James River at Cartersville
River flow & level · USGS gauge 02035000 · Virginia · drains 6,252 sq mi
Latest reading Oct 26, 3:45 PM · streamflow
The James River at Cartersville is running 913 cfs, 43% of the median flow for October 26 (2,100 cfs, 127 years). Gage height is 1.24 ft, 18.8 ft below flood stage (20.0 ft). Flow is down 9% 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 (15.0 ft) is 13.8 ft above the latest reading, off this chartMinor (20.0 ft) is 18.8 ft above the latest reading, off this chartModerate (23.0 ft) is 21.8 ft above the latest reading, off this chartMajor (26.4 ft) is 25.2 ft above the latest reading, off this chart
Reading
James River at Cartersville fishing report & conditions
updated Oct 26, 4:13 PM ETWater 61°F and warming, flow 43% of normal, flow steady, calm wind — good fall fishing day (7/10), best window 7:36 AM–8:36 AM (moonset near sunrise).
- Water temp61°Fmeasured Oct 26, 3:00 PM · this gauge · +1° in 24 h
- Air temphigh 72°F / low 42°FSunny
- WindCalm1–2 mph 6 AM–6 PM, gusts to 4
- Flow43% of normalFlow steady (-9% in 24 h)
Official Virginia fishing forecast: Virginia DWR — Fishing forecasts & reports
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 7:31 AM · Sunset 6:20 PM
Major fishing times
- Moon underfoot12:19 PM–2:19 PM
Minor fishing times
- Moonset7:36 AM–8:36 AMSunrise
- Moonrise5:53 PM–6:53 PMSunset
Fishing times for the next 7 days
| TodayOct 26 | 7/10Good | Major 12:19 PM–2:19 PM Minor 7:36 AM–8:36 AM · 5:53 PM–6:53 PM Calm wind 1–2 mph |
|---|---|---|
| TueOct 27 | 5/10Fair | Major 12:47 AM–2:47 AM · 1:17 PM–3:17 PM Minor 8:52 AM–9:52 AM · 6:36 PM–7:36 PM Calm wind 2–5 mph · pressure rising |
| WedOct 28 | 3/10Poor | Major 1:48 AM–3:48 AM · 2:19 PM–4:19 PM Minor 10:07 AM–11:07 AM · 7:28 PM–8:28 PM Calm wind 1–4 mph · pressure steady |
| ThuOct 29 | 4/10Fair | Major 2:52 AM–4:52 AM · 3:24 PM–5:24 PM Minor 11:17 AM–12:17 PM · 8:31 PM–9:31 PM Calm wind 0–2 mph |
| FriOct 30 | 3/10Poor | Major 3:56 AM–5:56 AM · 4:28 PM–6:28 PM Minor 12:17 PM–1:17 PM · 9:42 PM–10:42 PM Calm wind 0–0 mph |
| SatOct 31 | 4/10Fair | Major 4:58 AM–6:58 AM · 5:28 PM–7:28 PM Minor 1:06 PM–2:06 PM · 10:55 PM–11:55 PM Calm wind 0–4 mph |
| SunNov 1 | 4/10Fair | Major 4:56 AM–6:56 AM · 5:23 PM–7:23 PM Minor 12:46 PM–1:46 PM · 11:08 PM–12:08 AM Calm wind 0–4 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; 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 37.67, -78.09 (moon times from astronomical equations, James River at Cartersville local time).
Weather & wind at James River at Cartersville
air temperature, not water3-day forecast
- This Afternoon72° / 42°SunnyWind NW 1 mphRain 0%
- Tuesday73° / 46°SunnyWind N 5 mphRain 0%
- Wednesday69° / 49°Partly SunnyWind NE 3 mphRain 0%
NOAA National Weather Service forecast for 37.671, -78.086 (grid AKQ), issued Oct 26, 2:38 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 CARV2- Action stage15 ft+13.8 ft from now
- Minor stage20 ft+18.8 ft from now
- Moderate stage23 ft+21.8 ft from now
- Major stage26.4 ft+25.2 ft from now
- Record crest37.87 ft1972
October 26 in history
127 years of flow records- Today913 cfs
- Same date last year1,160 cfs2025
- Median2,100 cfs
- Normal range1,560 cfs – 3,830 cfs25th–75th percentile
- Highest since 189943,600 cfs1972
- Lowest since 1899548 cfs1922
Last 10 days
| Date | Mean flow (cfs) | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Mon Oct 26 (today) | 788 | -13% |
| Sun Oct 25 | 903 | -6% |
| Sat Oct 24 | 958 | -10% |
| Fri Oct 23 | 1,060 | -10% |
| Thu Oct 22 | 1,180 | -18% |
| Wed Oct 21 | 1,440 | -23% |
| Tue Oct 20 | 1,870 | +26% |
| Mon Oct 19 | 1,490 | -16% |
| Sun Oct 18 | 1,770 | -23% |
| Sat Oct 17 | 2,300 | -32% |
Daily mean of all readings that day; today is the average so far.
Nearby lakes & rivers
- James River at Scottsville24 mi · River759 cfs50% of normal
- Wyndham Lake26 mi · Lake · Dam at Wyndham2.14 ft24h ±0.00 ft
- Canterbury Lake27 mi · Lake · Tuckahoe Village2.88 ft24h +0.01 ft
- Waterfront Lake28 mi · Lake · Cox Rd at Innsbrook2.89 ft24h −0.01 ft
- Echo Lake29 mi · Lake · Dam near Glen Allen2.71 ft24h ±0.00 ft
- James River near Richmond30 mi · River1,390 cfs74% of normal
About this data
- Gauge
- USGS 02035000 — James River At Cartersville, Va
- Location
- 37.6710, -78.0858 · Virginia
- Drainage area
- 6,252 sq mi
- Measures
- Streamflow (discharge), cubic feet per second
- Daily statistics
- 1899–2026 (approved daily values)
- Latest reading
- Oct 26, 3:45 PM local time (provisional)
- Page built
- Oct 26, 2026 4:13 PM ET
- Flood stages
- NWS gauge CARV2 — 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.