Fishing reports
16013 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
Osage River system stays high and warm as summer flows linger
The Osage River gauge near Lake of the Ozarks (USGS 06934500) logged 49,700 cfs and 82°F water this morning — elevated flow and water still running warm for mid-September. No buoy or angler-report data specific to this fishery came through today's feed, so this update leans on the hydrology reading plus general seasonal knowledge for the reservoir. High, warm flows typically push baitfish and gamefish toward creek-arm cover and current breaks below the dam, with early-morning topwater windows before the sun climbs. Regionally, other Midwest lake reports note bass beginning to key on schooling baitfish and shifting shallow as weeds and water start to cool (per Fishing the Midwest), a pattern that should eventually reach the Lake of the Ozarks system once flows and temps ease. Anglers should treat today's numbers as a mid-transition read — not yet full fall pattern, still carrying late-summer volume and heat.
Fall walleye push builds on Upper Mississippi wing dams
USGS gauge 05344500 logged Mississippi River flow at 7,640 cfs early Wednesday morning, with no water-temperature reading yet posted for the Prescott-to-La Crosse stretch. Direct on-the-water reports for this run of pools were thin this cycle, so we're leaning on broader seasonal patterns and regional technique notes rather than site-specific accounts. Fishing the Midwest's latest fall breakdown points to a pattern worth watching here too: as weeds start dying back and oxygen drops in shallow cover, baitfish and gamefish push toward the healthiest remaining green weed edges, and a bladed swim jig with a plastic trailer is drawing bass, pike, and walleye in similar Midwest water right now. With flow holding at a solid September level, expect walleye and sauger to start sliding onto wing dams and current breaks as the pools cool through the week. Check local forecast and flow trends before planning a trip.
Low, steady flow sets up early-fall bass and snakehead action
The Patapsco-area gauge (USGS 01589000) logged a low, steady flow of just 30 cfs early this morning, with no water-temperature reading captured this cycle. Low, settled flow like this in mid-September typically pushes Potomac and Patapsco largemouth bass and northern snakehead onto grass edges and shallow flats to feed ahead of the seasonal cooldown, while blue catfish keep working deeper holes on cut bait. None of our tracked shops or captains filed a Potomac or Patapsco-specific report this cycle — the angler intel that came through skewed toward Mid-Atlantic saltwater bay reports and Northeast freshwater lakes rather than this watershed, so today's species read leans on seasonal norms rather than fresh on-the-water testimony. Stable, low water is generally good news for wading and light-line presentations on these systems. Check current MD stocking and creel regulations before harvesting, and expect the bite to sharpen as nights continue cooling.
Ozark trout parks settle into steady early-fall flow
USGS gauge 07067000 logged flow holding near 762 cfs as of 5:30 a.m. this morning, a steady read with no water-temperature data reported at this station. No angler intel from our tracked shops, charters, or state-agency feeds came in specifically for the Current or Niangua trout-park water this week, so this report leans on typical mid-September patterns for these fisheries rather than fresh on-the-water testimony. Missouri's trout parks are put-and-take stocked fisheries, and rainbow trout activity typically stays consistent into early fall as water cools from summer highs, with fish keying on small nymphs, salmon eggs, and inline spinners worked through deeper runs. Wild and holdover brown trout, present in both systems, tend to grow choosier as flows stabilize, rewarding finer tippet and natural drifts. We'd treat this week's conditions as unremarkable-but-fishable; check the current Missouri Department of Conservation stocking schedule and daily-limit regs before heading out, since trout-park rules differ from general-water regs.
NH lakes churn out bass as Merrimack River pike bite fades
Roger Aziz, Jr. in Methuen reports the Merrimack River pike bite has cooled, with most anglers launching from the Methuen ramp turning up fewer fish than earlier this season — but the same weekly roundup from The Fisherman — New England Freshwater notes New Hampshire's bigger lakes, including Lake Winnipesaukee, are still "churning out" big smallmouth and largemouth bass. USGS gauge 01073500 shows the river running a lean 13.5 cfs as of this morning, a stable, low-water read that should keep boat traffic light and clarity good on connected waters. Water temperature wasn't available from this gauge, but by mid-September, Winnipesaukee and the Merrimack corridor are typically transitioning into fall patterns, with bass pushing shallower to feed ahead of the cooldown. With a First Quarter moon overhead, expect a steady bite rather than a feeding-frenzy day — work the bass windows early and late, and don't rule out a pike follow if you're working the river.
Montana trout rivers reopen as hoot-owl limits lift
Flow at our monitored gauge (USGS 06043500) sits at 360 cfs, a steady read heading into the third week of September. The bigger story for Yellowstone and Missouri headwaters anglers is regulatory: per MT FWP Fishing News, hoot-owl afternoon closures were lifted this week on the Smith and Sun Rivers, plus stretches of the upper Clark Fork, lower Bitterroot, and Silver Bow Creek in western and southwest Montana, as cooling stream temperatures met FWP's threshold. That signals water trending the right direction for trout after a warm summer. Elsewhere in the Missouri drainage, Flylords Mag reports a lawsuit was filed over low instream flows on the Beaverhead River, a reminder that flow management remains contentious basin-wide even as conditions ease. No specific bite reports came in for Yellowstone or Missouri waters this cycle, so treat the species status below as seasonal expectation rather than confirmed action.
Blackfin Tuna Bite Heats Up as the Keys Shift Into Fall
Late summer has flipped the switch offshore: Coastal Angler Magazine flags blackfin tuna as the headline target across the Keys right now, with fish feeding on the reef edge and responding to trolled baits and chunk lines. That builds on a strong summer inshore — Bud n' Mary's in Islamorada called June and early July "prime time," with tarpon working the bridges, mahi showing offshore, and yellowtail thick on the reef, while ALL IN Key West logged a hot mutton snapper spawn around the full moon earlier in the season with yellowtails "practically jumping in the boat." Expect that snapper action to keep easing as summer closes out, with tuna and mahi taking over as the offshore priority. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through this cycle, so check your own thermometer and the local marine forecast before running offshore. Regulations around species like red snapper remain unsettled at the federal level — check current state rules before harvesting.
Blackfin tuna fire offshore as kings push toward the coast
Panhandle-specific chatter is light this week, but the standout signal comes from just across the Alabama line: a 32.8-lb blackfin tuna was boated roughly 90 miles offshore out of Fort Morgan Marina, per Coastal Angler Magazine — a solid read on the Gulf's deep-water bite as fall gets underway. Inshore, expect the seasonal shift Sport Fishing Mag flags for the Gulf this time of year: king mackerel moving closer to the beach to feed on migrating baitfish, and snook feeding up ahead of their move toward winter holding water. Gulf red snapper season is typically closed by mid-September in federal waters, so most bottom-fishing effort should be shifting toward kings, blackfin, and other open species — check current regs before targeting snapper. Inshore, Salt Strong's latest tip for pressured redfish and trout is small presentation tweaks over big location changes. Florida Sea Grant is also running a statewide red snapper tagging project with a $250 reward per tagged fish reported.
Georgia coast anglers eye the early fall shift
Georgia Wildlife Blog — Fishing's September 11 report points to cooling days and shorter daylight as the marker that fall fishing is arriving on the Atlantic coast, with National Hunting and Fishing Day (September 26) flagged as a good excuse to get out. No NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings were available for this report, and this week's angler intel feed carried no Georgia-specific catch reports, so we're leaning on typical seasonal patterns rather than fresh testimony. For late September on Georgia's coast, redfish and spotted seatrout are typically active around marsh edges and creek mouths as water temperatures ease down from summer highs, and flounder often begin their early fall push toward inlets. Treat these as seasonal expectations, not confirmed bites this week — check state regs and local shop reports before planning a trip, and watch for more specific regional detail as the state blog shifts to its new region-by-region format.
Cooling flows set up a strong early-fall trout push on the Snake
A USGS gauge in the Snake River system logged 56°F water and 1,690 cfs early this morning (Sept. 17) — comfortable numbers for cutthroat, rainbow, and brown trout as days shorten heading into fall. Our angler-intel feeds didn't return a Yellowstone- or Teton-specific bite report this cycle, so this update leans on typical early-fall patterns for freshwater trout fisheries at this elevation: cooling water concentrates fish in deeper runs and slower seams, terrestrials (hoppers, ants) still get eaten through midday, and brown trout begin showing more aggression as they stage toward their fall spawn. Mountain whitefish tend to hold in slower current this time of year and can round out a day when trout are quiet. The First Quarter moon shouldn't meaningfully shift daytime fishing windows. As always, check current Wyoming regulations before harvesting, and expect flows to keep easing through the week as summer runoff influence fades.
Green River trout settle into steady fall rhythm
The USGS gauge near Jensen (09234500) read 58°F with flow holding at 2,170 cfs as of early this morning, a comfortable, stable tailwater setup for trout as days shorten. No captain or shop reports came in from the Green River or Uinta Lakes corridor this cycle, so we're reading conditions off the gauge and seasonal norms rather than fresh bite reports — treat species calls below as typical-for-the-date rather than confirmed hot bites. Elsewhere in Utah, Outdoor Hub reported wildlife officials treated a stretch of Mill Creek in Salt Lake County with rotenone to remove illegally introduced brook trout and protect native cutthroat populations — a reminder that native cutthroat management is an active priority statewide, even though that work is unrelated to the Green River itself. Flows at this level typically mean good wading access and clear water below the dam. Check current Utah DWR regulations before keeping any fish, particularly cutthroat, given the ongoing native-species emphasis.
Green River tailwater trout dial in as fall hatches build
Green River flows near Jensen held steady at 2,170 cfs with water temperature reading 58°F just after 4:30 a.m. this morning, per USGS gauge 09234500 — solidly in the range where Flaming Gorge tailwater trout stay active through the fall shoulder season. Direct on-the-water reports from this stretch are thin this week, but the broader fly-fishing press points to patterns worth carrying: MidCurrent's latest tying roundup highlights flies built for the surface-to-open-water transition as fall hatches intensify, while Caddis Fly (OR) notes grasshopper patterns are still drawing trout willing to move several feet for a meal late in the season — both applicable to a tailwater fishery like this one. Utah wildlife managers, per Outdoor Hub, also treated a separate Salt Lake County stream (Mill Creek) with rotenone this month to protect native cutthroat trout, a reminder that the state is actively managing its wild trout genetics statewide. Expect steady, technical fishing rather than a blitz.
High flow keeps catfish the safer play on the Kansas River
The gauge on the Kansas River system read 81°F and 3,320 cfs early this morning (USGs gauge 06892350) — warm water riding an elevated, likely stained flow for mid-September. We don't have a shop, captain, or state-agency report specific to the Kansas or Arkansas River system this week, so what follows is seasonal expectation rather than confirmed intel: channel and blue catfish typically feed hardest through warm, high-flow stretches like this, working current seams and eddies where baitfish get swept out of the main channel, while white bass and drum tend to stack in the same transition zones off the current. If the mainstem is running color, check tributary mouths and slack-water pockets first. Cut bait and scent will likely out-produce moving lures until flow eases back toward a more wadeable, sight-fishable stage.
Western Basin walleye bite holds steady as flow stays up
USGS gauge 04193500 read 74°F with flow at 778 cfs early this morning, keeping water on the warm side for mid-September walleye. No buoy data came through for the Western Basin today, so surface conditions should be checked against a local forecast before running out. Regional multi-species reports from Fishing the Midwest describe walleye anglers blending traditional live-bait presentations with forward-facing sonar as clear water and warming trends reshape where fish set up, and note bladed swim jigs with plastic trailers working across walleye, pike, and bass on shoreline flats with emerging weeds - a pattern relevant as Erie's shallow reefs and flats hold baitfish into fall. General seasonal knowledge for the Western Basin points toward walleye starting to stage on reefs and deeper structure as the fall transition approaches, though specific on-the-water Erie reports were not available in today's intel feed. Check state regulations before harvesting.
Cumberland Bass Waters Shift Into Fall Feeding Mode
Flow on the regional USGS gauge is running low and steady at 56.1 cfs early this morning, typical late-summer base flow with no water-temperature reading logged at this station. The bigger story is the fall transition finally taking hold: bass are moving off summer haunts and keying on baitfish along flats and grass edges, per Fishing the Midwest's latest report, while Tactical Bassin notes that patterns anglers leaned on all August are starting to fail as fish reposition with cooling nights. That shift should show up across Cumberland-system reservoirs over the next week. Tennessee's bass fisheries are also drawing bigger attention nationally — Old Hickory Lake near Nashville hosts the World Bass Enterprise Average Joe Sweepstakes this fall, per Field & Stream, with a $1.25 million top prize, the largest in pro bass history. Expect largemouth and smallmouth to keep building as flows stay stable and low.
Fall Chinook push builds as Peninsula rivers hold steady
The two Olympic Peninsula gauges we track are running a steady 345 and 282 cfs this morning, comfortable, fishable flows for mid-September with no big spike or drop in the data. Water temps weren't reported at either site today, so plan around flow and clarity rather than a specific number. No fresh bite reports came through our sources for these salmon rivers this cycle — the WA WDFW Fishing Reports program (creel and catch surveys, plus stocking updates) is the best next check for current counts. Seasonally, mid-September is when Olympic Peninsula rivers typically start turning on for the fall Chinook push, with sea-run cutthroat often active in the lower reaches and coho still building toward their late-September/October run. The First Quarter moon this week keeps tides and light moderate, favorable for early-morning and evening drifts.
Eastern Washington rivers running high ahead of fall trout turn-on
Flow at USGS gauge 12484500 was reading 1,370 cfs early Wednesday morning, with no water-temperature reading logged for this cycle — enough to note the river isn't running low and clear yet for Eastern Washington's rivers and lakes this week. We don't have a direct shop, guide, or agency report specific to the Yakima or Spokane fisheries in this cycle; WDFW's statewide fishing and stocking report system tracks creel and catch data region-by-region and remains the reference point for on-the-ground detail once conditions firm up. Mid-September in Eastern Washington typically means cooling water, active trout in moving water, and smallmouth bass still working structure before the fall slowdown, with walleye action picking up on nearby reservoirs as baitfish push shallow. Anglers should treat today's flow as a call to fish edges and slower water rather than the main current until levels settle.
Fall transition arrives for Travis, LBJ, and Buchanan bass
Bass are shifting into their fall pattern across Texas reservoirs, per Tactical Bassin's latest breakdown of fall-transition behavior, with fish schooling tight to baitfish as summer offshore patterns break down. On Hill Country lakes like Travis, LBJ, and Buchanan, that shift typically means largemouth sliding out of deep summer haunts toward creek arms, points, and baitfish schools as surface temps ease off their late-summer peak. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came back for these three lakes this cycle, and none of this week's shop or charter reports named them directly, so treat the pattern above as seasonal guidance rather than an on-the-water report. White bass and hybrid stripers typically start showing up in the same baitfish schools this time of year, chasing shad toward the backs of coves. Catfish stay steady on cut bait regardless. Check current TPWD regulations before harvesting anything, and confirm lake levels locally before launching.
Fall Bait Push Signals Early Striper Action in Cape Cod Bay
Buoy readings this morning show 66°F at station 44013 and 71°F at 44020, with seas nearly flat (0.7 ft) and light 3-6 m/s winds — comfortable conditions for working structure and shoreline inshore. The bigger story is the calendar: Saltwater Edge Blog (RI) reports peanut bunker, silversides, and bay anchovies pushing out of salt ponds and estuaries as days shorten, the annual signal that kicks the fall run into gear along the southern New England coast, Cape Cod Bay included. Anglers Journal notes striper migrations are already underway, with fall blitzes building as bait, birds, and gamefish converge before the coastwide push south. On The Water backs that up with technique notes on twitchbaits for working stripers in blitz conditions. Albies haven't been confirmed locally yet — Saltwater Edge Blog (RI) says they're "hopefully not far behind" the bonito and Spanish mackerel already showing in the wider region.
Baitfish Exodus Signals Albies Closing In on Vineyard Sound
NOAA buoy 44085 near the Buzzards Bay approaches read 67°F this morning, with 44020 to the east at 71°F and seas calm under two feet at both stations — a typical early-fall temperature split as inshore water starts to cool. Regionally, Saltwater Edge in Rhode Island reports peanut bunker, silversides, bay anchovies, sandeels, herring, and squid pushing out of the salt ponds and estuaries into open water ahead of the September new moon, with bonito and a spanish mackerel already showing and albies reportedly "not far behind." That same bait exodus runs through Buzzards Bay and Vineyard Sound this week. Striped bass are settling into their classic fall pattern — On The Water points to twitchbaits for stripers working bait pushed tight to structure, while Anglers Journal notes the fall blitz stretch is the heart of the Northeast season. Expect baitfish-driven action to build through the week.
Erie smallmouth stage up as the fall transition builds
Lake Erie held at 72°F this morning per NOAA buoy 45132, with a calm 1-foot chop and a light 4 m/s breeze — comfortable conditions for smallmouth bass still working summer structure before the fall push really sets in. Regional multi-species intel from Tactical Bassin (blog) describes bass sliding off shallow cover and grouping around open-water baitfish as the fall transition advances, a pattern that lines up well with what Erie smallmouth typically do this time of year. Fishing the Midwest notes walleye anglers blending traditional presentations — jigging and pulling live-bait rigs — with forward-facing sonar as clearer late-summer water scatters fish deeper, which is useful context for Erie's open-water walleye game right now. Yellow perch should stay a dependable option as water cools toward classic fall schooling behavior. We're also watching for the Niagara River steelhead run to start building over the next several weeks as temperatures keep sliding.
Kings and browns stack up as Lake Ontario salmon run rolls
Lake Ontario's open water sat at 72°F this week per our nearshore buoy reading, with light 6 m/s winds keeping the surface calm at 1-foot waves — comfortable trolling weather heading into the Salmon River and Oswego stretch. Strike Zone Charters (Lake Ontario) reports salmon fishing has been very good the past week, with browns and lake trout mixed in alongside Chinooks, fish holding in 100 to 160 feet of water. Preferred depths have shifted day to day as wind pushes the thermocline around, so Mag Dipsey Divers are earning their keep when temperature holds deep. Green, white, and chartreuse e-chip spinners paired with Atomic flies are producing, per the same report. With water still near 72°F offshore, expect staging fish to keep filtering toward the river mouths as nights cool. Typical timing for mid-September in this fishery, though check current NY regs before harvesting.
Buoy 10 Chatter Builds as Washington's Fall Salmon Season Turns
No NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings came through for Puget Sound or the outer Washington coast today, so this update leans on angler chatter and seasonal knowledge rather than fresh numbers. The most concrete signal comes from IFish.net's forum, where an angler working the Buoy 10 fishery near the Columbia River mouth reported hot chinook action trolling solo — a single, uncorroborated post, so treat it as chatter rather than confirmed news. Washington Sea Grant is marking 20 years of its SoundToxins program this month, a useful reminder to check biotoxin advisories before keeping Puget Sound shellfish or crab. WDFW's statewide creel and stocking reports remain the best baseline for verified catch data, though no current figures came through in today's feed. Expect the typical mid-September pattern: chinook still pushing through nearshore water, coho beginning to stack up behind them, and rockfish holding steady over structure.
Fall salmon push begins moving into Puget Sound river systems
Mid-September marks the start of the fall Chinook and Coho push into Puget Sound tributaries and Columbia system rivers, with sea-run cutthroat active in slower pools as flows begin cooling toward fall. This cycle's feeds carried no buoy or gauge telemetry for the region and no direct angler reports from Columbia or Puget Sound river systems, so we're leaning on the seasonal pattern rather than fresh on-the-water intel. WA WDFW Fishing Reports remains the go-to resource for current creel counts and stocking updates before you head out. Washington Sea Grant's SoundToxins program, marking its 20th year monitoring harmful algal blooms, is a useful check for anyone fishing where river mouths meet the Sound, since bloom advisories can affect water safety near tidal reaches. Expect typical early-fall river conditions — cooling water, shifting salmon behavior as they stage for their runs, and regs worth confirming before keeping anything, since seasons and limits vary by river and time of year.