Upper Cattaraugus - new place to fish, new rod, new friends

I finally finished my 5 weight switch rod and needed to break it in.  When I went to Orvis at Eastern Hills Mall to buy line, Adam S, the Fishing Manager told me about the Upper Cattaraugus.  He was there the weekend before teaching a fly casting class and they had a decent day catching quite a few trout including some with some size to them.

I’ve fished the lower Cat for steelhead a lot, but never above Scoby Dam in Springville, NY, so I checked my Sander’s guide and went online to the NY DEC website for info and maps and was on my way.

Lower Cattaraugus Steelhead caught near Versailles, NY

Arcade, NY by the Route 16 bridge

After about a 45 minute drive, I arrived at the Cattaraugus Creek Public Fishing Stream parking area, rigged up my new 5 weight switch rod and headed down the path to the upper cat.

I was greeted by, in my estimation, the best run of the day, but it took 6 hours to figure it out.

Good place to start

I started with a DFB laser nymph I tied that was successful on the East Koy.  I had a couple of flashes of trout or chubs, but no solid takes.  Then, some small tan caddis started skittering across the riffle, followed by several splashy rises. I stopped to tie on a caddis, and noticed another fisherman walking upstream. 

His name is Tom and he stopped to compare notes.  I learned that he caught two trout downstream.  I also learned everything I needed to know to effectively fish the upper Cattaraugus and several Cat tribs as well. 

He’s fished the Cat since he was eight years old and if I could remember a fraction of what he told me, I could write a dozen posts.  He told me about how the Cat has changed over the years and how construction projects have changed the flow and fishing, but in all, the upper Cattaraugus was still a great place to fish. 

Tom switched to fly fishing about ten years ago because he needed more of a challenge.  He also ties flies and obviously loves all aspects of fly fishing.  He is the quintessential fly fisherman.   He knows the water, the trout and what they want.  He named several area streams and the flies he uses.  His fly selection is perfect – only what works.  And, it’s not all the same for every stream or time of year.  He learned by experience – so did I – Tom’s Experience.

Tom recommended Caddis and Tricos for this time of year, verifying what I saw rising.

I tied on a #18 tan caddis and after two drifts through the rough part of the run, a rainbow nailed my fly.  It put on a showy display, jumping, running up and down stream, and as I tried to reel in slack line, I lost concentration for a second and lost the trout a second later.  It was a good fight but I lost.  I played the 11-12 incher long enough to spook even the chubs, so I headed downstream.

Low and clear - lots of exercise between fish-holding runs and holes.

While the scenery was beautiful, the fish were scarce.  I saw the occasional rise but not to my flies.  Then, I came upon a sharp bend in the Cat and a deep hole.  At the bottom … a very large trout.  I was close enough to see the square tail and large spots.  Nothing worked.

As I admired the brown, two fishermen approached.  Joe Scime and Joe McGee. I showed them the brown trout and hoped they would coax a strike.  Nothing worked.  Trout 3 – fishermen 0.

We decided to move on.  There was a fishy looking run with a tree and undercut bank custom made for large brown trout.  I told Joe to take the tree run and I’d move down stream. 

Ya just "Know" there's fish in there!

I quickly worked about a hundred yards downstream before I heard Joe and Joe yell that they had a fish.  I sprinted (as much as I could in waders and old age) and made it up to them as they landed a 13 “ brown.

Their excitement and enthusiasm was contagious – they were both so happy, I wasn't sure who caught the fish!  I felt like I did for a moment!  

Joe Scime and beautiful Brown Trout

Joe and Joe have been fly fishing for about a year and this was the largest trout Joe had ever caught.  I’m quite confident that the current record won’t last long.  They have skill and enthusiasm and a willingness to learn – they’re on their way to some great fishing!

Great fight, photos and time to release.

Heading back to fight again.

Can you spot Joe's trout?

How about now?  Master of camouflage!

Joe McGee and Joe Scime enjoy the moment!

After a successful release, I headed back downstream and Joe and Joe went upstream.
I finally found a couple more productive runs and hooked and landed three small rainbows about 9” long.  I’d say they were wild because of the color and the small size this late in the summer. 

A skittering caddis down the center was the ticket.

Pretty little rainbow - not as big as Joe's brown, but lot's of fun!

I decided to call it a day and headed back to run number one – where I started.  I tied on a fresh caddis and on my second drift through the rough part of the run, a rainbow nailed my fly.  Sound familiar?  Same take, same jumps and runs and same result - long line release.  Same fish?  I hope not.   

Back at the parking area I saw Joe and Joe as they were heading back for more fishing.  Joe M. told me that he pulled another brown trout out of the same hole where Joe S. caught his – about the same size and maybe even the same fish! 

 He also told me about beaucoup bass on Clouser streamers and about Lake Trout on the lower Niagara River.

I’d like to head for the Devil’s hole on the lower Niagara for smallmouth action.  And, I'd like to get back  to the Upper Cattaraugus soon.  I haven't hit the Wiscoy yet this year, but the Salmon run on Oak Orchard Creek will start soon as well........

.....Lots of options, too little time!

If you have any fish stories or photos you’d like to share, let me know – 

I’m always looking for more to post.

Thanks for stopping by!  Good Fishing!

Dave