Catskills, New York
Beaverkill and Willowemoc Creek Fishing Report: May 26, 2026
The Beaverkill and Willowemoc remain fishable but mixed, with conservative Beaverkill wading, better smaller-water options on the Willowemoc, and warm bright weather to manage.
- Status
- fair
- Flow trend
- stable
- Best window
- Early morning and evening; midday depends on shade and water temperature
- Best methods
- nymphs, dry flies, wet flies
Quick Summary
The Beaverkill-Willowemoc system is still fishable, but call it fair rather than easy. USGS showed the Beaver Kill at Cooks Falls at 527 cfs and 54.9 F during the second morning check, while Willowemoc Creek near Livingston Manor was 129 cfs and 51.4 F. The gauge move since the 8 AM pass was small, but the weather check no longer showed the earlier fog advisory; expect bright, warm conditions to make the early and evening windows better than midday.
Conditions Snapshot
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Status | Fair |
| Flow | 527 cfs at Beaver Kill at Cooks Falls; 129 cfs on Willowemoc Creek near Livingston Manor |
| Gauge Height | 2.73 feet at Cooks Falls; 2.40 feet near Livingston Manor |
| Water Temp | 54.9 F at Cooks Falls; 51.4 F near Livingston Manor |
| Clarity | Good in regional reports; verify at your access |
| Trend | Near stable since the first morning pass |
| Best Window | Early morning and evening; midday depends on shade and water temperature |
| Best Method | nymphs; dry flies; wet flies |
| Wadeability | Limited on the Beaverkill; better but still access-dependent on the Willowemoc |
Weather
For the Livingston Manor and Roscoe area, the National Weather Service forecast calls for mostly sunny weather with a high near 79 F and light west wind up to 5 mph. The dense fog advisory that was active during the first pass was no longer active at the 9 AM check. The practical issue now is warming air and bright light, not storm risk.
River Notes
The Beaverkill has enough water to fish well, but 527 cfs at Cooks Falls is still a level where crossings and fast slots deserve respect. The Willowemoc is the better wade-scale option, though lower, clear water can get technical once the sun is high. Local Catskill context reviewed during the second pass points to active late-May insects, but the warm forecast argues for fishing early, checking water temperature in the afternoon, and saving patient dry-fly work for evening.
Hatch Activity
The late-May Catskill hatch mix remains strong enough to keep several boxes in play. Current local context supports sulphurs, small olives, tan caddis, March Browns, and Blue Sedge caddis beginning near dark. No current note reviewed at 9 AM confirmed Green Drakes where the report was written, so treat drakes as a possible bonus rather than a dependable plan.
| Hatch | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tan Caddis | 14-18 | Important prospecting and pupa activity through riffles and pocket water |
| Blue Sedge Caddis | 14-16 | Beginning to appear near dark; watch lower-light riffles |
| Invaria / Dorothea Sulphur | 14-18 | Best chance late in the day, especially where shade softens the light |
| March Brown / Gray Fox | 10-14 | Useful larger profile for broken water and edge seams |
| Cornuta Olive / BWO | 14-20 | Worth carrying for morning or cloudier intervals |
| Isonychia | 10-12 | Beginning seasonal option on warmer Catskill water; prospect with nymphs or emergers |
Recommended Flies
| Category | Fly | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dry | Elk Hair Caddis | 14-18 | Good searching dry in broken riffle water |
| Dry | Sulphur Sparkle Dun | 14-18 | Match evening mayflies when fish are up |
| Dry | March Brown / Gray Fox Parachute | 10-14 | Use as a visible larger mayfly in broken current |
| Dry | Rusty Spinner | 12-18 | Carry for calm evening spinner falls |
| Nymph | Pheasant Tail | 12-18 | Go larger when matching March Brown, Gray Fox, or Isonychia nymphs |
| Nymph | Caddis Pupa | 14-18 | Dead drift or swing through riffle tails |
| Wet | Partridge and Orange | 12-16 | Swing ahead of visible hatches or sparse rises |
| Streamer | Woolly Bugger | 6-10 | Best early, late, or against shaded banks |
Tactics
On the Beaverkill, stay conservative with wading and fish from the bank or near-bank rocks before trying to cross. On the Willowemoc, use lighter tippet and longer leaders in clear, lower water, then switch to a wet fly or dry-dropper when you need to cover riffles without spooking fish. If afternoon water approaches the upper 60s at your thermometer, stop targeting trout and wait for cooler evening conditions.
Gauge Links
| Gauge | Flow | Temp | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| BEAVER KILL AT COOKS FALLS NY | 527 cfs | 54.9 F | USGS 01420500 |
| WILLOWEMOC CREEK NR LIVINGSTON MANOR NY | 129 cfs | 51.4 F | USGS 01419500 |
Sources
Official sources checked: USGS stations 01420500 and 01419500, plus the National Weather Service forecast and alerts for the Livingston Manor, NY area. This report is an original Custom FlyBox summary based on current official gauge and weather data, with local public conditions reports reviewed separately for hatch, access, and method context.