7-day U.S. Geological Survey chart
Recent flow
Discharge
709 cfs576 cfs
Sep 4Sep 11
Latest reading: 586 cfs. Falling over about 6 hours. Chart covers Sep 4 through Sep 11; readings are provisional and may be revised.
Should I go fishing?
Yes — worth going.
No single best way to fish. Wading, Bank fishing, and Floating have the same top score. Use current access, footing, weather, and local rules to choose.
Fishing rating94
Rating updatedRiver local time:
Why this recommendation?
USGS shows 586 cfs. The flow has been stable over about 6 hours. USGS marks this reading provisional and may revise it. USGS records for this date (1967-2025, 59 readings) show a typical middle range of 574 cfs to 877 cfs. Flow is within the typical range for this date, so weather, temperature, and access become the next checks.
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
- Use the below-Buffalo-Bill source for Cody context and the Lovell gauge as downstream live flow trend.
- Try
- Start with a two-nymph rig in walking-speed seams below structure.
- Leave when
- Skip or reset the Shoshone plan when Wyoming rules are unclear, wind makes casting or boat control poor, flow is changing hard, public access is not obvious, or the day depends on treating North Fork, South Fork, and Cody main river water as one fishery.
Flow and weather
Showing server-checked river conditions while current readings refresh.
- Flow
- 586 cfs
- Falling over about 6 hoursU.S. Geological Survey may revise this readingWater 62.1°F · 24h high 64.0°F · USGS provisional
- Air forecast
- 56°F
- Next 24h high
- 68.0°F
NWS air forecast near
- Rain chance
- 1%
Latest stored weather check
Partly Cloudy
- Wind
- 6 mph
- Weather checked
More forecast and source details
Partly Cloudy
National Weather Service
Shoshone River near Cody, Wyoming
The National Weather Service forecast is temporarily unavailable.
Live data
Where these readings come from
Current U.S. Geological Survey gauge: Shoshone River near Lovell downstream context
Falling over about 6 hoursU.S. Geological Survey may revise this readingObserved
Water 62.1°F · provisional · 24h high 64.0°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.
- Chubby ChernobylView fly guide ↗
- Grasshopper PatternshopperView fly guide ↗
- Ant PatternsantView fly guide ↗
- Beetle PatternsbeetleView fly guide ↗
- X-CaddisView fly guide ↗
See flies for every season
SeasonWhat to look forFlies to try
March to April
What to look forMidges, little black stones, early BWOs, and cold-water nymph windows
May to June
What to look forRunoff edges, salmonflies where present, caddis, PMDs, and Green Drakes on some water
July to SeptemberThis season
What to look forCaddis, PMDs, terrestrials, small olives, ants, beetles, and hopper banks
October to February
What to look forBWOs, midges, October caddis in places, streamers, and slow winter nymphing
Each fly name opens its matching Fly Box guide.
More fishing tips
Methods, fish species and trip notes
How to fish Shoshone River today.
Stable flows below Buffalo Bill Reservoir are the best starting point. If releases are high, wind is strong, or access is unclear, choose a safer bank or another Wyoming report.
Stable release
Best for nymphing seams, riffle edges, and deeper runs.
High release
Stay near safe edges, avoid aggressive wading, and use heavier nymphs or streamers.
Low clear water
Use smaller flies, longer leaders, and careful angles.
Windy afternoons
Fish heavier rigs, sheltered banks, or early mornings.
Wading, bank fishing or floating?
Access choicesNo single best option
Wading, Bank fishing, and Floating have the same top score. Use current access, footing, weather, and local rules to choose.
Wading94/100
Wading is in play only where your chosen access has clear footing, legal entry, and no forced crossings.
Bank fishing94/100
Bank and edge fishing remains a practical low-commitment option if access is legal and footing is safe.
Floating94/100
A float is in play where this report supports boat access and wind, releases, and shuttle logistics are manageable.
Full river report
Is Shoshone River worth the trip today? Check flow, weather, hatches, access, and rules for Wyoming before you go.
The most defensible Shoshone page covers the main river around Cody below Buffalo Bill Reservoir. The North Fork and South Fork have their own access and fishery details, so this report keeps them as context instead of pretending every reach is identical.
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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Pale morning dun (PMD)
- Pale morning duns, or PMDs, are light-colored mayflies that often hatch in warmer months.
Why this call
Why this score
FlowHelps
USGS shows 586 cfs. The flow has been stable over about 6 hours. USGS marks this reading provisional and may revise it. USGS records for this date (1967-2025, 59 readings) show a typical middle range of 574 cfs to 877 cfs. Flow is within the typical range for this date, so weather, temperature, and access become the next checks.
SeasonHelps
Fall: Cooling water can improve streamer fishing and midday nymph windows.
Water temperatureHelps
USGS water temperature is about 62.1F, and the rolling 24-hour high did not trigger a heat caution. USGS marks the temperature data provisional and may revise it.
Public alertsHelps
No active NWS alert was returned for this forecast point.
Fishing usefulnessHelps
Skip or reset the Shoshone plan when Wyoming rules are unclear, wind makes casting or boat control poor, flow is changing hard, public access is not obvious, or the day depends on treating North Fork, South Fork, and Cody mainstem water as one fishery.
Trip notes
Check these before you choose a reach.
Use USGS 06285100 near Lovell as the live downstream trend and keep USGS 06282000 below Buffalo Bill Reservoir as reach context. Stable flows are easiest to plan around. Abrupt dam-operation changes, strong wind, or unclear access boundaries should shorten the day.
Skip or reset the Shoshone plan when Wyoming rules are unclear, wind makes casting or boat control poor, flow is changing hard, public access is not obvious, or the day depends on treating North Fork, South Fork, and Cody main river water as one fishery.
Choose the Cody main river first, then choose the access. Use Shoshone Riverway for the main public anchor, below-Buffalo-Bill context for dam-influenced planning, and North Fork sources only when that separate canyon plan is intentional.
If the Shoshone is windy, changing, crowded, or access-limited, compare the Bighorn near Thermopolis, the upper Wind near Dubois, or the Snake River for a different Wyoming trout plan.
Shoshone 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 Wyoming Game and Fish Area 2 rules and any section-by-section Shoshone River exceptions before fishing or keeping trout.
Where to access the river
Shoshone Riverway
WGFD access context near Cody. Verify current posted rules.
Buffalo Bill Reservoir tailwater context
Use the below-reservoir gauge before fishing downstream reaches.
North Fork Shoshone public-land context
A separate canyon/fork plan. Do not use it as the main river gauge.
- Dam-controlled water can rise, fall, or change character outside a natural runoff pattern.
- Public access is available but not every bank is open.
- Road, wind, and canyon weather matter as much as fly choice.
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 9 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.
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.
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.
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 before fishing Shoshone River?
WGFD Area 2 rules, Buffalo Bill release context, USGS flow, public access, wind, and road conditions
Which flow should I use for Shoshone River?
Use the USGS 06282000 Shoshone River below Buffalo Bill Reservoir station page for Cody main river planning. The embedded official USGS graph uses 06285100 near Lovell only as downstream context because the below-reservoir graph endpoint was not usable during review.
Where should I start on Shoshone River?
Start with WGFD Shoshone Riverway and other Cody-area access points, then confirm posted boundaries and current conditions.
Can I wade Shoshone River?
Yes in some normal-flow edge water, but dam releases and slick rocks make conservative wading the right default.