Merced River at Pohono Bridge near Yosemite
River flow & level · USGS gauge 11266500 · California · drains 321 sq mi
Latest reading Oct 26, 3:00 PM · streamflow
The Merced River at Pohono Bridge near Yosemite is running 18.3 cfs, 57% of the median flow for October 26 (32.0 cfs, 110 years). Gage height is 1.05 ft, 8.9 ft below flood stage (10.0 ft). Flow is down 7% from 24 hours ago.
Streamflow
cubic feet per secondReadingNormal range for the date (25th–75th pct.)Median for the date
Gage height & flood stages
ft above gauge datumMinor (10.0 ft) is 8.9 ft above the latest reading, off this chartModerate (12.5 ft) is 11.4 ft above the latest reading, off this chartMajor (20.0 ft) is 18.9 ft above the latest reading, off this chart
Reading
Merced River at Pohono Bridge near Yosemite fishing report & conditions
updated Oct 26, 6:49 PM ETFlow 57% of normal, flow steady, light WSW wind — good fall fishing day (7/10), best window 7:31 AM–8:31 AM (moonset near sunrise).
- Water temp—no water-temperature sensor on this water yet
- Air temphigh 61°F / low 45°FSunny
- WindLight WSW6–12 mph 6 AM–6 PM, gusts to 17
- Flow57% of normalFlow steady (-7% in 24 h)
Official California fishing info: California Department of Fish and Wildlife — Inland fishing info
Best fishing times today
Today is a good fishing day (solunar + local conditions)
7/10
Full moon · 99% lit · New moon Sun, Nov 8 · Sunrise 7:18 AM · Sunset 6:06 PM
Major fishing times
- Moon underfoot12:11 PM–2:11 PM
Minor fishing times
- Moonset7:31 AM–8:31 AMSunrise
- Moonrise5:44 PM–6:44 PMSunset
Fishing times for the next 7 days
| TodayOct 26 | 7/10Good | Major 12:11 PM–2:11 PM Minor 7:31 AM–8:31 AM · 5:44 PM–6:44 PM Light wind 6–12 mph |
|---|---|---|
| TueOct 27 | 5/10Fair | Major 12:40 AM–2:40 AM · 1:10 PM–3:10 PM Minor 8:47 AM–9:47 AM · 6:28 PM–7:28 PM Light wind 6–10 mph |
| WedOct 28 | 3/10Poor | Major 1:41 AM–3:41 AM · 2:13 PM–4:13 PM Minor 10:02 AM–11:02 AM · 7:21 PM–8:21 PM Light wind 5–9 mph |
| ThuOct 29 | 5/10Fair | Major 2:45 AM–4:45 AM · 3:18 PM–5:18 PM Minor 11:11 AM–12:11 PM · 8:25 PM–9:25 PM Light wind 5–9 mph |
| FriOct 30 | 4/10Fair | Major 3:50 AM–5:50 AM · 4:21 PM–6:21 PM Minor 12:10 PM–1:10 PM · 9:36 PM–10:36 PM Light wind 5–12 mph |
| SatOct 31 | 5/10Fair | Major 4:52 AM–6:52 AM · 5:21 PM–7:21 PM Minor 12:58 PM–1:58 PM · 10:50 PM–11:50 PM Light wind 5–10 mph |
| SunNov 1 | 5/10Fair | Major 4:49 AM–6:49 AM · 5:16 PM–7:16 PM Minor 12:36 PM–1:36 PM · 11:03 PM–12:03 AM Light wind 1–9 mph |
How this rating works
Solunar theory says fish feed more when the moon is overhead or underfoot (major periods, about 2 hours) and around moonrise and moonset (minor periods, about 1 hour). On a lake or river there is no tide, so instead of tide changes we score the local conditions anglers watch: the barometric pressure trend, the wind, whether the river is steady, and the water temperature where it is measured.
| Base | every day starts at 1 | 1 |
|---|---|---|
| Sunrise / sunset | a period overlaps sunrise or sunset ±1 h: major +2, minor +1 (max 3) (Moonset × sunrise +1; Moonrise × sunset +1) | 2 |
| Moon phase | within 2 days of a new or full moon +2, within 4 days +1 (today: 0.5 days) | 2 |
| Local conditions | pressure 6 AM→6 PM: falling +2, steady or slowly rising +1, rising fast 0 · daytime wind 4–15 mph +1, over 20 mph (or gusts over 30) −1 · flow within ±15% in 24 h +1, rising over 25% −1 · water 55–75°F +1, below 45°F or above 85°F −1 (0 to 4 in total)
| 2 |
| Today | 7, rounded | 7/10 |
1–3 poor · 4–5 fair · 6–7 good · 8–10 excellent. Pressure and wind are the NOAA National Weather Service hourly forecast for this spot; the level/flow trend is the latest 24 hours of readings on this page. Days 2–7 score sun, moon, forecast pressure and forecast wind only (level and water temperature aren’t forecast). Solunar times are a rule of thumb, not a guarantee.
Solunar periods calculated for 37.72, -119.67 (moon times from astronomical equations, Merced River at Pohono Bridge near Yosemite local time).
Weather & wind at Merced River at Pohono Bridge near Yosemite
air temperature, not water3-day forecast
- This Afternoon61° / 45°SunnyWind WSW 10 mphRain 1%
- Tuesday60° / 43°SunnyWind ENE 5 to 10 mphRain 3%
- Wednesday60° / 47°SunnyWind SW 5 to 10 mphRain 1%
NOAA National Weather Service forecast for 37.716, -119.666 (grid HNX), issued Oct 26, 2:56 PM local time. High / low are air temperatures; water temperature is in the fishing section above. The “Air temp & weather” tile at the top refreshes live.
Flood stages
NOAA NWS gauge POHC1- Minor stage10 ft+8.9 ft from now
- Moderate stage12.5 ft+11.4 ft from now
- Major stage20 ft+18.9 ft from now
- Record crest23.43 ft1997
October 26 in history
110 years of flow records- Today18.3 cfs
- Same date last year131 cfs2025
- Median32.0 cfs
- Normal range20.0 cfs – 78.0 cfs25th–75th percentile
- Highest since 19172,820 cfs1983
- Lowest since 19175.40 cfs1978
Last 10 days
| Date | Mean flow (cfs) | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Mon Oct 26 (today) | 18.1 | -2% |
| Sun Oct 25 | 18.4 | -4% |
| Sat Oct 24 | 19.2 | +9% |
| Fri Oct 23 | 17.6 | +9% |
| Thu Oct 22 | 16.2 | +14% |
| Wed Oct 21 | 14.2 | +1% |
| Tue Oct 20 | 14.1 | +2% |
| Mon Oct 19 | 13.8 | +0% |
| Sun Oct 18 | 13.8 | -2% |
| Sat Oct 17 | 14.1 | -1% |
Daily mean of all readings that day; today is the average so far.
Nearby lakes & rivers
- Lake McClure34 mi · Lake773.79 ft−43.48 ft vs full pool
- Hensley Lake44 mi · Lake453.28 ft−58.07 ft vs full pool
- Millerton Lake49 mi · Lake502.42 ft−57.36 ft vs full pool
- New Melones Reservoir50 mi · Lake1,003.71 ft−51.14 ft vs full pool
- Tulloch Reservoir52 mi · Lake · Knights Ferry497.16 ft−5.57 ft vs full pool
- Topaz Lake68 mi · Lake · Topaz82.34 ft24h −0.06 ft
About this data
- Gauge
- USGS 11266500 — Merced R A Pohono Bridge Nr Yosemite Ca
- Location
- 37.7163, -119.6657 · California
- Drainage area
- 321 sq mi
- Measures
- Streamflow (discharge), cubic feet per second
- Daily statistics
- 1917–2026 (approved daily values)
- Latest reading
- Oct 26, 3:00 PM local time (provisional)
- Page built
- Oct 26, 2026 6:49 PM ET
- Flood stages
- NWS gauge POHC1 — National Water Prediction Service
Source: U.S. Geological Survey Water Data for the Nation (USGS monitoring location page). Readings every 15–60 minutes; the newest values are provisional. Percentiles compare today’s reading with every past year’s daily mean for the same calendar date. Weather: NOAA National Weather Service.