Fishing reports
7567 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
Western Basin Walleye at Peak Late-June Window as Goby Patterns Shine
Wired 2 Fish this week spotlighted the round goby's role as a transformed forage base across the Great Lakes, context that speaks directly to Western Basin walleye, which have keyed on gobies as a primary prey item for more than two decades. Late June historically marks one of the highest-production windows for this fishery, and the waxing gibbous moon currently overhead extends feeding activity into low-light shoulders. No buoy or gauge readings are available for this cycle, so specific surface temperature data is absent. Fishing the Midwest's recent weedline piece notes that walleye predictably stage on defined edge transitions and hard-bottom structure through the summer months. On the Michigan Sportsman Forum, one angler noted a walleye taken on a leech harness while mayfly activity was on the water, consistent with the late-June emergence timing common to Ohio's nearshore zones. Bottom bouncers with nightcrawler or leech harnesses remain a reliable baseline presentation this time of year.
Smallmouth and Summer Trout Prime as Eastern WA Season Peaks
WA WDFW Fishing Reports confirms the department maintains active fish-stocking operations across Eastern Washington lakes and streams heading into late June, supplementing natural populations. No buoy or USGS gauge readings were captured for this cycle, so anglers should verify on-the-ground conditions locally before heading out. Tactical Bassin notes that summer bass are among the most predictable fish to target right now, concentrating around structure, baitfish, and temperature comfort zones, a pattern that applies directly to Columbia Basin smallmouth waters near Yakima and the Spokane River corridor. Fishing the Midwest reinforces the summer-river opportunity: larger rivers hold fish throughout the day in current seams and deeper holes when surface heat builds. Hatch Magazine flags an important reminder for fly anglers exploring upper Yakima-basin tributaries: bull trout, a protected char native to the Northwest, carry strict legal protections and require regulation review before fishing mixed-trout waters. Tonight's Waxing Gibbous moon phase favors low-light feeding windows at dawn and dusk.
Eagle Mountain catfish running hot as Texas lakes head into peak summer
The North Texas Catfish Guide is reporting one of the best catfish windows of the year on Eagle Mountain Lake near Fort Worth. With the reservoir sitting near full pool and fresh water still entering the system, blue catfish and channel catfish are moving and feeding aggressively — the guide notes limits on most recent trips, with blue cats pushing past 30 pounds on the best days. Channel catfish are also "biting like crazy" in the main lake alongside white bass, per the same guide's recent reports. Lone Star Outdoor News highlights Rio Grande cichlids as a rising summer target as trout season winds down on Texas rivers. Texas Fish & Game Magazine signals that mid-summer bass patterns are shifting, with fish beginning to vacate spring shorelines and push toward deeper structure and offshore schools — a transition that typically accelerates through July. The waxing gibbous moon this week should extend evening catfish feeding windows across North Texas.
Florida Freshwater Bass Lock Into Summer Pattern on Lake O and the St. Johns
Tactical Bassin's summer-bass breakdown notes that post-spawn largemouth split into two predictable zones once temperatures climb: shallow vegetation edges at first and last light, then deeper structure and submerged grass through the midday heat. No charter, shop, or agency reports specific to Lake Okeechobee or the St. Johns River came through this cycle, so conditions here reflect seasonal norms for late June in South and Central Florida. Okeechobee's hydrilla mats, lily pads, and emergent reed edges are prime early-morning targets; the deeper basin flats and connecting canals hold fish as air temps push into the 90s. On the St. Johns, shaded bank timber and submerged vegetation concentrate bass and black crappie through the summer. The waxing gibbous moon this week extends productive feeding windows into the pre-dawn and post-sunset hours. A June settlement over a proposed Everglades Agricultural Area rock mine, covered by MidCurrent, keeps conservation attention on the broader Okeechobee watershed.
Stripers scatter into summer mode as fluke season peaks in Long Island Sound
OTW Saltwater's final striper migration report of 2026, filed June 23, marks the formal close of the spring run through the Northeast. Bass are now spreading from their migration corridors into early-summer holding areas across Long Island Sound. OTW Surfcasting's current-season assessment is candid: the striper bite can feel as good as it has ever been, or as tough as it has been in years, depending on where you are standing, reflecting the scattered, location-dependent nature of post-migration fish. On the bottom-fishing front, On The Water highlights Captain Mike Littlefield targeting doormat-sized fluke over deep structure in Rhode Island by keying on sand eel concentrations, a pattern that applies equally to Connecticut's Sound rips and channel drops. Bluefish are typically active on the Sound by late June, though no direct reports surfaced in this week's feeds. No NOAA buoy data was available for this period; late June typically brings Long Island Sound into the low-to-mid 60s range. The waxing gibbous moon drives strong tidal exchange this week.
Delaware River bass and Pine Barrens pickerel shift into summer patterns
NJ Fish & Wildlife News confirms seasonal closures are active at five Wildlife Management Areas through September 7, 2026 — anglers should verify access before visiting familiar spots. No USGS gauge readings or direct freshwater angler intel are available for the Delaware River or Pine Barrens this cycle, so conditions below reflect established late-June seasonal baselines for this corridor. The Delaware River mid-summer transition is underway: smallmouth bass have moved through post-spawn recovery and are settling into summer feeding patterns around current breaks, rocky ledges, and deeper pool edges. In the Pine Barrens, cedar-stained lakes and streams favor early-morning largemouth and chain pickerel action before midday heat pulls fish deep. Channel catfish on the Delaware River are traditional summer targets after dark, when cooler bottom temperatures concentrate them near deeper channel holes. A waxing gibbous moon extends low-light windows on both ends of the day.
Summer Steelhead Builds on the Rogue; Columbia Chinook in Mid-Run
No buoy or gauge data is available for the Columbia and Rogue drainages this week, so water temperatures and flows remain unconfirmed — check USGS and ODFW resources before heading out. That said, late June traditionally sits at the opening edge of Oregon's best freshwater window. The Rogue's summer steelhead run builds steadily from now through September, pulling drift-boat and fly anglers into the corridor between Grants Pass and the Wild and Scenic reach. On the Columbia, summer Chinook are typically in mid-run, holding in cooler, deeper water ahead of tributary pushes, while smallmouth bass come alive in the warming slack-water stretches. This week's Waxing Gibbous moon favors dawn and dusk feeding windows on both systems. MidCurrent's current fly-tying coverage highlights beaded, high-contrast nymph patterns as strong choices for low-light or off-color conditions — a style well-suited to early-morning steelhead swings on the Rogue.
Drum, Fluke, and Bluefish Active as Delaware Bay Heads Into Peak Summer
Grumpys Tackle (NJ) reports drum, bass, and bluefish all in the mix as New Jersey waters transition to peak summer, a combination that lines up well with what Delaware Bay's NJ shore typically offers in late June. OTW Northern New Jersey's June 18 report confirms fluke are improving across inshore bays and beaches, with striped bass and bluefish taking clams, chunks, and plugs in the surf. No NOAA buoy data is available for Delaware Bay today, but Capt Ron's Atlantic Highlands logged water temperatures of 61 to 62°F around Father's Day, consistent with the low-to-mid 60s range that usually characterizes Delaware Bay by late June. Blue Chip Sportfishing (NJ) notes sea bass trips are limiting out, and shark action has "busted wide open" with multiple mako releases adding offshore excitement. The waxing gibbous moon this week should produce strong tidal exchanges through the bay, concentrating bait in current seams and setting up productive feeding transitions at dawn and dusk.
Allegheny and Pittsburgh tailwaters prime for summer smallmouth and catfish
PA Sea Grant's June 25 harmful algal bloom webinar, held in partnership with the Pennsylvania DEP, signals that Pennsylvania waterways are deep into summer conditions and that anglers should monitor water quality before wading or launching. No USGS flow or temperature readings were available for this report cycle; verify current gauge data before heading out. For the Allegheny and Pittsburgh tailwaters in late June, this is typically one of the stronger periods for smallmouth bass, with post-spawn fish concentrating in current seams and below dam aprons. Fishing the Midwest notes that summer river fish follow three predictable variables: shade, current, and bait proximity, making tailwater structure highly productive. Walleye favor deeper runs at first and last light. Channel and flathead catfish typically reach peak activity overnight, and the waxing gibbous moon phase tends to extend those low-light feeding windows across all species.
Kennebec & Penobscot Smallmouth in Prime Late-June Form
No gauge readings arrived for the Kennebec or Penobscot this cycle, so this report draws on regional New England freshwater patterns and seasonal norms. Across the broader northeast, The Fisherman — New England Freshwater reports that freshwater fishing has "settled into warm-weather patterns" with bass responding best to topwaters, soft plastics, and live bait during low-light windows — a template that translates well to late-June conditions on Maine's big rivers. For the Kennebec and Penobscot drainages, smallmouth bass are typically the standout at this time of year: post-spawn fish have had weeks to recover and are aggressively working riffles, mid-river ledges, and rocky structure. Landlocked salmon and native brook trout generally pull back toward cold tributary mouths and spring-fed pools as June surface temps climb. Chain pickerel in slower coves and backwaters offer a productive secondary target. This week's Waxing Gibbous moon should extend productive feeding into the early-morning and post-sunset hours.
Smokies Trout Turn to Summer Mode as Late-June Heat Builds
No USGS gauge readings or local shop reports arrived for this cycle, so this update draws on seasonal patterns and general trout intel. Late June in the Great Smoky Mountains typically marks the shift into summer low-water, when midday stream temperatures in lower-elevation drainages can climb enough to stress trout, pushing fish toward shaded pools, pocket water under rhododendron cover, and cooler headwater forks. Caddis Fly (OR) highlighted Yellow Sally nymphs as an important late-June pattern for mountain streams, noting these small stoneflies are often overlooked despite their consistent fish-catching ability. MidCurrent's recent Tying Tuesday covered surface and film presentations well-suited to this clear-water window, featuring CDC emergers and attractor dries. Trout Unlimited's dry-fly guidance emphasizes reading the subtle differences in how trout are feeding — essential for this technical, gin-clear environment. Dawn and dusk remain the most productive windows. Check current state regulations before heading out.
Lanier Stripers and Allatoona Spots Stack Deep as Summer Heat Peaks
Joshua Barber's Southern Waters Fishing Report in GA Sportsman / Georgia Outdoor News (June 20) noted a 'fairly slow' bite across Georgia due to hot weather and recent rains, with most fish pushed into deeper water. That thermal pattern extends broadly to North Georgia impoundments including Lake Lanier and Allatoona heading into the final week of June. Lanier's landlocked striped bass, one of the lake's signature fisheries, typically suspend near thermocline depth while tracking baitfish schools this time of year. At Allatoona, spotted bass, the lake's hallmark species, pull off shallow banks and cluster around deep channel drops and submerged points. The Georgia Wildlife Blog covered statewide conditions through mid-June, highlighting Bass Slam and Trout Slam opportunities but providing limited reservoir-specific detail in this data cycle. No NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings were available for either lake this period. Early mornings and late evenings remain the best windows to find actively feeding fish.
Summer salmon and steelhead building as WA rivers enter prime late-June window
Hatch Magazine raised the ethics of targeting bull trout in Northwest river systems this week — a useful reminder that WA's river fisheries operate under tight management — but specific catch intel for the Columbia and Puget Sound river drainages was absent from this reporting cycle's feeds. No USGS gauge data or NOAA buoy readings are available to confirm current water temperatures or flow levels; verify conditions directly with WA WDFW before launching. Seasonally, late June marks the typical arrival window for summer chinook in the Columbia mainstem, with fish numbers generally building toward a mid-July peak. Summer steelhead begin entering lower reaches at this time as well. WA Sea Grant reports that invasive European green crab have now been detected on Orcas Island in Puget Sound — a developing situation worth monitoring for any access or habitat changes it may prompt. The waxing gibbous moon phase currently favors low-light bite windows at dawn and dusk.
UP Brook Trout Prime Window Opens as Lake Superior Whitefish Draw Crowds
WI DNR Lake Superior Fishing reports that lake whitefish in Chequamegon Bay on western Lake Superior have drawn growing angler interest across both ice and open-water seasons — the strongest agency signal adjacent to the Michigan UP shoreline this cycle. The MI DNR Weekly Fishing Report did not deliver full content this period. No buoy or USGS gauge readings are available, so confirmed water temperatures and stream flows are unavailable; check local conditions before heading out. Late June typically opens prime brook trout windows on UP streams as snowmelt runoff subsides, flows drop, and water clarity improves. Wired 2 Fish notes that round gobies have become an established forage base throughout the Great Lakes, concentrating lake trout and coho near rocky nearshore structure on Lake Superior. Fishing the Midwest highlights summer as the time to work weedlines and river edges as fish settle into predictable post-spawn patterns.
Stripers go deep as summer heat locks in on Santee and Lake Murray
No NOAA buoy or USGS gauge data was received for Santee Cooper or Lake Murray at report time, and none of this week's angler-intel feeds filed specific dispatches from these SC inland waters. Based on seasonal patterns, late June typically brings water temperatures into the low-to-mid 80s °F across both systems, pushing striped bass — the signature species on both Santee Cooper and Lake Murray — down to thermocline depth during midday hours. Tactical Bassin's summer bass analysis this week confirms the playbook broadly in effect right now: bass populations have separated into shallow-structure and open-water schools, with early-morning topwater and deeper crankbait or Carolina rig presentations both earning fish. Catfish action tends to hold strong into summer on Santee. The Waxing Gibbous moon through mid-week favors feeding windows at dawn and dusk. Check local tackle sources for current water readings and regulations before heading out.
Late June smallmouth window peaks on PA's Susquehanna and Allegheny
Fishing the Midwest calls summer rivers prime territory, noting that warming water "triggers some great activity" and fish become predictable along structure — a pattern that fits the Susquehanna and Allegheny right now in late June. Post-spawn smallmouth bass are moving off beds and feeding aggressively on crayfish and baitfish at current seams, riffles, and rocky points. Tactical Bassin confirms that summer bass separate into predictable shallow and deep groups after the spawn, making targeted presentations productive. No gauge flow data or water temperature readings were available in this cycle, so check USGS StreamStats and the PA Fish & Boat Commission's Biologist Reports for current conditions before you launch. PA Sea Grant is flagging harmful algal blooms as a growing summer concern across Pennsylvania waterways — stay clear of any water showing green scum, discoloration, or unusual surface film.
Bass grinding deep on Russell and Hartwell as summer heat locks in
The Georgia-South Carolina Line Team Circuit visited Lake Russell on June 14, and per GA Sportsman / Georgia Outdoor News, the summer bite was described as 'tough': the winning team of Billy Rochester and Brandon Brown managed just 12 pounds, 9 ounces on a five-fish limit, anchored by a 3-pound, 3-ounce big bass. Further down the Savannah chain at Clarks Hill, GA Sportsman reports that lower-than-normal water levels characterized conditions during a recent BFL event, where angler William Bates found bass concentrated on bream bed structure en route to a $9,150 payday. Georgia Wildlife Blog notes that summer patterns are firmly established across the state following National Fishing and Boating Week. No NOAA buoy or USGS gauge data is available for this report; anglers should verify current water temperatures locally before heading out, as late June typically pushes reservoir bass deep in search of the thermocline across the Savannah chain.
Summer heat locks in catfish and bass on Illinois River and Lake Michigan
Anglers in Illinois should note that Morrison-Rockwood State Park in Whiteside County was closed June 23–24 for aquatic herbicide treatments on Lake Carlton, per Outdoor Hub — confirm access before making the drive. No real-time buoy or gauge data arrived in this report cycle, so specific water temperatures and flow readings are unavailable. For Illinois River fishing, Fishing the Midwest advises targeting weedline edges and river structure through summer, with early-morning and evening windows offering relief from midday heat. On southern Lake Michigan, IL/IN Sea Grant operates three nearshore buoys monitoring conditions — worth checking at their site before launching. The round goby's established role as high-calorie forage continues to benefit nearshore smallmouth and lake predators, a dynamic Wired 2 Fish explored in a recent Great Lakes piece. The waxing gibbous moon this week favors low-light and overnight catfish runs on the Illinois River.
CT Inland Bass Hit Summertime Stride as Trout Bite Fades
Colin at Fishin' Factory 3 in Middletown has declared it: Connecticut's freshwater fishing is officially in summertime mode. The shad run on the Connecticut River has wrapped up, with rivermen now pivoting to channel catfish and bowfins in those same stretches. Trout have gone quiet statewide — even the Salmon River, typically a reliable warm-weather producer, is slow per Fishin' Factory 3. Bass, however, are delivering. Ponds and lakes are producing on fake frogs, Whopper Ploppers, Senkos, and shiners, with early-morning and after-dark sessions outpacing anything midday offers. Rich at Fisherman's World in Norwalk adds that customers are heading to Saugatuck Reservoir for good reason: largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, and walleye are biting well during morning and evening windows. Night crawlers and shiners are the go-to live baits, with heavier metal spoons in the one-ounce class filling out the arsenal for deeper fish. The waxing gibbous moon brightening overnight skies should keep those low-light windows firing heading into the weekend.
Summer Catfish Prime on the Mississippi and Atchafalaya as LDWF Invests in Freshwater Sportfish
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries released 5,500 Gulf Strain striped bass fingerlings into the Pearl River on June 4, per Outdoor Hub — part of a statewide push to rebuild sportfish populations that sets a hopeful backdrop for Louisiana's inland rivers. On the Mississippi and Atchafalaya themselves, late June belongs to catfish. LA Sea Grant's processing research out of the Jeanerette Seafood Demonstration Lab confirms buffalo fish and catfish are the most abundant native species in the region's freshwater system, and both are in their seasonal element right now. Blue cats and flatheads typically stack in deep main-channel bends and log-jam structure once their spawn clears in mid-June, and night fishing under the waxing gibbous moon should favor heavy bottom rigs through the weekend. No real-time gauge readings were returned for this cycle — check local river stage at your landing before launching, as upper-basin rainfall can push Atchafalaya flows quickly.
Central MA Bass Fill Summer Weedlines as Largemouth Season Peaks
Tactical Bassin's current summer bass breakdown notes that post-spawn largemouth have split into two predictable groups: shallow fish holding on cover edges — lily pads, dock pilings, and submerged timber — active at dawn and dusk, and deeper fish suspending over structure through the midday heat. While no local buoy or gauge readings are available for Central MA this cycle, that pattern translates cleanly to the region's ponds and reservoirs in late June. Fishing the Midwest's Bob Jensen reinforces the same timing, calling summer weedlines the premier structure for bass and walleye alike. The Waxing Gibbous moon phase this week may extend productive topwater and edge-fishing windows into the evening hours. Trout activity typically fades sharply as late-June water temperatures climb; largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, and chain pickerel are the primary freshwater targets across Central Massachusetts through July. Check local forecasts before heading out.
Wabash smallmouth and Lake Michigan salmon prime up as summer hits full stride
Fishing the Midwest notes the 2026 open water season is fully underway across the region, with river and weedline patterns driving daily action. No current buoy or gauge readings are available for Indiana's waters this cycle, so anglers should verify conditions locally before heading out. On the Wabash River, late June is traditionally one of the strongest windows for smallmouth bass and channel catfish, with fish pushing into current seams and deeper holes as midday heat climbs. Along Indiana's Lake Michigan shoreline, Wired 2 Fish highlights the round goby as a cornerstone of the Great Lakes forage base, a development that has steadily benefited nearshore smallmouth, yellow perch, and the chinook salmon that begin staging in earnest through July. IL/IN Sea Grant operates three nearshore Lake Michigan buoys tracking wave and temperature conditions; anglers should check those readings before making the run offshore. The waxing gibbous moon stretches low-light feeding windows into the early morning and evening hours on both waters.
Summer smallmouth season peaks on the Potomac and Shenandoah
USGS gauge 01646500 shows the Potomac running at 3,060 cfs as of June 24 — a moderate early-summer flow that typically allows solid wade and float access across the mainstem and into the lower Shenandoah. No water temperature reading was available from the gauge this cycle. Direct on-the-water reports from this specific stretch are absent from current reporting feeds, so conditions here lean on seasonal norms rather than this week's shop or captain accounts — readers should verify locally before heading out. That said, late June is historically prime time for smallmouth bass on both rivers, with fish pushing into riffles, current seams, and rocky ledges as summer patterns solidify. Per Tactical Bassin's summer bass coverage, rising water temperatures make bass predictable and structure-oriented — a pattern anglers on the Potomac and Shenandoah should expect now. Catfish — channel, flathead, and blue — are a reliable night-fishing target through the dog days ahead. The waxing gibbous moon may extend feeding windows into early morning and dusk shoulder hours.
Guntersville & Wheeler largemouth split deep and shallow as summer peaks
USGS gauge 03575100 logged 1,300 cfs on the morning of June 24, reflecting moderate tributary inflow to the Wheeler-Guntersville system — no water temperature reading was attached to this cycle's data. Late June in north Alabama typically pushes reservoir surface temps well into the low-to-mid 80s°F, the threshold where, per Tactical Bassin, largemouth bass divide predictably between shallow-cover fish and offshore depth-seekers. Early-morning topwater sessions over Guntersville's hydrilla and milfoil edges are the classic summer opening move, while crankbaits and Carolina rigs on offshore ledges pick up mid-day fish. The MLF News report from Grand Lake's June bass tournament — a comparable southern impoundment — corroborates the pattern: frogs and flipping baits producing in shallow bushes while Carolina rigs and crankbaits cleaned up offshore. The waxing gibbous moon sharpens dawn and dusk feeding windows, making the first hour of light a high-priority slot on both lakes heading into the weekend.