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April 5, 2004 |
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Opening Day
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Oh yes, the much-anticipated Opening Day of trout season is finally upon us! Now we truly know that spring is here in the Catskill Mountains. Despite the fact that April 1st was a wet and rainy day, and that Chris rarely ever (ok never) catches anything in the cold streams on opening day, he still stayed true to tradition and got out there bright and early.
Thinking he might have good luck going after brook trout, preferably in a big pool or pond, he drove into Pine Hill, and walked down the railroad tracks to fish Cathedral Glen Brook where it empties into a Belleayre snow-making pond. It was a good idea in theory, but bad in reality since the pond was full of murky pea-green water. He made some casts into the 39-degree stream and at the head of the pond anyway; then decided to go elsewhere.
On the way back into the village he stopped to talk to an old-timer walking down the street with a fly-rod and a creel. The gentleman had a big white beard, white hair, and was wearing a flannel shirt and a pair of waders that had seen many fishing seasons. He said his name was James Longhi, born and raised in Pine Hill, and that every year he catches his limit on opening day. I asked if had had any luck so far, and he opened his creel to show me five beauties - one brook trout about 9 or 10 inches, and the other browns a tad smaller. He had already caught his limit by 8:30am! I asked what his key to success was, and he replied that when the water is this cold he flicks real worms on his fly-rod. Die-hard fly-fishers may cringe at this, but you couldn’t argue with his nice batch of fish.
The next stop was Birch Creek, near the Pine Hill Day Use Area, where there are a number of attractive runs and pools. Water was 41 degrees and clear. Chris flipped weighted nymphs and woolly buggers into the steady-running water, over and over, pool after pool, to no avail. Finally he broke down and couldn’t resist. He defied the great elders. He scrambled up the bank and started digging for a worm. He kept looking over his shoulder, half expecting to see to a jury of devout fly-fishers ready to scold and pass harsh judgment. This low moment got lower when after five minutes he still hadn’t found a worm. In desperation, he picked up the only thing close, a tiny slug, and went back to the river. He stuck the pathetic slug on the hook of a wet fly and flung it in the river several times until it finally came off. By now it was raining pretty good and he was soaked, so he gave up and went home for lunch.
At mid-day we both drove over to the Willowemoc Creek, to a section of the headwaters off of Flugertown Road in the Town of Neversink. We were invited to represent The Catskill Center at a big press event hosted by the DEC to officially kick off this year’s trout season with the announcement of the Open Space Institute’s acquisition of a 249-acre property along the Willowemoc, most of which will become Forest Preserve. The property was formerly known as the Van Norden Estate, and it was the home of the Catskill’s first private fishing club, the Willowemoc Club, founded in 1869. The DEC also used the occasion to formally announce the celebration of the 100-year anniversary of the Catskill Park.
Before the ceremony began, Chris got in some more fishing in this newly public water, where the ‘Willow’ flows under the Flugertown Road bridge (again with no luck). Forty or 50 people were in attendance for the ceremony with a few speakers highlighting the importance of the land conservation project, and the Catskill Park Centennial. DEC Commissioner Erin Crotty read part of an official proclamation from Governor Pataki, recognizing the Centennial. Afterward, most of the group went out to the river for photos and fishing, and Chris had a memorable end to his opening day of trout season when he got to help Bill Rudge teach Commissioner Crotty how to cast a fly-rod. No trout for supper today, but still a good story for the ‘ol fishing journal.
- Aaron and Chris
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