Big Hole River below Big Lake Creek, at Wisdom, MT
Southwest Montana (Beaverhead & Big Hole) · USGS gauge 06024450 · Updated Oct 24, 2:37 PM PDT · USGS data, provisional
All 2 Big Hole River gauges in Montana
Reading time: Oct 24, 1:45 PM PDT · Provisional data
Flow is well above normal for the date. Water is likely fast and strong, wading is likely unsafe, and floating generally calls for experienced boaters. Check local reports and consider waiting.
- Vs. normal for this date
- >99th percentile
- Typical range (25th–75th)
- 53.9–114 cfs
- Median for this date
- 75.0 cfs
- 7-day low / high
- 55.5 / 317 cfs
Plain-language explanation
Big Hole River below Big Lake Creek, at Wisdom is flowing at 308 cubic feet per second (cfs) as of Oct 24, 1:45 PM PDT. That is among the highest flows on record for this time of year: higher than over 99% of the daily flows this gauge has recorded for this date (give or take 7 days) over 39 years of record (1988–2026).
The middle half of those historical flows runs from 53.9 to 114 cfs, with a median of 75.0 cfs; the lowest 10% of days are at or below 42.0 cfs and the highest 10% at or above 132 cfs.
Over the last 24 hours the flow has been rising (+247.6%). In the last 7 days it ranged from 55.5 to 317 cfs.
Why this status: Flow is above the seasonal 90th percentile and above the 60th percentile of all days on record.
Quick answers
Is the Big Hole River below Big Lake Creek, at Wisdom fishable today?
Flowcast's status for the Big Hole River below Big Lake Creek, at Wisdom is “Use caution”: flow is 308 cfs, well above normal for the date, at the >99th percentile for this date (as of Oct 24, 1:45 PM PDT). That describes flow only. It says nothing about water clarity, temperature, fish activity, access or fishing regulations.
What is the current flow of the Big Hole River below Big Lake Creek, at Wisdom?
308 cubic feet per second at USGS gauge 06024450 as of Oct 24, 1:45 PM PDT, provisional data.
Is the Big Hole River below Big Lake Creek, at Wisdom too high or too low right now?
It is high: well above the typical range for the date (53.9 to 114 cfs).
Is the Big Hole River below Big Lake Creek, at Wisdom rising or falling?
Over the last 24 hours the flow has been rising (+247.6%).
What is a normal flow for the Big Hole River below Big Lake Creek, at Wisdom in October?
For this date (give or take 7 days) the median is 75.0 cfs and the middle half of days runs 53.9 to 114 cfs, over 39 years of USGS record.
7-day trend
Hourly flow in cfs, Pacific time. The shaded band is the typical range (25th–75th percentile) for this date, shown when it falls within the chart.
| Day (Pacific) | Mean cfs | Percentile | Status that day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun Oct 18 | 67.2 | 52nd | Fishable/Floatable |
| Mon Oct 19 | 63.5 | 44th | Fishable/Floatable |
| Tue Oct 20 | 62.0 | 41st | Fishable/Floatable |
| Wed Oct 21 | 59.8 | 38th | Fishable/Floatable |
| Thu Oct 22 | 56.8 | 32nd | Fishable/Floatable |
| Fri Oct 23 | 94.5 | 65th | Fishable/Floatable |
| Sat Oct 24 (so far) | 284 | >99th | Use caution |
Seasonal context
Shaded band: 10th–90th percentile of daily flows through the year; dashed line: median. Log scale. Dot: today's flow. Based on 39 years of USGS daily data (1988–2026).
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Official resources
- USGS site page for gauge 06024450 (USGS: live readings, history, station details)
- Montana fishing regulations (FWP)
- Montana aquatic invasive species (FWP)
- Montana fishing access sites (FWP)
Links go to the agencies' own websites and were checked as working. Flowcast does not summarize fishing or boating rules: regulations and closures change, and the agency pages are the authority.
About this gauge
- USGS site
- USGS-06024450
- USGS name
- Big Hole River Bl Big Lake Cr At Wisdom Mt
- Drainage area
- 586 sq mi
- Location
- 45.6180, -113.4569
- Record in this analysis
- 1988–2026
Nearby gauges
- Salmon River at Salmon, ID Fishable/Floatable 1,320 cfs · about 37 mi away (straight line)
- Big Hole River near Melrose, MT High but doable 657 cfs · about 37 mi away (straight line)
- Bitterroot River near Darby, MT Fishable/Floatable 307 cfs · about 41 mi away (straight line)
- Beaverhead River at Dillon, MT Fishable/Floatable 159 cfs · about 48 mi away (straight line)
- Beaverhead River near Twin Bridges, MT Fishable/Floatable 290 cfs · about 51 mi away (straight line)
- Salmon River near Shoup, ID Fishable/Floatable 2,010 cfs · about 52 mi away (straight line)
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