USGS Real-Time Stream Flow Map
Yesterday at this time, I was still dreaming about slipping out one day later this week and doing a bit of trout fishing, imagining the rain that has been falling to have been just enough to provide good conditions for gathering high-water trout photos. I even imagined trout having been made aggressive by the high flows and holding in predictable locations. Well, after another full day of rain yesterday and more still falling this morning, I've admitted to myself that any trout plans will have to wait until next week. Access will be nearly impossible in most places and the trout will be hiding in deep eddies, just trying it survive the flood.
I looked a the some USGS stream-flow maps and charts this morning, and the rivers are absolutely rocking. The Chattooga River in North Georgia is running right at ten times its average volume for this date based on 40 years of data and at the highest level on record for January 16. The streams I fish in North Carolina are all in the western tip, and if you look at the map above, a blue dot for a stream means the stream flow is at above the 90 percentile mark. Black is even higher. Because our streams are steep sided, the levels raise quickly and they absolutely roar through their gorges under flood conditions.
Creek kayakers love to see USGS maps that look like this one. For fishermen, such a map suggests sorting lure boxes, respooling reels or tying flies.
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