Fishing reports
16671 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
Rainy River walleye stay in summer mode as warmth holds
Rainy River is running strong near 4,250 cfs with water holding at 70°F this morning per USGS gauge 05133500 — a sign the system hasn't tipped into its fall cool-down yet. That lingering warmth keeps Lake of the Woods walleye and sauger working typical late-summer haunts rather than pushing hard toward classic fall structure. Fishing the Midwest's recent look at blending traditional and modern walleye tactics notes anglers are still splitting time between live-bait rigs and Forward-Facing Sonar depending on water clarity, a mix worth carrying into early-September trips here. The same outlet's fall-pattern piece flags that as weeds begin dying off, baitfish and gamefish shift toward the healthiest remaining green cover — something northern pike anglers on Lake of the Woods should start watching for over the next couple weeks. No direct on-the-water reports came in for this specific region this cycle, so treat the species status below as seasonal expectation rather than a confirmed bite.
High, warm Ozark-area river flow keeps catfish the safer bet
A USGS gauge (06934500) covering the Missouri & Ozark river system logged 45,900 cfs and 84°F at 5:30 a.m. Tuesday — still carrying late-summer heat as September opens, with plenty of push in the current. No river-specific angler reports came through this cycle for the Ozark systems, so this update leans on the numbers plus the broader seasonal picture: Tactical Bassin's latest rundown notes bass beginning to shift off summer holding patterns and onto baitfish as the month progresses, while Wired 2 Fish's September lure roundup points anglers toward moving baits — topwater, crankbaits, and swimbaits — as fish start schooling on forage. With water still sitting warm and flow running strong, expect that fall transition to lag a bit on Missouri and Ozark rivers compared to typical September timing further north. Catfish tend to stay comfortable in warm, high water and are a solid fallback while bass sort themselves out. Check current conditions before launching — high flow changes access and safety fast on river systems.
Fall Brown Run Builds on the Dream Stream as Drought Keeps Flows Lean
USGS gauge 06701900 is reading a lean 87.5 cfs this morning, and that thin flow lines up with what Colorado's fly-fishing community has been reporting all summer. Pat Dorsey Fly Fishing's drought coverage calls 2026 among the worst water years on record and points anglers toward tailwaters as the reliable option, while reminding everyone to quit fishing once water hits 67°F. Cutthroat Anglers echoes the low-water read: fish are grouped up and still eating, but reward anglers willing to hike farther and downsize tippet, with the same 68°F stop-fishing threshold. On the South Platte's Dream Stream, Colorado Trout Hunters notes migratory brown trout are beginning to stage ahead of the fall run. AvidMax's latest tying-Tuesday midge patterns — built for exactly this kind of low, technical tailwater water — are a good sign of what's working right now.
Delaware Bass, Crappie, and Snakeheads Stay Active as Flows Drop
Bass are hitting topwater baits and weedless plastics worked through vegetation at Garrisons Lake, with snakeheads mixing into the same shallow water, per this week's report from The Fisherman — NJ/DE Freshwater. Lums Pond continued producing good crappie action on small jigs tipped with one-inch Gulp. The nearest USGS gauge to the Christina and Nanticoke drainages (01493500) is reading a very low flow near 3 cfs, consistent with typical late-summer base flow — expect clear, slow-moving water with bites concentrated tight to grass edges and structure rather than open channel. No direct water-temperature reading is available for this stretch right now, so we're leaning on flow and seasonal cues. Plan around early-morning and evening windows; a waning gibbous moon should still support some low-light and after-dark feeding activity for catfish and panfish holding in the deeper pools.
Tennessee River bass grinding through the fall transition
Tennessee River bass are settling into the summer-to-fall transition this week, with anglers finding fish holding tight to grass and responding to flipping, topwater, and reaction baits, per Tactical Bassin's on-the-water report out of the Tennessee River. The crew noted fish keying on baitfish near open water and staying on the move, a pattern that typically makes for a challenging but rewarding early-September bite. Our USGS gauge reading at station 02339500 puts flow at 725 cfs as of this morning, a moderate stage that should keep current-oriented fish active along breaks and eddies. Wired 2 Fish's September lure roundup echoes the seasonal shift, pointing anglers toward baits suited for cooling mornings as baitfish begin migrating. Water temperature wasn't available from today's gauge pull, so plan around air temp and time of day rather than a hard number. Grass edges and current breaks are the places to start.
Low, Warm Water Pushes Colorado Trout Bite to Early Mornings
USGS gauge 09095500 logged 66°F this morning with flow running 1,410 cfs — just a couple of degrees under the 67-68°F line several Colorado shops are watching as drought conditions grip the state. Pat Dorsey Fly Fishing's Drought Update 2.0 confirms 2026 ranks among the driest years on record, with tailwaters remaining the most reliable bet as freestone flows keep dropping. Cutthroat Anglers echoes the same warning: once water hits 68°F, it's time to put the rod down and protect the fishery. Crystal Fly Shop reports CPW voluntary closures already active on the Roaring Fork, Crystal River, and the Colorado River between Glenwood Springs and Rifle, where flow is running roughly 2,000 cfs. Early mornings are producing the best window before afternoon warmth pushes temps toward closure territory. Rainbow and brown trout remain catchable on typical late-summer patterns, but anglers should carry a thermometer and plan trips around the coolest hours of the day.
High flows keep South Fork Snake River trout in fall-transition mode
The Snake River gauge (USGS 13037500) logged flow near 7,640 cfs in the early hours of September 2 — a solid push of current for this stretch and enough water to keep fish tucked into seams, back-eddies, and softer edges rather than skinny water. No water-temperature reading came through with this cycle's data, so treat surface temps as unknown until you check on the water. Regional shop and captain reports specific to the South Fork weren't part of this cycle's feed, so we're leaning on general seasonal knowledge rather than fresh bite reports: early September on freeflowing Rocky Mountain trout water typically still has cutthroat, rainbow, and brown trout keyed on hopper and terrestrial patterns through warm afternoons, with mountain whitefish holding deeper in the runs. A waning gibbous moon should favor low-light dawn and dusk windows. Confirm current conditions and local intel before heading out, since this report couldn't ground bite specifics in named regional sources this time.
Kansas & Arkansas Rivers hold late-summer heat as fall bite nears
A USGS gauge on the Kansas and Arkansas River system (site 06892350) read 83°F water with a solid 2,290 cfs of flow as of early Tuesday morning — plenty of push to keep current seams and eddies working. No shop or captain report specific to this stretch came through this week, so we're leaning on the broader seasonal signal: per Tactical Bassin's September coverage, bass across the Midwest are starting to slide off deep summer haunts and chase baitfish in open water, a shift that typically shows up in river largemouth and smallmouth too as flows and temps like these persist. Fishing the Midwest's Mike Frisch also flags a bladed swim jig as a solid multi-species pick worked along shoreline flats this time of year. Warm water in the low 80s should keep channel and flathead catfish feeding, especially after dark. Treat the species notes below as seasonal expectation, not a confirmed local bite, until a regional source weighs in.
Croaker and Spot Bite Wide Open as Chesapeake Flounder Action Builds
Croaker and spot are biting almost anywhere in the bay right now, from the Woodland Beach pier out to the Old Grounds, per Eric Burnley's report for The Fisherman — DE/MD/Chesapeake — though anglers should mind the 9-inch minimum size limit on croaker. Smith's Bait Shop notes small striped bass mixing in at the pier on bloodworms or Fishbites, while boats working out of Port Mahon are finding flounder, trout, croaker and spot over bay structure; flounder are taking live minnows or a jig tipped with squid strip, and trout are hitting yellow bucktails dressed with a yellow worm. Hook 'em and Cook 'em adds that the Old Grounds continues to produce flounder, sea bass and croaker for head boats making the run. Flounder action in the ocean is described as decent, and Smith's Bait Shop expects the bite to keep building as the calendar turns toward September.
Striper push slides south from Maine into NH waters
Reports out of The Fisherman's South Shore Massachusetts to Maine desk describe stripers "coming down the coast now in waves" as the red-hot fishing that's been happening in Maine begins its slow migration south toward New Hampshire's Gulf of Maine waters. Local ocean beaches are giving up slot-sized bass on bottom baits, while eel-slingers and plug-slingers are finding better luck after dark; the Merrimack River mouth itself has stayed quiet for shore anglers, though boats working live mackerel around the Bell Buoy are still connecting. The bigger regulatory news for NH bottom fishermen: the Gulf of Maine cod stock area reopened September 1 with a one-fish limit at a 23-inch minimum, per the same South Shore report, a welcome change after cod access was closed for all of 2026 up to that point. No live buoy or gauge readings were available for this update, so plan around reported bite windows rather than water-temp numbers until fresh data comes in.
Bluefin Jig Bite Stays Hot as Long Island Fluke Rolls On
A 51-inch bluefin tuna estimated at 75 to 80 pounds came aboard the Ebb Tide out of Montauk during an August 29 half-day trip that read more like a fall mixed bag, according to The Fisherman's East End report. That catch lines up with the broader pattern out east — White Water Outfitters has bluefin showing as close as 2 to 3 miles outside Shinnecock Inlet, and Double D Charters says the Montauk bluefin bite remains strong heading into September. Fluke fishing is holding its own too: Tight Lines Tackle logged limits to 8 pounds off Montauk's south side, while Bob's Bait and Tackle and the Fishfinder II both describe steady bay and ocean action, though keepers are taking some culling. Striped bass are creeping back into the mix after dark on live eels around Huntington and inside the East River, and bonito and Spanish mackerel continue trickling along the ocean beaches.
Snapper-Amberjack Overlap Fuels Offshore Push on Texas Coast
Light winds and flat bay water made for close to ideal conditions along the Upper Texas Coast this past weekend, according to the Galveston Daily News — Reel Report, which also noted a good morning trout bite in Matagorda Bay on the incoming tide, best on live shrimp. Winds laying down elsewhere on the coast have anglers moving around to check multiple areas, per the same report. Offshore, red snapper and amberjack seasons are overlapping this September, giving Gulf anglers an extended window to work structure and reefs, the Reel Report notes. Inshore, the CCA-Texas STAR Tournament remains open through September 7 across the entire Texas Coast, per Texas Fish & Game Magazine, keeping bay and surf effort elevated statewide. Salt Strong's weekend game plan coverage for the Upper Texas Coast points to conditions staying favorable as the month opens. Redfish remain a dependable coastal target through early fall.
Redfish and trout flats bite stirs ahead of fall mullet run
An angler out of Brown's Fish Camp near the mouth of the Yellow River described topwater "madness" with redfish and speckled trout blitzing the flats at first light on September 1, working a Megabass Vision 110 before the bite pushed shallow, per a report on the Pensacola Fishing Forum. That's the only fresh bite report reaching us for the western Gulf coast this cycle — no shop, charter, or state-agency confirmation yet, so treat it as one angler's morning rather than a confirmed pattern. Buoy and gauge instrumentation for Mobile Bay & Gulf is offline right now, so we have no direct water-temp or tide readings to share. Early September typically holds a mix of resident reds, trout, and flounder working marsh edges and grass flats before the fall mullet run kicks things into higher gear. Check tides and local reports before heading out.
Bluefin blitz to the north hints at what's next for Central Coast anglers
Western Outdoor News — Saltwater is reporting an exploding bluefin tuna bite well north of the usual grounds, with Captain John Marfia of Tanker City Sport Fishing out of Half Moon Bay logging six bluefin between 130 and 170 pounds in a single trip — a sign the warm-water pelagic push California anglers have watched build all summer keeps strengthening. The same publication notes yellowfin tuna in the 30-to-40-pound class showing on kelp paddies as far north as Santa Cruz Island, with sea-surface temps hitting 78-80°F along stretches of the SoCal coast. No buoy or gauge telemetry came back for the Central Coast itself this cycle, and none of today's shop or charter intel is dated from Central Coast ports specifically, so treat the above as bracketing signal rather than a confirmed local bite. Bottom fishing for rockfish remains the dependable Central Coast fallback while the pelagic picture offshore continues to firm up.
Northern California bluefin bite hits historic highs off Half Moon Bay
Half Moon Bay is producing scores of giant bluefin tuna unlike anything local skippers have seen this season, per Western Outdoor News — Saltwater. Captain John Marfia of Tanker City Sport Fishing landed six bluefin from 130 to 170 pounds on a recent trip, and party and commercial boats working out of Half Moon Bay have blown past what was recently considered a standout five-fish day. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came in for the SF Bay and Bodega corridor this cycle, so treat water temp and sea state as unknown until you check a local source before heading out. Inshore, the Bay's traditional saltwater targets — salmon, rockfish and striped bass — are moving into typical early-September patterns, though we don't have fresh on-the-water reports on those fisheries this week. If you're rigging for tuna, plan for an offshore run; if you're staying inshore, expect a steadier, more ordinary bite by comparison.
Chinook Chatter Heats Up Near Buoy 10
Lower-river salmon anglers are having an active week: an IFish.net Fishing Reports thread out of the Buoy 10 area described a solo troller working the green line and "HOT chinook action trolling solo," strong enough that a rod went overboard mid-fight before another boat could snag it. A separate IFish.net thread from the mouth of the Lewis reports the same story — braid and reel lost boatside while fighting fish — corroborating that Chinook are moving through in numbers this cycle. No live buoy or gauge telemetry came through for this report, so treat conditions as angler-reported rather than instrument-verified. WDFW continues its statewide creel and stocking monitoring per its Fishing and Stocking Reports program, though no fresh regional numbers were published this cycle. Rockfish and other bottomfish remain a solid backup when the salmon bite goes quiet, typical for early September along this stretch of coast.
Fluke, Sea Bass Load the Cooler as Jersey Shore Bite Turns On
Capt Ron's out of Atlantic Highlands put anglers on quality fluke all week, with limits coming on early drifts and a 6-pound, 10-ounce pool winner mid-week, plus jumbo sea bass mixed in on nearly every drift. Grumpys Tackle says Spanish mackerel and bonito have moved into warm surf water alongside a strong fluke bite, with false albacore starting to show. Offshore, OTW Northern New Jersey's late-August report calls the midshore tuna bite inconsistent while mahi remain abundant around structure, and Fishermans HQ LBI is finding bluefin tuna within 20-30 miles of Barnegat Inlet on the troll and on live squid. Blue Chip Sportfishing says shark fishing has "busted wide open," with multiple mako sharks hooked, including three landed and released in a single trip. We're seeing a lot of moving pieces as Labor Day weekend approaches.
Fall run signals build for Long Island Sound anglers
Saltwater Edge Blog's latest forecast out of Rhode Island reports bonito and even a few Spanish mackerel already showing as bait pushes toward the coast — a regional signal worth watching here on Long Island Sound as the fall run gets underway. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came in for the Sound this cycle, so treat water temps as typical for early September rather than a hard number; check a local forecast before heading out. Striped bass remain the Sound's steady target through this stretch, and OTW Surfcasting's recent piece on swapping plugs for soft plastics is worth a look if stripers are holding tight to structure rather than blitzing on top. Bluefish typically stay active alongside them into early fall. False albacore haven't been confirmed in the Sound yet, but Saltwater Edge notes the timeline could tighten within a couple weeks as bait continues moving west. Check current state regs before harvesting anything you keep.
Olympic Peninsula rivers wait on the first fall Chinook push
Direct intel for Olympic Peninsula salmon rivers is thin this week — no buoy or gauge readings came through, and none of the regional angler-intel feeds filed a peninsula-specific report. What we do know: early September traditionally marks the start of the fall Chinook run into systems like the Hoh, Queets, and Sol Duc, with coho typically following a few weeks behind. WDFW's ongoing creel and catch-report program (per WA WDFW Fishing Reports) is the state's primary way of tracking this activity, though this week's cycle didn't surface fresh peninsula numbers. Unconfirmed forum chatter out of the Columbia River mouth (per IFish.net Fishing Reports) describes a solo angler trolling into what he called hot Chinook action near Buoy 10 — a different system entirely, but a loose signal that fall kings are starting to show along the Washington coast. Treat peninsula conditions as seasonally typical until confirmed reports arrive.
Fluke bite holds strong as Delaware Bay eases toward fall
NOAA's buoy near the mouth of Delaware Bay logged water in the high 70s this morning, still solidly summer despite the waning gibbous moon and early fall cues creeping up the coast. Fluke remain the story: Capt Ron's out of Atlantic Highlands has put anglers on quality keeper fluke and jumbo sea bass most mornings this week, and Grumpys Tackle (NJ) reports steady fluke action alongside a fresh push of Spanish mackerel and bonito while warm water holds. Fishermans HQ LBI notes early fall tells -- cooler nights, more peanut bunker and mullet in the bay -- while OTW's Northern New Jersey report flags keeper fluke on reefs and wrecks plus an inconsistent midshore tuna bite. Bay-side anglers should expect a similar pattern: fluke and sea bass on structure, mackerel and bonito possible if bait pushes into the inlets. Check current NJ size and possession limits before keeping anything.
Fluke bite holds strong at Sandy Hook as fall transition nears
The morning buoy reading off Sandy Hook (NOAA buoy 44065) put water temps at 73°F with 4- to 5-foot swells and a stiff onshore breeze — comfortable water that's still holding strong summer patterns into September. Capt Ron's out of Atlantic Highlands has been posting some of the best fluke action of the season on recent trips, with multiple keepers and jumbo sea bass stacking up between tide changes, though the bite can shut off for an hour before turning back on. Grumpys Tackle (NJ) confirms fluke remain thick and notes warm water has pulled Spanish mackerel and bonito into the mix. OTW's Northern New Jersey report backs that up, adding that keeper fluke are holding on the reefs and wrecks while the midshore bluefin tuna bite stays inconsistent. Striped bass are still quiet locally — the fall push hasn't arrived yet, so surf anglers are watching the calendar more than the water.
Presque Isle Anglers Eye the Fall Feeding Shift on Lake Erie
NOAA buoy 45132 off Lake Erie read a mild 74°F this morning, with calm 1.3-foot waves and light winds near 3 m/s (7 mph) — comfortable conditions for late-summer trips into Presque Isle Bay. Water temps in the mid-70s put this stretch of Erie right at the seasonal hinge: warm enough for smallmouth and walleye to still feed aggressively in open water, but close enough to the fall cooldown that patterns will start shifting soon. No Presque Isle-specific what's-biting reports came through this cycle's feeds, so read the species notes below as seasonal expectation rather than confirmed local bite. Regionally, Fishing the Midwest's late-summer notes point anglers toward green, living weed edges as key fall-transition holding water for walleye and bass, and Wired 2 Fish's September lure roundup flags topwater, crankbaits, and swimbaits as go-to picks as fish key on migrating baitfish. Expect the Presque Isle bite to firm up as surface temps ease toward the 60s.
Eastern WA bass and walleye shift into fall feeding mode
Eastern Washington's lakes and reservoirs around Yakima and Spokane are entering the early-fall transition, and national bass reporting backs up what local anglers should start noticing: per Tactical Bassin's September rundown, bass are shifting onto baitfish and responding to topwater, crankbaits, and swimbaits worked fast to cover water before schooling fish disappear. Fishing the Midwest's recent piece on bladed swim jigs is worth borrowing here too — the lure crosses over well for bass, walleye, and pike in the kind of rocky-flat, weedy water common to this region as summer weed growth starts to thin. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for this cycle, so treat flows and temps as typical for early September until a local check confirms otherwise. WDFW's statewide creel and stocking reporting program remains the best source for lake-specific numbers before picking a water. We're not seeing a hot bite confirmed locally yet, but the seasonal setup favors moving baits over structure through the week.
Delaware River smallmouth gear up for the early fall turnover
No fresh gauge or angler reports came in this cycle specifically for the Delaware River and Pine Barrens system, but the seasonal signal is already loud everywhere else on the surrounding coast and inland fisheries. Wired 2 Fish's September rundown flags the same pattern likely developing here: as water temps ease off summer highs, bass shift onto baitfish and start feeding harder through the afternoon into evening. On the Delaware, that typically means smallmouth pushing out of thermal refuges into current seams and rocky structure, while Pine Barrens cedar-water streams and ponds keep their chain pickerel active in the tannic, weedy margins they're known for. Largemouth in the Pine Barrens lakes should still be workable on summer patterns for another few weeks before the real fall bite kicks in. Waning Gibbous moon this week favors low-light bites at dawn and dusk. Check local forecasts and stream flow before heading out — direct reports for this stretch were thin this cycle.