Flows on upper current

[DainW]

Okay so I’ve got a group of guys heading to Salem to fish the upper current next weekend. Trying to look at stream gauge and predict what this week’s rainfall will do to the river levels. I know it’s probably not an exact science, but based on the last heavy rain the area had in February, 2.5-3 inches of rain over a 2 day period (which is what is predicted for Monday and Tuesday) brought the river up to about 200 CFS on the montauk gauge.

 

No rain predicted for Wednesday and then about a quarter of an inch on Thursday or so. Fishing Friday, Saturday, Sunday. If we do get that much rain and the river is up around 200 CFS on Friday, is it still wadeable/fishable at that flow, of will we have to drive over to mill creek or little piney for better fishing on Friday? If not, anyone have any idea on what the upper limit of flows is for the current before it’s no longer safe to wade? From my past experience fishing the river, about 120 CFS is ideal flows for fishing and anything below 100 is pretty tough. I’ve only fished it a handful of times though. Anyone with some more experience fishing the river have any thoughts?

Also, haven’t seen many reports lately, anyone have any idea how it’s been fishing?

Thanks,

Dain

[bkbying89]

Right now the flow is 85.+ CFS and height is 1.85 ft. After the last rain, about 6-7 inches total for the week a lot of things changed in the park so I imagine it is the same below in the river. Anything above 2 feet means the water could be muddy to murky. Above that wading may be tough as well. The park waters were deeper in the fly fishing area and below the bridge as well on the 19th. You didn't say where the weather predictions were for. I live outside of Washington and the recent rains we had didn't affect the Meramac or the Current. Watch the water levels from now until the weekend and start keeping track. It is wadeable now so if it jumps you will have an idea where it should be by midweek.

Bill

[DainW]

Thanks Bill. Have been watching gauges and weather reports for the Salem area like crazy, studying prior rain events, old fishing reports etc  

Looks I’ll like just have to wait and see I guess. Most of the rain is predicted for tonight through tomorrow evening. Should have a pretty good idea by Wednesday morning how bad it is. Hoping rainfall stays less than 3 inches (knock on wood). If that’s the case, it shouldn’t blow out too bad (hopefully).  

[Gavin]

Akers guage says 1.2ft. which is just a couple inches over dead low. You should be fine to wade fish unless that level jumps up near 3'. It is very fishable at 3', but wading can be difficult, best to float. NPS will close the river to floating & fishing if it jumps up  to 4' at Akers. Have had good fishing at 4.5' but you wont be able to cross the creek w/o a boat, and NPS wont want you there.

[DainW]

52 minutes ago, Gavin said:

Akers guage says 1.2ft. which is just a couple inches over dead low. You should be fine to wade fish unless that level jumps up near 3'. It is very fishable at 3', but wading can be difficult, best to float. NPS will close the river to floating & fishing if it jumps up  to 4' at Akers. Have had good fishing at 4.5' but you wont be able to cross the creek w/o a boat, and NPS wont want you there.

Thanks for the reply Gavin. Just wondering do you think the Akers gauge is a better read than the montauk gauge?  I always base off the montauk gauge bc about the furthest down I’ve ever waded from Baptist camp is the confluence with Ashley creek. I know you fish it a lot more than I do so trust your advice on this. Also, are you suggesting maybe I should be fishing further down? 

[Gavin]

Do most of my fishing between Baptist & Welch Spring but I almost always float, or float in and camp on the river. Nps will close Tan Vat & Baptist if it's up a foot and rising on the Montauk Guage. It comes up and falls quickly. Should be good if the rain stops for a day or two.

[bkbying89]

14 hours ago, DainW said:

Thanks Bill. Have been watching gauges and weather reports for the Salem area like crazy, studying prior rain events, old fishing reports etc  

Looks I’ll like just have to wait and see I guess. Most of the rain is predicted for tonight through tomorrow evening. Should have a pretty good idea by Wednesday morning how bad it is. Hoping rainfall stays less than 3 inches (knock on wood). If that’s the case, it shouldn’t blow out too bad (hopefully).  

USGS https://waterdata.usgs.gov/mo/nwis/uv/?site_no=07064440&PARAmeter_cd=00065,63160,00060 I believe this is a link to the Montauk gauge This one is for Akers  https://waterdata.usgs.gov/mo/nwis/uv/?site_no=07064533&PARAmeter_cd=00065,00060. 

[DainW]

Just got back into town. Had a good trip but had to primarily fish the park. Rain on Thursday is what killed it for us below the park. Montauk gauge was down to 280 on Thursday morning before the rain started but the inch or so that they got pushed it back over the 700 mark. It fell a lot more slowly after the second rain than Tuesday’s rain.

Fished the park Friday morning and did pretty well in the fly fishing area down from the spring. Water was high and off color but mop flies, eggs, and San Juan worms worked pretty well. Tried to wade down from Tan Vat Friday afternoon with flows around 350, seemed somewhat dangerous. Returned to the park Friday evening until the horn and caught a nice caddis hatch.  

Woke up Saturday and hit the park again. Water was clearing up and fish started biting on bugs a little more. Saw a lot of baetis coming off in the afternoon. Probably could’ve tried tan vat again with flows at 250 or so, but fish were biting in the park so we stayed put. All in all a fun trip. Disappointed we didn’t get to fish the blue ribbon section really but saw some areas in the park I haven’t fished before. Surprised at how much fishable water there is at montauk compared to some of the other parks, like roaring river for example. Crowds weren’t too bad either, for a weekend.