Fishing reports
16851 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
Late-summer smallmouth bite holds as Finger Lakes flows run lean
USGS gauge 04232050 logged a water temperature of 64°F this morning with flow sitting at a lean 5.77 cfs, the low, warm late-August signature that pushes bass toward structure and shade once the sun gets high. Field & Stream's late-summer smallmouth rules this week emphasize working deeper, cooler pockets and letting presentations sink further as surface water warms — guidance that lines up with current conditions on Cayuga, Seneca, and Skaneateles. Tactical Bassin's late-summer coverage points anglers toward topwater and finesse jigs in the early and late light windows, with the bite typically sliding off through midday heat. Walleye anglers should lean on electronics rather than assuming classic bottom structure; Fishing the Midwest notes forward-facing sonar has changed where anglers find suspended fish. We're seeing a textbook late-summer pattern setting up: tight dawn/dusk windows, slower midday stretches, and fish starting to relate to the healthiest remaining weed edges as the season turns toward fall.
Chinook chatter builds near the Columbia mouth as fall run nears
Salmon anglers working the Buoy 10 area near the mouth of the Columbia are reporting solid chinook action this week, per chatter on the IFish.net forums, including one angler describing a fish hooked while trolling solo just north of the legal boundary near Skippanon in roughly 22 feet of water. That's forum chatter rather than confirmed data — no state agency, shop, or charter report corroborates the pace yet, so treat it as anecdotal until backed up. WDFW's statewide creel and catch reports remain the official source for verified Puget Sound and coastal counts, though no fresh regional numbers came through this cycle. Late August is typically when Washington's fall chinook and early coho push into nearshore and river-mouth waters, and it's also prime timing for the Dungeness crab fishery that Washington Sea Grant flags as one of the state's largest commercial fisheries. No buoy or gauge readings were available for this report — check local marine forecasts before heading out.
Speckled trout and reds keep Sarasota Bay flats firing
Sarasota Bay's summer bite remains locked in, with Capt. Brandon Naeve at CB's Saltwater Outfitters reporting a 27-inch spotted seatrout landed this past week and describing an aggressive trout bite across inshore grass flats, mangrove shorelines, and local passes — best worked around sunrise and sunset feeding windows. Redfish are cooperating too: Capt. Chuck Cress, also with CB's, put anglers on multiple reds using a popping cork and live shrimp on a rising morning tide, with a few undersized snook mixed in on catch-and-release. Looking toward the season turn, Capt. Rick Grassett's monthly forecast from CB's notes tarpon still holding along the coastal Gulf early in the month before thinning out along the beaches and sliding into inside waters — bridges and deep grass flats — with juveniles following schools of surface-feeding ladyfish. Fly anglers and shrimp-under-a-cork rigs are both getting it done right now.
Hill Country bass slide deep as late-August heat lingers
The Hill Country region's USGS gauge (08158000) is reading a steady flow near 1,630 cfs as of early Saturday, a healthy late-summer stage keeping current moving through the feeder arms and tailwater sections anglers rely on this time of year. Water-temperature data wasn't available for Travis, LBJ, or Buchanan specifically in today's feed. Nearby Canyon Lake — a useful regional proxy, not the same lake system — sits well above last year's level and is described as still solid for fishing and boating, per My Canyon Lake Fishing. State agency weekly write-ups remain thin right now: TPWD paused its regional fishing reports earlier this year while retooling the format, so on-the-water intel for the Highland Lakes specifically is sparser than usual. Expect the classic late-August pattern to hold on Travis, LBJ, and Buchanan: largemouth bass pushed deep and sluggish through midday heat, white bass and stripers working schooling shad on main-lake structure in low light, and catfish staying the most dependable bite after dark.
Surf mullet and bluefish keep OBX anglers busy
Surf anglers along the Outer Banks are into a solid late-August mix, per Hugh at TW's Bait and Tackle in the OBX/Northern Beaches report: sea mullet, bluefish, and plenty of croakers are coming over the sand on bottom rigs, with the inshore bite reportedly picking up as well. No live buoy or gauge readings came through for this stretch of coast today, so check water temp and swell on arrival rather than relying on a number here. The pattern lines up with a typical late-summer OBX surf slate — steady bottom-rig panfish mixed with roaming bluefish schools working the wash. Red drum are a staple of NC surf fishing this time of year and worth probing around structure and cuts, though we don't have a direct Outer Banks report on them this week. With the moon in a waning gibbous phase, tide swings should be moderate; plan surf sessions around the turns for the best bottom-bite windows.
Elevated Wabash flow reshapes late-summer bass and walleye patterns
The USGS gauge at site 03335500 is reading roughly 10,800 cfs this morning, noticeably higher than typical late-August base flow on the Wabash — a sign of recent rain pushing stained, faster water through the system. No water-temperature reading came through with this cycle, so treat surface temps as unconfirmed until you're on the water. Today's angler-intel sweep didn't turn up a direct Wabash River or Lake Michigan catch report, so the species notes below lean on general late-summer Midwest patterns rather than fresh bite confirmations. Per Fishing the Midwest, walleye anglers across the region are increasingly working deeper, suspended fish with forward-facing sonar rather than the traditional bottom-contact approach. Per Tactical Bassin, late-summer bass often demand a split approach — shallow cover early, current-relief pockets as the sun climbs. With a waning gibbous moon overhead, expect a fairly typical low-light bite window at dawn and dusk.
Potomac and Patapsco Bass Ease Into the Fall Transition
USGS gauge 01589000 is reading a modest 41.1 cubic feet per second this morning, the kind of low, clear late-August flow that typically pushes Potomac and Patapsco bass tight to deeper cover rather than the shallows. No shop, charter, or state report has come in directly from this stretch this week, so this update leans on regional seasonal patterns rather than fresh local catch intel. Field & Stream's Carolina-rig primer is a solid template for these conditions, dragging weights slowly along flats and ledges in ten-plus feet as fish slide off post-spawn shallows toward structure. Tactical Bassin is already flagging the shallow-to-deep shift anglers should plan for as summer turns to fall, and Fishing the Midwest notes that dying weed growth this time of year pushes baitfish, and the bass chasing them, onto the healthiest remaining grass. Largemouth bass and channel catfish should stay the most dependable targets through the lingering heat, while snakehead topwater action, a Potomac signature, typically holds into early September.
Spring-fed trout parks keep biting through late-summer heat
USGS gauge 07067000, which tracks flow into the Current River system feeding Missouri's Ozark trout parks, logged a reading near 792 cfs this week — a moderate, wadable stage heading into the Labor Day stretch. No water-temperature reading came through this cycle, but the spring-fed sources that supply parks like Montauk and Bennett Spring typically hold water in the mid-to-upper 50s year-round regardless of late-August air temps, which is the whole draw of fishing these systems when other Ozark streams run warm and sluggish. No angler-specific reports from Current River or Niangua River regulars came through our intel feeds this cycle, so the species notes below lean on typical late-summer patterns for these fisheries rather than fresh word from the bank. Expect steady action on standard park terminal tackle and small nymphs, with early morning and late evening still the highest-percentage windows as midday crowds and warmer surface layers push fish tighter to the cold spring inflows.
Taneycomo Trout Bite Turns Aggressive As Generation Eases
Trout on Lake Taneycomo have turned aggressive, hitting 'hard with no pecking around,' per Lilleys Landing's latest report. The shop's trophy release program has picked back up after a slow spring, a signal that bigger rainbows and browns are moving through the tailwater. Guides are finding their best afternoon action on a Provo rig, while a simple bottom-weighted line with an 18-inch drop-shot loop — tied with Vanish fluorocarbon tippet, a trick credited to guide Blake Wilson — has also been producing fish. This marks a clear turnaround from June and early July, when Lilleys Landing described an inconsistent generation schedule and passing mini-fronts that made the bite unpredictable from one day to the next. USGS gauge 07054410, which tracks flow in the area, has no current reading on file, so anglers should confirm the day's generation schedule before heading out. No fresh reports came in on Table Rock's bass fishery this cycle.
Late-Summer Ledge Bite Persists on Chickamauga and Watts Bar
USGS gauge 03578500 in the Tennessee River system logged a modest 5.58 cfs overnight, pointing to stable, low, late-summer flow across the Chickamauga and Watts Bar pools with no rain pulse in sight. No captain or shop report came in for this stretch this week, so we're leaning on regional late-summer bass patterns until local intel firms up. Per Tactical Bassin's recent late-summer coverage, largemouth are still holding tight to deep points and ledges, favoring jigs and finesse presentations ahead of the fall shallow push. Field & Stream's Carolina-rig primer is a good reminder that a slow-dragged rig on clean-bottom structure past 10 feet keeps producing reservoir bass through late-August heat. Crappie and catfish typically stack on deeper timber and channel edges this time of year, while striper activity should perk up as nights begin to cool. Check Tennessee regulations before harvesting.
Platte and Missouri catfish keep biting as summer flow holds steady
Flow at USGS gauge 06796000 on the Platte held at 1,610 cfs as of late Friday night, a moderate, stable stage that's kept the Platte and Missouri fishable without the runoff-driven color spikes that shut down a bite. No water-temperature reading came through with this update, but water this shallow and slow-moving typically runs warm through late August, which is prime for channel and flathead catfish working current seams and holes on cut bait or nightcrawlers. White bass should still be schooling on baitfish wherever current breaks around wing dams and bridge pilings. We don't have a direct on-the-water report from this stretch this cycle, so treat the species notes below as a seasonal baseline rather than a confirmed local bite. Nationally, walleye anglers continue leaning on forward-facing sonar to locate suspended fish, per Fishing the Midwest — a technique worth trying on Platte and Missouri holes as sauger start easing toward the deeper water they'll hold in as fall approaches.
Late-summer stratification holds steady at Lanier and Allatoona
USGS gauge 02334430 recorded a cool 51°F reading with flow holding at 694 cfs overnight into this morning — notably colder than typical late-August surface temps on Georgia's Piedmont reservoirs, and likely reflective of a deep or dam-influenced reading rather than the whole-lake picture. No shop, charter, or state report came in directly from Lake Lanier or Allatoona this week, but a useful regional comparison arrives via GA Sportsman/Georgia Outdoor News: at nearby Lake Oconee, guide Nick Knapp described topwater working early before fish slide deeper as the sun climbs, with water there running around 86°F. That contrast points to classic late-summer stratification — warm surface layer, cool water below — on the Lanier/Allatoona system too. Expect spotted and largemouth bass to favor early low-light topwater windows before shifting to deeper structure, and stripers to hold on the cooler water column. Confirm current lake-specific temps before heading out, since flow and thermal layering can shift with rain or dam releases this time of year.
Low, warm flows push Catawba and Roanoke bass deep, catfish active
The USGS gauge on the Catawba (site 02142900) logged just 5.8 cfs at 1:50 a.m. Wednesday, a low, clear-water reading typical of a Piedmont river deep into a dry late-summer stretch. No captain, shop, or agency report in this week's feed comes from the Catawba or Roanoke specifically, so we're leaning on general seasonal patterns and technique guidance rather than fresh bite reports. Field & Stream's current Carolina-rig breakdown is a useful playbook for these conditions — working weighted rigs slowly along deep points and ledges once bass slide off the skinny-water spawn haunts. Tactical Bassin's late-summer coverage this week echoes that shift, warning anglers not to keep working the same shallow spots that produced in spring and early summer. Catfish typically hold up best through low, warm flows like this, feeding actively in early morning and after dark, while crappie tend to go quiet until water starts cooling toward fall turnover.
Wachusett Reservoir bass keep biting as Central Mass flows hold low
A 12-year-old angler's third cast at Wachusett Reservoir turned into a 5-pound smallmouth on a jig, and his grandfather Bill Alando followed with a 4-plus-pound largemouth on a topwater lure, per Jerry's Bait and Tackle in Milford. The same report notes a young angler named Logan boating a 5-pound largemouth on a shiner from shore, likely at Louisa Lake. Central Massachusetts freshwater is fishing true to the late-August pattern: bass are still eating aggressively in the low-light hours before the day heats up, with jigs and topwater baits both drawing strikes. USGS stream gauges at sites 01105500 and 01111500 both show modest, stable late-summer flow, so wading and shoreline access should stay comfortable this week. No water-temperature readings came through on this cycle, so plan around dawn and dusk and check conditions before heading out. The waning gibbous moon overhead favors low-light activity.
Yakima-Spokane trout and bass hold steady through late-summer flows
The clearest signal this cycle comes from the gauge, not the grapevine: site 12484500 logged 2,690 cfs on the evening of Aug. 29, a steady reading consistent with the tail end of irrigation-season releases typical for Eastern Washington rivers this time of year. No shop, charter, or forum post specific to the Yakima or Spokane systems came through our feeds this week, so this update leans on seasonal pattern and general technique guidance rather than fresh catch counts — check WDFW's statewide creel and stocking reporting program directly for the latest regional numbers before you head out. Field & Stream's late-summer smallmouth guide notes fish turn cagey in low, warm flows and reward dawn/dusk presentations with slower retrieves, which tracks for regional smallmouth water right now. Rainbow trout and mountain whitefish should still be working faster runs and riffles while flows hold at current levels.
Shallow-Weed Walleyes Fire Up on the Missouri River System
Jason Mitchell Outdoors is flagging a shallow-weed walleye bite developing on South Dakota water this week, a pattern that tracks with how Missouri River reservoir fish typically stage before the Labor Day weekend crowd thins out. On the data side, USGS gauge 06440200 logged essentially flat flow late Friday night (Aug 29) with no water-temperature reading available, so we're leaning on angler reports rather than hard numbers for this update. Fishing the Midwest's recent notes on forward-facing sonar changing how walleye anglers key on suspended fish over structure are worth keeping in mind on reservoir water, even as plenty of traditional jig-and-livebait presentations still produce. Smallmouth should still be working main-lake points and drop-offs as late-summer flows taper, while Black Hills trout streams are best fished early before afternoon warmth slows the bite. Channel cats remain a solid backup in current seams.
Blue cats hold deep as gar-draw season nears on Texas lakes
Texas lake and river conditions remain deep in summer mode, with the USGS gauge at site 08211200 reading 88°F and a steady flow near 143 cfs — warm, stable water that pushes most gamefish toward deeper, current-influenced structure through the heat of the day. Texas Fish & Game Magazine reports TPWD opens its annual Trinity River alligator gar harvest-authorization drawing on September 1, worth circling for anyone chasing a trophy gar this fall. Fresh, dated bite reports for Texas freshwater lakes are thin in the current feed; the most detailed testimony on file comes from North Texas Catfish Guide's past-season notes on Eagle Mountain Lake, where rising, fresh water has historically triggered an active blue and channel catfish bite. With water this warm right now, expect catfish to hold deeper and feed most aggressively in low light, while bass activity typically slows until temperatures ease.
Gag grouper reopener hits Mississippi Sound as trout bite holds
Mississippi anglers are gearing up for a big shift on the Sound and nearby reefs: the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources has ordered gag grouper and greater amberjack open in state territorial waters starting September 1, with gag closing again October 1. Both species have been off-limits through the summer, so this week's action inshore is centered on the Sound's usual late-August staples, speckled trout and redfish, while boats stage for the reopener. Sport Fishing Mag's Gulf-wide grouper piece notes trolling past nearshore structure is the go-to approach once gag season is live, and its companion guide to Gulf inshore fishing points to working soft plastics and cut bait for redfish along grass edges and channels. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through this cycle, so treat water conditions as typical for late summer until the next update. We're watching the reopener closely, it's the headline event for MS anglers this week.
Western Basin walleye settle into deep summer pattern as Maumee holds steady
The Maumee River gauge (USGS 04193500) read 77°F with flow holding near 859 cfs in the early hours of August 30 — a typical late-summer signature for the Western Basin's main tributary. With surface temps this warm, walleye are settling into the classic late-August pattern: schools pulling off reef complexes and structure into deeper, cooler water through the heat of the day, then sliding shallower to feed as light fades. Fishing the Midwest's recent walleye breakdown notes that both traditional live-bait rigs and forward-facing sonar approaches continue to produce this time of year — FFS has changed how anglers locate suspended fish, but it hasn't retired crawler harnesses or crankbait trolling. Yellow perch and smallmouth bass typically share the same reef structure into early fall. Expect a bite that rewards early and late outings over the midday grind, with trolling speed and depth control mattering more right now than lure color.
Smallmouth improving on the Delaware as Pine Barrens bass hold steady
The regional USGS gauge (01408000) is reading a lean 22.2 cfs overnight into Sunday, the kind of low, warm late-August flow that pushes Delaware River and Pine Barrens gamefish tight to structure and shade rather than open current. Freshwater shop reports back that up: Allen's Dock says local ponds and cedar-water pickerel are still eating killies, though the recent heat has kept some anglers off the water, while Dave's Sport Shop notes largemouth coming on weedless plastics worked through vegetation at Lake Nockamixon, plus bass and panfish on topwater at Galena and Towhee lakes. On the main river, Dave's Sport Shop also reports smallmouth fishing has been improving, with livelining baits expected to get better as September approaches. Smith's Bait Shop adds early-morning and late-day topwater largemouth (and snakeheads) around vegetation, with perch and panfish starting to show in area spillways. Overall a patience bite — work the green, shaded, and vegetated water until temperatures ease.
Bait Buildup Signals Big September as Sea Bass Rule the Jersey Shore
Black sea bass are stealing the show along the Jersey Shore this week, with Capt Ron's out of Atlantic Highlands reporting fish crushing bait on every bit of bottom before fluke can get to it, mixed with a scattering of keeper flounder. Grumpys Tackle notes warm water has pushed Spanish mackerel and bonito into the mix, with epoxy jigs the go-to producer, while Surf City Bait and Tackle (via The Fisherman — Central NJ) says the same species are hitting Deadly Dick jigs as September bait movement builds. Offshore, Fishermans HQ LBI's Hi Flier has been running 25-to-40-pound bluefin within 30 miles of Barnegat Inlet on trolled ballyhoo and live squid, with bonito mixed in. Fishermans HQ LBI also flagged spearing, peanut bunker, and mullet stacking up in the surf and bay — an early fall signal — and Northern New Jersey captains (per The Fisherman — Northern NJ) expect a strong September once stripers push through behind the bait.
Low water keeps upper Penobscot trout and togue tucked deep
The USGS gauge on the upper Penobscot watershed (site 01030500) read a lean 52.7 cfs as of early this morning, consistent with the typical late-August low-water stretch this region sees heading toward Labor Day. No direct angler reports came in from the Moosehead Lake area this cycle, so we're leaning on seasonal patterns here: landlocked salmon and lake trout (togue) typically slide deeper and go quieter as surface temps hold in the upper 60s to low 70s this time of year, while smallmouth bass stay the most dependable player in low, clear water, especially wherever there's moving current. Native brook trout fishing is usually best worked early and late in cooler feeder streams and inlets. Elsewhere in New England, per The Fisherman — New England Freshwater, river smallmouth action has stayed strong on flowing water even as still-water bites slowed — a pattern that tends to hold on the Penobscot's moving stretches too. Check current Maine regs before harvesting.
Bonito flood Rhode Island beaches as the fall run kicks off
Green bonito are thick along Rhode Island's south county beaches right now, feeding on larger baits like sand eels and herring that make them easier to fool, per The Fisherman — Rhode Island. Striped bass fishing has been a bit slow due to high water temperatures and sharks, per the same report, but should pick up as the fall migration gets underway. Saltwater Edge Blog (RI)'s own August Full Moon forecast confirms the pattern, noting bonito and a few spanish mackerel over the past couple weeks with albies hopefully not far behind, and The Fisherman (Northeast)'s New England forecast has RI waters holding good numbers of bonito this week, many of the larger variety, plus a few albies already showing off the Cape (one over 16 pounds). Bottom fishing stays reliable: Frances Fleet and Quonnie Bait and Tackle, via The Fisherman — Rhode Island, both report solid fluke and black sea bass action, with keeper-sized sea bass numbers rising.
Hawaii's summer pelagic bite carries into late August
No fresh buoy readings, gauge data, or on-the-water catch reports came through for the Hawaiian Islands this cycle — Hawaii Fishing News, the state's official record-keeper for big fish and tide/moon calendars, had no new conditions posted at fetch time, and HI Sea Grant's recent items covered coastal research and fellowships rather than the bite. In the absence of fresh reporting, this update leans on typical late-August patterns for the islands: offshore trolling for ahi, mahimahi, and Pacific blue marlin is normally in full swing as summer pelagic migrations continue, while shoreline anglers work papio along rocky points at dawn and dusk. Treat these as seasonal expectations, not confirmed local reports, until a buoy reading or a fresh catch report comes through. Check Hawaii Fishing News' tide and moon calendar directly before planning a trip, and always verify state bag limits and closures before harvesting anything.