Catskills, New York
Beaverkill-Willowemoc Fishing Report: October 3, 2026
The Beaverkill and Willowemoc remain cold and continue to recede, with thin cover, bright skies, and the best dry-fly chance late in the day.
- Status
- fair
- Flow trend
- falling
- Best window
- Late afternoon into evening
- Best methods
- nymphs, wet flies, dry flies
Quick Summary
The Beaverkill is near 172 cfs at Cooks Falls and the Willowemoc is near 39 cfs at Livingston Manor. Both streams are cold and falling. The Beaverkill has the better depth and connected holding water, while the Willowemoc requires a careful approach and light rig. Fish nymphs or wet flies through the sunny part of the day and look for olives late.
Conditions Snapshot
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Status | Fair. Temperatures are favorable, but low, falling water and full sun reduce cover |
| Flow | 172 cfs at Beaverkill Cooks Falls; 39.1 cfs at Willowemoc Livingston Manor |
| Gauge Height | 1.51 feet at Cooks Falls; 1.90 feet at Livingston Manor |
| Water Temp | 57.9 F on the Beaverkill; 55.6 F on the Willowemoc |
| Clarity | Not reported |
| Trend | Falling on both streams |
| Best Window | Late afternoon into evening |
| Best Method | Nymphs and wet flies through midday; dries only for observed rises |
| Wadeability | Good at the morning levels, with stealth required in thin water |
Weather
The National Weather Service forecast for Roscoe calls for sun, a high near 65 F, and north wind around 5 mph. Tonight should be clear with a low near 43 F. No active NWS alert covered the forecast point at the morning check.
River Notes
The Beaverkill has fallen from 181 cfs Friday morning to 172 cfs. The Willowemoc slipped from 41.7 to 39.1 cfs. Choose the Beaverkill when depth and cover matter most. On the Willowemoc, stay out of the channel where possible, use longer casts than the narrow water normally requires, and avoid repeated passes over one pocket.
No current October 3 shop report was available at the morning check. The latest useful regional context is from October 2 and lists small olives, Light Cahills, hebes, Isonychias, and tan caddis. With today's sun, the best surface chance should come late or in shaded reaches. Do not assume those insects will appear on every pool.
Hatch Activity
| Hatch | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Winged Olive | 16-20 | The best late-day prospect in shaded soft water |
| Isonychia | 12-14 | Fish nymphs and wets in broken water; confirm adults before choosing a dry |
| Light Cahill | 14-16 | A sparse larger mayfly worth carrying for the late window |
| Tan Caddis | 16-20 | Fish a pupa through riffles and pockets before surface activity |
Recommended Flies
| Category | Fly | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nymph | Isonychia Nymph, Pheasant Tail, Frenchie, or caddis pupa | 12-20 | Use a light rig through pool heads, shaded pockets, and riffle margins |
| Wet | Isonychia Wet or soft hackle | 12-18 | Swing through broken water without overworking one lie |
| Dry | BWO Comparadun or CDC Olive | 16-22 | Use only after finding repeat rises |
| Dry | Light Cahill or Rusty Spinner | 12-18 | Match the visible insect and rise form late in the day |
Tactics
Start at pool heads, deeper riffle margins, and shaded pockets. Use less weight than you would at normal fall flow and keep the indicator small. On the Willowemoc, lead with the fly rather than your boots and move after one or two clean presentations. Change to a long-leader dry only for repeat rises. Water temperatures are safe this morning, but avoid redds and give spawning trout room.
Gauge Links
| Gauge | Flow | Temp | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| BEAVER KILL AT COOKS FALLS NY | 172 cfs | 57.9 F | USGS 01420500 |
| WILLOWEMOC CREEK NEAR LIVINGSTON MANOR NY | 39.1 cfs | 55.6 F | USGS 01419500 |
Sources
Official sources checked: USGS stations 01420500 and 01419500, plus the National Weather Service forecast and active alert feed for the Roscoe, NY area. This report is an original Custom FlyBox summary based on current official gauge and weather data, with October 2 regional conditions reviewed separately for recent hatch and method context.