Catskills, New York
Beaverkill-Willowemoc Fishing Report: July 19, 2026
The Beaverkill-Willowemoc has better morning flows after rain and cooler air, but the Beaver Kill still touched 68.7 F in the last 24 hours, so trout fishing should stay thermometer-first and early.
- Status
- fair
- Flow trend
- rising
- Best window
- Early morning only with a thermometer; shift to cold tailwater before midday warming
- Best methods
- thermometer-first trout fishing, dry flies, wet flies, cold tailwater
Quick Summary
The Beaverkill-Willowemoc is more fishable than yesterday from a flow standpoint, but it is still a temperature-managed trout report. USGS showed the Beaver Kill at Cooks Falls at 300 cfs and 64.0 F during the 9 AM refresh, while the Willowemoc near Livingston Manor was 50.4 cfs and 61.9 F. Current Delaware reporting lists the Beaverkill near 306 cfs and 65 F, which lines up with the official gauge. Those morning numbers are workable if your exact reach stays cold, but the last 24-hour USGS series reached 68.7 F on the Beaver Kill and 65.7 F on the Willowemoc. Fish early, carry a thermometer, and move to cold tailwater rather than stretching freestone trout water through midday.
Conditions Snapshot
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Status | Fair early where water is verified cold; temperature risk still controls the day |
| Flow | 300 cfs at Cooks Falls on the Beaver Kill; 50.4 cfs near Livingston Manor on the Willowemoc |
| Gauge Height | 2.07 feet at Cooks Falls; 2.03 feet near Livingston Manor |
| Water Temp | 64.0 F on the Beaver Kill and 61.9 F on the Willowemoc during the 9 AM USGS refresh; the Beaver Kill reached 68.7 F in the last 24-hour series |
| Clarity | Not reported by official gauges |
| Trend | Higher than yesterday morning after rain, with better cover but still summer temperature limits |
| Best Window | Early morning only with a thermometer; shift to cold tailwater before midday warming |
| Best Method | Light dry, wet-fly, or short nymph work only where trout water remains safely cold |
| Wadeability | Good from a footing standpoint in many spots, but temperature is the real limit |
Weather
For Roscoe and Livingston Manor, the National Weather Service forecast calls for mostly sunny skies, a high near 72 F, and northwest wind around 10 mph. Tonight is forecast clear with areas of fog after 2 AM and a low near 48 F. Cooler air helps the morning plan, but full sun can still push freestone temperatures up quickly in July.
River Notes
Rain improved the flow picture compared with yesterday morning: the Beaver Kill and Willowemoc both have more water, better broken cover, and less of the low-trickle look. The conservation issue is not solved, though. The Beaver Kill already touched the trout-stress line in the last 24 hours, and sunny weather means marginal reaches can warm fast. The summer Horton Brook thermal closure on the Beaverkill remains in effect from Iron Bridge at Horton downstream to the first Route 17 overpass, where angling is prohibited July 1 through August 31. Do not fish refuge water, and do not lean on trout once readings approach 68 F.
Hatch Activity
Current official data does not provide hatch observations. Current Delaware-system reporting names sulphurs, Cahills, Isonychias, olives, and caddis, which fits the normal mid-summer Catskills mix; yellow sallies, terrestrials, and rusty spinners remain useful backups. Use these patterns only where trout water is verified cold enough. Flow is better today, so small wets and searching dries make sense in the early window before temperature becomes the deciding factor.
| Hatch | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Winged Olive | 18-22 | Possible in shaded or broken water, especially before full sun warms the reach |
| Sulphur | 16-20 | Carry for cold-water alternatives and any safe early freestone window |
| Light Cahill | 14-16 | Useful searching profile where water remains cold enough |
| Isonychia | 10-12 | Good prospecting bug in faster water with safe temperatures |
| Tan Caddis | 16-18 | Pupa and soft hackles can work along riffle edges |
| Yellow Sally | 14-16 | Worth having for cold broken water |
| Ants and Beetles | 14-20 | Bank-side option after morning, but not a reason to fish warm trout water |
| Rusty Spinner | 14-20 | Only for evening water that stays safely below 68 F |
Recommended Flies
| Category | Fly | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dry | BWO Comparadun or CDC Dun | 18-22 | Small dry for cold shaded lanes |
| Dry | Sulphur Comparadun or Sparkle Dun | 16-20 | Use only where temperatures remain safe |
| Dry | Light Cahill or Parachute Adams | 14-16 | Visible searching dry in riffled water |
| Dry | Isonychia Parachute | 10-12 | Good larger searching fly in faster seams |
| Dry | Yellow Sally | 14-16 | Cold riffle option when stoneflies are active |
| Dry | Ant or Beetle | 14-20 | Bank pattern for cold water only |
| Nymph | Pheasant Tail or Frenchie | 14-18 | Short, light nymphing in cold broken water |
| Nymph | Isonychia Nymph | 10-12 | Work faster lanes and finish with a swing |
| Wet | Soft Hackle Pheasant Tail or Partridge and Yellow | 14-18 | Good early searching choice while water is cool |
| Nymph | Tan Caddis Pupa | 16-18 | Dropper option through riffle edges |
Tactics
Take a stream thermometer and make the first reading before rigging. If the water is already close to 68 F, leave trout alone and pick a colder tailwater or a non-trout option. If it is safely cold early, fish one clean pass through riffles, shaded banks, and faster broken seams with light dries, soft hackles, or a short nymph rig. Land fish quickly, keep them wet, and end the trout session before the sun turns a decent morning into a warm-water problem.
Gauge Links
| Gauge | Flow | Temp | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| BEAVER KILL AT COOKS FALLS NY | 300 cfs | 64.0 F | USGS 01420500 |
| WILLOWEMOC CREEK NR LIVINGSTON MANOR NY | 50.4 cfs | 61.9 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, regulation, method, and safety context.