Old Route 17 / Bridge Accesson Willowemoc Creek
Conditions right now
No USGS gauge is linked to this water yet, so we can't chart flows.
Cool
- 01Cool, overcast fall conditions with moderate flows on Willowemoc Creek.
- 02Primary focus on Blue-Winged Olive (BWO) hatches, especially on overcast days.
- 03Midges are a consistent year-round subsurface food source.
- 04Larger October Caddis offer afternoon dry fly opportunities.
- 05Trout holding in riffle seams, heads/tails of pools, and undercut banks.
- 06Employ a dry-dropper rig with an October Caddis or BWO Comparadun and a smaller nymph or midge dropper.
What to tie on at Old Route 17 / Bridge Access
Picked from recent reports for this stretch.
Woolly Bugger (Olive)
An indispensable streamer that imitates leeches and baitfish, effective for enticing aggressive strikes from trout in colder fall waters.
Pine Squirrel Leech
Small, weighted leeches imitation both baitfish and annelids moving sluggishly in cold water, triggering strikes from larger browns.
Buy at AmazonBlood Dot Egg
Fall is the prime egg season for trout, making this pattern highly effective below spawning fish.
Buy at AmazonZebra Midge
Midges are a primary and consistent food source year-round, effective as a subsurface searching pattern in cooler fall waters.
Buy at AmazonFlashback Hare's Ear Nymph
An excellent general searching nymph, mimicking various aquatic insects active in the currents, effective year-round and particularly in fall.
Pheasant Tail Nymph
A versatile mayfly nymph imitation, effective year-round and particularly during fall BWO periods as nymphs are active subsurface.
Buy at AmazonLittle Black Stonefly nymph
Winter stoneflies are active in the Catskills in late February. This larger nymph serves as an excellent lead fly in a two-fly rig.
Zebra Midge
Midges are the primary food source in the Willowemoc during February. Small black or red versions are essential for subsurface feeding.
Buy at AmazonDark Hendrickson
Hendricksons are actively hatching on the Willowemoc Creek, making this a prime dry fly choice for rising trout in the afternoon.
Buy at AmazonNew York season by season
What changes on the water through the year, with the flies for each season.
Fly shops nearby
Local flies, current advice and guided trips.