Catskills, New York
Beaverkill-Willowemoc Fishing Report: July 11, 2026
The Beaverkill and Willowemoc are falling and physically wadeable, but the Beaver Kill was already 68.9 F during the morning check, so trout should be rested.
- Status
- unsafe
- Flow trend
- falling
- Best window
- Do not target trout on the freestones today; use 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 197 cfs and 68.9 F, with Willowemoc Creek near Livingston Manor at 37.1 cfs and 64.4 F during the morning check. The footing may look manageable, but temperature is the controlling factor: do not target Beaverkill trout, verify 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 near 69 F |
| Flow | 197 cfs at Cooks Falls on the Beaver Kill; 37.1 cfs near Livingston Manor on the Willowemoc |
| Gauge Height | 1.64 feet at Cooks Falls; 1.91 feet near Livingston Manor |
| Water Temp | 68.9 F on the Beaver Kill and 64.4 F on the Willowemoc during the morning USGS check |
| Clarity | Not reported by official gauges; low summer freestone flows make temperature more important than clarity today |
| Trend | Falling over the last 24 hours on both gauges |
| Best Window | Do not target trout on the freestones today; use 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 and Livingston Manor, the National Weather Service forecast calls for a high near 80 F, partly sunny skies, and very light northeast wind. Showers and thunderstorms are possible after 2 PM, with a chance continuing into the early evening. There were no active NWS alerts at the morning check. A cooler night may help small pockets briefly, but a warm afternoon and low flows are not a responsible setup for freestone trout fishing.
River Notes
The gauges show another July Catskills day where the water level is less important than the thermometer. The Beaver Kill at Cooks Falls was already 68.9 F during the morning check, and the Willowemoc was lower and only modestly cooler. Those readings can climb quickly under an 80 F forecast, even with some clouds. The practical call is to rest the freestones, avoid adding stress to trout in warm pools, and put the day into the cold West Branch tailwater if you want to fish for trout.
Hatch Activity
Summer Catskills bugs still belong in the box, but they should be used only 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 release water 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 riffle edges 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. At 68.9 F in the morning, the Beaverkill should be left alone for trout; if you inspect a shaded Willowemoc reach or a cold tributary influence, fish only if the water is safely below 68 F and stop as soon as it climbs. Keep any safe-water session brief, avoid photos and long fights, and leave visibly stressed fish alone. 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 | 197 cfs | 68.9 F | USGS 01420500 |
| WILLOWEMOC CREEK NR LIVINGSTON MANOR NY | 37.1 cfs | 64.4 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.