Black River at Watertown
River flow & level · USGS gauge 04260500 · New York · drains 1,864 sq mi
Latest reading Oct 26, 4:30 PM · streamflow
The Black River at Watertown is running 1,750 cfs, 58% of the median flow for October 26 (3,030 cfs, 106 years). Gage height is 3.22 ft, 6.8 ft below flood stage (10.0 ft). Flow is about the same as 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 (8.0 ft) is 4.8 ft above the latest reading, off this chartMinor (10.0 ft) is 6.8 ft above the latest reading, off this chartModerate (12.0 ft) is 8.8 ft above the latest reading, off this chartMajor (14.0 ft) is 10.8 ft above the latest reading, off this chart
Reading
Black River at Watertown fishing report & conditions
updated Oct 26, 6:49 PM ETFlow 58% of normal, flow steady, light W wind — good fall fishing day (7/10), best window 7:43 AM–8:43 AM (moonset near sunrise).
Flow 58% of normal, flow steady, light NE wind — good fall fishing day (6/10), best window 6:04 PM–7:04 PM (moonrise near sunset).
- Water temp—no water-temperature sensor on this water yet
- Air temphigh 47°F / low 28°FSunny
- WindLight W5–12 mph 6 AM–6 PM, gusts to 20
- Flow58% of normalFlow steady (-1% in 24 h)
Official New York fishing report: NYSDEC — Freshwater fishing & regional fishing hotlines
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 7:32 AM · Sunset 6:01 PM
Major fishing times
- Moon underfoot12:10 PM–2:10 PM
Minor fishing times
- Moonset7:43 AM–8:43 AMSunrise
- Moonrise5:27 PM–6:27 PMSunset
Fishing times for the next 7 days
| TodayOct 26 | 7/10Good | Major 12:10 PM–2:10 PM Minor 7:43 AM–8:43 AM · 5:27 PM–6:27 PM Light wind 5–12 mph |
|---|---|---|
| TueOct 27 | 5/10Fair | Major 12:38 AM–2:38 AM · 1:08 PM–3:08 PM Minor 9:04 AM–10:04 AM · 6:04 PM–7:04 PM Light wind 4–6 mph |
| WedOct 28 | 3/10Poor | Major 1:39 AM–3:39 AM · 2:10 PM–4:10 PM Minor 10:24 AM–11:24 AM · 6:53 PM–7:53 PM Calm wind 1–2 mph |
| ThuOct 29 | 5/10Fair | Major 2:43 AM–4:43 AM · 3:15 PM–5:15 PM Minor 11:35 AM–12:35 PM · 7:55 PM–8:55 PM Moderate wind 8–12 mph |
| FriOct 30 | 4/10Fair | Major 3:47 AM–5:47 AM · 4:19 PM–6:19 PM Minor 12:34 PM–1:34 PM · 9:08 PM–10:08 PM Light wind 6–9 mph |
| SatOct 31 | 4/10Fair | Major 4:49 AM–6:49 AM · 5:19 PM–7:19 PM Minor 1:20 PM–2:20 PM · 10:26 PM–11:26 PM Calm wind 2–5 mph |
| SunNov 1 | 5/10Fair | Major 4:47 AM–6:47 AM · 5:14 PM–7:14 PM Minor 12:54 PM–1:54 PM · 10:44 PM–11:44 PM Light wind 4–6 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. 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 43.99, -75.92 (moon times from astronomical equations, Black River at Watertown local time).
Best fishing times today
Today is a good fishing day (solunar + local conditions)
6/10
Waning gibbous · 97% lit · New moon Mon, Nov 9 · Sunrise 7:33 AM · Sunset 6 PM
Major fishing times
- Moon overhead12:38 AM–2:38 AM
- Moon underfoot1:08 PM–3:08 PM
Minor fishing times
- Moonset9:04 AM–10:04 AM
- Moonrise6:04 PM–7:04 PMSunset
Fishing times for the next 7 days
| TodayOct 27 | 6/10Good | Major 12:38 AM–2:38 AM · 1:08 PM–3:08 PM Minor 9:04 AM–10:04 AM · 6:04 PM–7:04 PM Light wind 4–6 mph |
|---|---|---|
| WedOct 28 | 3/10Poor | Major 1:39 AM–3:39 AM · 2:10 PM–4:10 PM Minor 10:24 AM–11:24 AM · 6:53 PM–7:53 PM Calm wind 1–2 mph |
| ThuOct 29 | 5/10Fair | Major 2:43 AM–4:43 AM · 3:15 PM–5:15 PM Minor 11:35 AM–12:35 PM · 7:55 PM–8:55 PM Moderate wind 8–12 mph |
| FriOct 30 | 4/10Fair | Major 3:47 AM–5:47 AM · 4:19 PM–6:19 PM Minor 12:34 PM–1:34 PM · 9:08 PM–10:08 PM Light wind 6–9 mph |
| SatOct 31 | 4/10Fair | Major 4:49 AM–6:49 AM · 5:19 PM–7:19 PM Minor 1:20 PM–2:20 PM · 10:26 PM–11:26 PM Calm wind 2–5 mph |
| SunNov 1 | 5/10Fair | Major 4:47 AM–6:47 AM · 5:14 PM–7:14 PM Minor 12:54 PM–1:54 PM · 10:44 PM–11:44 PM Light wind 4–6 mph |
| MonNov 2 | 4/10Fair | Major 5:40 AM–7:40 AM · 6:05 PM–8:05 PM Minor 1:21 PM–2:21 PM · 11:59 PM–12:59 AM Light wind 5–7 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) (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)
| 2 |
| 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 43.99, -75.92 (moon times from astronomical equations, Black River at Watertown local time).
Weather & wind at Black River at Watertown
air temperature, not water3-day forecast
- Tonight28°Partly CloudyWind N 6 mphRain 3%
- Tuesday47° / 29°SunnyWind NE 6 mphRain 0%
- Wednesday59° / 49°Patchy Fog then Partly SunnyWind SE 2 mphRain 0%
NOAA National Weather Service forecast for 43.986, -75.925 (grid BUF), issued Oct 26, 3:57 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 ARTN6- Action stage8 ft+4.8 ft from now
- Minor stage10 ft+6.8 ft from now
- Moderate stage12 ft+8.8 ft from now
- Major stage14 ft+10.8 ft from now
- Record crest16.02 ft1998
October 26 in history
106 years of flow records- Today1,750 cfs
- Same date last year1,630 cfs2025
- Median3,030 cfs
- Normal range1,980 cfs – 5,250 cfs25th–75th percentile
- Highest since 192114,200 cfs1996
- Lowest since 1921850 cfs1921
Last 10 days
| Date | Mean flow (cfs) | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Mon Oct 26 (today) | 1,746 | -1% |
| Sun Oct 25 | 1,770 | -12% |
| Sat Oct 24 | 2,000 | -11% |
| Fri Oct 23 | 2,240 | -5% |
| Thu Oct 22 | 2,360 | -17% |
| Wed Oct 21 | 2,840 | -17% |
| Tue Oct 20 | 3,440 | -20% |
| Mon Oct 19 | 4,310 | -6% |
| Sun Oct 18 | 4,600 | +2% |
| Sat Oct 17 | 4,500 | +5% |
Daily mean of all readings that day; today is the average so far.
Nearby lakes & rivers
- Stillwater Reservoir44 mi · Lake · Beaver River1,666.77 ft−2.21 ft vs normal
- Lake Ontario at Oswego46 mi · Lake245.31 ft24h +0.12 ft
- Oswego River at Lock 7, Oswego47 mi · River1,680 cfs49% of normal
- Moose River at McKeever48 mi · River2.82 ftstage 2.82 ft
- Oswegatchie River near Heuvelton50 mi · River1,070 cfs101% of normal
- Fish Creek at Becks Grove53 mi · River341 cfs51% of normal
About this data
- Gauge
- USGS 04260500 — Black River At Watertown Ny
- Location
- 43.9858, -75.9246 · New York
- Drainage area
- 1,864 sq mi
- Measures
- Streamflow (discharge), cubic feet per second
- Daily statistics
- 1921–2026 (approved daily values)
- Latest reading
- Oct 26, 4:30 PM local time (provisional)
- Page built
- Oct 26, 2026 6:49 PM ET
- Flood stages
- NWS gauge ARTN6 — 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.