Getting Started with River Ranker
River Ranker is your personal fly fishing research assistant and fishing diary. It pulls live river data from USGS and other public gauges, scores conditions for fishability, and gives you a private place to track every trip.
Quick Start
Find a river
Browse nearby rivers sorted by distance, or use the map to explore. California rivers have full premium data. Other states show basic flow from USGS gauges.
Check conditions
Look at the bubble rating (1–5), flow status, and temperature. Green means good to go.
Start a trip
Tap the Record button on any river page. GPS tracking starts automatically.
Log your day
Use the active trip card to log catches, add notes, and mark hot spots as you fish.
Build your knowledge
Add guides, fly shops, camping spots, and gear notes to create your personal river database.
Finding Rivers
Browse Nearby
Rivers are sorted by distance from your location.
Map Search
Tap the map icon to search any location.
Filter & Sort
Sort by distance, score, or name. Toggle "Require flow data" to hide rivers with offline gauges.
Favorites
Heart icon saves unlimited rivers for quick access. Favorited rivers work offline.
Important Notes
Changing conditions
Flows and temps can change quickly due to weather or dam operations. Always verify current conditions on the water.
Regulations
Can change mid-season. Always check official state regulations before you fish.
Safety first
Use caution around water. High or swift flows can be dangerous even when a river looks good on the app.
Data availability
Most gauges report flow (CFS). Some also report water temperature or gage height. Availability varies by location.