Catskills, New York
Beaverkill-Willowemoc Fishing Report: August 6, 2026
The Beaverkill and Willowemoc are falling, but stained freestone water, warm air, and afternoon thunderstorms make this a cautious morning-only trout option.
- Status
- tough
- Flow trend
- falling
- Best window
- Early morning into early afternoon, with thermometer checks before any late-day trout fishing
- Best methods
- nymphs, wet flies, dry-dropper
Quick Summary
The Beaverkill-Willowemoc system is improving from the recent rain, but this is still a selective and safety-first report. USGS showed the Beaver Kill at 579 cfs, 2.9 feet, and 64.0 F near Cooks Falls, with Willowemoc Creek at 137 cfs, 2.4 feet, and 62.2 F near Livingston Manor during the morning report check. Current Catskills source context still describes the freestones as high/off-color after heavy downpours, with the Beaverkill carrying stain and the Willowemoc receding from a higher peak. Fish early if you go, avoid the closed Horton Brook thermal refuge water, and move to colder tailwater options if temperatures climb toward 68 F.
Conditions Snapshot
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Status | Tough. Flows are falling and fishable in selected edge water, but stain, warm air, and afternoon storms limit the window |
| Flow | 579 cfs at Beaver Kill at Cooks Falls; 137 cfs on Willowemoc Creek near Livingston Manor |
| Gauge Height | 2.9 feet at Cooks Falls; 2.4 feet near Livingston Manor |
| Water Temp | 64.0 F at Cooks Falls; 62.2 F near Livingston Manor during the morning check |
| Clarity | Not reported by official gauges; current local context reports off-color freestone conditions after storms |
| Trend | Falling from yesterday morning's 678 cfs Beaverkill and 161 cfs Willowemoc checks |
| Best Window | Early morning into early afternoon before freestone water warms and storms build |
| Best Method | Nymphs, wet flies, and dry-dropper rigs through pocket water, soft seams, and riffle edges |
| Wadeability | Limited on the Beaverkill and fair-to-limited on the Willowemoc. Avoid heavy crossings and stained pushy water |
Weather
For the Roscoe and Livingston Manor area, the National Weather Service forecast calls for partly sunny weather with a high near 85 F and southwest wind up to 5 mph. Showers and thunderstorms become likely this afternoon, with a 70 percent precipitation chance, then another chance of storms tonight. That forecast makes the first part of the day the better trout window and adds a real lightning/runoff concern later.
River Notes
The gauges are moving in the right direction, but the freestones are not fully settled. The Beaverkill dropped from 678 cfs yesterday morning to 579 cfs this morning, and the Willowemoc slipped from 161 cfs to 137 cfs. That makes access better than it was, especially on the Willowemoc and along Beaverkill bank water, but stained current and pushy slots still call for conservative wading. Fish from the edges, skip heavy crossings, and do not treat every normal summer run as safe just because the hydrograph is falling.
The Horton Brook thermal refuge regulation remains in effect: 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. Morning temperatures were in the low-to-mid 60s, but a warm August afternoon can change freestones quickly; carry a thermometer and stop targeting trout if any reach approaches 68 F.
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 stained, falling water and thunderstorms in the forecast, plan on subsurface searching first, then switch to dries only when fish show steady feeding in safe-temperature water.
| Hatch | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Winged Olive | 16-22 | Best in shade, cloud cover, or storm-light windows; carry emergers |
| Sulphur | 16-20 | Possible in cooler water, but less dependable on warm stained freestones |
| Isonychia | 10-14 | Good nymph, wet-fly, and dry-dropper profile in pocket water and riffles |
| Tan Caddis | 16-18 | Fish pupa or soft hackles through broken water before surface activity |
| Light Cahill | 14-16 | Carry for evening only if storms hold off and water temperature remains safe |
| Rusty Spinner | 10-22 | Last-light option, but temperature and lightning should decide whether to keep fishing |
| Ants and Beetles | 14-20 | Useful along grassy banks, pocket edges, and undercut shade |
Recommended Flies
| Category | Fly | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nymph | Pheasant Tail, Frenchie, or Perdigon | 14-18 | Good first rig in pockets and walking-speed seams while flows keep dropping |
| Nymph | Isonychia Nymph | 10-12 | Strong searching profile in faster riffle edges and colored water |
| Nymph | Caddis Pupa | 14-18 | Fish below a buoyant dry or as part of a short-line nymph rig |
| Wet | Soft Hackle Pheasant Tail or Partridge and Yellow | 14-18 | Swing through broken current when bugs are present but fish are not rising steadily |
| Dry | BWO Comparadun or CDC Emerger | 16-22 | Use in shaded slicks or during any cloudy olive window |
| Dry | Sulphur Sparkle Dun or Light Cahill | 14-20 | Carry for protected surface activity in cooler water |
| Dry | Isonychia Parachute or Foam Iso | 10-14 | Good dry-dropper lead fly in pocket water |
| Dry | Ant or Beetle | 14-20 | Summer searching option tight to grass, boulders, and shaded banks |
| Streamer | Small Woolly Bugger or Sculpin | 6-10 | Use sparingly along stained banks or after a storm pulse; keep trout temperature limits in mind |
Tactics
Start on water you can fish from the bank or from very short, deliberate wades. On the Beaverkill, target inside seams, pocket edges, and soft shoulders rather than fighting the main current. On the Willowemoc, a dry-dropper or short nymph rig should cover small pockets without adding unnecessary weight in tight water. If the water clears enough for risers, switch to a single dry or emerger and make careful first casts. End the trout session if temperatures push toward 68 F, if storms approach, or if a reach colors up quickly after a cell.
Gauge Links
| Gauge | Flow | Temp | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| BEAVER KILL AT COOKS FALLS NY | 579 cfs | 64.0 F | USGS 01420500 |
| WILLOWEMOC CREEK NR LIVINGSTON MANOR NY | 137 cfs | 62.2 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.