It certainly felt like Autumn this past weekend - with chilly morning temperatures in the 30s, light frost and cold rain on Sunday causing us to don jackets and sweaters and look forward to making hot soup and tea. Our rivers and streams are badly in need of rain, and are still flowing at less than half the median average flows. To usher in the Fall, Dette Flies in Livingston Manor is offering a series of events over the next few weekends, and last Saturday was their Catskill Fiberglass Fly Rod Gathering. 

  It had been about ten or so years since the Catskills hosted a gathering of Fiberglass rod enthusiasts, and so the Gathering was created. The shop hosted Mike McFarland, of McFarland Rods, located in Pennsylvania; and Dusty Smith, of Livingston Rod Company, who traveled out from Montana for the event. Mike began the event with a presentation demonstration of “casting glass” - slow-action fly rods with a suppleness similar to bamboo. Dozens of rods were on display, and attendees were given the chance to experience casting with a fiberglass rod, many for the first time. Dusty spoke about manufacturing a fiberglass rod blank with a presentation on the craft of rolling and constructing glass rods.

Students from Livingston Manor School were on hand, grilling hamburgers and hot dogs and other snacks for lunch, with a concession fundraiser for class programs. And after lunch, Mike and Dusty headed up a question-and-answer session about fiberglass rods in the afternoon. All in all, it was a Saturday of fun and interesting programs; now that the regular fishing season is coming to a close, watch for additional upcoming events, from Spey Casting to beginning Fly Tying. And don’t forget to check out the shops in Roscoe, namely Trout Town Flies, the Beaverkill Angler, and Baxter House Outfitters for all they have to offer during the off-season as well. 

We are now at the end of the “regular” trout fishing season. Many long-time anglers will remember when the trout season ended September 30 - in order to protect spawning brook and brown trout. Both brook trout and brown trout are spawning now. And it was only due to pressure from the public that the Department of Environmental Conservation changed the decades-long season end of September 30 to October 15. It was not a decision based on biology or trout protection; rather it was an arbitrary date chosen to placate the demands of some who wanted the opportunity to fish for trout over the long Columbus day weekend.

 And then a few years ago the decision was made, despite letters and petitions against, to allow trout fishing basically year-round. Beginning October 16, anglers are permitted to fish for trout - during the height of the brook and brown trout spawning season. The regulations call for catch and release fishing with artificial lures only on rivers and streams, from October 16 - March 31. Catskill waters are special and have always been known for their excellent fishing. Anglers from across the United States and beyond travel here to fish, to seek out the clean, clear, highly oxygenated and hallowed waters with the hope of catching wild trout. Special regulations through the years have protected these fish and encouraged more wild fish in the system.

 Spawning fish are now most vulnerable; they are defenseless and are focused solely on reproducing. The act of spawning is exhausting, and to allow fishing for trout during this period must surely have a negative effect; despite releasing the fish, the stress of being pursued and caught during this important stage of life can be deadly to these already-stressed fish.

Anglers can unwittingly walk through the trout redds or spawning beds - and can disturb, crush and destroy hundreds of eggs that may have resulted in next year’s trout fry. And so, the plea goes out.

It’s time to give the fish a break and be respectful of this special time in their lives. Leave them undisturbed during their spawning cycle in the hope that they will be able to reproduce successfully and add more wild fish to our rivers and streams.       

Enjoy these special gifts of nature that we are so fortunate to have here in the Catskill Mountains, and let’s help to ensure that future generations will be able to appreciate all that nature has to offer. Streamside will return in the spring, now signing off with a wish for a happy and healthy winter season to all.