Cape Fear River at Lock 1 near Kelly
River flow & level · USGS gauge 02105769 · North Carolina · drains 5,255 sq mi
Latest reading Oct 26, 11:45 AM · streamflow
The Cape Fear River at Lock 1 near Kelly is running 808 cfs, 57% of the median flow for October 26 (1,410 cfs, 45 years). Gage height is 14.70 ft, 9.3 ft below flood stage (24.0 ft). Flow is down 4% 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 7.3 ft above the latest reading, off this chartMinor (24.0 ft) is 9.3 ft above the latest reading, off this chartModerate (26.0 ft) is 11.3 ft above the latest reading, off this chartMajor (28.0 ft) is 13.3 ft above the latest reading, off this chart
Action (22.0 ft) is 7.3 ft above the latest reading, off this chartMinor (24.0 ft) is 9.3 ft above the latest reading, off this chartModerate (26.0 ft) is 11.3 ft above the latest reading, off this chartMajor (28.0 ft) is 13.3 ft above the latest reading, off this chart
Minor (24.0 ft) is 9.3 ft above the latest reading, off this chartModerate (26.0 ft) is 11.3 ft above the latest reading, off this chartMajor (28.0 ft) is 13.3 ft above the latest reading, off this chart
ReadingNormal range for the date (25th–75th pct.)Median for the date
Cape Fear River at Lock 1 near Kelly fishing report & conditions
updated Oct 26, 12:50 PM ETFlow 57% of normal, flow steady, light NNE wind, pressure falling — excellent fall fishing day (9/10), best window 7:30 AM–8:30 AM (moonset near sunrise).
- Water temp—no water-temperature sensor on this water yet
- Air temphigh 74°F / low 40°FSunny
- WindLight NNE4–9 mph 6 AM–6 PM, gusts to 14
- PressureFalling-0.09 inHg 6 AM → 6 PM
- Flow57% of normalFlow steady (-4% in 24 h)
Official North Carolina fishing info: NC Wildlife Resources Commission — Where to fish
Best fishing times today
Today is an excellent fishing day (solunar + local conditions)
9/10
Full moon · 99% lit · New moon Mon, Nov 9 · Sunrise 7:28 AM · Sunset 6:25 PM
Major fishing times
- Moon underfoot12:19 PM–2:19 PM
Minor fishing times
- Moonset7:30 AM–8:30 AMSunrise
- Moonrise6:02 PM–7:02 PMSunset
Fishing times for the next 7 days
| TodayOct 26 | 9/10Excellent | Major 12:19 PM–2:19 PM Minor 7:30 AM–8:30 AM · 6:02 PM–7:02 PM Light wind 4–9 mph · pressure falling |
|---|---|---|
| TueOct 27 | 6/10Good | Major 12:48 AM–2:48 AM · 1:18 PM–3:18 PM Minor 8:43 AM–9:43 AM · 6:47 PM–7:47 PM Light wind 2–6 mph · pressure steady |
| WedOct 28 | 3/10Poor | Major 1:48 AM–3:48 AM · 2:20 PM–4:20 PM Minor 9:57 AM–10:57 AM · 7:41 PM–8:41 PM Light wind 6–8 mph |
| ThuOct 29 | 5/10Fair | Major 2:52 AM–4:52 AM · 3:25 PM–5:25 PM Minor 11:06 AM–12:06 PM · 8:44 PM–9:44 PM Light wind 5–7 mph |
| FriOct 30 | 4/10Fair | Major 3:57 AM–5:57 AM · 4:29 PM–6:29 PM Minor 12:07 PM–1:07 PM · 9:54 PM–10:54 PM Light wind 4–7 mph |
| SatOct 31 | 5/10Fair | Major 4:59 AM–6:59 AM · 5:29 PM–7:29 PM Minor 12:58 PM–1:58 PM · 11:05 PM–12:05 AM Light wind 4–7 mph |
| SunNov 1 | 5/10Fair | Major 4:57 AM–6:57 AM · 5:24 PM–7:24 PM Minor 12:39 PM–1:39 PM · 11:16 PM–12:16 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) (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)
| 4 |
| Today | 9, rounded | 9/10 |
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 34.40, -78.29 (moon times from astronomical equations, Cape Fear River at Lock 1 near Kelly local time).
Weather & wind at Cape Fear River at Lock 1 near Kelly
air temperature, not water3-day forecast
- This Afternoon74° / 40°SunnyWind NE 7 mphRain 0%
- Tuesday76° / 49°SunnyWind NE 2 to 6 mphRain 0%
- Wednesday77° / 55°Mostly SunnyWind NE 8 mphRain 2%
NOAA National Weather Service forecast for 34.404, -78.294 (grid ILM), issued Oct 26, 12:30 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 CPFN7- Action stage22 ft+7.3 ft from now
- Minor stage24 ft+9.3 ft from now
- Moderate stage26 ft+11.3 ft from now
- Major stage28 ft+13.3 ft from now
- Record crest30.68 ft2018
October 26 in history
45 years of flow records- Today808 cfs
- Same date last year856 cfs2025
- Median1,410 cfs
- Normal range1,020 cfs – 2,270 cfs25th–75th percentile
- Highest since 198216,000 cfs1991
- Lowest since 1982540 cfs1982
Last 10 days
| Date | Mean flow (cfs) | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Mon Oct 26 (today) | 797 | -3% |
| Sun Oct 25 | 819 | -4% |
| Sat Oct 24 | 855 | -2% |
| Fri Oct 23 | 873 | -3% |
| Thu Oct 22 | 896 | -4% |
| Wed Oct 21 | 933 | -0% |
| Tue Oct 20 | 937 | +1% |
| Mon Oct 19 | 930 | -1% |
| Sun Oct 18 | 940 | -10% |
| Sat Oct 17 | 1,050 | -9% |
Daily mean of all readings that day; today is the average so far.
Nearby lakes & rivers
- Lake Sutton18 mi · Lake9.60 ft−0.90 ft vs normal full pond
- Cape Fear River at Wilm O Huske Lock near Tarheel42 mi · River713 cfs58% of normal
- Pee Dee River at Hwy 701 near Bucksport71 mi · River-1,640.00 cfs-31% of normal
- Pee Dee River at Peedee73 mi · River2,070 cfs46% of normal
- Pee Dee River below Pee Dee74 mi · River2,210 cfs63% of normal
About this data
- Gauge
- USGS 02105769 — Cape Fear R At Lock 1 Nr Kelly, Nc
- Location
- 34.4044, -78.2936 · North Carolina
- Drainage area
- 5,255 sq mi
- Measures
- Streamflow (discharge), cubic feet per second
- Daily statistics
- 1982–2026 (approved daily values)
- Latest reading
- Oct 26, 11:45 AM local time (provisional)
- Page built
- Oct 26, 2026 12:50 PM ET
- Flood stages
- NWS gauge CPFN7 — 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.