Beaverkill-Willowemoc Fishing Report: August 30, 2026

Quick Summary

The Beaverkill-Willowemoc system is fishable this morning, but it remains a late-summer freestone report, not an all-day trout green light. USGS showed the Beaver Kill at Cooks Falls at 292 cfs, 2.04 feet, and 61.2 F, while Willowemoc Creek near Livingston Manor was 51.4 cfs, 1.99 feet, and 58.6 F during the morning check. Both gauges are down from yesterday morning, so footing is more approachable, but lower water and a forecast high near 76 F mean the afternoon needs a thermometer. Fish early, stay in shade and oxygenated riffles, and respect the Beaverkill Horton Brook thermal-refuge closure through August 31.

Conditions Snapshot

Field	Value
Status	Fair. Morning flows and temperatures are fishable, but falling freestone water and afternoon warming keep this to a selective, temperature-aware trout window
Flow	292 cfs at Beaver Kill at Cooks Falls; 51.4 cfs on Willowemoc Creek near Livingston Manor
Gauge Height	2.04 feet at Cooks Falls; 1.99 feet at Livingston Manor
Water Temp	61.2 F at Cooks Falls; 58.6 F on Willowemoc Creek near Livingston Manor
Clarity	Not reported by official gauges; current regional context has area rivers dropping after the late-week rain
Trend	Falling compared with yesterday morning on both gauges
Best Window	Morning, shaded riffles, and evening only if water temperatures remain safely below 68 F
Best Method	Small dries, terrestrials, wet flies, and light nymphs in edges, riffle margins, pocket water, and shaded runs
Wadeability	Limited to fair. Easier than the recent higher water, but still avoid pushy slots, polished rocks, and unnecessary crossings

Weather

For Roscoe, the National Weather Service forecast calls for partly sunny skies with a high near 76 F, southwest wind around 1 to 6 mph, and a 30 percent chance of showers after 2 p.m. Tonight should be mostly cloudy with a low near 57 F and patchy fog after the showers move through. The mild wind is helpful, and a light shower could improve bug activity, but bright or humid afternoon water should be checked with a thermometer.

River Notes

The Beaver Kill and Willowemoc are both lower than yesterday morning. That opens more edge water and makes wading simpler in many runs, but the lower water also exposes fish and can warm quickly once the sun gets on the river. The morning temperatures are safe for trout; the afternoon decision should be made with an actual thermometer, not the morning USGS value.

Official gauges do not report clarity. Current regional context points to dropping post-rain water, so expect better shape than immediately after the storms, but check each reach before tying on tiny dries. If you find stain or broken water, a soft hackle, lightly weighted nymph, or small streamer can cover water. If the river is clear, terrestrials, small olives, Isonychias, Cahills, and caddis are the better low-impact approach.

Hatch Activity

Official gauges do not report hatches. Current Catskills and Upper Delaware seasonal context supports late-summer Blue Winged Olives, flying ants and beetles, Isonychias, Light Cahills or Summer Stenos, tan caddis, Tricos, and a few fading Sulphurs.

Hatch	Size	Notes
Blue Winged Olive	18-24	Best in shade, softer riffle edges, and any damp or low-light window
Flying Ant or Beetle	16-24	Strong late-summer choice along banks, grass edges, foam lines, and quiet pockets
Isonychia	10-14	Fish dries, wets, or swimming nymphs along riffle margins and pocket seams
Light Cahill or Summer Steno	14-16	Useful as a searching dry and for mixed evening rise forms
Tan Caddis	16-20	Fish pupa or soft hackles through riffles when no steady rises show
Trico	20-24	Possible in calmer morning slicks; use only where water stays cool and fish are rising steadily
Sulphur	16-20	Late and sporadic, but still worth having during cooler windows

Recommended Flies

Category	Fly	Size	Notes
Dry	BWO Comparadun, CDC Olive, or Parachute Adams	18-24	Cover small olives in shaded seams, riffles, and softer pockets
Dry	Flying Ant, foam ant, beetle, or small hopper	12-24	Work banks, grass edges, and foam seams before changing flies repeatedly
Dry	Isonychia Parachute, Light Cahill, Summer Steno, or Sulphur	10-20	Search broken water and be ready for evening surface work
Dry	Trico spinner	20-24	Use only for calm morning feeders where temperatures remain safe
Wet	Soft Hackle Pheasant Tail, Partridge and Orange, or Isonychia Wet	12-18	Swing through pocket seams and riffle tails before or between rises
Nymph	Pheasant Tail, Frenchie, Hare's Ear, caddis pupa, or Isonychia Nymph	12-20	Use modest weight and target edges, plunge pockets, and oxygenated riffles
Streamer	Small Woolly Bugger or sculpin	6-10	Only worth a short test if stain remains or showers add cover; do not grind warm afternoon trout water

Tactics

Start early and fish from the bank before stepping into the river. On the Beaver Kill, cover softer margins, cushions behind rocks, and shaded riffle shoulders. On the Willowemoc, use a terrestrial, small olive, or soft hackle through pockets and under tree cover before adding split shot. Carry a thermometer, stop targeting trout if readings approach 68 F, and do not fish the Horton Brook thermal-refuge reach until the seasonal protection ends.

Gauge Links

Gauge	Flow	Temp	Link
BEAVER KILL AT COOKS FALLS NY	292 cfs	61.2 F	USGS 01420500
WILLOWEMOC CREEK NR LIVINGSTON MANOR NY	51.4 cfs	58.6 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.