Fishing reports
16671 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
Salt and Colorado River anglers work around swollen monsoon flows
The USGS gauge at site 09380000 logged 70°F water and a swollen 6,960 cfs flow early this morning (2026-09-02), a sign the Salt and Colorado systems are still carrying elevated monsoon-season runoff into early September. No region-specific angler reports came through this cycle, so this outlook leans on general seasonal knowledge rather than fresh testimony from the water. High, warm flow like this typically pushes catfish into feeding mode along softer current seams and slack water while trimming the bite window for Salt River trout, which stress more as temperatures climb into the upper 60s and beyond. Largemouth and smallmouth bass in these systems are usually starting their fall transition by early September, keying on baitfish as days shorten — a national pattern Tactical Bassin describes this month as fish 'transitioning to Fall patterns and actively feeding on baitfish.' Expect murky, pushy water through the week; plan around morning outings and verify current flow before launching.
North Shore anglers eye the fall salmon push as flows hold steady
USGS gauge 04015330 logged a low, steady flow of 8.16 cfs early this morning, with no rain pulse showing in the reading — typical late-summer base flow for tributaries feeding Lake Superior's North Shore. Water temperature wasn't reported at this station. Direct North Shore bite reports were thin this cycle, so we're leaning on regional trends: Wired 2 Fish's September lure roundup notes fish keying on baitfish as water starts to cool, and Fishing the Midwest points to green, still-living weed edges holding fish as the late-summer-to-fall transition gets underway. To the east on the Wisconsin side of the lake, WI DNR Lake Superior Fishing continues tracking a growing Chequamegon Bay whitefish fishery, a reminder that fall patterns across the basin are already shifting. We expect North Shore action to build through September as tributary temps drop and the seasonal salmon and steelhead push nears.
Green River Trout Bite Builds as Fall Flows Cool
Utah's Green River below Flaming Gorge Dam is running near 1,830 cfs with water at 58°F early this morning, per the USGS gauge at site 09234500 — a solid range that keeps trout feeding actively without the stress of late-summer highs. No shop, guide, or state-agency reports specific to the Green River or Uinta Lakes came through this cycle, so the picture below leans on typical September patterns for this fishery rather than fresh on-the-water intel, and we want to be upfront about that gap. Historically this tailwater fishes well into fall as flows stabilize and hopper patterns give way to smaller midges and baetis, while the high Uinta lakes see trout push shallower to feed as surface temps slide. Expect steady rather than explosive action, with the best windows clustering around dawn and dusk as daylight shortens. Check current flow releases before planning a wading trip, since tailwater levels can shift with reservoir management.
Heavy Osage River flow pushes bass toward early fall feeding windows
Water temp on the Osage River gauge below the Lake of the Ozarks dam reads 83°F this morning, with flow running heavy near 45,700 cfs — a sign of active generation that's pushing extra current through the river channel. That kind of flow typically stacks baitfish and gives predator species an easy meal below current breaks. Statewide bass content is turning toward the same seasonal story: Tactical Bassin's September notes describe bass transitioning from summer to fall patterns, pushing shad and baitfish toward open water, with buzzbaits, topwater, and reaction baits producing when fish are actively chasing. Wired 2 Fish's September lure roundup points to the same shift as water starts cooling and baitfish begin moving. On the Lake of the Ozarks system specifically, expect largemouth and smallmouth to key on current seams and baitfish concentrations created by the high release, with catfish typically feeding well in stained, moving water. No lake-specific reports came through this week's feeds, so treat technique notes as general September guidance rather than local intel.
Tennessee River bass dial in as fall feeding kicks off
The USGS gauge on the Duck River system (03434500) held a steady, modest flow of 39.7 cfs early this morning, typical for early September before fall rains reshape the Cumberland drainage. On the water, Tactical Bassin filmed a Tennessee River trip this week where bass were transitioning from summer to fall patterns, grouping around grass edges and feeding on baitfish near open water — flipping, topwater, and reaction baits all produced fish. Wired 2 Fish's September lure roundup echoes the same shift, noting that as water temps ease down and baitfish begin migrating, presentations need to change accordingly. Fishing the Midwest adds a seasonal note worth applying locally: as summer weeds start dying off, staying near the greenest, healthiest remaining grass is where fish concentrate. Expect Cumberland-system largemouth to keep favoring moving, baitfish-oriented patterns over the next couple weeks rather than sitting in one spot.
Heavy river flow tests Mississippi anglers as fall bass patterns build
USGS gauge 07289000 is reading a hefty 543,000 cubic feet per second this morning, a clear sign of heavy current pushing through the Mississippi and Pearl River systems — no water-temperature reading came with it, and no MS-specific shop, charter, or state-agency dispatch landed in this cycle. Lacking a local report, the general seasonal trend from national bass coverage still applies: per Tactical Bassin's early-September breakdown, bass are transitioning off summer patterns and keying on baitfish near open water, rewarding moving baits like bladed jigs, topwater, and swimbaits over a slow-it-down approach. Wired 2 Fish's September lure roundup points to the same shift as mornings start to cool. On a big, high-water river system like this one, catfish typically stay active pushing current seams while crappie tend to lag through the tail end of summer heat. Plan around the heavy flow first — footing, boat control, and bait selection all change when a river is moving this much water.
Wisconsin River holds steady as Lake Superior whitefish scene builds
The Wisconsin DNR's Lake Superior Fishing report highlights a lake whitefish fishery that has 'emerged' in the Chequamegon Bay region in recent years, with anglers working the bay through both open water and ice. On the Wisconsin River side, USGS gauge 05391000 was reading near 355 cfs early this morning, a moderate, wadeable stage that favors typical smallmouth bass and walleye presentations over heavy-water tactics. Water temperature wasn't reported at this gauge, so we'd lean on a handheld thermometer or a call to a local shop before locking in a pattern. Specific 'what's biting' reports weren't available for this stretch today, so species status below leans on typical early-September patterns for the region. Fishing the Midwest's late-summer notes are a useful general guide right now: as weeds start dying back, gamefish and baitfish relocate to the greenest remaining vegetation, a pattern that holds on Wisconsin lakes as much as the Midwest waters it describes.
High, Warm Mississippi Flow Pushes LA Anglers to Current Seams
The Mississippi River gauge at Baton Rouge (USGS 07374000) is running high and warm this morning — 402,000 cfs and 85°F at dawn, typical for early September before any real cool-down arrives. Water that high and that warm usually pushes catfish onto current seams, wing dikes, and eddy breaks, while largemouth bass and bream slide into shaded, deeper cover to escape the heat. We don't have a direct bite report from an LA shop or captain this cycle, so treat the species outlook below as seasonal expectation rather than confirmed action on the water. On the habitat side, Louisiana Sportsman — Fishing reports LDWF crews continued restoration work across the Saline-Larto Complex this week, planting coontail to rebuild native aquatic vegetation — good long-term news for bass and panfish nursery water tied into the basin. Until flows drop and temps ease, expect typical late-summer patterns: work current breaks and deep structure, and lean on early and late low-light windows for the best action.
Toledo Bend bass shift toward fall patterns as Sabine flow holds low
USGS gauge 08025500 is showing a quiet, low, stable flow reading this morning as Toledo Bend and the Sabine border ease out of peak summer heat; no water-temperature reading came through at this station. Direct on-the-water intel for this exact stretch is thin this cycle, but the broader Louisiana freshwater picture is active — Louisiana Sportsman reports LDWF crews continuing native-vegetation restoration (planting coontail) across the state's Saline-Larto Complex, a different water body but a sign of ongoing agency attention to Louisiana's freshwater systems heading into fall. Nationally, Wired 2 Fish's September lure rundown and Tactical Bassin's late-summer bass coverage both point to a transitional cue that typically applies here too: bass keying on baitfish migrating shallower as mornings cool, favoring reaction baits, topwater, and bladed swim-style presentations around grass and schooling activity. We'd expect Toledo Bend largemouth to follow that pattern as flows stay low and stable; crappie and catfish specifics for this border water aren't yet reported.
Green River tailwater trout lean on terrestrials as flows hold steady
The USGS gauge on the Green River tailwater below Flaming Gorge read 58°F with flow holding near 1,830 cfs as of early Tuesday morning — a stable, wadeable stage typical for this stretch heading into September. No angler reports came in directly off Flaming Gorge or the Green River this week, so we're leaning on the season's broader trout-fishing signal: terrestrial patterns remain the go-to call on tailwaters and pressured stillwaters right now, per this week's fly-tying roundup from MidCurrent, and sunk-ant presentations are producing for trout late in summer according to Caddis Fly (OR). With water still running cool for early fall, expect standard tailwater fare — hoppers and ants worked tight to the bank during the day, midges and small nymphs picking up any lull. Check current Utah DWR regulations before keeping fish, and confirm dam release schedules before planning a float.
Northwoods muskies flip on early as the fall transition arrives
Wisconsin's Northwoods lakes are sliding into the September transition, and Rollie & Helen's Musky Shop reports water temps have eased into the low 70s after a stretch of severely low water levels this summer — exactly the cooling trigger the shop says kicks off its much-watched topwater window before muskies push toward first frost. Local intel describes fish shifting off sluggish late-summer haunts toward structure edges anglers work at first and last light. Walleye anglers aren't sitting idle either — Fishing the Midwest notes traditional presentations like jigging live bait and pulling crawler harnesses are still producing, even as forward-facing sonar changes how many anglers locate suspended fish on clearer lakes. No fresh USGS readings came through for the regional gauge this cycle, so hard flow and temperature numbers stayed thin; lean on shop reports and your own thermometer for now. Bass and panfish should follow the same cooling cue over the next week as baitfish start pushing shallow and schools tighten up.
Warm-water summer pattern holds across Hudson Valley and Finger Lakes
USGS gauge 01357500 logged 74°F water and 1,730 cfs flow this morning, while the larger gauge downstream at 01358000 is running high at 8,850 cfs. Warm, stable flows keep the region in a late-summer holding pattern. The NY DEC's Fishing Line newsletter has spent August pointing anglers toward panfish and bass in warmer water, with tips on beating summer heat for trout and salmon fisheries statewide. Statewide bass action remains a bright spot per DEC's coverage of the black bass season ramp-up. Elsewhere in NY, Brookdog Fishing Co. out of the Buffalo/Niagara/Lake Ontario corridor continues reporting a strong walleye bite mixed with smallmouth bass through late August, though that's western NY rather than the Hudson Valley or Finger Lakes proper. Expect Finger Lakes and Hudson Valley waters to be following a similar seasonal script — warm-water species active, coldwater fisheries needing early/late timing.
Upper Mississippi pools shift into early-fall walleye and bass mode
The Chippewa River gauge (05344500), which feeds into the Pool 4 stretch of the Upper Mississippi, was reading 5,710 cfs early this morning — a steady, unremarkable flow with no runoff spike to push fish into hiding. No water-temperature reading came through the gauge today, but early September on these pools typically marks the start of the summer-to-fall transition, when baitfish start pulling off dying weed edges and predator fish key in behind them. Fishing the Midwest's recent coverage of fall weed patterns notes that as shoreline vegetation dies back, oxygen drops in the thickest cover and baitfish — along with the walleye, bass, and panfish chasing them — relocate to the healthiest remaining green weeds, often on the deeper edge of a flat. The same outlet's look at blending traditional presentations with forward-facing sonar is a reminder that jigging live bait and pulling spinner rigs still produce on these pools even as more anglers lean on electronics.
Finger Lakes bass turn on as fall feeding shift begins
USGS gauge 04232050 read 66°F and just 17.8 cfs at 5:30 a.m. this morning — a classic late-summer low-water signature for the tributaries feeding Cayuga, Seneca, and Skaneateles. That warm, sluggish flow lines up with what national coverage is flagging for early September: Tactical Bassin's latest on-the-water video notes bass transitioning from summer to fall patterns and keying on baitfish schools, favoring topwater, crankbaits, and swimbaits that cover water quickly. Wired2Fish's September lure roundup points to the same trigger — water temps starting to ease and baitfish beginning to migrate, which typically kicks off a broader feeding shift across species. No Finger Lakes-specific shop or charter reports came through this cycle, so lake trout, walleye, and landlocked salmon notes below lean on typical seasonal behavior rather than fresh eyewitness accounts. Smallmouth bass looks like the most reliable target right now; check with a local shop before committing to a spot for the deeper-holding species.
Low, clear flows set up a finesse bite on the Potomac and Patapsco
The USGS gauge on the Patapsco system (site 01589000) is reading a modest 39.5 cfs as of early Tuesday morning — a low, clear-water stage typical of late-summer stream flow in this watershed, with no temperature reading available from the gauge this cycle. We didn't have a direct shop, charter, or agency report specifically out of the Potomac or Patapsco corridor this week, so this update leans on the flow data plus general seasonal patterns for the region rather than fresh on-the-water testimony. Low, settled flows like this typically push largemouth and smallmouth bass tight to shade, current breaks, and deeper pools during the day, while catfish — a mainstay of both rivers — tend to feed steadily on bottom regardless of flow. Early September is usually a transition window as water starts to cool and baitfish activity increases, which can trigger a pickup in feeding. Check back as fresher regional reports come in, and always verify current regulations before keeping fish.
Ozark trout parks settle into steady early-September flow
The Current River gauge at Van Buren (USGS 07067000) logged flow near 780 cfs early Tuesday morning — a moderate, wadable-to-floatable stage as Missouri's Ozark trout parks head into September, with no water-temperature reading available from the site this morning. No fishing reports out of the Current or Niangua watersheds surfaced in today's intel sweep, so we're leaning on general seasonal knowledge rather than fresh local testimony. This is typically the stretch when the worst of summer heat starts to break across the Ozarks, with cooling mornings nudging trout back into a more active early-day feeding window. Elsewhere in the country, Wired 2 Fish's September lure roundup notes anglers are already shifting toward baitfish-imitating patterns as water cools and forage moves — a seasonal technique note that applies broadly even though it isn't Ozark-specific. Treat rainbow and brown trout activity here as a seasonal estimate rather than a confirmed bite until a local report comes in.
Missouri River walleye set up for the fall feed as flows go quiet
USGS gauge 06440200 logged essentially zero flow early Tuesday morning, with no temperature reading available from the site — a quiet-water signal that lines up with the slack, late-summer stretch anglers see on the Missouri River system this time of year. No SD-specific reports came through this cycle, but the seasonal shift is already showing up in regional coverage: Fishing the Midwest's Mike Frisch is pointing anglers toward dying weed edges as baitfish relocate and walleye follow, while Tactical Bassin describes bass everywhere transitioning off summer patterns onto moving baitfish schools. Those dynamics are broadly applicable across Missouri River and Black Hills waters as water cools into September. Expect walleye to keep shifting toward structure adjacent to remaining green weed growth, smallmouth to key on baitfish rather than sitting tight, and catfish to hold steady on typical late-summer feeding windows. Check current local conditions before heading out — no fresh temp reading is in hand this cycle.
Texas cats and white bass hold strong as fall bite builds
The monitored USGS gauge in the region (site 08211200) is reading 88°F with a steady 95.5 cfs of flow this week — typical late-summer numbers for Texas lakes and rivers heading into early September. North Texas Catfish Guide's reports out of Eagle Mountain Lake describe blue and channel catfish responding well whenever fresh water pushes into the system, with white bass schooling up on main-lake points chasing shad. Largemouth bass are in the seasonal shift Tactical Bassin flagged for September — fish sliding off summer haunts and keying on baitfish near open water, with topwater, crankbaits, and buzzbaits producing best early and late in the day. Wired 2 Fish's September lure roundup echoes that same transition as the hottest stretch of summer starts to loosen its grip. Texas Fish & Game Magazine also notes the Trinity River alligator gar harvest authorization drawing opened September 1, worth checking for anglers planning a fall gar trip.
Western Basin Walleye Settle Into a Late-Summer Holding Pattern
USGS gauge 04193500 logged Western Basin tributary water at 76°F this morning, with flow holding steady near 443 cfs — still summer-warm, though the seasonal turn is starting to show up in what anglers are talking about. Per Wired 2 Fish's September lure rundown, forage and technique choices are beginning to shift as water temps ease off their summer peak, a pattern that tracks with conditions here. Fishing the Midwest's Mike Frisch tackles the question anglers ask every fall — do traditional walleye presentations (jigging live bait, pulling crawler harnesses, trolling crankbaits) still produce now that forward-facing sonar has changed how people find fish? His answer: the old standbys still work, they're just fished smarter. For Western Basin walleye that means fish scattered over structure and open water rather than one predictable pattern. Yellow perch are starting to group up as is typical this time of year, and smallmouth remain catchable around rock and reef edges. Check Ohio regs before harvesting either species.
Iron Range Bass and Walleye Shift as Weeds Begin Fall Die-Back
USGS gauge 05129115 is reading 57.4 cfs early this morning, a steady late-summer base flow across the Iron Range watersheds with no water-temperature reading available this cycle. The bigger story right now is the seasonal shift: per Fishing the Midwest, weed beds across Minnesota lakes are starting to die back as waters cool, pushing baitfish and gamefish toward the healthiest remaining green growth — a pattern that typically plays out through September in this region. The same source notes a bladed swim jig with a plastic trailer worked over shoreline flats and emerging weed edges has been drawing bass, northern pike, and walleye together, and that forward-facing sonar is increasingly blended with traditional jigging and livebait-rig presentations for walleye. Expect that shoreline-flat and weed-edge pattern to hold as the fall transition builds, with low-light hours producing the most consistent action under the current waning gibbous moon.
NH Merrimack Smallmouths Stay Steady as Flows Drop Low
The Merrimack is running thin this week — The Fisherman — New England Freshwater's Methuen correspondent reports the river very low below the Essex Dam in Lawrence, with tidal influence complicating the stretch downstream in Haverhill. Cross into New Hampshire, though, and the story improves: the Hooksett and Nashua sections have no water-level problems and continue turning out nice smallmouth bass, with anglers above the dam also contacting northern pike. Our USGS gauge read a scant 8.34 cfs, underscoring how low regional flows have dropped. Lake Winnipesaukee didn't generate fresh reports this cycle — expect a typical early-September pattern, with smallmouth and largemouth still working shallow cover and lake trout starting to slide toward deeper structure as surface temps ease. Elsewhere in the network, shops noted fishing activity easing off as summer break ends, a seasonal lull rather than a fish-behavior story.
Delta bass and stripers gear up as flows stay strong into fall
At USGS gauge 11447650, flow is running high at 21,400 cfs with water temperature at 67°F as of early Tuesday morning — solid late-summer numbers for the Sacramento-Delta system. That water temp sits right in the window where largemouth bass start shifting off deep summer haunts toward baitfish schools on flats and grass edges, a pattern typical for this region heading into September. Striped bass should also begin showing more consistently as water cools further and fall migrants push into the system, though we don't have a fresh Delta-specific bite report to confirm timing this week. Catfish stay a dependable option in the current warm, high-flow water. No dedicated Sacramento-Delta angler reports came through in today's intel sweep — the available fishing-blog and forum content this cycle skewed toward other regions and species, so treat species notes below as seasonal-pattern guidance rather than confirmed on-the-water accounts until a local report lands.
Buoy 10 chatter builds as fall Chinook effort ramps up
The Columbia River gauge at The Dalles logged 70°F water and roughly 104,000 cfs of flow overnight, a steady late-summer stage typical for the start of September. Down at Buoy 10, anglers on the IFish.net forums describe active effort this week, including one report of hot chinook action while trolling solo just north of the legal boundary near Skipanon in about 22 feet of water — promising but unconfirmed chatter from the popular Columbia mouth fishery. A separate post about a rod lost overboard near the mouth of the Lewis River, plus notes of gear and a net turning up at markers along the lower river, point to steady boat traffic on that stretch as well. No shop or charter reports came through this cycle to corroborate bite intensity, so treat the Buoy 10 talk as anecdotal for now. Early September sits squarely inside the traditional fall Chinook window on the lower Columbia, and sturgeon anglers should check current retention regulations before keeping fish.
High water tests Driftless trout anglers as terrestrials still work
USGS gauge 05407000 read 3,540 cfs early this morning, well above the gentle base flows Driftless Area spring creeks typically carry this time of year — a clear sign of recent rain pushing local freshwater trout water up and probably off-color. That kind of push usually shoves fish tight to bank cover, log jams, and slack-water seams rather than the open runs anglers favor at summer-normal levels. Terrestrial patterns remain the go-to; Caddis Fly's recent note on sunken ant patterns for trout "keyed in" late in the season is a good reminder that hoppers, ants, and beetles fished just under the surface keep producing even when clarity drops. Elsewhere in the state, Hatch Magazine's account of a Langlade County outing suggests Wisconsin trout streams are still fishing well into early September ahead of the fall turnover. No water-temperature reading came through with this cycle's gauge data, so plan today's approach around flow and clarity rather than a specific number.