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Predictive Gages from the National Weather Service

Articles on this site are out of date since some go back to 2006. Regulations and property ownership may have changed since publication. It is your responsibility to know and obey all regulations and not trespass on private property.

If you ever found yourself wondering whether the water would be fishable in the coming weekend, you need to visit the National Weather Service website then drill down into the section that discusses water levels.

For example, the Potomac Section covers the river from Paw Paw down through the District.  As you can see from the graph below, the website shows you the current level and the prediction for a couple of days into the future. You can also click on the tabs arrayed across the top to obtain additional data regarding the probability of the water level being above a certain point in a time period of interest.

This is a great tool as you try and make plans and negotiate with your spouse for a day on the water. If you know it’s going to be blown out and bad, you can negotiate to fail and gain a “point” or “credit” for use the following weekend. “But I did xyz chore last week instead of going fishing ….” in your best whiny, pathetic, hurt voice…

Who knows? Maybe she will take pity on you out of guilt… Sometimes this works 🙂 
[yes… I am lucky the Basswife never touches a computer..]

The NWS service does not update these in real time – but most have a prediction at some point.

Here is the Tristate Master.

Here are some key gages – all of these are on my Key River Gages page (bookmark that one):

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Unless stated otherwise, this article was authored by Steve Moore

Disclaimer and Warning:  The contents of this site reflect the opinion of the author and you, the reader, must exercise care in the use and interpretation of this information.  Fishing is a dangerous sport.  You can slip and fall on rocks and sustain severe injury.  You can drown.  You can get hooks caught in your skin, face, eyes or other sensitive places.  All sorts of bad things can happen to you when to go into the woods to visit the places documented here.  Forests, streams and lakes are wild areas and any number of bad things can happen.  You must make your own judgment in terms of acceptable behavior and risk and not rely on anything posted here.  I disclaim all liability and responsibility for any actions you take as a result of reading the articles on this site.  If you do not agree with this, you should not read anything posted on this site.

Disclaimer and Warning:  The contents of this site reflect the opinion of the author and you, the reader, must exercise care in the use and interpretation of this information.  Fishing is a dangerous sport.  You can slip and fall on rocks and sustain severe injury.  You can drown.  You can get hooks caught in your skin, face, eyes or other sensitive places.  All sorts of bad things can happen to you when to go into the woods to visit the places documented here.  Forests, streams and lakes are wild areas and any number of bad things can happen.  You must make your own judgment in terms of acceptable behavior and risk and not rely on anything posted here.  I disclaim all liability and responsibility for any actions you take as a result of reading the articles on this site.  If you do not agree with this, you should not read anything posted on this site.

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