Limestone Creek
The East branch of Limestone starts as a trickle as it comes out of the Deruyter reservoir south of Route 80. Small in stature and often off color the creek looks more like a ditch than a trout stream. However, Brown trout who survive the early season onslaught of worm dunkers thrive in the cool waters. Rumors of large holdover and wild Browns persist and anglers who can finesse streamers in tight quarters will find success when conditions are right. Below Route 80 and Route 20 the stream picks up water from small tributaries and begins to look more like traditional trout water. Nymphing works well throughout the spring and early summer as long as the flow remains at fishable levels.
Once the stream moves north of Route 20 the trout population and access diminish greatly. Clay banks and deep pools make for marginal fly fishing but trout will eat near the tribs and in many of the numerous deep pools. Streamers will produce in this stretch but hatches are sparse and nymphing can be next to impossible due to the streams slow pace.
The East Branch flows over a dam next to the Manlius Fire Department on Pompey Hill Road and after about 50 yards tumbles over Edwards Falls. From this point all the way through Fayetteville Limestone shows its true colors as a classic Upstate trout stream. Riffles, pools and runs abound and the stream widens to allow anglers ample room to cast. Hatches can be excellent and many anglers rate this section as high as any water in Central New York.
An aggressive float stocking program run by the Iraquois TU chapter provides the opportunity to cast to larger holdover fish as well Limestone's wild Browns.
Nymphs will almost always produce and dry fly fishing can be outstanding in the spring and throughout the summer during the ealrly morning and evening hatches. Several stream improvement projects have helped extend the good fishing through Fayetteville and access is good throughout this stretch.