Catskills, New York
Beaverkill-Willowemoc Fishing Report: October 14, 2026
Both the Beaverkill and Willowemoc are falling into solid fishing shape after Sunday's runoff, with the Beaverkill down to 229 cfs and the Willowemoc at 54 cfs under improving skies.
- Status
- good
- Flow trend
- falling
- Best window
- Late afternoon
- Best methods
- nymphs, wet flies, dry flies
Quick Summary
The Beaverkill has dropped from yesterday's 292 cfs to 229 cfs at Cooks Falls, while the Willowemoc fell from about 68 cfs to 54.4 cfs at Livingston Manor. Both streams are falling into comfortable wadeable range with improving clarity. The Beaverkill still carries some stain from Sunday's runoff but is clearing. The Willowemoc cleared faster and should be in excellent condition today. Small olives, Sulphurs, and caddis are the leading hatches. Mostly cloudy skies with a high near 65 F in Roscoe, with isolated morning rain possible.
Conditions Snapshot
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Status | Good. Both streams are falling well into wadeable range with improving clarity and steady afternoon hatch prospects |
| Flow | 229 cfs at Beaverkill Cooks Falls; 54 cfs at Willowemoc Livingston Manor |
| Gauge Height | 1.79 feet at Cooks Falls; 2.01 feet at Livingston Manor |
| Water Temp | 56.5 F on the Beaverkill; 53.4 F on the Willowemoc |
| Clarity | Some color on the Beaverkill, improving; Willowemoc clear |
| Trend | Falling. Beaverkill down from 292 cfs; Willowemoc down from 68 cfs |
| Best Window | Late afternoon |
| Best Method | Nymphs and wet flies in the morning, dries for established olives and Sulphurs |
| Wadeability | Good. Both streams are falling into comfortable wadeable range |
Weather
The National Weather Service forecast for Roscoe calls for isolated rain showers between 11am and noon, then partly sunny skies with a high near 65 F. Northwest wind around 12 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph. Tonight brings mostly cloudy skies and a low around 37 F, with northwest wind 10 to 17 mph, gusts to 28 F. No active NWS alert covered the Roscoe area at the morning check.
River Notes
Sunday's rain pushed both streams higher, but the fall pattern is now reasserting itself. The Beaverkill has fallen from 292 cfs to 229 cfs, retaining some stain on the lower sections but clearing steadily. The Willowemoc rose to a peak and has since fallen to 54.4 cfs at Livingston Manor, with excellent clarity for fall wading.
Water temperatures of 56.5 F on the Beaverkill and 53.4 F on the Willowemoc are well within the ideal fall trout range. The falling flow is exposing gravel bars and making crossings safer. The Beaverkill is approaching ideal wadeable flows for the Catskills in October.
Dette Flies' daily report is no longer being updated for October, as their seasonal reporting window runs April 1 through July 1. The last available report from September noted BWOs, Sulphurs, tan caddis, Light Cahills, and Isonychias as the leading hatches, which aligns with the current fall pattern.
Hatch Activity
| Hatch | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Winged Olive | 16-22 | The leading afternoon hatch under improving skies |
| Sulphur | 16-20 | Mixed in with olives, especially in slower pools |
| Tan Caddis | 16-18 | Pupa can be fished through riffles and pockets |
| Light Cahill | 14-16 | Scattered larger mayfly; confirm naturals before fishing |
| Isonychia | 12-14 | Nymphs and wets can cover riffle margins and pockets |
| Rusty Spinner | 10-22 | Evening spinner fall; carry a range of sizes |
Recommended Flies
| Category | Fly | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nymph | Isonychia Nymph, Pheasant Tail, or Frenchie | 14-18 | Drift pool margins, inside seams, and protected riffle edges |
| Nymph | Caddis Pupa | 16-18 | Fish pockets with enough weight for control, without overloading the rig |
| Wet | Isonychia Wet or soft hackle | 14-18 | Swing across slower margins as visibility improves |
| Dry | BWO Comparadun or CDC Olive | 16-20 | Use only after finding repeat rises |
| Dry | Sulphur Dun | 16-20 | Key the slower water where Sulphurs tend to concentrate |
| Streamer | Woolly Bugger | 6-10 | Search protected banks and deeper edges if clarity permits |
Tactics
Begin from the bank and fish softer margins before stepping in. Use a short, controlled nymph or wet-fly presentation where the main current meets protected water. The Beaverkill is still falling and retains some stain on the lower sections; give it another half-day if the lower sections remain too stained. The Willowemoc should be the better day-one wade option today. If clarity improves and repeated olive or Sulphur rises develop late, switch to a longer leader and a single dry. Stay clear of redds and give spawning trout room.
Gauge Links
| Gauge | Flow | Temp | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| BEAVER KILL AT COOKS FALLS NY | 229 cfs | 56.5 F | USGS 01420500 |
| WILLOWEMOC CREEK NR LIVINGSTON MANOR NY | 54 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. Dette Flies daily report is no longer being updated for October; the last available report from September 21 is referenced for hatch and method context.