Fishing reports
18386 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
Taneycomo Trout Turn Aggressive as Trophy Program Rebounds
Trout are hitting hard with no pecking around on Lake Taneycomo, according to Lilleys Landing's most recent report, and the lake's trophy release program has picked back up after a slow spring. Guides there are doing well in the afternoons working a Provo rig, while shop staff report success with a simpler approach: a straight-line drift with a weight on bottom and a drop-shot loop about 18 inches up, tied with Vanish fluorocarbon tippet on guide Blake Wilson's recommendation. That's a shift from June and early July, when Lilleys Landing described inconsistent generation schedules and shifting mini-fronts making the bite unpredictable day to day. Table Rock Lake itself has no fresh angler intel this cycle, so expect typical late-August patterns there. No current USGS flow or temperature reading is available for gauge 07054410, so check generation schedules before you head out.
Tidal swings dominate as Delta anglers wait out August heat
USGS gauge 11455420 logged a sharply negative flow reading of roughly -62,800 cfs late on Aug. 22, the signature of a strong flood tide pushing back through Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta channels rather than an actual outflow crash — tidal reversal like this is routine for Delta gauges near the confluence, and a waxing gibbous moon is pulling bigger-than-average tide swings this week. No water-temperature reading came through with this cycle's data, and none of today's angler-intel feeds carried a Delta-specific catch report — the blog and forum content available this cycle skewed saltwater (Central Coast bluefin, Baja billfish) and bass-tournament circuit news rather than Delta water. Absent fresh eyewitness reports, expect the Delta's typical late-August pattern to hold: stripers and largemouth pushing to deeper structure and feeding mainly in low-light windows as surface temps stay warm, catfish holding steady after dark, and sturgeon interest starting to build ahead of fall. Check current regs and a local shop report before heading out.
South Fork trout adjust to sustained high summer flows
The South Fork's USGS gauge near Heise (station 13037500) logged 11,200 cfs late Friday night, a flow that's kept the float season in full swing but pushed cutthroat and rainbow trout out of the heavy current and into softer bank seams, side channels, and back-eddies. No water-temperature reading came through with this cycle's gauge pull, so we'd check a thermometer or ask at the put-in before committing to a stretch. Direct on-the-water reports specific to this reach weren't available in this cycle's angler-intel sweep, so the read below leans on typical late-August patterns for this fishery: terrestrial imitations working the grassy banks during the warmest hours, with streamer swings picking up during low light as brown trout start showing more interest once the heat backs off. Boat traffic and wading pressure are both still elevated this time of year given the flow, so early starts and softer water away from the main current are the play until releases begin easing back.
Champlain smallmouth stay hot as salmon slide deep
A Bass Federation tournament on Lake Champlain over the August 8-9 weekend produced a non-boater winning bag topping 30 pounds, per The Fisherman — New England Freshwater's report out of Sauder's Boat Livery in Southwick — a strong signal that smallmouth are stacked up and biting well heading into the back half of August. USGS gauge 04294500 has water sitting at 74°F as of early this morning, typical for high-summer Champlain and a good indicator that landlocked salmon have pushed down below the thermocline rather than holding shallow. Right now smallmouth on structure and drop-offs is the higher-percentage bite, while salmon anglers should plan on a deeper, trolling-focused approach rather than surface action. No direct Champlain salmon reports came through in this cycle's intel, so treat that species as a wait-and-see rather than a confirmed pattern until cooler nights start mixing the water column. Check local forecast conditions before heading out — no sky or wind data was available for this update.
Terrestrial season carries Wind River trout through late August lull
Environmental telemetry for the Wind River and North Platte drainages is thin this cycle — USGS gauge 06259000 isn't currently reporting flow or water temperature, so there's no fresh number to lead with. In its place, the clearest signal in today's feed is seasonal: late August sits squarely inside terrestrial season across the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, and Hatch Magazine's "Yellowstone terrestrial countdown" describes anglers throughout that broader region timing hopper, ant, and beetle patterns to the tail end of a long, hot, smoky summer, a pattern that typically extends into Wind River tributaries. Flylords Mag separately notes alpine-lake fishing improves through mid-to-late summer as mainstem water warms and midday windows shrink, pushing both fish and anglers toward higher, cooler pockets, a dynamic that fits the high-elevation lakes feeding this system. No shop, charter, or state-agency report specific to Wyoming came through today, so treat the species notes below as seasonal expectation rather than a confirmed on-the-water bite.
Late-summer sonar trend reshapes walleye tactics on WI waters
Flow at USGS gauge 05391000 held steady at 414 cfs as of the Aug. 23 reading, a normal late-summer stage that keeps the river wadable and floatable without the discolored bump that follows a rain event. Water temperature wasn't reported at the gauge, but late-August conditions across the region typically push walleye off classic points and weed edges into deeper suspended positions, a shift Fishing the Midwest has been tracking all season as more anglers lean on forward-facing sonar to find fish that older bottom-contact methods missed. Smallmouth bass should stay solid through warm afternoons, and muskie are just starting their gradual pre-fall pickup. Up north, Hatch Magazine's recent dispatch from Langlade County flagged continued interest in northeastern Wisconsin's under-the-radar trout streams, a reminder the state's smaller cold-water fisheries are drawing attention even as lake and river anglers focus on bass and walleye. Check state regs before harvesting any species this time of year.
Red & Missouri walleye anglers lean on sonar as late-summer warmth holds
The Red River gauge at USGS site 05054000 read 77°F with flow holding near 274 cfs in the pre-dawn hours of Aug 23, a typical late-summer signature for the system. We're not seeing direct catch reports out of the Red or Missouri corridors this week, but regional walleye interest is clearly up — Jason Mitchell Outdoors and AnglingBuzz both dropped fresh Devils Lake, ND walleye content, and Fishing the Midwest's Mike Frisch and Bob Jensen have been writing about how forward-facing sonar has changed where anglers find suspended walleye, off the traditional bottom structure. With water sitting in the high 70s, expect classic warm-water patterns: catfish active on cut bait in deeper holes, smallmouth working dawn and dusk shallows, and walleye pushed off points toward suspended baitfish schools. Sauger typically stay slower until water cools. Check state regs before harvesting.
Chickamauga bass keep biting through the August heat
Bass are still eating on Lake Chickamauga despite hot, humid conditions, per Tactical Bassin (blog), where anglers are junk fishing — cycling through baits at every stop rather than sticking with one presentation to find what the fish want on a given day. The Tennessee River system gauge (USGS 03578500) shows flow sitting low at 7.21 cfs as of late Friday night, a stable-to-low stage that typically concentrates baitfish and bass around visible cover and channel structure on Chickamauga and Watts Bar this time of year. Tactical Bassin's companion reservoir report backs the pattern up: shallow points are producing in low light on topwater and finesse jigs before the bite slides deeper once the sun gets up. No smallmouth, catfish, or crappie reports came through in this week's feeds, so treat those patterns as typical late-summer holding behavior until fresher intel lands. With a Waxing Gibbous moon overhead, expect active low-light and overnight feeding windows into early morning.
Lake Mead stripers push deep as late-August heat holds
No fresh telemetry came through this cycle: USGS gauge 09421500 on the lower Colorado logged no flow or temperature reading, and no buoy data was available for Lake Mead, so today's numbers panel is effectively blank. None of this week's blog, shop, or forum feeds carried region-specific reports for Lake Mead or the lower Colorado corridor either, so we can't confirm a specific bite pattern from a named source today. Leaning on typical late-August patterns for this fishery: stripers are usually pushed deep and schooling tight to structure and the thermocline as surface water stays hot, with the most productive windows at first light and after dark. Largemouth bass generally slow through midday heat and pick up at the margins of the day, catfish tend to stay consistent through warm nights, and the Willow Beach tailwater below Hoover Dam typically keeps trout fishing workable even when the main lake is sweltering. Check current Nevada and Arizona regs before harvesting.
Terrestrial season arrives as Yellowstone anglers head for elevation
The Snake River near Jackson (USGS gauge 06192500) read 66°F with flow holding near 2,150 cfs as of last night — solid wading water for late August. Hatch Magazine's regional dispatch pegs this as peak terrestrial season across the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, with hopper, beetle, and ant patterns coming into their own as grasshoppers build along grassy banks. It's been a hot, smoky summer typical of recent years, and that heat is pushing trout behavior around: Flylab notes anglers chasing cooler water are finding better action by gaining elevation, while Flylords' recent alpine-lake piece backs the same play — cutthroat and rainbow action holding up best in high-country lakes and headwaters as valley-floor water warms through midday. Early mornings and evenings remain the best windows on the main river. Whitefish stay put deep in slower runs. Waxing gibbous moon this week should keep low-light bites lively.
Lake Eufaula bass dig into deep structure as late-summer heat holds
Flow at USGS gauge 07247500 is running unusually skinny at just 1.25 cfs, a sign of the low, warm water typical of late August across the Lake Eufaula and Red River system. Water temp wasn't reported at this gauge, but surface readings in the mid-to-upper 80s are typical for this stretch of Oklahoma right now. Per Tactical Bassin's recent hot-August dispatches, largemouth are following the classic summer pattern: shallow points and topwater bites at first light, sliding to deeper ledges and finesse presentations once the sun climbs. Fishing the Midwest notes forward-facing sonar continues changing how anglers locate suspended fish off traditional bottom structure, a trend worth trying on Eufaula's deeper timber and ledges. Striped bass and blue catfish, both Eufaula staples, should stay catchable through the heat, though no direct regional report came in this week. Low flow favors working current breaks and deeper holes on the Red River side.
New River smallmouth hold steady as summer flow stays stable
USGS gauge 03051000 is holding a steady 494 cfs as of early Wednesday morning, a moderate late-summer flow that keeps wading and float trips workable across the New River and Ohio River systems. No fresh water-temperature reading came through this cycle, and none of this week's regional shop or charter reports specifically covered conditions on these waters, so we're leaning on typical late-August patterns for this fishery. Smallmouth bass remain the headline draw, with steady flow favoring current-seam and rock-structure presentations. Per Tactical Bassin's late-summer bass coverage, junk-fishing (rotating baits quickly to find the day's pattern) and finesse jigs in low light are producing for river and reservoir bass elsewhere this month, a technique that should translate well to New River smallmouth. Muskellunge activity typically stays slow through late-summer heat before the fall push, and channel catfish should stay dependable after dark as flow holds steady.
Late-summer bass on Guntersville and Wheeler settle into junk-fishing patterns
The USGS gauge on this stretch of the Tennessee River system (03575100) held at a modest 209 cfs overnight into Saturday, a stable, low-flow signature typical of late-August drawdown on Guntersville and Wheeler. Water temperature wasn't available from this gauge, but conditions line up with what late-summer bass anglers are already working around: per Tactical Bassin (blog), grouped-up largemouth are responding to a mixed "junk fishing" approach, switching baits spot to spot, with shallow points producing on topwater and finesse jigs during low light before the bite slides deeper as the sun climbs. Crappie typically pull deep and slow down in this heat, while Wheeler's catfish and striper action tends to hold steady around current breaks near the tailrace. No AL-specific shop or state reports came through this cycle, so treat species notes below as seasonal-pattern guidance until fresher local intel lands.
Rising Kansas River flow keeps catfish bite dialed in through late August heat
USGS gauge 06892350 clocked the Kansas River at 5,680 cfs and 82°F as of last night, a flow well above typical late-August baseflow and a clear sign of recent runoff pushing through the system. No dedicated angler reports came in from the Kansas or Arkansas River corridors this cycle, so we're leaning on what elevated, warm, likely-stained flow typically means for this fishery rather than fresh on-the-water testimony. Higher water and warm temps generally favor catfish, which key on current breaks and displaced forage when rivers run up, while species that prefer clearer, more stable flow tend to go quieter until things settle. Expect channel and flathead catfish to be the most reliable target through this stretch, working current seams, wing dams, and any structure holding back-eddies. White bass and drum activity is harder to call without direct reports and likely softens some in faster, dirtier water. Check current access-point conditions before launching, since 5,680 cfs can change boat ramps and wading spots fast.
Fall Chinook Push Builds Near Chinook Landing on the Columbia
USGS gauge 14211720 logged water at 74°F with flow holding near 6,080 cfs as of Saturday evening, a warm read that's pushing anglers toward first-light and last-light windows rather than midday grinding. Activity near Chinook Landing is already picking up — an IFish.net Fishing Reports post this week described a rod bouncing out of the holder mid-troll below the landing, the kind of detail that only shows up when boats are actively working the current for early fall Chinook. With water this warm, salmon tend to hold deeper and bite short windows at dawn and dusk, and the loose-rod incident is a reminder to anglers to snug down holders while trolling herring or spinner rigs through the same stretch. Smallmouth bass, which tolerate warmth better than salmon or steelhead, should be pushing shallow onto gravel bars and current seams in those same low-light hours. Expect the Chinook bite to sharpen as flows and temperatures ease toward a true fall pattern over the coming weeks.
Late-summer ledge pattern holds on Kentucky Lake and Barkley
Forward-facing sonar continues reshaping how bass anglers approach summer structure, per Fishing the Midwest's Mike Frisch and Bob Jensen, and that shift lines up with how Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley typically fish this time of year: suspended fish stacked over river-channel ledges and main-lake points rather than shallow cover. No fresh telemetry came through for this cycle. USGS gauge 03611500 reported no current flow or temperature reading, and no buoy data was available, so treat today's Conditions panel numbers as unavailable rather than current. Late August on these lakes typically keeps largemouth bass and white bass grouped deep on structure, with crappie sliding tighter to brush and ledges as afternoon heat holds. Blue catfish tend to feed heavily on river-channel flats through this stretch of summer. No shop, charter, or agency report specific to Kentucky Lake or Barkley came through the feed this cycle, so the species status below reflects typical late-August seasonal patterns rather than fresh, on-the-water accounts.
Snakeheads and topwater bass keep Delaware ponds lively as flows drop
USGS gauge 01493500 on White Clay Creek, part of the Christina basin, is reading a lean 15 cfs as of the early hours of August 23, a flow level typical of late-summer dry spells in this watershed. No water temperature reading came through this cycle, but low, clear flows like this usually push fish toward shade and structure through the heat of the day. Per The Fisherman — NJ/DE Freshwater, Smith's Bait Shop in Leipsic reports topwater frogs and weedless soft plastics producing bass early and late in the day, with Silver Lake the top bass producer and Garrisons Lake turning out most of the snakehead action. The same report notes white perch, crappie, and other panfish stacking below spillways and responding well to small jigs fished slow. With a waxing gibbous moon building toward full, we're expecting steadier low-light feeding windows through the week.
Flathead system trout push higher as late-summer heat holds
USGS gauge 12372000 on the Flathead system logged 72°F and 5,590 cfs Saturday evening, warm enough that trout are likely sliding into deeper runs and cooler, higher-elevation water rather than holding in the main channel. No reports specific to Flathead Lake or the Bitterroot came through this week, so we're leaning on regional technique intel: Flylords Mag notes that by mid-to-late summer, alpine lake fishing becomes one of the best ways to target bigger trout once main-stem water warms and afternoon feeding windows shrink, while Flylab similarly points anglers toward higher, cooler water once the heat turns up in the Rockies. Expect Bitterroot cutthroat and rainbows to feed hardest in the early low-light window before the 72° water pushes them off the bite, with bull trout holding deep in cold tributary mouths (catch-and-release only, check current regs). Mountain whitefish should stay comparatively steady regardless of the warm surface temp.
Warm water pushes Snake and Salmon River trout into early-morning, high-country patterns
USGS gauge 13340000 logged Snake River water temperatures at 75°F on the evening of Aug. 22, with flow holding steady near 1,310 cfs, a solidly warm read for late August. Heat like that pushes trout toward the margins of the day and toward cold-water refuges rather than the open channel. Flylab (Substack) makes the same call for Rockies freshwater this time of year, noting that as valley water climbs into the low-to-mid 70s, the better play is getting higher in elevation where feeder creeks and headwater pools stay cooler. Flylords Mag backs that pattern for the broader region, noting that by mid-to-late summer, alpine lake fishing becomes one of the best ways to target bigger trout precisely because mainstem temperatures have climbed and afternoon windows have shrunk. For the Snake and Salmon system, that points toward dawn and dusk sessions on cooler tributary water, with warmwater species like smallmouth able to stay active through the heat of the day while trout sit tight to structure and cold seams.
High water on the Des Moines River shifts the pattern
USGS gauge 05465500 on the Des Moines River is running an elevated 10,200 cfs as of this morning, with no water temperature reading available this cycle. This cycle's angler-intel sweep did not turn up any reports specific to the Iowa or Des Moines Rivers, so we're leaning on general seasonal knowledge rather than fresh eyewitness accounts for this stretch. Elevated, likely stained flows typically push river catfish into feeding mode along current breaks and eddies, while walleye and smallmouth tend to slide off exposed structure into slack water until the river settles. Fishing the Midwest's recent coverage of forward-facing sonar and jig-and-livebait approaches for walleye reflects the broader regional shift many Midwest anglers are making this season, even if it isn't Des Moines River-specific. Check current conditions and any high-water advisories before launching, and expect murkier water to reward scent and vibration over finesse presentations for the next few days.
Champlain smallmouth stay hot as VT rivers run lean
A Bass Federation tournament held on Lake Champlain over the weekend of August 8-9 produced a 30-plus-pound stringer for the non-boater division winner, according to The Fisherman — New England Freshwater — a strong sign for the smallmouth and largemouth mix Vermont anglers are chasing this month. Flow on the Connecticut River watershed is running lean, with the USGS gauge near site 01135300 reading just over 4 cubic feet per second, consistent with a dry late-summer stretch that typically pushes bass toward deeper structure and shaded banks by midday. Regional New England freshwater intel backs up the pattern: Jerry's Bait and Tackle-NE Freshwater reports largemouths still coming on shiners and plastics at nearby ponds, while Roger Aziz, Jr. continues taking smallmouth on spinnerbaits, Aziz-rigged Senkos, and Whopper Ploppers on comparable river structure. No direct walleye or pike reports came in from Vermont water this week, so expect a typical, unspectacular late-summer bite from those species rather than anything hot.
Statewide walleye surge signals what's ahead for Finger Lakes anglers
Water is holding at 76°F with flow near 762 cfs at USGS gauge 01357500, while the downstream gauge 01358000 is running heavier at 3,220 cfs — classic late-August warmwater conditions across New York's inland fisheries. The clearest read on how NY fish are behaving this week comes from Brookdog Fishing Co., working the Buffalo/Niagara/Lake Ontario corridor, who logged seven straight days on the water and called the walleye bite "ridiculous," with limits coming easily despite crowded launches; smallmouth bass cooperated whenever conditions allowed. That's Great Lakes water, not Hudson Valley or Finger Lakes proper, but it's a useful statewide signal for warmwater feeding activity right now. With surface temps in the mid-70s, expect largemouth and smallmouth bass to hold shallow at first light before sliding to weed edges and deeper cover as the sun climbs, while Finger Lakes walleye and lake trout continue working cooler water through midday.
Late-Summer Walleye, Smallmouth Patterns Settle In on Erie and the Ohio River
Direct water readings weren't available this cycle — USGS gauge 03271601 returned no current flow or temperature data — but late-August patterns across the Midwest point anglers toward suspended, sonar-marked walleye rather than classic bottom structure, per Fishing the Midwest's Bob Jensen and Mike Frisch, who note Forward-Facing Sonar has shifted where anglers are finding fish away from traditional points and weedlines. On the bass side, Tactical Bassin's late-summer coverage highlights a junk-fishing approach: working shallow points early with topwater and finesse jigs before sliding deeper as the sun climbs, a pattern that typically travels well to Ohio River smallmouth and largemouth in current late-summer heat. Lake Erie walleye are generally active through late August as baitfish schools hold in open water, while Ohio River channel catfish activity typically holds steady in warm-water conditions. Anglers should check current local water temperature and flow before planning a trip, since no fresh buoy or gauge readings synced for this update.
Terrestrial season hits full swing across Yellowstone waters
The USGS gauge on the Missouri River system (station 06043500) read 430 cfs as of Wednesday evening, a moderate late-summer flow, with no water-temperature reading available from this station. Hatch Magazine's Yellowstone terrestrial countdown piece, published this week, frames the broader picture for Yellowstone and Missouri River anglers: it's been a long, hot, smoky summer across the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, and terrestrial season, the window locals start counting toward from the first week of August, is now in full swing. That puts hoppers, ants, and beetles squarely in play for cutthroat, rainbow, and brown trout keying on bankside bugs. We don't have a direct bite report from a shop or captain on these specific waters this cycle, so treat the technique notes below as seasonal generalities grounded in typical August patterns rather than confirmed catches. Expect steady terrestrial action through early fall as flows hold in this range.