Fishing reports
18645 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
Columbia salmon anglers gear up as late-summer Chinook push nears
Lost-gear posts out of Chinook Landing on the lower Columbia this week describe boats trolling with flashers, a sign anglers are already working the mainstem ahead of the seasonal Chinook push, per IFish.net Fishing Reports. Farther down the coast near Garibaldi, one angler noted salmon "weren't so cooperative" but rockfish filled the gap during a cleaning-station cleanup, per IFish.net Fishing Reports — a single, uncorroborated report that hints at spotty early action rather than a confirmed pattern. No NOAA buoy or USGS gauge data came through for the Columbia or Rogue this cycle, so water temp and flow aren't available for this update. Typical for mid-August, the Rogue's smallmouth bass fishery should still be active in the lower and middle river, and Columbia steelhead can turn sluggish as flows drop and water warms. Treat today's picture as thin on hard numbers and light on direct testimony — check a current report before planning a trip.
Kentucky Lake, Barkley settle into deep summer ledge pattern
Peak summer conditions have Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley settled into their classic August pattern: bass pushed off the bank and onto river-channel ledges and deep structure, catfish feeding heavy after dark, and crappie holding tight to brush piles below the thermocline. No live buoy or gauge readings came back for this stretch this cycle, so treat water temperature as typical for a mid-August TVA reservoir. The clearest technique signal in this week's roundup comes from Tactical Bassin's report on nearby TVA sister lake Chickamauga, where summer "junk fishing" -- rotating through crankbaits, jigs, and topwater to cover water as bass group up in the heat -- produced steady action; that same mixed-bait approach travels well to Kentucky Lake's ledges and Barkley's grass flats. With a first quarter moon this week, expect the most consistent bite in the low-light hours around dawn and dusk.
Delaware bass and snakeheads keep hitting early and late
Topwater frogs and weedless soft plastics are producing the best largemouth action in Delaware freshwater right now, per Smith's Bait Shop in Leipsic (via The Fisherman — NJ/DE Freshwater), which named Silver Lake the top bass producer and Garrisons Lake the hot spot for snakeheads. The same report notes spillways around the state giving up white perch, crappie, and other panfish to small jigs fished underneath. No live buoy or gauge data came back for the Christina or Nanticoke specifically today, so this read leans on statewide Delaware freshwater intel rather than a river-specific snapshot. Expect the pattern to hold across most Delaware ponds and tidal-influenced stretches this time of year: bass tucked into shade and cover through the heat of the day, feeding hardest in the low-light hours, with snakeheads continuing to show in shallow, weedy water. Check current flow and water clarity locally before heading out.
Bitterroot and Flathead trout settle into classic dog-days rhythm
No buoy or gauge readings came in for this region today, and this week's feed carried no direct captain, shop, or agency reports from Flathead Lake or the Bitterroot corridor. Absent fresh, region-specific intel, the safest read for mid-August is the pattern typical of this stretch of the season: rivers running low and clear, lake surface layers warming, and trout keying on cooler water and low light. Expect the Bitterroot's rainbows, browns, and native westslope cutthroat to bite best in the early morning and evening hours, with terrestrial patterns (hoppers, ants, beetles) worth a look as summer hatches thin. Flathead Lake's lake trout typically hold deeper as surface temps climb, rewarding anglers willing to fish structure well below the thermocline. Check current Montana regulations and any hoot-owl restrictions before heading out, since low, warm flows can trigger afternoon closures on some rivers this time of year.
Snake and Salmon Rivers hold steady as Idaho's cutthroat fishery makes headlines
Idaho's native cutthroat fishery drew statewide attention this summer after Moscow angler Luke Anderson landed a 13.6-inch, 0.95-pound Westslope cutthroat on the St. Maries River in north Idaho, a new state certified-weight record, per Wired 2 Fish. That fish came from a different drainage than the Snake and Salmon systems, but it's a useful marker for how well the state's Westslope populations have carried through a warm summer statewide. On the Snake, lower-elevation stretches typically keep fishing well for smallmouth bass working rocky current seams and eddies through mid-to-late August. On the Salmon, anglers should start watching for the early edge of the fall steelhead push, though numbers are usually thin this early in the run. We don't have direct on-the-water reports from the Snake or Salmon corridors this cycle, so treat bite specifics below as seasonal expectation rather than confirmed conditions, and check current flows and regs before heading out.
Sonar-savvy walleye and shade-bite bass define August on the Iowa River
Direct water-temp and flow readings weren't available for the Iowa and Des Moines Rivers this cycle, but the calendar tells most of the story: mid-August on these rivers typically means classic dog-days patterns, and this week's angler intel backs that up more with technique than with specific catch reports. Fishing the Midwest's Bob Jensen and Mike Frisch have been writing about walleye anglers across the region leaning harder on forward-facing sonar to find suspended fish rather than pounding bottom structure out of habit, a shift worth trying if you're marking fish off the bottom on these rivers. On The Water flagged low-light wakebaits worked tight to shaded bank cover as a producer for summer largemouth, a pattern that should translate to Iowa's slower river stretches and backwaters. Smallmouth and channel cats should hold their usual summer rhythm. Check current state regs before harvesting.
Champlain Largemouth Load Up as August Tournaments Peak
Lake Champlain's bass are putting on a show heading into late August. Per The Fisherman — New England Freshwater's report from Sauder's Boat Livery in Southwick, a Bass Federation tournament fished out of Champlain over the August 8-9 weekend produced a winning non-boater bag of 30-plus pounds from a 52-year federation member, a strong sign the lake's largemouth are stacked up and feeding heavily in typical summer cover. No fresh buoy or gauge telemetry came through this cycle, so treat water levels and clarity as unconfirmed until you check them dockside. Smallmouth on the Connecticut River should still be holding to deeper rock and gravel structure as surface temps stay up, and walleye are likely sliding into the same summer pattern anglers elsewhere have been chasing with forward-facing sonar, per Fishing the Midwest's recent notes on the technique. Trout fishing typically slows this time of year as water warms, pushing fish toward cooler tributary mouths.
Bonito and Spanish Mackerel Push Into Sandy Hook as Fluke Holds
Warm water has pushed bonito and Spanish mackerel into the inlets and beaches around Sandy Hook, per Grumpys Tackle (NJ), which is urging anglers to keep epoxy jigs rigged for the fast-moving schools. Out of Atlantic Highlands, Capt Ron's reported the water temp dropping nine degrees overnight to 67 and fluke picking up after working through four slow areas before the fifth produced quality keepers to five pounds. Blue Chip Sportfishing (NJ) is putting anglers on fluke and sea bass limits on half- and full-day trips, and bluefish have turned aggressive up the coast, with the Golden Eagle reporting a good week for "slammers" mixed with bonito and Spanish macks, per The Fisherman — Northern NJ. Striped bass remain part of the typical mix for this stretch, though this week's reports lean toward mackerel and bluefish.
Lake Erie and Niagara settle into deep-water summer walleye mode
No buoy or gauge readings came back for Lake Erie or the Niagara River this cycle, and none of this week's angler-intel feeds filed a direct Western NY report, so this update leans on typical late-August patterns for the region plus the technique trends anglers are running right now. With the first-quarter moon overhead and the lake at its warmest stretch of the season, walleye typically pull off shoreline structure into deeper basin water and suspend over baitfish balls, and forward-facing sonar has become the standard way anglers are marking and triggering those fish this summer, per Wired 2 Fish's recent look at how electronics have reshaped summertime walleye jigging. Smallmouth bass working Erie's rock and gravel humps and muskellunge cruising the Niagara River's current seams are both typical for mid-to-late August. Treat the species activity below as seasonal expectation rather than confirmed local bites this week, and always check current NY DEC regs before harvesting.
Alaska anglers eye the summer silver salmon push
No buoy or gauge readings came back for the Gulf of Alaska this cycle, and this week's angler-intel sweep didn't turn up any charter, tackle-shop, or blog reports specific to Alaska waters — the available Alaska Sea Grant items covered fellowships and program news rather than fishing conditions, so nothing there is safe to cite as a bite report. What follows leans on general seasonal knowledge for the Gulf of Alaska rather than fresh testimony. Mid-to-late August typically sits inside the coho (silver) salmon run for much of the Gulf, with halibut and lingcod holding as steady bottom options through late summer before fall weather starts pushing anglers off the water. Treat species status below as a seasonal baseline, not a confirmed bite, and check a current local report or harbor bulletin before planning a trip — we'll flag it here the moment a Gulf of Alaska-specific source comes through the feed.
Panfish keep biting as Finger Lakes anglers beat the summer heat
Panfish are carrying the action across New York water this week, with the NY DEC's Fishing Line noting bluegill and pumpkinseed biting steadily in warm summer shallows, a pattern that typically holds through mid-August in the Hudson Valley and Finger Lakes. The DEC's July 17th issue flagged trout and salmon needing cold-water refuges as surface temperatures climb, meaning early-morning and tailwater fishing remains the better bet for trout right now. Walleye interest continues too, with DEC research ongoing on Irondequoit Bay and Sodus Bay near the Finger Lakes corridor, and black bass season (per DEC's June 12th note) has bite activity building as summer weeds fill in. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for this region today, so treat conditions as typical late-summer freshwater patterns until a local check confirms specifics. Anglers heading out this week should lean on early and late light, target shaded structure, and expect panfish and bass to be the most consistent producers.
Lake Erie walleye go electronic as summer sonar tactics take hold
Forward-facing sonar keeps reshaping how anglers chase suspended walleye this summer, per Wired 2 Fish, which reports more anglers ditching bottom-bound assumptions to watch individual fish react to a jig in real time. Fishing the Midwest echoes the shift, noting that livescope-style electronics have overturned old "always fish near bottom" and "stick to points and weedlines" rules of thumb for walleye location. On Lake Erie and the Ohio River, that same technology edge applies as summer walleye scatter to suspend over open water and deep structure through the heat of mid-August. We don't have fresh buoy or gauge readings for this update, so treat water clarity and flow as unknowns until you're on the water. Smallmouth bass should still be working deeper rock and gravel, yellow perch schools typically tighten up this time of year, and channel catfish stay a reliable summer-night option on the Ohio River side.
Travis, LBJ and Buchanan settle into typical August summer bite
Direct fishing reports from Lake Travis, Lake LBJ, and Lake Buchanan are sparse in this week's intel feed, but a signal from the broader Texas Hill Country offers a useful proxy: per My Canyon Lake Fishing, nearby Canyon Lake is running about eight feet higher than this time last year, sitting at 886.46 feet with public boat ramps and lakeside businesses fully open. That kind of healthy pool level typically holds across the watershed feeding the Highland Lakes chain as well. With no NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings available for this stretch this week, anglers should lean on general August patterns: largemouth bass and hybrid striped bass pushing to deeper river-channel structure and main-lake humps as surface temps climb, with the best topwater windows compressed to first and last light. White bass, which run heaviest in spring, are typically scattered and less active by mid-August. Catfish stay a dependable summer option after dark.
Cooling streams lift hoot-owl limits across southwest Montana
Montana's trout water is catching a break as summer heat fades. Per MT FWP Fishing News, hoot-owl afternoon-evening restrictions have been lifting on a run of western and southwest Montana streams through August, including sections of the upper Clark Fork and lower Bitterroot, as stream temperatures cool. At the same time, FWP notes the flip side of the same cooldown: dropping streamflows are triggering new angling closures on portions of the Big Hole River, a reminder that fall-transition conditions cut both ways depending on the drainage. FWP's report doesn't break out specific Yellowstone or Missouri River status this cycle, but the statewide cooling trend driving these calls typically extends to those systems as well. With water temps easing off summer highs, expect improving trout activity and longer fishable windows heading into the evening as August wears on.
Lake Cumberland stripers push deep as summer tailwater trout stay steady
Lake Cumberland's late-summer pattern is holding true to form this week: with the main lake warming under sustained August heat, striped bass are pushing into deeper timber and creek channels, favoring dawn, dusk, and after-dark bites over the harsh midday sun, a pattern typical for this fishery every summer. The Cumberland River tailwater below Wolf Creek Dam remains the more forgiving option, since cold-water releases keep the river noticeably cooler than the lake surface and hold trout in a feeding mood through the heat. Smallmouth bass are working main-lake points and bluff walls, while largemouth activity slows in the shallows during peak sun and picks back up in low light. No direct buoy or gauge readings came back for this region today, so treat water temps and flow as estimates until you check a local source before heading out. Overall, conditions read as a typical mid-August Cumberland pattern rather than anything unusual.
White River tailwaters settle into a typical August holding pattern
No fresh Arkansas-specific reports came through in this cycle's angler intel, so this update leans on typical late-summer patterns for the White and Norfork tailwaters. Mid-August on these dam-controlled rivers usually means trout holding tighter to deeper runs and current breaks as surface water warms, with generation schedules from Bull Shoals and Norfork dictating when fish feed most actively, with early morning and evening release windows typically producing the best bite. Smallmouth bass and walleye in the river's warmer stretches tend to slide into a similar low-light pattern this time of year. Nationally, more walleye and bass anglers are leaning on forward-facing sonar to locate fish suspended off structure rather than assuming they're bottom-hugging, a shift touched on by Fishing the Midwest and Wired 2 Fish this season, worth trying on White River smallmouth and walleye if the midday bite feels sparse. Check current dam generation schedules before planning a trip.
Tennessee River Bass Grind Through August Heat
This week's most relevant intel for the Tennessee River system comes from Tactical Bassin, which describes 'junk fishing' on Lake Chickamauga near Chattanooga — constantly rotating baits and dialing in patterns as bass group up tight in summer heat. That same approach should translate onto Alabama's stretch of the Tennessee River and into the Coosa chain, where largemouth and smallmouth bass typically stack on ledges, current breaks, and shade lines this time of year. We don't have fresh buoy or gauge readings for this cycle, so treat water temperature and flow as unknowns until a local reading comes in. Striped bass in the Coosa impoundments and catfish along both rivers should still be feeding steadily through late August, consistent with typical seasonal behavior. No Alabama-specific angler reports came through this week's intel sweep — what follows leans on broader Tennessee River system trends rather than an on-the-water Alabama account, so use it as a general planning guide and verify locally before you launch.
Late-summer heat pushes Lake of the Ozarks bass deep
Lake of the Ozarks and the Osage River settle into a typical late-August pattern this week — no fresh buoy or gauge readings came in for this update, so check a local forecast before you launch. Largemouth and spotted bass are following the usual summer-heat pattern, sliding to deep main-lake points, bluff ends, and channel swings instead of the shallow cover they favor in spring. Forward-facing sonar has reshaped how a lot of Midwest anglers locate that kind of suspended structure, per Fishing the Midwest, which points to electronics doing much of the searching that used to rely on memorized waypoints and blind-casting. Crappie typically go quiet and deep-suspend through the hottest stretch of August, holding tight to standing timber and brush. White bass and catfish stay the more dependable bite, with white bass schooling on main-lake points chasing shad and catfish feeding actively after dark as water stays warm.
Missouri River walleye anglers lean on electronics as summer holds
No fresh buoy or gauge telemetry came through for the Missouri River/Black Hills corridor this cycle, so this update leans on regional technique reporting rather than a live reading. The clearest signal in this week's angler intel is a Midwest-wide shift in how walleye anglers are locating fish: Fishing the Midwest notes that forward-facing sonar has changed where anglers look, with fish increasingly found suspended off traditional bottom structure like points and weedlines rather than hugging bottom. Wired 2 Fish echoes the same trend, describing electronics as the biggest change to walleye fishing in two decades. Neither piece is Missouri River-specific, but the pattern is broadly applicable to reservoir walleye this time of year. Smallmouth bass, Black Hills trout, and catfish don't have direct reporting this week, so expect typical mid-August behavior until fresher local intel comes in.
Low, clear water pushes Colorado trout into tight pockets
Colorado's freestone rivers are running low and clear as the state works through what Pat Dorsey Fly Fishing calls one of the worst droughts on record. Crystal Fly Shop (CO) reports a voluntary afternoon closure on the Roaring Fork (Highway 133 bridge in Carbondale down to the Colorado River confluence) and a full-day closure on the lower Crystal River as managers try to protect stressed fish, while the Frying Pan stays cold and fishable below Ruedi Reservoir thanks to dam-controlled release temps in the 40s. Cutthroat Anglers (CO) is urging anglers to carry a thermometer and stop fishing once water hits 68°F. Despite the tough headlines, Matt Campanella's low-water tips via Cutthroat Anglers (CO) note fish are grouped up and still biting for anglers willing to hike farther and downsize their approach. Anglers Covey Blog (CO) calls it classic dog-days pace: slower rivers, lazier fish, more patience required.
Winnipesaukee smallmouth hold the line as late-summer stratification sets in
No buoy or gauge telemetry came back for Lake Winnipesaukee this cycle, and this week's angler-intel feed carried no captain, shop, or state report specific to New Hampshire waters — worth saying plainly rather than papering over. What follows leans on typical late-August patterns for the lake. By mid-to-late August, Winnipesaukee is usually fully thermally stratified: smallmouth and largemouth bass stay the most reliably catchable species, holding on rocky points, ledges and weed edges, most active in the low-light windows around dawn and dusk. Lake trout and landlocked salmon typically retreat to deeper, cooler water once the thermocline sets up, making them a tougher, more technical target without electronics or downriggers this time of year. Yellow perch remain a steady, less weather-dependent bite over deeper structure. With a first-quarter moon this week, expect moderate tidal-style feeding windows rather than a strong night bite — early-morning and late-evening trips are the better bet.
Green River tailwater trout lean on terrestrials below Flaming Gorge
Trout Unlimited's midsummer look at brown trout behavior and Caddis Fly's notes on late-summer terrestrial tying frame the most useful signal available this week, since no buoy or gauge readings and no direct reports from Utah's Flaming Gorge or Green River tailwater came through this cycle. Worth saying plainly rather than guessing. What can be said with confidence: mid-August on a dam-controlled tailwater like the Green typically means stable, cool releases, thinning aquatic hatches, and browns and rainbows keying on hoppers, ants, and beetles blown or dropped onto the water, especially during low-light hours as the summer sun eases off. Kokanee up in the reservoir are usually staging deep ahead of their fall spawning run rather than pushing into tributaries yet. Treat this as a seasonal baseline, not a live report, and check the current Flaming Gorge Dam release schedule plus any posted regional updates before heading out.
Chickamauga bass grind through summer heat on a junk-fishing pattern
Lake Chickamauga largemouth are still cooperating despite the mid-August heat and humidity, per Tactical Bassin (blog), whose recent on-the-water report described a "junk fishing" approach on the Tennessee River lake — swapping baits at every stop rather than camping on one presentation to dial in what's actually working that morning. That adaptability looks like the story across Tennessee & Cumberland reservoirs right now: summer bass are grouping tight to structure and staying catchable for anglers willing to experiment bait to bait rather than force a single pattern. Separately, Fishing the Midwest notes forward-facing sonar continues reshaping how reservoir anglers locate suspended fish and track individual bites in real time, a trend that has crossed over from tournament bass fishing into how anglers approach other structure-oriented species. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for this update, so treat water temperatures as typically warm and stable for late summer until local readings confirm otherwise. Early and late light remain the highest-percentage windows as midday heat pushes fish deeper.
Texoma stripers and deep summer bass patterns hold into late August
No fresh buoy or gauge readings came back for the Texoma/Eufaula corridor this cycle, and none of today's angler-intel feeds filed a report specifically from Oklahoma, so this update leans on typical late-summer patterns for these lakes rather than fresh local intel. Water is likely stratified and warm this time of year, pushing striped bass and blue catfish toward deeper structure and thermoclines during daylight hours. For bass, Tactical Bassin's recent "summer junk fishing" piece on Lake Chickamauga describes exactly the tough, hot-weather pattern anglers typically face on Texoma and Eufaula right now: covering water and rotating baits to trigger grouped-up, sluggish fish rather than waiting them out. Fishing the Midwest also notes forward-facing sonar has changed how anglers locate summer fish suspended off bottom and structure, a technique increasingly relevant on both lakes as electronics adoption grows. Crappie are typically the slowest bite of the two lakes' summer stretch.