Frequently Asked Questions
General
What is River Ranker?
River Ranker is a fly fishing app that combines real-time river conditions with researched fishing intelligence and a private trip diary. It's built by one angler to help you know before you go, find the right water, and keep a personal record of every day on the river.
Is River Ranker a social network?
No. There are no accounts, no profiles, no followers, and no way for other users to see your catches, spots, or notes. Everything stays on your device.
What platforms is it available on?
River Ranker is available for iOS (iPhone). An Android version is not currently planned but may come in the future.
Data & Coverage
Where does the river data come from?
Real-time flow and temperature data comes from USGS, CDEC, USBR, and LADWP. Weather forecasts come from NOAA. All are public government data sources.
How often is the data updated?
Our servers fetch fresh gauge data every 15 minutes. You always see current conditions.
What states are covered?
Basic flow data works for rivers with USGS gauges across the United States. Premium content (monthly guides, hatches, hot spots, regulations) is currently available for California, with Oregon, Colorado, Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho in research.
What does the 5-bubble score mean?
The score rates current fishing conditions from 1 (poor) to 5 (perfect) based on flow, water temperature, and distance. A 5 means everything is aligned — flow is optimal, temps are in the trout sweet spot (52–62°F), and the river is close.
Learn more about scoring →State Packs
What's in a State Pack?
Ad-free experience, monthly fishing guides, seasonal hatches with fly recommendations, GPS hot spots with access info, species profiles, regulations, and 7-day weather forecasts with fishing-specific analysis.
Full State Pack details →How much does it cost?
$9.99 per state, one-time purchase. Yours for life, including all future updates and new content.
Who creates the premium content?
I oversee all of it personally. Every monthly guide, hatch chart, access note, and hot spot is reviewed and validated before it goes live. It's the notebook I wish I'd had when I started fly fishing.
Privacy & Data
Can other users see my catches or spots?
No. Your catches, spots, notes, trip history, and photos are stored on your device only. They are never uploaded and never visible to anyone else.
Do I need to create an account?
No. River Ranker works without any account or sign-in.
Does River Ranker track my location?
Your location is used locally on your device to calculate distances to nearby rivers. It is not stored or sent to any server. GPS tracks during trips are saved locally only.
Troubleshooting
A river is showing no data
Some USGS gauges go offline temporarily for maintenance or equipment issues. When a gauge is offline, the river will show no flow data until it comes back. This is outside our control.
The flow data seems wrong
River Ranker displays data exactly as reported by USGS and other government sources. If something looks off, the source gauge may be malfunctioning. Use the Report button on the river page to let me know.
How do I request a new river?
Use the Report button at the bottom of any river listing in the app, or email support@riverranker.app. I read every request.
How do I export my trip data?
Go to the Stats page in the app and use the Export option. Your data is exported as a CSV file.