Catskills, New York
Beaverkill-Willowemoc Fishing Report: July 10, 2026
The Beaverkill and Willowemoc are easy enough to wade, but morning temperature data puts the Beaver Kill above the trout-stress line, so rest the freestones and fish cold tailwater.
- Status
- unsafe
- Flow trend
- falling
- Best window
- Do not target trout on the freestones today; fish cold tailwater instead
- Best methods
- thermometer-first trout fishing, cold tailwater, resting warm freestone trout
Quick Summary
The Beaverkill-Willowemoc system should be rested for trout today. USGS showed the Beaver Kill at Cooks Falls at 227 cfs and 70.0 F, with Willowemoc Creek near Livingston Manor at 42.7 cfs and 64.6 F during the morning check. Flows are comfortable for footing, but temperature is the controlling factor: leave the Beaverkill trout alone, check any small cold-water exception with a thermometer before casting, and make the West Branch Delaware or another cold tailwater the better plan.
Conditions Snapshot
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Status | Unsafe for trout on the Beaverkill today because the morning USGS temperature was already above 68 F |
| Flow | 227 cfs at Cooks Falls on the Beaver Kill; 42.7 cfs near Livingston Manor on the Willowemoc |
| Gauge Height | 1.78 feet at Cooks Falls; 1.98 feet near Livingston Manor |
| Water Temp | 70.0 F on the Beaver Kill and 64.6 F on the Willowemoc during the morning USGS check |
| Clarity | Not reported by official gauges; local Catskills context points anglers away from warm freestone trout water |
| Trend | Falling over the last 24 hours on both gauges |
| Best Window | Do not target trout on the freestones today; fish cold tailwater instead |
| Best Method | Thermometer-first decision making, with trout effort shifted to cold release water |
| 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 80 F, mostly cloudy skies, and northwest wind around 6 mph. A chance of showers and thunderstorms develops after 2 PM, with a slight chance continuing into the early evening. There were no active NWS alerts at the morning check. The weather is cooler than earlier in the week, but not enough to make 70 F morning Beaverkill water a responsible trout target.
River Notes
The gauges show a classic July Catskills problem: the water looks approachable, but the trout stress risk is already high. Cooks Falls was 70.0 F in the morning, which is past the point where trout should be left alone. The Willowemoc gauge was cooler, but low flow and an 80 F forecast mean any fishable window would need to be verified in person with a thermometer and kept short. The practical call is to skip these freestones for trout and put the day into the cold West Branch tailwater instead.
Hatch Activity
Summer Catskills bugs still belong in the box, but they should be used where the water is cold enough to fish responsibly. For verified cold water or tailwater alternatives, carry small olives, sulphurs, Cahills, Isonychias, tan caddis, terrestrials, and spinners. Do not chase surface activity on the Beaverkill if your thermometer is near or above 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 useful 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 | Good 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 release water 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 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 decision and the Beaverkill result is straightforward: do not target trout at 70 F. If you inspect a shaded Willowemoc reach or a cold tributary influence, fish only if the water is safely below 68 F, keep the session brief, avoid photos and long fights, and stop as soon as temperatures climb. For a real trout day, drive to cold tailwater and fish the same summer hatch mix without adding stress to freestone fish.
Gauge Links
| Gauge | Flow | Temp | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| BEAVER KILL AT COOKS FALLS NY | 227 cfs | 70.0 F | USGS 01420500 |
| WILLOWEMOC CREEK NR LIVINGSTON MANOR NY | 42.7 cfs | 64.6 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.