Posted on April 25 2024
Left the fishing camp about 11:30 when a burst of sun sent the temp up to 58 degrees. Stopped at two places on the BE, hoping to find caddis. There were none. Reversed course and drove up to Hale Eddy, where the now cloudy sky, drift boats rowing by with sports sitting down, and the 43 degree water temp said forgetaboutit. Turned around again and drove east on 17 all the way to the Willow, where again there were neither bugs nor risers. During the drive I encountered rain squalls and the temp dropped from 58 to 52. Turned back east and drove the length of the Beaverkill, stopping at all my usual "look see" spots. At 2:15 there was a good paralep (blue quill) hatch on one of the famous BK pools that I have previously spelled wrong and gotten in trouble for naming. Sat there for twenty minutes and never saw a rise. In fact I never saw a rising trout until I took a long walk into a pool on the BE where I saw the same fish rise five times in an area about 30x50 feet. Never got a look from what turned out to be the only fish I threw at all day. Continued my journey east, drove by my GHOF's car and back up to Hale Eddy, which was devoid of boats, bugs, and browns (rainbows too). Called it quits at 4:45. Stopped to tell my friend Ray I would pay him for the plastic "thing?", I ran over the last time I was there but he was snoozing on his couch. Called my GHOF on the ride home and learned that he had had, rising fish, water all the way down to his socks, a lot of wind, and hooked one, but had not landed any fish.
A skunking this early in the year, takes all the pressure off!
A word (or two) about yesterdays rant. This morning after he posted the blog, David called to say, "You know, it's still April and even the DRC says the streams are un-wade-able. Just maybe, most people haven't even been fishing yet. Point taken.
However, a writer has no way of knowing what people are thinking, and when there is no feed back I wonder if anyone other than Ed and Dennis are even reading the reports. Your comments are important to me and I'm sure to the rest of the readers. I only fish two or three places a day. Your reports pick up where I was in wrong place and missed a great hatch. They tell me what mistakes are being made by both myself and other anglers which gives me things to write about. And most importantly, they make us all aware that there is always a skunk looking for a pair (why are waders a pair?), of waders to jump into.
Thanks, and a tip of the hat to all who told their stories today.
Angler – 119, I read your blog religiously even though I am not able to frequently make the 6 Hour Dr. to the Catskills from my home in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. I gather with a group of fishermen annually later in May, a group that traces its origins of fishing together in the Catskills to 1918 when two grandfathers of the group began fishing together there.
Your book is scheduled to arrive at my home today and when I get to the Catskills later in May I will look for a way to get it autographed if that’s possible. Thank you.
A buddy and I were up at the willowemoc from 2pm yesterday until about 5:30pm. A-119 you mentioned you were up that way at 2:15pm on Wednesday 4-24, well we had incredible hatches both Hendricksons and blue quills and tan caddis. Managed to land a 20” brown and a few others all over 16”. Lost a very large brown about 24” plus,fought him for 20 minutes then the hook just came out just before the net. Plenty of risers from about 2:30-3:45pm. Strongest hatch I’ve seen ever on the Willow but then the cold air whipped in about 5:30 and shut them down. Caught all of them on top !! Was a great window we were lucky enough to experience such a great hatch along with a lot of fish feeding on top. Looked like every fish was up and feeding, just insane was exciting !! The fish seemed to be concentrating on the caddis rather than the Hendricksons……. You just never know what might occur!!
Enjoy my first cup of coffee every morning with
A119!
A119,
So here is a question for your first wind knots and tail loops…
With all of the wind lately, what if anything do you change in your fishing? Do you:
Use a heavier rod?
Use a heavier line?
Shorten your leader?
Shorten your tippet?
Just curse a lot more?
I read your reports every day, never stop! Next time I’m in the shop I can’t wait to pick up your book.
Angler119- sounds like very difficult conditions throughout the system. You’ve had some great days already and thereare better days ahead. Glad to see such a tremendous response from your readers. Please keep them coming. ( the Angler 119 posts and the reader’s responses) Ed
Hi A-119. Was good to see you again at the Troutfitter a few weeks ago – thanks for the signed copy of Upping Your Game.
Am coming down next week so will be sure to post!
On another note, I wanted to suggest to the readers to make sure when they visit the area to hopefully support the local business community. The Pheasant Tail in Deposit is no more which was a great place to enjoy post fishing. Butterfields cafe, K’s inn, Crosstown Tavern, etc are some places worth visiting in my opinion, among others too numerous to mention. Let’s keep these businesses going so we don’t lose anymore good ones!
Rest assured that I read each and every post – - will make my first appearance of season fishing the Catskills next week when my brother drives in from Michigan. I am sure that the fish are just waiting for our arrival to start rising!
I always enjoy reading your posts. Since, I, like many my age (77), suffer from various infirmaries and family commitments that limit my ability to make the 3 hour drive to Hancock or stay for extended times, your honest appraisal of what is in store for a wade fisher is invaluable. Even today’s skunking is valuable information,
Your description of where you tried to find fish and why you tried those spots are nuggets to be filed away.
Today I will continue to putter in the garden and help my grandsons find snakes. The great excitement yesterday was 1 corn snake and 6 garter snakes, mostly in the rocks that I used to “mulch” the grapevines.
I managed to pretty much clear my calendar from May 1, barring Mother’s day and am hoping things improve by then.
I have definitely put off my normal weekly visits to the WB because of high water flows. My fishing logs of years past show that I have never tried to fish at the levels that have been the last few weeks. Given it is a 2 hr 15 minute ride to Deposit, I always want to make sure it is worth the trip. Hope to get up there soon when it flows are closer to 600cfs.
A119
I read your reports religiously each day wishing I had a place up there where I could run out for a few hours to watch the waters and search for fish. Am I jealous…yes! But a 6hr round trip for 90 minutes of action on 1 wadable river has kept me fishing closer to home.
I see the flows have now opened up the whole system so I’ll be up next week for a few days. I hope we cross paths…my car has a TCNJ sticker on the back….stop and say hi.
As for a report…I did hit my first ever Hendrickson hatch on a river in the system the other day and landed a personal best 20+” brown. I’m excited for caddis and Sulphurs this season.
We are all here reading…don’t give up on us .
A119,
Being able to wake up each morning this time of year and read your blog is a treat to many of us. I havent been able to get down fishing just yet, hoping early next week. I will be sure to comment when i do. Seems like you’ve had a few great early days! We are here reading, and enjoying all that you give back to us. Thank you for doing what you do!
Good morning,
I have been plagued with two bad injuries for the past two years and I have not got to fish as much as I like. From this point when I fish I will try to post to help out with conditions at different locations.
Great posts Troutfitter. We all appreciate it. Would be nice for an occasional meeting for breakfast somewhere with members to talk fishing.