Fishing reports
18287 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
Driftless Wisconsin browns tuck tight as streams run high
USGS gauge 05407000 is reading a notably high 4,170 cfs this morning, a clear signal of recent runoff pushing through the Driftless Area's spring-fed watershed. No water-temperature reading came through with this cycle, and direct shop or captain intel specific to Wisconsin's trout streams was thin this week. What we do have: Trout Unlimited's recent piece on chasing wily brown trout is a good seasonal touchstone, since browns remain the signature draw across these limestone-spring creeks and reward technical, patient presentations even when water is up and off-color. Expect fish to slide off exposed riffles and hold tight to undercut banks, woody cover, and slower current seams while flows stay elevated. Brook trout in the coldest spring-fed headwater tributaries should stay comparatively more consistent than mainstem sections running high and stained. Scale up leaders, get weight down fast with nymphs or small streamers, and always confirm current Wisconsin trout regulations for the specific water before keeping fish.
Late-August musky bite ignites across Northwoods lakes
Water temperatures across Wisconsin's Northwoods lakes have eased into the low 70s as nights cool into the 40s and 50s, and Rollie & Helen's Musky Shop reports the late-August transition is triggering strong action across multiple species, muskies chief among them. The shop's late-August report calls this one of the most dynamic stretches on the musky calendar, the pivot between summer structure patterns and the early fall push, and recommends downsizing rubber lures as baitfish shrink and fish grow more selective. Walleye anglers working these same lakes are leaning on techniques like forward-facing sonar to find suspended fish rather than assuming eyes are glued to points and weedlines, per Fishing the Midwest. Smallmouth bass remain a reliable draw on proven baits, per AnglingBuzz. USGS gauge 05400650 has no current flow or temperature reading available this cycle, so treat on-the-water levels as unconfirmed until you check locally.
Finger Lakes smallmouth hold steady as tributary flows run thin
A USGS gauge feeding the Finger Lakes system read 64°F with flow down to just 7.45 cfs early Sunday morning, a classic late-August signature after weeks without a big recharge event. Skinny, warm tributary flow like this typically pushes bait and fish out of the feeder creeks and into the main lake basins, where smallmouth bass tend to be the most reliable bite across Cayuga, Seneca, and Skaneateles through this stretch of summer, working rock piles, points, and deeper drop-offs once the sun gets up. Lake trout and landlocked salmon generally slide below the thermocline this time of year, often 60 to 80 feet down, putting them out of reach without downriggers or leadcore, while yellow perch keep schooling over deeper basin flats. We did not get a direct Finger Lakes shop or charter report in this cycle's feed, so treat the species notes below as seasonal expectation rather than a confirmed hot bite, and check with a local shop before making the drive.
Rainy River walleyes settle into late-summer sonar patterns
The Rainy River held at 66°F with flow steady near 4,150 cfs at the USGS gauge early this morning, a stable late-summer read that keeps walleye and sauger active without the stress a hot spike would bring. Direct on-the-water reports out of Lake of the Woods and the Rainy River were sparse in this week's feeds, so we're leaning on regional technique context rather than fresh local intel: Fishing the Midwest notes anglers around the upper Midwest are blending traditional livebait rigging with forward-facing sonar to pick off suspended walleyes instead of assuming every fish sits tight to bottom structure, a pattern worth testing if your usual break-line spots go quiet. Northern pike should still be workable off weed edges, and Rainy River current seams remain a smallmouth bet through late August. Check Minnesota regs before harvesting, and treat this as a starting point, not a guarantee.
Ozark rivers turn to summer catfish and shallow bass patterns
The Missouri River gauge at Hermann (USGS 06934500) logged 83°F water and a hefty 58,100 cfs flow at 6:30 a.m. today, conditions that keep the mainstem high, warm, and pushing current hard through late August. That kind of flow tends to color up bigger rivers and favor catfish working current seams over finesse bass fishing. On the bass side, Tactical Bassin's hot-August-heat coverage this week leans on shallow points early with topwater and finesse jigs, then junk-fishing through midday as fish scatter with the heat, a pattern that reads well for Ozark reservoirs and calmer tributaries away from the high mainstem flow. Smallmouth anglers should expect a tougher bite wherever water stays off-color. Outdoor Hub also flagged a notable Mississippi River find near Hannibal this week: a 37-inch American eel pulled during an electrofishing survey, a reminder of how much still moves through Missouri's big rivers this time of year.
Low, Clear Tailwaters Favor Small Flies as Drought Persists
Flow at USGS gauge 06701900 is running a modest 182 cfs, consistent with what Cutthroat Anglers (CO) and Pat Dorsey Fly Fishing (CO) are both flagging as one of Colorado's leanest water years on record. Pat Dorsey Fly Fishing (CO) puts 2026 among the worst droughts on record, while Cutthroat Anglers (CO) is urging anglers to carry a stream thermometer and stop fishing once water hits 68°F, since low flows push temperatures up earlier in the day. The upside, per Cutthroat Anglers (CO)'s Matt Campanella, is that fish are grouped up and still willing to eat for anglers who hike a little farther or downsize tippet. AvidMax Blog (CO)'s latest tying features, the Chocolate Foam Back and Titan Tube Midge, are built specifically for tailwater midge emergers, matching the small-fly game these clear, skinny flows are calling for right now.
Low water tests North Shore salmon streams
USGS gauge 04015330 on the North Shore is reading just 4.56 cfs as of this morning, confirming how thin local tributaries have run heading into late August. No water-temperature data came through on this update, so we're working off flow alone for stream conditions. This week's angler intel feeds skewed heavily toward inland Midwest walleye and bass patterns rather than direct Lake Superior North Shore reports, so treat the species activity below as typical seasonal expectation rather than confirmed on-the-water bites. Late August on the North Shore is transition season: lake trout generally stay catchable on deep structure through the month, coho activity typically starts building as surface temps ease toward fall, and the Chinook push into the rivers usually doesn't arrive in force until September. With streams running this low and clear, stealthy approaches and early-morning or evening starts are the safer bet for stream trout until rain brings flows back up. Check current regs before harvesting any species this time of year.
Trophy snook stack up at St. Lucie Inlet as snapper season stalls
Snook Nook in Stuart reports snook fishing has been excellent for weeks, with quality fish pushing past the 40-inch mark holding around the St. Lucie Inlet and the detached jetty. Live croakers and threadfins worked along the beach and inlet are producing the most consistent bites per the shop's August report, with a dead threadfin on bottom worth trying when the inlet bite slows (expect some bycatch). Offshore, Snook Nook's own charter team took first place in the small-boat division of the 2026 One More Bite Sailfish Challenge, going 7-for-9 on sailfish bites, a sign the bluewater bite remains lively along the Treasure Coast. Red snapper is more complicated: CCA Florida reports a federal court injunction blocked the 2026 South Atlantic EFP pilot season just before it opened, while Anglers Journal and Saltwater Sportsman note Florida is pushing for a fall makeup season, tentatively Oct. 1-31, pending public comment.
Basin catfish and bass settle into late-summer patterns as river flow steadies
USGS gauge 07374000 on the Mississippi River read 82°F and 282,000 cfs early this morning, water levels holding on the lower half of their typical late-summer range and giving Atchafalaya Basin anglers stable structure to work. No fresh 'what's biting' reports came in from basin shops or captains this week, so species reads below lean on seasonal pattern rather than fresh testimony, worth flagging plainly. At 82°F, catfish typically stay the most reliable target, especially after dark on cut bait around deep holes and current breaks. Largemouth bass and sac-a-lait tend to slide off the aggressive bite in this heat, pushing toward shaded cover and deeper brush through midday. Bream stay catchable on crickets and worms in the cooler early hours. Louisiana Sportsman's Field Notes series flagged Palmetto Island State Park this week, a reminder of how much bottomland-hardwood water sits within reach of Basin anglers heading into Labor Day.
St. Johns anglers lean on dawn windows as summer heat holds
The USGS gauge near DeLand on the St. Johns River (site 02232000) logged 645 cfs as of 6:30 a.m. this morning, a steady, unremarkable flow for late August. No water-temperature reading came through with this update, but water in the low-to-mid 80s is typical for Lake Okeechobee and the St. Johns system this time of year. None of today's angler-intel feeds carried direct reports from Okeechobee or the St. Johns corridor, so we're leaning on seasonal norms rather than fresh bite reports: largemouth bass typically bite best in the first and last hour of light before the heat pushes them to deeper cover, panfish stay active around grass edges, and catfish feeding tends to hold up better through midday than bass does. Treat today's outlook as a seasonal baseline until region-specific reports come in.
Drop Shot Bass and Sunfish Action Heat Up Smith Mountain Lake
Late-summer sunfish fishing is peaking on Virginia's public lakes right now, with the Virginia DWR Wildlife Blog spotlighting bluegill and redear sunfish as an easy, productive target for anglers running ultralight spinning gear near structure. On the bass side, the same DWR feed is pushing the drop shot rig this week, a finesse technique that suspends a bait just off bottom for a natural presentation, a method that's proven out on largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass and tends to shine once fish tuck tight to deeper structure in August heat. USGS gauge 02075045 is reading 726 cfs, a steady late-summer flow with nothing in the data suggesting a recent spike or drawdown. Striped bass, the signature draw at Smith Mountain Lake, typically hold in deeper, cooler water through late August. No water temperature reading came through on this cycle, so plan around the current local forecast and expect warm, stable conditions typical for the season.
Late-summer warmth keeps cobia and red drum biting at the Bay mouth
No buoy or gauge readings came back for the Chesapeake mouth this cycle, and this week's angler-intel sweep didn't turn up shop, captain, or state-agency reports specific to Virginia's saltwater scene, so this update leans on typical late-August patterns for the region. Cobia and red drum are the marquee targets around the Bay mouth and its shoals through late summer, with Spanish mackerel and bluefish typically mixing in over bait pods and structure. Striped bass fishing is usually at its slowest and most catch-and-release-focused stretch of the year right now, since warm water raises handling stress on released rockfish, pushing most effort toward cobia, drum, and trout until fall cooling. The waxing gibbous moon building toward full should firm up tidal flow over the next several days, typically a good window for shoal and inlet fishing. Check current Virginia saltwater regulations before harvesting any species, as seasons and slot limits shift through the year.
Puget Sound salmon push continues as Dungeness crab season holds
Washington Sea Grant's Skills and Drills course, scheduled for September 28-29 in South Bend, is turning attention to the Dungeness crab fishery this year, one of Washington's largest commercial fisheries and a signal that late-summer crab activity remains a major draw across Puget Sound and coastal bays. Specific on-the-water bite reports weren't available in this cycle's feed, so for the freshest counts we'd point anglers to WDFW's creel and catch reporting program, which tracks fishing activity and stocking updates statewide. Absent buoy or gauge readings for this update, conditions should be checked against the current local forecast before heading out. Seasonally, mid-to-late August typically keeps coho salmon building toward their fall run while Chinook remains a solid option nearer river mouths, and Dungeness crab potting stays active through the summer season structure. Halibut and bottomfish opportunities are typically winding down as the season progresses, so check current regulations before targeting them.
Mutton and Yellowtail Snapper Keep the Keys Bite Alive
No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for the Keys today, so this report leans on angler intel. ALL IN Key West's most recent catch log described the mutton and yellowtail snapper bite as "chewing like crazy" around the May full moon spawn, with anglers filling coolers on reef structure and a mixed bag of grouper, cobia, and kingfish on Gulf-side trips. Bud n' Mary's Islamorada seasonal report backs that up, pointing to tarpon on the bridges, mahi offshore, and yellowtail on the reef as the defining early-summer pattern for the Keys fishery. Those reports predate late August, so expect the snapper bite to be carrying over rather than freshly breaking, with tarpon activity typically tapering as summer winds down. Meanwhile CCA Florida and Saltwater Sportsman are both tracking a live regulatory fight over South Atlantic red snapper season access that Keys bottom anglers should watch before planning a targeted trip. Check state regs before harvesting any snapper species this week.
Chicago's Lake Michigan salmon push holds through late August
Direct buoy and gauge data for the Chicago nearshore wasn't available this cycle, and no shop or charter dispatch specific to the city's harbors came through the wire either, so this update leans on regional context and typical late-August patterns rather than a fresh bite report. The one Chicago-adjacent headline worth flagging: Outdoor Hub reports Illinois River survey crews pulled hundreds of juvenile silver carp from the Marseilles Pool on Aug. 13-14, roughly 80 miles from Lake Michigan, a reminder that keeping the invasive species out of the lake remains an active effort. On the water, late August is typically prime time for Chicago's harbor and nearshore king and coho salmon fishery as fish stage ahead of the fall river run, with yellow perch also starting to build over deeper structure. Smallmouth bass around the breakwalls round out the typical late-summer lineup. Check current conditions and regs before heading out.
Lanier's New Catfish Record Signals a Hot Late-Summer Bite
Anthony Scroggins hauled in a new Lake Lanier record blue catfish on Aug. 19 — 22 pounds even, weighed on certified Georgia DNR scales — per GA Sportsman / Georgia Outdoor News, and it's a strong signal that Lanier's catfish are feeding hard as August winds down. Our reading from USGS gauge 02334430 shows flow holding steady near 606 cfs, a stable stage that isn't pushing extra runoff or turbidity into the system. Lanier and Allatoona both carry well-documented big-fish pedigrees across largemouth, spotted bass, striped bass and hybrids, and typical late-August patterns have fish sliding toward deeper structure and staying active in low-light windows. With a waxing gibbous moon overhead, expect a bit more nighttime and pre-dawn feeding activity than midday. Catfish are clearly the story of the week; bass anglers should lean on moving baits and structure changes to keep bites coming as the month closes out.</br>
Sarasota Bay trout bite runs hot as tarpon start to shift
A 27-inch spotted seatrout came aboard a recent CB's Saltwater Outfitters (Sarasota) charter with Capt. Brandon Naeve, who's calling the peak summer trout bite aggressive right now across Sarasota Bay's grass flats, mangrove shorelines, and passes. Fishing the same waters, Capt. Chuck Cress put clients into several redfish on a popping cork with live shrimp during a rising morning tide, along with a few small snook released along the way. Looking toward the back half of August, Capt. Rick Grassett's monthly forecast notes tarpon are still showing early in the month along the coastal gulf on flies, DOA Baitbusters, and DOA Shrimp, though as they thin out along the beaches they're sliding into inside waters around bridges and deep grass flats, feeding on schools of ladyfish. We're leaning into the trout bite as this week's headline pattern.
Big stripers surge into Gulf of Maine waters as mackerel push north
Striped bass action has caught fire from Cape Cod north into Maine waters, with the New England Video Fishing Forecast (The Fisherman) reporting seriously big fish in the mix as mackerel continue pushing into the region. Closer to the Maine border, Beauport Fishing Adventures out of Rockport found big stripers stacked off dry salvages, gorging on pogies -- fun fights, though most fish ran oversized for the box. Squid remain thick east of Cape Ann and mackerel are still plentiful, both signs of solid forage right now. Bottom fishing is holding up too: pollock have been solid for weeks while haddock stays spotty, per the same South Shore report. Bluefish are lagging behind, with Belsan's Bait and Tackle noting blues have been largely absent from Scituate up through Provincetown, though a few smaller fish are starting to show. Surfland Bait and Tackle also flagged that night-fishing permits are back for the Plum Island refuge, opening more after-dark access as the bite builds.
Trout and redfish keep the summer bite alive along the SC coast
Anglers working live shrimp under slip corks are still finding summertime spotted seatrout along the northern South Carolina coast, per Fisherman's Post's Little River/North Myrtle report this week, with red drum also turning up in the same water. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for Charleston Harbor today, so treat sky, wind, and water-temp numbers as unconfirmed until you check a local forecast before launching. Late August in the Lowcountry typically keeps trout and redfish working the marsh edges and grass lines on moving tide, and that pattern lines up with what's being reported north of the harbor. Offshore anglers should also note Saltwater Sportsman's report that Florida, South Carolina, and Georgia are pushing for a salvage October red snapper season after a lawsuit halted the original 2026 dates, with public comment open through Aug. 25. Flounder should still be holding on ambush points as water stays warm.
Redfish shift deep as Gulf Coast anglers slow it down for late summer
Water temperatures pushing into the 90s across Southwest Florida's Gulf Coast flats have redfish sliding into deeper, moving water, per Salt Strong's late-summer breakdown of redfish behavior in heat — the advice is to slow down, work blue crab imitations, and target current-fed depth instead of skinny flats at midday. Salt Strong's companion tactics piece echoes the same read: fish aren't burning energy chasing fast-moving prey in this heat, so a methodical retrieve is outfishing a fast one right now. Earlier-season reports from Naples Offshore Fishing Charters showed strong sight-fishing action on permit paired with the spring tarpon migration; that intel predates current conditions but reflects the kind of variety this stretch of coast produces through the year. Gag grouper anglers are also gearing up — Sport Fishing Mag's trolling primer on Gulf gag grouper points toward the region's short September season opener on nearby structure, worth planning around now.
Snapper Season Fight Looms as GA Marsh Bite Holds Steady
Offshore anglers along the Georgia Atlantic Coast are watching regulators as much as the horizon this week. After a lawsuit halted the 2026 red snapper season, Florida, South Carolina and Georgia are pushing NOAA Fisheries for a salvage plan: a month-long reopening running October 1-31, per Saltwater Sportsman, with the public-comment window open through August 25. No buoy or gauge readings came through in this update, so plan around typical late-August water temperatures for the region rather than a specific number. Inshore, redfish and spotted seatrout remain the dependable summer targets working Georgia's marsh creeks, sounds and grass edges on tide movement more than anything else. Tarpon should still be showing along the beaches and inlets. The Georgia Wildlife Blog's own Fishing Report noted it's shifting to a rotating regional format starting this week, so expect more granular Southeast-coast specifics from that source going forward.
Bonito Arrive in Cape Cod Bay as Stripers Hold Along the Bay Shore
Bonito have finally pushed into Cape Cod Bay at Provincetown and inside the harbor, spreading from Wood End down to the Brewster Flats and into Wellfleet Harbor, according to Goose Hummock Shop's report via The Fisherman — Cape Cod & Islands this week. Anglers there are picking up those bonito alongside 4-pound bluefish, and a decent striper bite is holding along the bay shore, with big schools of jumbo bass working the P-Town side — some anglers live-lining mackerel to reach the larger fish. Further down the Cape, Sports Port's report (also via The Fisherman — Cape Cod & Islands) notes blues mixing with similar 4-pound bonito along the sound shoreline, plus bass and bonito showing on Monomoy, though sharks have moved in there too. Regionally, The Fisherman (Northeast)'s New England video forecast (Aug 20) says striper action has "caught fire" north of the Cape, with big fish mixing into mackerel-driven feeds. Fluke fishing also stayed strong on Cape grounds this week per Black Rose Fishing Charters, another Cape Cod & Islands report.
Louisiana marsh reds and trout ease into deep-water heat pattern
Louisiana Sportsman's August 21 field note on the new Palmetto Island State Park spotlights the coastal bottomland hardwood habitat feeding the marshes around this stretch of coast, a reminder of how much of the Gulf Coast and Delta bite still runs through backwater cover this time of year. No NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings came through for the region this cycle, so treat water temps as typical for late August: warm and holding. With no charter or shop reports specific to Louisiana in hand, we're leaning on general seasonal patterns and Salt Strong's broader Gulf heat-behavior guidance, which notes redfish pull back from fast-moving prey once water hits the 90s and instead stack up in deeper, moving water working blue crab and cut bait. Speckled trout should follow a similar pattern, sliding into channel edges and cuts through the heat of the day. Check local reports before running the marsh this week.
Bonito Push Into Vineyard Sound as Bass Hold a Dawn Bite
Falmouth Bait & Tackle reports small blues working the Vineyard Sound side of the Cape, from West Chop across to Nobska Point, with striped bass mostly coming on a daylight jigging or trolling bite rather than blitzing on top. Nearby, Sports Port is seeing blues push into the sound shoreline in the 4-pound class, often mixed with bonito in the same schools — a pairing that typically signals baitfish concentrations holding tight to structure. Offshore, Falmouth Bait & Tackle notes the canyon yellowfin bite has been strong when weather allows, with bluefin tuna reported moving in closer to shore. Black Rose Fishing Charters had a good week on the Nantucket Sound rips, with fluke fishing holding up well short of the Shoals and bottom fishing productive. Water temps are trending toward the seasonal shift that typically kicks fall patterns into gear across southern New England.