Fishing reports
16567 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
Silver salmon push has Kenai anglers settling into fall mode
Early September puts the Kenai Peninsula and interior Alaska rivers deep into the fall coho push, with silver salmon typically the headline species once chinook and sockeye runs wind down for the season. Worth flagging plainly: no direct on-the-water reports from Kenai-area shops, guides, or state fishery updates came through in this cycle's intel feed — the available sources leaned toward Lower 48 bass and saltwater content, plus Alaska Sea Grant program items (skiff safety, community outreach) that don't speak to current bite conditions. Treat the species notes below as seasonal expectation rather than confirmed reports, and check current fishery announcements before heading out. Typical for this window: rainbow trout and Dolly Varden fishing strengthens through September as resident fish key on drifting salmon eggs and flesh behind spawning coho, while sockeye action fades out. Water clarity and flow will do most of the talking on any given day.
Pittsburgh tailwaters ease into the fall bass transition
No NOAA buoy or USGS gauge reading came through for the Allegheny system this cycle, and no Pittsburgh-area charter, shop, or PA Fish & Boat biologist report landed in this week's feed either — so this update leans on the broader early-September pattern rather than a fresh local read. Nationally, bass anglers are already talking fall transition: Tactical Bassin and Fishing the Midwest both describe fish shifting off summer structure and keying on baitfish as water starts to cool, a pattern that typically works its way into Allegheny River smallmouth and Pittsburgh's three-rivers tailwaters through September. Field & Stream's recent coverage of a trophy catfish taken on the Ohio River near Ravenswood, WV — downstream of Pittsburgh's confluence — is a reminder the wider Ohio River system stays a solid catfish draw into fall. Expect tailwater smallmouth to start following baitfish toward current breaks and channel cats to keep producing. Check state regs before harvesting anything this month.
Bass begin fall transition on Chattahoochee and Savannah waters
Hard numbers are scarce for the Chattahoochee and Savannah systems this week — no fresh buoy or gauge readings came through, and the Georgia Wildlife Blog — Fishing spent late August pointing anglers toward family-friendly public ponds and local lakes rather than filing basin-specific catch data, while also announcing a shift to rotating regional reports. What's available lines up with the calendar: early September is when Southeastern largemouth and spotted bass typically slide off summer offshore structure and start chasing baitfish shallow, a fall-transition pattern national bass coverage from Tactical Bassin and Fishing the Midwest is already describing, with topwater, crankbaits, and swimbaits producing as fish key on schooling baitfish. Striped bass in the Chattahoochee's reservoir stretches and channel catfish are typically still catchable through early fall. We're treating the species notes below as seasonal expectation rather than confirmed local reports until agency-level GA data catches up.
Chequamegon Bay whitefish bite builds as UP trout streams shift toward fall
Wisconsin DNR's Lake Superior fisheries team (per WI DNR Lake Superior Fishing) continues flagging the fast-growing Chequamegon Bay lake whitefish fishery, now popular enough to draw anglers fishing from boats in open water as well as through the ice each winter — a sign this bay-side whitefish run has become a real fall target on the Superior basin. On the Michigan UP side, our trout streams and Lake Superior trout/salmon water are moving into the early-September transition: shorter days and cooling water typically push activity toward morning and evening windows this time of year. At buoy 45004 offshore, conditions were calm early Wednesday — light winds near 4 mph and air temps around 60°F, comfortable for a stream outing or a run out to open water. No angler reports specific to UP streams or Lake Superior trout came through this week's feeds, so treat this as a typical early-fall pattern rather than a confirmed hot bite — worth a scouting trip before the weekend.
Limestone creeks settle into technical late-summer trout pattern
Spring Creek and Penns Creek are settling into their classic early-September rhythm: low, clear, spring-fed flows that hold up even as the calendar turns toward fall, with grasshopper and ant patterns doing the heavy lifting as aquatic hatches thin out. No live USGS or NOAA readings were available for this stretch of central Pennsylvania in this cycle, so treat any water-temp estimate with caution and check a current gauge before you go. This week's fishing-media roundup skewed heavily toward national bass, saltwater, and general gear coverage rather than county-specific limestone-creek field reports — Pennsylvania Sea Grant's latest releases, for instance, covered aquaculture education and research funding rather than stream conditions. In the absence of fresh eyewitness accounts, this report leans on well-established seasonal patterns for these limestone fisheries: technical, low-and-clear presentations, terrestrial imitations by day, and a chance at spinner activity around dusk.
Susquehanna and Allegheny bass anglers eye the fall feeding switch
No buoy or gauge readings came back for the Susquehanna and Allegheny corridor this cycle, and this week's source pull turned up little PA-specific river intel — most of the available chatter skewed toward Sea Grant program news and national bass-fishing content rather than local field reports. What is consistent across sources is timing: early September marks the classic summer-to-fall transition, and outlets like Tactical Bassin and Fishing the Midwest are flagging baitfish-chasing bass pushing toward main-lake points, flats, and current breaks as water starts to cool — a pattern that typically shows up on Pennsylvania's smallmouth rivers too. Wired 2 Fish's fall-transition roundup echoes the same shift toward moving baits and reaction-style presentations as fish key on shad and baitfish schools. We'd expect smallmouth and walleye behavior on the Susquehanna and Allegheny to start mirroring that broader trend over the next couple weeks, though a direct regional report would be needed to confirm it's already happening here.
Grand River mouth anglers eye the fall king run's first stir
Lake Michigan's fall salmon run is just getting underway off the Grand Haven/Grand River mouth stretch, and the numbers explain why anglers are paying attention: per the WI DNR Lake Michigan Fishing Report, 2024 delivered a record coho harvest (over 210,000 fish) and the strongest Chinook numbers since 2012, on the back of a healthy alewife forage base. This week's MI DNR Weekly Fishing Report didn't return species-specific detail for the Grand River mouth stretch, so hard local intel is thin right now. Chatter on Michigan Sportsman Forum shows anglers already comparing notes on Lake Michigan ports like Manistee, debating whether kings and coho are showing shallow or still holding deep — a sign the community expects the bite to build fast as water cools. Smallmouth bass remain a steadier daytime option on nearshore rock and structure while the salmon sort themselves out over the next couple weeks.
Fall Transition Watch Opens for Santee & Lake Murray Bass
Santee Cooper's reputation for tough bites held up again this year — MLF News recaps how Connor Jacob weighed just two bass on Day 1 of a Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit stop there before grinding back to a fourth-place season finish, a fair snapshot of how these Lowcountry impoundments can play hard even in a strong year. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for Santee or Lake Murray this cycle, so treat water temp and flow as unconfirmed until checked locally. What we do have is a consistent regional signal: outlets like Tactical Bassin (blog), On The Water, and B.A.S.S. News are all flagging the same early-September shift — bass sliding onto baitfish as summer patterns break down, with buzzbaits, topwater, and swimbaits producing as shad push shallow. Expect largemouth and striped bass on Santee and Murray to trend toward that same baitfish-chasing behavior as water cools, though nothing here confirms a local bite yet — this is seasonal pattern, not a shop report.
North Shore walleye hold steady as wind stalls the lake trout bite
Strong winds and periodic rain kept angling pressure light along Lake Superior's North Shore this week, per the MN DNR's Sept. 3 Lake Superior Summer Fishing report, with surface temps mostly in the 60s from Duluth to Two Harbors. Lake trout fishing ran slow in the 18-33 inch range under those blustery conditions, a step down from the steady bite anglers found the week before — the Aug. 27 DNR report had trollers picking up 18-33 inch lake trout and 17-23 inch walleye close to Duluth on spoons. Inland, the pattern is shifting fall-ward: Fishing the Midwest notes bladed swim jigs working shoreline flats for bass, pike, and walleye as weeds start to thin, while Tactical Bassin's crew is finding late-summer bass keyed on baitfish near open water, calling for reaction baits and topwater as fish transition off summer haunts. Expect a mixed bag through the Labor Day stretch: walleye and pike holding steadier than a wind-battered lake trout bite.
Fluke bite holds strong at Sandy Hook as false albacore invade the surf
Fluke fishing out of Atlantic Highlands hit its best stretch of the season this week: Capt Ron's boat reported several fish over 4 pounds, including a 5-pound-8-ounce pool winner, plus quality black sea bass on every drop — though the captain noted Sunday's bite was "certainly getting tougher" as the season wears on. Grumpy's Tackle confirms warm water has pushed Spanish mackerel and bonito into the mix, and On The Water's Northern New Jersey report (Sept 3) has bonito, bluefish, Spanish mackerel, and false albacore working the surf while fluke stays steady on the reefs. Midshore, bluefin tuna and mahi are around but inconsistent on the jig, and Blue Chip Sportfishing is running sea bass charters that are limiting out most trips while sharks have "busted wide open" on recent runs. Fall transition signs are stacking up fast.
Delaware River smallmouth shift gears as Pine Barrens cools into fall
No fresh buoy or gauge readings came in for the Delaware River and Pine Barrens this cycle, and this week's inland intel skewed toward Jersey Shore surf and offshore trips rather than freshwater reports from this stretch. Still, early September is a known pivot point: as nights cool, baitfish push shallow and predator fish key on that movement, per the fall-transition breakdown from On The Water. Tactical Bassin's September playbook echoes the same idea for smallmouth and largemouth water generally — moving fish chasing schooling baitfish, with topwater, crankbaits, and swimbaits covering water fast when bass go on the move. On Delaware River and Pine Barrens water, that typically means smallmouth working current seams and gravel bars while largemouth and chain pickerel slide toward emerging structure in the ponds and cedar-water streams. Channel catfish stay a steady bottom-bait option as water temps ease off summer highs. Treat today's picture as seasonal expectation rather than a confirmed bite until local reports firm up.
Jersey Shore Fluke and Sea Bass Stay Strong as Surf Bite Fires Up
Bonito, blues, Spanish mackerel, and false albacore are working the suds up and down the Jersey Shore, per OTW Northern New Jersey's latest report. That surf bite is arriving alongside a fluke fishery that refuses to quit — Capt Ron's out of Atlantic Highlands logged 'very nice fluke' all week, with quality fish and big sea bass mixed in before the bite would die and bounce back on the tide change. Blue Chip Sportfishing echoes the sea bass strength, saying most trips are 'getting enough for everyone on board,' while their shark charters have produced multiple mako releases. Grumpys Tackle in NJ confirms the same lineup — fluke, blues, Spanish mackerel, bonito, and albies — plus warming water pulling in the mackerel run. Midshore, bluefin tuna and mahi remain available but scattered, with Fishermans HQ out of LBI running bluefin trips 25-40 lbs within 30 miles of Barnegat Inlet on live squid.
Fluke and Sea Bass Carry NJ Anglers Into the Fall Transition
Fluke remains the most dependable bite up and down the Jersey Shore heading into September. Capt Ron's Atlantic Highlands NJ reported a strong Monday trip with quality flounder to 5 lbs 8 oz plus "very nice" sea bass, and Grumpys Tackle (NJ) says the fluke pick has stayed steady even as warm water pushed Spanish mackerel and bonito into the mix. Black sea bass backs that pattern up — Blue Chip Sportfishing (NJ) calls sea bass charters "doing very good" with full-boat limits, while NJ Fish & Wildlife News is actively collecting summer flounder and black sea bass data through its angler tally form as both seasons progress. Striped bass haven't shown up in these reports yet; per Anglers Journal, the real fall push typically builds toward the equinox. No buoy or gauge telemetry came through for Delaware Bay this cycle, so treat water temp and tide timing as forecast-only until local readings return.
Salt River flows hold low as fall bass transition sets in
USGS gauge 09498500 logged a light 40.8 cfs flow as of this afternoon — typical late-summer stage for the Salt River chain below Roosevelt Dam, with releases still running lean ahead of any fall bump. No water-temperature reading came through with this update, and no Arizona-specific charter or shop reports landed in this cycle, so treat the species outlook below as seasonal expectation rather than confirmed local intel. Nationally, bass anglers are already talking about the fall shift: Tactical Bassin's latest coverage describes bass moving onto baitfish as summer patterns break down, with moving reaction baits picking up where slower summer presentations left off. That same transition typically reaches Roosevelt Lake's largemouth and smallmouth populations as days shorten and mornings cool. Crappie and channel catfish should hold fairly steady patterns for now. We're watching for the first on-the-water Arizona reports to confirm exact timing this year.
Catskills trout turn technical as gauges split on flow
Flows across the two monitored Catskills gauges are diverging sharply this week: 198 cfs at USGS gauge 01413500 versus a lean 37.5 cfs downstream at USGS gauge 01415000, with no water-temperature readings available from either station as of Wednesday afternoon. A split like that usually means one stretch still has some push behind it while the other is running low, clear, and technical — worth scouting both before settling on a run. Early September sits squarely in peak terrestrial season for Northeastern trout water, and national fly coverage is leaning into it right now, including Hatch Magazine's ongoing terrestrial countdown and Caddis Fly (OR)'s recent hopper-pattern breakdown, both flagging late-summer heat as the window for grasshopper and ant imitations along grassy, undercut banks. With the last-quarter moon overhead, expect brown and brook trout to stay locked into dawn and dusk feeding windows rather than pushing hard through bright midday water.
Arizona rivers shift toward fall bass patterns as flows stay strong
Our gauge on the Colorado/Salt system (USGS 09380000) put water temperature at 69°F Thursday afternoon, with flow running a strong 8,110 cfs — enough current to keep fish oriented to structure and current breaks rather than open flats. We didn't have a captain or shop report specific to Arizona water this cycle, so treat species notes below as seasonal expectation rather than confirmed bite. Nationally, bass anglers are already talking fall transition: Tactical Bassin's September rundown this week emphasizes fish pushing onto baitfish as the transition sets in, favoring topwater, crankbaits, and swimbaits over reaction baits that cover water fast. That pattern generally holds for Southwest reservoir and river bass as days shorten, even before water temps drop meaningfully. With flow this elevated, expect fish stacked on eddies, current seams, and structure breaks rather than scattered across flats — a good week to slow down presentations in the slack water and speed up in the seams.
Smallmouth push building as Finger Lakes ease into fall transition
The USGS gauge near Cayuga's inlet (04232050) logged 71°F on September 3, still warm enough for active bass but squarely in the seasonal shift multiple bass sources are flagging this week. Tactical Bassin's September breakdown describes fish moving off summer haunts toward open-water baitfish, favoring topwater, crankbaits, and reaction baits as they roam. Fishing the Midwest notes bass, pike, and walleye relating to remaining green, living weed growth as other cover dies back, and recommends forward-facing sonar for walleye in clear water. On The Water's fall-transition roundup backs the read: cooler water and baitfish migrations are starting to reshape where bass hold. New York smallmouth fishing has extra buzz too — Wired2Fish reported a record 109-pound smallmouth limit landed on the nearby St. Lawrence River at a recent Bassmaster event. Lake trout should stay deep until fall turnover — no direct reports this week, typical for early September.
Western Basin walleye anglers eye the fall transition as tributaries run warm
A USGS gauge feeding the Western Basin logged 82°F water and 989 cfs flow Thursday evening (USGS gauge 04193500) — still summer-warm for early September, ahead of the seasonal cooldown that typically kicks the walleye bite into gear here. We didn't turn up fresh Western Basin walleye reports in this week's feeds, but Fishing the Midwest's 'Blending Old & New' notes that walleye anglers are increasingly pairing forward-facing sonar with traditional live-bait rigs, leeches, and nightcrawler harnesses as clearer water has changed how fish respond to presentations. With the tributary still running warm, expect walleye to hold on deeper structure and feed hardest in low light until temperatures start sliding. Yellow perch and smallmouth bass remain the other dependable Western Basin targets this time of year, typically working reefs, rock piles, and drop-offs as baitfish schools begin shifting with the changing season. Check current Ohio regulations before harvesting.
Tennessee River bass shift into early fall feeding mode
Flow on the Tennessee River system is running a strong 9,190 cfs at USGS gauge 02339500 as of this afternoon, keeping current moving through the grass lines and open-water flats bass are starting to key on. A Tactical Bassin video shot on the Tennessee River this week found active fish holding around grass, with flipping, topwater, and reaction baits producing as fish transition from summer to fall patterns and push toward baitfish in open water. The same source's rundown of top September baits points to topwater, crankbaits, and swimbaits as reliable choices once schooling activity picks up. Coosa River spotted bass should be following a similar seasonal cue, though we don't have direct intel from that stretch this week. No water temperature reading came through on this gauge cycle, so dress and plan around typical early-September Alabama warmth until a fresh reading posts.
Colorado trout waters run hot as fall transition nears
Our regional flow gauge (USGS 09095500) read 70°F and 1,260 cfs Thursday afternoon — warm enough to trigger the voluntary stop-fishing thresholds both Cutthroat Anglers (CO) and Pat Dorsey Fly Fishing (CO) have been urging anglers to respect this drought year, with both shops recommending anglers quit once water hits 67-68°F. Where fish are still active, Crystal Fly Shop (CO) reports the Roaring Fork has rebounded with all closures lifted, fish keying on small Rainbow Warriors, Sparklewing RS2s and Flashback PTs, while the Frying Pan is running superb dry-fly water with green drakes, PMDs, BWOs and midges overlapping in picky, technical hatches. Voluntary closures remain in effect on the lower Crystal River and the Colorado River between Glenwood Springs and Rifle, where Crystal Fly Shop also notes a decent streamer bite despite lingering monsoon-muddied water. Colorado Trout Hunters flags the Dream Stream's fall brown trout run as the next big seasonal draw to watch for.
Fall salmon push builds on Olympic Peninsula rivers
Flow at our two monitored gauges reads 1,830 cfs and 290 cfs as of this afternoon (Sept. 3), a mix of higher water on the bigger system and a calmer, more wadeable stage on the smaller one — typical variability for early September before fall rains reshape both. Water temperature wasn't reported at either site this cycle, so anglers should check conditions streamside before committing to a stretch. We don't have confirmed on-the-water bite reports from Olympic Peninsula sources this week; WA WDFW's creel and catch reports remain the best real-time read on what's actually coming to net region-wide. Early September is the transition window between summer steelhead holdover and the start of the fall Chinook and coho pushes, so expect activity to build through the month rather than peak yet. Check WDFW regulations before targeting any species, as seasons and bag limits vary river by river.
Yakima flows hold steady as Eastern WA eyes the fall turn
USGS gauge 12484500 on the Yakima system is running near 2,020 cfs as of this afternoon (Sept. 3) — a stable late-summer flow with no water-temp reading reported at the site. Direct on-the-water intel for the Yakima and Spokane river systems is thin in this week's feeds; WA WDFW's Fishing and Stocking Reports remains the best current source for creel counts and stocking updates around Eastern Washington, and we'd point anglers there before planning a trip. In the absence of specific bite reports for this stretch, expect typical early-September patterns to hold: rainbow trout and smallmouth bass staying active in moderate flows, with early-season steelhead starting to trickle into larger Columbia-system tributaries as water begins to cool. Check WDFW's current regulations and any emergency closures before you head out, since flow and temperature can shift fishing rules on short notice this time of year.
Inland bass shift into fall mode as CT rivers ease to late-summer flow
USGS gauge 01184000 logged a warm 74°F this week, while gauge 01193500 sits at a modest 110 cfs — both signs Connecticut's inland waters are easing into the late-summer-to-fall transition. Bass are the headline: Tactical Bassin and Fishing the Midwest both report largemouth and smallmouth keying hard on baitfish as weeds start to die back, with topwater, crankbaits and swimbaits producing best around schooling fish. Just over the Massachusetts line in Southwick, Sauder's Boat Livery reported bass 'on fire' on the Congamond Lakes — a signal worth watching on CT's own border waters. Field & Stream notes bass anglers nationally are leaning on forward-facing sonar and newer bait styles like urchin baits this season. With water running warm, trout fishing is likely to stay tougher through midday; plan around early mornings and evenings until temperatures ease.
Illinois River bass push shallow as fall pattern sets in
The USGS gauge on the Illinois River is reading a strong 20,900 cfs as of Thursday afternoon, with no water-temperature data available yet — elevated flow like this typically pushes baitfish and gamefish out of the main current into slack-water pockets and eddy seams, so plan around structure rather than open water. On The Water flagged a marathon fishing event centered near Spring Bay, IL this week, a sign the river corridor is drawing plenty of rod-hours right now. Bass anglers should lean into the early-fall transition: Tactical Bassin notes September largemouth and smallmouth are keying on schooling baitfish, with topwater, crankbaits, and swimbaits all producing as fish move and feed aggressively before slowing down. On the walleye side, Fishing the Midwest points to a mix of traditional live-bait rigs and forward-facing sonar working well as water clarity and cooling temps shift patterns region-wide. With the moon at Last Quarter and flow running high, fish current breaks over the next few days rather than chasing open water.