Beaverkill and Willowemoc Fishing Report: July 7, 2026

Quick Summary

The Beaverkill and Willowemoc are no longer an automatic flood-watch skip, but they are still a tough trout choice. USGS showed the Beaver Kill at Cooks Falls at 575 cfs and 64.2 F, with the Willowemoc near Livingston Manor at 109 cfs and 61.9 F during the morning check. Flows are falling from yesterday's rain spike, but current local river context still points to the Beaverkill drainage running up and off color. If you fish, make it an early, conservative plan with a thermometer; if readings climb toward 68 F or the water is too stained and pushy, move to cold tailwater water or a warmwater option instead.

Conditions Snapshot

Field	Value
Status	Tough. Fishable in select places for careful anglers, but higher freestone flow, likely stain, and trout-temperature risk keep this from being a broad recommendation
Flow	575 cfs at Beaver Kill at Cooks Falls; 109 cfs at Willowemoc Creek near Livingston Manor
Gauge Height	2.82 feet at Cooks Falls; 2.30 feet near Livingston Manor
Water Temp	64.2 F at Cooks Falls; 61.9 F near Livingston Manor during the morning USGS refresh
Clarity	Not reported by official gauges; current local reports described the Beaverkill and nearby freestone drainages as still up and off color after rain
Trend	Falling from yesterday's high-water setup, with more stable weather expected after morning showers
Best Window	Morning only if water temperature and wading safety are acceptable; stop before water approaches 68 F
Best Method	Light nymphs, wet flies, and larger visible dries in colder safe water; skip trout if temperature or clarity is poor
Wadeability	Limited. The Beaverkill is still strong enough that crossings and mid-channel wading are poor choices

Weather

For Roscoe and Livingston Manor, the National Weather Service forecast calls for showers likely before midday, a chance of thunderstorms into the afternoon, mostly cloudy skies, a high near 70 F, and light east wind. Tonight should turn partly cloudy with areas of fog and a low near 56 F. No active NWS alerts were posted at the morning check, but thunderstorm timing still matters. Get off open water when thunder is audible, and be cautious around soft banks, debris, and stained side channels after the recent rain.

River Notes

The freestones improved from yesterday, but they did not become easy. The Beaver Kill at Cooks Falls dropped from the previous morning's high reading, yet 575 cfs is still a strong summer flow and local reports continue to describe the Beaverkill drainage as colored from rain. The Willowemoc is more moderate by flow, but the same summer temperature rule applies: a 61.9 F early reading can warm through the day, especially if the clouds break. Keep trout handling quick, fish barbless where practical, and stop targeting trout before 68 F. If you want a cleaner cold-water plan, the West Branch Delaware is the safer trout choice today.

Hatch Activity

Use hatch information as a secondary detail today. The main decision is whether the water is cold, clear enough, and safe enough to fish. Catskills summer bugs still include sulphurs, small Blue Winged Olives, Light Cahills, Isonychias, tan caddis, ants, beetles, and evening spinners. Clouds can help olives and emergers, but off-color water may push the day toward nymphs, wets, and larger visible patterns.

Hatch	Size	Notes
Sulphur	16-20	Carry for colder water that stays safely below the trout-stress line
Blue Winged Olive	18-24	Clouds and showers can help, especially in softer edges and tailouts
Light Cahill	14	Visible dry for scattered summer mayflies and prospecting
Isonychia	10-12	Nymphs and wets are useful in riffle edges where wading is safe
Tan Caddis	16-20	Pupa and soft hackles can work before surface activity builds
Ants and Beetles	14-18	Good shaded-bank option if water stays cold enough
Rusty Spinner	14-20	Last-light option only after temperature and access checks

Recommended Flies

Category	Fly	Size	Notes
Dry	Sulphur Comparadun or Sparkle Dun	16-20	For cold, softer water with actual surface feeding
Dry	BWO Comparadun or CDC Dun	18-24	Small cloud-cover dry for slow edges and tailouts
Dry	Light Cahill or White Wulff	14	Visible searching fly when surface activity is sparse
Dry	Isonychia Parachute	10-12	Good larger dry for riffle seams and stained-water visibility
Dry	Ant or Beetle	14-18	Use along shaded banks only while water remains trout-safe
Nymph	Isonychia Nymph	10-12	Work near-side riffle edges; avoid pushy midstream slots
Nymph	Pheasant Tail or Frenchie	14-18	General mayfly nymph for pocket edges and tailouts
Wet	Soft Hackle Pheasant Tail or Partridge and Yellow	14-18	Swing through soft seams when emergers are present
Other	Stream Thermometer	Not reported	Required today; stop targeting trout whenever water approaches 68 F

Tactics

Make the first decision with your thermometer and your feet, not your fly box. If the water is already mid-60s and warming, keep the session short or skip trout altogether. If you find cold enough water with manageable clarity, stay on near-bank seams, inside bends, soft riffle edges, and tailouts rather than forcing crossings. Fish short controlled drifts with nymphs or swing wets until bugs show. If a few fish rise, use a visible dry or dry-and-emerger instead of repeatedly changing patterns. The best trout decision may still be to leave these freestones alone and spend the day on the cold West Branch or on warmwater species.

Gauge Links

Gauge	Flow	Temp	Link
BEAVER KILL AT COOKS FALLS NY	575 cfs	64.2 F	USGS 01420500
WILLOWEMOC CREEK NR LIVINGSTON MANOR NY	109 cfs	61.9 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, method, clarity, and trout-temperature safety context.