Catskills, New York
Beaverkill and Willowemoc Creek Fishing Report: June 2, 2026
The Beaverkill and Willowemoc are cold and wadable this morning, but flows are sliding lower, so fish quietly with nymphs, wets, caddis, March Browns, Gray Fox, sulphurs, Isonychia, Green Drakes, and evening spinners in the box.
- Status
- good
- Flow trend
- falling
- Best window
- Late morning through evening, with the best dry-fly chances in broken water or lower light
- Best methods
- dry flies, nymphs, wet flies
Quick Summary
The Beaverkill and Willowemoc are fishable this morning, with cold water and manageable flows but a lower, more technical feel than a week ago. USGS showed the Beaver Kill at Cooks Falls at 253 cfs, 1.89 feet, and 54.7 F at 7:30 to 7:45 AM EDT; Willowemoc Creek near Livingston Manor was 60.4 cfs, 2.09 feet, and 50.4 F at 7:15 AM EDT. Both gauges are down from yesterday morning, so use stealth, longer leaders, and bank-first approaches in flatter water. Recent Catskill and Delaware-system context still supports caddis, March Browns, Gray Fox, sulphurs, Isonychia, Green Drakes, olives, and spinners, with nymphs and wets the practical starting point before fish show themselves.
Conditions Snapshot
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Status | Good |
| Flow | 253 cfs at Beaver Kill at Cooks Falls; 60.4 cfs on Willowemoc Creek near Livingston Manor |
| Gauge Height | 1.89 feet at Cooks Falls; 2.09 feet near Livingston Manor |
| Water Temp | 54.7 F at Cooks Falls; 50.4 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 chances in broken water or lower light |
| Best Method | dry flies; nymphs; wet flies |
| Wadeability | Good overall, but low enough to require quiet wading and careful lane selection |
Weather
For Livingston Manor and Roscoe, NY, the National Weather Service forecast calls for a mostly sunny day with a high near 70 F and north wind 2 to 8 mph. Tonight should be mostly clear with a low near 46 F and light north wind. No active NWS alerts were returned for the checked Livingston Manor point at report time.
River Notes
The Beaverkill has enough flow for riffles, pocket water, pool heads, and deeper seams, but the falling trend means fish in flat water will be easier to spook. Willowemoc Creek is colder and fishable, but at about 60 cfs it should be treated as a low-water creek: look before stepping, fish bank water first, and keep false casting to a minimum. Official gauges do not report clarity, so check the water at your access before settling into a plan. Morning temperatures are safe for trout, but shallow freestone reaches can warm under June sun; carry a thermometer and stop targeting trout if readings approach 68 F.
Hatch Activity
Use a broad early-June Catskill selection. Caddis, March Browns, Gray Fox, Invaria sulphurs, Isonychia, Green Drakes, olives, and rusty spinners all remain relevant. The best visible dry-fly work may not be continuous through the bright part of the day, so be ready to fish nymphs, caddis pupa, larger mayfly nymphs, and soft hackles through faster water until the rise form tells you what to match.
| Hatch | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Sedge / Tan Caddis | 14-18 | Work riffles with pupa, wets, spent caddis, and adults |
| March Brown | 10-12 | Good larger profile for broken Beaverkill water and prospecting |
| Gray Fox | 12-14 | Useful around riffles, tailouts, and mixed mayfly activity |
| Invaria Sulphur | 14-16 | Important late-day mayfly on softer edges and pool seams |
| Isonychia | 10-12 | Nymphs and wets are useful in faster seams before dry-fly activity becomes steady |
| Green Drake / Coffin Fly | 8-10 | Carry for low-light chances, especially in slower evening water |
| Blue Winged Olive | 18-22 | Worth having for shaded water or picky fish on smaller bugs |
| Rusty Spinner | 10-20 | Key evening option if the breeze relaxes and fish settle into slicks |
Recommended Flies
| Category | Fly | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dry | Blue Sedge or Tan Caddis | 14-18 | Search riffle edges and pocket water when caddis are moving |
| Dry | March Brown / Gray Fox Comparadun | 10-14 | Visible mayfly for broken water, bank seams, and pool heads |
| 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 dusk, but switch smaller if rise forms show olives or sulphurs |
| Dry | Rusty Spinner | 10-20 | Match evening spinner water with a longer leader and light tippet |
| Nymph | Isonychia Nymph | 10-12 | Work faster seams and riffle margins before fish commit to the surface |
| Nymph | Green Drake or March Brown Nymph | 8-12 | Good early subsurface profile in pockets and pool heads |
| Nymph | Caddis Pupa | 14-18 | Dead drift or swing through riffle tails |
| Wet | Partridge and Yellow | 14-16 | Useful bridge pattern around sulphurs, caddis, and soft hackle water |
| Streamer | Small Olive or Brown Bugger | 6-10 | Best early, late, or under broken light, especially in deeper Beaverkill slots |
Tactics
On the Beaverkill, start in riffles, pockets, and pool heads with larger mayfly nymphs, caddis pupa, or soft hackles, then switch to dries when rises become steady enough to read. On the Willowemoc, stay low, lengthen leaders, and fish from the bank before wading into the lane. If the surface stays quiet in bright sun, keep moving through broken water rather than waiting over flat fish. Save Green Drake, Coffin Fly, and spinner patterns for evening or shaded slicks, and check water temperatures if you fish late.
Gauge Links
| Gauge | Flow | Temp | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| BEAVER KILL AT COOKS FALLS NY | 253 cfs | 54.7 F | USGS 01420500 |
| WILLOWEMOC CREEK NR LIVINGSTON MANOR NY | 60.4 cfs | 50.4 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.