Fishing reports
17324 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
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.
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.