Last week featured bluebird skies and warm sunny days and a beautiful start to May. This mid-spring weather produced some great evening hatches and also warmed water temperatures which helped boost fish feeding activity. Water levels of most area creeks, streams, and rivers have dropped – warmwater rivers are finally reaching fishable and wadeable levels.
Excellent fly fishing is being reported by fly shops along the Catskill rivers. Hatches include blue quills, hendricksons, and caddis. Water temps range from the mid 50’s to close to 60 as a result of the warm weather and low flows. Area creeks and streams are also fishing well, although low crystal clear conditions can make day-time fishing difficult. Local warmwater rivers are beginning to approach prime for this time of year. Water temps have been reported to be in the low to mid-60’s and clarity ranges from lightly stained in the smaller rivers such as the Tioughnioga, to stained on the Susquehanna. Regardless, the smallmouth are active according to some reports with dark colored / weighted streamers fished slow on the swing the best method. Largemouth bass are also now on the feed and big buggy streamers make an offering that’s hard for them to pass up.
Kurt Nelson, aka ‘Kurtis Mayfly’ and the Al Hazzard TU chapter are hosting Kid’s Fishing Day at Chenango Valley State Park. The event is all about helping kids get closer to fishing, and hopefully, turn them into fly fishers as they grow to love the sport. Kid’s Fishing Day is scheduled for Saturday, May 12, and volunteers are needed for fly tying demonstrations and to help teach fly casting. This is an opportunity to make a difference in a kid’s life. Please contact Kurt at 607-372-6330 or at avkkurt@mac.com if interested.
A&G Outiftters will be holding a Wine and Art event on Friday, May 10. The event starts at 6 p.m. at A&G Outfitters in Dickson City, PA, and will feature the wines of Capra Collini Vineyards, a local winery. Art will be on display, including pottery, wood carvings, and oil paintings. Light fare will be served and there will be live music. Proceeds from this event will go to the restoration of the Lackawanna River, a great trout fishery that deserves to be even better. Contact the fly shop at 570-489-1650 for more details or questions.
As is said, “all good things must come to an end” and so it is for the weather in the week ahead. Look for temps to remain between 65 and 70 degrees through much of the week and then drop to the mid 50’s on Sunday. Rain is being forecast on Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday. This might help boost water levels on some of the creeks as well as the Catskill rivers.
