Livingston Manor, NY Fishing: The Birthplace of Fly Fishing in America

Livingston Manor, a Sullivan County hamlet in the state of New York, is a quaint community that is fast becoming one of the state’s most vibrantly creative places to live. It sits right on the southern edge of the Catskills, running alongside the historic Willowemoc Creek. In recent years, the area has grown in popularity, especially among creative types looking for affordable places to live. 

Originally named Purvis, the hamlet had its name changed to Livingston Manor in 1882, in honor of the prominent family who once resided and leased lands in the area. Many of its early settlers were from England and had Scots-Irish ancestry, but later on, the area attracted Eastern European immigrants.

One of Livingston Manor’s claims to fame is that it is the birthplace of fly-fishing in America. In this region, Theodore Gordon, now regarded as the Father of American Dry Fly Fishing, discovered new ways and developed new fly patterns to attract trout. He is also credited for popularizing the sport in the US. Today, Livingston Manor and the rest of the Catskills are still fantastic areas to practice fly fishing and other techniques. Fly anglers who want to do a deep dive on the sport and its history flock to the Catskill Fly Fishing Center and Museum and the Wulff School of Fly Fishing. Both places are in Livingston Manor and are highly recommended for any fishing enthusiasts.

Apart from being a kind of mecca for fly fishing enthusiasts, Livingston Manor is a small-town haven for creative types. Here you will find up-and-coming artisanal shops, amazing food stops, quirky boutique hotels and inns, and other independent businesses on Main Street and beyond. In recent years, the hamlet has experienced a boom, turning it into a veritable weekend destination in the Catskills area.

Livingston Manor Fishing

As the birthplace of fly-fishing in the United States, Livingston Manor should be on your bucket list, especially if you’re a fly enthusiast. What better place to practice the art and sport than in the hamlet that inspired many of the techniques that we use to this day?

Start your fly fishing journey at Willowemoc Creek. This beautiful body of water, a major tributary of Beaverkill, is one of the most popular fishing spots in the Catskills. It flows through Livingston Manor up to the nearby town of Roscoe and is 27 miles long. Its waters are regularly stocked with brown trout, but it has wild brown trout, rainbow trout, and brook trout as well. Sections of the creek are open to public fishing, making it a great place to start if you’re up in the Catskills for the first time. In the upper reaches of the creek, you will find many tiny tributaries stocked with brook trout. The best spot to fish here, though, is in the lower region of the creek, which you can access from Livingston Manor and up to where the water meets and pours into Beaverkill. Apart from the fantastic fishing, you can enjoy views of the Catskill Mountains from the stream. A great spot to fish the Willowemoc Creek from the hamlet is via the Van Tran Flat Covered Bridge Park, which has fishing access plus picnic areas.

Widen your cast and head on to Beaverkill or Beaverkill River. This 44-mile long river is one of the most popular trout streams in the country, enjoying its reputation as productive trout water since the 19th century. It was so popular that it turned the area into one of the original resort destinations in the US. However, due to its fame among anglers, its brook trout population depleted. This in turn led many Beaverkill enthusiasts to launch a movement to conserve the river, which has since inspired the basics of river conservation in the United States. 

What makes Beaverkill an ideal spot for fly fishers is that it is a very fertile stream and has plenty of aquatic insect hatches. So before going, to guarantee your success, make sure you know which insects are hatching on the month you’re fishing, so you can bring the appropriate flies to match. Thankfully, there are many expert fly shops in the area that you can consult so you can come well-prepared for your fly fishing excursion.

The entirety of the river offers great pockets to fish. The species you can expect to target and catch in the river will depend on which section you fish. For example, the headwaters are most attractive to brook trout, while the middle part is best known for its brown trout population. The lower parts are rainbow trout and brown trout territory. 

Upper Beaverkill’s water is cool and has plenty of covers, making it a perfect spot for trout. Next to this upper region, you will find Jones Falls, which is every angler’s go-to spot in this part of the river. Much of the upper section of the river may be private property, but you can access the waters via the Beaverkill State Campground. Compared to the upper part of Beaverkill, the section of the river which runs to the Junction Pool is wider and longer, with pools that are connected by fast-running riffles. If you want guaranteed public access to the water, head to the lower section of the river which offers plenty of public access and where all the popular pools are, including Horse Brook Run, Ferdon’s Eddy, and more. 

At a point where Willowemoc and Beaverkill waters meet, you will find Junction Pool, which is technically in the town of Roscoe. It is another one of the most famous trout waters in the country. It has long mystified anglers for attracting migrating fish to stay for an extended period before choosing the stream to follow. Because of this, the pool has become a popular place for fly anglers looking to fill their bucket with trout.

Livingston Manor provides great access to many fishing spots around the Catskills region. The Delaware River’s East Branch, West Branch, and Main Steam are right nearby. In this beautiful river, you can target shad and smallmouth bass, as well as wild brown and rainbow trout. Lake Superior in the town of Bethel is known for its largemouth bass population, while Cannonsville Reservoir offers common carp, smallmouth and largemouth bass, and alewife within its waters. Big Pond in the town of Andes is an ice-fishing haven and is known for its American eel, white sucker, and rainbow trout. 
 

Top 10 Fish Species in Livingston Manor, NY

The top 10 fish species to catch in Livingston Manor, NY, and nearby towns include brown trout, rainbow trout, brook trout, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, shad, common carp, alewife, white sucker, and American eel.

Seasonal Fishing

The best time to fly fish in the Livingston Manor area is around spring from March until May. Blue-winged olives will start appearing early in the season, along with blue quills and Hendricksons, and will hatch in May. Summer fly fishing will depend on the body of water itself. Beaverkill is known to get lower during the summer season, so the quality of water and fishing will depend on the amount of rainfall the area will get. Fall is brown trout spawning season and can be a great season to fish as well. Winter fishing can be productive but can only be done in the no-kill sections of rivers and creeks and must be released.

Enjoy a Fascinating Weekend Trip to Livingston Manor

Livingston Manor has experienced a resurgence in recent years, so you’re guaranteed a most comfortable and interesting stay should you visit.

1. Book a Local Fishing Charter

If it’s your first time fishing in the Catskills, the service of a local fishing guide will be to your benefit as they can point you towards the most productive waters and can help you get familiarized with the regulations in the area as well.

2. Shop on the Main Street

Livingston Manor’s Main Street is filled with up-and-coming independent boutiques, nice cafes and restaurants, and artisanal shops. It’s a great place to rub elbows with the locals while supporting their small businesses. 

3. Visit the Catskills Fly Fishing Center and Museum

Since you’re in the area that popularized fly fishing in the US, you shouldn’t miss out on the museum dedicated to the sport itself. The award-winning museum now includes a new building called Wulff Gallery and Heritage Craft Workshop where you can view exhibits and presentations and attend workshops on fly tying and bamboo rod making.