Fishing reports
6969 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
Rainy River smallmouth heat up as walleye shift to weed edges
Water on the Rainy River system read 78°F with flow holding at 4,310 cfs as of the latest USGS gauge 05133500 check, confirming full-blown summer conditions across Lake of the Woods and its river approaches. That warmth pushes walleye off shallow structure and onto deeper weed edges, a pattern Bob Jensen at Fishing the Midwest flagged this week in noting the 2026 open-water season is in full swing and that versatility — working weedlines, mixing techniques — is paying off for anglers willing to adapt. On the river side, smallmouth bass are hitting their mid-summer stride; Field & Stream's river-smallmouth guide points to warming water as the trigger for peak feeding along current seams and shaded cover, a pattern Tactical Bassin also ties to July's high bass metabolism. We're not seeing muskie or pike specifically called out in this week's feeds, so expect typical seasonal positioning until reports firm up.
Green River tailwater trout hold steady as summer flows stay cold
The USGS gauge on the Green River (site 09234500) logged 58°F water with flows steady at 2,330 cfs as of this afternoon, a classic mid-summer read for this Flaming Gorge tailwater fishery that stays cold and fishable long after Uinta lake water has warmed. That temperature keeps rainbows and browns in an active feeding window even under a July sun. For anglers working the high lakes instead, Field & Stream's stillwater trout primer this week is a useful general playbook: locate stocked fish using agency stocking schedules, work the bottom with a Carolina rig and floating dough bait, or cover water with small spinners like Mepps or Rooster Tails to draw cruising trout. Smallmouth in the lower river should be feeding aggressively too — Tactical Bassin's July roundup of top summer bass baits is worth a look for warmwater stretches. We're not seeing direct Utah field reports in today's feed, so treat species calls below as seasonally grounded rather than eyewitness-confirmed.
Ozarks summer bass push toward dawn-dusk shallow bite
The USGS gauge on the Osage River (06934500) read 85°F water with an elevated 88,000 cfs flow as of this evening — hallmark peak-season warmth and stronger-than-baseline current for Lake of the Ozarks in early July. With water this warm, expect largemouth bass to hold tight to shade and cover through the day, pushing onto points and weed edges at dawn and dusk. Tactical Bassin's July bass roundup this week notes bass metabolisms peaking in the heat, favoring moving baits early and a finesse presentation like a Neko rig around shallow cover once the sun climbs. Fishing the Midwest's Bob Jensen likewise flags the open-water season as in full swing across the region, with versatility across depths and species paying off. Today's feed carries no lake-specific catch reports, so treat the species snapshot below as a seasonal read grounded in the flow and temperature data rather than confirmed local bites.
East Texas bass push shallow structure as summer heat locks in
The regional USGS gauge (08030500) posted a flow reading of 1,500 cfs as of Tuesday afternoon, with no water-temperature sensor reporting in — a fair proxy for the standard mid-summer river stage feeding the Toledo Bend and Sam Rayburn system. No buoy or captain reports came in directly from either lake this cycle, so we're leaning on regional East Texas signal: Lake Fork Trophy Bass, a fellow East Texas trophy-bass fishery, describes lake levels holding roughly two feet low with good clarity and bass locked into aggressive summer feeding patterns as the post-spawn transition wraps up — a pattern typically mirrored on Toledo Bend and Sam Rayburn this time of year. Tactical Bassin's July baits roundup notes bass metabolism peaking with the heat, making fish more willing to chase moving baits and shallow cover early and late in the day. Texas Fish & Game points anglers toward offshore brush piles worked with forward-facing imaging as a go-to summer pattern for bass and crappie alike on Texas reservoirs.
South Platte Tailwater Trout Lock Onto Morning Trico Spinner Falls
Flow at USGS gauge 06701900 is holding at 252 cfs as of Tuesday afternoon, a stable read for South Platte tailwater trout right now. Gink and Gasoline's account of the South Platte trico hatch describes dense, cloud-like spinner falls in the surface film during the classic summer window — the kind of event that turns picky tailwater rainbows and browns into steady risers for an hour or two most mornings. Statewide, Cutthroat Anglers is flagging low, clear water as the defining condition of the 2026 season, advising anglers to hike farther from access points and downsize leaders to reach fish grouped up in deeper, cooler runs. Pat Dorsey Fly Fishing has also been tracking one of the driest years on record for Colorado, reinforcing that low-water tactics apply broadly across South Platte and Arkansas tailwater stretches this summer. No water-temperature reading came through with this cycle's gauge data, so check conditions on arrival.
Terrestrial bite builds on Yellowstone and Missouri trout water
Flow at USGS gauge 06043500 held at 960 cfs as of Friday evening, a stage that keeps wading conditions manageable across much of the Yellowstone and Missouri river systems heading into the weekend. Montana FWP's Fishing News is flagging a drier-than-normal summer outlook after a thin snowpack winter, and the agency hosted a virtual townhall this week walking through drought-response tools for the state's blue-ribbon fisheries — worth watching as July heat builds, and the reason behind its new TroutCast drought-forecasting tool launched June 1. On Canyon Ferry Reservoir, FWP and Walleyes Unlimited of Montana are again encouraging anglers to keep more of the smaller walleye they catch, a sign of a healthy, well-populated fishery. On the trout side, Trout Unlimited's latest tip points anglers toward pink terrestrial patterns as hoppers, ants and beetles start working the banks — a solid go-to as summer hatches settle in.
Warm Delta water keeps summer bass patterns rolling
The Sacramento River gauge at station 11447650 read 70°F with flow running a strong 20,000 cfs as of this afternoon, conditions that put Delta largemouth bass squarely in their aggressive summer feeding window. Tactical Bassin's July bass coverage this week notes that rising water temperatures push bass metabolism to its yearly peak, with fish keying on moving baits and shallow cover during low-light windows, a pattern that tracks with what the gauge is showing. Striped bass, the Delta's marquee gamefish, are worth watching closely: Western Outdoor News reports a strong push of big stripers on the beach outside the Golden Gate, a signal that fish are active across the greater Bay-Delta system this week. Sturgeon action typically eases as water warms into the 70s, and catfish should be turning on with the heat. No Delta-specific creel reports came through this week's regional coverage, so treat species status below as seasonally-informed rather than confirmed on the water.
Roosevelt Lake bass shift to shade and current seams as summer heat holds
The Salt River gauge near Roosevelt Lake (USGS 09498500) is holding a lean, stable 57.7 cfs as of this afternoon, a typical low, settled summer flow for this stretch. No water-temp reading came through with today's gauge data, but with air temps climbing into peak summer heat, shallow water is likely running warm across the chain. Tactical Bassin's July roundup notes rising water temperatures are pushing bass metabolism and feeding activity up this month, with baits mimicking crawfish and baitfish producing well when fish are actively hunting. Field & Stream's river-smallmouth primer, written for other regional rivers but directly applicable to a system like the Salt, points anglers toward shaded cover and current edges during the heat of the day, then open pools as light fades. We're leaning on that shade-and-current pattern for Roosevelt Lake and Salt River bass this week until more local reporting comes in.
South Fork Snake settles into steady summer hopper season
The USGS gauge near Heise (site 13037500) logged the Snake River running at 14,200 cfs as of Tuesday afternoon, a hold-steady summer stage consistent with Palisades Reservoir's irrigation-release schedule for the Snake River and South Fork this time of year. No South Fork-specific angler reports came through this week's feed, so we're leaning on general seasonal knowledge rather than fresh local intel: early July on this stretch typically marks the shift out of salmonfly season and into the PMD/Green Drake/Yellow Sally progression, with hoppers starting to matter along grassy banks. Elsewhere in the West, shops like Reno Fly Shop (NV) and Caddis Fly (OR) are seeing that same hatch mix (PMDs, Green Drakes, Yellow Sallies, caddis, crayfish) active on comparable freestone rivers right now, which tracks with what's typical for the Snake this week. No water temp reading was available from the gauge, so plan around flow and time of day rather than a hard number.
Salt River bass dial in as Colorado River trout beat the summer heat
The Colorado River gauge at Lees Ferry (USGS 09380000) logged 65°F water on a hefty 8,070 cfs release this afternoon — a solid tailwater flow that keeps rainbow trout scattered through riffles and current seams, though warming water means the best bite window is tightening toward early morning and last light. No fresh AZ-specific angler reports came through this week's intel sweep, so species reads below lean on regional seasonal patterns rather than confirmed local dispatches. Smallmouth bass on river-style water typically key on shaded cover and current edges through the heat of the day before sliding into open pools at dusk, the standard summer river-smallmouth play per Field & Stream. Largemouth in warmer pools should be feeding aggressively on moving baits — July's peak-metabolism window, per Tactical Bassin's rundown of top summer bass baits. Catfish typically stay consistent through summer heat regardless of daylight. Treat species reads here as seasonal expectation, not confirmed local reports.
Missouri River and Black Hills settle into summer walleye patterns
USGS gauge 06440200 logged flow at just 23.3 cfs this afternoon, signaling low, clear water typical of a Black Hills or Missouri River tributary in peak summer heat. No water-temp reading came through on this cycle, so anglers should check a handheld thermometer or local report before picking a depth. National angler intel this week skews toward general summer technique rather than SD-specific reports: Fishing the Midwest's Bob Jensen is pushing anglers to add weedline fishing to the rotation as 2026's open-water season hits full swing, a pattern that translates directly to Missouri River walleye and bass holding tight to emerging vegetation. Tactical Bassin's rundown of top July bass baits is similarly seasonal, not local, but lines up with what warmwater bass typically want as metabolisms peak in summer heat. Treat both as technique guidance, not confirmed local bites, until a SD-specific report surfaces.
Columbia River flows ease as summer Chinook window opens
The Columbia River gauge at site 14105700 read 186,000 cfs and 67°F as of this afternoon (per USGS gauge 14105700), with flow easing back from the spring freshet toward a more typical summer stage. That water temperature sits in a comfortable range for both adult salmon migration and sturgeon activity, though warmer stretches later in July can push fish toward deeper, cooler holding water. None of today's angler-intel feeds carried a direct report from Columbia River guides, shops, or agencies this cycle, so we're leaning on general seasonal knowledge rather than fresh bite reports: summer Chinook typically move through the lower and mid-Columbia in July, sturgeon fishing usually holds steady in deeper holes and tailouts, and smallmouth bass stay active in slower side-channels as water warms. Check current state regs before harvesting salmon or sturgeon, since retention rules shift by season and reach.
Eastern Sierra trout key on crayfish as summer hatches roll in
The Truckee River is fishing well heading into summer, per Reno Fly Shop's recent on-the-water reports, with good flows and prime water temperatures reported on both the California and Nevada sides. High air temperatures have been breaking with afternoon thunderstorms, a pattern worth watching for on exposed water. Crayfish are becoming more mobile as sun angle and temps climb, and the shop is steering anglers toward crayfish imitations alongside late-day hatches of caddis, stoneflies, and PMDs. Wet-wading season is in full swing, and dry-fly action has been showing up most afternoons and evenings as bugs come off the water. No fresh reading came through today for the regional USGS gauge (10265200), so treat any specific flow or temperature figure as unconfirmed until the next check. Early starts and late finishes remain the move to dodge midday heat and the recreational floater traffic that builds once the sun gets high.
Iron Range walleye key weedlines as summer bass bite builds
USGS gauge 05129115 in the Iron Range corridor is running a steady 230 cubic feet per second as of this afternoon, though no water temperature came back from the monitored site this cycle. Bob Jensen at Fishing the Midwest notes the 2026 open-water season is in full swing and is pushing anglers to add weedline presentations to their rotation, a pattern that tracks with typical early-July walleye behavior as vegetation fills in on area lakes. Field & Stream's river-smallmouth primer is timely for Iron Range creek and river stretches too: target current seams and shaded cover through the heat of the day, then work open pools as things cool into evening. Tactical Bassin's July roundup adds that warming water is pushing largemouth metabolism, and appetite, toward its peak, favoring faster-moving baits. With a last-quarter moon overhead, expect a modest bite window around dawn and dusk rather than one big midday push.
North Platte and Wind River trout eye summer dry-dropper bite
Flylords' new piece on finding trout in big water is a timely read for North Platte anglers this week, since large freestone rivers hide fish in ways small creeks don't — soft seams and depth changes matter more than blind casting on water this size. No fresh reading came through from USGS gauge 06259000 this cycle, so treat flow and stage as unconfirmed until you check current levels before wading. Typical for early July in Wyoming's high country, mornings stay cool while afternoon water warms enough to push trout toward shaded banks and deeper runs. Terrestrial season is arriving too — Trout Unlimited's latest TROUT Tip flagged pink terrestrials as hoppers and beetles start dropping into the current, and Caddis Fly's recent Western Green Drake and Yellow Sally nymph patterns line up with bugs active on Rocky Mountain freestones now. No direct Wind River or North Platte reports came in this cycle, so read this as seasonal guidance rather than confirmed local intel.
Mille Lacs walleye anglers ease into the mid-summer pattern
Streamflow at the regional USGS gauge (05227530) is running a lean 8.67 cfs as of the evening of July 7, consistent with typical mid-summer baseflow and stable, low-water conditions across the watershed. No fresh water-temperature or buoy readings came through this cycle, so we're leaning on seasonal norms rather than a hot number today. Direct angler intel specific to Mille Lacs walleye was thin this pass; the nearest walleye chatter came out of a Michigan river system on a different forum feed, so we're not importing it as a Mille Lacs fact. What we can say with confidence: early July on Mille Lacs typically has walleye sliding off classic shallow spawning areas onto deeper mud, rock humps, and current-swept structure, with smallmouth and pike staying active on nearby rock and weed edges. Expect early and late-day windows to outproduce the bright middle hours until fresher, lake-specific reports come in.
White River trout hold steady as July bass patterns take over
Real-time telemetry from USGS gauge 07263620 on the White River system didn't return a flow or temperature reading this cycle, so we're leaning on early-July seasonal patterns rather than fresh numbers today. That's normal midsummer timing for Arkansas: tailwater releases below the region's dams typically keep trout active even as ambient air temps climb, while the warmwater stretches shift into peak smallmouth and largemouth mode. Field & Stream's summer smallmouth breakdown notes river smallmouth feeding peaks as water keeps warming through mid- and late summer, with fish holding on shaded cover and current seams by day and moving into open pools toward evening — a pattern that tracks well for Arkansas river stretches right now. On the largemouth side, Tactical Bassin's July roundup points to power-fishing shallow cover and finesse rigs like the Neko as go-to July producers. Catfish activity should stay steady into the warm nights typical of this stretch of summer.
Driftless trout streams push high, terrestrial bite building
USGS gauge 05407000 logged flow at 9,900 cfs as of Tuesday evening, well above the typical wadable stage most Driftless Area spring creeks carry at this point in summer, with no water-temperature reading currently available. That kind of push points to recent rain moving through the watershed and means stained water, stronger current, and trout holding tighter to banks and slack-water margins rather than mid-stream runs. Tactics-wise, Root River Rod Co's pine squirrel jig streamer — built to bounce the rocky bottom of tight, technical Driftless water without hanging up, per this week's MidCurrent tying roundup — fits exactly this kind of higher, off-color flow. Trout Unlimited also flags that terrestrials are worth tying on now that summer's in full swing, since browns and brookies key on hoppers and beetles blown into the current. Expect a technical, patience-testing bite until flows settle back down.
River smallmouth bite holds as Mississippi pools run high
USGS gauge 05344500 logged flow at 20,400 cfs as of 6 p.m. Wednesday, well up for early July on this stretch of the Mississippi between Prescott and La Crosse, and the elevated current is shaping where fish are holding this week. Water temperature wasn't reported at this gauge, so anglers should lean on structure over degrees. Field & Stream's summer smallmouth breakdown points to shaded cover and current seams as the play for river smallies right now, and that maps directly onto pool structure along this reach. Fishing the Midwest's Bob Jensen is steering walleye anglers toward weed edges as the open-water season hits full stride, and Tactical Bassin's July roundup notes largemouth metabolisms are running hot with fish feeding aggressively on shallow cover. Expect more debris and stronger current than typical for the date with water this high, so plan boat traffic and wading spots accordingly, and fish the margins rather than fighting the main channel.
North Shore Lake Trout Turn On While Twin Cities Weedlines Fire Up
Lake Trout in the 19-25 inch range have been coming aboard steadily along the North Shore, per the MN DNR Lake Superior Summer Fishing report (July 2) — anglers trolling bright stick baits and spoons 20-80 feet down over 70-120 feet of water are finding good numbers, alongside 16-18 inch Coho Salmon and the occasional 20-28 inch Chinook. Surface temps out of Duluth ran 48-56°F, though rainy, windy stretches limited time on the water for much of the week. Inland, Twin Cities-area river gauges are running a healthy summer flow — 14,800 cfs at USGS gauge 05331000 and 6,100 cfs at gauge 05288500 as of this evening — solid conditions for working weedlines for walleye, a pattern Fishing the Midwest flagged as the go-to summer move right now. River smallmouth are also entering their mid-to-late-summer peak, per Field & Stream, with current seams and shaded cover the top bets during the day.
Missouri's high summer flows put catfish in the driver's seat
Water at USGS gauge 06934500 read 85°F on the afternoon of July 7, with flow running an elevated 88,000 cfs — a combination that lands squarely in peak summer catfish territory for the Missouri and Ozark river systems. High, warm, off-color flow like this pushes baitfish and scent trails along current breaks, and channel cats are typically the most dependable bite when rivers are running big. Smallmouth fishing gets tougher in this kind of push; Field & Stream's river-smallmouth guide for mid- and late-summer notes the better play is working shaded cover and current seams during the day, then swinging into open pools as things cool at dusk. Backwater largemouth should stay catchable through the heat — Tactical Bassin's July bait roundup points to moving baits and topwater worked during the low-light windows as water temps climb. Expect reduced visibility and stronger current to keep boat control, bait choice, and safety front of mind this week.
Olympic Peninsula rivers hold steady as summer salmon push builds
The two river gauges we track on the Olympic Peninsula are reading a wide spread this week — one site at 686 cfs, the other down at 320 cfs as of Tuesday afternoon — a gap that's within the range you'd typically expect for early July as smaller systems drop faster than larger ones this time of year. Neither station reported a water temperature, so we can't confirm exact staging conditions for salmon holding in deeper pools. WA WDFW's creel-and-catch program is the state's primary window into what's actually happening on these rivers, but this week's feeds didn't surface a specific bite report from any tracked charter, shop, or agency source for this region — worth flagging honestly rather than guessing. Chinook and sockeye tend to be the most reliable draws through early July on Peninsula systems, with steelhead and coho still building toward their later-summer arrival.
Long Island Sound Stripers Shift Deep as Summer Fluke Bite Dials In
Striped bass across southern New England are pushing out to deeper, cooler water as summer heat sets in, per this week's Saltwater Edge forecast out of Rhode Island — a shift Long Island Sound regulars should expect on their own stretch of the Sound as surface temps climb through July. No live buoy or gauge readings came through for CT/LIS this cycle, so we're leaning on regional pattern and technique reports rather than a hard number. On The Water is pointing surfcasters toward pre-dawn topwater and fly sessions in the quiet backwaters before the sun gets high, plus live eels on inline circle hooks for stripers holding deeper. Fluke anglers should have Berkley Gulp colors dialed in per On The Water's rundown, since summer flounder are prime targets on the Sound's sandy bottoms this time of year. Bluefish are mixing in wherever bait shows, and black sea bass remain a solid bottom option as water warms into peak season.
Allegheny smallmouth turn on as summer current bite heats up
Pittsburgh-area anglers working the Allegheny and its tailwaters are finding smallmouth bass keying on current seams and shaded cover as peak-summer water temperatures settle in, a pattern that lines up with this week's river-smallmouth guidance from Field & Stream. No fresh NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings came through for this cycle, so treat flow and water temperature as unconfirmed until you check a live gauge before heading out. Early July typically pushes river smallmouth into current breaks and shaded pool edges during the day, with fish sliding into open pools at dusk to feed, per that same Field & Stream breakdown. Stocked trout in the tailwaters usually get tougher as water warms, so anglers chasing them should look to deeper, cooler stretches near dam discharges. Walleye and channel catfish remain a reasonable low-light option through the system this time of year. Check PA Fish & Boat's Biologist Reports for the latest stocking and water-management updates before you go.