MISSOURI RIVER NEAR WILLISTON, ND

Steady over 24 hours (gauge height −0.08 ft). 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.

Federal guidance. North Dakota Game and Fish Department publishes no water-temperature line for trout anglers that we found. The lines below are the National Park Service's, federal guidance, not a North Dakota rule:

• Under the federal 68°F line. Water 44.6°F now; the highest in the last 24 hours was 46°F. That is under the 68°F at which the National Park Service, at Grand Teton National Park, recommends anglers stop fishing in the afternoon (“cease fishing at 2 p.m. when water temperatures are likely to exceed 68°F”). Water warms through the afternoon, so check again later in the day: “Carry a pocket thermometer to monitor water temperature.”

  High water temperatures prompt fishing advisory in Grand Teton National Park (29 July 2022) (National Park 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.

This gauge is on Missouri River: regulations, guides and shops

USGS gauge page NWS gauge WLTN8

Checked Nov 5, 8:48 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.