Catskills, New York
Beaverkill and Willowemoc Creek Fishing Report: June 4, 2026
The Beaverkill and Willowemoc are still cold enough and wadeable this morning, but lower flows, sun, and a warm afternoon call for quiet approaches and thermometer checks.
- Status
- good
- Flow trend
- falling
- Best window
- Morning through evening shade, with careful temperature checks on freestone water later in the day
- Best methods
- dry flies, nymphs, wet flies
Quick Summary
The Beaverkill and Willowemoc are fishable this morning, but the freestones are slipping lower and will be more technical than they were earlier in the week. USGS showed the Beaver Kill at Cooks Falls at 218 cfs, 1.74 feet, and 58.3 F around 7:30 to 7:45 AM EDT; Willowemoc Creek near Livingston Manor was 52.0 cfs, 2.04 feet, and 52.7 F at 7:15 AM EDT. Those temperatures are safe for trout in the morning, but today's sunny forecast and high near 82 F make a thermometer important on shallow reaches by afternoon. Fish dry flies, nymphs, and wet flies around riffles, shade, and broken seams, with caddis, March Browns, Gray Fox, sulphurs, Isonychia, Green Drakes, olives, and spinners in the box.
Conditions Snapshot
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Status | Good |
| Flow | 218 cfs at Beaver Kill at Cooks Falls; 52.0 cfs on Willowemoc Creek near Livingston Manor |
| Gauge Height | 1.74 feet at Cooks Falls; 2.04 feet near Livingston Manor |
| Water Temp | 58.3 F at Cooks Falls; 52.7 F near Livingston Manor |
| Clarity | Not reported by official gauges; verify at your access |
| Trend | Falling from yesterday morning |
| Best Window | Morning through evening shade, with careful temperature checks on freestone water later in the day |
| Best Method | dry flies; nymphs; wet flies |
| Wadeability | Good overall, but low enough to reward bank-first fishing, quiet steps, and longer leaders |
Weather
For Livingston Manor, NY, the National Weather Service forecast calls for sunny skies and a high near 82 F. Wind should be light from the northwest at 1-5 mph, and tonight should be mostly clear with a low around 54 F. No active NWS alerts were found for the forecast zone at report time. The warm afternoon is the main safety note: check water temperatures through the day and stop targeting trout if readings approach 68 F.
River Notes
The Beaverkill has enough water to fish riffles, pocket water, pool heads, and shaded seams, but the falling trend means flat water will show every heavy step and bad drift. The Willowemoc is colder but low, so stay out of the lane until you have fished the bank side thoroughly. Official gauges do not report clarity; if you find strong visibility and bright sun, start with longer leaders, smaller dries, or subsurface flies in broken water. If afternoon temperatures climb too quickly, shift to colder tributary-influenced water or end the trout session early.
Hatch Activity
The Catskills remain in an early-June mixed-hatch period. Recent local context supports caddis, March Browns, Gray Fox, Invaria sulphurs, Isonychia, Green Drakes, olives, and spinners. On a sunny day, expect better dry-fly behavior where shade, riffle chop, or low light gives fish some cover; otherwise, nymphs, caddis pupa, and soft hackles may be the steadier choice until fish show.
| Hatch | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Sedge / Tan Caddis | 14-18 | Fish pupa, wets, and adults around riffles and pocket water |
| March Brown | 10-12 | Good larger profile for Beaverkill broken water and bank seams |
| Gray Fox | 12-14 | Useful around mixed mayfly activity and pool heads |
| Invaria Sulphur / Light Cahill | 14-18 | Important late-day mayfly option in softer edges and tailouts |
| 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 but downsize if rise forms point to smaller bugs |
| Blue Winged Olive | 18-22 | Worth having for shaded water and selective fish |
| Rusty Spinner | 10-20 | Key evening pattern if the surface stays calm |
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 and switch smaller if the fish 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 Leadwing Coachman | 12-16 | Useful when mayflies or caddis 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
Fish the banks before you wade, especially on the Willowemoc and in Beaverkill tailouts. In daylight, start with a caddis pupa, larger mayfly nymph, or soft hackle through riffles and pocket seams; switch to dries only when fish show a repeatable rise. If a fish eats once and disappears, rest the lane and change angle rather than pounding it. Keep a thermometer handy during the warm part of the day, and do not target trout if the water gets near 68 F.
Gauge Links
| Gauge | Flow | Temp | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| BEAVER KILL AT COOKS FALLS NY | 218 cfs | 58.3 F | USGS 01420500 |
| WILLOWEMOC CREEK NR LIVINGSTON MANOR NY | 52.0 cfs | 52.7 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.