West Branch Croton River

The River is running at 69.6 CFS at Croton Falls and Kent cliffs is running at 27  CFS this morning and has been fishing well even though the water has dropped in the last week from around 150 CFS there is access to some of those beautiful holdovers and some of those recently stocked fish in the system. Fishing has been great and bug activity has been picking up. Bugs on the water have been Stoneflies, Blue Winged Olives, and some Caddis have been around and getting a few responses from fish but they aren’t keyed in on them yet. Most have been having luck nymphing small bugs and throwing streamers and have been getting great response! With the temperature increase the fish have been getting more active and willing to chase down and move for food. Flies to have are midges, small Stoneflies, Caddis, small pheasant tails and mayfly nymphs. We have a great variety of flies at the shop to get you onto the fish!

East Branch Croton River

The River is running at 76.9 CFS in Brewster from the 120 CFS we had a week ago but once again we have had lots of people coming into the shop reporting success! Nymphing has been the most effective way of getting into fish on a consistent basis. The key is to make sure you get deep and stay deep. We have got plenty of tungsten beads for our tyers and tungsten nymphs that will get you down deep and quickly! Bugs on the water are small Stoneflies, Caddis, Blue Winged Olives, and just had a report of Hendricksons! The fish aren't dialed onto dry flies just yet but they have definitely taken notice with some having success with topwater strikes. Flies to have are a variety of large and small mayflies, midges, caddis, and we have some great jigging streamers from a local tyer that have been fishing fantastically!  

Titicus River

The River is running at 16 CFS and fluctuated a little throughout the week. Took a drive up last week and saw a few Stoneflies and plenty of Blue Winged Olives, waters low but there's still fish in the river to be caught. Small flys are the key with midges being one of the most predominant food sources in the river.  

Muscoot River 

Rivers running at 10.7 CFS, fish are there to be caught but with the water low it will be diffcuklt to approach a hole without letting the fish know that you're there. Have not had any reports of people fishing there in the last week or so. Fish will be responding to small nymphs, Pheasant tails, Caddis, and small Stonefly patterns, stripping or jigging a woolly bugger through holes will get responses from the most predatory fish in that pool so always be sure to chuck one especially with spring here.  

This is the first update on the local waters this year for us but that doesn't mean people haven't been out fishing all winter long! The East Branch of the Croton River in Brewster is flowing at 128 CFS, the West Branch of the Croton River in Croton Falls is flowing at 141 CFS, and the West Branch of the Croton River in Kent Cliffs is flowing at 29.2 CFS. After all the rain we had in the last couple weeks flows are at a very fishable and giving anglers easy wading access.  

With this fantastic weather we have been fortunate to receive, anglers have been out fishing the local waters and reporting success. It is still winter so you have to fish hard, search the river looking for deep and slower moving pools for the fish to conserve energy and get an easy meal. The key is getting your flies low in the water column and fishing slowly, make sure to follow the bubble line and follow the speed of the currents to get the most natural and drag free drift as possible.

I have been lucky enough to get out fishing a few times in the last couple weeks and caught fish, saw a handful rise and enjoyed the modest temperatures! I kept my eye on the water looking for bugs and found plenty of midges, some caddis, and very small blue winged olives. Try changing flies every so often and giving fish different profiles, sizes, colors to see what may elicit a reaction from the fish. Flies that have been working are attractor patterns like (Mop flies, Copper Johns, Blowtorches) small mayfly patterns (Hares ear, Pheasants tail, Copper Johns) size 16-20, Midges sizes 18 and down have been successful and small streamers fished low and slow have been producing some fantastic fish! The weather for the next 7 day forecast is looking modest again with scattered showers and some overcast days coming in with temps in the mid to high 40s so it should make for some good fishing!!   

Fishing on the Croton has been good this week!

Getting lots of reports of active and catchable fish. Reports of some areas having consistent dry fly action this week was refreshing to hear. The rain spiked the West and the East Branch but both have returned back to normal flows. The West Branch flow at Kent Cliffs is 15.8 CFS and wasnt impacted much by the rain, the West Branch towards Croton Falls is 48.5 CFS and is settled after the rain it was up and down for a couple days but seems to have regulated itself, and the East Branch in Brewster is running at 52.2 CFS after the spike to 66 CFS.

Bugs on the water are Blue Winged Olives and Flying ants. Smaller fly sizes are better and match the bugs on the water rather than a larger presentation. There's been more fish rising consistently in the past week or so in longer flat pools so presentation is important. If you happen to find some suface activity be sure to use light tippet and a delicate presentation. 

If you’re not finding fish on surface try running a tandem nymph rig under an indicator through riffled water, generic nymph patterns like pheasant tails and "mop" flies have been reported to be working. Slow and low presentations. Keeping your nymphs near the bottom of the water column where the fish are holding will increase your chances and when seeing fish rise make sure to put yourself in the best possible position for a drag free drift.

Looks like we are going to be have beautiful weather this weekend and with current conditions the fishing outlook is great!  Be sure to move around and try new spots. 

Bugs on the water at the moment are Blue Winged Olives, Flying ants, and Midges.

Fly patterns that have been working for anglers are our Bunny Midge Spinner, and our Smiths Flying ants for dry flies, for nymphing lots of patterns have been producing, our Arizona hares Ear, Princess Nymph, and small traditional pheasant tails as well. Make sure to be fishing small flies, as the season progresses the bugs on the water get smaller. Lots of fish to catch and they have been turning on so get out there!