Fishing reports
18645 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
Toledo Bend, Sam Rayburn bass hold deep through August heat
August has the region locked into deep summer patterns, and while this week's direct reports come from nearby Lake Fork rather than Toledo Bend or Sam Rayburn themselves, the trend applies across East Texas' big bass reservoirs. Per Lake Fork Trophy Bass, this summer has run hot with many 100-degree days, but lake levels are holding steady and there's still enough cover to keep bass active despite the heat and evaporation. That's the pattern anglers on Toledo Bend and Sam Rayburn should expect too: fish pushed to deeper, shaded cover and standing timber as surface temps stay elevated. Largemouth are typically still catchable working submerged structure, blue catfish tend to feed aggressively after dark this time of year, and crappie usually slide deep and sluggish until the heat finally breaks. No buoy or gauge readings are available for either reservoir this week, so check local conditions and any current lake-level postings before you launch.
Catfish keep working Texas lakes as a rare Grapevine bass turns heads
North Texas anglers have plenty to talk about this month. Jeff Lovell landed a rare golden-hued largemouth at Lake Grapevine in late July, a genuinely unusual catch highlighted by Texas Fish & Game Magazine. Closer to the everyday bite, the North Texas Catfish Guide continues to point to Eagle Mountain Lake as one of the more reliable catfish fisheries in the Fort Worth area, with blue and channel catfish the mainstay when fresh water pushes into the system and lake levels hold steady. Largemouth bass fishing across Texas reservoirs typically settles into a deep, structure-oriented summer pattern by mid-August, with the better windows early and late in the day as surface temperatures climb. White bass activity, which the same guide has described as strong during spring schooling runs, generally slows through the heart of summer. Expect warm water, long days, and a bite that rewards getting out before sunrise.
Deschutes settles into late-summer caddis and hopper rhythm
Mid-August on the Deschutes and Upper Klamath system typically means the spring salmonfly hatch is long gone, giving way to smaller caddis, PMDs, and grasshoppers blown onto the banks by afternoon wind — a pattern typical for this time of year in central and southern Oregon. No buoy or gauge telemetry came back for this region today, and none of tonight's angler-intel feeds carried a report specific to the Deschutes or Upper Klamath, so this update leans on seasonal norms rather than a fresh bite report. Redband trout are the mainstay here and typically stay active on hopper-dropper rigs through late-summer mornings and evenings. Kokanee trollers on area reservoirs are usually still working through August. Brown trout tend to stay quieter until the fall spawn approaches. Check current Oregon state fishing regulations before keeping any fish.
Suspended walleye and grouped-up bass define mid-August on Ohio's reservoirs
Forward-facing sonar keeps reshaping walleye patterns on Midwest reservoirs this month, with Fishing the Midwest's Mike Frisch reporting that fish are showing up suspended well off bottom-oriented structure rather than hugging points and weedlines the way older tactics assumed. That shift is worth watching on Mosquito Lake and Pymatuning Reservoir, where mid-August walleye and saugeye typically slide toward deeper basins and suspend over baitfish once surface temperatures peak for the season. Largemouth bass are holding to a classic summer pattern too: Tactical Bassin's recent breakdown of "junk fishing" describes bass grouping tightly in the heat and rewarding anglers who rotate baits quickly to trigger reaction bites instead of working one presentation too long. Wired 2 Fish's walleye electronics piece backs up the sonar trend, noting today's units let anglers track individual fish reacting to a jig in real time. Crappie and catfish remain steady, typical producers for this stretch of summer on inland reservoirs like these.
Upper Mississippi pool anglers lean on electronics as late-summer patterns hold
No live buoy or gauge readings came back for the Clinton-Dubuque stretch this cycle, so today's read leans on regional technique reporting rather than a fresh flow or temperature number. Fishing the Midwest has been tracking how forward-facing sonar keeps reshaping walleye location on Midwest waters this season, letting anglers watch fish react to a jig in real time instead of guessing at bottom structure blind. On the pools, that same approach typically pays off on wing dams and current seams once the sonar picks out suspended fish rather than bottom-huggers. Sauger and smallmouth bass are typically active around rock structure and current breaks in mid-August, while channel catfish stay a dependable summer target on deeper holes. Panfish activity usually holds steady around wood and vegetation edges. Treat all of this as seasonal expectation rather than a confirmed bite report until fresh gauge data or a shop update comes through for this specific reach.
Electronics and Junk-Bait Tactics Carry Ohio and Cumberland Rivers Through August
August heat has settled over the Ohio and Cumberland River systems, and while no local buoy or gauge readings came through this cycle, seasonal patterns point to typical late-summer freshwater conditions: warm surface water, stable flows, and bass and walleye keying on structure and current breaks rather than open water. Nationally, electronics-driven walleye tactics are trending hard, with both Wired 2 Fish and Fishing the Midwest noting anglers leaning on forward-facing sonar to track walleye relating to points, turns, and weedlines instead of assuming bottom-only behavior, a shift worth applying to Cumberland walleye water. For bass, Tactical Bassin's coverage of summer 'junk fishing,' rotating baits and covering water quickly on hot, sluggish days, matches the pattern Kentucky bass anglers typically lean on through late summer. Catfish remain a dependable producer on both rivers this time of year, and muskie anglers around the state are actively on the water this month. Check state regulations before harvesting, and verify current local conditions before launching.
Mississippi bass anglers lean on junk-fishing tricks as August heat holds
No buoy or gauge readings came through for the Mississippi and Pearl Rivers this cycle, so this report leans on typical late-summer patterns for these warm, slow-moving freshwater systems. Tactical Bassin (blog) describes exactly this stretch of the calendar as prime for "junk fishing" — rotating through several bait styles along matted cover and shaded banks rather than committing to one pattern, a method built for stubborn, heat-stressed bass. Locally, largemouth activity in backwaters and sloughs typically holds up best around dawn and dusk before fading hard at midday. Channel and blue catfish tend to feed most actively after dark in the deeper river holes, a reliable pattern for both rivers this time of year. Bream and crappie fishing usually eases off as fish push to deeper, cooler water and feeding windows shrink. Expect standard dog-days conditions region-wide; plan around the cooler edges of the day and check the local forecast before launching.
Pittsburgh tailwaters settle into typical late-summer smallmouth pattern
No fresh NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings came through for the Allegheny & Pittsburgh tailwaters today, and this week's angler-intel sweep turned up saltwater Sea Grant news and national blog content rather than anything specific to this stretch, so there's no confirmed regional bite report to pass along. In its place, this update leans on typical mid-August patterns for the area. Flow below the Pittsburgh-area Allegheny dams usually runs low and warm by this point in summer, which tends to push the smallmouth bass bite into the early-morning and last-light hours around current breaks and riffle edges. Walleye and sauger generally slide into deeper, slower current through the heat of the day and become more catchable near dusk. Muskellunge typically go quiet through the summer doldrums region-wide, and channel catfish remain a dependable after-dark option in warm water. Check PA Fish & Boat's Biologist Reports for current water-specific numbers before you head out, since none surfaced in today's feed for this stretch.
North Shore lake trout stay hot as summer walleye go high-tech
Surface temps on Lake Superior's Lower Shore reached 70°F near McQuade this past week, with cooler pockets down to 50°F closer to Two Harbors, per the MN DNR Lake Superior Summer Fishing report for Aug. 13. Anglers working the Duluth-to-Two Harbors stretch reported a steady bite on 18-28 inch Lake Trout along with 16-21 inch Cohos and a few Chinooks from shore access sites, continuing a pattern that's held since late July. Inland, Fishing the Midwest notes walleye anglers are leaning harder on forward-facing sonar to locate suspended fish instead of sticking to the old bottom-and-structure playbook, while summer largemouth are keying on emerging weed tops with moving baits. Highway 61 construction near McQuade and on Lighthouse Point Road in Two Harbors continues to affect North Shore access points. It's shaping up as a solid, on-pattern mid-August stretch for both the Lake Superior fishery and inland walleye and bass water.
Lake Erie's late-summer walleye push meets thin PA intel this week
The PA Fish & Boat Commission's Biologist Reports page remains the go-to clearinghouse for Presque Isle and Lake Erie updates, but today's data pull turned up no fresh PA-specific angler intel, buoy readings, or gauge data for this stretch of shoreline — so this report leans on typical mid-August patterns rather than a fresh bite report. Lake Erie's open-water walleye trolling season is typically in full swing by mid-August, with boats working deeper contour breaks and suspended schools as the thermocline holds. Presque Isle Bay's protected weed flats and rocky edges continue producing smallmouth bass through late summer, and the bay's well-known muskellunge fishery is typically active around bait concentrations this time of year. Yellow perch tend to be scattered but catchable on the main lake in August. With no water-temp or clarity readings available this cycle, treat timing as seasonal guidance, and check PA Fish & Boat's Biologist Reports directly before heading out for the most current word.
Fall Chinook push builds ahead on Columbia and Puget Sound rivers
Washington's Columbia and Puget Sound river systems are settling into their mid-August rhythm, and this week's monitoring cycle came back light on fresh buoy and gauge numbers, so anglers should lean on WA WDFW Fishing Reports' regularly updated creel and stocking data for river-specific counts before heading out. Seasonally, this stretch of August typically marks the front edge of the fall Chinook push into Columbia tributaries, with early arrivals holding in deeper, cooler holes during the warmest part of the day. Puget Sound river systems sit in a similar transitional window, with resident cutthroat still willing to chase small streamers in shaded side channels while summer steelhead numbers stay thin ahead of the fall run. No shop or charter reports came through this cycle with specific bite details for these rivers, so treat the technique notes below as general seasonal guidance rather than confirmed intel, and check current regulations before targeting salmon or steelhead on any specific reach.
Saginaw Bay Settles Into Typical Late-Summer Walleye Pattern
Lake Huron and Saginaw Bay are moving through their typical mid-August stretch, with walleye and yellow perch pulling off the shallow flats into deeper basin water and smallmouth bass working rock piles and drop-offs as surface temps hold steady through the day. That said, no fresh buoy or gauge readings came back for this region today, and this week's feeds — including the MI DNR Weekly Fishing Report and regional Michigan forums — didn't surface confirmed, region-specific bite reports worth repeating as fact. What follows below is grounded in typical seasonal biology for this fishery rather than a same-week confirmed report: expect suspended baitfish and staging predators over structure, muskie activity concentrated around low light, and panfish schools tightening up as water columns stratify. Treat the species notes as a seasonal-pattern guide, lean on electronics to confirm what's actually holding, and check current Michigan DNR regulations before harvesting anything.
Summer heat pushes Santee and Murray fish deep as August peaks
No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for the Santee and Lake Murray systems this cycle, so this update leans on regional late-summer patterns plus the broader angler intel available this week. Mid-August on these South Carolina reservoirs typically means a warm surface layer, a firm thermocline, and fish sliding onto deeper structure during daylight hours. Elsewhere in the South, Tactical Bassin describes bass grouping tight on cover during peak summer heat on Tennessee's Lake Chickamauga, changing spots baits every few minutes to dial in the pattern — a similar structure-hopping approach tends to pay off on Santee-Cooper and Murray points, ledges, and brush this time of year. Fishing the Midwest notes that modern electronics have changed how anglers locate schooled fish relating to bottom structure, a tool increasingly useful once summer bass and crappie stack tight and stop showing on top. Landlocked striped bass, the signature draw on both lakes, typically get pushed toward deeper, cooler, better-oxygenated water once surface temps climb this high. Catfish stay the most dependable bite through the heat. Check current state regulations before harvesting.
Drop-Shot Tactics Turn On Potomac and Shenandoah Bass
Virginia's Department of Wildlife Resources spotlighted the drop shot rig this week, and it's a timely reminder for anglers working the Potomac and Shenandoah systems in mid-August: smallmouth, largemouth, and spotted bass all respond to the finesse presentation, per the Virginia DWR Wildlife Blog. The technique suspends a bait just off bottom on a dropper line, which is exactly the kind of subtle, vertical presentation that tends to draw bites once summer bass tuck tight to ledges, laydowns, and deeper bottom transitions. No buoy or gauge feeds came back for this stretch today, so treat water temp and flow as unconfirmed until you check a local reading before launching. We also didn't see fresh shop or captain reports for the Potomac or Shenandoah this cycle, so this update leans on seasonal pattern and the DWR technique note rather than a confirmed hot bite. Fish it early, fish it deep, and adjust bait size to what you're marking.
Quabbin and Wachusett Bass Push Deep as Summer Heat Holds
No buoy or gauge readings came back for Quabbin or Wachusett this cycle, and no shop, captain, or agency report named either reservoir directly, so this update leans on the broader Massachusetts freshwater picture and typical mid-August patterns at these deep, cold-water impoundments. Elsewhere in the state, per The Fisherman — New England Freshwater, smallmouth bass are keying on herring fry suspended in the mid-water column and pushing onto shallow flats at dusk to sip insects and chase baitfish, a pattern that tends to hold across New England reservoirs this time of year. At Quabbin and Wachusett specifically, expect the same seasonal script: bass working structure and low-light windows, while lake trout and landlocked salmon slide down toward the thermocline as surface water stays warm. Check current MassWildlife and reservoir-specific access regulations before heading out.
Kenai region rivers turn toward the fall silver run
No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for the Kenai and interior river systems this cycle, and none of today's angler-intel feeds carried Alaska-specific bite reports, so this update leans on typical seasonal timing rather than fresh testimony. Mid-August is the classic handoff window on Kenai-area water: the late sockeye push is typically tapering off by now, while coho (silver salmon) are usually starting to stack in lower river stretches and push upstream as flows allow. Rainbow trout and Dolly Varden tend to key on drifting salmon eggs and flesh once spawning activity ramps up, a reliable pattern for interior and Kenai Peninsula systems this time of year. Treat the species read below as seasonal expectation rather than a confirmed bite until dedicated Alaska reports surface. Anglers should check current Alaska Department of Fish and Game emergency orders and in-season run updates before heading out, since sockeye and king closures can shift on short notice this late in summer.
Smokies trout settle into a late-summer terrestrial rhythm
No NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings came back for Western North Carolina this cycle, and none of today's angler-intel feeds carried a direct report from the Smokies trout streams — so this update leans on general seasonal knowledge rather than a specific creek report. Mid-August is typically the low-water, warm-water stretch for Southern Appalachian trout fisheries, when wild brook trout retreat to higher, colder headwaters and rainbows and browns in the lower drainages feed hardest in the cooler early-morning and late-evening windows. Terrestrial season is in full swing regionally — hopper, ant, and beetle patterns are the go-to this time of year, a pattern echoed broadly in trout-fishing coverage right now, including a hopper-tying feature from Flylords Mag built specifically around August grasshopper activity on small streams and tailwaters. Expect technical, low-and-clear conditions: light tippet, careful wading, and dawn/dusk timing matter more than fly selection alone. Check current NC Wildlife Resources Commission trout-water regulations before harvesting, since delayed-harvest and special-regulation sections can differ by stream.
Forward-facing sonar keeps Upper Mississippi walleye bite alive
Mid-August finds Upper Mississippi River pool anglers between Prescott and La Crosse leaning harder on electronics than ever, per Fishing the Midwest, which notes that forward-facing sonar has walleye relating to suspended baitfish and open water rather than the bottom-hugging patterns anglers were taught for decades. That shift matters on these pools, where wing dams, current seams and rock structure have traditionally held summer walleye and smallmouth bass. Smallmouth should stay active around riprap and current breaks as the river holds its summer warmth, and channel catfish typically feed hard after dark once August heat sets in, a reliable Mississippi River pattern this time of year. Sauger tend to stay quieter until water cools toward fall. No buoy or gauge readings were available for this stretch today, so treat flow and temperature as typical late-summer river conditions and check current USGS data before heading out.
Salt River chain bass lean on junk-fishing tricks through August heat
Tactical Bassin's rundown on summer junk fishing sets the tone for Roosevelt Lake and the Salt River chain this week: rotate through several bait styles at each stop instead of grinding one pattern, since bass are bunching tight to structure in the peak-summer heat. No fresh buoy or gauge reading came in for this region this cycle, so surface-temp specifics aren't available, but the technique guidance below is squarely on-season for a desert reservoir in mid-August. On The Water's piece on low-light wakebaits over shoreline cover is a good template for early and late-day largemouth here, timed to the brief window when fish push shallow before the heat sets back in. Smallmouth bass and catfish should stay the more dependable options through the hottest hours, working deeper rock and channel edges. Crappie typically slow way down this time of year in Arizona, and nothing in this week's reports suggests an exception for the Salt River chain.
Catskills & Adirondacks trout turn to hoppers as August heat sets in
Grasshopper season has arrived on Northeast trout water — per Flylords Mag, patterns like Charlie Craven's Charlie Boy Hopper are the go-to right now for hot August days on small streams and spring-fed tailwaters that stay cold enough to keep trout active, which is exactly the profile of Catskills freestone runs and Adirondacks headwaters this time of year. As aquatic hatches thin through late summer, terrestrials (hoppers, ants, beetles) typically take over as the primary daytime food source, so working grassy banks and undercut edges with a hopper-dropper rig is a solid bet. Away from moving water, Flylab (Substack) reports a day of steady smallmouth bass action on a remote Adirondack lake, a reminder the region's stillwaters are fishing well too. Expect trout activity to concentrate early and late in the day as afternoon warmth pushes fish into shade and deeper runs. Check state regs before harvesting.
Limestone browns lean on hoppers as Penns Creek settles into late summer
Terrestrial patterns are carrying the bite on Pennsylvania's limestone water this week. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came back for Spring Creek or Penns Creek this cycle, so conditions read off the calendar rather than a sensor: Flylords Mag flags small, cold-fed streams and tailwaters as a strong bet for healthy trout right now, tied to the peak of grasshopper season, while Caddis Fly's tying desk notes aquatic hatches thinning out as rivers enter the classic late-summer transition, pushing trout toward terrestrials for calories. Trout Unlimited's recent brown trout feature is a good reminder these limestone fish get wary and selective once flows drop and clarity sharpens, which is typical for PA spring creeks in mid-August. Expect wild browns and stocked rainbows holding tight to spring seeps, undercut banks and shaded runs through the heat of the day, with dawn and dusk remaining the highest-percentage windows. No PA Fish and Boat biologist survey specific to Spring Creek or Penns Creek posted this cycle, so treat this as a seasonal-pattern read until fresh local data lands.
Electronics dial in Western Basin walleye as summer wears on
Wired 2 Fish's rundown on 'Embracing Electronics to Jig Up Some Summertime Walleye' frames the story shaping Western Basin trips right now: forward-facing and traditional sonar have become the default way anglers locate suspended walleye and track baitfall pods rather than relying on structure alone. Fishing the Midwest's Mike Frisch echoes the shift in 'Blending Old & New' and 'Up & Away!', noting that walleye once assumed to hug bottom near points and weedlines are increasingly found suspended over open water, a pattern FFS has made easier to exploit. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for the Western Basin this cycle, so treat water temp and clarity as unconfirmed until you're on the water. Late-summer Western Basin walleye typically hold over deeper basin structure and roam with baitfish schools, and perch action tends to build as the month progresses. Bring electronics, be ready to work suspended fish, and check current state regs before harvesting.
Kings show strong on Lake Ontario ahead of the tributary push
Salmon fishing has been very good over the past week on Lake Ontario, with browns and lake trout mixed into the bite, per Strike Zone Charters (Lake Ontario). Boats are finding fish holding in 100 to 160 feet of water, though the exact zone has shifted day to day as wind moves the thermocline around. Mag Dipsey Divers are producing when fish sit deep, and green, white, and chartreuse e-chip spoons paired with Atomic attractors have been drawing strikes, according to that same report. For anglers planning a trip toward the Salmon River or Oswego tributaries, this kind of offshore staging activity is exactly what precedes kings and cohos pushing upriver later in the run. No NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings were available for this update, so treat depth and flow details as general guidance and confirm current numbers locally before you head out. Water clarity and flow at the river mouths will be the next thing to watch.
Delaware Bay flounder limits stack up as croaker schools flood the back bays
Flounder fishing is running hot on the New Jersey side of Delaware Bay this week. Big Dave's Tackle, reporting through The Fisherman's Southern New Jersey coverage, says customers are boxing limits to 7 pounds from deepwater reef and wreck sites like the Old Grounds, with nearshore spots such as TI and Wildwood Reefs producing keepers to 5 pounds on bucktails and Gulp. Higbee's Bait and Tackle, in the same report, describes the Bay giving up a full summer mix of flounder, bluefish, spot, croaker, and black drum, with several flounder limits nearing the 23-inch mark on minnows fished along the deeper channels. Croakers are especially thick right now: Hands Too Bait and Tackle in Cape May calls them plentiful from the back bays, inlet, beachfront, and into the Bay, while Pier 47 Marina says schools are so dense they light up the fishfinder on the outgoing tide, with the incoming tide favoring flounder as the water cools.