Fishing reports
18436 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
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.
Low tailwater flows favor trout while Cumberland stripers slide deep
The Cumberland River tailwater gauge (USGS 03413200) logged just 6.45 cfs overnight, pointing to minimal generation from the dam upstream and the kind of low, clear water that lets tailwater trout anglers wade with confidence. No water-temperature reading came through this cycle, but the dam's bottom-release water typically stays cold enough in late August to keep rainbow and brown trout active on small nymphs and light spinners even as the main lake settles into deep-summer mode. Up on Lake Cumberland itself, striped bass are entering their classic late-summer pattern, suspending over creek-channel bait schools — the kind of scenario Field & Stream has spent this season highlighting forward-facing sonar for locating. Largemouth and smallmouth are following the same national script bass anglers are leaning on right now: per Tactical Bassin's late-summer approach, junk-fishing — rotating baits quickly across cover instead of grinding one presentation — is out-producing a single go-to lure in the heat. Crappie are typically pushed deep and slower to cooperate this time of year.
White River trout hold steady as bass slide deep in late-summer heat
Cold tailwater releases below Bull Shoals and Norfork Dams typically keep Arkansas's White and Norfork river trout fisheries stable through late-August heat, and that pattern holds again this week. Our environmental feed came back empty this cycle, USGS gauge 07263620 posted no current flow or temperature reading, so anglers should confirm generation schedules with the dam operator before planning a float. None of today's angler-intel sources filed reports specific to Arkansas water, so we're leaning on typical seasonal behavior rather than fresh sightings. Elsewhere in the country, Tactical Bassin's hot-weather how-to notes that August bass push shallow at first light before sliding onto deeper structure as the sun climbs and temperatures spike, a pattern that generally holds for White River smallmouth too. Rainbow and brown trout should stay catchable on standard tailwater presentations, while channel catfish typically remain active through warm nights. Check current state regulations before harvesting.
Bass Grind Through Late-Summer Heat on AL's River Systems
Flow on the Tennessee River system measured 4,360 cfs at USGS gauge 02339500 in the early hours of the 23rd, holding solid current through Alabama's Tennessee and Coosa river reaches as late-summer heat keeps grinding on. Water temperature wasn't captured in this reading, but conditions track typical late-August warmth for the region. Upstream on the same river system, Tactical Bassin's recent Lake Chickamauga field report described hot, humid conditions with bass still biting through active junk-fishing — working shallow points with topwater and a finesse jig in low light before rotating baits as the sun climbs and the bite gets tougher. That pattern lines up with what Coosa and Tennessee River anglers in Alabama should expect right now: bass grouping tight against the heat, rewarding anglers who keep changing presentations rather than sitting on one bait. Coosa River spotted (Alabama) bass and Tennessee River largemouth remain the headline draws, with catfish and crappie holding in deeper water through the heat of the day.
Heavy Osage Generation Has Summer Bass Keying on Current
USGS gauge 06934500 on the Osage River logged water at 84°F with flow pushing 59,100 cfs late Friday night, a reading that points to heavy hydro generation moving a lot of water through the Lake of the Ozarks system. That kind of current shift typically repositions baitfish and bass around current breaks, points, and channel swings. With surface temps still deep in summer range, Tactical Bassin's recent hot-August coverage leans on low-light topwater around shallow points at first light before sliding into finesse jigs and moving baits as the sun climbs and fish scatter to cover, a pattern that lines up with what 84-degree water and heavy current typically produce on Ozark-region reservoirs. Catfish generally stay active in warm, high-flow conditions typical for late August, while crappie and white bass tend to slide deeper and slow down under the heat. Check state regs before harvesting, and watch generation schedules before you launch.
South Dakota walleyes holding tight to shallow weed edges
Flows are running lean across the Black Hills region, with USGS gauge 06440200 reading just 7.5 cfs as of Friday night — a clear signal of typical late-August low water. On the walleye side, Jason Mitchell Outdoors (YT) reports fish stacking up shallow around weed lines on South Dakota water this week, a pattern common once summer heat pushes baitfish tight to vegetation and structure. We're not seeing direct water-temp data from this gauge, but low, clear flows like these usually mean bright-day fish sliding deeper into weed pockets and turning on again as light fades. Smallmouth bass should still be active around rock and gravel transitions typical of Missouri River tributaries this time of year, and channel catfish remain a reliable August player on the main river system. Black Hills trout streams, by contrast, are the ones to watch carefully — low, warm late-summer flows like this reading can stress fish, so an early start is worth planning around.
Drought-stressed Colorado rivers push trout bite to dawn and tailwaters
The USGS gauge on the Colorado River is reading 73°F, well above the 68°F threshold Cutthroat Anglers flags as the point to stop fishing to protect stressed trout. It's part of a broader squeeze this year: Pat Dorsey Fly Fishing calls 2026 possibly the worst drought on record, and Crystal Fly Shop reports CPW voluntary closures already in effect on the Roaring Fork (noon-to-midnight) and Crystal River (full-day), plus a full-day closure on the Colorado River between Glenwood Springs and Rifle. Low, clear water is pushing fish off the banks and forcing smaller flies, per Crystal Fly Shop. Cutthroat Anglers notes the fish that remain are grouped up and still catchable for anglers willing to hike farther or fish lighter. Best bet right now: early mornings, tailwaters like the Frying Pan, and wrapping up before afternoon heat peaks.
Smallmouth bite holds pattern as NH waters ease into late August
No dedicated Winnipesaukee report crossed the wire this week, but the closest regional signal is useful: per The Fisherman — New England Freshwater, smallmouth bass across nearby waters are keying on herring fry, with fish working mid-column early and sliding onto shallow flats in the evening to sip insects and gulp fry on top. Largemouth are showing too, with anglers reporting fish on shiners, spinnerbaits, and soft plastics in weedy, structure-rich water. Winnipesaukee's own bass and lake trout fisheries typically track this same late-summer rhythm, so we'd expect similar behavior on the lake itself, though we don't have a direct report to confirm it. The lone hard number available is a nearby USGS gauge reading a steady 314 cfs, consistent with typical stable late-August flow for the region. Treat species notes below as regional-pattern inference rather than lake-specific confirmation until a direct report comes in.
Flaming Gorge tailwater trout stay comfortable as late-summer flows hold steady
USGS gauge 09234500 on the Green River below Flaming Gorge Dam read 61°F with flow at 2,760 cfs as of Friday evening (Aug 22) — a comfortable, dam-buffered number while much of the Mountain West bakes through late-August heat. No shop or charter reports came through specifically on this stretch this cycle, so we're leaning on how this tailwater typically fishes at these readings: rainbow and brown trout stay active in cool, oxygenated tailwater flows even when air temps spike, and kokanee tend to hold deeper this time of year. Elsewhere in the Rockies, Flylab (Substack) noted trout still willing to eat in similarly cool water (61°F) on a Colorado freestone creek this summer, a decent regional signal that tailwater and high-elevation fisheries are holding up better than warmwater rivers right now. Check current Utah DWR regs before keeping fish.
Lake Chickamauga bass keep biting through late-summer heat
Bass are still biting through the late-summer heat on Lake Chickamauga, where Tactical Bassin's crew put together a solid day of "junk fishing" this week, cycling through shallow points, topwater, and finesse jigs to keep bites coming despite hot, humid conditions (per Tactical Bassin blog/YT). Regional flow held steady on the USGS gauge (03434500) at 213 cfs as of late Friday night, consistent with the typical low, stable late-August stage across Cumberland-basin tributaries; no water-temp reading came through on this cycle, but expect reservoirs and slow-moving stretches to be running warm this time of year. With a waxing gibbous moon overhead, low-light windows at dawn and dusk should stay the highest-percentage times to work topwater before the bite slides deeper and slower as the sun climbs. Largemouth remain the headline species regionally; smallmouth and catfish should still be catchable on typical late-summer patterns even without direct reports this week.
Late-summer bass patterns hold steady on Texoma and Eufaula
Flow at the regional USGS gauge (07331600) is holding near 2,230 cfs as of this morning, a steady read that points to normal, stable conditions across the watershed rather than a post-storm spike. Water temperature wasn't available from today's feed, but late-August heat across Oklahoma keeps both Texoma and Eufaula solidly in summer pattern. No source in today's roundup filed a direct report from either lake, so we're leaning on transferable late-summer tactics: Tactical Bassin's recent hot-weather bass videos describe working shallow points and shade early before sliding to deeper structure and rotating baits as the sun climbs, a pattern that fits Texoma and Eufaula's largemouth and smallmouth just as well as the water those clips were shot on. Stripers, the signature draw at Texoma, should still be schooling on deep structure and chasing shad in low light. Crappie tend to go quiet in this heat until nights start cooling the shallows.
East Texas bass hold tight to cover as summer heat lingers
Flow on the region's Angelina River gauge (USGS 08030500) held at 773 cfs as of late Friday, a steady late-summer base that points to stable, clear conditions heading into the weekend. No direct reports have come in yet from Toledo Bend or Sam Rayburn this cycle, but nearby Lake Fork Trophy Bass's August update describes the pattern likely playing out across East Texas reservoirs right now: extreme heat, evaporation-thinned but still cover-rich lakes, and largemouth bass still feeding hard around structure despite 100-plus-degree days. Tactical Bassin's late-summer notes back that up, pointing anglers toward shallow points and topwater or finesse jigs at first light before shifting deeper as the sun climbs. Expect Toledo Bend and Rayburn to be tracking a similar late-summer bite pattern this week, with fish grouped tight around deep cover and current breaks during the heat of the day.
Texas catfish hold steady as lakes simmer in late-summer heat
USGS gauge 08211200 read 89°F this week with flow holding low and steady around 51 cfs, signaling the deep-summer pattern anglers on Texas lakes typically ride out. Catfish keep carrying the bite: North Texas Catfish Guide's Eagle Mountain Lake reports describe blue and channel catfish turning aggressive whenever fresh inflow lifts lake levels, with white bass historically stacking on main-lake structure during the same warm stretch. Largemouth bass typically slide deeper and go quiet through midday heat this time of year, favoring dawn and dusk windows instead. Texas Fish & Game Magazine's recent notes from Lake Grapevine, including a rare golden bass catch there in late July, are a reminder that bass are still very much catchable statewide even as surface temps climb. We're treating catfish as the most reliable target on Texas water right now, with bass requiring more precise timing around the cooler parts of the day.
Deschutes redsides hold pattern as late-August heat narrows the bite window
The USGS gauge at site 14070500 on the Deschutes River returned no fresh flow or temperature reading this cycle, and none of this week's angler-intel feeds carried region-specific reports for the Deschutes or Upper Klamath systems — most of today's blog and forum chatter centered on bass tactics, coastal salmon trips out of Newport and Garibaldi, and gear reviews unrelated to Central Oregon trout water. That leaves this update grounded mainly in seasonal expectation rather than fresh testimony. Late August on the Deschutes typically means dam-regulated flows holding fairly stable through Round Butte releases, with redside rainbow trout feeding hardest in the cool early-morning and evening windows as afternoon water temperatures climb. Upper Klamath's shallow basin tends to run warm this time of year, pushing trout into deeper, oxygenated pockets during midday heat. We're not able to confirm specific bite reports this cycle, so treat species activity below as typical-for-season rather than confirmed hot action, and check current flow data before planning a trip.
Ohio reservoir anglers lean on early light as summer holds on
Flow at USGS gauge 03110000 in the Mosquito/Pymatuning watershed is holding steady around 232 cfs, a stable late-August read with no runoff spike to muddy either reservoir. Water temperature wasn't reported at this gauge, but surface temps on these lakes typically sit in the mid-to-upper 70s this time of year, which pushes walleye and crappie off the shallows and keeps bass locked into a classic summer pattern. Tactical Bassin's late-summer notes this week point anglers toward junk-fishing mornings on reservoirs like these — working shallow points with topwater and a finesse jig before the sun climbs, then switching baits to track schools grouping around baitfish through the heat. Fishing the Midwest's Mike Frisch adds that forward-facing sonar has changed where walleye get found in late summer, with fish increasingly suspended off structure rather than glued to bottom. We're seeing a typical late-summer bite on both lakes: best at first light, softer through midday.
High, Warm Mississippi Pools Favor Cats as Walleye Slide Deep
USGS gauge 05420500 at Clinton read 77°F with flow pushing 32,200 cfs as of late last night, a combination that points to warm, current-charged pools between Clinton and Dubuque this week. None of today's angler-intel feeds carried a direct report from this stretch of the Mississippi, so we're leaning on what typically happens here when water runs warm and high: channel catfish turn aggressive on cut bait staged in current seams below wing dams, while smallmouth bass and largemouth back off to current breaks and flooded backwater cover. Sauger and walleye tend to slide deeper and feed mainly in low light under these conditions. Fishing the Midwest's recent coverage of forward-facing sonar notes how Midwest walleye anglers increasingly work suspended fish away from bottom structure rather than parking on classic points, a technique worth trying if the deep bite is sluggish. Expect the elevated flow to keep boat control and anchoring the bigger factor than lure choice through the weekend.
Late-summer heat has bass sliding shallow at first light on KY rivers
USGS gauge 03301500 logged flow at just 178 cfs before dawn Sunday, a low, stable read that points to clear, slow-moving water across the Ohio and Cumberland systems heading into the work week. That kind of flow typically pushes late-summer largemouth tight to cover and into low-light windows, and it lines up with what Tactical Bassin has been showing all August: working shallow points and shade lines at first light, then junk-fishing a rotation of baits through the heat of the day as bass group up. Catfish tend to be the most reliable bite in stable, low water like this, feeding actively after dark and into early morning, while crappie and sauger settle into the slower, deeper patterns typical for late August. We don't have a fresh water-temp reading for this stretch, so plan around the flow data and dawn/dusk windows until a real cool front breaks the summer pattern.
High Mississippi Flows Push Anglers Toward Sonar-Guided Bass Patterns
The USGS gauge at Vicksburg (07289000) logged a decidedly high 491,000 cfs on the evening of Aug. 22, keeping the Mississippi River corridor and connected Pearl River waters running higher and murkier than a typical late-August stage. No water-temperature reading came through in this cycle, so check surface temps on the water before picking baits. Big, pushy water like this scatters fish off traditional bottom structure, and that is exactly the scenario forward-facing sonar was built for: Fishing the Midwest notes FFS has changed where anglers actually find suspended fish instead of assuming they sit on bottom, and Field & Stream points to a growing lineup of FFS-specific baits built for that kind of scouting. Tactical Bassin's late-summer approach, shallow points early before junk-fishing through the middle of the day as the sun climbs, translates well to the slack-water pockets and current breaks that elevated flow creates. Expect bass, catfish, and crappie to stack up wherever the current gets broken.
Roosevelt Lake bass shift into dawn-and-dusk pattern as August heat holds
The USGS gauge at site 09498500 recorded Salt River chain flow holding at 198 cfs as of Saturday evening, a stable late-summer stage with no accompanying water-temperature reading available today. Today's angler-intel feeds returned no reports specific to Roosevelt Lake or the Salt River chain, so this update leans on typical late-August patterns for Arizona desert reservoirs: largemouth bass pushing shallow in the low-light hours and sliding into deeper cover once the sun climbs, smallmouth holding tighter to rock and ledge structure through peak heat, and channel catfish staying consistently active in warm water after dark. For technique, Tactical Bassin's recent late-summer bass coverage backs the seasonal pattern of working shallow points with topwater and finesse jigs early, then rotating baits (junk fishing) as the day heats up. Crappie are likely to stay slow, holding deeper through the heat. Anglers should plan around the coolest hours and check current state regs before harvesting.
White River trout face a tough, low-generation stretch
The USGS gauge at 07060710 logged just 3.33 cfs and a startling 80°F as of Wednesday night, a signature of minimal turbine generation rather than the cold, dam-driven flows that make the Bull Shoals and Norfork tailwaters nationally known trout fisheries. No dedicated White River fishing reports came through our feeds this cycle, so treat any specific bite claims as unconfirmed rather than field-reported. What the numbers themselves tell us: at 80°F and near-zero flow, trout are pushed into whatever deeper, spring-fed pockets and dam-adjacent runs still hold cooler water, and daytime feeding activity typically slows in favor of low-light windows. We'd call this a call-before-you-go stretch — a single pulse of generation can flip conditions within hours. Until flows pick back up, expect a technical, low-and-slow bite rather than a red-hot one, with the best window likely bracketing any generation release.
Kings and Cohos Stage for the Fall Run Off Door County
Late August has Lake Michigan's Door County and Sheboygan waters entering the pre-spawn staging window, when mature king salmon and coho begin pulling toward river mouths ahead of the fall run. No NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings came back for this stretch on this cycle, and none of this week's angler-intel feeds carried a Door County or Sheboygan specific report, so treat the picture below as typical seasonal pattern rather than a fresh bite report. Historically this is when trollers start finding kings suspended near the thermocline in 60 to 100 feet of water off the county's points, while lake trout hold deeper over structure and brown trout work the shallows early and late in low light. Coho tend to mix in with the kings on the same temperature breaks. Confirm exact depths and thermocline placement with a local shop or charter before running out, since neither is reflected in today's data feeds.
Big stripers push north into the Gulf of Maine ahead of fall run
Striper action has picked up noticeably from Cape Ann into Maine this week, with Beauport Fishing Adventures reporting big bass off Dry Salvages east of Rockport keyed in on pogies (fish too large to keep, but steady action) per The Fisherman — South Shore MA to ME. Mackerel remain plentiful along the same stretch and pollock fishing has stayed solid, though the haddock bite has gone spotty. Bluefish are a mixed bag south of NH waters — Belsan's Bait and Tackle described the bite from Scituate to Provincetown as largely quiet with only some smaller blues showing. Regionally, The Fisherman's New England Video Fishing Forecast notes striper action has "caught fire" north of the Cape with some seriously big fish mixed in from Maine to Boston. Farther south, Saltwater Edge Blog (RI) is already flagging early signs of the fall run, a signal worth watching as it moves up the coast toward NH.
Croakers Flood Delaware Bay Backwaters as Flounder Limits Roll In
Croakers are flooding Delaware Bay's back bays, inlet, and beachfront, with Hands Too Bait and Tackle in Cape May describing fish 'you can barely fit two hands around' and thick numbers approaching Cape May Goodie size. Flounder are cooperating too — Higbee's Bait and Tackle reports several limits from the deeper channels on minnows, with fish nearing the 23-inch mark, while Hands Too notes the keeper ratio keeps improving the farther offshore anglers push. Striped bass in the 20- to 24-inch range are coming from tidal creeks and rivers on sandworms and shrimp, per Smith's Bait Shop, alongside a steady croaker bite off the Bowers Beach jetty on bloodworms and Fishbites. Offshore, Hook 'em and Cook 'em logged Spanish mackerel and bluefish over Fenwick Shoal on trolled spoons, plus scattered bluefin around the Hambone. It's a full late-summer mixed bag under the Waxing Gibbous.