Fishing reports
16501 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
Lake Erie smallmouth gear up for the fall feeding shift
USGS gauge 04213000 logged flow holding near 508 cfs as of early Friday morning, with no fresh water-temperature reading logged for this stretch this cycle. Direct on-the-water reports for Lake Erie and Presque Isle were thin in this run, but the calendar is doing a lot of the talking: early September is when Erie's smallmouth bass and walleye typically start sliding into their fall feeding pattern as baitfish begin schooling tighter and days shorten. That shift lines up with what's showing up nationally right now — Tactical Bassin's September rundown notes bass are "transitioning to Fall patterns and actively feeding on baitfish," staying mobile and schooling predictably, while On The Water's fall-transition roundup points to cooler water and baitfish migrations reshaping how bass position themselves. Yellow perch should keep holding their usual near-shore rotations, and the Erie tributary steelhead run is still a few weeks out. Treat today's read as directional until more local reports come in.
Okeechobee and St. Johns bass ease into early fall mode
The USGS gauge at station 02232000 logged flow near 939 cfs early this morning, a steady read with no dramatic swings on the St. Johns system heading into the weekend. Water temperature wasn't reported at this station, but early September on Florida's freshwater fisheries typically still sits in a summer-to-fall transition window. No Okeechobee- or St. Johns-specific captain, shop, or agency reports came through today's sweep, so we're leaning on general seasonal technique intel: national bass coverage from Tactical Bassin and On The Water both flag largemouth keying on baitfish around grass edges and dock structure as summer patterns start to break down. Bream and catfish tend to stay consistent through this stretch regardless of what the bass are doing. Expect largemouth to still answer moving baits early and late in the day, with a slower, shade-seeking presentation needed to draw bites once the sun gets high.
Walleye Bite Holds Steady as Fall Salmon Push Builds on the Lakes
The Grand River is running a healthy 2,170 cfs at USGS gauge 04119000 as of September 5, typical late-summer flow with no temperature reading available at this station. On the open water side, the MI DNR Weekly Fishing Report has flagged walleye as now the most-harvested species in Michigan's Great Lakes waters this season, a trend worth leaning into if you're mixing species. The DNR's recent notes on Platte River hatchery salmon rearing point to Chinook activity building toward the fall tributary push, a pattern anglers should start watching closely over the next few weeks. On the bass side, Fishing the Midwest's late-season coverage says fish are keying on the last green, living weed edges as beds die off elsewhere — worth checking before committing to deeper structure. We're finding it's a solid transition-week setup for mixed-bag trips before the full fall pattern locks in.
Fall Chinook Buzz Builds on Columbia Tributaries
USGS gauge 14113000 logged water at 57°F with flow holding around 675 cfs as of the evening of September 4 — cooling, stable conditions typical for early fall on Columbia system tributaries. Angler chatter on IFish.net points to fall Chinook activity near the mouth of the Columbia, with one angler reporting hot action trolling solo near Buoy 10 and another losing gear overboard at the mouth of the Lewis River while targeting the same run; treat these as unconfirmed forum reports rather than verified bite reports. WA WDFW's ongoing creel survey work and stocking program (WA WDFW Fishing Reports) continues monitoring activity statewide, though no specific catch data came through this cycle. Washington Sea Grant is highlighting Clean Marina certifications and marine-debris cleanup work this week — no direct bite intel, but a reminder the fall push is underway across the system. Expect steady flows and cooling water to keep salmon moving through tributaries in the days ahead.
Western NY Bass Hold Late-Summer Patterns as Flow Runs High
The USGS gauge on the Niagara River system (04231600) logged 72°F water and a strong 5,840 cfs flow as of Thursday night — readings that still feel like late summer rather than the cooling push anglers watch for heading into the fall transition. No Lake Erie or Niagara-specific reports came through our regional feeds this week, but the broader bass-fishing chatter is consistent: On The Water's fall-transition roundup and Tactical Bassin's September coverage both describe bass keying on baitfish schools as water starts to cool, while Fishing the Midwest notes that healthy green weed edges are still holding fish before the fall die-off scatters them. At 72°F, Western NY smallmouth and walleye are likely still working summer-pattern structure — deeper flats, current breaks, and remaining weed edges — rather than the shallow fall push. Muskie anglers should note September is traditionally a strong window regionally. Check current NY DEC regulations before targeting any species, especially ahead of fall closures.
Kings staging deep on Lake Ontario as tributary run nears
Lake Ontario's charter fleet is finding steady action heading into September, with Strike Zone Charters (Lake Ontario) reporting salmon fishing has been "very good" over the past week, browns and lake trout mixed in with the kings. Preferred depths are running 100-160 feet of water, with fish shifting daily as wind pushes the thermocline around — Mag Dipsey Divers are producing best when temperature sits deep, with green, white, and chartreuse spoons drawing strikes. On the tributary side, the USGS gauge on the Salmon River (04250750) is reading a modest 84.7 cfs, flow still low enough that most fish are staging out in the lake rather than pushing hard into the river system. Anglers focused on Salmon River and Oswego pools should expect a wait for meaningful rain to bump flow before the run stacks up in earnest. For now, the bite is a big-lake program.
California Delta Anglers Watch for Early Fall Striper Push
Angler-specific reports for the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta were thin in today's feeds — none of the incoming blog, shop, charter, or forum sources covered this stretch directly, so this update leans on gauge data and seasonal expectations rather than a fresh local bite report. The USGS gauge covering the western Delta (station 11455420) logged a strongly negative flow reading Thursday evening, the signature of a tidal reversal common to this system rather than a steady one-way push downstream; no water temperature came through with that reading. Early September is typically when Delta stripers begin staging ahead of the fall run as water starts to cool and baitfish shift with the tide. Elsewhere, national bass coverage (per Tactical Bassin this week) is flagging largemouth shifting into fall feeding patterns around baitfish and grass edges — a technique cue worth testing locally even without a Delta-specific catch report this cycle. Confirm current stage and water clarity before committing to water today.
Hopper Season Still Riding High on the Yellowstone and Snake
USGS gauge 06192500 logged 63°F water running at 1,920 cfs Thursday evening, a comfortable range that keeps trout metabolism active without the stress of high-summer heat. Hatch Magazine's Yellowstone terrestrial countdown notes the hopper bite across the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem kicked into gear around the first week of August, and after what the piece calls a long, hot, smoky summer, that grasshopper-and-ant pattern is still the go-to daytime move into early September. Foam hoppers worked tight against undercut, grassy banks are drawing the most attention right now for cutthroat. Flylords' rundown on mouse-fly tactics is a good reminder that low-light and after-dark hours can produce some of the biggest browns of the season, a pattern worth trying as days shorten. Whitefish and rainbows should keep working steadily in faster, riffled water. As always, check current Wyoming regulations before harvesting anything.
Chinook Chatter Builds at the Mouth as Columbia System Warms
Our monitored gauge (USGS 14211720) logged a 70°F reading Thursday evening alongside a swing to negative flow — a tidal push shoving water back upstream on the incoming tide, typical for the lower river system this time of year. Warm water like that pushes salmon and steelhead toward first and last light and holds them deeper through the afternoon. On the forum side, an IFish.net Fishing Reports post out of Buoy 10 described "HOT chinook action trolling solo" near the Green Line — promising, though it's a single angler's account worth confirming before you plan a trip around it. A separate IFish.net report out of Garibaldi found salmon slow but rockfish cooperative, a reminder results are running mixed along the coast and lower river right now. Smallmouth should stay active in the warm water, while steelhead numbers typically stay modest until the fall push builds later this month.
Fall transition stirs bass, walleye bite on Ohio reservoirs
Tactical Bassin's latest September breakdown pins the story for the region this week: bass are peeling off summer schooling patterns and pushing onto baitfish, exactly the kind of shift anglers should watch for on Mosquito and Pymatuning as water starts to cool. On The Water's fall-transition bait roundup backs that up, flagging cooler water and baitfish migrations as the trigger reshaping the bite over the coming weeks. Fishing the Midwest notes that as shoreline weeds begin dying back this time of year, baitfish and the gamefish following them relocate to the healthiest remaining green weed edges — a pattern that applies directly to walleye and bass on these reservoirs. Our regional USGS gauge (03110000) shows flow holding steady around 195 cfs, a normal early-September baseline with no unusual runoff in the system. No direct temperature reading is available for either lake right now, so treat early outings this week as scouting trips while the fall pattern firms up.
Green River trout key on terrestrials as flows hold steady
The Green River tailwater below Flaming Gorge is running a stable 2,770 cfs at 59°F as of Thursday evening, per USGS gauge 09234500 — solid, fishable water for early September. That reading sits right in the sweet spot for browns, rainbows, and cutthroat to stay active before colder overnight releases start slowing things down later in fall. MidCurrent's latest fly-tying roundup singles out small, spare emerger patterns like the GFC Fly as built specifically for "the clear, pressured water of stillwaters and tailraces" — exactly the technical presentation this river demands on bright days. Hatch Magazine's terrestrial-countdown piece, tracking the same late-summer shift across the wider Rocky Mountain corridor, is a reminder that hopper and ant patterns still have productive weeks left before cooling water shuts the window. Up in the Uinta high lakes, brook trout and cutthroat should still be feeding aggressively on top during the last warm afternoons of the season.
Green River trout dial in tailwater patterns for fall transition
The Green River tailwater below Flaming Gorge Dam sat at 59°F with a steady 2,770 cfs release as of Thursday evening (USGS gauge 09234500) — a moderate, wading-friendly flow that keeps this tailwater fishing close to typical late-summer form. With water comfortably below stress thresholds for trout, feeding windows should stay active through the day rather than compressing to dawn and dusk only. Regional fly-tying coverage is leaning into the late-summer-to-fall transition: MidCurrent's Tying Tuesday roundup highlights midge-style patterns built for "the clear, pressured water of stillwaters and tailraces" — exactly the technical water a tailwater like this fishes — while Caddis Fly (OR) is still pushing sunken ant patterns as a searching fly before terrestrials fade for the year. Trout Unlimited continues restoration work in the nearby Ashley National Forest watershed, a reminder of the habitat effort underpinning Utah trout water generally. No direct on-the-water reports came in from this stretch this week, so treat technique notes as general seasonal guidance rather than confirmed local intel.
Catfish Hold the Bite as Kansas River Runs Warm and High
USGS gauge 06892350 on the Kansas River logged flow at 1,880 cfs and water temperature at 87°F as of Wednesday night, conditions that put these warmwater rivers squarely in late-summer catfish mode. That kind of heat keeps channel catfish feeding aggressively after dark and around dawn, when current seams and eddies concentrate bait. Bass anglers should take note of the broader fall transition already showing up elsewhere in the Midwest — Tactical Bassin's recent September reports describe largemouth pushing shallow to chase baitfish as summer patterns start to break down, a shift that typically arrives on Kansas and Arkansas River waters a few weeks behind cooler regional lakes. White bass should still be workable on current breaks given the elevated flow. Walleye stay a tougher target in 87° water and are likely holding deep, feeding mainly on low light. No angler reports specific to these rivers came through this week, so treat species notes as seasonal expectation rather than confirmed local bite.
Hawaiian offshore pelagics hold steady as trade winds settle in
Hawaii Fishing News, the state's official record-keeper for the islands, is running its usual moon-and-tide calendar into September — a reminder that trip timing around moon phase still matters more than any single hot bite report this week. No buoy or gauge readings came back for Hawaiian waters in this cycle, and none of the angler-intel feeds carried a direct on-the-water bite report for the islands, so we're leaning on typical seasonal patterns rather than fresh testimony. Late summer into early fall is traditionally strong for offshore pelagics around Hawaii as the season's warm-water window holds — ahi, mahimahi, and marlin are the usual targets working temperature breaks and current lines outside the harbors, while wahoo action tends to be spottier until the water starts cooling later in the fall. Bottomfish stay a steady year-round option for boats working deeper ledges. Check state regs before targeting any species, and confirm local conditions before running offshore.
Fall Salmon Push Builds Off Chicago's Lake Michigan Piers
Early September marks the seasonal hinge on Lake Michigan's Chicago waters, with no fresh buoy or gauge readings in this update — plan around the Conditions panel once new data lands. The clearest concrete signal available is historical: per WI DNR's Lake Michigan Fishing Report, recent seasons capped off a stretch that included a record 2024 coho run (over 210,000 fish) and the biggest Chinook haul since 2012 (160,000-plus), a reminder that this fishery still runs deep with staged salmon each fall. As water temperatures ease into autumn, Chinook and coho typically push toward river mouths and nearshore structure while smallmouth bass shift onto docks and rocky edges — a pattern Tactical Bassin's early-fall dock-fishing notes describe well for warmwater bass generally. No Chicago-specific angler reports came through this cycle, so treat species calls below as seasonal expectation rather than confirmed bites until fresh intel arrives.
Fluke and albies keep Raritan Bay busy into September
Capt. Ron's out of Atlantic Highlands has been grinding out solid fluke and black sea bass counts on the Raritan Bay/Sandy Hook grounds, with pool fish running 5 to 7 pounds through the week and a 7-pound, 11-ounce fluke topping Wednesday's board — though the captain noted the bite getting tougher by Sunday and losing a full trip midweek to a stiff northeast wind. Farther along the coast, On The Water's Northern New Jersey report (Sept 3) has bonito, bluefin, Spanish mackerel, and false albacore working the surf while fluke stays a steady pick on the reefs, with scattered bluefin and mahi showing midshore. Grumpys Tackle echoes the warm-water push, noting Spanish mackerel and bonito have moved in with the season's heat. Striped bass have been quiet in this week's reports, which tracks for early September ahead of the fall run.
Delaware River Smallmouth, Pine Barrens Pickerel Ease Into Fall
No fresh buoy or gauge readings came in for the Delaware River and Pine Barrens system today, and this week's regional intel skewed almost entirely saltwater — flounder blitzing in the Delaware Bay per Higbee's Bait and Tackle (The Fisherman — Southern NJ), fluke and sea bass holding steady per Capt Ron's Atlantic Highlands NJ, and building tuna action offshore per Fishermans HQ LBI (NJ). None of that testimony covers the freshwater river or the Pine Barrens' cedar-water ponds inland, so what follows leans on typical early-September patterns for this system. Smallmouth bass on the Delaware's main stem should still be active along current seams as summer-high water temps ease down, while Pine Barrens chain pickerel — a signature species in this tannic, slow-moving water — key harder on baitfish as days shorten. Tactical Bassin's national fall-transition coverage this week flags a shift toward reaction baits (topwater, crankbaits, swimbaits) as bass chase baitfish, a pattern worth testing here too. Last Quarter moon overhead; check current NJ freshwater regs before harvesting anything.
Kenai halibut and silvers headline early fall Gulf of Alaska
A recent Coastal Angler Magazine feature on Alaska's Kenai Peninsula puts giant halibut alongside hard-fighting king and sockeye salmon at the center of the region's late-summer draw, and that mix is a fair snapshot of what the Gulf of Alaska offers as September opens. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for this update, so treat water temp and sea state as unconfirmed until you check a local source before running offshore. King and sockeye runs are typically winding down by early September in most Gulf-side systems, while coho (silver) salmon are usually just hitting stride on the same timeline, and halibut fishing on deeper structure stays productive well into fall. Nothing in this week's angler intel pointed at a specific hot bite location, so lean on typical seasonal patterns and local reports before planning a trip.
Spanish Mackerel Push Holds Along the NC Coast
Spanish mackerel are the story up and down the North Carolina coast this week. Per Fisherman's Post (NC), nearshore anglers out of Morehead/Atlantic Beach are finding a solid mix of spanish mackerel and bluefish while trolling the beaches, with action picking up whenever fish push bait to the surface. Near Hatteras/Ocracoke, Fisherman's Post (NC) reports anglers bottom fishing the Rodanthe-area beaches are pulling good-sized sea mullet, along with scattered sight-casting opportunities in the surf. To the south, Topsail-area surf and pier anglers are working casting jigs for that same spanish mackerel and bluefish combo, also per Fisherman's Post (NC). No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for this update, so treat water temps and swell as unconfirmed — check a local marine forecast before running offshore. Early September is a typical window for this exact spanish mackerel push as bait schools work down the beachfront.
Sea mullet bite heats up off Hatteras as fall Spanish run holds
Bottom anglers working the Rodanthe-area beaches are into good-sized sea mullet, per Eric at Hatteras Jack (Fisherman's Post (NC)), with sight-casting opportunities also turning up along that stretch this week. Farther down the Outer Banks and central coast, the late-summer Spanish mackerel run is still going strong — Fisherman's Post — Carolinas saltwater notes nearshore trollers finding mackerel and bluefish mixed together working the beaches, a pattern echoed by shop reports out of Topsail and Morehead City working casting jigs and trolling spreads. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for this update, so treat water temp and swell as unconfirmed until the next check. With hurricane season underway, NC Sea Grant's storm-readiness reminders are worth a look before planning any multi-day trip to the Banks. Early September remains a transition window — summer species are still biting while the first signs of the fall push build offshore.
Fall transition builds toward Indiana's Lake Michigan shoreline
The Wisconsin DNR's Lake Michigan report notes anglers hauled in more than 210,000 coho salmon and over 160,000 Chinook lake-wide in 2024 — the strongest salmon returns the fishery has logged in more than a decade, a trend that carries down the shoreline into Indiana waters as summer turns to fall. No buoy or gauge readings came back for this stretch today, so treat water temperature as unconfirmed until you check a local source before launching. Early September on southern Lake Michigan typically has salmon and trout beginning to stage near river mouths as nearshore water starts cooling, while yellow perch and smallmouth bass remain the more consistent inshore options along Indiana's harbor structure. General Midwest guidance from Fishing the Midwest points anglers toward green, living weed edges as the fall transition sets in, a pattern that applies to perch and bass holding around structure here too. Confirm current regulations before harvesting.
Bass anglers eye the fall transition at Quabbin and Wachusett
Tactical Bassin's latest September breakdown captures where freshwater anglers stand across the Northeast right now: bass are sliding from summer holding patterns into a fall transition, pushing toward baitfish in open water even as the bite turns fussier by the day. That shift lines up with what we'd expect at Quabbin and Wachusett as early September settles in — largemouth are starting to reposition around docks and grass edges, a pattern Tactical Bassin flagged as strengthening this week, while lake trout and landlocked salmon stay deep and comparatively quiet until the reservoirs cool further. Fishing the Midwest's reminder that fish relocate as weeds die back applies directly here: healthy green weed edges remain the smarter starting point before die-off thins them out. No live buoy or gauge readings came through for this cycle, so treat water-temp assumptions as seasonal-typical rather than measured.
Smokies trout lean on hopper season as late-summer flows run thin
No NOAA buoy or USGS gauge reading came back for Western North Carolina's Smokies trout water this cycle, so today's outlook leans on the seasonal pattern rather than a live number. Early September on Southern Appalachian freestone streams typically means low, clear flows after a long dry stretch, which pushes trout into tighter, shadier lies and makes terrestrials the go-to call. Flylords Mag and Caddis Fly (OR) are both flagging peak hopper-and-ant season right now, and Gink and Gasoline is running tips this week for working technical, pressured trout water — all of it directly applicable to skinny, low-light Smokies pools. Expect brook, rainbow, and brown trout to still eat small attractor dries and sunk-ant rigs worked tight to structure, best during the cool morning and evening windows, with the bite sliding off as midday water warms. Check current park and state regulations before harvesting any fish.
Lake Taneycomo Trout Bite Holds Steady Into September
Water temperatures on Lake Taneycomo have climbed to about 53 degrees, which Lilleys Landing calls normal for early September, and dissolved oxygen has dropped enough that dam operators are now injecting liquid oxygen into the outflow to keep trout comfortable through the tailwater. Generation has stayed fairly consistent through August — minimum flow most mornings before ramping up toward 135 megawatts (2.5 units) by mid-afternoon into evening — and that steadiness is translating into solid trout fishing per the shop's latest report. Carrying over from late summer, guides have been finding good afternoon action working the Provo rig, while a simpler drifted presentation — a bottom weight with a drop-shot loop set about 18 inches up, tied with fluorocarbon tippet — has also been producing for anglers fishing from the bank and dock. This report centers on Taneycomo, the tailwater immediately below Table Rock Dam, where generation schedule is the main driver of trout behavior right now.