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: |
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