Fishing reports
7631 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
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.
East Texas bass shift to summer depths as Toledo Bend and Sam Rayburn heat up
Texas Fish & Game Magazine profiles Toledo Bend as one of America's premier freshwater fisheries, and late June marks the start of the reservoirs' critical summer transition. Per Texas Fish & Game, the dog days push bass off the shoreline cover that produced through May; deeper structure, submerged timber, and creek channel ledges become the key zones as surface temperatures climb. Lake Fork Trophy Bass guides in the same East Texas Pineywoods corridor confirm post-spawn bass are actively feeding across multiple depth ranges, 'from shallow to deep,' as fish rebuild condition after the spawn. The Sabine River inflow to Toledo Bend is running at 5,650 cfs per USGS gauge 08030500 as of this morning. Crappie typically stack tight to deep brush piles in summer heat, while catfish remain consistent through the season. Tonight's waxing gibbous moon sets up favorable feeding windows at dawn and dusk. Plan your launch accordingly.
Summer bass settle into structure on Merrimack and Winnipesaukee
The Merrimack River is logging 310 cfs at USGS gauge 01073500 this morning — a normal summer-low reading that confirms the spring freshet is fully spent and bass are settling into predictable warm-weather patterns. Tactical Bassin notes that summer bass become "very predictable" once temperatures rise, organizing themselves around depth, temperature, and available cover: fish typically hold deeper through the heat of midday and push to feeding edges at first and last light. Fishing the Midwest reinforces this, recommending that anglers target weedlines and structural transitions rather than search open water. For presentations in clear summer conditions, Tactical Bassin flags soft jerkbaits and Senko-style baits as consistent producers. On Lake Winnipesaukee, smallmouth have wrapped their spawn and should be staging on deeper rocky drop-offs and humps. No temperature reading came through on today's gauge pull; based on seasonal norms, Winnipesaukee surface temps are likely in the upper 60s to low 70s°F — stressful for trout but prime for bass and pickerel.
Delaware Bay Summer Pivot: Striper Slot Season Opens July 1, Fluke Running
Delaware Surf Fishing reports that DNREC has revised the recreational striped bass summer slot limit to a 20-24 inch size window, effective at the July 1 season opener — a regulation change every bay angler needs to confirm before next week. OTW Saltwater's June 23 striper migration dispatch marks the official close of the 2026 spring run, signaling the early-summer pattern is now established across the region. Summer flounder have moved into the spotlight as the reliable warm-weather target; On The Water has been running pieces on summer tactics, from jerkbaits in back-bay coves to deeper structure approaches for trophy-class fish. The Waxing Gibbous moon this week is building toward full, amplifying tidal swings that typically concentrate bait and predators along rip lines and channel edges. Anglers heading to Cape Henlopen State Park should note that nearly 200 feet of the fishing pier's end is currently fenced off, per Delaware Surf Fishing — plan access accordingly.
Early-Summer Stripers Setting Up on NH Coast as Migration Wraps
OTW Saltwater's June 23 migration report — the final spring migration update of 2026 — includes Captain Lou Tirado's firsthand account of how the early-summer striper bite is shaping up in Maine, just north of the NH coast. That's the clearest signal this week pointing to active linesiders in the Gulf of Maine: post-migration fish transitioning off their spring-push patterns and beginning to hold on inshore structure and rip lines. OTW Surfcasting adds useful context, noting that striper fishing right now "can feel as good as it's ever been — or as tough as it's been in years — depending on where you're standing," which underlines that locating the right current seams is the central challenge at this stage of the season. Offshore, On The Water is covering canyon fishing for bigeye tuna, a viable target for NH boats with offshore range. No NOAA buoy readings were available for this report; check the local forecast before launching.
Lake Ontario kings and browns firing as tributaries run low
Strike Zone Charters out of Lake Ontario is reporting outstanding salmon fishing this past week, with brown trout and lake trout rounding out the catch. Working 100 to 160 feet of water has been the key depth range, though preferred zones shift daily as winds move the thermocline. Mag Dipsey Divers are the go-to when the temperature is running deep, paired with green, white, and chartreuse e-chips with Atomic rigs. Meanwhile, USGS gauge 04250750 shows the tributary system pulling 91 cfs as of June 24, reflecting low, clear summer flows typical for this stretch of the season. The tributary salmon run does not typically arrive until September, leaving the rivers in summer mode for now. Smallmouth bass offer a reliable wade-fishing option on the tributaries through the heat of summer. For anyone with boat access, the lake itself is producing well, and the mixed-bag action of kings, browns, and lake trout makes the trip worth it.
Cape Cod Canal stripers shift into summer mode across Buzzards Bay
OTW Surfcasting's 2026 Cape Cod Canal Fishing Cheat Sheet, published this week, highlights the Canal's ripping tidal exchange between Cape Cod Bay and Buzzards Bay as a premier striper corridor heading into summer. Meanwhile, the June 23 OTW Saltwater striper migration wrap-up declares the 2026 spring push officially over, with the fishery settling into early-summer holding patterns on both sides of the Cape. No NOAA buoy readings are available for this cycle; check local sources for current water temps before you launch. The waxing gibbous moon is driving building tides through the weekend, creating favorable current windows for Canal slots and outer Sound rip lines. OTW Surfcasting also flags that white sharks have already been confirmed in Massachusetts waters, with a viral Nantucket catch-and-release this week, and shore-based shark regulations are in full effect. Fluke are a worthwhile secondary target in Buzzards Bay's back-bay shallows, per On The Water.
Kenai sockeye push underway as elevated snowmelt flows shape the season
USGS gauge 15266300 logged 11,100 cfs on the Kenai drainage at 50°F water temperature on the morning of June 24, a solid thermal window for salmon activity in Alaska's most-fished river system. Snowmelt-driven flows at this level run on the higher side for late June and will affect wading access along popular bank-fishing reaches, potentially pushing fish through holding pools faster than in lower-water years. Late June marks the heart of the Kenai River's first sockeye run and the closing window of the early king salmon season, with rainbow trout and Dolly Varden active throughout the drainage. No on-the-water captain reports, tackle shop updates, or state fishing-condition alerts were captured in this cycle's feeds; AK Sea Grant's current content covers commercial fishing education rather than sport-fishing conditions. Bite reports here reflect typical seasonal patterns only. Verify Alaska Fish and Game opener dates and bag limits before heading out, as sockeye retention rules shift weekly with escapement counts.
Sea Bass Limits and Fluke on the Rise as Raritan Bay Hits Summer Stride
Capt Ron's Atlantic Highlands logged 62°F water on Father's Day and found fluke biting on nearly every drift, with keepers reaching 3.9 pounds on small Gulp sand eels and plain Gulp baits. The week before was tougher: a cold snap to 56°F had the captain working rocky bottom for mostly short fish before conditions recovered. Sea bass has been the true headline. Blue Chip Sportfishing reports limiting out on almost every trip, with mako sharks also busting wide open (three releases on a recent Friday outing). OTW Northern New Jersey's June 18 report fills in the broader picture: fluke improving from bays to beaches, and striped bass plus bluefish still responding to plugs, clams, and chunks in the surf. With water temps consolidating in the low-to-mid 60s, late June looks like prime time to target keeper fluke and stack up on sea bass structure in the Sandy Hook corridor.