Catskills, New York
Beaverkill and Willowemoc Fishing Report: June 24, 2026
The Beaverkill and Willowemoc are fishable in the cool morning window, but falling freestone flows and a sunny forecast make this a thermometer-first day.
- Status
- fair
- Flow trend
- falling
- Best window
- Morning through early afternoon while water remains cool; stop near 68 F
- Best methods
- temperature check first, nymphs, wet flies, dry flies
Quick Summary
The Beaverkill and Willowemoc are still fishable this morning, but they are a temperature-first choice rather than an all-day trout plan. USGS showed the Beaver Kill at Cooks Falls at 187 cfs and 60.1 F, while the Willowemoc near Livingston Manor was 42.7 cfs and 55.4 F during the morning check. Flows are falling from yesterday's rain bump, and the National Weather Service forecast calls for sun and a high near 74 F around Roscoe. Fish the cool morning and shaded early afternoon, keep a thermometer out, and move to colder tailwater if readings climb toward 68 F.
Conditions Snapshot
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Status | Fair; fishable morning temperatures and some rain-fed cushion remain, but sunny weather and falling freestone flows require repeated temperature checks |
| Flow | 187 cfs at Beaver Kill at Cooks Falls; 42.7 cfs at Willowemoc Creek near Livingston Manor |
| Gauge Height | 1.59 feet at Cooks Falls; 1.98 feet near Livingston Manor |
| Water Temp | 60.1 F at Cooks Falls; 55.4 F near Livingston Manor |
| Clarity | Local public Catskills reporting most recently described the freestones as clear and wadeable after the rain; official gauges do not report clarity |
| Trend | Falling over the six-hour USGS check; Beaver Kill eased from 195 to 187 cfs and Willowemoc eased from 47.2 to 42.7 cfs |
| Best Window | Morning into early afternoon while temperatures are safely below the trout stress range |
| Best Method | Nymphs and wet flies through riffles first; dry flies only for visible fish in confirmed cool water |
| Wadeability | Limited but workable; clear lower flows call for quiet approaches, careful footing, and short fish handling |
Weather
For Roscoe and Livingston Manor, the National Weather Service forecast calls for sunny skies, a high near 74 F, and northwest wind around 3 to 8 mph. The morning starts cool enough to give the freestones a useful window, but sun and lower flows can warm shallow sections quickly. Tonight should be partly cloudy with a low near 52 F. No active NWS alerts were returned for the Roscoe point during the morning check.
River Notes
The rain helped the Catskill freestones, but today's numbers show the bump is fading. The Beaverkill has more volume than the Willowemoc and should offer the better margin in riffles and shaded runs, while the Willowemoc is already back to a small-water approach. Treat both streams as early-day fisheries. Check temperature before fishing, check again as the sun gets higher, and stop targeting trout if readings approach 68 F. If you want a longer trout day, the West Branch Delaware is the better cold-water backup.
Hatch Activity
The useful Catskills box remains Isonychias, sulphurs, Blue Winged Olives, Light Cahills, caddis, and spinners. Current public Catskills context has favored morning nymphing and wet flies while waiting for hatches to develop. Any afternoon or evening dry-fly work should depend on a fresh water-temperature check, not just visible bugs.
| Hatch | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Isonychia | 10-12 | Strong searching nymph for faster oxygenated water; wets can work through riffle tails |
| Sulphur | 16-18 | Carry emergers, duns, and spinners, but fish them only while temperatures stay safe |
| Blue Winged Olive | 16-22 | Less favored by bright sun, but useful in shaded seams or brief lower-light periods |
| Light Cahill | 14-16 | Possible in mixed evening activity if the stream remains cool enough |
| Tan Caddis | 14-18 | Pupa, soft hackles, and adults cover riffles between mayfly windows |
| Rusty Spinner | 10-20 | Last-light option only after a thermometer check |
Recommended Flies
| Category | Fly | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dry | Sulphur Comparadun or Sparkle Dun | 16-18 | For confirmed cool water and visible risers |
| Dry | BWO Comparadun or CDC Dun | 16-22 | Use in shaded seams or if clouds briefly build |
| Dry | Light Cahill Parachute | 14-16 | Good larger pale mayfly when fish are looking up |
| Dry | Rusty Spinner | 10-20 | Evening choice only if the water remains safely cool |
| Nymph | Isonychia Nymph | 10-12 | Primary searching pattern through riffles and pocket water |
| Nymph | Pheasant Tail or Frenchie | 14-18 | Compact mayfly dropper for clear-water trout |
| Nymph | Caddis Pupa | 14-18 | Dead drift or swing through riffle tails |
| Wet | Soft Hackle or Flymph | 12-16 | Good way to cover water when insects are active but rises are inconsistent |
| Other | Stream Thermometer | Not reported | Required gear today; check before fishing and again as the sun warms the stream |
Tactics
Begin with the thermometer, then fish the fastest safe water you can cover cleanly. Isonychia nymphs, caddis pupa, and soft hackles should get the first pass through riffles, pocket water, and shaded seams. Keep leaders long and casts deliberate because lower clear flows do not give much room for sloppy approaches. If fish rise, simplify to a single dry or dry with an emerger trailer, but keep fights short, release fish in the current, and leave the trout alone if the water warms toward 68 F.
Gauge Links
| Gauge | Flow | Temp | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| BEAVER KILL AT COOKS FALLS NY | 187 cfs | 60.1 F | USGS 01420500 |
| WILLOWEMOC CREEK NR LIVINGSTON MANOR NY | 42.7 cfs | 55.4 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, clarity, access, and method context.