Today I went to a small stream (20-25 foot wide) in upstate NY. It's a trib of the Black River about 45 min from my house on a good day at customs. It's only a few miles long and the catchment area is small and because it comes out a big underground spring its affected little by snowmelt and rainfall. Only brookies here, no browns, takes only a couple hours to fish because there are is only a small stretch worth fishing but that stretch has hundreds of trout in it. It's one of only a few limestone creeks in northern NY and there is always a hatch, always rising trout. No need to lob split shot they hit dries nicely, smacking them real hard in cold water. I have spent a day on this creek just about every April for 20 years and most years/days end up pretty much the same; a mess of fat 10-12 inch brookies some stocked some wild though its hard to tell sometimes. All released. Lots of fun on a 3 weight.
My batteries on my digital were dead, I'll go back in a few days and take some pics for you.
Today in upstate NY
Like most streams in NY there is tons of access, in fact I don't think there is anyplace on this brook you can't fish.
The state purchases fishing easements on just about all coldwater streams. They are included in the land deed even if the property is sold. Every year they buy up more and more.
On a down note this creek was much better years ago. It had more water in it then. I suspect there is far more strain on the aquifer that supplies its water. When I first started fishing it nearby Fort Drum was not the home of the 10th Mountain Division. When it relocated there the population multiplied overnight. There is alot more garbage (styrofoam bait containers!) then there used to be.
I don't think many serious fly fishers bother much with it anymore. I don't either once the bigger streams become fishable.
The state purchases fishing easements on just about all coldwater streams. They are included in the land deed even if the property is sold. Every year they buy up more and more.
On a down note this creek was much better years ago. It had more water in it then. I suspect there is far more strain on the aquifer that supplies its water. When I first started fishing it nearby Fort Drum was not the home of the 10th Mountain Division. When it relocated there the population multiplied overnight. There is alot more garbage (styrofoam bait containers!) then there used to be.
I don't think many serious fly fishers bother much with it anymore. I don't either once the bigger streams become fishable.
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Mike Lennox
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