Fishing reports
18472 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
Dawn bite carries Catawba and Roanoke waters through summer heat
Tactical Bassin's latest late-summer roundup lines up well with what these Catawba and Roanoke system waters typically do in late August: bass keying on smaller baitfish, with the bite compressing into the low-light hours as afternoon heat pushes fish tight to shade and deeper cover. There's no live buoy or gauge reading feeding into today's report for these freshwater systems, so treat any water-temp estimate as unavailable and check a local gauge before you launch. Typical for this stretch of summer, largemouth bass should still respond to moving baits and topwater right at first light before sliding off structure through midday. Catfish tend to turn more active after dark once the surface stays warm through the evening. Crappie usually pull back to deeper brush and channel structure this time of year, and white bass or striper activity on these lakes commonly slows during peak thermal stratification. No freshwater-specific NC reports came through in this week's angler intel, so species notes below lean on seasonal norms rather than fresh on-the-water confirmations.
Grand River mouth eyes the turn toward fall salmon season
No fresh buoy or gauge readings came back for the Lake Michigan shoreline or Grand River mouth this cycle, and this week's Michigan DNR Weekly Fishing Report didn't return usable detail either, so today's outlook leans on season and recent lakewide trend rather than a live bite report. The clearest signal available is the WI DNR Lake Michigan Fishing Report's recap "High Numbers for 2024 Lake Michigan Fish Harvest," which logged a record 210,000-plus coho salmon and over 160,000 Chinook lakewide (the most since 2012), crediting stronger alewife survival for supporting stocked fish. That's a season-over-season backdrop, not a report from the water today. Late August is typically when Chinook and coho begin staging off river mouths like the Grand River ahead of the fall push, while smallmouth bass and walleye stay the more dependable near-shore targets in the meantime. Check current Michigan regulations before harvesting anything, and treat specific hotspot claims cautiously until a fresher report comes in.
Yakima and Spokane waters settle into late-summer patterns
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife's statewide creel and stocking reports remain the primary reference for Eastern Washington anglers this week, since no fresh buoy or stream-gauge readings came through for the Yakima or Spokane basins in today's data pull. That's consistent with late August: regional attention typically shifts toward early-morning and late-evening windows as afternoon water warms on lower-elevation trout water, while Spokane-area lakes and upper Columbia impoundments tend to keep producing through the heat. Without a specific local creel report in hand for this cycle, this update leans on general seasonal knowledge rather than a fresh count, so check WDFW's site directly before heading out, since stocking activity and access conditions shift week to week. Technical trout water like the Yakima canyon tends to hold up best for anglers fishing early with lighter tippet in low, clear late-summer flows, while smallmouth bass and kokanee around Spokane-area reservoirs typically stay more consistent day to day.
Eastern Shore anglers eye the late-summer flounder and cobia bite
No fresh buoy or gauge telemetry came through for the Chincoteague area this cycle, and this week's angler-intel sweep didn't surface a captain, shop, or state report specific to Virginia's saltwater Eastern Shore — the Virginia DWR items in this batch cover freshwater bass and bluegill technique, not coastal conditions. Absent direct testimony, what's reliable is the seasonal pattern: late August on the Eastern Shore typically keeps summer flounder working the channel edges and inlets, cobia and Spanish mackerel still working the bay mouth and nearshore structure, and striped bass in their typical summer lull as water stays warm, waiting on the first real cool-down to kick off the fall push. Anglers should treat these as general expectations rather than confirmed bites this week — check a local shop or the state agency's current saltwater report before planning a trip, since we don't have on-the-water confirmation to cite for this specific stretch of coast right now.
Susquehanna and Allegheny anglers shift focus as summer heat holds
Pennsylvania's Susquehanna and Allegheny systems are settling into a classic late-August pattern this week. The clearest signal in this cycle's intel is regulatory rather than on-the-water: Outdoor Hub reports the PA Fish and Boat Commission has approved a statewide minimum trout size increase from 7 to 9 inches, taking effect January 2027, the first change to that limit in 43 years. No direct river-by-river reports came through for the Susquehanna or Allegheny this cycle, but the broader seasonal pattern Wired 2 Fish flagged this month, anglers getting effectively "promoted" from trout to bass as water warms and agencies ask for voluntary afternoon closures on stressed cold-water fisheries, tracks with what typically happens on PA's freestone trout water in late summer. Expect a bass-and-catfish-leaning bite through the week, with low-light windows carrying most of the action as afternoon heat builds.
Olympic Peninsula salmon rivers settle into late-summer form
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife's statewide creel and stocking report page remains the most current public channel for Olympic Peninsula river conditions, but this week's angler-intel pull came back thin on Peninsula-specific detail for Chinook and coho fisheries, and no NOAA buoy or USGS gauge telemetry was available either, so we're not publishing flow or temperature numbers this cycle rather than guessing at them. What we can offer is seasonal context: late August typically finds summer and fall Chinook still working through Peninsula systems like the Bogachiel, Sol Duc, Hoh, and Queets, while coho are historically just beginning to stage as flows ease and water cools toward fall. Anglers should lean on WDFW's per-river creel updates for the latest counts and always check current regulations before targeting any run, since seasons, gear rules, and bag limits shift by river and by week on the Peninsula. Expect sharper, source-attributed detail as soon as a fuller data and intel pull comes through.
MS Sound anglers slow down as speckled trout, reds hold through peak heat
The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources certified a new youth state saltwater record this week, with Ben Cain of Lexington landing a 10-pound, 13.44-ounce Bonnethead Shark, per MS DMR — a reminder that sharks are actively cruising Sound structure even as peak-summer heat settles in. Direct buoy and gauge readings for the Sound weren't available this cycle, so we're leaning on general seasonal patterns and technique guidance from Salt Strong, which notes that August's peak water temps push predators to slow their pace and redfish in particular to seek deeper, moving water rather than burn energy chasing fast prey. Expect speckled trout and redfish to still be catchable around grass flats and current breaks, just on a slower presentation and tighter dawn/dusk window. Flounder typically settle into a steady late-summer pattern along the Sound's bottom structure. Guides are already booking multi-day charters out of Biloxi to the Chandeleur Islands for mid-September, a sign anglers are starting to look toward the fall shift.
Spanish Mackerel Light Up Cape Lookout as Sound Bite Holds
Spanish mackerel are putting on a strong nearshore show around Cape Lookout, with the bigger fish stacked up close to the point, per Fisherman's Post (NC) reporting out of Morehead City/Atlantic Beach. Up the coast at Swansboro/Emerald Isle, anglers working casting jigs and Gotcha plugs off the pier are connecting with spanish mackerel and bluefish, plus a scattering of king mackerel, also via Fisherman's Post (NC). In the Pamlico Sound surf zone on the Outer Banks, bottom anglers are loading up on sea mullet, bluefish, and croakers, with inshore action reportedly starting to turn on after a slower stretch. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for this cycle, so water temp and tide detail aren't available today, but the pattern across all three reports is consistent: fast-moving nearshore species are the play right now, with bottom rigs still the steady producer for table fish along the beachfronts.
Fluke limits stack up in Delaware Bay's deep channels
Flounder are stacking up along Delaware Bay's deep channels this week, with Higbee's Bait and Tackle reporting several limits pushing toward the 23-inch mark as more than 380 boats competed in the Paradise Pounder Tournament, per The Fisherman — Southern NJ. Big Dave's Tackle in Port Elizabeth calls the bite "very hot," with limits to 7 pounds coming off deepwater reef and wreck sites like the Old Grounds, while nearshore spots such as TI and Wildwood Reefs are giving up keepers to 5 pounds on larger Gulp mullets and grubs. Croakers are thick throughout the back bays, inlet, and beachfront into Delaware Bay itself, with Hands Too Bait and Tackle noting fish nearing eating size. Along the surf, giant croakers have pushed into the Bayshore and fluke are stacking next to the jetties, per The Fisherman — NJ/DE Surf. It's a solid summer mix overall, with black drum and spot rounding out the catch.
Fluke Grind Continues at Sandy Hook as Warm-Water Species Move In
Fluke fishing out of Atlantic Highlands remains a grind but productive, with Capt Ron's crew working through several drift areas each trip before finding quality flatfish, following a recent stretch where overnight water temps dropped nine degrees to 67°F. Sea bass action has been inconsistent locally, filling in the box some days and going quiet on others. Warmer water pushing into the Raritan Bay and Sandy Hook corridor is drawing Spanish mackerel and bonito into the surf, per Grumpys Tackle and today's On The Water Northern New Jersey report, which also notes a hit-or-miss midshore bluefin jig bite. NJ Fish & Wildlife's Shark River Access highlight, just south of Sandy Hook, flags striped bass, bluefish, and summer flounder as regular shore catches there. With a first-quarter moon and typical late-August warmth, expect this mixed bag of resident flatfish plus visiting warm-water species to hold through the weekend.
Silvers and halibut hold through late August in the Gulf of Alaska
No buoy or gauge readings came back for the Gulf of Alaska this cycle, and this week's Alaska Sea Grant coverage centered on fellowship and staff spotlights rather than on-the-water reports, so there's no fresh angler intel to attribute for this region. What we can offer is seasonal grounding: mid-to-late August sits inside the heart of the coho (silver) salmon run for Gulf of Alaska waters, a run that typically holds through early September before tapering, and halibut fishing is typically still productive through Labor Day in this region before charter effort and bag limits shift into fall patterns. Treat this as a general seasonal baseline rather than a live bite report until buoy data or a captain/shop feed comes back online for this area. Always check current Alaska Department of Fish and Game regulations and closures before harvesting, since seasons and limits can shift mid-season.
High water pushes Pittsburgh-area rivers toward bass and cats
Flow at USGS gauge 03036500 is running high at 8,820 cfs as of early Wednesday afternoon, well above typical late-August levels for the Allegheny system — a signal that recent rain or dam releases have pushed extra water through the Pittsburgh-area tailwaters. Water temperature wasn't available from the gauge, so plan around the water itself: high, likely stained flow is textbook conditions to key on current breaks, wing dams, and eddy seams rather than open river structure. Wired2Fish's recent piece on summer heat nudging anglers from cold-water species toward bass fits the seasonal mood here too, even with high water in the mix. Smallmouth bass and channel catfish tend to feed aggressively when rivers run up and murky, using scent and vibration over sight; walleye and muskellunge typically slide into slower current seams until flows settle. Check the PA Fish & Boat Commission's Biologist Reports for stream-specific updates before you head out, and note Pennsylvania's trout minimum size limit is rising to 9 inches starting in 2027, per Outdoor Hub.
Lake trout stay steady on the North Shore as late summer holds
Surface temps ranged 65-70°F near Duluth, 55-60°F near Knife River and McQuade, and 50-55°F near Two Harbors this week, per the MN DNR Lake Superior Summer Fishing report (Aug 20). Anglers are seeing a steady bite for 18-33 inch lake trout from all shore access stations along the lower shore, though salmon numbers have thinned out compared to earlier in the month. Inland, area river gauges are running near 5,510 cfs and 2,030 cfs, flows that keep water moving without blowing out access points. Fishing the Midwest notes walleye anglers are still splitting between traditional live-bait rigs and forward-facing sonar as clear water persists on many lakes, while bass are keying on emerging weedlines with moving baits. We're calling lake trout the standout bite this week, with salmon and walleye holding a steadier, more workmanlike pace.
Presque Isle summer bite holds steady as anglers eye the fall steelhead turn
The biggest Pennsylvania fishing headline this week isn't from the lake itself — it's regulatory: the PA Fish and Boat Commission has approved a statewide minimum trout size increase from 7 to 9 inches, effective January 1, 2027, per Outdoor Hub, the first change to that limit in 43 years. It won't affect harvest decisions this season, but it's worth knowing before the fall stocking and tributary runs. On the water, direct Presque Isle/Lake Erie bite reports weren't in this cycle's feed, so treat species notes below as seasonal expectation rather than confirmed activity — check PA Fish & Boat's Biologist Reports for the latest lake-specific notes before heading out. The regional USGS gauge (04213000) logged 161 cfs as of 1pm, a modest, stable flow with no spike or drought signal. Water temp wasn't available from today's pull. First Quarter moon this week means lighter night light but solid dawn/dusk windows for structure-oriented species.
Cool water sets up fall Chinook push on WA rivers
The Duwamish gauge (USGS 14113000) logged 59°F and 713 cfs this morning, a comfortably cool reading heading into the stretch of August when fall Chinook typically begin pushing into Columbia and Puget Sound tributaries. That matters right now: Wired 2 Fish reports that agencies across the West are increasingly imposing afternoon closures on cold-water species as rivers run dangerously warm this summer, and today's WA reading isn't showing that kind of heat stress. We don't have fresh WA-specific catch chatter in today's intel feed, so treat the species notes below as seasonal expectation rather than confirmed bite reports. Check WDFW's fishing and stocking reports for current creel counts, stocking activity, and any emergency regulation changes before heading out. Resident cutthroat and holdover summer steelhead should still be workable in the cool flow while the first Chinook arrivals filter in over the coming weeks, and the First Quarter moon favors a dawn and dusk bite window.
Late-Summer Walleye and Perch Patterns Hold on Saginaw Bay
Water temperatures across Lake Huron and Saginaw Bay typically settle into the low-to-mid 70s by late August, pushing walleye and yellow perch off the shallow flats and onto deeper structure and mud bottoms where trollers and drift fishermen find them through early fall. No fresh region-specific angler reports came through in this cycle's intel sweep, including from the MI DNR Weekly Fishing Report, so this update reflects typical late-summer patterns for the fishery rather than reports from the water this week. Smallmouth bass generally stay active on rocky reefs and shoals through this stretch, readily taking craws and tubes worked slow along bottom. Chinook salmon are usually still holding offshore in cooler water at this point, with the fall river staging push typically still a few weeks out. Check the current MI DNR Weekly Fishing Report and local bait shops for on-the-water specifics before planning a trip, and always confirm season and size regulations before harvesting.
Santee & Lake Murray settle into late-summer deep-water patterns
Lake Murray's tournament pedigree is fresh in view this week, with MLF News reporting the 43rd annual BFL All-American and College Fishing National Championship, held on the lake earlier this year, premiering in back-to-back episodes on VICE TV — a reminder of the quality bass fishing these Santee Cooper-system waters can produce. On the ground, our lone flow reading (USGS gauge 02160390) shows the watershed running near 103 cfs as of midday, with no water-temperature reading available this cycle. Direct bite reports for Santee and Lake Murray specifically are thin in this week's feeds, so anglers should lean on standard late-August patterns: largemouth pushing to deeper structure and shade as surface temps climb, while striped bass and catfish, both signature Santee Cooper fisheries, tend to stay more active in low-light hours and around current breaks. Check state regs before harvesting, and confirm conditions locally before running long.
Drop-shot bass and bluegill patterns carry the Potomac and Shenandoah
USGS gauge 01646500 logged Potomac flow near 3,120 cfs this afternoon, a steady late-summer stage with no water-temperature reading currently available from that station. Angler intel this cycle leans on technique rather than a fresh bite report: the Virginia DWR Wildlife Blog is highlighting drop-shot rigs for smallmouth, largemouth, and spotted bass, a finesse presentation that suspends bait naturally off bottom structure and tends to earn bites as bass slide deeper to escape August heat. The same DWR feed points anglers toward bluegill and redear sunfish on the Commonwealth's public lakes and ponds this time of year, workable on ultralight spinning gear for a simple, steady bite. No charter or tackle-shop reports came through for the Potomac/Shenandoah corridor this cycle, so treat these DWR technique notes as the strongest available signal and pair them with your own read of water clarity and current before committing to a spot.
Bass Action Holds Statewide as Quabbin and Wachusett Ease Toward Fall
The region's USGS gauge (01174500) logged a trickle of just 1.24 cfs Thursday afternoon, a reminder of how dry this August has run across Massachusetts watersheds; water temperature data wasn't available at report time. Direct reports from Quabbin and Wachusett weren't in this week's feed, but the broader Massachusetts freshwater bite offers a useful read on the pattern: per Red Top Sporting Goods in Buzzards Bay, smallmouth are keying on herring fry and moving onto shallow flats on topwaters in the evening, while Roger Aziz, Jr. reports smallmouth to 13 inches on white spinnerbaits and Whopper Ploppers on the Merrimack River below the Lawrence dam, with largemouth mixed in. Jerry's Bait and Tackle in Milford notes largemouth still eating shiners at Lake Whitehall and Hopkinton State Park, and Sauder's Boat Livery says the Congamond Lakes bite held up through a recent tournament. Expect similar structure-and-shiner patterns to apply at Quabbin and Wachusett this week.
Kenai-area rivers ease into the late-summer silver transition
The USGS gauge on the Kenai River system (site 15266300) logged flow at 14,600 cfs with water running 52°F as of the 9 a.m. reading this morning — solid, cool water for late August after a summer of glacial melt and rain-driven pulses. No AK-specific charter, shop, or agency "what's biting" reports came through in this cycle's intel sweep, so today's read leans on the gauge data and typical seasonal patterns for interior and Kenai Peninsula rivers rather than fresh on-the-water testimony. Mid-to-late August is when Kenai-system fisheries typically pivot from the tail of the sockeye run toward building silver (coho) salmon numbers, with resident rainbow trout and Dolly Varden keying in behind spawning salmon for loose eggs. At 52°F the water is comfortable for all of the above, not stressfully warm. Check current Alaska Department of Fish and Game emergency orders and area regulations before you head out, since Kenai-system rules shift often through the season.
Warm Water Pushes Smokies Trout Anglers to Dawn Patrol
The USGS gauge on the Smokies-area river (site 03512000) read 70°F with flow holding at 304 cfs as of 1 p.m. today, a temperature that sits right at the edge of thermal stress for trout. Wired 2 Fish reported this week that fish and wildlife agencies across the West are increasingly asking anglers to lay off cold-water species once rivers run dangerously warm, sometimes via voluntary afternoon closures, as summer heat pushes trout into survival mode more often and in more places. At 70°F, Western NC trout water is trending into that same danger zone, so early-morning and evening windows are the play right now rather than midday. Anglers unwilling to wait out the heat have an out: the same Wired 2 Fish piece frames hot, stressed trout water as effectively a promotion to bass fishing, and smallmouth in these same drainages stay active well into the warm afternoons.
High flows keep Upper Mississippi walleye and bass anglers adjusting
USGS gauge 05344500 is running an elevated 9,600 cfs this afternoon, a sign this stretch of the Upper Mississippi pools between Prescott and La Crosse is carrying more current than typical for late August. No water-temperature reading came through with today's data pull, so anglers should check their own electronics before picking a starting depth. Direct, location-specific reports out of this stretch were thin today, but Fishing the Midwest's Mike Frisch and Bob Jensen both note this summer's walleye crowd leaning harder on forward-facing sonar to find fish suspended off bottom rather than the traditional structure-and-bottom approach, while smallmouth and largemouth are keying on moving baits worked over emerging weed growth. With flow running high, expect current breaks, wing dams, and slack-water pockets off the main channel to concentrate fish better than open water. First Quarter moon tonight keeps overnight bite windows modest.
Catskills trout streams run skinny as summer heat lingers
Flows across the region's monitored trout water are thin this week: USGS gauge 01413500 is reading 119 cfs while gauge 01415000 has dropped to just 10.4 cfs, a classic late-August low-water signature. Neither gauge is reporting a water-temperature value right now, so treat warmth as an open question rather than an all-clear. Field & Stream's recent piece on heat-stressed trout water is a timely reminder that fish-and-wildlife agencies are increasingly asking anglers to back off cold-water species once rivers run dangerously warm, and skinny, slow-moving flow like this is exactly the setup that produces those calls. Trout Unlimited's latest brown trout feature doubles as a good seasonal cue: low, clear water makes browns spookier and more selective, which rewards stealthy approaches, longer leaders, and working the margins of the day rather than the heat of the afternoon. With volume this reduced, prioritize deeper pools, shaded banks, and any spring-fed or tailwater stretches that hold cooler water longer.
Limestone trout call for early risers as summer flows hold steady
Penns Creek is running near 81 cfs this morning per USGS gauge 01546500, with no water-temperature reading available from the site today. We don't have direct on-the-water reports from Spring Creek or Penns Creek in today's feeds, so this update leans on general seasonal knowledge for Pennsylvania's limestone trout fisheries in late August: low, clear summer flows typically push wild browns and stocked rainbows into low-light feeding windows, with terrestrials (ants, beetles, hoppers) doing more work than traditional mayfly patterns once afternoon temperatures climb. Anglers should plan trips around dawn and dusk to avoid stressing fish in warm water. Separately, Outdoor Hub reports Pennsylvania's statewide minimum trout size is set to rise from 7 to 9 inches starting January 1, 2027 — the first change to the limit in over four decades — worth tracking as the season moves forward. Check current PA Fish and Boat Commission regulations before harvesting any trout.