Fishing reports
16755 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
Drought grips South Platte as fall brown trout run approaches
Colorado's 2026 drought is being called the worst on record, according to Pat Dorsey Fly Fishing, with South Platte and Arkansas tailwater anglers dealing with persistently low, clear flows this summer. Cutthroat Anglers (CO) is urging anglers to carry a stream thermometer and quit fishing once water hits 68°F, a threshold arriving earlier in the day than normal this year. On the South Platte's Dream Stream, Colorado Trout Hunters reports the stretch has historically turned on for migratory brown trout as fall approaches, and that pattern looks to be building again. Flylab (Substack) notes Antero Reservoir, up in the South Platte drainage near South Park, was drained in May to conserve municipal water, leaving that fishery diminished for the season. On the technique side, AvidMax Blog (CO) has been tying small tailwater midge patterns — a Chocolate Foam Back emerger and a Titan Tube Midge — built for exactly this kind of low, clear, technical water.
Delaware Ponds Turn On for Topwater Bass and Snakeheads
Topwater largemouth bass and snakeheads are working the vegetation lines in Delaware's freshwater ponds and lakes this week, per Smith's Bait and Tackle in Leipsic (The Fisherman — NJ/DE Freshwater), which also reports perch and panfish beginning to stack up in the spillways at Garrisons Lake, Massey Mills, and Silver Lake. That report centers on Kent County waters rather than the Christina or Nanticoke systems specifically, but it reflects the late-August pattern anglers on tidal freshwater stretches like these should expect: warm, stable water holding bass and panfish tight to weed edges and structure, with topwater staying productive in low light. No NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings were available for this update, so treat water temperature and flow as unconfirmed and check current conditions before heading out. The Waning Gibbous moon favors early-morning and late-evening bites over a midday push on these waters this week.
Tennessee & Coosa bass anglers dial in the late-summer shift
No buoy or gauge telemetry came through for the Tennessee and Coosa River systems this cycle, so this update leans on the week's angler intel rather than a hard temp or flow reading — check a local USGS gauge before you launch. That intel is dominated by one theme: the late-August-to-early-fall transition. Tactical Bassin's "Hot August Heat" and "3 Tricks to Catch Bass in Late Summer" pieces both point anglers toward shallow points at first light before sliding deep as the sun climbs, while Field & Stream's Carolina-rig breakdown is well-suited to the offshore ledges and points this region's reservoirs are known for. Fishing the Midwest's note on dying weed growth pushing baitfish — and the bass that follow them — toward healthier, still-green cover is a pattern worth watching locally as water starts to cool. Expect largemouth and spotted bass to stay the headline species, with striper and catfish action holding steady around current structure.
West Slope Trout Push Deep as Historic Drought Grips Colorado Rivers
Roaring Fork flows have slipped to 113 cfs at Aspen's Jaffe Park and 242 cfs at Basalt, and Crystal Fly Shop reports the river running low, clear, and cool, with most fish pushed off the banks into deeper water as fly sizes come down to match. Colorado Parks and Wildlife has a voluntary afternoon closure in effect on the Roaring Fork below Carbondale and a full-day closure on the lower Crystal River, per Crystal Fly Shop, while the Colorado River between Glenwood Springs and Rifle sits under a full voluntary closure. Cutthroat Anglers and Pat Dorsey Fly Fishing both describe 2026 as one of the driest years on record for Colorado, with anglers urged to stop fishing once water hits 68°F. Still, Cutthroat Anglers' low-water tips note fish remain active and grouped up for those willing to hike farther and downsize gear. On the Frying Pan, sub-40s tailwater temps keep PMD, BWO, and midge hatches firing in the afternoons.
Terrestrial season peaks for South Fork cutthroat and browns
Real-time gauge and buoy data for the Snake River and South Fork wasn't available this cycle, so this report leans on regional trend and seasonal pattern rather than a fresh reading. The clearest signal comes from Hatch Magazine's terrestrial countdown, which tracks the same Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem water feeding the South Fork drainage and flags late August as peak hopper, ant, and beetle season along grassy banks. Expect cutthroat, rainbow, and brown trout keying on bugs blown in by afternoon wind. Caddis Fly's Oregon shop notes that sunken ant patterns are producing well when fish stop looking up, a tactic that typically translates to Idaho's late-summer freestone and tailwater trout water too. Elsewhere in-state, Outdoor Hub reported a new 44-inch catch-and-release lake trout record out of Payette Lake in July — a different fishery entirely, but a sign Idaho trout are running big this season. Expect low, clear, technical flows typical of late August; fish early, late, or overcast stretches and downsize tippet.
Late-summer river patterns hold steady across Kansas
No fresh USGS gauge or buoy telemetry came through for the Kansas and Arkansas River systems this cycle, so this report leans on seasonal patterns and the technique trends showing up across national fishing coverage this week. Late August on these prairie rivers typically means warm, stained flows and fish settling into classic end-of-summer positioning. Channel catfish remain the most dependable bite, holding in slower current breaks and holes as water stays warm. Bass fishing is in transition — Tactical Bassin's late-summer coverage this week points to topwater buzzbaits and finesse jigs producing best in low light before the bite tightens heading into fall, while Fishing the Midwest notes that green, living weed growth is the key area to target as summer patterns start breaking down. White bass should still be schooling on baitfish in open water and current seams. Check current Kansas regulations before harvesting, and verify local flow conditions before launching.
NH smallmouth bite holds regionally as Winnipesaukee nears fall turnover
No captain or agency reports came in directly off Lake Winnipesaukee this cycle, but the nearest regional read is encouraging: per The Fisherman — New England Freshwater, Roger Aziz Jr. in Methuen reports smallmouth bass action remains excellent along the Merrimack River's Lowell-to-Lawrence stretch and into the Hooksett, New Hampshire section, while area ponds are still giving up largemouth on swim baits and shiners. The same report notes a Jitterbug worked early morning and late evening has been productive for smallmouth elsewhere in the region — a pattern that typically holds on Winnipesaukee's rocky points and ledges too as we roll through late August. With no NOAA buoy or USGS gauge on the lake itself this cycle, expect the standard late-summer script: bass still active on main-lake structure, lake trout and landlocked salmon starting to slide deeper ahead of the fall cool-down. A waning gibbous moon favors low-light windows at dawn and dusk.
East Texas bass slide into the late-summer deep pattern
No buoy or gauge readings came back for Toledo Bend or Sam Rayburn this cycle, so this report leans on regional East Texas trends. At nearby Lake Fork, guides continue reporting solid big-bass action deep into the heat, per Lake Fork Trophy Bass reports through July and August, with lake levels holding despite a scorching summer and bass still using available cover to stay active — a pattern that likely carries over to Toledo Bend and Sam Rayburn's similar ledges and standing timber. Tactical Bassin's late-summer coverage points anglers toward starting shallow at first light with topwater and finesse jigs before sliding to deeper points and ledges as the sun climbs, watching for the fall transition to begin over the next few weeks. Crappie and catfish should hold typical late-August thermocline and channel patterns. Check current lake levels and clarity locally before you launch.
Late-summer bass patterns shift as Ohio reservoirs near fall turn
Tactical Bassin's latest breakdown, "Don't Make These 3 Late Summer Fishing Mistakes," flags exactly the stretch Mosquito and Pymatuning are sitting in right now: the awkward gap between mid-summer patterns and the fall transition, when sticking with last month's confidence spots can cost you fish. No live buoy or gauge reading came back for either reservoir today, so this report leans on regional technique reports rather than a fresh temp number. Tactical Bassin also points to buzzbaits as a solid option for triggering reaction strikes from bass staging shallow in low light right now. Separately, Fishing the Midwest notes that as weeds start dying back late in the season, oxygen drops in the oldest growth and baitfish — with gamefish following — relocate to weed beds that are still green, a pattern worth watching on both reservoirs as August closes out. Nothing today specifically flagged Mosquito or Pymatuning as running ahead of or behind a typical year.
Upper Mississippi pools settle into late-summer walleye pattern
Field & Stream's newly published late-summer smallmouth guide lands right as the Upper Mississippi's Clinton-Dubuque pools settle into their own late-August rhythm, and the timing lines up: current-seam bass and river-run walleye both key on the same cooling-water cues the guide describes. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for this stretch today, so treat flow and temperature as unconfirmed until you check a local gauge before launching. Historically this pool complex fishes a transitional pattern through early September — walleye and sauger sliding off summer wingdam holds toward deeper current breaks, smallmouth still active on rocky current seams, channel cats working the same seams after dark. Fishing the Midwest's recent notes on forward-facing sonar changing how anglers locate suspended and current-relating fish are broadly relevant here too, even without a Mississippi-specific report this cycle. We're calling this a solid late-summer window, not a hot bite, until more local reports come in.
Late-summer heat pushes river bass deep before the fall turnover
National fishing coverage is consistent on where late-August bass are sitting right now, even with no fresh temperature reading off the Ohio or Cumberland this cycle: deep. Field & Stream's late-summer smallmouth breakdown and Tactical Bassin's "3 Tricks To Catch Bass In Late Summer" both describe the same pattern anglers on these rivers should expect — fish pulled off shallow summer cover and holding tight to baitfish, with Field & Stream flagging the Carolina rig as the go-to for working flats and ledges past the 10-foot mark once fish slide off the bank. Fishing the Midwest's notes on weeds starting to thin and the growing role of forward-facing sonar in locating suspended fish track the same seasonal shift that typically nudges sauger and walleye-style bites downstream as water cools. No buoy or gauge feed returned for this stretch today, so treat flow and water levels as unconfirmed — check a current USGS reading before launching. Catfish should stay steady on bottom baits through the heat; crappie remain the wildcard, usually deep and sluggish until nights cool further.
Roosevelt Lake bass go deep and early as August heat lingers
Tactical Bassin's new field piece on catching bass in hot August heat frames what anglers on Roosevelt Lake should expect right now, even though no fresh buoy or gauge readings came in for the Roosevelt Lake and Salt River chain this cycle. The pattern: fish sliding out of sun-baked shallows and staging deeper on structure once the sun climbs. Tactical Bassin's companion post on late-summer mistakes flags the common error of staying shallow instead of following fish down, and Field & Stream's breakdown of Carolina-rig tactics for water past 10 feet is a solid template for working Roosevelt's points and ledges. Expect largemouth and smallmouth to feed hardest in the first and last light windows, with catfish staying dependable through the heat and crappie sliding deep and sluggish as water temps hold. Treat this as seasonal guidance grounded in national late-summer bass trends, not a confirmed on-the-water report — direct Arizona intel wasn't available this cycle.
Bull Shoals and Norfork trout settle into late-summer generation rhythm
No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for the Bull Shoals/Norfork stretch today, and none of the regional shops, guides, or Arkansas agency feeds in today's angler-intel batch covered White River trout water specifically, so this update leans on general seasonal knowledge rather than fresh on-the-water testimony. Late-August fishing on these tailwaters is normally dictated by dam generation schedules rather than air temperature: cold, oxygen-rich releases out of Bull Shoals and Norfork keep rainbow trout feeding actively through the heat, while brown trout tend to sit quieter until the pre-spawn push typically gets going in October and November. Small nymphs, scuds, and sowbug patterns fished deep on sink-tip or indicator rigs during generation are the typical producers this time of year, with brief dry-fly windows opening when the dams go to minimum flow. Check current generation schedules and wade carefully, since both safety and bite timing hinge on water releases.
Catskills browns tuck into shade as late-summer flows thin out
No fresh buoy or gauge readings came back for the Adirondack and Catskill freestones this cycle, so treat flow and temp as unknowns until you check a current USGS reading streamside. What we do know from the broader Northeast picture: late-August low, clear water is squeezing trout into shaded runs and cool seeps, the same pattern Field & Stream describes playing out on Northeast freestoners this month, where browns retreat into scattered cool-water refuges once flows drop and pressure builds. Early morning and last light remain the dependable windows on technical, low water. On the region's bigger rivers, smallmouth holding on clean-bottom ledges are still catchable on downsized, dragged presentations per Field & Stream's late-summer approach. Farther north in the state, On The Water reports the Salmon River's king salmon push is building, a seasonal signal that cooler water is on its way even though the Catskills proper haven't turned the corner yet.
Tahoe's deep mackinaw bite holds as summer winds down
No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for the Truckee-Tahoe basin this cycle, and this week's angler-intel feed didn't carry any shop, charter, or state-agency reports specific to the region — so this update leans on general seasonal knowledge rather than fresh eyewitness accounts. Late August is typically a deep-water period on Lake Tahoe, with mackinaw (lake trout) holding near structure and the thermocline while surface temps stay warm through the afternoon. Kokanee are usually staging for their fall spawning push into tributary water this time of year, and the Truckee River itself tends to fish best early and late in the day as flows settle into a typical late-summer base. We'll flag it plainly: without a local report this week, treat species status below as seasonal expectation, not confirmed action — check with a local shop before planning a trip around any one bite.
Chinook chatter builds near Buoy 10, rockfish steady out of Garibaldi
Anglers working the Buoy 10 grounds are reporting hot chinook action on the troll this week, per forum chatter on IFish.net Fishing Reports — a single account worth confirming before you build a trip around it. Further south out of Garibaldi, another IFish.net post says salmon weren't especially cooperative, but rockfish picked up the slack at the public cleaning station. Water temps are holding steady in the mid-60s (64-65°F) across our offshore buoys, typical for late August on this coast. Wind is the variable to watch: light near buoy 46002 but building toward 25 mph at buoy 46050, which can stack up chop for anyone running bar crossings or nearshore structure. We're calling chinook Active on mixed, unconfirmed signals and rockfish Active on the strength of the Garibaldi report — treat both as early snapshots, not settled patterns, and check current state regs before harvesting.
Chicago lakefront salmon staging as late-summer weed transition sets in
The Wisconsin DNR's Lake Michigan fishing report highlights just how strong this fishery has been running, noting anglers landed a record 210,000-plus coho salmon and over 160,000 Chinook in 2024 — the best Chinook numbers since 2012. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came back for the Chicago lakefront this cycle, and direct catch reports specific to the city's harbors were thin in this week's roundup of feeds. Late August is typically when Chinook and coho salmon begin staging for the fall run, so trolling spoons and flies in deeper water off the piers and cribs is the seasonal play. Fishing the Midwest's late-summer notes point to gamefish and baitfish shifting toward green, living weed beds as vegetation starts dying back — worth watching in Chicago's shallower harbor bays as the fall transition approaches. Yellow perch should still be workable on structure; check state regs before harvesting.
Smallmouth Bite Holds as Pittsburgh Tailwaters Head Toward Fall
Tactical Bassin's national rundown on late-summer bass mistakes landed this week just as Pittsburgh-area anglers hit the seasonal window where 'slow and comfortable' stops working on the Allegheny's smallmouth pools. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for the Allegheny/Pittsburgh tailwaters this cycle, so we're leaning on typical late-August patterns rather than live numbers: smallmouth holding on current breaks and tailwater seams, walleye starting to slide deeper as afternoons stay warm, and channel catfish still active after dark. Elsewhere, Fishing the Midwest notes walleye anglers increasingly working suspended fish with forward-facing sonar rather than parking on bottom structure, worth trying if the usual spots go quiet. Nothing in this week's intel speaks directly to the Allegheny system, so treat the species notes below as seasonal expectation, not confirmed local bite reports, and check current PA Fish and Boat Commission guidance before harvesting.
Wisconsin walleye follow the weed transition into fall
Fishing the Midwest's Mike Frisch reports weeds are already thinning across many Midwest lakes as summer turns toward fall, pushing baitfish — and the walleye and smallmouth that follow them — toward the healthiest remaining green cover, a pattern anglers on the Wisconsin River should watch for through early September. No fresh NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings came through for this update, so treat conditions as typical late-August: warm and stable until the first real cool-down arrives. On Lake Superior, the WI DNR's Lake Superior Fishing feed describes a lake whitefish fishery that has grown substantially in the Chequamegon Bay region in recent seasons, drawing anglers both by boat and, later, through the ice. The WI DNR also just published updated 2026-2028 Choose Wisely fish-consumption guidelines (Aug. 26) — worth checking before keeping a limit. Muskie remain a slower, more technical target statewide this time of year.
White River trout hold steady as bass anglers eye the fall turn
Specific on-the-water reports for the Arkansas and White River system weren't available in this cycle's feeds, so this update leans on typical late-August patterns for the region. The White River's tailwaters below Bull Shoals and Norfork are a trout fishery first, and cooler dam-release flows through August typically keep rainbow and brown trout feeding on small midge and sowbug-style patterns fished near generation schedules, though flow timing should always be checked before a float. Warmwater bass fishing on the Arkansas side is typically at its toughest stretch of the year in late-summer heat, with fish holding deeper and tighter to cover until nights start cooling. General late-summer bass advice from Tactical Bassin points anglers toward baitfish schools and current-adjacent structure as a starting search pattern, and Field & Stream's rundown of the Carolina rig is a solid generic option for probing deeper flats and ledges once bass push off the bank. Treat all of this as seasonal baseline, not a confirmed bite.
Spanish Mackerel Push Builds Around Cape Lookout
Spanish mackerel are keying the Cape Lookout stretch of the Crystal Coast this week. Per Fisherman's Post (NC), Morehead/Atlantic Beach nearshore anglers are on a good spanish mackerel bite, with the bigger fish showing up around Cape Lookout itself, while bottom rigs further out are also producing. A few miles up the coast at Swansboro/Emerald Isle, anglers throwing casting jigs and Gotcha plugs from the pier are hooking spanish mackerel and bluefish, with a handful of king mackerel mixed in. Toward the Pamlico Sound side, Fisherman's Post reports OBX/Northern Beaches surf anglers picking away at sea mullet, bluefish, and croakers on bottom rigs, with inshore action finally turning on. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for this stretch today, so treat sky, wind, and water temp as check-before-you-go. Typical late-August pattern: mackerel schools working nearshore bait, drum and flounder holding in the sound.
Savannah River striper bite holds as Hartwell water levels stay restricted
Striped bass remain catchable on the Savannah River near Augusta, where working a jig slowly along the bottom is still producing — Wired2Fish reports angler Micah Degier was fishing that exact pattern below the New Savannah Bluff Lock and Dam on July 31 when he hooked an alligator gar instead of the striper he was targeting, a reminder these tailwaters hold big incidental fish alongside the intended catch. Upstream, GA Sportsman/Georgia Outdoor News logged the Savannah River gauge at Clyo running 2.9 feet and rising as of Aug. 27, while the Army Corps of Engineers continues restricting full pool at Lake Hartwell over an ongoing dike-safety review at the Clemson Lower Diversion Dam. Largemouth are still tracking a typical late-summer pattern — early topwater fading to deeper structure as the sun climbs. Water remains warm and largely stable; check current gauge readings and any Corps lake-level notices before launching this week.
UP trout streams hold steady as Lake Superior whitefish action builds
No fresh NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings came through for the Upper Peninsula this cycle, so this report leans on seasonal patterns rather than a live temperature or flow number. The clearest angler-relevant signal from the Lake Superior basin comes from WI DNR Lake Superior Fishing, which notes that lake whitefish have become an increasingly popular target in the Chequamegon Bay region, both by boat now and through the ice once winter arrives — popular enough that the agency is running an open angler questionnaire on the fishery through April 2026. That's the Wisconsin shoreline rather than Michigan's directly, but it points to whitefish activity building across the broader lake as late-summer surface temps start to ease. For UP brook and brown trout streams, late August typically means a dawn-and-dusk bite as water cools and midday pressure eases; check current flows and state regulations before heading out, since no fresh gauge data confirms conditions on any specific water this week.
Yellowtail and mutton snapper keep Keys anglers busy as summer winds down
ALL IN Key West's captains called it plainly this season: yellowtail and mutton snapper have been thick, with muttons spawning heavy around the full moon and yellowtails "practically jumping in the boat" on the reef. Bud n' Mary's Islamorada team backed that up in their early-summer report, adding tarpon on the bridges and mahi pushing offshore in the Gulf Stream as the warm-water, high-bait pattern set in. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for this cycle, so plan around typical late-August Keys surface temps and check a local forecast before running offshore. Permit are around too — Florida Sea Grant notes Keys spawning aggregations can run into the hundreds of fish this time of year, a solid sign for sight-fishing on the flats. Overall the pattern reads consistent with a strong, still-active late-summer Keys season heading toward the fall transition.