Catskills, New York
Beaverkill-Willowemoc Fishing Report: August 20, 2026
The Beaverkill and Willowemoc are lower and fishable this morning, with 311 cfs and 64.2 F at Cooks Falls, 72.4 cfs and 61.0 F near Livingston Manor, and a firm 68 F trout-temperature cutoff.
- Status
- fair
- Flow trend
- falling
- Best window
- Morning through early afternoon while water remains below 68 F
- Best methods
- nymphs, wet flies, dry flies
Quick Summary
The Beaverkill and Willowemoc are fishable this morning, but this is still a careful summer freestone call. USGS showed the Beaver Kill at Cooks Falls at 311 cfs, 2.11 feet, and 64.2 F, while the Willowemoc near Livingston Manor was 72.4 cfs, 2.12 feet, and 61.0 F during the 8 AM check. Both rivers are falling from yesterday and below the 68 F trout-stress line at report time, with the Willowemoc again the cooler starting point. Current Catskills source context is still stale, so today's guidance leans on official gauge and forecast data plus seasonal patterns: fish early, carry a thermometer, and move to colder tailwater options or stop targeting trout if water warms toward 68 F.
Conditions Snapshot
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Status | Fair. Morning temperatures are fishable, but lower late-summer freestone flows can warm quickly under even moderate afternoon air temperatures |
| Flow | 311 cfs at Beaver Kill at Cooks Falls; 72.4 cfs at Willowemoc Creek near Livingston Manor |
| Gauge Height | 2.11 feet at Cooks Falls; 2.12 feet near Livingston Manor |
| Water Temp | 64.2 F at Cooks Falls; 61.0 F near Livingston Manor during the 8 AM check |
| Clarity | Not reported by official gauges; check color and floating debris at the access before committing |
| Trend | Falling compared with yesterday morning on both gauges |
| Best Window | Morning through early afternoon while actual stream temperatures remain safely below 68 F |
| Best Method | Nymphs and wet flies in riffles and shaded pocket water; dry flies only if safe temperatures and visible feeding line up |
| Wadeability | Limited to fair. Lower flows improve footing, but avoid fast crossings, protect cold refuges, and do not crowd thermal refuge water |
Weather
For Livingston Manor and Roscoe, the National Weather Service forecast calls for fog early, then rain showers with a high near 72 F. Wind is forecast light from the north at 0 to 3 mph, with new rainfall between a tenth and a quarter inch possible. Tonight has a chance of showers before clearing into patchy fog and a low near 50 F. Cloud cover and showers may extend the safe fishing window compared with a bright hot day, but the only useful trout-temperature answer is still an actual stream thermometer reading.
River Notes
The freestones continue to drop: Cooks Falls is down from yesterday morning's 359 cfs to 311 cfs, and the Willowemoc is down from 81.6 cfs to 72.4 cfs. The water is fishable at the morning check, but lower flows mean less thermal buffer later in the day. Start on the Willowemoc or the coolest Beaverkill reach you can verify, and keep the session short if temperatures begin climbing.
The latest accessible Catskills shop context remains several days old, so it should not be treated as today's river report. It still supports the seasonal approach: nymphs and wets in oxygenated riffles, dries only when safe water and visible feeding line up, and a quick move to colder tailwaters when freestones approach 68 F. The Beaverkill Horton Brook thermal refuge regulation remains in effect from the Iron Bridge at Horton downstream to the first Route 17 overpass, where angling is prohibited from July 1 through August 31.
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 terrestrials. Treat the hatch list as seasonal context rather than permission to fish warm afternoon trout water.
| Hatch | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Winged Olive | 16-22 | Most useful under today's clouds, showers, shade, or evening soft light |
| Sulphur | 16-20 | Late-summer sulphurs remain possible around colder water |
| Tan Caddis | 16-18 | Fish pupa and soft hackles through riffles before any surface activity |
| Light Cahill | 14-16 | Possible in broken current and lower-light water |
| Isonychia | 10-14 | Useful as a nymph or wet fly in oxygenated riffles and pocket water |
| Rusty Spinner or Terrestrial | 10-22 | Carry for the last safe low-light window, plus ants and beetles along shaded banks |
Recommended Flies
| Category | Fly | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nymph | Isonychia Nymph | 10-14 | Start in riffles, pocket water, and faster edges with good oxygen |
| Nymph | Pheasant Tail, Frenchie, or Hare's Ear | 14-18 | Match small mayflies before surface feeding develops |
| Nymph | Caddis Pupa | 14-18 | Work broken water when fish stay subsurface |
| Wet | Soft Hackle Pheasant Tail, Partridge and Orange, or Isonychia Wet | 12-18 | Swing through shaded seams during active bug movement |
| Dry | BWO Comparadun or CDC Olive | 16-22 | Use for small riseforms under clouds, showers, shade, or evening light |
| Dry | Sulphur Emerger, Light Cahill, or Rusty Spinner | 14-20 | Carry for low-light activity, but fish them only while water temperatures remain safe |
| Dry | Flying Ant or Beetle | 16-20 | Prospect shaded banks and foam seams during humid periods |
Tactics
Take a water temperature before you rig. If the Willowemoc or Beaverkill is safely below 68 F, start with a short, efficient nymph or wet-fly program in riffles, pocket water, and shaded seams. If olives show during showers, switch to a small dry or dry-and-emerger setup and fish only to visible targets. Do not stretch the day because the air temperature is comfortable; falling flows can still warm quickly, and trout should be left alone when stream temperatures approach 68 F.
Gauge Links
| Gauge | Flow | Temp | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| BEAVER KILL AT COOKS FALLS NY | 311 cfs | 64.2 F | USGS 01420500 |
| WILLOWEMOC CREEK NR LIVINGSTON MANOR NY | 72.4 cfs | 61.0 F | USGS 01419500 |
Sources
Official sources checked: USGS stations 01420500 and 01419500, plus the National Weather Service forecast for the Livingston Manor and Roscoe, 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, closure, and safety context.