Catskills, New York
Beaverkill and Willowemoc Creek Fishing Report: June 9, 2026
The Beaverkill and Willowemoc are wadeable but low and warming, with yesterday's lower Beaverkill heat pushing this into a trout-temperature caution report.
- Status
- tough
- Flow trend
- falling
- Best window
- Early morning only if temperatures are safe; shift to cold tailwater water later
- Best methods
- nymphs, dry-dropper, dry flies
Quick Summary
The Beaverkill and Willowemoc are fishable from a flow and access standpoint, but this is a tough trout report because the freestones are low, sunny weather is forecast, and the Beaverkill at Cooks Falls reportedly reached 70 F or warmer yesterday. USGS showed the Beaver Kill at Cooks Falls at 179 cfs, 1.55 feet, and 62.8 F around 7:30-7:45 AM EDT; Willowemoc Creek near Livingston Manor was 41.3 cfs, 1.97 feet, and 56.1 F around 7:15 AM EDT. Current Catskills and Delaware-system context still points to sulphurs, Isonychia, Blue Winged Olives, Light Cahills, caddis, March Browns/Gray Fox, and some Green Drake/Coffin Fly activity, but the first decision today is temperature, not fly choice. Fish early only where readings are safe, and stop targeting trout before water approaches 68 F.
Conditions Snapshot
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Status | Tough |
| Flow | 179 cfs at Beaver Kill at Cooks Falls; 41.3 cfs on Willowemoc Creek near Livingston Manor |
| Gauge Height | 1.55 feet at Cooks Falls; 1.97 feet near Livingston Manor |
| Water Temp | 62.8 F at Cooks Falls; 56.1 F near Livingston Manor |
| Clarity | Not reported by official gauges; low flows call for clear-water approaches unless a local access shows stain |
| Trend | Falling from yesterday morning |
| Best Window | Early morning only if temperatures are safe; shift to cold tailwater water later |
| Best Method | nymphs; dry-dropper; dry flies during actual rise windows |
| Wadeability | Good from a flow standpoint, but low water calls for quiet approaches and careful fish handling |
Weather
For Roscoe, NY, the National Weather Service forecast calls for mostly sunny skies and a high near 81 F. Southwest wind should run about 2-6 mph. Tonight is forecast to be partly cloudy with a low around 58 F. No active NWS alerts were found for the Roscoe point at report time, but the warm, sunny afternoon is enough to make water temperature the limiting factor for trout fishing.
River Notes
The flows are low enough for easy wading, but not low enough to make careless wading harmless. Fish will be more exposed in shallow lanes and may slide into shade, riffles, and pocket water as the sun gets higher. The Willowemoc starts cooler than the Beaverkill this morning and is the better first look if you are staying on freestone water. The lower Beaverkill deserves extra caution after yesterday's warm-water peak; if your thermometer moves into the upper 60s, the right move is to stop fishing trout or move to colder tailwater-influenced water.
Hatch Activity
The bug list is still broad, but low warm water means you should match actual feeding instead of fishing a hatch calendar. Sulphurs, Isonychia, Blue Winged Olives, Light Cahills, tan or gray caddis, March Browns, Gray Fox, and some Green Drake/Coffin Fly activity are all relevant. Before surface feeding steadies, nymphs, caddis pupa, soft hackles, and dry-droppers in riffles and broken water are more practical than forcing a dry over flat, bright pools.
| Hatch | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sulphur | 14-18 | Important late-day mayfly; carry emergers, duns, and spinners |
| Isonychia | 10-12 | Nymphs and wets are useful in faster seams and riffle margins |
| Blue Winged Olive | 18-22 | Useful in shade, over small rises, or if clouds arrive later |
| Light Cahill | 14-16 | Good over pale rise forms near evening |
| March Brown / Gray Fox | 10-14 | Still worth carrying for broken water and larger mayfly rise forms |
| Tan or Gray Caddis | 14-18 | Fish pupa, soft hackles, and adults around riffles and pocket water |
| Green Drake / Coffin Fly | 8-10 | Possible near dusk, but only fish it where big bugs or spinner falls are actually present |
Recommended Flies
| Category | Fly | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dry | Sulphur Sparkle Dun or Spinner | 14-18 | Use when lighter mayflies bring fish up late |
| Dry | Light Cahill Comparadun or Spinner | 14-16 | Good evening option over pale rise forms |
| Dry | Gray Fox or March Brown Comparadun | 10-14 | Search riffles, pocket seams, and shaded broken water |
| Dry | BWO Comparadun | 18-22 | Carry for shaded or selective fish |
| Dry | Tan Caddis or Blue Sedge | 14-18 | Useful around riffle edges and pockets when caddis are active |
| Dry | Green Drake or Coffin Fly | 8-10 | Reserve for confirmed big-bug or spinner activity |
| Nymph | Isonychia Nymph | 10-12 | Work faster seams and riffle margins during slow surface periods |
| Nymph | Caddis Pupa | 14-18 | Dead drift or swing through riffle tails and pocket water |
| Nymph | Pheasant Tail, Frenchie, or Copper John | 14-18 | Good dry-dropper choice for low, clear pockets |
| Wet | Partridge and Yellow or Leadwing Coachman | 12-16 | Swing when bugs are present but rises are scattered |
Tactics
Fish early, check temperature before committing, and pick shaded riffles, faster seams, and pocket water where trout have cover and oxygen. A dry-dropper, Isonychia nymph, caddis pupa, Pheasant Tail, or soft hackle is the better search tool before fish commit to the surface. If you find risers, lengthen the leader and match the size first; sulphurs, caddis, and small olives may beat a large Green Drake imitation when the rise forms are small. Recheck temperature through the morning, especially on the Beaverkill, and stop fishing for trout if water moves toward 68 F.
Gauge Links
| Gauge | Flow | Temp | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| BEAVER KILL AT COOKS FALLS NY | 179 cfs | 62.8 F | USGS 01420500 |
| WILLOWEMOC CREEK NR LIVINGSTON MANOR NY | 41.3 cfs | 56.1 F | USGS 01419500 |
Sources
Official sources checked: USGS stations 01420500 and 01419500, plus the National Weather Service forecast and alerts for the Roscoe, 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.