Yellow River near Ion, IA
USGS 05389000 · Iowa · reports discharge (live), gauge height
Reading Yellow River near Ion, IA…
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USGS 05389000 · Iowa · 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, 8:45 PM CST · provisional USGS data
Above normal for Nov 5 Steady · 24 h Below NWS action stage
Discharge, last 7 days: 169 readings from Oct 29, 10:00 PM CDT to Nov 5, 8:45 PM CST; ranging 137 to 233 ft³/s; latest 207 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, 8:45 PM CST | 207 | 6.24 | 44–135 |
| Nov 5, 7:45 PM CST | 205 | 6.23 | 44–135 |
| Nov 5, 6:45 PM CST | 203 | 6.22 | 44–135 |
| Nov 5, 5:45 PM CST | 203 | 6.22 | 44–135 |
| Nov 5, 4:45 PM CST | 200 | 6.21 | 44–135 |
| Nov 5, 3:45 PM CST | 207 | 6.24 | 44–135 |
| Nov 5, 2:45 PM CST | 205 | 6.23 | 44–135 |
| Nov 5, 1:45 PM CST | 212 | 6.26 | 44–135 |
| Nov 5, 12:45 PM CST | 200 | 6.21 | 44–135 |
| Nov 5, 11:45 AM CST | 210 | 6.25 | 44–135 |
| Nov 5, 10:45 AM CST | 215 | 6.27 | 44–135 |
| Nov 5, 9:45 AM CST | 212 | 6.26 | 44–135 |
| Nov 5, 8:45 AM CST | 218 | 6.28 | 44–135 |
| Nov 5, 7:45 AM CST | 218 | 6.28 | 44–135 |
| Nov 5, 6:45 AM CST | 220 | 6.29 | 44–135 |
| Nov 5, 5:45 AM CST | 220 | 6.29 | 44–135 |
| Nov 5, 4:45 AM CST | 218 | 6.28 | 44–135 |
| Nov 5, 3:45 AM CST | 218 | 6.28 | 44–135 |
| Nov 5, 2:45 AM CST | 223 | 6.3 | 44–135 |
| Nov 5, 1:45 AM CST | 223 | 6.3 | 44–135 |
| Nov 5, 12:45 AM CST | 223 | 6.3 | 44–135 |
| Nov 4, 11:45 PM CST | 223 | 6.3 | 47–124 |
| Nov 4, 10:45 PM CST | 225 | 6.31 | 47–124 |
| Nov 4, 9:45 PM CST | 228 | 6.32 | 47–124 |
| Nov 4, 8:45 PM CST | 225 | 6.31 | 47–124 |
| Nov 4, 7:45 PM CST | 231 | 6.33 | 47–124 |
| Nov 4, 6:45 PM CST | 231 | 6.33 | 47–124 |
| Nov 4, 5:45 PM CST | 233 | 6.34 | 47–124 |
| Nov 4, 4:45 PM CST | 231 | 6.33 | 47–124 |
| Nov 4, 3:45 PM CST | 233 | 6.34 | 47–124 |
| Nov 4, 2:45 PM CST | 218 | 6.28 | 47–124 |
| Nov 4, 1:45 PM CST | 228 | 6.32 | 47–124 |
| Nov 4, 12:45 PM CST | 223 | 6.3 | 47–124 |
| Nov 4, 11:45 AM CST | 218 | 6.28 | 47–124 |
| Nov 4, 10:45 AM CST | 218 | 6.28 | 47–124 |
| Nov 4, 9:45 AM CST | 223 | 6.3 | 47–124 |
| Nov 4, 8:45 AM CST | 223 | 6.3 | 47–124 |
| Nov 4, 7:45 AM CST | 225 | 6.31 | 47–124 |
| Nov 4, 6:45 AM CST | 228 | 6.32 | 47–124 |
| Nov 4, 5:45 AM CST | 231 | 6.33 | 47–124 |
| Nov 4, 4:45 AM CST | 228 | 6.32 | 47–124 |
| Nov 4, 3:45 AM CST | 218 | 6.28 | 47–124 |
| Nov 4, 2:45 AM CST | 233 | 6.34 | 47–124 |
| Nov 4, 1:45 AM CST | 231 | 6.33 | 47–124 |
| Nov 4, 12:45 AM CST | 223 | 6.3 | 47–124 |
| Nov 3, 11:45 PM CST | 210 | 6.25 | 47–124 |
| Nov 3, 10:45 PM CST | 207 | 6.24 | 47–124 |
| Nov 3, 9:45 PM CST | 207 | 6.24 | 47–124 |
| Nov 3, 8:45 PM CST | 175 | 6.1 | 47–124 |
| Nov 3, 7:45 PM CST | 184 | 6.14 | 47–124 |
| Nov 3, 6:45 PM CST | 184 | 6.14 | 47–124 |
| Nov 3, 5:45 PM CST | 171 | 6.08 | 47–124 |
| Nov 3, 4:45 PM CST | 177 | 6.11 | 47–124 |
| Nov 3, 3:45 PM CST | 179 | 6.12 | 47–124 |
| Nov 3, 2:45 PM CST | 179 | 6.12 | 47–124 |
| Nov 3, 1:45 PM CST | 177 | 6.11 | 47–124 |
| Nov 3, 12:45 PM CST | 171 | 6.08 | 47–124 |
| Nov 3, 11:45 AM CST | 173 | 6.09 | 47–124 |
| Nov 3, 10:45 AM CST | 171 | 6.08 | 47–124 |
| Nov 3, 9:45 AM CST | 169 | 6.07 | 47–124 |
| Nov 3, 8:45 AM CST | 164 | 6.05 | 47–124 |
| Nov 3, 7:45 AM CST | 166 | 6.06 | 47–124 |
| Nov 3, 6:45 AM CST | 166 | 6.06 | 47–124 |
| Nov 3, 5:45 AM CST | 164 | 6.05 | 47–124 |
| Nov 3, 4:45 AM CST | 164 | 6.05 | 47–124 |
| Nov 3, 3:45 AM CST | 162 | 6.04 | 47–124 |
| Nov 3, 2:45 AM CST | 164 | 6.05 | 47–124 |
| Nov 3, 1:45 AM CST | 164 | 6.05 | 47–124 |
| Nov 3, 12:45 AM CST | 162 | 6.04 | 47–124 |
| Nov 2, 11:45 PM CST | 160 | 6.03 | 46–130 |
| Nov 2, 10:45 PM CST | 162 | 6.04 | 46–130 |
| Nov 2, 9:45 PM CST | 156 | 6.01 | 46–130 |
| Nov 2, 8:45 PM CST | 158 | 6.02 | 46–130 |
| Nov 2, 7:45 PM CST | 158 | 6.02 | 46–130 |
| Nov 2, 6:45 PM CST | 148 | 5.97 | 46–130 |
| Nov 2, 5:45 PM CST | 143 | 5.94 | 46–130 |
| Nov 2, 4:45 PM CST | 141 | 5.93 | 46–130 |
| Nov 2, 3:45 PM CST | 137 | 5.91 | 46–130 |
| Nov 2, 2:45 PM CST | 146 | 5.96 | 46–130 |
| Nov 2, 1:45 PM CST | 143 | 5.94 | 46–130 |
| Nov 2, 12:45 PM CST | 146 | 5.96 | 46–130 |
| Nov 2, 11:45 AM CST | 144 | 5.95 | 46–130 |
| Nov 2, 10:45 AM CST | 143 | 5.94 | 46–130 |
| Nov 2, 9:45 AM CST | 144 | 5.95 | 46–130 |
| Nov 2, 8:45 AM CST | 143 | 5.94 | 46–130 |
| Nov 2, 7:45 AM CST | 144 | 5.95 | 46–130 |
| Nov 2, 6:45 AM CST | 144 | 5.95 | 46–130 |
| Nov 2, 5:45 AM CST | 144 | 5.95 | 46–130 |
| Nov 2, 4:45 AM CST | 144 | 5.95 | 46–130 |
| Nov 2, 3:45 AM CST | 144 | 5.95 | 46–130 |
| Nov 2, 2:45 AM CST | 146 | 5.96 | 46–130 |
| Nov 2, 1:45 AM CST | 144 | 5.95 | 46–130 |
| Nov 2, 12:45 AM CST | 146 | 5.96 | 46–130 |
| Nov 1, 11:45 PM CST | 144 | 5.95 | 45–119 |
| Nov 1, 10:45 PM CST | 144 | 5.95 | 45–119 |
| Nov 1, 9:45 PM CST | 146 | 5.96 | 45–119 |
| Nov 1, 8:45 PM CST | 144 | 5.95 | 45–119 |
| Nov 1, 7:45 PM CST | 146 | 5.96 | 45–119 |
| Nov 1, 6:45 PM CST | 146 | 5.96 | 45–119 |
| Nov 1, 5:45 PM CST | 146 | 5.96 | 45–119 |
| Nov 1, 4:45 PM CST | 146 | 5.96 | 45–119 |
| Nov 1, 3:45 PM CST | 146 | 5.96 | 45–119 |
| Nov 1, 2:45 PM CST | 146 | 5.96 | 45–119 |
| Nov 1, 1:45 PM CST | 146 | 5.96 | 45–119 |
| Nov 1, 12:45 PM CST | 141 | 5.93 | 45–119 |
| Nov 1, 11:45 AM CST | 146 | 5.96 | 45–119 |
| Nov 1, 10:45 AM CST | 148 | 5.97 | 45–119 |
| Nov 1, 9:45 AM CST | 148 | 5.97 | 45–119 |
| Nov 1, 8:45 AM CST | 146 | 5.96 | 45–119 |
| Nov 1, 7:45 AM CST | 148 | 5.97 | 45–119 |
| Nov 1, 6:45 AM CST | 146 | 5.96 | 45–119 |
| Nov 1, 5:45 AM CST | 146 | 5.96 | 45–119 |
| Nov 1, 4:45 AM CST | 146 | 5.96 | 45–119 |
| Nov 1, 3:45 AM CST | 146 | 5.96 | 45–119 |
| Nov 1, 2:45 AM CST | 148 | 5.97 | 45–119 |
| Nov 1, 1:45 AM CST | 148 | 5.97 | 45–119 |
| Nov 1, 1:45 AM CDT | 148 | 5.97 | 45–119 |
| Nov 1, 12:45 AM CDT | 146 | 5.96 | 45–119 |
| Oct 31, 11:45 PM CDT | 146 | 5.96 | 46–115 |
| Oct 31, 10:45 PM CDT | 148 | 5.97 | 46–115 |
| Oct 31, 9:45 PM CDT | 148 | 5.97 | 46–115 |
| Oct 31, 8:45 PM CDT | 148 | 5.97 | 46–115 |
| Oct 31, 7:45 PM CDT | 146 | 5.96 | 46–115 |
| Oct 31, 6:45 PM CDT | 148 | 5.97 | 46–115 |
| Oct 31, 5:45 PM CDT | 146 | 5.96 | 46–115 |
| Oct 31, 4:45 PM CDT | 148 | 5.97 | 46–115 |
| Oct 31, 3:45 PM CDT | 148 | 5.97 | 46–115 |
| Oct 31, 2:45 PM CDT | 146 | 5.96 | 46–115 |
| Oct 31, 1:45 PM CDT | 148 | 5.97 | 46–115 |
| Oct 31, 12:45 PM CDT | 148 | 5.97 | 46–115 |
| Oct 31, 11:45 AM CDT | 148 | 5.97 | 46–115 |
| Oct 31, 10:45 AM CDT | 148 | 5.97 | 46–115 |
| Oct 31, 9:45 AM CDT | 144 | 5.95 | 46–115 |
| Oct 31, 8:45 AM CDT | 146 | 5.96 | 46–115 |
| Oct 31, 7:45 AM CDT | 146 | 5.96 | 46–115 |
| Oct 31, 6:45 AM CDT | 146 | 5.96 | 46–115 |
| Oct 31, 5:45 AM CDT | 146 | 5.96 | 46–115 |
| Oct 31, 4:45 AM CDT | 148 | 5.97 | 46–115 |
| Oct 31, 3:45 AM CDT | 146 | 5.96 | 46–115 |
| Oct 31, 2:45 AM CDT | 148 | 5.97 | 46–115 |
| Oct 31, 1:45 AM CDT | 148 | 5.97 | 46–115 |
| Oct 31, 12:45 AM CDT | 148 | 5.97 | 46–115 |
| Oct 30, 11:45 PM CDT | 148 | 5.97 | 46–116 |
| Oct 30, 10:45 PM CDT | 148 | 5.97 | 46–116 |
| Oct 30, 9:45 PM CDT | 148 | 5.97 | 46–116 |
| Oct 30, 8:45 PM CDT | 148 | 5.97 | 46–116 |
| Oct 30, 7:45 PM CDT | 148 | 5.97 | 46–116 |
| Oct 30, 6:45 PM CDT | 148 | 5.97 | 46–116 |
| Oct 30, 5:45 PM CDT | 150 | 5.98 | 46–116 |
| Oct 30, 4:45 PM CDT | 148 | 5.97 | 46–116 |
| Oct 30, 3:45 PM CDT | 150 | 5.98 | 46–116 |
| Oct 30, 2:45 PM CDT | 150 | 5.98 | 46–116 |
| Oct 30, 1:45 PM CDT | 148 | 5.97 | 46–116 |
| Oct 30, 12:45 PM CDT | 150 | 5.98 | 46–116 |
| Oct 30, 11:45 AM CDT | 148 | 5.97 | 46–116 |
| Oct 30, 10:45 AM CDT | 150 | 5.98 | 46–116 |
| Oct 30, 9:45 AM CDT | 150 | 5.98 | 46–116 |
| Oct 30, 8:45 AM CDT | 150 | 5.98 | 46–116 |
| Oct 30, 7:45 AM CDT | 150 | 5.98 | 46–116 |
| Oct 30, 6:45 AM CDT | 150 | 5.98 | 46–116 |
| Oct 30, 5:45 AM CDT | 150 | 5.98 | 46–116 |
| Oct 30, 4:45 AM CDT | 150 | 5.98 | 46–116 |
| Oct 30, 3:45 AM CDT | 150 | 5.98 | 46–116 |
| Oct 30, 2:45 AM CDT | 152 | 5.99 | 46–116 |
| Oct 30, 1:45 AM CDT | 150 | 5.98 | 46–116 |
| Oct 30, 12:45 AM CDT | 150 | 5.98 | 46–116 |
| Oct 29, 11:45 PM CDT | 152 | 5.99 | 45–117 |
| Oct 29, 10:45 PM CDT | 150 | 5.98 | 45–117 |
| Oct 29, 10:00 PM CDT | 150 | – | 45–117 |
Map of USGS gauge 05389000 and the river around it
Where Yellow River near Ion, IA sits and our water's map point.
No current water-temperature reading at this gauge, so no temperature guidance is given. Take a stream thermometer. Iowa DNR publishes no water-temperature line for trout anglers that we found. The lines below are the National Park Service's, federal guidance, not a Iowa rule, with Iowa DNR's own figure added: 68°F and 75°F.
Species the agency lists for Yellow River: Brown Trout.
Source: Wild Trout Streams Open to Public Fishing (Iowa Department of Natural Resources).
Normal for Nov 5: 44–135 ft³/s (middle half of 39 years of record). Now: 207 ft³/s, above normal.
Above normal for this date. 207 ft³/s is between the 75th and 90th percentiles of daily mean flow for Nov 5 at this gauge over 39 years of record (1935–2026): 10th 33, 25th 44, median 63, 75th 135, 90th 327 ft³/s.
Daily means on record for Nov 5: lowest 22 ft³/s, highest 777 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 (−8% 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.
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 6.24 ft stage, 208 ft³/s at Nov 5, 8:45 PM CST (NWS gauge YRII4; its stage datum can differ from the USGS gauge height).
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, 9:59 PM CST; 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.