Fishing Reports

Jason Mitchell Outdoors (YT) is running 'May Walleye Craziness' content this week, and that headline fits conditions across the Boundary Waters and Iron Range right now. AnglingBuzz (YT) is backing it up with a guide-level breakdown of slip bobber walleye rigs and a dedicated look at shallow-water walleye tactics, pointing to post-spawn fish staging on rocky structure and adjacent flats. USGS gauge 05129115 clocked 987 cfs this morning, signaling active snowmelt runoff in the Iron Range watershed; no surface temperature reading is available at this gauge. Fishing the Midwest notes early-season anglers are finding fish in the shallows on simple presentations, with slow trolling also producing walleyes. Northern pike, past their spring spawn, are feeding again on those same shallow flats. Specific on-the-water reports from BWCA and Iron Range waters are limited in the current feeds — no local shops or guides are cited this cycle, so the outlook draws on regional intel and seasonal patterns.

2d ago

USGS gauge 04015330 on a North Shore tributary is reading 89.4 cfs as of May 25, placing local streams at a moderate, fishable level heading into Memorial Day weekend. Walleye are the headline story on the big lake right now: AnglingBuzz (YT) recently featured Lake Superior tactics alongside shallow-water walleye presentations, and Jason Mitchell Outdoors (YT) is calling this stretch of May a walleye highlight reel; their current content spans shallow trolling to finesse slip-bobber setups. Smallmouth bass are shaking off post-spawn lethargy on rocky North Shore structure, with Great Lakes clear-water finesse presentations per Tactical Bassin worth carrying on the deck. WI DNR Lake Superior Fishing continues to document the growing lake whitefish fishery in the Chequamegon Bay corridor, a sign that Superior's whitefish population is healthy basin-wide. Steelhead runs on North Shore streams are typically winding down by late May as flows stabilize and temperatures climb.

2d ago

Lakes in the Minocqua area are running mid-50s to low-60s, per Rollie & Helen's Musky Shop's late-May 2026 report, and fish are beginning to stage in shallower water after a cool spring. The shop recommends starting shallow and working systematically outward, a smart early-season approach when fish are still scattered. This year's walleye and musky openers coincided for the first time since the early 1980s, per Rollie & Helen's, drawing added angler attention to Vilas and Oneida county waters. Musky in particular are showing the effects of increased pressure: the shop notes that LiveScope-educated fish have grown wary of big traditional presentations, making finesse tactics increasingly important. As the season deepens and water temps push toward the upper 60s, emergent cabbage and coontail beds will concentrate both predators and bait. No USGS gauge data was available this cycle; rely on Rollie & Helen's for the freshest local lake readings.

2d ago

The Wisconsin DNR confirmed the Rowley's Bay boat launch in Door County, near Newport State Park, will reopen at approximately 4 p.m. on May 31, 2026, following concrete improvement work that started at ice-off. Door County anglers should plan alternative launches through Memorial Day weekend. The 2024 Lake Michigan harvest summary from the WI DNR offers a strong backdrop for the season now opening: anglers recorded over 210,000 coho salmon last year, a new record, alongside more than 160,000 Chinook, the best king salmon haul since 2012. The WI DNR credits recent strong alewife year classes for improved smolt survival driving those numbers. No buoy water-temperature readings were available for this report; late May surface temps off Door County and Sheboygan typically trend in the upper 40s to mid-50s°F, with salmon often holding near a developing thermocline. Anglers running trolling programs should probe multiple depth ranges to locate fish.

2d ago

AnglingBuzz this week spotlighted shallow-water walleye and sturgeon tactics specifically for Lake Superior, a strong signal that the late-May walleye push is underway on Michigan's inland sea. Jason Mitchell Outdoors corroborates with a 'May Walleye Craziness' episode dropping this same week, pointing to active fish in skinny water across the upper Midwest. On the stream side, USGS gauge 04059500 shows UP drainage flows at 329 cfs Sunday morning — moderate and wading-friendly for late May — though water temperature is not currently reporting from the gauge. WI DNR Lake Superior Fishing has documented growing angler interest in lake whitefish across the Chequamegon Bay region, a pattern that extends across the shared Lake Superior fishery. The MI DNR weekly fishing report did not return accessible data this cycle. With the First Quarter moon overhead, feeding activity on both stream and open-lake targets should be building toward stronger windows through the holiday weekend.

2d ago

Jason Mitchell Outdoors titled their current release "May Walleye Craziness" — and Saginaw Bay anglers know why: late May is the Bay's prime post-spawn walleye rebound window, when fish that retreated to recover return to aggressive feeding on sandy-gravel humps and channel edges. AnglingBuzz backs the outlook with current content on big-water walleye tactics and a guide's slip-bobber rig breakdown. Direct data is thin this cycle — the MI DNR Weekly Fishing Report returned a browser-compatibility error rather than conditions intel, and USGS gauge 04157000 shows no active readings — so this update leans on seasonal calendar and regional content signals. Smallmouth bass across Lake Huron's rocky shoreline structure are transitioning through post-spawn; Tactical Bassin's current Great Lakes smallmouth coverage highlights swimbaits and drop-shots in clear water. The First Quarter moon favors low-light feeding windows at dawn and dusk on both ends of the day.

2d ago

USGS gauge 04119000 recorded the Grand River at 4,330 cfs as of early morning May 25, an elevated but fishable late-spring level with no water temperature reading attached. Direct angler reports for this corridor are sparse in current feeds. The WI DNR Lake Michigan Fishing Report's 2024 season recap provides useful regional backdrop: Lake Michigan yielded record coho numbers (over 210,000 fish) and more than 160,000 Chinook last year, both fueled by strong alewife year-classes that point to a healthy forage base entering 2026. Seasonally, late May is the post-spawn transition window for walleye and smallmouth bass staging near the river mouth. Wired 2 Fish covers this period in detail, noting that post-spawn bass shift to aggressive feeding on shad-imitating swimbaits and topwater lures, especially during low-light windows. Jason Mitchell Outdoors (YT) framed May as prime walleye time with their "May Walleye Craziness" title. First-quarter moon conditions on May 25 produce moderate solunar activity; dawn and dusk are the high-percentage windows this week.

2d ago

USGS gauge 01546500 on Bald Eagle Creek near Milesburg registered 176 cfs at 7:45 a.m. Monday, suggesting Spring Creek is running at manageable late-spring levels. No water temperature was recorded by the gauge; the groundwater-fed character of Spring Creek and Penns Creek typically holds both systems near 58-64°F through Memorial Day weekend. Flylords Mag's current green drake guide confirms the species emerges on the East Coast from early May through late June, placing Penns Creek's celebrated hatch squarely in its peak window this week. Concurrent sulphur activity is standard for late May on both streams, and Gink and Gasoline has noted that warmer spring conditions push spring creek hatch timing earlier than the calendar average. No direct shop or biologist field reports for these specific waters were available in this cycle. Anglers should verify current conditions via PA Fish and Boat biologist reports before making the trip.

2d ago

Wired 2 Fish's late-May post-spawn bass coverage puts the current bite in sharp focus: bass coming off the beds are splitting into two behavioral camps, aggressive fish gorging on shad spawns and finicky, shallow-staging males still guarding fry. For the Allegheny and Pittsburgh tailwaters, that behavioral pattern is squarely on cue for May 25. No USGS gauge or NOAA buoy data arrived for this report cycle, so precise water temperatures and flow readings are unavailable; check current river gauges before launching. The aggressive post-spawn fish should be working current seams, wing dam tailouts, and shad-concentrate structure, while finesse presentations like drop-shot or Neko rig are the call for shallower, fry-guarding fish. PA Sea Grant has flagged active Round Goby proliferation in Pennsylvania waterways this season, an invasive species that can alter bottom-forage dynamics in tailwater systems and is worth watching on the Allegheny. Walleye and channel catfish are also seasonally active on tailwater structure, based on typical late-May patterns.

2d ago

NOAA buoy 45005 clocked Lake Erie surface water at 55°F on May 25, placing Presque Isle-area smallmouth bass squarely at the post-spawn transition. Wired 2 Fish flags this week that post-spawn bass split between aggressive shad-chasing and spooky, shallow-holding behavior, requiring anglers to adjust presentations mid-session. Tactical Bassin, covering Great Lakes clear-water fisheries directly, points to paddle-tail swimbaits and finesse rigs as standout producers for big smallmouth in this phase. Walleye remain Erie's most-pursued species at this stage; no direct charter intel for the PA shoreline reached our feeds this cycle, but seasonal patterns favor low-light trolling in the 20-to-30-foot zone. USGS gauge 04213000 reads 521 cfs on a Lake Erie tributary, signaling moderate inflow to the region. The First Quarter moon on May 25 compresses solunar feeding windows, making dawn and dusk transitions the highest-percentage periods for active feeding.

2d ago

Water temperature on Tonawanda Creek registered 57°F at 5:30 a.m. per USGS gauge 04231600, placing Western NY's Lake Erie and Niagara corridor squarely in the post-spawn transition for smallmouth bass. Tactical Bassin's Great Lakes coverage identifies this as prime time for clear-water smallmouth fishing, pointing to paddle-tail swimbaits and finesse presentations as top producers for bigger fish moving off beds onto adjacent structure. Wired 2 Fish notes that post-spawn bass behavior varies widely right now: some fish gorging aggressively, others finicky and spooky near recovering beds, so carrying both power and finesse options is the smart call. Tributary flows are running high at 5,720 cfs on Tonawanda Creek, which may push fish toward main-lake and Niagara River edges rather than creek mouths. Walleye fishing on the western Erie basin typically peaks through May, though no local charter reports surfaced in this week's feeds.

2d ago

USGS gauge 01413500 logged 191 cfs and gauge 01415000 recorded 41.7 cfs at 5:45 a.m. this morning, placing two key Catskills drainages at fishable, wadeable levels heading into Memorial Day weekend. The timing matters: Flylords Mag notes East Coast green drake emergences run 'between early May and late June,' placing this week squarely in the heart of the Catskills' most celebrated hatch window. MidCurrent's hatch coverage this week highlights patterns designed for 'every feeding lane from the surface film to open water' as 'hatches begin to fire,' which maps cleanly onto late-May Catskills conditions. No water temperatures are available from current gauge readings; late May typically places these streams in the mid-50s to low-60s F, ideal for brown and brook trout feeding aggressively before summer warmth arrives. Gink and Gasoline notes that warm conditions can push hatch timing earlier than expected. Sulphurs and caddis overlap the green drake window through the holiday weekend, giving anglers multiple daily periods to target.

2d ago

Strike Zone Charters on Lake Ontario reports salmon fishing has been 'very good' this past week, with brown trout and lake trout mixing into catches across 100 to 160 feet of water. Depths have been shifting day to day as wind pushes temperature breaks around the lake, making flexibility essential. Mag Dipsey Divers have been the consistent producer when the thermocline runs deep, with green, white, and chartreuse e-chips earning the most bites. On the Salmon River itself, USGS gauge 04250750 recorded a moderate 313 cfs as of early morning May 25, workable levels for anglers fishing the lower river or harbor mouth. No water temperature is available from the current gauge reading, though late May typically finds tributary water in the upper 50s to low 60s Fahrenheit. Steelhead are tapering toward the end of their spring window, but the open-water salmon action is more than picking up the slack.

2d ago

Trout Unlimited's 2025 Costa 5 Rivers Ambassador Summit on the Wind River Reservation spotlighted Wyoming as a conservation stronghold — and late May historically puts its rivers in a demanding transition. USGS gauge 06259000 returned no live readings for this report, leaving flow and temperature conditions unconfirmed; pull current data before launching. Across the broader mountain West, MidCurrent's hatch coverage notes that as hatches begin to fire, fish are moving into shallower feeding lanes — a pattern that often develops on Wyoming's freestone systems as runoff begins to ease. Memorial Day weekend typically marks the shoulder between peak snowmelt and the early-summer window when the Wind River and upper North Platte begin to clear. Smaller spring creeks and tributary channels, which shed off-color conditions faster than mainstems, are worth prioritizing this week. Hatch Magazine's spring creek primer reinforces that precise, technical presentations in slower, clearer water are the key during this transitional window.

2d ago

Jason Mitchell Outdoors (YT) captures the moment with 'May Walleye Craziness,' and conditions across Wisconsin are matching the headline. Post-spawn walleye have moved into hard-feeding mode on the Wisconsin River system and connecting flowages. The USGS gauge at site 05391000 on the Wisconsin River logged 663 cfs at 6 a.m. on May 25 — a moderate, workable spring flow that keeps drift fishing and jigging presentations accessible from both boats and shore. Up on Lake Superior, WI DNR Lake Superior Fishing reports that angling pressure on Chequamegon Bay lake whitefish has grown enough to prompt a DNR management meeting and public questionnaire this spring — a signal the bite is real and the fishery is expanding. AnglingBuzz (YT) bridges both waters with a segment pairing shallow-water walleye alongside Lake Superior sturgeon tactics, confirming multiple species are active across the region. With the First Quarter moon this week, we're seeing the best action concentrated in early-morning and evening feeding windows.

2d ago

NOAA buoy 46041 recorded winds of 9 m/s and air temperatures near 55°F on the morning of May 25; buoy 46087 confirmed similar conditions at 7 m/s and roughly 53°F. No major storm system is interrupting what looks like a typical breezy late-spring pattern along the outer coast. Water temperature readings were unavailable from either station. No WA-specific charter or tackle-shop reports surfaced in this week's intel feeds, but WA WDFW Fishing Reports tracks creel data and stocking activity statewide — check their site for current catch updates. Based on seasonal patterns, late May typically marks a high-value window for this coast: Chinook salmon are entering their spring push into Puget Sound, Pacific halibut seasons are generally open along the coast, and lingcod action on rocky bottom structure tends to be solid before summer warm-up fully arrives. The first-quarter moon this week moderates tidal swings, which is typically favorable for consistent bait presentations through the Sound's tidal passages.

2d ago

Water logged at 57°F and 1,110 cfs at USGS gauge 14113000 early Monday puts the Columbia system in a productive late-spring thermal band for Washington anglers heading into Memorial Day weekend. WA WDFW Fishing Reports confirms the department is actively tracking creel data and maintaining stocking programs statewide, though specific week-over-week bite narratives are limited in current feeds. For the broader freshwater picture, Wired 2 Fish this week detailed post-spawn bass dynamics, noting that some fish are "super aggressive, gorging themselves" after leaving the beds while others hug shallow cover and respond best to finesse presentations. That split behavior maps well to Columbia basin smallmouth, which typically finish spawning by mid-May in water approaching 60°F. Spring Chinook remain the premier Columbia mainstem draw through late May; check WA WDFW regulations for current retention windows before heading out.

2d ago

The Connecticut River is running at 107 cfs at USGS gauge 01135300 this morning — low, clear flows that mark the end of spring runoff and signal prime conditions for the late-May shad migration. Downstream in Connecticut, Fishin' Factory 3 (via The Fisherman — New England Freshwater) confirms shad are actively moving through Connecticut River sections, a northward push that tracks into Vermont through late May. Largemouth bass are described as deep in the spawn and 'trickier to entice than they were in prespawn,' while Fisherman's World (same source) reports that largemouth and smallmouth action is 'steadily improving' as water warms, with Keitech swimbaits and paddletail lures among the top-producing artificials. Wired 2 Fish notes post-spawn bass split into two behavioral camps: some gorging aggressively near shad spawns, others staying shallow and spooky — a finesse-first approach covers both. No Lake Champlain-specific reports reached us this cycle.

2d ago

USGS gauge 09234500 clocked the Green River at 1,170 cfs and 51°F early Monday morning, cool dam-controlled tailwater conditions that typically settle trout into primary feeding seams and riffle edges. With water temps in the low 50s, midge and nymph presentations are the logical first move. MidCurrent's recent Tying Tuesday roundup featured a midge-style pattern described as ideal for 'the clear, pressured water of stillwaters and tailraces,' language that fits this tailwater fishery precisely. Up in the Uinta Mountains, lower-elevation lakes are approaching ice-off access over Memorial Day weekend, with cutthroat and brook trout seasonally active near inlet streams and shallower bays. Direct on-the-water reports from local guides or tackle shops are absent from this week's intel feeds, so treat these observations as gauge-grounded seasonal context rather than confirmed bite reports. Check outfitter boards and state resources before heading out.

2d ago

North Texas Catfish Guide reports Eagle Mountain Lake near Fort Worth is fishing at its best heading into Memorial Day weekend. With the lake nearly full and significant fresh water inflows pushing active fish into feeding mode, guide trips are producing limits of blue catfish — the guide notes multiple 30-pound-plus fish have been boated in recent weeks and expects conditions to improve further into June. Away from North Texas, Wired 2 Fish describes Texas bass mid-transition through the post-spawn: some fish are aggressively chasing shad and working bream beds, while others are shallow and spooky, favoring finesse presentations. LakeForkGuy signals this is shaping up as "the most aggressive crappie bite of the year" as post-spawn fish spread off structure. USGS gauge 08211200 reads 35.7 cfs, indicating low summer-lean flow on the monitored Texas drainage — typical of river systems entering the summer season.

2d ago

Tactical Bassin's recent on-water session at Lake Chickamauga — one of Tennessee's top bass destinations — found largemouth split across two very different moods: clear-water fish demanding finesse presentations while the murkier stretches gave up quality bass on swimbaits and chatterbaits. Both approaches produced, confirming the post-spawn bite is alive across the reservoir. Reinforcing the regional picture, B.A.S.S. News reports that the Bassmaster Open at Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley wrapped with a winning three-day weight of 62 pounds, 2 ounces — testament to the quality of bass fishing across Tennessee's big impoundments right now. On the Cumberland drainage, USGS gauge 03434500 at Carthage shows the river running at 1,420 cfs, a moderate and fishable late-May flow. Wired 2 Fish's post-spawn breakdown is timely: some largemouth are gorging on shad spawns while others sit spooky and shallow, meaning reading each fish — rather than locking into one power or finesse approach — is the key adjustment heading into Memorial Day weekend.

2d ago

USGS gauge 06440200 logged 35.6 cfs in the early hours of May 25 — a low, clear flow signaling that Missouri River basin tributaries are running well below spring-runoff highs heading into the holiday weekend. Jason Mitchell Outdoors flagged 'May Walleye Craziness' in this week's video lineup, a title that captures the post-spawn feeding push that typically sweeps through Oahe, Sharpe, and Francis Case reservoirs this time of year. Wired 2 Fish broke down post-spawn bass behavior in detail this week, noting two distinct camps: aggressive fish gorging near shad and bream spawns and spookier fish holding shallow in recovery mode — both scenarios worth planning around in Missouri River backwaters. Hatch Magazine's current spring-creek skills content applies directly to the Black Hills' low, clear streams. No South Dakota-specific charter or tackle-shop reports appeared in this cycle's intel feeds; the assessments below draw on seasonal patterns and regional blog coverage.

2d ago

Water temp at NOAA buoy 41004 is running a warm 78°F as of May 25, setting favorable conditions for the late-May inshore bite across Charleston Harbor. Along the Carolinas coast, Fisherman's Post reports a strong red drum push onto beaches and into near-structure zones, with similar inshore patterns expected to extend through South Carolina waters. Pompano are making early appearances in the region per Fisherman's Post's Swansboro/Emerald Isle coverage — a species that typically tracks the 75°F+ isotherm northward and should be active around inlet mouths and nearshore bars. Sheepshead remain a reliable option around Charleston's bridges and dock pilings; Salt Strong highlights how precise bait placement along current-facing structure is key to hooking these notoriously technical fish. Offshore, Sport Fishing Mag reports that South Carolina anglers have expanded red snapper access via a state pilot EFP program this summer, though Coastal Angler Magazine notes a federal court injunction briefly complicated the season's launch framework. Check current state regulations before targeting snapper beyond the nearshore zone.

2d ago

Lake Murray is drawing national tournament attention this week, with MLF News reporting that the 43rd annual Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American is set to contest the South Carolina reservoir, noting that Murray is loaded with quality bass and predicting a strong postspawn or early summer bite. Competitors and recreational anglers alike should find bass transitioning off beds and pushing toward deeper staging areas and shad schools. Wired 2 Fish's post-spawn breakdown describes two distinct modes right now: aggressive fish stacking on shad spawns and bream beds, and shallower, spookier fish that respond better to finesse presentations. Over at the Santee Cooper system, B.A.S.S. News has a Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series stop penciled in for May 30-31, another signal of healthy conditions across both waters. Flow on the Broad River, a key Lake Murray tributary, was measured at 388 cfs Monday morning per USGS gauge 02160390, indicating stable, fishable lake levels.

2d ago