Watauga River

Western NC — USGS Gauge #03479000

Current Conditions

Flow
140 cfs
Gauge Height
1.94 ft
Status
Moderate
Season
Summer

Updated: 8/6/2026, 5:15:00 AM

7-Day Forecast

DayConditionsTempWind
TodayPartly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms81°F0 mph
TonightShowers And Thunderstorms Likely then Mostly Cloudy65°F0 mph
FridaySlight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms81°F0 to 5 mph W
Friday NightChance Showers And Thunderstorms65°F0 mph
SaturdayShowers And Thunderstorms81°F0 to 5 mph SW
Saturday NightShowers And Thunderstorms then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms66°F0 mph
SundayChance Showers And Thunderstorms82°F0 to 5 mph NW

Suggested Flies — Summer

Parachute Adams

Medium · Blue-winged Olive, Sulphur, Hendrickson

Classic dry fly. Imitates mayflies. Good all-rounder for rising trout.

Elk Hair Caddis

Easy · Caddis

Dry fly that imitates adult caddis. Great for skittering across the surface.

Woolly Bugger

Easy

Streamer that imitates leeches, baitfish, and nymphs. Deadly in any water.

Pheasant Tail Nymph

Medium · Blue-winged Olive

Go-to nymph pattern. Imitates mayfly nymphs. Fish it below an indicator.

Hare's Ear Nymph

Easy

Classic searching nymph. Works year-round in most waters.

Stimulator

Easy · Stonefly, Salmonfly

Attractor dry fly. Great for aggressive strikes in fast water.

Copper John

Medium

Beadhead nymph with flash. Good for deep, fast runs.

Green Weenie

Easy

Simple egg pattern. Surprisingly effective in stocked waters.

Official Data