Catskills, New York
Beaverkill-Willowemoc Fishing Report: October 4, 2026
The Beaverkill and Willowemoc are cold and still receding, with thin cover, partly sunny skies, and the best surface 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 159 cfs at Cooks Falls and the Willowemoc is near 35 cfs at Livingston Manor. Both streams remain cold but continue to lose water. The Beaverkill offers the better depth and connected holding water. On the Willowemoc, use a light rig, stay out of the channel, and concentrate on shaded pockets and deeper pools.
Conditions Snapshot
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Status | Fair. Cold temperatures are favorable, but low and falling water limits cover |
| Flow | 159 cfs at Beaverkill Cooks Falls; 35.4 cfs at Willowemoc Livingston Manor |
| Gauge Height | 1.44 feet at Cooks Falls; 1.87 feet at Livingston Manor |
| Water Temp | 56.8 F on the Beaverkill; 53.4 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 partly sunny skies, a high near 60 F, and southeast wind from 5 to 8 mph. Tonight should be mostly cloudy with a low near 48 F. No active NWS alert covered the forecast point at the morning check.
River Notes
The Beaverkill has fallen from roughly 172 cfs Saturday morning to 159 cfs. The Willowemoc dropped from 39.1 to 35.4 cfs. Choose the Beaverkill when depth and cover matter most. On the Willowemoc, approach from the bank, fish the first clean drift carefully, and move rather than repeatedly casting over one pocket.
No current October 4 shop report was available at the morning check. The latest useful regional update is dated September 21 and is too stale to support a new daily hatch claim. Small olives, Isonychias, Light Cahills, and tan caddis remain reasonable seasonal patterns to carry, but confirm insects and rises on the water before changing to a dry.
Hatch Activity
| Hatch | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Winged Olive | 18-22 | A seasonal late-day prospect in shaded soft water; current activity is not reported |
| Isonychia | 12-14 | Carry nymphs and wets for broken water; current adult activity is not reported |
| Light Cahill | 14-16 | A possible sparse fall mayfly; confirm naturals before fishing the dry |
| Tan Caddis | 16-20 | A pupa is a searching option through riffles and pockets |
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 | 18-22 | Use only after finding repeat rises |
| Dry | Light Cahill or Rusty Spinner | 14-18 | 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 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. Temperatures are safe for trout this morning, but avoid redds and give spawning fish room.
Gauge Links
| Gauge | Flow | Temp | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| BEAVER KILL AT COOKS FALLS NY | 159 cfs | 56.8 F | USGS 01420500 |
| WILLOWEMOC CREEK NEAR LIVINGSTON MANOR NY | 35.4 cfs | 53.4 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. The latest regional fishing update was reviewed separately but was too stale to treat as current hatch or method reporting.