Fishing reports
16851 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
Late-summer weed shift signals fall bite building in Illinois
Fishing the Midwest's Mike Frisch flagged the late-summer shift anglers across the region should watch for this week: as weed beds start dying back, baitfish — and the bass and walleye keying on them — pull off stressed, dying cover and stack up on the healthiest remaining "green" weed edges still standing. That pattern applies directly to Illinois River backwaters and Lake Michigan's nearshore weed flats heading into September. No fresh NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings came back for this stretch today, so treat water temp and flow as unconfirmed until you check conditions at the ramp. Frisch also notes walleye anglers are increasingly finding fish suspended off bottom rather than glued to classic structure now that forward-facing sonar has changed how schools get located — worth trying before writing off a spot. Smallmouth and largemouth should still be feeding aggressively ahead of the fall turnover; Lake Michigan perch typically stay deeper and slower until water cools further.
Spring Creek's limestone browns lean on terrestrials as summer fades
No fresh USGS gauge or buoy readings came through for Spring Creek or Penns Creek this cycle, and none of today's angler-intel feeds carried a direct dispatch from either limestone flow — so this update leans on what's reliably true of Pennsylvania's spring-fed water in late August. Consistent groundwater discharge keeps these creeks running cooler and more stable than nearby freestone streams even during the hottest stretch of summer, which typically keeps wild browns and rainbows feeding through the day rather than shutting down like warmwater fisheries do. Per Gink and Gasoline, worm patterns remain a dependable producer for both stocked and wild trout deep into the season, a solid starting point when nothing specific is hatching. For the latest stocking counts and stream-specific notes, PA Fish & Boat's Biologist Reports page is the best direct channel to check before you go. Expect tonight's full moon to push feeding activity toward dawn, dusk, and after-dark windows.
Late-summer transition puts Susquehanna & Allegheny smallmouth on the move
No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for the Susquehanna and Allegheny systems this cycle, so this update leans on general late-August patterns rather than a specific river reading. Smallmouth bass are the headline species on Pennsylvania's warmwater rivers this time of year, and national bass coverage is trending toward transition tactics: Tactical Bassin's late-summer roundup flags baitfish-focused presentations and a move toward faster-moving reaction baits like buzzbaits as nights start cooling toward fall, while Field & Stream still lists Carolina rigs as a go-to for working flats and ledges in 10-plus feet of water. Neither source is Pennsylvania-specific, so treat these as technique starting points rather than confirmed local bite reports. Walleye, muskellunge, and channel catfish round out the typical Susquehanna/Allegheny lineup and should stay active on cooling evening bites as days shorten. Check the PA Fish and Boat Commission's Biologist Reports for the latest region-specific stocking and creel notes before heading out.
Striped Bass Push Into Bay Creeks as Croaker Sorting Continues
Striped bass from 20 to 24 inches are showing in the tidal creeks and rivers along the bay, taking sandworms and shrimp, according to this week's report from The Fisherman — DE/MD/Chesapeake. Croaker are mixed in at the same spots and stacking up at piers like Woodland Beach, but anglers are sorting through a lot of shorts — the same publication's Eric Burnley notes it's become tough to find croaker over the legal 9-inch mark right now. Flounder remain the steadier producer: boats working bay structure out of Port Mahon are finding keepers on live minnows or a bucktail tipped with squid strip, and the Bowers Beach jetty is giving up flounder to live minnows, bucktails, and Gulp crawfish alongside more croaker. Offshore, canyon trips are picking up tuna and tilefish, and reports point to the Old Grounds bite improving in size and numbers as the calendar turns toward September under this week's full moon.
Michigan Walleye and Bass Shift Gears as Fall Transition Nears
The Michigan DNR's Aug. 19 Weekly Fishing Report flags a telling trend: walleye has become the most-harvested species in Michigan's Great Lakes waters, and that momentum looks set to carry into the Labor Day stretch. With today's full moon boosting low-light feeding windows, walleye anglers working ledges and flats with vertical jigs and forward-facing sonar are staying dialed in, a pairing Fishing the Midwest highlights as increasingly common alongside traditional live-bait rigs. Smallmouth and largemouth bass are in their own shift: Tactical Bassin cautions against the common late-summer mistake of leaning on spots that worked a month ago, instead pointing anglers toward water holding fresh baitfish as the fall transition sets in. No live buoy or streamflow readings came through for this update, so treat water temps and flow as unconfirmed until you check the DNR's own gauges before launching. Overall, walleye and bass activity read as steady-to-building heading into the weekend.
Montana streams cool off as hoot-owl limits lift and hopper season builds
Montana FWP lifted hoot-owl restrictions this week on several western and southwest Montana streams as water temperatures drop, including the upper Clark Fork River from the Warm Springs Creek/Silver Bow confluence down to the Blackfoot, and the lower Bitterroot River from Hamilton's Veteran's Bridge to the Clark Fork. At the same time, MT FWP notes decreasing streamflows are triggering new angling closures on sections of the Big Hole River, so check current regs before you go. The cooling trend lines up with what Hatch Magazine calls the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem's annual terrestrial countdown, now underway after another hot, smoky summer. Plan around access: Yellowstone National Park is closing Buffalo Creek, a Slough Creek tributary, Aug. 31–Sept. 7 for native fish restoration, per Flylords Mag. Bozeman-based guide Jim Klug (Yellow Dog Flyfishing) has also been weighing in on Montana public fishing access this season, per Flylab.
Rangeley-Area Brook Trout Turning Toward Fall Colors
A brook trout taken on Kennebago Lake last week was already flashing spawning colors, and dusk risers keyed into a solid hatch there in early August. Per Mainely Fly Fishing, it's the clearest signal yet that the Rangeley system is tipping toward its fall pattern. Flow on the Androscoggin headwaters gauge (USGS 01054200) sits at a lean 21.7 cfs, typical late-August thinning that concentrates fish in deeper runs and pool heads as water warms during the day. No direct water-temperature reading came through this cycle, so plan around morning and evening windows rather than midday heat. With tonight's full moon pushing a stronger nocturnal feed, low-light sessions on dry flies and small streamers should out-produce bright-sky casting. Landlocked salmon and smallmouth bass haven't been specifically reported yet this week, but both typically hold in cooler, deeper water under these late-summer flow and light conditions.
Dog-days bass grind continues on the Hartwell-Russell chain
USGS gauge 02192000 on the Savannah River system is holding at a steady 206 cfs, a typical late-summer base flow with nothing dramatic pushing water through the Hartwell-Russell chain right now. The bigger regional story is the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' ongoing lake-level restriction at Hartwell, tied to a seepage issue at the Clemson Lower Diversion Dam Saddle Dike — GA Sportsman / Georgia Outdoor News reports there's no immediate danger and the restriction has recurred since 2015, but it's worth checking ramp depths before you launch. Hartwell's reputation as a top-tier fishery got another nod from MLF News: the Bass Pro Tour's O'Reilly Auto Parts Stage 2, filmed out of Seneca, premieres Saturday on Discovery. Downstream on the same river system near Augusta, Wired 2 Fish notes an angler jigging for striped bass instead tangled with something far stranger, a reminder the Savannah holds more than bass and stripers. Expect classic dog-days behavior: early topwater, fish sliding deep by midday.
Fall salmon staging begins near the Grand River mouth
USGS gauge 04119000 near the Grand River mouth is running a steady 1,570 cfs as of August 28, a level that keeps water moving through typical staging areas without blowing out access points. Fresh on-the-water intel for the Lake Michigan/Grand River corridor was thin this cycle — no charter or shop reports crossed our desk — so this update leans on seasonal pattern and the WI DNR Lake Michigan Fishing Report's recent harvest data, which noted a record 2024 coho run (over 210,000 fish) and the strongest Chinook numbers since 2012, a sign the salmon fishery has stayed strong into this cycle. Late August typically marks the early staging window for king and coho salmon pushing toward river mouths ahead of the fall run, with walleye and steelhead action still building. Check current MI DNR Weekly Fishing Report postings before heading out, since specific bite reports weren't available this week.
Chincoteague eyes the late-summer handoff as the full moon pushes tides
With a full moon working through Chincoteague and the broader Eastern Shore this week, expect stronger-than-average tidal swings in the inlets and back bays — a solid window for anglers who fish moving water. No fresh NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings came through for this stretch of coast on this cycle, and none of today's angler-intel feeds carried a direct, current report specifically from the Chincoteague/Eastern Shore area, so this update leans on typical late-August patterns for the region rather than fresh on-the-water testimony. That's normal for this time of year: spot, croaker, and summer flounder are the bread-and-butter inshore targets through the bays and channels, cobia action typically starts tapering as August closes out, and the first hints of the fall striper and red drum push are still a few weeks off for Virginia's Eastern Shore. Check local tackle shops and state reports for the latest before heading out.
Olympic Peninsula rivers hold steady as summer kings work upriver
USGS gauges on the Peninsula are reading moderate, stable late-August flows — 575 cfs and 282 cfs — with nothing blown out or drought-low in the mix, which is workable water for both bank and boat anglers. Direct on-the-water intel for these specific rivers is thin in today's feeds: WA WDFW Fishing Reports confirms the department tracks creel and stocking data statewide, but no fresh catch counts came through for this stretch. Coastwide forum chatter (IFish.net) describes hot Chinook trolling near the mouth of the Columbia, well south of the Peninsula, so we're not carrying that over as a local read. What holds with the season: late August on these systems is typically summer Chinook and early steelhead water, with coho still mostly staged in salt water before their push upriver in the weeks ahead. With a full moon overhead, expect fish to feed harder on the dark, low-light margins of the day.
Delaware Bay flounder heats up before NJ's Sept. 25 close
Delaware Bay's NJ-side flounder bite is running hot heading toward Labor Day weekend, with Higbee's Bait and Tackle reporting customers bringing home limits of fish to 23 inches, with the EP Tower and grounds near the lighthouse consistently giving up keepers. Big Dave's Tackle echoes the trend, finding flounder, croakers and spot from the beaches out to the shipping channel, while anglers working structure are picking off tog and sheepshead on green crabs and sand fleas. At Boulevard Bait & Tackle, tog fishing is picking up inshore and around back-bay bridges, with keepers to 8 pounds and sheepshead pushing nearly 11 pounds; Hands Too Bait and Tackle has seen sheep over 10 pounds off the same baits. One scheduling note from Eric Burnley (The Fisherman — DE/MD/Chesapeake): NJ's Delaware Bay flounder season closes September 25, while Delaware's side keeps a 4-fish, 17.5-inch limit open through year-end. Tonight's Full Moon means stronger tidal swings.
Jumbo Sea Bass, Bonito Fire Up Sandy Hook Ahead of the September Turn
Capt. Ron out of Atlantic Highlands logged a big rebound this week, per Capt Ron's Atlantic Highlands NJ — Eric limited out on fluke within the first two drifts and boated a 6-pound, 10-ounce pool fish, while jumbo sea bass filled coolers on nearly every drop. That's the pattern across Sandy Hook Bay and the Raritan Bay grounds right now: fluke are inconsistent, with the shop noting a stretch of poor cooperation just days earlier, but sea bass are thick enough that most trips are limiting on bottom rigs. Warmer water has pulled bonito and Spanish mackerel into range too — Grumpys Tackle (NJ) is pointing anglers to epoxy jigs for the "funny fish," and OTW Northern New Jersey's August 27 report confirms bonito and Spanish mackerel working the surf and inlets. Striped bass remain quiet, though The Fisherman — Northern NJ notes area captains are already eyeing the switch to bass once fluke season wraps.
High Allegheny Flows Push Anglers to Slack-Water Bass Bite
The USGS gauge at site 03036500 logged flow at 9,530 cfs in the early hours of August 28, a notably high reading for late-summer baseflow on the Allegheny/Pittsburgh tailwater system, with no water-temperature reading available this cycle. No PA-specific charter, shop, or agency reports came through in today's angler-intel sweep, so on-the-water conditions here are inferred from flow data and general technique guidance rather than a fresh local bite report — worth flagging plainly rather than guessing. With water up and likely carrying some color, smallmouth typically slide off exposed gravel into eddies and current breaks; Field & Stream's recent Carolina-rig primer notes the rig shines in deeper water dragged along clean-bottom flats and ledges, a reasonable fit for post-bump river conditions. Fishing the Midwest's late-season notes on locating green, living structure as water cools also apply as fall approaches. Check the PA Fish & Boat Biologist Reports page for any river-specific stocking or advisory updates before heading out.
North Shore Lake Trout Bite Holds Strong as Fall Nears
Anglers working the Duluth-to-Two-Harbors stretch of Lake Superior are into a steady bite on 18- to 33-inch lake trout and 17- to 23-inch walleye close to shore, per the MN DNR Lake Superior Summer Fishing Report released August 27. Trolling spoons has been the go-to presentation, with surface temps running 60-65°F near Duluth and cooling to 55-60°F up toward McQuade and Two Harbors — salmon numbers were noted as lighter than earlier in the month. Inland, our river gauges show moderate late-August flows of 4,390 cfs and 1,750 cfs, nothing that points to a recent spike or drought stretch. Smallmouth bass fishing stays active as water temps hold in the typical comfortable range for this time of year, with fish still leaning on deeper structure through midday heat. Panfish activity should be steadiest early and late as days shorten, and per Fishing the Midwest, dying weed beds are starting to concentrate baitfish and gamefish ahead of the fall shift. This week's full moon should sharpen low-light bites.
Presque Isle anglers wait on rain as Erie's late-summer pattern holds
Streamflow at USGS gauge 04213000 sat at 60.8 cfs in the early hours of August 28, a low and stable read that points to typical late-summer conditions rather than any recent rain event pushing fresh water into Lake Erie's tributaries. That matters for anglers watching the calendar for Presque Isle's fall steelhead run, which typically needs a rain-driven flow bump to get moving — this gauge isn't showing it yet. In the meantime, the bay and open lake are fishing their usual late-August pattern: walleye holding over deeper structure, smallmouth working rocky shoreline and breakwalls, and yellow perch schooling up in Presque Isle Bay as water begins its slow cool-down. No PA-specific bite reports came through our feeds this cycle, so treat the species notes below as seasonal expectations rather than confirmed catches — check the PA Fish & Boat Biologist Reports page directly for the latest lake-specific numbers before you head out. Tonight's full moon could sharpen the low-light bite for structure-oriented species.
Fall Chinook Buzz Builds as Washington Rivers Hold Steady
USGS gauge 14113000 logged 668 cfs and 63°F as of Wednesday night, a steady, fishable stage for late-August flows across the region's Chinook-bearing systems. Anecdotal chatter on IFish.net forums points to early Chinook trolling activity near the mouth of the Lewis and around Buoy 10 at the Columbia's mouth, unconfirmed by any shop or agency source yet, but consistent with the annual timing of the fall run building through late August into the Labor Day stretch. WDFW's statewide fishing and stocking reports page remains the go-to resource for creel-verified counts as more anglers hit the water. With water still in the low-to-mid 60s and a full moon overhead, expect steelhead and sea-run cutthroat to stay active in faster riffles and tailouts, while warmer backwaters should keep smallmouth feeding through midday before the bite slows on bright afternoons.
Michigan anglers set sights on Saginaw Bay's fall walleye turn
Direct buoy and gauge readings for Lake Huron and Saginaw Bay weren't available this cycle, and this week's angler-intel sweep turned up thin specific reporting for the region — a Michigan Sportsman Forum thread simply asked whether Saginaw Bay is worth a late-summer walleye trip, underscoring that anglers are already thinking ahead to the fall transition. Absent verified catch reports, we're leaning on typical late-August patterns for the bay: walleye starting to relate to deeper structure and baitfish schools as surface temps ease, yellow perch holding over the same basins, and smallmouth bass still active on rocky structure before the fall cooldown. Under this week's full moon, expect stronger low-light bites, especially early and late in the day. Anglers heading out should check current MI DNR guidance directly, since this report couldn't pull fresh Saginaw Bay-specific intel from state or charter sources this cycle.
Low, Steady Flows Favor Ledge Bass and Night Cats at Santee, Murray
The USGS gauge at site 02160390 logged a modest 115 cfs overnight, pointing to low, stable flow typical of a dry late-August stretch across the Santee Cooper lakes and Lake Murray system. No water-temperature reading came through this cycle, but with a Full Moon overhead and summer heat still holding, largemouth bass should be tucked tight to deep ledges and points — exactly the scenario Field & Stream's Carolina-rig breakdown flags as prime, dragging a slow rig along clean-bottom structure past 10 feet. Striped bass, the signature draw on Santee, typically suspend near the thermocline rather than show shallow this time of year. Blue and channel catfish should stay the most dependable bite after dark, while crappie slide deep and slow down. No SC-specific shop or captain reports came through this cycle, so treat these species calls as seasonal defaults until fresher local intel lands.
Rising Potomac flows push VA bass anglers toward finesse tactics
The Potomac gauge at Little Falls (USGS 01646500) was running an elevated 4,810 cfs as of early Thursday morning, well above the lazy, low-and-clear norm most anglers expect on this stretch in late August — a sign recent rain pushed through the watershed. Higher, likely-stained water calls for slowing down and going subtle, and the Virginia DWR Wildlife Blog's timely rundown of the drop shot rig couldn't land better: the finesse presentation suspends a bait just off bottom and keeps producing when smallmouth, largemouth, and spotted bass go tight-lipped in dirty current. The same Virginia DWR Wildlife Blog feed's late-summer bluegill and redear sunfish report points anglers toward the state's public lakes and ponds, where calmer water keeps ultralight spinning gear or a simple popper producing steady action even as river conditions turn tougher. With flow up and clarity likely down, we're leaning on scent and vibration over sight-based presentations until the Potomac and Shenandoah settle back toward a typical base flow.
Wachusett Reservoir Smallmouth Bass Bite Heats Up
A 12-year-old angler's third-cast smallmouth kicked off a strong week on Wachusett Reservoir, landing a jig-caught 5-pounder before his grandfather followed with a 4-plus-pound bass on a topwater lure, per a report from The Fisherman — New England Freshwater. Regional largemouth action has been more mixed: shiners and swim baits are still drawing bites on smaller Merrimack-area ponds, but shops describe the largemouth bite as having "slowed a bit" compared to earlier in the summer, with senko-style soft plastics still the most reliable producer. Panfish and bullheads remain steady for shore anglers and younger crews working local ponds on simple bait rigs. Downstream, the Swift River gauge below Quabbin (USGS 01174500) is running under 1 cfs — a typical low late-August tailwater flow pointing to a stable, largely undisturbed reservoir system heading into the weekend. No fresh water-temperature reading came through this cycle, so plan around the full moon and the early/late light windows instead.
Silvers push through Kenai-region rivers as summer runs wind down
Gauge readings from the Kenai region show water at 54°F with flow running roughly 11,700 cfs, a strong volume for late August that will color the water and push fish tight to soft seams and structure. This cycle's angler-intel feeds didn't turn up any captain, shop, or state-agency reports specific to Kenai or interior Alaska rivers, so the species read below leans on typical late-August seasonal patterns rather than confirmed bite reports. Coho (silver) salmon are the headline run moving through interior drainages this time of year, with rainbow trout and Dolly Varden trailing behind to key on drifting eggs. Sockeye numbers are typically thinning out by now as that run closes. With a full moon overhead, look for stronger current push and some extra low-light feeding activity. Elevated, off-color flow like this usually means fish sit closer to bank cover and slower water than they would in a normal-clarity late-summer river.
Smokies trout shift to dawn-and-dusk pattern as water warms
USGS gauge 03512000 logged a flow of 282 cfs and a water temperature of 68°F overnight into today, warm enough to push Western North Carolina's trout streams into a classic late-August holding pattern: fish tucked into shaded runs, undercut banks, and the head of deeper pools through the midday heat, then sliding into feeding lanes as light fades. No Smokies-specific angler reports came through this week's intel feeds, so treat the species notes below as seasonal expectation rather than confirmed bites. For technique, Field & Stream's late-summer low-water playbook is worth borrowing even though it was written about Connecticut freestones: downsized tippet, targeting the coolest water column available, and concentrating effort in the first and last hour of light rather than midday. At 68°F, trout are still catchable but stressed by warmth, so quick, careful releases matter more than usual this time of year.
Late-summer smallmouth window holds on Erie tributaries
The Cattaraugus Creek gauge (USGS 04231600) logged 72°F water and a steady 92.5 cfs flow late Wednesday night, conditions that sit squarely in the comfortable range for smallmouth bass and walleye activity typical of the Lake Erie and Niagara corridor in late August. No captain, shop, or state-agency reports specific to Western NY came through this cycle, so we're leaning on seasonal norms rather than confirmed bite reports for the species calls below — treat status as a baseline read, not a fresh on-the-water account. Stable, moderate flow out of Cattaraugus Creek generally means clearer water pushing into Erie's nearshore structure, which favors smallmouth working rock and gravel transitions and walleye staging on drop-offs as light fades. With a full moon overhead, expect stronger low-light and overnight feeding activity than midday. Anglers fishing tributary mouths or nearshore Erie structure this week should find conditions workable, with the usual late-summer pattern of shallower dawn/dusk activity sliding deeper as the sun climbs.