Fishing reports
17903 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
Olympic Peninsula rivers hold steady ahead of fall salmon push
Flows across the two Olympic Peninsula river gauges we're tracking read 531 and 268 cfs this morning, both sitting in a moderate late-August range with no sign of a recent rain spike that would signal fresh fish pushing upriver. Water temperatures weren't reported at either site today. This week's angler-intel sweep didn't turn up specific on-the-water counts for Olympic Peninsula salmon rivers, so we're leaning on typical late-summer patterns rather than a fresh bite report: expect early fall Chinook still working through the system, sea-run cutthroat providing a steady low-water technical fishery, and coho numbers still thin ahead of the rain-driven push that usually arrives in September. WDFW's statewide creel and stocking program (WA WDFW Fishing Reports) remains the best source for real-time counts on these rivers, and it's worth checking before you head out. Steelhead activity typically stays light through late August on these systems.
Delaware Bay flounder stay hot as tog bite builds before the close
Delaware Bay flounder are running strong heading into the stretch run of the season, with The Fisherman's Southern New Jersey report quoting Higbee's Bait and Tackle on customers bringing home limits to 23 inches, best action around the EP Tower and areas near the Cape May lighthouse. The same report has Big Dave's Tackle noting plenty of flounder, croakers, and spot from the beaches out to the shipping channel, plus tog and sheepshead on structure for anglers working green crabs and sand fleas. Boulevard Bait & Tackle, also via The Fisherman, says tog fishing is picking up inshore around back-bay bridges and jetties, with keepers to 8 pounds and a sheepshead pushing near 11 pounds; Hands Too Bait and Tackle logged sheepshead over 10 pounds on the same baits. The Fisherman's Delaware/Maryland/Chesapeake report flags that the NJ side of Delaware Bay's flounder season is scheduled to close September 25, so anglers chasing a limit should plan trips soon. Croaker numbers are plentiful but running mostly sub-legal.
Sea bass load up in Raritan Bay as the fluke bite stays tricky
Capt. Ron out of Atlantic Highlands reports a sea bass bite so thick that "every drop was loaded with Sea Bass" this week, while fluke stayed stingy — mostly shorts with an occasional keeper, including John Juric's 4.5-pound pool-winning fluke on Saturday and Mustach Richie's 6-pound, 8-ounce fish earlier in the week. Grumpys Tackle (NJ) notes warm water has pushed Spanish mackerel and bonito into the mix, with epoxy jigs moving fast off the shelf, and OTW's Northern New Jersey report (Aug. 20) confirms Spanish mackerel and bonito working the surf alongside a steady pick of keeper fluke offshore, though the midshore bluefin jig bite is hit or miss. Sand eels are already staging along the coast, per The Fisherman — Northern NJ's headboat roundup, with several Belmar-area captains eyeing a switch toward striped bass once fluke season winds down. For now, sea bass is the most reliable box-filler in Raritan Bay and around Sandy Hook.
High Flow Tests Pittsburgh-Area Tailwaters Into Labor Day Stretch
The USGS gauge at station 03036500 logged flow at 12,800 cfs as of Sunday evening, a reading well above typical late-August baseflow for the Allegheny system and a signal that Pittsburgh's tailwaters are running high and likely off-color right now. No water-temperature reading came through with this cycle, so we're leaning on flow alone to set expectations: elevated current pushes smallmouth bass and walleye out of their usual mid-river holds and into eddies, wing dams, and current breaks, while channel catfish typically feed more aggressively as high water stirs up forage. None of this week's regional angler-intel feeds carried Allegheny- or Pittsburgh-specific bite reports, so treat the species notes below as seasonal, flow-driven expectations rather than confirmed catches. Anglers heading out should plan around reduced visibility and stronger current, and check the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission's own biologist survey postings for anything more specific to a particular pool or tailwater before making the trip.
Weedline bass and suspended walleye headline late-summer MN bite
Largemouth bass are keying on emerging weed beds across southern Minnesota, with Wired 2 Fish reporting a new largemouth bass record boated on an orange spinnerbait fished over a weed bed on Lura Lake this season, alongside continued buzz over urchin-style soft plastics for their effectiveness across a wide range of conditions. Fishing the Midwest's Bob Jensen echoes that urchin-bait trend, describing bass eating a Tumbleweed-style bait fished near cover, while Mike Frisch notes walleye anglers increasingly leaning on forward-facing sonar to find suspended fish rather than sticking to the bottom-and-structure patterns anglers relied on for years. Regional river gauges are holding at 4,960 cfs and 2,280 cfs, a stable late-August flow with no dramatic swings reported. Panfish are in their typical late-summer pattern for the Twin Cities and North Woods, though no source specifically weighed in on the crappie or bluegill bite this week, so treat that read as seasonal expectation rather than confirmed intel. Weed-line bass and suspended walleye are the story right now.
Late-summer bite settles in for Erie's Presque Isle waters
A regional USGS gauge (04213000) logged flow at 426 cfs this evening, a moderate reading that points to stable water conditions heading into the work week. Today's angler-intel feed carried little direct reporting from Lake Erie or Presque Isle specifically, with no PA-based charter or tackle-shop dispatches coming through this cycle, so this update leans on typical late-August patterns for the fishery. That means smallmouth bass holding tight to rock piles and drop-offs, walleye still working the deeper basin during daylight with the bite picking up around dusk, and yellow perch beginning to school up as water starts its slow late-summer cool-down. Boat traffic and warm surface temps typically push bigger fish deeper this time of year, so anglers should expect to work structure rather than open water. We're keeping an eye on the feed for the next Presque Isle-specific report and will fold it in as soon as it lands. Check current state regulations before harvesting any species.
Steady late-summer flows set up Columbia system for fall run
The gauge at USGS site 14113000 logged 683 cfs and 64°F as of yesterday evening, a moderate, stable stage typical of late-summer conditions on Columbia system tributaries before fall rains bump flows. Direct on-the-water bite reports for Puget Sound and Columbia rivers were thin in today's intel sweep, so we're leaning on WA WDFW's statewide creel-interview and stocking program, which tracks angler activity and stream stocking across the state, for general context rather than a specific bite call. With water sitting in the mid-60s, early mornings and evenings will fish coolest and most comfortable for trout and early-arriving salmon, while midday warmth can push fish into deeper, shaded runs. Late August is typically the leading edge of the fall Chinook push into Columbia system tributaries, so activity should build through September as temps ease. Check current WDFW creel and stocking reports before you head out, since conditions can shift fast this time of year.
Saginaw Bay eyes the late-summer walleye and perch shift
Late August on Saginaw Bay and northern Lake Huron typically marks the turn from midsummer patterns toward the early-fall bite that builds through September, but today's buoy network returned no active stations and the USGS gauge (04157000) logged no flow or temperature reading this cycle. The MI DNR Weekly Fishing Report is the standing source for Great Lakes conditions, though its region-specific detail for Huron and Saginaw Bay wasn't captured in today's pull, so we're treating this as a seasonal outlook rather than a live, on-the-water snapshot. Historically, Saginaw Bay walleye and yellow perch begin sliding toward deeper structure and river-mouth staging areas as surface temps ease off summer peaks, while smallmouth bass holding on Huron's rocky nearshore stretches typically stay active into early fall. Until fresher local reports come in, standard late-summer presentations, crawler harnesses and bottom bouncers for walleye, tubes and drop-shot rigs for smallmouth, remain the reasonable starting point. Check the DNR's current weekly report before heading out.
Santee Cooper and Lake Murray settle into a late-summer waiting game
USGS gauge 02160390 logged flow at 120 cfs as of 7:45 p.m. Wednesday, with no water-temperature reading available for this cycle. No Santee or Lake Murray specific angler reports surfaced in today's intel sweep, so this update leans on typical late-August patterns for these fisheries rather than fresh on-the-water testimony, and we want to be upfront about that gap. Historically, this stretch of summer pushes largemouth bass onto deeper grass edges and river-channel ledges as shallow water warms past comfortable levels, while landlocked striped bass in reservoirs like these tend to hold near the thermocline, making them a tougher target on top and a better one on deep vertical presentations. Blue catfish generally stay a dependable bite through the heat, especially after dark, and crappie typically go quiet, suspending over deep brush and standing timber until temperatures ease. Check current state regulations before harvesting, and expect these patterns to firm up as fresher regional reports come in over the next few cycles.
Drop-shot tactics take center stage for Potomac-area bass
Virginia DWR's Wildlife Blog put drop-shot tactics back in the spotlight this week, a well-timed nudge for smallmouth, largemouth, and spotted bass anglers working the Commonwealth's rivers as late-August heat pushes bass toward deeper structure. The Potomac is carrying some current behind it — USGS gauge 01646500 logged flow near 3,450 cfs on this cycle's reading, enough that boat anglers should mind drift speed when working a drop-shot rig vertically. On the panfish side, DWR's latest Fishing Report flagged bluegill and redear sunfish as a dependable late-summer target on the state's public lakes and ponds, recommending ultralight spinning gear as an easy entry point for beginners and a fun change of pace for veteran anglers. No water temperature came through on this cycle's gauge data, so check a thermometer on arrival before picking a depth. With the moon waxing toward full, look for stronger low-light feeding activity over the next several mornings and evenings.
Wachusett bass respond to jigs and topwater this week
A 12-year-old angler's 5-pound smallmouth bass on a jig, followed by his grandfather's 4-pound-plus largemouth on a topwater lure — both out of Wachusett Reservoir per Jerry's Bait and Tackle (The Fisherman — New England Freshwater) — are the standout reports out of the Quabbin/Wachusett corridor this week. The rest of the picture is thin: our lone flow reading, USGS gauge 01174500, shows a low and stable 1.56 cfs as of Sunday evening, typical late-summer base flow, with no water-temperature reading available. No Quabbin-specific catch reports came through this cycle, though the reservoir's deeper, cooler basin typically keeps lake trout and landlocked salmon holding well below the surface through late August. With the moon waxing toward full, low-light windows at dawn and dusk remain the better bet for bass working the shallows before summer heat pushes them back toward cover.
Kenai silvers arrive as sockeye run tapers
The USGS gauge on the Kenai River near Cooper Landing (site 15266300) read 52°F and 13,400 cfs Monday afternoon, a typical late-August stage for interior Southcentral Alaska. That's classic staging water for coho salmon, which begin pushing into the Kenai system in earnest this time of year as the late sockeye run winds down. No Alaska-specific on-the-water reports came through our source sweep this cycle, so this update leans on the gauge numbers and the calendar rather than fresh testimony from local shops or guides. Historically, late August on Kenai-system water means overlap season: the tail of the sockeye push mixing with the front edge of the silver run, while resident rainbow trout and Dolly Varden trail spawning salmon to key on drifting eggs. Expect coho pressure to build steadily through the week as more fish stage in deeper runs and holes; check current state regulations before targeting any specific run this late in the season.
Smokies trout shift to early-morning bite as flows hold steady
The USGS gauge at 03512000 read 71°F with flow at 286 cfs as of this afternoon, warm enough to push trout activity toward the cooler low-light hours rather than midday. There's no direct angler reporting from Western NC trout waters in today's intel feed, so this update leans on the gauge data and general seasonal knowledge rather than fresh on-the-water testimony. Late-August water in this range typically means rainbows and browns feeding light and holding in shaded runs or spring-fed pockets, with brook trout pushed higher into cooler headwater tributaries. Anglers should plan around dawn and dusk windows, fish deeper pools and riffles with good oxygen exchange, and handle any released fish quickly given the elevated temperature. Flow at 286 cfs is moderate and wadeable for most tailwater and freestone stretches typical of the region. Check current state regulations and any thermal-stress advisories before heading out.
Upper Mississippi walleye bite shifts toward sonar-marked fish
Flow on this stretch of the Mississippi held at 7,010 cfs at USGS gauge 05344500 as of Monday evening, with water temperature not currently reporting for the pools between Prescott and La Crosse. Water-specific angler reports for this exact reach were thin in today's sweep, so this update leans on regional seasonal pattern rather than fresh on-the-water intel from these pools. Late-August conditions here typically push walleye onto deeper wing-dam edges and current seams as surface water warms through the afternoon, with smallmouth bass working rock and rip-rap and channel catfish staying most active after dark. Regional Midwest blog Fishing the Midwest notes a broader shift among walleye anglers toward marking and targeting suspended fish with forward-facing sonar rather than assuming they're glued to bottom structure, a technique worth carrying onto these pools. Panfish typically slow through midday heat and rebound in low light. Check state regulations before harvesting, and check local forecast before heading out.
Eighteen Mile Creek access secured as Erie corridor holds late-summer pattern
USGS gauge 04231600 logged water at 72°F on a steady 658 cfs flow as of Monday evening, typical late-summer conditions for the Lake Erie and Niagara corridor. The bigger regional news comes off the water: per Wired 2 Fish, public access to Burt Dam on Eighteen Mile Creek in Niagara County has been permanently secured through an easement recorded with the Niagara County Clerk's Office, closing out a dispute that had threatened one of the area's most popular salmon and trout stretches. With water still warm, smallmouth bass and walleye remain the more realistic targets on the open lake and lower river sections, working deeper structure and breaks as fish hold off the heat; the salmon and trout run that made Eighteen Mile Creek worth fighting for typically doesn't fire up in earnest until water cools into fall. We didn't see direct Western NY bite reports come through this cycle, so treat the species notes below as seasonal expectation rather than confirmed on-the-water action.
Kings stage offshore as Salmon River push builds
Strike Zone Charters out of Lake Ontario reports salmon fishing has been "very good" this past week, with browns and lake trout mixed in among schools working the 100 to 160 foot range. Preferred depths have been shifting day to day as wind moves the thermocline around, and the captains note Mag Dipsey Divers are producing when fish sit deep, with green, white, and chartreuse e-chip spoons getting bit. That's open-lake trolling action rather than river fish yet, and it tracks with where late August typically sits for the Salmon River and Oswego system: kings and cohos staging offshore before the tributary push builds through September. Our gauge on the Salmon River system shows flow holding low and stable at 49.3 cfs, with no water-temp reading available this cycle. Anglers planning a river trip should watch for rain or reservoir-release bumps as the trigger for fish to start stacking in the lower pools.
Rio Grande flows stall as late-summer diversions bite
USGS gauge 08330000 logged zero cubic feet per second on the Rio Grande as of Thursday afternoon, a signal that the middle Rio Grande through central New Mexico is running low or intermittently dry, typical for late August when upstream irrigation diversions pull hard against a shrinking snowmelt base. None of this week's angler-intel feeds carry fresh reports from the Rio Grande or the San Juan, so treat the species notes below as seasonal expectation rather than confirmed bites. The San Juan tailwater reach typically holds up better through late summer, since dam-controlled releases upstream keep flows cold and steady no matter what the mainstem Rio Grande is doing, keeping rainbow trout active there. On the Rio Grande itself, warm, low water tends to push smallmouth bass into deeper pools and slow the bite, while channel catfish generally tolerate the conditions better. Check current New Mexico fishing regulations and flow-related access advisories before heading out, since low-water stretches can strand boat traffic and concentrate fish into isolated pools.
Delta bass and stripers wait on the tide before the fall push
A strong flood tide dominates the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta today, with the USGS gauge near the system's lower reaches (station 11455420) logging a sharply negative -54,400 cfs at 2:30 p.m. — a sign the incoming tide is shoving hard back upstream through the sloughs and channels, a pronounced but normal swing for this tidally-driven fishery. Water-temperature data wasn't reported by the gauge this cycle. No captain, shop, or agency report specifically covering the Delta came through in this update, so the species calls below lean on typical late-August patterns rather than fresh eyes-on-the-water intel, and that gap is worth knowing before you plan around it. Largemouth bass should still be working tule lines and current breaks as the tide turns. Nationally, anglers are leaning hard into urchin-style soft baits this season, per Wired2fish's recent coverage of the trend, worth trying Delta-side if the usual moving baits go quiet. Striped bass typically begin staging as water starts its seasonal cooldown.
South Fork Snake River trout hold steady as late-summer flows ease
The USGS gauge at site 13037500 clocked South Fork Snake River flow at 11,100 cfs as of Sunday afternoon, still a healthy irrigation-season number as Palisades Dam releases begin their typical late-August taper. No shop, charter, or agency source in our current intel filed a fresh on-the-water report for this stretch, so we're leaning on typical seasonal patterns rather than specific bite reports this week. That said, late August on this drainage is classically terrestrial season, hopper and beetle patterns fished tight to undercut banks and grassy edges, with Yellowstone cutthroat, rainbow, and brown trout all in play alongside mountain whitefish. Expect fish to still be feeding actively in the softer morning and evening windows as afternoon flows and warmer water push feeding into shade and seams. Wading conditions at 11,100 cfs still call for caution on faster runs. Check state regs before harvesting, and confirm current access points locally before launching a drift.
Champlain smallmouth push deep as summer heat lingers
USGS gauge 04294500 logged water temps at 73°F this afternoon, typical late-August warmth for the Champlain basin and a signal that smallmouth bass and landlocked salmon are settling into their summer deep-water pattern — salmon suspending near the thermocline, smallmouth sliding off shoreline structure onto rock humps and deeper drop-offs. We don't have a Champlain-specific shop or charter report in hand this cycle, but regional New England freshwater intel from The Fisherman — New England Freshwater shows smallmouth still firing well elsewhere in the region, with anglers along the Merrimack River's Lowell-to-Lawrence stretch and around Wachusett Reservoir taking bronzebacks on jigs and swimbaits — a reasonable proxy for the technique working Champlain's rocky structure right now. Largemouth are typically slower in sustained heat, holding tight to remaining weed edges. With a waxing gibbous moon building toward full, expect the strongest bites clustering around dawn and dusk over the next few days.
Wind River and North Platte trout lean on terrestrials as late-summer heat holds
The USGS gauge on the North Platte (station 06259000) isn't reporting flow or temperature data today, and this week's angler-intel feeds carried no direct reports from the Wind River or North Platte drainages, so we're leaning on regional seasonal patterns rather than fresh local testimony. Hatch Magazine's Greater Yellowstone terrestrial countdown notes that hopper activity typically ramps up across the broader Rockies starting in early August after a long, hot, smoky stretch, a pattern that generally holds for Wyoming's high-country freestones and tailwaters too. Expect rainbows, browns, and cutthroats to stay tuned into grasshopper and ant patterns through midday warmth, with the most reliable windows sliding toward dawn and dusk as water temperatures climb during afternoon heat. Check current flow and temperature readings locally before you go, since the gauge outage means we can't confirm today's exact numbers.
Wisconsin River holds steady as sonar reshapes walleye tactics
The Wisconsin River is running a steady 411 cfs at USGS gauge 05391000 as of this evening, a typical late-August flow with no temperature reading available from the station. Walleye anglers are leaning on forward-facing sonar to find fish suspended off traditional bottom structure rather than glued to points and weedlines, a shift Fishing the Midwest's Mike Frisch has been tracking through the season. On the bass side, Wired 2 Fish reports urchin-style soft plastics are having a moment, with anglers working them over emerging weed growth for largemouth and smallmouth alike. Hatch Magazine's recent trip through Langlade County in northeastern Wisconsin found a healthy population holding in an under-the-radar stream, a good sign for river conditions across the region heading toward Labor Day. We're seeing a stable, workable pattern rather than a hot bite anywhere specific.
Steady late-summer flows keep Red & Missouri walleye deep
The USGS gauge on the Missouri River system (site 05054000) logged 76°F water and a steady 260 cfs flow as of Sunday evening, typical late-August conditions that push fish into warm-water patterns. No captain or shop report specific to the Red or Missouri Rivers came through this cycle, so we're leaning on general late-summer form rather than a fresh bite report. Fishing the Midwest's ongoing walleye coverage this season has emphasized Forward-Facing Sonar and suspended-fish presentations over traditional bottom structure, a shift worth trying if the usual weedlines and points are quiet in this heat. Channel catfish typically turn most active in water this warm, and smallmouth bass should still be feeding aggressively on current breaks. Northern pike, by contrast, tend to slow and slide deeper once water pushes into the mid-70s, so early and late light are the better windows for them right now.
Lake Mead stripers slide deep as late-summer heat holds
The USGS gauge covering the lower Colorado corridor (site 09421500) returned no fresh flow or temperature reading this cycle, and none of this week's angler-intel feeds carried a direct report from Lake Mead or the lower Colorado striper fishery, so today's outlook leans on typical late-August patterns rather than fresh eyewitness accounts. Late summer on Lake Mead typically means surface water pushing into the 80s, sending striped bass and shad schools down onto deeper humps, drop-offs, and river-channel edges, with the most consistent action generally coming in the low-light hours around dawn and dusk. Largemouth bass typically slide into shaded cover and deeper water during the hottest stretch of the season, while smallmouth bass and channel catfish tend to stay more active around rocky structure and after dark. Check back as fresh readings and regional reports come in.