Beaverkill Weekly Fishing Report - July 5, 2026

July 5, 2026

The 4th of July has come and gone, and many of us have experienced wonderful time spent with family and friends celebrating the 250th Independence Day milestone of our nation. Undaunted by the tremendous downpours, thunder and lightning (could it be more dramatic?) we were, nonetheless, entertained by spectacular fireworks displays that lasted late into the night.

Despite frequent rain showers and storms, our free-flowing rivers and streams are still low and warm; at about 3:00 pm on Sunday afternoon the Beaverkill at Cooks Falls was just at the median average flow of 181 cubic feet per second for the first time in many days. Water temperatures all week have exceeded the 70s and even the 80s since last Wednesday. The Willowemoc followed suit, with the creek reaching the median average flow of 54 cfs before receding back down, and water temperatures also reaching 80 degrees.

Beaverkill anglers are reminded that fishing on the lower Beaverkill at Horton during the summer months, between July 1 and August 31, is strictly prohibited. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) has instituted regulations to close the river to all angling from the Iron Bridge at Horton downstream to the first Route 17 overpass, to provide a thermal refuge for heat-stressed trout. But fishing on other streams where water temperatures were more conducive to trout fishing has been positive, with trout fishers reporting good catches of some excellent fish.

We’re expecting more rainstorms and showers by the end of this week, through the weekend and into next week, with somewhat cooler temperatures in the high 70s. Prospective trout fishers should limit their fishing to the cooler mornings and evenings, and be sure to use a thermometer to check water temperatures before deciding to fish.

Beaverkill Weekly Fishing Report - June 28, 2026

It’s the end of June/beginning of July, and we enjoyed a wonderful two weeks of cool temperatures and some ample rain showers heading into the heat of the summer. Water temperatures on the Willowemoc and Beaverkill had been relatively cool but at this writing, Sunday afternoon, are beginning to creep up toward and into the 70s. Monitoring water temperature before beginning a fishing trip is important during these warmer days. Fishing in the cool of the mornings especially before the sun hits the water, and again in the evenings especially around dark will be most productive. Fly hatches have been spotty, continuing with tiny Blue Winged Olives, some Blue Sedges and tan Caddis flies along with the lighter colored summer flies - Sulphurs and Light Cahills.

Water levels are back to below the historical average on both rivers; after some heavy rain showers, the Willowemoc had reached its historic median average flow on Friday afternoon, but by Sunday afternoon had receded to 33.2 cubic feet per second, which is less than the historic median average of 52 cfs based on 40 years of record-keeping. The Beaverkill at Cooks Falls was flowing at 135 cfs on Saturday afternoon, below its historic median flow of 199 over 112 years of record-keeping. And by this week, with air temperatures predicted to be in the 80s to 90s by week’s end, no doubt flyfishers will best be headed for the tailwaters to try their luck.

Reported hatches on the Neversink have not been heavy, but are consistent in the evenings until dark, about 7:30 pm. In addition to a few Blue Sedge and Tan Caddis flies, there are two types of Sulphurs making up the bulk of the hatches on the Neversink lately: size #14 Invaria Sulphurs mixed in with the main hatch of size #16 Dorotheas.

Reports from the East Branch Delaware are similar to that of the Neversink, however the West Branch Delaware has been getting an afternoon hatch of sulphurs and then a second hatch in the evenings.

Beaverkill Weekly Fishing Report - June 21, 2026

Sunday, Father’s Day as well as the first day of Summer, brought picture-perfect weather - sunny, bright blue skies with puffy white clouds and temperatures in the low 70s, and just enough of a breeze to keep the biting insects at bay. The past couple of weeks have followed suit, which has given our rivers and streams a refreshing spell of cool temperatures; water temperature on the Beaverkill ranging from below 60 degrees last Tuesday to a high of 71 this past week. This bodes well for the trout, heading into the summer season. Although Monday’s predicted heavy rains will raise water levels appreciably, river flows had been below the 112-year historic median average level over the past week. The Willowemoc, although flowing below its 40-year median average level, has enjoyed cooler temperatures in the 50s and 60s all week.

Fly hatches for this first day of summer include a variety of caddis flies along with Blue Winged Olives and Sulphurs, in addition to Isonychia and Light Cahills. It’s a good idea to use smaller flies especially when river levels are lower, and follow suit with longer and finer leaders. 5X leaders are fine for flies sizes #12 and #14, but drop down to 6X tippet when fishing small dry flies or nymphs of size #16 - #18. If you’re midging, fishing sizes #20 or smaller, you can get by with 6X but 7X would be better. When in doubt, using a smaller tippet size during the summer can help your fly land more delicately.