The Weekend Cast

The Beaverkill is running above its ideal 100–400 CFS window after recent rains, and the approaching snowstorm will push it higher through the weekend. Fish deep, slow pools with heavy tungsten nymphs: Pat’s Rubber Legs (#10–12) as an anchor and a small #20–22 Zebra Midge or red copper John as a dropper. Target the seams and shelves between faster runs — trout have moved out of the riffles and are holding in protected lies. With catch-and-release, artificial-only regulations in effect through March 31, conditions are ideal for a quiet mid-week scouting trip before the April 1 opener changes the scene dramatically.

The Croton watershed is in solid shape this weekend — flows are within normal winter ranges and the clear skies forecast for Saturday and Sunday mean water temps could tick up to the low 40s during afternoon windows. This is the time to break out a #18–20 Black Beauty or Pheasant Tail Nymph and work the softer water below runs. During any sunny afternoon stretch, keep an eye out for early midges dimpling the surface — trout may be sipping right at the film even in these temperatures. A pleasant 44°F high on Saturday makes the Croton area the most comfortable choice for a winter outing this weekend.

Skip the Housatonic this weekend. A major winter storm will dump 8–12 inches of snow across the Falls Village area starting Saturday, with temperatures in the teens making for genuinely dangerous wade-fishing conditions. At 235 CFS the river is currently below its ideal 300–800 CFS range, but that will change dramatically as snowmelt hits early next week — likely pushing flows into the Running High category by Monday or Tuesday. File this one away: the post-storm drop, usually 3–5 days after the peak, often produces spectacular early black stonefly activity. Set your alerts now for when Housatonic flows settle back to 400–600 CFS.

The Raritan branches are the sleeper pick of the weekend. With highs near 49°F both days and no precipitation in the forecast for Flemington, this is the warmest and driest fishing spot within reach of NYC. Both branches are running at comfortable late-winter levels and water temps are approaching the upper 30s — warm enough for small midges and early BWOs to start emerging in the early afternoon. Try a #22 Griffith’s Gnat on the surface during the 11am–2pm window, backed up by a #18 Pheasant Tail below the surface. NJ trout season is open year-round on designated waters, so no countdown required.

Conservation · NFWF / EPA · February 2026

$44.2 Million in Chesapeake Bay Grants Delivers Major Win for Brook Trout

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and the EPA announced 72 grants totaling $44.2 million for water quality and habitat restoration in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, with a total conservation impact of $75 million when matching funds are included. Trout Unlimited received $812,132 specifically to reconnect aquatic habitat for brook trout in the North Branch Potomac watershed, including more than 2 miles of agricultural exclusion fencing and 32 acres of riparian forest restoration.

Regulations · NY State · 2026 Season

New York Trout Season Opens April 1 — Catskills Stocking Underway

Opening day for trout across most New York streams is April 1, with the DEC stocking approximately 2.3 million catchable brook, brown, and rainbow trout in nearly 3,100 miles of streams statewide, including the Beaverkill, Esopus Creek, and other Catskill favorites. Through March 31, all Catskill waters remain catch-and-release, artificial lures only — making the next three weeks a quiet, uncrowded opportunity to scout your favorite pools before the opener crowds arrive.

Gear · Denver Fly Fishing Show · 2026

Best New Fly Fishing Gear of 2026: Orvis Recon, Abel SDX, and More

The Denver Fly Fishing Show brought a strong class of new equipment for 2026, with the Orvis Recon series standing out as a mid-range rod featuring Helios-inspired technology at roughly 20% greater strength than its predecessor. Abel’s new SDX reel — built for heavy saltwater and Spey applications with a sealed drag and 17.5-inch-per-turn line pickup — also generated significant buzz on the show floor.

River Conditions · Housatonic River Outfitters · March 2026

Housatonic Early-Season Update: Stoneflies Hatching, Guide Season Booking

Early-season reports from the Housatonic have been encouraging, with early black stoneflies already hatching along the river despite cold water temperatures hovering in the low-to-mid 30s. Housatonic River Outfitters has reopened their Cornwall Market kiosk for the season, stocked with flies, leaders, and supplies, and is booking guided trips for spring 2026.

Events · Minnesota Trout Unlimited · March 13–15, 2026

Great Waters Fly Fishing Expo Runs This Weekend in St. Paul

The Great Waters Fly Fishing Expo, presented by Minnesota Trout Unlimited and billed as the largest fly fishing event in the Upper Midwest, runs March 13–15 at Hamline University in St. Paul, featuring nearly 50 expert programs over three days with speakers from around the world. While it’s a bit of a haul from the NYC area, the presentations will be among the most educational of the year — worth checking for livestream or recorded content if you can’t make the trip in person.

YouTube · Troutbitten

Euro-Nymphing in Cold Water: Tactics for Late-Winter Trout

Domenick Swentosky of the Troutbitten channel consistently produces some of the most thoughtful, tactical fly fishing content in the Northeast. His deep dives into nymphing technique are particularly valuable for exactly the conditions we’re fishing right now — slow, cold water with sluggish trout that need a perfectly presented fly drifted right in front of their nose.

YouTube · Wet Fly Swing · Paul McCain, River Bay Outfitters

Long Island Fly Fishing with Paul McCain of River Bay Outfitters

For NYC-area anglers looking for accessible early-season action closer to home, this Wet Fly Swing episode with Paul McCain of River Bay Outfitters covers fly fishing opportunities on Long Island — often overlooked but a genuinely viable option when the Catskill rivers are blown out or frozen. A great reminder that world-class fly fishing doesn’t always require a 3-hour drive.

Pre-Season Prep: Get Your Gear Ready Now, Not Opening Morning

March is the most underrated month on the fly fishing calendar — not because the fishing is spectacular, but because it’s the last quiet window before spring opener chaos. Use these final weeks to strip and re-clean your fly lines (cold storage can make them stiff and coily), inspect your rod guides for cracks or corrosion, and replace any frayed tippet spools. Check your wader seams carefully — small delaminations that seem manageable in October become soggy disasters when you’re standing in 38°F water on April 1. Most importantly, tie your Hendrickson and Early BWO patterns now, before the hatch arrives and you’re scrambling at the vise at midnight — your future self will thank you.

Expected Hatches: March 12–22, 2026

We’re firmly in the Early Black Stonefly window right now. Capnia and Allocapnia species have been hatching since late February on the Housatonic and are starting to appear on warmer afternoons along the Beaverkill and Willowemoc. These tiny (#18–22), all-black flies emerge in impressive numbers when air temps hit the low 40s — fish a #20 black Elk Hair Caddis or a small black soft hackle in the film during the 11am–2pm window.

Midges remain the primary food source across all of our rivers and will continue to dominate through March. On the Croton and Raritan, look for trout sipping in flat, glassy water during warm afternoons — a #22 Griffith’s Gnat or a cluster midge (#20 Adams Parachute) can produce surprisingly strong surface takes even with water in the upper 30s.

Watch for the first Blue-Winged Olives of 2026 to appear during any cloudy, mild afternoon this month. Baetis hatches are triggered by overcast skies and moderate temperatures (42–55°F) — if we get a gray, mild day in the next two weeks, BWO #18–22 Parachute Adams or CDC Comparaduns will be your best surface bet.

Looking ahead: The Hendrickson hatch on the Beaverkill typically kicks off around April 15 and is the most anticipated dry-fly event of the NYC-area calendar. Begin stocking #14 Hendrickson Parachutes, Comparaduns in rusty and pink (for the Red Quill female), and soft-hackle wet flies in brown/olive. The fish will be gorging — and the crowds will be out in force.