Greetings to all anglers,

It’s good to be back!

This will be our fourth season reporting fishing opportunities in the Catskill-Pocono-Hudson region.

Our area supports some of the finest coldwater and warmwater fishing in the United States, and it’s only two hours from a metropolitan area of 20 million people. This region offers big rivers, small creeks, ponds and reservoirs – a bit of everything for anglers. This weekly report will try to cover everything from small farm ponds for the novice youngster wanting to wet a line for sunnies to tips for the most accomplished angler plying the big rivers for wild trout.

"The Guide to where they’re biting" also features weekly reports from 14 tackle shops, tips and techniques for fly and spin angling, book and video reviews, and upcoming fishing-related events. We have listed our archive reports from 1999 and 1998 for easy reference as well.

I look forward to being your guide throughout this year and welcome your suggestions at any time.

Good fishing to you!

Upcoming events

Lloyd said that Cannonsville Reservoir is still coming over the top from the midweek rainstorm. The rain has not affected the wading levels of the river however. Locals are nailing big browns at the weir in Deposit using sawbellies along with Blue Fox Vibrax spinners in sliver and gold. For the fly anglers, the fish are taking caddis in tan and green in size 14 and 16 along with Adams in #14 through #18 and McMurray Ants. Hendricksons are on the way out, but Lloyd reports more large March browns are appearing in size 10. Reservoir fishing has been very good with most of the anglers scoring from boats and drifting sawbellies in 15 to 20 feet of water. Shore fishing has slacked off.

River Essentials, Starlight, Pa., 570-635-5900

The folks at River Essentials near Hancock, N.Y., report that water levels on the Main Stem Delaware River and West Branch Delaware River are the best they have been all year. Hendricksons, Shad Fly, Blue Wing Olives, tan caddis and Blue Quills are on the Main Delaware from our shop all the way down to Callicoon! Hendricksons and Blue Quills are the flies of choice for the trout with the small tan caddis and Apple Caddis (Shad Fly) a close second. The Hendricksons are just about over on the main river.

Location: Hale Eddy south to Buckingham

Joe called to say that before the midweek rainstorm, the Big D was fishing well with both trout and shad in abundance. Good size roe shad are being caught north of Long Eddy, N.Y. The river should be in good shape by the weekend. Hatches on the main stem have been Tan Caddis in size 16, March Browns in size 10 and Apple Caddis in size 16. Most of the fish seem to be keying in on the emergers slightly below the surface film.

Location: Callicoon, N.Y., north to Lordville, N.Y.

Tom’s Bait and Tackle, Narrowsburg, N.Y., 914-252-7445

Cecilia reports that the shad run on the Big D started about two weeks ago and is going strong. Anglers are bringing in both roes and bucks, and some of the roe shad are fat and healthy, weighing in at close to 5 pounds! Chartreuse and green darts are doing the trick.

Location: Callicoon, N.Y., south to Ten Mile River

Angler’s Roost, Lackawaxen, Pa., 570-685-2010

Charlie reports that the Delaware shad run turned on about a week and a half ago with a good mix of both bucks and roes. It’s been a very strong run this year. Anglers are using the old standby -- shad darts in red and white. Gold and silver spinners and spoons are also taking the "poor man’s salmon" as well. Trout fishing on the Lackawaxen River has been very good as well with the state of Pennsylvania stocking this pretty river with trout. Hatches have been Quill Gordons, Hendricksons and caddis in tan and green. Large March Browns are beginning to appear. Charlie wants to remind all anglers that the Eighth Annual Early American Shad Fest will be held at the Fireman’s Field in Lackawaxen, Pa., on Saturday and Sunday, May 27 and 28. Anglers have been bringing in an average of 20 to 30 shad each day to be donated for the festival, and Charlie has been filleting the fish for the hungry anglers.

Location: Ten Mile River south to Barryville, N.Y.

Hagemann’s Tackle, Shohola, Pa., 570-559-7589

Kurt called to say that the shad run is in full gear all along the Delaware River, from Pond Eddy up to Narrowsburg. Try using a gold-plated 3/16th shad dart – they’re all the rage this year, and Kurt has ’em in stock. Kurt adds that the crappie fishing on local ponds have turned on big time. Small jigs and live bait are the way to go for those slab crappies.

Location: Delaware River, Shohola Creek and area ponds and lakes

Al’s Sport Shop, Downsville, N.Y., 607-363-7740

Al Jr. mentioned that on Pepacton Reservoir, anglers are connecting with nice size browns by trolling Sutton Spoons, Kastmasters, black and white bucktail jigs and sawbellies from boats in 25 to 35 feet of water. Pepacton Reservoir is at 100 percent capacity, and shore anglers might find difficulty in accessing good places to fish since the water is up near the trees.

Location: Pepacton Reservoir

Al’s Wild Trout, Shinhopple, N.Y., 607-363-7135

Al Sr. tells us the East Branch of the Delaware River cooled down and only went up about four inches from the rain. Excellent conditions for both the trout and the angler with March Browns in size 10 starting and Hendricksons in size 14 slacking off. Al’s tip: Lots of nice trout are coming up for Rusty Spinners in size 14 and 16. The river is cool and clear in the upper 50s.

Location: East Branch Delaware River

Beaverkill Angler, Roscoe, N.Y., 607-498-5194

Joan reports that the fishing on the Beaverkill has been outstanding. A buffet of bugs has been hatching for the trout! The midweek storm raised the water levels a bit and cooled the temperatures down to the upper 50s. Good hatches of caddis in tan, black and brown in size 14 and 16 along with small blue wing olives in size 18 can be found. The first March Browns of the year are beginning to appear. The Beaverkill should be in tip-top shape by the weekend.

Location: Beaverkill River and tributaries

September 30 1999:

This report marks the finale of our third year of informing readers of weekly fishing opportunities around the Catskill/Mid-Hudson region. I hope you have enjoyed reading "The Guide" as much as I have enjoyed reporting it to you. Thanks to the wonders of the Internet, all of the information from our weekly reports from 1998 and 1999 along with tips, techniques and links to other websites can be accessed by those with computers throughout the off-season for handy reference. Please feel free to contact myself or any of the tackle shops if you have any angling questions.

The sport of fishing, to me, is one of the great past times that life has to offer. It's a sport that you can grow with - young or old - and there's always much more to learn. I am fortunate to live in an area so rich with freshwater angling opportunities.

So much has been written about the sport, whether how-to books or fiction, that during the winter that lies ahead, your local library is a treasure trove of information.

Clubs and organizations like Trout Unlimited offer classes to the novice or experienced angler on different aspects of the sport, from fly tying to stream management. Museums, like the Catskill Fly Fishing Center, in Sullivan County, offer exhibits that give historical perspective to the sport.

One saying that is far from a cliche is that we all live downstream from one another. This applies to courtesy and sportsmanship. With more anglers participating in the sport along with other people using our rivers and lakes, we must all practice giving others elbow room, picking up litter and releasing fish so that in the future we have a better fishery for everyone.

I believe that true sports people leave the water a better place than when they found it. And, as anglers, we should try to teach others in the ways of the water. That’s the way you pay it all back. You pass it on. It’s as important as catching fish.

During the past season, I've enjoyed being your guide and it is my hope that we'll meet on the river in the future. May you have tight lines and light breezes.

Until we meet again next year-

Good fishing to you!

Upcoming Events

Tony's book picks are from 7-29-99:

Hornbeck’s Tackle; Deposit, New York; 607-467-4680

Lloyd said that the West Branch of the Delaware River has water releases at 45 cfs which has made for low clear levels. Water temperatures are in the upper fifties at Hale Eddy in the morning. Your hatches have been small blue wing olives along with terrestrials. Nymphs and streamers are a good choice in the riffles throughout the day. Spin anglers are into a few bruiser browns up to four pounds near the eel weir using Rapalas in silver or gold, Kastmasters and shiners. Anglers are doing real well on the bronzebacks in Cannonsville Reservoir. Lloyd says the bass fishing will go into overdrive throughout October. The feisty smallies are grabbing shiners, crayfish along with Rapalas and Rooster Tails.

Location: Deposit, New York south to Hale Eddy, New York.

River Essentials; Starlight, Pennsylvania; 570-635-5900

Chuck, a New York state licensed guide, reports slow fishing along the West Branch Delaware River. Chuck is looking forward to a great fall season but this past week the hatches have been sporadic. Chuck adds that there’s a bit more action on the main stem Delaware with hatches of caddis, slate drakes in #14, sulphurs in #16 and #18 along with blue wing olives in #18. Chuck thinks that 1999 will go down as one of the best years on the Delaware River – fish wise and bug wise. He’s looking forward to the year 2000 as being a banner year for bugs and trout. Here, here… I’ll drink to that!

Location: Hale Eddy south to Buckingham.

Joe McFadden’s Fly and Tackle; Hankins, New York; 914-887-6000

Welcome back Joe! Joe took a well deserved hiatus and went west – to Montana for a little business and r and r. He’s back and here’s his report: The main stem Delaware has levels at 3.2 feet and dropping – great for wading along with water temperatures from 58 to 63 degrees. Most of the action is subsurface with the wild Delaware ‘bows nailing prince nymphs and pheasant tails in #16. Hatches have been sparse but chances are you’ll see a few large caddis in #14, slate drakes in #12 and #14; small blue wing olives in #18 and #20 and a stray sulphur. Joe’s tip of the week: Fish right on through the fall as long as the weather cooperates.

Location: Callicoon, New York north to Lordville, New York

Tom’s Bait and Tackle; Narrowsburg, New York; 914-252-7445

Tom reports that the Delaware River near the Big Eddy is chilling down. Water temperatures are coming in at 58 degrees in the morning and that means that the smallmouth are going to start hunkering down in deeper holes of seven to twelve feet. They can still be caught but low and slow will be the rule as the water gets colder. Try to target your fishing during the warmer parts of the day – from 11am to 4pm and present your offering a bit slower. Lead head eighth ounce jigs tipped with grubtails in chartreuse, silverflake and motoroil will bring strikes if you bounce them off of submerged boulders and drop offs. As far as bait, try minnows for non-stop action throughout the fall.

Location: Callicoon, New York south to Ten Mile River.

Angler’s Roost; Lackawaxen, Pennsylvania; 570-685-2010

Dimitri reports that Pennsylvania will stock the beautiful Lackawaxen River with 3,000 trout during the first week of October. Take advantage of the beautiful fall weather and wet a line before the frost is on the pumpkin! A few smallmouth are still being caught on the Delaware by anglers using live bait, jigs and plugs. Dimitri and Charlie want to thank their customers for making 1999 a wonderful season.

Location: Ten Mile River south to Barryville, New York

Hagemann’s Tackle; Shohola, Pennsylvania; 570-559-7589

Kurt called in to say that Mike Heyburn of Pond Eddy, New York nailed a beautiful five and a half pound largemouth bass using a black plastic worm. Kurt adds that the bass fishing on lakes and ponds has been picking up in general due to colder temperatures putting the fish on the feed. A few walleyes on the Delaware are beginning to perk up to lead head jigs tipped with shiners. Remember, all you walleye anglers: The fishing for walleyes will only get better as the water gets colder – 45 degrees and below is optimum. The walleyes will come into their own on the beautiful Delaware River after the first hard frost which is usually by Halloween.

Location: Shohola, Pennsylavania south to Milford, Pennsylvania

Al’s Wild Trout; Shinhopple, New York; 607-363-7135

Al tells us that the East Branch Delaware River is in very good shape – cool and clear with good wading levels from Downsville south to Shinhopple. Water temperatures are in the mid fifties. Al has been observing solid hatches of: blue wing olives, sulphurs, terrestrials and tricos.

Location: East Branch Delaware River

Beaverkill Angler; Roscoe, New York; 607-498-5194

Dave reports that the fishing has been good on both the Beaverkill and the Willowemoc. Both streams have cool water and plenty of it! Water temperatures are in the low to upper fifties. Dave adds that the rainbows are moving up into the Beaverkill and your hatches are: small blue wing olives in #20 through #24; Slate Drakes in #12 and #14; Sulphurs in #16 and #18 and terrestrials.

Location: Beaverkill River and tributaries.

Fur, Fin and Feather; Livingston Manor, New York; 914-439-4476

Richie mentioned that a few anglers are picking up trout along the Willowemoc on wooly buggers and gold ribbed hares ears nymphs. There’s been very little surface activity though. Streamers and nymphs are accounting for most of the action. Richie adds that the fish are there and will be throughout the fall – you just have to work for them.

Location: Willowemoc River and tributaries.

Roy’s Sport Store; Mongaup Valley, New York; 914-794-6563

Richie says that the walleye and crappie are biting on minnows on Swinging Bridge Reservoir and will probably continue to do so as the water cools. Good news for the owners and recreational users of this pretty reservoir – Richie says that the water level of Swinging Bridge is now up about nine feet due to Hurricane Floyd’s appearance last week.

Location: Sullivan County lakes and ponds

Catskill Flies Fly Shop; Roscoe, New York; 607-498-6146

Dennis, a New York state licensed guide, reports that over on the Neversink there have been normal flows and water temperatures are in the upper fifties to low sixties. Small blue wing olives, midges, small caddis and terrestrials are your patterns. On the Esopus, the water is in the low sixties but the clarity is stained. Slate Drakes and small caddis have been appearing throughout the day. Your best fishing on the Esopus is above the portal. Dennis’ tip of the week: Look to the mouth of the tributaries – the fish are on the move.

Location: Neversink River and Esopus Creek

Art’s Gun and Tackle; Ellenville, New York; 914-647-6559

No report.

Location: Rondout Reservoir, Bashakill and area streams in western Ulster County.

Ampro Sports; Kingston, New York; 914-331-9440

Terry mentioned that there’s plenty of good fishing to be had on Ashokan Reservoir. Crayfish and shiners are the ticket. Terry adds that the fishing is picking up as the water and air temperatures cool down.

Location: Hudson River and Ashokan Reservoir

914-344-4774

No report.