Fishing reports
17922 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
Warm-Water Pattern Holds on the Clinton-Dubuque Pools
The USGS gauge at Clinton (05420500) logged water temperatures at 79°F this morning with river flow running near 26,500 cfs, conditions consistent with a typical late-August warm-water pattern on the Upper Mississippi's Clinton-Dubuque pools. No charter, shop, or state-agency reports came in specifically for this stretch this cycle, so we're leaning on the gauge reading and typical seasonal behavior rather than fresh bite reports. At 79°F, expect channel catfish to stay active around wing dams and current seams, smallmouth bass holding tight to rock and rip-rap structure, and walleye and sauger sliding deeper or feeding mainly in low light while the water stays warm. Fishing the Midwest's recent coverage of forward-facing sonar notes anglers are increasingly finding walleye away from traditional bottom structure this season, a technique worth trying if the usual spots are quiet. Flow near 26,500 cfs should keep current seams and eddies the more productive water for staging fish over the next few days.
Bass anglers dial in finesse tactics as KY rivers run low and clear
USGS gauge 03301500 is reading 141 cfs today, a notably low late-summer flow for the Ohio and Cumberland River systems, with no water temperature reading currently available from the site. Low, clear water like this typically pushes bass and panfish tight to shade lines, laydowns, and deeper breaks through the heat of the day. Nationally, bass anglers are leaning on smaller, finesse-style presentations right now — Tactical Bassin's late-summer coverage this week centers on "junk fishing," rotating through multiple baits to find scattered bass keying on small baitfish, while Wired 2 Fish continues to flag "urchin" style baits as a go-to across a wide range of conditions. As Kentucky's rivers hold in this low-water pattern, expect similar tactics to translate locally: work shade and current breaks early and late in the day, and slow presentations down as the sun climbs and flow stays thin.
High water tests Pearl River anglers as late-summer bass patterns hold
USGS gauge 07289000 on the Pearl River system is reading a sharply elevated flow as of Sunday morning, signaling high, likely off-color water for anglers heading out this week — worth checking current levels before launching. Water temperature wasn't available from monitoring stations, but late-August heat across freshwater MS typically keeps largemouth bass shallow early before pushing them to structure as the sun climbs. Per Tactical Bassin's recent late-summer coverage, junk-fishing tactics — working shallow points with topwater at first light, then switching to a finesse jig as temperatures rise — are producing bites in comparable heat and water conditions elsewhere. Bass anglers nationally are also leaning on so-called "urchin"-style soft plastics, per both Wired 2 Fish and Fishing the Midwest, though we haven't seen a direct MS report on the trend yet. High, rising water is typically a catfish trigger, while crappie tend to slow down and hold deep through peak summer heat.
Salt River flow steady as Roosevelt chain settles into late-summer pattern
The USGS gauge on the Salt River near Roosevelt logged flow holding steady around 176 cfs this morning, a modest late-August stage that points to a quiet post-monsoon stretch rather than a fresh runoff pulse. No water temperature reading came through with this data pull, but late August on the Roosevelt Lake and Salt River chain typically means surface temps still running warm, pushing bass and other predators toward deeper structure and low-light windows. We didn't get any direct regional shop or captain reports in this cycle, so treat the bite outlook below as seasonal expectation rather than confirmed intel — largemouth and smallmouth bass should still be catchable working rocky points and submerged structure early and late in the day, channel catfish stay a reliable bottom-bait option after dark, and crappie will likely be holding deep and suspended through the heat. Check current state regs before harvesting.
Low-water window opens for wading the White River tailwaters
This morning's USGS reading on the White River gauge (07060710) showed flow sitting at just 4.24 cfs alongside a water temperature of 76°F, a combination that points to minimal hydro generation on the Bull Shoals/Norfork system right now rather than a full sluice release. That's a meaningful signal for wading anglers: low or no generation typically means safer, easier wading access across gravel bars and riffles that go underwater once the dam ramps up power releases. We didn't get any direct captain, shop, or agency intel this cycle specifically from the Bull Shoals or Norfork stretches, so what's biting today is best approached with the fishery's well-known seasonal baseline rather than fresh on-the-water reports. Rainbow trout remain the bread-and-butter target on these tailwaters through late summer, with brown trout activity typically ticking up as water cools toward fall. Check current generation schedules before heading out, since flow can change quickly once release gates open.
Big stripers push toward the Gulf of Maine as cod reopener nears
NOAA buoy 44007, sitting in the Gulf of Maine off the ME/NH border, read 65°F on the morning of August 24 with light winds near 7 mph — comfortable late-summer water with nothing pushing fish off the bite. Just south along the Massachusetts coast, The Fisherman — South Shore MA to ME reports striper action is "all big fish right now," with Gloucester's Beauport Fishing Adventures noting heavy squid and pogie activity pulling larger stripers within range, while bluefish remain completely absent above Salem so far this year. The bigger story for NH anglers: that same regional roundup flags Gulf of Maine cod finally reopening September 1st with a 1-fish limit at a 23-inch minimum, the first access all year after cod stayed closed through 2026, even as the Southern New England stock area remains shut through year-end. We're reading calm, stable conditions heading into the last week of August with the early fall transition just starting to show.
Flounder limits stack up in Delaware Bay as fall nears
NOAA buoy 44009 logged Delaware Bay water near 76°F this week under light 1 m/s winds, and the bite matches the warm, calm read. Flounder are leading the pack — Higbee's Bait and Tackle reports customers hauling limits to 23 inches, with the EP Tower and water near the lighthouse giving up keepers consistently, while Big Dave's Tackle has anglers finding flounder, croakers and spot from the beaches out to the shipping channel. On the DE/MD side, Smith's Bait Shop out of Port Mahon and Bowers Beach describes a mixed bag of flounder, trout, croaker and spot on minnows, jigs and bloodworms, plus striped bass in the 20-24 inch range coming out of tidal creeks and rivers on sandworms and shrimp. Structure fishing is holding too — Hands Too Bait and Tackle and Fin-Atics both note tog and sheepshead action on green crabs and sand fleas around bridges, rockpiles and jetties as the bay eases toward September.
Chesapeake stripers and flounder settle into late-summer rhythm
Striped bass in the 20- to 24-inch range are coming out of Chesapeake tidal creeks and rivers on sandworms and shrimp, per Smith's Bait Shop's report in The Fisherman — DE/MD/Chesapeake, with nice croakers mixed in along the same water. Buoy 44009 offshore reads a warm 76°F with light wind, consistent with the settled late-August pattern anglers are describing. Flounder action is holding steady on bay structure — Hook 'em and Cook 'em notes flounder, sea bass, and croaker coming off the Old Grounds, working live minnows and bucktail-and-squid combos, with catches expected to improve in size and quantity into September. Eric Burnley's report flags plenty of croaker in the mix, though many are running short of Delaware's 9-inch minimum. Sea bass and flounder are also showing on ocean structure for head boats working the Fenwick Shoal area, per Hook em and Cook em, alongside small blues and Spanish mackerel on trolled spoons.
Fluke and Bluefin Bite Run Hot as Fall Transition Builds on Long Island
NOAA buoy 44025 read 74°F water south of Long Island on the latest pass, with buoy 44065 nearby at 73°F and a light 5 m/s breeze — steady late-August conditions. The fluke bite is the headline: On The Water's August 20 Long Island report calls South Shore fluking 'excellent,' and local shops back it up. Bob's Bait and Tackle in Amity Harbor says keepers are scattered among nonstop short action on bucktails and Gulp, while Taylor Renee Charters and Babylon Fishing Station both describe a hot incoming-tide bite. Bluefin tuna are running just as strong — On The Water notes 'the jig bite for bluefin continues to be red-hot,' with Bergen Bay Docks still marking fish 5 to 10 miles off Fire Island Inlet. Stripers are showing at inlets on the right tide, and Tight Lines Tackle and White Water Outfitters both report early false albacore rumors building near Shinnecock as the fall transition approaches.
Catskills and Adirondack trout streams settle into low, clear late-summer flows
USGS gauge 01415000 is running a lean 8.94 cfs this morning while the larger 01413500 station sits near 95.7 cfs, both readings pointing to typical late-August low-water conditions across Adirondack and Catskill freestone streams. No water-temperature telemetry is coming through the network right now, so plan around the flow trend and target the coolest parts of the day rather than a specific number. There's no direct Catskills-specific shop or guide intel in this cycle, but Trout Unlimited's recent piece on brown trout is a useful reminder that low, clear late-summer water calls for stealth, long leaders, and light tippet. Elsewhere in New York, Wired 2 Fish reports a public-access win below Burt Dam on Eighteen Mile Creek, a salmon-and-trout fishery, after the Town of Newfane secured a permanent public easement — a reminder that access is still being actively contested and won across the state's coldwater fisheries.
Truckee trout lean on terrestrials as river flows stay lean
The Truckee River gauge at USGS site 10311000 logged a lean 11.8 cfs as of 9:50 a.m. this morning, with no water-temperature reading available this cycle. Today's report sweep didn't turn up any captain, shop, or agency dispatches specific to Truckee or Lake Tahoe waters, so this update leans on general seasonal patterns for the basin rather than fresh local testimony. Hatch Magazine's terrestrial countdown piece, filed out of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, is a useful proxy for the broader West: it notes hopper and ant season typically locks in across trout water by the first week of August and holds through several more weeks of late summer, a pattern that tracks for Sierra streams and Tahoe tributaries as well. Expect rainbows and browns to keep keying on terrestrial patterns in low, clear flows, while Tahoe's deeper mackinaw and kokanee stay a slower, more technical game typical for this point in the season. Treat today's numbers as a baseline until more local reports come through.
Lake Lanier blue cat record headlines a hot Chattahoochee summer
Georgia's headline moment this week comes off Lake Lanier, where Gainesville angler Anthony Scroggins boated a new blue catfish record on Aug. 19 — a 22-pound, 0-ounce fish weighed on certified DNR scales, per GA Sportsman/Georgia Outdoor News. Lanier's record board (largemouth, spotted bass, striped bass, hybrid, white bass and shoal bass) underscores how many species share this system along the upper Chattahoochee, and late-August heat typically pushes bass shallow at first light before they slide to deeper structure by midday. Direct region-specific bite reports were thin from our usual state and shop feeds this cycle — the Georgia Wildlife Blog's weekly fishing report didn't carry specific bite detail this round — so we're leaning on the Lanier catfish result plus typical late-summer patterns. Water levels and clarity should be checked locally; no fresh gauge or buoy readings came through for the Chattahoochee or Savannah systems this week. The waxing gibbous moon overhead may support low-light feeding windows for catfish and bass alike.
Spanish Mackerel Run Heats Up Around Cape Lookout
Nearshore anglers working the waters off Cape Lookout are locked into a strong Spanish mackerel bite this week, with the biggest fish stacking up around the Cape's structure, per Fisherman's Post (NC)'s Morehead/Atlantic Beach report. A few king mackerel have joined the mix further out on bottom rigs. Up the beach at Swansboro/Emerald Isle, pier anglers throwing casting jigs and Gotcha plugs are connecting with spanish mackerel and bluefish, per the same outlet. To the north, the OBX/Northern Beaches report notes surf anglers filling coolers with sea mullet, bluefish, and croakers on bottom rigs, with inshore action finally picking up after a slow stretch. Typical late-August water temps for the sound and nearshore Atlantic are keeping baitfish schools tight to structure, drawing predators like Spanish mackerel within easy casting range of piers and jetties around Cape Lookout. We're seeing this as a solid stretch for anyone willing to work the surf or run out to the Cape.
Hill Country bass and stripers dig in for late-summer deep bite
Texas Parks & Wildlife's weekly fishing reports remain paused while a new format is finalized, per My Canyon Lake Fishing, so official conditions data is thin across the Hill Country lake district this cycle. We have no fresh buoy, gauge, or angler dispatches specifically from Travis, LBJ, or Buchanan right now — treat this as seasonal guidance rather than a live bite report. Late-August on Highland Lakes water typically means largemouth bass holding tight to deep structure and main-lake humps, striped and white bass schooling suspended over old creek channels while chasing shad, and blue and channel catfish staying active after dark as surface temps hold in the heat. For regional context, nearby Canyon Lake — a separate Guadalupe River reservoir in the same Hill Country system — is running well above last year's pool at 886.46 feet, per My Canyon Lake Fishing, a sign area lakes have recovered nicely from recent lows. Bring electronics and confirm structure locally before committing to a pattern.
Surf bite mixes croaker, drum and blues from Nags Head to Hatteras
Surf anglers on the Outer Banks are into a solid summer mix, with Hugh of TW's Bait and Tackle reporting sea mullet, bluefish, and plenty of croakers coming from the surf zone, and inshore action finally picking back up per the same report. No live buoy or gauge readings came through for this update, so treat water temp as seasonal August warmth typical for the Banks. Bait presence and structure are doing the work right now more than any single lure choice, with croaker numbers in particular signaling a strong bottom bite. Expect the pattern to hold through the week with typical late-August heat, and anglers working cut bait or shrimp rigs in the surf and around inlets should keep finding steady action on the panfish-class species while bluefish provide the faster-paced bite for those working metal or plugs along the wash.
Wabash walleye bite steady as silver carp push toward Lake Michigan
Illinois DNR sampling crews pulled hundreds of juvenile silver carp from a pool just 80 miles from Lake Michigan on Aug. 13-14, per Outdoor Hub — a reminder that invasive-species pressure keeps working toward the lake even as inland patterns stay the bigger story for Hoosier anglers this week. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for the Wabash River or Lake Michigan today, so lean on typical late-August form: walleye pushing deeper and suspending over structure, a shift Fishing the Midwest's Mike Frisch and Bob Jensen tie to more anglers running forward-facing sonar to find them. Smallmouth and largemouth bass are still eating moving baits in low light, and Wired 2 Fish notes the year's hot new "urchin" soft-plastic trend is spreading into more tackle boxes as bass anglers dial in late-summer patterns. Catfish remain a dependable warm-water fallback through this stretch.
Potomac & Patapsco bass anglers adjust as late-summer heat holds on
With no fresh buoy or gauge readings in from the Potomac or Patapsco this cycle, this update leans on general late-summer freshwater patterns rather than a specific local report. Tactical Bassin's latest "junk fishing" breakdown — working topwater and a finesse jig shallow at first light before shifting tactics as the sun climbs — reflects the kind of adjustment Potomac and Patapsco bass anglers are typically making through the hottest stretch of August. Wired 2 Fish also flags urchin-style soft plastics as a bait genre gaining traction with bass anglers nationally this season, worth a look if a spot has gone quiet on standard presentations. Locally, smallmouth around Potomac ledges and structure, plus the river's well-known northern snakehead fishery in shallow, vegetated backwaters, remain the region's calling cards this time of year. Treat species activity below as seasonal expectation rather than confirmed local intel until a direct regional report comes in.
Rockfish pick up the slack as Oregon Coast salmon turn stubborn
Anglers fishing out of Garibaldi described good ocean conditions this week but a stubborn salmon bite, with rockfish cooperating instead, per recent posts on IFish.net Fishing Reports. Gear-loss chatter tied to trolling setups near Chinook Landing and a salmon rod reported missing out of Newport suggest boats are still actively working the salmon program with flashers, even as results stay mixed. Newport's public fish-cleaning station has stayed busy enough to generate lost-and-found threads over filet knives and cutting gloves, a small but real signal anglers are bringing fish to the dock rather than getting skunked outright. No NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings came through for this update, so treat sea state, water temp, and swell as unconfirmed until you check a live marine forecast before running offshore. Late August on the Oregon Coast typically means ocean Chinook and coho trolling plus dependable nearshore rockfish and lingcod action, with albacore showing on warm-water pushes when boats can reach them.
UP trout streams hold steady as Lake Superior's fall salmon push nears
Late August across Michigan's Upper Peninsula marks the seasonal hinge point: inland trout streams are still fishing on summer patterns while Lake Superior starts its slow build toward the fall salmon run. No fresh buoy or stream-gauge readings came through for this region on this cycle, and none of the state or regional feeds we track filed specific UP stream or Superior reports this week, so treat the notes below as general seasonal guidance rather than a live bite report. Brook trout in UP feeder streams typically respond to terrestrial patterns and early-morning presentations as water cools overnight. On Lake Superior, lake trout and splake continue to hold on deep structure, worked with downriggers or jigging spoons, while coho and eventual Chinook salmon begin staging near river mouths as days shorten. Check the Michigan DNR Weekly Fishing Report directly before heading out for the latest county-level notes.
Spring-fed Ozark trout parks stay steady through late-summer heat
Late August keeps the spring-fed stretches of the Current and Niangua running cool and clear, the signature trait that lets these Ozark trout parks stay fishable straight through the hottest stretch of Missouri summer while nearby warmwater rivers slow down. No fresh buoy or gauge telemetry came through for this region today, and this week's angler-intel feeds carried no direct reports from Missouri trout parks, so this update draws on general seasonal knowledge for these spring-fed fisheries rather than a confirmed local bite — treat it as a baseline rather than today's trail report. Spring-fed flows here typically hold in the mid-50s to low-60s°F year-round, keeping stocked rainbow trout and resident brown trout active when other regional fisheries go quiet in the heat. Small nymphs, scuds, and light in-line spinners worked slow near spring runs are the standard late-summer approach. Check current Missouri Department of Conservation trout park regulations before heading out, since rules and limits shift with the calendar.
Smallmouth and walleye settle into late-summer patterns in NY lakes
Brookdog Fishing Co.'s August 23 Buffalo NY Fishing Report describes another week of steady walleye limits on the Lake Erie/Ontario side of New York, even with thunderstorms and small-craft advisories cutting into days on the water. No live buoy or stream-gauge feed came through for the Hudson Valley and Finger Lakes corridor this cycle, so confirm current water temp and flow with a local gauge before you launch. For this region, late August typically has smallmouth bass sliding onto main-lake rock and gravel structure and deeper weed edges as surface temps ease off summer highs, with the best windows early and late in the day. Walleye tend to pull back toward low-light and after-dark feeding as water clarity increases. Largemouth bass and panfish stay a dependable option around docks, timber, and remaining green weed growth. With the moon waxing toward full, expect a bump in low-light activity through the week.
Colorado trout retreat to cool water as historic drought bites
Colorado's trout rivers are running low, clear, and cold this week, with Crystal Fly Shop reporting the Roaring Fork down to 113 cfs at Aspen and flies sized down as fish push off the banks into deeper water. A CPW voluntary afternoon closure is in effect on the Roaring Fork from the Highway 133 bridge in Carbondale to the Colorado River confluence, and a full-day voluntary closure covers the lower Crystal River and the Colorado River between Glenwood Springs and Rifle. Cutthroat Anglers is urging anglers to carry a thermometer and stop fishing once water hits 68°F, calling this a record-low water year. Pat Dorsey Fly Fishing frames 2026 as possibly the worst Colorado drought on record. On the Frying Pan below Ruedi Reservoir, water stays in the 40s and PMD, BWO, and Green Drake hatches are firing in the afternoons on light 6X tippet.
Western Basin walleye settle into late-summer structure patterns
No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for the Western Basin this cycle, and this week's angler-intel sweep didn't turn up any Ohio-specific Lake Erie reports, charter logs, or shop postings — so we're leaning on typical late-August patterns for this fishery rather than fresh eyewitness accounts. Western Basin walleye are usually scattered off structure and reef edges by late August, with boats working deeper breaks as surface temps stay warm through the month. Yellow perch typically hold over the same reef complexes and rock piles that concentrate baitfish this time of year, while smallmouth bass work the reef edges alongside the walleye. White bass tend to stay quieter until a fall push develops. We'd rather tell you plainly that this report is running on seasonal norms than dress up generic blog chatter as an Ohio fishing report — check back as fresh regional intel comes in, and lean on a local shop or launch-ramp check before you head out.
Pine Barrens pickerel and bass hold steady as pressure drifts to the coast
Largemouth bass are still turning on with early- and late-day topwater action across Delaware River tributary lakes and Pine Barrens ponds, per this week's The Fisherman — NJ/DE Freshwater report, with Waretown Lake and Pohatcong Lake giving up bass to 3 pounds on poppers and buzzbaits. Chain pickerel remain a dependable producer in the region's cedar-stained waters, and campground ponds are still holding willing largemouth for anglers working weedless plastics. On the Delaware mainstem itself, smallmouth bass and catfish are described as hit-or-miss as the river settles into a late-summer pattern. Spillway panfish, crappie and white perch continue biting small jigs, with some lakes seeing suspended hybrids in 15 to 20 feet of water during evening hours. Overall freshwater pressure is light right now, the same report notes, largely because strong coastal fluke fishing has been pulling anglers toward the shore instead of inland lakes and cedar waters.