Tomorrow, April 1, will be the dawning of the new Trout Fishing Season in New York State! A much-anticipated date especially during these difficult times; no matter what the weather conditions are, Opening Day of the Trout season always signifies the official end of winter to those who long to spend time on pristine waters and cast a hopeful line.

We've had a few warm and very spring-like days, with temperatures in the area reaching the mid-60s, followed by spring rains and even a snow cover. As a result, area rivers and streams are full, but not unfishable, as we've noticed in drives up and down the Willowemoc and Beaverkill, and we've even seen some hardy anglers out on the No-Kill Catch-and-Release areas lately.

On Monday morning, March 30, the USGS website showed that the Beaverkill at Cooks Falls was flowing at about 1100 cubic feet per second, after substantial rains over the weekend. This is above the average flow for this date of 1050 cfs based on 105 years of record-keeping. The maximum flow recorded on this date was 11,000 cfs in 1951, and the minimum flow recorded was just 219 cubic feet per second in 1981.

Water temperatures this past week ranged from a low of 36 last Tuesday morning to a high of 48 on Friday evening - almost reaching that ‘magic' number of 50-degrees Fahrenheit, which spurs on fly activity that in turn encourages trout feeding.

As is usually suggested for early-season fishing, it's probably best to start out on Opening Day fishing below the surface, with wet flies and nymphs, using weight to get the flies down deep.

However, when temperatures rise above 32 degrees you can find “snow flies” or diptera (two winged flies) on the water. And while water temperatures may be cold, the trout feel the warmth of the sun (similar to when you are sitting in a car during the winter -- although it may be cold outside, you can feel the warmth of the sun coming through the windows) and in the larger pools along the lower Beaverkill and Willowemoc “No Kill” Catch and Release areas, rises during this early spring season are not uncommon. The recipe for this occurrence is bright sunshine, air temperature higher than 32 degrees, and lack of ‘snow water' from melting snow and ice running into the rivers. For those who prefer fishing dry flies, using small midge-type flies, size #18s down to #22s are effective in catching early-season trout when ‘snow flies' are on the water.

Remember you'll need a current NYS Fishing license! Licenses are sold by Town Clerks at many Town office buildings; but with the current closure of non-essential businesses, it's best to call ahead. Your favorite fly shops, tackle and outdoor stores may not be open. To be safe you can order a license online by visiting decals.dec.ny.gov/DECALSCitizenWeb/citizenhome.htm.

You can print out a copy of the license immediately; if you prefer receiving one by mail it will take up to 14 days. If you've purchased your license via the DEC website in the past, you may receive an email notification for renewal.

Wishing you Tight Lines and Happy Fishing!

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.