Fly-Fishing Mania Fuels Airbnb Rental Boom in Upstate New York

Short-term rentals in several sleepy towns in upstate New York are commanding high prices due to their proximity to prime fly fishing spots.

The epicenter of the boom is Roscoe, NY—nicknamed "Trout Town USA" because of its rich trout fishing waters in the Catskill Mountain region.

AirDNA—a firm that compiles and analyzes Vrbo and Airbnb data—reports that occupancy in Roscoe peaks in April, July, and August, with average daily rates of $255, $306, and $305, respectively.

AirDNA public relations associate Sabrine Louhichi tells Realtor.com®, "Roscoe has high seasonality, with over 1,800 room nights sold this past August compared to around 500 in March. The city's popularity has grown quickly over the past five years."

In March 2021, there were 38 short-term rental listings in Roscoe and now there are 102.

AirDNA notes that anglers in the Catskills area also frequently visit nearby Andes, NY, and Athens, NY.

Andes sees its highest occupancy in July, with an average nightly rate of $217, while Athens peaks in August at an average of $475 per night.

Hannah Jones, senior economic research analyst at Realtor.com, says: "Proximity to high-demand attractions like fishing, hiking, ski resorts, national parks, or cultural destinations, is essentially the engine of short-term rental income. A property near compelling, repeatable attractions benefits from longer booking seasons, stronger nightly rates, and lower vacancy, which is why savvy STR investors treat nearby amenities as a core requirement, not an afterthought."

Inside Roscoe aka 'Trout Town USA'

Roscoe is a small hamlet located in Sullivan County in southeastern New York state—130 miles from New York City. It's a quiet rural community known for its fly-fishing heritage, outdoor recreation, and proximity to forested mountain landscapes in the broader Catskills region.

Roscoe real estate agent James Karpowicz of Timberland Properties says Roscoe—where the median listing price is $481,000—is very popular with out-of-towners.

"Ninety percent of all my buyers are from New York or Brooklyn—and a large portion of them definitely go for the Airbnbs," he says. "It's always brought up in conversations."

Karpowicz says fly-fishing is big business here, and most Airbnb hosts generally do very well in the area.

Local fly-fishing guide Todd Spire tells Realtor.com, "The Catskills are challenging and historically significant in terms of fly fishing, so anglers travel the world to fish the sacred waters of these hills. It is the place where the sport was transformed into what it is today, most notably through the evolution of gear and the hand-tied flies we use to catch trout."

Spire explains that the Catskills’ short yet steep mountains help produce oxygen-rich rivers—ideal conditions for trout to thrive—and notes that the prime fishing windows are during the shoulder seasons: spring (April through June) and fall (September through October).

There are five popular trout streams near town—including the Willowemoc, Beaverkill, and branches of the Delaware River.

Karpowicz says Roscoe has always had more of a sportsmen's vibe, but a lot of artists and musicians moved there during the COVID-19 pandemic and stayed permanently—creating a thriving arts scene.

"There's a new art collective in town, and there's lots of live music in Roscoe's sister city, Livingston Manor, which has been getting a lot of media play and is quite trendy," says Karpowicz.

About Andes and Athens

Roughly 60 miles northwest of Roscoe lies Andes—a small town located in Delaware County in southeastern New York state, set within the western portion of the Catskill Mountains. It sits in a rural, mountainous part of the region known for its forests, lakes, and outdoor recreation.

Louhichi says Andes is also popular with anglers and sees winter interest as well, thanks to its ice fishing.

According to Karpowicz, Andes is a second-home enclave and a recreational paradise 150 miles from New York City. The median listing price is $472,000.

He notes that many homeowners in Andes use their property part time and rent it out on Airbnb when they’re away.

About 60 miles west of Andes, Athens is a small village located in Greene County, in eastern New York state, along the western bank of the Hudson River. It sits in the broader Hudson Valley region, not far from the Catskill Mountains.

The median listing price in Athens is $596,250.

Athens is more of a lowland town that offers a range of fishing spots, with trout and panfish found in Greens Lake and warm-water species like striped bass, largemouth bass, and walleye in the nearby Hudson River.

Fly-fishing caters to a luxury market

Once a simple pastime, fly-fishing now thrives as a luxury industry, with elite resorts offering all-inclusive trips at $1,200-plus per night.

In Upstate New York, the Chatwal Lodge offers an all-inclusive luxury fly-fishing experience set within the Catskills, combining guided access to nearby trout waters with upscale accommodations, farm-to-table dining, and curated outdoor activities.

The Chatwal Lodge is approximately 25 miles from Roscoe, 40 miles from Andes, and 95 miles from Athens.

Many other luxury fly-fishing resorts are concentrated in Montana and Wyoming, including The Ranch at Rock Creek, Sage Lodge, French Creek at Brush Creek Ranch, Madison Double R and Missouri Cliffs Lodge, all of which offer high-end, all-inclusive access to some of the West’s best trout rivers.