Fishing reports
15953 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
Texas catfish keep grinding as late-summer heat holds on
The gauge at USGS site 08211200 read 87°F this morning with flow holding at a modest 83 cfs, still solidly summer-pattern water for mid-September in Texas. Catfish remain the most consistently talked-about species in North Texas: North Texas Catfish Guide's Eagle Mountain Lake reports have repeatedly flagged blue and channel catfish as reliable producers once water levels and temperatures line up, and that pattern typically extends into early fall as fish hold on current breaks and deeper structure. Bass anglers should start watching for the fall shift: Tactical Bassin and Fishing the Midwest both note bass beginning to key on baitfish around grass edges and structure as summer breaks, a transition that's only starting to show in Texas with water still in the upper 80s. White bass activity historically picks up on North Texas lakes into fall as well, though we don't have a fresh report confirming that's underway yet.
St. Johns flow climbs as Okeechobee bass ease into fall transition
USGS gauge 02232000 on the St. Johns River logged 1,630 cfs as of 7:30 a.m. Thursday — a strong reading for mid-September that suggests recent rain has pushed extra water through the system and likely stained typical bass haunts along the main river and connecting runs. No buoy or water-temperature data came through this cycle, and this week's angler-intel feeds didn't carry a direct report from Lake Okeechobee or the St. Johns corridor, so we're leaning on regional seasonal knowledge rather than a specific local catch report. Central Florida is still sliding out of summer heat into the early fall transition, when largemouth bass typically start pushing off deep structure to chase baitfish in more open water — a shift Tactical Bassin's national fall-transition breakdown this week flags as the pattern to watch for, regardless of lake type. Expect bream, crappie, and catfish to hold to usual late-summer habits until water cools more consistently.
Steady Fall Flows Set Up Kennebec & Penobscot Freshwater Bite
USGS gauge 01046500 logged a steady 1,400 cfs at first light this morning, a typical late-summer flow heading into Maine's fall transition. This week's angler-intel feeds leaned heavily toward southern New England striper and albie reports, with little direct testimony from Kennebec or Penobscot freshwater anglers, so we're grounding this outlook in seasonal norms rather than fresh dispatches. Mid-September is when Maine's landlocked salmon typically begin staging near river mouths and cooler feeder water as they prep for their fall run, smallmouth bass slide toward deeper structure as shallows lose their summer warmth, and chain pickerel keep ambushing baitfish along weedy edges through the shoulder season. Brook trout in spring-fed tributaries often see a lift in activity as overnight temperatures drop. With a First Quarter moon overhead, plan around the morning and evening low-light windows. Check a local Maine bait shop for the freshest on-the-water read before you head out.
Warm gauge readings keep Smokies trout on an early-bite clock
USGS gauge 03512000 read 69°F and 152 cfs this morning, numbers that sit Smokies trout water on the warm side of prime range for mid-September. This week's angler-intel feeds carried no direct reports out of Western North Carolina's trout streams, so this update leans on the gauge reading and general seasonal patterns rather than a fresh local bite report. At 69°F, rainbows and stocked browns still feed but taper off hard once the sun climbs, while native brook trout tucked into high-elevation tributaries are working with cooler, more comfortable water than fish holding in the warmer mainstem. Caddis Fly (OR) notes hopper season running strong for late-summer trout right now, a pattern that generally extends into Southern Appalachian freestone streams too — grasshoppers along grassy banks and pocket water are worth a drift through the warmer midday hours. Until nights cool further, mornings and evenings are the safer bet for both fish comfort and bite window.
Susquehanna & Allegheny Smallmouth Eye the Fall Feeding Window
The USGS gauge at station 01540500 logged 73°F and roughly 6,700 cfs early this morning, carrying late-summer warmth into a Susquehanna and Allegheny system that's on the edge of the fall turnover. Direct, water-specific bite reports for this corridor were thin in today's feeds — the PA Fish & Boat Commission's Biologist Reports remain the best standing resource for stream-by-stream detail, and are worth checking before you head out. What we can say with confidence borrows from the broader fall playbook: Tactical Bassin and Fishing the Midwest both describe predators sliding off deep summer structure onto current breaks and dying weed edges as they chase schooling baitfish, a pattern that typically arrives here as flows and temperatures ease off summer highs. Expect smallmouth to lead that shift first, with walleye and muskellunge following into low-light feeding windows as the water keeps cooling through the next few weeks.
Red and Missouri rivers ease into the fall walleye window
Thursday morning's reading from USGS gauge 05054000 put water at 65°F on 228 cfs — a stable, moderate flow that's typical for mid-September and right in the range where Red and Missouri River walleye start sliding off summer flats toward the first breaklines. No charter, shop, or state-agency reports specific to North Dakota came through this cycle, so we're leaning on the gauge plus general fall-pattern knowledge rather than fresh local intel. Regionally, Fishing the Midwest's fall coverage notes that as weeds begin dying back this time of year, baitfish and the gamefish following them shift off shallow flats toward deeper, still-green cover — a pattern that tracks with typical Missouri River walleye and sauger behavior in September. Channel cats should still be feeding heavily on cooling water. Treat today's numbers as a solid baseline and check for a fresher local report before your next trip, since this window updates quickly once temps drop another few degrees.
Delta stripers hold pattern as fall salmon run gets underway
The Sacramento River gauge at Freeport (USGS 11447650) read 67°F with flow running a brisk 19,500 cfs before dawn Thursday — elevated water that should keep the Delta on the cooler, more stained side heading into the weekend. That favors staging striped bass and sturgeon more than it favors largemouth, which typically prefer settling, clearing water as the fall transition sets up. The bigger regional story sits just downstream: Western Outdoor News — Saltwater reports the fall ocean salmon season opened September 1 with 'spectacular action' and limits to near-limits of big, hard-fighting Chinook for San Francisco-area boats, the first open fall season after three years of closure. That's a strong signal for the salmon push that will work its way through Delta channels toward Sacramento River spawning grounds over the next several weeks. No dedicated Delta striper or bass report came through today's feeds, so treat bass patterns as seasonal defaults until fresher local intel lands.
Lanier and Allatoona bass shift into fall feeding mode
Flow at USGS gauge 02334430 sits at 613 cfs with water at 50°F as of this morning, a solid cool-season read for Georgia's freshwater fisheries. The bite story right now is the fall transition: bass are schooling up and keying on baitfish as water cools, and this pattern applies squarely to Lanier and Allatoona-style reservoirs. Tactical Bassin notes bass positioning shifts through the fall transition and highlights baits worth adjusting to as summer patterns break down, while Fishing the Midwest points anglers toward green, living weed edges as key staging areas once shallower cover starts to die back. Notably, MLF News flags a topwater bite ramping up specifically on Lake Lanier ahead of a Bulldog Division Super Tournament this month, citing the lake's healthy population of big, ferocious spotted bass. Expect fish relating to schooling baitfish over structure and transitioning toward deeper staging areas as temperatures continue to drop through late September.
Colorado's Warm-Water Trout Bite Narrows to Cool Morning Hours
Water on the Colorado River sat right at 67°F this morning per our regional USGS gauge (09095500), with flow holding near 1,510 cfs — a reading that lands exactly on the threshold Pat Dorsey Fly Fishing has flagged all summer: stop fishing tailwaters once temps hit 67 degrees, and Cutthroat Anglers (CO) echoes a similar 68°F ceiling for the drainage. That makes early morning the play right now. Crystal Fly Shop's latest reports describe low, clear water on the Roaring Fork and Frying Pan with fish keyed on small stuff — Rainbow Warriors, Sparklewing RS2s, and Tricos on the Fork — while the mainstem Colorado near Glenwood Springs has seen recent closures tied to monsoon-driven mud, with a streamer bite building as things clear. Cutthroat Anglers' HALO citizen-science project is also tracking remote high-alpine lakes this season. Plan around dawn, watch your thermometer, and expect afternoons to push water past safe fishing limits.
Toledo Bend and Sabine anglers eye the fall bass transition
Flow on the border gauge (USGS 08025500) sits at a scant 2.71 cfs as of early Wednesday, with no fresh water-temp reading available from local buoys or gauges this cycle. There's no Toledo Bend or Sabine-specific report in today's intel feed, so we're leaning on regional trends: Tactical Bassin's fall-transition coverage notes bass schooling up and feeding heavily on baitfish as water cools, with anglers adapting from shallow structure bites to open-water baitfish patterns as the day warms. Fishing the Midwest echoes the same seasonal shift, pointing anglers toward remaining green, living weed edges as dying vegetation pushes baitfish and bass to relocate. None of this is Toledo Bend-specific reporting, so treat it as general fall-pattern guidance rather than a confirmed local bite until a Sabine-area source checks in.
High water on Driftless creeks puts trout in streamer mode
USGS gauge 05407000 logged flow at 4,680 cfs early this morning — well above typical baseflow for the region's spring-fed trout water and a signal that recent rain has bumped area creeks up and off-color. Water temperature wasn't reported at the gauge, so plan around what you can see streamside rather than a number. With flows running high, Root River Rod Co's approach (via MidCurrent's Tying Tuesday) is worth borrowing: a pine squirrel jig streamer built to bounce the rocky bottom without hanging up, tuned for the Driftless region's tight, technical water. That's the right toolbox for bumped-up flows — get a streamer down into the seams and slower water where trout are holding out of the main push. Direct WI stream reports were thin in this week's feeds, so treat species activity below as seasonal expectation rather than confirmed bite reports, and read the water carefully before wading.
Fall Transition Settles Into Mosquito and Pymatuning Reservoirs
Flow at our reference gauge (USGS 03110000) is running a steady 111 cfs this morning, with no water-temperature reading available — a quiet signal typical of a mid-September stretch with no major runoff moving through the watershed. Mosquito and Pymatuning are entering the fall transition window, and while no reports specific to these two lakes came through today, the seasonal signal in national bass coverage lines up: Fishing the Midwest's Mike Frisch notes that as weeds start dying back in late summer, baitfish and gamefish relocate to whatever green, healthy weed growth remains — a pattern that applies directly to Ohio's weedy reservoir flats. Tactical Bassin's fall-transition coverage this week describes the same shift, with bass schooling and feeding aggressively on baitfish as water cools. Walleye anglers should lean on the combo Frisch also covers — live-bait rigs and crankbait trolling — which typically still produces before deeper cold-water patterns take over. Crappie remain the wildcard until nights cool further.
Fall weed die-back nudges Iron Range walleye and pike deeper
USGS gauge 05129115 logged a steady 85.3 cfs early Wednesday morning, with no paired water-temperature reading this cycle — flow sitting in a normal range for mid-September, not the kind of spike or drop that typically repositions fish fast. No direct Boundary Waters or Iron Range angler report came through today's intel sweep, so this leans on the broader Minnesota seasonal pattern: per Fishing the Midwest, as surface weeds start dying back with cooling water, oxygen drops in those beds and baitfish — with walleye, pike, and bass tracking them — shift out to deeper, still-green vegetation and breaklines. A bladed swim jig worked along weed edges is the multi-species standby this time of year per the same source. Walleye and pike should stay catchable on classic fall weed-edge patterns; panfish typically lag as the slower bite until water cools further into true late-fall staging.
Skinny Truckee flows push trout fishing into transition mode
The USGS gauge on the Truckee River (site 10311000) logged flow at just 7.81 cfs in early-morning readings this week — thin water for mid-September and a reminder that low-flow, careful-wading conditions are settling in ahead of fall. No water-temperature reading came through on this check, and this week's angler-intel feed carried no direct reports from Truckee or Lake Tahoe waters specifically, so we're leaning on general seasonal knowledge rather than fresh word from the water. Typically for this stretch of the calendar, brown trout begin showing more aggressive pre-spawn behavior as days shorten, rainbows stay catchable on standard presentations, and deep-water mackinaw fishing holds steady over structure. With low flow limiting river options, lake and reservoir fishing is the better bet for anglers this week, particularly early and late in the day around the first-quarter moon.
Fall transition turns on Oklahoma bass at Texoma and Eufaula
Fall is asserting itself on Oklahoma's bass lakes, and it's already showing on the water — MLF News reports the Grand Lake fishery has bass on the move ahead of this weekend's Okie Division Super Tournament, with cooling nights pushing fish into feeding mode statewide. On Texoma and Eufaula, the same transition is typically underway by mid-September as baitfish and gamefish relocate off dying summer grass toward fresher edges, a shift Fishing the Midwest points to as the key to finding fall fish. Technique is shifting too: Tactical Bassin's fall-transition breakdown this week highlights baitfish schooling and open-water feeding as the read, with the Free Rig gaining traction as summer's slow falls give way to more aggressive presentations. Our lone flow reading, from USGS gauge 07331600, sits at a modest 49.7 cfs — stable, low-water conditions with nothing to disrupt clarity. No surface water temp came through this cycle, so check it locally before you launch.
Fall transition sets up walleye and Black Hills trout in SD
The USGS gauge at site 06440200 logged 0 cfs with no water-temperature reading as of early this morning, a flow figure worth double-checking against current release schedules before you launch — a gap in the telemetry, not necessarily dead water. Direct field reports for this stretch of Missouri River and Black Hills water were thin in this cycle's feeds, so we're leaning on the seasonal pattern: mid-September in South Dakota typically pushes walleye and smallmouth bass into a fall feeding mode as weed lines start to die back, per the general fall-transition notes running in Fishing the Midwest's fall coverage this week — bladed swim jigs over dying weed edges are the go-to right now across the region. Black Hills trout streams should be cooling into prime shape. Treat today's report as seasonal guidance rather than a confirmed bite until fresher local intel comes in.
Fall Transition Puts Hartwell-Russell Spotted Bass on the Move
USGS gauge 02192000 on the Savannah system is running a steady 186 cfs as of Wednesday morning (Sept 17), a modest, stable flow that favors clearer water and predictable bass positioning on Hartwell and Russell this week. Local water-temp instrumentation isn't reporting in, but the Georgia Wildlife Blog's September 11 fishing report notes the days finally shortening and the air cooling — the seasonal trigger that starts pushing baitfish, and the bass chasing them, out of summer's deep-water holding areas. We don't have a direct Hartwell or Russell bite report yet this cycle, but MLF News flagged the fall topwater bite "ramping up" on nearby Lake Lanier's spotted bass population ahead of this month's Super Tournament — the same Piedmont-reservoir pattern that typically works its way onto Hartwell and Russell within a week or two. Expect spotted and largemouth bass to start working shallower points and flats in the low-light hours, with stripers and hybrids still leaning on the thermocline through midday heat.
Lake Lanier's Fall Topwater Bite Fires Up on the Chattahoochee
Topwater action is heating up on Lake Lanier, MLF News reports this week, citing conditions lining up for the Bulldog Division's fall Super Tournament and the lake's healthy population of big, ferocious spotted bass. That fits the broader fall pattern converging across the Chattahoochee and Savannah systems: as Tactical Bassin notes, bass are schooling and feeding hard on baitfish as summer patterns break down, and anglers who adapt now score fish others miss. Fishing the Midwest's seasonal advice — find the last green, living weeds as the rest die back — applies directly to Georgia's grass-lined flats too. Flow on our regional gauge sits near 4,050 cfs as of this morning, plenty of water to work moving-current stretches. The Georgia Wildlife Blog's Fishing Report flags cooler, shorter days settling in and points anglers toward National Hunting and Fishing Day events September 26. We're seeing the classic early-fall shift take hold.
Cooling Northwoods Waters Push Musky, Walleye Into Fall Mode
Water temperatures across the Oneida and Vilas County musky waters have slid from the high-70s/near-80°F stretch of early September into the low-to-mid 70s and are expected to keep falling through the 60s, per Rollie & Helen's Musky Shop's latest Northwoods reports. That cooldown is the signal Northwoods anglers wait for — shorter daylight windows are already condensing feeding periods, and the shop notes the classic autumn pivot toward deep edges, rocky points, and steep drop-offs is beginning even as some crews still find a topwater window before it closes. No direct walleye reports came in from Northwoods water this cycle, but Fishing the Midwest's regional coverage points to livebait rigs, leech-and-crawler presentations, and crankbait trolling still producing as clearer lakes push more boats toward forward-facing sonar. Smallmouth should be tightening onto rock and cabbage edges as the same cooldown takes hold. No buoy or gauge readings came through for this report — check local conditions before heading out.
Warm, high water pushes Salt and Colorado River bass into fall feed
USGS gauge 09380000 on the Colorado River is reading 70°F with flow running high at 6,810 cfs as of early Thursday morning — noticeably warmer and swifter than the cold, clear tailwater conditions this stretch is best known for. That combination typically pushes trout to seek slower, shaded margins while giving warmwater species a boost. None of our angler-intel feeds this cycle carried AZ-specific reports from the Salt or Colorado, so we're leaning on typical seasonal patterns rather than fresh eyewitness accounts. Elsewhere in the country, Tactical Bassin's fall-transition coverage notes bass shifting from shallow structure toward open-water baitfish schools as temperatures ease off summer highs — a pattern worth watching for locally as September progresses. Expect trout fishing to be tougher than normal at this temperature and flow, while smallmouth, largemouth, and catfish should stay catchable through the warmer stretches of the system. Check current state regs before harvesting.
Coosa and Tennessee River bass ease into the fall baitfish shift
A USGS gauge on the Coosa system logged 808 cfs Thursday morning, a steady baseflow that points to stable, fishable water heading into the weekend. Water temperature wasn't reported at this gauge, so bring a handheld thermometer or check a downstream reading before locking in a pattern. Direct on-the-water reports from the Tennessee and Coosa systems were thin in this week's feeds, but the broader fall transition is well underway nationally — per Tactical Bassin, bass are sliding off summer structure and keying on baitfish schools as nights cool, and Fishing the Midwest notes fish relocating to the healthiest remaining green weed growth as older vegetation loses oxygen. Both patterns translate reasonably well to Alabama's river-system spotted bass and largemouth. Stripers, a signature Tennessee River draw, typically strengthen through fall as current pushes shad downstream; that bite should build through late September as water continues to cool.
Champlain Smallmouth Stage Up as Water Eases Toward Fall
A USGS gauge on the Missisquoi River — a major Champlain tributary — read 67°F this morning (09/17), in line with typical mid-September conditions on the big lake as it eases toward the fall turnover. No captain, shop, or state-agency reports specific to Lake Champlain's smallmouth or landlocked-salmon fishery came through this week's intel feed; the regional coverage available right now centers on saltwater striper action and bass-tournament circuits well outside Vermont, so that's a gap in available reporting rather than a read on the actual bite. With water still in the mid-60s, smallmouth typically stage on main-lake rock piles, humps, and drop-offs as they key on baitfish bulking up for winter, while landlocked salmon start easing toward river mouths and cooler water. Treat the species notes below as seasonal expectations, not confirmed local reports, until fresher Champlain-specific intel comes in.
Fall transition sets up on WV's New River and Ohio water
USGS gauge 03051000 logged 225 cfs early Wednesday morning, a steady, moderate flow that points to clear, wadeable water across the New River and Ohio River systems this week. Water temperature wasn't available at this gauge, but late-September conditions across WV's freshwater fisheries typically mean the fall transition is underway. National coverage lines up with that seasonal shift: Tactical Bassin (blog) notes bass schooling and feeding hard on baitfish as summer patterns break down, while Fishing the Midwest points to fall weed die-off pushing fish toward the healthiest remaining green cover — both are general seasonal notes rather than New River-specific reports, but the pattern typically holds here too. No regional shop, charter, or state-agency reports came through this cycle, so treat species activity below as seasonally expected rather than confirmed on the water. Stable, moderate flow favors smallmouth and walleye feeding windows around dawn and dusk.
Fall Transition Turns On Guntersville and Wheeler Bass
MLF News reports the fall transition is 'in full swing' as regional Super Tournament stops line up for late September — the same shift now working its way onto Lake Guntersville and Wheeler. USGS gauge 03575100 on the Tennessee River system is running lean at 124 cfs this morning, a stable, low-current reading that favors bass keying on baitfish rather than current breaks. Tactical Bassin's fall-transition breakdown notes bass are schooling and feeding on baitfish as waters cool, pushing fish from summer structure toward open-water bait schools — a pattern that fits Guntersville and Wheeler's grass-lined flats this time of year. Fishing the Midwest adds that healthy, still-green weed edges typically hold more fish than weeds already dying back, worth checking as hydrilla and milfoil start to fade. Largemouth and spotted bass should be the most responsive species through the week; crappie and catfish stay steady but less newsworthy without a direct local report.