CATSKILLS UPDATE!
AUTUMN ARRIVES with cooler air and water temps, but no noticeable improvement in flows on the eastern freestones. One exception is the Upper Delaware tailwaters in the lower Catskills of NY, about a 4 hour trip from CT/RI area.
TEAM7x spent a long weekend recently in the Catskills where the Willowemoc and Beaverkill flows were way below normal and unfishable for the most part. The West Branch Delaware was subject to high flows until Sunday and remained a bit off color; little success in finding reliable hatches and rising trout!
HOWEVER, on the always reliable Upper East Branch Delaware, one of our favorites, we found a solid hatch of BWO's, Saturday evening and again from noon on Sunday. There were a few Trico spinners and midge in the mix. On one of our favorite EB secluded pools we hit the jackpot with trout rising and rolling throughout. The BWO duns got a free ride, as the trout were clearly taking the emerger just under the surface.
The flashback emerger similar to above, size 20, dead-drifted just under the surface did the trick. 6 and 7x of course! We took some beautifully colored solid wild browns from 12-18" throughout the afternoon before the 4 hour return trip.
The East Branch is much like the private spring creeks of the West for those familiar. It remains a favorite of ours and requires long leaders, drag free drifts and a stealthy approach, exactly the scenario we love to explore!
Will keep you posted on the Atlantic Salmon/Shetucket program...hopefully. Otherwise, even the Farmington is suffering from low flows, with some areas closed for thermal refuge for the trout. Be sure to click on the UPCOUNTRY link for updated conditions.
After 10 years, Fly Fishing Benefactors is closing. We were proud to be Pro Staff for FFB and wish Craig and his folks all the best. We'll be announcing a new Pro Staff relationship shortly!
See the article from Scott Travers of RIDEM and our involvement with education in "CASTING IT FORWARD" here:
http://www.dem.ri.gov/programs/bnatres/fishwild/pdf/WildRI_Fall_2016.pdf
DRAG FREE!
Tom & Everett
TEAM7x