We are now into the middle of April, and reports of the early fly hatches are starting to come in - sightings of Blue Quills, Quill Gordons and Blue-Winged Olives in addition to the dark caddises we've seen on various area streams; however the water is still a bit cold for good fly-fishing activity.

As of Sunday afternoon, April 12, the Beaverkill at Cooks Falls had dropped to 629 cubic feet per second, which is below the average flow of 979 cfs over 105 years of record-keeping; however after the rains that are predicted for Monday, no doubt levels will be raised again by the time the newspaper publishes on Tuesday. Water temperatures fluctuated from a high last Tuesday of 52 degrees Fahrenheit to a low over the weekend of 38 degrees.

Not many trout fishers were seen on Saturday afternoon as we traveled along the Beaverkill and Willowemoc; cars from New York and New Jersey; many pools were empty. This may be due to the restraints in travel and many county/town restrictions.

This past week I read an email that was sent out to Upper Delaware River Anglers titled “Please Stay Home Until It's Declared Safe to Go Back in the Water.”

It was written/signed by the Friends of the Upper Delaware River, and stated, “This is a painful message to write because we understand how much you love fishing and visiting the Upper Delaware River watershed and how much we enjoy having you here. But we are in a crisis. The dangers of the highly contagious … COVID-19 (virus) is not something we are taking lightly…

“The undersigned organizations, businesses, and local governments urge out of area residents to abide by state mandates, local directives, and the recommendations of the CDC to stay home until at least April 30 or until the dangers posed by COVID-19 are dramatically reduced and “Stay at Home” orders are lifted.”

The letter expresses concern for everyone's health and mentions that, “The stress levels in these small communities are elevated from the realization that medical care and other critical public services are in short supply. We've been overwhelmed by the sensitivity to this growing problem expressed by so many seasonal visitors to our area, including the angling community. A heartfelt ‘Thank you' for your concern and understanding!”

The letter was signed/endorsed by 27 groups, including the towns and villages of Colchester, Hancock, Deposit; Trout Unlimited National, several Guide services, fly/sports shops and some restaurants.

The letter offers a suggestion “how can I help” by stating, “Please postpone or delay your visit to the area until there is no longer a risk of transporting a virus from here to your home, or from your home to here.”

And that, “We will miss you this early spring. That's one thing that's certain. You're not alone in feeling disappointed. If you must go fishing (and believe us, we understand that) stay in your local area and practice social distancing.”

A sobering point was made that “Studies show that this can be extended to 27 to 30 feet depending on conditions, like being downwind from someone on a windy day.” And a reminder that “violations of social distancing include driving with another person in your vehicle, being in a boat with someone else, parking too close to someone, and traveling out of your local area during this heightened period of infection.

Not following these rules could lead to our waters being closed to fishing. This has already happened in several other states, with one state even banning recreational boat use. That would eliminate even your local fishing opportunities... none of us want to see that.”

Certainly a sobering message in these uncertain times. I checked the DEC website to see what was proposed, and at the top of the fishing page, it directs the viewer to “see our guidance on social distancing while fishing at bottom of webpage:

NYSDEC COVID-19

SOCIAL DISTANCING

1. FISH LOCAL - Stay close to home. Keep your fishing trip short. Avoid high-traffic destinations.

2. BE SAFE - Avoid crowds and groups. Keep a distance of 6 feet or more from others. When fishing from a boat make sure it's large enough so persons on board are at least 6 feet from one another.

3. STAY HOME - If you're not feeling well, stay home. Anyone 70 or older or with a compromised immune system should postpone their trip.

4. BE ADAPTIVE - Move quickly through parking lots and paths. If crowded, choose a different fishing location or time to visit.

For alternative fishing locations, visit www.dec.gov/outdoor/7749.html

In an emergency call 911; DEC Emergency Dispatch: 518-408-5850.

Judy Van Put is a long-time member of the NYS Outdoor Writers Association, and is the recipient of the New York State Council of Trout Unlimited's Professional Communications Award.