The Catskill Fly Fishing Report 05/03/2025

Today will be mostly cloudy with a high of 70 and some light rain, all rivers are at great flows for wading. Bug month is here expect to see lots of bugs and hungry trout rising to them.

Yesterday I fished the Beaverkill and got a nice 16 inch brown on a spinner, Brian the new shop owner brought two rainbows to net on spinners as well. The key to success was moving around till we found rising fish and looked around the water to find what the trout were eating, what bugs are up in the air can be completely different then what's on the surface. All reports I've heard this morning indicated the Willowemoc fished just as good as the Beaverkill yesterday.

The West Branch has been fishing the best of all our local rivers, I can count on finding rising fish up toward Deposit and on the Pennsylvania side of the river. Dry's, nymphs, and streamers have all been effective, Apple Caddis are out in numbers but be on the look out for Hendrickson's. 

The East Branch is at a great flow for wading and is having lots of consistent hatches but not many consistent risers. Expect technical fishing to cruising trout. I find long fine leaders like 12FT 5X or 12FT 6X work the best and are less likely to spook the weary trout also having a lot of different fly patterns to dial in on what the fish are feeding on is necessary. 

The Main Stem of the Delaware has been very productive for all of our float trips, our guides have had success and Dry's, nymphs, and streamers. The Main Stem at its current flow is best fished out of a boat but has some great wade fishing spots around the Shehawken boat launch.

HATCHES: BEAVERKILL / WILLOWEMOC AND THE DELAWARE RIVER SYSTEM: Apple Caddis, Hendrickson, Blue Quill, BWO, 

March Brown(Maybe if your lucky)

SHOP RECOMMENDED FLIES:  Elk Hair Caddis (Tan Sz-16), Elk Hair Caddis (Peacock Sz-14/18), Spotlight Caddis (Green Sz-14/18), Hendrickson Klinkhammer (Sz-12/18), Blue Quill Klinkhammer (Sz-16/18), Rusty Spinner (Sz-14), X-Caddis (Apple Sz-14/18), Sparkle Minnow (Yellow Sz-6/8)