Catskills, New York
Beaverkill and Willowemoc Creek Fishing Report: June 3, 2026
The Beaverkill and Willowemoc are cold and wadable this morning, but flows are sliding lower, so fish quietly and keep caddis, March Browns, Gray Fox, sulphurs, Isonychia, Green Drakes, olives, wets, and nymphs ready.
- Status
- good
- Flow trend
- falling
- Best window
- Morning through evening, with the best dry-fly odds in riffles, shade, and lower light
- Best methods
- dry flies, nymphs, wet flies
Quick Summary
The Beaverkill and Willowemoc are fishable this morning, with safe trout temperatures and manageable wading flows. USGS showed the Beaver Kill at Cooks Falls at 239 cfs, 1.83 feet, and 55.8 F at 7:30 to 7:45 AM EDT; Willowemoc Creek near Livingston Manor was 55.3 cfs, 2.06 feet, and 51.1 F at 7:15 AM EDT. Both gauges are lower than yesterday morning, so the fishing should be more technical in flat water even though riffles and pocket water remain useful. Carry caddis, March Browns, Gray Fox, sulphurs, Isonychia, Green Drakes, olives, soft hackles, and nymphs, and be ready to check water temperature again if you fish shallow freestone water late in the day.
Conditions Snapshot
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Status | Good |
| Flow | 239 cfs at Beaver Kill at Cooks Falls; 55.3 cfs on Willowemoc Creek near Livingston Manor |
| Gauge Height | 1.83 feet at Cooks Falls; 2.06 feet near Livingston Manor |
| Water Temp | 55.8 F at Cooks Falls; 51.1 F near Livingston Manor |
| Clarity | Not reported by official gauges; verify at your access |
| Trend | Falling from yesterday morning |
| Best Window | Morning through evening, with the best dry-fly odds in riffles, shade, and lower light |
| Best Method | dry flies; nymphs; wet flies |
| Wadeability | Good overall, but low enough to require quiet wading, longer leaders, and bank-first fishing |
Weather
For Livingston Manor, NY, the National Weather Service forecast calls for sun and a high near 77 F. North to northwest wind should run about 2-7 mph. Tonight should be mostly clear with a low near 50 F. The warm, sunny forecast makes thermometer use important on shallow freestone reaches by afternoon, even though morning official readings were safe for trout.
River Notes
The Beaverkill has enough water for riffles, pocket water, pool heads, and deeper seams, but the falling trend puts more pressure on approach and presentation. Fish from the bank before stepping into the lane, especially around flatter tailouts and edges. The Willowemoc is colder but low, so treat it like a technical creek: stay low, lengthen leaders, and avoid repeated false casts over holding water. Official gauges do not report clarity, so verify visibility and floating debris at the access before settling into a plan.
Hatch Activity
Use a broad early-June Catskill box. Current Delaware-system context supports caddis, March Browns, Gray Fox, Cahills, Green Drakes, olives, sulphurs, and spinners; those hatches are relevant to the Beaverkill and Willowemoc, with local timing depending on light, water temperature, and reach. In bright sun, nymphs, caddis pupa, larger mayfly nymphs, and soft hackles may outfish dries until fish show a steady surface rhythm.
| 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 Beaverkill broken water and bank seams |
| Gray Fox | 12-14 | Useful around riffles, tailouts, and mixed mayfly activity |
| Sulphur / Cahill | 14-18 | Important late-day mayflies on softer edges and pool seams |
| Isonychia | 10-12 | Nymphs and wets are useful in faster seams before dry-fly activity steadies |
| Green Drake / Coffin Fly | 8-10 | Carry for low light and 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 or Light Cahill Sparkle Dun | 14-18 | Use later in the day when lighter 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 or Partridge and Orange | 12-16 | Useful when sulphurs, caddis, or mixed mayflies are present but rises are scattered |
| Streamer | Small Olive or Brown Bugger | 6-10 | Best early, late, or under broken light in deeper Beaverkill slots |
Tactics
On the Beaverkill, start in riffles, pocket water, and pool heads with a larger mayfly nymph, caddis pupa, or soft hackle, then switch to dries when rise forms are regular enough to read. On the Willowemoc, make fewer casts and cover banks, shade, and narrow seams before wading into them. If fish are up but inconsistent, try a dry-dropper or a soft hackle behind a buoyant dry in broken water. Check temperatures through the afternoon and stop targeting trout if freestone readings approach 68 F.
Gauge Links
| Gauge | Flow | Temp | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| BEAVER KILL AT COOKS FALLS NY | 239 cfs | 55.8 F | USGS 01420500 |
| WILLOWEMOC CREEK NR LIVINGSTON MANOR NY | 55.3 cfs | 51.1 F | USGS 01419500 |
Sources
Official sources checked: USGS stations 01420500 and 01419500, plus the National Weather Service forecast 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.