to get the fish Gods on your side for a year!
Today’s river report is for Saturday March 27th 2021. Opening Day is only 5 days away and the excitement is building. My phone has been a buzz all week. The warmer temps and bright sun only increases the itch.
This past week I drove all 5 rivers. I’ve seen fish rise on two and some winter anglers sprinkled around. A few of the gauges crept in on 50 degrees but don’t let this fool you. We have some cold nights still ahead.
River Report Weather
As you can see over the next ten days we will be in sap making weather. The warm days will pop bugs, but will the wind call it off? Also, don’t be surprised if we don’t get another snow storm. This is the Catskills.
Reservoir Levels for NYC/NYS Catskills
Currently the West Branches’ Cannonsville Reservoir is 97% full. The East Branches’ Pepacton Reservoir is closing in on 93% full. As of today the Cannonsville started the spring step up by releasing more water. The state delicate balances the flows and uses the dams to also control spring floods. The do this when there is more water entering the exiting the reservoirs.
As you see below, the state has began staging spring releases. Could this be the year we see some baitfish spill over the dam? We can only hope.
The Beaverkill is way to high to fish. It is very dangerous at this flow. Some try to pick off the edges but its to dangerous. I wouldn’t risk it. I could possibly see a washout on opening day for the smaller rivers. It all depends on how much the warmer days thaw the hills. It also depends on possible precipitation.
Don’t forget! The day before opening day its the big return dinner at the Rockland House in Roscoe. It is put on by the Catskill Fly Fishing Museum. Good people and great food put on by Tommy and crew.
