This is not a fishing story, but a story about a bridge that is synonymous with a famous fishing place, the Esopus Creek. The Five Arches bridge, which links NYS Route 28 with Route 28A, has been a fixture since 1913, during the very period the Ashokan Reservoir was under construction. The reservoir was completed in 1915.  more

Most of us have seen the changing colors of fall during the past few weeks. more

As you may recall, at the end of my last column, I was on the eve of heading out to sea in pursuit of wild tuna. And while the goal was to catch fish to fill a freezer, there was always the possibility that that might not happen.  more

The nature of the Upper Delaware River region lies at the heart of what makes it so truly special—pristine waters, clean air, forested landscapes with a rich diversity of flora and fauna. These priceless features draw truly special people into the communities here, people with deep connections to the natural world and a passion for protecting it. more

Except for a few species that overwinter in a sheltered spot or underground, the majority of insects hatch out during the spring months. They go through their life cycles over the summer and into early autumn, and then the cold weather arrives. more

By now, large brown trout have begun their annual spawning migrations from the six large New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) reservoirs located in the Catskills. more

Hopefully you are already familiar with the exquisite work of the passionate nature enthusiast Lang Elliot, but if not, you are soon to experience some of the finest nature music of your life. more

I don’t recall ever writing a multi-part column before. I prefer to keep my stories concise and gratifying to the loyal reader as well as the perchance peruser. more

We all love fly hatches—the bigger, the better, right? more

With September here, along with some cooler mornings, a few bird species have started to migrate south. Smaller birds, such as the yellow warbler, were already on their way near the end of August, and some might have seen nighthawks snatching insects in flight over lakes and rivers as they too headed south.  more

Bird lovers, photographers, painters en plein air, outdoor recreationists, walkers and wanderers might like to know about a new overlook constructed earlier this year at the Shohola Waterfowl Area in Shohola, PA. more

Fall is normally associated with harvesting and cleaning up and getting the land ready for next year. more

When I was a fisheries biologist, actually conducting  stream surveys, it was not uncommon for members of the local sportsmen’s clubs to question some of our management policies and regulations. One of the questions I was confronted with the most had to do with the numbers and sizes of trout, or the lack thereof, in the streams we were managing.  more

Most of us have been out in the woods at one time or another, and spotted a snake or two. Maybe a couple of those snakes were black in color, and if we were lucky, they stayed still long enough for us to get a good look at them. We could have even spotted one of these so-called black snakes climbing up the trunk of a tree or the side of a building. more

UPPER DELAWARE RIVER — The 34th annual family raft trip, organized by the Upper Delaware Council (UDC), attracted 51 guests on August 7. People paddled a scenic five-mile stretch of the Upper … more

PHILADELPHIA, PA — On Wednesday, September 21, Eldred, NY resident and Columbia University professor emeritus Peter Kolesar will receive a lifetime achievement award from the Water Resources … more

Note: For all the rain we received recently, as of September 10, most of our region is still abnormally dry or in a moderate drought, according to www.drought.gov/states/new-york. Tony Bonavist, who … more

So everyone knows about the tooth fairy: you put a tooth under your pillow and you might get a quarter in the morning. Well, did you know there is another fairy out there? more

In my last River Talk column, I wrote about opting to take a break from the pressures of our busy lives and gain the perspective that stillness and rest can bring. Now that we’ve all done so (or soon will!) I invite our readers to take advantage of fresh opportunities to opt outside for some timely recreational activities that provide connection with the healing forces of nature. more

Some of us might have run into one or more timber rattlesnakes while hiking on trails over the course of the summer. more