Beaverkill River Fly Fishing Report - January 1/18/2026
BEAVERKILL RIVER FLY FISHING REPORT
Catskill Mountains, New York
Report Date: January 18, 2026 | Next Update: January 25, 2026
Current River Conditions
Winter river alert: Cold, low flows and icy banks. Wade carefully—many access points have shelf ice and slush. Winter tactics (streamers, small nymphs and midges) are the ticket right now.
Flows & Clarity
Flow Rate: Low, stable for January (check local gauge before you go).
Water Clarity: Clear to slightly tea-colored in places—visibility is generally good where current is steady.
Flow Rate: Low, stable for January (check local gauge before you go).
Water Clarity: Clear to slightly tea-colored in places—visibility is generally good where current is steady.
Water Temperature
Current: Typically mid-30s to low-40s °F (≈1–5°C) this time of year — expect cold trout behavior.
Trend: Cold-stable with overnight freezing; daytime warming modest.
Current: Typically mid-30s to low-40s °F (≈1–5°C) this time of year — expect cold trout behavior.
Trend: Cold-stable with overnight freezing; daytime warming modest.
Weather & Safety
Forecast: Cold. Possible snow showers and brisk winds. Dress in insulated, waterproof layers; bring a wading staff and ice cleats for river-side travel.
Wading Risk: Elevated—avoid deep, fast runs and shelf ice.
Forecast: Cold. Possible snow showers and brisk winds. Dress in insulated, waterproof layers; bring a wading staff and ice cleats for river-side travel.
Wading Risk: Elevated—avoid deep, fast runs and shelf ice.
Access & Regulations
Many roadside access areas remain open but banks can be slippery; use caution. Respect posted private-property signs. Check DEC rules for winter/no-kill sections before fishing.
Many roadside access areas remain open but banks can be slippery; use caution. Respect posted private-property signs. Check DEC rules for winter/no-kill sections before fishing.
Winter Hatch & Insect Notes
| Insect / Activity | What to expect | Prime Strategy |
|---|---|---|
| Midges | Primary winter food — low, subtle surface sipping & subsurface feeding | Midge patterns, small zebra midges and tiny pupa under an indicator |
| Baetis (BWO) | Light activity on mild afternoons; short emergences possible | Small parachute or emerger patterns; short, accurate drifts |
| Caddis | Occasional; more likely in sheltered runs and near winter tailwaters | Small CDC caddis, emergers; fish slow seams and foam lines |
| No major stonefly or salmonfly activity | Stonefly/salmonfly seasons are months away | Save the big bug rigs for spring — focus on nymphs and streamers now |
Recommended Flies (Links included)
Below are proven patterns for the Beaverkill in mid‑January. I’ve focused on flies that match winter feeding modes — small, weighted nymphs, midges, and compact streamers. Each pattern includes a link so you can inspect or order.
Nymphs & Euro/Indicator
- Egan's Poacher - Olive — excellent for Euro nymphing and tight, accurate presentations.
- Egan's Poacher - Black — slightly darker profile for low-light or tannic water pockets.
- Egan's Thread Frenchie Jig - Olive — a compact jig nymph that rides hook-up friendly and attracts in winter currents.
- Tungsten Dart - Red — a dart-style tungsten nymph that penetrates fast water; great as a point fly on a short rig.
- Pheasant Tail Tungsten — the reliable natural imitation when fish key on shucks and mayfly nymphs.
Midges & Micro Flies
- Black Zebra Midge (TBH) — small, tungsten bead midges are a winter staple.
- Black Mirage Zebra Midge — great for indicator or droppers off a larger nymph.
- Top Secret Midge — an effective, unobtrusive midge pattern for picky trout.
- Tungsten Zebra Midge Thin - Black — a jig version for tight seams and indicator nymphing.
Dry Flies & Emergers (for rare soft afternoons)
- Corn‑fed Caddis (CDC) - Tan — small, realistic caddis that sits lightly and triggers takes.
- Parachute - Blue Wing Olive — a versatile small mayfly dry for low winter baetis activity.
- Stealth Link Mercer - PMD — great as an emerger or compact dry in mid‑winter warm spells.
- Corn‑fed Caddis (CDC) - Peacock — same free-floating profile in a slightly darker hue.
Streamers & Meat Flies
- Coffey's CH Sparkle Minnow Sculpin — small sculpin profile that triggers aggressive winter strikes.
- Sculpzilla - Olive — compact articulated sculpin for heavy structure and deeper runs.
- Sculpzilla - Natural — a natural‑tinted sculpin for low‑light situations.
- Coffey's Articulated Sparkle Minnow - Sculpin — articulated presentation for longer pulls through troughs and seamwater.
Tactics — What I’d Fish This Week
- Rig for depth and subtle presentation: tungsten jig nymphs or micro perdigon point flies on short leaders perform best when trout are low in the column.
- Indicator nymph rigs: focus on tailouts, seams, and heads of pools. Use a small midge or zebra as the dropper and a heavier poacher/frenchie as the point.
- Euro nymphing: read current speed and use the Egan Poacher to hold depth; keep contact light and feed slack promptly.
- Streamers: on any mild afternoon or in stained water, swing a sculpin or small articulated minnow tight along woody structure, undercut banks and deep seams; short strips with pauses win in cold water.
- Dry‑dropper: on rare soft afternoons, a small CDC caddis with a midge or tiny nymph 18–30" below will cover surface and subsurface feeding.
- Indicator nymph rigs: focus on tailouts, seams, and heads of pools. Use a small midge or zebra as the dropper and a heavier poacher/frenchie as the point.
- Euro nymphing: read current speed and use the Egan Poacher to hold depth; keep contact light and feed slack promptly.
- Streamers: on any mild afternoon or in stained water, swing a sculpin or small articulated minnow tight along woody structure, undercut banks and deep seams; short strips with pauses win in cold water.
- Dry‑dropper: on rare soft afternoons, a small CDC caddis with a midge or tiny nymph 18–30" below will cover surface and subsurface feeding.
Quick Rig Recipes
| Situation | Setup |
|---|---|
| Euro nymphing a tailout | Light 4–6X leader, 9–12' tippet to Egan's Poacher (point) with a tungsten dart or Frenchie as secondary; tight line, subtle lift on strike. |
| Indicator, mid‑column fish | Floating line, 6–8' leader, small foam or yarn indicator, 18–30" to Black Zebra Midge (dropper), 18" to Tungsten Dart (point). |
| Streamer lanes | Weight-forward or sinking tip, 3–4 wt (rod depending on streamer size), cast across and swing; use Coffey's sculpin patterns on a 6–8 lb fluorocarbon leader. |
Local Notes & Safety
Winter fishing on the Beaverkill is productive if you match the mood of the fish. Travel light, wear traction on river shoes, fish short sessions and keep a partner informed of your route. Low sun and glare make picking pockets harder — be methodical and pick seams and undercut banks. If in doubt about ice at an access point, find an alternate put‑in.
Packing Checklist (January)
- Insulated waders & neoprene socks; warm layers; waterproof outer shell
- Wading staff and microspikes/ice cleats
- Polarized sunglasses, headlamp, compact first‑aid kit
- Fly selection from the recommended patterns above (a small box each of midge, beetle/dry, and nymph)
