7-day U.S. Geological Survey chart
Recent flow
Discharge
2,740 cfs911 cfs
Sep 5Sep 12
Latest reading: 1,180 cfs. Stable over about 6 hours. Chart covers Sep 5 through Sep 12; readings are provisional and may be revised.
All Pennsylvania reports
Youghiogheny River
Photo: flickr user "Truello" = Andy from Pittsburgh, USA Opens in a new tab. · CC BY 2.0
Should I go fishing?
Skip fishing here today.
Flow is high for this time of year.
No access method is recommended today. Review the live conditions below before choosing another river or day.
Fishing rating44
Rating updatedRiver local time:
Why this recommendation?
USGS shows 1,190 cfs. The flow has been stable over about 6 hours. USGS marks this reading provisional and may revise it. USGS records for this date (1941-2025, 85 readings) show a median near 895 cfs and the upper quartile near 1,100 cfs; today's flow is high for the date. Fishable water may exist, but do not rate it highly without a safe access, clarity, and wading or boat plan.
Available live dataHighHow much of the live flow, weather, and alert data came back.
Confidence in this recommendationHighCurrent flow, weather, alerts, and trip-critical signals support this decision.
Usually checks again about every 45 minutes
If you go
- Check first
- Flows that look fishable from the bank can still be dangerous in the main current.
- Try
- Check USGS flow before deciding whether the day is wade, bank, or boat water.
- Leave when
- Skip or pivot when flows make crossings unsafe, storms are nearby, trout temperatures are stressful, whitewater traffic crowds the area, or the intended access and exit are not confirmed.
Flow and weather
Showing server-checked river conditions while current readings refresh.
- Flow
- 1,180 cfs
- Stable over about 6 hoursU.S. Geological Survey may revise this readingWater 65.5°F · 24h high 68.7°F · USGS provisional
- Air forecast
- 63°F
- Next 24h high
- 81.0°F
NWS air forecast near
- Rain chance
- 0%
Latest stored weather check
Partly Cloudy
- Wind
- 0 mph
- Weather checked
More forecast and source details
Partly Cloudy
National Weather Service
Confluence and Ohiopyle, Pennsylvania
The National Weather Service forecast is temporarily unavailable.
Live data
Where these readings come from
Current U.S. Geological Survey gauge: Youghiogheny River below Confluence
Stable over about 6 hoursU.S. Geological Survey may revise this readingObserved
Water 65.5°F · provisional · 24h high 68.7°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.
- Sulphur Mayfly PatternsSulphur emergerView fly guide ↗
- Elk Hair CaddisView fly guide ↗
- Ant PatternsantView fly guide ↗
- Beetle PatternsbeetleView fly guide ↗
- Zebra MidgeView fly guide ↗
See flies for every season
SeasonWhat to look forFlies to try
Winter
What to look forMidges, tiny BWOs, scuds, sowbugs, and slow tailwater nymphing
Flies to try
March to May
What to look forBWOs, caddis, sulphurs, crane flies, and early tailwater bugs
June to SeptemberThis season
What to look forSulphurs, caddis, terrestrials, midges, and low-light streamer windows
October to December
What to look forBWOs, midges, caddis remnants, and baitfish or sculpin movement
Each fly name opens its matching Fly Box guide.
More fishing tips
Methods, fish species and trip notes
How to fish Youghiogheny River today.
The Yough rewards anglers who match flow and access first. When releases and weather line up, nymphs, streamers, and caddis or mayfly windows can be good. When water is high, safety wins.
Low to moderate
Look for safe edges, boulder seams, and riffle transitions before wading far.
Higher release
Prioritize shore or boat tactics, and skip unsafe crossings.
Clear water
Use longer leaders, smaller nymphs, and low-profile streamer retrieves.
Warm periods
Watch temperature and shift toward smallmouth or avoid trout stress when needed.
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.
Wading24/100
Not recommended today. Recheck the river, weather, and access before planning another trip.
Bank fishing36/100
Not recommended today. Recheck the river, weather, and access before planning another trip.
Floating48/100
Not recommended today. Recheck the river, weather, and access before planning another trip.
Full river report
Is Youghiogheny River worth the trip today? Check flow, weather, hatches, access, and rules for Pennsylvania before you go.
The useful fly-fishing plan is the below-Confluence and Ohiopyle area, not a vague full-river report. Check USGS 03081000, PFBC reach rules, and whitewater safety before choosing wade or float tactics.
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.
- Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC)
- PFBC is the Pennsylvania agency that sets fishing rules and manages fish and access programs.
- 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.
- Riffle
- A riffle is shallow, fast water broken by rocks.
- 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.
- Confluence
- A confluence is the place where two streams or rivers meet.
- Emerger
- An emerger copies an insect as it rises from below the water toward the surface.
Why this call
Why this score
FlowUse caution
USGS shows 1,190 cfs. The flow has been stable over about 6 hours. USGS marks this reading provisional and may revise it. USGS records for this date (1941-2025, 85 readings) show a median near 895 cfs and the upper quartile near 1,100 cfs; today's flow is high for the date. Fishable water may exist, but do not rate it highly without a safe access, clarity, and wading or boat plan.
Recent water heatUse caution
USGS shows a current water temperature near 65.5F, while the rolling 24-hour high reached about 68.7F. USGS marks the temperature data provisional and may revise it. Keep the plan early and recheck temperature before fishing.
SeasonHelps
Fall: Streamer fishing and cooler water can make the river more interesting.
Public alertsHelps
No active NWS alert was returned for this forecast point.
Fishing usefulnessHelps
Skip or pivot when flows make crossings unsafe, storms are nearby, trout temperatures are stressful, whitewater traffic crowds the corridor, or the intended access and exit are not confirmed.
Trip notes
Check these before you choose a reach.
Use USGS 03081000 below Confluence as the primary live flow check for this report. Stable readable flow is best. High releases, pushy seams, or poor exits should move the plan to banks, a boat, or another stream.
Skip or pivot when flows make crossings unsafe, storms are nearby, trout temperatures are stressful, whitewater traffic crowds the area, or the intended access and exit are not confirmed.
Start with the Confluence gauge, PFBC rules and fisheries-plan context, DCNR Ohiopyle information, USACE recreation information, weather, and one realistic access or float plan. Decide trout, streamer, or smallmouth before rigging.
If the Youghiogheny is high, crowded, too warm, or logistically awkward, compare Laurel Hill Creek for smaller trout water, Slippery Rock Creek for freestone fishing, or Clarion River for another western Pennsylvania river option.
Youghiogheny River 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
Check PFBC rules for the exact Youghiogheny River reach before fishing, especially below Confluence and through the Ohiopyle area.
Where to access the river
Confluence and outflow context
Core orientation for the below-Confluence trout plan.
Ramcat to Ohiopyle area
PFBC and DCNR sources identify important managed trout and recreation context.
Ohiopyle State Park
Useful for trail, whitewater, and big-river access planning.
- Do not assume a safe-looking edge stays safe after release changes.
- Whitewater traffic, trail users, and anglers share the area.
- Plan exits before a long float or walk. Remote stretches take longer than they look.
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 6 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.
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.
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.
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 Youghiogheny River report is maintained from Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission regulations and fisheries-plan sources, DCNR Ohiopyle fishing access guidance, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Youghiogheny River Lake recreation information, USGS Confluence flow data, weather, media-credit, and Laurel Highlands big-river planning sources.
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 Youghiogheny River?
Check PFBC reach rules, USGS 03081000, dam release context, weather, and Ohiopyle safety information.
Where should a first-time visitor start on Youghiogheny River?
Start with Confluence, Ramcat, or Ohiopyle planning points, then match the access to current flow.
Can I wade Youghiogheny River?
Sometimes, but this is powerful water. Skip wading when flows, releases, or boat traffic make it unsafe.
What flies should I bring for Youghiogheny River?
Bring the seasonal fly box, then adjust size, weight, and color to water level, clarity, temperature, and fishing pressure.