Catskills, New York
Beaverkill and Willowemoc Creek Fishing Report: May 30, 2026
The Beaverkill and Willowemoc remain in good wading shape with current May 30 local hatch context, safe morning temperatures, and caddis, sulphur, Gray Fox, Isonychia, Green Drake, BWO, and spinner activity.
- Status
- good
- Flow trend
- falling
- Best window
- Late morning through evening, with protected water best while the north wind is up
- Best methods
- dry flies, nymphs, wet flies
Quick Summary
The Beaverkill-Willowemoc system is still a good Catskills choice this morning, with a fresher May 30 local Catskill report now available for hatch context. USGS showed the Beaver Kill at Cooks Falls at 308 cfs, 2.10 feet, and 54.3 F at 7:30 to 7:45 AM EDT, while Willowemoc Creek near Livingston Manor was 73.5 cfs, 2.16 feet, and 51.6 F at 7:15 AM EDT. The current local report describes the rivers as in good shape after cool nights, with sulphurs, Gray Fox, Isonychia, a few Green Drakes and Coffin Flies, olives, and tan or gray caddis available from late afternoon into evening. Flows are falling and wadeable; the main challenge today is north wind, so fish protected banks and riffles first.
Conditions Snapshot
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Status | Good |
| Flow | 308 cfs at Beaver Kill at Cooks Falls; 73.5 cfs on Willowemoc Creek near Livingston Manor |
| Gauge Height | 2.10 feet at Cooks Falls; 2.16 feet near Livingston Manor |
| Water Temp | 54.3 F at Cooks Falls; 51.6 F near Livingston Manor |
| Clarity | Not reported by official gauges; current local reports describe good river shape, but verify at your access |
| Trend | Falling from yesterday morning |
| Best Window | Late morning through evening, with protected water best while the north wind is up |
| Best Method | dry flies; nymphs; wet flies |
| Wadeability | Good overall, with careful footing on deeper Beaverkill crossings |
Weather
For Livingston Manor and Roscoe, NY, the National Weather Service forecast calls for a high near 60 F with partly sunny skies. North wind is forecast at 12 to 18 mph with gusts as high as 33 mph, which can make the open pools and longer dry-fly casts difficult. Tonight should be mostly clear with a low near 38 F. There were no active NWS alerts for the checked point at report time.
River Notes
The Beaverkill is lower than yesterday but still has enough water to cover fish in classic riffles, pocket water, and deeper runs. The Willowemoc is getting clearer and more technical at 73.5 cfs, so approach slowly, keep false casting down, and avoid stepping into soft edge lanes before fishing them. Morning temperatures are safe for trout on both gauges. A cool, windy forecast lowers the immediate warm-water concern, but freestones can still warm unevenly in shallow afternoon water; use a thermometer if you fish late.
Hatch Activity
The newer May 30 Catskill source check keeps the hatch program current: expect a varied late-May box rather than a single-bug day. Sulphurs, Gray Fox, Isonychia, olives, caddis, and some Green Drake/Coffin Fly activity are all possible from late afternoon into evening. Wind may reduce visible surface feeding during the middle of the day, but nymphs and wets can keep you in the game until the river settles.
| Hatch | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sulphur | 14-16 | Important late-day mayfly on softer currents |
| Gray Fox | 12-14 | Good visible mayfly for riffles, tailouts, and evening lanes |
| Isonychia | 10-12 | Nymphs and wets are useful in faster water before obvious dry-fly activity |
| Tan / Gray Caddis | 14-18 | Fish pupa, soft hackles, and adults through riffles and evening edges |
| Blue Winged Olive | 18-22 | Useful if clouds build or you find quiet fish on smaller bugs |
| Green Drake / Coffin Fly | 8-10 | Carry for low light and heavier rise forms; activity is present but not the whole plan |
| Rusty Spinner | 10-20 | Key evening option if wind relaxes over flat water |
Recommended Flies
| Category | Fly | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dry | Gray Fox Comparadun | 12-14 | Use when fish are taking lighter mayflies in softer riffles |
| Dry | Sulphur Sparkle Dun | 14-16 | Good late-day fly if yellow mayflies draw steady rises |
| Dry | Green Drake or Coffin Fly | 8-10 | Keep a few for low-light windows, not as the only plan |
| Dry | BWO Comparadun | 18-22 | Carry for smaller olive feeders if clouds or broken light help |
| Dry | Rusty Spinner | 10-20 | Match calm evening spinner water in several sizes |
| Nymph | Isonychia Nymph | 10-12 | Good swimming nymph profile for faster seams |
| Nymph | Caddis Pupa | 14-18 | Dead drift or swing through riffle tails |
| Wet | Partridge and Yellow | 14-16 | Useful bridge pattern around sulphurs and caddis |
| Streamer | Small Olive or Brown Bugger | 6-10 | Best early, late, or under broken light |
Tactics
On the Beaverkill, start with larger nymphs, wet flies, or a visible dry-dropper in riffles and pocket water until trout show consistent rise forms. On the Willowemoc, lengthen leaders, stay low, and fish upstream edge water before walking through it. If gusts make precise dry-fly work impractical, swing wets across riffle tails or tight-line nymph the faster seams. Save spinner, Green Drake, and Coffin Fly work for calmer evening water, and keep checking trout temperatures if you fish shallow freestone sections late.
Gauge Links
| Gauge | Flow | Temp | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| BEAVER KILL AT COOKS FALLS NY | 308 cfs | 54.3 F | USGS 01420500 |
| WILLOWEMOC CREEK NR LIVINGSTON MANOR NY | 73.5 cfs | 51.6 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.