June 2025 The Catskills
Where: Roscoe, New York
When: June 5 -8, 2025.
Participants: Jouky Chang, Chris Newkumet, Bob O’Donnell, Lou Reichel, Allan Rutzen, Ken Turner.
The destination of Roscoe NY to fish the Catskills is a no brainer since it is known as “Trout Town USA” and considered the birthplace of dry fly fishing in the USA.
The weather was a slight rainy, streams were slightly high and off-colored, but trout were caught and had prolific hatches.
We fished mainly the Willowemoc and lower Beaverkill. Fishing holes or areas fished on Willowemoc were called Buck Eddy, Hazel Bridge, Sherwoods Flats, and Power Enclosure Pool. On the Beaverkill, places fished were called Caines Pool, Hendricksons Pool, Barnhardts Pool. Places I wanted to try but did not are East Delaware River, The Covered Bridge and the Junction Pool. We were lucky that Allan rented a guide, and so Allan was gracious to show us where the guide took him. Thanks Allan.
Brown, Brook and Rainbow trout were caught. Mostly on nymphs, emergers, and soft hackle flies. There were hatches of Green Drakes, March Browns, Yellow Drakes, a few Sulfurs, and many others I can’t ID. At dusk there was a prolific hatch of Black Caddis, #14. Unfortunately, not many fish were rising, but a few risers were caught. Tragically, I lost my combo light and flip up magnifier in the Beaverkill. Can’t find a new one. A Bald Eagle was spotted flying by and following the Beaverkill.
A group went to the Hendrickson Pool because they saw a few risers, but it looked like rough water for me, so I and Chris went to the Barnhardt Pool close by. There were large trout, >16 inchers, in 2 feet of clear water, some rising. I tried a lot of flies but no takes. At last resort I had a large Royal Wulff, #12-14, kind of flatted in my fly box for many years, that I tied on. On 2nd cast a large trout, >18 inches, came up to surface, followed it a few feet. A trout of a lifetime. I saw the white mouth open. I did not move a muscle so I wouldn’t disturb the floating fly. If you have fished with me before you know I was ready to shout hysterically “Bob - Fish ON”!! Then the trout thought twice and swam to the bottom. My heart stopped. But it was a joy. I think my waders had a leak for my pants were a little wet. I needed a drink.
One of our group of fishermen was having problems with casting and getting the fly to float. Thinking it must be the fly line that was on the reel he bought 3rd hand from the internet, took it to the Fly Shop in Roscoe. It turned out it was not the fly line but the 2-3 feet only of leader he had on it. I thought that was funny. Luckily, he was not wearing the official PPTU hat or PPTU Pin.
It was best to fish in early mornings and close to dusk. In the afternoons we discovered some napping, good BBQ in Livingston, Dette Fly Shop, a nice Italian Restaurant that would not allow us in since it required 2 week reservations and no wading boots. Tourists!?
On the last day we went our separate ways. On the way back I and Bob fished the Callicoon River, in Callicoon, NY. Bob caught a very large rainbow, >16 inches, on a nymph and I caught only a 12 inch brown on a March Brown emerger that I tied and shown by Bob at the PPTU Fly Tying Meeting. A good end of trip. However, my Google maps got us lost and spent many hours on back roads of NY. I think Bob has a NY accent now.
Thanks to All for fishing with me.
Not sure what or when the next Outing will be. 1-Fly Contest, Shenandoah, Monocacy, Savage River (Oct 11-13) are all coming up.
Lou Reichel
