Catskills, New York
Beaverkill-Willowemoc Fishing Report: October 8, 2026
The Beaverkill and Willowemoc remain cold but very low, favoring deeper pools, quiet approaches, and a late-day olive watch.
- Status
- tough
- Flow trend
- falling
- Best window
- Late afternoon into evening
- Best methods
- nymphs, wet flies, dry flies
Quick Summary
The Beaverkill is near 136 cfs at Cooks Falls and the Willowemoc is near 32 cfs at Livingston Manor. Both streams remain cold and very low; the Beaverkill is falling slowly while the Willowemoc is steady. The Beaverkill offers the better depth. Fish lightly weighted nymphs or wet flies from the bank where possible, and save dry flies for repeat rises late in the day.
Conditions Snapshot
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Status | Tough. Cold water is favorable, but very low flow leaves little cover and concentrates angling pressure |
| Flow | 136 cfs at Beaverkill Cooks Falls; 32 cfs at Willowemoc Livingston Manor |
| Gauge Height | 1.30 feet at Cooks Falls; 1.84 feet at Livingston Manor |
| Water Temp | 52.0 F on the Beaverkill; 51.3 F on the Willowemoc |
| Clarity | Not reported |
| Trend | Falling slowly on the Beaverkill; stable on the Willowemoc |
| Best Window | Late afternoon into evening |
| Best Method | Light nymphs and wet flies; dries only for observed rises |
| Wadeability | Good at the morning levels, though bank fishing better protects thin holding water |
Weather
The National Weather Service forecast for Roscoe calls for sun and a high near 64 F. West wind should run 5 to 12 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph. Tonight should be mostly clear with a low near 41 F. No active NWS alert covered the forecast point at the 8 a.m. check.
River Notes
The Beaverkill has fallen from about 139 cfs Wednesday morning to 136 cfs, while the Willowemoc remains near 32 cfs. The latest useful regional update, published October 6, described the freestones as very low and directed anglers toward the better-watered tailwaters. With no fresher local update, the current gauge data supports the same low-water assessment. Deeper Beaverkill pools remain a better starting point than thin Willowemoc reaches.
Cold morning water removes the temperature concern, but low flow makes trout easy to disturb. Stay on the bank where practical, avoid repeated casts over one lie, and keep clear of redds and spawning fish. Small olives provide the most likely late surface activity, with Isonychias and Light Cahills available as larger searching patterns. The gusty west wind may reduce dry-fly precision.
Hatch Activity
| Hatch | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Winged Olive | 18-22 | The main late-day possibility; watch soft pool margins for repeat rises |
| Isonychia | 12-14 | Nymphs and wets can search riffles and pocket water |
| Light Cahill | 14-16 | A sparse larger mayfly; confirm naturals before fishing the dry |
| Rusty spinner | 12-18 | Carry for isolated late-day spinner activity |
| Caddis | 16-20 | Pupa can produce in the remaining riffles and pockets |
Recommended Flies
| Category | Fly | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nymph | Isonychia Nymph, Pheasant Tail, or Frenchie | 12-20 | Use a light rig through pool heads, shaded pockets, and riffle margins |
| Nymph | Caddis Pupa | 16-20 | Drift the deeper pockets without repeatedly covering one fish |
| Wet | Isonychia Wet or soft hackle | 12-18 | Swing through broken water with a quiet downstream approach |
| Dry | BWO Comparadun or CDC Olive | 18-22 | Use only after finding repeat rises late in the day |
| Dry | Light Cahill or Rusty Spinner | 12-18 | Match isolated larger mayflies or spent adults when present |
Tactics
Favor deeper Beaverkill pools over the thinnest Willowemoc reaches. Approach from downstream or from the bank, use less weight than normal, and keep the indicator small. Fish a few careful drifts before moving. Change to a long-leader dry only for repeat rises, and use the bank or vegetation to shelter casts from gusts. Water 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 | 136 cfs | 52.0 F | USGS 01420500 |
| WILLOWEMOC CREEK NEAR LIVINGSTON MANOR NY | 32 cfs | 51.3 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 the October 6 regional update reviewed separately for low-water, hatch, method, and spawning-season context.