The Otsquago Creek in Van Hornsville, NY

New York offers an array of small trout streams, but there may be no more picturesque of a stream than the Otsquago Creek. This is a small country stream that rolls through a deep gorge and is filled with waterfalls. It has a generous population of both brown and rainbow trout and the upper reaches stay cold and fishable all through the summer. For fly fisherman this can be a difficult stream to fish due to all the brush, but I will tell you it is definitely worth the effort. The Otsquago Creek starts in Otsego County flows north crossing a small section of Herkimer County until it empties into the Mohawk River in Montgomery County. From its headwaters to just south of Ft. Plain the Otsquago contains a healthy fish population. The upper reaches around Van Hornsville contain mostly rainbow trout while the lower reaches contain both brown and rainbows. The fish normally don't range over 12 inches, but occasionally fish are caught in the 20-inch range.

The Otsquago is a stream that has two very distinctive stretches. The first section I am going to talk about is my favorite stretch. This stretch of river starts behind the Owen D. Young School in Van Hornsville. You can park just past the school and there is a trail that follows the creek for just over a mile downstream. This is the gorge section of the stream. It truly is one of the most picturesque settings you will ever see. The stream has a very steep gradient here with three fantastic waterfalls. The trail will lead you to all three and there are fantastic fishing pools at the base of each waterfall. Outside of the falls there are very steep banks and the stream is full of small pockets that are great holding places for the rainbows that inhabit this section. If you plan on fly-fishing this section use short leaders. The vegetation and steep banks can make casting difficult. This section is also better suited for subsurface techniques as there are few pools to see rising trout. Remember this is small stream fishing so fish upstream because these fish can be spooky.

The next section of the stream starts downstream of the gorge around Starkville. This is farm country and the stream has a very low gradient here and is much more placid. Focus on the larger pools here as brown trout dominate this section. The largest fish I ever caught on this stream came out of this stretch is was a beautiful 17 inch brown that was hanging out in a deep bend. Again this section of stream can be difficult to fly fish due to the vegetation along the banks. However, the fish in this section can range on the larger size. Access on this stretch of stream can be difficult and if there is ever a question about parking try and ask the property owner before you fish. Downstream to around Valley Brook the stream continues to hold trout, but the stream tends to warm around Ft. Plain and the habitat becomes less suitable for trout.

The Otsquago Creek is truly a hidden gem when it comes to trout streams. The scenery in the gorge area is breathtaking and the fishing can be outstanding. Whether you enjoy fishing or just nature and beautiful landscapes the Otsquago Creek in Van Hornsville is a sight that should be seen.