Fishing reports
16249 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
Late coho push keeps Kenai and interior rivers busy
Mid-September on the Kenai Peninsula and interior river systems typically means the tail end of the coho (silver salmon) run, with fish still working into tributaries to spawn while rainbow trout and Dolly Varden key in behind them on drifting eggs and flesh. No live buoy or gauge readings came through for this update, and today's angler-intel feed didn't carry any on-the-water Alaska reports — the available Alaska Sea Grant items covered mariculture and community programs rather than catch or technique intel. Absent fresh testimony, the safest read is the standard late-season pattern for this region: coho activity gradually easing as the run tapers toward its close, trout and char staying consistently active behind spawning salmon, and water clarity typically improving as flows recede through September. Check current state fishing regulations and any in-season emergency orders before heading out, since Kenai-area salmon fisheries often carry tight, date- and area-specific restrictions this time of year. We'll update with real numbers as soon as buoy, gauge, or local reporting comes back online.
Fall silvers move into Gulf of Alaska waters as summer season winds down
No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through this cycle, and this week's angler-intel sweep didn't turn up any Gulf of Alaska bite reports — the AK Sea Grant items on file cover mariculture, a Kasaan skiff-safety workshop, and coastal community programs, not fishing conditions. So this update leans on general seasonal knowledge rather than fresh testimony: mid-September is typically prime time for coho (silver) salmon pushing into Gulf of Alaska bays and river mouths as the fall run builds, while king salmon fisheries are generally winding down or closed by this point per typical state management windows. Halibut action commonly starts to taper as waters cool, though it can still produce on calm days. Bottomfish like lingcod and rockfish stay a reliable year-round option in nearshore structure. Check current state regulations and local charter reports before planning a trip, since none of that is confirmed in today's data.
Northwoods musky bite builds as Wisconsin waters start to cool
Water temps across the Oneida and Vilas County musky belt have held in the low 70s through a run of 80°F days, but Rollie & Helen's Musky Shop (WI) reports that pattern is finally breaking — overnight lows easing into the 60s and daytime highs settling into the mid-70s are shortening the feeding window and pushing baitfish, and the muskies keyed on them, into transition. The shop calls this stretch "the calendar shift we live for," with temperatures expected to keep falling through the 60s and trigger more consistent activity on Vilas and Oneida lakes over the coming days. Walleye anglers on the region's other lakes aren't left out either — per Fishing the Midwest, traditional jigging and live-bait rigs are still producing even as forward-facing sonar reshapes how many locate fish in the area's clear water. Bass are settling into typical early-fall patterns along grass edges and docks as weeds begin to thin. No NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings were available for this stretch of water.
MS Sound eyes fall transition as trout and reds start to shift
Mississippi's Advisory Commission on Marine Resources meets September 15 in D'Iberville, per MS DMR — a scheduling note worth flagging as MS Sound eases into its fall transition. No buoy or gauge readings came back for the Sound this cycle, and this week's angler-intel feeds carried no direct on-the-water bite reports for Mississippi specifically — the closest regional intel was Sport Fishing Mag's rundown of Gulf marsh lures for trout and redfish on the neighboring Louisiana coast, useful as a starting point for tackle selection but not a confirmed MS Sound bite. With the new moon pushing bigger tidal swings this week, we'd expect speckled trout and redfish to key on moving water around marsh drains, points and dock structure as they feed up ahead of cooling temperatures. Flounder should be building toward their typical fall run. Treat the above as seasonal expectation, not a confirmed report, until local intel comes in.
Bass and Walleye Bite Holds as Finger Lakes Ease Into Fall
NY DEC's August 14 Fishing Line spotlighted a new addition to its online "Tackle Box" built specifically to help bass and walleye anglers find quality spots statewide — a clear sign both species remain the primary targets heading into September. Earlier reporting from DEC's Fishing Line traced the arc of the season: the June 12 issue noted black bass action picking up as water warmed, and by July 31 the agency's roundup had panfish like bluegill and pumpkinseed biting well through New York City-area waters, a pattern that typically extends into Hudson Valley ponds and coves around this time. DEC's July 17 issue flagged trout and salmon leaning on cold-water refuges to beat summer heat — stress that should be easing now as nights cool into September. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for this cycle, so this update leans on DEC's own season-long reporting and typical late-summer/early-fall trends rather than live numbers.
Southern Maine Stripers Feed Hard Ahead of Fall Push
Capt. Tom Lukegord of Beauport Fishing Adventures, via The Fisherman — South Shore MA to ME, reports solid bottom fishing on cusk, redfish, and especially pollock, though codfish haven't shown up in the numbers hoped for since the Gulf of Maine season reopened. Bluefish have been extremely scarce all year, per the same report. Farther south along that same coverage area, stripers are reportedly chowing down in southern Maine waters, with anglers south of the border watching for that school to migrate into Massachusetts as the fall run builds. No NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings came through for this Gulf of Maine update, so water temperature and tide timing are unavailable today — check local instruments and forecasts before running offshore. Expect the bottom bite to keep carrying the action through mid-September while the striper migration develops.
Low water lingers on Arizona's Salt and Colorado rivers this fall
No buoy or gauge readings and no shop, charter, or agency reports on the Salt or lower Colorado River came through this cycle's source pull, so today's outlook leans on general seasonal knowledge rather than fresh, region-specific testimony. Hatch Magazine's recent look at the shrinking Colorado River basin is useful backdrop: reservoirs feeding this system, including Lake Mead on the Arizona-Nevada border, remain under long-term drought stress, which typically means clearer, more stable flows below dam releases into early fall. On the Salt's warmwater reaches, smallmouth bass and channel catfish are typically active as water temperatures ease off summer peaks, while tailwater trout fisheries tend to fish steadily where dam-controlled flows keep temperatures consistent. Verify current flow releases and stocking activity locally, since no direct reports reached us this round, and check state regulations before keeping any fish.
Tennessee River bass shift into fall grass-and-baitfish pattern
A Tactical Bassin report from the Tennessee River this week found bass "transitioning from Summer to Fall patterns," with active fish keying on grass edges and adjacent flats before sliding out to chase baitfish in open water as the sun climbs — a mixed flipping/topwater/reaction-bait day rather than one dominant pattern. That two-pattern read lines up with MLF News' preview of the Choo Choo Division's Super Tournament on Lake Guntersville (Sept. 19-20), which notes competitors are splitting between deep grass and offshore schools worked with forward-facing sonar, with the field expecting big bags either way. No fresh NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings came through for this stretch today, so water temp and flow aren't available this cycle — treat the grass-vs-open-water split as the actionable takeaway until harder numbers post. We'd lean toward working both looks on a single trip rather than committing to one.
Colorado's drought-stressed rivers still deliver for early risers
Fishing closures have started lifting on parts of the Roaring Fork, where Crystal Fly Shop reports the river running low, clear and cool with fishing much improved over the past week — tiny patterns like Rainbow Warriors, Sparklewing RS2s and Flashback PTs are picking up trout, with tricos showing on the water. The Frying Pan is running low, clear and cold too, and the shop calls the dry-fly fishing there superb on green drakes, PMDs, BWOs and midges, though overlapping hatches make for picky fish that demand 6x–7x tippet. Not every stretch has turned the corner: the Colorado River near Glenwood Springs–Rifle remains under a voluntary closure and running muddy after recent rain, while a lower section of the Crystal River stays closed under CPW order even as the upper river fishes well. Cutthroat Anglers and Pat Dorsey Fly Fishing both describe this as one of Colorado's worst drought years on record, with tailwaters the safer bet as reservoirs and snowpack sit at historic lows.
Fall walleye bite builds on Dakota rivers as summer fades
Per Fishing the Midwest, blending traditional live-bait presentations with forward-facing sonar is paying off on clear-water Midwest fisheries this month — advice that applies directly to Red and Missouri River walleye right now. No NOAA buoy or USGS gauge came back for this stretch today, so there's no fresh temperature or flow reading to report; conditions below lean on typical early-September patterns for North Dakota. Cooling water usually pushes baitfish shallower and triggers a stronger walleye and sauger bite ahead of fall turnover. The same outlet's note that a bladed swim jig draws bass, pike, and walleye alike is a solid go-to for probing current breaks and weed edges as pike start feeding up. Channel catfish, typically strong through summer, should begin easing back as nights cool. Check state regulations before harvesting, and confirm today's actual flow and clarity locally before you head out.
Cooler nights should wake up New Mexico trout water
No buoy or stream-gauge readings came back for the Rio Grande and San Juan corridor this cycle, and none of today's angler-intel feeds — which lean heavily toward Northeast saltwater, Midwest bass, and general fly-fishing feature content — filed a direct report from New Mexico trout water. That gap is worth naming rather than papering over. What we can say with confidence is seasonal: early-to-mid September in the high desert Southwest typically brings the first real overnight cooldowns, pulling water temperatures down from summer highs and easing the midday lethargy that pushes trout into deep pools. The San Juan's tailwater below Navajo Dam tends to fish on a scheduled-release pattern rather than air temperature alone, so flow stability there usually matters more than a warm afternoon. Rio Grande cutthroat and stocked rainbows in freestone stretches should start responding to cooler mornings with steadier dawn and dusk activity as the month progresses. Treat today's picture as seasonal expectation, not field-verified conditions, until direct reports come in.
Champlain smallmouth push deeper as early fall settles in
No live buoy or gauge readings came back for Lake Champlain this cycle, so this report leans on the season rather than a fresh number. New Moon means low light and stronger nighttime baitfish movement, both of which typically pull smallmouth and landlocked salmon off summer haunts and toward staging structure. Elsewhere in New England freshwater this week, anglers have been finding smallmouth holding deep and eating on slow, subtle presentations — Jerry's Bait and Tackle reported anglers on Wallum Lake tallying thirty-plus smallmouth in the 1.5-2.5 pound range on drop-shotted baits in thirty feet of water, a pattern consistent with the early-fall deep-rock transition smallmouth fisheries across the region are entering now. Landlocked salmon on Champlain typically start responding to cooling surface temps this time of year as baitfish schools push shallower at dawn and dusk. Check current state guidance before targeting either species, and expect conditions to keep shifting through September.
New River, Ohio smallmouth key on fall baitfish shift
On The Water's early-fall breakdown, "The Key to Fall Bass Fishing? Find the Baitfish," frames the seasonal shift now underway for river smallmouth — as water cools, fish move off summer structure and start keying on baitfish schools instead. No buoy or gauge telemetry came in for the New River and Ohio River corridor this cycle, and no WV-specific angler intel arrived either, so this update leans on that seasonal pattern and general technique rather than a fresh regional bite report. Field & Stream's fall muskie guide is also timely: muskellunge, present in both watersheds, become more catchable on live suckers as water temperatures keep dropping through September and October — a technique note, not a local report. Catfish and walleye/sauger should stay steady producers through the transition, typical for this time of year on these rivers. Treat this as seasonal guidance until fresh regional reports or gauge readings come in.
Guntersville grass and open water both loaded before Super Tournament
Lake Guntersville is drawing attention this week as it gears up to host the Phoenix Bass Fishing League Choo Choo Division Super Tournament Sept. 19-20, and per MLF News the famed fishery is "fishing quite a bit different" than earlier in the year, with anglers finding bass both suspended over offshore schools via forward-facing sonar and buried deep in the remaining grass mats. That two-lane pattern — open water versus grass — means there isn't one right answer right now, and big bags are reportedly coming both ways. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through this cycle, so we don't have a hard temp or flow number to report; check TVA release schedules directly for Wheeler current before you plan a trip. Early fall is classically a transition window on these Tennessee River reservoirs, with baitfish starting to pull shad-oriented bass shallower as weeds die back and water cools toward true fall patterns.
Fall transition sets up a prime trout window on the Bitterroot
This week's new moon lines up with the seasonal turn toward fall across Flathead Lake and the Bitterroot River, and with no fresh NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings logged for this cycle, this report leans on typical early-September patterns for northwest Montana rather than a live reading. Water is starting its seasonal cool-down, which historically nudges Bitterroot rainbows and westslope cutthroat toward more consistent daytime feeding as afternoon temperatures ease off summer highs. On Flathead Lake, kokanee salmon are typically staging for their fall spawning push toward tributary mouths this time of year, while lake trout generally still hold deeper ahead of the turnover later in the month. None of this cycle's angler-intel feeds cover Montana specifically, so treat the species activity below as seasonal expectation, not confirmed local reports. Always check current Montana FWP regulations and stream closures before heading out, and remember bull trout encountered incidentally remain catch-and-release only statewide.
Idaho's Fall Steelhead Push Set to Build on the Snake and Salmon
No NOAA buoy or USGS gauge reading came through for the Snake and Salmon River system this cycle, and this week's angler-intel feeds carried nothing specific to Idaho's freshwater fisheries — the mix leaned toward Northeast striper trips, Midwest bass patterns, and trout-shop updates out of Nevada and Oregon instead. That's a gap worth naming rather than glossing over: without a confirmed flow or temperature reading, and without an Idaho outfitter or shop report in hand, we can't respectfully claim a hot bite on these particular waters this week. What we can offer is the seasonal picture: early September sits right at the front edge of the Snake and Salmon system's well-known fall steelhead push, a run Idaho anglers build entire trips around, alongside the tail of the fall Chinook return and steady resident rainbow trout action in cooler tributary stretches. Check current Idaho Fish and Game flow and fish-count data before heading out, and read everything below as seasonal outlook, not a confirmed bite report.
Fall transition sets up multi-species action on Iowa rivers
No NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings came back for the Iowa and Des Moines Rivers this cycle, and this week's angler-intel feeds carried nothing filed directly from Iowa waters or a state-agency creel report. That means this update leans on general seasonal knowledge rather than a live bite report: early-to-mid September typically starts the cool-water push that moves channel catfish onto current seams and pulls walleye and smallmouth bass toward wing dams and rock structure on Midwest rivers. Fishing the Midwest's latest notes describe a related regional pattern — largemouth, pike, and walleye keying on dying weed edges and eating a bladed swim jig as vegetation browns off heading into fall, a technique that tends to translate well to current-break structure on rivers like these. With no direct local reports filed this week, treat the species activity below as a seasonal outlook rather than confirmed intel, and check a recent county report before you head out.
Fall Baitfish Shift Sets Up Champlain and CT River Bass, Pike
On The Water's turn to fall-bass coverage points out that this time of year is about tracking baitfish, not water temperature — a cue directly relevant to Lake Champlain and the Connecticut River as shad and shiners begin schooling along drop-offs and grass edges. No NOAA buoy or USGS gauge feed came through for this Vermont stretch this cycle, and this week's angler-intel pull carried no direct shop or captain reports out of Champlain or the Connecticut River, so we're leaning on regional signal and seasonal pattern rather than fresh local numbers. The Fisherman's New England Freshwater desk notes pike already turning more aggressive on baitfish in nearby Merrimack River water, a shift that typically arrives on Champlain and the Connecticut River around the same early-fall window. Expect smallmouth and largemouth to key tighter on bait, pike to get more predictable, and walleye to stay mostly a dawn-and-dusk bite until nights cool further.
Lake Cumberland eases into its early-fall pattern below Wolf Creek Dam
No buoy or gauge readings came through for the Cumberland River system this cycle, and this week's angler-intel feeds carried nothing specific to Kentucky, so this update leans on typical seasonal patterns rather than fresh field reports. Early September on Lake Cumberland usually finds striped bass and hybrids starting to push shad on main-lake points and humps as surface temps ease off summer highs, while smallmouth and largemouth bass slide toward secondary points and channel swings chasing the same baitfish. Below Wolf Creek Dam, the tailwater's trout fishery is the more dependable bet year-round, with generation-driven flows and small nymph or midge patterns typically doing the work during low-water windows. With a New Moon tonight, expect stronger nocturnal baitfish movement, which can pull stripers shallow after dark. Check TVA generation schedules and current Kentucky Fish and Wildlife regs before heading out.
Tennessee River Bass Push Toward Grass and Baitfish as Fall Sets In
Bass on the Tennessee River are locked into the classic late-summer-to-fall transition, per Tactical Bassin (blog), which reports fish holding tight to grass flats and cover early before pushing into open water to chase baitfish as the sun climbs. The pattern rewards a mixed approach — flipping and structure bites in the morning, topwater and reaction baits once fish move shallow-to-open, then dialing in on active schools wherever the baitfish sit. Tactical Bassin also flags the Free Rig as a fall-specific technique worth trying around grass edges and dock cover, since it gives a bait a slower, more natural fall than a standard Texas rig — timely for reservoirs like Chickamauga and Watts Bar carrying similar grass and dock structure. No buoy or gauge readings came back for this stretch today, so treat water temp and flow as unknowns until you check a local source before launching. Crappie and catfish should still be workable on typical September patterns, though no specific reports came in for either this week.
Mille Lacs walleye anglers lean on jigs as the fall turn nears
No buoy or gauge readings came back for Mille Lacs today, and this week's regional feeds carried nothing specific to the lake itself, so this update draws on general early-September walleye patterns plus the latest technique notes out of the Midwest. Fishing the Midwest's Mike Frisch, writing this week in "Blending Old & New," notes that traditional live-bait presentations, jigging, leech- and crawler-tipped rigs, and crankbait trolling, are still producing on clear-water lakes even as forward-facing sonar reshapes how many anglers locate fish, a relevant point for a gin-clear fishery like Mille Lacs. Early September here typically means walleye starting to slide off summer mud flats toward transitional structure as remaining green weed growth concentrates baitfish, with smallmouth bass and northern pike still active in shallower zones. Treat this as seasonal general knowledge rather than a fresh on-the-water report until specific Mille Lacs conditions data comes in.
Winnipesaukee's Big Lakes Still Producing Into Early Fall
Lake Winnipesaukee is holding up well as summer turns toward fall. Roger Aziz, Jr.'s regional roundup (The Fisherman — New England Freshwater) reports that "big waters such as Lake Winnipesaukee, Winnisquam Lake, and Newfound Lake are still churning out impressive" fishing heading into September — a good sign for anglers working the state's larger lake systems right now. No NOAA buoy or USGS gauge data came back for this stretch today, so treat water temperature and flow as unconfirmed rather than assumed; lean on seasonal norms and local word until fresh readings post. The same New England Freshwater dispatch also flags steady northern pike activity on nearby big rivers in the district, reinforcing that New Hampshire's larger waters are fishing well as a group this week, not just Winnipesaukee in isolation. With a new moon overhead, expect low-light bites to carry extra weight over the next few days. Check current NH regulations before harvesting — seasons and limits can shift this time of year.
East Texas Bass Shift Toward Fall Patterns
Lake Fork Trophy Bass's August report — out of a neighboring East Texas fishery — describes largemouth still holding tight to cover through a brutal run of 100-plus-degree days, with lake levels holding steady despite the heat. Toledo Bend and Sam Rayburn have no fresh buoy or gauge readings today, so this report leans on that regional signal instead. The same late-summer-to-fall shift is showing up across Texas bass coverage: Texas Fish & Game Magazine's look at nearby Lake Conroe notes fall arrives in stages here, with September still fishing like mid-summer before the pattern truly turns. Tactical Bassin's early-fall video tips — dock fishing, free-rigged plastics, grass-edge transitions — are built for exactly this window. Toledo Bend has hosted Bassmaster Elite-level competition before, per B.A.S.S. News, underscoring it as a legitimate big-bass fishery even without today's direct numbers. Expect largemouth, crappie, and catfish to track the same seasonal shift over the coming weeks.
Early fall transition sets up Clinton-Dubuque pools
No NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings came back for the Clinton-Dubuque pools this cycle, and no charter, shop, or state-agency reports specific to this stretch of the Upper Mississippi surfaced in today's intel sweep — so this update leans on general seasonal pattern rather than a fresh local read. Early September is when this river system typically starts its fall transition: dying weed growth pushes baitfish out of summer cover, and gamefish follow, a shift Fishing the Midwest describes broadly across Midwest waters this time of year as fish relocate toward "the green" that's still alive. On these pools, that usually means smallmouth bass and walleye sliding toward wing-dam eddies, current seams, and rock structure as water cools, with catfish still active on cut bait through the warm afternoons. Treat all of the above as typical-for-the-season guidance, not a confirmed bite — check current conditions and local regs before you go.