The Weekend Cast – March 19, 2026
The Weekend Cast
Your Weekly Fly Fishing Outlook for the Greater NYC Region
Week of March 16 – March 22, 2026
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Spring is inching closer, but this week is reminding us that March in the Northeast still packs a few winter punches. Snowfall is forecast across parts of New Jersey, while the Catskills and Housatonic corridors look cool but fishable this weekend. Flows are running high across most of our rivers after recent precipitation — grab your heavy nymphs, dress warm, and pick your windows carefully. The fish are there; they’re just hugging the bottom.
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🎣 This Weekend’s River Report
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Catskills — Beaverkill & Willowemoc
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RUNNING HIGH |
Beaverkill: ~527 CFS | 38–44°F | Willowemoc: ~286 CFS | 33°F
Sat: 41°F / 26°F, partly sunny | Sun: 42°F / 22°F, partly sunny
Both rivers are running above their ideal ranges after recent snowmelt — the Beaverkill well over its 100–400 CFS sweet spot, and the Willowemoc above its 50–200 CFS ideal. Trout are holding deep near current breaks and slow pools. Focus on heavy nymphing with tungsten Frenchies and Perdigons (#16–18) as anchor flies, with a midge dropper (#20–24). Midday warming on Saturday could coax a few early BWOs off the surface — have parachute BWOs (#18–22) ready for brief windows of rising fish.
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Croton Watershed — Croton & Cross Rivers
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GOOD |
Croton River: ~13 CFS | Cross River: ~45 CFS
Sat: 47°F, mostly cloudy | Sun: Rain likely, high ~45°F
The Croton watershed is flowing at manageable levels — the closest-to-the-city option for a quick spring outing. Saturday looks like the better day before rain moves in Sunday. These smaller tailwaters fish well with light nymph rigs; try a Zebra Midge (#18–20) below a small Hare’s Ear (#14–16). The slightly warmer temps here compared to the Catskills may give you an earlier midge window in the morning.
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Housatonic River — Falls Village, CT
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RUNNING HIGH |
Flow: ~1,650 CFS | Water temp: mid-30s°F
Sat: 36°F / 21°F, chance wintry mix | Sun: 37°F / 21°F, mostly sunny
The Housy is running well above its ideal 300–800 CFS range at 1,650 CFS — still fishable but demanding. Wade carefully and stay to the margins. Stoneflies have been spotted on warmer days, so a Pat’s Rubberlegs (#8) or Egan’s Poacher in olive makes a great anchor fly. Drift a Pheasant Tail Tungsten (#16) or small BWO emerger as a dropper. Sunday looks like the better weather day with sun expected to break through — target the midday window when water temp ticks up a degree or two.
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Raritan Branches — Central New Jersey
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POOR — SNOW |
S. Branch at Stanton: ~120 CFS | S. Branch at High Bridge: ~46 CFS
Sat: Snow/freezing rain, 8–12″ possible | Sun: Snow likely, high 26°F
Significant snowfall is forecast for central New Jersey this weekend — 8 to 12 inches possible Saturday into Sunday. While flows on the Raritan branches are currently near normal, conditions will be brutal for fishing. Our recommendation: skip the Raritan this weekend and let the snow settle. By midweek, snowmelt could push flows up, so keep an eye on USGS gauges before your next trip down.
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📰 This Week in Fly Fishing
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Young People Are No Longer Learning This Classic Fishing Skill
Bangor Daily News • March 17, 2026
At the Penobscot Fly Fishers’ annual Cabin Fever Reliever Show in Maine, organizers noticed a troubling absence — no young people at the kids’ fly tying table. The piece explores the generational shift away from fly tying.
Read the Full Story → |
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NYS DEC Announces 2026 Trout Stocking Plan for Ischua Creek
New York State DEC • March 2026
The DEC released its 2026 trout stocking plan for Ischua Creek: nearly 3,900 nine-inch trout and 430 twelve-inch trout starting in late March, plus future habitat enhancement projects.
Read the Full Story → |
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New Fly Fishing Gear: March 2026 Roundup
Hatch Magazine • March 2026
The latest gear includes the Sage Power R8 ultra-fast action rod, the redesigned Orvis Recon with Helios-inspired tech, and the updated Orvis Hydros reel with zero-startup-inertia drag.
Read the Full Story → |
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Upstate & Western NY Fishing Report — March 19, 2026
On The Water • March 19, 2026
Steelhead action remains strong across Upstate NY with productive runs on the Lower Niagara and fresh fish in the Salmon River. Warming temps kick off the early spring bite.
Read the Full Story → |
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New Army Corps Permit Dedicated to Fish Passage Takes Effect
MidCurrent • March 15, 2026
The 2026 Nationwide Permits include NWP 60, the first standalone permit dedicated to improving fish passage — a significant win for trout and salmon habitat restoration.
Read the Full Story → |
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🎬 Watch This Week
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Fly Fishing the Catskills with Joe Rist
Wet Fly Swing Podcast
On-the-water footage featuring Joe Rist exploring New York’s legendary Catskill rivers for brown trout with dry flies.
Watch on YouTube → |
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New England Video Fishing Forecast — March 19, 2026
The Fisherman
This week’s New England video forecast covers current conditions including trout reports from stocked waters.
Watch on YouTube → |
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💡 Tip of the Week
The Pre-Season Gear Check You Shouldn’t Skip
With opening day on April 1, now is the time for a thorough gear inspection. Check leaders and tippet for nicks and sun damage. Run your fly line through a clean cloth and inspect for cracks. Test your reel drag and give wader seams a once-over. Thirty minutes of prep now saves a lost fish or a cold, wet leg on opening weekend.
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🪰 Hatch Watch — March 19–29
Midges remain dominant across all local rivers. Fish Griffith’s Gnat (#18–22) on top or Zebra Midge (#18–22) subsurface.
Early BWOs (Baetis) trickling off on the Beaverkill, Willowemoc, and Housatonic during overcast afternoons. Carry Parachute BWOs (#18–22), RS2 emergers (#20–22).
Early Stoneflies reported on the Housatonic. Try dark stonefly nymph (#14–16) or soft hackle in tailouts.
Looking ahead: First Hendricksons typically mid-April on the Beaverkill and Housatonic.
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