Fishing basics for 2013

I'm pleased enough about my week to start blogging again about my fly fishing experience.

Blogging has dried up as of late, because my fishing time has been reduced for various reasons.

I'm down to one vehicle which I share. And my yard work is abundant since the snow melt.

Now with grand children growing fast, I travel a little more often to the Catskills.

The Catskills are where my focus will be for the 2013 fishing season.

I have been seeking out "new to me" spots along the upper Delaware River waterways

In past years, I have fished in the Catskills, on the Beaverkill and Willowemoc creeks, near Roscoe, NY. 

Several trips have profited me little to no success. This past weekend I became a successful Catskill fly fishermen. 

Not a lot of fish, but in a few hours, I did manage to catch two brook trout and one brown trout.

It wasn't important that I caught the fish, but that knowing the local techniques are key to hooking up.

I had arrived at the East Branch river around 7:00 am which means getting up at 2:00 and leaving by 3:00 for the 4 hour trip. Thick heavy fog was still in the air and the black flies were hungry. So I smeared some Cutter over my arms and headed toward a long flat which I had spied out the week before. There had been a change in the depth of the river. I had waded to the far side of the river in ankle deep water just a week before. But with the rain it had risen to above my waist and had over flowed it's banks flooding the tall grass flood plain. The water was clear, but having doubled its width I now had to traverse through uncharted sink holes.

I fish alone very often, but I respect the power of the water and don't take unnecessary risks. One risk I had not thought about is water snakes. It was not until late in my day, I saw something that looked like a swimming snake. It turned out to be an eel. I did not know there were fresh water eels up this far from the ocean. After some research on the internet I found there is a very well known eel fisherman who lives in the area. His name is Ray Turner, Catskill eel smoker extraordinaire. Next trip I will try to find this guy and tell him where I saw the eel.

When the sun began to break over the mountains and burn off the fog. I saw a few fish rising out deep in the main river. They were too far for me to cast to. So I continued to watch the water for closer game. Large brown caddis, and inch long green drakes, were drying their wings atop the water. But there was little action near the shallows of the main river bank.

So after  a bit I left the East Branch and moved on to some shallower creeks. The morning became noon and I fished the Willowemoc creek bank under some tree shade. I had fished dries and scuds and nymphs for a bit, when a fisherman from New Jersey suggested I try a midge. Now I have little success with midge flies in my local streams. But after three casts I landed a Brook trout. I believe it's my first ever brook trout in these streams. I also caught a smaller one along with a Brown trout. I'm a better fisherman by having gained local fishing tips from someone who fishes these waters. It will be a great help for my next trip to the catskill streams.