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Biologist William Kelly (Catskill Bill) with two beautiful Neversink landlocked salmon; photo likely taken in 1981 or '82.

The Neversink Reservoir landlocked salmon fisheries management program

In 1971, the DEC’s regional fisheries unit in New Paltz held a series of meetings to discuss the possibility of beginning a landlocked salmon management program for the Neversink Reservoir. … more

By TONY BONAVIST | 11/17/21

This female mallard got a second chance to resume her wild life after colliding with a car in Pike County, PA. I transported her to the Pocono Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Center in Stroudsburg for treatment.

Giving thanks

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. It awakens awareness of all there is to be grateful for in my life. Right now, I’m feeling especially blessed by the enthusiastic response to my exhibit, … more

By SANDY LONG | 11/10/21

Boasting his harvest, my son proudly displays fistfuls of fresh-picked potatoes.

Little spuds

You wouldn’t think there would be too much to do, gardening-wise, after these recent frosty mornings we’ve been having, but as it turns out, there are more than a few things left to take … more

By HUNTER HILL | 11/10/21

This is the Delaware River at Shohola Rapids; we’re looking upstream towards Barryville on the morning of October 27. The rocks are usually visible at Shohola Rapids, but they were covered by 17 feet of water when this photograph was taken. The gage upstream of here at Callicoon crested in the “moderate flood stage” (13.68 feet) and low-lying roads in that area were likely affected.

Falling leaves, falling rain

Fall arrived officially on September 22; I don’t recall anything exciting happening that day, except that the sun passed directly over the equator, thus marking the arrival of the autumnal … more

By SCOTT RANDO | 11/3/21

A stout fly rod and large streamer fly: the tools required to land large, migrating brown trout.

Fall fly fishing for lake-run browns

In October of 2017, I wrote a column for the River Reporter titled “A chance at fall spawners.” It was my lament about why the state did not extend the fishing season for trout, which … more

By TONY BONAVIST | 11/3/21

Changes to water releases, spearheaded by research done by Kolesar and his colleagues, have balanced the needs of fishermen, the fish themselves, residents and those who drink the water in New York City's reservoirs.

To balance the needs of all

These are Boyar’s remarks as he introduced Peter Kolesar at the Catskill Fly Fishing Center and Museum’s ceremony on October 30. The center named its newest Hall of Fame members and … more

By ANDY BOYAR | 11/3/21

New knives are great for work and play, and fortunately cuts soon heal away.

Nicks, ticks, and archery sticks

Anyone else feeling a little beat up? I jest, but I wouldn’t be lying if I said I felt a little like a flaming train skidding into the station as we approach year’s end. So many things … more

By HUNTER HILL | 10/27/21

What appears to be a Common eastern bumble bee (Bombus impatiens) is sharing a thistle flower with a monarch butterfly. Many pollinator insects may share the same flower at times with no apparent conflict. Thistles are listed as the top-selected food plant for this species; many other insect pollinators, including butterflies can be found at thistle plants as well.

Bumblebees in decline

When we think of bumblebees, we think of them as common; indeed, they are frequent visitors to gardens and fields of wildflowers alike. It’s hard to not see bumblebees during a walk on a trail … more

By SCOTT RANDO | 10/20/21

Another season ends

It’s subtle at first. Fall actually begins not on September 22, but in July, when the first poplar leaves fall and cover the ground like large brown potato chips. They crunch underfoot as … more

By TONY BONAVIST | 10/20/21

Punctuating our forests with exclamation points of purple is American pokeweed, also referred to as pokeberry. The fruits are a valuable food source for some bird species, such as cardinals and mourning doves, but are especially toxic to humans and should not be consumed.

Forests aflame

Driving or walking around the Upper Delaware River region at this time of year is a rich and nourishing feast for the senses as foliage and fruits ripen. Make time to harvest this sumptuous banquet … more

By SANDY LONG | 10/14/21

With a classic smile, my old black lab Molly enjoys a moment in her sunset years testing out my hammock.

She was a good dog

The way out here can often have the illusion of perpetual sunshine-filled days and one harvest after another. But just like everywhere else, the grey clouds roll through here as well, both literally … more

By HUNTER HILL | 10/14/21

Spotted lanternflies

In the September 8 Rivertalk column, I had written about the appearance of the spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) and how it was appearing sporadically in Pike County, with single sightings in a … more

By SCOTT RANDO | 10/6/21

Hatchery trout feeding at the surface; does this behavior influence feeding in the wild?

The feeding behavior of wild vs. hatchery brown trout

While it may not be obvious, it’s important for anglers to be aware that there is a difference between hatchery brown trout and wild brown trout when it comes to the way they feed. The … more

By TONY BONAVIST | 10/6/21

Sundews are exquisite carnivorous plants that thrive in boggy wetland habitats, as hinted at in this excerpt from “The Sundew” by Victorian poet, critic and novelist, Algernon Charles Swinburne, English poet. ..“The Sundew” ..A little marsh-plant, yellow green, ..And pricked at lip with tender red. ..Tread close, and either way you tread ..Some faint black water jets between ..Lest you should bruise the curious head...Visit https://bit.ly/3lT9FIx to read the full poem.

All that glitters

Nestled into mats of sphagnum moss, or clinging to old stumps protruding from boggy swamps and marshes in the Upper Delaware River region, are delicate carnivorous plants sometimes referred to as … more

By SANDY LONG | 9/29/21

Water, originally collected in a small stream, roars as though rocketing forth from a geyser after recent heavy rainfall.

When it rains, it pours

Let’s talk about the weather. No, this isn’t small talk. But honestly, what a strange summer it’s been. Although according to my desk calendar, fall officially started this past … more

By HUNTER HILL | 9/29/21

A female yellow phase timber rattlesnake is resting with another adult female and at least five other neonates. One of the neonates, about a foot long at birth, is resting just under the adult’s chin. Neonates appear gray with markings without too much coloration difference between the young.

Baby buzzpuppies: Newborn snakes

In the wild, there are not a lot of species that start rearing young during this part of the year. In barely a month or less, we could have our first frost. A lot of migratory birds are heading back … more

By SCOTT RANDO | 9/22/21

Blue-winged olives are hatching in the Catskills

With summer on the wane, and fall just a few short weeks, away, the little blue-winged olive mayfly hatches are beginning in earnest on most Catskill rivers. I actually saw the first emergence in … more

By TONY BONAVIST | 9/22/21

This immature broad-winged hawk was the first of three that lost their lives in collisions with vehicles over a three-week period in August. As described by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, they are small, compact raptors with chunky bodies, large heads and short square tails. In flight, their broad wings come to a distinct point.

A broad-winged mystery

Sadly—and strangely—I recently came upon two immature broad-winged hawks, approximately a week apart, that died from collisions with vehicles along Route 6 in Pike County, Pennsylvania. … more

By SANDY LONG | 9/15/21

My son learns how to safely handle newborn baby goats from his grandma.

Babes abundant

After a week of watching too much of the national news, I had the strongest need to use my own media soapbox to talk to you, my readers, about something far more edifying. Babies. I … more

By HUNTER HILL | 9/15/21

This adult spotted lanternfly was spotted in Pike County a year ago. An attempt was made to capture it, but it hopped and flew off, much like the flight of a grasshopper. An hour later, we returned and saw the insect in the same spot and were able to kill it after photographing it. According to the Penn State Extension, there already had been two other confirmed sightings in Pike County.

The spotted lanternfly makes its way to the region

Spotted lanternflies have been in the news of late. They have been slowly but surely expanding their way northward and are now appearing in southern areas of the region. According to the New York … more

By SCOTT RANDO | 9/8/21

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