Catskills, New York
Beaverkill-Willowemoc Fishing Report: August 21, 2026
The Beaverkill and Willowemoc are cooler after rain and overnight fog, with the Beaver Kill at 399 cfs and 60.8 F and Willowemoc at 115 cfs and 58.8 F, but bright afternoon sun keeps the best trout window early.
- Status
- fair
- Flow trend
- rising
- Best window
- Morning, then shaded afternoon water only if temperatures stay safe
- Best methods
- dry flies, wet flies, nymphs
Quick Summary
The Beaverkill-Willowemoc system is fishable this morning, but it is not as protected as the Delaware tailwaters once the sun gets high. USGS showed the Beaver Kill at Cooks Falls at 399 cfs, 2.39 feet, and 60.8 F, while Willowemoc Creek near Livingston Manor was 115 cfs, 2.33 feet, and 58.8 F during the 8 AM check. Both gauges are up from yesterday's lower readings after rain, and current Upper Delaware context notes that cloud cover and a cool night helped freestone temperatures. Fish the morning and shaded water first, then use a thermometer later in the day and stop targeting trout if readings approach 68 F.
Conditions Snapshot
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Status | Fair. Morning flows and temperatures are workable, but bright sun and late-August freestone warming make this a time-sensitive trout report |
| Flow | 399 cfs at Beaver Kill at Cooks Falls; 115 cfs on Willowemoc Creek near Livingston Manor |
| Gauge Height | 2.39 feet at Cooks Falls; 2.33 feet at Livingston Manor |
| Water Temp | 60.8 F at Cooks Falls; 58.8 F on Willowemoc Creek near Livingston Manor |
| Clarity | Not reported by official gauges; current local context says yesterday's rain mostly soaked in and flows remain fishable |
| Trend | Rising over the prior two-day USGS trace, especially compared with yesterday's lower midday readings |
| Best Window | Morning through early afternoon shade; reassess with a thermometer later |
| Best Method | Dry flies and wet flies during bug or terrestrial activity; light nymphs in pocket water before the sun gets high |
| Wadeability | Limited to fair. Flows are fishable but higher than earlier this week, so move carefully around slick freestone rocks |
Weather
For Roscoe, the National Weather Service forecast calls for patchy fog early, then sun with a high near 76 F. Wind is light from the northeast around 3 mph, and daytime precipitation chances are near zero. Tonight should be partly cloudy with patchy fog and a low near 54 F. The cool start helps, but sunny late-morning and afternoon weather can warm freestone pools quickly in August.
River Notes
The rain bump is helpful but not a blank check. The Beaver Kill at Cooks Falls is running higher than yesterday's low flow, which should open more riffle edges and pocket-water lanes, while the Willowemoc has enough water for careful small-stream presentations. The tradeoff is safety and temperature management: higher freestone water can hide slick rocks, and bright sun can push afternoon trout temperatures toward the upper 60s even when the morning gauge looks fine.
Current local Upper Delaware context supports better freestone temperatures this morning after cloud cover, a cool night, and rain that mostly soaked into the ground. That is useful for planning, but official gauges should drive the final call. Carry a thermometer, fish higher-gradient oxygenated water early, and be willing to move to the West Branch Delaware tailwater or quit trout fishing if the Beaverkill or Willowemoc warms toward 68 F.
Hatch Activity
Official gauges do not report hatches. Current regional Catskill and Upper Delaware context supports olives, Isonychias, Cahills or summer stenos, tan caddis, and flying ants; sulphurs are fading but still possible in cooler water. On the freestones, terrestrials and searching mayflies are often more reliable than waiting on a heavy August hatch.
| Hatch | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Winged Olive | 16-20 | Most useful in fog, shade, or broken light; smaller olives may matter more than big dries |
| Flying Ant | 18-24 | Good late-summer option along banks, foam lines, and slow slicks |
| Isonychia | 10-12 | Search riffles, pocket water, and fast banks with dries, wets, or nymphs |
| Light Cahill or Summer Steno | 14-16 | Useful as a searching dry in mixed afternoon or evening activity |
| Tan Caddis | 16-20 | Fish pupa or soft hackles through riffles when no trout are visibly rising |
| Sulphur | 16-20 | Spotty and fading; carry a few for cooler shaded water but do not build the whole plan around them |
Recommended Flies
| Category | Fly | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dry | Parachute Adams, BWO Comparadun, or CDC Olive | 16-20 | Cover small mayflies in soft seams and shaded flats |
| Dry | Flying Ant or small beetle | 18-24 | Use when fish are tight to banks or sipping in quiet water |
| Dry | Isonychia Parachute or Light Cahill | 10-16 | Search broken current before fish key on smaller food |
| Wet | Partridge and Orange, Soft Hackle Pheasant Tail, or Isonychia Wet | 12-18 | Swing through riffles and pocket seams during non-hatch periods |
| Nymph | Pheasant Tail, Frenchie, Hare's Ear, or small caddis pupa | 14-20 | Keep rigs light and targeted in oxygenated pocket water |
| Streamer | Small Woolly Bugger or sculpin | 6-10 | Only worth a short test in shaded banks or slightly stained water |
Tactics
Fish early and make the first hour count. Start in riffles, pocket water, and shaded banks with a dry-dropper, small terrestrial, or soft hackle before the sun gets overhead. If trout start rising, simplify to one accurate dry or a dry-and-emerger pair and lengthen the leader. Keep nymph rigs light enough to avoid dredging every slick rock. By late morning, start checking water temperatures; if readings climb toward 68 F, stop targeting trout and move to colder tailwater or a different warmwater option.
Gauge Links
| Gauge | Flow | Temp | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| BEAVER KILL AT COOKS FALLS NY | 399 cfs | 60.8 F | USGS 01420500 |
| WILLOWEMOC CREEK NR LIVINGSTON MANOR NY | 115 cfs | 58.8 F | USGS 01419500 |
Sources
Official sources checked: USGS stations 01420500 and 01419500, plus the National Weather Service forecast for the 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, clarity, and safety context.