Catskill trout settle into low, clear fall water

What's biting

What's next

With flows this low, the best windows should be early morning and the last hour of light, when fish feel least exposed. Midday sun on shallow riffles will push trout into the deeper pockets and under cover, so work those slower.

A New Moon means dark nights and little moonlight influence, so daytime feeding should follow the normal light cycle. Fall-spawning Brook Trout and Brown Trout may start to color up, so stay off visible redds and keep wading to a minimum. Per Mainely Fly Fishing (ME), spawning-colored trout were already showing in northern New England in late summer. Expect the same pattern to be well underway here.

Any rain would lift and cloud the streams quickly given the low base, so watch gauge readings before you head out. A modest bump in flow could turn on a streamer bite for Brown Trout. Lighter tippet and longer leaders will help in clear, low water.

Context

Mid-October is the transition from late-summer terrestrial fishing to true fall patterns in the Adirondacks and Catskills. Hatches thin out, with small Blue Winged Olives and midges becoming the reliable bugs, as Reno Fly Shop (NV) noted for its own fall conditions. Egg patterns also come into play as spawners move. The low flows are on the dry side of typical for this time of year, so downsized presentations and stealthy approaches matter more than usual. Check state regulations for fall special-season rules and catch-and-release requirements before you fish.