East Branch Penobscot River at Grindstone, Maine
USGS 01029500 · Maine · reports discharge (live), gauge height
USGS 01029500 · Maine · reports discharge (live), gauge height
What the agencies suggest
Approach the stream carefully and with a low profileIowa Department of Natural Resources
Fishing upstream will usually spook fewer fish than working downstreamIowa Department of Natural Resources
Deep pools and undercut banks provide refuge during sunny days and low waterMinnesota Department of Natural Resources
General guidance from the readings and the published lines named above, not a fishing forecast. Local rules and closures come first.
Reading Nov 5, 10:00 PM EST · provisional USGS data
Much below normal for Nov 5 Steady · 24 h Below NWS action stage
Discharge, last 7 days: 169 readings from Oct 29, 11:00 PM EDT to Nov 5, 10:00 PM EST; ranging 277 to 342 ft³/s; latest 342 ft³/s; shaded band: typical range (25th–75th percentile) for each date.
USGS provisional data may be revised. Source: USGS instantaneous values.
| Time | Discharge (ft³/s) | Gauge height (ft) | Normal, 25th–75th (ft³/s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 5, 10:00 PM EST | 342 | 4.48 | 791–2,890 |
| Nov 5, 9:00 PM EST | 342 | 4.48 | 791–2,890 |
| Nov 5, 8:00 PM EST | 342 | 4.48 | 791–2,890 |
| Nov 5, 7:00 PM EST | 342 | 4.48 | 791–2,890 |
| Nov 5, 6:00 PM EST | 342 | 4.48 | 791–2,890 |
| Nov 5, 5:00 PM EST | 342 | 4.48 | 791–2,890 |
| Nov 5, 4:00 PM EST | 342 | 4.48 | 791–2,890 |
| Nov 5, 3:00 PM EST | 342 | 4.48 | 791–2,890 |
| Nov 5, 2:00 PM EST | 337 | 4.47 | 791–2,890 |
| Nov 5, 1:00 PM EST | 337 | 4.47 | 791–2,890 |
| Nov 5, 12:00 PM EST | 331 | 4.46 | 791–2,890 |
| Nov 5, 11:00 AM EST | 337 | 4.47 | 791–2,890 |
| Nov 5, 10:00 AM EST | 331 | 4.46 | 791–2,890 |
| Nov 5, 9:00 AM EST | 331 | 4.46 | 791–2,890 |
| Nov 5, 8:00 AM EST | 331 | 4.46 | 791–2,890 |
| Nov 5, 7:00 AM EST | 331 | 4.46 | 791–2,890 |
| Nov 5, 6:00 AM EST | 331 | 4.46 | 791–2,890 |
| Nov 5, 5:00 AM EST | 331 | 4.46 | 791–2,890 |
| Nov 5, 4:00 AM EST | 331 | 4.46 | 791–2,890 |
| Nov 5, 3:00 AM EST | 331 | 4.46 | 791–2,890 |
| Nov 5, 2:00 AM EST | 331 | 4.46 | 791–2,890 |
| Nov 5, 1:00 AM EST | 326 | 4.45 | 791–2,890 |
| Nov 5, 12:00 AM EST | 326 | 4.45 | 791–2,890 |
| Nov 4, 11:00 PM EST | 326 | 4.45 | 730–2,910 |
| Nov 4, 10:00 PM EST | 326 | 4.45 | 730–2,910 |
| Nov 4, 9:00 PM EST | 326 | 4.45 | 730–2,910 |
| Nov 4, 8:00 PM EST | 326 | 4.45 | 730–2,910 |
| Nov 4, 7:00 PM EST | 326 | 4.45 | 730–2,910 |
| Nov 4, 6:00 PM EST | 326 | 4.45 | 730–2,910 |
| Nov 4, 5:00 PM EST | 326 | 4.45 | 730–2,910 |
| Nov 4, 4:00 PM EST | 321 | 4.44 | 730–2,910 |
| Nov 4, 3:00 PM EST | 321 | 4.44 | 730–2,910 |
| Nov 4, 2:00 PM EST | 321 | 4.44 | 730–2,910 |
| Nov 4, 1:00 PM EST | 316 | 4.43 | 730–2,910 |
| Nov 4, 12:00 PM EST | 311 | 4.42 | 730–2,910 |
| Nov 4, 11:00 AM EST | 311 | 4.42 | 730–2,910 |
| Nov 4, 10:00 AM EST | 311 | 4.42 | 730–2,910 |
| Nov 4, 9:00 AM EST | 311 | 4.42 | 730–2,910 |
| Nov 4, 8:00 AM EST | 306 | 4.41 | 730–2,910 |
| Nov 4, 7:00 AM EST | 306 | 4.41 | 730–2,910 |
| Nov 4, 6:00 AM EST | 306 | 4.41 | 730–2,910 |
| Nov 4, 5:00 AM EST | 301 | 4.4 | 730–2,910 |
| Nov 4, 4:00 AM EST | 296 | 4.39 | 730–2,910 |
| Nov 4, 3:00 AM EST | 296 | 4.39 | 730–2,910 |
| Nov 4, 2:00 AM EST | 296 | 4.39 | 730–2,910 |
| Nov 4, 1:00 AM EST | 292 | 4.38 | 730–2,910 |
| Nov 4, 12:00 AM EST | 292 | 4.38 | 730–2,910 |
| Nov 3, 11:00 PM EST | 292 | 4.38 | 763–2,290 |
| Nov 3, 10:00 PM EST | 292 | 4.38 | 763–2,290 |
| Nov 3, 9:00 PM EST | 292 | 4.38 | 763–2,290 |
| Nov 3, 8:00 PM EST | 292 | 4.38 | 763–2,290 |
| Nov 3, 7:00 PM EST | 287 | 4.37 | 763–2,290 |
| Nov 3, 6:00 PM EST | 287 | 4.37 | 763–2,290 |
| Nov 3, 5:00 PM EST | 287 | 4.37 | 763–2,290 |
| Nov 3, 4:00 PM EST | 287 | 4.37 | 763–2,290 |
| Nov 3, 3:00 PM EST | 282 | 4.36 | 763–2,290 |
| Nov 3, 2:00 PM EST | 282 | 4.36 | 763–2,290 |
| Nov 3, 1:00 PM EST | 282 | 4.36 | 763–2,290 |
| Nov 3, 12:00 PM EST | 282 | 4.36 | 763–2,290 |
| Nov 3, 11:00 AM EST | 282 | 4.36 | 763–2,290 |
| Nov 3, 10:00 AM EST | 282 | 4.36 | 763–2,290 |
| Nov 3, 9:00 AM EST | 282 | 4.36 | 763–2,290 |
| Nov 3, 8:00 AM EST | 282 | 4.36 | 763–2,290 |
| Nov 3, 7:00 AM EST | 282 | 4.36 | 763–2,290 |
| Nov 3, 6:00 AM EST | 282 | 4.36 | 763–2,290 |
| Nov 3, 5:00 AM EST | 282 | 4.36 | 763–2,290 |
| Nov 3, 4:00 AM EST | 282 | 4.36 | 763–2,290 |
| Nov 3, 3:00 AM EST | 282 | 4.36 | 763–2,290 |
| Nov 3, 2:00 AM EST | 287 | 4.37 | 763–2,290 |
| Nov 3, 1:00 AM EST | 287 | 4.37 | 763–2,290 |
| Nov 3, 12:00 AM EST | 287 | 4.37 | 763–2,290 |
| Nov 2, 11:00 PM EST | 287 | 4.37 | 722–2,180 |
| Nov 2, 10:00 PM EST | 287 | 4.37 | 722–2,180 |
| Nov 2, 9:00 PM EST | 282 | 4.36 | 722–2,180 |
| Nov 2, 8:00 PM EST | 282 | 4.36 | 722–2,180 |
| Nov 2, 7:00 PM EST | 282 | 4.36 | 722–2,180 |
| Nov 2, 6:00 PM EST | 287 | 4.37 | 722–2,180 |
| Nov 2, 5:00 PM EST | 282 | 4.36 | 722–2,180 |
| Nov 2, 4:00 PM EST | 282 | 4.36 | 722–2,180 |
| Nov 2, 3:00 PM EST | 287 | 4.37 | 722–2,180 |
| Nov 2, 2:00 PM EST | 287 | 4.37 | 722–2,180 |
| Nov 2, 1:00 PM EST | 282 | 4.36 | 722–2,180 |
| Nov 2, 12:00 PM EST | 287 | 4.37 | 722–2,180 |
| Nov 2, 11:00 AM EST | 287 | 4.37 | 722–2,180 |
| Nov 2, 10:00 AM EST | 282 | 4.36 | 722–2,180 |
| Nov 2, 9:00 AM EST | 287 | 4.37 | 722–2,180 |
| Nov 2, 8:00 AM EST | 282 | 4.36 | 722–2,180 |
| Nov 2, 7:00 AM EST | 282 | 4.36 | 722–2,180 |
| Nov 2, 6:00 AM EST | 282 | 4.36 | 722–2,180 |
| Nov 2, 5:00 AM EST | 287 | 4.37 | 722–2,180 |
| Nov 2, 4:00 AM EST | 277 | 4.35 | 722–2,180 |
| Nov 2, 3:00 AM EST | 282 | 4.36 | 722–2,180 |
| Nov 2, 2:00 AM EST | 282 | 4.36 | 722–2,180 |
| Nov 2, 1:00 AM EST | 282 | 4.36 | 722–2,180 |
| Nov 2, 12:00 AM EST | 282 | 4.36 | 722–2,180 |
| Nov 1, 11:00 PM EST | 287 | 4.37 | 604–2,400 |
| Nov 1, 10:00 PM EST | 287 | 4.37 | 604–2,400 |
| Nov 1, 9:00 PM EST | 287 | 4.37 | 604–2,400 |
| Nov 1, 8:00 PM EST | 287 | 4.37 | 604–2,400 |
| Nov 1, 7:00 PM EST | 282 | 4.36 | 604–2,400 |
| Nov 1, 6:00 PM EST | 287 | 4.37 | 604–2,400 |
| Nov 1, 5:00 PM EST | 287 | 4.37 | 604–2,400 |
| Nov 1, 4:00 PM EST | 287 | 4.37 | 604–2,400 |
| Nov 1, 3:00 PM EST | 287 | 4.37 | 604–2,400 |
| Nov 1, 2:00 PM EST | 287 | 4.37 | 604–2,400 |
| Nov 1, 1:00 PM EST | 282 | 4.36 | 604–2,400 |
| Nov 1, 12:00 PM EST | 287 | 4.37 | 604–2,400 |
| Nov 1, 11:00 AM EST | 287 | 4.37 | 604–2,400 |
| Nov 1, 10:00 AM EST | 287 | 4.37 | 604–2,400 |
| Nov 1, 9:00 AM EST | 282 | 4.36 | 604–2,400 |
| Nov 1, 8:00 AM EST | 287 | 4.37 | 604–2,400 |
| Nov 1, 7:00 AM EST | 287 | 4.37 | 604–2,400 |
| Nov 1, 6:00 AM EST | 287 | 4.37 | 604–2,400 |
| Nov 1, 5:00 AM EST | 287 | 4.37 | 604–2,400 |
| Nov 1, 4:00 AM EST | 287 | 4.37 | 604–2,400 |
| Nov 1, 3:00 AM EST | 287 | 4.37 | 604–2,400 |
| Nov 1, 2:00 AM EST | 287 | 4.37 | 604–2,400 |
| Nov 1, 1:00 AM EST | 287 | 4.37 | 604–2,400 |
| Nov 1, 1:00 AM EDT | 287 | 4.37 | 604–2,400 |
| Nov 1, 12:00 AM EDT | 287 | 4.37 | 604–2,400 |
| Oct 31, 11:00 PM EDT | 287 | 4.37 | 618–2,360 |
| Oct 31, 10:00 PM EDT | 287 | 4.37 | 618–2,360 |
| Oct 31, 9:00 PM EDT | 292 | 4.38 | 618–2,360 |
| Oct 31, 8:00 PM EDT | 287 | 4.37 | 618–2,360 |
| Oct 31, 7:00 PM EDT | 287 | 4.37 | 618–2,360 |
| Oct 31, 6:00 PM EDT | 287 | 4.37 | 618–2,360 |
| Oct 31, 5:00 PM EDT | 292 | 4.38 | 618–2,360 |
| Oct 31, 4:00 PM EDT | 287 | 4.37 | 618–2,360 |
| Oct 31, 3:00 PM EDT | 292 | 4.38 | 618–2,360 |
| Oct 31, 2:00 PM EDT | 287 | 4.37 | 618–2,360 |
| Oct 31, 1:00 PM EDT | 287 | 4.37 | 618–2,360 |
| Oct 31, 12:00 PM EDT | 287 | 4.37 | 618–2,360 |
| Oct 31, 11:00 AM EDT | 287 | 4.37 | 618–2,360 |
| Oct 31, 10:00 AM EDT | 287 | 4.37 | 618–2,360 |
| Oct 31, 9:00 AM EDT | 287 | 4.37 | 618–2,360 |
| Oct 31, 8:00 AM EDT | 287 | 4.37 | 618–2,360 |
| Oct 31, 7:00 AM EDT | 287 | 4.37 | 618–2,360 |
| Oct 31, 6:00 AM EDT | 292 | 4.38 | 618–2,360 |
| Oct 31, 5:00 AM EDT | 292 | 4.38 | 618–2,360 |
| Oct 31, 4:00 AM EDT | 287 | 4.37 | 618–2,360 |
| Oct 31, 3:00 AM EDT | 292 | 4.38 | 618–2,360 |
| Oct 31, 2:00 AM EDT | 292 | 4.38 | 618–2,360 |
| Oct 31, 1:00 AM EDT | 287 | 4.37 | 618–2,360 |
| Oct 31, 12:00 AM EDT | 292 | 4.38 | 618–2,360 |
| Oct 30, 11:00 PM EDT | 292 | 4.38 | 595–2,580 |
| Oct 30, 10:00 PM EDT | 292 | 4.38 | 595–2,580 |
| Oct 30, 9:00 PM EDT | 292 | 4.38 | 595–2,580 |
| Oct 30, 8:00 PM EDT | 292 | 4.38 | 595–2,580 |
| Oct 30, 7:00 PM EDT | 292 | 4.38 | 595–2,580 |
| Oct 30, 6:00 PM EDT | 296 | 4.39 | 595–2,580 |
| Oct 30, 5:00 PM EDT | 292 | 4.38 | 595–2,580 |
| Oct 30, 4:00 PM EDT | 292 | 4.38 | 595–2,580 |
| Oct 30, 3:00 PM EDT | 292 | 4.38 | 595–2,580 |
| Oct 30, 2:00 PM EDT | 292 | 4.38 | 595–2,580 |
| Oct 30, 1:00 PM EDT | 292 | 4.38 | 595–2,580 |
| Oct 30, 12:00 PM EDT | 292 | 4.38 | 595–2,580 |
| Oct 30, 11:00 AM EDT | 287 | 4.37 | 595–2,580 |
| Oct 30, 10:00 AM EDT | 292 | 4.38 | 595–2,580 |
| Oct 30, 9:00 AM EDT | 287 | 4.37 | 595–2,580 |
| Oct 30, 8:00 AM EDT | 287 | 4.37 | 595–2,580 |
| Oct 30, 7:00 AM EDT | 287 | 4.37 | 595–2,580 |
| Oct 30, 6:00 AM EDT | 287 | 4.37 | 595–2,580 |
| Oct 30, 5:00 AM EDT | 287 | 4.37 | 595–2,580 |
| Oct 30, 4:00 AM EDT | 287 | 4.37 | 595–2,580 |
| Oct 30, 3:00 AM EDT | 287 | 4.37 | 595–2,580 |
| Oct 30, 2:00 AM EDT | 287 | 4.37 | 595–2,580 |
| Oct 30, 1:00 AM EDT | 292 | 4.38 | 595–2,580 |
| Oct 30, 12:00 AM EDT | 287 | 4.37 | 595–2,580 |
| Oct 29, 11:00 PM EDT | 287 | 4.37 | 600–2,430 |
Normal for Nov 5: 791–2,890 ft³/s (middle half of 105 years of record). Now: 342 ft³/s, much below normal.
Much below normal for this date. 342 ft³/s is below the 10th percentile of daily mean flow for Nov 5 at this gauge over 105 years of record (1903–2026): 10th 370, 25th 791, median 1,310, 75th 2,890, 90th 4,200 ft³/s.
Daily means on record for Nov 5: lowest 164 ft³/s, highest 18,300 ft³/s.
Classes as USGS labels them (hyswap: flow categories (WDFN_stats schema) (U.S. Geological Survey) ); percentiles from the USGS daily statistics (U.S. Geological Survey) (approved daily means; the reading is provisional and instantaneous).
Steady over 24 hours (+4.9% discharge). Rising or falling means a change of more than 10% in discharge (or 0.2 ft of gauge height) over 24 hours; our rule of thumb, not a USGS class.
Map of USGS gauge 01029500 and the river around it
Where East Branch Penobscot River at Grindstone, Maine sits, with 1 other gauge on the same river and our water's map point.
No current water-temperature reading at this gauge, so no temperature guidance is given. Take a stream thermometer: the trout lines Maine IF&W uses are 68°F.
This gauge is on our page for East Branch Penobscot River, but no agency page we read lists its species.
Below NWS action stage. The National Weather Service reports this gauge below its action stage. That is not a statement that wading is safe.
Flood categories: action stage, minor, moderate and major flooding (National Weather Service)Turn Around Don't Drown. “A mere 6 inches of fast-moving flood water can knock over an adult.” No flow number makes a crossing safe; if in doubt, stay out.
Turn Around Don't Drown (National Weather Service)Guidance from the readings above and the published thresholds named with each line; not a fishing forecast, a safety guarantee or a statement about access. Local rules and closures come first.
Below NWS action stage. The National Weather Service reports this gauge below its action stage. That is not a statement that wading is safe.
NWS observed 4.48 ft stage, 341 ft³/s at Nov 5, 10:00 PM EST (NWS gauge GRNM1; its stage datum can differ from the USGS gauge height).
NWS river forecast forecast issued Nov 5, 10:32 AM EST. Highest point: 4.7 ft, 469 ft³/s on Nov 8, 1:00 AM EST (Below NWS action stage).
| Day | Stage | Flow |
|---|---|---|
| Thu, Nov 5 | 4.4 ft | 301 ft³/s |
| Fri, Nov 6 | 4.4 ft | 301 ft³/s |
| Sat, Nov 7 | 4.6 ft | 408 ft³/s |
| Sun, Nov 8 | 4.7 ft | 469 ft³/s |
Open the NWS gauge page · What the categories mean (National Weather Service)
This gauge is on East Branch Penobscot River: regulations, guides and shops
USGS gauge page USGS statistics NWS gauge GRNM1
Checked Nov 5, 10:57 PM EST; readings refresh at most every 15 minutes and statistics daily. Provisional USGS data can be revised. Conditions change: re-check before you go. This is general guidance, not a fishing forecast, a safety guarantee or a statement about access.