Catskills, New York
Beaverkill-Willowemoc Fishing Report: July 9, 2026
The Beaverkill and Willowemoc are falling into easy wading flows, but morning temperature checks put the Beaverkill at or above the trout-stress line, so rest the freestones and fish cold tailwater instead.
- Status
- unsafe
- Flow trend
- falling
- Best window
- Skip trout fishing on the freestones today; fish cold tailwater instead
- Best methods
- thermometer-first trout fishing, cold tailwater, resting warm freestone trout
Quick Summary
The Beaverkill and Willowemoc are in good footing shape, but not a good trout choice today. USGS showed the Beaver Kill at Cooks Falls at 273 cfs and 67.6 F, with Willowemoc Creek near Livingston Manor at 50.4 cfs and 62.4 F during the morning check. A current local morning report also put Cooks Falls warmer than the USGS reading, around 74 F, which reinforces the same decision: rest the freestones for trout and fish a colder tailwater such as the West Branch Delaware instead.
Conditions Snapshot
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Status | Unsafe for trout on the Beaverkill today because morning temperature checks are already at or above the 68 F stress line |
| Flow | 273 cfs at Cooks Falls on the Beaver Kill; 50.4 cfs near Livingston Manor on the Willowemoc |
| Gauge Height | 1.98 feet at Cooks Falls; 2.03 feet near Livingston Manor |
| Water Temp | 67.6 F on the Beaver Kill and 62.4 F on the Willowemoc at the morning USGS gauges; local morning reporting put Cooks Falls around 74 F |
| Clarity | Not reported by official gauges; current Delaware system context points anglers toward colder tailwater rather than summer freestone water |
| Trend | Falling over the last 24 hours on both gauges |
| Best Window | Skip trout fishing on the freestones today; fish cold tailwater instead |
| Best Method | Thermometer-first decision making, with the practical trout option shifted to cold tailwater |
| Wadeability | Good from a footing standpoint, but temperature makes trout fishing a poor choice |
Weather
For Roscoe, the National Weather Service forecast calls for a high near 84 F after early patchy fog, with light southwest wind and partly sunny skies. Tonight stays mild near 62 F, and Friday brings a better chance of afternoon showers and thunderstorms. The main safety issue today is warm trout water rather than high flow, although any Friday storms could change flows quickly in the freestone basins.
River Notes
The gauges show the classic summer problem on the Beaverkill-Willowemoc system: flows are comfortable to wade, but temperature is driving the fishing decision. The Beaver Kill at Cooks Falls was already 67.6 F on the morning USGS reading, and a local morning report showed an even warmer Cooks Falls temperature around 74 F. The Willowemoc gauge was cooler, but with low flow and a warm forecast it still needs a thermometer-first approach. For a full trout day, the responsible move is to leave these freestones alone and fish cold release water.
Hatch Activity
Summer Catskills bugs are still relevant for the fly box, but they do not override water temperature. Carry sulphurs, olives, Cahills, Isonychias, tan caddis, terrestrial patterns, and spinners for cold water or verified safe temperatures. Do not chase rises on the Beaverkill if your thermometer is at or near 68 F.
| Hatch | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Winged Olive | 18-22 | Relevant on cold tailwater or genuinely cool shaded water; avoid warm freestone pools |
| Sulphur | 16-20 | Better on cold tailwater today than on the Beaverkill during warm daylight |
| Light Cahill | 14-16 | Carry for colder alternatives and mixed evening activity only if water is safe |
| Isonychia | 10-12 | A good searching bug on cold riffles and tailwaters |
| Tan Caddis | 16-20 | Pupa and soft hackles can work where temperatures stay safe |
| Ants and Beetles | 14-20 | Useful summer bank patterns for cold-water alternatives |
| Rusty Spinner | 14-20 | Evening freestone use is not recommended unless temperatures are safely below 68 F |
Recommended Flies
| Category | Fly | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dry | BWO Comparadun or CDC Dun | 18-22 | Use on cold tailwater or verified cool water only |
| Dry | Sulphur Comparadun or Sparkle Dun | 16-20 | Better on cold tailwater today |
| Dry | Light Cahill or Parachute Adams | 14-16 | Visible searching dry for colder alternatives, not warm freestone pools |
| Dry | Isonychia Parachute | 10-12 | Prospecting fly where temperatures are safe |
| Dry | Ant or Beetle | 14-20 | Summer bank option for cold water |
| Dry | Rusty Spinner | 14-20 | Only if evening water is verified safely below 68 F |
| Nymph | Pheasant Tail or Frenchie | 14-18 | For cold-water alternatives or verified safe water |
| Nymph | Isonychia Nymph | 10-12 | Use on cold tailwater riffle edges and seams |
| Wet | Soft Hackle Pheasant Tail or Partridge and Yellow | 14-18 | Useful where trout water is cold enough to fish responsibly |
| Nymph | Tan Caddis Pupa | 16-18 | Dropper option for colder water |
Tactics
Make the thermometer the first call. With the Beaver Kill at the 68 F line on USGS and locally reported warmer than that during the morning, skip trout fishing there today and avoid adding stress to fish. If you check a shaded Willowemoc reach or small cold-water influence, fish only if it is safely below 68 F, keep the session short, avoid photos and long fights, and stop as soon as temperatures climb. The better plan is to drive to cold tailwater and fish the same summer bugs responsibly.
Gauge Links
| Gauge | Flow | Temp | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| BEAVER KILL AT COOKS FALLS NY | 273 cfs | 67.6 F | USGS 01420500 |
| WILLOWEMOC CREEK NR LIVINGSTON MANOR NY | 50.4 cfs | 62.4 F | USGS 01419500 |
Sources
Official sources checked: USGS stations 01420500 and 01419500, plus the National Weather Service forecast for the Roscoe and Livingston Manor, 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 safety context.