Fishing reports
7517 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
SML Stripers and Buggs Island Bass Settle Into Deep-Summer Patterns
No real-time gauge readings or buoy data were available for Smith Mountain Lake or Buggs Island (Kerr Reservoir) this reporting period, and no region-specific angler reports surfaced in this week's feeds. General seasonal context fills the gap: Tactical Bassin's summer bass coverage notes that rising temperatures push fish into highly predictable patterns driven by thermal comfort, light, and forage location. That model applies directly to these large Virginia impoundments. At Smith Mountain Lake, the landlocked striped bass fishery is the signature draw; by late June, fish typically suspend in the thermocline below the heat-stressed surface layer and are most accessible at first and last light. On Buggs Island, largemouth should be holding tight to shaded channel edges and submerged wood through the heat of day. The full moon on June 28 opens a prime overnight window for catfish and can extend bass and striper feeding edges well into the early-morning hours.
Gulf Coast tarpon migration peaks with permit and kingfish in the mix
Naples Offshore Fishing Charters reports the tarpon migration is fully underway along the Gulf Coast, with captains intercepting fish throughout the area and describing the bite as steady: jumping and landing quality silver kings in the mornings before pivoting to afternoon permit sessions. That same charter logs consistent sight-fishing on large permit, kingfish responding to plugs and flies offshore, plus cobia and amberjacks rounding out an active offshore mix. Captain Rick Murphy (FL Insider) notes the Florida redfish bite is on across the state as well. Tonight's full moon aligns with peak late-June tidal swings, which typically fires snook activity around Gulf passes and bridges after dark. No NOAA buoy readings were available for this reporting period; anglers should verify local water temps and tidal timing before launching. Check current FWC regulations on snook and tarpon before harvesting, as bag and slot limits apply.
Olympic Peninsula Rivers Enter the Early Summer Chinook Window
WA WDFW Fishing Reports confirms active creel monitoring across Olympic Peninsula river systems as late June arrives, though no catch counts or flow readings reached this cycle. What the calendar tells us: summer Chinook typically begin entering coast-draining rivers — the Hoh, Sol Duc, and Quillayute system — in the final week of June, placing us right at the leading edge of that window. A Full Moon on June 28 is worth factoring into your planning; bright conditions tend to compress the productive bite into first-light and late-evening windows rather than the midday hours. No water-temperature or flow data is available from this report's environmental feeds — anglers should check the USGS stream gauge network and WDFW's online creel postings before driving to the Peninsula. Summer steelhead offer a realistic secondary target in the deeper river pools through August.
Hawaii Offshore Season at Peak as Full Moon Tides and Summer Pelagics Converge
With a Full Moon overhead this weekend, Hawaii Fishing News — the state's official record-keeper for Hawaiian catches — highlights the moon and tide calendar as a critical planning tool for local anglers. Tidal surges will be at their strongest, and nearshore ambush feeders like ulua (giant trevally) typically respond at rocky points and channel edges after dark under full-moon conditions. No real-time buoy data or charter reports were available in this cycle's feeds, so the broader outlook reflects typical late-June patterns for the region. Summer is historically prime time for blue marlin in Hawaiian waters, particularly along the Kona Coast's deep leeward canyons, with yellowfin tuna (ahi) and mahi-mahi regularly running alongside billfish. Offshore debris lines and temperature breaks are traditional mahi and ono (wahoo) holding spots this season. Check with a local charter for current catch rates before heading out, as conditions can shift quickly during summer trade-wind patterns.
Salt and Colorado bass go deep as desert summer heat peaks
Tactical Bassin's summer bass breakdown identifies three variables driving fish behavior right now: forage, oxygen, and temperature. Once peak heat sets in, bass shift into predictable deep-structure holds, a pattern playing out on Arizona's Salt River impoundments and the Colorado River corridor. No USGS flow data or local shop reports were available for this week's conditions update, so this report reflects seasonal expectations for late June in the desert. With a Full Moon on June 28, catfish and bass night bites should extend well past midnight on both systems. On the Salt River chain, including Roosevelt, Apache, Canyon, and Saguaro lakes, largemouth and smallmouth bass are holding at depth near submerged timber and creek channel bends through the midday heat, surfacing to feed shallower at dawn and dusk. Channel catfish and flatheads are in prime summer form, responding to cut bait on the bottom through the night.
Hill Country Bass Go Deep as Late-June Heat Peaks on Travis, LBJ, and Buchanan
Texas Fish & Game Magazine signals the mid-summer inflection arriving on Texas reservoirs: shoreline cover that held quality fish through May is giving way to deep-structure patterns as heat builds into July. For Lakes Travis, LBJ, and Buchanan, no current NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings were available at press time, so anglers should verify conditions locally before launching. With tonight's full moon, a nocturnal bite window is worth chasing — largemouth and hybrid striped bass on these Highland Lakes typically push onto main-lake points and creek-channel ledges after dark during bright moon phases. Tactical Bassin (blog) highlights how summer bass predictability increases once you locate their two key zones: deep structure for the midday hold and shallow ambush edges at first and last light. Catfish hold near submerged timber and channel bends around the clock, making them a reliable deep-summer fallback across all three impoundments.
Trophy Snook Stack Up for the Spawn Along FL Atlantic Coast
June is peak season for trophy snook along Florida's Atlantic coast. Snook Nook out of Stuart reports anglers are targeting 40"+ breeder fish as the species prepares for its annual spawn, with exceptional action on the Indian and St. Lucie Rivers. Snook Nook notes the season is closed to harvest in this area through approximately September 1 — handle all fish carefully and release quickly. The most pressing regulatory news this week comes from CCA Florida: a U.S. District Court issued a preliminary injunction blocking the South Atlantic red snapper EFP pilot programs just hours before Florida's Atlantic snapper season was set to open, putting those highly anticipated offshore trips on hold indefinitely. Meanwhile, Captain Rick Murphy reports the Florida redfish bite is on across the state, and Coastal Angler Magazine's Sebastian Inlet to Eau Gallie Cswy. July preview notes improving beach action is expected once persistent summer winds settle. A full moon on June 28 pushes strong spring tides — prime timing for night snook action around lit bridges and inlet passes.
Speckled trout on artificials as Galveston Bay summer bite stays solid
Capt. Kenny Cambiano of Silver King Adventures has been consistently putting anglers on speckled trout using artificial lures in west and lower Galveston Bay, where the Galveston Daily News Reel Report describes conditions as holding some of the upper coast's best water right now. Inshore and offshore action out of Galveston is running fair to good overall, though building winds have forced anglers near Eagle Point to adapt their game plans mid-session, per the same source. Down south, TexasFishingTips (YT) has been running fresh reports from captains across Baffin Bay, Laguna Madre, Aransas Pass, Rockport-Copano, and Mesquite Bay through the final week of June, and the Galveston Daily News Reel Report confirms fishing from Baffin Bay to Port Isabel remains steady in spite of the punishing summer heat. The full moon this weekend will drive strong tidal movement — plan inshore pushes around early and late windows when bait is moving.
Full Moon Fires Tarpon Season Along Sarasota's Gulf Beaches
Water readings from NOAA buoys 42036 and 42013 put Gulf surface temperatures at 86 to 87°F, confirming full summer conditions across Tampa Bay and Sarasota. The full moon this weekend adds a critical trigger: Capt. Rick Grassett at CB's Saltwater Outfitters forecasts that July tarpon are "usually more aggressive," with schools working beach travel lanes at first light and pushing offshore to spawn around lunar peaks. Spin anglers should drift live baits or DOA Baitbusters under floats while staying ready to sight-cast to fish that appear without warning. Capt. Chuck Cress recently scored a redfish at an upper Sarasota Bay oyster bar loaded with jumping mullet and bait, underscoring that the inshore bite is wide open. Capt. Brandon Naeve at the same shop confirms shark season is running strong now through fall, with bull sharks, blacktips, and lemon sharks active in Sarasota Bay and nearshore Gulf waters right now.
Upper Mississippi walleye and smallmouth dial in for summer
The USGS gauge at site 05344500 shows the Upper Mississippi running at 15,000 cfs as of June 28 — a moderate summer stage that keeps wing-dam and current-seam presentations productive across the Prescott-to-La Crosse pools. No water temperature reading was captured at the gauge this cycle; late June on this stretch typically puts surface temps in the low-to-mid 70s°F. Fishing the Midwest's Bob Jensen is actively pointing anglers toward rivers as prime summer destinations, noting that larger systems deliver consistent warm-weather action that lake anglers often overlook. Walleye are the headliner: AnglingBuzz recently covered slip-bobber setups and forward-facing sonar for locating suspended fish, while Jason Mitchell Outdoors has been refining jig-worm presentations for moving-water walleye in summer current. Jason Mitchell also documented active smallmouth along rocky current breaks this season. Tonight's full moon should extend productive feeding windows well into the evening for both species and put channel catfish on an active night bite through the deeper pool scours.
Summer walleyes and crappies dialing in as late-June weedline patterns firm up
AnglingBuzz (YT) reports that summer crappie action is ramping up across Minnesota, with Blake Tollefson documenting big hard-bait success on fish staging off deeper structure and submerged timber. Walleye are the other headliner: AnglingBuzz highlights forward-facing sonar paired with big plastics for suspended fish, while Jason Mitchell Outdoors (YT) points to jig-worm rigs and light-jig casting upwind of structure as reliable late-June setups. Fishing the Midwest underscores the weedline as the organizing feature of the summer walleye bite, noting that anglers willing to probe multiple edge breaks consistently find fish. USGS gauges on Twin Cities-area waterways read 10,200 cfs and 5,350 cfs as of June 28; neither gauge returned a water temperature. Tonight's full moon typically compresses the primary bite window toward first light and dusk on Minnesota lakes. North Shore anglers should note that the MN DNR Lake Superior Summer Fishing report from June 25 shows solid lake trout and coho trolling 20-50 feet down between Duluth and Two Harbors.
Lake Erie walleye and smallmouth hit prime summer stride
Water temps holding at 67°F on Lake Erie (NOAA buoy 45132) and 70°F in local tributaries (USGS gauge 04231600) signal that Western NY's fishery has fully transitioned into summer mode. Surface conditions are ideal: wave heights of just 0.3 feet and light winds make weekend runs offshore or nearshore straightforward. The full moon this weekend can concentrate walleye and smallmouth feeding into low-light windows at dawn and dusk. Wired 2 Fish notes that round gobies have become a foundational forage species across Great Lakes fisheries, with walleye and smallmouth populations benefiting significantly from the abundant prey. That context points to goby-imitating tubes and drop shots near rocky Erie structure as productive presentations for smallmouth this week. Walleye trollers have historically found success in this temperature range across the main lake basin. Perch activity in the 25-to-35-foot zone typically ramps up through late June as bait concentrates.
Summer Low Water Pushes Delaware Bass and Catfish into Deep Holes
With USGS gauge 01493500 logging just 2.1 cfs in the early hours of June 28, the Christina and Nanticoke systems are running well below seasonal norms — a drought signature consistent with what The Fisherman's NJ/DE Freshwater contributors described across the mid-Atlantic throughout June. Per Old School Outdoors (The Fisherman — NJ/DE Freshwater), even late-month rains failed to lift river levels meaningfully, and catfishing has been solid as fish concentrate in the deepest available holes. Smallmouth bass are rated good by that same source and expected to improve into July. JB Kasper's freshwater column in the same publication framed the whole season around the same conditions: 90-plus-degree air temps, below-normal water temperatures, drought, and low flows — a tough combination that compresses fish into predictable deep-water structure. Bass respond best early and late when shadows fall on the water; midday calls for bottom presentations targeting catfish in the deepest eddies and current breaks.
Full moon and high flows set up prime summer catfish bite on Missouri River
USGS gauge 06934500 recorded 139,000 cfs and 77°F water temp as of June 27, signaling elevated, warm conditions on the Missouri River. High flows like these push fish, particularly catfish and bass, out of the main channel and into eddies, wing dam pockets, and tributary mouths where current breaks concentrate baitfish. Fishing the Midwest contributor Bob Jensen notes that rivers "can provide some outstanding fishing action throughout the summer," recommending anglers pursue structure and current breaks rather than open water runs. B.A.S.S. News reports that postspawn bass are now in a transitional summer pattern, separated into shallow and deep contingents, a dynamic that plays out on Missouri's warmwater rivers as well. The full moon on June 28 should enhance the late-evening and overnight catfish bite, particularly for flatheads holding in deep wing-dam holes. With 77°F water, conditions are close to ideal for channel cats and flatheads on this system.
Yellow Sally Season Arrives on Idaho's Snake and Salmon Rivers
USGS gauge 13340000 recorded 7,280 cfs and 62°F on the Salmon River corridor on the evening of June 27, placing the system squarely in the transition from late snowmelt runoff to early summer fishing. At this temperature, resident rainbow trout and mountain whitefish are actively feeding, and the late-June hatch calendar is on cue: Caddis Fly (OR) singled out Yellow Sallies as a key summer stonefly across the Western U.S., and the Salmon drainage typically sees these insects coming off right now, making a size 14 Yellow Sally nymph beneath a dry attractor a sensible starting point. Hatch Magazine recently raised the ethics of targeting bull trout, federally threatened across much of their Idaho range, and anglers fishing Salmon River tributaries should verify current regulations before pursuing them. Spring Chinook are tapering off as the run transitions to summer steelhead, which are beginning to stage but rarely bite actively until water temperatures cool in September.
Iron Range walleye and smallmouth shifting to summer structure
The Kawishiwi River near Ely recorded 286 cfs on June 27 (USGS gauge 05129115), providing a current baseline for Iron Range watershed conditions. Water temperature data was unavailable at that gauge, though late June typically brings lake surface temps into the mid-60s across this region. Local on-the-water dispatches are sparse in this cycle's feeds, but Midwest-focused outlets offer applicable technique guidance: Fishing the Midwest's Bob Jensen highlights weedline structure as the key summer address for walleye, pike, and bass as the open-water season hits full stride. AnglingBuzz's Blake Tollefson has been covering summer crappie patterns and forward-facing sonar presentations for suspended walleyes. Jason Mitchell Outdoors is actively publishing smallmouth content, with "Pack of Smallmouth" among the channel's recent releases, signaling that bass fishing on rocky structure is gaining momentum region-wide. With a Full Moon tonight, low-light transitions at dawn and dusk on the big BWCA lakes should be the prime windows for walleye on transition flats and rocky points.
Lake Mead Stripers Push Deep as Summer Heat Sets In
Real-time data for this stretch is thin this week — USGS gauge 09421500 returned no readings, and no citable sources filed direct reports from Lake Mead or the lower Colorado striper fishery this cycle. What the calendar does confirm: late June puts Nevada's landlocked stripers squarely in the summer deep-water transition. As desert air temperatures climb well above 100°F across the Las Vegas Valley, reservoir surface temps typically reach the low-to-mid 80s°F, pushing threadfin shad schools — and the stripers trailing them — into the thermocline. Tonight's full moon adds a timing edge: striper surface feeds at first light and last light on a full moon can be surprisingly aggressive on this reservoir, even in summer. Anglers should verify current conditions directly with Lake Mead-area guides or tackle shops before making the drive, as no local charter or shop intel was captured this reporting cycle.
Summer Bass Patterns Lock In on the Cumberland as Full Moon Arrives
The Cumberland River at Carthage clocked 188 cfs on June 27 per USGS gauge 03434500, signaling low, likely clear summer flows that typically push bass and catfish toward deeper channel structure and bridge pilings. Water temperature wasn't recorded at the gauge this cycle, but late June in Middle Tennessee historically sees river and reservoir surface temps climbing into the upper 70s and low 80s°F on shallow water. B.A.S.S. News reports that nationally the postspawn-to-summer transition is now complete, with bass splitting into two camps: an early-morning shallow class working topwater near cover, and a deeper summer population parked on structure through the heat of the day. Tactical Bassin highlights Neko rigs and soft jerkbaits as go-to finesse tools when conditions run clear and sunny — both likely relevant given the low flow picture. The full moon peaks this weekend, typically extending active feeding into dawn and dusk windows and sometimes producing all-night catfish bites on cut bait.
Colorado trout fishing hits its stride as runoff winds down
USGS gauge 09095500 logged 2,180 cfs and 68°F on the Colorado River on June 27, placing water temps right at the upper comfort threshold for trout. Early-morning and evening windows are the priority. Crystal Fly Shop (CO) puts it plainly: the Colorado is 'on the back end of runoff now with currently great water conditions and happy fish,' and advises anglers to take advantage before midsummer heat tapers the bite. Large attractor patterns are delivering in still-elevated flows, while Rubberleg Stones and green drake nymphs have been productive sub-surface, per Crystal Fly Shop (CO). Green drakes, golden stones, PMDs, and caddis are all expected to peak within the next two weeks. Cutthroat Anglers (CO) note that Colorado's historically low 2026 snowpack, though worrying for long-term flows, has concentrated fish in remaining holding water, rewarding anglers willing to adapt their approach and cover less water more carefully.
Deschutes dry-fly season peaks; Klamath rainbows push deep as lake warms
MidCurrent's latest tying feature spotlights patterns built for 'clear, pressured water of stillwaters and tailraces' — a description that maps almost exactly onto the Deschutes lower canyon and its tailrace fisheries. USGS gauge 14070500 returned no data this update, so confirmed flow and temperature readings are unavailable; verify current conditions through official channels before heading out. That caveat noted, late June is historically the apex of the Deschutes dry-fly season: golden stoneflies, PMDs, and evening caddis drive the best surface activity, with the lower canyon producing the most consistent action. Summer steelhead are pushing into the lower river around this time, with swung wet flies the standard presentation. On Upper Klamath Lake, surface temperatures typically climb through late June, pushing trophy rainbows deeper and compressing the productive window to early morning. The full moon this weekend can extend evening rise activity on both systems. Species status below reflects seasonal patterns, not direct-source reports — no local angler intel came through in the feeds this cycle.
Flaming Gorge tailwater trout dialed in as Colorado Plateau summer builds
USGS gauge 09234500 recorded 2,210 cfs and 58°F on the Green River on the evening of June 27 — a dam-cooled signature that keeps browns and rainbows well below thermal stress thresholds even as midsummer heat ramps up across the Colorado Plateau. No specific on-the-water dispatches from the Green River appear in this reporting cycle, but the gauge reading is instructive: water this cold in late June tells the full story of what makes this tailwater exceptional. Subsurface presentations should dominate; Caddis Fly (OR) highlights scuds as composing "a massive portion of a trout's diet" in nutrient-rich tailwater environments and spotlights a jigged Yellow Sally nymph as a productive summer dry-dropper option across western fisheries. MidCurrent's recent tying coverage features midge-style patterns "that excel in the clear, pressured water of stillwaters and tailraces" — a direct match for the Green's character. With a full moon on June 28, plan for peak feeding at first light and again near dark.
Yellow Sallies building on Wyoming tailwaters as summer transition kicks in
Caddis Fly (OR) flags Yellow Sallies as 'a small yet important summer bug in the Western US' now at peak relevance for late June — and Wyoming's Wind River and North Platte tailwaters sit squarely in that window. USGS gauge 06259000 returned no live readings for this reporting period, leaving flow and temperature figures unavailable; confirm current levels before heading out. On these tailwater stretches, brown and rainbow trout typically shift into current seams and mid-depth feeding stations as snowmelt recedes and water begins to clarify. Tonight's full moon (June 28) compresses the best fishing into low-light bookends — early morning and dusk are the top sessions through the weekend. No shop, charter, or state agency reports arrived for this region this data cycle, so species conditions below reflect established seasonal patterns rather than confirmed on-water testimony.
Gulf Strain Striped Bass Return to Pearl River as Mississippi Runs High
Outdoor Hub reports that on June 4, Louisiana wildlife biologists released 5,500 Gulf Strain striped bass fingerlings into the Pearl River, the latest step in a coordinated effort to restore a self-sustaining population capable of supporting a recreational fishery. It is a promising long-term signal, though these fish will not be catchable for several seasons. In the near term, the dominant story is water: USGS gauge 07289000 recorded the Mississippi River at 819,000 cfs as of June 27, well above typical late-June levels. High, pushing flows concentrate blue and channel catfish along current seams, wing dams, and tributary mouths, making this a strong window for targeting the big river's most dependable warm-season species. Largemouth bass have moved out of main-channel current and into backwater sloughs and oxbow lakes where water is slower and calmer. The full moon this weekend can light up nighttime catfish action in particular, a pattern consistently productive when the river is running with this much energy.
Summer bass go deep on Alabama's Tennessee and Coosa Rivers
USGS gauge 02339500 recorded a flow of 798 cfs on June 28, placing both Tennessee and Coosa river corridors in moderate low-water summer conditions — water temperature data was unavailable this cycle. B.A.S.S. News reports that late June is an underappreciated window for big-bass hunting, with postspawn fish transitioning off beds and staging on deeper structure. Tactical Bassin echoes that theme: on sunny summer days, bass retreat to depth and become most catchable on finesse presentations like the Neko rig. The Coosa system's renowned spotted bass fishery should be staging near current seams and ledge drops as midday heat intensifies. A Full Moon this weekend historically pushes feeding windows toward first and last light. Blue and channel catfish typically begin a strong summer night bite across both river systems. No local shop or charter reports were available this cycle; conditions are based on gauge data and seasonal patterns.