Reading the Walnut gauge

In my experience, those gauges are tough to use to predict fishability, especially considering how fast the tribs can rise and fall.  A 400% spike might mean a blowout, or possibly a temporary flow that last for a few hours.  The only places where I use such data are dam outflows, where the gauge gives you an accurate idea of how wide open a given dam may be.  Primarily, I use the USGS charts for relative measurements.  "I was up there a few days ago when measurements were at X level.  They're now at Y level, so conditions will change accordingly." rather than absolutes, "I see that level is at X feet with a Y cfs flow, this will mean Z fishing conditions."

Make any sense?

Hey your right!  Gotta search before I post, huh!  thanks 
 

With that gage just put in this past summer Swinger has it right. Going to have to see what the creek is like then check the web site or the other way round. Better yet would be check the web then the creek then the web again. That way you know for sure what the creek did during the day while you were there. I've fished four different spots on Elk and only knew once that the creek was rising while there. When I say fished a spot it usually means about a half mile of stream. When you walka creek like that it's hard to tell if it's coming up or going down or the same unless you mark the waters edge some how where you started out at.

That's the depth of the hole that the gage is in. At 6:30 PM Nov 7 it was 4.41. The big question is what is the water depth above entering the hole and below exiting the hole. Fish aren't moving if it is only a few inches.

ORIGINAL: swinger

The best way to read the gauge is look at it and then go take a look for yourself. Remember the number and remember the condition and repeat. Now you are actually learning something all on your own and not having info given to you on a silver platter. Kind of rewarding huh?

What's with the negativity?  I live 4 hours away and for reasons I won't get into, this will be my only trip up this year.  Next time before firing off, know all the details. I understand what your saying, but I do not have the ability. 
Thanks
 
Oh, and for the record, this thread was pretty much over before you jumped in with your smart comments.  Thanks for adding your 2 cents.

I live about 40 miles south of Pittsburgh and make about 8-10 two or three day trips to the tribs and I rely a lot on the stream gauges particularly if they are indicating rising water. My main concern after checking local, regional and national weather is just "are the streams going to be fishable". Don't want to waste the time and money to drive 170 miles one way to find blown out streams. If the streams are low they are still fishable - you just might have to work harder at catching a few fish.

I also look for comments on water condition on the fishing reports and discussion boards. Then I try to make an educated guess as to weather I should make the trip or stay home. Do some homework and you'll usually find your results  productive and personally satisfying. It also helps to know that the streams go up and down like a yo-yo, especially Walnut. Elk takes a little longer to reach fishable condition after it's been blown out because of the larger drainage area and what's happening a few miles south of Erie.

You can track this information right up to the time you plan on leaving for your trip and then make your final decision - if you are that flexable in your planning.

Hope some of this input helps you.

ORIGINAL: Cold

Try not to let him get under your skin.  His sole purpose in any of his posts is to stroke his own ego by ridiculing others.  If he does happen to include any useful info, its by accident.

 
All of my posts have useful info in them and it is done on purpose.  Nice to see many out there doing things for themselves and learning something by experiencing it.