Catskills, New York
Beaverkill and Willowemoc Fishing Report: August 1, 2026
The Beaverkill and Willowemoc have dropped hard from the late-July flood, but the Beaver Kill remains pushy and both freestones need a visual clarity and temperature check before any trout plan.
- Status
- tough
- Flow trend
- falling
- Best window
- Morning only, and only after a visual clarity and temperature check
- Best methods
- nymphs, wet flies, streamers
Quick Summary
The Beaverkill and Willowemoc are improving, but this is still a cautious Catskills freestone report. USGS showed the Beaver Kill at Cooks Falls at 1,100 cfs, 3.76 feet, and 61.7 F near the morning check, while Willowemoc Creek near Livingston Manor was 257 cfs, 2.81 feet, and 60.3 F. That is a major drop from the flood pulse earlier in the week, but the Beaverkill is still heavy for comfortable wading and the official gauges do not report clarity. If you go, keep it to soft morning edges, confirm visibility in person, and carry a thermometer as the day warms.
Conditions Snapshot
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Status | Tough. Flows are falling and temperatures are reasonable in the morning, but post-flood clarity, changed footing, and pushy Beaverkill water limit the recommendation |
| Flow | 1,100 cfs at Beaver Kill at Cooks Falls; 257 cfs on Willowemoc Creek near Livingston Manor near the morning USGS check |
| Gauge Height | 3.76 feet at Cooks Falls; 2.81 feet near Livingston Manor |
| Water Temp | 61.7 F at Cooks Falls; 60.3 F on Willowemoc Creek |
| Clarity | Not reported by official gauges; recent local context had the freestones high and off-color, so inspect before fishing |
| Trend | Falling from the late-July flood pulse |
| Best Window | Morning only if clarity is adequate and temperatures stay below trout-stress range |
| Best Method | Nymphs, wet flies, and small streamers in soft edges and safer side water; do not force dry-fly wading in heavy current |
| Wadeability | Limited to poor. Avoid crossings, fast slots, undercut banks, and any reach that still carries color or debris |
Weather
For Roscoe and Livingston Manor, the National Weather Service forecast calls for mostly cloudy skies, a high near 82 F, and light south wind around 0-5 mph. Tonight stays mostly cloudy with a low near 62 F. Sunday has a higher chance of showers and thunderstorms, so watch the gauges again before assuming the falling trend continues into the next fishing window.
River Notes
The freestones are no longer in peak-flood condition, but they are not back to an easy summer trout setup. The Beaverkill reading at Cooks Falls is still strong enough to make normal crossings and mid-river positioning a poor choice. The Willowemoc is closer to a fishable number, but post-storm clarity and changed banks matter as much as the flow number. 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. With an 82 F air-temperature forecast, use a thermometer and stop targeting trout if readings approach 68 F.
Hatch Activity
Official gauges do not report hatches. Recent Catskills context and early-August timing support olives, sulphurs, tan caddis, Isonychias, Light Cahills, rusty spinners, and terrestrials once the rivers clear and settle enough to fish responsibly.
| Hatch | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Winged Olive | 16-22 | Good cloudy-day candidate after clarity improves |
| Sulphur | 16-20 | Seasonal evening or soft-edge pattern if water is clear and cool enough |
| Tan Caddis | 16-18 | Pupa and soft hackles are more practical than adults while flows remain pushy |
| Isonychia | 10-14 | Useful nymph and wet-fly profile in faster margins, but only where footing is safe |
| Light Cahill | 14-16 | Evening pattern for recovered softer water |
| Rusty Spinner | 10-22 | Carry for calm evening slicks after the river settles |
| Ants and Beetles | 14-20 | Summer bank option once visibility and temperature line up |
Recommended Flies
| Category | Fly | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nymph | Pheasant Tail or Frenchie | 14-18 | General mayfly nymph for soft seams when clarity is adequate |
| Nymph | Isonychia Nymph | 10-12 | Good profile near riffle edges after water drops enough to wade safely |
| Nymph | Caddis Pupa | 14-18 | Useful in pocket water and slower riffle margins |
| Wet | Soft Hackle Pheasant Tail or Hare's Ear | 14-18 | Swing through controlled edge water instead of stepping into heavy current |
| Streamer | Small Woolly Bugger or Sculpin | 6-10 | Only if the water still has stain and you can fish from safe banks or edges |
| Dry | BWO Comparadun or CDC Dun | 16-22 | For a later cloudy-window hatch after clarity improves |
| Dry | Ant or Beetle | 14-20 | Backup for summer banks once flows and temperatures are safe |
Tactics
Treat today as a scouting and edge-fishing day, not a normal Catskill dry-fly wade. Start with the Willowemoc or softer Beaverkill margins only if visibility is acceptable, and keep your feet on known bottom. Fish short, controlled drifts through inside seams, bank cushions, and pockets where trout can hold out of the main push. If the water is still colored or carrying debris, leave it alone. Do not enter the Horton Brook thermal refuge closure, and stop trout fishing if your thermometer climbs toward 68 F.
Gauge Links
| Gauge | Flow | Temp | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| BEAVER KILL AT COOKS FALLS NY | 1,100 cfs | 61.7 F | USGS 01420500 |
| WILLOWEMOC CREEK NR LIVINGSTON MANOR NY | 257 cfs | 60.3 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, access, clarity, and safety context.