Fishing reports
18526 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
Lake Superior Trout and Coho Bite Holds Steady Into Late Summer
Lake Superior's North Shore keeps producing for trollers, per the MN DNR Lake Superior Summer Fishing report from August 13: a steady bite on 18-28 inch Lake Trout and 16-21 inch Cohos from Duluth to Two Harbors access sites, with the DNR's August 6 report also noting a few 20-24 inch Chinook mixed in. Surface temps have climbed to around 70°F as far up-shore as McQuade, while Knife River (60-65°F) and Two Harbors (near 50°F) stay noticeably cooler, a spread the DNR has tracked consistently through the summer. Inland toward the Twin Cities and North Woods lakes, Fishing the Midwest reports anglers leaning on Forward-Facing Sonar to find walleyes that have moved off traditional bottom structure, and flags the Alexandria area as a reliable multi-species draw for bass. Panfish and muskie are holding in typical late-summer patterns for the region. Highway 61 construction near McQuade and on Lighthouse Point Road in Two Harbors continues to affect shore access, per the DNR.
Erie smallmouth and walleye keep grinding through late-summer heat
Pennsylvania anglers have one under-the-radar headline to file away for later: Outdoor Hub reports the Fish and Boat Commission approved a statewide bump in the minimum trout keeper size from 7 to 9 inches, though the rule doesn't take hold until Jan. 1, 2027, so it has zero bearing on this week's trip planning. On Lake Erie and around Presque Isle, mid-August typically keeps walleye pushing into open, deeper water and smallmouth bass working rocky structure and drop-offs through the warmest stretch of summer, with yellow perch schooling tight over deeper humps. Fishing the Midwest notes a broader regional shift toward hunting suspended walleye with forward-facing sonar rather than dragging bottom rigs, worth trying if a slow-moving spinner rig isn't drawing strikes. Steelhead stay scarce from shore this time of year, mostly staged offshore until water temperatures drop and the fall run stages. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for this update, so treat conditions as seasonal-typical until the next check.
Heat Rules Push WA River Anglers to Dawn Patrol
No fresh buoy or gauge readings came back for Columbia and Puget Sound rivers this cycle, but the seasonal story is still readable. Wired 2 Fish reports that fish and wildlife agencies across the West are increasingly asking anglers to lay off cold-water species once rivers run dangerously warm, with voluntary afternoon closures becoming more common than they used to be, a pattern that lines up squarely with Washington's trout water in mid-August. That puts a premium on early starts before water temperatures climb. This is also the window when early fall Chinook typically begin stacking into the lower Columbia system and its tributaries, while Puget Sound rivers start seeing the first stagers ahead of the main coho push next month. WDFW's statewide creel interviews and hatchery stocking program remain the backbone resource for what's actually being caught and where fish have been planted, per WA WDFW Fishing Reports. Until more specific angler intel comes in for this region, plan mornings over afternoons and check current low-flow or hoot-owl restrictions before you launch.
Early king chatter stirs Huron tributaries as Bay settles into late-summer bite
One angler on the Michigan Sportsman Forum reported working an early king salmon tributary this past weekend and going 0-2 on spinners, calling it "damn near impossible" to land fish — a rough, early start consistent with the pre-run window before Lake Huron's fall Chinook push really builds. Buoy and gauge feeds are empty this cycle, so we're leaning on season-typical patterns for Saginaw Bay and the Huron nearshore: walleye holding on mid-depth breaklines, yellow perch starting to school over deeper structure, and smallmouth staying active around rocky reefs while summer water temps hold. Fishing the Midwest's recent notes on how forward-facing sonar has shifted where anglers find walleye — away from the old bottom-and-structure assumptions — apply broadly across Great Lakes waters and are worth factoring in on the Bay. Treat the king salmon report as one data point, not a confirmed trend, until more anglers chime in.
Deep-water patterns take hold on Santee and Lake Murray
No fresh buoy or gauge telemetry came through for the Santee Cooper lakes or Lake Murray this cycle, so this update leans on seasonal pattern rather than a live reading, check local forecasts before heading out. Mid-August in the SC midlands typically means bass have pushed off the bank and grouped around deeper cover and baitfish schools, a pattern Tactical Bassin highlights in its late-summer bass coverage, recommending anglers key on smaller baitfish and stay willing to rotate baits often (their "junk fishing" approach) rather than camping on one presentation. Landlocked striped bass in South Carolina reservoirs are typically pushed deep or toward cooler, better-oxygenated water once surface temps climb this time of year, general seasonal behavior rather than a specific report. Catfish tend to feed most actively after dark in this heat, and crappie should be holding tight to deep structure. Wired2Fish's recent piece on heat-stressed fisheries out West is a reminder the pattern is widespread this summer.
Drop-shot rigs headline the bite for Potomac and Shenandoah bass
Virginia's Department of Wildlife Resources spotlighted the drop shot rig this week in a dedicated post on its Wildlife Blog, and it's a timely reminder for anglers working the Potomac and Shenandoah systems through late August. The technique — a finesse presentation that suspends a soft-plastic above a bottom-weighted sinker — is built for exactly the conditions bass see this time of year: clear, current-broken water where a subtle, near-motionless bait can trigger strikes that reaction baits miss. DWR frames it as a go-to for smallmouth, largemouth, and spotted bass across the Commonwealth, all three of which the Potomac and Shenandoah hold in good numbers. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through this cycle, and no live charter or shop bite reports surfaced for this stretch, so treat flow and clarity as unknowns until you're on the water — but the drop shot is a safe bet worth tying on regardless of what conditions you find.
Quabbin and Wachusett settle into late-summer smallmouth mode
No buoy or gauge readings and no direct on-the-water reports for Quabbin or Wachusett came through this week, so this update leans on regional signal and seasonal knowledge rather than a specific local catch report. Elsewhere in Massachusetts freshwater, per The Fisherman — New England Freshwater, smallmouth bass up to 13 inches were coming on white spinnerbaits, Aziz-rigged Senkos and Whopper Ploppers in the Merrimack River below the Lawrence dam, and a Thursday-night big-bass contest at Congamond Lakes in Southwick produced double-digit three-bass bags. That kind of active late-summer smallmouth bite is typical statewide right now, and Quabbin's and Wachusett's clear, rocky-bottomed, deep reservoirs tend to fish in a similar pattern this time of year: bass working the shallows early and late, with lake trout and landlocked salmon pushed down toward cooler water during the day. Check DCR reservoir regulations and permit requirements before heading out to either water.
Kenai rivers turn from sockeye rush to early silver salmon push
Mid-August is the hinge point for Kenai and interior Alaska rivers: the sockeye run that dominated July is typically tailing off while the first silver (coho) salmon usually begin pushing into the drainage, with rainbow trout and Dolly Varden keying on drifting salmon eggs and flesh behind spawning fish. No NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings and no Alaska-specific bite reports came through in this cycle's feeds, so treat this report as a seasonal outlook rather than a fresh on-the-water account. Anglers on the Kenai and nearby interior systems should expect the usual late-summer water conditions for this point in the season, with sockeye action winding down and coho activity building over the next two to three weeks. Bring egg patterns and streamers for trout and char, and check current regulations closely as king and sockeye windows close out on a river-by-river basis.
Smokies trout anglers lean on early starts as August heat holds
No NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings came through for the Smokies watershed this cycle, and none of today's angler-intel feeds carry a direct Western NC trout report, so this update leans on general seasonal knowledge rather than a specific bite report. Late-August in the Southern Appalachians typically means warming freestone water by midday, with the best action concentrated in the first few hours of daylight and in higher-elevation, spring-fed stretches that stay cooler longer. Wired 2 Fish's recent piece on summer trout fisheries notes that agencies out West have been restricting cold-water fishing during afternoon heat spikes, a reminder that trout stress easily once water temps climb, even though that specific coverage was about western rivers, not North Carolina. Expect wild rainbows and browns to feed selectively on small terrestrials and nymphs in the cooler hours, with native brook trout holding tightest to headwater seeps. Check current park and state guidance before heading out, and consider a midday break for the fish's sake as much as your own.
Upper Mississippi walleye anglers lean into sonar shift as summer holds
Forward-facing sonar continues to reshape how Midwest walleye anglers approach summer structure, per Fishing the Midwest, and that shift is directly relevant on the Upper Mississippi pools between Prescott and La Crosse as more anglers rethink the old rule of hugging bottom near points and weedlines. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for this stretch today, so this report leans on typical mid-August patterns: walleye and sauger holding on current breaks, wing dam eddies, and the edges of the main channel as surface water stays warm, while smallmouth bass work rock and rip-rap structure through the morning and evening. Channel catfish should remain active after dark in the summer heat, a dependable pattern for these pools. Panfish are a solid backup around backwater weed edges. Check current state regulations before harvesting, and confirm real-time flow and temperature locally before heading out, since no direct river data was available for this update.
Roosevelt Lake bass anglers lean on dawn and dusk as summer heat holds
No fresh buoy or gauge readings came in for the Roosevelt Lake and Salt River system this cycle, so we're leaning on national bass-fishing intel and typical August patterns for this desert impoundment. Per On The Water this week, low-light wakebaits worked tight to shoreline cover are drawing summer largemouths as fish pull off open water into shade, a pattern that tracks for Roosevelt's rocky banks once the sun climbs. Tactical Bassin's late-summer notes back that up, pointing anglers toward bass grouped tight around baitfish once daytime heat peaks, with junk-fishing runs (moving baits, quick lure changes) covering water efficiently on tough days. Smallmouth should hold on deeper rock and current breaks through the Salt River arms, while channel catfish typically deliver the most consistent action after dark this time of year. Crappie tend to go quiet, suspended deep, until temperatures ease. Check current water levels and local advisories before launching.
Catskills and Adirondacks trout settle into classic dog-days pattern
Mid-August has the Catskills and Adirondacks trout scene running the way it typically does this deep into summer: cooler water gets the bite going early and late, and low, clear flows push fish into shade and seams. No fresh NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings synced for this region this cycle, so treat flow and temperature as unknowns until you check a local gauge streamside. On the technique side, Trout Unlimited's recent notes on targeting wily brown trout back up what's typical for August: low-light presentations and patience over fast blind-casting tend to draw browns out of their holding lies. Caddis Fly's seasonal tying notes also flag that aquatic hatches are thinning into a transitional stretch, with terrestrial patterns picking up the slack. We're not seeing direct on-the-water reports filed for these specific streams this week, so this update leans on seasonal pattern and general technique rather than a fresh bite report.
Summer heat pushes PA limestone-creek trout to low-light windows
No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for Spring Creek and Penns Creek this cycle, so the sharpest signal in the intel feeds right now is seasonal rather than numeric: it's mid-August, and coldwater fisheries nationwide are under heat stress. Wired 2 Fish reports that fish and wildlife agencies out West are increasingly asking anglers to lay off trout during hot afternoons, a caution that applies just as well here even though limestone spring creeks like these run cooler and more stable than typical freestone water thanks to groundwater input. Expect wild browns and rainbows to hold in slower, spring-influenced pockets and favor dawn and dusk. Terrestrials (ants, beetles, hoppers) are the seasonal go-to on limestone water this time of year, with small tricos worth a look early. Also worth flagging for local anglers: Outdoor Hub reports the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission has approved a statewide minimum trout size increase to 9 inches, though that change doesn't take effect until January 2027.
Western Basin walleye lean on FFS as late-summer pattern sets in
No fresh NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings came through for the Western Basin this cycle, so today's outlook leans on seasonal pattern and technique intel rather than a fresh number. Mid-August typically has Lake Erie's Western Basin walleye scattered off classic reef structure and suspending over deeper open water as the thermocline firms up, and that shift is exactly what Fishing the Midwest's Mike Frisch has been chronicling fleet-wide this season: forward-facing sonar keeps relocating walleye off the points and weedlines anglers used to circle and into open water many would have ignored a few years back. Yellow perch should be building size and numbers as the calendar pushes toward fall, typical for this stretch. Smallmouth bass continue working reef complexes in the deeper ranges typical of summer doldrums. Check Ohio regulations before harvesting anything, and treat this report as seasonal grounding rather than a confirmed bite until fresher buoy or angler data comes in.
Flounder Limits Pour In as Delaware Bay Croakers Flood the Shallows
Flounder fishing is running hot on the Delaware Bay side of Cape May County. Big Dave's Tackle in Port Elizabeth reports customers pulling limits to 7 pounds from deepwater reef and wreck sites like the Old Grounds, while Higbee's Bait and Tackle says flounder along the bay's deeper channels are producing several limits per boat with fish nearing the 23-inch mark, strong enough that over 380 boats fished the Paradise Pounder Tournament this week. Croakers are just as thick: Hands Too Bait and Tackle in Cape May calls conditions "firing on all fronts," describing a heavy Delaware Bayshore push of croakers nearing Cape May Goodies size, plus fluke stacking near the jetties and weakfish taking jumbo bloodworms floated along the rocks. Pier 47 Marina notes croakers so thick they "light up your fishfinder" on the outgoing tide, with flounder favoring the incoming push. Sheepshead and triggerfish round out the structure bite nearby.
Topwater bass and cedar-water pickerel keep Pine Barrens busy
Freshwater action across the Delaware River corridor and Pine Barrens is holding steady even as most South Jersey rods stay pointed at a strong ocean fluke bite. Creekside Outfitters reports fair-to-good largemouth, catfish, and panfish across central NJ lakes and ponds, with a surprise mix of stocked trout still turning up — a young angler released a rainbow trout caught out of the Toms River Trout Conservation Area. Waretown Lake and Pohatcong Lake were the week's top bass spots, per The Fisherman's NJ/DE Freshwater report, with fish to 3 pounds hitting poppers, buzzbaits, and other topwater baits. Hands Too Bait and Tackle notes bass in the campground ponds and pickerel in the nearby cedar waters are supplying the bulk of the region's sweetwater fishing right now, though traffic is light with saltwater fluke pulling anglers away. Along the tidal creeks, the salt line has pushed downstream, opening up perch and catfish action per Allen's Dock.
Sea Bass Runs Red Hot as Fluke Bite Rebounds Along the Jersey Shore
Water temperatures took a sharp overnight dip this week, and Capt. Ron's out of Atlantic Highlands reported a 9-degree drop to 67°F that helped turn on the fluke bite after several tough days working multiple grounds without a keeper. Sea bass fishing is running red hot per Blue Chip Sportfishing, with boats limiting out on almost every trip, while shark fishing has busted wide open, including three Mako sharks hooked and released on one recent trip. Offshore, Fishermans HQ LBI is putting anglers on 25 to 40 pound bluefin within 30 miles of Barnegat Inlet on live squid, and The Fisherman's NJ/DE Offshore report notes mahi thick around the lobster pot lines at the 19 Fathom Line. Warm water has also pushed Spanish mackerel and bonito into the mix, per Grumpys Tackle. Fluke are still running short in spots, but keeper ratios are trending up on bucktail and Gulp combos.
Spanish Mackerel Stack Up Off Cape Lookout as Surf Bite Holds
Nearshore anglers are finding a strong Spanish mackerel bite this week, with the biggest fish showing up around Cape Lookout, per Dave of Chasin' Tails via Fisherman's Post (NC). Up the coast at Swansboro/Emerald Isle, The Reel Outdoors reports anglers throwing casting jigs and Gotcha plugs off the pier are connecting on Spanish mackerel and bluefish, with a few king mackerel mixed in. In the surf at Carolina Beach, Island Tackle and Hardware notes a typical summertime mix of red drum, flounder, croakers, and sharks. Toward the Pamlico side, TW's Bait and Tackle in the OBX/Northern Beaches area reports sea mullet, bluefish, and plenty of croakers on bottom rigs, with inshore action finally picking up after a slow stretch. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through this cycle, so verify water temp and tide stage locally before you launch. Overall, a solid, typical late-summer mixed bag across the sound and nearshore reefs.
Moosehead Lake togue and salmon slide deep as late summer sets in
No buoy or gauge telemetry came back for Moosehead Lake or the upper Penobscot this cycle, and none of today's angler-intel feeds carried a report specific to Maine's inland waters, so this update leans on typical seasonal patterns rather than a fresh bite report. Mid-August on Moosehead and the upper Penobscot is classic thermocline season: landlocked salmon and lake trout (togue) push down into cooler, oxygenated water during daylight, while brook trout retreat to spring holes and cooler tributary mouths. Smallmouth bass, by contrast, stay comfortable in the warmer shallows and remain the most consistently catchable species through this stretch. We'll flag it plainly rather than guess: treat species status below as seasonal expectation, not a confirmed regional report, until local buoy data or a Maine-specific angler source comes back online.
White River tailwaters stay cool as western trout streams heat up
No fresh field reports came through for Bull Shoals or Norfork this cycle, so the story here is the one that holds every August: cold, dam-controlled water. A Wired 2 Fish piece published this week, "It's Too Hot to Fish for Trout," describes fish and wildlife agencies across the West asking anglers to lay off warming coldwater rivers during voluntary or mandatory afternoon closures. Arkansas's White River tailwaters don't face that problem — bottom releases from Bull Shoals and Norfork Dams keep water well below what freestone trout streams see in mid-August, which is exactly why this system keeps producing rainbows and browns when other trout fisheries shut down for the season. We're leaning on typical seasonal patterns rather than a specific bite report today: small nymphs and scuds near dam outflow, sculpin-style streamers worked after dark for trophy browns, and nightcrawlers or Powerbait for stocked rainbows. Check generation schedules before wading in.
Treasure Coast snook bite stays hot as red snapper season hangs in limbo
Snook fishing on the Treasure Coast is running hot heading into late August, per Snook Nook's Stuart, FL report — anglers are putting up steady numbers of quality snook, many in the 40-inch-plus range, working the St. Lucie Inlet and adjacent beaches with live croakers and threadfins; a dead threadfin worked on bottom picks up fish when the inlet bite slows. Team Snook Nook also brought home first place in the small boat division of the One More Bite Sailfish Challenge, a sign sails are showing offshore. Red snapper anglers face more uncertainty: CCA Florida reports a federal court granted a preliminary injunction blocking the 2026 South Atlantic red snapper Exempted Fishing Permit pilot programs just hours before Florida's Atlantic season was set to open. Saltwater Sportsman notes Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina are now pushing NOAA for a fall Oct. 1-31 season, with public comment open through Aug. 25.
Georgia bass keep biting through the late-summer heat
Georgia's rivers are still producing fish despite another scorching week, per Joshua Barber's Southern Waters Fishing Report for GA Sportsman / Georgia Outdoor News, which notes the bass bite has been pretty good even as anglers dealt with the heat. That same report's river gauge roundup shows the Savannah system holding steady, with the Clyo gauge reading 3.8 feet as of August 13, a stable flow that should keep bank and boat access consistent for Chattahoochee and Savannah basin anglers this week. No buoy or gauge telemetry came back for this specific stretch this cycle, so treat water temp as unconfirmed for now. Late August heat typically keeps largemouth shallow in the early and late hours, pushes catfish into deeper holes through midday, and slows panfish activity during peak sun. GA Sportsman's fall bass tournament preview also flags cooler water on the horizon, with anglers starting to look toward the autumn bite.
Mississippi & Atchafalaya waters settle into typical late-August patterns
No fresh NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings came through for the Mississippi and Atchafalaya basins this cycle, and none of today's angler-intel feeds carried a direct bite report for Louisiana's freshwater systems specifically. What we do have: Louisiana Sportsman's fishing section is flagging LDWF and the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Foundation's fall Women's Fishing 101 Workshop application window, a sign the state agency side is already looking toward the fall season shift. Absent hard telemetry, we're leaning on general seasonal knowledge for mid-August in south Louisiana: expect classic late-summer heat-stress behavior across the basin, fish pushed to shade, current breaks, and deeper structure during peak sun, with the most consistent windows early and late in the day. Treat today's species notes as season-typical defaults rather than confirmed on-the-water reports, and check a local gauge or shop report before committing to a specific stretch of river or backwater.
Late-Summer Heat Pushes Colorado and Salt River Bites to Dawn and Dusk
No buoy or gauge telemetry came back for the Colorado and Salt Rivers this cycle, and this week's angler-intel feeds carried no region-specific reports for Arizona freshwater fisheries either, so this update leans on typical mid-August seasonal patterns instead of fresh data. That's an honest gap worth naming up front rather than papering over. Mid-August in Arizona means daytime water temperatures on both rivers are running near their annual peak, which pushes bass activity into a tight window around first light and last light while midday fishing slows noticeably. Catfish, which tolerate warm water well, typically stay the most consistent producers through the heat, especially after dark. Striped bass on the Colorado River corridor generally feed most aggressively during low light on baitfish schools this time of year. The First Quarter moon favors moderate low-light activity. Treat the species notes below as seasonal expectations, not confirmed bites, until more region-specific reports come through.