Swan River near Bigfork, MT
USGS 12370000 · Montana · reports discharge (live), gauge height
Reading Swan River near Bigfork, MT…
Back to the search
USGS 12370000 · 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
Normal for Nov 5 Steady · 24 h Below NWS action stage
Discharge, last 7 days: 169 readings from Oct 29, 9:45 PM MDT to Nov 5, 8:00 PM MST; ranging 416 to 464 ft³/s; latest 437 ft³/s; shaded band: typical range (25th–75th percentile) for each date.
USGS provisional data may be revised. Source: USGS Water Data API continuous values.
| Time | Discharge (ft³/s) | Gauge height (ft) | Normal, 25th–75th (ft³/s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 5, 8:00 PM MST | 437 | 2.29 | 430–667 |
| Nov 5, 7:00 PM MST | 444 | 2.3 | 430–667 |
| Nov 5, 6:00 PM MST | 430 | 2.28 | 430–667 |
| Nov 5, 5:00 PM MST | 423 | 2.27 | 430–667 |
| Nov 5, 4:00 PM MST | 437 | 2.29 | 430–667 |
| Nov 5, 3:00 PM MST | 437 | 2.29 | 430–667 |
| Nov 5, 2:00 PM MST | 437 | 2.29 | 430–667 |
| Nov 5, 1:00 PM MST | 444 | 2.3 | 430–667 |
| Nov 5, 12:00 PM MST | 430 | 2.28 | 430–667 |
| Nov 5, 11:00 AM MST | 437 | 2.29 | 430–667 |
| Nov 5, 10:00 AM MST | 450 | 2.31 | 430–667 |
| Nov 5, 9:00 AM MST | 444 | 2.3 | 430–667 |
| Nov 5, 8:00 AM MST | 444 | 2.3 | 430–667 |
| Nov 5, 7:00 AM MST | 437 | 2.29 | 430–667 |
| Nov 5, 6:00 AM MST | 444 | 2.3 | 430–667 |
| Nov 5, 5:00 AM MST | 444 | 2.3 | 430–667 |
| Nov 5, 4:00 AM MST | 437 | 2.29 | 430–667 |
| Nov 5, 3:00 AM MST | 444 | 2.3 | 430–667 |
| Nov 5, 2:00 AM MST | 444 | 2.3 | 430–667 |
| Nov 5, 1:00 AM MST | 450 | 2.31 | 430–667 |
| Nov 5, 12:00 AM MST | 444 | 2.3 | 430–667 |
| Nov 4, 11:00 PM MST | 444 | 2.3 | 423–671 |
| Nov 4, 10:00 PM MST | 437 | 2.29 | 423–671 |
| Nov 4, 9:00 PM MST | 444 | 2.3 | 423–671 |
| Nov 4, 8:00 PM MST | 444 | 2.3 | 423–671 |
| Nov 4, 7:00 PM MST | 437 | 2.29 | 423–671 |
| Nov 4, 6:00 PM MST | 437 | 2.29 | 423–671 |
| Nov 4, 5:00 PM MST | 437 | 2.29 | 423–671 |
| Nov 4, 4:00 PM MST | 430 | 2.28 | 423–671 |
| Nov 4, 3:00 PM MST | 430 | 2.28 | 423–671 |
| Nov 4, 2:00 PM MST | 437 | 2.29 | 423–671 |
| Nov 4, 1:00 PM MST | 437 | 2.29 | 423–671 |
| Nov 4, 12:00 PM MST | 430 | 2.28 | 423–671 |
| Nov 4, 11:00 AM MST | 423 | 2.27 | 423–671 |
| Nov 4, 10:00 AM MST | 444 | 2.3 | 423–671 |
| Nov 4, 9:00 AM MST | 444 | 2.3 | 423–671 |
| Nov 4, 8:00 AM MST | 430 | 2.28 | 423–671 |
| Nov 4, 7:00 AM MST | 430 | 2.28 | 423–671 |
| Nov 4, 6:00 AM MST | 430 | 2.28 | 423–671 |
| Nov 4, 5:00 AM MST | 437 | 2.29 | 423–671 |
| Nov 4, 4:00 AM MST | 437 | 2.29 | 423–671 |
| Nov 4, 3:00 AM MST | 430 | 2.28 | 423–671 |
| Nov 4, 2:00 AM MST | 430 | 2.28 | 423–671 |
| Nov 4, 1:00 AM MST | 437 | 2.29 | 423–671 |
| Nov 4, 12:00 AM MST | 437 | 2.29 | 423–671 |
| Nov 3, 11:00 PM MST | 437 | 2.29 | 423–671 |
| Nov 3, 10:00 PM MST | 430 | 2.28 | 423–671 |
| Nov 3, 9:00 PM MST | 430 | 2.28 | 423–671 |
| Nov 3, 8:00 PM MST | 437 | 2.29 | 423–671 |
| Nov 3, 7:00 PM MST | 437 | 2.29 | 423–671 |
| Nov 3, 6:00 PM MST | 430 | 2.28 | 423–671 |
| Nov 3, 5:00 PM MST | 430 | 2.28 | 423–671 |
| Nov 3, 4:00 PM MST | 430 | 2.28 | 423–671 |
| Nov 3, 3:00 PM MST | 437 | 2.29 | 423–671 |
| Nov 3, 2:00 PM MST | 430 | 2.28 | 423–671 |
| Nov 3, 1:00 PM MST | 423 | 2.27 | 423–671 |
| Nov 3, 12:00 PM MST | 444 | 2.3 | 423–671 |
| Nov 3, 11:00 AM MST | 450 | 2.31 | 423–671 |
| Nov 3, 10:00 AM MST | 444 | 2.3 | 423–671 |
| Nov 3, 9:00 AM MST | 450 | 2.31 | 423–671 |
| Nov 3, 8:00 AM MST | 457 | 2.32 | 423–671 |
| Nov 3, 7:00 AM MST | 457 | 2.32 | 423–671 |
| Nov 3, 6:00 AM MST | 464 | 2.33 | 423–671 |
| Nov 3, 5:00 AM MST | 464 | 2.33 | 423–671 |
| Nov 3, 4:00 AM MST | 450 | 2.31 | 423–671 |
| Nov 3, 3:00 AM MST | 457 | 2.32 | 423–671 |
| Nov 3, 2:00 AM MST | 444 | 2.3 | 423–671 |
| Nov 3, 1:00 AM MST | 464 | 2.33 | 423–671 |
| Nov 3, 12:00 AM MST | 457 | 2.32 | 423–671 |
| Nov 2, 11:00 PM MST | 450 | 2.31 | 421–657 |
| Nov 2, 10:00 PM MST | 450 | 2.31 | 421–657 |
| Nov 2, 9:00 PM MST | 450 | 2.31 | 421–657 |
| Nov 2, 8:00 PM MST | 444 | 2.3 | 421–657 |
| Nov 2, 7:00 PM MST | 437 | 2.29 | 421–657 |
| Nov 2, 6:00 PM MST | 444 | 2.3 | 421–657 |
| Nov 2, 5:00 PM MST | 450 | 2.31 | 421–657 |
| Nov 2, 4:00 PM MST | 444 | 2.3 | 421–657 |
| Nov 2, 3:00 PM MST | 437 | 2.29 | 421–657 |
| Nov 2, 2:00 PM MST | 444 | 2.3 | 421–657 |
| Nov 2, 1:00 PM MST | 450 | 2.31 | 421–657 |
| Nov 2, 12:00 PM MST | 444 | 2.3 | 421–657 |
| Nov 2, 11:00 AM MST | 444 | 2.3 | 421–657 |
| Nov 2, 10:00 AM MST | 437 | 2.29 | 421–657 |
| Nov 2, 9:00 AM MST | 450 | 2.31 | 421–657 |
| Nov 2, 8:00 AM MST | 450 | 2.31 | 421–657 |
| Nov 2, 7:00 AM MST | 444 | 2.3 | 421–657 |
| Nov 2, 6:00 AM MST | 437 | 2.29 | 421–657 |
| Nov 2, 5:00 AM MST | 444 | 2.3 | 421–657 |
| Nov 2, 4:00 AM MST | 444 | 2.3 | 421–657 |
| Nov 2, 3:00 AM MST | 444 | 2.3 | 421–657 |
| Nov 2, 2:00 AM MST | 437 | 2.29 | 421–657 |
| Nov 2, 1:00 AM MST | 444 | 2.3 | 421–657 |
| Nov 2, 12:00 AM MST | 444 | 2.3 | 421–657 |
| Nov 1, 11:00 PM MST | 444 | 2.3 | 421–640 |
| Nov 1, 10:00 PM MST | 437 | 2.29 | 421–640 |
| Nov 1, 9:00 PM MST | 437 | 2.29 | 421–640 |
| Nov 1, 8:00 PM MST | 444 | 2.3 | 421–640 |
| Nov 1, 7:00 PM MST | 437 | 2.29 | 421–640 |
| Nov 1, 6:00 PM MST | 437 | 2.29 | 421–640 |
| Nov 1, 5:00 PM MST | 437 | 2.29 | 421–640 |
| Nov 1, 4:00 PM MST | 430 | 2.28 | 421–640 |
| Nov 1, 3:00 PM MST | 437 | 2.29 | 421–640 |
| Nov 1, 2:00 PM MST | 437 | 2.29 | 421–640 |
| Nov 1, 1:00 PM MST | 437 | 2.29 | 421–640 |
| Nov 1, 12:00 PM MST | 430 | 2.28 | 421–640 |
| Nov 1, 11:00 AM MST | 423 | 2.27 | 421–640 |
| Nov 1, 10:00 AM MST | 430 | 2.28 | 421–640 |
| Nov 1, 9:00 AM MST | 444 | 2.3 | 421–640 |
| Nov 1, 8:00 AM MST | 437 | 2.29 | 421–640 |
| Nov 1, 7:00 AM MST | 430 | 2.28 | 421–640 |
| Nov 1, 6:00 AM MST | 423 | 2.27 | 421–640 |
| Nov 1, 5:00 AM MST | 444 | 2.3 | 421–640 |
| Nov 1, 4:00 AM MST | 450 | 2.31 | 421–640 |
| Nov 1, 3:00 AM MST | 416 | 2.26 | 421–640 |
| Nov 1, 2:00 AM MST | 430 | 2.28 | 421–640 |
| Nov 1, 1:00 AM MST | 444 | 2.3 | 421–640 |
| Nov 1, 1:00 AM MDT | 444 | 2.3 | 421–640 |
| Nov 1, 12:00 AM MDT | 444 | 2.3 | 421–640 |
| Oct 31, 11:00 PM MDT | 437 | 2.29 | 419–658 |
| Oct 31, 10:00 PM MDT | 437 | 2.29 | 419–658 |
| Oct 31, 9:00 PM MDT | 444 | 2.3 | 419–658 |
| Oct 31, 8:00 PM MDT | 444 | 2.3 | 419–658 |
| Oct 31, 7:00 PM MDT | 437 | 2.29 | 419–658 |
| Oct 31, 6:00 PM MDT | 437 | 2.29 | 419–658 |
| Oct 31, 5:00 PM MDT | 437 | 2.29 | 419–658 |
| Oct 31, 4:00 PM MDT | 444 | 2.3 | 419–658 |
| Oct 31, 3:00 PM MDT | 437 | 2.29 | 419–658 |
| Oct 31, 2:00 PM MDT | 437 | 2.29 | 419–658 |
| Oct 31, 1:00 PM MDT | 437 | 2.29 | 419–658 |
| Oct 31, 12:00 PM MDT | 437 | 2.29 | 419–658 |
| Oct 31, 11:00 AM MDT | 450 | 2.31 | 419–658 |
| Oct 31, 10:00 AM MDT | 437 | 2.29 | 419–658 |
| Oct 31, 9:00 AM MDT | 430 | 2.28 | 419–658 |
| Oct 31, 8:00 AM MDT | 444 | 2.3 | 419–658 |
| Oct 31, 7:00 AM MDT | 437 | 2.29 | 419–658 |
| Oct 31, 6:00 AM MDT | 437 | 2.29 | 419–658 |
| Oct 31, 5:00 AM MDT | 444 | 2.3 | 419–658 |
| Oct 31, 4:00 AM MDT | 437 | 2.29 | 419–658 |
| Oct 31, 3:00 AM MDT | 430 | 2.28 | 419–658 |
| Oct 31, 2:00 AM MDT | 444 | 2.3 | 419–658 |
| Oct 31, 1:00 AM MDT | 444 | 2.3 | 419–658 |
| Oct 31, 12:00 AM MDT | 437 | 2.29 | 419–658 |
| Oct 30, 11:00 PM MDT | 444 | 2.3 | 400–671 |
| Oct 30, 10:00 PM MDT | 437 | 2.29 | 400–671 |
| Oct 30, 9:00 PM MDT | 430 | 2.28 | 400–671 |
| Oct 30, 8:00 PM MDT | 430 | 2.28 | 400–671 |
| Oct 30, 7:00 PM MDT | 430 | 2.28 | 400–671 |
| Oct 30, 6:00 PM MDT | 437 | 2.29 | 400–671 |
| Oct 30, 5:00 PM MDT | 430 | 2.28 | 400–671 |
| Oct 30, 4:00 PM MDT | 430 | 2.28 | 400–671 |
| Oct 30, 3:00 PM MDT | 430 | 2.28 | 400–671 |
| Oct 30, 2:00 PM MDT | 430 | 2.28 | 400–671 |
| Oct 30, 1:00 PM MDT | 437 | 2.29 | 400–671 |
| Oct 30, 12:00 PM MDT | 437 | 2.29 | 400–671 |
| Oct 30, 11:00 AM MDT | 444 | 2.3 | 400–671 |
| Oct 30, 10:00 AM MDT | 450 | 2.31 | 400–671 |
| Oct 30, 9:00 AM MDT | 444 | 2.3 | 400–671 |
| Oct 30, 8:00 AM MDT | 444 | 2.3 | 400–671 |
| Oct 30, 7:00 AM MDT | 444 | 2.3 | 400–671 |
| Oct 30, 6:00 AM MDT | 444 | 2.3 | 400–671 |
| Oct 30, 5:00 AM MDT | 444 | 2.3 | 400–671 |
| Oct 30, 4:00 AM MDT | 444 | 2.3 | 400–671 |
| Oct 30, 3:00 AM MDT | 437 | 2.29 | 400–671 |
| Oct 30, 2:00 AM MDT | 450 | 2.31 | 400–671 |
| Oct 30, 1:00 AM MDT | 437 | 2.29 | 400–671 |
| Oct 30, 12:00 AM MDT | 437 | 2.29 | 400–671 |
| Oct 29, 11:00 PM MDT | 437 | 2.29 | 406–656 |
| Oct 29, 10:00 PM MDT | 444 | 2.3 | 406–656 |
| Oct 29, 9:45 PM MDT | 437 | 2.29 | 406–656 |
Normal for Nov 5: 430–667 ft³/s (middle half of 103 years of record). Now: 437 ft³/s, normal.
Normal for this date. 437 ft³/s is between the 25th and 75th percentiles of daily mean flow for Nov 5 at this gauge over 103 years of record: 10th 357, 25th 430, median 533, 75th 667, 90th 852 ft³/s.
Daily means on record for Nov 5: lowest 292 ft³/s, highest 1,580 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 (−1.6% 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.
Map of USGS gauge 12370000 and the river around it
Where Swan River near Bigfork, 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.
This gauge is on our page for Swan River, but no agency page we read lists its species.
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 2.3 ft stage, 444 ft³/s at Nov 5, 7:00 PM MST (NWS gauge SWRM8; its stage datum can differ from the USGS gauge height).
NWS river forecast forecast issued Nov 5, 8:42 AM MST. Highest point: 2.35 ft, 478 ft³/s on Nov 9, 5:00 AM MST (Below NWS action stage).
| Day | Stage | Flow |
|---|---|---|
| Thu, Nov 5 | 2.3 ft | 444 ft³/s |
| Fri, Nov 6 | 2.28 ft | 430 ft³/s |
| Sat, Nov 7 | 2.27 ft | 423 ft³/s |
| Sun, Nov 8 | 2.34 ft | 471 ft³/s |
| Mon, Nov 9 | 2.35 ft | 478 ft³/s |
| Tue, Nov 10 | 2.31 ft | 450 ft³/s |
| Wed, Nov 11 | 2.3 ft | 444 ft³/s |
| Thu, Nov 12 | 2.34 ft | 471 ft³/s |
| Fri, Nov 13 | 2.34 ft | 471 ft³/s |
| Sat, Nov 14 | 2.33 ft | 464 ft³/s |
Open the NWS gauge page · What the categories mean (National Weather Service)
This gauge is on Swan River: regulations, guides and shops
USGS gauge page USGS statistics NWS gauge SWRM8
Checked Nov 5, 8:38 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.