Catskills, New York
Beaverkill and Willowemoc Creek Fishing Report: May 31, 2026
The Beaverkill and Willowemoc are lower, cold enough, and still in good wading shape, with caddis, sulphurs, March Browns, Gray Fox, Isonychia, Green Drakes, olives, and spinners carrying the late-May program.
- Status
- good
- Flow trend
- falling
- Best window
- Late morning through evening, with the best dry-fly window when bugs and softer light overlap
- Best methods
- dry flies, nymphs, wet flies
Quick Summary
The Beaverkill and Willowemoc remain good Catskills options today. USGS showed the Beaver Kill at Cooks Falls at 292 cfs, 2.04 feet, and 52.3 F at 7:30 to 7:45 AM EDT, while Willowemoc Creek near Livingston Manor was 67.7 cfs, 2.13 feet, and 48.7 F at 7:15 AM EDT. Both flows are lower than yesterday morning but still fishable, with the Willowemoc becoming more technical as it drops. The most current local Catskill hatch report found during this pass was from May 30, and it supports a varied late-May box: Blue Sedge and tan caddis, March Browns, Gray Fox, Invaria sulphurs, Isonychia, Green Drakes, olives, and rusty spinners.
Conditions Snapshot
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Status | Good |
| Flow | 292 cfs at Beaver Kill at Cooks Falls; 67.7 cfs on Willowemoc Creek near Livingston Manor |
| Gauge Height | 2.04 feet at Cooks Falls; 2.13 feet near Livingston Manor |
| Water Temp | 52.3 F at Cooks Falls; 48.7 F near Livingston Manor |
| Clarity | Not reported by official gauges; verify at your access |
| Trend | Falling from yesterday morning |
| Best Window | Late morning through evening, with the best dry-fly window when bugs and softer light overlap |
| Best Method | dry flies; nymphs; wet flies |
| Wadeability | Good overall, with stealth and careful footing more important as the Willowemoc drops |
Weather
For Livingston Manor and Roscoe, NY, the National Weather Service forecast calls for a high near 68 F with partly sunny skies. Northwest wind is forecast at 3 to 9 mph, which should be much easier for dry-fly fishing than yesterday's gusty setup. Tonight should be mostly cloudy with a low near 46 F and a slight chance of rain showers between 2 AM and 3 AM. There were no active NWS alerts for the checked point at report time.
River Notes
The Beaverkill is lower but still has useful depth in riffles, pocket water, deeper seams, and the heads of pools. The Willowemoc at 67.7 cfs calls for a quieter approach: fish the bank water before stepping in, keep leaders longer, and avoid repeated false casts over flat water. Morning temperatures are safe for trout on both gauges. A warmer, partly sunny afternoon can still lift shallow freestone temperatures, so check with a thermometer if you fish late or move into slower exposed water.
Hatch Activity
The May 30 Catskill source check keeps the late-May hatch list useful even though a fresh May 31 local page was not visible at report time. Expect a mixed hatch day rather than one dominant bug. Caddis and larger mayflies can keep fish looking up in broken water, while sulphurs, Green Drakes, Coffin Flies, olives, and rusty spinners are better bets when the light softens and the surface settles.
| Hatch | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Sedge / Tan Caddis | 14-18 | Productive in riffles; fish pupa, wets, spent caddis, and adults |
| March Brown | 10-12 | Good larger profile for broken Beaverkill water and prospecting |
| Gray Fox | 12-14 | Useful in riffles, tailouts, and evening lanes |
| Invaria Sulphur | 14-16 | Important late-day mayfly on softer edges and pool seams |
| Isonychia | 10-12 | Nymphs and wets belong in faster seams before dry-fly activity becomes obvious |
| Blue Winged Olive | 18-22 | Carry for broken light, clouds, or picky fish on smaller bugs |
| Green Drake / Coffin Fly | 8-10 | Best in low light; worth carrying but not the whole plan |
| Rusty Spinner | 10-20 | Key evening option if the wind relaxes and fish settle into flat water |
Recommended Flies
| Category | Fly | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dry | Blue Sedge or Tan Caddis | 14-18 | Search riffles and pocket edges when caddis are moving |
| Dry | March Brown / Gray Fox Comparadun | 10-14 | Visible mayfly for broken water and tailouts |
| Dry | Sulphur Sparkle Dun | 14-16 | Use later in the day when yellow mayflies draw steady rises |
| Dry | Green Drake or Coffin Fly | 8-10 | Carry for low-light chances on heavier rise forms |
| Dry | Rusty Spinner | 10-20 | Match evening spinner water with a longer leader |
| Nymph | Isonychia Nymph | 10-12 | Work faster seams before fish commit to the surface |
| Nymph | Green Drake or March Brown Nymph | 8-12 | Good early subsurface profile in riffles and pockets |
| 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
Fish the Beaverkill first if you want a little more water and room to work. Start with larger nymphs, caddis pupa, or wets through riffles and pocket water, then switch to dries when you see steady rises rather than one-off splashy takes. On the Willowemoc, slow down and fish upstream with longer leaders; lower water makes trout easier to spook. Save Green Drake, Coffin Fly, and spinner patterns for evening or sheltered flat water, and check temperature before continuing in shallow freestone water late in the day.
Gauge Links
| Gauge | Flow | Temp | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| BEAVER KILL AT COOKS FALLS NY | 292 cfs | 52.3 F | USGS 01420500 |
| WILLOWEMOC CREEK NR LIVINGSTON MANOR NY | 67.7 cfs | 48.7 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.