Bitterroot River near Darby MT
USGS 12344000 · Montana · reports discharge (live), gauge height, water temperature
Reading Bitterroot River near Darby MT…
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USGS 12344000 · Montana · reports discharge (live), gauge height, water temperature
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, 6:15 PM MST · provisional USGS data
Below normal for Nov 5 Steady · 24 h Below NWS action stage
Discharge, last 7 days: 169 readings from Oct 29, 7:15 PM MDT to Nov 5, 6:15 PM MST; ranging 237 to 288 ft³/s; latest 237 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, 6:15 PM MST | 237 | 1.73 | 238–371 |
| Nov 5, 5:15 PM MST | 240 | 1.74 | 238–371 |
| Nov 5, 4:15 PM MST | 240 | 1.74 | 238–371 |
| Nov 5, 3:15 PM MST | 240 | 1.74 | 238–371 |
| Nov 5, 2:15 PM MST | 240 | 1.74 | 238–371 |
| Nov 5, 1:15 PM MST | 240 | 1.74 | 238–371 |
| Nov 5, 12:15 PM MST | 240 | 1.74 | 238–371 |
| Nov 5, 11:15 AM MST | 240 | 1.74 | 238–371 |
| Nov 5, 10:15 AM MST | 240 | 1.74 | 238–371 |
| Nov 5, 9:15 AM MST | 240 | 1.74 | 238–371 |
| Nov 5, 8:15 AM MST | 240 | 1.74 | 238–371 |
| Nov 5, 7:15 AM MST | 240 | 1.74 | 238–371 |
| Nov 5, 6:15 AM MST | 240 | 1.74 | 238–371 |
| Nov 5, 5:15 AM MST | 240 | 1.74 | 238–371 |
| Nov 5, 4:15 AM MST | 240 | 1.74 | 238–371 |
| Nov 5, 3:15 AM MST | 240 | 1.74 | 238–371 |
| Nov 5, 2:15 AM MST | 240 | 1.74 | 238–371 |
| Nov 5, 1:15 AM MST | 244 | 1.75 | 238–371 |
| Nov 5, 12:15 AM MST | 244 | 1.75 | 238–371 |
| Nov 4, 11:15 PM MST | 244 | 1.75 | 245–350 |
| Nov 4, 10:15 PM MST | 244 | 1.75 | 245–350 |
| Nov 4, 9:15 PM MST | 244 | 1.75 | 245–350 |
| Nov 4, 8:15 PM MST | 244 | 1.75 | 245–350 |
| Nov 4, 7:15 PM MST | 244 | 1.75 | 245–350 |
| Nov 4, 6:15 PM MST | 247 | 1.76 | 245–350 |
| Nov 4, 5:15 PM MST | 247 | 1.76 | 245–350 |
| Nov 4, 4:15 PM MST | 247 | 1.76 | 245–350 |
| Nov 4, 3:15 PM MST | 247 | 1.76 | 245–350 |
| Nov 4, 2:15 PM MST | 247 | 1.76 | 245–350 |
| Nov 4, 1:15 PM MST | 247 | 1.76 | 245–350 |
| Nov 4, 12:15 PM MST | 247 | 1.76 | 245–350 |
| Nov 4, 11:15 AM MST | 247 | 1.76 | 245–350 |
| Nov 4, 10:15 AM MST | 247 | 1.76 | 245–350 |
| Nov 4, 9:15 AM MST | 247 | 1.76 | 245–350 |
| Nov 4, 8:15 AM MST | 247 | 1.76 | 245–350 |
| Nov 4, 7:15 AM MST | 247 | 1.76 | 245–350 |
| Nov 4, 6:15 AM MST | 247 | 1.76 | 245–350 |
| Nov 4, 5:15 AM MST | 247 | 1.76 | 245–350 |
| Nov 4, 4:15 AM MST | 251 | 1.77 | 245–350 |
| Nov 4, 3:15 AM MST | 251 | 1.77 | 245–350 |
| Nov 4, 2:15 AM MST | 251 | 1.77 | 245–350 |
| Nov 4, 1:15 AM MST | 251 | 1.77 | 245–350 |
| Nov 4, 12:15 AM MST | 251 | 1.77 | 245–350 |
| Nov 3, 11:15 PM MST | 251 | 1.77 | 247–357 |
| Nov 3, 10:15 PM MST | 254 | 1.78 | 247–357 |
| Nov 3, 9:15 PM MST | 254 | 1.78 | 247–357 |
| Nov 3, 8:15 PM MST | 254 | 1.78 | 247–357 |
| Nov 3, 7:15 PM MST | 254 | 1.78 | 247–357 |
| Nov 3, 6:15 PM MST | 258 | 1.79 | 247–357 |
| Nov 3, 5:15 PM MST | 258 | 1.79 | 247–357 |
| Nov 3, 4:15 PM MST | 258 | 1.79 | 247–357 |
| Nov 3, 3:15 PM MST | 258 | 1.79 | 247–357 |
| Nov 3, 2:15 PM MST | 262 | 1.8 | 247–357 |
| Nov 3, 1:15 PM MST | 262 | 1.8 | 247–357 |
| Nov 3, 12:15 PM MST | 262 | 1.8 | 247–357 |
| Nov 3, 11:15 AM MST | 262 | 1.8 | 247–357 |
| Nov 3, 10:15 AM MST | 262 | 1.8 | 247–357 |
| Nov 3, 9:15 AM MST | 262 | 1.8 | 247–357 |
| Nov 3, 8:15 AM MST | 262 | 1.8 | 247–357 |
| Nov 3, 7:15 AM MST | 265 | 1.81 | 247–357 |
| Nov 3, 6:15 AM MST | 265 | 1.81 | 247–357 |
| Nov 3, 5:15 AM MST | 265 | 1.81 | 247–357 |
| Nov 3, 4:15 AM MST | 265 | 1.81 | 247–357 |
| Nov 3, 3:15 AM MST | 269 | 1.82 | 247–357 |
| Nov 3, 2:15 AM MST | 269 | 1.82 | 247–357 |
| Nov 3, 1:15 AM MST | 269 | 1.82 | 247–357 |
| Nov 3, 12:15 AM MST | 269 | 1.82 | 247–357 |
| Nov 2, 11:15 PM MST | 273 | 1.83 | 240–370 |
| Nov 2, 10:15 PM MST | 273 | 1.83 | 240–370 |
| Nov 2, 9:15 PM MST | 276 | 1.84 | 240–370 |
| Nov 2, 8:15 PM MST | 276 | 1.84 | 240–370 |
| Nov 2, 7:15 PM MST | 276 | 1.84 | 240–370 |
| Nov 2, 6:15 PM MST | 280 | 1.85 | 240–370 |
| Nov 2, 5:15 PM MST | 280 | 1.85 | 240–370 |
| Nov 2, 4:15 PM MST | 280 | 1.85 | 240–370 |
| Nov 2, 3:15 PM MST | 280 | 1.85 | 240–370 |
| Nov 2, 2:15 PM MST | 284 | 1.86 | 240–370 |
| Nov 2, 1:15 PM MST | 284 | 1.86 | 240–370 |
| Nov 2, 12:15 PM MST | 284 | 1.86 | 240–370 |
| Nov 2, 11:15 AM MST | 284 | 1.86 | 240–370 |
| Nov 2, 10:15 AM MST | 284 | 1.86 | 240–370 |
| Nov 2, 9:15 AM MST | 284 | 1.86 | 240–370 |
| Nov 2, 8:15 AM MST | 284 | 1.86 | 240–370 |
| Nov 2, 7:15 AM MST | 284 | 1.86 | 240–370 |
| Nov 2, 6:15 AM MST | 288 | 1.87 | 240–370 |
| Nov 2, 5:15 AM MST | 284 | 1.86 | 240–370 |
| Nov 2, 4:15 AM MST | 284 | 1.86 | 240–370 |
| Nov 2, 3:15 AM MST | 284 | 1.86 | 240–370 |
| Nov 2, 2:15 AM MST | 280 | 1.85 | 240–370 |
| Nov 2, 1:15 AM MST | 284 | 1.86 | 240–370 |
| Nov 2, 12:15 AM MST | 280 | 1.85 | 240–370 |
| Nov 1, 11:15 PM MST | 280 | 1.85 | 239–356 |
| Nov 1, 10:15 PM MST | 280 | 1.85 | 239–356 |
| Nov 1, 9:15 PM MST | 280 | 1.85 | 239–356 |
| Nov 1, 8:15 PM MST | 280 | 1.85 | 239–356 |
| Nov 1, 7:15 PM MST | 280 | 1.85 | 239–356 |
| Nov 1, 6:15 PM MST | 280 | 1.85 | 239–356 |
| Nov 1, 5:15 PM MST | 280 | 1.85 | 239–356 |
| Nov 1, 4:15 PM MST | 280 | 1.85 | 239–356 |
| Nov 1, 3:15 PM MST | 280 | 1.85 | 239–356 |
| Nov 1, 2:15 PM MST | 276 | 1.84 | 239–356 |
| Nov 1, 1:15 PM MST | 273 | 1.83 | 239–356 |
| Nov 1, 12:15 PM MST | 273 | 1.83 | 239–356 |
| Nov 1, 11:15 AM MST | 269 | 1.82 | 239–356 |
| Nov 1, 10:15 AM MST | 265 | 1.81 | 239–356 |
| Nov 1, 9:15 AM MST | 262 | 1.8 | 239–356 |
| Nov 1, 8:15 AM MST | 262 | 1.8 | 239–356 |
| Nov 1, 7:15 AM MST | 258 | 1.79 | 239–356 |
| Nov 1, 6:15 AM MST | 254 | 1.78 | 239–356 |
| Nov 1, 5:15 AM MST | 251 | 1.77 | 239–356 |
| Nov 1, 4:15 AM MST | 247 | 1.76 | 239–356 |
| Nov 1, 3:15 AM MST | 247 | 1.76 | 239–356 |
| Nov 1, 2:15 AM MST | 244 | 1.75 | 239–356 |
| Nov 1, 1:15 AM MST | 240 | 1.74 | 239–356 |
| Nov 1, 1:15 AM MDT | 240 | 1.74 | 239–356 |
| Nov 1, 12:15 AM MDT | 240 | 1.74 | 239–356 |
| Oct 31, 11:15 PM MDT | 240 | 1.74 | 233–358 |
| Oct 31, 10:15 PM MDT | 244 | 1.75 | 233–358 |
| Oct 31, 9:15 PM MDT | 240 | 1.74 | 233–358 |
| Oct 31, 8:15 PM MDT | 240 | 1.74 | 233–358 |
| Oct 31, 7:15 PM MDT | 240 | 1.74 | 233–358 |
| Oct 31, 6:15 PM MDT | 240 | 1.74 | 233–358 |
| Oct 31, 5:15 PM MDT | 240 | 1.74 | 233–358 |
| Oct 31, 4:15 PM MDT | 240 | 1.74 | 233–358 |
| Oct 31, 3:15 PM MDT | 240 | 1.74 | 233–358 |
| Oct 31, 2:15 PM MDT | 240 | 1.74 | 233–358 |
| Oct 31, 1:15 PM MDT | 237 | 1.73 | 233–358 |
| Oct 31, 12:15 PM MDT | 237 | 1.73 | 233–358 |
| Oct 31, 11:15 AM MDT | 237 | 1.73 | 233–358 |
| Oct 31, 10:15 AM MDT | 237 | 1.73 | 233–358 |
| Oct 31, 9:15 AM MDT | 237 | 1.73 | 233–358 |
| Oct 31, 8:15 AM MDT | 237 | 1.73 | 233–358 |
| Oct 31, 7:15 AM MDT | 237 | 1.73 | 233–358 |
| Oct 31, 6:15 AM MDT | 237 | 1.73 | 233–358 |
| Oct 31, 5:15 AM MDT | 237 | 1.73 | 233–358 |
| Oct 31, 4:15 AM MDT | 237 | 1.73 | 233–358 |
| Oct 31, 3:15 AM MDT | 237 | 1.73 | 233–358 |
| Oct 31, 2:15 AM MDT | 237 | 1.73 | 233–358 |
| Oct 31, 1:15 AM MDT | 237 | 1.73 | 233–358 |
| Oct 31, 12:15 AM MDT | 237 | 1.73 | 233–358 |
| Oct 30, 11:15 PM MDT | 237 | 1.73 | 229–367 |
| Oct 30, 10:15 PM MDT | 237 | 1.73 | 229–367 |
| Oct 30, 9:15 PM MDT | 237 | 1.73 | 229–367 |
| Oct 30, 8:15 PM MDT | 237 | 1.73 | 229–367 |
| Oct 30, 7:15 PM MDT | 237 | 1.73 | 229–367 |
| Oct 30, 6:15 PM MDT | 237 | 1.73 | 229–367 |
| Oct 30, 5:15 PM MDT | 237 | 1.73 | 229–367 |
| Oct 30, 4:15 PM MDT | 237 | 1.73 | 229–367 |
| Oct 30, 3:15 PM MDT | 237 | 1.73 | 229–367 |
| Oct 30, 2:15 PM MDT | 237 | 1.73 | 229–367 |
| Oct 30, 1:15 PM MDT | 237 | 1.73 | 229–367 |
| Oct 30, 12:15 PM MDT | 237 | 1.73 | 229–367 |
| Oct 30, 11:15 AM MDT | 237 | 1.73 | 229–367 |
| Oct 30, 10:15 AM MDT | 237 | 1.73 | 229–367 |
| Oct 30, 9:15 AM MDT | 237 | 1.73 | 229–367 |
| Oct 30, 8:15 AM MDT | 237 | 1.73 | 229–367 |
| Oct 30, 7:15 AM MDT | 237 | 1.73 | 229–367 |
| Oct 30, 6:15 AM MDT | 237 | 1.73 | 229–367 |
| Oct 30, 5:15 AM MDT | 237 | 1.73 | 229–367 |
| Oct 30, 4:15 AM MDT | 237 | 1.73 | 229–367 |
| Oct 30, 3:15 AM MDT | 240 | 1.74 | 229–367 |
| Oct 30, 2:15 AM MDT | 240 | 1.74 | 229–367 |
| Oct 30, 1:15 AM MDT | 240 | 1.74 | 229–367 |
| Oct 30, 12:15 AM MDT | 240 | 1.74 | 229–367 |
| Oct 29, 11:15 PM MDT | 240 | 1.74 | 228–372 |
| Oct 29, 10:15 PM MDT | 240 | 1.74 | 228–372 |
| Oct 29, 9:15 PM MDT | 244 | 1.75 | 228–372 |
| Oct 29, 8:15 PM MDT | 244 | 1.75 | 228–372 |
| Oct 29, 7:15 PM MDT | 244 | 1.75 | 228–372 |
Map of USGS gauge 12344000 and the river around it
Where Bitterroot River near Darby MT 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: the trout lines Montana FWP uses are 66°F, 68°F and 73°F.
Species the agency lists for Bitterroot River: Black Bullhead, Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Bull Trout, Largemouth Bass, Largescale Sucker, Longnose Dace, Longnose Sucker, Mountain Whitefish, Northern Pike, Northern Pike Minnow, Peamouth, Pumpkinseed, Rainbow Trout, Redside Shiner, Slimy Sculpin, Westslope Cutthroat Trout, Yellow Perch.
From our page for Bitterroot River, on the same river as this gauge; the agency list is for the water, not this exact reach. Source: FISHMT :: Waterbody Details (Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks).
Normal for Nov 5: 238–371 ft³/s (middle half of 89 years of record). Now: 237 ft³/s, below normal.
Below normal for this date. 237 ft³/s is between the 10th and 25th percentiles of daily mean flow for Nov 5 at this gauge over 89 years of record (1938–2026): 10th 206, 25th 238, median 291, 75th 371, 90th 465 ft³/s.
Daily means on record for Nov 5: lowest 145 ft³/s, highest 1,150 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% 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 1.73 ft stage, 237 ft³/s at Nov 5, 6:15 PM MST (NWS gauge DARM8; its stage datum can differ from the USGS gauge height).
NWS river forecast forecast issued Nov 5, 7:53 AM MST. Highest point: 1.73 ft, 237 ft³/s on Nov 5, 11:00 AM MST (Below NWS action stage).
| Day | Stage | Flow |
|---|---|---|
| Thu, Nov 5 | 1.73 ft | 237 ft³/s |
| Fri, Nov 6 | 1.71 ft | 230 ft³/s |
| Sat, Nov 7 | 1.7 ft | 226 ft³/s |
| Sun, Nov 8 | 1.73 ft | 237 ft³/s |
| Mon, Nov 9 | 1.73 ft | 237 ft³/s |
| Tue, Nov 10 | 1.71 ft | 230 ft³/s |
| Wed, Nov 11 | 1.72 ft | 233 ft³/s |
| Thu, Nov 12 | 1.72 ft | 233 ft³/s |
| Fri, Nov 13 | 1.72 ft | 233 ft³/s |
| Sat, Nov 14 | 1.7 ft | 226 ft³/s |
Open the NWS gauge page · What the categories mean (National Weather Service)
Checked Nov 5, 7:07 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.