Warning: preg_replace(): The /e modifier is deprecated, use preg_replace_callback instead in ..../includes/class_bootstrap.php(430) : eval()'d code on line 106
Warning: preg_replace(): The /e modifier is deprecated, use preg_replace_callback instead in ..../includes/class_bbcode.php on line 2962 Esopus
This stream really got hammered last year during hurricane Irene. Hundreds were devestated, homes were destroyed and the future of this stream looked dismal. I decided to go by there and see what kind of condition it was in and was I pleasantly suprised! Yes the stream bed was different. Where there once were riffles there are now pools. You can see the damaged trees still there as a reminder of what happened. The water flow was on the low side around 400 normal is around 600 or so. The clarity however was pretty good around 3 1/2 feet. I took numerous wild browns and rainbows, and even had a double ( which I lost both at the net) the largest was 16 inches. It was nice to see this stream in decent shape and can only hope that it continues to improve. I hope to return there next week, I'll take photos.
04-16-2012, 06:53 PM
catskill flyman
I spent nearly all of my spring break on the espous and a couple of nights over the week. The stream seems to b in pretty good condition on Saturday my father, a friend and I picked up a couple wild rainbows and browns. The hurricane really did a number on the structure of the stream but it's no worse or better than it was its just different now
04-16-2012, 10:00 PM
frankm
Catskill flyman
Yes, it's kind of llike fishing a new stream. There are still pleanty of beautiful wild fish still in there. I was there on Saturday also, did the DEC officer come visit you guys?
04-17-2012, 10:02 PM
catskill flyman
no not on saturday but a week before a creel manager did ask me what i was cathing and how big the fish where. i fished tonight as well with my father and i picked up 2 wild browns and a wild rainbow nd my father also picked up 2 wild browns there was a really nice hatch tonight with plenty of rising fish and no stockies
04-18-2012, 08:01 AM
frankm
I know, they didn't stock it yet ...but soon
07-30-2012, 05:48 PM
Patrick
After a great start to the season the Esopus has suffered from the weather and from murky flows from the Portal.
In late June, on Hudler's Flats in Boiceville, I noticed a lot of clay silt on the rocks, a lack of bugs and skinny trout that chased damn near anything. The releases at that time were so-so in terms of clarity. Nothing like what I saw Sunday, July 29.
I was there this past weekend. These photos were taken at the Portal itself and across the street where the flow enters the river on Sunday, July 29, 10:30 a.m.
There are other factors involved — exposed clay banks being the major one. But I don't think this helps.
I was planning on heading to the Esopus for the first time this weekend. Any info on current flows and whether or not I should take the trip, would help...(it was 250cfs today.) I was also considering the West Branch of the Delaware as a second option.
07-31-2012, 10:54 AM
AaronJasper
After looking at that mess, I would go somewhere else!
08-03-2012, 09:33 AM
Patrick
^ Esopus temps are up too, low 70s the other day. I would definitely go somewhere else at the moment.
08-07-2012, 06:53 AM
northcountryman
Was there again yesterday am. Water was more discolored than I have EVER seen it below the portal. Fishing was terrible! Fished about 3 hrs and only caught 1 brown, on a bitch creek pattern. NO other hits , nothing. My partner caught only 1 bow, very bad. Myfeeling was the fish simply could not see our flies due to the discoloration. Thought maybe should've tied on a brightly colored streamer w/ a trailer or something; what say you?
Thanks,
NCMan
08-08-2012, 06:14 PM
Lipripper
For sure ncman.Iwas there last night and manged a couple on a parchute adams 16 just above five arches.all stockers all browns biggest 11in. threw the works at em and im guessin they couldnt really see looking around but then became suspended closer to surface at that 730 pm time making it easier for them to make out the surface activity?. before for that 6-730 nuthin and tried like hell covering alot of water.prob better today but storms tomoorow so back to dirty again.Nice river when it clears up.fish it often as well as the housy in ct.
08-10-2012, 07:32 AM
northcountryman
I agree, when the E. is cleared up (as much as it can!), its as good as ANY catskill river IMHO. But with this water clarity issue, conditions are very tough, to say the least. Glad to hear you got a few though!
08-24-2012, 05:19 PM
northcountryman
Went today in the am, water temp was 70!! Terrible, water also, as usual, very discolored. Very poor conditions for those trout. I'm worried.
08-24-2012, 08:55 PM
catskill flyman
atleast the limit is getting changed on the river. its going from 5 a day any size to 2 a day 12inches or larger, i beleive this starts october 1st. as for the color and temperature i cant say much its just disappionting. i do most of my fishing on the esopus but i havnt done much this year due to the color and temp.
08-25-2012, 01:49 AM
AaronJasper
Hey that's a giant step in the right direction! It will be fine. That river is resilient to say the least. As far as the color, it could still be from some flood damage from last year.
09-04-2012, 12:02 PM
Patrick
Esopus below Portal still a mess. Much disgust among anglers I spoke with. A couple of guys were fishing behind the restaurant by the Portal, apparently hoping a decent trout would travel upstream to see what's up before returning to the Yoo-Hoo.
Further up, on the approx. two miles along Old Route 28, fishing was just barely feasible Sunday. I walked up the streambed from the very first pull off all the way up to the the third pull off (heading west). There are about half a dozen deep runs and holes that harbor some decent trout. They will hit a Stimulator as dark falls, and a Copper John.
Water temps in the shady areas aren't horrible. Not great, either.
Monday morning was overcast and combined with overnight air temps in the upper 50s there was a little more activity in this stretch.
I hated to leave today, which is cool and rainy now that Isaac is bringing some relief. Here's hoping for a half-decent fall season.
A guy I met on the river said the Scoharie reservoir is nice and clear, so I don't know what is happening between there and Allaben. But these discharges have effectively rendered the bulk of the river null and void, unless your idea of fishing is chucking something big in the murk and hoping to bang a trout in the face.
09-04-2012, 01:55 PM
Patrick
^ I should note there was a recreational release over the weekend, but when I left Tuesday morning the river was still discolored to the point of being unfishable.
09-04-2012, 03:54 PM
northcountryman
Hopefully it will settle down a little with cooler temps; do they usually reduce the flows a little when temps come down anyone know or is it more a water level/volume thing that they want to maintain, both in the river and the sch. reservoir?
09-05-2012, 06:05 PM
Lipripper
so a few things about the esopus. the water volume from the portal has nothing to do with water needed in the river,temp.control or better enviroment for the trout and its pretty sad. the only reason the flows on average change is to supply the ashokan res. with enough water for the new york city public water supply and no other reason.at times discharge has been high due to maintaince at schor.res.the res may look clear but is loaded with a silty bottom and very little structure from where the portal extracts it water hence the color coming out. also in phonecia thee is a trib called stonyclove/chichester creek that has an enormus clay bank fish exposed fromhurricane irene. and when it rains forgetta bout it! even as far up in big indian there are clay boulders/balls? that were depoisted in the river.solid red clay at times in excess of 6 ft across that bleeds when it rains. two things try fishing above portal especially if lower e continues to be like it is as the browns will start comin up from the res. another nice place which is almost always clear is woodland valley.it was stocked with about 400 fish in the 2-4 yr range in the fly fishing only section.done good on small stimis ants caddis patterns and garcias mini hots. several springs in the area and shade keep it cool enough and a decent waterfall.try it.it is different and a few wild fish too. new regs state 5 fish any size yet only allowed two over 12 in starting oct 1st.im mostly catch and release other than a few 12in. and other i take for the smoker throughout the year.it's good for the river. i remember a guy who in 2008-2009 season he took over a dozen trout in the 22-27 inch range outta that stream. times that by a fewmore goons and it could seriously hurt over time. thats what hurts a fishery not flood.cornell univ. did a study the past few years and found trout within a 50 yd,distance from where they were putback then after irene. fish are more resilient to natural disaters than man-made ones.
09-11-2012, 07:08 AM
Patrick
If you go to the fly-fishing section of Woodland Valley please consider contributing to the Woodland Trout Fund. Send me a PM and I'll tell you how.
The section with the yellow signs is indeed stocked twice a year, by private individuals, and access is allowed for fly-fishing purposes only. I learned how to fish in Woodland Valley.
09-11-2012, 06:45 PM
Lipripper
i do help with stocking costs when a can, as woodland and the esopus tribs as well as the main E is a very special place for me as well.it's a beautiful little stream and im glad i know of someone else with the love for it. Was up there last night again managed a few largest 13" brown wild and quite a few bows all below 5 arches. stones and iso were hatching water 61 degrees and clarity was better than expected.someday here the iso's should get crankin on the e.bwo's of course but why fish small if u dont have to although i prob coulda bagged a few more. Patrick u ever fish twin lakes or the lakeville lake in town.?the twin lakes is stocked yearly as well as the lake in town (some indian name?) has huge browns.very familiar with that area as well.u do the weekends in phoencia or more of a regular up there?
09-11-2012, 08:43 PM
Patrick
Lipripper, I live in Lakeville and get over to Phoenicia whenever I can. It's only 75 miles.
I don't fish Lake Wononscopomuc (aka Lakeville Lake) or East Twin very often, mostly for lack of a boat. I fish up on Mt Riga for bass, and the Housatonic and tribs for trout, bass, pike and for all I know lobster. I'm also about 30 miles from the Farmington. I have lots of options, I'm lucky.
