The Battenkill

[gimmeumpqua]

Any Easterners on this board who have fished this stream or special ones nearby? I am heading back east for a few days end of August and have arranged a guide for a day. Would enjoy some perspectives...

Kurt

[SSPey]

It has been about 8 years since I fished the Battenkill. You don't want to hear this, but late August ain't easy. The fish have had a few months to inspect flies, so they're getting picky, plus the hatches are getting smaller and smaller (bugs and numbers). Often a size 24 adams-like fly is a good call for fish sipping to invisible bugs. I'm sure the guide will be on top of that sort of stuff. The best summmer action often occurs right at dusk. Be sure ask your guide if he plans to keep you out into the dark hours. Lots of the locals will only get started when the sun is off the water - right about the time that the tourists wrap it up and head back to their cars.

I spent most of my time in that neck of the woods fishing the West Branch Delaware, which I prefer to the Battenkill, but in August ain't none of it going to be easy. Have a great trip.

[greenbuttskunk]

yep, it will be a tough time, and if it's been dry and hot it will be tougher. It's been wet so flows may be fine. It's a beautiful river. The trout can be smart but if your a proficient flyfisherman and the guide is good, you'll pick up some fish. Great to fish a truely classic east coast river.
I miss it. The above mention west brach would also be a good one to try. Water stays cool and the bows are beasts.
Have fun!
GBS

[gimmeumpqua]

Yeah...I got the toughness and technical stuff from the guide too....sounds right up my alley....a 4wt Winston DL4 with 6x tippets. Fun!...Hey, I just cant drive over the Battenkill without an attempt!

The funny thing is, is whenever I think of anything out east, in my mind, I expect it to be ladened with concrete and civilization. It'll be fun to experience remoteness in NY...

Kurt

[Riverkeeper]

The Catskill rivers are really pretty. Not so wild and untamed as our rivers around here (well, if you can call any river with a dam on it "untamed"), but definately serene and pastoral.

[les987]

There is usually a great white fly hatch durring that time. I am truly jelous. I miss fishing my home rivers.

[frankenfish]

There is some beautiful, pristine wilderness back east and some darn good remote fishing. I fished several rivers when I went to a graduation at the Naval Academy in Anapolis two years ago. Lots of back roads and wilderness in Maryland, no less, just half an hour from Baltimore. Surprising, but still only 8% of the US is actually "occupied".

[lilnorthfork]

The funny thing is, is whenever I think of anything out east, in my mind, I expect it to be ladened with concrete and civilization. It'll be fun to experience remoteness in NY...




Yup, tons of concrete in NY... in NYC... and in Mr. Lupica's yard (my neighbor growing up... he was a mason and hated to mow the lawn... so he did away with it. :laugh:).
You will be pleasantly surprised at how rural most of NY actually is. I usually take the 3wt. along when I go back for the annual family reunion in August... it is fun to revisit the streams I spent so much time on as a kid... memories of skipping school are some of my fondest. :grin:
:cheers:
lnf