Bitterroot River near Missoula MT
USGS 12352500 · Montana · reports discharge (live), gauge height, water temperature
Reading Bitterroot River near Missoula MT…
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USGS 12352500 · 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, 7:00 PM MST · provisional USGS data
Normal for Nov 5 Steady · 24 h Below NWS action stage
Discharge, last 7 days: 169 readings from Oct 29, 8:00 PM MDT to Nov 5, 7:00 PM MST; ranging 899 to 1,020 ft³/s; latest 899 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, 7:00 PM MST | 899 | 3.35 | 842–1,310 |
| Nov 5, 6:00 PM MST | 899 | 3.35 | 842–1,310 |
| Nov 5, 5:00 PM MST | 908 | 3.36 | 842–1,310 |
| Nov 5, 4:00 PM MST | 908 | 3.36 | 842–1,310 |
| Nov 5, 3:00 PM MST | 908 | 3.36 | 842–1,310 |
| Nov 5, 2:00 PM MST | 908 | 3.36 | 842–1,310 |
| Nov 5, 1:00 PM MST | 908 | 3.36 | 842–1,310 |
| Nov 5, 12:00 PM MST | 916 | 3.37 | 842–1,310 |
| Nov 5, 11:00 AM MST | 916 | 3.37 | 842–1,310 |
| Nov 5, 10:00 AM MST | 916 | 3.37 | 842–1,310 |
| Nov 5, 9:00 AM MST | 916 | 3.37 | 842–1,310 |
| Nov 5, 8:00 AM MST | 916 | 3.37 | 842–1,310 |
| Nov 5, 7:00 AM MST | 916 | 3.37 | 842–1,310 |
| Nov 5, 6:00 AM MST | 916 | 3.37 | 842–1,310 |
| Nov 5, 5:00 AM MST | 916 | 3.37 | 842–1,310 |
| Nov 5, 4:00 AM MST | 925 | 3.38 | 842–1,310 |
| Nov 5, 3:00 AM MST | 925 | 3.38 | 842–1,310 |
| Nov 5, 2:00 AM MST | 925 | 3.38 | 842–1,310 |
| Nov 5, 1:00 AM MST | 925 | 3.38 | 842–1,310 |
| Nov 5, 12:00 AM MST | 925 | 3.38 | 842–1,310 |
| Nov 4, 11:00 PM MST | 925 | 3.38 | 845–1,390 |
| Nov 4, 10:00 PM MST | 934 | 3.39 | 845–1,390 |
| Nov 4, 9:00 PM MST | 934 | 3.39 | 845–1,390 |
| Nov 4, 8:00 PM MST | 934 | 3.39 | 845–1,390 |
| Nov 4, 7:00 PM MST | 934 | 3.39 | 845–1,390 |
| Nov 4, 6:00 PM MST | 934 | 3.39 | 845–1,390 |
| Nov 4, 5:00 PM MST | 942 | 3.4 | 845–1,390 |
| Nov 4, 4:00 PM MST | 942 | 3.4 | 845–1,390 |
| Nov 4, 3:00 PM MST | 942 | 3.4 | 845–1,390 |
| Nov 4, 2:00 PM MST | 942 | 3.4 | 845–1,390 |
| Nov 4, 1:00 PM MST | 942 | 3.4 | 845–1,390 |
| Nov 4, 12:00 PM MST | 951 | 3.41 | 845–1,390 |
| Nov 4, 11:00 AM MST | 951 | 3.41 | 845–1,390 |
| Nov 4, 10:00 AM MST | 951 | 3.41 | 845–1,390 |
| Nov 4, 9:00 AM MST | 951 | 3.41 | 845–1,390 |
| Nov 4, 8:00 AM MST | 960 | 3.42 | 845–1,390 |
| Nov 4, 7:00 AM MST | 960 | 3.42 | 845–1,390 |
| Nov 4, 6:00 AM MST | 960 | 3.42 | 845–1,390 |
| Nov 4, 5:00 AM MST | 960 | 3.42 | 845–1,390 |
| Nov 4, 4:00 AM MST | 969 | 3.43 | 845–1,390 |
| Nov 4, 3:00 AM MST | 969 | 3.43 | 845–1,390 |
| Nov 4, 2:00 AM MST | 969 | 3.43 | 845–1,390 |
| Nov 4, 1:00 AM MST | 978 | 3.44 | 845–1,390 |
| Nov 4, 12:00 AM MST | 978 | 3.44 | 845–1,390 |
| Nov 3, 11:00 PM MST | 978 | 3.44 | 856–1,390 |
| Nov 3, 10:00 PM MST | 986 | 3.45 | 856–1,390 |
| Nov 3, 9:00 PM MST | 986 | 3.45 | 856–1,390 |
| Nov 3, 8:00 PM MST | 995 | 3.46 | 856–1,390 |
| Nov 3, 7:00 PM MST | 995 | 3.46 | 856–1,390 |
| Nov 3, 6:00 PM MST | 1,000 | 3.47 | 856–1,390 |
| Nov 3, 5:00 PM MST | 1,000 | 3.47 | 856–1,390 |
| Nov 3, 4:00 PM MST | 1,000 | 3.47 | 856–1,390 |
| Nov 3, 3:00 PM MST | 1,000 | 3.47 | 856–1,390 |
| Nov 3, 2:00 PM MST | 1,000 | 3.47 | 856–1,390 |
| Nov 3, 1:00 PM MST | 1,010 | 3.48 | 856–1,390 |
| Nov 3, 12:00 PM MST | 1,010 | 3.48 | 856–1,390 |
| Nov 3, 11:00 AM MST | 1,010 | 3.48 | 856–1,390 |
| Nov 3, 10:00 AM MST | 1,010 | 3.48 | 856–1,390 |
| Nov 3, 9:00 AM MST | 1,010 | 3.48 | 856–1,390 |
| Nov 3, 8:00 AM MST | 1,010 | 3.48 | 856–1,390 |
| Nov 3, 7:00 AM MST | 1,010 | 3.48 | 856–1,390 |
| Nov 3, 6:00 AM MST | 1,010 | 3.48 | 856–1,390 |
| Nov 3, 5:00 AM MST | 1,010 | 3.48 | 856–1,390 |
| Nov 3, 4:00 AM MST | 1,010 | 3.48 | 856–1,390 |
| Nov 3, 3:00 AM MST | 1,010 | 3.48 | 856–1,390 |
| Nov 3, 2:00 AM MST | 1,010 | 3.48 | 856–1,390 |
| Nov 3, 1:00 AM MST | 1,010 | 3.48 | 856–1,390 |
| Nov 3, 12:00 AM MST | 1,010 | 3.48 | 856–1,390 |
| Nov 2, 11:00 PM MST | 1,010 | 3.48 | 773–1,400 |
| Nov 2, 10:00 PM MST | 1,010 | 3.48 | 773–1,400 |
| Nov 2, 9:00 PM MST | 1,010 | 3.48 | 773–1,400 |
| Nov 2, 8:00 PM MST | 1,010 | 3.48 | 773–1,400 |
| Nov 2, 7:00 PM MST | 1,010 | 3.48 | 773–1,400 |
| Nov 2, 6:00 PM MST | 1,010 | 3.48 | 773–1,400 |
| Nov 2, 5:00 PM MST | 1,010 | 3.48 | 773–1,400 |
| Nov 2, 4:00 PM MST | 1,020 | 3.49 | 773–1,400 |
| Nov 2, 3:00 PM MST | 1,010 | 3.48 | 773–1,400 |
| Nov 2, 2:00 PM MST | 1,010 | 3.48 | 773–1,400 |
| Nov 2, 1:00 PM MST | 1,010 | 3.48 | 773–1,400 |
| Nov 2, 12:00 PM MST | 1,010 | 3.48 | 773–1,400 |
| Nov 2, 11:00 AM MST | 1,000 | 3.47 | 773–1,400 |
| Nov 2, 10:00 AM MST | 1,000 | 3.47 | 773–1,400 |
| Nov 2, 9:00 AM MST | 1,000 | 3.47 | 773–1,400 |
| Nov 2, 8:00 AM MST | 1,000 | 3.47 | 773–1,400 |
| Nov 2, 7:00 AM MST | 995 | 3.46 | 773–1,400 |
| Nov 2, 6:00 AM MST | 995 | 3.46 | 773–1,400 |
| Nov 2, 5:00 AM MST | 995 | 3.46 | 773–1,400 |
| Nov 2, 4:00 AM MST | 995 | 3.46 | 773–1,400 |
| Nov 2, 3:00 AM MST | 995 | 3.46 | 773–1,400 |
| Nov 2, 2:00 AM MST | 986 | 3.45 | 773–1,400 |
| Nov 2, 1:00 AM MST | 986 | 3.45 | 773–1,400 |
| Nov 2, 12:00 AM MST | 986 | 3.45 | 773–1,400 |
| Nov 1, 11:00 PM MST | 978 | 3.44 | 755–1,420 |
| Nov 1, 10:00 PM MST | 978 | 3.44 | 755–1,420 |
| Nov 1, 9:00 PM MST | 969 | 3.43 | 755–1,420 |
| Nov 1, 8:00 PM MST | 969 | 3.43 | 755–1,420 |
| Nov 1, 7:00 PM MST | 960 | 3.42 | 755–1,420 |
| Nov 1, 6:00 PM MST | 960 | 3.42 | 755–1,420 |
| Nov 1, 5:00 PM MST | 960 | 3.42 | 755–1,420 |
| Nov 1, 4:00 PM MST | 951 | 3.41 | 755–1,420 |
| Nov 1, 3:00 PM MST | 951 | 3.41 | 755–1,420 |
| Nov 1, 2:00 PM MST | 951 | 3.41 | 755–1,420 |
| Nov 1, 1:00 PM MST | 951 | 3.41 | 755–1,420 |
| Nov 1, 12:00 PM MST | 951 | 3.41 | 755–1,420 |
| Nov 1, 11:00 AM MST | 942 | 3.4 | 755–1,420 |
| Nov 1, 10:00 AM MST | 934 | 3.39 | 755–1,420 |
| Nov 1, 9:00 AM MST | 925 | 3.38 | 755–1,420 |
| Nov 1, 8:00 AM MST | 925 | 3.38 | 755–1,420 |
| Nov 1, 7:00 AM MST | 925 | 3.38 | 755–1,420 |
| Nov 1, 6:00 AM MST | 916 | 3.37 | 755–1,420 |
| Nov 1, 5:00 AM MST | 916 | 3.37 | 755–1,420 |
| Nov 1, 4:00 AM MST | 916 | 3.37 | 755–1,420 |
| Nov 1, 3:00 AM MST | 916 | 3.37 | 755–1,420 |
| Nov 1, 2:00 AM MST | 916 | 3.37 | 755–1,420 |
| Nov 1, 1:00 AM MST | 925 | 3.38 | 755–1,420 |
| Nov 1, 1:00 AM MDT | 925 | 3.38 | 755–1,420 |
| Nov 1, 12:00 AM MDT | 925 | 3.38 | 755–1,420 |
| Oct 31, 11:00 PM MDT | 925 | 3.38 | 723–1,240 |
| Oct 31, 10:00 PM MDT | 925 | 3.38 | 723–1,240 |
| Oct 31, 9:00 PM MDT | 916 | 3.37 | 723–1,240 |
| Oct 31, 8:00 PM MDT | 916 | 3.37 | 723–1,240 |
| Oct 31, 7:00 PM MDT | 916 | 3.37 | 723–1,240 |
| Oct 31, 6:00 PM MDT | 916 | 3.37 | 723–1,240 |
| Oct 31, 5:00 PM MDT | 925 | 3.38 | 723–1,240 |
| Oct 31, 4:00 PM MDT | 925 | 3.38 | 723–1,240 |
| Oct 31, 3:00 PM MDT | 925 | 3.38 | 723–1,240 |
| Oct 31, 2:00 PM MDT | 925 | 3.38 | 723–1,240 |
| Oct 31, 1:00 PM MDT | 925 | 3.38 | 723–1,240 |
| Oct 31, 12:00 PM MDT | 925 | 3.38 | 723–1,240 |
| Oct 31, 11:00 AM MDT | 925 | 3.38 | 723–1,240 |
| Oct 31, 10:00 AM MDT | 925 | 3.38 | 723–1,240 |
| Oct 31, 9:00 AM MDT | 925 | 3.38 | 723–1,240 |
| Oct 31, 8:00 AM MDT | 925 | 3.38 | 723–1,240 |
| Oct 31, 7:00 AM MDT | 925 | 3.38 | 723–1,240 |
| Oct 31, 6:00 AM MDT | 925 | 3.38 | 723–1,240 |
| Oct 31, 5:00 AM MDT | 925 | 3.38 | 723–1,240 |
| Oct 31, 4:00 AM MDT | 925 | 3.38 | 723–1,240 |
| Oct 31, 3:00 AM MDT | 925 | 3.38 | 723–1,240 |
| Oct 31, 2:00 AM MDT | 925 | 3.38 | 723–1,240 |
| Oct 31, 1:00 AM MDT | 925 | 3.38 | 723–1,240 |
| Oct 31, 12:00 AM MDT | 925 | 3.38 | 723–1,240 |
| Oct 30, 11:00 PM MDT | 925 | 3.38 | 727–1,230 |
| Oct 30, 10:00 PM MDT | 925 | 3.38 | 727–1,230 |
| Oct 30, 9:00 PM MDT | 925 | 3.38 | 727–1,230 |
| Oct 30, 8:00 PM MDT | 925 | 3.38 | 727–1,230 |
| Oct 30, 7:00 PM MDT | 925 | 3.38 | 727–1,230 |
| Oct 30, 6:00 PM MDT | 925 | 3.38 | 727–1,230 |
| Oct 30, 5:00 PM MDT | 925 | 3.38 | 727–1,230 |
| Oct 30, 4:00 PM MDT | 925 | 3.38 | 727–1,230 |
| Oct 30, 3:00 PM MDT | 934 | 3.39 | 727–1,230 |
| Oct 30, 2:00 PM MDT | 934 | 3.39 | 727–1,230 |
| Oct 30, 1:00 PM MDT | 934 | 3.39 | 727–1,230 |
| Oct 30, 12:00 PM MDT | 942 | 3.4 | 727–1,230 |
| Oct 30, 11:00 AM MDT | 934 | 3.39 | 727–1,230 |
| Oct 30, 10:00 AM MDT | 934 | 3.39 | 727–1,230 |
| Oct 30, 9:00 AM MDT | 934 | 3.39 | 727–1,230 |
| Oct 30, 8:00 AM MDT | 942 | 3.4 | 727–1,230 |
| Oct 30, 7:00 AM MDT | 942 | 3.4 | 727–1,230 |
| Oct 30, 6:00 AM MDT | 942 | 3.4 | 727–1,230 |
| Oct 30, 5:00 AM MDT | 942 | 3.4 | 727–1,230 |
| Oct 30, 4:00 AM MDT | 942 | 3.4 | 727–1,230 |
| Oct 30, 3:00 AM MDT | 942 | 3.4 | 727–1,230 |
| Oct 30, 2:00 AM MDT | 942 | 3.4 | 727–1,230 |
| Oct 30, 1:00 AM MDT | 942 | 3.4 | 727–1,230 |
| Oct 30, 12:00 AM MDT | 951 | 3.41 | 727–1,230 |
| Oct 29, 11:00 PM MDT | 951 | 3.41 | 716–1,210 |
| Oct 29, 10:00 PM MDT | 951 | 3.41 | 716–1,210 |
| Oct 29, 9:00 PM MDT | 951 | 3.41 | 716–1,210 |
| Oct 29, 8:00 PM MDT | 960 | 3.42 | 716–1,210 |
Map of USGS gauge 12352500 and the river around it
Where Bitterroot River near Missoula MT sits, with 1 other gauge on the same river 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.
Normal for Nov 5: 842–1,310 ft³/s (middle half of 43 years of record). Now: 899 ft³/s, normal.
Normal for this date. 899 ft³/s is between the 25th and 75th percentiles of daily mean flow for Nov 5 at this gauge over 43 years of record (1899–2026): 10th 696, 25th 842, median 1,040, 75th 1,310, 90th 1,620 ft³/s.
Daily means on record for Nov 5: lowest 615 ft³/s, highest 1,870 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 (−3.7% 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.
Source: FISHMT :: Waterbody Details (Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks).
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 3.37 ft stage, 916 ft³/s at Nov 5, 12:00 PM MST (NWS gauge BITM8; its stage datum can differ from the USGS gauge height).
NWS river forecast forecast issued Nov 5, 7:53 AM MST. Highest point: 3.36 ft, 908 ft³/s on Nov 5, 11:00 AM MST (Below NWS action stage).
| Day | Stage | Flow |
|---|---|---|
| Thu, Nov 5 | 3.36 ft | 908 ft³/s |
| Fri, Nov 6 | 3.35 ft | 899 ft³/s |
| Sat, Nov 7 | 3.32 ft | 874 ft³/s |
| Sun, Nov 8 | 3.3 ft | 857 ft³/s |
| Mon, Nov 9 | 3.3 ft | 857 ft³/s |
| Tue, Nov 10 | 3.3 ft | 857 ft³/s |
| Wed, Nov 11 | 3.28 ft | 840 ft³/s |
| Thu, Nov 12 | 3.28 ft | 840 ft³/s |
| Fri, Nov 13 | 3.28 ft | 840 ft³/s |
| Sat, Nov 14 | 3.27 ft | 832 ft³/s |
Open the NWS gauge page · What the categories mean (National Weather Service)
Checked Nov 5, 7:39 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.