Fishing reports
17379 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
Late-summer ledge bite carries the Chickamauga-Watts Bar chain
No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for the Chickamauga/Watts Bar stretch of the Tennessee River this cycle, so this report leans on seasonal patterns typical for late August on TVA reservoirs plus the broader technique trends showing up in this week's national fishing coverage. Bass anglers are heading into the summer-to-fall transition, and Tactical Bassin (blog) flags the classic late-summer mistake of over-committing to spots that produced earlier in the year instead of following bait toward cooling water. Field & Stream's rundown of Carolina-rig fundamentals — dragged slowly over 10-plus feet of clean-bottom points and ledges — lines up well with how Chickamauga and Watts Bar bass typically set up this time of year. Fishing the Midwest also notes forward-facing sonar continuing to reshape how anglers locate suspended and offshore fish, a trend increasingly relevant to ledge-style reservoirs like these.
Late-Summer Weed and Cover Transition Sets Up Platte-Missouri Bite
No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for the Platte and Missouri corridors this cycle, so this update leans on regional technique trends rather than a hard number. Fishing the Midwest notes that as late-summer weed beds start dying back, walleye and other gamefish that held in one spot for weeks often relocate toward the healthiest remaining green growth — worth checking secondary weed lines before writing off shallower water. On The Water's "Beat the Bank" piece backs a similar late-summer pattern for largemouth: dense shoreline cover during low-light hours is producing on frogs, compact jigs, and stickbaits. Field & Stream's rundown of the Carolina rig is a solid standby for anyone working river flats and ledges with a clean bottom in 10-plus feet. With a full moon overhead, expect a stronger low-light and after-dark bite than midday. No source specifically reported from the Platte or Missouri this week, so treat the species notes below as seasonal expectation rather than a confirmed local report.
Lanier and Allatoona bass settle into late-summer, early-topwater pattern
Direct reports out of Lake Lanier and Allatoona were thin this cycle, but the pattern showing up at nearby Georgia reservoirs points to what our two lakes are likely doing in the same late-August heat. At Lake Oconee, guide Nick Knapp of BigFishHeads Guide Service, per GA Sportsman / Georgia Outdoor News, describes early-morning topwater giving way to deeper fish as the sun climbs — a pattern that should hold on Lanier and Allatoona too. At Lake Jackson, tournament angler Willie McMullen, also via GA Sportsman / Georgia Outdoor News, called the bite hit-or-miss in the dog days, favoring walking baits on deep seawalls for spots and frogs or Pop-R style topwater for largemouth, with a chance at a late-season mayfly hatch. Lanier's own pro Paul Marks is gearing up for the WBE Championship this fall, per the same source — a reminder the lake draws serious bass talent even in the summer lull.
Late-summer largemouth key on shallow cover across Catawba, Roanoke
No fresh buoy or gauge readings and no direct Catawba or Roanoke angler reports came in for today's update, so this one leans on late-summer patterns rather than a live bite report — worth saying plainly instead of guessing. What we do know: this is peak dog-days water for NC's freshwater fisheries, with a full moon overhead tonight that typically nudges baitfish and predators into low-light feeding windows. On The Water's late-summer largemouth advice — working dense cover during low light with frogs, compact jigs, and stickbaits — applies directly to piedmont and coastal-plain reservoirs like these right now. Field & Stream's Carolina-rig breakdown for water deeper than 10 feet along flats and clean-bottom points is a solid fallback once the sun climbs and bass slide off the bank. Catfish typically feed hardest after dark this time of year, while striped bass and crappie tend to hold deep against the day's heat. Check local access points for current flow before launching.
Central MA smallmouth bite heats up at Wachusett Reservoir
A young Central Massachusetts angler landed a 5-pound smallmouth bass on his third cast at Wachusett Reservoir this week, then followed up with a 4-plus-pound smallmouth on a topwater lure, according to Jerry's Bait and Tackle as relayed by The Fisherman — New England Freshwater. The same report notes largemouth bass around area ponds mixing smaller fish in with occasional bigger specimens, while kids fishing from shore near Milford are still finding willing panfish, bullhead, and small largemouth on simple bait and jig presentations. With the full moon overhead and late-summer heat still holding across Central Massachusetts, largemouth should keep favoring low-light windows at dawn and dusk near dense cover, a pattern both On The Water and Field & Stream point to for this stretch of the calendar. Right now, smallmouth working deeper reservoir structure look like the most consistent bite in the region.
Yakima and Spokane rivers settle into typical late-summer trout rhythm
No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for the Yakima/Spokane corridor this cycle, and none of today's angler-intel feeds carried a specific Eastern Washington bite report — WA WDFW Fishing Reports tracks statewide creel and stocking data but nothing region-specific surfaced in this pull. With a Full Moon overhead and late-August water conditions typical for the interior, expect the usual seasonal pattern on rivers like the Yakima and Spokane: redband/rainbow trout holding in deeper runs and shaded pockets through the warmest midday hours, with better activity at dawn, dusk, and overnight around the bright moon. Smallmouth bass in the Spokane system and kokanee in area reservoirs should also be following normal late-summer behavior. Anglers should check the current WDFW creel and stocking reports directly before heading out, since this report has no site-specific catch data to confirm what's actually being caught this week.
Missouri River walleye ease into early fall weed transition
No NOAA buoys or USGS gauges cover the stretches of the Missouri River and Black Hills we track, and this week's regional intel skewed heavily toward Southeast and Midwest bass/catfish stories rather than direct South Dakota reports — so treat today's outlook as seasonal guidance rather than fresh eyes-on-the-water testimony. Late August on the Missouri River system typically means walleye and smallmouth bass sliding off summer structure as reservoirs begin their slow cool-down, with channel catfish still active on cut bait in the softer water below dams. Fishing the Midwest's recent notes on fall transitions point out that as weeds start dying back, baitfish and gamefish relocate to the healthiest remaining green weed clumps — a pattern that applies directly to Missouri River backwaters heading into September. Black Hills trout streams, meanwhile, are entering their typical late-summer low-flow, warm-afternoon slowdown, with dawn and dusk outings the better bet. Check state regs before harvesting, and expect conditions to sharpen as cooler nights arrive.
Texas catfish keep producing as bass game turns to early light
Blue and channel catfish remain the most consistently talked-about producers on Texas reservoirs right now. The North Texas Catfish Guide's Eagle Mountain Lake reports describe "phenomenal" and "steady" catfish action tied to fresh inflow and stable-to-rising lake levels, a pattern that typically carries into late summer once reservoirs settle into warm, oxygenated water after runoff events. No fresh NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings came through for this report window, so treat water temperature and flow as unconfirmed until you check a local gauge before running far. Largemouth bass are following the expected late-August heat rhythm — Tactical Bassin's late-summer tips point anglers to shallow points and topwater at first light, sliding to finesse jigs as the sun climbs and fish slide deeper. White bass runs the same charter has flagged in past summers tend to fade by this point in the season. With a full moon overhead, look for stronger overnight and dawn feeding windows, especially for catfish working the flats.
MS anglers dial in ahead of Sept. 1 gag, amberjack opener
Mississippi Sound's biggest late-summer story is regulatory, not a hot-bite report: per the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources, recreational seasons for Gag grouper and Greater Amberjack open in state territorial waters at 12:01 a.m. on September 1, running through October 1 for Gag and October 14 for Amberjack. With the water still holding late-August heat, this reads as a prep-and-position week rather than a hot-bite week — Sport Fishing Mag's Gulf gag coverage points anglers toward trolling past structure and rock piles to locate fish before the short season opens, while Coastal Angler Magazine's amberjack notes emphasize stout tackle for battling "reef donkeys" once it's legal to keep them. Inshore, expect the sluggish late-summer pattern Salt Strong describes for this time of year — fish conserving energy in the heat — so slow presentations should outfish anything fast-moving over the next few days.
Western Basin walleye anglers eye the late-August turn
No buoy or gauge telemetry and no Western Basin-specific reports came through in this cycle's feeds, so today's outlook for OH's Lake Erie walleye grounds leans on typical late-August patterns rather than fresh on-the-water testimony. Historically, this stretch of the season has walleye holding over deeper basin structure and reef edges as surface water stays warm, with trolling spreads of crankbaits and spoons typically producing better than shoreline casting. Yellow perch usually school over shoal areas this time of year, rewarding anglers drifting live emeralds or minnows. Smallmouth bass activity commonly slows during peak daytime heat, pushing fish deeper around rock piles until low light returns. Tonight's Full Moon can extend feeding windows into darker hours for walleye and white bass alike. Anglers should check current Ohio harvest regulations before keeping fish, and treat today's picture as seasonal baseline until fresh regional reports come in.
Delaware River Smallmouth Build as Pine Barrens Pickerel Turn On
Pickerel are working the tannic cedar waters of the Pine Barrens this week, with anglers at Allen's Dock picking fish on killies in the region's classic dark-water creeks and ponds. Largemouth bass are cooperating too — Dave's Sport Shop in Doylestown reports weedless plastics fished tight to vegetation producing in local lakes, with an early-and-late topwater bite also showing. The bigger story for river anglers: smallmouth fishing on the Delaware has been improving, and Dave's Sport Shop expects the trend to hold into September if conditions stay favorable. Panfish and perch are stacking in spillways as summer winds down, a seasonal pattern also noted along the Delaware freshwater corridor. Under this week's full moon, expect stronger low-light feeding windows for pickerel and bass alike. Freshwater levels are reported as generally good across the watershed, with fair-to-good fishing expected to carry into September barring major weather disruption.
Sea Bass Stay Hot While Fluke Grind Toward the September Push
Black sea bass are red-hot up and down the Shore right now — Capt Ron's Atlantic Highlands NJ logged a "top ten day" this week with big sea bass mixed into every drift, and Mary M IV out of Central Jersey put anglers on limits of sea bass, porgies, and ling alongside a solid fluke pick. Fluke itself remains a grind: Capt Ron's crews are sorting plenty of shorts for a handful of keepers, though OTW Northern New Jersey notes big keeper fluke are still coming off the reefs and wrecks. Offshore, Hands Too Bait and Tackle reports bluefin tuna and mahi working the 19-to-30-fathom pots and temperature breaks with white marlin mixed in, while Fishermans HQ LBI (NJ) has boats going 4-for-8 on 30-40 lb bluefin within 20 miles of Barnegat Inlet. Inshore, Grumpys Tackle (NJ) says warm water has pushed bonito and Spanish mackerel into range, best worked on epoxy jigs.
Maine's North Woods lakes settle into late-summer low-light bite
Smallmouth bass are still eating in New England's freshwater rivers and ponds, per The Fisherman — New England Freshwater, with anglers connecting on topwater at dawn and dusk and swim baits picking up largemouth as weeds start to thin. No Moosehead- or upper-Penobscot-specific reports came through this cycle, and no buoy or gauge readings were available either, so we're pairing that regional signal with late-August seasonal norms for Maine's North Woods: landlocked salmon and lake trout (togue) sliding toward deeper, cooler water as surface temps sit near their summer peak, and brook trout action typically staying slow until nights cool further. This week's full moon should extend the low-light feeding window at both ends of the day, making early-morning and last-light trips the better bet than midday outings this weekend.
Bonito Signal Fall Run's Arrival in Narragansett Bay
Green bonito are showing up in solid numbers along Rhode Island's south county beaches and around the Harbor of Refuge this week, according to Snug Harbor Marina and The Saltwater Edge. Those fish are keying on larger forage, sand eels and herring, which the shop says makes them easier to fool than earlier in the summer. False albacore haven't shown locally yet, but Snug Harbor says they could arrive any day, and The Fisherman's New England forecast notes a strong bonito push in Rhode Island waters this week with a few albies already popping around Cape waters, one over 16 pounds. Striped bass remain the slow spot in the mix, held back by warm water and shark pressure per The Saltwater Edge, with the fall migration expected to change that soon. Bottom fishing stayed the more dependable bet: Frances Fleet and Quonnie Bait and Tackle both report strong fluke and black sea bass action, with fluke pushing toward 10 pounds.
Full moon tides put Hawaii's offshore bite in play
Hawaii Fishing News, the state's official keeper of record catches and its long-running moon-and-tide calendar, flags this week's full moon as a key reference point for anglers planning trips around current and light. No NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings came through for the islands this cycle, and none of today's angler-intel feeds carried a fresh Hawaii-specific bite report, so this update leans on typical late-August seasonal patterns rather than a confirmed report. At this point in summer, offshore trolling for yellowfin tuna (ahi) is usually still productive, mahimahi tends to slow as the peak spring-summer run tapers off, wahoo (ono) typically starts building toward its fall push, and giant trevally (ulua) remain a reliable nearshore and reef target, especially after dark around a full moon. Treat the species notes below as seasonal expectation rather than a confirmed catch report until fresh on-the-water intel comes in.
Kennebec and Penobscot smallmouth settle into late-summer rhythm
No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for the Kennebec and Penobscot corridor this cycle, and this week's Maine-specific angler intel leaned toward Sea Grant program news rather than on-the-water reports. Regionally, The Fisherman's New England Freshwater desk notes smallmouth bass action holding strong on nearby Merrimack River stretches and largemouth still eating shiners and topwater lures on Massachusetts ponds — a pattern that typically tracks close to what Maine's warmwater rivers are doing this time of year. On the Kennebec and Penobscot, late August under a full moon usually means smallmouth bass feeding hardest in the low-light dawn and dusk windows, sliding to deeper current breaks and ledges once the sun climbs. Landlocked salmon and brook trout typically pull toward cooler tributary mouths and spring seeps as the season's warmest water lingers. Check current Maine fishing regulations before harvesting anything you plan to keep.
Terrestrial patterns keep Smokies tailwater trout dialed in
No live buoy or gauge readings came through for the Hiwassee or Caney Fork this cycle, so this update leans on the broader trout-fishing picture heading into the last week of August. Hatch Magazine's terrestrial countdown piece this week flags late-August as prime hopper-and-ant season across freshwater trout systems as grasshopper and beetle activity peaks along grassy banks — a pattern that applies just as well to Southern Appalachian tailwaters as it does out West. On generation-dependent rivers like the Hiwassee and Caney Fork, the bite still hinges on TVA/USACE release schedules more than anything else; low-flow windows around dam shutoffs typically produce the best dry-fly and terrestrial fishing, while high generation pushes fish to seams and forces a streamer-and-nymph approach. With a full moon overhead, expect an earlier-than-usual dawn bite and a chance at active low-light feeding. Check current generation schedules before planning your trip.
Walleye bite turns toward weed edges as Iron Range nears fall transition
No buoy or gauge telemetry is running for the Boundary Waters and Iron Range this week, so this report leans on regional intel rather than hard numbers, under a Full Moon that should sharpen low-light bite windows. Fishing the Midwest's Bob Jensen and Mike Frisch note the classic late-summer shift is underway across Upper Midwest lakes: as shallow weeds start dying back, oxygen drops and baitfish push toward the healthiest remaining green weeds and nearby structure, pulling walleye and bass along with them — worth checking on Iron Range lakes now. The same source notes Forward-Facing Sonar has changed how anglers find suspended walleye off traditional bottom structure. Statewide, Minnesota bass fishing is having a strong year: Outdoor Hub reported a new 22.5-inch largemouth bass catch out of southern Minnesota's Lura Lake this spring, though that water sits well south of this region. Expect walleye and smallmouth to lead the action here, pike opportunistic along weed edges, and lake trout holding deep and slow.
Green River tailwater trout hold steady into late August
No live buoy or USGS gauge readings came in for the Green River tailwater or Uinta high lakes this cycle, and today's angler-intel feed contained no reports specific to Utah waters — the available blogs and forums covered other regions entirely. That means this update leans on general seasonal knowledge rather than fresh on-the-water testimony. Late August on the Green River below Flaming Gorge Dam typically keeps rainbow and brown trout active on small midge and scud patterns in the tailwater's cold, stable flows, with terrestrial patterns like hoppers and ants worth a look along the banks. In the high Uinta lakes, cutthroat trout fishing is usually still solid at elevation before nights start cooling toward fall, while kokanee salmon typically stay slow until their pre-spawn push begins in September. Check current Utah DWR regulations before harvesting, and watch for updated regional reports as they come in.
Merrimack Smallmouth Keep Firing as NH's Late-Summer Bite Shifts
Smallmouth bass action remains excellent through the Lowell-to-Lawrence and Hooksett, New Hampshire stretches of the Merrimack River, per this week's New England Freshwater report from The Fisherman, with anglers connecting on both numbers and better-quality fish. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came in for the Merrimack or Winnipesaukee system this cycle, so today's report leans on angler intel over hard numbers. Largemouth bass are following the typical late-summer script — On The Water's shore-fishing rundown this week points anglers toward dense cover and low-light windows, working topwater frogs, compact jigs, and stickbaits as the bite narrows toward dawn and dusk. Lake trout on Winnipesaukee are typically sliding deeper as surface water holds onto summer heat, a pattern that should continue into early September. With tonight's full moon overhead, expect a modest uptick in nighttime and dawn feeding activity across the region's bass water.
Delta anglers lean on late-summer patterns as fresh intel stays quiet
No fresh buoy or gauge readings came in for the Sacramento-Delta system this cycle, and this week's angler-intel feed carried no region-specific catch reports for Northern California's freshwater fisheries — NorCal Fish Reports' site index lists an active Delta section, but no dispatch came through this pull. That leaves this week's outlook grounded in typical late-August patterns for the Delta's tidal sloughs and river channels: striped bass activity tends to build as summer heat starts to ease, largemouth bass hold tight to submerged grass beds and tule lines through the heat of the day, white sturgeon remain a steady deep-water target on cut bait, and catfish stay active through warm evenings. With a full moon overhead, expect stronger-than-normal tidal exchange — worth timing trips around the moving water. Verify current conditions and California harvest regulations locally before heading out this week.
Buoy 10 Chatter Signals Chinook Are Showing on the Columbia
An IFish.net Fishing Reports post placed a rod overboard near the Buoy 10 line across from Skipanon this week, with the poster describing 'HOT chinook action trolling solo' in the same report — a promising sign for the Columbia's late-August push, though it's a single, unconfirmed account rather than a verified bite report from a shop or charter. Two more IFish.net posts turned up gear lost near the mouth of the Lewis River and further upriver at Chinook Landing, both traditional fall-run staging areas, hinting that boat traffic and effort are picking up. No fresh NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings were available for the Columbia this week, and no shop, charter, or agency source corroborated a hot bite, so treat the chatter as a lead worth checking rather than a guarantee. White sturgeon fishing is typically quieter and catch-and-release only through this stretch of summer, with the fall Chinook run still building.
Truckee trout dial in early as Sierra shop calls for cooling water
Truckee River water temperatures are set to drop over the next few days and fishing should improve, per Reno Fly Shop, whose mid-August on-the-water report found trout eating crayfish patterns and mayfly imitations early in the day on both the CA and NV sides of the river. Surface bug life remains sparse, so subsurface presentations are outproducing dries for now. Late-summer carp fishing on the fly has been very good, the shop notes, with anglers working urban stretches and area ponds. For anglers looking beyond the river, the shop's season primer on Heenan Lake — the Alpine County Lahontan cutthroat fishery off Highway 89 near Markleeville — points to strong prospects following this year's post-spawn stocking, in a fishery the shop compares to Pyramid Lake. With the full moon overhead this week, expect an early, low-light bite window before daytime heat sets in.
Driftless streamer bite holds as terrestrial season winds down
No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for the Driftless Area this cycle, so this update leans on angler intel rather than instrument data. The standout note: Root River Rod Co's go-to Driftless streamer, a pine-squirrel jig built to bounce the rocky bottom of tight, technical spring creeks without hanging up, is featured in MidCurrent's latest Tying Tuesday roundup, a solid signal that subsurface presentations are still earning bites in the region's classic skinny, boulder-strewn water. Elsewhere in Wisconsin, Hatch Magazine's essay on an under-the-radar Langlade County stream describes a rumored healthy trout population, general color on the state's trout fishing rather than a Driftless-specific report. With no local flow or temperature readings available this week, treat any water-condition assumptions as general seasonal knowledge: late August typically means stable, spring-fed flows and lingering terrestrial activity across Driftless streams. Check a local gauge before you go.