JOE.T
Dry Flies Only
At the moment the catskills are basically still like the arctic circle.
However that will soon change.Typically ice out occurs between the third and fourth week in Feb.This is caused from the increase in sunlight as we move closer to spring solstace.
Once ice out begins the Rainbows start to move and spawn.This is a great time to be on the river since there are not to many anglers if any,and you will have the opportunity to catch some real nice wild hogs!
My favorite two spots for this action is the lower half of the lower B.kill from hortons pool to "jaws" were the B.kill meets the East Branch, and the last two miles of the west Branch of the Delaware.Large Buggers and or large BH nymphs will work well.
Some are expecting floods this coming spring due to the fact that some of the Resevoirs are spilling already and of course the significant snow pack.
The water will be high of course for a while but I dont think there will be flodding> since the first snows fell up there in Nov and the ground never got a chance to freeze.This will alleviate some of the run off, and replenish much needed ground water..Only Time and weather can tell?
One more thing,since the Cannonsville resevoir was almost completley depleted last year,many have speculated that the Alewife populations were Desamated and would not return.I myself was one who thought this as well.
Since then I have spoken to someone who thinks that the eggs can survive in the dried up res bottom.This person believes that there will be Alewifes in the west branch this spring.God I hope she is right.
If she is right it will not only bode well for the ecosystem but will provide some excellent angling opportunities on the upper west branch especially. Stay tuned.
However that will soon change.Typically ice out occurs between the third and fourth week in Feb.This is caused from the increase in sunlight as we move closer to spring solstace.
Once ice out begins the Rainbows start to move and spawn.This is a great time to be on the river since there are not to many anglers if any,and you will have the opportunity to catch some real nice wild hogs!
My favorite two spots for this action is the lower half of the lower B.kill from hortons pool to "jaws" were the B.kill meets the East Branch, and the last two miles of the west Branch of the Delaware.Large Buggers and or large BH nymphs will work well.
Some are expecting floods this coming spring due to the fact that some of the Resevoirs are spilling already and of course the significant snow pack.
The water will be high of course for a while but I dont think there will be flodding> since the first snows fell up there in Nov and the ground never got a chance to freeze.This will alleviate some of the run off, and replenish much needed ground water..Only Time and weather can tell?
One more thing,since the Cannonsville resevoir was almost completley depleted last year,many have speculated that the Alewife populations were Desamated and would not return.I myself was one who thought this as well.
Since then I have spoken to someone who thinks that the eggs can survive in the dried up res bottom.This person believes that there will be Alewifes in the west branch this spring.God I hope she is right.
If she is right it will not only bode well for the ecosystem but will provide some excellent angling opportunities on the upper west branch especially. Stay tuned.
