Catskills, New York
Beaverkill and Willowemoc Fishing Report: June 22, 2026
The Beaverkill and Willowemoc remain low, technical, and thermometer-first, with fishable morning readings but a wet forecast and continued freestone temperature risk.
- Status
- tough
- Flow trend
- stable
- Best window
- Morning and storm-cooled windows 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 still a tough, conservation-first trout call. USGS showed the Beaver Kill at Cooks Falls at 120 cfs and about 62.2 F, while the Willowemoc near Livingston Manor was 30.7 cfs and about 56.7 F during the morning check. Those readings can support careful fishing in cool water, but the flows are thin and the broader Catskills context still favors cold tailwaters once freestones warm. Fish only after a thermometer check, keep the session short, and leave the water for thunderstorms or any reading approaching 68 F.
Conditions Snapshot
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Status | Tough; morning temperatures are fishable in places, but very low freestone flows and warming risk limit the recommendation |
| Flow | 120 cfs at Beaver Kill at Cooks Falls; 30.7 cfs at Willowemoc Creek near Livingston Manor |
| Gauge Height | 1.19 feet at Cooks Falls; 1.89 feet near Livingston Manor |
| Water Temp | 62.2 F at Cooks Falls; 56.7 F near Livingston Manor |
| Clarity | Not reported by official gauges; expect low, clear freestone behavior unless thunderstorms add temporary color |
| Trend | Stable over the six-hour USGS check; both gauges held essentially flat |
| Best Window | Morning and any storm-cooled window 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; footing may be easy in low water, but fish are exposed, spooky, and more vulnerable to handling stress |
Weather
For the Roscoe and Livingston Manor area, the National Weather Service forecast calls for a high near 64 F with showers and thunderstorms likely from late morning through the afternoon. Southeast wind should run about 2 to 8 mph. Rain and cloud cover may keep water cooler than a sunny June afternoon, but lightning is a hard stop, and runoff can change clarity quickly on small freestones.
River Notes
This is not an all-day Beaverkill or Willowemoc recommendation. The Willowemoc is the cooler reading, but 30.7 cfs is very skinny water; stealth, small profiles, and short fights matter. The Beaverkill has more volume, but it is already in the low 60s by the morning reading and can move toward the trout stress range if rain misses or the afternoon warms. If you fish, choose faster, oxygenated water, take a temperature before casting, and move to a cold tailwater rather than stretching the session into unsafe water.
Hatch Activity
The current Catskills hatch list still includes sulphurs, Blue Winged Olives, Isonychia, Light Cahills, caddis, and spinners. Today, those bugs are secondary to water temperature and storm safety. Cloud cover can help olives and emergers, but skip the freestones if a thermometer or nearby thunder says the window is wrong.
| Hatch | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sulphur | 14-18 | Possible during cooler windows; carry emergers and spinners but let temperature decide |
| Blue Winged Olive | 16-22 | More likely under clouds, light rain, or shaded broken water |
| 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 safe, oxygenated windows |
| Rusty Spinner | 10-20 | Evening option only if thunderstorms clear and water is 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 cloudy riffles |
| 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 a safe cool window |
| Other | Stream Thermometer | Not reported | Check before fishing and again if rain stops or the day warms |
Tactics
Take a water temperature before making the first cast, then check again if conditions change. If the reading is safely below 68 F, fish a compact rotation through fast riffles, shaded seams, and pocket water with a soft hackle, caddis pupa, or small mayfly nymph. Use quiet approaches and short casts because the water is low. Do not chase evening spinner falls unless the water remains cool and storms have cleared; if the stream warms or thunder develops, end the trout session.
Gauge Links
| Gauge | Flow | Temp | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| BEAVER KILL AT COOKS FALLS NY | 120 cfs | 62.2 F | USGS 01420500 |
| WILLOWEMOC CREEK NR LIVINGSTON MANOR NY | 30.7 cfs | 56.7 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.