Fishing reports
10999 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
Warm-water bass and panfish dominate as Hudson Valley trout seek relief
The Mohawk River gauge near Cohoes is reading 76°F with flow holding at 819 cfs, while the Hudson gauge at Green Island is running higher at 3,610 cfs — warm, stable water pushing typical late-summer patterns across the Hudson Valley and Finger Lakes. Per the NY DEC's Fishing Line, panfish like bluegill and pumpkinseed are keeping anglers busy through the summer heat, and DEC's mid-June issue noted black bass action picking up as water warmed into early summer, a trend that's carried through August. The same DEC newsletter flagged trout and salmon needing cold-water refuge as temperatures climb, so early mornings and deep, spring-fed stretches are the better bet for stream trout right now. Smallmouth and largemouth bass remain the region's most reliable target in this heat, working shallow cover early and pivoting to deeper structure as the sun climbs. We're seeing a textbook late-August warm-water stretch.
Gulf Coast trout keep biting through the summer wind and heat
Anglers working the lower bay are still finding their limit of speckled trout on soft plastics despite persistent southwest winds, according to the Galveston Daily News' Reel Report. Ed Lantz and Armando Huereca launched out of Eagle Point Fishing camp and worked a gas well in choppy Galveston Bay water this past weekend, landing a decent trout bite. The action isn't fast, but it's steady enough to keep livewells filling. Tournament season is in full swing along the upper coast — Bayou Bash results are in, the Redfish Rumble dates are set, and a Kid Fish event runs this weekend, per the same Reel Report. The CCA-Texas STAR Tournament remains open coastwide through September 7, per Texas Fish & Game Magazine. Heat and southwest wind look locked in for the foreseeable future, with little rain relief in the forecast — plan trips around wind direction more than temperature right now.
Croaker and bluefish stack up in the OBX surf zone
Surf anglers along the Outer Banks are into a solid mixed bag right now: per Hugh at TW's Bait and Tackle, the surf zone is giving up sea mullet, bluefish, and plenty of croaker on standard bottom rigs, and inshore action is reportedly turning a corner after a slower stretch. No live buoy or gauge readings came through for this update, so treat water temp and swell as unconfirmed until you check a local source before launching. Elsewhere on the NC coast the same late-summer pattern is holding — Chasin' Tails out of Morehead City is seeing a strong nearshore Spanish mackerel bite with bigger fish stacking up near Cape Lookout, and Island Tackle and Hardware in Carolina Beach is seeing red drum, flounder, croaker, and assorted sharks in the surf — a sign the warm-water mix is running the length of the state, not just up north. Hurricane season adds a planning wrinkle worth keeping in mind.
Wabash River bass hold deep as Lake Michigan walleye go suspended
Forward-facing sonar continues to reshape how Midwest walleye anglers work Lake Michigan's open water, with Fishing the Midwest noting this season that suspended fish are increasingly found off traditional bottom structure rather than sitting on it. No fresh buoy or gauge data came back for the Wabash River or Indiana's Lake Michigan waters this cycle, so this update leans on seasonal patterns rather than a specific reading. Late August typically holds Wabash River smallmouth bass and channel catfish on deeper structure and current breaks through the heat, while nearshore Lake Michigan yellow perch stay modest until cooling water arrives closer to fall. We didn't see Indiana-specific shop or captain reports in this cycle's intel, so treat the species status below as seasonal expectation, not confirmed bites — check with a local bait shop before building a trip around any one pattern.
Late-summer bass window holds on the Potomac and Patapsco
No buoy or gauge data came back for the Potomac or Patapsco this cycle, and this week's angler-intel feed carried no direct reports from Maryland's freshwater fisheries — so this write-up leans on typical late-August patterns rather than fresh local intel. Water on both rivers is typically in the upper 70s to low 80s by late August, pushing largemouth and smallmouth bass into classic summer behavior: active in low light, sluggish once the sun climbs high. National bass-technique coverage from Tactical Bassin this week highlights early topwater bites transitioning to finesse jigs and junk-fishing approaches as temperatures rise through the day — a pattern that generally carries over to Mid-Atlantic reservoirs and tidal-freshwater stretches like the upper Potomac. The Potomac's blue catfish fishery, one of the better-known on the East Coast, typically stays productive into early fall on cut bait fished deep. Check Maryland DNR regs before harvesting, and expect the midday bite to slow with the heat.
UP streams hold steady as Superior's fall salmon push nears
Wisconsin DNR's Lake Superior Fisheries program is flagging a genuine shift on the water this year — its ongoing Chequamegon Bay lake whitefish questionnaire and a March informational meeting both point to whitefish angling on the bay having grown from a niche pursuit into a real fishery within the broader Lake Superior basin, worth watching for anglers working the UP shoreline too (per WI DNR Lake Superior Fishing). The agency is also running an angler-awareness survey on Lake Superior burbot, another basin species with a small but dedicated late-season following. We didn't get a direct on-the-water bite report for UP trout streams or Lake Superior itself this cycle, so treat the species snapshot below as seasonal-typical: late-August UP streams are running cool and clear for brook trout, lake trout are holding on deep structure, and the first push of fall salmon should be staging near tributary mouths as days shorten. Check current regs before harvesting whitefish or burbot.
Ozark trout parks settle into a quiet late-August pattern
No direct buoy or gauge readings came back for the Current or Niangua trout parks today, and none of this week's angler-intel feeds cover Missouri's Ozark fisheries specifically, so this update leans on general seasonal knowledge rather than fresh local reports. Late August is typically a transition stretch at Missouri's trout parks: daytime water can run warm enough to slow feeding during peak sun, while cooler overnight releases and early-morning windows tend to produce the most consistent action. Rainbow trout, the primary stocked species at both Current River and Niangua-area parks, generally stay catchable on small nymphs, scented dough baits, or corn under a light rig fished slow along deeper runs and structure. Brown trout, present in lower numbers, tend to hold tighter to cover and respond better to low-light presentations. Anglers should check current stocking schedules and daily tag/limit rules before heading out, since those change by park and season.
Smallmouth bite holds on rivers as CT ponds enter the late-summer lull
Per Wired2fish, the urchin-style soft-plastic bait trend reshaping bass fishing nationally is worth carrying into Connecticut's inland lakes and ponds as August winds down. No CT-specific buoy or stream-gauge readings came through this cycle, and this week's freshwater shop intel skewed toward neighboring Massachusetts and New Hampshire waters rather than Connecticut proper — worth flagging honestly rather than papering over. Still, the regional pattern is useful context: The Fisherman's New England Freshwater desk reports smallmouth bass holding strong through the Merrimack River corridor, while a Southwick, Massachusetts shop noted largemouth turning tougher after weed-control treatment hit nearby ponds. For Connecticut anglers, that points to smallmouth staying reliable on current seams while largemouth call for slower, subtler presentations as summer weed growth thickens. Trout reports were quiet across regional stocked waters, typical as ponds warm through late summer. Always confirm current stocking and creel regulations with the state before keeping fish.
Taneycomo trout turn aggressive as trophy releases surge
Trout on Lake Taneycomo have turned aggressive lately, hitting hard with no pecking around, according to Lilleys Landing's latest report — and the shop's trophy release program has picked back up after a slow spring. Guides are finding afternoon success on the Provo rig, while a simpler drift presentation — a weight on bottom with a drop-shot loop set about 18 inches up — has also been producing, a technique credited to guide Blake Wilson fishing Vanish fluorocarbon tippet. That marks a shift from June and early July, when Lilleys Landing described inconsistent fishing tied to heavy hydropower generation and a string of mini-fronts moving through the watershed. With flows settling out and the bite turning more predictable, this looks like a solid window for anglers working Taneycomo's rainbow and brown trout fishery. Table Rock's bass, walleye and crappie see less specific reporting this time of year but remain part of the broader reservoir system worth working alongside the tailwater trout bite.
Chickamauga bass keep grinding through late-summer heat
Bass fishing on Lake Chickamauga is holding up despite the hot, humid stretch typical of late August, according to Tactical Bassin (blog), which described a full day of 'junk fishing' — rotating baits at every stop to keep fish coming over the gunwale. That matches the broader pattern the same outlet lays out for reservoir bass in August heat: work shallow points early with topwater, then downshift to a finesse jig once the sun climbs and fish slide deeper. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for the Tennessee River chain this cycle, so treat water levels and clarity as TVA-managed and check current lake data before launching. Smallmouth and catfish activity should track the seasonal norm for Chickamauga and Watts Bar, while crappie typically go quiet and deep this time of year. Bait rotation, not one silver bullet, is the throughline anglers are reporting right now.
Platte & Missouri anglers lean on sonar as summer patterns hold
No NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings came through for the Platte and Missouri system this cycle, and none of today's angler-intel feeds filed a report specific to Nebraska water, so this update leans on regional technique trends and typical late-August patterns rather than fresh local intel. Per Fishing the Midwest, walleye anglers across the region are increasingly running forward-facing sonar to find fish suspended off bottom rather than grinding traditional structure like points and weedlines, a shift the outlet says has changed where anglers even bother looking. That same piece notes catfish and white bass typically hold in deeper river channels and current breaks through late summer as water warms, with catfish sliding onto the bottom in scour holes and white bass schooling and chasing baitfish on the flats. Expect a quieter bite during peak afternoon heat with better windows at dawn, dusk, and after dark until temperatures ease.
New Blue Catfish Record Signals Strong Late-Summer Bite on Lanier
Anthony Scroggins of Gainesville set a new Lake Lanier blue catfish record on Aug. 19, landing a 22-lb., 0-oz. fish weighed on certified DNR scales, per GA Sportsman / Georgia Outdoor News — a solid signal that catfish are feeding aggressively as water temperatures sit near their late-August peak. For bass anglers working Lanier and Allatoona's rocky points and bluff walls, Tactical Bassin notes summer reservoir bass typically start shallow on points with topwater and finesse jigs in low light before sliding deeper as the sun climbs, with late-summer fish keying on baitfish schools. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for this update, so plan around typical late-August thermal stratification: largemouth and spotted bass holding on secondary points and timber, with stripers pushed toward deeper, cooler main-lake structure during the heat of the day.
Panhandle redfish dig deep as gag grouper season nears
Redfish are pulling into deeper, moving water as Gulf temperatures hold in their typical late-August range, and Salt Strong's breakdown of summer heat patterns points anglers toward blue crab and slower presentations over fast-moving lures right now. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for the Destin/Pensacola stretch this cycle, so this report leans on seasonal pattern and angler color rather than today's exact numbers. Gag grouper are drawing attention ahead of their short September Gulf season, with Sport Fishing Mag describing solid results trolling shallow structure on Florida's Gulf side. One Pensacola-area angler on the Pensacola Fishing Forum reported finally getting back on the water this week, working a topwater plug before dawn and noting a hint of fall in the air even though the heat hasn't broken. Spanish mackerel and speckled trout are holding their usual late-summer patterns around Panhandle grass flats and passes. Florida Sea Grant's ongoing Atlantic red snapper tagging project remains active statewide, offering a $250 reward per tagged fish reported.
Late-August bass pattern holds for Catawba and Roanoke waters
No dedicated report came in from the Catawba or Roanoke systems this week, so we're leaning on the broader late-August playbook other regional coverage is describing. Tactical Bassin's hot-weather bass piece, filed this week, found reservoir largemouth still grouping shallow at first light before sliding to deeper points and shade once the sun climbs — a pattern that typically holds for Piedmont lakes and river backwaters like these in late summer. Wired 2 Fish and Fishing the Midwest both flagged "urchin" style soft-plastics as a hot trend among bass anglers nationally this season, worth trying if your usual worm bite has gone quiet. Catawba and Roanoke blue and channel catfish are typically still feeding well through late-August warmth, while striped bass in the Roanoke system usually slow down well outside their spring migration window. Check current water levels before launching.
Central MA bass bite stays hot at Wachusett Reservoir and Louisa Lake
A 12-year-old angler's 5-pound smallmouth bass on a jig at Wachusett Reservoir headlined this week's roundup from Jerry's Bait and Tackle in Milford, who also reported a follow-up 4-plus-pounder taken on a topwater lure at the same reservoir. Largemouth action stayed solid too — a young angler named Logan landed a 5-pound largemouth on a shiner fished from shore, reportedly near Louisa Lake, while younger anglers kept busy with steady panfish, bullhead, and small-largemouth action there. No live buoy or gauge readings came back for this region this cycle, so treat flow and temperature as unconfirmed and check a local forecast before heading out. With late-August conditions typical for the area, morning and evening windows are shaping up as the most productive times to be on the water for both bass species this week.
Eastern Washington settles into typical late-summer patterns
No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for the Yakima and Spokane river basins this cycle, so this update leans on typical late-August patterns for the region rather than a specific reading. WDFW's ongoing statewide creel and stocking program continues to feed lakes and streams across the state, per WA WDFW Fishing Reports, which is the best resource for checking recent plants on waters like the Yakima system and the Spokane-area lakes. With water typically running warm and low this time of year, expect trout action to concentrate in early morning and evening windows, while warmwater species stay more consistently active through the day. Anglers should check WDFW's site directly for the latest stocking and creel reports before heading out, since no angler-specific intel for this region came through in today's feeds. Always verify current regulations before harvesting.
Upper Mississippi walleyes shift as sonar and bass tactics evolve
Late-August conditions on the Upper Mississippi pools between Prescott and La Crosse are entering their typical summer-to-fall transition window; no fresh NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings were pulled for this stretch today, so anglers should check current flow and temperature data before heading out. Regional technique reports still offer useful cues: Fishing the Midwest's Mike Frisch notes that forward-facing sonar keeps changing how walleye anglers locate fish, with suspended fish away from bottom structure now producing as often as the classic points, turns, and weedlines. Fellow Fishing the Midwest writer Bob Jensen reports urchin-style soft plastics drawing solid reaction strikes from bass this summer, a pattern worth testing on backwater weed edges. Tactical Bassin's late-summer coverage points toward buzzbaits and other moving baits as bass key on baitfish ahead of the fall shift. Sauger typically stay slower until water cools further into autumn. We're treating these as general regional technique cues rather than pool-specific reports until more direct local intel comes in.
Missouri River walleyes tuck into shallow weed edges as August winds down
The freshest read we have on South Dakota water this week comes from a Jason Mitchell Outdoors video titled "Shallow Weed Walleyes in South Dakota," which points anglers toward green weed edges rather than deep main-lake structure as the pattern worth leaning on right now. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for this update, so treat water temp and flow as unknowns until you check a local source before launching. Late August is typically a transition stretch on the Missouri River system (Oahe, Sharpe, Francis Case): walleye still relate to healthy weed growth in the mornings before sliding toward channel edges as the sun climbs, smallmouth bass hold tight to rock piles and current breaks, and channel cats stay active on cut bait through the warm afternoons. In the Black Hills, trout streams and reservoirs like Pactola typically fish best early, before the water warms through the day. Check current state regs before harvesting anything you plan to keep.
Eagle Mountain Lake Catfish Keep the Late-Summer Bite Alive
Catfish remain the most reliable bite for Texas lake anglers heading into late August, with blue and channel catfish producing consistently on Eagle Mountain Lake near Fort Worth, per North Texas Catfish Guide's ongoing reports out of that fishery. The guide has repeatedly flagged how rising, fresh water triggers active, feeding fish on Eagle Mountain, a pattern worth watching if recent rain has moved through North Texas. White bass, which the same operation reported schooling heavily on the main lake earlier this year, have mostly wound down their spring-into-summer run by this point in the season. For bass anglers, Tactical Bassin's hot-weather approach emphasizes working shallow points early with topwater and finesse jigs before fish slide deeper as the sun climbs, a pattern that fits reservoirs statewide right now. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for this region today, so treat conditions as seasonal-typical rather than confirmed real-time.
Mississippi Sound anglers stage up as gag, amberjack season nears
The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources confirmed this week that recreational Gag Grouper and Greater Amberjack seasons open in Mississippi territorial waters at 12:01 a.m. on September 1, 2026, per MS DMR — Gag runs through October 1, Greater Amberjack through October 14. With the Sound still holding onto late-summer heat, offshore anglers are prepping bottom rigs for reef and wreck structure ahead of the opener. Inshore, it's the classic dog-days pattern: speckled trout and redfish are still catchable but want a slower presentation as fish conserve energy in the heat, per Salt Strong, which also notes redfish pushing into deeper, moving water this time of year rather than sitting shallow. No fresh buoy or gauge readings were available for this report, so lean on the confirmed DMR season dates and check a local forecast before running out. The next two weeks are really a countdown to September 1.
Western Basin walleye hold steady as late-August pattern sets in
No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for this update, so today's report leans on seasonal pattern and regional angler chatter rather than live instrument data. Wired2Fish's recent feature on Lake Erie's standing as one of North America's premier multi-species fisheries is a good reminder of what's at stake in the Western Basin right now — walleye, smallmouth bass, and perch all share the same structure through late summer. Over on the Michigan Sportsman Forum, anglers were already talking up "perch palooza" season and eyeing that "Lake Erie gold," though that's forum chatter rather than a confirmed bite report worth banking on. Typical for late August in the Western Basin, walleye are holding over deeper reef structure and along the edges of the open-water thermocline, with trolling crankbaits and spoons behind boards the standard presentation as surface temps stay warm. Check state regulations before harvesting, and confirm conditions locally before you run out.
Delaware River smallmouth improve as Pine Barrens pickerel hold steady
Smallmouth fishing on the Delaware River is trending up heading into September, per The Fisherman — NJ/DE Freshwater, where Dave's Sport Shop in Doylestown calls the bite 'improving' and expects good live-lining if conditions hold. Largemouth bass remain dependable across regional ponds and lakes in the same report: Smith's Bait Shop describes good topwater action (plus snakeheads) around vegetation, while Dave's Sport Shop notes weedless plastics working similar cover at Lake Nockamixon. In the Pine Barrens' cedar-stained waters, Allen's Dock reports pickerel still taking killies, though recent heat has kept some anglers off the water and left the local pond bass bite picky. Panfish and perch stay active in spillways at Garrisons Lake, Massey Mills, and Silver Lake per Smith's Bait Shop, with more panfish coming from Galena and Towhee lakes. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through this cycle — check local flow and temperature before heading out.
Fluke grind holds as bonito and Spanish mackerel light up the surf
Fluke and sea bass are still carrying the Jersey Shore action as August winds down, though the bite has turned selective. Capt Ron's Atlantic Highlands NJ reported a tough fluke drift over the weekend with sea bass loaded on every drop and a 4.5-pound fluke taking the pool. Grumpys Tackle (NJ) notes warm water has pushed Spanish mackerel and bonito into range, with epoxy jigs producing. OTW Northern New Jersey's August 20 report confirms bonito and Spanish mackerel working the surf while ocean fluking holds a steady pick of keepers, though the midshore bluefin jig bite is hit or miss. Offshore, Blue Chip Sportfishing (NJ) is finding sharks, tuna, and mahi, and Fishermans HQ LBI (NJ) is putting anglers on 25-40 lb bluefin within 30 miles of Barnegat Inlet. Striped bass remain quiet — The Fisherman — Northern NJ expects captains to pivot to stripers once fluke season closes.
Moosehead country settles into a late-summer togue and smallmouth pattern
No fresh buoy or gauge readings came back for the Moosehead Lake and upper Penobscot corridor today, and none of this cycle's angler-intel feeds filed a direct report from this water, so this update leans on typical late-August patterns rather than fresh call-ins. By this point in the season, lake trout and landlocked salmon have usually pushed into deeper, cooler water as the surface has warmed through summer, while smallmouth bass tend to stay catchable in the shallower rocky stretches of the lake and the moving water of the upper Penobscot. Elsewhere in New England, The Fisherman's New England Freshwater desk continues to report solid smallmouth activity on comparable river and pond systems into late summer, which is broadly consistent with what's typical for this corridor. Brook trout activity is likely tapering as water warms, with fish drifting toward spring seeps and cooler tributary mouths. Check current Maine regulations before harvesting anything this week.