Kennebec River at North Sidney
River flow & level · USGS gauge 01049265 · Maine · drains 5,413 sq mi
Latest reading Oct 26, 6:15 PM · streamflow
The Kennebec River at North Sidney is running 2,290 cfs, 36% of the median flow for October 26 (6,370 cfs, 41 years). Gage height is 5.44 ft, 14.6 ft below flood stage (20.0 ft). Flow is up 21% 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 (17.0 ft) is 11.6 ft above the latest reading, off this chartMinor (20.0 ft) is 14.6 ft above the latest reading, off this chartModerate (25.0 ft) is 19.6 ft above the latest reading, off this chartMajor (29.0 ft) is 23.6 ft above the latest reading, off this chart
Reading
Kennebec River at North Sidney fishing report & conditions
updated Oct 26, 6:49 PM ETFlow 36% of normal, flow rising, light WNW wind — good fall fishing day (6/10), best window 7:18 AM–8:18 AM (moonset near sunrise).
Flow 36% of normal, flow rising, light NNW wind — fair fall fishing day (5/10), best window 5:36 PM–6:36 PM (moonrise near sunset).
- Water temp—no water-temperature sensor on this water yet
- Air temphigh 50°F / low 30°FSunny
- WindLight WNW4–13 mph 6 AM–6 PM, gusts to 22
- Flow36% of normalFlow rising (+21% in 24 h)
Official Maine fishing info: Maine Dept. of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife — Fishing info
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 7:08 AM · Sunset 5:36 PM
Major fishing times
- Moon underfoot11:44 AM–1:44 PM
Minor fishing times
- Moonset7:18 AM–8:18 AMSunrise
- Moonrise4:59 PM–5:59 PMSunset
Fishing times for the next 7 days
| TodayOct 26 | 6/10Good | Major 11:44 AM–1:44 PM Minor 7:18 AM–8:18 AM · 4:59 PM–5:59 PM Light wind 4–13 mph |
|---|---|---|
| TueOct 27 | 5/10Fair | Major 12:12 AM–2:12 AM · 12:42 PM–2:42 PM Minor 8:40 AM–9:40 AM · 5:36 PM–6:36 PM Light wind 2–7 mph |
| WedOct 28 | 3/10Poor | Major 1:13 AM–3:13 AM · 1:44 PM–3:44 PM Minor 10:00 AM–11:00 AM · 6:25 PM–7:25 PM Calm wind 0–6 mph |
| ThuOct 29 | 4/10Fair | Major 2:16 AM–4:16 AM · 2:49 PM–4:49 PM Minor 11:12 AM–12:12 PM · 7:26 PM–8:26 PM Calm wind 0–6 mph |
| FriOct 30 | 4/10Fair | Major 3:21 AM–5:21 AM · 3:53 PM–5:53 PM Minor 12:11 PM–1:11 PM · 8:39 PM–9:39 PM Light wind 6–12 mph |
| SatOct 31 | 5/10Fair | Major 4:23 AM–6:23 AM · 4:53 PM–6:53 PM Minor 12:56 PM–1:56 PM · 9:57 PM–10:57 PM Light wind 2–7 mph |
| SunNov 1 | 4/10Fair | Major 4:21 AM–6:21 AM · 4:48 PM–6:48 PM Minor 12:30 PM–1:30 PM · 10:16 PM–11:16 PM Calm wind 1–6 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)
| 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. 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 44.47, -69.68 (moon times from astronomical equations, Kennebec River at North Sidney local time).
Best fishing times today
Today is a fair fishing day (solunar + local conditions)
5/10
Waning gibbous · 97% lit · New moon Mon, Nov 9 · Sunrise 7:09 AM · Sunset 5:34 PM
Major fishing times
- Moon overhead12:12 AM–2:12 AM
- Moon underfoot12:42 PM–2:42 PM
Minor fishing times
- Moonset8:40 AM–9:40 AM
- Moonrise5:36 PM–6:36 PMSunset
Fishing times for the next 7 days
| TodayOct 27 | 5/10Fair | Major 12:12 AM–2:12 AM · 12:42 PM–2:42 PM Minor 8:40 AM–9:40 AM · 5:36 PM–6:36 PM Light wind 2–7 mph |
|---|---|---|
| WedOct 28 | 3/10Poor | Major 1:13 AM–3:13 AM · 1:44 PM–3:44 PM Minor 10:00 AM–11:00 AM · 6:25 PM–7:25 PM Calm wind 0–6 mph |
| ThuOct 29 | 4/10Fair | Major 2:16 AM–4:16 AM · 2:49 PM–4:49 PM Minor 11:12 AM–12:12 PM · 7:26 PM–8:26 PM Calm wind 0–6 mph |
| FriOct 30 | 4/10Fair | Major 3:21 AM–5:21 AM · 3:53 PM–5:53 PM Minor 12:11 PM–1:11 PM · 8:39 PM–9:39 PM Light wind 6–12 mph |
| SatOct 31 | 5/10Fair | Major 4:23 AM–6:23 AM · 4:53 PM–6:53 PM Minor 12:56 PM–1:56 PM · 9:57 PM–10:57 PM Light wind 2–7 mph |
| SunNov 1 | 4/10Fair | Major 4:21 AM–6:21 AM · 4:48 PM–6:48 PM Minor 12:30 PM–1:30 PM · 10:16 PM–11:16 PM Calm wind 1–6 mph |
| MonNov 2 | 4/10Fair | Major 5:14 AM–7:14 AM · 5:39 PM–7:39 PM Minor 12:57 PM–1:57 PM · 11:32 PM–12:32 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) (Moonrise × sunset +1) | 1 |
| Moon phase | within 2 days of a new or full moon +2, within 4 days +1 (today: 1.5 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)
| 1 |
| Today | 5, rounded | 5/10 |
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 44.47, -69.68 (moon times from astronomical equations, Kennebec River at North Sidney local time).
Weather & wind at Kennebec River at North Sidney
air temperature, not water3-day forecast
- Tonight30°Partly CloudyWind NW 5 to 15 mphRain 2%
- Tuesday50° / 23°SunnyWind NW 0 to 5 mphRain 0%
- Wednesday52° / 33°SunnyWind SW 0 to 5 mphRain 0%
NOAA National Weather Service forecast for 44.472, -69.684 (grid GYX), issued Oct 26, 6:30 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 SIDM1- Action stage17 ft+11.6 ft from now
- Minor stage20 ft+14.6 ft from now
- Moderate stage25 ft+19.6 ft from now
- Major stage29 ft+23.6 ft from now
- Record crest39.31 ft1987
October 26 in history
41 years of flow records- Today2,290 cfs
- Same date last year1,950 cfs2025
- Median6,370 cfs
- Normal range3,970 cfs – 11,500 cfs25th–75th percentile
- Highest since 197958,700 cfs2006
- Lowest since 19791,950 cfs2026
Last 10 days
| Date | Mean flow (cfs) | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Mon Oct 26 (today) | 2,137 | +13% |
| Sun Oct 25 | 1,890 | -3% |
| Sat Oct 24 | 1,940 | -16% |
| Fri Oct 23 | 2,300 | -5% |
| Thu Oct 22 | 2,410 | -1% |
| Wed Oct 21 | 2,440 | -5% |
| Tue Oct 20 | 2,560 | -9% |
| Mon Oct 19 | 2,810 | +13% |
| Sun Oct 18 | 2,480 | -5% |
| Sat Oct 17 | 2,600 | -4% |
Daily mean of all readings that day; today is the average so far.
Nearby lakes & rivers
- Kennebec River at Calumet Bridge at Augusta11 mi · River1.11 ftstage 1.11 ft
- Kennebec River at Hallowell14 mi · River1.27 ftstage 1.27 ft
- Kennebec River at Gardiner17 mi · River2.53 ftstage 2.53 ft
- Penobscot River at Bangor50 mi · River-8.01 ftstage -8.01 ft
- Penobscot River at Eddington54 mi · River1.96 ftstage 1.96 ft
- Kennebec River at the Forks61 mi · River534 cfs35% of normal
About this data
- Gauge
- USGS 01049265 — Kennebec River at North Sidney, Maine
- Location
- 44.4722, -69.6839 · Maine
- Drainage area
- 5,413 sq mi
- Measures
- Streamflow (discharge), cubic feet per second
- Daily statistics
- 1979–2026 (approved daily values)
- Latest reading
- Oct 26, 6:15 PM local time (provisional)
- Page built
- Oct 26, 2026 6:49 PM ET
- Flood stages
- NWS gauge SIDM1 — 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.