Sandy got to the East Branch First

I just returned from my annual Easter trip to the East Branch of the Croton River at Brewster, NY.  

I wasn't alone – in more ways than one.  First of all, I was joined by my nephew James.  And, there were a dozen or so other cars at the pull-out where I parked at the bridge on Sodom Road, just downstream of the “Bathtub.”  But, there was plenty of room to fish this beautiful stream.

The one visitor that I didn't expect and was very sorry arrived at all was Sandy – of super storm fame – or infamy.  My family lives nearby in Connecticut as well as in New York City.  Some kept their power during Sandy and others were out of electricity for up to 7 days during and after the storm.  They all fared well enough to be telling stories about it now, but I didn't realize that the East Branch was hit so hard.

I fished the East Branch well before Sandy, on the 4^th of July, 2012, with decent success.  

One of several Brown Trout on #8 DFB Leech, 07/04/12

There are always a few trees that are slowly moving closer to the river due to erosion, 

 

     East Branch Croton, Easter 2012

East Branch Croton, Easter 2013

but, there were trees down all over the place.  Big trees with root systems up to 10 feet in diameter, ripped from the ground.  Fortunately, most did not fall across the river.  

I don’t know how much rain fell during that time, but last weekend, water levels were moderate and relatively clear. 

The river was full of suckers, so Sandy didn't have an effect on them.  But everyone I talked to had the same question – “was it stocked yet?”  At the time I didn't know, or care, since holdovers are bigger, more challenging, and more fun, but I have since learned that 1,600 rainbows and 300 browns were stocked in March (http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/23296.html).  But, different from last Easter, I couldn't see any of the stockers in the usual places. 

The few people who caught fish said that it was best downstream closer to Diverting Reservoir.  Usually, the Bathtub and under the bridge are filled with trout after a stocking.  The major difference I noticed this year was that both sides of the East Branch at the Bathtub were clear cut of any trees or shrubs from the water’s edge up the stone and back about 20 feet. 

Bathtub sans overhead cover

Did the lack of overhead cover push the trout downstream? Something did.   

James and I fished from the naked Bathtub to the Phoebe hole, but that’s another story.