Kentucky River at Lock 4 at Frankfort

River flow & level · USGS gauge 03287500 · Kentucky · drains 5,411 sq mi

481cfsBelow normal

Latest reading Oct 26, 3:30 PM · streamflow

The Kentucky River at Lock 4 at Frankfort is running 481 cfs, 43% of the median flow for October 26 (1,110 cfs, 49 years). Gage height is 6.91 ft, 24.1 ft below flood stage (31.0 ft). Flow is down 19% from 24 hours ago.

Water 64°F, flow 43% of normal, flow falling, calm wind — good fall fishing day (6/10), best window 8:06 AM–9:06 AM (moonset near sunrise).

vs normal for Oct 2643% of medianBelow normal · 15th percentile · median 1,110 cfs

Gage height6.91 ft24 hours: −0.07 ft

Flood statusBelow flood stageAction 29 ft · Minor 31 ft · Moderate 35 ft · Major 40 ft · NWS FFTK2

Change, 24 hours−114 cfs7 days: −1,549 cfs

Same date last year573 cfs2025 daily mean

Water temp64°FOct 26, 3:30 PM

Air temp & weather now76°F · Mostly SunnyWind W 2 mph, gusts 6NWS forecast · see Weather & wind below

Sun today7:59 AM – 6:46 PMFirst light 7:32 AM · Last light 7:14 PM

Streamflow

cubic feet per second

7 days30 days1 year

5001,0001,5002,000TueWedThuFriSatSunMon

1,0002,0003,000Sep 28Oct 5Oct 12Oct 19

020,00040,000DecJan '26FebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOct

ReadingNormal range for the date (25th–75th pct.)Median for the date

Gage height & flood stages

ft above gauge datum

7 days30 days1 year

7.07.27.5TueWedThuFriSatSunMon

Action (29.0 ft) is 22.1 ft above the latest reading, off this chartMinor (31.0 ft) is 24.1 ft above the latest reading, off this chartModerate (35.0 ft) is 28.1 ft above the latest reading, off this chartMajor (40.0 ft) is 33.1 ft above the latest reading, off this chart

78Sep 28Oct 5Oct 12Oct 19

101520DecJan '26FebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOct

ReadingNormal range for the date (25th–75th pct.)Median for the date

Kentucky River at Lock 4 at Frankfort fishing report & conditions

updated Oct 26, 4:13 PM ET

Water 64°F, flow 43% of normal, flow falling, calm wind — good fall fishing day (6/10), best window 8:06 AM–9:06 AM (moonset near sunrise).

Water temp64°Fmeasured Oct 26, 3:30 PM · this gauge
Air temphigh 76°F / low 44°FMostly Sunny
WindCalm0–4 mph 6 AM–6 PM, gusts to 7
Flow43% of normalFlow falling (-19% in 24 h)

Official Kentucky fishing report: Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife — Weekly fishing report

Best fishing times today

Today is a good fishing day (solunar + local conditions)

6/10

Full moon · 99% lit · New moon Mon, Nov 9 · Sunrise 7:59 AM · Sunset 6:46 PM

Major fishing times

Moon overhead12:19 AM–2:19 AM
Moon underfoot12:47 PM–2:47 PM

Minor fishing times

Moonset8:06 AM–9:06 AM
Sunrise
Moonrise6:20 PM–7:20 PM
Sunset

Fishing times for the next 7 days

TodayOct 26	6/10Good	Major 12:19 AM–2:19 AM · 12:47 PM–2:47 PM Minor 8:06 AM–9:06 AM · 6:20 PM–7:20 PM Calm wind 0–4 mph
TueOct 27	4/10Fair	Major 1:15 AM–3:15 AM · 1:45 PM–3:45 PM Minor 9:22 AM–10:22 AM · 7:02 PM–8:02 PM Calm wind 0–2 mph
WedOct 28	2/10Poor	Major 2:16 AM–4:16 AM · 2:48 PM–4:48 PM Minor 10:38 AM–11:38 AM · 7:55 PM–8:55 PM Calm wind 1–6 mph
ThuOct 29	5/10Fair	Major 3:20 AM–5:20 AM · 3:52 PM–5:52 PM Minor 11:48 AM–12:48 PM · 8:58 PM–9:58 PM Light wind 2–7 mph
FriOct 30	3/10Poor	Major 4:25 AM–6:25 AM · 4:56 PM–6:56 PM Minor 12:47 PM–1:47 PM · 10:08 PM–11:08 PM Calm wind 0–2 mph
SatOct 31	4/10Fair	Major 5:27 AM–7:27 AM · 5:56 PM–7:56 PM Minor 1:36 PM–2:36 PM · 11:22 PM–12:22 AM Calm wind 1–5 mph
SunNov 1	5/10Fair	Major 5:24 AM–7:24 AM · 5:51 PM–7:51 PM Minor 1:15 PM–2:15 PM · 11:35 PM–12:35 AM Light wind 4–7 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) Pressure: No NWS pressure forecast for this day +0 Wind: Calm 0–4 mph, gusts 7 +0 Flow: Flow falling (-19% in 24 h) +0 Water temp: Water 64°F — in the active 55–75°F range for most warm-water fish +1	1
Today	6, rounded	6/10

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 38.21, -84.87 (moon times from astronomical equations, Kentucky River at Lock 4 at Frankfort local time).

Weather & wind at Kentucky River at Lock 4 at Frankfort

air temperature, not water

Air temp76°FNWS forecast for this hour

Wind2 mphfrom the W · NWS forecast this hour

Gusts6 mphpeak gusts this hour

3-day forecast

This Afternoon76° / 44°Mostly SunnyWind W 2 mphRain 0%
Tuesday77° / 50°Patchy Fog then Mostly SunnyWind E 2 mphRain 0%
Wednesday77° / 46°Mostly SunnyWind S 1 to 6 mphRain 0%

NOAA National Weather Service forecast for 38.211, -84.874 (grid LMK), issued Oct 26, 2:54 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 FFTK2

Action stage29 ft+22.1 ft from now
Minor stage31 ft+24.1 ft from now
Moderate stage35 ft+28.1 ft from now
Major stage40 ft+33.1 ft from now
Record crest48.47 ft1978

October 26 in history

49 years of flow records

Today481 cfs
Same date last year573 cfs2025
Median1,110 cfs
Normal range610 cfs – 3,260 cfs25th–75th percentile
Highest since 19779,930 cfs1990
Lowest since 1977186 cfs1981

Last 10 days

Date	Mean flow (cfs)	Change
Mon Oct 26 (today)	520	-8%
Sun Oct 25	566	-8%
Sat Oct 24	614	-16%
Fri Oct 23	734	-19%
Thu Oct 22	910	-20%
Wed Oct 21	1,140	-30%
Tue Oct 20	1,640	-21%
Mon Oct 19	2,070	-16%
Sun Oct 18	2,460	-5%
Sat Oct 17	2,590	+93%

Daily mean of all readings that day; today is the average so far.

Nearby lakes & rivers

About this data

Gauge: USGS 03287500 — Kentucky River At Lock 4 At Frankfort, Ky
Location: 38.2113, -84.8741 · Kentucky
Drainage area: 5,411 sq mi
Measures: Streamflow (discharge), cubic feet per second
Daily statistics: 1977–2025 (approved daily values)
Latest reading: Oct 26, 3:30 PM local time (provisional)
Page built: Oct 26, 2026 4:13 PM ET
Flood stages: NWS gauge FFTK2 — 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.