Catskills, New York
Beaverkill and Willowemoc Fishing Report: June 16, 2026
The Beaverkill and Willowemoc are cooler this morning, but low-to-moderate freestone flows and recent 68 F-plus afternoons make this a thermometer-first report.
- Status
- fair
- Flow trend
- falling
- Best window
- Morning through early afternoon after a thermometer check
- Best methods
- temperature check first, wet flies, nymphs, dry flies
Quick Summary
The Beaverkill and Willowemoc are fishable only with a thermometer-first plan today. USGS showed the Beaver Kill at Cooks Falls at 232 cfs, 1.80 feet, and 59.0 F around 7:45-8:00 AM EDT, while the Willowemoc near Livingston Manor was 57 cfs, 2.07 feet, and 54.7 F around 7:15 AM EDT. Those morning temperatures are much better than the recent warm stretch, but the Beaverkill still reached 68.4 F during the last 24 hours. Fish a cool morning window, keep handling short, and leave these freestones alone if readings climb toward 68 F.
Conditions Snapshot
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Status | Fair; morning temperatures are improved, but recent afternoon trout-temperature risk still controls the decision |
| Flow | 232 cfs at Beaver Kill at Cooks Falls around 7:45 AM EDT; 57 cfs at Willowemoc near Livingston Manor around 7:15 AM EDT |
| Gauge Height | 1.80 feet at Cooks Falls; 2.07 feet near Livingston Manor |
| Water Temp | 59.0 F at Cooks Falls around 8:00 AM EDT; 54.7 F near Livingston Manor around 7:15 AM EDT |
| Clarity | Not reported by official gauges; check locally before committing to dry-fly water |
| Trend | Falling from yesterday's rain bump on the Willowemoc; Beaverkill flow is close to steady but below normal seasonal volume |
| Best Window | Morning through early afternoon after a thermometer check; stop if water approaches 68 F |
| Best Method | Soft hackles, caddis pupa, small mayfly nymphs, and a dry fly only for visible risers in safe temperatures |
| Wadeability | Limited; flows are not high, but low freestone water makes stealth and fish stress more important than coverage |
Weather
For the Livingston Manor and Roscoe area, the National Weather Service forecast calls for sunny weather and a high near 72 F, with light west wind around 1-5 mph. Tonight is forecast partly cloudy with a low near 50 F. Wednesday has a likely shower chance, which may help flows and cloud cover, but today's bright midday sun can still warm shallow freestone reaches quickly.
River Notes
This is a cautious green light for a short morning trout session, not an all-day freestone recommendation. The Willowemoc is cooler but low, so expect spooky fish in thin water and use careful approaches. The Beaverkill has better volume than the Willowemoc, but its last 24-hour temperature peak over 68 F is the main safety note. Recent Catskills reports have repeatedly warned that freestones warmed too much during the hot spell; today is better at daybreak, but anglers should still carry a thermometer and be willing to move to cold tailwater water when the sun gets higher.
Hatch Activity
The Catskills hatch list remains useful during a safe cool window: sulphurs, Blue Winged Olives, Isonychia, Light Cahills, caddis, and spinners are all worth carrying. Let temperature and visible feeding decide whether to fish dries. If the water is warming fast, a short subsurface session in broken water is a better choice than waiting out a late spinner fall.
| Hatch | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sulphur | 14-18 | Possible in cooler windows; carry emergers, duns, and spinners |
| Blue Winged Olive | 18-22 | Useful in shaded water or if clouds arrive earlier than forecast |
| Isonychia | 10-12 | Nymphs and wets are good searching choices in broken water |
| Light Cahill | 14-16 | Carry for mixed pale mayfly activity only while temperatures stay safe |
| Caddis | 14-18 | Pupa and soft hackles fit riffles and pocket water during the safer part of the day |
| Rusty Spinner | 10-18 | Only fish the spinner fall if temperatures are still clearly below 68 F near dark |
Recommended Flies
| Category | Fly | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dry | Sulphur Comparadun or Sparkle Dun | 14-18 | For visible fish in confirmed cool water |
| Dry | BWO Comparadun or CDC Dun | 18-22 | Match small shaded-water rises |
| Dry | Light Cahill Parachute | 14-16 | Evening option only if the thermometer agrees |
| Dry | Rusty Spinner | 10-18 | Carry for last light, but skip it if water is near 68 F |
| Nymph | Isonychia Nymph | 10-12 | Fish broken riffles and seams during the cool window |
| Nymph | Caddis Pupa | 14-18 | Dead drift or swing through riffle tails |
| Nymph | Pheasant Tail or Small Mayfly Nymph | 14-18 | Useful as a dropper when fish are feeding below the film |
| Wet | Soft Hackle | 12-16 | Swing through pocket water and riffle edges during the safe part of the day |
| Other | Stream Thermometer | Not reported | Use it before fishing and again as the day warms |
Tactics
Take a water temperature before rigging, then keep the session compact. If the reading is comfortably below 68 F, start in broken water with a caddis pupa, soft hackle, or Isonychia nymph and cover short seams without repeated drifts over the same fish. In the low Willowemoc flow, lengthen the leader, stay back, and fish small dries only to fish you can see feeding. On the Beaverkill, avoid extended fights and photos if the temperature is climbing. When the thermometer gets close to 68 F, stop targeting trout and move to colder tailwater options.
Gauge Links
| Gauge | Flow | Temp | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| BEAVER KILL AT COOKS FALLS NY | 232 cfs | 59.0 F | USGS 01420500 |
| WILLOWEMOC CREEK NR LIVINGSTON MANOR NY | 57 cfs | 54.7 F | USGS 01419500 |
Sources
Official sources checked: USGS stations 01420500 and 01419500, plus the National Weather Service forecast for the Livingston Manor and 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.