We finally had a couple of ‘first frosts’ with mornings in the 30s and 40s; the last of the tender garden plants have now succumbed to the chill. 

It has been the most colorful fall in recent memory; on a trip up to Lew Beach late Sunday morning it was delightful to see whole hillsides of color - yellows, golds, oranges, and bright reds, punctuated by dark evergreens.  The view across Waneta Lake was outstanding enough to beg for a photograph. Another thrill was seeing two bald eagle’s close-up: one flying very low across the Beaverkill Road near Edgewood, the other perched on a large rock along the river near Beaverkill Trout Club. Nature provided such special sights that really brightened up a dark drippy day!

It is also the time of year when brook and brown trout sport their most stunningly beautiful colors in preparation for spawning. Pigment cells in their skin called chromatophores enable them to naturally darken the skin to blend in with autumn's fallen leaves, resulting in noticeably vivid hues. However, their dramatic autumn transformation is primarily driven by reproduction. The shortening daylight hours and water temperatures dropping into the 40s trigger a surge in the male trout’s testosterone levels, eliciting their vibrant changes, while simultaneously developing a hooked lower jaw called a kype. These striking physical traits signal to potential mates that the male trout is healthy and ready to reproduce.

Brook trout become the most colorful, with the males exhibiting splendidly brilliant colors on their backs and sides that range from scarlet, red, and orange to green, black, white, and even royal blue. Mature male Brown trout also manifest intense spawning adornment, with vibrant red spots and yellow and orange bellies. 

The female trout maintain softer, more subtle tones of color which help them stay hidden while digging their nests (redds) and protecting their eggs. However, their bodies change shape, becoming rounder and heavier as they are gravid with eggs. 

And once again, we have reached the end of the “regular” trout fishing season in New York State, which occurs October 15. On some rivers and streams the season is expanded by Special Regulations - such as in the Catch and Release “No Kill” areas of the lower Beaverkill and Willowemoc - stream sections where trout spawning is unlikely to occur, being located far from the headwater tributaries. The special regulations were set up many years ago after scientific studies concluded that trout spawning is not likely to occur in these lower stretches of the river. Trout prefer to spawn in the headwaters and smaller tributaries where waters are coldest (41-42 degrees F) and most highly oxygenated. These smaller sections of the stream contain less fish and therefore less danger of predation; it is for the protection of the eggs and young trout fry that mature spawning trout will head upstream.

However, on October 1, 2021, NYS imposed a controversial new regulation, which ultimately results in year-round fishing for trout in all trout streams across the state - with a catch-and-release season running from October 16 through March 31 as part of their Statewide Trout Stream Management Plan; use of artificial lures only, and trout must be released immediately. Trout fishing is generally closed on lakes and ponds after October 15; check the DEC’s Fishing Syllabus for exceptions.

Our Catskill waters are special and have always been prized for their excellent fishing. Anglers from across the United States and beyond travel here to fish, to seek out the clean, clear, and hallowed waters with the hope of catching wild trout. Special regulations through the years have protected these fish and encouraged more wild fish in the system.  

Spawning fish are now at their most vulnerable; they are defenseless and are focused solely on reproducing. The act of spawning is exhausting, and to allow fishing for trout during this period must surely have a negative effect; despite releasing the fish, the stress of being pursued and caught during this important stage of life can be deadly to these already-stressed fish. One angler can unwittingly walk through trout redds or spawning beds and can disturb, crush and destroy thousands of trout eggs that may have resulted in next year’s trout fry with just a few misplaced steps.

And so, the plea goes out. The best ways we as trout fisherman can help the trout are to stay away from the redds and avoid fishing for trout that are actively spawning on redds as they are very vulnerable and not all challenging or sporting to catch.

It’s time to give the fish a break and be respectful of this special time in their lives.  Leave them undisturbed during their spawning cycle in the hope that they will be able to reproduce successfully and add more wild fish to our rivers and streams. Enjoy these special gifts of nature that we are so fortunate to have here in the Catskills; let’s help to ensure that future generations will be able to appreciate all that nature has to offer. 

Streamside will return in the spring, now signing off with a wish for a happy and healthy winter season to all.