Musselshell River at Harlowton MT
USGS 06120500 · Montana · reports discharge (live), gauge height
Reading Musselshell River at Harlowton MT…
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USGS 06120500 · Montana · 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, 8:00 PM MST · provisional USGS data
Below normal for Nov 5 Steady · 24 h Below NWS action stage
Discharge, last 7 days: 168 readings from Oct 29, 9:00 PM MDT to Nov 5, 8:00 PM MST; ranging 33.9 to 45.8 ft³/s; latest 39.6 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, 8:00 PM MST | 39.6 | 2.93 | 51–105 |
| Nov 5, 7:00 PM MST | 39.6 | 2.93 | 51–105 |
| Nov 5, 6:00 PM MST | 39.6 | 2.93 | 51–105 |
| Nov 5, 5:00 PM MST | 39.6 | 2.93 | 51–105 |
| Nov 5, 4:00 PM MST | 41.1 | 2.94 | 51–105 |
| Nov 5, 3:00 PM MST | 41.1 | 2.94 | 51–105 |
| Nov 5, 2:00 PM MST | 41.1 | 2.94 | 51–105 |
| Nov 5, 1:00 PM MST | 41.1 | 2.94 | 51–105 |
| Nov 5, 12:00 PM MST | 41.1 | 2.94 | 51–105 |
| Nov 5, 11:00 AM MST | 41.1 | 2.94 | 51–105 |
| Nov 5, 10:00 AM MST | 41.1 | 2.94 | 51–105 |
| Nov 5, 9:00 AM MST | 41.1 | 2.94 | 51–105 |
| Nov 5, 8:00 AM MST | 41.1 | 2.94 | 51–105 |
| Nov 5, 7:00 AM MST | 41.1 | 2.94 | 51–105 |
| Nov 5, 6:00 AM MST | 41.1 | 2.94 | 51–105 |
| Nov 5, 4:00 AM MST | 41.1 | 2.94 | 51–105 |
| Nov 5, 3:00 AM MST | 41.1 | 2.94 | 51–105 |
| Nov 5, 2:00 AM MST | 41.1 | 2.94 | 51–105 |
| Nov 5, 1:00 AM MST | 41.1 | 2.94 | 51–105 |
| Nov 5, 12:00 AM MST | 41.1 | 2.94 | 51–105 |
| Nov 4, 11:00 PM MST | 42.6 | 2.95 | 51–100 |
| Nov 4, 10:00 PM MST | 41.1 | 2.94 | 51–100 |
| Nov 4, 9:00 PM MST | 42.6 | 2.95 | 51–100 |
| Nov 4, 8:00 PM MST | 42.6 | 2.95 | 51–100 |
| Nov 4, 7:00 PM MST | 42.6 | 2.95 | 51–100 |
| Nov 4, 6:00 PM MST | 42.6 | 2.95 | 51–100 |
| Nov 4, 5:00 PM MST | 42.6 | 2.95 | 51–100 |
| Nov 4, 4:00 PM MST | 44.2 | 2.96 | 51–100 |
| Nov 4, 3:00 PM MST | 44.2 | 2.96 | 51–100 |
| Nov 4, 2:00 PM MST | 44.2 | 2.96 | 51–100 |
| Nov 4, 1:00 PM MST | 44.2 | 2.96 | 51–100 |
| Nov 4, 12:00 PM MST | 44.2 | 2.96 | 51–100 |
| Nov 4, 11:00 AM MST | 44.2 | 2.96 | 51–100 |
| Nov 4, 10:00 AM MST | 44.2 | 2.96 | 51–100 |
| Nov 4, 9:00 AM MST | 44.2 | 2.96 | 51–100 |
| Nov 4, 8:00 AM MST | 44.2 | 2.96 | 51–100 |
| Nov 4, 7:00 AM MST | 42.6 | 2.95 | 51–100 |
| Nov 4, 6:00 AM MST | 42.6 | 2.95 | 51–100 |
| Nov 4, 5:00 AM MST | 42.6 | 2.95 | 51–100 |
| Nov 4, 4:00 AM MST | 42.6 | 2.95 | 51–100 |
| Nov 4, 3:00 AM MST | 42.6 | 2.95 | 51–100 |
| Nov 4, 2:00 AM MST | 42.6 | 2.95 | 51–100 |
| Nov 4, 1:00 AM MST | 42.6 | 2.95 | 51–100 |
| Nov 4, 12:00 AM MST | 42.6 | 2.95 | 51–100 |
| Nov 3, 11:00 PM MST | 42.6 | 2.95 | 51–102 |
| Nov 3, 10:00 PM MST | 42.6 | 2.95 | 51–102 |
| Nov 3, 9:00 PM MST | 44.2 | 2.96 | 51–102 |
| Nov 3, 8:00 PM MST | 44.2 | 2.96 | 51–102 |
| Nov 3, 7:00 PM MST | 44.2 | 2.96 | 51–102 |
| Nov 3, 6:00 PM MST | 44.2 | 2.96 | 51–102 |
| Nov 3, 5:00 PM MST | 44.2 | 2.96 | 51–102 |
| Nov 3, 4:00 PM MST | 44.2 | 2.96 | 51–102 |
| Nov 3, 3:00 PM MST | 45.8 | 2.97 | 51–102 |
| Nov 3, 2:00 PM MST | 45.8 | 2.97 | 51–102 |
| Nov 3, 1:00 PM MST | 45.8 | 2.97 | 51–102 |
| Nov 3, 12:00 PM MST | 45.8 | 2.97 | 51–102 |
| Nov 3, 11:00 AM MST | 45.8 | 2.97 | 51–102 |
| Nov 3, 10:00 AM MST | 45.8 | 2.97 | 51–102 |
| Nov 3, 9:00 AM MST | 45.8 | 2.97 | 51–102 |
| Nov 3, 8:00 AM MST | 44.2 | 2.96 | 51–102 |
| Nov 3, 7:00 AM MST | 44.2 | 2.96 | 51–102 |
| Nov 3, 6:00 AM MST | 44.2 | 2.96 | 51–102 |
| Nov 3, 5:00 AM MST | 44.2 | 2.96 | 51–102 |
| Nov 3, 4:00 AM MST | 44.2 | 2.96 | 51–102 |
| Nov 3, 3:00 AM MST | 44.2 | 2.96 | 51–102 |
| Nov 3, 2:00 AM MST | 44.2 | 2.96 | 51–102 |
| Nov 3, 1:00 AM MST | 44.2 | 2.96 | 51–102 |
| Nov 3, 12:00 AM MST | 44.2 | 2.96 | 51–102 |
| Nov 2, 11:00 PM MST | 44.2 | 2.96 | 50–100 |
| Nov 2, 10:00 PM MST | 44.2 | 2.96 | 50–100 |
| Nov 2, 9:00 PM MST | 44.2 | 2.96 | 50–100 |
| Nov 2, 8:00 PM MST | 44.2 | 2.96 | 50–100 |
| Nov 2, 7:00 PM MST | 44.2 | 2.96 | 50–100 |
| Nov 2, 6:00 PM MST | 44.2 | 2.96 | 50–100 |
| Nov 2, 5:00 PM MST | 45.8 | 2.97 | 50–100 |
| Nov 2, 4:00 PM MST | 45.8 | 2.97 | 50–100 |
| Nov 2, 3:00 PM MST | 44.2 | 2.96 | 50–100 |
| Nov 2, 2:00 PM MST | 44.2 | 2.96 | 50–100 |
| Nov 2, 1:00 PM MST | 44.2 | 2.96 | 50–100 |
| Nov 2, 12:00 PM MST | 44.2 | 2.96 | 50–100 |
| Nov 2, 11:00 AM MST | 42.6 | 2.95 | 50–100 |
| Nov 2, 10:00 AM MST | 42.6 | 2.95 | 50–100 |
| Nov 2, 9:00 AM MST | 42.6 | 2.95 | 50–100 |
| Nov 2, 8:00 AM MST | 42.6 | 2.95 | 50–100 |
| Nov 2, 7:00 AM MST | 41.1 | 2.94 | 50–100 |
| Nov 2, 6:00 AM MST | 41.1 | 2.94 | 50–100 |
| Nov 2, 5:00 AM MST | 41.1 | 2.94 | 50–100 |
| Nov 2, 4:00 AM MST | 41.1 | 2.94 | 50–100 |
| Nov 2, 3:00 AM MST | 39.6 | 2.93 | 50–100 |
| Nov 2, 2:00 AM MST | 39.6 | 2.93 | 50–100 |
| Nov 2, 1:00 AM MST | 39.6 | 2.93 | 50–100 |
| Nov 2, 12:00 AM MST | 39.6 | 2.93 | 50–100 |
| Nov 1, 11:00 PM MST | 39.6 | 2.93 | 49–100 |
| Nov 1, 10:00 PM MST | 39.6 | 2.93 | 49–100 |
| Nov 1, 9:00 PM MST | 38.1 | 2.92 | 49–100 |
| Nov 1, 8:00 PM MST | 38.1 | 2.92 | 49–100 |
| Nov 1, 7:00 PM MST | 36.7 | 2.91 | 49–100 |
| Nov 1, 6:00 PM MST | 36.7 | 2.91 | 49–100 |
| Nov 1, 5:00 PM MST | 36.7 | 2.91 | 49–100 |
| Nov 1, 4:00 PM MST | 35.3 | 2.9 | 49–100 |
| Nov 1, 3:00 PM MST | 35.3 | 2.9 | 49–100 |
| Nov 1, 2:00 PM MST | 35.3 | 2.9 | 49–100 |
| Nov 1, 1:00 PM MST | 35.3 | 2.9 | 49–100 |
| Nov 1, 12:00 PM MST | 35.3 | 2.9 | 49–100 |
| Nov 1, 11:00 AM MST | 35.3 | 2.9 | 49–100 |
| Nov 1, 10:00 AM MST | 35.3 | 2.9 | 49–100 |
| Nov 1, 9:00 AM MST | 35.3 | 2.9 | 49–100 |
| Nov 1, 8:00 AM MST | 35.3 | 2.9 | 49–100 |
| Nov 1, 7:00 AM MST | 35.3 | 2.9 | 49–100 |
| Nov 1, 6:00 AM MST | 35.3 | 2.9 | 49–100 |
| Nov 1, 5:00 AM MST | 35.3 | 2.9 | 49–100 |
| Nov 1, 4:00 AM MST | 35.3 | 2.9 | 49–100 |
| Nov 1, 3:00 AM MST | 35.3 | 2.9 | 49–100 |
| Nov 1, 2:00 AM MST | 35.3 | 2.9 | 49–100 |
| Nov 1, 1:00 AM MST | 35.3 | 2.9 | 49–100 |
| Nov 1, 1:00 AM MDT | 35.3 | 2.9 | 49–100 |
| Nov 1, 12:00 AM MDT | 35.3 | 2.9 | 49–100 |
| Oct 31, 11:00 PM MDT | 35.3 | 2.9 | 51–99 |
| Oct 31, 10:00 PM MDT | 35.3 | 2.9 | 51–99 |
| Oct 31, 9:00 PM MDT | 35.3 | 2.9 | 51–99 |
| Oct 31, 8:00 PM MDT | 35.3 | 2.9 | 51–99 |
| Oct 31, 7:00 PM MDT | 35.3 | 2.9 | 51–99 |
| Oct 31, 6:00 PM MDT | 35.3 | 2.9 | 51–99 |
| Oct 31, 5:00 PM MDT | 35.3 | 2.9 | 51–99 |
| Oct 31, 4:00 PM MDT | 35.3 | 2.9 | 51–99 |
| Oct 31, 3:00 PM MDT | 35.3 | 2.9 | 51–99 |
| Oct 31, 2:00 PM MDT | 35.3 | 2.9 | 51–99 |
| Oct 31, 1:00 PM MDT | 35.3 | 2.9 | 51–99 |
| Oct 31, 12:00 PM MDT | 35.3 | 2.9 | 51–99 |
| Oct 31, 11:00 AM MDT | 33.9 | 2.89 | 51–99 |
| Oct 31, 10:00 AM MDT | 33.9 | 2.89 | 51–99 |
| Oct 31, 9:00 AM MDT | 35.3 | 2.9 | 51–99 |
| Oct 31, 8:00 AM MDT | 33.9 | 2.89 | 51–99 |
| Oct 31, 7:00 AM MDT | 33.9 | 2.89 | 51–99 |
| Oct 31, 6:00 AM MDT | 33.9 | 2.89 | 51–99 |
| Oct 31, 5:00 AM MDT | 35.3 | 2.9 | 51–99 |
| Oct 31, 4:00 AM MDT | 35.3 | 2.9 | 51–99 |
| Oct 31, 3:00 AM MDT | 35.3 | 2.9 | 51–99 |
| Oct 31, 2:00 AM MDT | 35.3 | 2.9 | 51–99 |
| Oct 31, 1:00 AM MDT | 35.3 | 2.9 | 51–99 |
| Oct 31, 12:00 AM MDT | 35.3 | 2.9 | 51–99 |
| Oct 30, 11:00 PM MDT | 35.3 | 2.9 | 49–99 |
| Oct 30, 10:00 PM MDT | 35.3 | 2.9 | 49–99 |
| Oct 30, 9:00 PM MDT | 35.3 | 2.9 | 49–99 |
| Oct 30, 8:00 PM MDT | 35.3 | 2.9 | 49–99 |
| Oct 30, 7:00 PM MDT | 35.3 | 2.9 | 49–99 |
| Oct 30, 6:00 PM MDT | 35.3 | 2.9 | 49–99 |
| Oct 30, 5:00 PM MDT | 35.3 | 2.9 | 49–99 |
| Oct 30, 4:00 PM MDT | 35.3 | 2.9 | 49–99 |
| Oct 30, 3:00 PM MDT | 35.3 | 2.9 | 49–99 |
| Oct 30, 2:00 PM MDT | 35.3 | 2.9 | 49–99 |
| Oct 30, 1:00 PM MDT | 35.3 | 2.9 | 49–99 |
| Oct 30, 12:00 PM MDT | 35.3 | 2.9 | 49–99 |
| Oct 30, 11:00 AM MDT | 35.3 | 2.9 | 49–99 |
| Oct 30, 10:00 AM MDT | 35.3 | 2.9 | 49–99 |
| Oct 30, 9:00 AM MDT | 35.3 | 2.9 | 49–99 |
| Oct 30, 8:00 AM MDT | 35.3 | 2.9 | 49–99 |
| Oct 30, 7:00 AM MDT | 35.3 | 2.9 | 49–99 |
| Oct 30, 6:00 AM MDT | 35.3 | 2.9 | 49–99 |
| Oct 30, 5:00 AM MDT | 35.3 | 2.9 | 49–99 |
| Oct 30, 4:00 AM MDT | 35.3 | 2.9 | 49–99 |
| Oct 30, 3:00 AM MDT | 35.3 | 2.9 | 49–99 |
| Oct 30, 2:00 AM MDT | 35.3 | 2.9 | 49–99 |
| Oct 30, 1:00 AM MDT | 33.9 | 2.89 | 49–99 |
| Oct 30, 12:00 AM MDT | 33.9 | 2.89 | 49–99 |
| Oct 29, 11:00 PM MDT | 33.9 | 2.89 | 49–101 |
| Oct 29, 10:00 PM MDT | 33.9 | 2.89 | 49–101 |
| Oct 29, 9:00 PM MDT | 33.9 | 2.89 | 49–101 |
Map of USGS gauge 06120500 and the river around it
Where Musselshell River at Harlowton MT sits, with 2 other gauges on the same river.
No current water-temperature reading at this gauge, so no temperature guidance is given. Take a stream thermometer: the trout lines Montana FWP uses are 66°F, 68°F and 73°F.
Species list not on file for this gauge. Check the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks: Montana fish stocking data.
Normal for Nov 5: 51–105 ft³/s (middle half of 116 years of record). Now: 39.6 ft³/s, below normal.
Below normal for this date. 39.6 ft³/s is between the 10th and 25th percentiles of daily mean flow for Nov 5 at this gauge over 116 years of record (1908–2025): 10th 28, 25th 51, median 73, 75th 105, 90th 143 ft³/s.
Daily means on record for Nov 5: lowest 0 ft³/s, highest 216 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 (−7% 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 2.93 ft stage at Nov 5, 7:00 PM MST (NWS gauge HLWM8; its stage datum can differ from the USGS gauge height).
Forecasts are issued routinely during the warm season, and as needed at other times of the year.
Open the NWS gauge page · What the categories mean (National Weather Service)
Checked Nov 5, 8:57 PM MST; 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.