Kansas River at Desoto
River flow & level · USGS gauge 06892350 · Kansas · drains 59,756 sq mi
Latest reading Oct 26, 10:30 AM · streamflow
The Kansas River at Desoto is running 6,850 cfs, 361% of the median flow for October 26 (1,900 cfs, 109 years). Gage height is 7.15 ft, 18.9 ft below flood stage (26.0 ft). Flow is down 26% 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 datumAction (22.0 ft) is 14.8 ft above the latest reading, off this chartMinor (26.0 ft) is 18.9 ft above the latest reading, off this chartModerate (33.0 ft) is 25.9 ft above the latest reading, off this chartMajor (36.0 ft) is 28.9 ft above the latest reading, off this chart
Minor (26.0 ft) is 18.9 ft above the latest reading, off this chartModerate (33.0 ft) is 25.9 ft above the latest reading, off this chartMajor (36.0 ft) is 28.9 ft above the latest reading, off this chart
Minor (26.0 ft) is 18.2 ft above the latest reading, off this chartModerate (33.0 ft) is 25.2 ft above the latest reading, off this chartMajor (36.0 ft) is 28.2 ft above the latest reading, off this chart
ReadingNormal range for the date (25th–75th pct.)Median for the date
Kansas River at Desoto fishing report & conditions
updated Oct 26, 12:50 PM ETWater 65°F, flow 361% of normal, flow falling, light SSW wind — good fall fishing day (7/10), best window 7:50 AM–8:50 AM (moonset near sunrise).
- Water temp65°Fmeasured Oct 26, 11:15 AM · this gauge
- Air temphigh 77°F / low 57°FSunny
- WindLight SSW1–8 mph 6 AM–6 PM, gusts to 13
- Flow361% of normalFlow falling (-26% in 24 h)
Official Kansas fishing report: Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks — Fishing reports by reservoir
Best fishing times today
Today is a good fishing day (solunar + local conditions)
7/10
Full moon · 99% lit · New moon Mon, Nov 9 · Sunrise 7:41 AM · Sunset 6:25 PM
Major fishing times
- Moon overhead12:01 AM–2:01 AM
- Moon underfoot12:29 PM–2:29 PM
Minor fishing times
- Moonset7:50 AM–8:50 AMSunrise
- Moonrise5:59 PM–6:59 PMSunset
Fishing times for the next 7 days
| TodayOct 26 | 7/10Good | Major 12:01 AM–2:01 AM · 12:29 PM–2:29 PM Minor 7:50 AM–8:50 AM · 5:59 PM–6:59 PM Light wind 1–8 mph |
|---|---|---|
| TueOct 27 | 5/10Fair | Major 12:57 AM–2:57 AM · 1:27 PM–3:27 PM Minor 9:07 AM–10:07 AM · 6:41 PM–7:41 PM Light wind 4–8 mph |
| WedOct 28 | 3/10Poor | Major 1:58 AM–3:58 AM · 2:30 PM–4:30 PM Minor 10:23 AM–11:23 AM · 7:34 PM–8:34 PM Moderate wind 7–15 mph |
| ThuOct 29 | 5/10Fair | Major 3:02 AM–5:02 AM · 3:35 PM–5:35 PM Minor 11:33 AM–12:33 PM · 8:37 PM–9:37 PM Light wind 6–9 mph |
| FriOct 30 | 4/10Fair | Major 4:07 AM–6:07 AM · 4:38 PM–6:38 PM Minor 12:32 PM–1:32 PM · 9:48 PM–10:48 PM Light wind 5–9 mph |
| SatOct 31 | 5/10Fair | Major 5:09 AM–7:09 AM · 5:38 PM–7:38 PM Minor 1:20 PM–2:20 PM · 11:02 PM–12:02 AM Light wind 5–8 mph |
| SunNov 1 | 5/10Fair | Major 5:06 AM–7:06 AM · 5:33 PM–7:33 PM Minor 12:58 PM–1:58 PM · 11:16 PM–12:16 AM Light wind 2–6 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; water temperature measured at this gauge. 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 38.98, -94.96 (moon times from astronomical equations, Kansas River at Desoto local time).
Weather & wind at Kansas River at Desoto
air temperature, not water3-day forecast
- Today77° / 57°SunnyWind SW 2 to 8 mphRain 6%
- Tuesday72° / 57°Mostly CloudyWind S 3 to 8 mphRain 33%
- Wednesday78° / 60°Chance Showers And ThunderstormsWind S 7 to 15 mphRain 33%
NOAA National Weather Service forecast for 38.983, -94.965 (grid EAX), issued Oct 26, 11:42 AM 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 DSOK1- Action stage22 ft+14.8 ft from now
- Minor stage26 ft+18.9 ft from now
- Moderate stage33 ft+25.9 ft from now
- Major stage36 ft+28.9 ft from now
- Record crest37.3 ft1951
October 26 in history
109 years of flow records- Today6,850 cfs
- Same date last year1,290 cfs2025
- Median1,900 cfs
- Normal range1,280 cfs – 3,930 cfs25th–75th percentile
- Highest since 191851,700 cfs1974
- Lowest since 1918439 cfs1940
Last 10 days
| Date | Mean flow (cfs) | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Mon Oct 26 (today) | 7,128 | -18% |
| Sun Oct 25 | 8,720 | -19% |
| Sat Oct 24 | 10,700 | -14% |
| Fri Oct 23 | 12,400 | -7% |
| Thu Oct 22 | 13,300 | -3% |
| Wed Oct 21 | 13,700 | -3% |
| Tue Oct 20 | 14,100 | -6% |
| Mon Oct 19 | 15,000 | -3% |
| Sun Oct 18 | 15,400 | -1% |
| Sat Oct 17 | 15,600 | -8% |
Daily mean of all readings that day; today is the average so far.
Nearby lakes & rivers
- Clinton Lake20 mi · Lake · Lawrence876.73 ft+1.23 ft vs full pool
- Missouri River at Kansas City22 mi · River47,200 cfs100% of normal
- Hillsdale Lake23 mi · Lake · Hillsdale916.99 ft−0.01 ft vs full pool
- Perry Lake26 mi · Lake · Perry893.98 ft+2.48 ft vs full pool
- Longview Lake27 mi · Lake891.32 ft+0.32 ft vs full pool
- Blue Springs Lake34 mi · Lake802.23 ft+0.23 ft vs full pool
About this data
- Gauge
- USGS 06892350 — Kansas R At Desoto, Ks
- Location
- 38.9833, -94.9647 · Kansas
- Drainage area
- 59,756 sq mi
- Measures
- Streamflow (discharge), cubic feet per second
- Daily statistics
- 1918–2026 (approved daily values)
- Latest reading
- Oct 26, 10:30 AM local time (provisional)
- Page built
- Oct 26, 2026 12:50 PM ET
- Flood stages
- NWS gauge DSOK1 — 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.