Catskills, New York
Beaverkill and Willowemoc Fishing Report: June 18, 2026
The Beaverkill and Willowemoc are a thermometer-first call, with low falling freestone flows, a warm Beaverkill reading, and thunderstorms in the forecast.
- Status
- tough
- Flow trend
- falling
- Best window
- Morning only after a thermometer check; stop if water approaches 68 F
- Best methods
- temperature check first, wet flies, nymphs, dry flies
Quick Summary
The Beaverkill and Willowemoc are a tough trout call today. USGS showed the Beaver Kill at Cooks Falls at 152 cfs and 64.2 F around 7:00 AM, while the Willowemoc near Livingston Manor was 39.9 cfs and 59.4 F around 6:15 AM. The Beaverkill has already been close to the trout-stress line during the last two days, with USGS readings peaking near 68.9 F, and both streams are falling into low summer freestone conditions. If you fish, make it a short cool-window session, carry a thermometer, and leave these streams alone when readings approach 68 F.
Conditions Snapshot
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Status | Tough; technically fishable in a cool window, but low flows, warm Beaverkill water, and thunderstorms limit the recommendation |
| Flow | 152 cfs at Beaver Kill at Cooks Falls around 6:45 AM; 39.9 cfs at Willowemoc near Livingston Manor around 6:15 AM |
| Gauge Height | 1.40 feet at Cooks Falls; 1.96 feet near Livingston Manor |
| Water Temp | 64.2 F at Cooks Falls around 7:00 AM; 59.4 F near Livingston Manor around 6:15 AM |
| Clarity | Not reported by official gauges; storms may change clarity quickly |
| Trend | Falling at both gauges over the last two days; Beaverkill temperatures have recently approached 69 F |
| Best Window | Morning only after a thermometer check; stop targeting trout if water approaches 68 F |
| Best Method | Soft hackles, caddis pupa, small mayfly nymphs, and dry flies only for visible risers in confirmed cool water |
| Wadeability | Limited; low water improves footing in places but increases fish stress and demands stealth |
Weather
For the Livingston Manor and Roscoe area, the National Weather Service forecast calls for rain showers in the morning, showers and thunderstorms likely late morning into early afternoon, and a high near 79 F. Southwest wind is forecast around 13 mph. Tonight is forecast partly cloudy with a low near 54 F. Lightning is a direct safety issue today, and rain can change small-stream clarity and footing quickly.
River Notes
This is not an all-day freestone report. The Willowemoc is cooler than the Beaverkill but very low, which means spooky fish, limited holding water, and higher handling stress. The Beaverkill has more volume but is already warm enough at daybreak to make the afternoon a poor trout choice. Recent Catskills reports have leaned hard on the same conservation message: fish cooler water, carry a thermometer, and move to tailwaters when the freestones warm. If a storm cools the air but does not materially raise the flow, do not assume the river has recovered for evening trout fishing without checking the actual water temperature.
Hatch Activity
The bug list is still useful only if water temperature stays safe. Sulphurs, Blue Winged Olives, Isonychia, Light Cahills, caddis, and spinners remain in the seasonal mix. Low water and storm timing matter as much as the hatch: fish may feed briefly in broken water, but waiting for a late spinner fall is not worth it if the thermometer is climbing.
| Hatch | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sulphur | 14-18 | Possible during cooler windows; carry emergers and spinners but let temperature decide |
| Blue Winged Olive | 16-22 | Clouds and rain can help, especially in shaded riffles |
| Isonychia | 10-12 | Nymphs and wets are better searching choices than blind dry-fly casting in low water |
| Light Cahill | 14-16 | Carry for mixed pale mayfly activity only while water is safely cool |
| Caddis | 14-18 | Pupa and soft hackles fit riffles and pocket water during the safe part of the day |
| Rusty Spinner | 10-20 | Evening option only if water temperatures are still clearly below 68 F |
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 | 16-22 | Match small rises during clouds or rain |
| Dry | Light Cahill Parachute | 14-16 | Use only if fish are up and temperatures remain safe |
| Dry | Rusty Spinner | 10-20 | Carry for last light, but skip it if the stream is near 68 F |
| Nymph | Isonychia Nymph | 10-12 | Fish short drifts in riffles and pocket water |
| Nymph | Caddis Pupa | 14-18 | Dead drift or swing through riffle tails |
| Nymph | Pheasant Tail or Small Mayfly Nymph | 14-18 | Use as a compact dropper in thin water |
| Wet | Soft Hackle | 12-16 | Swing through broken water during the safe morning window |
| Other | Stream Thermometer | Not reported | Check before fishing and again as the day warms |
Tactics
Take the water temperature before making a first cast. If the reading is safely below 68 F, fish a short rotation through riffles, pocket water, and shaded seams with a soft hackle, caddis pupa, or Isonychia nymph. Stay back in the low Willowemoc water and avoid repeated casts over the same fish. On the Beaverkill, keep fights short and skip photos if temperatures are rising. If thunder is close, leave the water; if the thermometer is near 68 F, stop targeting trout and move to colder tailwater options.
Gauge Links
| Gauge | Flow | Temp | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| BEAVER KILL AT COOKS FALLS NY | 152 cfs | 64.2 F | USGS 01420500 |
| WILLOWEMOC CREEK NR LIVINGSTON MANOR NY | 39.9 cfs | 59.4 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.