Catskills, New York
Beaverkill and Willowemoc Fishing Report: July 29, 2026
The Beaverkill and Willowemoc remain unsafe today, with the Beaver Kill still rising in flood conditions and the Willowemoc dropping from its crest but far beyond a fishing range.
- Status
- unsafe
- Flow trend
- rising
- Best window
- Do not fish today; flooding is occurring and a Flood Warning is in effect
- Best methods
- Not reported
Quick Summary
Skip the Beaverkill and Willowemoc today. At the 9 AM refresh, USGS showed the Beaver Kill at Cooks Falls up to 22,000 cfs and 13.77 feet, while Willowemoc Creek near Livingston Manor had dropped to 4,190 cfs and 8.55 feet. The Willowemoc has backed off from the early-morning crest, but both readings remain flood conditions rather than fishing conditions, and the National Weather Service still had a Flood Warning for north-central Sullivan County plus a Flood Watch for the broader Delaware and Sullivan County area. Stay off the freestones, stay away from flooded banks and road crossings, and let the river drop and clear before reassessing trout fishing.
Conditions Snapshot
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Status | Unsafe. Flooding is occurring or expected, flows are extremely high, and more showers and thunderstorms are possible |
| Flow | 22,000 cfs at Beaver Kill at Cooks Falls; 4,190 cfs on Willowemoc Creek near Livingston Manor during the 9 AM USGS refresh |
| Gauge Height | 13.77 feet at Cooks Falls; 8.55 feet near Livingston Manor |
| Water Temp | 61.5 F at Cooks Falls; 61.2 F on Willowemoc Creek |
| Clarity | Not reported by official gauges; flooding and runoff make fishable clarity unlikely and unsafe to chase |
| Trend | Mixed but unsafe: the Beaver Kill was still rising at Cooks Falls, while the Willowemoc had begun falling from its early-morning crest |
| Best Window | None today. Wait for flood warnings to expire, flows to fall, and banks to stabilize |
| Best Method | Not reported for a safe trout recommendation today |
| Wadeability | Unsafe. Do not wade, float, or approach flooded banks and low crossings |
Weather
For Roscoe and Livingston Manor, the National Weather Service forecast calls for a high near 74 F with light northwest wind increasing to around 6 mph. Showers and thunderstorms remain possible to likely through the day and into tonight. The more important weather product is flood-related: a Flood Warning was active for north-central Sullivan County during the refresh, with impacts including flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, low-lying places, and flood-prone areas; a Flood Watch also continues through this evening for Delaware and Sullivan counties.
River Notes
This is a stay-away report for the Catskill freestones. The Beaverkill and Willowemoc moved from low summer flows yesterday to dangerous runoff this morning, and neither stream should be treated as fishable just because temperatures are cooler after the rain. Floodwater hides debris, undermined banks, changed channels, and road hazards, and additional showers can prolong or renew the rise. The Beaverkill's Horton Brook thermal refuge closure remains in place from Iron Bridge at Horton downstream to the first Route 17 overpass, where angling is prohibited July 1 through August 31, but today's broader issue is flood safety across the system.
Hatch Activity
Official gauges do not report hatches. Current Catskill and Delaware-system context still places small olives, sulphurs, tan caddis, Isonychias, Light Cahills, spinners, and terrestrials in the late-July mix, but hatch matching is not useful today. Do not use cooler post-rain temperatures or possible olives as a reason to fish floodwater.
| Hatch | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Winged Olive | 16-22 | Possible in cloudy or rainy weather after the river recovers; not a reason to fish flood conditions today |
| Sulphur | 16-20 | Seasonally relevant, but wait for safe flows and clear fishable water |
| Tan Caddis | 16-18 | Carry for future riffle fishing after flows fall |
| Isonychia | 10-14 | Useful in fast oxygenated water after recovery, not during flood conditions |
| Light Cahill | 14-16 | Evening option only after the system stabilizes |
| Ants and Beetles | 14-20 | Summer terrestrial option for later, lower water |
Recommended Flies
| Category | Fly | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other | Not reported | Not reported | No fly recommendation is appropriate for the Beaverkill or Willowemoc while flood conditions are present |
| Dry | BWO Comparadun or CDC Dun | 16-22 | Carry after flows recover and wading is safe |
| Dry | Sulphur Sparkle Dun or Comparadun | 16-20 | Seasonal option only after flows drop and clarity returns |
| Dry | Elk Hair Caddis or X-Caddis | 16-18 | Future riffle option once the streams stabilize |
| Wet | Soft Hackle Pheasant Tail or Hare's Ear | 14-18 | For recovered flows only; not a high-water recommendation today |
| Streamer | Not reported | Not reported | Do not use streamer fishing as a reason to enter floodwater |
Tactics
The correct tactic is to wait. Do not wade the Beaverkill or Willowemoc, do not try to fish from flooded banks, and do not drive through water over roads or low bridges. A falling Willowemoc number does not make the creek safe at more than 4,000 cfs, and the Beaver Kill was still climbing at the refresh. Give the freestones time to drop, then reassess gauge height, clarity, bank stability, and water temperature before targeting trout. If you need to fish today, pick a safe stillwater or a warmwater option away from flooded tributaries, or look to the West Branch tailwater only if the river and weather stay stable.
Gauge Links
| Gauge | Flow | Temp | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| BEAVER KILL AT COOKS FALLS NY | 22,000 cfs | 61.5 F | USGS 01420500 |
| WILLOWEMOC CREEK NR LIVINGSTON MANOR NY | 4,190 cfs | 61.2 F | USGS 01419500 |
Sources
Official sources checked: USGS stations 01420500 and 01419500, plus the National Weather Service forecast and flood products 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, and safety context.