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Ramblings of a Catskill Flyfisher
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A beautiful, serene pool on a Catskill River.
Fly fishing: a privilege
Fly fishing is a fragile and fickle sport. By that, I don’t mean to imply that rivers are fragile, or that trout are fragile, although, in some instances, both are. What I do mean is, unlike a … more
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A recently hatched female Pale Evening Dun.
Changes in some Catskill tailwater mayfly hatches
Some of my angling friends call this time of year “The Dead Time” because hatches of mayflies and other aquatic insects are on the wane. For the most part, they are absolutely correct in … more
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A recently hatched Isonychia dun with nymph shucks.
The Isonychia mayflies
Isonychia bicolor is a large, dun-colored mayfly that does not receive a lot of attention from the Catskill fly-fishing community. Perhaps that is because the species is not as widely distributed as … more
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A Catskill angler waits for the evening rise.
The waiting game
As a group, it seems that fly fishers are always waiting. In the early spring, they wait for the equipment they might’ve ordered for the coming season. Then they wait for April 1, the opening … more
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Art Flick’s Streamside Guide was first published in 1947 and is still in print today.
‘Art Flicks Streamside Guide to Naturals and Their Imitations’
It was in late 1972 or early 1973 at a Catskill Mountain’s Chapter of Trout Unlimited (TU) meeting in Kingston, NY that I met Arthur Flick. I was at that meeting as a fisheries biologist … more
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A March Brown/Grey Fox dry fly.
The March Brown and Grey Fox Mayflies: confusion and mystery
Soon, if not already—stream flows permitting—Catskill anglers well be treated to hatches of March Brown and Grey Fox mayflies. Both flies are large with the March Brown being the larger … more
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A Hendrickson/Red Quill nymph in the surface film.
Up versus down: a fly-fishing dilemma
Those words may sound like an odd title for an article, but they describe one of the most confounding fishing situations anglers are likely to be confronted with. I know that up versus down has been … more
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Pictured in clockwise order are a Pheasant Tail, bottom left, Hare’s Ear, Blue Quill, Hendrickson and Rusty Spinner fly patterns.
Fly patterns for early season mayfly hatches
Very soon, and with a little cooperation from the weather, the season’s first, eagerly awaited mayfly hatches will begin. Right now, most fly fishers are looking over their tackle, waders, … more
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David Brandt, a master at work.
A tribute to Dave
It was a long time ago—a cool rainy morning, late April in the Catskill’s. I was one of five instructors gathered in the little schoolhouse at the Wulff School of Fly Fishing on the Upper … more
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Another opening day
Each year at this time, right around the end of March, anglers eagerly await the start of another trout season. In some angling circles, that is all the talk is about. I know I’ve been hearing … more
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An original Dorato Hare’s Ear
William Dorato and the Dorato Hare’s Ear
Those of you that read this column may recall that the name William (Bill) Dorato; it has appeared several times. I first met Bill at the Rivers Edge Motel, along the East Branch of the Delaware in … more
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The author waiting for the next rise.
Evolution of a fly fisher
In his book, “Small in the Eye of a River,” my old friend Frank Mele wrote: “On having turned his 75th year in reasonably good health, any fly-fisher must feel immense gratitude for … more
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Lightly tied flies, left, versus commercially tied dry flies.
Artificial versus natural flies
Whether you call them patterns or (in the new vernacular) recipes, things change with fly fishing and fly-tying nomenclature over time—only the natural flies and trout stay the same. One of the … more
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Quiet pools are the best places for fishing blind.
Fly fishing blind
Sound like a strange title? Perhaps, yet it is the very method that fly fishers should adopt if they wish to maximize angling opportunities when fishing small flies, dun colored flies, or when … more
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An angler fishing across and downstream.
The across and downstream drift
A long time ago, when I started to fly fish and began the process of weaning off worms, Mepps Spinners, assorted lures and baits, I adopted the standard up-and-across-stream practice of casting my … more
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The Pepacton Reservoir in early fall.
Fly-fishing the Pepacton Reservoir
One could legitimately ask, why would fly fishers want to fish a reservoir? But yes, the title is correct. This piece is about the Pepacton Reservoir and the possibilities it offers fly … more
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Trout on the move
One day several years ago, when the afternoon light was exactly right, I saw a trout rise and then swim swiftly 20 feet away. Boy, was I surprised! Granted, it was in a flat, low gradient pool, so … more
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Our maestro
I stopped by the house today to drop off some books and pick up a few things. All the leaves were down and most had been washed away by the night’s rain. There were no tire marks in the drive … more
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A rainbow trout from the East Branch.
Rainbows on the move
As most anglers that fish the Catskills soon learn, rainbow trout are not as widely distributed throughout the region as brown trout. However, that is changing. As far as stream fisheries go, … more
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Brown trout spawning
DEC proposes controversial fishing regulations
DEC proposes controversial fishing regulations more
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