The Elk River is a freestone river in Missouri, listed as Agency-named bass water by Missouri Department of Conservation.
1 USGS gauge on the water reports flow.
Elk River is a freestone river in Missouri.
Start from the agency's public access map. Nothing on this page grants or implies access: check the agency map, posted signs and landowner permission before you fish.
Nothing on this page grants or implies access.
Gauges, shops and guides within 40 miles
Map of Elk River: gauges, shops and guides
Map of Elk River with 1 USGS gauge.
Restrooms within 2 miles of Elk River in a straight line, nearest first, with what anglers found when they went. The map says a restroom is there, not whether it is clean or open today.
No restroom mapped within 2 mi yet — add one you know.
Campgrounds, fishing access sites and boat ramps often have one that isn't on the map yet.
Restroom locations and map details: © OpenStreetMap contributors, Open Database License, read Oct 24, 2026. Ratings, answers and photos are members' own; who shared them is never shown, and every photo is reviewed before it appears. Visits older than 18 months no longer count. Distances are straight-line miles, not driving. Nothing here grants access to private land. Community guidelines.
Tailwater trout fisheryFog on Lake Taneycomo, Missouri. Photo: Luke Wisley, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Designated trout waterRepresentative photo · not Roaring RiverThe Eleven Point River, Missouri. Photo: Charlie Llewellin from Austin, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Roaring River.
Missouri · about 37 mi
Agency-named bass waterRepresentative photo · not Table Rock LakeMissouri · about 57 mi
Blue RibbonRepresentative photo · not Crane CreekCrooked Creek at Highway 14 in Yellville, Arkansas. Photo: Brandonrush, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Crane Creek.
Missouri · about 59 mi
Agency-named bass waterRepresentative photo · not James RiverBuffalo National River, Arkansas. Photo: National Park Service, public domain, cropped, via Wikimedia Commons Not James River.
Missouri · about 60 mi
Agency-named bass waterRepresentative photo · not Stockton LakeCaddo Lake on the Texas-Louisiana line. Photo: Maciej Kraus, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Stockton Lake.
Missouri · about 84 mi
Seasons, limits, special regulations and closures for each reach are on the agency pages below. Read them before you go.
Each comes from the agency's own published list; where the list names a reach it is quoted. A designation applies to the listed reach, not necessarily the whole water. Listed in the finder under bass.
On the Black Bass Special Area Regulations list (Missouri Department of Conservation, read 2026-10-20). All waters with this designation
Measured from the NHDPlus High Resolution (flowlines and waterbodies) (U.S. Geological Survey, read 2026-11-04) for this water’s own mapped feature. Rounded figures; they describe the channel, not today’s conditions.
Areas the Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US), public access (U.S. Geological Survey, Gap Analysis Project, read 2026-11-05) lists as owned or held in easement and open to the public, crossed by the mapped channel. Boundaries are mapped, not surveyed. Nothing on this page grants or implies access: check the agency map, posted signs and landowner permission before you fish.
1.7 of 34.3 mi on public land
Nothing on this page grants or implies access.
Listings marked Unclaimed are built from open map records and the business's own website: confirm licensing, rates, dates and hours directly.
No guide within 40 miles yet.
No shop nearby yet.
The hatch and season chart for this water's region.
None of our destination hubs is within 40 miles in a straight line. The trip planner builds a trip around the water itself: the guides and shops listed within 40 miles of it, its gauges and its nearest towns and airports.
No hub within 40 miles
A practical checklist for fly fishing small mountain trout streams: a short 3–4 weight rod, light line, a few buoyant dries and simple wet-wading gear, with estimated prices and where to buy.
7′6″–8′6″ rod, 3–4 weight, floating line · Brook, cutthroat, rainbow and brown trout
Open the checklistSeams, shelves and soft water, shown on real rivers.
Public YouTube videos from established channels, chosen by us to support this page. Not sponsored; the creators are not affiliated with Legendary Fly Gear.
Not sponsored All videos on reading water
Indicator rigs, depth and detecting the take.
Public YouTube videos from established channels, chosen by us to support this page. Not sponsored; the creators are not affiliated with Legendary Fly Gear.
Not sponsored All videos on nymphing
Trip stories anglers chose to share publicly and tagged with Elk River.
No stories from here yet.
Not a statement of access, fish presence or conditions.
A water page organises discovery. It does not assert public access, legal access, current fish presence, guide availability or fishing conditions.
Flows, gauge statistics and flood stages come from USGS and the National Weather Service when the page is shown. Regulations, stocking, species and season statements link to the agency that publishes them; this page copies only the species names and the quoted sentences. Guide and shop listings come from the Legendary directories. Position: the USGS gauge Elk Rv at MO-59, Noel, MO. Water type is our own classification.
Limited data: Not enough data: no water temperature or flow statistics here
No water temperature, flow statistics here.
At Elk Rv at MO-59, Noel, MO (USGS 07188925) Provisional USGS data
USGS 07188925
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.
No flow at this gauge. USGS does not publish discharge here, so there are no flow statistics either; it reports what is shown. Flow on the same river: Elk River near Tiff City, Mo (USGS 07189000, 7.7 miles away).
Reading Nov 5, 5:15 PM CST · provisional USGS data
Steady · 24 h
Gauge height, last 7 days: 166 readings from Oct 29, 6:15 PM CDT to Nov 5, 5:15 PM CST; ranging 5.25 to 5.38 ft; latest 5.37 ft.
USGS provisional data may be revised. Source: USGS instantaneous values.
| Time | Gauge height (ft) |
|---|---|
| Nov 5, 5:15 PM CST | 5.37 |
| Nov 5, 4:15 PM CST | 5.37 |
| Nov 5, 3:15 PM CST | 5.37 |
| Nov 5, 2:15 PM CST | 5.37 |
| Nov 5, 1:15 PM CST | 5.38 |
| Nov 5, 12:15 PM CST | 5.37 |
| Nov 5, 11:15 AM CST | 5.37 |
| Nov 5, 10:15 AM CST | 5.37 |
| Nov 5, 9:15 AM CST | 5.37 |
| Nov 5, 8:15 AM CST | 5.37 |
| Nov 5, 7:15 AM CST | 5.37 |
| Nov 5, 6:15 AM CST | 5.35 |
| Nov 5, 5:15 AM CST | 5.35 |
| Nov 5, 4:15 AM CST | 5.37 |
| Nov 5, 3:15 AM CST | 5.37 |
| Nov 5, 2:15 AM CST | 5.36 |
| Nov 5, 1:15 AM CST | 5.36 |
| Nov 5, 12:15 AM CST | 5.36 |
| Nov 4, 11:15 PM CST | 5.36 |
| Nov 4, 10:15 PM CST | 5.36 |
| Nov 4, 9:15 PM CST | 5.36 |
| Nov 4, 8:15 PM CST | 5.36 |
| Nov 4, 7:15 PM CST | 5.35 |
| Nov 4, 6:15 PM CST | 5.35 |
| Nov 4, 5:15 PM CST | 5.35 |
| Nov 4, 4:15 PM CST | 5.35 |
| Nov 4, 3:15 PM CST | 5.33 |
| Nov 4, 2:15 PM CST | 5.32 |
| Nov 4, 1:15 PM CST | 5.32 |
| Nov 4, 12:15 PM CST | 5.34 |
| Nov 4, 11:00 AM CST | 5.32 |
| Nov 4, 10:00 AM CST | 5.32 |
| Nov 4, 9:00 AM CST | 5.32 |
| Nov 4, 8:00 AM CST | 5.33 |
| Nov 4, 7:00 AM CST | 5.33 |
| Nov 4, 6:00 AM CST | 5.33 |
| Nov 4, 5:00 AM CST | 5.32 |
| Nov 4, 4:00 AM CST | 5.32 |
| Nov 4, 3:00 AM CST | 5.32 |
| Nov 4, 2:00 AM CST | 5.32 |
| Nov 4, 1:00 AM CST | 5.31 |
| Nov 4, 12:00 AM CST | 5.33 |
| Nov 3, 11:00 PM CST | 5.31 |
| Nov 3, 10:00 PM CST | 5.32 |
| Nov 3, 9:00 PM CST | 5.32 |
| Nov 3, 7:45 PM CST | 5.32 |
| Nov 3, 6:45 PM CST | 5.31 |
| Nov 3, 5:45 PM CST | 5.32 |
| Nov 3, 4:45 PM CST | 5.31 |
| Nov 3, 3:45 PM CST | 5.32 |
| Nov 3, 2:45 PM CST | 5.33 |
| Nov 3, 1:45 PM CST | 5.32 |
| Nov 3, 12:45 PM CST | 5.31 |
| Nov 3, 11:45 AM CST | 5.32 |
| Nov 3, 10:45 AM CST | 5.32 |
| Nov 3, 9:45 AM CST | 5.32 |
| Nov 3, 8:30 AM CST | 5.31 |
| Nov 3, 7:30 AM CST | 5.33 |
| Nov 3, 6:30 AM CST | 5.33 |
| Nov 3, 5:30 AM CST | 5.31 |
| Nov 3, 4:15 AM CST | 5.31 |
| Nov 3, 3:00 AM CST | 5.32 |
| Nov 3, 1:45 AM CST | 5.3 |
| Nov 3, 12:30 AM CST | 5.29 |
| Nov 2, 11:30 PM CST | 5.29 |
| Nov 2, 9:15 PM CST | 5.29 |
| Nov 2, 8:15 PM CST | 5.29 |
| Nov 2, 7:15 PM CST | 5.29 |
| Nov 2, 6:15 PM CST | 5.3 |
| Nov 2, 5:00 PM CST | 5.3 |
| Nov 2, 3:30 PM CST | 5.29 |
| Nov 2, 2:30 PM CST | 5.29 |
| Nov 2, 1:30 PM CST | 5.29 |
| Nov 2, 12:30 PM CST | 5.29 |
| Nov 2, 11:30 AM CST | 5.3 |
| Nov 2, 10:30 AM CST | 5.29 |
| Nov 2, 9:30 AM CST | 5.29 |
| Nov 2, 8:30 AM CST | 5.29 |
| Nov 2, 7:30 AM CST | 5.31 |
| Nov 2, 6:30 AM CST | 5.31 |
| Nov 2, 5:30 AM CST | 5.31 |
| Nov 2, 4:30 AM CST | 5.31 |
| Nov 2, 3:30 AM CST | 5.31 |
| Nov 2, 2:30 AM CST | 5.31 |
| Nov 2, 1:30 AM CST | 5.31 |
| Nov 2, 12:30 AM CST | 5.31 |
| Nov 1, 11:30 PM CST | 5.31 |
| Nov 1, 10:30 PM CST | 5.31 |
| Nov 1, 9:30 PM CST | 5.31 |
| Nov 1, 8:30 PM CST | 5.31 |
| Nov 1, 7:30 PM CST | 5.31 |
| Nov 1, 6:30 PM CST | 5.31 |
| Nov 1, 5:30 PM CST | 5.31 |
| Nov 1, 4:30 PM CST | 5.31 |
| Nov 1, 3:30 PM CST | 5.31 |
| Nov 1, 2:30 PM CST | 5.31 |
| Nov 1, 1:30 PM CST | 5.31 |
| Nov 1, 12:30 PM CST | 5.31 |
| Nov 1, 11:30 AM CST | 5.31 |
| Nov 1, 10:30 AM CST | 5.31 |
| Nov 1, 9:30 AM CST | 5.31 |
| Nov 1, 8:30 AM CST | 5.31 |
| Nov 1, 7:30 AM CST | 5.31 |
| Nov 1, 6:30 AM CST | 5.31 |
| Nov 1, 5:30 AM CST | 5.31 |
| Nov 1, 4:30 AM CST | 5.31 |
| Nov 1, 3:30 AM CST | 5.31 |
| Nov 1, 2:30 AM CST | 5.31 |
| Nov 1, 1:30 AM CST | 5.31 |
| Nov 1, 1:30 AM CDT | 5.31 |
| Nov 1, 12:30 AM CDT | 5.3 |
| Oct 31, 11:30 PM CDT | 5.3 |
| Oct 31, 10:30 PM CDT | 5.3 |
| Oct 31, 9:30 PM CDT | 5.3 |
| Oct 31, 8:30 PM CDT | 5.3 |
| Oct 31, 7:30 PM CDT | 5.29 |
| Oct 31, 6:30 PM CDT | 5.29 |
| Oct 31, 5:30 PM CDT | 5.28 |
| Oct 31, 4:30 PM CDT | 5.27 |
| Oct 31, 3:30 PM CDT | 5.27 |
| Oct 31, 2:30 PM CDT | 5.26 |
| Oct 31, 1:30 PM CDT | 5.26 |
| Oct 31, 12:30 PM CDT | 5.26 |
| Oct 31, 11:30 AM CDT | 5.26 |
| Oct 31, 10:30 AM CDT | 5.26 |
| Oct 31, 9:30 AM CDT | 5.26 |
| Oct 31, 8:30 AM CDT | 5.26 |
| Oct 31, 7:30 AM CDT | 5.26 |
| Oct 31, 6:30 AM CDT | 5.26 |
| Oct 31, 5:30 AM CDT | 5.26 |
| Oct 31, 4:30 AM CDT | 5.26 |
| Oct 31, 3:30 AM CDT | 5.26 |
| Oct 31, 2:30 AM CDT | 5.26 |
| Oct 31, 1:30 AM CDT | 5.26 |
| Oct 31, 12:30 AM CDT | 5.26 |
| Oct 30, 11:30 PM CDT | 5.26 |
| Oct 30, 10:30 PM CDT | 5.26 |
| Oct 30, 9:30 PM CDT | 5.26 |
| Oct 30, 8:30 PM CDT | 5.26 |
| Oct 30, 7:30 PM CDT | 5.26 |
| Oct 30, 6:30 PM CDT | 5.26 |
| Oct 30, 5:30 PM CDT | 5.26 |
| Oct 30, 4:30 PM CDT | 5.26 |
| Oct 30, 3:30 PM CDT | 5.26 |
| Oct 30, 2:30 PM CDT | 5.26 |
| Oct 30, 1:30 PM CDT | 5.26 |
| Oct 30, 12:30 PM CDT | 5.26 |
| Oct 30, 11:30 AM CDT | 5.26 |
| Oct 30, 10:30 AM CDT | 5.26 |
| Oct 30, 9:30 AM CDT | 5.26 |
| Oct 30, 8:30 AM CDT | 5.26 |
| Oct 30, 7:30 AM CDT | 5.26 |
| Oct 30, 6:30 AM CDT | 5.25 |
| Oct 30, 5:30 AM CDT | 5.25 |
| Oct 30, 4:30 AM CDT | 5.25 |
| Oct 30, 3:30 AM CDT | 5.25 |
| Oct 30, 2:30 AM CDT | 5.25 |
| Oct 30, 1:30 AM CDT | 5.25 |
| Oct 30, 12:30 AM CDT | 5.25 |
| Oct 29, 11:30 PM CDT | 5.25 |
| Oct 29, 10:30 PM CDT | 5.25 |
| Oct 29, 9:30 PM CDT | 5.25 |
| Oct 29, 8:30 PM CDT | 5.25 |
| Oct 29, 7:30 PM CDT | 5.25 |
| Oct 29, 6:30 PM CDT | 5.25 |
| Oct 29, 6:15 PM CDT | 5.25 |
Steady over 24 hours (gauge height +0.02 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.
The National Weather Service has no flood-stage gauge here, so no official flood category is shown.
No current water-temperature reading at this gauge, so no temperature guidance is given. Take a stream thermometer. Missouri Department of Conservation publishes no water-temperature line for trout anglers that we found. The lines below are the National Park Service's, federal guidance, not a Missouri rule, with Missouri Department of Conservation's own figure added: 68°F and 70°F.
This gauge is on our page for Elk River, but no agency page we read lists its species.
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.
Checked Nov 5, 5:59 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.
Tailwater trout fisheryFog on Lake Taneycomo, Missouri. Photo: Luke Wisley, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Designated trout waterRepresentative photo · not Roaring RiverThe Eleven Point River, Missouri. Photo: Charlie Llewellin from Austin, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Roaring River.
Agency-named bass waterRepresentative photo · not Table Rock LakeMissouri · about 57 mi
Blue RibbonRepresentative photo · not Crane CreekCrooked Creek at Highway 14 in Yellville, Arkansas. Photo: Brandonrush, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Crane Creek.
Missouri · about 59 mi
Agency-named bass waterRepresentative photo · not James RiverBuffalo National River, Arkansas. Photo: National Park Service, public domain, cropped, via Wikimedia Commons Not James River.
Agency-named bass waterRepresentative photo · not Stockton LakeCaddo Lake on the Texas-Louisiana line. Photo: Maciej Kraus, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Stockton Lake.
Missouri · about 84 mi
