Both rivers have dropped steadily since last Saturday’s bump (the Beaverkill averaged ~502 CFS on Oct. 17) and are now right at their normal levels for this week: the Beaverkill’s median for Oct. 23–24 is about 220–270 CFS, the Willowemoc’s about 46 CFS. Clear, comfortable wading water. The bigger change is temperature: water readings have fallen from ~50°F on Monday to the mid 40s, and Saturday night may dip into the upper 20s. Trout get sluggish in water like that, so don’t bother until late morning, and expect the best action from about noon to 3pm once the sun has been on the riffles. Slow everything down: a #16–18 Pheasant Tail or Zebra Midge drifted along the bottom of the deeper runs, or a small olive Bugger crawled, not stripped, through the tailouts. Remember it’s catch-and-release, artificials only on most NY streams until March 31.

The East Branch has been the slowest to shed last week’s rain. It peaked around 190 CFS mid-month and has stepped down every day since, to roughly 95 CFS Friday morning. That’s still a bit above the ~70 CFS typical for late October, but it’s clear and very fishable, and a little extra water helps hide you from wary fish. Frost is likely both mornings (Saturday night’s low is around 32°F), so plan to arrive late morning. Nymph the heads of the pools with a #16 Frenchie and a #18–20 midge dropper, and keep a sculpin or small dark streamer handy for the deeper bends. With sun all weekend, the shaded edges will fish better than the bright flats.

Good news for Housy fans: the river has come all the way down from ~614 CFS on Monday to about 451 CFS Friday morning, which is right on its late-October median and well inside the comfortable 300–800 CFS wading range. Last week’s “running high” warning is off. Expect the coldest night in our coverage area on Saturday (around 27°F at Falls Village), so the water will be chilly early. Compleat Angler’s latest report has browns moving in as temperatures fall and recommends Pheasant Tails, Prince Nymphs, Zebra Midges and #6–12 Krystal Buggers, plus big articulated streamers on a sinking line. The Bull’s Bridge and Cornwall TMAs were stocked in late September, so there’s a good mix of fish around.

The Raritan is in its usual fall shape. The North Branch is sitting right on its median, while the South Branch is running a little on the low side (about three-quarters of normal) and very clear. The stocked rainbows from mid-October have now had a week or two to settle in, and On The Water’s Oct. 22 Northern NJ report says shops are seeing good trout fishing on freshly stocked waters. Clear, lowish water means longer leaders and lighter tippet (6X isn’t overkill on the South Branch), and fish the riffles and pocket water where the surface chop hides your line. This will be the warmest corner of our region, with Sunday reaching the mid 60s. Two-trout, 9-inch limit on fall-stocked waters.

The fall run is changing gears. On The Water’s Oct. 22 Long Island report says Montauk’s albie blitzes have been smaller than usual, but fly anglers blind-casting larger flies (pink Kinky Muddlers and Albie Snax) are still connecting, including one 30-fish day. On the Connecticut side, albies are scarce while schoolie-to-slot stripers are blitzing on peanut bunker in the western Sound. The size of the bass is the headline: Oakdale boats are reporting plenty of 40-inch-plus fish, and the Jersey surf gave up 45- to 48-inch stripers this week. After the nor’easter that kept most Jersey boats in port this week, light winds this weekend should make for pleasant fly casting. Bring a 9- or 10-weight and your biggest bunker patterns.

Saltwater Report · On The Water · Oct. 22, 2026

Long Island & NYC Fishing Report: Smaller Albie Blitzes, Big Bass Around

This week’s Long Island and NYC rundown. Montauk albies are holding but in smaller, pickier schools, with specific fly patterns that are still working. Stripers are spotty along the South Shore, but the fish being found are big. Blackfish are also biting well in the NY Bight and around Northport.

Saltwater Report · On The Water · Oct. 22, 2026

Connecticut Fishing Report: Stripers Blitzing on Peanuts to the West

Connecticut-side highlights for Sound anglers. Schoolie-to-slot bass are busting small bait in the western Sound, bigger fish are holding on structure, and albies and bonito have become hard to find. The report also notes that fall trout results have been solid on inland streams.

Fishing Report · On The Water · Oct. 22, 2026

Northern New Jersey Fishing Report: Stocked Trout Settle In, Giant Surf Bass

Freshwater and salt in one read. North Jersey shops say trout fishing has been good since the fall stocking as the fish have settled in, and the surf is producing a few very large stripers, including 45- to 48-inchers at Brielle and Sea Bright.

Stocking · CT DEEP Fisheries · Updated Oct. 21, 2026

Connecticut Fall 2026 Trout & Salmon Stocking Report

The state’s running list of fall stockings. DEEP plans more than 60,000 trout (over half larger than 12 inches) and 2,000-plus Atlantic salmon this fall. Recent highlights include the Mill River TMAs in Fairfield and Hamden, the Saugatuck fly-only TMA, the Naugatuck (with salmon), and weekly trout park stockings. Stocking runs on weekdays, and new dates are added as they happen.

Fishing Report · Compleat Angler (Darien, CT) · Oct. 16, 2026

Northeast Fishing Report: Housatonic, Farmington, Delaware & the Sound

Still the newest from Compleat Angler and still worth a look for its fly lists. Highlights include Housatonic stocking notes and patterns, a full Farmington hatch chart (BWOs, caddis, Isonychia and October Caddis), Delaware release info, and Long Island Sound tactics. Watch for this week’s update.

Cold Water? Go Low and Slow

When water temperatures drop below about 48°F, a trout’s metabolism slows down. It won’t move far for a meal, and it sits in slower, deeper water where it doesn’t have to fight the current. That changes how you fish. Get your fly to the bottom: add a split shot or switch to a heavier tungsten bead, and set your indicator at roughly one and a half times the water depth. Slow down: target the soft, walking-pace seams and the deep middle of pools rather than fast riffles. And be patient with your timing: water temps peak in mid-to-late afternoon, so the hour before the sun drops behind the ridge is often the best of the day. If you’re using streamers, try a slow crawl with long pauses instead of a fast strip. A cold fish will rarely chase, but it will eat something that drifts right past its nose.

Expected Hatches: October 24 – November 6, 2026

Midges are the main event as the water cools. Look for clusters on the surface in calm back eddies from late morning through mid-afternoon. A #20–22 Griffith’s Gnat on top, or a #20 Zebra Midge or black thread midge under a small indicator, covers almost every situation.

Blue-Winged Olives (#18–24) are still around, but this weekend’s bright, bluebird skies will keep them sparse. If a cloudy afternoon does turn up in the coming days, be ready, because those are the days olives hatch best. Compleat Angler’s Oct. 16 report still lists them on both the Farmington and the Delaware system.

October Caddis and Isonychia are near the end of their run. A #12 Isonychia nymph or a #8–10 orange caddis pupa can still move a fish on the Farmington and the bigger Catskill rivers in the afternoon, but don’t count on them for much longer.

Eggs aren’t a hatch, but with brown trout spawning they’re one of the most important foods in the river right now. Drift a #14–16 egg pattern in the deeper water downstream of the gravel. Please give the spawning beds themselves a wide berth.