Fishing reports
18670 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
Delaware bass and snakeheads keep biting through the low-water stretch
Topwater frogs and weedless plastics are still drawing largemouth strikes early and late in the day around Silver Lake, per Smith's Bait Shop in Leipsic (The Fisherman — NJ/DE Freshwater), while nearby Garrisons Lake continues to account for most of the region's snakehead action. The same report has white perch, crappie, and other panfish stacking up around spillways, where small jigs fished just under the surface are getting bit. The local USGS gauge is reading a scant 6.59 cfs, underscoring the sluggish, low-water conditions typical of a mid-August stretch on Delaware's Christina and Nanticoke systems -- expect warm, slow-moving water with fish holding tight to shade, weed edges, and current breaks. No water-temperature reading came through this cycle, so we'd check conditions bankside before committing to a game plan. Early and late outings remain the play until overnight lows start chipping away at the heat load.
Green River Tailwater Trout Stay Locked In Through August
USGS gauge 09234500 near Greendale is reading 51°F on a flow of 1,810 cfs as of early Tuesday morning, conditions squarely in the sweet spot for the Green River's famous Flaming Gorge tailwater fishery. Cold, stable bottom-release water like this keeps trout active and feeding through Utah's late-summer heat, even when air temps climb well above 80 degrees. We're not seeing today's regional blog and shop feeds carrying Green River or Uinta Lakes specific reports, so this update leans on the gauge data and typical late-August patterns rather than fresh on-the-water intel. Expect steady nymphing in the deeper A and B sections, with brown trout starting to key on early-morning shade as afternoons stay warm. Up in the high Uinta Lakes, cutthroat and brook trout should still be working surface insects in the cooler alpine air, though check current access conditions before heading up switchbacks to the trailheads.
Warm water pushes Flathead and Bitterroot trout to early hours
The USGS gauge on the Flathead system (site 12372000) logged 71°F at 4:50 a.m. this morning with flow holding near 5,650 cfs — a warm reading for mid-August that's already brushing the stress threshold trout feel on Bitterroot and Flathead water. With overnight water still sitting at 71°F, afternoon temps are likely pushing higher, which tightens the bite window toward dawn and dusk. Direct local reports are thin this week, so we're leaning on seasonal technique notes: Flylords Mag's current hopper-tying feature flags grasshopper patterns as the go-to on small streams and cold tailwaters through the "dog days" of August, and Caddis Fly (OR) notes aquatic hatches thinning as terrestrials take over trout diets this time of year. Westslope cutthroat and rainbow trout should respond best to early starts and softer presentations; Flathead Lake's lake trout will likely hold deeper as surface temps climb. Check current Montana regs before heading out — warm rivers commonly draw afternoon fishing restrictions this time of year.
Warm water favors Snake River smallmouth as trout get a break
The USGS gauge near the Salmon River basin (site 13340000) read 73°F with flow holding at 1,720 cfs as of early Wednesday morning, a warm-water signature typical of mid-August in Idaho's Snake and Salmon system. That warmth favors smallmouth bass working rocky current seams and drop-offs, while it puts added stress on resident rainbow trout and the system's Westslope cutthroat, a subspecies Wired 2 Fish spotlighted this summer after a Moscow angler landed a new Idaho certified-weight state record cutthroat, a 13.6-inch, 0.95-pound fish, out of the St. Maries River drainage in June. Statewide, Wired 2 Fish also flagged a below-normal snowpack year forcing a fish salvage order at Oakley Reservoir after irrigation draws emptied its storage, a reminder that low-water stress is a theme across Idaho basins this season, not isolated to any one river. No direct on-the-water reports from the Snake or Salmon corridors came through this cycle, so treat species activity below as seasonally informed rather than freshly confirmed.
High water turns Iowa River bite into a catfish game
USGS gauge 05465500 on the Iowa River near Wapello read flow at roughly 19,000 cubic feet per second this morning, well above typical mid-August levels and a clear sign of recent runoff working through the system. No water temperature reading came through with it. None of this week's regional intel feeds carried an Iowa-specific bite report, so we're grounding this update in typical seasonal patterns for high, likely stained late-summer water. Catfish, both channel and flathead, tend to turn on hardest under exactly these conditions, keying on current breaks and drifting scent trails. Walleye and smallmouth bass usually get harder to pattern until flow drops and clarity returns. For technique, Fishing the Midwest's recent coverage of forward-facing sonar is a useful reminder that many Midwest anglers now locate suspended fish instead of assuming everything sits tight to bottom, worth trying once the river settles.
Champlain Bass Keep Rolling Into Mid-August
A Bass Federation tournament fished out of Lake Champlain over the weekend of August 8-9 produced a five-fish bag topping 30 pounds, good enough for non-boater division honors, according to Sauder's Boat Livery (via The Fisherman — New England Freshwater). That's a strong showing for mid-August largemouth and smallmouth on Champlain. On the Connecticut River side, our USGS gauge 01135300 is reading a notably low 6.75 cfs this morning, in line with typical late-summer low-water conditions that push river bass and panfish tight to shade, current breaks and any deeper holes. A direct water-temperature reading wasn't available at this gauge, so plan around air temp and time of day rather than a hard number. Walleye and pike reports specific to this stretch are thin right now, so anglers chasing them should lean on standard August deep-structure and weedline approaches until fresher local intel comes in. Bass remain the headline story heading into the weekend.
NY anglers dodge summer heat as bass and walleye keep biting
Water temperatures around 77°F on area gauges this week put Hudson Valley and Finger Lakes trout and salmon into classic summer-heat mode, echoing NY DEC's Fishing Line July 17th issue on helping trout and salmon beat the heat by seeking cooler tributary mouths and fishing early or late. Warm-water species are picking up the slack. DEC's June 12th and August 14th issues both note black bass and walleye biting well as summer settles in, and while Brookdog Fishing Co.'s reports come out of the Buffalo/Niagara/Lake Ontario waters rather than the Finger Lakes proper, their steady walleye limits and cooperative smallmouth suggest the pattern extends to similar structure statewide. Panfish remain dependable too, with DEC's July 31st issue flagging bluegill and pumpkinseed biting readily in warm shallows. Flows are running elevated on both area gauges, keeping bigger rivers a bit off-color for now.
Fluke and Sea Bass Stay Hot in Raritan Bay as Bonito Push Inshore
Fluke and black sea bass continue to lead the bite around Raritan Bay and Sandy Hook. Capt Ron's Atlantic Highlands NJ reports a string of quality catches this week, with customers boxing three-keeper limits of fluke in the 3- to 5-pound class after working through a few slow drift areas, plus sea bass mixed in on nearly every trip. A cold snap dropped local water temps into the upper 60s overnight, but the bite held. Bonito and Spanish mackerel have also pushed in, per OTW Northern New Jersey and Grumpys Tackle (NJ), with warm water bringing the speedsters onto the beaches and inlets while bluefin mix in farther out. The Fisherman — Northern NJ boats out of Belmar report blues mixed with bonito and Spanish mackerel too. Striped bass remain a possibility around Bay structure, though specific reports are thin this week; check state regs before harvesting.
Walleye anglers lean on electronics as summer patterns hold
Forward-facing sonar keeps reshaping how walleye anglers approach late summer, per this week's coverage from Fishing the Midwest and Wired 2 Fish — both outlets describe anglers using live electronics to track baitfish schools and watch individual walleye react to a jig in real time, a notable shift from the bottom-bouncing, structure-first tactics that used to define the pattern. Neither outlet filed a direct report from Lake Erie or the Ohio River this cycle, and our USGS gauge (03271601) wasn't returning a flow or temperature reading at data pull time, so treat today's numbers as unavailable rather than stable. For this time of year, Erie's open-water walleye and perch typically hold in deeper, cooler water through the heat of the day, smallmouth work rocky structure and current breaks, and Ohio River catfish activity tends to pick up after dark. Anglers with FFS units on board have an edge dialing in suspended fish right now.
Highland Lakes bass and stripers settle into a steady late-summer rhythm
The Colorado River gauge near Austin (USGS 08158000) logged a steady 1,340 cfs early this morning, a moderate flow that keeps water moving through the Highland Lakes chain without the turbidity spikes that follow heavy releases. Direct angler reports specific to Travis, LBJ, and Buchanan were thin in today's roundup. For nearby Hill Country context, My Canyon Lake Fishing notes lake levels running well above last year's mark and reports TPWD has paused its statewide weekly fishing reports while retooling the format, so official state updates may lag through the transition. Absent fresh on-the-water intel for these three lakes, we're leaning on typical late-summer patterns: largemouth pushing to deeper structure and feeding hardest in the early and late-light windows, striped and white bass working open-water shad schools, and catfish staying reliable on cut bait after dark. Check current TPWD regulations before harvesting.
Cooling streams lift hoot-owl limits across southwest Montana
A USGS gauge near the Gallatin logged 447 cfs late Sunday night, a normal late-summer base flow, right as Montana FWP announced hoot-owl restrictions and river-mouth closures are lifting on several southwest Montana streams as of August 13, per MT FWP Fishing News. Cooling water temperatures triggered the reprieve, though the same drop in flows is triggering new closures on sections of the Big Hole River, a reminder that conditions remain in flux heading into late summer. No fresh on-the-water bite reports came through Montana-specific feeds this cycle, so treat the species status below as seasonal defaults rather than confirmed hot bites. Historically, cooler mornings and evenings open up dry-dropper and terrestrial windows on freestone streams across the Yellowstone and Missouri drainages, while whitefish stay steady but unspectacular in deeper runs. Check current MT FWP hoot-owl status for your specific stream before heading out, since restrictions are stream-by-stream and can reinstate quickly if flows or temps swing back.
Low, steady tailwater flows set up prime wading on the Cumberland
The USGS gauge on the Cumberland River tailwater (site 03413200) logged flow at just 6.86 cfs overnight, about as low as this stretch runs and a clear signal the dam is holding to minimum flow with no generation. For tailwater trout anglers that means clear, easily wadable water and spooky, selective fish that reward long leaders and small offerings over heavy nymph rigs. Water temperature wasn't available from this read, so plan around typical mid-August warmth building through the afternoon. No angler reports came in specifically from Lake Cumberland or its tailwater this cycle, so we're leaning on typical late-summer patterns: stripers and smallmouth sliding to deeper structure and current breaks as surface water warms, crappie tucking into shade and brush. Elsewhere in bass country this week, On The Water flagged wakebaits and swimbaits working shoreline cover during low light, a pattern worth testing along Cumberland's timber and rock banks at dawn and dusk.
White River trout lean on generation as reports run quiet
Gauge data for USGS site 07263620 on the White River system isn't reporting flow or temperature this cycle, and this week's angler-intel feed carried no dispatches specific to Arkansas or the White River watershed, so we're leaning on general seasonal patterns rather than fresh, on-the-water reports. Mid-August on the White and Norfork tailwaters typically means generation-dependent trout fishing: rainbow trout stay catchable through the day when dams are running, with brown trout activity usually slower until water cools toward fall. Upstream and in the lake systems, smallmouth and largemouth bass typically shift to early-morning and low-light windows as summer heat holds surface temperatures up, sliding to deeper structure or shade through midday. Check current generation schedules before planning a trip, since flow through the tailwater controls where and when trout are actively feeding. We'll have sharper, source-backed conditions as new reports come in.
Tennessee and Coosa River bass shift into low-light summer feed
The Coosa and Tennessee River systems are holding a steady late-summer flow, with the USGS gauge near the Coosa (02339500) reading 929 cfs as of early Monday morning, a stable level with no sign of a recent rain spike. No water-temperature reading came through with this update, but typical late-August conditions mean warm, often stratified water and bass pushing shallow mainly during low light. On The Water's latest summer largemouth coverage backs that pattern, recommending wakebaits worked along shoreline cover and swimbaits over weed flats specifically at dawn and dusk when bass move up to feed. Upstream on the broader Tennessee River system, Tactical Bassin reported bass still grouping tight and biting on Lake Chickamauga this week despite the heat, using a mixed-bait, junk-fishing approach, a reasonable proxy for river-wide behavior right now. Spotted bass, a Coosa specialty, should be following a similar shallow-at-first-light pattern.
Warm-Water Bass Shift to Low-Light Windows at Lake of the Ozarks
The USGS gauge feeding the Lake of the Ozarks/Osage River system read 86°F this week, squarely in peak-summer territory that pushes largemouth bass off open flats and into shade and low-light feeding windows. On The Water's recent pieces on shoreline wakebaits and weed-flat swimbaits for low-light summer largemouth match what these conditions typically call for around the Ozarks: work bank cover and grass edges at dawn, dusk, and overcast stretches rather than midday sun. No captain or shop report specific to Lake of the Ozarks came through this cycle, so we're leaning on regional technique reporting and seasonal norms rather than a fresh local bite report. Catfish should be the most dependable producer in water this warm, crappie are likely suspended deep around brush and docks, and walleye activity typically slows until temperatures ease. Flow on the gauge is running elevated, worth factoring into any current-seam presentation this week.
Thin Black Hills Flows Test Trout as Missouri Walleye Hold Steady
USGS gauge 06440200 logged a scant 10.5 cfs Monday night, the kind of thin late-summer flow that typically pushes Black Hills trout streams into early-morning and dusk windows only. No water temperature reading came through with this cycle, but with August warmth stacking up, daytime fishing likely turns technical: light tippet, drag-free drifts, and short windows before the sun climbs. On the Missouri River side of the region, we're leaning on general late-summer walleye behavior rather than a local dispatch this week — Fishing the Midwest's recent notes on forward-facing sonar describe anglers increasingly marking and targeting suspended fish instead of grinding bottom structure, a technique that travels well to reservoir walleye wherever fish are relating to bait. Smallmouth bass and channel catfish should hold typical summer patterns: current breaks and rock for bass, cut bait after dark for cats. Treat this as a seasonal baseline until a fresher regional report lands.
Low water forces early starts on Colorado's trout rivers
USGS gauge 09095500 read 74°F on the evening of August 17, well above the 68°F line Cutthroat Anglers' 'Trout and Warming Rivers' report flags as the point to stop fishing and protect stressed fish. Flow held near 1,550 cfs, thin enough that Cutthroat Anglers' Matt Campanella describes trout as grouped up in deeper pools rather than spread through typical lies, with 2026 shaping up as what Pat Dorsey Fly Fishing calls one of the worst drought years on record for Colorado. Colorado Trout Hunters has echoed a historically bad snowpack season. The upside, per Campanella, is that concentrated fish are still willing to eat for anglers who hike a little further and fish early. West Slope tailwaters covered by Crystal Fly Shop show the same pattern of low, clear water pushing anglers toward downsized flies and early starts before afternoon heat sets in.
Winnipesaukee bass settle into classic late-summer pattern
Flow held near 324 cfs on the regional USGS gauge (site 01081000) early Monday morning, with no water temperature logging in this cycle, so a handheld thermometer check before committing to a depth is worthwhile. No direct reports came in from Winnipesaukee itself this week, so this update leans on the broader New England freshwater picture. Per The Fisherman — New England Freshwater, regional smallmouth bass have been keying on herring fry and striking spinnerbaits, Senko-rigged plastics, and Whopper Ploppers, with better numbers coming from stretches carrying less angling pressure; largemouth reports lean toward shiners and soft plastics fished shallow to mid-depth. Mid-August on a large, clear New Hampshire lake like Winnipesaukee typically pushes smallmouth and largemouth bass to deeper structure and the thermocline through peak sun, then back shallow at dawn and dusk, matching the pattern regional shops are describing this week.
Flaming Gorge tailwater trout keep steady rhythm through summer heat
The Green River tailwater below Flaming Gorge Dam held at 51°F with flow steady near 2,070 cfs as of late last night (USGS gauge 09234500), conditions typical for this consistently cold, dam-regulated fishery even in mid-August heat. None of this week's regional fishing intel specifically covered the Flaming Gorge stretch, so we're leaning on the tailwater's well-known baseline: stable, cold releases that keep rainbow trout, brown trout, and Colorado River cutthroat feeding through the summer while freestone streams elsewhere struggle with low water and warm temps. Elsewhere, Trout Unlimited's ongoing coverage of a hot, dry western trout season is a reminder of how valuable a dam-buffered fishery like this one is right now. Expect the standard Green River program: small nymphs (scuds, sowbugs, midge larvae) fished deep and slow, with streamer swings picking up aggressive browns in early morning low light.
Chickamauga bass keep chewing as Cumberland flows hold steady
Bass fishing remains the story across Tennessee and Cumberland-area waters this week, with anglers on Lake Chickamauga still finding solid largemouth action despite the hot, humid late-summer stretch, per Tactical Bassin's on-the-water report. Their approach right now is junk fishing: rotating through baits and moving spots to dial in a pattern rather than camping on one presentation. Our flow reading from USGS gauge 03434500 shows 182 cfs as of today, a steady, unremarkable stage that shouldn't be pushing fish around dramatically. Water temperature wasn't available from this gauge, so plan around midday heat and fish the early and late windows. Walleye anglers on regional reservoir systems are increasingly leaning on forward-facing sonar to locate suspended fish and track bait, a trend Wired 2 Fish highlighted this week, worth trying if you're marking fish but not connecting. Catfish should stay a dependable summer option on cut bait after dark.
Elevated flows push Texoma stripers and Eufaula cats toward deep current breaks
USGS gauge 07331600, which tracks flow into the Texoma and Eufaula system, is running 13,300 cfs as of today, August 18 - a notably elevated reading that's likely pushing extra current and some stained water through both reservoirs. No water-temperature reading came through with this update, so check your own electronics before committing to a depth. None of today's angler-intel feeds carried direct reports from Lake Texoma or Lake Eufaula specifically, so the picture below leans on typical mid-August patterns for these Oklahoma reservoirs rather than confirmed fresh bites. Striped bass, the signature draw at Texoma, typically school deep over river channels and humps once summer heat sets in, with live shad or swimming spoons worked below the thermocline. Blue catfish tend to stay consistently active on cut bait around creek channels regardless of heat. Largemouth and crappie usually slide deeper and go quieter in peak August warmth. We'd treat the elevated flow as a cue to start at current breaks and creek mouths first.
East Texas bass hang tough through the late-summer heat
The Sabine River gauge near Toledo Bend (USGS 08030500) is running about 971 cfs as of late Sunday night, a steady late-summer flow with no water temperature reading available this cycle. Regional signal from Lake Fork Trophy Bass's August report describes an East Texas bass fishery that is "holding its own" through a summer of 100-plus-degree days, with anglers still boating big bass despite the heat and evaporation keeping cover intact. That same report notes lake levels have stayed in good shape even with the extended heat stretch. For Toledo Bend and Sam Rayburn anglers, the takeaway carries over: expect deeper, cover-oriented bass willing to bite but pushed off classic shallow summer haunts by sustained high water temps. Crappie and catfish should still be catchable working deeper structure and channels typical for late August in this region, though no direct regional reports on those species came through this cycle.
Catfish keep biting on North Texas lakes despite summer heat
USGS gauge 08211200 is reading a warm 89°F with a modest, steady 36.5 cfs flow today, conditions typical of a Texas reservoir system deep into summer. Warm water hasn't shut the bite down: North Texas Catfish Guide, working Eagle Mountain Lake near Fort Worth, reports blue and channel catfish feeding consistently through the hot months, with white bass also pushing through the main lake on recent trips. The guide notes that fresh water entering a system tends to trigger more aggressive feeding, and blue cats over 30 pounds have shown up on strong days when conditions line up. Largemouth bass typically settle into a classic late-summer pattern now, holding tight to shade and deeper cover once the sun gets high, with a better bite at first and last light. The gauge's low, stable flow points to calm, clear water rather than a post-rain muddy push, so expect steady rather than explosive action for now.
Deschutes and Klamath trout settle into summer rhythm
USGS gauge 14070500 returned no fresh flow or temperature reading this cycle, and this week's angler-intel feed carried no direct reports from the Deschutes or Upper Klamath systems — the available blogs and forums this week focused on other states and species entirely. We're not going to invent a bite that wasn't reported. What we can say from typical mid-August patterns on these waters: redband trout in the Deschutes and rainbow trout across the Upper Klamath system are generally most active early and late in the day once summer water temperatures climb, with fish sliding into faster, more oxygenated water during peak afternoon heat. Kokanee anglers on Klamath-system lakes typically shift toward deeper trolling presentations this time of year. Check current state regulations before heading out, since hoot-owl or thermal-closure restrictions are common on Oregon rivers in August when afternoon water temperatures run high.