Beaverkill-Willowemoc Fishing Report: August 4, 2026

Quick Summary

The Beaverkill-Willowemoc system is improving but not fully easy. USGS showed the Beaver Kill at 952 cfs, 3.54 feet, and 61.5 F near Cooks Falls, while the Willowemoc was 235 cfs, 2.75 feet, and 59.9 F near Livingston Manor during the 8 AM report check. Both gauges fell hard over the prior 24 hours after rain, which points toward improving conditions but still pushy water on the Beaverkill. Fish the morning into early afternoon, carry a thermometer, and give trout a break if any sunny, shallow, or slower water approaches 68 F later in the day.

Conditions Snapshot

Field	Value
Status	Fair. The freestones are cooling and falling, but the Beaverkill remains high enough for limited wading
Flow	952 cfs at Beaver Kill at Cooks Falls; 235 cfs on Willowemoc Creek near Livingston Manor
Gauge Height	3.54 feet at Cooks Falls; 2.75 feet near Livingston Manor
Water Temp	61.5 F at Cooks Falls; 59.9 F near Livingston Manor during the morning check
Clarity	Not reported by official gauges; expect improving but variable clarity after recent runoff
Trend	Falling sharply over the prior 24 hours on both gauges
Best Window	Morning into early afternoon before bright sun has time to warm the freestones
Best Method	Nymphs, wets, and dry-dropper rigs in soft seams, riffle edges, and pocket water
Wadeability	Limited, especially on the Beaverkill. The Willowemoc is more manageable but still requires careful footing

Weather

For the Roscoe and Livingston Manor area, the National Weather Service forecast calls for fog early, then sunny weather with a high near 81 F and light west wind around 2 mph. That is pleasant fishing weather, but the bright sun can slow surface feeding and warm shallow freestone water by afternoon. There is no meaningful daytime rain in the forecast, so conditions should continue to settle unless localized runoff is still moving through small tributaries.

River Notes

The freestones are moving in the right direction. The Beaver Kill dropped from roughly 1,650 cfs yesterday morning to 952 cfs during this check, while the Willowemoc dropped from roughly 467 cfs to 235 cfs. Those are material improvements, but the Beaverkill is still not a casual wade at Cooks Falls. Focus on edges, tailouts, side channels, and pocket water you can reach without committing to deep crossings. The Willowemoc offers the more approachable wading option, but current and slick rocks still deserve respect.

The Horton Brook thermal refuge regulation remains the key summer access note for this target: the Beaverkill from Iron Bridge at Horton downstream to the first Route 17 overpass is closed to angling from July 1 through August 31. Stay out of that refuge water and carry a thermometer on the open sections.

Hatch Activity

Official gauges do not report hatches. Recent Catskills source context supports Blue Winged Olives, sulphurs, tan caddis, Light Cahills, Isonychias, rusty spinners, and summer terrestrials. With the water still settling and a sunny forecast, subsurface and wet-fly approaches should be more dependable than waiting for steady risers.

Hatch	Size	Notes
Blue Winged Olive	16-22	Best during shade, cloud cover, or softer light; carry emergers as well as duns
Sulphur	16-20	Possible in open, cooler water but less reliable under bright sun
Isonychia	10-14	Good nymph, wet-fly, and searching dry profile in faster riffle edges
Tan Caddis	16-18	Pupa and soft hackles are useful through broken water
Light Cahill	14-16	Evening possibility if water temperatures stay safe
Rusty Spinner	10-22	Carry for last light, but check temperature before extending a trout session
Ants and Beetles	14-20	Good summer searching option along grassy banks and pocket edges

Recommended Flies

Category	Fly	Size	Notes
Nymph	Pheasant Tail, Frenchie, or Perdigon	14-18	Good first choice in seams and pockets while flows continue to fall
Nymph	Isonychia Nymph	10-12	Matches a larger active mayfly profile in riffles and faster edges
Nymph	Caddis Pupa	14-18	Fish below a dry or as part of a short-line rig in broken water
Wet	Soft Hackle Pheasant Tail or Partridge and Yellow	14-18	Swing through walking-speed current when rises are scattered
Dry	BWO Comparadun or CDC Emerger	16-22	Use in shaded lanes or if clouds build enough for olives
Dry	Sulphur Sparkle Dun or Light Cahill	14-20	Carry for evening or any protected surface-feeding window
Dry	Isonychia Parachute or Foam Iso	10-14	Useful dry-dropper lead fly in pocket water
Dry	Ant or Beetle	14-20	Summer bank pattern when trout are not keyed to mayflies

Tactics

Fish the edges first. On the Beaverkill, avoid the temptation to cross heavy water just because the gauge is falling; many mid-river slots remain pushy at this level. A short nymph rig, dry-dropper, or swung soft hackle will cover the fishable margins better than long blind casting to unreachable lanes. On the Willowemoc, work pocket water and riffle edges while the morning temperature is still safe. If you plan to fish past midday, check the thermometer often and stop targeting trout if readings approach 68 F.

Gauge Links

Gauge	Flow	Temp	Link
BEAVER KILL AT COOKS FALLS NY	952 cfs	61.5 F	USGS 01420500
WILLOWEMOC CREEK NR LIVINGSTON MANOR NY	235 cfs	59.9 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.