Fishing reports
18472 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
Western Basin walleye shift deeper as late-summer heat lingers
The USGS gauge at station 04193500 read 78°F this afternoon with flow elevated near 6,060 cfs, conditions consistent with peak late-summer heat holding across the Western Basin. Water this warm typically pushes walleye off shallow reefs and into deeper, cooler water along the thermocline, where trolling crankbaits or spoons tends to out-produce shallow presentations. Fishing the Midwest's recent walleye notes describe more suspended fish showing up off traditional bottom structure as forward-facing sonar reshapes how anglers locate them this season, a pattern worth trying if bottom bouncing goes quiet. Smallmouth bass should still be catchable around deeper structure; Tactical Bassin's late-summer bass tips point toward matching the forage baitfish are keying on and rotating baits through a spot rather than camping on one presentation. Yellow perch are typical for this stretch of the calendar but weren't specifically reported today, so treat perch action as seasonal expectation rather than confirmed bite. Check state regs before harvesting.
Topwater bass and Pine Barrens pickerel lead NJ freshwater bite
Waretown Lake and Pohatcong Lake are giving up largemouth bass to 3 pounds on poppers and buzzbaits this week, per Creekside Outfitters in The Fisherman's NJ/DE Freshwater report, while USGS gauge 01408000 read a lean 21.3 cfs as of midday Wednesday — a sign local flows are running low and clear deep into late summer. Smith's Bait Shop, also quoted in that report, says early and late topwater frog bites are still producing largemouth, with spillways turning out white perch, crappie, and panfish on small jigs. In the Pine Barrens cedar waters, Hands Too Bait and Tackle notes pickerel fishing has been carrying most of the sweetwater action while anglers chase good fluke fishing in the salt instead. On the Delaware itself, Dave's Sport Shop calls smallmouth bass and catfish action hit-or-miss, and Allen's Dock reports catfish and perch biting as the salt line recedes down the tidal creeks. Low, clear water favors early and late presentations right now.
Sea Bass Stay Red Hot as Fluke Ratios Improve at the Jersey Shore
Spanish mackerel and bonito pushed into the surf zone this week, per OTW Northern New Jersey's August 20 report, while ocean fluking keeps producing a steady pick of keepers up north. Down the coast, Blue Chip Sportfishing says sea bass fishing is red hot, with anglers limiting out on almost every trip, and offshore mahi mahi have been thick around the lobster pots. Fluke action is mixed by location: Jingles Bait and Tackle in Beach Haven notes warm bay water has slowed the bite there, but Fisherman's Headquarters and Miss Barnegat Light both report improving keeper ratios, with bucktail-and-Gulp combos outproducing bait rigs. Bluefin tuna in the 25-to-40-pound class remain within roughly 30 miles of Barnegat Inlet per Fishermans HQ LBI, though the midshore jig bite is running hit-or-miss according to OTW. Shark activity has also picked up, with Blue Chip reporting multiple mako releases.
Moosehead togue and salmon settle into deep summer patterns
The Piscataquis-area gauge tied to the upper Penobscot drainage (USGS 01030500) is holding low and steady at 70.8 cfs this week, a typical late-August signature once spring runoff has fully receded and the big lakes settle into peak thermal stratification. No fresh on-the-water reports came through our Maine feeds this cycle, so we're leaning on typical late-summer behavior for the region rather than fresh word from the dock. That means togue (lake trout) and landlocked salmon have likely pushed down into cooler, oxygenated water and are best worked with deep jigging spoons or downrigger trolling rather than surface presentations. Smallmouth bass, by contrast, tend to stay aggressive through late August in the mid-70s water typical of this stretch, holding on rocky points and drop-offs and readily taking topwater at first light. Brook trout are likely tucked into spring seeps and tributary mouths where cooler water collects. Check current state regs before harvesting any species.
Georgia bass bite holds steady through scorching late-August heat
Georgia's rivers are holding up well through the late-summer heat. Joshua Barber's Southern Waters Fishing Report (GA Sportsman / Georgia Outdoor News), filed August 15, notes it's been 'scorching hot again this week' but that anglers who got out in the heat did well — the bass bite rated pretty good, with the rivers also producing some good fish. As of August 13 the Savannah River gauge at Clyo sat at 3.8 feet and steady, a stable read that lines up with our own USGS gauge 02197000 on the Chattahoochee, showing roughly 4,300 cfs today. Georgia Wildlife Blog — Fishing is mid-transition to a new weekly regional format and hasn't posted fresh Chattahoochee or Savannah specifics this cycle. With flows holding steady and no storm disruption noted, early-morning and late-evening windows remain the play as anglers dodge peak heat, a pattern echoed across Southeast bass fisheries this week.
Salt & Colorado River anglers shift gears as water warms
USGS gauge 09380000 read 68°F this week with flow holding near 7,600 cfs, warm enough that fisheries managers across the West have been asking anglers to ease off cold-water species during the hottest stretch of summer, per a recent Wired 2 Fish report on trout-focused closures spreading through the region. For Arizona's Colorado and Salt River systems, that trend points toward the warmwater players that typically dominate this time of year: smallmouth and largemouth bass working shoreline cover and rocky points, with channel catfish feeding actively after dark. Trout can still produce on tailwater stretches during early morning windows before temperatures climb further, though stressed fish deserve gentle handling on release. No fresh state-agency, shop, or charter reports specific to these rivers came through this cycle, so treat this as a seasonal-pattern read and confirm current conditions locally before heading out.
Bluefin Bite Ignites Off Block Island as Bay Blitzes Fire Up
The Fisherman's Rhode Island roundup this week points to the inshore tuna bite finally clicking into gear, with boats connecting consistently on the grounds south of Block Island and Montauk. Snug Harbor Marina, quoted in that report, says the recreational bluefin push "really took off," mostly on jigs and soft plastics like RonZ, while Booked Off Charters had two bluefin in the box on a Sunday morning run. Inside Narragansett Bay itself, a mackerel influx is mixing stripers and bonito into ferocious surface feeds, with dolphins showing up too, per The Fisherman (Northeast)'s video forecast. Bottom fishing stays the steady producer: Frances Fleet and Quonnie Bait and Tackle, also via The Fisherman — Rhode Island, report keeper fluke off the beaches and around Block Island, plus improving black sea bass and a good scup showing. Surf-caster striper action has been slower and more of a dawn-and-dusk game as water temps push toward 70°F, per that same report.
Peak pelagic window holds as Hawaii's summer run continues
Hawaii Fishing News, the state's official keeper of record catches, runs a Moon & Tide Calendar anglers lean on for trip planning, and this week's First Quarter moon puts moderate tidal movement into the mix through the Islands. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for Hawaiian waters this cycle, and none of today's angler-intel feeds carried an on-the-water bite report specific to the Islands, so what follows is a seasonal read rather than a live snapshot. Mid-to-late August typically sits inside the Islands' peak offshore pelagic window, with ahi (yellowfin tuna), mahimahi, and ono commonly pushing through warm blue water along current edges, while bottomfish like opakapaka hold deeper on structure. Papio and moi remain steady inshore summer targets. Check the Hawaii Fishing News tide and moon calendar before heading out, and confirm current bottomfish and bag-limit regulations with state fisheries resources, since no source in today's feeds reported specific counts, hot spots, or technique details for Hawaii this cycle.
Smallmouth bass fire up below the dams as CT rivers run warm
USGS gauge 01184000 logged water temperatures at 81°F Thursday afternoon with flow running a strong 5,930 cfs, while the smaller gauge at site 01193500 sits at a modest 21.2 cfs — a split that mirrors the state's mix of big, warm mainstem rivers and skinny, low summer feeder streams. Regional reports back up the warm-water pattern: per The Fisherman — New England Freshwater, Roger Aziz Jr. is still finding smallmouth bass up to 13 inches on white spinnerbaits, Aziz-rigged Senkos, and Whopper Ploppers below dam stretches, and Jerry's Bait and Tackle notes largemouth, pickerel, and perch coming on shiners and plastics from area ponds. Sauder's Boat Livery reported a competitive Thursday-night bass tournament with double-digit five-bass bags, a sign smallmouth and largemouth are both feeding well despite the heat. Trout anglers should expect a slower bite with water this warm — fish early or focus on cooler, shaded flows.
Elevated Missouri River flow puts catfish on the feed
USGS gauge 06796000 on the Missouri River logged flow at 7,110 cubic feet per second this morning (Aug 20), a noticeably elevated read for late August that's roiling current through typical holding water on both the Platte and Missouri systems. Water temperature wasn't reported at the gauge, but this kind of high, off-color flow typically triggers catfish to feed harder as debris and displaced baitfish wash downstream, making Channel Catfish the strongest bet for anglers right now. Walleye and Sauger get tougher to pattern in high, murky water; on comparable Midwest river and reservoir systems, Fishing the Midwest's Mike Frisch and Bob Jensen have been leaning on Forward-Facing Sonar to locate suspended fish off traditional bottom structure this summer, a technique shift Platte and Missouri anglers chasing walleye in high water can borrow. No region-specific shop or charter reports came through this cycle, so treat species notes below as seasonal general knowledge layered onto the live gauge reading.
Maine bass still fired up as rivers settle into steady August flow
The Kennebec-Penobscot corridor is holding a classic mid-August pattern: steady flow near 1,580 cfs at USGS gauge 01046500 with no spike or drought signal in the read, and warm-water bass carrying the action while coldwater species sit on the back burner. No Maine-specific shop or captain report came through this cycle, but regional New England freshwater intel from The Fisherman — New England Freshwater has smallmouth keyed hard on baitfish and hitting topwater in nearby waters, a pattern that typically holds true across Maine's smallmouth rivers this time of year too. Landlocked salmon and brook trout are the ones to handle with care: Wired 2 Fish's coverage of Western agencies pulling back on trout fishing during summer heat is a good reminder that coldwater species stress out fast once water warms, and the same caution applies here. Stick to bass in the heat of the day, save the salmon and trout water for first and last light.
Caney Fork and Hiwassee trout hold steady through late-summer heat
Cold-water releases below Apalachia Dam and Center Hill Dam keep the Hiwassee and Caney Fork running cooler than the surrounding air this time of year, the kind of buffer that's proving critical as Wired 2 Fish reports cold-water fisheries elsewhere in the country being pushed into voluntary closures under summer heat stress. No fresh flow or temperature reading came through our gauge check this cycle, and no regional shop or captain filed a direct Smokies tailwater report, so treat this as a seasonal outlook rather than an on-the-water snapshot. Trout Unlimited's recent piece on targeting wily brown trout is a useful reminder that browns get more selective and light-shy as summer wears on, favoring low-light windows and quieter presentations. Expect the typical late-August tailwater pattern to hold: rainbows more willing through generation, browns tougher and more nocturnal. Check TVA generation schedules before you go, since flow swings on these rivers happen fast and change the whole game.
Iron Range walleye anglers lean on forward-facing sonar as flows hold steady
USGS gauge 05129115 is holding at 69.5 cfs this morning, a steady late-summer flow across the Iron Range's feeder streams into the Boundary Waters system, with nothing to suggest a spike or drop that would push fish out of their current holding water. Water temperature wasn't reported at this gauge, so plan around typical mid-to-late August surface temps for the region and adjust depth accordingly. Per Fishing the Midwest, walleye anglers are increasingly finding fish suspended off bottom rather than glued to points, turns, and weedlines, a shift driven by forward-facing sonar showing where fish actually sit; jigging live bait, pulled leech and crawler rigs, and crankbait trolling all remain producers once you find the school. Smallmouth bass should be working rock and gravel structure typical for this time of year, northern pike patrolling weed edges, and panfish beginning to group up ahead of the fall feed. Check state regs before harvesting.
Green River's cold tailwater keeps trout active as summer peaks elsewhere
The USGS gauge below Flaming Gorge (09234500) read 51°F this morning with flow holding near 1,810 cfs, conditions typical of the dam-controlled tailwater that makes the Green River one of Utah's more reliable cold-water fisheries through late summer. That steady, cold release matters this year: per Wired2Fish, several Western trout rivers have faced afternoon hoot-owl closures as low, warm flows push fish past safe thermal limits, but the Green's dam-regulated water stays well clear of that threshold. No region-specific catch reports came through our angler-intel feeds this cycle, so we're leaning on seasonal norms rather than fresh word from the water. Rainbows and browns should still be active in the riffles and seams below the dam, and Uinta high-lake cutthroat and brookies typically hold steady feeding windows into early fall before ice-up planning starts.
Merrimack Smallmouth Keep Biting Through the Late-Summer Lull
Smallmouth bass are the story on the Merrimack River right now. Per The Fisherman — New England Freshwater, Roger Aziz Jr. is still working the stretch below the Lawrence dam up through Haverhill and connecting on white spinnerbaits, Aziz-rigged Senkos, and Whopper Ploppers, with smallmouth running up to 13 inches and largemouth mixing in from the same water. He notes the pressure is lopsided — relatively few anglers fishing below the dam compared to a crowded scene above it — and expects bigger fish to show as the pattern holds. Flow at USGS gauge 01073500 is reading a modest 15.8 cfs, in line with typical late-August drawdown for the watershed. No direct reports have come in this week from Lake Winnipesaukee itself, so anglers there should lean on typical seasonal patterns: deep structure and low-light windows for warmwater species, with lake trout and landlocked salmon holding deeper as surface temps sit near their summer peak.
Summer heat keeps Delta bass and cats on the low-light bite
Water conditions at USGS gauge 11447650 read 70°F with flow holding near 23,400 cfs as of Wednesday morning, a solid late-summer signature for the Sacramento-Delta system. Warm, moving water like this pushes gamefish into predictable low-light patterns: expect striped bass and largemouth bass to stack on current breaks and deeper structure through the heat of the day, sliding shallow to feed at dawn and dusk. Channel catfish tend to stay consistently active in 70-degree water regardless of time of day, while white sturgeon typically slow down until temperatures cool later in fall. We didn't pull a fresh Delta-specific angler report this cycle, so this outlook leans on seasonal norms rather than on-the-water testimony — check in with local sources before making the run. Regionally, Wired 2 Fish notes Western fisheries managers are increasingly restricting cold-water species during summer heat spikes, underscoring how warm this stretch of the calendar is running.
Fall Chinook trickle into a warm, high-running Columbia River
The USGS gauge at 14105700 clocked water at 72°F on flow near 122,000 cfs this morning, a reading on the warm side for salmon holding water this late in August. Angler chatter on IFish.net Fishing Reports out of the Chinook Landing area describes boats still trolling flasher rigs for early fall Chinook, though nobody's reporting a hot bite yet, and a separate IFish.net post from the Garibaldi ocean side noted salmon were slow while rockfish cooperated, a coastal result that doesn't translate directly to river conditions. With no charter or shop reports specific to Columbia River salmon or sturgeon in today's feed, we're leaning on typical seasonal timing: fall Chinook numbers usually build through late August into September, and warm water this time of year often pushes fish to move and feed in the cooler low-light hours. Sturgeon anglers should confirm current retention rules before planning a keeper trip.
Eastern Sierra trout push into early mornings as heat lingers
Reno Fly Shop's late-July report on the Truckee River describes wading conditions as excellent, with flows holding steady near their natural channel and pushing wild trout into an earlier feeding window as afternoon air temps climb. The shop's advice for Eastern Sierra anglers: get on the water early, work the stretches west of town, and don't expect much action once midday heat sets in. An earlier June update from the same shop noted afternoon thunderstorms breaking the heat and pointed anglers toward late-day caddis, stonefly, and evening dry-fly action as a secondary window. Crayfish activity was also picking up as water warmed. No fresh USGS gauge reading came through for site 10265200 today, so exact flow and temp numbers aren't available; lean on the early/late pattern from shop reports until a current reading posts. Broader western coverage from Wired 2 Fish notes trout fisheries regionwide are increasingly heat-stressed by midsummer, reinforcing the early-start strategy.
Heavy Flows Push Driftless Trout Anglers to the Tributaries
The USGS gauge on the Kickapoo River (05407000) read 4,460 cfs this morning, well above the typical late-August baseflow for Driftless Area trout water, with no water temperature reported at this station. That kind of jump usually follows a heavy rain event, and it's consistent with the flashy, thin-soil hydrology this region is known for: streams can spike fast and stay elevated for days. No Wisconsin-specific shop or guide reports came through this week's angler intel, so we're leaning on general seasonal patterns rather than confirmed local bites. Expect trout to hold tighter to cover and slow-water margins while flows stay up, rather than actively feeding in the main current. Hatch Magazine's latest Wisconsin dispatch, set farther northeast in Langlade County, is a reminder conditions vary a lot across the state right now. Until this gauge trends back toward normal, tributary mouths and spring-fed feeders are the better bet over the discolored main stem.
Northwoods muskies enter tricky late-summer transition
Rollie & Helen's Musky Shop's Northwoods report frames this week as one of the most dynamic, frustrating pivot points on the musky calendar, with water temperatures fluctuating as summer structure patterns give way to early-fall movement. The same shop's early-August update had lake surfaces holding comfortably in the mid-70s after a run of cold fronts, and that cooling trend appears to be continuing into late August. Direct buoy and gauge readings weren't available for this update (USGS gauge 05400650 shows no current reading), so treat any temperature read as seasonal rather than measured. On technique, the shop is pushing anglers to downsize rubber lures as late-summer muskies turn finicky. Walleye anglers, per Fishing the Midwest, are increasingly locating suspended fish with forward-facing sonar rather than sticking to bottom structure alone. Expect a transitional, moody bite across Northwoods lakes this week.
Finger Lakes trout and bass settle into steady late-summer patterns
A regional USGS gauge (04232050) logged a water temperature of 64°F on a low, stable flow of 7.45 cfs as of Thursday morning, typical late-August baseflow for the Finger Lakes watershed feeding Cayuga, Seneca, and Skaneateles. None of today's angler-intel feeds carried region-specific reports for these lakes, so we're leaning on typical seasonal patterns rather than fresh word from the water. Smallmouth bass are usually active around deep rock and gravel structure this time of year, lake trout continue to hold in the cooler, deeper strata that require downriggers or leadcore to reach, and Skaneateles's noted rainbow trout fishery tends to slow during the warm-water stretch of August, picking back up as nights cool. Walleye anglers typically do best working the low-light hours. Check current state regulations before harvesting any species, and treat this as a general seasonal outlook until fresh on-the-water reports come in.
Rainy River walleyes settle into a stable summer pattern
The Rainy River gauge near Lake of the Woods logged 69°F water this week with flow holding steady near 4,140 cfs, conditions that point to walleyes and sauger sitting in a stable late-summer pattern rather than shifting locations. With water this warm, fish tend to push off traditional bottom structure toward suspended positions over deeper basins and wind-affected points, a shift Fishing the Midwest has been tracking as Forward-Facing Sonar changes where anglers find summer walleyes compared to the old structure-and-bottom approach. Jigging live bait and pulling crawler harnesses still produce, per that same coverage, but more fish are being marked off bottom than in years past. Muskie anglers should expect low-light windows to stay the most productive stretch of the day while water holds in the upper 60s. No fresh Lake of the Woods-specific reports came through this cycle, so treat this as a conditions-and-trend read rather than a bite report.
Truckee River thins out as late-summer trout pattern takes hold
The Truckee River gauge at site 10311000 clocked flow at just 8.82 cfs as of 9:50 AM this morning, a reading consistent with the low, thin water anglers typically see on this stretch by late August once upstream reservoir releases taper for the season. No water temperature reading came through with this check, so we're not able to confirm exact thermal conditions today, but low flow this time of year usually means warmer, clearer water and spookier fish. We don't have region-specific angler intel to report today; none of the available fishing-media feeds covered Truckee or Lake Tahoe conditions this cycle, so this update leans on typical seasonal patterns rather than fresh word from the water. Expect the usual late-summer game: low, gin-clear flows, finicky trout, and better action around first and last light. Check current CA/NV regs before keeping fish, and confirm real-time flow before you head out since low-water rivers can shift quickly.
Missouri River Catfish Bite Holds as Summer Flows Stay Strong
The USGS gauge at site 06934500 logged flow near 46,100 cfs and a water temperature around 83°F this morning, conditions that put Missouri and Ozark river fish squarely in late-summer patterns. Water this warm typically pushes smallmouth bass and other current-loving species into deeper runs and shaded cover during the heat of the day, while catfish tend to stay active feeding on drifting bait in higher, off-color flow. Fishing the Midwest's recent notes on using Forward-Facing Sonar to locate bass suspended off traditional structure apply well here, since high water scatters fish away from the classic bank and point locations anglers have relied on for years. We're not seeing a Missouri-specific angler report in this cycle's feeds, so treat species behavior below as seasonal expectation rather than confirmed bites. Early mornings and evenings remain the highest-percentage windows as afternoon heat keeps water temps elevated and activity compressed to low-light hours.