7-day U.S. Geological Survey chart
Recent flow
Discharge
4,200 cfs218 cfs
Sep 5Sep 12
Latest reading: 218 cfs. Falling over about 6 hours. Chart covers Sep 5 through Sep 12; readings are provisional and may be revised.
All Oklahoma reports
Lower Mountain Fork
Generated artwork: BlueStreamFly · Regional illustration; not the exact location.
Should I go fishing?
Skip fishing here today.
No access method is recommended today. Review the live conditions below before choosing another river or day.
Fishing rating14
Rating updatedRiver local time:
Why this recommendation?
USGS water temperature is about 78.3F. USGS marks the temperature data provisional and may revise it. Do not pressure trout or salmonids in warm water.
Available live dataHighHow much of the live flow, weather, and alert data came back.
Confidence in this recommendationHighA verified hard stop is active, so the avoid-or-wait decision is clearer than the fishing score itself.
Usually checks again about every 45 minutes
Water temperature above salmonid stress threshold
If you go
- Check first
- Check SWPA generation schedules, the USGS gauge, and ODWC trout-area rules before stepping in.
- Try
- Read the generation schedule before choosing the reach.
- Leave when
- Skip wading when generation timing is unclear, water is rising, storms are building, trout handling is poor in heat, or the area-specific ODWC rule is not understood.
Flow and weather
Showing server-checked river conditions while current readings refresh.
- Flow
- 218 cfs
- Falling over about 6 hoursU.S. Geological Survey may revise this readingWater 78.3°F · 24h high 79.2°F · USGS provisional
- Air forecast
- 76°F
- Next 24h high
- 92.0°F
NWS air forecast near
- Rain chance
- 3%
Latest stored weather check
Mostly Clear
- Wind
- 0 mph
- Weather checked
More forecast and source details
Mostly Clear
National Weather Service
Lower Mountain Fork near Beavers Bend
The National Weather Service forecast is temporarily unavailable.
Live data
Where these readings come from
Current U.S. Geological Survey gauge: Mountain Fork near Eagletown
Falling over about 6 hoursU.S. Geological Survey may revise this readingObserved
Water 78.3°F · provisional · 24h high 79.2°F provisionalWater observed · high observed
Flies for this time of year
Seasonal starting points, not a live hatch report. Match what you see on the water.
- Blue-Winged Olive PatternsBWO emergerView fly guide ↗
- Caddis Pupa Patternscaddis pupaView fly guide ↗
- Zebra MidgeView fly guide ↗
- Sculpin PatternssculpinView fly guide ↗
- Leech Patternsblack leechView fly guide ↗
See flies for every season
SeasonWhat to look forFlies to try
Winter
What to look forMidges, small caddis, BWO windows, and stocked trout holding in soft seams
Spring
What to look forCaddis, mayflies, March Brown-style nymphs, and generation-edge streamer windows
Summer
What to look forMidges, caddis, ants, beetles, and deep shade when trout are stressed by heat
FallThis season
What to look forCaddis, BWOs, midges, and better streamer windows after cool nights
Each fly name opens its matching Fly Box guide.
More fishing tips
Methods, fish species and trip notes
How to fish Lower Mountain Fork today.
Fish the Lower Mountain Fork when generation leaves safe wade windows, weather is stable, and ODWC rules match your planned reach. If water is rising or release timing is unclear, stay out.
No or low generation
Best wading window. Fish small nymphs, dry-dropper rigs, and soft seams.
Generation starting
Leave the river or move to safe bank water before levels rise.
Clear and pressured
Use small flies, light tippet, and careful presentations.
Hot weather
Fish early, watch trout stress, and avoid overhandling fish.
Wading, bank fishing or floating?
Not recommended todayChoose another river or day
No access method is recommended in today's conditions. Review the live river and weather checks before making another plan.
Wading14/100
Not recommended today. Recheck the river, weather, and access before planning another trip.
Bank fishingNot recommended
Not recommended today. Recheck the river, weather, and access before planning another trip.
FloatingNot recommended
Not recommended today. Recheck the river, weather, and access before planning another trip.
Full river report
Is Lower Mountain Fork worth the trip today? Check flow, weather, hatches, access, and rules for Oklahoma before you go.
The Lower Mountain Fork is a southern cold tailwater below Broken Bow Dam. It is a year-round trout fishery, but safe wading depends on generation and release timing more than a normal freestone flow number.
Fishing words used on this page
- U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) gauge
- A USGS gauge is an official river station that measures flow or water height.
- Cubic feet per second (cfs)
- Cubic feet per second, or cfs, shows how much water passes the gauge each second.
- Nymph
- A nymph is a young water insect. Anglers also use the word for a fly that copies it.
- Presentation
- Presentation means how you cast and move the fly so it looks natural to a fish.
- Seam
- A seam is the line where fast and slow water meet.
- Blue-winged olive (BWO)
- Blue-winged olives, or BWOs, are small mayflies that often hatch in cool or cloudy weather.
- Caddis
- Caddis are small water insects. The adults look a little like tiny moths.
- Dry-dropper
- A dry-dropper rig has a floating fly with an underwater fly tied below it.
- Emerger
- An emerger copies an insect as it rises from below the water toward the surface.
- Midge
- Midges are tiny flies and a common trout food, especially in cold water.
Why this call
Why this score
Water temperatureHurts
USGS water temperature is about 78.3F. USGS marks the temperature data provisional and may revise it. Do not pressure trout or salmonids in warm water.
FlowUse caution
USGS shows 224 cfs. The flow has been falling about 15% over about 6 hours. USGS marks this reading provisional and may revise it. USGS records for this date (1970-2025, 56 readings) show a median near 386 cfs and the lower quartile near 228 cfs; today's flow is below normal for the date. This is below normal, so edge depth, temperature, and pressure matter.
Public alertUse caution
A heat alert is active near this forecast point, so the score is capped at caution until water temperature and fish-handling risk are checked. NWS alert: Heat Advisory issued September 11 at 11:15PM CDT until September 12 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Shreveport LA.
SeasonHelps
Fall: Cooler weather improves trout comfort and streamer windows.
Fishing usefulnessHelps
Skip wading when generation timing is unclear, water is rising, storms are building, trout handling is poor in heat, or the area-specific ODWC rule is not understood.
Trip notes
Check these before you choose a reach.
Use SWPA generation schedules as the first safety check and USGS 07339000 as broad downstream context. Do not treat the Eagletown gauge as the only dam-release signal.
Skip wading when generation timing is unclear, water is rising, storms are building, trout handling is poor in heat, or the area-specific ODWC rule is not understood.
Check SWPA generation, ODWC trout-area rules, the USGS broad trend, and weather first. Pick a low-generation reach, carry small trout flies, and clean gear after fishing.
If generation blocks safe wading, compare the White River, Little Red River, or Norfork Tailwater before forcing a rising tailwater.
Lower Mountain Fork access and rules.
Use these places as starting points. Open the access link below and check posted signs before you park or enter.
Before you go
ODWC trout-area rules include method, harvest, and area-specific details. Confirm the current trout rules before fishing.
Where to access the river
Beavers Bend State Park
Primary trip base and public recreation anchor.
Spillway and Zone 1 context
Generation-aware trout water near the dam.
Presbyterian Falls and lower trout area
A common planning reference downstream in the managed area.
- ODWC describes the trout area as a state-managed fishery below Broken Bow Reservoir.
- Oklahoma State Parks manages nearby facilities, camping, and recreation infrastructure.
- Water can rise with generation. Do not cross channels you cannot retreat from quickly.
Sources and report details
Official agencies and primary river operators come first. Secondary tools are labeled so you know what carries the most weight.
Rules and closures
Check what is allowed, where the rule applies, and whether the river is open.
Flow and weather
Check the latest river reading and forecast before you leave.
Access and land
Check public entry points, land rules, and seasonal access changes.
More helpful links
Use these links for stocking, safety, and other local details.
See all 8 checked sources
Rules and closures
Check what is allowed, where the rule applies, and whether the river is open.
What this source covers
Open the current rules and check the river section, season, and special limits.
What this source covers
Open the current rules and check the river section, season, and special limits.
What this source covers
Open the current rules and check the river section, season, and special limits.
Flow and weather
Check the latest river reading and forecast before you leave.
What this source covers
Open this page and check the latest safety advice before your trip.
What this source covers
Open this river reading to check the latest level, flow, and update time.
What this source covers
Open this river reading to check the latest level, flow, and update time.
Access and land
Check public entry points, land rules, and seasonal access changes.
What this source covers
Open the land or access page, then check signs before you park or enter.
More helpful links
Use these links for stocking, safety, and other local details.
What this source covers
Open this page for more river information and check when it was last updated.
How this report was checked
How this report was checked
Reviewed byBlueStreamFly River Review Team
Trip guidance checked
What was checked: This report is maintained from current regulation, access, flow, weather, and public planning sources so anglers can make better trip decisions than a raw gauge or generic overview would allow.
Live measurements and forecasts keep their provider timestamps. Rules, access, and trip guidance use the source-review date shown here. BlueStreamFly planning advice is editorial interpretation, not an agency notice.
First-hand experience: BlueStreamFly does not claim a first-hand visit or local field test for this report unless a real contributor is explicitly named and linked.
Quick questions
What should I check first before fishing the Lower Mountain Fork?
Check SWPA generation, the USGS gauge, ODWC trout rules, and weather before wading.
Where should a first-time visitor start on the Lower Mountain Fork?
Start with Beavers Bend State Park and ODWC trout-area information, then match your reach to generation.
Can I wade the Lower Mountain Fork?
Yes during safe low-generation windows. Do not wade when release timing is uncertain or water is rising.
What flies should I bring for the Lower Mountain Fork?
Bring the seasonal fly box, a few backup nymphs or streamers, and enough tippet to change tactics when flow, clarity, temperature, or crowds change.