Fishing Report: May 2nd

Greetings Compleat Anglers!  Here is your fishing report for May 2nd.

What a difference a day makes in the Catskills!  I drove up to Hancock New York early Monday morning in heavy snow showers, wind and a chilly 34 degrees. The tops of the mountains had a lovely, white coating - below is an early Monday-morning shot taken at East Branch Outfitter's guide Ben Rinker's backyard only a few feet from the East Branch.

It was still snowing when we put the boat in on the Delaware West Branch around 10:00.  But by 2:00 in the afternoon the wind had died, it was clearing and a balmy 50 degrees. (By yesterday it was 75 degrees and summer-like conditions!)  There were some great fish on the Streamer and in the late afternoon, even greater fish looking up at a huge hatch of Paraleps (Blue Quill) that covered a 5 mile stretch of river for several hours. We also saw Quill Gordons, a few Baetis (BWO's) and an occasional Hendrickson or two - with the coming warm weather the Hendricksons should be in full bloom within the next week. Even with the high water, those fish rising were incredibly picky - we had to go down to 5X before we could move anything. Here's one of the nice (20")  'bows I got from Monday's float - that's guide Ben Rinker showing off the fish. 

Interestingly, on the streamer front, the fish wouldn't touch the white streamers - we didn't start getting bumps until we switched to olive ones. Obviously, that can change on an hourly basis, so if action is slow on the color you are using. do change frequently until you hit the right combination.

All three Delaware branches were high, but clear - and cold!  Right now, the West Branch is definitely the more consistent branch - more "regular" with flies and better streamer action due to the fact that Cannonsville Reservoire has been spilling consistently and throwing Alwives into the river. But with the advent of this warm weather, the East Branch should be lighting up shortly!  At over 5200cfs, the Main Stem is still very high, although certainly fishable for floaters. 

The Beaverkill and Willowemoc are both high and clear and in the mid-40s. They are just getting back to wadeable heights, and as I drove along them both along RT 17B on my way up to Hancock, there were groups of anglers in the Willowemoc positioned in the few spots that are now becoming wadeable. I didn't see any waders yet in the Beaverkill. But the good news is that ALL the rivers in the Delaware system are healthy and at good height and it should be a great spring/summer season!  Here's the Catskill flow information:

Delaware River West Branch at Hale Eddy: 2280cfs at 41degrees;

Delaware River West Branch at Stilesville:  1870cfs at 43 degrees;

Delaware River East Branch at Fishs Eddy:  2350cfs at 45 degrees;

Delaware River East Branch at Harvard:  1240cfs at 41 degrees;

Delaware Main Stem at Lordville:  5270cfs at 46 degrees;

Beaverkill at Cooks Falls:  905cfs at 45 degrees;

Things are heating up in Long Island Sound. The Bass have arrived!  Lot's of our customers are reporting some great catches over the past week. There have been fish in Holly Pond and lots of action at the mouth of the Housatonic - both from the Audubon Society side and also on the opposite side from Short Beach as well. The fish have been taking the usual assortment of Clausers and Deceivers. Interestingly, we have numerous reports of pre-dawn action with the fish turning off as soon as the sun comes up - but as well, there have been some great reports of good action during the day. It seems like there are good numbers of better bass mixed in with the schoolies this year.  Hopefully this will continue to build through May - I'm planning to hit a few of the beaches later this week and will report back to you in a report update. But now is definitely the time to pick up your rod and hit the beaches - from Greenwich to all points North!

Within the past two weeks, both the Housatonic and the Farmington Rivers have been heavily stocked. In the Farmington, the stockings were in the TMA(C&R) section, the upper four miles of river, and from RT177 in Unionville to RT4 in Farmington. There continues to be some great fish taken, but all reports have been that activity thus far has been 90% on streamers and nymphs. There have been Hendricksons reported in decent numbers in the lower river, so keep your eyes peeled - they will move upriver slowly as the water warms. In the Housatonic, there have been some fish rising, but the water is still very high and difficult for wading, and most activity reported has been on streamers, nymphs and various Mops, Egg patterns, San Juan worms and similar flies. Flows for Connecticut rivers are as follows:

Farmington West Branch at Riverton:  298cfs in the mid-40s;

Still River at Robertsville:  194cfs in the high 40s';

Farmington River TMA (C&R);  492cfs in mid-40s;

Sagatuck River on Ford's Rd./Westport:  74cfs;

Norwalk River in Wilton:  73cfs;

That's it for now folks - I will update this on a daily basis as new reports come in!

'Till next time!