TROUTING ON BEAVER CREEK. 



C. L. MKYER. 



One day in the latter part of May my 

 son Frank and I boarded the 11.20 a. m. 

 West Shore express for a day's trout fish- 

 ing in Beaver creek, Ulster county. Kings- 

 ton was reached at 2.20 p. m., where we 

 changed to the Ulster and Delaware rail- 

 road for a 26 mile ride to Mt. Pleasant. 

 We were met at the station by my old 

 friend, Marshall D., the best trout angler 

 of DuevalFs Hollow. Placing our baggage 

 on the old buckboard, we drove up the 

 Hollow along Beaver creek about 4 miles, 

 and before we realized it we had ar- 

 rived at our destination. The creek was 

 in just the right condition for fishing, as it 

 had rained hard the day before. 



It has always surprised me that so few 

 anglers know of this creek. When I men- 

 tion it to them they invariably say, 



"Oh, yes; I know of the Beaverkill." 



That, however, is a different stream, in 

 another county. The Beaver creek to 

 which I refer I consider the best natural 

 trout stream in New York. It starts from 

 5 springs in Mink Hollow, high on the 

 Catskill mountains, winds its way West- 



ward, and empties into Esopus creek at 

 Mt. Pleasant. The latter finds its way into 

 the Hudson river at Rondout. Beaver 

 creek has numerous small tributaries, such 

 as Sickles' brook, the Little Beaver, Mar- 

 tin's creek, Shanty brook, and Grogkill 

 creek. 



Some 8 years ago the Esopus was 

 stocked with 200,000 California rainbow 

 and German brown trout. The result of 

 this is the natural brook trout have been 

 scarce in the Esopus as well as in Beaver 

 creek. The German trout thrived and 

 have attained nearly their full growth. 

 Specimens weighing 4, 5, and 6 pounds 

 have been caught, and others are frequent- 

 ly seen sunning themselves in holes. 

 These trout predominate in the lower half 

 of the Beaver, while in the upper half, as 

 in all of its tributaries, native brook trout 

 are to be had. All of the small streams 

 have again been stocked with yearling 

 brook trout by the State commissioners. 



The morning following our arrival I 

 arose at break of day, slipped on my hip 

 boots, and sallied forth, prepared to take 



AMATEUR PHOTO BV F»ANK 0- MFTEB- 



FRANK CAME UP WITH HIS CAMERA AND CAUGHT US IN THE ACT. 



