New York's Catskill region is the cradle of American dry-fly fishing. On the Beaverkill and Willowemoc, anglers like Theodore Gordon, Art Flick, and Harry Darbee developed the sparse, elegant style of fly tying and presentation that defined American trout fishing for generations. The rivers are smaller and less dramatic than Western trout waters, but they carry a weight of tradition and history that is unmatched anywhere in the country.
Today, the Catskill rivers and the West Branch of the Delaware offer the full range of Eastern trout fishing - from selective spring hatches to summer caddis sessions to fall BWO days when the biggest fish of the year become catchable. These five patterns represent the essential vocabulary of New York trout fishing.
Ranked by versatility across rivers, seasons, and trout species.
Pattern #1
Sizes#12 – #14
ColorsQuill body, Teal-gray wing
SeasonApril
TechniqueDead drift, upstream cast
The Quill Gordon is where American dry-fly fishing begins - literally and historically. Theodore Gordon developed this pattern on the Beaverkill in the late 19th century after corresponding with English fishing writer F.M. Halford, adapting British dry-fly principles to American conditions. The Quill Gordon hatch in April on the Beaverkill and Willowemoc is what the season is built around for Catskill devotees.
The pattern's stripped peacock quill body, teal-blue dun wing, and stiff hackle produce a fly that rides perfectly on the surface film. When the hatch is on - typically during warm April afternoons - the fish rise freely and the classic upstream presentation to rising fish is the right approach.
Pro Tip: On the Beaverkill near Roscoe, the Quill Gordon hatch is best from around 1 PM until 4 PM on warm sunny days in April. Wade to the head of a productive pool and work downstream to each rising fish rather than covering water broadly. Catskill trout have seen this fly for 130 years - presentation and tippet diameter matter more than the pattern itself.
Pattern #2
Sizes#12 – #14
ColorsPink/Tan body, Gray wing
SeasonApril – early May
TechniqueDead drift, upstream cast
The Hendrickson follows the Quill Gordon by a week or two, and together they define the Catskill spring season. Named for A.E. Hendrickson who first had Roy Steenrod tie the pattern in the 1910s, the Hendrickson is one of the most important and best-documented mayfly hatches in Eastern fly fishing. On every Catskill stream, this hatch draws anglers who've been planning since winter.
The female Hendrickson (with the pink-amber body) is the standard pattern. The male, with a somewhat different coloring, is also represented by the Red Quill. Fish both during the hatch - the fish sometimes show a preference for one over the other.
Pro Tip: On the Beaverkill's Junction Pool where the Willowemoc meets the main river, the Hendrickson hatch can be exceptional in good years. The pool's diversity of currents - fast, slow, and everything in between - produces rising fish across its full width, and you can work methodically through multiple feeding lanes from a single position. It's a historic piece of water and worth the effort to fish it properly.
Pattern #3
Sizes#14 – #18
ColorsTan, Olive
SeasonMay – September
TechniqueDead drift, skitter
Caddis hatches on the Delaware River system and Esopus Creek provide consistent dry-fly action from May through September, and the Elk Hair Caddis covers the most common species across all New York trout rivers. On the West Branch Delaware and East Branch, where caddis emergences can be dense in the evening hours, tan in #14–16 is the go-to pattern.
On the Ausable River in the Adirondacks, the Elk Hair Caddis is equally important - the Ausable has strong caddis populations and the fly fishes well in the river's faster, rockier pocket water. A #14 Elk Hair Caddis presented to the foam lines and current edges covers a lot of productive water efficiently.
Pro Tip: On the West Branch Delaware near Hancock, evening caddis hatches from late May through August produce some of the best dry-fly fishing on the river. The West Branch is a large, tailwater-influenced river - position yourself in a productive run by late afternoon and work upstream through the hatching period as light fades. The Delaware's big browns will cruise the edges during the hatch.
