Chattooga River near Clayton
River flow & level · USGS gauge 02177000 · South Carolina · drains 207 sq mi
Latest reading Oct 26, 3:00 PM · streamflow
The Chattooga River at Clayton is running 169 cfs, 54% of the median flow for October 26 (312 cfs, 87 years). Gage height is 1.13 ft, 13.9 ft below flood stage (15.0 ft). Flow is about the same as 24 hours ago.
Whitewater: Chattooga River
for rafters & kayakersSection III (Earls Ford to US 76)
Too lowClass II–III+ (IV) · 12 mi · Put-in: Earls Ford · Take-out: Highway 76 Take Out
Low from 1.2 · good 2–3 · too high above 4.5 ft
Now: 1.13 ft on this gauge (gage height). Runnable range: American Whitewater, reach 475.
Section IV (US 76 to Tugaloo Lake)
LowClass II–IV+ · 8.4 mi · 34 ft/mi gradient · Put-in: Bull Sluice · Take-out: Lake Tugaloo Take Out
Low from 0.9 · good 1.7–2.1 · too high above 2.5 ft
Now: 1.13 ft on this gauge (gage height). Runnable range: American Whitewater, reach 476.
This gauge does not report water temperature. Dress for the water, not the air: below 70°F a wetsuit or drysuit is recommended.
Free-flowing Wild and Scenic River with no dam releases: levels depend on rain. American Whitewater notes the online gauge reads slightly higher than the paddlers’ gauge on the US 76 bridge. Source.
Below dams the river can rise suddenly and turn violent when releases start; stay out of tailrace areas and off the river outside scheduled windows unless you know the flow. Ranges are for experienced paddlers at the gauge shown; rapids change after floods, so scout and check for new wood. Wear a PFD, never boat alone, and follow the American Whitewater Safety Code. New to whitewater? Go with a licensed outfitter.
Streamflow
cubic feet per secondReadingNormal range for the date (25th–75th pct.)Median for the date
Gage height & flood stages
ft above gauge datumAction (14.0 ft) is 12.9 ft above the latest reading, off this chartMinor (15.0 ft) is 13.9 ft above the latest reading, off this chartModerate (20.0 ft) is 18.9 ft above the latest reading, off this chartMajor (29.0 ft) is 27.9 ft above the latest reading, off this chart
Action (14.0 ft) is 12.9 ft above the latest reading, off this chartMinor (15.0 ft) is 13.9 ft above the latest reading, off this chartModerate (20.0 ft) is 18.9 ft above the latest reading, off this chartMajor (29.0 ft) is 27.9 ft above the latest reading, off this chart
Action (14.0 ft) is 12.9 ft above the latest reading, off this chartMinor (15.0 ft) is 13.9 ft above the latest reading, off this chartModerate (20.0 ft) is 18.9 ft above the latest reading, off this chartMajor (29.0 ft) is 27.9 ft above the latest reading, off this chart
ReadingNormal range for the date (25th–75th pct.)Median for the date
Chattooga River near Clayton fishing report & conditions
updated Oct 26, 4:13 PM ETFlow 54% of normal, flow steady — good fall fishing day (6/10), best window 7:52 AM–8:52 AM (moonset near sunrise).
- Water temp—no water-temperature sensor on this water yet
- Flow54% of normalFlow steady (+0% in 24 h)
Official South Carolina fishing info: South Carolina DNR — 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 7:48 AM · Sunset 6:45 PM
Major fishing times
- Moon overhead12:13 AM–2:13 AM
- Moon underfoot12:40 PM–2:40 PM
Minor fishing times
- Moonset7:52 AM–8:52 AMSunrise
- Moonrise6:22 PM–7:22 PMSunset
Fishing times for the next 7 days
| TodayOct 26 | 6/10Good | Major 12:13 AM–2:13 AM · 12:40 PM–2:40 PM Minor 7:52 AM–8:52 AM · 6:22 PM–7:22 PM |
|---|---|---|
| TueOct 27 | 4/10Fair | Major 1:09 AM–3:09 AM · 1:39 PM–3:39 PM Minor 9:05 AM–10:05 AM · 7:06 PM–8:06 PM |
| WedOct 28 | 2/10Poor | Major 2:09 AM–4:09 AM · 2:41 PM–4:41 PM Minor 10:19 AM–11:19 AM · 8:00 PM–9:00 PM |
| ThuOct 29 | 4/10Fair | Major 3:13 AM–5:13 AM · 3:46 PM–5:46 PM Minor 11:29 AM–12:29 PM · 9:04 PM–10:04 PM |
| FriOct 30 | 3/10Poor | Major 4:18 AM–6:18 AM · 4:50 PM–6:50 PM Minor 12:29 PM–1:29 PM · 10:13 PM–11:13 PM |
| SatOct 31 | 4/10Fair | Major 5:20 AM–7:20 AM · 5:50 PM–7:50 PM Minor 1:19 PM–2:19 PM · 11:25 PM–12:25 AM |
| SunNov 1 | 4/10Fair | Major 5:18 AM–7:18 AM · 5:45 PM–7:45 PM Minor 1:01 PM–2:01 PM · 11:36 PM–12:36 AM |
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 34.81, -83.31 (moon times from astronomical equations, Chattooga River near Clayton local time).
Flood stages
NOAA NWS gauge CYNG1- Action stage14 ft+12.9 ft from now
- Minor stage15 ft+13.9 ft from now
- Moderate stage20 ft+18.9 ft from now
- Major stage29 ft+27.9 ft from now
- Record crest13.8 ft1940
October 26 in history
87 years of flow records- Today169 cfs
- Same date last year179 cfs2025
- Median312 cfs
- Normal range229 cfs – 600 cfs25th–75th percentile
- Highest since 19402,540 cfs1998
- Lowest since 194090.0 cfs1955
Last 10 days
| Date | Mean flow (cfs) | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Mon Oct 26 (today) | 169 | +0% |
| Sun Oct 25 | 169 | -1% |
| Sat Oct 24 | 171 | -1% |
| Fri Oct 23 | 172 | -1% |
| Thu Oct 22 | 174 | -2% |
| Wed Oct 21 | 177 | -1% |
| Tue Oct 20 | 179 | -2% |
| Mon Oct 19 | 182 | -1% |
| Sun Oct 18 | 184 | -6% |
| Sat Oct 17 | 196 | -8% |
Daily mean of all readings that day; today is the average so far.
Nearby lakes & rivers
- Bad Creek Reservoir21 mi · Lake2,278.50 ft−31.50 ft vs normal full pond
- Lake Keowee23 mi · Lake795.90 ft−4.10 ft vs normal full pond
- Chattahoochee River at Helen25 mi · River38.3 cfs60% of normal
- Lake Jocassee26 mi · Lake1,093.70 ft−16.30 ft vs normal full pond
- Lake Glenville27 mi · Lake3,482.75 ft−9.00 ft vs normal full pond
- Lake Chatuge31 mi · Lake1,918.86 ft−7.04 ft vs summer pool
Guides
All guides →About this data
- Gauge
- USGS 02177000 — Chattooga River Near Clayton, Ga
- Location
- 34.8138, -83.3064 · South Carolina
- Drainage area
- 207 sq mi
- Measures
- Streamflow (discharge), cubic feet per second
- Daily statistics
- 1940–2026 (approved daily values)
- Latest reading
- Oct 26, 3:00 PM local time (provisional)
- Page built
- Oct 26, 2026 4:13 PM ET
- Flood stages
- NWS gauge CYNG1 — 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.