Catskills, New York
Beaverkill and Willowemoc Fishing Report: July 21, 2026
The Beaverkill and Willowemoc are fishable but touchy, with low summer flows, Beaverkill temperatures already near the trout caution line, and thunderstorms in the forecast.
- Status
- tough
- Flow trend
- stable
- Best window
- Early or after a safe cloudy break, with a thermometer deciding whether to keep fishing
- Best methods
- dry flies, wet flies, nymphs
Quick Summary
The Beaverkill and Willowemoc are a tough, selective summer trout call today. USGS showed the Beaver Kill at Cooks Falls at 139 cfs and 65.8 F, while Willowemoc Creek near Livingston Manor was 30.7 cfs and 61.2 F during the morning check. That leaves a narrow morning or storm-cooled window, but today's National Weather Service forecast brings showers and thunderstorms with meaningful rainfall. Carry a thermometer, favor the colder Willowemoc or shaded trib-influenced water, and stop targeting trout if readings approach 68 F.
Conditions Snapshot
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Status | Tough. Flows are summer-low, Beaverkill water is close to the 68 F trout caution line, and thunderstorms are likely |
| Flow | 139 cfs at Beaver Kill at Cooks Falls; 30.7 cfs on Willowemoc Creek near Livingston Manor |
| Gauge Height | 1.32 feet at Cooks Falls; 1.89 feet near Livingston Manor |
| Water Temp | 65.8 F at Cooks Falls; 61.2 F on Willowemoc Creek during the morning USGS refresh |
| Clarity | Not reported by official gauges |
| Trend | Generally steady to slightly up from yesterday morning before forecast rain |
| Best Window | Early or after a safe cloudy break, with a thermometer deciding whether to keep fishing |
| Best Method | Small dries, terrestrials, soft hackles, and light nymphs in shaded broken water |
| Wadeability | Limited by low, clear summer water and storm risk rather than depth; avoid fishing during lightning or rising runoff |
Weather
For the Roscoe and Livingston Manor area, the National Weather Service forecast calls for a high near 74 F with showers and thunderstorms through the day. Rainfall of three-quarters to one inch is possible today, with additional showers and thunderstorms likely tonight. The cloud cover may help bug activity, but lightning and quick runoff are real safety limits on small freestone water.
River Notes
This is not an all-day freestone trout setup. The Beaverkill was already in the mid-60s during the morning gauge read, and it can warm quickly if storms miss the valley. The Willowemoc was cooler, but 30.7 cfs is thin water where long leaders, careful wading, and shade matter. If rain arrives steadily without lightning, flows may improve later, but do not assume clarity and stability will hold. Fish short sessions, handle trout minimally, and move to colder water or quit once your thermometer shows temperatures near 68 F.
Hatch Activity
Official gauges do not report hatches. Current Catskill and Delaware-system context for late July supports small olives in damp weather, light Cahills, Isonychias, tan caddis, and terrestrials. On these lower, clearer freestones, matching the exact hatch may matter less than keeping the first cast clean and putting the fly in shaded, oxygenated water.
| Hatch | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Winged Olive | 18-24 | Best chance during cloudy or showery breaks |
| Light Cahill | 14-16 | Useful pale mayfly for evening riffles if weather settles |
| Isonychia | 10-12 | Prospect riffle edges with a nymph, wet, or larger dry |
| Tan Caddis | 16-20 | Pupa and soft hackles can work in pocket water and riffle tails |
| Ants and Beetles | 14-20 | Important summer searching flies along shaded banks |
| Rusty Spinner | 14-20 | Possible only if the evening becomes calm and safe |
Recommended Flies
| Category | Fly | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dry | BWO Comparadun or CDC Dun | 18-24 | Small olive choice for cloudy slicks and tailouts |
| Dry | Light Cahill Parachute | 14-16 | Visible dry for broken water if fish look up |
| Dry | Isonychia Parachute | 10-12 | Larger searching dry for riffle edges |
| Dry | Ant or Beetle | 14-20 | Fish tight to shade, roots, and grassy banks |
| Dry | Rusty Spinner | 14-20 | Carry for last light if storms clear |
| Nymph | Pheasant Tail or Frenchie | 16-20 | Light rig for pockets and shallow seams |
| Nymph | Isonychia Nymph | 10-12 | Work faster water where oxygen is better |
| Wet | Soft Hackle Pheasant Tail or Soft Hackle Hare's Ear | 14-18 | Swing through riffle tails during damp hatch windows |
| Nymph | Tan Caddis Pupa | 16-18 | Small dropper below a dry in pocket water |
Tactics
Start on the coolest water you can verify, not the most convenient pull-off. Use a thermometer before fishing and again after any lull in rain or sun. Keep leaders long, tippet light, and casts short enough to avoid lining fish in low water. If trout are not rising, a small dry-dropper or swung soft hackle in riffle water is a better first move than dredging slow pools. Leave the river during lightning, and be ready for quick color and flow changes if thunderstorms park over the drainage.
Gauge Links
| Gauge | Flow | Temp | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| BEAVER KILL AT COOKS FALLS NY | 139 cfs | 65.8 F | USGS 01420500 |
| WILLOWEMOC CREEK NR LIVINGSTON MANOR NY | 30.7 cfs | 61.2 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, method, and safety context.