Bowman Creek

Type: Freestone river, Pennsylvania (East)
Designation: Catch and release · Fly-fishing only
USGS gauges: None on it; nearest shown
Guides: None listed
Shops: None listed

Today on the Bowman Creek

Limited data: Normal flow for the date: no water temperature here

No water temperature here.

Flow now: 2,290 ft³/s
Vs normal for Nov 5: Below normal
Trend: Steady over 24 h
Last reading: Nov 5, 5:45 PM EST

At Susquehanna River at Wilkes-Barre, PA (USGS 01536500). No gauge on Bowman Creek. Nearest: Susquehanna River at Wilkes-Barre, PA (14.7 mi away), on the river it flows into. Bowman Creek's own flow is not measured. Provisional USGS data

Regulations & access Guides & shops

Bowman Creek is a freestone river in Pennsylvania, listed as Catch and release by Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission.

More about the Bowman Creek

The nearest USGS gauge on the same stream system is shown, labelled.

Updated 4 Nov 2026 · Sources: Catch-and-Release Fly-Fishing Only, USGS Water Data

Representative photograph of similar water; not a photograph of this place. — Representative photograph, not this water.

Where it is

Bowman Creek is a freestone river in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania has 2 waters named Bowman Creek in the USGS Geographic Names Information System; this page is the stream whose mouth is in Wyoming County, the one the agency list names.

Nearest gauge (not on this water)

Susquehanna River at Wilkes-Barre, PA

USGS 01536500 · NWS WBRP1

No gauge on Bowman Creek. Nearest: Susquehanna River at Wilkes-Barre, PA (14.7 mi away), on the river it flows into. Bowman Creek's own flow is not measured.

Limited data: Normal flow for the date: no water temperature here

Flow 2,290 ft³/s: below normal for Nov 5, over 127 years of USGS record. U.S. Geological Survey
No water-temperature reading at this gauge: take a stream thermometer.
Below NWS action stage (official NWS category). That is not a statement that wading is safe. National Weather Service

What the agencies suggest

Carry a stream thermometer. Carry a pocket thermometer to monitor water temperature National Park Service

General guidance from the readings and the published lines named above, not a fishing forecast. Local rules and closures come first.

Discharge: 2,290 ft³/s
Gauge height: 0.64 ft

Reading Nov 5, 5:45 PM EST · provisional USGS data

Below normal for Nov 5 Steady · 24 h Below NWS action stage

Discharge · last 7 days

Discharge, about hourly
NWS minor flood stage (115,278 ft³/s): above the range shown
NWS moderate flood stage (165,000 ft³/s): above the range shown
NWS major flood stage (181,700 ft³/s): above the range shown
Latest: 2,290 ft³/s at Nov 5, 5:45 PM EST

USGS provisional data may be revised. Source: USGS Water Data API continuous values.

View data as a table

Discharge, last 7 days: readings, about hourly, newest first. USGS provisional data may be revised. Missing hours or days are not filled in.
Time	Discharge (ft³/s)	Gauge height (ft)
Nov 5, 5:45 PM EST	2,290	0.64
Nov 5, 4:45 PM EST	2,290	0.64
Nov 5, 3:45 PM EST	2,310	0.65
Nov 5, 2:45 PM EST	2,290	0.64
Nov 5, 1:45 PM EST	2,290	0.64
Nov 5, 12:45 PM EST	2,290	0.64
Nov 5, 11:45 AM EST	2,310	0.65
Nov 5, 10:45 AM EST	2,290	0.64
Nov 5, 9:45 AM EST	2,250	0.62
Nov 5, 8:45 AM EST	2,250	0.62
Nov 5, 7:45 AM EST	2,200	0.59
Nov 5, 6:45 AM EST	2,200	0.59
Nov 5, 5:45 AM EST	2,200	0.59
Nov 5, 4:45 AM EST	2,180	0.58
Nov 5, 3:45 AM EST	2,200	0.59
Nov 5, 2:45 AM EST	2,200	0.59
Nov 5, 1:45 AM EST	2,210	0.6
Nov 5, 12:45 AM EST	2,180	0.58
Nov 4, 11:45 PM EST	2,210	0.6
Nov 4, 10:45 PM EST	2,200	0.59
Nov 4, 9:45 PM EST	2,230	0.61
Nov 4, 8:45 PM EST	2,200	0.59
Nov 4, 7:45 PM EST	2,200	0.59
Nov 4, 6:45 PM EST	2,210	0.6
Nov 4, 5:45 PM EST	2,210	0.6
Nov 4, 4:45 PM EST	2,200	0.59
Nov 4, 3:45 PM EST	2,210	0.6
Nov 4, 2:45 PM EST	2,200	0.59
Nov 4, 1:45 PM EST	2,200	0.59
Nov 4, 12:45 PM EST	2,210	0.6
Nov 4, 11:45 AM EST	2,200	0.59
Nov 4, 10:45 AM EST	2,200	0.59
Nov 4, 9:45 AM EST	2,180	0.58
Nov 4, 8:45 AM EST	2,230	0.61
Nov 4, 7:45 AM EST	2,180	0.58
Nov 4, 6:45 AM EST	2,200	0.59
Nov 4, 5:45 AM EST	2,200	0.59
Nov 4, 4:45 AM EST	2,210	0.6
Nov 4, 3:45 AM EST	2,200	0.59
Nov 4, 2:45 AM EST	2,210	0.6
Nov 4, 1:45 AM EST	2,200	0.59
Nov 4, 12:45 AM EST	2,200	0.59
Nov 3, 11:45 PM EST	2,200	0.59
Nov 3, 10:45 PM EST	2,230	0.61
Nov 3, 9:45 PM EST	2,210	0.6
Nov 3, 8:45 PM EST	2,200	0.59
Nov 3, 7:45 PM EST	2,210	0.6
Nov 3, 6:45 PM EST	2,210	0.6
Nov 3, 5:45 PM EST	2,210	0.6
Nov 3, 4:45 PM EST	2,230	0.61
Nov 3, 3:45 PM EST	2,230	0.61
Nov 3, 2:45 PM EST	2,210	0.6
Nov 3, 1:45 PM EST	2,230	0.61
Nov 3, 12:45 PM EST	2,210	0.6
Nov 3, 11:45 AM EST	2,230	0.61
Nov 3, 10:45 AM EST	2,230	0.61
Nov 3, 9:45 AM EST	2,250	0.62
Nov 3, 8:45 AM EST	2,250	0.62
Nov 3, 7:45 AM EST	2,250	0.62
Nov 3, 6:45 AM EST	2,230	0.61
Nov 3, 5:45 AM EST	2,250	0.62
Nov 3, 4:45 AM EST	2,270	0.63
Nov 3, 3:45 AM EST	2,250	0.62
Nov 3, 2:45 AM EST	2,250	0.62
Nov 3, 1:45 AM EST	2,280	0.63
Nov 3, 12:45 AM EST	2,280	0.63
Nov 2, 11:45 PM EST	2,300	0.64
Nov 2, 10:45 PM EST	2,300	0.64
Nov 2, 9:45 PM EST	2,280	0.63
Nov 2, 8:45 PM EST	2,320	0.65
Nov 2, 7:45 PM EST	2,320	0.65
Nov 2, 6:45 PM EST	2,320	0.65
Nov 2, 5:45 PM EST	2,300	0.64
Nov 2, 4:45 PM EST	2,300	0.64
Nov 2, 3:45 PM EST	2,300	0.64
Nov 2, 2:45 PM EST	2,340	0.66
Nov 2, 1:45 PM EST	2,340	0.66
Nov 2, 12:45 PM EST	2,360	0.67
Nov 2, 11:45 AM EST	2,340	0.66
Nov 2, 10:45 AM EST	2,360	0.67
Nov 2, 9:45 AM EST	2,320	0.65
Nov 2, 8:45 AM EST	2,360	0.67
Nov 2, 7:45 AM EST	2,360	0.67
Nov 2, 6:45 AM EST	2,380	0.68
Nov 2, 5:45 AM EST	2,360	0.67
Nov 2, 4:45 AM EST	2,360	0.67
Nov 2, 3:45 AM EST	2,360	0.67
Nov 2, 2:45 AM EST	2,360	0.67
Nov 2, 1:45 AM EST	2,360	0.67
Nov 2, 12:45 AM EST	2,380	0.68
Nov 1, 11:45 PM EST	2,380	0.68
Nov 1, 10:45 PM EST	2,380	0.68
Nov 1, 9:45 PM EST	2,380	0.68
Nov 1, 8:45 PM EST	2,380	0.68
Nov 1, 7:45 PM EST	2,360	0.67
Nov 1, 6:45 PM EST	2,380	0.68
Nov 1, 5:45 PM EST	2,380	0.68
Nov 1, 4:45 PM EST	2,360	0.67
Nov 1, 3:45 PM EST	2,360	0.67
Nov 1, 2:45 PM EST	2,400	0.69
Nov 1, 1:45 PM EST	2,380	0.68
Nov 1, 12:45 PM EST	2,380	0.68
Nov 1, 11:45 AM EST	2,380	0.68
Nov 1, 10:45 AM EST	2,420	0.7
Nov 1, 9:45 AM EST	2,400	0.69
Nov 1, 8:45 AM EST	2,400	0.69
Nov 1, 7:45 AM EST	2,440	0.71
Nov 1, 6:45 AM EST	2,440	0.71
Nov 1, 5:45 AM EST	2,440	0.71
Nov 1, 4:45 AM EST	2,440	0.71
Nov 1, 3:45 AM EST	2,480	0.73
Nov 1, 2:45 AM EST	2,420	0.7
Nov 1, 1:45 AM EST	2,440	0.71
Nov 1, 1:45 AM EDT	2,460	0.72
Nov 1, 12:45 AM EDT	2,460	0.72
Oct 31, 11:45 PM EDT	2,460	0.72
Oct 31, 10:45 PM EDT	2,460	0.72
Oct 31, 9:45 PM EDT	2,480	0.73
Oct 31, 8:45 PM EDT	2,480	0.73
Oct 31, 7:45 PM EDT	2,510	0.74
Oct 31, 6:45 PM EDT	2,480	0.73
Oct 31, 5:45 PM EDT	2,510	0.74
Oct 31, 4:45 PM EDT	2,480	0.73
Oct 31, 3:45 PM EDT	2,510	0.74
Oct 31, 2:45 PM EDT	2,510	0.74
Oct 31, 1:45 PM EDT	2,510	0.74
Oct 31, 12:45 PM EDT	2,510	0.74
Oct 31, 11:45 AM EDT	2,510	0.74
Oct 31, 10:45 AM EDT	2,510	0.74
Oct 31, 9:45 AM EDT	2,530	0.75
Oct 31, 8:45 AM EDT	2,510	0.74
Oct 31, 7:45 AM EDT	2,530	0.75
Oct 31, 6:45 AM EDT	2,550	0.76
Oct 31, 5:45 AM EDT	2,550	0.76
Oct 31, 4:45 AM EDT	2,550	0.76
Oct 31, 3:45 AM EDT	2,530	0.75
Oct 31, 2:45 AM EDT	2,530	0.75
Oct 31, 1:45 AM EDT	2,550	0.76
Oct 31, 12:45 AM EDT	2,530	0.75
Oct 30, 11:45 PM EDT	2,550	0.76
Oct 30, 10:45 PM EDT	2,550	0.76
Oct 30, 9:45 PM EDT	2,570	0.77
Oct 30, 8:45 PM EDT	2,550	0.76
Oct 30, 7:45 PM EDT	2,570	0.77
Oct 30, 6:45 PM EDT	2,590	0.78
Oct 30, 5:45 PM EDT	2,590	0.78
Oct 30, 4:45 PM EDT	2,590	0.78
Oct 30, 3:45 PM EDT	2,610	0.79
Oct 30, 2:45 PM EDT	2,610	0.79
Oct 30, 1:45 PM EDT	2,660	0.81
Oct 30, 12:45 PM EDT	2,590	0.78
Oct 30, 11:45 AM EDT	2,610	0.79
Oct 30, 10:45 AM EDT	2,610	0.79
Oct 30, 9:45 AM EDT	2,610	0.79
Oct 30, 8:45 AM EDT	2,610	0.79
Oct 30, 7:45 AM EDT	2,590	0.78
Oct 30, 6:45 AM EDT	2,610	0.79
Oct 30, 5:45 AM EDT	2,590	0.78
Oct 30, 4:45 AM EDT	2,610	0.79
Oct 30, 3:45 AM EDT	2,640	0.8
Oct 30, 2:45 AM EDT	2,610	0.79
Oct 30, 1:45 AM EDT	2,610	0.79
Oct 30, 12:45 AM EDT	2,660	0.81
Oct 29, 11:45 PM EDT	2,660	0.81
Oct 29, 10:45 PM EDT	2,610	0.79
Oct 29, 9:45 PM EDT	2,640	0.8
Oct 29, 8:45 PM EDT	2,660	0.81
Oct 29, 7:45 PM EDT	2,660	0.81
Oct 29, 7:15 PM EDT	2,640	0.8

What this level means general guidance

Normal for Nov 5: 2,850–13,000 ft³/s (middle half of 127 years of record). Now: 2,290 ft³/s, below normal.

Below normal for this date. 2,290 ft³/s is between the 10th and 25th percentiles of daily mean flow for Nov 5 at this gauge over 127 years of record: 10th 1,702, 25th 2,850, median 6,940, 75th 13,000, 90th 22,600 ft³/s.

Daily means on record for Nov 5: lowest 627 ft³/s, highest 47,900 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 (+3.6% 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.

Official flood stage · National Weather Service

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 0.64 ft stage, 2,660 ft³/s at Nov 5, 5:45 PM EST (NWS gauge WBRP1; its stage datum can differ from the USGS gauge height).

Action stage: 10 ft
Minor flood: 22 ft
Moderate flood: 28 ft
Major flood: 30 ft

NWS river forecast forecast issued Nov 5, 9:41 AM EST. Highest point: 0.7 ft, 2,770 ft³/s on Nov 5, 7:00 PM EST (Below NWS action stage).

NWS forecast, highest value each day
Day	Stage	Flow
Thu, Nov 5	0.7 ft	2,770 ft³/s
Fri, Nov 6	0.7 ft	2,770 ft³/s
Sat, Nov 7	0.5 ft	2,400 ft³/s
Sun, Nov 8	0.5 ft	2,400 ft³/s

Open the NWS gauge page · What the categories mean (National Weather Service)

Conditions for fishing general guidance

No current water-temperature reading at this gauge, so no temperature guidance is given. Take a stream thermometer: the trout lines Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission uses are 60°F, 70°F and 72°F.

Species

This gauge is on our page for Bowman Creek, but no agency page we read lists its species.

Safety

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.

Open the USGS gauge page

Checked Nov 5, 6:14 PM EST; 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.

Reading the gauges…

Check any river's flow

Follow Bowman Creek for flow alerts

Pick one of its USGS gauges and hear from us when the flow moves into or out of its usual range for the date, or crosses a flow you set. We check the public USGS reading every 2 hours and email only when it crosses, at most once every 6 hours. Flow alone is not a fishing forecast or a safety call.

Follow this water

Signed in: one step. Otherwise we email a confirmation link first. Every alert has one-click links to stop it.

Where to fish

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.

Pennsylvania where to fish maps

Bowman Creek on the map

Gauges, shops and guides within 40 miles

Restrooms Access map

Map of Bowman Creek with 1 USGS gauge.

Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors · OpenFreeMap · © OpenMapTiles

Restrooms near Bowman Creek

Restrooms within 2 miles of Bowman Creek 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.

More water near Bowman Creek

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Little Lehigh Creek at Allentown, Pennsylvania, upstream from Lehigh Street. Photo: Tim Kiser ( w:User:Malepheasant ), CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons Not Susquehanna River.
Susquehanna River
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1,330cfsFlow now · below normal for the date
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Photo credit
The West Branch Delaware River at the Hale Eddy bridge, Deposit, New York. Photo: Mr. Matté, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not South Branch Tunkhannock Creek.
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Photo credit
Sunrise on Penns Creek, Union County, Pennsylvania. Photo: WiiWillieWiki, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Huntington Creek.
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Photo credit
Fishing on Yellow Breeches Creek at Boiling Springs, Pennsylvania. Photo: Staecker, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Not Wapwallopen Creek.
Wapwallopen Creek
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22.2cfsFlow now · normal for the date
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Photo credit
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Muncy Creek
Pennsylvania · about 26 mi
31.5cfsFlow now · normal for the date

Delayed HarvestRepresentative photo · not Harveys Creek
Photo credit
A foggy morning on the Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River. Photo: National Park Service, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Not Harveys Creek.
Harveys Creek
Pennsylvania · about 8 mi
Agency-named bass waterRepresentative photo · not Susquehanna River
Photo credit
Little Lehigh Creek at Allentown, Pennsylvania, upstream from Lehigh Street. Photo: Tim Kiser ( w:User:Malepheasant ), CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons Not Susquehanna River.
Susquehanna River
Pennsylvania · about 15 mi
Delayed HarvestRepresentative photo · not South Branch Tunkhannock Creek
Photo credit
The West Branch Delaware River at the Hale Eddy bridge, Deposit, New York. Photo: Mr. Matté, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not South Branch Tunkhannock Creek.
South Branch Tunkhannock Creek
Pennsylvania · about 20 mi
Class A Wild TroutRepresentative photo · not Huntington Creek
Photo credit
Sunrise on Penns Creek, Union County, Pennsylvania. Photo: WiiWillieWiki, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Huntington Creek.
Huntington Creek
Pennsylvania · about 24 mi
Brown & brook trout
Class A Wild TroutRepresentative photo · not Wapwallopen Creek
Photo credit
Fishing on Yellow Breeches Creek at Boiling Springs, Pennsylvania. Photo: Staecker, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Not Wapwallopen Creek.
Wapwallopen Creek
Pennsylvania · about 25 mi
Brown trout
Delayed HarvestRepresentative photo · not Muncy Creek
Photo credit
Fishing Creek from PA Route 150, Clinton County, Pennsylvania. Photo: Ruhrfisch, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Muncy Creek.
Muncy Creek
Pennsylvania · about 26 mi

Regulations

Seasons, limits, special regulations and closures for each reach are on the agency pages below. Read them before you go.

2 official designations

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.

Catch and release
On the Catch-and-Release Fly-Fishing Only list (Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, read 2026-10-24). All waters with this designation
- Section 4: SR 292 BRIDGE to MARCH CK
Fly-fishing only
On the Catch-and-Release Fly-Fishing Only list (Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, read 2026-10-24). All waters with this designation
- Section 4: SR 292 BRIDGE to MARCH CK

The water on the map

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.

Whole Bowman Creek, not only this reach.

Length: 26.4 mi
Drains: 120 sq mi
Drop: 1,251 ft · 47.4 ft/mi
Flows into: Susquehanna River
Watershed: Upper Susquehanna-Tunkhannock

Public land along it

Areas the Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US), public access (U.S. Geological Survey, Gap Analysis Project, read 2026-11-04) lists as owned or held in easement and open to the public, crossed by the mapped channel of the whole Bowman Creek. 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.

6.9 of 25.6 mi on public land

State Game Land 057State Fish and Wildlife · 2.6 mi
Ricketts Glenn State ParkState Park and Recreation · 2 mi
Bowmans Creek (Perpetual Easement)State Fish and Wildlife · 1.2 mi
Mountain Springs LakeState Fish and Wildlife · 1.1 mi

Nothing on this page grants or implies access.

Guides and shops near Bowman Creek

Listings marked Unclaimed are built from open map records and the business's own website: confirm licensing, rates, dates and hours directly.

Guides

No guide within 40 miles yet.

All Pennsylvania guides

Shops nearby

No shop nearby yet.

All Pennsylvania shops

Species and hatches

The hatch and season chart for this water's region.

When the bugs come off

Regional hatch months: Catskills and the Northeast

8 hatches charted for the region, not measured on this water. From Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission.

January: no charted hatch
February: no charted hatch
March: no charted hatch
April: 3 charted hatches
May: 2 charted hatches
June: 1 charted hatch
July: 1 charted hatch
August: 1 charted hatch
September: 2 charted hatches
October: 1 charted hatch
November: no charted hatch
December: no charted hatch

Blue Quill (April) · Hendrickson (April) · Quill Gordon (April) · Green drake (May) · Mayflies (best hatches) (May) · Mayflies, stoneflies and caddisflies (June to September) · and 2 more on the chart

Plan your stay

Fishing lodges nearby

All lodges

Sweet Valley Cottages
Sweet Valley, Pennsylvania
River cabins · 11 mi
- Unclaimed

Getting there

AVP · Wilkes-Barre/Scranton · 18 mi straight-lineFlights (opens in a new tab)
IPT · Williamsport · 47 mi straight-lineFlights (opens in a new tab)
EWR · Newark · 110 mi straight-lineFlights (opens in a new tab)

About this

Miles are straight-line distances, not drive times.
Airports: scheduled passenger service, from OurAirports (public domain) (2026-11-04).
Lodges are listed when their own website talks about fishing. Prices and availability are the lodge's own.

Plan a trip here

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

Plan a trip here

Gear checklist

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.

An angler stands on a boulder at the edge of a fast forest stream and fishes the run

Small mountain streams

7′6″–8′6″ rod, 3–4 weight, floating line · Brook, cutthroat, rainbow and brown trout

Open the checklist

Videos for this water (5)

Watch: reading a trout stream

Seams, 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.

How I Learned to Read Water (Fly Fishing)Embedded from YouTube · Mad River Outfitters · not affiliated with Legendary Fly Gear. Watch on YouTube
How To Read The Water with Tom RosenbauerEmbedded from YouTube · The New Fly Fisher · not affiliated with Legendary Fly Gear. Watch on YouTube
Reading the Water to Successfully Locate TroutEmbedded from YouTube · Orvis Guide to Fly Fishing · not affiliated with Legendary Fly Gear. Watch on YouTube

Not sponsored All videos on reading water

Watch: nymphing basics

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.

90° Nymph RigEmbedded from YouTube · Huge Fly Fisherman · not affiliated with Legendary Fly Gear. Watch on YouTube
Casting with an Indicator & Better Nymphing TechniquesEmbedded from YouTube · The New Fly Fisher · not affiliated with Legendary Fly Gear. Watch on YouTube

Not sponsored All videos on nymphing

Fish Tales

Trip stories anglers chose to share publicly and tagged with Bowman Creek.

No stories from here yet.

Write the first story Share your day

Sources for this page

Not a statement of access, fish presence or conditions.

Something wrong?

All 13 sources and dates

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: a point on the mapped channel of “Bowman Creek”, halfway along its length in Pennsylvania, from the USGS high-resolution hydrography (NHDPlus HR), read 4 Nov 2026. It marks the water, not a particular access or reach. Water type is our own classification.

Susquehanna River at Wilkes-Barre, PA

USGS 01536500 · NWS WBRP1

No gauge on Bowman Creek. Nearest: Susquehanna River at Wilkes-Barre, PA (14.7 mi away), on the river it flows into. Bowman Creek's own flow is not measured.

Limited data: Normal flow for the date: no water temperature here

Flow 2,290 ft³/s: below normal for Nov 5, over 127 years of USGS record. U.S. Geological Survey
No water-temperature reading at this gauge: take a stream thermometer.
Below NWS action stage (official NWS category). That is not a statement that wading is safe. National Weather Service

What the agencies suggest

Carry a stream thermometer. Carry a pocket thermometer to monitor water temperature National Park Service

General guidance from the readings and the published lines named above, not a fishing forecast. Local rules and closures come first.

Discharge: 2,290 ft³/s
Gauge height: 0.64 ft

Reading Nov 5, 5:45 PM EST · provisional USGS data

Below normal for Nov 5 Steady · 24 h Below NWS action stage

Discharge · last 7 days

Discharge, about hourly
NWS minor flood stage (115,278 ft³/s): above the range shown
NWS moderate flood stage (165,000 ft³/s): above the range shown
NWS major flood stage (181,700 ft³/s): above the range shown
Latest: 2,290 ft³/s at Nov 5, 5:45 PM EST

USGS provisional data may be revised. Source: USGS Water Data API continuous values.

View data as a table

Discharge, last 7 days: readings, about hourly, newest first. USGS provisional data may be revised. Missing hours or days are not filled in.
Time	Discharge (ft³/s)	Gauge height (ft)
Nov 5, 5:45 PM EST	2,290	0.64
Nov 5, 4:45 PM EST	2,290	0.64
Nov 5, 3:45 PM EST	2,310	0.65
Nov 5, 2:45 PM EST	2,290	0.64
Nov 5, 1:45 PM EST	2,290	0.64
Nov 5, 12:45 PM EST	2,290	0.64
Nov 5, 11:45 AM EST	2,310	0.65
Nov 5, 10:45 AM EST	2,290	0.64
Nov 5, 9:45 AM EST	2,250	0.62
Nov 5, 8:45 AM EST	2,250	0.62
Nov 5, 7:45 AM EST	2,200	0.59
Nov 5, 6:45 AM EST	2,200	0.59
Nov 5, 5:45 AM EST	2,200	0.59
Nov 5, 4:45 AM EST	2,180	0.58
Nov 5, 3:45 AM EST	2,200	0.59
Nov 5, 2:45 AM EST	2,200	0.59
Nov 5, 1:45 AM EST	2,210	0.6
Nov 5, 12:45 AM EST	2,180	0.58
Nov 4, 11:45 PM EST	2,210	0.6
Nov 4, 10:45 PM EST	2,200	0.59
Nov 4, 9:45 PM EST	2,230	0.61
Nov 4, 8:45 PM EST	2,200	0.59
Nov 4, 7:45 PM EST	2,200	0.59
Nov 4, 6:45 PM EST	2,210	0.6
Nov 4, 5:45 PM EST	2,210	0.6
Nov 4, 4:45 PM EST	2,200	0.59
Nov 4, 3:45 PM EST	2,210	0.6
Nov 4, 2:45 PM EST	2,200	0.59
Nov 4, 1:45 PM EST	2,200	0.59
Nov 4, 12:45 PM EST	2,210	0.6
Nov 4, 11:45 AM EST	2,200	0.59
Nov 4, 10:45 AM EST	2,200	0.59
Nov 4, 9:45 AM EST	2,180	0.58
Nov 4, 8:45 AM EST	2,230	0.61
Nov 4, 7:45 AM EST	2,180	0.58
Nov 4, 6:45 AM EST	2,200	0.59
Nov 4, 5:45 AM EST	2,200	0.59
Nov 4, 4:45 AM EST	2,210	0.6
Nov 4, 3:45 AM EST	2,200	0.59
Nov 4, 2:45 AM EST	2,210	0.6
Nov 4, 1:45 AM EST	2,200	0.59
Nov 4, 12:45 AM EST	2,200	0.59
Nov 3, 11:45 PM EST	2,200	0.59
Nov 3, 10:45 PM EST	2,230	0.61
Nov 3, 9:45 PM EST	2,210	0.6
Nov 3, 8:45 PM EST	2,200	0.59
Nov 3, 7:45 PM EST	2,210	0.6
Nov 3, 6:45 PM EST	2,210	0.6
Nov 3, 5:45 PM EST	2,210	0.6
Nov 3, 4:45 PM EST	2,230	0.61
Nov 3, 3:45 PM EST	2,230	0.61
Nov 3, 2:45 PM EST	2,210	0.6
Nov 3, 1:45 PM EST	2,230	0.61
Nov 3, 12:45 PM EST	2,210	0.6
Nov 3, 11:45 AM EST	2,230	0.61
Nov 3, 10:45 AM EST	2,230	0.61
Nov 3, 9:45 AM EST	2,250	0.62
Nov 3, 8:45 AM EST	2,250	0.62
Nov 3, 7:45 AM EST	2,250	0.62
Nov 3, 6:45 AM EST	2,230	0.61
Nov 3, 5:45 AM EST	2,250	0.62
Nov 3, 4:45 AM EST	2,270	0.63
Nov 3, 3:45 AM EST	2,250	0.62
Nov 3, 2:45 AM EST	2,250	0.62
Nov 3, 1:45 AM EST	2,280	0.63
Nov 3, 12:45 AM EST	2,280	0.63
Nov 2, 11:45 PM EST	2,300	0.64
Nov 2, 10:45 PM EST	2,300	0.64
Nov 2, 9:45 PM EST	2,280	0.63
Nov 2, 8:45 PM EST	2,320	0.65
Nov 2, 7:45 PM EST	2,320	0.65
Nov 2, 6:45 PM EST	2,320	0.65
Nov 2, 5:45 PM EST	2,300	0.64
Nov 2, 4:45 PM EST	2,300	0.64
Nov 2, 3:45 PM EST	2,300	0.64
Nov 2, 2:45 PM EST	2,340	0.66
Nov 2, 1:45 PM EST	2,340	0.66
Nov 2, 12:45 PM EST	2,360	0.67
Nov 2, 11:45 AM EST	2,340	0.66
Nov 2, 10:45 AM EST	2,360	0.67
Nov 2, 9:45 AM EST	2,320	0.65
Nov 2, 8:45 AM EST	2,360	0.67
Nov 2, 7:45 AM EST	2,360	0.67
Nov 2, 6:45 AM EST	2,380	0.68
Nov 2, 5:45 AM EST	2,360	0.67
Nov 2, 4:45 AM EST	2,360	0.67
Nov 2, 3:45 AM EST	2,360	0.67
Nov 2, 2:45 AM EST	2,360	0.67
Nov 2, 1:45 AM EST	2,360	0.67
Nov 2, 12:45 AM EST	2,380	0.68
Nov 1, 11:45 PM EST	2,380	0.68
Nov 1, 10:45 PM EST	2,380	0.68
Nov 1, 9:45 PM EST	2,380	0.68
Nov 1, 8:45 PM EST	2,380	0.68
Nov 1, 7:45 PM EST	2,360	0.67
Nov 1, 6:45 PM EST	2,380	0.68
Nov 1, 5:45 PM EST	2,380	0.68
Nov 1, 4:45 PM EST	2,360	0.67
Nov 1, 3:45 PM EST	2,360	0.67
Nov 1, 2:45 PM EST	2,400	0.69
Nov 1, 1:45 PM EST	2,380	0.68
Nov 1, 12:45 PM EST	2,380	0.68
Nov 1, 11:45 AM EST	2,380	0.68
Nov 1, 10:45 AM EST	2,420	0.7
Nov 1, 9:45 AM EST	2,400	0.69
Nov 1, 8:45 AM EST	2,400	0.69
Nov 1, 7:45 AM EST	2,440	0.71
Nov 1, 6:45 AM EST	2,440	0.71
Nov 1, 5:45 AM EST	2,440	0.71
Nov 1, 4:45 AM EST	2,440	0.71
Nov 1, 3:45 AM EST	2,480	0.73
Nov 1, 2:45 AM EST	2,420	0.7
Nov 1, 1:45 AM EST	2,440	0.71
Nov 1, 1:45 AM EDT	2,460	0.72
Nov 1, 12:45 AM EDT	2,460	0.72
Oct 31, 11:45 PM EDT	2,460	0.72
Oct 31, 10:45 PM EDT	2,460	0.72
Oct 31, 9:45 PM EDT	2,480	0.73
Oct 31, 8:45 PM EDT	2,480	0.73
Oct 31, 7:45 PM EDT	2,510	0.74
Oct 31, 6:45 PM EDT	2,480	0.73
Oct 31, 5:45 PM EDT	2,510	0.74
Oct 31, 4:45 PM EDT	2,480	0.73
Oct 31, 3:45 PM EDT	2,510	0.74
Oct 31, 2:45 PM EDT	2,510	0.74
Oct 31, 1:45 PM EDT	2,510	0.74
Oct 31, 12:45 PM EDT	2,510	0.74
Oct 31, 11:45 AM EDT	2,510	0.74
Oct 31, 10:45 AM EDT	2,510	0.74
Oct 31, 9:45 AM EDT	2,530	0.75
Oct 31, 8:45 AM EDT	2,510	0.74
Oct 31, 7:45 AM EDT	2,530	0.75
Oct 31, 6:45 AM EDT	2,550	0.76
Oct 31, 5:45 AM EDT	2,550	0.76
Oct 31, 4:45 AM EDT	2,550	0.76
Oct 31, 3:45 AM EDT	2,530	0.75
Oct 31, 2:45 AM EDT	2,530	0.75
Oct 31, 1:45 AM EDT	2,550	0.76
Oct 31, 12:45 AM EDT	2,530	0.75
Oct 30, 11:45 PM EDT	2,550	0.76
Oct 30, 10:45 PM EDT	2,550	0.76
Oct 30, 9:45 PM EDT	2,570	0.77
Oct 30, 8:45 PM EDT	2,550	0.76
Oct 30, 7:45 PM EDT	2,570	0.77
Oct 30, 6:45 PM EDT	2,590	0.78
Oct 30, 5:45 PM EDT	2,590	0.78
Oct 30, 4:45 PM EDT	2,590	0.78
Oct 30, 3:45 PM EDT	2,610	0.79
Oct 30, 2:45 PM EDT	2,610	0.79
Oct 30, 1:45 PM EDT	2,660	0.81
Oct 30, 12:45 PM EDT	2,590	0.78
Oct 30, 11:45 AM EDT	2,610	0.79
Oct 30, 10:45 AM EDT	2,610	0.79
Oct 30, 9:45 AM EDT	2,610	0.79
Oct 30, 8:45 AM EDT	2,610	0.79
Oct 30, 7:45 AM EDT	2,590	0.78
Oct 30, 6:45 AM EDT	2,610	0.79
Oct 30, 5:45 AM EDT	2,590	0.78
Oct 30, 4:45 AM EDT	2,610	0.79
Oct 30, 3:45 AM EDT	2,640	0.8
Oct 30, 2:45 AM EDT	2,610	0.79
Oct 30, 1:45 AM EDT	2,610	0.79
Oct 30, 12:45 AM EDT	2,660	0.81
Oct 29, 11:45 PM EDT	2,660	0.81
Oct 29, 10:45 PM EDT	2,610	0.79
Oct 29, 9:45 PM EDT	2,640	0.8
Oct 29, 8:45 PM EDT	2,660	0.81
Oct 29, 7:45 PM EDT	2,660	0.81
Oct 29, 7:15 PM EDT	2,640	0.8

What this level means general guidance

Normal for Nov 5: 2,850–13,000 ft³/s (middle half of 127 years of record). Now: 2,290 ft³/s, below normal.

Daily means on record for Nov 5: lowest 627 ft³/s, highest 47,900 ft³/s.

Steady over 24 hours (+3.6% 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.

Official flood stage · National Weather Service

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 0.64 ft stage, 2,660 ft³/s at Nov 5, 5:45 PM EST (NWS gauge WBRP1; its stage datum can differ from the USGS gauge height).

Action stage: 10 ft
Minor flood: 22 ft
Moderate flood: 28 ft
Major flood: 30 ft

NWS river forecast forecast issued Nov 5, 9:41 AM EST. Highest point: 0.7 ft, 2,770 ft³/s on Nov 5, 7:00 PM EST (Below NWS action stage).

NWS forecast, highest value each day
Day	Stage	Flow
Thu, Nov 5	0.7 ft	2,770 ft³/s
Fri, Nov 6	0.7 ft	2,770 ft³/s
Sat, Nov 7	0.5 ft	2,400 ft³/s
Sun, Nov 8	0.5 ft	2,400 ft³/s

Open the NWS gauge page · What the categories mean (National Weather Service)

Conditions for fishing general guidance

Species

This gauge is on our page for Bowman Creek, but no agency page we read lists its species.

Safety

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.

Open the USGS gauge page