Today is the dawning of the new Trout Fishing Season in New York State! A much-anticipated date especially during these difficult times; no matter what the weather conditions are, Opening Day of the Trout season always signifies the official end of winter for those who long to spend time on pristine waters and cast a hopeful line.

And although we’ve enjoyed a few warm and very spring-like days, with temperatures in the area reaching the mid-60s and some gentle rain showers, the forecast for April 1 is chilly temps in the 20s and 30s. Area rivers and streams are relatively low for this time of year, but in good shape for fishing.

On Sunday, March 31, the USGS website showed that the Beaverkill at Cooks Falls was flowing at about 440 cubic feet per second, which is well below the median average flow for this date of 1050 cfs based on 111 years of record-keeping. The maximum flow recorded on this date was 11,000 cfs in 1951, and the minimum flow recorded was just 219 cubic feet per second in 1981.

Water temperatures this past week ranged from a low of 36 last Tuesday morning to a high of 47 on Saturday afternoon – almost reaching that ‘magic’ number of 50-degrees Fahrenheit, which spurs on fly activity that in turn encourages trout feeding.

And anglers far and near have been gearing up for the big day. The Catskill Fly Tyers Guild sponsored their annual Fly Tyers Rendezvous in the Wulff Gallery on Saturday, March 29, with dozens of fly tiers present, tying up their favorite flies, answering questions and enjoying the camaraderie. Fly tyers and guests partook of hot coffee and refreshments, bagels and pastries and participated in the bucket raffles and special Silent Auction items. The Guild raised $700 during this event, donating the proceeds to the Catskill Fly Fishing Center for their Beautification efforts of spring plantings, mulching and weeding.

This Saturday, April 5, there are a number of events scheduled for Opening Weekend. The Roscoe School Gymnasium will again host “Meet Your Maker: The Mike Canazon Catskill Cane Revival” - a bamboo fly rod casting session with lots of rods on hand to try out (or bring your own) from 9 am till noon. Dette Flies is hosting their weekend opener beginning at 10 am on Saturday, with hot coffee, snacks, and guest fly-tiers Catskill John Bonasera and Nick Mango in the shop. The Catskill Fly Fishing Center will host their Opening Weekend from 10 am - 4 pm. There will be free admission to the Museum and grounds, plenty of Agnes Van Put’s famous soups and goodies, and guest fly-tiers Tom Mason, John Apgar & Phil Street from the Catskill Fly Tyers Guild. From noon until 6 pm, the Catskill Brewery is hosting their Fly Fishing Opening Day celebration with free casting lessons provided by Theodore Gordon Flyfishers and hands-on fly tying by Catskill Fly Tyers Guild member Mark Sturtevant. Live music will follow from 2-5 pm by Michael Francis McCarthy.

For those who plan to try their luck in catching a trout, remember that although water levels are favorable for wading, water temperatures are too chilly for any major hatches to occur, and your best bet would be fishing below the surface with wet flies and nymphs, using weight to get the flies down deep. However, when temperatures rise above 32 degrees you may find small diptera (two winged flies) on the water. If we are fortunate to have a sunny day the trout will feel the warmth of the sun, and in the larger pools along the lower Beaverkill and Willowemoc “No Kill” Catch and Release areas, a few rises during this early spring season are not uncommon, especially when there is a lack of ‘snow water’ from melting snow and ice running into the streams. For those who prefer fishing dry flies, using small midge-type flies, size #18s down to #22s, can be effective in catching early-season trout when tiny flies are on the water.

Don’t forget your fishing license! You can purchase a license online by clicking on https://dec.ny.gov/regulatory/permits-licenses/sporting-and-use/sporting/decals

Dress warmly, and we’ll hope to see you streamside! Happy Opening Day!

Judy Van Put is a long-time member of the NYS Outdoor Writers Association, and is the recipient of the New York State Council of Trout Unlimited’s Professional Communications Award.