Anglers and fly fishing enthusiasts gathered at Junction Pool on Wednesday to kick off the opening day of trout fishing season. Renowned fly fisher Manny Zanger made the first cast during the early hours of the morning, carefully swinging his rod forward to make his cast.
Roscoe, New York is often considered the birthplace of American dry fly fishing. Since the 1940s, it’s been a tradition to kick off opening day at Junction Pool where the Willowemoc and Beaverkill Rivers converge.
Zanger, who has been fishing in the Catskills since the late 1960s, says he quickly fell in love with the moment he started seeing fly activity on the waters.
“Hopefully later on during the day you see a fly hatch and when that occurs, it is lightning,” said Zanger. “It’s just a wonderful thing to experience.”
Fly fishing is a popular fishing technique where fishers use small, lightweight flies to mimic aquatic insects. Anglers then rely on the weight of the line and other factors for a successful cast.
“It’s kind of more [of an] art form than brute force, and it makes it really challenging and fun,” said Aaron Blakely, fisherman and owner of local trout bar The Junction.
The state’s Department of Environmental Conservation stocks waterways with 1.7 million trout from mid-March until early June.
A fly fishing community spanning generations
This year’s first cast was also a celebration of life. Zanger dedicated the first cast to Agnes Van Put, a beloved fixture of Livingston Manor’s fly fishing community who died in January. He also gifted Judy Van Put – a celebrated fly fisher and Agnes’s daughter-in-law, with an Adams Fly, a favorite dry fly of Agnes’s late son Ed Van Put.
“[Agnes] was a giving person. She brought love and happiness to everyone. She just gave all from her heart,” said Judy Van Put.
READ: Agnes Van Put, Beloved Livingston Manor Fly-Fishing Figure, Dies at 109
Van Put says fly fishing brings her a sense of peace and fond memories. “It brings back many happy memories of fishing with my husband and fishing with dear friends who are no longer with us,” she said.
The sport is also about creating new memories, says seventh-generation fly fisher Natalie Phelan. She’s eight years old and loves being out in the water with her family.
“The first time I caught a fish, I was over one years old,” said Phelan. “I can go in the water and I don’t have to do anything but stand and cast.”
Her grandfather, Jeffrey Phelan, was fishing alongside her. “She’s a quick learner. We’re used to a little lower water and a little clearer water, but you know what, we’re having fun out here and this is a tradition that we just started.”
Where to celebrate opening weekend
Opening weekend festivities will continue into the weekend. The Catskill Fly Fishing Center & Museum will celebrate Agnes Van Put’s life serving her legendary soups and other original recipes during Opening Weekend on Saturday, April 4, from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the museum.
The Roscoe Chamber of Commerce will host the 65th Annual Two Headed Trout Dinner at the Rockland House in Roscoe on April 11.
There are other events scheduled throughout April in Livingston Manor and Roscoe.
Image: Fly fisher Manny Zanger made the first cast to kick off trout fishing season’s Opening Day on April 1 in Roscoe, New York (Photo Credit: Kimberly Izar)
Did anyone catch anything?
Did anyone catch anything?
Also: are two-headed trout to be served at the Roscoe dinner a speciality of the area?
Less trout due to climate change. Maybe trout fishermen should endorse windmills. Trout fishermen need a Dept of Interior that protects rivers and parks and scenic byways. Its trout or Trump.