Fishing reports
6969 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
Sea bass stay hot in Raritan Bay as fluke rally on the reefs
Capt Ron's out of Atlantic Highlands worked through choppy conditions this week, still boating keeper sea bass and multiple three-fish limits on small Gulp sand eels once the tide turned. Blue Chip Sportfishing reports sea bass fishing 'red hot,' with boats limiting out on nearly every trip, and shark fishing has busted open too, three Mako sharks landed and released on a recent Friday run. Just north of here, On The Water's July 9 Northern New Jersey report has fluke fishing trending upward from the surf to the reefs, with bluefin tuna still working the midshore grounds and small bluefish and stripers showing on the beaches. Grumpys Tackle in Seaside Park describes striped bass still taking clams in the surf alongside a steady fluke bite on bucktails. Conditions are choppy and current-dependent day to day, per Capt Ron, so timing the tide change is paying off more than raw effort right now.
Lake Superior whitefish buzz builds while UP streams settle into summer rhythm
No fresh NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings came through for the Upper Peninsula Lake Superior corridor this cycle, so this update leans on state-agency signal and seasonal norms rather than fresh numbers. The clearest thread is Lake Superior lake whitefish: WI DNR Lake Superior Fishing reports the Chequamegon Bay whitefish fishery has grown into a genuinely popular pursuit in recent years, worked both through the ice and from a boat, popular enough to prompt an informational public meeting and an ongoing angler questionnaire. WI DNR is also running an angler survey on recreational burbot fishing across the Lake Superior basin, a species most summer anglers skip past once the ice is off. For UP trout streams themselves, no specific catch reports came through this pull, so expect typical early-July behavior: brook and brown trout holding tighter to cooler headwater stretches and shaded runs as inland water warms, with dawn and dusk the more comfortable windows. Check state regs before harvesting anything out of season waters.
Lake Erie settles into summer patterns as algal bloom season begins
Pennsylvania Sea Grant's public advisory tied to a June 25 harmful algal bloom (HAB) webinar is the clearest seasonal signal in this week's feeds, flagging that Presque Isle Bay and Lake Erie's shallow water are entering their typical warm-water HAB watch window that runs through late summer. No fresh buoy readings, USGS gauge data, or angler-specific "what's biting" reports came through this cycle, so we can't confirm current bite intensity or exact surface temps this week. Typically for mid-July, Lake Erie and Presque Isle Bay fishing settles into a familiar pattern: smallmouth bass working deeper rock and drop-off structure as shallows warm, walleye sliding toward cooler basin water during daylight and moving shallower at dusk, and yellow perch schooling over open-water structure. Before heading out, especially into Presque Isle's shallower coves, anglers should check the PA Fish and Boat Commission's biologist reports and any active HAB advisories, since bloom conditions can close swim areas with little warning this time of year.
Columbia system & Puget Sound rivers ease into peak summer runs
WDFW's ongoing creel-check and stocking program (see WA WDFW Fishing Reports) is the backbone anglers typically lean on for reading conditions across Columbia system and Puget Sound river fisheries, but this reporting cycle didn't surface a river-by-river bite breakdown from shops, captains, or forums, and no fresh buoy or stream-gauge readings came through either — so what follows leans on typical mid-July patterns rather than fresh call-ins. Summer Chinook and the leading edge of the summer steelhead run are usually the headline draw on Columbia system tributaries this time of year, with plunking and drift-fishing the standard approach. Puget Sound feeder streams should be holding resident trout, though rising water temps in July typically push trout toward dawn and dusk feeding windows. Smallmouth bass on warmer Columbia system water tend to turn aggressive on topwater and crankbaits by mid-July. WA Sea Grant also notes that Washington's boating season is now in full swing statewide, worth keeping in mind for anyone launching near river mouths.
Toledo Bend bass dig into cover as summer heat holds
Wired2Fish's midsummer look at Lake Fork Lure Co.'s Pro Hog creature bait is a reminder of what serious largemouth anglers on Toledo Bend and along the Sabine border already know this time of year: with no fresh buoy or gauge readings available for this stretch this cycle, we're leaning on the broader regional pattern, and July bass are digging into heavy cover and staying put through the heat of the day. B.A.S.S. News reports Tennessee River pros finding bass schooled deep on points, ledges, and brushpiles once current slows in summer heat, a pattern that typically holds across reservoir fisheries like Toledo Bend. Field & Stream's crappie guide notes summer fish push deeper and tuck into structure once temps climb past the mid-60s, worth keeping in mind for Sabine-side sac-a-lait. Catfish should stay steady in deep holes, a typical July pattern for this border water.
Saginaw Bay and Lake Huron settle into peak summer patterns
Early July has Saginaw Bay and the Lake Huron nearshore moving into classic mid-summer form, with warming surface water pushing walleye and smallmouth bass off the shallows toward deeper structure, current edges, and thermocline breaks. No fresh buoy or gauge telemetry came through for this region this cycle, and none of today's angler-intel feeds carried a Michigan-specific "what's biting" report, so this update leans on typical seasonal behavior for the bay and lake rather than fresh field reports. Michigan's own DNR Weekly Fishing Report is the best direct source for current Saginaw Bay walleye counts and should be checked before heading out. Expect walleye to hold deeper through midday and feed harder in low light, smallmouth to work rock and gravel humps, and perch to school in deeper basin water as the season progresses. Waning Crescent moon this week favors low-light bites at dawn and dusk.
Weedlines and wing dams set the pace on Upper Mississippi pools
Fishing the Midwest's Bob Jensen is telling open-water anglers to work the weedline this week, and that advice lines up with what's shaping up on the Clinton-Dubuque pools of the Upper Mississippi. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for this stretch, so today's read leans on seasonal patterns: mid-July typically means smallmouth bass holding tight to wing dams and rock structure, walleye stacking on current seams and deep breaks, and channel catfish pushing into backwater holes and eddies once the heat sets in — the same kind of summer catfish pattern Wired 2 Fish highlighted from a Missouri River angler's 178-pound two-fish haul over the holiday, even though that catch came off a different river system. Crappie, per Field & Stream's seasonal guide, tend to slide deeper or into cover this time of year, so expect a slower bite there. Check state regs before harvesting.
Atchafalaya anglers eye deep-water bass and crappie ahead of new Aug. 1 rules
Louisiana Sportsman reports that new recreational fishing regulations for black bass and crappie take effect Aug. 1 across portions of the Atchafalaya Basin, giving Mississippi & Atchafalaya anglers a firm date to plan trips around before the rules change. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through this cycle, so we're leaning on seasonal patterns for mid-July in south Louisiana: typical for this stretch, largemouth bass are sliding into deeper, shaded cover as surface temps climb, and crappie are pushing off the banks toward structure, a pattern Field & Stream's crappie guide notes is standard once summer heat sets in. Catfish, a mainstay of Atchafalaya and Mississippi River backwaters, typically stay active through the heat, especially overnight. LA Sea Grant's recent coverage of the state's freshwater processing sector (buffalo fish and catfish repurposed into fish hotdogs in Jeanerette) is a reminder these species remain a working part of the basin's fishery even in the summer lull.
Habitat boost lands at Lake Eufaula as summer pattern settles in
Lake Eufaula got a meaningful long-term boost this summer: the MLF Fisheries Management Division, working with the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation and Kubota Tractor Corporation, anchored a new network of MossBack Fish Habitat structures as part of a Tournament Recovery Zone deployment late last month, per MLF News — work that held up despite severe summer thunderstorms and should pay off in stronger cover for the reservoir's bass, crappie and striper populations for years to come. On the water, no fresh bite reports specific to Eufaula or the Red River came through this cycle, so we're leaning on seasonal norms: with July heat locked in, largemouth bass typically slide onto deeper ledges and brushpiles during the day (a pattern B.A.S.S. News is seeing play out on other reservoirs right now), crappie push off shallow cover into deeper structure per Field & Stream's summer guidance, and blue catfish stay most active after dark. Check current buoy/gauge data before you head out — none was available for this report.
Champlain smallmouth dial in as summer pattern locks
Lake Champlain is settling into its classic early-July rhythm: smallmouth bass pushed off spawning shallows and onto rocky humps, points, and drop-offs, where warming surface temperatures typically trigger the most aggressive summer bite of the season. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for this update, so treat conditions as typical for the date rather than measured. Landlocked salmon, by contrast, usually respond to the same warmth by sliding deeper toward the thermocline, thinning out the near-surface bite anglers saw in spring. None of this week's angler-intel feeds carried a Champlain-specific report, so today's picture leans on general seasonal knowledge for the fishery rather than fresh eyewitness accounts. Anglers heading out should still expect smallmouth to be the more reliable target through midday heat, with salmon fishing likely requiring more patience and deeper presentations. Check current state guidance before harvesting, and confirm sky and wind conditions locally before launching.
Summer pattern settles onto New River smallmouth and Ohio River cats
No fresh buoy or gauge readings came in for the New River and Ohio corridor this cycle, so this report leans on what July typically delivers here rather than live telemetry: smallmouth bass tucked into current breaks and boulder seams as flows settle into a stable summer pattern, while channel catfish and sauger slide toward deeper channel edges on the Ohio to escape the heat. Field & Stream's seasonal crappie guide notes the broader trend playing out across freshwater fisheries right now — fish pushing deeper and into structure as summer temperatures climb — and it tracks with what we'd expect on both rivers. Fishing the Midwest's Bob Jensen also flags that versatility, working weedlines and mixing techniques, is paying off for anglers nationally this open-water season. Expect smallmouth to stay the most consistently active target on moving water, muskie to play a tougher patience game, and catfish to remain the reliable overnight producer until the next round of ground-truth regional reports comes in.
Door County and Sheboygan settle into peak summer salmon trolling season
The WI DNR Lake Michigan Fishing Report flagged 2024 as a standout year on this stretch of water, with anglers landing over 210,000 coho salmon (a record) and more than 160,000 Chinook salmon, the best Chinook numbers since 2012, a run the agency ties to stronger alewife survival feeding stocked fish. That carryover sets up mid-July as prime deep-water trolling season for Chinook, coho, and lake trout off Door County and Sheboygan, as summer warmth pushes baitfish and predators into cooler, deeper water. No live buoy or gauge readings came back for this stretch today, so treat surface temps as an estimate and check a local source before running offshore. Regionally, the DNR's temporary closure of the Rowley's Bay launch near Newport State Park for concrete work was slated to reopen by May 31, so Door County boaters should have that access back for the summer stretch. Smallmouth bass around rocky nearshore structure remain a solid backup bite while the salmon program plays out.
Blue catfish bite holds strong as Texas lakes settle into summer pattern
North Texas Catfish Guide has repeatedly flagged blue catfish over 30 pounds coming out of Eagle Mountain Lake near Fort Worth whenever fresh water pushes into the system and lake levels climb, calling that combination the trigger for fast, active feeding. With no fresh NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings available for Texas waters today, anglers should lean on that seasonal pattern and check current lake-level and inflow data locally before planning a trip. The same guide's reports describe channel catfish and white bass turning on together in the main lake as early summer progresses, with white bass moving and schooling actively. Meanwhile B.A.S.S. News notes that as summer heat builds, largemouth bass typically slide off the bank onto deeper ledges, points and brushpiles, especially where current is limited — a pattern worth watching on Texas reservoirs too. Confirm regs and access before harvesting, and expect the bite to track water clarity and any recent rain more than the calendar this time of year.
Deep structure and shade patterns hold on Okeechobee and the St. Johns
Summer heat has settled fully over Lake Okeechobee and the St. Johns River, and this cycle's intel leans on general seasonal pattern rather than fresh on-the-water reports, since no state agency, charter, or shop report specific to these two fisheries came through this pull. Field & Stream's current crappie guide is a useful seasonal marker: as water warms through summer, crappie push off the shallows into deeper structure and respond better to slow, vertical presentations than to shallow casting. Largemouth bass typically follow the same heat-driven pattern this time of year, holding tight to shade, timber, and matted vegetation through midday, with dawn and dusk windows staying the most productive for topwater and moving baits. On the access side, MidCurrent notes a settlement that keeps a proposed Everglades rock mine's scope in check for now, a reminder that South Florida's freshwater systems stay tangled in ongoing land and water-management fights worth tracking heading into the back half of summer.
Smokies trout anglers shift to terrestrials as summer heat settles in
Trout Unlimited's latest TROUT Tip flags pink terrestrials as the pattern to lean on right now, noting that ants, beetles, and hoppers become big-ticket trout food once summer sends them tumbling off the banks into the current -- exactly the shift Western NC anglers on Smokies streams should be planning around heading into mid-July. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for this stretch this cycle, so conditions guidance here leans on typical seasonal patterns: lower-elevation stretches of the watershed likely run warmer and thinner by midday, while higher headwater water inside the park stays cooler and more stable. Gink and Gasoline's notes on summer trico spinner falls point to another reliable morning window with small dries in slower tailouts. Between the two, the play for rainbows, browns, and native brookies is banks and undercuts in the heat of the day, first-light technical water early. Check state regs before harvesting, particularly in delayed-harvest and wild trout designated waters this time of year.
Santee and Murray fish push deep as summer heat settles in
No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through this cycle for Santee and Lake Murray, and this week's angler intel feeds carried no region-specific reports for South Carolina's inland lakes, so this update leans on established seasonal patterns rather than fresh dispatches. Early July on these Midlands reservoirs typically means stable, hot water pushing fish toward deeper, cooler structure during daylight hours. Striped bass, the signature draw on the Santee Cooper system, generally hold over humps and channel edges and feed hardest in low light as summer heat builds. Largemouth bass tend to slide off the bank onto points, ledges, and brushpiles once the heat sets in, a shift B.A.S.S. News describes as typical for summer bass behavior. Crappie, per Field & Stream's seasonal guide, push deeper or into structure through summer and respond best to slow, vertical presentations. Blue catfish should stay a dependable producer after dark. Check current state regulations before harvesting.
Summer ledge bite holds on Alabama's Tennessee River lakes
Offshore summer patterns are holding across the Tennessee River system that feeds Lake Guntersville and Wheeler, with anglers working ledges, points, and brushpiles finding largemouth schooled alongside stripers as high heat and reduced current push fish deep, per B.A.S.S. News this week. No NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings came back for this stretch in today's pull, so we can't confirm a specific surface temperature or current stage for Guntersville or Wheeler directly, but the pattern described matches what's typical for these reservoirs in early July: fish sliding off the bank onto structure once the thermocline sets and daytime heat climbs. No Guntersville- or Wheeler-specific shop or charter reports landed in today's feeds, so treat the species notes below as seasonal expectation layered onto the regional Tennessee River signal rather than confirmed local intel. Crappie typically slow down through the hottest stretch of summer, pushing to deeper cover.
Summer weedline pattern settles over Merrimack and Winnipesaukee bass
"The 2026 open water fishing season is in full swing," Fishing the Midwest's Bob Jensen wrote this week — and that mid-summer read applies squarely to Merrimack River and Lake Winnipesaukee water right now, even though today's buoy and gauge feeds came back empty for this stretch. No NH-specific angler reports landed in this cycle either, so this report leans on general seasonal patterns: smallmouth and largemouth bass settling into classic July weedline behavior, working vegetation edges during low light and sliding deeper as the sun climbs. Lake trout and landlocked salmon, the signature deep-water fishery on Winnipesaukee, are likely pushed well below the thermocline by now, favoring trollers over shore anglers. Panfish appear to be following the same seasonal script Field & Stream describes for summer crappie — sliding off the shallows into deeper structure. Check current New Hampshire fishing regulations before harvesting, especially for trout and salmon limits.
Summer dry-fly window opens across Yellowstone and Teton waters
Mid-July finds the Yellowstone and Snake River drainages well past spring runoff and settling into their most dependable dry-fly stretch of the season. No on-the-water reports specific to this region came through our feeds this cycle, and no buoy or gauge telemetry is available for these high-country waters, so this update leans on general seasonal knowledge rather than fresh angler intel. Typical for mid-July at this elevation: flows have dropped and cleared from their early-summer peak, water temperatures are warming into the range that pushes fish toward faster, oxygenated runs during the heat of the day, and terrestrial insects (hoppers, ants, beetles) are becoming a bigger part of the trout diet as summer vegetation matures along the banks. Cutthroat and rainbow trout tend to stay the most cooperative dry-fly targets through this window, while brown trout typically go quieter until water cools again in fall. Check current state regulations and local fly shop reports before heading out, since conditions vary meaningfully across the Yellowstone and Teton drainages.
Tennessee River stripers push offshore as summer heat digs in
Fishing on the upper Tennessee River is "pretty good" right now according to this week's B.A.S.S. News report from a pro working these waters, though he notes the bite gets tougher by the day as summer heat intensifies. With little current pushing through the system, most fish have slid deep and are holding well off the bank. Anglers are finding big schools mixed with striped bass stacked on points, ledges and brushpiles — a classic offshore, current-starved summer pattern for the Chickamauga/Watts Bar stretch of the chain. Crappie fishing follows a similar seasonal script: per Field & Stream's crappie guide, once water temps climb well above the mid-60s spawn range, fish push deeper and tuck into structure, calling for slower, more deliberate presentations than the shallow-water spring bite. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for this reach today, so treat water temp and flow as unconfirmed until the next update.
Missouri River cats put on a heavyweight show as summer bite holds
With no fresh buoy or gauge readings in this cycle, the angler intel carries the report — and it's a good one. Per Wired 2 Fish, Hazelwood, Missouri angler Brad Hilton anchored his boat in a 25-foot-deep back-eddy hole on the Missouri River just before dusk around the Fourth of July and boated a pair of catfish totaling 178 pounds, a reminder that summer's low-light hours in deep holding water are producing serious numbers right now. On the bass side, Fishing the Midwest notes anglers working emerging weedlines with moving baits are getting bit consistently, though missed fish are common enough that a quick hook-sharpener touch-up between bites is paying off. Walleye and crappie fishing on Platte and Missouri River waters should stay seasonally active, with crappie typically sliding deeper as summer heat builds. Check current flow and temp locally before you launch.
Black bass bite peaks as musky action builds across NY waters
New York's black bass season is in full swing, with the NY DEC's Fishing Line newsletter noting the bite picking up statewide as warmer summer water arrived just in time for the season. Musky season, which DEC flagged as approaching back in May, is now underway for anglers chasing New York's marquee freshwater predator, while DEC's ongoing walleye-tracking effort on Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River points to a healthy fishery this year. Farther west on Lake Erie, Brookdog Fishing Co. reports walleye fishing has been outstanding with quick limits on recent trips, a useful signal for New York's broader walleye picture even outside the Finger Lakes proper. For Hudson Valley and Finger Lakes anglers working bass over emerging weed growth, Fishing the Midwest's reminder to touch up treble hooks after a missed strike is a simple fix worth trying this week. Panfish should be sliding toward deeper structure as summer heat builds, per Field & Stream's seasonal crappie guidance. No local buoy or gauge readings were available for this report.
Night Gigging Flounder Limits Lead a Red-Hot Mid-Coast Texas Bite
Capt. Mark Talasek out of Matagorda has been running night gigging trips for flounder to beat the summer heat, and per Galveston Daily News — Reel Report, limits of flatfish "have been common, and some really nice-sized flounder" are coming over the gunwale. The same Reel Report column notes catching "remains as hot as weather" across both bay and offshore water this week, with three fishing tournaments running in the area over the weekend. Bay anglers are also finding action on bait: Pattie and Joe Holecek, fishing out of Eagle Point Fishing Camp with live shrimp, boated black drum, redfish, and a keeper speckled trout over the July 4th weekend, per the same source. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for this run, so treat conditions as typical for early July on the mid-coast until updated data lands. Live shrimp and after-dark gigging are the standout patterns right now.
Summer terrestrials take over as Smokies tailwaters await a data refresh
No fresh buoy or gauge readings came back for the Hiwassee or Caney Fork this cycle, so today's read leans on seasonal pattern and technique intel rather than a live number. Trout Unlimited's latest TROUT Tip flags pink terrestrials as the go-to summer pattern right now, noting trout key on hoppers, ants and beetles once they get blown or knocked into the current — a pattern that fits Southeastern tailwater trout just as well as anywhere else. Gink and Gasoline's rundown on tough tailwater nymphing is a good reminder that picky tailwater trout, wherever they swim, reward precise drag-free drifts over flashy patterns. On the warmwater side, Fishing the Midwest's note on touching up hook points after missed strikes on moving baits is a simple, broadly useful tip for anyone working weedlines or structure for bass this week. Treat this as a technique-and-season briefing until direct regional reports come back online.