Trout Source

Introduction

The Beaverkill River is one of the country's most fabled rivers, laying claim as one of the birthplaces of American fly fishing.  In one section, famous pools are identified by plaques along the river banks.  A quintessential Catskill Mountain stream, it is a freestone river with a good mix of pools, riffles and runs, and a covered bridge to boot.  Due to its proximity to New York City (2 hours) it can get crowded when the fishing is good.  Fish average 12-14 inches, predominantly stocked brown trout, but also wild browns, rainbows and brookies.

River Character and Access

The Beaverkill flows 43 miles from its origins high in the Catskills to its confluence with the Delaware River (itself a fanstastic, big eastern river) in the town of East Branch.  Most of the fishing is done in the 13 miles from East Branch up to Roscoe, where the Beaverkill is joined by the Willowemoc (which is itself a great fishery with an equally historic character).  The Willowemoc virtually doubles the Beaverkill's flow, and from Roscoe downstream it is called the "Big River" (in contrast to the section above Roscoe).  The heaviest fishing is in the first 3 miles below Roscoe (the first 2.5 miles of which are catch-and-release).  Pools in this section include Junction (home to lunkers, at the confluence with the Willowemoc), Ferdon's (wheelchair access), Barnhart's, Hendrickson, Horse Brook Run (fast pocket water) and Cairn (the most popular, several miles long, which can be seen from the first of 7 highway 17 bridge crossings below Roscoe) and Trestle.  Some pools are known to excel more than others during certain hatches, so you are advised to contact a local fly shop in advance or hire a guide to ensure you're on the good water.

Below this stretch is 2.5 miles of relatively unproductive water (but still good), and then a second catch-and-release section where Russell Brook enters.  This second special regulation section is less crowded yet nearly as good as the more upstream section mentioned earlier.  The last 5 miles down to the Delaware are the least fished.  The two best sections here are the "Jaws", where the Beaverkill meets the Delaware, and the section below Peakville where Trout Brook enters.

Other named pools, below the Roscoe catch-and-release section, include: Schoolhouse, Mountain, Lower Mountain, Stadel's Run, Freeman's Flat, Painter Bend, Horton's Pool, Cook Falls, The Flat, Acid Factory, Railroad Run and Cemetery.  Keener's Pool is actually not a pool on the river, but rather a bar in a local restaurant often populated by inebriated fishermen inclined to "overestimate" the size of fish they've caught.  For this reason it is jokingly rumored to contain the largest trout on the river.  Read more at the Antrim Lodge website.

The lower Beaverkill (below Roscoe) is easily accessed from highway 17, which parallels the entire stretch.  This map provides excellent detail on public access points in this section.  The upper section, above Roscoe, is only about half the size of the lower section, and has limited access due to the abundance of private property.  The river contains progressively more brook trout as you go upstream.

When and How to Fish

The first major hatch is the Early Brown Stonefly in March.  In late March, all the way through October, BWO's are present.  April brings Little Black Caddis and Hendricksons.  In May, Grannom Caddis (Shad Fly), Green Caddis and Sulfurs begin to appear.  June heralds the arrival of numerous hatches including the March Brown, Gray Fox, Green Drake, Light Cahill and Slate Drake (Isonychia) (which reappears in October).  Tricos are a good bet from July through September, and terrestrials can work from April through October.  While the river is more famous for dry fly fishing, subsurface techniques work as well.  Since the "Big River" section can span over 70 feet, a 9-foot rod is recommended.

Like most eastern streams, the Beaverkill can warm to alarming levels in summer, especially in times of drought.  When the water warms, typically in late June on the Beaverkill, fish congregate around cooler tributaries.  Because of low oxygen levels, they may have difficulty recovering after a fight.  Another option is to fish shady banks, where fish cling to avoid the sun. 

The catch and release sections are open to fishing year round, while in the rest of the river the season opens April 1 and ends October 15 above the first 206 crossing, and November 30 below it (which encompasses the entire section below Roscoe).  From July 1 to August 31, fishing is not permitted from Iron Bridge (at Horton) to where 17 crosses (about 600 yards).

 

Troutsource highly recommends the services of a local fly fishing guide.  We've listed the best ones below, and you can contact all of them at once using our e-mail form.  A guide can be the difference between getting skunked and catching 20 fish.   Remember, getting the right fly is only half the battle.  You need to know exactly where to put it, and how -- and this is where guides earn their money.   A customary tip is 15%.