Fishing Reports

A western Massachusetts angler fishing Hampton Pond in Westfield on May 13 located brook and rainbow trout holding over deep water on the sonar, connecting on Bobby Garland Baby Shad and surface flies before cold, rainy conditions shut things down (The Fisherman — New England Freshwater). That deep-water trout pattern fits the late-May picture at Quabbin and Wachusett, where rising surface temps push cold-water species toward the thermocline. The Swift River below Quabbin (USGS 01174500) read 47.4 cfs on May 24, a moderate controlled release pointing to stable reservoir levels. No direct reservoir reports are in hand this week, but regional freshwater intel confirms largemouth bass are on or past the spawn across southern New England, described as trickier to entice than in prespawn (The Fisherman — New England Freshwater). Smallmouth, typically a beat behind largemouth in the spawn cycle, should be moving onto rocky shallows at both reservoirs now. Nearby Rhode Island stillwaters have been producing largemouth to 6 pounds on nighttime wakebaits, a useful benchmark for comparable central MA waters (The Fisherman — New England Freshwater).

3d ago

Water temps of 54–58°F across Buzzards Bay and Vineyard Sound (NOAA buoys 44085 and 44020) have the spring bite firing on all cylinders. Per The Fisherman — Cape Cod & Islands, stripers and spotty bluefish made 'impressive appearances' in Buzzards Bay and along the Cape Cod Bay shoreline this week, with Capt. Carl of Westport River Outfitters putting anglers on fish from schoolies to high 30-inchers and a topwater bite running from Fairhaven to the Canal's west end. Red Top Sporting Goods called it 'dealer's choice,' with bass schools working bait nearly all over Buzzards Bay, blues showing up off Mattapoisett and Wareham, and the tautog bite still delivering strong action. The Fisherman (Northeast) flagged a spring push of 20- to 30-pound stripers the likes of which 'we haven't seen in many years,' while sea bass action is beginning to come online on the Cape and party boats have been locked into scup in the bottom-fishing game.

3d ago

Water temperatures in the Western NY watershed are reading 57°F as of May 24 (USGS gauge 04231600), landing squarely in the late-spawn to early post-spawn transition window for Lake Erie smallmouth bass. Tactical Bassin's Great Lakes smallmouth breakdown highlights this as the phase when fish school together on clear-water rocky structure, making reaction-bait presentations and quick water coverage the most productive approach. The first quarter moon sets up solid morning and evening feeding transitions through the week. Walleye, Lake Erie's marquee draw, are typically staging their final pre-summer movements in this temperature range, though no local charter or shop reports reached us this cycle; anglers should verify specific bite windows locally before heading out. Yellow perch hold steady on deeper rocky and gravel structure. No open-lake buoy data arrived for this cycle, so confirm wave heights and wind before launching from any Western NY access point.

3d ago

Water temps registering 58°F at NOAA buoy 44009 are setting the stage for active fishing at the Chesapeake mouth this week. Virginia DWR Wildlife Blog's spring striped bass report confirms rockfish are schooling along channel edges, sandy flats, grass beds, and rocky shorelines throughout Virginia's tidal waters, right in line with conditions at the bay's lower reaches. The broader mid-Atlantic picture adds weight to that signal: The Fisherman (Northeast) is tracking a spring push of 20- to 30-pound stripers described as unlike anything seen in many years. Light winds near 4 knots are keeping surface conditions calm and fishable. With the First Quarter moon driving stronger tidal exchange, rip lines and current seams at the mouth are worth targeting around tide peaks. Bluefish are making early-season appearances further up the coast and may be pressing into the lower bay. Flounder season is ramping up region-wide.

3d ago

A USGS gauge 14211720 reading of 65°F on May 24 places the lower Columbia system at the upper threshold of comfortable water temperatures for spring Chinook, which typically prefer conditions below that mark. No direct charter, shop, or state agency reports appear in this cycle's feeds for the Columbia or Rogue, so conditions are read from gauge data and seasonal patterns typical of late May in the Pacific Northwest. Smallmouth bass — which thrive in the 65–75°F range — are likely the most opportunistic target right now, with rocky ledge and flat presentations typically productive as water hits this band. Spring Chinook are still moving through the Columbia mainstem in late May, but fish may be compressing into tributary mouths or deeper, cooler channel slots during midday warmth. A negative flow reading on the gauge appears to reflect tidal reversal on the lower Columbia rather than a true upstream condition. Check Oregon state regulations for current salmon retention rules before heading out.

3d ago

Striped bass are still producing along the tidal Delaware from Trenton to Lambertville, with Old School Outdoors in Ewing reporting solid action through the tidal water that should hold into early June. The shad run is nearing its seasonal close: Old School Outdoors notes it winds down at the start of June, and Tackle World echoes that June traditionally marks the end of the run on the Delaware. Largemouth bass are on the spawning beds across the region per Tackle World, making this a prime window for sight-fishing before summer heat sets in. In the Pine Barrens cedar streams, pickerel remain active per The Fisherman's NJ/DE Freshwater reports. The D&R Canal is also worth a look for trout, with JB Kasper noting good fishing in stocked waters throughout May. USGS gauge 01408000 registered 143 cfs on May 24, consistent with Tackle World's note of falling water levels from recent dry conditions heading into June.

3d ago

The Mississippi at USGS gauge 07374000 registered 74°F and 413,000 cfs on May 24, high water that is reshaping where fish hold across the lower river corridor. Louisiana Sportsman reported LDWF enforcement agents running joint patrols with NOAA Fisheries on May 23, signaling active regulatory attention heading into Memorial Day weekend. Outdoor Hub notes House Bill 756, which would require specific cause before officers board vessels, has passed both chambers and heads to the governor. In the Atchafalaya Basin and Mississippi backwaters, elevated flows at this stage push blue catfish and flatheads tight to flooded timber, current breaks, and bayou mouths; largemouth bass typically retreat to slack-water oxbows and canal systems in these conditions. Direct bite reports from the freshwater basin are scarce this cycle, but 74°F water and a First Quarter moon building toward full set up productive evening windows for catfish through the holiday weekend.

3d ago

At 73°F and 6,950 cfs (USGS gauge 06892350), the Kansas River is running warm into Memorial Day weekend — conditions that typically signal the beginning of peak catfish activity across this drainage. Channel and blue catfish are moving into pre-spawn staging mode, and Wired 2 Fish's coverage of a Florida blue catfish record this season underscores the species' proven appeal at these water temperatures. For bass, the post-spawn transition is underway. Per Wired 2 Fish contributor Justin Lucas, early-morning topwater presentations around shallow cover — grass edges, reed lines, docks — are the proven low-light trigger as post-spawn largemouth spread out of the shallows. Tactical Bassin confirms swimbaits and chatterbaits shine as fish settle onto mid-depth structure in the post-spawn period. Gar are surfacing with increasing regularity in warm river water — Hatch Magazine recently profiled the overlooked draw of river gar fishing, and 73°F conditions are squarely in their wheelhouse. Check state regulations before keeping any harvest.

3d ago

Colin at Fishin' Factory 3 in Middletown reports plenty of trout in local waters, with Salmon River anglers catching "as many trout as they wanted" from recently stocked stretches; the TMA and TTA were re-stocked on May 13. Customer interest has shifted toward shad, stripers, and carp in the Connecticut River, where the spring migration is drawing steady traffic. Water temperature at USGS gauge 01184000 reads 61°F, putting the river squarely in the sweet spot for American shad and pushing largemouths firmly onto their beds. Rich at Fisherman's World in Norwalk notes that largemouth and smallmouth bass at Saugatuck Reservoir are steadily improving as water warms, with shiners the top bait and Keitech swimbaits and Lunker City paddletails also producing. Spawning largemouths are proving "trickier" to entice than they were in prespawn, per Fishin' Factory 3, so finesse presentations and live bait will outperform power fishing this weekend.

3d ago

USGS gauge 01030500 recorded the upper Penobscot watershed at 1,460 cfs on May 24, indicating moderate late-spring flow as snowmelt continues to taper. No water temperature reading was available from the gauge this cycle. Direct angler reports specific to Moosehead Lake and the upper Penobscot are sparse in this week's sources. The Fisherman — New England Freshwater notes that trout are still showing well across the region and that bass are entering spawn mode in southern New England waters, a transition that typically runs a few weeks behind at Moosehead's elevation. Late May is one of the premier windows for landlocked Atlantic salmon and wild brook trout (locally called squaretails) on Moosehead, with surface temperatures typically cool enough to keep fish accessible before thermocline stratification sets in for summer. Lake trout (togue) remain reachable at moderate depths. Verify current seasons and any slot limits under state regulations before heading out.

3d ago

USGS gauge 03512000 logged 62°F water and 286 cfs on the morning of May 24, putting western North Carolina's Smoky Mountain trout streams in a textbook late-spring window. Water at 62°F sits in the ideal range for rainbow, brown, and brook trout feeding actively across the water column, and moderate flows should keep popular wading runs accessible without the push and murk of higher runoff. Flylords Mag notes that green drakes emerge along the East Coast between early May and late June, with late May squarely overlapping peak hatch activity in the southern Appalachians. Gink and Gasoline flagged earlier this spring that warm-weather conditions tend to push sulphur and light cahill emergences ahead of schedule, a pattern consistent with the current temperature reading. Midday to late-afternoon windows are typically most productive during this phase. Between emergences, subsurface nymphing remains the reliable fallback for keeping rods bent.

3d ago

Virginia DWR Wildlife Blog is spotlighting active spring striped bass fishing across Virginia's tidal waters, with rockfish schooling along channel edges, sandy flats, grass beds, and coastal hard structure — the same habitat mix that defines Chincoteague's inshore and nearshore fishery. NOAA buoy 44014, positioned in the Mid-Atlantic Bight offshore of the Virginia coast, logged 5.2-foot wave heights Sunday afternoon alongside air temps near 70°F — comfortable on sheltered back-bay water but worth monitoring before any ocean-side run. The spring migration is well underway across the broader corridor; On The Water's May 22 striper migration map notes the run peaks around moon phases, and with a First Quarter moon this weekend conditions are building toward the next active window. The Fisherman (Northeast) is tracking a spring push of 20- to 30-pound fish working the coast — fish of that caliber typically move through Chincoteague-area inlets in late May. Summer flounder are entering their seasonal window for back bays and nearshore structure as well.

3d ago

The Yakima River is flowing at 2,470 cfs as of May 24 (USGS gauge 12484500), a reading consistent with late-spring snowmelt working through the Cascade drainage. Specific on-the-water reports for the Yakima and Spokane regions are limited in this cycle, but WA WDFW Fishing Reports continues to publish stocking updates and creel data across area waters. For trout anglers, elevated flows typically push fish tight to slower margin water and deeper protected seams; weighted nymph rigs and indicator setups outperform dry-fly approaches until clarity improves. MidCurrent's current spring-creek skills feature reinforces that precise, drag-free drifts are the difference-maker in pressured freshwater like the Yakima's technical runs. Smallmouth bass in the Columbia and Snake systems are likely finishing spawn or transitioning post-spawn this week, and Tactical Bassin's Western fisheries content highlights swimbaits and finesse soft plastics as top producers during this shift.

3d ago

ALL IN Key West reports mutton snappers 'chewing like crazy' as the May spawn peaks, with yellowtail nearly as active and full coolers common this week. A Gulf-side run by the same charter stacked up groupers, cobia, barracuda, and kingfish. Coastal Angler Magazine flagged May 1 as the official grouper season reopening, timing that aligns well with current reef action. Sport Fishing Mag confirms blackfin tuna are flooding offshore waters from the Keys northward; prime time for these hard fighters runs May through July via live bait, kite fishing, and drifting over structure. NOAA buoys SMKF1 and SANF1 recorded winds of 17-18 knots with air temperatures near 82°F on May 24. Buoy 41114's most recent water-temp reading, from late April, came in at 78°F; nearshore and flats temperatures are likely a touch warmer now. With the first-quarter moon in play, tidal swings are moderate, favoring steady bottom-fishing windows throughout the day.

3d ago

Colorado River flow at the Austin gauge (USGS 08158000) checked in at 249 cfs this morning, signaling stable conditions on the Highland Lakes chain. Direct bite reports for Travis, LBJ, and Buchanan are thin this cycle — TPWD paused its weekly fishing report format earlier this year per My Canyon Lake Fishing, leaving some intel gaps for the region. Nearby Hill Country lake levels are running well above year-ago marks: Canyon Lake currently sits 8 feet higher than the same date in 2025 and remains ideal for all water recreation, according to My Canyon Lake Fishing. With a first-quarter moon and late-May timing, largemouth bass are in post-spawn recovery mode across the shallows. Wired 2 Fish highlights that early-morning topwater presentations near grass, reeds, and docks produce strong reaction strikes as post-spawn fish linger near shallow cover. LakeForkGuy (YT) calls this window the most aggressive crappie bite of the year, with post-spawn fish stacking on brush and creek-channel transitions.

3d ago

Water temps at 53°F per NOAA buoy 46026 are sitting squarely in the Chinook sweet spot, and captain reports are confirming it. Captain Jared Davis of the Salty Lady, working out of Half Moon Bay Sport Fishing, told Western Outdoor News — Saltwater that conditions below Pigeon Point improved dramatically as surface temps fell from 58°F at the April season opener to the mid-50s. 'The water looks different,' Davis noted. Allen Bushnell, reporting from Monterey for Western Outdoor News — Saltwater, credits a ramp-up in northwest winds with driving strong upwelling, pushing cool, nutrient-rich water toward the surface and drawing in the bait columns Chinook follow. 'Many of us almost forgot what it's like to have a real salmon season along the Central Coast,' Bushnell writes. For SF Bay anglers, late May also opens the prime seasonal window for striped bass and California halibut as bay temperatures settle into comfortable mid-50s ranges.

3d ago

Water temps of 62-64°F across the LA Bight, confirmed by NOAA buoys 46025 and 46221 as of Sunday, mark a meaningful late-spring milestone for surf anglers. Surf Fishing in So Cal's May report characterizes the month as "delivering" after a "mixed April," with conditions now "coming together in a big way" and the best fishing of the season potentially still ahead. The site's core targets for SoCal surf anglers, corbina and leopard sharks, are both in play at current temperatures; the corbina guide highlights sand crab presentations in the wash, while the leopard shark coverage notes the fishery is more approachable than most anglers assume. Seas of 2.6 feet at buoy 46221 are comfortable for wading. No current charter intel has surfaced for the Channel Islands this cycle; anglers planning offshore runs should check SoCal Fish Reports for the latest boat counts before launching.

3d ago

Flow at USGS gauge 01546500 registered 88.3 cfs on the morning of May 24, with no water temperature data available. No direct local bite reports for Spring Creek or Penns Creek came through in this cycle, but late May places these Central Pennsylvania limestone streams at the center of their most-watched season. Flylords Mag identifies the East Coast green drake emergence as running early May through late June, placing Penns Creek, one of the Northeast's most storied green drake fisheries, squarely at potential peak right now. Hatch Magazine's current feature on essential spring creek skills covers the approach these waters demand: fine tippets, minimal false casts, and reading feeding lanes before the first presentation. Sulphur hatches are typical through this same late-May window. PA Fish & Boat's Biologist Reports page is the most direct source for current stocking schedules and any biologist observations on hatch timing.

3d ago

USGS gauge 03051000 is recording 1,730 cfs on the New River watershed as of Sunday morning — a moderate, fishable level heading into the Memorial Day stretch. No water temperature data is available from the gauge this cycle, but late May in West Virginia typically places smallmouth bass squarely in the post-spawn transition: fish are abandoning gravel beds and beginning to concentrate on rock ledges, deeper current breaks, and shaded pools. No regional shop or charter intel came through in this cycle's feeds, so technique signals are drawn from national fishing blogs. Wired 2 Fish's coverage of Justin Lucas on shallow topwater fishing targets low-light windows around structure — a presentation that maps cleanly to New River rocky points and eddy lines at dawn. Tactical Bassin's post-spawn smallmouth breakdown highlights paddle-tail swimbaits and finesse presentations in clear water, which fits the New River's often-transparent late-spring conditions heading into the long weekend.

3d ago

NOAA buoys 46041 and 46087 recorded calm conditions off Washington's coast on May 24 — winds at just 1–4 m/s, air temperatures near 50–52°F — textbook late-May Pacific Northwest weather. Water temperature and wave-height readings were unavailable from both buoys this cycle. Per WA WDFW Fishing Reports, the department is actively collecting creel and catch data statewide, though no specific harvest summaries came through in this feed. Working from seasonal context: late May is historically the prime window for spring Chinook in Puget Sound, Pacific halibut seasons are typically fully open by this date along the outer coast, and lingcod and rockfish remain accessible on nearshore and offshore structure year-round. The First Quarter moon drives building tidal movement into the weekend, which typically concentrates baitfish at current seams and narrows — the kind of setup that turns on salmon and bottom species alike. Verify current emergency openings and any halibut quota status with WA WDFW before launching.

3d ago

Water at 55°F and flow running 1,130 cfs as of Sunday morning per USGS gauge 14113000 marks the classic late-May transition for Washington's Columbia and Puget Sound river drainages. Specific bite-by-bite angler intel from this reporting cycle is limited in available feeds, though WA WDFW Fishing Reports continues to track statewide angling activity through creel interviews and stocking updates. At 55°F, spring Chinook are at the upper edge of their preferred temperature range; late-run fish are still possible, but early-morning sessions before water temperatures climb are the most productive window. Summer steelhead typically begin staging in Columbia tributaries by late May, making drift rigs and bead setups in deeper tailouts worth targeting now. Smallmouth bass on the Columbia mainstem tend to turn aggressively active at these temperatures. First Quarter moon offers moderate nocturnal conditions; plan sessions around the dawn window.

3d ago

The Virginia DWR Wildlife Blog's spring striped bass fishing report puts rockfish actively schooling along channel edges, sandy flats, and grass beds throughout Virginia's tidal rivers this week, including the lower Potomac. USGS gauge 01646500 recorded 16,300 cfs on the Potomac at Little Falls on May 24, a substantially elevated flow that should push fish tight to current breaks and slack-water seams rather than open midstream. No water temperature was available from the gauge. Virginia DWR's separate drought advisory notes isolated aquatic habitats are drying across the Southeast this spring, though the mainstem Potomac's gauge reading reflects continued substantial runoff. Along the Shenandoah, smallmouth bass are winding down their spawn on a typical late-May timetable, with post-spawn fish beginning to push toward rocky runs and deeper summer lies. First Quarter moon provides moderate tidal influence on the lower river's brackish reaches, with lunar peaks favoring active feeding windows through the weekend.

3d ago

The New Buccaneer returned to Galveston docks with an excellent offshore catch this past weekend, per Galveston Daily News — Reel Report, with federal red snapper season freshly opened as of May 22. Crews had to work around drifting seaweed and vessel traffic near the deep rigs, but fish were cooperative. NOAA buoy 42035 logged 79°F water and 3-foot seas on Sunday, comfortable conditions for both offshore runs and inshore bay work. Throughout the week of May 19 to 22, TexasFishingTips (YT) featured active captain reports from Baffin Bay, Laguna Madre, and the Rockport-Copano-Mesquite Bay corridor. Inshore, Texas Fish & Game Magazine describes light southeast breezes pushing shrimp along marsh grass edges, triggering redfish, speckled trout, and flounder on the flats. The 37th annual CCA STAR Tournament is now underway per Lone Star Outdoor News — Fishing, adding competitive pressure to an already busy holiday stretch, and Lone Star Outdoor News also notes this is shaping up as a record year for Texas anglers statewide.

3d ago

North Texas Catfish Guide reports Eagle Mountain Lake is nearly full, with fresh water pushing into the system and triggering what the guide calls "active, feeding fish." The late-May window is prime: blue catfish are moving and biting fast when found. The guide documented consistent limits through spring, with multiple 30-pound-plus blue cats per trip at the April peak. Channel catfish were also "biting like crazy" as the lake warmed toward summer, and white bass are spreading through the main lake basin per the same source. USGS gauge 08211200 logged 89.3 cfs on May 24, reflecting stable, moderate flow on a Texas freshwater system. Lone Star Outdoor News noted 2026 is shaping up as a record year for Texas anglers statewide. With Memorial Day weekend here and lake levels high, conditions are favorable for a strong late-May run on DFW-area lakes.

3d ago