Fishing reports
6969 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
Summer Ledge Bite Holds Bass Deep on Guntersville and Wheeler
USGS gauge 03575100 is reading a modest 263 cfs this week, a sign of light current moving through the Tennessee River system that feeds both Lake Guntersville and Wheeler. That lines up with what B.A.S.S. News is hearing from anglers working the upper Tennessee River right now: with current down, bass are pulling off the bank and stacking deep on points, ledges, and brushpiles, often mixed in with schools of stripers. Tactical Bassin's recent jig-fishing breakdown and underwater Neko-rig comparison both point to slow, methodical presentations for that deeper cover, while Wired 2 Fish's look at Lake Fork Lure Co.'s Pro Hog creature bait is worth trying for anglers still punching heavier shallow cover before that bite fades further. The waning crescent moon should mean less lunar-driven urgency and more weather-driven feeding windows. Water temp wasn't logged at the gauge this cycle, so plan around the heat and fish the early and late low-light hours.
Merrimack Valley bass settle into classic summer patterns
USGS gauge 01073500 is reading a lean 56.1 cfs this afternoon, the kind of low, clear summer flow that pushes river and lake bass tight to shade, weed edges and deeper structure. Regional intel backs that read: The Fisherman — New England Freshwater reports bass fishing has "settled into warm-weather patterns," with fake frogs, Whopper Ploppers, Senkos and shiners producing best in the early-morning and evening windows, while trout action goes quiet through the heat. Panfish are filling the gap — the same source notes anglers working small jigs and swimbaits in shallow water are connecting with yellow perch, white perch and crappie, including a few above-average perch. For Merrimack and Winnipesaukee-area anglers, expect the same script this week: low, warming water pushing gamefish into low-light feeding windows, topwater and finesse plastics leading for bass, and light jigs doing the work for perch and crappie once the sun climbs.
Yellowstone-basin trout bite tightens to dawn and dusk as water warms
USGS gauge 06192500 clocked the Yellowstone River at 68°F and roughly 5,060 cfs Friday afternoon, a warm read for mid-July that lands right at the threshold Western states typically use to trigger afternoon hoot-owl trout closures — worth checking current state and park closures before you head out. No angler-specific reports came in from the Yellowstone or Snake corridors this week, so we're leaning on regional seasonal pattern: Caddis Fly's summer hatch notes describe Golden Stonefly and Yellow Sally activity carrying steady dry-dropper action across Western freestone rivers through July, a pattern that typically extends into this basin. Expect cutthroat and rainbows to key on cooler morning and evening windows while midday warmth slows the bite; browns tend to go quieter and more nocturnal once water pushes into the high 60s. Mountain whitefish remain a dependable subsurface option when trout go off the feed. Flows are easing off spring runoff pace, typical for this point in the season.
Offshore ledges producing as Tennessee River bass go deep for summer
Fishing on the upper Tennessee River is holding up well this week, according to B.A.S.S. News, even as rising summer heat pushes bass deeper than usual. With little current moving through the system, matching the sluggish flow we're reading at USGS gauge 03578500, most largemouth have pulled off the bank and stacked onto offshore structure: points, ledges, and brushpiles, often mixed in with striper schools working the same water. That offshore pattern is the play on Chickamauga and Watts Bar right now, with fish grouping tight rather than scattering shallow. General summer bass technique from Tactical Bassin backs the deep-structure approach, favoring jigs and finesse presentations worked slow around cover as water warms. Smallmouth should still be catchable on the cooler current breaks typical for this stretch this time of year, though no direct reports came in this week. Expect the pattern to hold as long as flow stays low and temperatures keep climbing.
Missouri River cats put on a summer show as deep holes fire up
A Hazelwood, Missouri catfisherman put the season's headline fish in the boat this week, boxing two catfish totaling 178 pounds out of a 25-foot back-eddy hole on the Missouri River just before dusk, per Wired 2 Fish — a strong signal that channel and blue cats are stacking in deep, current-broken holes as summer heat settles in. At the USGS Platte/Missouri gauge (06796000), flow is running a moderate 2,570 cfs as of midday July 10; water temperature isn't currently reported at this station, so anglers should check a handheld thermometer streamside. General Midwest technique intel from Fishing the Midwest points to working weedlines for walleye and casting moving baits over emerging weed growth for largemouth bass as open-water season hits full swing. With no state-specific report in this cycle, expect the deep-hole catfish pattern to be the most dependable bite on the Platte and Missouri systems through the week.</Sure.</br> Overall, a solid but unspectacular midsummer stretch — bank on structure and depth over surface action right now.
Black bass bite turns on as NY's summer pattern arrives
Water temperatures are pushing into the low 80s (82°F) at one Hudson Valley monitoring gauge this week, with flow running near 1,450 cfs there and a sharper pulse of 5,850 cfs registering at a second regional gauge — a sign that mid-summer heat and some recent runoff are both in play across the watershed. Per NY DEC's The Fishing Line, black bass season arrived right as the bite was "picking up with the warmer summer weather," and that trend should carry into Finger Lakes and Hudson Valley waters now that the calendar has turned to July. DEC is also running a walleye-tracking effort on the St. Lawrence River and Lake Ontario, a sign fisheries managers are watching how warmwater species respond to the heat. Musky season, flagged by DEC back in May as "around the corner," is now fully underway. Coldwater species like brook trout are the likely laggard as temps climb, with fish pushing toward deeper, cooler refuges typical for mid-July.
Terrestrial patterns take over as Smokies tailwaters settle into July
Trout Unlimited's midsummer TROUT Tip flagged pink terrestrials as the pattern to carry right now, and that's the right note for the Hiwassee and Caney Fork tailwaters heading into mid-July. With grasshoppers, ants, and beetles working their way toward the banks, fish keyed on structure edges are increasingly willing to eat something bigger and buggier than a midge. No fresh USGS flow or temperature reading came through for gauge 03565000 this cycle, so treat generation schedules as unknown until you check TVA's release schedule at the dam. Field & Stream's spin-fishing trout primer is a useful refresher for anglers working these tailwaters with hardware rather than fly gear, emphasizing rod length matched to water size and light fluorocarbon leaders. Expect typical summer tailwater behavior: fish holding tighter to cover and current breaks as afternoon heat builds, with the best windows clustering around generation changes and low-light hours.
Low tailwater flows put a premium on finesse presentations
USGS gauge 03413200 logged flow at just 11.5 cfs Friday evening, signaling minimal generation coming through the dam right now. Quiet, low releases like this typically favor slow, finicky presentations over reaction bites for tailwater trout, and the reduced current should also let bass slide shallow again once the sun eases off. We don't have a captain or shop report out of Lake Cumberland itself this cycle, but the broader summer pattern lines up with regional coverage: per B.A.S.S. News' recent reservoir reporting, bass in current-starved impoundments tend to slide out to points, ledges, and brushpiles as flow drops, feeding in tighter windows around dawn and dusk. Tactical Bassin's latest summer reports back a similar shallow-early, deep-midday split. Expect trout anglers to do best working the low-flow window methodically with light line, and bass anglers to split time between shallow cover at first light and offshore structure once the day heats up.
High water fuels a catfish push on the Kansas and Arkansas Rivers
USGS gauge 06892350 is reading an elevated 15,100 cfs with water sitting at 85°F as of this afternoon, the kind of high, warm push that historically gets Midwest river catfish moving into back-eddies and current seams to feed. Wired 2 Fish's recent account of a Missouri River angler boating two catfish totaling 178 pounds is a good reminder of how aggressive channel and blue cats get when rivers run high and warm in July, even though that particular catch came off a different Midwest river than ours. Locally, expect bass to settle into classic summer patterns; Fishing the Midwest's Bob Jensen has anglers working weedlines this open-water season, while Tactical Bassin's recent videos lean on finesse jigs and neko rigs for pressured, warm-water bass. With the moon in a waning crescent and little relief from the current in sight, plan trips around low light and any structure that breaks the push.
Deschutes redsides and building steelhead numbers carry the summer bite
This cycle's data feed came back thin: the USGS gauge at 14070500 on the Deschutes returned no flow or temperature reading, and no regional buoy coverage exists for this stretch, so today's report leans on general seasonal knowledge rather than a fresh number. That said, early-to-mid July is squarely peak season for Deschutes redside rainbows working summer caddis and golden stone hatches, and the river's dam-regulated flows typically stay stable and cold enough to keep fish active through the heat. Upper Klamath's larger browns tend to slide into low-light, dawn-and-dusk feeding this time of year as surface water warms. As Field & Stream's spin-fishing guide notes, matching rod length and leader diameter to water size matters most on technical currents like these, a good rule for anglers working riffles and pocket water on either system. Check current flow releases and any fishery closures before heading out, since we don't have verified live readings today.
Low water, warm flows test White River trout tactics
USGS gauge 07060710 on the White River logged just 7.6 cfs alongside an 84-degree reading this afternoon, a pairing that points to minimal generation out of Bull Shoals and Norfork and water running warmer than trout typically prefer on this tailwater. With flow that thin, fish are concentrated in the deeper runs and shaded seams rather than spread across the shoals, and low-light hours are the window worth prioritizing before the sun pushes temperatures higher. General trout tactics carry the day here: Field & Stream's current spin-fishing primer recommends matching a shorter, lighter rod and small inline spinners or jigs for tighter water, while Trout Unlimited's midsummer tip flags terrestrials as a strong bet now that grasshoppers and ants are working their way onto the banks and into the drift. No White River-specific catch reports came through today's intel sweep, so treat the above as seasonal baseline rather than confirmed bites.
Catalina yellowtail bite cracks open as SoCal surf awakens
The signature report this week comes from Dana Point, where Western Outdoor News — Saltwater's coverage of the annual Dana Wharf Sportfishing charter found the Clemente hitting Catalina just as the yellowtail bite "really materialized," with anglers also picking off decent numbers of quality calico bass working the island's structure. On the beaches, Surf Fishing in So Cal's July report describes a slow start finally giving way to signs of life, with spotfin croaker and corbina beginning to show as the surf calms down from a rough June. Water temps aren't in from local buoys this cycle, so plan around the moon and tide charts rather than a hard number. One regulatory note worth knowing before you rig up: Surf Fishing in So Cal reports California's emergency wire leader and hook-size ban for shore fishing south of Pigeon Point is now active, so check current gear rules before targeting sharks or seabass from the beach.
Finger Lakes bass dial in to weedlines as summer pattern locks in
A USGS gauge feeding the Finger Lakes watershed read 68°F on very low, stable flow (5.77 cfs) this morning, a classic mid-summer baseflow signature for Cayuga, Seneca, and Skaneateles. That water temperature puts smallmouth and largemouth bass squarely into their weedline pattern, and Fishing the Midwest's recent "Work the Weedline" column is well-timed, pushing anglers to work moving baits along emerging weed edges now that the open-water season is in full swing. The same outlet's trophy-bass notes are worth a re-read too, including a nudge to keep hooks freshly sharpened since a dull point is an easy way to drop a good fish boat-side. Lake trout typically slide deeper as these lakes stratify through July, so expect a quieter surface bite for that species while panfish stay active around drop-offs and structure. We're calling bass Active off general seasonal knowledge plus that technique intel, with no direct regional "what's biting" report in today's feed to corroborate further.
Catskills and Adirondacks browns key on terrestrials as flows thin out
USGS gauge 01415000 is reading just 8.6 cfs this morning, a sharp contrast to the 152 cfs holding at gauge 01413500 upstream, underscoring how thin some Catskills and Adirondacks feeder water has run heading into mid-July. Water temperature readings weren't available from either station today, but low, clear summer flows like this typically push trout into low-light windows and tighter, more technical presentations rather than aggressive daytime feeding. Trout Unlimited's latest TROUT Tip flags pink terrestrials as a go-to now that ants, beetles, and hoppers are blowing into the current off summer banks, a pattern that lines up well with skinny-water browns and rainbows sipping tight to structure. Gink and Gasoline's rundown of the Trico hatch and spinner fall is another seasonal cue worth watching for dawn sessions on flatter, slower pools. No direct on-the-water NY reports came through in today's feed, so we're leaning on these broader seasonal signals rather than guessing at a specific bite — treat this as a conditions-and-technique primer more than a hot-bite bulletin.
Flaming Gorge tailwater trout stay steady as summer hatches build
USGS gauge 09234500 on the Green River below Flaming Gorge Dam logged a steady 2,300 cfs release Friday morning with water temperature holding at 58°F, comfortable conditions for the tailwater's rainbow and brown trout as July heat builds across the region. No captains or shops filed direct reports on Flaming Gorge or the Green River this cycle, but the pattern lines up with what's showing up on comparable Mountain West tailwaters: Reno Fly Shop's Truckee River notes this month describe strong dry fly action once PMDs, Green Drakes, Yellow Sallies, and Golden Stones start hatching, with crayfish patterns picking up as water warms. Caddis Fly's Oregon fly-tying desk has been running Golden Stonefly, Green Drake, and Yellow Sally patterns for exactly this stretch of the calendar. At a stable 58°F with moderate dam-controlled flow, we'd expect the Green River to be tracking that same seasonal rhythm.
Current and Niangua settle into steady summer trout flow
The Current River is holding near 1,040 cfs at USGS gauge 07067000 as of Thursday morning, a stable, wadeable working flow for the Ozark trout parks heading into peak summer. Water temperature wasn't reported at this gauge, so anglers should check thermometer readings streamside before pushing trout hard on hot afternoons. We didn't get region-specific intel on the Current or Niangua this cycle, so species status below leans on seasonal norms for these fisheries rather than fresh angler reports. One general technique note worth carrying into the parks: Trout Unlimited's summer TROUT Tip series is flagging terrestrials right now, noting trout key in on beetles, ants and hoppers that get blown or knocked into the current as banks green up and warm. That's a solid go-to pattern for stocked and wild trout water alike through July. Early mornings and evenings remain the higher-percentage windows as daytime heat builds; midday water temps are the thing to watch most closely on both rivers this stretch.
Summer Chinook and steelhead runs hold on Columbia, Rogue
The USGS gauge at site 14211720 logged a 9:45 a.m. reading of 71°F with flow at 13,100 cfs this morning, conditions squarely in typical mid-summer territory for the Columbia and Rogue systems. Today's intel sweep did not turn up a direct conditions report out of the Columbia or Rogue corridor, so treat the species status below as seasonal expectation rather than a confirmed bite report. Water in the low 70s is warm enough that Oregon fisheries in this range often see in-season hoot-owl restrictions and afternoon closures kick in, so check current ODFW regulations before you head out, especially for salmon and steelhead targeting during peak heat. Flow above 13,000 cfs on a system this size suggests enough push to keep fish moving through travel lanes rather than stacking in isolated pools, which favors boat anglers working deeper runs. Smallmouth bass, less temperature-sensitive than salmonids, should be firmly locked into summer patterns in warmer side channels and back-eddies.
Central MA bass dial in as rivers settle into summer low flow
USGS gauges feeding Central Massachusetts waterways are reading low this week — 16.6 cfs at site 01105500 and 55.9 cfs at site 01111500 — a typical mid-July signature of settled, low-water summer flow rather than any recent rain pulse. No water-temperature sensor data came through on either gauge, but low, stable flow this time of year usually means warm, clarifying water in ponds and slow-moving stretches. With no MA-specific "what's biting" report in this week's feeds, the best grounded guidance comes from general technique content: Fishing the Midwest's Bob Jensen is pushing anglers to work the weedline as summer vegetation fills in, a pattern that applies directly to Central MA largemouth and pickerel water. Expect bass relating tight to emerging weed edges and docks during daylight, with dawn and dusk the higher-percentage windows as the low, clear flow makes fish more line-shy and light-sensitive than in spring's higher water.
Wabash and Lake Michigan settle into steady summer holding patterns
The Wabash is running about 2,920 cfs at USGS gauge 03335500 as of midday, a healthy summer flow that should keep current moving through typical smallmouth and catfish holes without blowing the river out. Water temperature wasn't available from this gauge cycle, but expect the usual mid-July range for the region. Direct angler intel for Indiana's Wabash River and Lake Michigan waters was thin in today's sweep — no state agency, charter, or shop reports came through specific to this stretch. Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant's ongoing seed-grant research push on southern Lake Michigan (per IL/IN Sea Grant) is a reminder these waters still get steady scientific attention even in quieter reporting weeks. Absent fresh bite reports, the safest read is the season's typical pattern holding: smallmouth and catfish working deeper Wabash runs on this flow, and walleye and perch settling to depth on Lake Michigan as the summer thermocline firms up.
Smallmouth hold steady as Quabbin, Wachusett settle into summer rhythm
The USGS gauge feeding the Quabbin system (site 01174500) logged a light, stable 21.6 cfs at midday today, the kind of quiet outflow you'd expect in a mid-July stretch without recent heavy rain pushing through. None of this week's angler-intel feeds carried a Massachusetts-specific creel or shop report for Quabbin or Wachusett, so this update leans on typical early-summer behavior for these deep, cold-water reservoirs: smallmouth bass working rocky points and drop-offs, largemouth pushing into thinning weed cover, and lake trout sliding down toward the thermocline as surface layers warm. Fishing the Midwest's general summer advice to work the weedline lines up with what largemouth are likely doing on deeper Massachusetts lakes right now. Panfish stay a dependable option for shorter evening windows, and Hatch Magazine's recent piece on sunfish is a good reminder they're an underrated target this time of year.
North Shore Anglers Lean on Weedlines as Summer Season Hits Stride
USGS gauge 04015330 is logging a light 11.8 cfs this week, the kind of low, clear tributary flow North Shore streams typically settle into by mid-July. With Minnesota's 2026 open-water season now in full swing, Fishing the Midwest's Bob Jensen is pointing anglers toward weedlines as a go-to pattern for versatile anglers willing to work new water rather than staying locked on one species. On the Wisconsin side of the Lake Superior basin, the WI DNR Lake Superior Fishing program continues tracking a lake whitefish fishery that has grown steadily in popularity through both ice and open water, and is also running an ongoing burbot awareness survey — a reminder that Superior's cold-water fishery runs deeper than the headline species. Direct North Shore bite reports are thin this cycle, so expect typical mid-summer lake trout and salmon trolling patterns and confirm current counts locally before heading out.
Spring Creek's steady limestone flows keep July trout options open
USGS gauge 01546500 on Spring Creek is reading a steady 111 cfs as of midday July 10, a level that keeps this limestone system fishable even as summer heat pushes many Pennsylvania freestone streams toward the marginal zone. Spring Creek and Penns Creek both draw heavily on groundwater, so flows like this typically run cooler and clearer than runoff-dependent streams nearby, though no direct temperature reading came through this cycle. Trout Unlimited's midsummer technique notes point anglers toward terrestrials once grasshoppers and ants start working into the current along undercut banks and grassy edges, a pattern that fits these limestone corridors well in July. Pennsylvania Sea Grant is also running public awareness this month on harmful algal blooms across the state's waterways, worth a quick visual check before wading skinny water. For stream-specific stocking and biologist notes, the PA Fish & Boat Commission's Biologist Reports remain the best direct source. Expect technical, low-and-clear conditions that reward long leaders and stealth over horsepower.
Kentucky river anglers shift deep as summer heat sets the pattern
USGS gauge 03301500 is reading 668 cfs as of midday, a moderate, manageable flow for wading and boat anglers working the Ohio and Cumberland systems this week. With water temp not reported at this gauge, expect typical mid-July warmth pushing fish toward deeper cover. Catfish are the standout right now — Wired 2 Fish highlighted a angler landing two cats totaling 178 pounds from a deep back-eddy hole on a nearby river system over the holiday stretch, a pattern that translates directly to KY's deep river holes. B.A.S.S. News reports the bass bite on the upper Tennessee River, a close cousin to the Cumberland drainage, has pushed fish deep onto points, ledges, and brushpiles as current has thinned with the heat, often mixed in with stripers. Crappie and sauger are the quieter story, typically sliding into a slower summer holding pattern until temperatures ease. Fish early or late to beat the heat.
Kentucky Lake bass push deep as summer ledge bite heats up
Environmental readings were thin for Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley this cycle — USGS gauge 03611500 returned no current flow or temperature data, and no NOAA buoy coverage exists for freshwater here. What we do have is a useful regional signal: B.A.S.S. News reports that fishing on the upper Tennessee River system, the same watershed feeding both lakes, has stayed solid through early-summer heat, with bass pushed deep and schools mixing with stripers on points, ledges, and brushpiles as generator current drops off. That offshore read lines up with what Fishing the Midwest is preaching this week for the broader Midwest bass crowd — working weedlines and leaning on forward-facing sonar to locate suspended fish once the shallows get too warm. Expect largemouth and striper activity to concentrate on deep structure through the week, with crappie the tougher bite as fish slide deeper in the heat.