Fishing reports
16851 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
King salmon stage on Lake Ontario ahead of the Salmon River run
Salmon fishing has been very good over the past week on Lake Ontario, with browns and lake trout mixed in alongside kings, per Strike Zone Charters (Lake Ontario). Boats are working the 100- to 160-foot range, with preferred depths shifting day to day as wind pushes the thermocline around; Mag Dipsey Divers are producing when fish hold deep, and green, white, and chartreuse e-chip spoons paired with Atomic-style attractors are getting bit. On the river side, On The Water's recent feature on the Salmon River's king run is a reminder that late-summer Chinooks are already staging in the system ahead of their upstream push toward Altmar and Pulaski. We're reading the Salmon River near Pineville at roughly 98 cfs on the USGS gauge, a modest, stable late-summer flow that tends to hold fish in deeper pools and staging areas until a rain bump moves them. The full moon overhead may add a little extra low-light activity at dawn and dusk.
Rio Grande and San Juan trout stay steady under a full moon sky
USGS gauge 08330000 on the Rio Grande logged a flow reading of 0 cfs as of late Wednesday night, most likely a sensor gap rather than an actual dry channel — worth a quick double-check of current flow before you head out. No New Mexico-specific angler reports came through our regional feeds this cycle, so we're leaning on typical late-August patterns for the Rio Grande and San Juan systems. The San Juan tailwater below Navajo Dam tends to hold steady, dam-controlled water temperatures through the hottest stretch of summer, keeping rainbows and browns feeding even as surface waters elsewhere warm. Small nymph and worm patterns remain a dependable starting point on tailwater trout this time of year, per Gink and Gasoline's rundown of producer worm flies. Rio Grande cutthroat in the higher headwater stretches should still be catchable in early and late light as afternoon heat pushes fish deeper. Expect a slower bite around the Full Moon's brightest overnight hours, with fish more active pre-dawn and post-dusk.
High Delta flows test late-summer bass and striper patterns
The USGS flow gauge (site 11455420) tracking the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta logged 89,600 cfs as of Wednesday evening, a notably high reading for late August that points to elevated outflow moving through the system. No water-temperature reading came through with this cycle, so we're working off flow data alone right now. Specific Delta bite reports were thin in this week's source roundup, with most available coverage focused on other regions and species rather than the Delta itself. That's not unusual heading into the transition window between the summer largemouth pattern and the early stages of the fall striper push, when a lot of Delta regulars are quietly working current breaks rather than filing reports. Expect largemouth bass to hold in classic summer ambush spots — tules, dock pilings, submerged structure — while stripers, sturgeon, and catfish respond to the added flow as current seams reshuffle baitfish and forage positioning through the system.
Champlain smallmouth stay shallow as salmon slide deep
The Winooski River gauge (USGS 04294500) fed by Champlain's watershed logged 74°F early this morning, a classic late-August reading that keeps smallmouth active in the shallows while pushing landlocked salmon toward cooler, deeper water. No dedicated Champlain reports came through this week's feed, but regional smallmouth patterns from comparable New England waters offer a useful read: The Fisherman — New England Freshwater notes smallmouth action remains excellent on the Merrimack's Lowell-to-Lawrence stretch and into the Hooksett, NH section, while Red Top Sporting Goods reports bronzebacks still eating a Jitterbug worked early and late at Mashpee-Wakeby Pond. Those same low-light, topwater and jig presentations typically translate well to Champlain's rocky shoals and points this time of year. With a full moon overhead, expect an active overnight bite window for bass. Salmon anglers should plan on deeper presentations or early cooler hours until surface temps ease.
Hopper Season Building for Wyoming's Wind River and North Platte Trout
Hard data is thin this cycle: the USGS gauge for this stretch (06259000) returned no current flow or temperature reading, and no shop, charter, or state-agency report came in specifically for the Wind River or North Platte this week. Regionally, Hatch Magazine's dispatch on the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem describes a long, hot, smoky summer pushing anglers toward the terrestrial window, with hoppers, ants, and beetles drawing trout to bank-side cover as flows run low and warm. That pattern typically extends across Wyoming's freshwater trout water into early fall. With no confirmed Wind River or North Platte catch reports this week, treat today's outlook as seasonal expectation rather than an on-the-water confirmation: look for rainbows, browns, and cutthroat still working terrestrials during morning and evening light, with slower midday activity as water temperatures climb. Verify current flows locally before heading out since no fresh gauge reading was available at publish time.
Walleye action holds steady on the Wisconsin River into fall
USGS gauge 05391000 has the Wisconsin River running a steady 352 cfs as of late August, comfortable flow for wading and boat presentations alike. A direct water-temp reading wasn't available at this gauge, but late-summer conditions statewide point toward the fall transition anglers watch for every year. On the technique side, Fishing the Midwest notes anglers are increasingly leaning on forward-facing sonar to find walleyes suspending off structure rather than glued to bottom, a shift from the old jig-and-crawler playbook. Green weed growth is still holding baitfish and gamefish in river backwaters, per the same source, a pattern that typically breaks down as weeds start dying back into September. Up north, WI DNR's Lake Superior Fishing program continues tracking a genuinely growing lake whitefish fishery in Chequamegon Bay. With a full moon tonight, expect a little extra low-light activity from river walleye and musky.
Walleyes settle into steady late-summer flows on ND rivers
Gauge data from USGS site 05054000 puts water temperature at 76°F with flow holding near 228 cfs as of early Wednesday morning, a steady, moderate stage typical for late August on North Dakota's Red and Missouri River systems. No river-specific angler reports came through this week's intel sweep, so this update leans on regional technique coverage rather than fresh local catch reports. Fishing the Midwest's ongoing walleye coverage notes that forward-facing sonar has changed where anglers find fish relative to bottom structure and weedlines, a pattern that should hold as warm-water walleye tuck near remaining green weed growth rather than sitting strictly on bottom. Field & Stream's late-summer smallmouth notes point toward low-light bank and current-seam presentations while water stays warm. Channel catfish typically feed aggressively in 76-degree water this time of year. Expect a workmanlike bite rather than a red-hot one until temperatures start easing toward fall.
Lake Mead stripers settle into a typical late-August deep pattern
No fresh telemetry came back this cycle — USGS gauge 09421500 posted no flow or temperature reading, and NOAA buoy coverage for the lower Colorado corridor is empty — so we're leaning on typical late-August patterns rather than a live snapshot. None of this week's angler-intel feeds covered Lake Mead or the lower Colorado specifically; the striper mentions in the wire (a Savannah River, Georgia catch, for instance) are a different fishery entirely and aren't used here. Under a Full Moon and continued desert heat, Mead's striped bass typically stack over deep structure and bait schools by day, with the best windows at first and last light when shad get pushed to the surface. Largemouth and smallmouth tend to slow in the heat, holding deep on humps and channel edges, while channel catfish stay active after dark. Check current conditions and regs before heading out, since no direct reading confirms today's water temp or flow.
Terrestrial bite peaks in Yellowstone as Buffalo Creek closes
The Snake River corridor gauge (USGS 06192500) logged flows near 2,040 cfs and a water temp of 65°F Wednesday night, comfortable late-August numbers for trout activity around Yellowstone and the Tetons. Terrestrial season is in full swing — Hatch Magazine's terrestrial countdown notes anglers across the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem have been marking the calendar since the first week of August, with hoppers, ants, and beetles now the go-to patterns as summer hatches taper off. Worth flagging for anyone routing through the park: Flylords Mag reports Yellowstone National Park is closing Buffalo Creek, a Slough Creek tributary, from August 31 through September 7 for native fish restoration work. Cutthroat, brown, and rainbow trout remain the region's mainstays this stretch, keying on bank structure and shade as afternoon temperatures climb. A full moon overhead this week may push feeding windows toward dawn and dusk. Check current park and state closures before planning a trip into the Slough Creek drainage.
Bass Bite Holds Steady on New River, Ohio as Late-Summer Heat Lingers
USGS gauge 03051000 logged a steady 246 cubic feet per second overnight into this morning, a normal, wadeable late-August stage for the New River and Ohio River drainages with no spike or drop showing in the numbers. No fresh water-temperature reading came through on this cycle, but water in the upper 70s to low 80s is typical for West Virginia rivers this deep into summer, which usually pushes both smallmouth and largemouth toward current breaks, rock structure, and shoreline shade during the brightest hours. On The Water's late-summer largemouth notes this week point anglers toward dense shoreline cover worked with frogs and compact jigs during low light, a pattern that translates well to New River backwaters. Field & Stream's rundown on Carolina-rigging clean-bottomed ledges and points is a solid option for probing deeper smallmouth water once the sun gets high. Catfish should keep feeding hardest after dark while the heat holds. We're calling the bass bite active heading into the weekend.
Guntersville-Wheeler Bass Settle Into Late-Summer Shallow-Ledge Split
Flow on the Tennessee River system near Guntersville and Wheeler is holding steady around 218 cfs as of Tuesday evening (Aug. 27), with no surface-temp reading available this cycle. No captain or shop report specific to Guntersville or Wheeler came through this week, so we're leaning on the national late-summer bass patterns that typically hold up on Tennessee River reservoirs this time of year. Tactical Bassin's latest rundown of late-summer mistakes warns anglers against simply slowing down and returning to spots that worked a month ago, pointing instead to shallow cover and low-light windows as fish begin repositioning toward the fall transition. Field & Stream notes the Carolina rig remains a strong option once bass push past 10 feet onto flats and ledges with clean bottom — a pattern that fits Guntersville's ledge fishery well. Expect largemouth on moving baits early, structure baits by midday, with crappie and catfish typically picking up as nights cool. Check current state regs before harvesting.
Columbia's Warm Water Keeps Smallmouth Busy Ahead of Fall Chinook
Water on the Columbia system is running warm at 74°F, with flow holding near 12,200 cfs at USGS gauge 14211720 as of Wednesday evening — typical late-August conditions that favor smallmouth bass working slower, structure-rich water while pushing salmon and steelhead toward deeper, cooler holding lies. Angler chatter on IFish.net's Oregon forums points to steady Chinook interest near the mouth of the Columbia around Buoy 10, including one report of "HOT chinook action trolling solo," though that's a single unconfirmed post rather than a verified bite report — worth checking, not banking on. No fresh reports specific to the Rogue crossed our feeds this cycle. With a full moon overhead, expect stronger low-light and overnight bite windows for both salmon runners and bass. Handle any released fish gently given the warm water, and check current regulations before keeping anything.
Late-summer heat keeps Kentucky Lake bass and cats running deep
Local telemetry is thin heading into the final week of August — the USGS gauge at site 03611500 wasn't reporting flow or water temperature this week, so anglers on Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley should lean on their own electronics for exact numbers rather than the usual readout. Regionally, late-summer heat is still producing standout catches: Wired 2 Fish detailed a Virginia guide's 108-pound blue catfish landed after dark on Lake Gaston during a heat wave, a deep-water night-bite pattern that typically carries over to Barkley's blue cats this time of year. On the bass side, Field & Stream's breakdown of Carolina-rig fishing on clean-bottom points and ledges past 10 feet lines up with how Kentucky Lake's well-known ledge bite tends to play out in late August, while Fishing the Midwest notes fish increasingly relating to whatever green weed growth remains as the fall transition approaches. Expect largemouth holding deep through midday heat and crappie in a typical late-summer lull.
Bitterroot and Flathead trout push to dawn and dusk as water warms
The USGS gauge on the Bitterroot drainage (site 12372000) logged 72°F water and 5,650 cfs as of Wednesday evening, warm enough that anglers should check current Montana FWP hoot-owl restrictions before planning a midday float on this stretch. With a full moon overhead, the low-light windows at dawn and dusk are the play until temps ease. Terrestrials are the story right now — Hatch Magazine's late-summer terrestrial countdown for the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem notes hopper activity building through late August, a pattern that extends into Bitterroot and Flathead-drainage water for cutthroat and rainbows working banks and foam lines. Browns and bull trout, more heat-sensitive, are the likely stragglers, holding deeper or in spring-fed pockets rather than feeding hard midday. Flylab's dispatch on beating summer heat by fishing higher, cooler water is a useful playbook here: get out early, stick to shade, and don't rule out a short hike upstream for a few degrees of relief.
Late-summer warmth tests trout on Idaho's Snake and Salmon
The USGS gauge on the Salmon River (site 13340000) logged water temperatures at 74°F Thursday evening, with flow holding around 1,190 cfs — warm, low-key late-summer conditions typical for this stretch as August winds down. We don't have fresh angler reports specific to the Snake or Salmon corridors this week, but Idaho remains in the spotlight after Outdoor Hub reported a 44-inch lake trout catch-and-release record broken at Payette Lake in July, a reminder that the state's cold-water fisheries are producing outsized fish even during a hot summer. At 74°F, water in this range sits near the upper comfort threshold for trout and steelhead — anglers should expect fish holding in deeper, cooler pockets and tributary mouths during peak afternoon heat, with better activity concentrated in early morning and evening hours until temperatures ease.
High water on Iowa rivers turns catfish into the safe bet
The Des Moines River is running high, with USGS gauge 05465500 reading 6,620 cfs on August 28 — well above what anglers typically expect on Iowa's rivers this deep into summer. No water-temperature reading accompanied this update, and no shop, charter, or state-agency report specific to the Iowa or Des Moines Rivers came through our feeds this cycle, so the species notes below lean on general seasonal knowledge rather than fresh, region-specific intel. Elevated, likely stained flow after recent rain typically pushes channel catfish and flathead toward current breaks, eddies, and shoreline cover — a pattern river anglers should expect through the week. Bass fishing usually gets tougher when rivers run high and dirty; per Tactical Bassin's late-summer notes, working slow presentations tight to bank cover is the safer play, while Fishing the Midwest's advice on tracking green, living weed edges is worth applying once flows settle. With this week's Full Moon overhead, low-light hours should produce the most consistent action.
Low Flows Push VT River Smallmouth Into Deep Cool Pockets
Flows on our tracked gauge (USGS 01135300) are running a scant 4.11 cfs early this morning — a low-water signal that's concentrating baitfish, and gamefish with them, into deeper pools and shaded current breaks. No direct Connecticut River or Lake Champlain reports came through this cycle, so we're leaning on regional New England freshwater trends: per The Fisherman — New England Freshwater, smallmouth bass action remains excellent on nearby river stretches like the Merrimack, with largemouth still coming from area ponds on shiners and topwater. Field & Stream's late-summer smallmouth piece on New England rivers offers useful technique cues for VT rivers running low and clear right now. On The Water's late-summer largemouth advice points anglers toward dense cover in low light — frogs, jigs, and stickbaits — as the play until temperatures ease. Walleye and lake trout are the quieter story, typically pulling deep once surface water warms this time of year. Under this week's Full Moon, plan trips around dawn and dusk for the most consistent action.
Late-summer walleye bite builds on Lake Erie ahead of turnover
Buoy and USGS telemetry for the Lake Erie and Ohio River region came back empty this cycle — gauge 03271601 logged no flow or water-temperature reading as of today's pull, and this week's angler-intel feed carried no Ohio-specific field reports from shops, charters, or the state agency. That leaves us leaning on typical late-August patterns for the region rather than fresh eyewitness accounts. Historically, Lake Erie walleye are pushing toward deeper basin structure and reef edges as surface water cools into fall staging, smallmouth bass are working rocky humps and drop-offs, and Ohio River catfish and hybrid stripers stay active through the warm-water stretch, often feeding harder after dark. A full moon tonight typically boosts nocturnal feeding activity for catfish and walleye alike. Treat species calls below as seasonal expectation, not confirmed local reports, until fresh regional intel comes in.
Low Flows Open a Wading Window on the Cumberland Tailwater
USGS gauge 03413200 on the Cumberland River tailwater logged just 3.26 cfs in the early hours of August 28, about as low as flow gets — a sign turbines were largely idle overnight. That kind of minimal-generation window is exactly when the tailwater fishes most like a wadable trout stream rather than a big-water release fishery, favoring anglers working small water with light tippet and careful presentations. We don't have a fresh water-temp reading for the gauge, but late-August flows this low typically mean clearer, more stable water than during heavy generation days. None of tonight's regional angler reports specifically cover Lake Cumberland or its tailwater, so we're leaning on typical late-summer patterns for the fishery: trout holding tight in the coldest tailwater pockets, and lake-side bass and stripers pushing deeper as surface temps stay up under the full moon. Check current generation schedules before wading — flow can change fast once release resumes.
Late-summer bass bite shifts to low light on Arkansas water
On The Water's late-summer largemouth playbook makes a useful starting point for Arkansas lake edges and river backwaters this week: shore anglers are still finding fish tucked into dense cover, working low-light windows with frogs, jigs, and stickbaits, per the outlet's latest coverage. The USGS gauge feed for the White River system (site 07263620) posted no fresh flow or temperature reading this cycle, so treat conditions as typical for late August in the Ozarks until a current number comes through. Field & Stream's notes on smallmouth retreating to cooler, deeper refuges during a hot stretch track with what's likely happening on White River smallmouth water right now, and the cold tailwater releases below Bull Shoals and Norfork should keep the trout fishery comparatively insulated through the regional heat. This week's Full Moon typically means a stronger nighttime and low-light bite across species. No Arkansas-specific report came through this week's feeds — treat the species notes below as seasonal generalizations rather than confirmed local activity.
Gulf of Alaska settles into late-summer silver salmon and halibut season
No buoy or gauge readings came through for this cycle, and this week's Alaska Sea Grant items covered coastal-community programs and fellowships rather than on-the-water conditions — so nothing in today's feeds speaks directly to what's biting along the Gulf of Alaska right now. Absent fresh testimony, this report leans on general seasonal expectations: late August typically sits inside the summer coho (silver) salmon push, king salmon fishing is usually tapering off by this point in the run, halibut remain a dependable bottom-fishing target into early fall, and lingcod tend to draw more interest as water temperatures ease off their summer peak. Treat every species note below as typical-for-the-calendar rather than a confirmed report. Anglers heading out should check the latest charter and state updates before committing a trip to any single target, since we have no first-hand intel to confirm current bite activity in the region this week.
Door County and Sheboygan salmon season builds into the fall run
No buoy or gauge readings came back for the Door County/Sheboygan stretch of Lake Michigan today, and this cycle's angler-intel feed came up thin on direct, dated reports from the water — most of what surfaced from the WI DNR Lake Michigan Fishing Report was administrative (a since-resolved Rowley's Bay boat launch closure, a whitefish quota meeting notice) rather than a current bite update. What is worth carrying forward: the WI DNR Lake Michigan Fishing Report noted 2024 as a standout harvest year on the lake, with more than 210,000 coho salmon landed (a record) and over 160,000 Chinook, the most since 2012, on the back of stronger alewife survival feeding the stocked salmonids. Late August typically lines up with the front edge of the fall king run for this stretch of shoreline, so Chinook and coho should be the primary targets right now, with lake trout a steady secondary option. Confirm sizes and structure with a local shop before running deep water — we don't have fresh readings to anchor exact depths today.
Gulf of Maine cod reopens as big stripers ride the pogie push
Squid and pogies are stacked up along the Gloucester waterfront this week, and Capt. Tom Lukegord of Beauport Fishing Adventures reports the striper bite riding right along with the bait — big fish only right now, nothing small enough to keep, per The Fisherman — South Shore MA to ME. That's the closest on-the-water read available for the NH coast, since this outlet's reports cover South Shore Massachusetts through Maine as one Gulf of Maine region. Bluefish remain a no-show up this way, with the same report noting blues are "completely absent above Salem so far this year." The bigger regional headline for Granite State bottom fishermen: Gulf of Maine cod reopens September 1st with a 1-fish limit at a 23-inch minimum, the first access anglers have had all of 2026, per Dave Anderson writing for The Fisherman — South Shore MA to ME — though the Southern New England stock area stays closed through year-end. No live buoy or gauge readings came through for this cycle, so lean on tide tables and a local forecast check before you launch.
Spanish Mackerel Fire Up Around Cape Lookout
Dave at Chasin' Tails in Morehead/Atlantic Beach, per Fisherman's Post (NC), reports a good nearshore spanish mackerel bite this week, with the bigger spanish showing up specifically around Cape Lookout. Further out, bottom fishing has also been producing, though species weren't detailed. Up the coast at Swansboro/Emerald Isle, Morgan of The Reel Outdoors says pier anglers throwing casting jigs and Gotcha plugs are hooking spanish mackerel and bluefish, with a few king mackerel mixed in. On the Pamlico side, Hugh at TW's Bait and Tackle notes surf-zone anglers picking up sea mullet, bluefish, and plenty of croakers on bottom rigs, with inshore action finally strengthening after a slow stretch. Red drum are typically present in the Sound this time of year as well. With tonight's full moon pushing extra water, expect stronger current swings around the inlets.