MIDDLE FORK KENTUCKY RIVER AT TALLEGA, KY
USGS 03281000 · Kentucky · reports discharge (live), gauge height
Reading MIDDLE FORK KENTUCKY RIVER AT TALLEGA, KY…
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USGS 03281000 · Kentucky · reports discharge (live), gauge height
What the agencies suggest
Carry a pocket thermometer to monitor water temperatureNational Park Service
General guidance from the readings and the published lines named above, not a fishing forecast. Local rules and closures come first.
Reading Nov 5, 10:45 PM EST · provisional USGS data
Normal for Nov 5 Steady · 24 h
Discharge, last 7 days: 169 readings from Oct 29, 11:45 PM EDT to Nov 5, 10:45 PM EST; ranging 44 to 468 ft³/s; latest 458 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, 10:45 PM EST | 458 | 6.67 | 166–535 |
| Nov 5, 9:45 PM EST | 458 | 6.67 | 166–535 |
| Nov 5, 8:45 PM EST | 458 | 6.67 | 166–535 |
| Nov 5, 7:45 PM EST | 461 | 6.68 | 166–535 |
| Nov 5, 6:45 PM EST | 461 | 6.68 | 166–535 |
| Nov 5, 5:45 PM EST | 461 | 6.68 | 166–535 |
| Nov 5, 4:45 PM EST | 461 | 6.68 | 166–535 |
| Nov 5, 3:45 PM EST | 465 | 6.69 | 166–535 |
| Nov 5, 2:45 PM EST | 465 | 6.69 | 166–535 |
| Nov 5, 1:45 PM EST | 465 | 6.69 | 166–535 |
| Nov 5, 12:45 PM EST | 468 | 6.7 | 166–535 |
| Nov 5, 11:45 AM EST | 468 | 6.7 | 166–535 |
| Nov 5, 10:45 AM EST | 461 | 6.68 | 166–535 |
| Nov 5, 9:45 AM EST | 468 | 6.7 | 166–535 |
| Nov 5, 8:45 AM EST | 468 | 6.7 | 166–535 |
| Nov 5, 7:45 AM EST | 468 | 6.7 | 166–535 |
| Nov 5, 6:45 AM EST | 465 | 6.69 | 166–535 |
| Nov 5, 5:45 AM EST | 465 | 6.69 | 166–535 |
| Nov 5, 4:45 AM EST | 461 | 6.68 | 166–535 |
| Nov 5, 3:45 AM EST | 458 | 6.67 | 166–535 |
| Nov 5, 2:45 AM EST | 455 | 6.66 | 166–535 |
| Nov 5, 1:45 AM EST | 451 | 6.65 | 166–535 |
| Nov 5, 12:45 AM EST | 448 | 6.64 | 166–535 |
| Nov 4, 11:45 PM EST | 445 | 6.63 | 157–609 |
| Nov 4, 10:45 PM EST | 445 | 6.63 | 157–609 |
| Nov 4, 9:45 PM EST | 441 | 6.62 | 157–609 |
| Nov 4, 8:45 PM EST | 438 | 6.61 | 157–609 |
| Nov 4, 7:45 PM EST | 438 | 6.61 | 157–609 |
| Nov 4, 6:45 PM EST | 435 | 6.6 | 157–609 |
| Nov 4, 5:45 PM EST | 432 | 6.59 | 157–609 |
| Nov 4, 4:45 PM EST | 410 | 6.52 | 157–609 |
| Nov 4, 3:45 PM EST | 416 | 6.54 | 157–609 |
| Nov 4, 2:45 PM EST | 419 | 6.55 | 157–609 |
| Nov 4, 1:45 PM EST | 416 | 6.54 | 157–609 |
| Nov 4, 12:45 PM EST | 413 | 6.53 | 157–609 |
| Nov 4, 11:45 AM EST | 413 | 6.53 | 157–609 |
| Nov 4, 10:45 AM EST | 413 | 6.53 | 157–609 |
| Nov 4, 9:45 AM EST | 413 | 6.53 | 157–609 |
| Nov 4, 8:45 AM EST | 413 | 6.53 | 157–609 |
| Nov 4, 7:45 AM EST | 413 | 6.53 | 157–609 |
| Nov 4, 6:45 AM EST | 413 | 6.53 | 157–609 |
| Nov 4, 5:45 AM EST | 413 | 6.53 | 157–609 |
| Nov 4, 4:45 AM EST | 413 | 6.53 | 157–609 |
| Nov 4, 3:45 AM EST | 413 | 6.53 | 157–609 |
| Nov 4, 2:45 AM EST | 413 | 6.53 | 157–609 |
| Nov 4, 1:45 AM EST | 413 | 6.53 | 157–609 |
| Nov 4, 12:45 AM EST | 413 | 6.53 | 157–609 |
| Nov 3, 11:45 PM EST | 413 | 6.53 | 161–515 |
| Nov 3, 10:45 PM EST | 410 | 6.52 | 161–515 |
| Nov 3, 9:45 PM EST | 410 | 6.52 | 161–515 |
| Nov 3, 8:45 PM EST | 410 | 6.52 | 161–515 |
| Nov 3, 7:45 PM EST | 410 | 6.52 | 161–515 |
| Nov 3, 6:45 PM EST | 406 | 6.51 | 161–515 |
| Nov 3, 5:45 PM EST | 406 | 6.51 | 161–515 |
| Nov 3, 4:45 PM EST | 403 | 6.5 | 161–515 |
| Nov 3, 3:45 PM EST | 403 | 6.5 | 161–515 |
| Nov 3, 2:45 PM EST | 400 | 6.49 | 161–515 |
| Nov 3, 1:45 PM EST | 394 | 6.47 | 161–515 |
| Nov 3, 12:45 PM EST | 376 | 6.41 | 161–515 |
| Nov 3, 11:45 AM EST | 340 | 6.28 | 161–515 |
| Nov 3, 10:45 AM EST | 267 | 5.99 | 161–515 |
| Nov 3, 9:45 AM EST | 157 | 5.42 | 161–515 |
| Nov 3, 8:45 AM EST | 66.9 | 4.68 | 161–515 |
| Nov 3, 7:45 AM EST | 47.4 | 4.43 | 161–515 |
| Nov 3, 6:45 AM EST | 46 | 4.41 | 161–515 |
| Nov 3, 5:45 AM EST | 46 | 4.41 | 161–515 |
| Nov 3, 4:45 AM EST | 46 | 4.41 | 161–515 |
| Nov 3, 3:45 AM EST | 46 | 4.41 | 161–515 |
| Nov 3, 2:45 AM EST | 46 | 4.41 | 161–515 |
| Nov 3, 1:45 AM EST | 46 | 4.41 | 161–515 |
| Nov 3, 12:45 AM EST | 46 | 4.41 | 161–515 |
| Nov 2, 11:45 PM EST | 46 | 4.41 | 160–570 |
| Nov 2, 10:45 PM EST | 46 | 4.41 | 160–570 |
| Nov 2, 9:45 PM EST | 46 | 4.41 | 160–570 |
| Nov 2, 8:45 PM EST | 46 | 4.41 | 160–570 |
| Nov 2, 7:45 PM EST | 45.3 | 4.4 | 160–570 |
| Nov 2, 6:45 PM EST | 45.3 | 4.4 | 160–570 |
| Nov 2, 5:45 PM EST | 45.3 | 4.4 | 160–570 |
| Nov 2, 4:45 PM EST | 45.3 | 4.4 | 160–570 |
| Nov 2, 3:45 PM EST | 45.3 | 4.4 | 160–570 |
| Nov 2, 2:45 PM EST | 45.3 | 4.4 | 160–570 |
| Nov 2, 1:45 PM EST | 45.3 | 4.4 | 160–570 |
| Nov 2, 12:45 PM EST | 45.3 | 4.4 | 160–570 |
| Nov 2, 11:45 AM EST | 45.3 | 4.4 | 160–570 |
| Nov 2, 10:45 AM EST | 45.3 | 4.4 | 160–570 |
| Nov 2, 9:45 AM EST | 45.3 | 4.4 | 160–570 |
| Nov 2, 8:45 AM EST | 45.3 | 4.4 | 160–570 |
| Nov 2, 7:45 AM EST | 45.3 | 4.4 | 160–570 |
| Nov 2, 6:45 AM EST | 45.3 | 4.4 | 160–570 |
| Nov 2, 5:45 AM EST | 45.3 | 4.4 | 160–570 |
| Nov 2, 4:45 AM EST | 45.3 | 4.4 | 160–570 |
| Nov 2, 3:45 AM EST | 45.3 | 4.4 | 160–570 |
| Nov 2, 2:45 AM EST | 45.3 | 4.4 | 160–570 |
| Nov 2, 1:45 AM EST | 45.3 | 4.4 | 160–570 |
| Nov 2, 12:45 AM EST | 45.3 | 4.4 | 160–570 |
| Nov 1, 11:45 PM EST | 45.3 | 4.4 | 148–471 |
| Nov 1, 10:45 PM EST | 45.3 | 4.4 | 148–471 |
| Nov 1, 9:45 PM EST | 45.3 | 4.4 | 148–471 |
| Nov 1, 8:45 PM EST | 45.3 | 4.4 | 148–471 |
| Nov 1, 7:45 PM EST | 44.7 | 4.39 | 148–471 |
| Nov 1, 6:45 PM EST | 44.7 | 4.39 | 148–471 |
| Nov 1, 5:45 PM EST | 44.7 | 4.39 | 148–471 |
| Nov 1, 4:45 PM EST | 44.7 | 4.39 | 148–471 |
| Nov 1, 3:45 PM EST | 44.7 | 4.39 | 148–471 |
| Nov 1, 2:45 PM EST | 44.7 | 4.39 | 148–471 |
| Nov 1, 1:45 PM EST | 44.7 | 4.39 | 148–471 |
| Nov 1, 12:45 PM EST | 44.7 | 4.39 | 148–471 |
| Nov 1, 11:45 AM EST | 45.3 | 4.4 | 148–471 |
| Nov 1, 10:45 AM EST | 44.7 | 4.39 | 148–471 |
| Nov 1, 9:45 AM EST | 44.7 | 4.39 | 148–471 |
| Nov 1, 8:45 AM EST | 44.7 | 4.39 | 148–471 |
| Nov 1, 7:45 AM EST | 44.7 | 4.39 | 148–471 |
| Nov 1, 6:45 AM EST | 44.7 | 4.39 | 148–471 |
| Nov 1, 5:45 AM EST | 44.7 | 4.39 | 148–471 |
| Nov 1, 4:45 AM EST | 44.7 | 4.39 | 148–471 |
| Nov 1, 3:45 AM EST | 44.7 | 4.39 | 148–471 |
| Nov 1, 2:45 AM EST | 44.7 | 4.39 | 148–471 |
| Nov 1, 1:45 AM EST | 44.7 | 4.39 | 148–471 |
| Nov 1, 1:45 AM EDT | 44.7 | 4.39 | 148–471 |
| Nov 1, 12:45 AM EDT | 44.7 | 4.39 | 148–471 |
| Oct 31, 11:45 PM EDT | 44.7 | 4.39 | 171–492 |
| Oct 31, 10:45 PM EDT | 44.7 | 4.39 | 171–492 |
| Oct 31, 9:45 PM EDT | 44.7 | 4.39 | 171–492 |
| Oct 31, 8:45 PM EDT | 44.7 | 4.39 | 171–492 |
| Oct 31, 7:45 PM EDT | 44.7 | 4.39 | 171–492 |
| Oct 31, 6:45 PM EDT | 44.7 | 4.39 | 171–492 |
| Oct 31, 5:45 PM EDT | 44.7 | 4.39 | 171–492 |
| Oct 31, 4:45 PM EDT | 44.7 | 4.39 | 171–492 |
| Oct 31, 3:45 PM EDT | 44.7 | 4.39 | 171–492 |
| Oct 31, 2:45 PM EDT | 44.7 | 4.39 | 171–492 |
| Oct 31, 1:45 PM EDT | 44.7 | 4.39 | 171–492 |
| Oct 31, 12:45 PM EDT | 45.3 | 4.4 | 171–492 |
| Oct 31, 11:45 AM EDT | 45.3 | 4.4 | 171–492 |
| Oct 31, 10:45 AM EDT | 45.3 | 4.4 | 171–492 |
| Oct 31, 9:45 AM EDT | 45.3 | 4.4 | 171–492 |
| Oct 31, 8:45 AM EDT | 45.3 | 4.4 | 171–492 |
| Oct 31, 7:45 AM EDT | 45.3 | 4.4 | 171–492 |
| Oct 31, 6:45 AM EDT | 45.3 | 4.4 | 171–492 |
| Oct 31, 5:45 AM EDT | 45.3 | 4.4 | 171–492 |
| Oct 31, 4:45 AM EDT | 44.7 | 4.39 | 171–492 |
| Oct 31, 3:45 AM EDT | 44.7 | 4.39 | 171–492 |
| Oct 31, 2:45 AM EDT | 44.7 | 4.39 | 171–492 |
| Oct 31, 1:45 AM EDT | 44.7 | 4.39 | 171–492 |
| Oct 31, 12:45 AM EDT | 44.7 | 4.39 | 171–492 |
| Oct 30, 11:45 PM EDT | 44.7 | 4.39 | 159–452 |
| Oct 30, 10:45 PM EDT | 44.7 | 4.39 | 159–452 |
| Oct 30, 9:45 PM EDT | 44.7 | 4.39 | 159–452 |
| Oct 30, 8:45 PM EDT | 44.7 | 4.39 | 159–452 |
| Oct 30, 7:45 PM EDT | 44.7 | 4.39 | 159–452 |
| Oct 30, 6:45 PM EDT | 44 | 4.38 | 159–452 |
| Oct 30, 5:45 PM EDT | 44 | 4.38 | 159–452 |
| Oct 30, 4:45 PM EDT | 44 | 4.38 | 159–452 |
| Oct 30, 3:45 PM EDT | 44 | 4.38 | 159–452 |
| Oct 30, 2:45 PM EDT | 44 | 4.38 | 159–452 |
| Oct 30, 1:45 PM EDT | 44 | 4.38 | 159–452 |
| Oct 30, 12:45 PM EDT | 44.7 | 4.39 | 159–452 |
| Oct 30, 11:45 AM EDT | 44 | 4.38 | 159–452 |
| Oct 30, 10:45 AM EDT | 44 | 4.38 | 159–452 |
| Oct 30, 9:45 AM EDT | 44 | 4.38 | 159–452 |
| Oct 30, 8:45 AM EDT | 44 | 4.38 | 159–452 |
| Oct 30, 7:45 AM EDT | 44 | 4.38 | 159–452 |
| Oct 30, 6:45 AM EDT | 44 | 4.38 | 159–452 |
| Oct 30, 5:45 AM EDT | 44 | 4.38 | 159–452 |
| Oct 30, 4:45 AM EDT | 44 | 4.38 | 159–452 |
| Oct 30, 3:45 AM EDT | 44 | 4.38 | 159–452 |
| Oct 30, 2:45 AM EDT | 44 | 4.38 | 159–452 |
| Oct 30, 1:45 AM EDT | 44 | 4.38 | 159–452 |
| Oct 30, 12:45 AM EDT | 44 | 4.38 | 159–452 |
| Oct 29, 11:45 PM EDT | 44 | 4.38 | 166–463 |
Map of USGS gauge 03281000 and the river around it
Where MIDDLE FORK KENTUCKY RIVER AT TALLEGA, KY sits, with 1 other gauge on the same river.
No current water-temperature reading at this gauge, so no temperature guidance is given. Take a stream thermometer. Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources publishes no water-temperature line for trout anglers that we found. The lines below are the National Park Service's, federal guidance, not a Kentucky rule: 68°F.
Species list not on file for this gauge. Check the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources: Kentucky trout stocking schedule · .
Normal for Nov 5: 166–535 ft³/s (middle half of 65 years of record). Now: 458 ft³/s, normal.
Normal for this date. 458 ft³/s is between the 25th and 75th percentiles of daily mean flow for Nov 5 at this gauge over 65 years of record (1961–2025): 10th 87, 25th 166, median 278, 75th 535, 90th 916 ft³/s.
Daily means on record for Nov 5: lowest 25 ft³/s, highest 2,410 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 (+2.9% 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.
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.
NWS observed 6.67 ft stage, 455 ft³/s at Nov 5, 9:45 PM EST (NWS gauge TLLK2; its stage datum can differ from the USGS gauge height).
NWS has not set flood categories for this gauge.
Forecasts are not available. Only observed stages are available for this point.
Open the NWS gauge page · What the categories mean (National Weather Service)
Checked Nov 5, 10:58 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.