Streamflow Fly Design and Guide Service
Covering water in Central New York and the Southern Tier
The Fish
New York is home to a diverse array of fisheries, and fish species. Below are the primary species targeted in streams, depending upon the season. While we may very well bump into others while we're out, these are what we'll mostly target. Seasonality is everything though, most species migrate in the Spring and Fall, while many reside in their waterways year-round. Contact us for current info if you are planning a trip.
Brown Trout
The undisputed champ of most of our local trout waters. We fish for these most of the year, with the exceptions of deep winter when things are frozen, and deep summer, when temperature levels can be above the comfort range of trout. During those times we'll target other species better suited to higher water temps, or we'll have a beer in the shade until things cool off. Lake-run browns move into streams during the Fall from late October until late December and can be caught readily on the fly!
Rainbow Trout
Though less common than brown trout, resident ranbows are always welcome. These fish are usually found in slightly cooler and more oxygenated water, and are much more aerial than browns. Lake-run rainbows migrate into streams in early winter and stick around for a while, we look for them in the early Spring, and though sometimes elusive, are an awesome fight!
Carp
Not just for Europeans with doughballs! When carp are visibly feeding there is hardly another freshwater species more exciting to fish for! Yes they can be tough, but what else can you fish for in freshwater that feeds in shallow water, can withstand warm water temps with low oxygen, and can put you deep into your backing within 30 seconds? We'll put the stalk on these fish and come back with hearts pounding and stories to tell. Wear your most drab colors when going for these guys, no red or orange college colors here please, save those for backyard bbq's and football games.
Smallmouth Bass
"Bulldogs on the fly". One of the staples in our streams too warm to hold trout year round, smallies are awesome gamefish. Springtime has these fish spawning in streams, and many reside year-round in moving water. Super-duper fun.
Landlocked Atlantic Salmon
You might say I've saved the best for last, and you might be right! Our landlocked salmon are considered the "king of gamefish", fighting very hard, often spending more time out of the water than in it. These fish require patience to hook and good technique to land. Running up streams from the Finger lakes in Fall to spawn, and to a lesser extent in the Spring to feed, landlock's offer the angler good opportunites to fish for them when the conditions are right.
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