Fishing reports
17878 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
Full moon walleye bite favors wing dams on the Mississippi pools
No live buoy or gauge readings are in for the Clinton-Dubuque pools this cycle, so today's read leans on regional pattern and season. A full moon overhead late this week typically pushes overnight and dawn feeding windows for Upper Mississippi walleye and sauger, while August's warm, stable water keeps channel catfish active around wing dams and current seams — a staple summer pattern on this stretch. Fishing the Midwest's recent notes on Forward-Facing Sonar changing where anglers find suspended walleye apply broadly across the region's pools, where fish increasingly hold off traditional bottom structure rather than glued to it. Smallmouth bass remain a solid bycatch around riprap and wing-dam rock as water stays warm. Without a fresh state or charter report specific to this stretch, treat today's picks as seasonal defaults — check a current local report before locking in a spot.
Late-Summer Transition Shapes Bass Bite on Ohio & Cumberland
Tactical Bassin's late-summer advisory this week warns anglers against the common late-August trap of slowing down and re-fishing spots that worked earlier in the season — advice worth carrying onto Kentucky's Ohio and Cumberland River systems as the calendar tips toward the fall transition. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for this reach, so treat current flow and water temperature as unknowns until confirmed locally before launching. Largemouth and smallmouth bass remain the headline species on these rivers this time of year, with moving baits like buzzbaits — per Tactical Bassin's rundown of retrieve speeds, colors, and trailer combos — worth a look early and late in the day as baitfish push shallow and bass key on them. Catfish typically stay active through late-August warmth, especially after dark, while crappie tend to slide deeper and slower on this stretch of the calendar. A full moon overnight can extend feeding windows, particularly for catfish, and is worth planning a dusk-to-dawn trip around.
Pearl River bass anglers beat the heat with a dawn topwater bite
Tactical Bassin's late-summer breakdown is the most directly useful read for Mississippi and Pearl River bass anglers this week: the blog warns against the common late-summer mistake of slowing down and leaning on spots that worked earlier in the year, pointing instead toward smaller-baitfish patterns and early buzzbait and topwater windows before the day's heat sets in. No fresh buoy or USGS gauge readings came through for the Mississippi/Pearl system this cycle, so treat flow and clarity as unconfirmed until you're on the water. With a full moon overhead, expect an active low-light bite — dawn and dusk on shallow points and emerging weed edges are the highest-percentage plays, while midday heat typically pushes bass, bream, and crappie toward deeper, cooler holding water, standard for late August in the Deep South. Catfish should stay a dependable after-dark option through the stretch.
Late-summer heat pushes Roosevelt bass bite to dawn and dusk
Tactical Bassin's late-summer roundup this week — 'Don't Make These 3 Late Summer Fishing Mistakes' — is the most directly relevant intel we have heading into this report, since no buoy or gauge telemetry came through for Roosevelt Lake or the Salt River chain this cycle, and no Arizona-specific charter or shop reports landed either. Their core point: anglers who keep grinding the same shallow spots that produced in July often stall out as summer turns toward fall, while those willing to probe deeper structure and adjust retrieve speed keep getting bit. A companion piece from the same source recommends topwater and finesse jig combinations worked from first light through the morning cool, before heat pushes bass tight to structure. With a full moon overhead and water still carrying summer heat, expect a similar pattern here — best window at dawn and dusk, with midday demanding a slower, deeper presentation.
Big White River rainbows biting after dark near Norfork
A guide's months-long pursuit of one oversized rainbow trout near the confluence of the White and Norfork rivers ended in a night catch, per Wired 2 Fish. Mountain Home guide Jesse Brison had repeatedly spotted the same big trout over several weeks near the Shipp's Ferry area before finally connecting after dark, a reminder that the biggest tailwater trout on this system often feed most aggressively once the sun goes down, and a Full Moon tonight should keep some ambient light on the water overnight. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for this stretch today, so treat flow and clarity as unconfirmed until you check the dam generation schedule before launching. Rainbow trout remain the most reliably active species here through late summer, with browns and cutthroat trailing as slower, more technical targets. Anglers working current seams and structure near tributary junctions like Shipp's Ferry appear to be getting the best looks at bigger fish right now.
Big stripers push toward NH waters as Gulf of Maine cod reopens
Striped bass are the headline story from Boston to Maine right now: The Fisherman's New England Video Fishing Forecast reports "seriously big fish" showing north of the Cape as fall signals build. Closer to home, Beauport Fishing Adventures out of Gloucester (via The Fisherman — South Shore MA to ME) describes striper action as all big fish at the moment — "none small enough to keep" — with heavy squid and pogy schools holding those bass tight to bait. Bluefish, by contrast, remain completely absent above Salem per the same report. The bigger news for Gulf of Maine anglers heading into fall: Dave Anderson's report notes a 1-fish codfish limit at a 23-inch minimum opens September 1, the first Gulf of Maine cod access all year, though the Southern New England stock stays closed through year-end. No buoy or gauge readings came back for this stretch today, so check tide tables and dress for shifting conditions before heading out.
Delaware Bay flounder bite runs hot into the Full Moon
Delaware Bay flounder are running hot heading into the Full Moon, with Higbee's Bait and Tackle in Cape May reporting limits to 23 inches around the EP Tower and near the lighthouse, while Hook 'em and Cook 'em notes fair flounder, sea bass, and croaker action out of the Old Grounds along with some tuna and tilefish from boats working the canyons. On the Delaware side, Smith's Bait Shop reports striped bass from 20 to 24 inches coming off sandworms and shrimp in the tidal creeks and rivers, plus solid croakers at the Woodland Beach pier and the Bowers Beach jetty, where flounder are also showing on live minnows and bucktails tipped with squid or Gulp crawfish. Big Dave's Tackle adds that tog and sheepshead are being picked off structure on green crabs and sand fleas. Eric Burnley notes keeper-size croaker have been tough to scratch out lately. No live buoy or gauge readings are available for this update, so check local conditions before you launch.
Spanish Mackerel Bite Builds Around Cape Lookout
Nearshore anglers are on a good spanish mackerel bite, with the bigger fish concentrating around Cape Lookout, according to Dave at Chasin' Tails in the Morehead/Atlantic Beach report from Fisherman's Post (NC). Further up the coast in Swansboro/Emerald Isle, Morgan of The Reel Outdoors says anglers throwing casting jigs and Gotcha plugs from the pier are hooking spanish mackerel and bluefish, with a few king mackerel mixed in — a sign bigger predators are starting to push into range. In the OBX/Northern Beaches stretch toward Pamlico Sound, Hugh at TW's Bait and Tackle reports the surf zone producing sea mullet, bluefish, and plenty of croakers on standard bottom rigs, while inshore action is finally starting to turn on. We're calling spanish mackerel the standout species this cycle. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for this report, so pair this intel with a local tide chart and current marine forecast before you launch.
Low, Clear Western Slope Rivers Push Trout Anglers to Fish Early
Colorado's Western Slope rivers are running historically thin this week, with the Roaring Fork sitting at 113 cfs near Aspen and just 410 cfs by Glenwood Springs, per Crystal Fly Shop's latest report — flows low enough that Colorado Parks and Wildlife has a voluntary afternoon closure in effect on the Roaring Fork from the Highway 133 bridge in Carbondale down to the Colorado River confluence, plus a full-day closure on a stretch of the Crystal River and on the Colorado River between Glenwood Springs and Rifle. Cutthroat Anglers is telling clients to carry a thermometer and stop fishing once water hits 68°F, calling 2026 a record-low water year, a read Pat Dorsey Fly Fishing echoes in ranking this drought among the worst on record for the state. The upside: fish that remain are grouped up and still eating, with Crystal Fly Shop reporting some of the season's best fishing on the cooler stretches above Carbondale. The Frying Pan below Ruedi Reservoir stays in the 40s and remains a dependable fallback.
Montauk bluefish blitzes heat up as Long Island fluke bite holds strong
Off Montauk, Double D Charters report that savage light-tackle bluefish blitzes have become the norm this week, with jumbo porgies stacking up on jigs and the offshore bluefin bite staying strong. On the South Shore, Babylon Fishing Station logged a 57-inch bluefin by the Towers while calling the fluke bite hot, even with plenty of short fish mixed in — Bob's Bait and Tackle in Amity Harbor agrees fluke action "cannot be any better," best worked with hi-lo rigs and Gulp on the reefs outside the inlets. Striped bass are showing at the inlet on certain tides per Tight Lines Tackle, and at night on live eels in Manhasset Bay per Fishing East Coast Bait and Tackle. Porgy fishing remains solid from City Island to Cedar Beach. Cooling overnight temperatures, per River Bay Outfitters, and a full moon tonight point toward an active week on the water.
Catskills, Adirondack trout keying on terrestrials as summer fades
No fresh buoy or gauge readings came back for the Adirondacks and Catskills this cycle, so this report leans on the seasonal pattern and the broader trout conversation happening right now. Late August is prime terrestrial season across trout country — Hatch Magazine's terrestrial countdown and Trout Unlimited's reminder that 'time on the water equals fish' both point to ants, beetles, and hopper patterns producing through the heat, a pattern that typically holds for Northeastern freestone streams as much as it does out West. Water is likely running low and warm for late summer, so expect brown and rainbow trout to stay active in riffles and shaded runs during early morning and evening, while brook trout — the most heat-sensitive of the three — hold best in spring-fed headwaters. Elsewhere in New York, anticipation is building for the fall king and coho run on the Salmon River, per Flylords Mag, a sign the broader state season is turning toward autumn.
Truckee River trout stay on hoppers as Tahoe's kokanee run nears
Late August has the Tahoe Basin in its classic split pattern: Truckee River trout are keying on terrestrials during the cooler morning and evening windows, while out on the big lake, Mackinaw (lake trout) are holding deep against a well-established summer thermocline. No fresh NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings came through for this update, and none of today's national fishing-blog intel named a Tahoe or Truckee source directly, so this report leans on typical late-summer patterns for the region rather than a specific catch report. Expect low, clear flows on the river — standard for this point in the season — which pushes fish tight to shade, undercut banks, and deeper runs during the heat of the day. Kokanee salmon are in their pre-spawn staging phase, gathering near tributary mouths ahead of the fall run. A full moon tonight may push some feeding activity into low-light hours. Check current flow and temperature data locally before heading out, since none was available for this write-up.
Late-summer patterns hold on GA rivers as fall transition nears
Water conditions data wasn't available for the Chattahoochee and Savannah systems this cycle, but seasonal patterns for late August in Georgia freshwater are well established. Georgia Wildlife Blog's Fishing Report has been running weekly through summer, and Tactical Bassin's late-summer guidance (regional bass content, not GA-specific) flags this stretch as a transition window: fish that have been holding deep and slow through peak heat start repositioning as days shorten, and moving baits like buzzbaits and topwater start producing again, especially early and late in the day. On the Chattahoochee, tailwater sections below dams typically hold cooler, more oxygenated water than the Savannah's slower Piedmont and Coastal Plain stretches this time of year, which usually keeps bass and bream more active there through the afternoon. With a full moon overhead, expect stronger low-light bites around dawn, dusk, and overnight. Check current generation schedules and flow before planning a Chattahoochee trip.
Full Moon Favors Night Bite as Late-Summer Patterns Hold on Eufaula, Red River
Tactical Bassin's newest late-summer breakdown is the most relevant angler intel available for Lake Eufaula and Red River bass fans this week, flagging the common mistake of camping on shallow spots that worked all summer as August heat lingers — the fix is working bait-schooled main-lake points and mixing topwater with finesse jigs through the day. No NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings came in for this Oklahoma freshwater system this cycle, so treat conditions as typical late-summer: warm, stratified water pushing largemouth and white bass toward main-lake structure and creek-channel points. Tonight's Full Moon tends to concentrate blue catfish and white bass into stronger after-dark and low-light feeding windows on both waters. No direct Eufaula or Red River angler reports came through our feeds this cycle — treat the species notes below as seasonal defaults rather than confirmed bites, and check a regional forecast and current flow before launching.
Terrestrials still working the Green River tailwater below Flaming Gorge
Terrestrial patterns remain the story on Utah's Green River tailwater heading into Labor Day week, with Trout Unlimited spotlighting the river's 'B' section below Flaming Gorge as classic water for fishing cicada flies from a drift boat — a pattern anglers have leaned on for years on this stretch and one that typically holds through early fall. Direct water-temperature and flow readings weren't available in this cycle's environmental feed, and no charter or shop report specific to Flaming Gorge or the Green River came through beyond the Trout Unlimited piece, so treat today's picture as seasonal-pattern guidance rather than a fresh on-the-water check. Late August on a tailwater like this typically means steady rainbow and brown trout activity on hoppers, ants, and beetles worked tight to the banks, with cutthroat trout generally quieter this time of year. Check current flow releases and local fly shop intel before heading out, and always verify regs before harvesting.
Warm-water bass and panfish dominate as Hudson Valley trout seek relief
The Mohawk River gauge near Cohoes is reading 76°F with flow holding at 819 cfs, while the Hudson gauge at Green Island is running higher at 3,610 cfs — warm, stable water pushing typical late-summer patterns across the Hudson Valley and Finger Lakes. Per the NY DEC's Fishing Line, panfish like bluegill and pumpkinseed are keeping anglers busy through the summer heat, and DEC's mid-June issue noted black bass action picking up as water warmed into early summer, a trend that's carried through August. The same DEC newsletter flagged trout and salmon needing cold-water refuge as temperatures climb, so early mornings and deep, spring-fed stretches are the better bet for stream trout right now. Smallmouth and largemouth bass remain the region's most reliable target in this heat, working shallow cover early and pivoting to deeper structure as the sun climbs. We're seeing a textbook late-August warm-water stretch.
Gulf Coast trout keep biting through the summer wind and heat
Anglers working the lower bay are still finding their limit of speckled trout on soft plastics despite persistent southwest winds, according to the Galveston Daily News' Reel Report. Ed Lantz and Armando Huereca launched out of Eagle Point Fishing camp and worked a gas well in choppy Galveston Bay water this past weekend, landing a decent trout bite. The action isn't fast, but it's steady enough to keep livewells filling. Tournament season is in full swing along the upper coast — Bayou Bash results are in, the Redfish Rumble dates are set, and a Kid Fish event runs this weekend, per the same Reel Report. The CCA-Texas STAR Tournament remains open coastwide through September 7, per Texas Fish & Game Magazine. Heat and southwest wind look locked in for the foreseeable future, with little rain relief in the forecast — plan trips around wind direction more than temperature right now.
Croaker and bluefish stack up in the OBX surf zone
Surf anglers along the Outer Banks are into a solid mixed bag right now: per Hugh at TW's Bait and Tackle, the surf zone is giving up sea mullet, bluefish, and plenty of croaker on standard bottom rigs, and inshore action is reportedly turning a corner after a slower stretch. No live buoy or gauge readings came through for this update, so treat water temp and swell as unconfirmed until you check a local source before launching. Elsewhere on the NC coast the same late-summer pattern is holding — Chasin' Tails out of Morehead City is seeing a strong nearshore Spanish mackerel bite with bigger fish stacking up near Cape Lookout, and Island Tackle and Hardware in Carolina Beach is seeing red drum, flounder, croaker, and assorted sharks in the surf — a sign the warm-water mix is running the length of the state, not just up north. Hurricane season adds a planning wrinkle worth keeping in mind.
Wabash River bass hold deep as Lake Michigan walleye go suspended
Forward-facing sonar continues to reshape how Midwest walleye anglers work Lake Michigan's open water, with Fishing the Midwest noting this season that suspended fish are increasingly found off traditional bottom structure rather than sitting on it. No fresh buoy or gauge data came back for the Wabash River or Indiana's Lake Michigan waters this cycle, so this update leans on seasonal patterns rather than a specific reading. Late August typically holds Wabash River smallmouth bass and channel catfish on deeper structure and current breaks through the heat, while nearshore Lake Michigan yellow perch stay modest until cooling water arrives closer to fall. We didn't see Indiana-specific shop or captain reports in this cycle's intel, so treat the species status below as seasonal expectation, not confirmed bites — check with a local bait shop before building a trip around any one pattern.
Late-summer bass window holds on the Potomac and Patapsco
No buoy or gauge data came back for the Potomac or Patapsco this cycle, and this week's angler-intel feed carried no direct reports from Maryland's freshwater fisheries — so this write-up leans on typical late-August patterns rather than fresh local intel. Water on both rivers is typically in the upper 70s to low 80s by late August, pushing largemouth and smallmouth bass into classic summer behavior: active in low light, sluggish once the sun climbs high. National bass-technique coverage from Tactical Bassin this week highlights early topwater bites transitioning to finesse jigs and junk-fishing approaches as temperatures rise through the day — a pattern that generally carries over to Mid-Atlantic reservoirs and tidal-freshwater stretches like the upper Potomac. The Potomac's blue catfish fishery, one of the better-known on the East Coast, typically stays productive into early fall on cut bait fished deep. Check Maryland DNR regs before harvesting, and expect the midday bite to slow with the heat.
UP streams hold steady as Superior's fall salmon push nears
Wisconsin DNR's Lake Superior Fisheries program is flagging a genuine shift on the water this year — its ongoing Chequamegon Bay lake whitefish questionnaire and a March informational meeting both point to whitefish angling on the bay having grown from a niche pursuit into a real fishery within the broader Lake Superior basin, worth watching for anglers working the UP shoreline too (per WI DNR Lake Superior Fishing). The agency is also running an angler-awareness survey on Lake Superior burbot, another basin species with a small but dedicated late-season following. We didn't get a direct on-the-water bite report for UP trout streams or Lake Superior itself this cycle, so treat the species snapshot below as seasonal-typical: late-August UP streams are running cool and clear for brook trout, lake trout are holding on deep structure, and the first push of fall salmon should be staging near tributary mouths as days shorten. Check current regs before harvesting whitefish or burbot.
Ozark trout parks settle into a quiet late-August pattern
No direct buoy or gauge readings came back for the Current or Niangua trout parks today, and none of this week's angler-intel feeds cover Missouri's Ozark fisheries specifically, so this update leans on general seasonal knowledge rather than fresh local reports. Late August is typically a transition stretch at Missouri's trout parks: daytime water can run warm enough to slow feeding during peak sun, while cooler overnight releases and early-morning windows tend to produce the most consistent action. Rainbow trout, the primary stocked species at both Current River and Niangua-area parks, generally stay catchable on small nymphs, scented dough baits, or corn under a light rig fished slow along deeper runs and structure. Brown trout, present in lower numbers, tend to hold tighter to cover and respond better to low-light presentations. Anglers should check current stocking schedules and daily tag/limit rules before heading out, since those change by park and season.
Smallmouth bite holds on rivers as CT ponds enter the late-summer lull
Per Wired2fish, the urchin-style soft-plastic bait trend reshaping bass fishing nationally is worth carrying into Connecticut's inland lakes and ponds as August winds down. No CT-specific buoy or stream-gauge readings came through this cycle, and this week's freshwater shop intel skewed toward neighboring Massachusetts and New Hampshire waters rather than Connecticut proper — worth flagging honestly rather than papering over. Still, the regional pattern is useful context: The Fisherman's New England Freshwater desk reports smallmouth bass holding strong through the Merrimack River corridor, while a Southwick, Massachusetts shop noted largemouth turning tougher after weed-control treatment hit nearby ponds. For Connecticut anglers, that points to smallmouth staying reliable on current seams while largemouth call for slower, subtler presentations as summer weed growth thickens. Trout reports were quiet across regional stocked waters, typical as ponds warm through late summer. Always confirm current stocking and creel regulations with the state before keeping fish.
Taneycomo trout turn aggressive as trophy releases surge
Trout on Lake Taneycomo have turned aggressive lately, hitting hard with no pecking around, according to Lilleys Landing's latest report — and the shop's trophy release program has picked back up after a slow spring. Guides are finding afternoon success on the Provo rig, while a simpler drift presentation — a weight on bottom with a drop-shot loop set about 18 inches up — has also been producing, a technique credited to guide Blake Wilson fishing Vanish fluorocarbon tippet. That marks a shift from June and early July, when Lilleys Landing described inconsistent fishing tied to heavy hydropower generation and a string of mini-fronts moving through the watershed. With flows settling out and the bite turning more predictable, this looks like a solid window for anglers working Taneycomo's rainbow and brown trout fishery. Table Rock's bass, walleye and crappie see less specific reporting this time of year but remain part of the broader reservoir system worth working alongside the tailwater trout bite.