Catskills Report

[NJFred]

Hi all,

I'm going to try and provide some info for those going up this weekend.

Took a gamble and floated the Upper Mainstem on Wedensday. Weater, sunny with some clouds. We saw rising fish from noon to about 6 PM. Not a tremendous number but plenty to keep us busy. The fish were working hard, were spooky (water was extremely clear) but were quality fish (Check out the photo attached. Mainstem Brown on size 20 Chimarra pupa, dead drifted in film.)

Fish were eating size 18 to 20 Chimarra Caddis (black body). Some female hendrikson's came off about 2 but few and fish wen't on them. We were all wrong about the hendriksons. They won't probably be going til next week. Water still cold on WBD and Upper Main.

On Thursday fished back up the Beaverkill, Willow and Neversink. Nothing doing on the Beaverkill. Willow had fish rising. However, we couldn't match the hatch and got skunked. Tried everything. I think they may have been eating emerging micro caddis. Will talk to Joe T and learn my lesson.

Neversink, as reported, was on fire with paraleps, female and male hendriksons as reported. They started coming off at around 1 PM. Hatch last to about 5 pm although duns on water til dark. Size 18 paralep parachute was the best pattern and later a size 12 female hedrickson compara spinner (14 would have been a better size). They were eating duns and later spinners but did not get into a really heavy fall just enough on the surface however.

All and all a great trip.

Good luck to anyone heading up this weekend.