Wisconsin River near Wisconsin Dells
River flow & level · USGS gauge 05404000 · Wisconsin · drains 8,090 sq mi
Latest reading Oct 26, 11:00 AM · streamflow
The Wisconsin River at Wisconsin Dells is running 3,060 cfs, 72% of the median flow for October 26 (4,230 cfs, 92 years). Gage height is 2.17 ft, 13.8 ft below flood stage (16.0 ft). Flow is up 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 (13.0 ft) is 10.8 ft above the latest reading, off this chartMinor (16.0 ft) is 13.8 ft above the latest reading, off this chartModerate (17.6 ft) is 15.4 ft above the latest reading, off this chartMajor (18.9 ft) is 16.7 ft above the latest reading, off this chart
Reading
Wisconsin River near Wisconsin Dells fishing report & conditions
updated Oct 26, 12:50 PM ETFlow 72% of normal, flow steady, light ENE wind — good fall fishing day (7/10), best window 7:40 AM–8:40 AM (moonset near sunrise).
- Water temp—no water-temperature sensor on this water yet
- Air temphigh 55°F / low 41°FScattered Rain Showers
- WindLight ENE1–10 mph 6 AM–6 PM, gusts to 16
- Flow72% of normalFlow steady (+9% in 24 h)
Official Wisconsin fishing forecast: Wisconsin DNR — Wisconsin fishing report
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 7:27 AM · Sunset 5:57 PM
Major fishing times
- Moon underfoot12:07 PM–2:07 PM
Minor fishing times
- Moonset7:40 AM–8:40 AMSunrise
- Moonrise5:24 PM–6:24 PMSunset
Fishing times for the next 7 days
| TodayOct 26 | 7/10Good | Major 12:07 PM–2:07 PM Minor 7:40 AM–8:40 AM · 5:24 PM–6:24 PM Light wind 1–10 mph |
|---|---|---|
| TueOct 27 | 5/10Fair | Major 12:36 AM–2:36 AM · 1:05 PM–3:05 PM Minor 9:01 AM–10:01 AM · 6:03 PM–7:03 PM Light wind 7–10 mph |
| WedOct 28 | 4/10Fair | Major 1:36 AM–3:36 AM · 2:08 PM–4:08 PM Minor 10:20 AM–11:20 AM · 6:52 PM–7:52 PM Light wind 4–9 mph |
| ThuOct 29 | 5/10Fair | Major 2:40 AM–4:40 AM · 3:13 PM–5:13 PM Minor 11:31 AM–12:31 PM · 7:55 PM–8:55 PM Light wind 2–6 mph |
| FriOct 30 | 3/10Poor | Major 3:45 AM–5:45 AM · 4:16 PM–6:16 PM Minor 12:30 PM–1:30 PM · 9:08 PM–10:08 PM Calm wind 0–6 mph |
| SatOct 31 | 5/10Fair | Major 4:47 AM–6:47 AM · 5:16 PM–7:16 PM Minor 1:15 PM–2:15 PM · 10:25 PM–11:25 PM Light wind 5–7 mph |
| SunNov 1 | 4/10Fair | Major 4:45 AM–6:45 AM · 5:12 PM–7:12 PM Minor 12:50 PM–1:50 PM · 10:43 PM–11:43 PM Calm wind 1–5 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 43.60, -89.76 (moon times from astronomical equations, Wisconsin River near Wisconsin Dells local time).
Weather & wind at Wisconsin River near Wisconsin Dells
air temperature, not water3-day forecast
- Today55° / 41°Scattered Rain ShowersWind E 5 to 10 mphRain 17%
- Tuesday66° / 52°Partly SunnyWind SE 10 mphRain 6%
- Wednesday72° / 54°Partly SunnyWind S 5 to 10 mphRain 64%
NOAA National Weather Service forecast for 43.605, -89.757 (grid MKX), issued Oct 26, 8:36 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 WDEW3- Action stage13 ft+10.8 ft from now
- Minor stage16 ft+13.8 ft from now
- Moderate stage17.6 ft+15.4 ft from now
- Major stage18.9 ft+16.7 ft from now
- Record crest20.7 ft1973
October 26 in history
92 years of flow records- Today3,060 cfs
- Same date last year4,200 cfs2025
- Median4,230 cfs
- Normal range3,170 cfs – 7,440 cfs25th–75th percentile
- Highest since 193526,600 cfs1960
- Lowest since 19351,500 cfs1977
Last 10 days
| Date | Mean flow (cfs) | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Mon Oct 26 (today) | 3,036 | +8% |
| Sun Oct 25 | 2,800 | -6% |
| Sat Oct 24 | 2,990 | -2% |
| Fri Oct 23 | 3,050 | -3% |
| Thu Oct 22 | 3,150 | -14% |
| Wed Oct 21 | 3,650 | -8% |
| Tue Oct 20 | 3,980 | +40% |
| Mon Oct 19 | 2,850 | +11% |
| Sun Oct 18 | 2,570 | -8% |
| Sat Oct 17 | 2,780 | -9% |
Daily mean of all readings that day; today is the average so far.
Nearby lakes & rivers
About this data
- Gauge
- USGS 05404000 — Wisconsin River Near Wisconsin Dells, Wi
- Location
- 43.6050, -89.7567 · Wisconsin
- Drainage area
- 8,090 sq mi
- Measures
- Streamflow (discharge), cubic feet per second
- Daily statistics
- 1935–2026 (approved daily values)
- Latest reading
- Oct 26, 11:00 AM local time (provisional)
- Page built
- Oct 26, 2026 12:50 PM ET
- Flood stages
- NWS gauge WDEW3 — 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.