Hey guys - quick question for you. I've been lucky enough to find a few creeks that I'm able to fish this year. A kayak is required to get through certain deep areas... but I noticed the other day when I was out that the water level has dropped since I first visited a few months back. The creek feeds into one of the major rivers by me... and I'm wondering, is there a good way to tell where the water level will be (roughly) before I head out? Will the water level of creeks mimic that water level of the river?

 

Any tips, or suggestions from what you have learned when planning your own trips?

 

Many thanks. 

Google usgs water data for your state 

@TnRiver46 WHAT SORCERY IS THIS?!

4 minutes ago, AJH said:

@TnRiver46 WHAT SORCERY IS THIS?!

It takes up a little bit of my time everyday. I’m addicted to that and tva generation schedules 

@TnRiver46 holy smokes! Ok, so follow up question - in my county I see a few rivers and 1 creek, not the one I'm fishing. If you were in this situation, what would you look at to try to ballpark the creek level if it's not listed? 

2 minutes ago, AJH said:

@TnRiver46 holy smokes! Ok, so follow up question - in my county I see a few rivers and 1 creek, not the one I'm fishing. If you were in this situation, what would you look at to try to ballpark the creek level if it's not listed? 

Theoretically they should be on a similar pattern if they are in the same county but they all seem to behave slightly different in the hills n hollers 

4 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

Theoretically they should be on a similar pattern if they are in the same county but they all seem to behave slightly different in the hills n hollers 

Well I'm in Illinois so it's pretty flat round these parts... hence my excitement regarding these small creeks that are tucked away in wooded areas. Ok one more question then I'll leave you alone...

 

Seasonally, how does the water level typically behave? I know there are many variables that would play into the current level, but historically is August "low water" unless it's a particularly wet season? Is fall higher or lower water usually?

 

Thanks so much again - this is extremely helpful!

1 minute ago, AJH said:

Well I'm in Illinois so it's pretty flat round these parts... hence my excitement regarding these small creeks that are tucked away in wooded areas. Ok one more question then I'll leave you alone...

 

Seasonally, how does the water level typically behave? I know there are many variables that would play into the current level, but historically is August "low water" unless it's a particularly wet season? Is fall higher or lower water usually?

 

Thanks so much again - this is extremely helpful!

It just depends on rainfall amounts unless there are dams. In that line graph picture I posted, the two spikes where the water level rose were immediately following thunderstorms. August sept oct are traditionally dry but you never know, we’ve been flooded up into the woods plenty of times during dry season and had low water at times during the wet season. We usually have high flows in winter when it’s always raining and the vegetation isn’t sequestering any of the ground water 

Got it - thanks so much!

You can also go to the National Weather Service. Click on the map in your area. Then click on the rivers and lake tab. If it has a gauge being monitored by the weather service it will bring up the information.

10-4 @Log Catcher - thanks very much! 

On 8/6/2021 at 7:55 AM, TnRiver46 said:

It takes up a little bit of my time everyday. I’m addicted to that and tva generation schedules 

I'm the same way with our lake levels here. I'm usually up to date on lake levels even on lakes I rarely fish. 

 

https://www.nwk.usace.army.mil/Locations/

21 hours ago, AJH said:

10-4 @Log Catcher - thanks very much! 

I should have explained it a little better. Go to http://weather.gov. Then click on the map in your area. Click on the rivers and lakes tab. I wish there was away to find what the water temp is and how much it has changed in the past few days.

8 hours ago, Log Catcher said:

I should have explained it a little better. Go to http://weather.gov. Then click on the map in your area. Click on the rivers and lakes tab. I wish there was away to find what the water temp is and how much it has changed in the past few days.

 

Thank you for the extra info - where do I find the "Rivers & Lakes" tab? I entered my town in the search bar and hit "go", it took me to a page with info but I'm having a hard time finding the water info - can you please help me, @Log Catcher?

1 hour ago, AJH said:

 

Thank you for the extra info - where do I find the "Rivers & Lakes" tab? I entered my town in the search bar and hit "go", it took me to a page with info but I'm having a hard time finding the water info - can you please help me, @Log Catcher?

Once the main map of the United States come up I click on the map in approximate area where I live. That brings up a map of several counties around here. The rivers and lakes tab is one of several headings right above the map. It may be a different setup in your area and not have it. I hope you can find and get it to work for you.

I use the USGS site for water gauges 20 and 30 miles upstream. They have saved my butt twice now. The CFS doubled and I was able to get off the river. A bad thunderstorm 50 miles up river.

Perfect - thank you @Log Catcher and @newbiedmv - I was able to find it following those steps, and this is good to know. Thank you again!

Hey guys - sorry to revive an old topic but I'm struggling with this a bit. I have several questions that I'm really hoping you can help me with a bit - because I went out to a creek last week to fish and it had gone from a low slow moving honey hole to RAGING RAPIDS! It was unbelievable. I made it a mile up the creek pulling my kayak before I had to admit defeat...

 

So question #1: 

 

Is there a way that I can look up the recorded rainfall in inches over the past 3, 5 or 7 days? 

13 minutes ago, AJ Hauser said:

Hey guys - sorry to revive an old topic but I'm struggling with this a bit. I have several questions that I'm really hoping you can help me with a bit - because I went out to a creek last week to fish and it had gone from a low slow moving honey hole to RAGING RAPIDS! It was unbelievable. I made it a mile up the creek pulling my kayak before I had to admit defeat...

 

So question #1: 

 

Is there a way that I can look up the recorded rainfall in inches over the past 3, 5 or 7 days? 

Usgs usually has that data somewhere on file 

1 minute ago, TnRiver46 said:

Usgs usually has that data somewhere on file 

 

Hey thanks brother - I was hoping you'd chime in

 

I found this, looks somewhat helpful even though none of the gauges are super close - is this what you meant?

 

https://il.water.usgs.gov/gmaps/precip/

If you look on ...say Ambient weather, you will be able to see indivuduals personal weather stations...find one near were you fish.

Not all measure rain fall but some do. But take this info with a grain of salt...some devices don't always have all the sensors working.

ambient weather

 

Then there is USGS

USGS

34 minutes ago, AJ Hauser said:

 

Hey thanks brother - I was hoping you'd chime in

 

I found this, looks somewhat helpful even though none of the gauges are super close - is this what you meant?

 

https://il.water.usgs.gov/gmaps/precip/

That looks pretty good! Also airports usually track daily rainfall amounts 

21 hours ago, Chris Catignani said:

If you look on ...say Ambient weather, you will be able to see indivuduals personal weather stations...find one near were you fish.

Not all measure rain fall but some do. But take this info with a grain of salt...some devices don't always have all the sensors working.

ambient weather

 

Then there is USGS

USGS

 

Excellent - thank you - I'll check that out now as a secondary place to look. Much appreciated! 

 

21 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

That looks pretty good! Also airports usually track daily rainfall amounts 

 

Perfect - I'll check this out and see how accurate it is. Really appreciate the help! 

 

Do you guys know if there is any information on say, the overall water table in an area? I wonder if I'm even using that term correctly. I can find the river level which will be helpful but what say you on the water table?

 

Thanks!

16 minutes ago, AJ Hauser said:

 

Excellent - thank you - I'll check that out now as a secondary place to look. Much appreciated! 

 

 

Perfect - I'll check this out and see how accurate it is. Really appreciate the help! 

 

Do you guys know if there is any information on say, the overall water table in an area? I wonder if I'm even using that term correctly. I can find the river level which will be helpful but what say you on the water table?

 

Thanks!

I have no clue on water table 

33 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

I have no clue on water table 

 

10-4 - I think after digging through what you sent me I have a pretty good idea on what things are doing - thank you co much for the help!