Catskills, New York
Beaverkill and Willowemoc Fishing Report: June 20, 2026
The Beaverkill and Willowemoc remain a conservative, thermometer-first trout call, with low freestone flows and a warm-up risk after the morning window.
- 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 remain a tough, thermometer-first trout option rather than an all-day recommendation. USGS showed the Beaver Kill at Cooks Falls at 139 cfs and 62.8 F around the 8 AM Eastern check, while the Willowemoc near Livingston Manor was 34.5 cfs and 57.0 F. Those morning temperatures are fishable in places, but the flows are low and current Catskills source context continues to steer trout anglers toward colder tailwaters once freestones warm. If you fish these streams, make it an early, short session, carry a thermometer, and stop targeting trout when water approaches 68 F.
Conditions Snapshot
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Status | Tough; safe early readings are possible, but low freestone flows and warming risk limit the recommendation |
| Flow | 139 cfs at Beaver Kill at Cooks Falls around 7:45 AM Eastern; 34.5 cfs at Willowemoc near Livingston Manor around 7:15 AM Eastern |
| Gauge Height | 1.32 feet at Cooks Falls; 1.92 feet near Livingston Manor |
| Water Temp | 62.8 F at Cooks Falls around 8:00 AM Eastern; 57.0 F near Livingston Manor around 7:15 AM Eastern |
| Clarity | Not reported by official gauges; low clear freestone water calls for stealth and careful observation |
| Trend | Flows are lower than yesterday morning, with Beaverkill temperature already in the low 60s by the morning check |
| 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 precise dry flies only for visible risers in confirmed cool water |
| Wadeability | Limited; low water improves footing in spots but increases fish stress and demands a quiet approach |
Weather
For the Livingston Manor and Roscoe area, the National Weather Service forecast calls for mostly sunny weather with a high near 71 F. Northwest wind is forecast at 12 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph. Tonight should be mostly clear with a low near 50 F. The cool night helps the next morning, but today's sun, wind, and low water can still move freestone trout temperatures toward the stress range by afternoon.
River Notes
This is not a full-day Beaverkill or Willowemoc green light. The Willowemoc is cooler this morning, but 34.5 cfs is thin water that makes fish spooky and more vulnerable to handling stress. The Beaverkill has more volume, but it is already 62.8 F at the morning check and remains part of the recent regional warm-water concern once the day heats up. The best conservation call is to fish only where your thermometer confirms safe water, keep fights short, and move to a colder tailwater instead of trying to stretch the freestone window into the afternoon.
Hatch Activity
The hatch list is useful only if the thermometer says the water is safe. Current Catskills context still includes sulphurs, Blue Winged Olives, Isonychia, Light Cahills, caddis, and spinners, with evening normally attractive for dry-fly anglers. On these freestones today, however, evening should be treated as temperature-dependent rather than automatic.
| Hatch | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sulphur | 14-18 | Possible during cooler windows; carry emergers and spinners but let temperature decide |
| Blue Winged Olive | 16-22 | Better in shade, riffle edges, or any cloudier window |
| Isonychia | 10-12 | Nymphs and wets are practical searching choices in riffles and pocket water |
| Light Cahill | 14-16 | Carry for larger pale mayflies only while water remains safely cool |
| Caddis | 14-18 | Pupa and soft hackles fit riffles during the safe morning window |
| 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 | Use for small rises in shaded seams or broken water |
| Dry | Light Cahill Parachute | 14-16 | Keep for larger pale mayflies if fish are up |
| Dry | Rusty Spinner | 10-20 | Carry for last light, but skip it if the stream is near 68 F |
| Nymph | Isonychia Nymph | 10-12 | Short drifts through 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 | Compact dropper for thin, clear 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 a water temperature before making the first cast, then check again if you stay more than an hour or move to slower water. If the reading is safely below 68 F, fish a compact rotation through riffles, shaded seams, and pocket water with a soft hackle, caddis pupa, or small mayfly nymph. Keep casts low and deliberate because the water is thin, and do not overplay trout for photos. If the stream warms, leave it alone and fish the West Branch or another cold tailwater instead.
Gauge Links
| Gauge | Flow | Temp | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| BEAVER KILL AT COOKS FALLS NY | 139 cfs | 62.8 F | USGS 01420500 |
| WILLOWEMOC CREEK NR LIVINGSTON MANOR NY | 34.5 cfs | 57.0 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.