Fishing Reports

Swift River outflow from Quabbin is registering just 10.5 cfs per USGS gauge 01174500 as of June 16, a lean summer reading that signals both reservoirs are in their midsummer drawdown phase. Water temperature data was unavailable at this gauge, though mid-June typically places Quabbin and Wachusett surface temps in the low-to-mid 60s°F. Bass are the primary near-term target: On The Water's early summer coverage advises finesse presentations for post-spawn fish still recovering after leaving the beds, while Tactical Bassin reports that a wobble-head jig paired with a shaky head worm is a reliable combination for offshore June bass. Landlocked Atlantic salmon at Quabbin are retreating toward the thermocline as surface temperatures climb, and deep trolling and vertical jigging will increasingly be the approach. The New Moon this week keeps nights dark; plan dawn launches at both reservoirs to hit feeding windows before sun-driven fish go deep.

11m ago

Water at USGS gauge 01184000 registered 75°F on the evening of June 16, pushing CT's inland warmwater fisheries squarely into summer territory. That temperature signals bass statewide have largely completed their spawn and are recovering on adjacent structure — exactly the transition On The Water covers in their current feature on post-spawn finesse tactics for early summer. Tactical Bassin reinforces the pattern with a wobble-head jig and shaky-head worm as their go-to early-summer combo, alongside swing-head jigs and tube presentations for working bottom structure efficiently. On smaller tributaries, USGS gauge 01193500 shows flow at just 22.1 cfs — notably low for mid-June — meaning fish in tighter streams are concentrated in deeper, slower pools. Tonight's New Moon (June 17) opens a productive low-light feeding window at dawn and dusk for the coming days. Trout anglers face tougher conditions: 75°F approaches the upper comfort threshold for most salmonids, and those fish will be pushed into spring seeps and any remaining cold-water refuges.

15m ago

Water temps are holding at 82°F at Baton Rouge with the Mississippi running a robust 506,000 cfs (USGS gauge 07374000), well above typical early-summer volume. That flow is the defining factor right now, pushing fish off the main channel and into backwater flats, oxbow sloughs, and inside-bend eddies. The headline bite is catfish: Wired 2 Fish reports that Mike Jones, who grew up fishing Southeast Louisiana rivers, describes big catfish pushing shallow during the spawn and warns that the "normally dependable bottom bite all but vanishes" on open channel during this phase. Targeting shallow, protected structure is the current play. On the stocking front, Louisiana Sportsman reports that LDWF and the USFWS partnered to release 5,500 Gulf Strain Striped Bass into the Pearl River on June 16, a reminder that striped bass restoration efforts remain active across the state. Tonight's New Moon window is a prime night-bite opportunity for catfish running the flats.

22m ago

USGS gauges across Central MA are reading low this week: 7.88 cfs at gauge 01105500 and 16.5 cfs at gauge 01111500 as of Monday evening, June 16. No water temperature readings are available from either station. The headline story is post-spawn bass. On The Water's current coverage digs into exactly this seasonal moment, noting that finesse presentations outperform power fishing as largemouth scatter off beds and settle into summer haunts. Tactical Bassin's June report zeroes in on a swing-head jig paired with a shaky-head worm as a reliable one-two punch for early summer largemouth and smallmouth, a combination proven effective on unfamiliar water where building a pattern quickly matters. With rivers running low and clear, fish will be sitting in the deepest available pools and under shaded bank cover. Midday sun and warm air will shut the bite down fast. Plan around the first two hours of daylight and the final hour before dark for your best windows.

25m ago

USGS gauge 02232000 logged a slight reverse flow of -22 cfs on the St. Johns River as of June 16 — well within the normal range for this northward-flowing, wind-and-tide-influenced system, and a signal that current isn't a factor driving fish location right now. No water temperature was recorded at that gauge. Our intel feeds carried no direct charter or tackle-shop reports from Lake Okeechobee or the St. Johns this cycle, so conditions here lean on the calendar and technique coverage from the broader angler press. Mid-June typically marks the tail of largemouth post-spawn recovery on both waters, with fish dispersing from spawning flats toward deeper grass mats and dock shade. Bluegill and bream are most likely at or near peak bed activity. Wired 2 Fish notes that catfish move shallow during spawn, making a presentation shift worthwhile. The New Moon today can extend feeding windows into low-light periods on both systems.

29m ago

USGS gauge 12484500 logged 3,080 cfs on the Yakima system on June 16, indicating spring runoff is still contributing meaningful volume as Eastern Washington heads into the heart of summer. Specific on-the-water reports for the Yakima and Spokane drainages were limited this cycle — WA WDFW Fishing Reports confirms active creel monitoring statewide but detailed local conditions were not available in this update. Outdoor Hub reports that Oregon fishery managers are flagging record-low snowpack and drought as stressors for Pacific Northwest salmonids, a pattern worth watching in neighboring Eastern WA. Hatch Magazine recommends targeting shaded, deeper pools during the coolest hours when stream temperatures climb. Rainbow trout remain the marquee target on the Yakima, where dry-fly and nymph action typically picks up as flows moderate through summer. Smallmouth bass across Eastern WA's Columbia system and Spokane River are a reliable early-summer draw when trout water warms.

41m ago

Mutton snapper are firing across the Florida Keys this June, with ALL IN Key West reporting 'lights out' conditions and yellowtail snappers 'practically jumping in the boat' during the May-through-July spawn window. Gulf-side trips out of Key West have been delivering mixed bags of grouper, cobia, barracuda, and kingfish when the live-bait bite gets going, per ALL IN Key West. Over in Marathon, Coastal Angler Magazine documents mangrove snapper keepers and mahi mahi showing up for anglers willing to make the offshore run. Today's new moon marks a spring-tide window that pushes stronger tidal current across the backcountry flats, creating defined edges for bonefish and permit. No buoy readings are in the system this cycle, so confirm water temps locally, but mid-June in the Keys typically runs in the low-to-mid 80s. Bottom fishing on deep wrecks around 220 feet has produced mutton snapper and occasional rare Caribbean snapper per ALL IN Key West. Summer is fully underway and the fishing reflects it.

45m ago

The Kennebec River at The Forks is posting an elevated 8,680 cfs (USGS gauge 01046500), indicating robust flows through the upper drainage and pushing fish toward slack-water edges, current seams, and backwater pockets. No direct on-the-water reports from the Kennebec or Penobscot freshwater drainages were available this cycle, so conditions here draw on seasonal patterns typical of mid-June in Maine's river systems. Regionally, On The Water reports that Massachusetts opened its commercial striped bass season on June 16, a useful marker that the late-run migratory push has advanced well into New England waters. On the freshwater side, smallmouth bass throughout these drainages are typically emerging from post-spawn recovery this week and entering prime active feeding mode. Landlocked salmon have retreated to cooler thermal refuges in deeper water as surface temperatures climb, while native brook trout seek cold-water tributaries. Tonight's New Moon creates low-light conditions that favor topwater and shallow-running presentations around dawn and dusk.

48m ago

USGS gauge 03335500 on the Wabash River recorded 6,240 cfs on June 16, running well above typical mid-June base flow and signaling recent upstream rainfall across the watershed. High, off-color water pushes catfish out of main-channel holes and into calmer bank eddies, tributary mouths, and shallow woody cover, all of which aligns with the flathead and channel cat spawn. Wired 2 Fish's catfish spawn coverage confirms big fish are moving shallow right now, abandoning deep-hole structure in favor of protected staging areas near snags and root tangles; cut bait and live bluegill fished tight to cover at dusk are the recommended approach. On Lake Michigan's Indiana shoreline, June marks the seasonal transition toward summer chinook and coho patterns as surface temperatures push fish toward the thermocline. IL/IN Sea Grant maintains nearshore Lake Michigan buoys providing real-time conditions anglers can check before heading offshore. The New Moon on June 17 opens favorable low-light feeding windows through the coming weekend.

51m ago

The Potomac at Little Falls is running 3,010 cfs as of June 16 (USGS gauge 01646500), a moderate, fishable level that keeps wade access open on most stretches. With the new moon arriving this week, smallmouth bass on both rivers are finishing the spawn and dispersing to summer structure: rocky shoals, mid-river ledges, and current seams. No Virginia-specific charter or shop reports surfaced in this cycle, so conditions here draw on seasonal patterns and broader angler intel. Tactical Bassin's early-summer breakdown highlights swing-head jigs and wobble heads as top producers for post-spawn bass holding on offshore bottom, tactics that translate directly to Potomac rock gardens and Shenandoah pocket water. Catfish action is worth flagging: Wired 2 Fish reports that during the spawn, big flatheads and channels push into woody cover, making undercut banks and submerged logs productive targets through this week.

55m ago

No NOAA buoy readings were returned for the Chincoteague area this cycle, leaving water temperatures unavailable — check local conditions before launching. Regionally, OTW Saltwater's June 16 Striper Migration Report highlights building summer baitfish patterns along the Atlantic coast and advises anglers to beef up their terminal tackle when targeting 30-pound-plus bass. For Virginia's Eastern Shore in mid-June, that points to post-spawn stripers still working inlet channels and barrier island shoals near Chincoteague, though many larger fish are trending north. The new moon this week condenses feeding activity into tighter tide-driven windows at dawn and dusk. Cobia are the signature summer species here, typically beginning to show around nearshore buoys and in the surf as waters warm. Flounder season is in full swing on inshore structure, and Spanish mackerel and bluefish are seasonally expected to be burning bait in the inlets and nearshore rips.

58m ago

Washington Sea Grant is spotlighting a clear seasonal marker this week: Dungeness crab across the Salish Sea are actively shedding exoskeletons, with the third annual community Molt Blitz scheduled for June 26. That biological clock aligns with mid-June's broader transition into summer fishing mode across Puget Sound and the Pacific coast. Specific on-the-water catch reports are sparse in the current data window — WA WDFW monitors statewide fishing activity through creel interviews, but no individual fishing logs have surfaced in this pull. In the absence of current conditions data, general seasonal patterns apply: late June typically sees summer chinook beginning to stage in earnest in both Puget Sound's main basin and along the Washington coast. The New Moon on June 17 produces amplified tidal swings, which historically concentrate baitfish on rip lines and push salmon and halibut onto structure. Check WA WDFW Fishing Reports directly for the latest creel counts before making your run.

1h ago

USGS gauge 04213000 recorded 176 cfs on the evening of June 16 — a moderate, fishable tributary flow heading into the weekend. Live reports specific to Lake Erie and Presque Isle are thin this cycle, but Tactical Bassin's recent Great Lakes outing documented a productive smallmouth session in blustery conditions, with the Dark Sleeper and Spark Shad swimbaits turning up trophy-class fish. That tracks with the expected mid-June Erie pattern: post-spawn bass have cleared the beds and are feeding actively across the transition zone from bay shallows to deeper main-lake structure. PA Sea Grant's Harmful Algal Blooms webinar on June 25 is a timely reminder that water temperatures are climbing and bloom risk is increasing — anglers fishing Presque Isle Bay's enclosed waters should check PADEP advisories before launching. No buoy temperature readings are available. Walleye and yellow perch are presumed in their early-summer patterns but no specific bite reports are in this cycle's feeds.

1h ago

USGS gauge 03036500 was reading 7,920 cfs Tuesday evening — elevated well above a typical mid-June baseline for western PA's tailwater corridor, signaling recent upstream runoff. Water temperature data is unavailable from this gauge, so check local conditions before heading out. Despite the heavy flow, there is reason to fish: Wired 2 Fish's catfish-spawn coverage this week confirms that big channel cats and flatheads are actively moving into calmer shallows right now, targeting gravel and rock substrate away from the main current push. Look for protected eddies, secondary channels, and the downstream faces of wing dams where spawning fish hold. Tactical Bassin's early-summer bass series points to swing-head jigs and tube baits as the go-to one-two punch for river smallmouth currently settling into post-spawn summer structure. Tonight's New Moon opens low-light feeding windows from dusk into the overnight hours — prime timing for catfish working the quieter reaches.

1h ago

Per Snook Nook out of Stuart, June is shaping up as one of the best months of the year for snook fishing along Florida's Treasure Coast, with trophy-sized fish — including legitimate shots at 40"+ linesiders — moving inshore as the annual pre-spawn push builds. The June 1st harvest closure means all snook must be released, but the quality of fish on offer makes this one of the most coveted catch-and-release windows on the calendar. The new moon falling today (June 17) sets up strong tidal exchanges that should concentrate snook and tarpon around inlets, passes, and bridge structure during outgoing and incoming flows. Handle all large breeder fish with care and minimize air exposure. Atlantic-side red snapper anglers face a major setback: per CCA Florida, a federal court issued a preliminary injunction blocking the South Atlantic EFP pilot programs just hours before Florida's planned season opener — verify current regulations before targeting snapper. No NOAA buoy or USGS gauge data was available for this report.

1h ago

Captain Travis Harper has been putting clients on solid spotted seatrout along Georgia's inshore coast, according to Joshua Barber's Southern Waters Fishing Report (June 13, GA Sportsman / Georgia Outdoor News) — the clearest saltwater signal available this week. No NOAA buoy readings are in this cycle, so exact sea surface temperatures are unconfirmed, but mid-June in Georgia's tidal marsh system typically sees water in the low-to-mid 80s. The same report lists river gauges as of June 11: the Altamaha at 7.2 feet and falling, the Savannah at 3.9 feet and steady — declining freshwater input generally translates to improving salinity and clarity in the estuaries. Today's New Moon sets up some of the month's strongest tidal exchanges over the next several days, creating prime windows on creek mouths, oyster bars, and grass flats across the Golden Isles corridor and the coastal marsh system.

1h ago

The USGS gauge 01030500 on the upper Penobscot drainage clocked 1,820 cfs on the evening of June 16, a healthy and fishable flow heading into the summer stretch. No Maine-specific guide or shop reports landed in this week's intel feeds, so conditions here combine that gauge data with the broader seasonal picture for northern Maine. Mid-June typically marks a critical pivot at Moosehead Lake: lake trout (togue) begin their retreat to deep thermal refuge as surface temperatures climb, while landlocked salmon remain reachable in the 20-to-40-foot range on streamer rigs and trolled smelt imitations. Smallmouth bass finishing the spawn across rocky points and gravel shoals are entering their most aggressive post-spawn feeding stretch of the season. On the river system, those 1,820 cfs flows mean brook trout should be stacked in cooler pockets below riffles and near cold tributary mouths where cold water bleeds in. Tonight's New Moon removes surface-light pressure and should improve topwater action at first and last light.

1h ago

The WI DNR Lake Michigan Fishing Report documented a banner 2024 season on the lake — record coho harvests topping 210,000 fish and over 160,000 Chinook, the most in over a decade — and those strong year-classes are now maturing fish available to Chicago-area trollers this June. No live buoy readings are available for the southern basin this cycle, but seasonal patterns put surface temps in the low-to-mid 60s°F range, pushing baitfish and kings into deeper water. Nearshore, Tactical Bassin reported active Great Lakes smallmouth in recent sessions, with windy conditions moving bass onto rock-bottom transitions and fish responding to a Dark Sleeper and Spark Shad swimbait rotation. Tonight's new moon tightens prime feeding into low-light windows — plan for the early troll out of Chicago harbors and first-light structure fishing to maximize contact across all target species. Verify current conditions locally before running offshore.

1h ago

USGS gauge 03512000 on the Tuckasegee River at Bryson City recorded 71°F and 201 cfs as of Monday evening, June 16 — warm enough to push trout toward thermal stress and signal a shift in summer tactics. At that temperature, rainbow and brook trout begin showing physiological strain; brown trout hold on somewhat longer but still seek the coldest available lies. Hatch Magazine's guide to fishing through drought conditions makes the case for early-morning windows and high-gradient tributaries when mainstem temps climb, advice that applies directly to the Smokies right now. The move is elevation: headwater drainages in the Nantahala and Pisgah national forests and Great Smoky Mountains National Park consistently run several degrees cooler than valley-floor rivers. Fish the first two hours after dawn before ambient heat loads build, targeting shaded pools near spring seeps or tributary inflows. Per Gink and Gasoline, getting weight down to where fish are holding is the priority when trout seek depth in warm-water conditions.

1h ago

Great Lakes smallmouth bass have shifted into a strong summer bite, with Tactical Bassin reporting trophy fish on a recent Great Lakes outing despite challenging wind — swimbaits proved the key, with the Dark Sleeper and Spark Shad combination drawing aggressive strikes in rough conditions. The new moon this week opens prime low-light feeding windows at dawn and dusk that should hold into the weekend. On the Grand River, USGS gauge 04119000 recorded flow at 4,360 cfs as of June 16, a moderately elevated level that pushes fish off the main current and into slacker eddies and tributary mouths. No water temperature reading was available at the gauge this week. Fishing the Midwest recommends working weedlines as fish complete their post-spawn recovery and migrate toward early-summer structure. Walleye and largemouth bass are following similar patterns, dispersing from shallows into offshore habitat and adjacent current breaks.

1h ago

Per Fisherman's Post (NC), Rich of Chasin' Tails out of Morehead/Atlantic Beach reports surf and pier anglers doing well on bluefish, Spanish mackerel, and bonito this June, right in the Cape Lookout corridor. North at Hatteras/Ocracoke, Tom of Hatteras Jack reports bigger bluefish pushing to 30-plus inches hitting casting metals and cut baits in the surf, with sea mullet running steady on the bottom. Swansboro/Emerald Isle angler Morgan of The Reel Outdoors confirms Spanish mackerel have pushed into nearshore areas and along the beachfront in good numbers, and the bluefish bite has remained consistently strong. Inshore around Morehead/Atlantic Beach, red drum are scattered but showing up in deeper holes. No NOAA buoy readings were available for this update period, so water temperature is unavailable. With a New Moon on June 17, tidal push through Pamlico Sound's inlets will be stronger than average this week. Plan to fish the moving water.

1h ago

USGS gauge 02075045 clocked 153 cfs as of the evening of June 16 — stable, low-runoff inflow pointing to good clarity on both reservoirs heading into the weekend. No surface temperature was recorded at the gauge, but mid-June in Virginia's Piedmont typically puts reservoir surfaces in the upper 70s to low 80s°F, placing both Smith Mountain Lake and Buggs Island well into the post-spawn window for largemouth and stripers. Wired 2 Fish this cycle covers the catfish spawning strategy directly: big fish push into the shallowest available structure — laydowns, rip-rap, undercut banks — and become concentrated targets with cut bait or fresh shad on the bottom in 3 to 8 feet. On The Water highlights post-spawn largemouth recovery, recommending finesse baits worked slowly around offshore humps and submerged timber as bass rebuild energy after the spawn. Tonight's New Moon removes surface light and opens extended morning and evening feeding windows — the prime planning edge for bass and striper anglers heading out this weekend.

1h ago

The late-spring tarpon migration is fully underway along Florida's Gulf Coast, with Naples Offshore Fishing Charters reporting steady interceptions as fish push through the Naples area. Captains are running a proven two-session playbook: mornings on tarpon as they migrate through, afternoons switching to permit for sight fishing on the flats, a pairing that has produced jumping and landing quality fish. Large permit have been consistently showing up for sight casters, while kingfish are active offshore on plugs and flies. Cobia and amberjacks are adding variety to what Naples captains describe as a "very dynamic fishery." Meanwhile, Coastal Angler Magazine reports that Mote Marine Laboratory is preparing to release approximately 22,000 juvenile snook into Southwest Florida estuarine habitats this summer, a significant restocking that bodes well for the fishery heading into peak season. The new moon on June 17 sets up favorable low-light feeding windows at dawn and dusk for nearshore species.

1h ago

Mid-June finds Lake Huron and Saginaw Bay in the post-spawn transition, though neither NOAA buoys nor USGS gauge 04157000 returned readings this cycle, leaving water temperatures unconfirmed. The MI DNR Weekly Fishing Report was inaccessible at publication time. A Michigan Sportsman Forum post noted a dock flipped at the Marine City boat launch following an apparent overnight storm, signaling recent strong-wind activity on the lower Lake Huron corridor. Under today's new moon, low-light periods at dawn and dusk are the primary feeding windows for walleye. Saginaw Bay walleye typically consolidate onto mid-lake humps, channel edges, and river mouths by the third week of June as post-spawn recovery concludes. Yellow perch remain a year-round staple in the Bay's mid-depth zones. Tactical Bassin's Great Lakes smallmouth coverage highlights windy, choppy conditions as productive for bass, noting the Dark Sleeper and Spark Shad swimbaits have been working on Great Lakes structure during rough-water sessions.

1h ago