Best Trout Waters in the Catskills
Delaware River, Narrowsburg
The Delaware River is a beautiful, pristine trout stream that flows through the heart of Narrowsburg, NY. The Delaware is one of the few rivers in the Catskills to earn an excellent rating on its fly fishing quality with wild brown trout averaging 16” and larger.
The lower reaches of this classic Catskill Creek feature pocket water, deep runs and riffles as well as large pools loaded with big browns that are ready to take a fly if you know how to present it properly. The upper section has more pocket water but lack some depth which makes it better suited for dry fly fishing than wet fly fishing.
Beaverkill River, Livingston Manor
The Beaverkill River is considered one of New York's best trout streams, with an abundance of fishable habitat. The best access point is at the Beaverkill River Campground on Route 42 near the hamlet of Roscoe, where there is a small parking lot as well as tent and RV camping facilities. Because this stretch of water flows through private land, you'll need to pay a fee to gain access.
The best season to fish for trout here is spring (March through May), when stoneflies, caddis flies and mayflies are hatching in large numbers; late afternoon will be your best time for catching them on dry flies because they don't rise high enough during midday hours to be visible from shore or your boat.
Willowemoc Creek, Livingston Manor
Willowemoc Creek is a Catskill trout stream located in Livingston Manor, New York. The creek is best fished from April through September; after that the water gets too low and warm for trout to live in. You'll need a license to fish here, which you can purchase online or at your local bait shop. Bring your own tackle if possible—the fishing around here isn't great enough yet to justify renting gear. There are plenty of bluegills and smallmouth bass in Willowemoc Creek, but don't expect to catch any huge fish unless you're willing to invest a lot into fly-fishing gear and time spent learning how it all works.
There's no need for special equipment here; just bring along some basic tackle (hooks, bobbers) along with lures like spinners until you get used enough that you can use flies instead! It's best if you stick with natural baits rather than store bought ones because those tend not work as well when there aren't any insects around yet!
Neversink River, Claryville
The Neversink River is a popular fly fishing spot with good populations of brown and rainbow trout. The best time to fish the river is in the spring, when fish are spawning, but it's also possible to catch fish year-round. This stream is one of the most accessible trout streams in New York, so you'll want to visit this place if you're looking for a great day trip or a weekend getaway.
You can find plenty of information online about how to catch trout on this river and where they like to hang out. The section below provides more details about what makes this area special for anglers:
Esopus Creek, Phoenicia
Esopus Creek is one of the most popular trout streams in the Catskills. It runs through Phoenicia, a quaint town rich with history and natural beauty that makes for a perfect base camp for your fishing adventure. The creek offers many opportunities for anglers; from easy access by car to catch-and-release fly fishing, this stream is one of the most consistently stocked streams in New York state.
If you're looking for something more challenging, try your hand at fly fishing or spin casting for brown trout on some of its deeper pools.
There are many great places to go trout fishing in the Catskills.
There are many great places to go trout fishing in the Catskills. Some of the most popular waters include the Delaware, Beaverkill, Willowemoc, Neversink and Esopus rivers. The Delaware River is one of two major rivers that flow through New York's Catskill Park and into Pennsylvania. This river is known for its large brown trout population as well as some smaller brookies, which are present throughout most of its length (excepting headwaters). The Beaverkill River begins in southwest Ulster County before flowing eastward through Sullivan County near Fallsburg where it joins up with First Falls Creek at Ellenville (or "The Forks"). This stretch tends to hold a good number of rainbows throughout its entire length with larger fish between 4 and 6 pounds possible during certain times of year.
The Willowemoc follows much of the same path as First Falls Creek but has slightly less gradient than its sister stream.
The Neversink begins at an unnamed source on Sugarloaf Mountain just south of Liberty Corners in Delaware County before flowing northeastward through Sullivan County where it empties into Rondout Creek about three miles south from Port Jervis.
Esopus Creek originates on top Mount Tremper near Woodstock then flows northwesterly through Ulster County until joining Rondout Creek above Rosendale at Kingston Point.
