Fishing reports
14727 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
Northern California saltwater settles into its fall cooldown
NOAA CO-OPS station 9416841 is reading 56.8°F this week, marking the fall cooldown now settling into Northern California's coastal waters. The moon sits in a waning crescent, trending toward new moon and the bigger tidal swings that phase typically brings to SF Bay and Bodega.
Eastern Shore cool-down signals fall transition near Chincoteague
Water along Virginia's Eastern Shore is settling into the upper 60s as the fall cool-down takes hold. NOAA CO-OPS station 8631044 read 68.7°F Thursday evening, while station 8632200 ran slightly warmer at 70.2°F — a roughly two-degree spread that reflects how more exposed inlet water cools faster than water held closer to shore. That drop from summer highs is the signal anglers along the Mid-Atlantic watch for ahead of the fall run.
Connecticut inland flows diverge as fall cool-down takes hold
USGS gauge 01193050 is reading 14,000 cfs and 64°F, and gauge 01184000 is close behind at 4,620 cfs and 62°F, both larger systems still carrying extra water from recent rain. Smaller headwater gauges tell a different story: 01194500 sits at just 25.2 cfs and 58°F, and 01193500 is barely moving at 45.4 cfs. That split, bigger rivers running high while small tributaries stay low and cool fastest, is the clearest signal in the water right now as Connecticut's inland fisheries move deeper into the fall transition.
White River trout fishing tracks generation swings at Bull Shoals, Norfork
Generation is driving conditions on the White River system this week. USGS gauge 07060500 below Bull Shoals Dam logged 5,370 cfs with water at 65°F, a release-driven push running noticeably warmer than the 56°F reading upstream at gauge 07060000. Downstream, gauges 07075000 and 07060710 both read in the low 70s, a reminder that this trout fishery lives and dies by how much cold bottom-release water the dams are pushing through on a given day. Early October has this system in its classic fall generation pattern, where flow volume shapes the bite as much as the calendar does.
Green River's cold tailwater holds steady into mid-October
The Green River's cold-water signature is holding strong below Flaming Gorge Dam, where USGS gauge 09234500 near Greendale reads 50°F with flow at 2,820 cfs. Moving downstream, USGS gauge 404417108524900 shows water warming to 58°F, and by the time the river reaches Jensen, USGS gauge 09261000 reports 60°F with flow eased to 2,290 cfs. That steady warming gradient from dam to desert reach is the signature of a healthy fall tailwater release, and it's sitting about where this stretch typically runs heading into mid-October.
Green River tailwater cools into its fall rhythm below Flaming Gorge
USGS gauge 09234500, in the tailwater immediately below Flaming Gorge Dam, is reading 2,820 cfs and 50°F as of this afternoon, the coldest number in the system and the clearest sign of a steady, bottom-release dam flow. Ten miles downstream, USGS gauge 09261000 shows the river already warmed to 60°F on a lighter 2,290 cfs, and a third site nearby is holding at 58°F. That ten-degree spread between the dam and the water below it is the defining feature of this fishery right now.
High, warm flows keep the fall bass bite building on the Kansas River
Kansas River gauges are running high and unseasonably warm heading into mid-October: 19,300 cfs at the De Soto gauge and 20,700 cfs near Bonner Springs, with water holding at 71°F on both main-stem readings. A nearby tributary gauge near Bonner Springs shows a much smaller 11.7 cfs at 68°F, a sign the smaller systems have settled even as the main river stays swollen. Field & Stream's fall bass roundup this week notes the real trigger for strong activity is cooling water pushing baitfish into the shallows, a shift the main river hasn't fully made yet at 71°F. Tactical Bassin's October coverage points to crankbaits, topwater, and jigs as the baits producing once that shift takes hold.
Fall cooldown sets up Western Basin walleye push
Western Basin tributary temps are holding in the mid-60s this week. USGS gauge 04198000 reads 65°F, with 04192500 and 04193500 close behind at 64°F and 66°F, a sign the fall cooldown is progressing without having broken yet. Flows are modest and stable (102 cfs at 04198000, near 1,760-1,770 cfs on the other two), so there is no runoff-driven turbidity to fight. Per Fishing the Midwest, the standard fall walleye program, a bottom-bouncer and nightcrawler snell or a bladed swim jig worked along deeper weed edges, is the go-to approach as baitfish push shallower with the cooling water.
Cumberland tributaries settle into low, clear fall flow
USGS gauges across the Cumberland system are reading low-to-mid 70s water temperatures this week: 74°F at gauge 03433500, 75°F at gauge 03431514, and 72°F at gauge 034324146. Flow is running low and clear where discharge is reported, 37.8 cfs at 03433500 and 74.6 cfs at 03434500. That combination, warm water riding on thin, clear flow, is the signature of Middle Tennessee's early-October base-flow pattern, with minimal recent runoff keeping these tributaries well below summer storm-flow levels.
Saginaw Bay tributaries cool into prime fall feeding window
Water in the Saginaw Bay tributary system has eased into the lower 60s, with USGS gauge 04157005 logging 61°F and flow holding near 1,930 cfs as of Thursday. That reading tracks with what anglers are seeing on the water — a Michigan Sportsman Forum post this week noted temps down near 60°F on a nearby stretch while the angler landed a strong catch ahead of winter travel plans. Lake Huron's fall cool-down is settling in on schedule for early October.
Cooling Water Signals Fall Smallmouth Shift at Quabbin, Wachusett
Tributary gauges feeding the Quabbin and Wachusett watershed are reading 55 to 58°F this week, with flows holding low and stable across the system, from 3.4 cfs up to 37.5 cfs on the monitored streams. That cooling trend tracks the fall transition Field & Stream describes this week: as water temperatures recede, shad and other baitfish push into the shallows, pulling smallmouth bass up onto flats and structure to feed.
Fall baseflow settles in across Wind River, North Platte
Water temperatures across the Wind River and North Platte gauges this week sit between 60°F and 63°F, with flows ranging from a low 9.32 cfs at gauge 06258000 up to 360 cfs at gauge 06236100. Gauge 06253000, mid-basin, is running 118 cfs at 60°F. That spread of low, stable flows with water in the low 60s is characteristic of fall baseflow settling in across the drainage.
Fall Cooldown on Ohio's Rivers Sets Up Walleye and Pike Action
Ohio's river gauges show a clear fall cooldown this week: readings came back at 69°F, 66°F and 60°F across our three active monitoring sites, with flow holding near 2,100 cfs on the larger gauge and a modest 69 cfs on the smaller tributary. That spread, warmer on one stretch and cooler on another, is typical as nights lengthen and smaller tributaries shed heat faster than the bigger water. Fishing the Midwest's Mike Frisch notes walleye settling onto classic fall structure as water cools, and points to a bladed swim jig as a multi-species draw that pulls walleye and northern pike from the same water. Field & Stream's fall bass breakdown adds that smallmouth are pushing toward shallower cover behind baitfish as temperatures recede, a pattern that lines up with what these gauges are showing.
Fall walleye and pike bite builds as Platte and Missouri flows hold steady
Platte gauge 06796500 is reading 72°F with flow steady near 3,780 cfs, while the Missouri-side gauge 06800500 sits cooler at 68°F and 1,210 cfs; a third site, 06796550, logs 70°F. That spread of upper-60s to low-70s water with strong, stable flow is textbook early-October transition on this system. Fishing the Midwest's current pieces line up with it: the "plain rig" bottom-bouncer and nightcrawler snell is described as a go-to as water cools into fall, and the bladed swim jig with a plastic trailer is drawing walleye, northern pike, and bass along deeper flats and weed edges as those fish shift off summer structure.
Salt River chain eases into its fall cool-down toward Roosevelt
The Salt River chain is sliding through its fall temperature drop. The upper gauge near the White Mountains reads 61°F, while the gauge on the lower Salt above the Phoenix-area chain sits at 68°F, a split that tracks the elevation drop across this system. Inflow into Roosevelt Lake is running near 385 cfs, with releases below the chain holding around 134 cfs, both ordinary for early October. Surface temps settling into the mid-60s put the chain squarely in the window where fall feeding typically ramps up.
Cooling water signals fall transition on Eufaula, Red River
The Red River corridor held at 77°F Thursday afternoon per USGS gauge 07335700, with flow essentially flat at that site, while gauge 07198000 upstream ran a stronger 4,330 cfs at 75°F and the smaller gauge 07247500 trickled at just 3.24 cfs. That contrast, slack water beside a stretch still pushing real current, is the defining read for Lake Eufaula and the Red River this week. Early October in this part of Oklahoma typically marks the start of the fall turnover window, when stable but gradually cooling water starts concentrating baitfish and the fish that follow them along current breaks and structure edges.
Delta anglers eye tidal swings as fall transition sets in
Water temperatures across the central Delta are holding at 72°F this week, per USGS gauges 381126121554801 and 381142122015801. A gauge farther upstream, 11447650, shows the Sacramento system still feeding in at a steady 9,510 cfs and a cooler 67°F. Meanwhile gauge 11455420 logged a sharp negative flow reading of roughly 65,600 cfs, a clear tidal reversal that confirms current direction in that stretch is running on the tide cycle rather than river discharge.
Inshore slams build as Georgia coast rides the mullet run
Water along the Georgia Atlantic coast is holding at 77°F this afternoon, per NOAA CO-OPS station 8670870, a reading that keeps the region in the warm, active window before any real fall cool-down sets in. Anglers are putting that warmth to work: per Salt Strong (articles), one trip turned a dead bite around simply by switching from hard plugs to soft plastic jerk lures on the same water, producing a quick inshore slam of redfish and snook. That kind of lure change-up, not a new spot, was the difference maker. Offshore and along the beaches, Saltwater Sportsman reports the fall mullet run is underway, with millions of baitfish streaming out of rivers, bays, and estuaries along the Atlantic coast in a migration that runs from September well into November and pulls predators along with it. Georgia Wildlife Blog's latest fishing report leans into the same seasonal mood, pointing anglers toward cooler mornings and the start of fall as reason to get out on the water now.
Hill Country lakes hold in a mixed fall transition pattern
Conditions across the Hill Country lake system are mixed this week. USGS gauges report water temperatures spanning 70°F to 82°F depending on location, with most sites running light flow between 0 and 18.5 cfs while one lower-river gauge pushes a notably higher 156 cfs. That spread is typical for early October, when some stretches have already started shedding summer heat and others are still holding warm, stratified water.
Catskills streams show a wide temperature split as fall deepens
USGS gauge 01414750 is reading 63°F this week, while gauge 01434025, just a few miles away, sits at 51°F, highlighting how much elevation and tributary size are shaping Catskills water temperatures right now. Flows are thin at most sites: gauge 01415000 has dropped to 8.6 cfs and 01434025 to 4.9 cfs, while 01413500 is holding a stronger 80.8 cfs and 0136219503 is running 39.4 cfs. That spread, a milder mainstem reach, cold skinny headwaters, and one healthier flow, is the typical early-October Catskills and Adirondacks trout-stream setup.
Sacramento-Delta water holds in the upper 60s as fall transition sets in
USGS gauges across the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta are reading in the upper 60s this week: 69°F at gauge 11446980, 68°F at gauge 11446700, and 67°F at gauge 11447650, all recorded this afternoon. Flow at 11447650 is running 9,510 cfs, the only flow reading currently reported among the three stations. That spread of temperatures marks the Delta squarely in its fall cooling slide, with surface readings easing off summer highs but still warm enough to keep fish feeding actively before the deeper chill of late autumn arrives.
Roaring Fork, Frying Pan clear up as Colorado flows ease for fall
Western Colorado's gauges are easing into a classic early-October pattern: USGS gauge 09095500 reads 1,130 cfs at 66°F, USGS gauge 09106485 sits at 202 cfs and 70°F, and a smaller tributary gauge (391953108130201) has dropped to a trickle at 0.28 cfs. Crystal Fly Shop reports the Roaring Fork has fallen to 66 cfs at Aspen, 242 cfs at Basalt and 444 cfs at Glenwood Springs with every closure on the river now lifted; the water is low, clear and cool, and smaller flies on lighter tippets are producing, with Rainbow Warriors, Sparklewing RS2s, Flashback PTs and Tricos all picking up fish. The Frying Pan is running low and clear at 62 cfs below Ruedi Reservoir, where green drakes, PMDs, BWOs and midges are all showing and dry-fly fishing is described as superb, though overlapping hatches are making trout picky. The Colorado River between Glenwood Springs and Rifle, higher and muddier at a reported 1,310 cfs per Crystal Fly Shop, remains under a voluntary afternoon closure as a recent cooldown works water temperatures down.
Fall turnover sets up walleye and pike bite at Mosquito, Pymatuning
Water across the creeks feeding the Mahoning and Beaver watersheds, which drain toward Mosquito and Pymatuning, is settling into a fall pattern: USGS gauge 03108500 read 65°F, 03119971 read 59°F, and 03119979 read 56°F today, while flow at 03110000 is running low at 35.4 cfs. That spread puts these reservoirs in the thick of fall cool-down. Fishing the Midwest's plain-rig report points to walleye keying on bottom-bouncer rigs as water cools through fall, and the same outlet's bladed-swim-jig piece flags northern pike joining the bite on moving baits as baitfish push into the shallows. Field & Stream's fall-bass breakdown notes smallmouth activity building as water temps recede and shad move shallow, the mechanism that typically plays out on reservoir coves and points this time of year.
Fall cool-down taking hold on Alabama's Coosa system creeks
Tributary gauges feeding the Coosa system are running low and clear this week: sites 02338523, 02413210 and 02413205 show flows between 5 and 27 cfs with water temperatures holding in the upper 60s (66-69°F). The larger watershed gauge, 02339500, tells a different story at 1,730 cfs, a sizable gap that matters if you're choosing between a small creek arm and the main channel. Field & Stream's fall tactics coverage this week describes the regional pattern behind readings like these: as surface temps slide through the 60s, baitfish push into shallow water along banks and structure, opening feeding windows that track the cooling trend rather than the calendar.