Fishing Report for April 12th 2025

The Catskill Fly Fishing Report 2025

Beaverkill River, Willowemoc Creek, and the Delaware River System

Weather for today will be a high of 39°, last night we got about an inch of snow and are expecting snow showers through out the day. Nymphs and streamers have been the most effective way to get fish to the net recently. The fish are currently siting on the bottom and only taking flies presented right in front of there face, having the right presentation and being at the correct depth is the key to success. Rifles, runs, pocket water, and the head of pools are where you will find the most feeding fish in the early season. 

I am starting to see fish rise but its nothing to get worked up over, they seemed to be feeding on size 24 and 26 midges on warmer days. The true dry fly fishing will begin in a week or two if we get the right conditions. Hendrickson's are often the first major mayfly hatch to happen on the Beaverkill and Willowemoc, midafternoon on overcast rainy days with water temperatures of 50° to 55° in late April are the conditions Hendrickson's prefer to emerge in. The Upper Delaware System can get some hatches before the freestone rivers do but with the current conditions I believe the hatches will all begin about the same time.   

My two most productive flies have been, Frenchie (Sz 14-18), Rainbow Warrior (Sz 14-18). Other great flies for the early season are Wooly Buggers in a variety of colors (Sz 8-16), Jig Streamers (Sz 10-16), Copper John (Sz 12-18) Stonefly patterns (Sz 10-16).