Relating Flows to Fishing Conditions

Relating Flows to Fishing Conditions
Main Stem | West Branch

CatskillFlyFishing.com

Relating Flows to Fishing Conditions

Cooks Falls Gauge Flow in CFS (Cubic Feet per Second)

HIGH WATER, DIFFICULT FISHING CONDITIONS   (>800cfs)
   -Wading will be limited to certain areas and to the banks of the river.
   -If you do not fish over some form of insect activity or rising fish
    expect low catch rates.
   -Nymph fishing from the banks will also be difficult.
   -The only positive aspect of high water is that it forces more fish in
    towards the banks. Find calm or back water areas along the sides
    of the river.

HIGHER WATER, FISHABLE CONDITIONS (>600-800cfs)
- At this level, expect to find a formidable but not overwhelming river.
- The water will be at the bank, but the wading is still good.
- It is still possible to fish subsurface with modertate to good success, but
you will need to find rising fish to do any dry fly fishing.
- Crossing the river will only be possible in a few choice areas.

BEST FISHING, WADING CONDITIONS   (>150-600cfs)
- This is the best level range for fly fishing this river. Lightly weighted
    nymphs and dry flies are good producers at this level.
- Expect to find the river at a clear moderate level with well defined
    riffles and feeding lanes.
- Wading is easy and crossing the river is possible in many areas.

LOW WATER CONDITIONS (<150cfs)
- At this level, the river will be lacking flow in many stretches.
- Riffled sections will become shallow and short with many exposed rocks.
- Fishing conditions will be slow if you're fishing in the middle of the day.
- Autumn low water, under cloudy or rainy conditions can be good.
- Summertime low flows mean thermal stress.

Beaver Kill | Main Stem | West Branch

CatskillFlyFishing.com

Relating Flows to Fishing Conditions

Callicoon Gauge Flow in CFS (Cubic Feet per Second)

HIGH WATER, DIFFICULT FISHING CONDITIONS   (>3500cfs)
   -Wading will be limited to the banks of the river. Float fishing is the
    preferred method.
   -If you do not fish over some form of insect activity or rising fish
    expect low catch rates.
   -Nymph fishing from the banks will also be difficult.
   -The only positive aspect of high water is that it forces more fish in
    towards the banks. Find calm or back water areas along the sides
    of the river.

HIGHER WATER, FISHABLE CONDITIONS   (>1800-3500cfs)
-Wade fishing will become limited, especially as the water goes
   over 2500 cfs. Float fishing (drift boat) will have a great advantage.
-Many of the shallow, well defined riffles will slowly wash out as the
   water level approaches 3000cfs.
-Dry fly fishing....most of the rising fish in the pools will be out of reach.
-It is still possible to fish subsurface with good to moderate success.

BEST FISHING, WADING CONDITIONS   (>750-1800cfs)
-This is the best level range for fly fishing this big river. Lightly weighted
   nymphs and dry flies are good producers at this level.
-Expect to find the river at a clear moderate level with well defined
   riffles and feeding lanes.
-Wading is easy and crossing the river is possible at the head of
   most pools.
-Except for the ones in the deepest pools, most of the rising fish
   will be within reach.

LOW WATER CONDITIONS   (<750cfs)
-Although low water conditions can occur in the summer or fall
   periods, it is unusual to find the river running below 700cfs because of
   some form of water release from the reservoirs.
-At this level the river will be lacking in flow in any of the pools.
-Riffled sections will become very short with many exposed rocks.
-Fishing conditions will be slow if you're fishing in the middle of the day.
   Autumn low water, under cloudy or rainy conditions can be good.

Tip. . .
If your are planning a trip to the Main Stem and need to get an idea about the water conditions try the following:

- Start by checking the Callicoon gauge. This will give you the immediate water level and temperature of the Main Stem at the lower end of the "trout zone".

- Check the Beaver Kill(Cooks Falls gauge). Since the Beaver Kill is not influenced by water releases, any recent rainfall will show up on the graph. You can expect that any rise in the level here will make it's way to the Main Stem the following day and affect the fishing there.

- Check the flow on the West Branch(Hale Eddy gauge). This will give you the immediate flows and water temperature. Since the flows here are directly associated with releases, it's a good idea to call the release hotline and get the actual flow rate and any scheduled changes. Any rise or fall will be reflected on the Main Stem sometime the next day.

Beaver Kill | Main Stem | West Branch

CatskillFlyFishing.com

Relating Flows to Fishing Conditions

Hale Eddy Gauge Flow in CFS (Cubic Feet per Second)

HIGH WATER, DIFFICULT FISHING CONDITIONS   (>800cfs)
   -Wading will be limited to certain areas and to the banks of the river,
    float fishing is usually the only way to go.
   -If you do not fish over some form of insect activity or rising fish
    expect low catch rates.
   -Nymph fishing from the banks will also be difficult.
   -The only positive aspect of high water is that it forces more fish in
    towards the banks. Find calmer or back water areas along the sides
    of the river.

HIGHER WATER, FISHABLE CONDITIONS (>600-800cfs)
- At this level, expect to find a formidable river, the water will be at the bank.
- Wading will be limited.
- It is still possible to fish subsurface with moderate to good success, but
you will need to find rising fish to do any dry fly fishing.
-This is a good level to float fish the river.

BEST FISHING, WADING CONDITIONS (>200-600cfs)
- This is the best level range for fly fishing this river. Lightly weighted
nymphs and dry flies are good producers at this level.
- Expect to find the river at a moderate level with well defined riffles.
- Wading is good and crossing the river is possible in some areas.
- Floating the river is still possible to about 350cfs.

LOW WATER CONDITIONS (<200cfs)
- At this level, the river will be lacking flow in many stretches.
- Riffled sections will become shallow and short.
- Fishing conditions will be slow if you're fishing in the middle of the day.
- Autumn low water, under cloudy or rainy conditions can be good.

Beaver Kill | Main Stem | West Branch