North American fly fishing began right here in the Catskill Mountains. To fish the brook trout of the Neversink River, Beaverkill River and Willowemoc Creek, the father of the American school of dry fly fishing, Theodore Gordan, modified and created flies to mimic the area’s native insects. From this humble beginning, the sport has spread and flourished across the country.
Fishing Season began April 1 in New York State and the Great Western Catskills, with close to 900 miles of trout streams and the Cannonsville and Pepacton Reservoirs, is one of the premier destinations to enjoy the sport. So whether you are looking for brook, brown or rainbow trout, get your license, grab your gear and come enjoy the waters of Delaware County.
It is now easier then ever to obtain a NY fishing license. To buy a license, you can purchase online, or visit one of the many local fishing supply stores or town clerks’ offices. To utilize the Cannonsville and Pepacton Reservoirs, a Watershed Recreation Access Permit is required. This permit can also be acquired online. Plan your fishing excursion with maps of the Public Fishing Rights of the Beaver Kill, Bush Kill, Charlotte Creek, East Brook, Little Delaware and the East and West Branches of the Delaware River.
Delaware County has a wide array of support services to get you outfitted for your fishing adventure. The Great Western Catskills Travel Guide lists the sporting good supply stores, boat cleaning services and guide services that are available to make your trip easy and enjoyable.
While out fishing, it’s important to be aware of the spread of invasive species. Didymo (a.k.a. “rock snot”), an invasive microscopic alga that grows densely on stream bottoms, is becoming an increasing presence in the waters of Delaware County. Once it develops, it is a threat to habitat and biodiversity and thus to recreational fishing. Didymo can be recognized by its brown, tan or white color and by its wet wool-like texture. It is of a hardy quality and attaches to the stream bottom with tenacity. When leaving an area, anglers are advised to “inspect, clean and dry” all their gear to stop the spread of all invasive species. Putting fishing gear in a freezer until all residual water has frozen can also stop Didymo’s spread.
Fishing is a passion shared by many and the world-class waterways of the Great Western Catskills are bound to satisfy even the most discerning of enthusiasts. Easy access to licenses, gear, maps and some of the best fishing in the Eastern United States makes planning a fishing trip here fun and enjoyable. Explore the waters of Delaware County!
Video: West Branch Trout Fishing on Backwoods Angler TV - Blaine is stalking brown trout? Say it isn’t so! But he’s doing it with bass tackle. This type of trout fishing is sure to get the blood boiling as Blaine targets trophy wild browns with jerkbaits in one of the premiere trout rivers east of the Mississippi River.
Photos: Above, Fly Fishing in the Great Western Catskills; Below Top, The Delaware River; Below Bottom, Float Fishing the Delaware River (Credit: Chris Olney).
