Beaverkill and Willowemoc Fishing Report: July 27, 2026

Quick Summary

The Beaverkill and Willowemoc remain a limited, early-only trout option. USGS showed the Beaver Kill at Cooks Falls at 147 cfs, 1.37 feet, and 66.6 F during the morning check, while Willowemoc Creek near Livingston Manor was 37.1 cfs, 1.94 feet, and 61.2 F. Those numbers are fishable in select shaded water, but the Beaverkill is already close enough to the 68 F trout-stress line that anglers should carry a thermometer and be ready to stop quickly. If you want a longer trout day, the West Branch tailwater is the better choice.

Conditions Snapshot

Field	Value
Status	Tough. Low freestone flows and warm morning water sharply limit the ethical trout window
Flow	147 cfs at Beaver Kill at Cooks Falls; 37.1 cfs on Willowemoc Creek near Livingston Manor
Gauge Height	1.37 feet at Cooks Falls; 1.94 feet near Livingston Manor
Water Temp	66.6 F at Cooks Falls; 61.2 F on Willowemoc Creek during the morning USGS check
Clarity	Not reported by official gauges; current regional context points to low, fishable water where temperatures remain safe
Trend	Falling and lower than yesterday morning on both gauges
Best Window	Early morning only where a thermometer confirms water below 68 F
Best Method	Small dries, soft hackles, or light nymphs in shaded riffles only if temperature and footing are safe
Wadeability	Limited to fair for footing, but water temperature is the main constraint; avoid unnecessary handling in warm water

Weather

For Roscoe and Livingston Manor, the National Weather Service forecast calls for areas of fog early, then partly sunny skies with a high near 81 F. Wind should stay light from the west at 0 to 3 mph, but showers and thunderstorms become possible after early afternoon, with the highest chance from midafternoon into evening. Tonight should be mostly cloudy with scattered storms before midnight, areas of fog, and a low near 59 F. The morning is the only trout window to treat seriously on the freestones.

River Notes

The freestones dropped again overnight, which improves access but leaves less temperature and oxygen cushion. The Beaverkill at Cooks Falls was already in the mid-60s during the morning check, so do not plan on fishing it through the day. Willowemoc Creek has the better morning temperature buffer, but it is also low enough that fish will be tucked into shaded riffles, deeper slots, and cold-water influence. The Beaverkill's Horton Brook thermal regulation remains in place from Iron Bridge at Horton downstream to the first Route 17 overpass, where angling is prohibited July 1 through August 31. Stay out of that closed reach, keep fish wet, and do not pressure trout stacked near cold tributary mouths.

Hatch Activity

Official gauges do not report hatches. Current Catskill and Delaware-system context keeps small olives, sulphurs, tan caddis, Isonychias, Light Cahills, spinners, and terrestrials in the late-July mix. On the Beaverkill and Willowemoc, the hatch list is secondary to temperature. Fish smaller flies on low, clear water, and save larger Isonychia or caddis profiles for fast oxygenated riffles during a confirmed safe morning window.

Hatch	Size	Notes
Blue Winged Olive	16-22	Carry for shaded slicks, soft seams, and any cloud-softened morning window
Sulphur	16-20	Possible where water stays cool enough; emergers and soft hackles are useful
Tan Caddis	16-18	Pupa, soft hackles, and adults fit riffles and pocket water
Isonychia	10-14	Larger profile for oxygenated riffle edges and pocket-water searching
Light Cahill	14-16	Only worth fishing if water temperature remains safe later in the day
Rusty and Sulphur Spinners	16-22	Evening option only if a thermometer confirms trout-safe water
Ants and Beetles	14-20	Useful around banks, grass, and shaded pockets during quiet periods

Recommended Flies

Category	Fly	Size	Notes
Dry	BWO Comparadun or CDC Dun	16-22	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	16-18	Skate or dead drift along riffle edges
Dry	Isonychia Parachute	10-14	Larger searching dry for pocket water and riffle shoulders
Dry	Light Cahill Parachute	14-16	Visible pale searching dry only during a safe temperature window
Dry	Rusty Spinner or Sulphur Spinner	16-22	Last-light option only if water stays below stress range
Dry	Ant or Beetle	14-20	Work tight to shaded banks and overhanging grass
Wet	Soft Hackle Pheasant Tail or Soft Hackle Hare's Ear	14-18	Swing through riffle tails early before water warms
Nymph	Pheasant Tail or Frenchie	14-18	Use light rigs only in safe, cool edge seams
Nymph	Tan Caddis Pupa	16-18	Drop below a dry or swing as a wet through riffles
Nymph	Isonychia Nymph	10-12	Good larger nymph in fast, oxygenated water

Tactics

Start with a thermometer, not a fly change. If the Willowemoc or an upper shaded Beaverkill reach is safely cool, fish early with a single small dry, a soft hackle, or a light dry-dropper in broken riffles and shaded tailouts. Keep casts longer on low water, stay out of skinny holding water, and land fish quickly. If the Beaverkill is already near 68 F where you are standing, stop targeting trout and move to the West Branch tailwater or a warmwater bass and panfish option.

Gauge Links

Gauge	Flow	Temp	Link
BEAVER KILL AT COOKS FALLS NY	147 cfs	66.6 F	USGS 01420500
WILLOWEMOC CREEK NR LIVINGSTON MANOR NY	37.1 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, access, and safety context.