Catskills, New York
Beaverkill-Willowemoc Fishing Report: July 12, 2026
The Beaverkill and Willowemoc are physically wadeable but still in summer trout-temperature caution, with the Beaver Kill already 67.3 F before the warmest part of a sunny day.
- Status
- tough
- Flow trend
- falling
- Best window
- Thermometer-first only; avoid the Beaverkill after morning and shift trout effort to cold tailwater
- Best methods
- thermometer-first trout fishing, cold tailwater, resting warm freestone trout
Quick Summary
The Beaverkill-Willowemoc system is a thermometer-first call, not a green-light trout report. USGS showed the Beaver Kill at Cooks Falls at 177 cfs and 67.3 F during the morning check, with Willowemoc Creek near Livingston Manor at 34.5 cfs and 62.1 F. The Beaverkill is close enough to the 68 F trout-stress line that it should be left alone once the day warms, and any Willowemoc or cold-tributary exception needs a thermometer before the first cast. For dependable trout fishing, the better plan is still cold tailwater.
Conditions Snapshot
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Status | Tough and temperature-limited for trout; Beaverkill was already near the stress line during the morning USGS check |
| Flow | 177 cfs at Cooks Falls on the Beaver Kill; 34.5 cfs near Livingston Manor on the Willowemoc |
| Gauge Height | 1.54 feet at Cooks Falls; 1.90 feet near Livingston Manor |
| Water Temp | 67.3 F on the Beaver Kill and 62.1 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 from yesterday morning on both gauges |
| Best Window | Thermometer-first only; avoid the Beaverkill after morning and shift trout effort to cold tailwater |
| Best Method | Rest warm freestone trout; fish cold release water if you want a real trout session |
| Wadeability | Good from a footing standpoint, but temperature controls whether trout fishing is responsible |
Weather
For Roscoe and Livingston Manor, the National Weather Service forecast calls for sunny skies, a high near 82 F, and light northeast wind. Tonight is forecast partly cloudy with a low near 59 F, followed by another sunny and warm Monday. There were no active NWS alerts at the morning check. A sunny low-flow freestone afternoon can push temperatures up quickly, so do not rely on morning readings to stay safe all day.
River Notes
The Beaver Kill cooled slightly from yesterday morning but remains too close to the trout-stress threshold for a full-day recommendation. At 67.3 F before the warmest part of a sunny July day, the safe call is to avoid targeting Beaverkill trout and give those fish a break. The Willowemoc reading was cooler, but the flow is very low, and small shaded pockets can warm fast once the sun gets high. Local Catskills context also points anglers away from the freestones during late morning and afternoon warmth, with the Horton Brook thermal closure on the Beaverkill in effect for summer.
Hatch Activity
The bug list is still useful for the Catskills, but it should be applied only where the water is cold enough to fish responsibly. Carry sulphurs, olives, Cahills, Isonychias, tan caddis, yellow sallies, terrestrials, and spinners for cold-water alternatives or verified safe water. Do not chase risers 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 warming freestone reaches |
| 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 | 16-18 | Pupa and soft hackles can work where temperatures stay safe |
| Yellow Sally | 14-16 | Worth having for cold, broken water, not warm afternoon freestone pools |
| Ants and Beetles | 14-20 | Good summer bank patterns for cold water |
| 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 | Yellow Sally | 14-16 | Cold riffle option when stoneflies are active |
| 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
Take a water temperature before rigging, then be willing to leave. The Beaverkill is too close to 68 F in the morning to justify leaning on trout through a sunny 82 F day, and low flow leaves fish with limited cold refuge. If a shaded Willowemoc reach or a cold tributary influence is safely below 68 F, keep the session short, fight fish quickly, skip grip-and-grin photos, and stop as soon as the water warms. For a normal trout day, fish the West Branch Delaware or another cold tailwater instead of pressing the freestones.
Gauge Links
| Gauge | Flow | Temp | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| BEAVER KILL AT COOKS FALLS NY | 177 cfs | 67.3 F | USGS 01420500 |
| WILLOWEMOC CREEK NR LIVINGSTON MANOR NY | 34.5 cfs | 62.1 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, regulation, and safety context.