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The Beaverkill River is located in the South Central
part of New York State. One of the most famous rivers
in the Northeast, it flows almost 44 miles through the
Catskill Mountains until it joins the East Branch of
the Delaware.
The upper 27 miles of the river are known as the
Upper Beaverkill. This part of the river is narrow,
steep, and very rocky. The first five miles are from
5 to 25 feet wide. This section consists of small pools
and pocket water. The Upper Beaverkill is well shaded
and has many cold springs, which keep its deep bedrock
pools cold all year round. The next stretch of the
upper part is from the Balsam Lake outlet down to Shin
Creek at Lew Beach. This 12-mile stretch is from 20
to 60 feet wide. Here, there are more medium-sized
pools that are separated by shallow riffle sections.
Jones Falls is the most prominent feature in this section
of the river. It is located about two miles above Turnwood,
where it plunges 30 to 40 feet into a deep pool. |
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The lower section of the Beaverkill begins at the famous
Junction Pool, where the Beaverkill and the Willowemoc
join. Here, the river almost doubles in size, which is
why it is known as "Big River." This pool became
famous because it unites two of the Northeast's most
famous trout streams. The water in this section of the
river is made up of beautiful riffles and pools that
cater to the dry-fly fisherman. The Beaverkill's two-mile no-kill
section, which begins at the Delaware County line,
is also part of this section of the river.
Horse Brook Run and Carin's Pool are both famous sections
of the Beaverkill's no-kill water. Horse Brook Run
is regarded by most as 1/4 mile of the finest pocket
of water on the river. This section can be very difficult
to wade, so fishermen must be careful. Carin's Pool
is a long, deep, clear pool that holds a tremendous
number of fish. This pool and its fishermen are visible
from one of the overpasses on Route 17.
The last 10 miles of the Beaverkill are made up of
long, shallow riffles and pools. Painters' Bend, Cooks
Falls Pool, and the Flats are popular areas to fish
in this section. About nine miles below the Cooks Falls
Pool is the Horton no-kill
section, which contains some excellent trout water.
Stadel's Run, Cemetery Pool, Freeman's Flat, Horton's
Pool, Acid Factory and Railroad Run all fish well when
the water temperatures are good.
Below the Horton no-kill section, the remaining six
miles of the river are wide, and a slow-moving, shallow
section of water. The only exception is where Trout
Brook joins the river. The Beaverkill ends at Keener's
Pool, which is known for its large trout. The beautiful
water, numbers of trout, and excellent hatches have
made the Beaverkill a legend that most fishermen have
heard of, and that all fly fishermen should experience. |
