50 Best Places Fly Fishing the Northeast. Bob Mallard

Batten Kill River 101

       IV New York

       24. West Branch Ausable River 107

       25. Salmon River (steelhead) 111

       26. West Branch Delaware River 115

       27. East Branch Delaware River 119

       28. Delaware River 123

       29. Beaverkill River 127

       30. Willowemoc Creek 131

       31. Neversink River 135

       32. Montauk (stripers) 139

       V Massachusetts

       33. Deerfield River 145

       34. Swift River 149

       35. Cape Cod Bay (stripers) 153

       VI Rhode Island

       36. Wood River 159

       VII Connecticut

       37. Housatonic River 165

       38. Farmington River 169

       VIII Pennsylvania

       39. Pine Creek 175

       40. Slate Run 179

       41. Big Fishing Creek 183

       42. Spring Creek 187

       43. Penns Creek 191

       44. Little Juniata River 195

       45. Letort Spring Run 199

       46. Big Spring Creek 203

       47. Yellow Breeches Creek 207

       48. Falling Springs 211

       IX New Jersey

       49. South Branch Raritan River 217

       50. Musconetcong River 221

       Index 227

      Acknowledgments

      THERE ARE MANY people I wish to thank for directly or indirectly helping to make this book possible. It is impossible to thank all of them personally. I am, however, very grateful to all of them. I wish to specifically thank the following:

      First and foremost, to all of those—far too many to list here—who contributed chapters to this book; for adding some star power, and for providing a level of local knowledge and expertise unmatched in the Northeast, I extend my deepest gratitude. These contributors took time out of their busy schedules to make your time on the water a bit more productive. Please support them as they have you.

      All of those—again, too many to list—who generously provided pictures in support of the chapters in the book. As they say, every picture tells a story, and every story needs a picture.

      Brad Gage, New England Outdoors; for forwarding my name to Terry Gunn as a candidate to write the Maine chapter in his book, 50 Best Tailwaters to Fly Fish.

      Terry Gunn of Lees Ferry Anglers, for his words of encouragement and the suggestion that I do more writing. Had it not been for my involvement in Terry’s book, 50 Best Tailwaters to Fly Fish, this endeavor would never have happened.

      Robert Clouse, publisher of Stonefly Press for taking a chance on a less-than-perfect candidate for the book. The publisher takes all the risks—the rest of us are just along for the ride. I appreciate that he was able to see what I brought to the table, not just what I didn’t.

      Thomas Ames, Jr., author of Hatch Guide for New England Streams, Fishbugs, and Caddisflies: A Guide to Eastern Species

      for Anglers and Other Naturalists, for introducing me to a national audience, and contributing the Foreword to the book.

      Bradford Camps and Libby Camps for opening their businesses to me so I could collect the photographs I needed to support my Arctic char and brook trout pieces.

      Fisheries advocates Ted Williams and Clinton “Bill” Townsend; for befriending me, educating me, and forever changing how I view fishing, fish, and the places that fish live.

      Bud Hawkins, the first person I ever met who had a true passion for fly fishing. And for showing me how to tie my first fly—using fur brushed from his old pet cat, Ma.

      Tom Ames, Tim Beckwith, Chris Major, Dave Martel, Jeff Moore, David Peress, John Vacca, Dave Wysocki, and the rest of the old guys whom I fish with on a fairly regular basis— and in some cases have done so for years. Here’s hoping there are many more days on the water ahead for all of us.

      Lou Beckwith, Steve Bowman, Kash Haley, Dan and Tom Harrison, Nate Hill, Travis Parlin, Nate Pease, Jack Rowbottom, Kris Thompson, and the rest of the young guys for being willing to fish with a guy old enough to be their father—you guys help keep me young, while reminding me just how old I actually am.

      Tim Beckwith and family; for sharing Camp U-No with me. I caught my first trout on a fly there—a foot-long stocked rainbow from the Israel River that took a Gray Hackle fished dry, or however it happened to land, on a 7-foot 5-weight fiberglass Daiwa fly rod and Pflueger Medalist reel. I remember it like it was yesterday.