Beaverkill and Willowemoc Fishing Report: July 24, 2026

Quick Summary

The Beaverkill and Willowemoc have dropped into more manageable summer freestone ranges, but this is still a thermometer-first report. USGS showed the Beaver Kill at Cooks Falls at 223 cfs, 1.76 feet, and 62.6 F during the morning check, while Willowemoc Creek near Livingston Manor was 57.0 cfs, 2.07 feet, and 57.2 F. Those morning temperatures are fishable, but sunny weather near 79 F can move the freestones quickly toward stressful trout water later in the day. Fish early, stay with oxygenated riffles and shaded edges, and respect the Beaverkill's Horton Brook thermal closure.

Conditions Snapshot

Field	Value
Status	Fair. Flows are approachable and morning water is cool enough, but bright summer weather and thermal rules limit the window
Flow	223 cfs at Beaver Kill at Cooks Falls; 57.0 cfs on Willowemoc Creek near Livingston Manor
Gauge Height	1.76 feet at Cooks Falls; 2.07 feet near Livingston Manor
Water Temp	62.6 F at Cooks Falls; 57.2 F on Willowemoc Creek during the morning USGS check
Clarity	Not reported by official gauges; check visibility at the access before stepping in
Trend	Falling from yesterday morning's post-storm levels
Best Window	Early morning through early afternoon only where water stays below 68 F
Best Method	Dry flies and wets in riffle edges; light nymphs only where footing and water temperature are safe
Wadeability	Limited to fair. The flows are workable, but freestone rocks, thin water, and warm afternoon temperatures require conservative movement

Weather

For Roscoe and Livingston Manor, the National Weather Service forecast calls for sunny skies with a high near 79 F and light south wind around 0 to 3 mph. Tonight should be mostly clear with a low around 53 F. The low wind helps dry-fly presentation, but the sunny afternoon is the limiting factor on these freestones; re-check water temperature often and be willing to leave trout alone if readings approach 68 F.

River Notes

The freestones are lower and easier to read than they were after the recent storm bump. The Beaver Kill at Cooks Falls has dropped from 329 cfs yesterday morning to 223 cfs, and the Willowemoc has dropped from 85.8 cfs to 57.0 cfs. That opens more edge water and pocket-water footing, but it also means fish will be more exposed and more sensitive to sun and temperature. Start with shaded riffle shoulders, broken tailouts, and banks with some overhead cover. The Horton Brook thermal regulation remains in place on the Beaverkill from Iron Bridge at Horton downstream to the first Route 17 overpass, where angling is prohibited July 1 through August 31.

Hatch Activity

Official gauges do not report hatches. Recent Catskill and Delaware-system context keeps Blue Winged Olives, sulphurs, tan caddis, Light Cahills, Isonychias, rusty spinners, and terrestrials in the late-July mix. On lower freestone water, smaller and cleaner presentations should outfish large attractors unless you are working broken pocket water.

Hatch	Size	Notes
Blue Winged Olive	16-22	Carry for shaded slicks and any cloud-softened windows
Sulphur	16-20	Possible where water stays cool enough; emergers and soft hackles can be better than high-floating dries
Tan Caddis	16-20	Pupa, soft hackles, and adults fit riffles and pocket water
Light Cahill	14-16	Useful pale dry for evening or broken water if temperatures are safe
Isonychia	10-12	Larger searching profile for oxygenated riffle edges
Rusty Spinner	14-20	Possible near last light where temperatures remain trout-safe
Ants and Beetles	14-20	Good bank-side option under grass, hemlocks, and shaded edges

Recommended Flies

Category	Fly	Size	Notes
Dry	BWO Comparadun or CDC Dun	18-22	Small olive option for shaded slicks and soft seams
Dry	Sulphur Sparkle Dun or Comparadun	16-20	Fish only where water temperature remains safe
Dry	Elk Hair Caddis or X-Caddis	16-20	Skate or dead drift along riffle edges
Dry	Light Cahill Parachute	14-16	Visible pale searching dry for broken water
Dry	Isonychia Parachute	10-12	Larger searching dry for pocket water and riffle shoulders
Dry	Ant or Beetle	14-20	Work tight to banks and overhanging grass
Wet	Soft Hackle Pheasant Tail or Soft Hackle Hare's Ear	14-18	Swing through riffle tails when surface feeding is inconsistent
Nymph	Pheasant Tail or Frenchie	14-18	Use a light rig in safe, cool edge seams
Nymph	Isonychia Nymph	10-12	Good larger nymph in fast, oxygenated water
Nymph	Tan Caddis Pupa	16-18	Drop below a dry or swing as a wet through riffles

Tactics

Start at the access with a thermometer and a visibility check. If water is cool and clear enough, fish shaded riffle edges with an Isonychia dry-dropper, swing soft hackles through tailouts, or use a modest pheasant-tail/caddis-pupa nymph rig in defined seams. Low, clear freestone water rewards stealth, so stay out of the middle of the run and lengthen casts before changing flies. If water warms toward 68 F, stop targeting trout and move to a colder tailwater or another species.

Gauge Links

Gauge	Flow	Temp	Link
BEAVER KILL AT COOKS FALLS NY	223 cfs	62.6 F	USGS 01420500
WILLOWEMOC CREEK NR LIVINGSTON MANOR NY	57.0 cfs	57.2 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, access, and safety context.