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Stream Conditions

LAST UPDATE-Today is Saturday, March 6th, 2010 at 7:30 p.m.   You can now follow us on twitter-which will be invaluable in keeping you informed of changing conditions during the course of the day-for example if it rains and the rivers go off-color.  We have certainly made up for the lack of snow.  Last Tuesday we had about 14" and last Thursday, we had an unbelievable 2 1/2  FEET.  We had two inches more on Tuesday but daytime air temps are in the forties.  All the rivers are in excellent shape and all have cleared of ice.  Today's warm sunlight allowed to Beaverkill to get to 41 degrees in the early afternoon.  See the two snow pictures taken after last weeks storms which are posted down below.  It has been fairly warm this week and snow is melting.  We do have a snow pack of about 2 feet.    Remember that only the no-kill on the Willowemoc and Beaverkill are open as well as the border waters on the West Branch and main stem.  Although the rivers are in great shape there is trouble parking to get to the streams. There are a couple of places where one can get to the Willowemoc and/or Beaverkill. This report will continue to be done every Wednesday or Thursday from now until spring when we resume daily reports. 

ALL MOUNTAIN KHAKI PANTS IN STOCK ARE ON SALE AT 50% OFF THEIR TICKETED PRICE!!!

FlyFest 2010 was a resounding success with the most tyers since it's inception attending.  The day was perfect for traveling which certainly helped.  A big thank you to JB and Jack for all their hard work-thanks also to Agnes for her delicious soup and Jim Krul and the museum staff for all their help.  Spring isn't too far away and know that everyone is looking forward to opening day.

Just a reminder for anybody who wants to special order flies for the coming season, now is the time to do so.  E-mail us or call the shop and speak with Dennis.

ON GAS DRILLING-For more info on this subject go to the discussion board we have posted and updated all the recent events on this subject.  You can also go to www.catskillmountainkeeper.org  for information as well as the dec website at www.dec.ny.gov/energy.

Just want to give everybody a "head's up" on new fishing license prices. Remember that Oct 1st was the start of the new license year.  Remember that credit cards cannot be used to purchase licenses-cash only.   For residents, a yearly license is $29, a weekly license is $15 and a one day is $5.  For non-residents a season license is $70, a one week is $35 and a one day is  $15.  Please remember that this coming year, for the first time, a separate license is required for salt water-for residents it is $10 for the year and for non-residents it is $15.  These are now on sale.  If anyone wants to know other license costs, just call us at the shop.

For those who fish the Esopus or any other river that has Didymo, go to the discussion forum, subject fishing, and you will see an informational as issued by the DEC of steps to take to prevent the spread of this problem as well as how to clean your gear.

Check out the Home Page and the maps available to all.

CFS=cubic feet a second

                        

            March 4th-Saturday 7:30 P.M.

River Flies Today's
CFS Flow
Water
Temp (°F)
Fishing
Quality
Beaverkill streamers, nymphs 199 35.8 ONLY NO KILL OPEN
Delaware streamers, nymphs 3060-Calliccon, 2740-Lordville 38.8 ONLY BORDER WATER OPEN
East Branch   736- but closed    
Esopus   353-but closed    
Neversink   191-but closed    
West Branch streamers, nymphS 1670 38.3 ONLY BORDER WATER OPEN
Willowemoc streamers, nymphs 119 35.3 ONLY NO KILL OPEN
**********        
         
         

 

The 1st picture on left was taken on our 10th Anniversary.  Wayne Elliot, formerly with the DEC, Bob Rumpf and Ed Van Put. The second picture is of comic Robert Kelly and Greg Hughes (Opie of the Opie and Anthony radio show) on a guide trip with Tony on Sept. 28th, 2009.  A number of customers are selecting flies in the fourth.  A really good time was had by all who attended.  The picture of our rod winner, Byron Nekerson, receiving his Sage ZXL from Dennis is now posted.  It is the third picture down from the top.  New Fourth picture is of one of our customers, Chuck, who took this fish on Sunday, November 7th, 2009 while he and his friend Tom were fishing the Beaverkill.  Fifth picture is of 2/28/10 after the storm.Sixth picture was taken by our own Walt Ackerman and shows one of our customers, Stephanie, with a nice fish she took on Sunday, May 10th.  Seventh picture is that of one of our customers, Adam W., who took this fish on Saturday, May 28th.  It was one of many he landed that day.  Eighth picture down is of Walt's customers, Steve, taken on Wednesday May 14th, 2008 while on a guided trip with Walt. Nice fish! Bottom picture was taken by Tony of his customer Alan, who took this fish on Wednesday, May 6th, 2009..

Want to take a moment to thank all of our customers who, especially in these tough economic times, continue to support the shop through their active participation on the Bulletin Board and with their purchasing dollars.  With your support we will be there for our 13th year even bringing in some New brands for us.  To those who have finished fishing for this year, we look forward to seeing you in the spring.

STREAM CONDITIONS-Fishing update-Saturday, March 6th, 2010, 7:30 p.m. It is now 37 degrees with mostly clear skies.  We had about 2 inches of snow this week  with snowpack about 2-3 feet from last week's heavy snow.  Weatherwise air temps are moderating and getting more comfortable with daytime temps in the mid to upper 30's and nighttime  in the twenties.  Rivers are open but the high snow makes it very difficult to approach the rivers in other than a few places.  Rivers are free of ice.  Today's sunshine allowed the Beaverkill to reach 41 degrees.  There were some reports of small black stone flies about.  Under the current conditions, best fishing is in the late morning until mid afternoon.  These warmer water temps cause the river to get cloudy as a result of melting snow. Conditions should remain consistent until we have rain or very warm days.  Midges are still a possibility.

The Beaverkill and Willowemoc- both rivers are at fishable levels and look to be in great condition.  The West Branch - Only border waters are open for fishing.   The East Branch is closed to fishing. The Neversink- is now closed to fishing until April 2010. The Main Stem is still somewhat high.  The Esopus is now closed to fishing.

   Streamers and nymphs are the choices on all rivers in this weather and midges are a possiblity.

 TODAY'S WEATHER- Today air temps reached 44 degrees. Now it is 37 with mostly clear skies.  Tonight a low of 18 with clear skies.  Tomorrow, Sunday, 42 with some sun

The gage height is currently 1.73 feet and was 1.70 feet at noon yesterday. The flow on the Beaverkill was 200 yesterday while the norm for that date is 390. 

Extended Forecast- Monday 43 with some sun.  Tuesday partly sunny and 44.  Wednesday mostly cloudy and 38.

Reservoir Releases-Cannonsville-An agreement reached among all involved parties (including conservation organizations) regarding releases from both the Cannonsville and Pepacton Reservoirs is that for the month of May, daily release will be 215 cfs.  Beginning June 1st and for the months of July and August as well, the daily release rate will be 260 cfs.  In Sept, the rate of release will decrease.  This flex flow management program began Oct 1st, 2007 and will continue for the next three years.  However, the exception will be that to meet Montague standards,  higher releases will occur at any time to meet the Montague formula.    RESERVOIR INFORMATION- Cannonsville 88.0%, Pepacton 86.1%, Neversink 83.4%- Ashokan 93.1%, Schoharie 75.0%, Croton 95.8%, Roundout 90.1% Combined storage was 89.5% as of Oct. 7th.  For this date reservoirs are usually at 73.6% of capacity.  We are +15.9% above normal reservoir capacity.

 Snow is piled up everywhere after all of last week's snow but melting is going on.  We are all thinking of spring and getting ready for it.  Products are starting to arrive at the shop.  We're just about done with spring cleaning except for the carpet which will be done this week. Today there were a number of fishermen out and about-most were getting busy to tie but some went out and tried their luck. We welcomed each and every one back to town, to the rivers and to the shop.  It's really good to see them again.

****If on any given day there is no report published, it means that our server was down early in the morning when we do our report. We attempt to publish every morning between 5 and 6 a.m. and continue to do so daily through October. It could also mean our computer is giving us problems.

Our current hours are from 9 to 2 or so on Friday, Saturdays and Sundays.  Remember we are closed in inclement weather.  If there is something special you need just call the shop at 607-498-6146 or e-mail us at flyshop@catskillflies.com.

FLY OF THE WEEK

It's the 2009 season and below you will find our twenty first  fly of the season.  A different fly will run for each week from now through October.   If there's a fly you would like to see let us know or better yet, send us a sample with a materials list and we will post it and give you credit.

Mickey Finn

This is a pattern I like when a bright fly is called for.  It was first tied by John Alden Knight back in the 1920's and was originally called the Red and Yellow.

• Hook-3XLong #6-#10

*Body-gold tinsel

*Thread-black

*Wings-red and yellow bucktail

*Rib-gold wire

 

At the Shop

Simms new boots with the Vibram soles are proving very popular. They do the job they were intended to and people really like them.  We now carry Mountain Khakis-pants you can hike in, climb in, fish in or just live in.

All species specific flies are tied in the shop. This assures accurate color and silhouette.

The  SAGE Z-Axis rod combines near weightlessness with a groundbreaking level of performance. With Generation 5 (G5) Technology, going ultra-light no longer leaves you at the mercy of wind or unexpectedly big fish. The SAGE Z-Axis is an amazingly light fly rod, while increasing strength, smoothness and sensitivity to “line feel.” We love it.
Drop by the shop and give it a try.  It has turned out to be a very popular rod with fishermen.  Get ready for the brand new ZXL-which is slower than the Z-Axis.   It is a medium fast action rod which casts beautifully and comes in a rich mahogany color.  The new technology is amazing.