French Broad River at Asheville
River flow & level · USGS gauge 03451500 · North Carolina · drains 945 sq mi
Latest reading Oct 26, 11:30 AM · streamflow
The French Broad River at Asheville is running 817 cfs, 74% of the median flow for October 26 (1,100 cfs, 131 years). Gage height is 1.12 ft, 8.4 ft below flood stage (9.5 ft). Flow is down 1% 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 (6.5 ft) is 5.4 ft above the latest reading, off this chartMinor (9.5 ft) is 8.4 ft above the latest reading, off this chartModerate (13.0 ft) is 11.9 ft above the latest reading, off this chartMajor (18.0 ft) is 16.9 ft above the latest reading, off this chart
Minor (9.5 ft) is 8.4 ft above the latest reading, off this chartModerate (13.0 ft) is 11.9 ft above the latest reading, off this chartMajor (18.0 ft) is 16.9 ft above the latest reading, off this chart
Minor (9.5 ft) is 8.4 ft above the latest reading, off this chartModerate (13.0 ft) is 11.9 ft above the latest reading, off this chartMajor (18.0 ft) is 16.9 ft above the latest reading, off this chart
ReadingNormal range for the date (25th–75th pct.)Median for the date
French Broad River at Asheville fishing report & conditions
updated Oct 26, 12:50 PM ETWater 54°F, flow 74% of normal, flow steady, calm wind, pressure falling — excellent fall fishing day (8/10), best window 7:50 AM–8:50 AM (moonset near sunrise).
- Water temp54°Fmeasured Oct 26, 11:30 AM · this gauge
- Air temphigh 72°F / low 40°FPatchy Fog then Sunny
- WindCalm1–4 mph 6 AM–6 PM, gusts to 7
- PressureFalling-0.11 inHg 6 AM → 6 PM
- Flow74% of normalFlow steady (-1% 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)
8/10
Full moon · 99% lit · New moon Mon, Nov 9 · Sunrise 7:46 AM · Sunset 6:41 PM
Major fishing times
- Moon overhead12:10 AM–2:10 AM
- Moon underfoot12:37 PM–2:37 PM
Minor fishing times
- Moonset7:50 AM–8:50 AMSunrise
- Moonrise6:17 PM–7:17 PMSunset
Fishing times for the next 7 days
| TodayOct 26 | 8/10Excellent | Major 12:10 AM–2:10 AM · 12:37 PM–2:37 PM Minor 7:50 AM–8:50 AM · 6:17 PM–7:17 PM Calm wind 1–4 mph · pressure falling |
|---|---|---|
| TueOct 27 | 5/10Fair | Major 1:06 AM–3:06 AM · 1:36 PM–3:36 PM Minor 9:05 AM–10:05 AM · 7:01 PM–8:01 PM Calm wind 1–7 mph · pressure steady |
| WedOct 28 | 4/10Fair | Major 2:06 AM–4:06 AM · 2:38 PM–4:38 PM Minor 10:19 AM–11:19 AM · 7:55 PM–8:55 PM Light wind 1–7 mph · pressure steady |
| ThuOct 29 | 6/10Good | Major 3:10 AM–5:10 AM · 3:43 PM–5:43 PM Minor 11:28 AM–12:28 PM · 8:58 PM–9:58 PM Calm wind 0–4 mph · pressure falling |
| FriOct 30 | 5/10Fair | Major 4:15 AM–6:15 AM · 4:47 PM–6:47 PM Minor 12:29 PM–1:29 PM · 10:08 PM–11:08 PM Calm wind 0–5 mph · pressure falling |
| SatOct 31 | 6/10Good | Major 5:17 AM–7:17 AM · 5:47 PM–7:47 PM Minor 1:19 PM–2:19 PM · 11:20 PM–12:20 AM Light wind 1–8 mph · pressure steady |
| SunNov 1 | 7/10Good | Major 5:15 AM–7:15 AM · 5:42 PM–7:42 PM Minor 1:00 PM–2:00 PM · 11:31 PM–12:31 AM Light wind 5–7 mph · pressure falling |
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)
| 3 |
| Today | 8, rounded | 8/10 |
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 35.61, -82.58 (moon times from astronomical equations, French Broad River at Asheville local time).
Weather & wind at French Broad River at Asheville
air temperature, not water3-day forecast
- Today72° / 40°Patchy Fog then SunnyWind NNW 3 mphRain 0%
- Tuesday74° / 42°Patchy Fog then SunnyWind SE 1 to 7 mphRain 0%
- Wednesday70° / 43°Partly SunnyWind SE 1 to 7 mphRain 0%
NOAA National Weather Service forecast for 35.609, -82.578 (grid GSP), issued Oct 26, 6:28 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 AVLN7- Action stage6.5 ft+5.4 ft from now
- Minor stage9.5 ft+8.4 ft from now
- Moderate stage13 ft+11.9 ft from now
- Major stage18 ft+16.9 ft from now
- Record crest24.82 ft2024
October 26 in history
131 years of flow records- Today817 cfs
- Same date last year705 cfs2025
- Median1,100 cfs
- Normal range759 cfs – 1,870 cfs25th–75th percentile
- Highest since 189614,100 cfs1919
- Lowest since 1896321 cfs1955
Last 10 days
| Date | Mean flow (cfs) | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Mon Oct 26 (today) | 816 | -1% |
| Sun Oct 25 | 820 | -2% |
| Sat Oct 24 | 841 | -2% |
| Fri Oct 23 | 862 | -3% |
| Thu Oct 22 | 890 | -3% |
| Wed Oct 21 | 922 | -4% |
| Tue Oct 20 | 958 | -4% |
| Mon Oct 19 | 999 | -7% |
| Sun Oct 18 | 1,070 | -9% |
| Sat Oct 17 | 1,170 | -12% |
Daily mean of all readings that day; today is the average so far.
Nearby lakes & rivers
- Lake Julian10 mi · Lake2,161.00 ft−4.00 ft vs normal full pond
- Waterville Lake26 mi · Lake2,251.20 ft−6.80 ft vs normal full pond
- North Saluda Reservoir34 mi · Lake · Tigerville16.75 ft24h −0.08 ft
- Tanasee Creek Lake36 mi · Lake3,067.00 ft−13.00 ft vs normal full pond
- Table Rock Reservoir38 mi · Lake · Cleveland41.76 ft24h −0.07 ft
- Cedar Cliff Lake38 mi · Lake2,328.00 ft−2.00 ft vs normal full pond
About this data
- Gauge
- USGS 03451500 — French Broad River At Asheville, Nc
- Location
- 35.6089, -82.5781 · North Carolina
- Drainage area
- 945 sq mi
- Measures
- Streamflow (discharge), cubic feet per second
- Daily statistics
- 1896–2026 (approved daily values)
- Latest reading
- Oct 26, 11:30 AM local time (provisional)
- Page built
- Oct 26, 2026 12:50 PM ET
- Flood stages
- NWS gauge AVLN7 — 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.