Meridia

Hackett Fly Fishing

Status: active

Matthias Hackett has guided fly anglers on the Catskill trout streams for 20 years, building deep expertise across the Delaware River system—the East Branch, West Branch, and Main Stem—as well as the Beaverkill and Willowemoc Creek. His approach spans the full spectrum: spring dry-fly fishing during Hendrickson and March Brown hatches (April–July), summer nymphing and streamer work when water temperatures rise, and thrilling night-fishing expeditions targeting trophy brown trout with mouse patterns. He also guides seasonal trips to Great Lakes tributaries in fall for steelhead, salmon, and lake trout, offering clients a diverse year-round fishing experience across New York's premier trout waters.

Details

  • Species: Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, Smallmouth Bass, Steelhead, Lake Trout, Walleye, Brook Trout
  • Tags: Fly Fishing, Wade Fishing, Freshwater, Drift Boat, Shore / Wade Only, Full Day, Wade Trip, Float Trip, Instructional, Catch & Release, Gear Provided, Flies / Lures Provided, Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, Dry Fly, Nymphing, Streamer, Spring, Summer, Autumn, Year-Round

Waters Serviced (11)

DestinationType
Catskill Mountainsregion_colloquial
West Branch Delaware Riverriver
Willowemoc Creekriver
Roscoecity
Hancockcity
East Branch Delaware Riverriver
Beaver Riverriver
Little Delaware Riverriver
New Yorkstate
Livingston Lakelake
Downsvillecity
Raw guide data (JSON)
{
  "id": "588c2e2d-0f5d-40cd-a706-cf41b7d7b07b",
  "organizationId": "baac4223-f931-49bf-8f83-19503c32205f",
  "name": "Hackett Fly Fishing",
  "guideName": "Matthias Hackett",
  "slug": "hackett-fly-fishing",
  "bio": "Matthias Hackett has guided fly anglers on the Catskill trout streams for 20 years, building deep expertise across the Delaware River system—the East Branch, West Branch, and Main Stem—as well as the Beaverkill and Willowemoc Creek. His approach spans the full spectrum: spring dry-fly fishing during Hendrickson and March Brown hatches (April–July), summer nymphing and streamer work when water temperatures rise, and thrilling night-fishing expeditions targeting trophy brown trout with mouse patterns. He also guides seasonal trips to Great Lakes tributaries in fall for steelhead, salmon, and lake trout, offering clients a diverse year-round fishing experience across New York's premier trout waters.",
  "yearsExperience": 20,
  "city": "East Branch",
  "stateProvince": "NY",
  "countryCode": "US",
  "country": "US",
  "timezone": "UTC-4",
  "isVerified": false,
  "canonicalUrl": "https://hackettflyfishing.com/catskills-fly-fishing-guide",
  "tripAdvisorUrl": null,
  "googleMapsUrl": "https://maps.google.com/?cid=8210664406211217749&g_mp=CiVnb29nbGUubWFwcy5wbGFjZXMudjEuUGxhY2VzLkdldFBsYWNlEAIYBCAA",
  "openMonths": [
    1,
    2,
    3,
    4,
    5,
    6,
    7,
    8,
    9,
    10,
    11,
    12
  ],
  "peakMonths": [
    4,
    5,
    6,
    9,
    10
  ],
  "fishingSeasonsNarrative": "My year on the water follows the vibrant pulse of the Catskills' renowned trout streams. Spring kicks off with the anticipation of hatches, particularly the Hendricksons and March Browns, which bring the trout to the surface for exciting dry-fly action from April through early July. As summer arrives, the focus shifts to nymphing and streamer fishing, especially during the warmer months when water temperatures can be challenging. We also embrace the unique opportunity for night fishing, targeting large brown trout with mouse patterns, a thrilling experience that often yields trophy-sized fish.\n\nFall brings a different kind of magic to the Delaware system. While the hatches may be smaller, the cooler temperatures and changing leaves create a picturesque backdrop for consistent fishing. We continue to target trout with nymphs and streamers, and the \"mouse bite\" can extend into the cooler evenings. For those seeking a different challenge, we also offer trips to the Great Lakes tributaries in the fall for steelhead, salmon, and lake trout, a fantastic way to cap off the fishing season.",
  "meetingPoint": null,
  "providesGear": true,
  "gearNotes": "All fly rods, reels, waders, boots, and flies are provided. Clients are welcome to bring their own gear if preferred.",
  "kidFriendly": null,
  "skillLevel": "all levels",
  "cancellationPolicy": null,
  "licenseInfo": null,
  "whatToExpect": "Trips rotate seasonally through the Catskill streams depending on hatches, water conditions, and target species. Spring days focus on dry-fly action during peak hatches; summer shifts to nymphing and streamers in cooler pockets; fall includes night-fishing opportunities for large browns with mouse patterns, as well as trips to Great Lakes tributaries for steelhead. All gear is provided, and the pace accommodates all skill levels from beginners to advanced anglers seeking technical instruction or trophy-fish opportunities.",
  "status": "active",
  "pipelineId": 129,
  "createdAt": "2026-05-16T00:48:45.907Z",
  "updatedAt": "2026-05-16T01:38:50.386Z",
  "reviews": [],
  "credentials": [],
  "geom": {
    "type": "Point",
    "coordinates": [
      -75.1519116,
      42.0010022
    ]
  },
  "tags": [
    {
      "slug": "fly-fishing",
      "name": "Fly Fishing",
      "tagType": "fishing_style"
    },
    {
      "slug": "wade-fishing",
      "name": "Wade Fishing",
      "tagType": "fishing_style"
    },
    {
      "slug": "freshwater",
      "name": "Freshwater",
      "tagType": "water_type"
    },
    {
      "slug": "drift-boat",
      "name": "Drift Boat",
      "tagType": "boat_type"
    },
    {
      "slug": "shore-only",
      "name": "Shore / Wade Only",
      "tagType": "boat_type"
    },
    {
      "slug": "full-day",
      "name": "Full Day",
      "tagType": "trip_format"
    },
    {
      "slug": "wade-trip",
      "name": "Wade Trip",
      "tagType": "trip_format"
    },
    {
      "slug": "float-trip",
      "name": "Float Trip",
      "tagType": "trip_format"
    },
    {
      "slug": "instructional",
      "name": "Instructional",
      "tagType": "trip_format"
    },
    {
      "slug": "catch-and-release",
      "name": "Catch & Release",
      "tagType": "trip_format"
    },
    {
      "slug": "gear-provided",
      "name": "Gear Provided",
      "tagType": "trip_inclusion"
    },
    {
      "slug": "flies-provided",
      "name": "Flies / Lures Provided",
      "tagType": "trip_inclusion"
    },
    {
      "slug": "beginner",
      "name": "Beginner",
      "tagType": "ability"
    },
    {
      "slug": "intermediate",
      "name": "Intermediate",
      "tagType": "ability"
    },
    {
      "slug": "advanced",
      "name": "Advanced",
      "tagType": "ability"
    },
    {
      "slug": "dry-fly",
      "name": "Dry Fly",
      "tagType": "technique"
    },
    {
      "slug": "nymphing",
      "name": "Nymphing",
      "tagType": "technique"
    },
    {
      "slug": "streamer",
      "name": "Streamer",
      "tagType": "technique"
    },
    {
      "slug": "spring",
      "name": "Spring",
      "tagType": "season"
    },
    {
      "slug": "summer",
      "name": "Summer",
      "tagType": "season"
    },
    {
      "slug": "autumn",
      "name": "Autumn",
      "tagType": "season"
    },
    {
      "slug": "year-round",
      "name": "Year-Round",
      "tagType": "season"
    }
  ],
  "faqs": [],
  "destinations": [
    {
      "slug": "catskill-mountains",
      "name": "Catskill Mountains",
      "type": "region_colloquial",
      "primary": true,
      "confirmed": false,
      "relationship": null,
      "distanceMeters": null
    },
    {
      "slug": "west-branch-delaware-river-ny",
      "name": "West Branch Delaware River",
      "type": "river",
      "primary": false,
      "confirmed": false,
      "relationship": null,
      "distanceMeters": null
    },
    {
      "slug": "willowemoc-creek-ny",
      "name": "Willowemoc Creek",
      "type": "river",
      "primary": false,
      "confirmed": false,
      "relationship": null,
      "distanceMeters": null
    },
    {
      "slug": "roscoe-ny",
      "name": "Roscoe",
      "type": "city",
      "primary": false,
      "confirmed": false,
      "relationship": null,
      "distanceMeters": null
    },
    {
      "slug": "hancock-ny",
      "name": "Hancock",
      "type": "city",
      "primary": false,
      "confirmed": false,
      "relationship": null,
      "distanceMeters": null
    },
    {
      "slug": "east-branch-delaware-river-ny",
      "name": "East Branch Delaware River",
      "type": "river",
      "primary": false,
      "confirmed": false,
      "relationship": null,
      "distanceMeters": null
    },
    {
      "slug": "beaver-river-ny",
      "name": "Beaver River",
      "type": "river",
      "primary": false,
      "confirmed": false,
      "relationship": null,
      "distanceMeters": null
    },
    {
      "slug": "little-delaware-river-ny",
      "name": "Little Delaware River",
      "type": "river",
      "primary": false,
      "confirmed": false,
      "relationship": null,
      "distanceMeters": null
    },
    {
      "slug": "new-york",
      "name": "New York",
      "type": "state",
      "primary": false,
      "confirmed": false,
      "relationship": null,
      "distanceMeters": null
    },
    {
      "slug": "livingston-lake-ny",
      "name": "Livingston Lake",
      "type": "lake",
      "primary": false,
      "confirmed": false,
      "relationship": null,
      "distanceMeters": null
    },
    {
      "slug": "downsville-ny",
      "name": "Downsville",
      "type": "city",
      "primary": false,
      "confirmed": false,
      "relationship": null,
      "distanceMeters": null
    }
  ],
  "primaryDestinationSlug": "catskill-mountains",
  "accommodations": [],
  "species": [
    {
      "slug": "brown-trout",
      "commonName": "Brown Trout",
      "category": "freshwater",
      "availableMonths": [
        1,
        2,
        3,
        4,
        5,
        6,
        7,
        8,
        9,
        10,
        11,
        12
      ],
      "peakMonths": [
        4,
        5,
        6,
        9,
        10
      ],
      "seasonalityNotes": "Brown trout are the backbone of the Catskills fishery, offering excellent opportunities throughout the year. Spring hatches like Hendricksons and March Browns bring them to the surface, while summer demands precise nymphing in cooler pockets. Fall is prime time for larger fish, and night mousing trips in the summer and fall can yield true trophies, with fish often exceeding 20 inches.",
      "notes": null
    },
    {
      "slug": "rainbow-trout",
      "commonName": "Rainbow Trout",
      "category": "freshwater",
      "availableMonths": [
        1,
        2,
        3,
        4,
        5,
        6,
        7,
        8,
        9,
        10,
        11,
        12
      ],
      "peakMonths": [
        4,
        5,
        6,
        9,
        10
      ],
      "seasonalityNotes": "Rainbow trout are prevalent in the Delaware system, especially in the mainstem riffles. They are active throughout the year, with spring and fall offering the best opportunities for consistent dry-fly and nymphing action. Summer fishing can be productive in the mornings and evenings, and they readily take streamers, especially during high water in the spring.",
      "notes": null
    },
    {
      "slug": "smallmouth-bass",
      "commonName": "Smallmouth Bass",
      "category": "freshwater",
      "availableMonths": [
        5,
        6,
        7,
        8,
        9
      ],
      "peakMonths": [
        6,
        7,
        8
      ],
      "seasonalityNotes": "Smallmouth bass fishing heats up in the warmer months, particularly on the lower sections of the Delaware River system. They are aggressive feeders and provide exciting action on poppers and streamers, especially during the summer when trout fishing can be challenging due to warmer water temperatures.",
      "notes": null
    },
    {
      "slug": "steelhead",
      "commonName": "Steelhead",
      "category": "anadromous",
      "availableMonths": [
        10,
        11,
        12,
        1,
        2,
        3
      ],
      "peakMonths": [
        11,
        12,
        1,
        2
      ],
      "seasonalityNotes": "Steelhead are targeted in the Great Lakes tributaries during the fall and winter months. These powerful migratory fish offer a different kind of challenge, with aggressive takes on swung flies and streamers.",
      "notes": null
    },
    {
      "slug": "lake-trout",
      "commonName": "Lake Trout",
      "category": "freshwater",
      "availableMonths": [
        10,
        11,
        12,
        1,
        2,
        3,
        4
      ],
      "peakMonths": [
        10,
        11,
        1,
        2
      ],
      "seasonalityNotes": "Lake trout are another target in the Great Lakes tributaries during the fall and winter. They are known for their size and strength, offering a rewarding challenge for anglers.",
      "notes": null
    },
    {
      "slug": "walleye",
      "commonName": "Walleye",
      "category": "freshwater",
      "availableMonths": [
        4,
        5,
        6,
        7,
        8,
        9
      ],
      "peakMonths": [
        5,
        6,
        7
      ],
      "seasonalityNotes": "Walleye can be found in the lower sections of the Delaware River system, particularly in the warmer summer months. They are a good target for anglers seeking a different species and can provide some exciting action.",
      "notes": null
    },
    {
      "slug": "brook-trout",
      "commonName": "Brook Trout",
      "category": "freshwater",
      "availableMonths": [
        4,
        5,
        6,
        7,
        8,
        9,
        10
      ],
      "peakMonths": [
        5,
        6,
        7
      ],
      "seasonalityNotes": "While the larger rivers are the main focus, brook trout can be found in the smaller, higher-elevation streams and tributaries of the Catskills. They are most active in the spring and early summer, offering a chance to catch native trout in pristine mountain settings.",
      "notes": null
    }
  ],
  "reviewCount": 0,
  "avgRating": null,
  "imageUrl": null
}