The
Beaverkill
For the flyfisher, the Beaverkill River is
actually made up of two distinct rivers: The Upper Beaverkill, a smallish stream composed
of mostly private, club-owned water; and, the "lower" Beaverkill (or "the
Big River"), a medium-sized river that is one of the most famous trout streams in
America. (See Map of Beaverkill.)
The lower Beaverkill begins at "Junction Pool" in
Roscoe, where the waters of the Upper Beaverkill merge with the Willowemoc. The river then
flows westward for 15 miles, where it joins the East Branch of the Delaware at the village
of East Branch. Along its way, the river offers some of the most storied trout water in
angling literature:
Barnhardt’s Pool.... Hendrickson’s Pool... Horse
Brook Run... Cairns Pool... The Wagontracks... To step into these waters is to step into
the history of flyfishing in America.
Together with the Upper Beaverkill, these pools, runs and
riffles were fished in the latter half of the 19th Century and the throughout the
Twentieth Century by some of our greatest and best-known flyfishers and angling writers:
Thaddeus Norris, Theodore Gordon, A. E. Hendrickson, George LaBranche, Sparse Grey Hackle,
Red Smith, Charles Ritz, Lou Rhead, Dana Lamb...
Even today, the Beaverkill retains its ability to attract the
attention of flyfishing's elite. It's the home river of Joan Wulff and her late husband,
Lee, two of the sport's best-known personalities. And, it continues to attract
other flyfishing stars, including former President Jimmy Carter and his angling partner,
Rosalyn. The opening day of trout season in New York State would not be complete without a
visit to the Beaverkill by the outdoor writer of The New York Times. On April 1,
the attraction is due more to the magic of the river’s name than the feisty
browns and rainbows the river holds -- most of which are still dodging flotsam from the
winter’s run-off.
While early April may not be the most optimum time to
fish the Beaverkill, the river is generally at its best during the early season (late
April, May and June), when the Hendricksons, March Browns, Grey Fox, Green Drakes and
Cahills are coming off the water. While it still produces its own natural
population of trout, the river also is stocked extensively. Throughout the river's
length there are plenty of no-kill and fly-fishing only waters.
Low water levels and rising temperatures can make
fishing unsporting in the hot summer months, when trout are forced to seek relief in deep
pockets and spring holes. But, the fishing picks up again in the late summer and
fall, when lower evening temperatures cool the water and put trout back on the rise.
The Beaverkill is a freestone stream and can be easily waded
throughout its length. The river’s scenic beauty and accessibility are major factors
in its popularity. Because it is relatively easy to wade and fish, it can be an
outstanding river for the beginner. Yet, its crystal clear waters and fly savvy trout can
offer the expert a challenging outing. Whatever the attraction, this river is well worth
an angler’s time.
HOW TO GET THERE:
From New York City, take I-87 north to Exit 16, which is Rt.
17, and take northeast to Exit 94 (Roscoe).
The Willowemoc
If the Beaverkill River were to get its
pick of a life partner, chances are it would stick with the one it has: The Willowemoc. The Willowemoc -- or, simply, the Willow -- is one
of the loveliest of the Catskill streams. Formed from a spider-web of tiny feeders flowing
out of the Catskill Mountain Ridgeline, the Willowemoc twists and turns its way westward
for just over 25 miles before teaming up with the Upper Beaverkill to create the more
famous Beaverkill River.
This is a stream of native brookies. It
also has proved to be a good home for the browns and rainbows that came with later
stockings. And, today it is an idyl of the streamside flyfisher -- a place where the trout
can be accommodating and challenging.
The Willowemoc is fed by a series of
tributaries, many of which have names almost as well known as the river they feed.
Butternut Brook, Fir Brook, Fall Brook and Mongaup Creek are the Willow’s natural
suppliers of cool,. clear mountain waters and the adventurous brook trout that slides into
the river’s main channel.
Except for a small stretch around
Livingston Manor, where highways and village life tend to interfere with the Willow’s
pleasant beauty, the river flows through forests of mixed hardwood and spruce, and the
occasional field or meadow. Twice, the river flows beneath covered, wooden bridges, each
proving that man can sometimes offer a pleasing supplement to nature’s canvas.
The river also boasts another
man-made attraction for the flyfisher: It provides the setting for the Catskill Fly
Fishing Center, a museum dedicated to preserving forever the Catskill flyfishing
traditions. It is an essential stop for the visiting flyfisher.
The Willow is a small to medium-sized
freestone stream, but it can -- and often does -- produce trout of up to 18 inches in
length. For the most part, however, the fish average in size between 8" and 12".
But, they can be avid feeders and, on slow days, the Willow can be the most pleasant place
to spend an afternoon.
The insect hatches match those of the
Beaverkill: a strong, early season for mayflies that is supplemented by caddis and
stoneflies. Terrestrials -- ants, beetles and grasshoppers -- also offer good fishing
during the summer months. The rod of choice is largely a matter of personal taste: This is
a stream that can handle a longer graphite rod, but it also is one where a classic bamboo
rod and a light-weight double-taper line offers a special pleasure of its own.
There are several flyfishing only, no-kill
sections along the river’s length. Access for the streamside angler is usually good,
except in the upper reaches of the river, where access to the water is largely controlled
by private owners.
HOW TO GET THERE:
From New York City, take I-87 north to Exit 16, which is Rt.
17, and take northeast to Exit 9 (Livingston Manor). From Livingston Manor take old Rt. 17
along the river for access.
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