Catskills, New York
Beaverkill-Willowemoc Fishing Report: September 6, 2026
The Beaverkill and Willowemoc continue to fall, with cool morning water and improving flows but lingering clarity and crossing concerns.
- Status
- fair
- Flow trend
- falling
- Best window
- Morning through midday after checking clarity and access
- Best methods
- streamers, nymphs, wet flies
Quick Summary
The Beaverkill and Willowemoc are recovering steadily, though anglers should still inspect clarity and access before wading. USGS showed the Beaverkill at Cooks Falls near 779 cfs, 3.25 feet, and 60.3 F during the morning check. The Willowemoc near Livingston Manor was about 104 cfs, 2.28 feet, and 59.5 F. These are meaningful improvements from yesterday, but the Beaverkill remains above the local ideal general-wading range and may retain stain after the storms.
Conditions Snapshot
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Status | Fair. Falling, cool water offers a practical outing, but residual stain and Beaverkill current limit access |
| Flow | 779 cfs at Beaverkill Cooks Falls; 104 cfs at Willowemoc Livingston Manor |
| Gauge Height | 3.25 feet at Cooks Falls; 2.28 feet at Livingston Manor |
| Water Temp | 60.3 F on the Beaverkill; 59.5 F on the Willowemoc |
| Clarity | Not reported for today; storm stain was present in the latest local report |
| Trend | Falling on both streams |
| Best Window | Morning through midday after checking clarity and access |
| Best Method | Streamers in remaining stain; nymphs or wet flies as visibility improves |
| Wadeability | Limited. The Willowemoc is the easier scouting option; avoid ambitious Beaverkill crossings |
Weather
The National Weather Service forecast for Roscoe calls for mostly sunny skies, a high near 69 F, and north wind at 2 to 6 mph. Tonight should be mostly clear near 47 F, with brief patchy fog possible. The cool day reduces the immediate trout-temperature concern, and continued dry weather should let both streams keep clearing.
River Notes
Cooks Falls has fallen another 301 cfs since yesterday morning, while the Willowemoc has dropped 40 cfs. The Beaverkill still carries enough current to make crossings a poor first move, but bank-accessible pools, inside bends, and slow edges are becoming more practical. The lower Willowemoc is now low enough that an angler can inspect more water safely from shore, though submerged rocks remain slick after the high-water event.
Start with a visibility check. If stain persists, use a dark or light streamer that can be tracked against the water and work close to banks and soft seams. Where the water has cleared, use an Isonychia nymph, caddis pupa, or wet fly through riffle margins. Save small dry flies for repeatable rises rather than blind prospecting under bright skies.
Hatch Activity
Official gauges do not report hatches. The latest useful Catskills report, dated September 4, supports Blue Winged Olives, tan caddis, Light Cahills, Isonychias, rusty spinners, and flying ants. Because no September 6 local update was available at the morning check, treat this as a carry list and verify activity on the water.
| Hatch | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Winged Olive | 16-22 | Look in shaded margins and softer water |
| Tan Caddis | 16-18 | Fish pupa and soft hackles through riffle edges |
| Light Cahill | 14-16 | Carry for late-day surface activity if the water clears |
| Isonychia | 10-14 | Use a nymph or wet fly as a searching pattern |
| Flying Ant or rusty spinner | 10-22 | Check foam lines and quiet banks before choosing size |
Recommended Flies
| Category | Fly | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Streamer | Black, olive, or white Woolly Bugger or sculpin | 4-8 | Cover soft banks and inside seams where visibility allows |
| Nymph | Isonychia Nymph, Pheasant Tail, or caddis pupa | 10-18 | Keep the drift controlled in slower current |
| Wet | Isonychia Wet or partridge soft hackle | 10-18 | Swing through improving riffle margins |
| Dry | BWO Comparadun or CDC Olive | 16-22 | Use only for consistent rises in sheltered water |
| Dry | Flying Ant, Light Cahill, or rusty spinner | 10-22 | Match the insect after observing quiet banks or evening slicks |
Tactics
Inspect both color and current from shore before rigging. On the Willowemoc, fish the nearest seam before entering and keep away from shallow resting trout. On the Beaverkill, work accessible margins and postpone crossings until the river drops further. Keep streamer and nymph rigs compact enough to control around debris. Carry a thermometer later in the day and stop targeting trout if a shallow section approaches 68 F, even though the cool forecast makes that less likely today.
Gauge Links
| Gauge | Flow | Temp | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| BEAVER KILL AT COOKS FALLS NY | 779 cfs | 60.3 F | USGS 01420500 |
| WILLOWEMOC CREEK NEAR LIVINGSTON MANOR NY | 104 cfs | 59.5 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 the latest local public conditions report reviewed separately for clarity, hatch, method, and safety context.