Savvy River GEEK Tools

[Ed Carlson]

Savvy River GEEK Tools

For the River Rat and River GEEK, few tools are more useful than the data available from the USGS site. Now they have integrated a new Google Maps version of the Real Time Data making it even more useful and handy. The savvy River Rat can glean a lot of pre-trip info from such a tool, and better predict peak fishing opportunity's and potential hazardous conditions.

USGS Google Real Time River Data

Scouting will be easier and more efficient with this tool. GPS points can also be acquired with a bit of homework and easily saved and transferred to your mapping.

Know before you go, that provides power to the fisherman and will greatly up your success in the field.

Enjoy.

[phishnerd]

Ed-

I absolutely agree with you about the value of this HSOforum. I've been using it for the past few years and find myself checking it on a daily basis. Knowing current temps and discharge really helps me get a jump on where I think the cats are going to be. With the way the river has been up and pumping this year I've needed every advantage I can get. Hope all is well up der in da nort!!

[Ed Carlson]

I'll share a finding I have surmised is an indication of a "Good Bite", or a bite about to go. Purely observational, but I do believe I see a trend, and it has added to my tools to predict a good day to hit the rivers.

In the various parameters and gauges you will see a chart on "Specific conductance", this chart monitors chemical and mineral balance in the water, tiny microscopic stuff....ect.

I compare it to this chart. I look for points where they will intersect. This has shown me a time frame where they appear to be on the go again after a heavy rain event, or a sudden fall in water levels or even a temp spike or fall. There appears to me to be a connection there...somewhere?

I also compare the PH chart, to see what it is doing at the same point they cross on the chart. Do you see the stable period develop?

Checking the trends before and after I was fishing to see what is going on during a good bite first tipped me off to this. Granted there is a lot of other factors in play but this connection has my attention and interest for now. It has not been 100% yet it has been more true than false.

I believe if one tracks this data on your favorite river you too will see trends that will tip you off to...peak events.

I watch this close after the ice is on too, if the gauge sites are still operational, there is interesting info to be had then too.

[aanderud]

Good data, Ed.

One thing I'd like to add -- all of those charts show a huge correlation to each other, so it isn't like one needs to track every single factor in the river to have success. Rapid changes in turbidity, pH, and specific conductance are related to abrupt rising/falling water level and flow. IMHO, if one tracks the water level and flow rate, he'll have 90% of the information he needs with only 10% of the data mining effort.

[DARK30]

It would be nice to see dissolved oxygen readings. Water temps would also be handy.

[Ed Carlson]

Depending on the particular gauge site location Dark, they may have all them...or just a few. Some sites are more widely monitored than others. Be sure to check what categories are available on the gauge site, and select all to view.