Frequently Asked Questions
Free, state-by-state river flows for trout anglers
Full Contact Anglers runs a free dashboard of curated river gauges — flow, stage, water temperature, and weather — focused on trout water across Colorado, Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, and other states.
Where does the data come from? Streamflow, stage, and water temperature come from public agency sources, including USGS, Colorado DWR, NOAA, and USBR where those networks provide the best gauge. Weather on each card comes from a forecast API for the gauge location. We don’t invent flows or “fishability scores.”
How often does it update? We refresh gauge and weather data on a regular schedule through our server cache (typically on the order of about 15 minutes for active states). What you see is the latest data we’ve pulled, not a continuous live wire to every sensor. Opening a gauge graph may load additional history for that site.
Why does a card say “No recent data” or “No data available”? Some gauges go offline, report rarely, or only publish stage. When we still know the location, we show the card with weather and map when possible, and we keep last-known flow info when we have it. “No recent data” usually means we have an older reading; “No data available” means we don’t have usable flow/stage to show right now.
What do the flow badges mean?
We compare today’s flow to what’s typical for this time of year (from USGS long-term stats where available):
- Well below average — much lower than usual for the date
- Below average — lower than usual
- Near average — roughly normal for the season
- Above average — higher than usual
- Well above average — much higher than usual
Badges are a quick context cue, not a fishability score. A river can fish well above or below average depending on the stretch, clarity, and time of year. Always pair the badge with the actual cfs and local knowledge.
What do the water temperature colors mean? We highlight water temp to help with trout care in warm weather:
- Green — generally good to go
- Orange — getting toasty; be choosy
- Red — too hot for responsible fishing on many trout waters
Carry a thermometer and follow local regs and closures.
Why some gauges show no water temp
Not every station reports temperature. Many gauges only measure flow and stage. Where temp is missing, the sensor may be offline, seasonal, or never installed. No temp on the card does not mean the water is cold or safe to fish — it only means we don’t have a reading. When in doubt, carry a thermometer and check local regs.
Can I use the page offline? If the page is already loaded, you can still scroll and read the state that’s on screen. Switching states or opening gauge graphs needs a network connection. A full refresh offline usually won’t work.
How do I get a river or gauge added? Email us the gauge ID or river and location: contact@fullcontactanglers.com. We prioritize strong trout water and reliable public data sources.
Do you show fishing regulations and closures? Where agencies publish a clear page, we link state rules/licenses and, for some states, current closures. Those links go to the agency — always verify before you go.
Is this free? Are there ads or a subscription? The river flows dashboard is free to use. No paywall for the gauges you see on the page.
Will this work on my phone? Yes. The layout is built for mobile and desktop. For the best experience, use a current mobile browser with a signal when switching states or opening graphs.
Still have a question? contact@fullcontactanglers.com