USGS stream gage tips

[adam14711993]

I am hoping to gain some insight from others knowledge of the data presented by various USGS stream gages here in pennsylvania. Basically, I'm wondering if anyone can tell me what cfs and/or gage height values indicate good fishing conditions for a given stream. For example, I know that I prefer to fish the first fork of sinnemahoning creek when the gage at wharton states that the cfs is approximately 300 and height of about 4 feet. I also know that above 500 cfs and 5.2 feet and above that stream is borderline unfishable and can be unsafe to wade. I have a lot of streams that I plan to fish this year, some I have fished previously some I have not. Hoping to gain some info so that if I would like to make a day trip to fish somewhere, I can look at the gage and determine if it's worth the trip. Without having been on a body of water, saw the conditions, looked at the gage and been able to say that the gage data correlates to good fishing conditions, looking at the gage and seeing "300 cfs" for example doesn't tell me whether that is a good flow or not for fishing. I know to look for the median historical values and such, but hoping someone here has more info. Some of the streams I would like to know more about the gage data (I know not all of them might have gages include:

Spring creek (state college area)
Penns creek
Yellow creek (bedford area)
Frankstown branch juniata river
Little juniata river
Bald eagle creek at milesburg
Bald eagle creek at tyrone
Clarion river at johnsonburg
East branch Clarion river
Kinzua creek
Spring creek (marienville area)
Sandy lick creek at Dubois

If anyone is able to tell me for example "Clarion river fishes well when the gage at johnsonburg says *x* amount of cfs or "x" gage height" that would be very much appreciated. Thanks in advance, and good luck to all wetting a line!

 

[dudemanspecial]

Looking at the median data on the chart gives a good idea what normal flows are for the time of year you are looking at.

For instance right now Spring Creek shows 56 CFS with the median hovering around 100 cfs (the little gold triangles indicate median), so you know its low for the time of year. If it was at 100 it would be good flows for late Feb.

 

[chief17]

I tried asking a similar question a couple of years ago. I guess it was more about putting together a list of streams and fishable/wadable conditions similar to what the LJRA used to have on their website. Most of the responses were around liability and person A might have different wading abilities than person B. It pretty much went no where.

I might have some notes somewhere on some of the streams you listed, I'll have to dig around.

 

[afishinado]

same thread posted in this forum >

Post in thread 'USGS stream gage tips'

Mar 2, 2026

Best thing to do is to start keeping track of water flow levels at the time you fish them.
And then you’ll eventually get to the point where you know what a good level for you is there.

I'll second this - I've had banner days when the gauge doesn't necessarily look like that would be the case. Knowing what flows fish well is invaluable, and no data beats getting out there and finding out for yourself.

• TheDuke44