Fishing reports
18726 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
Delta bass settle into a classic August summer pattern
No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for the Sacramento-Delta this cycle, and none of today's angler-intel feeds carried a dedicated Delta bite report, so this update leans on typical mid-August patterns for the system. Water temperatures across the Delta usually sit in the mid-to-upper 70s by this point in summer, which pushes striped bass and largemouth bass toward low-light feeding windows, deeper cover, and shaded tule lines once the sun gets high. Largemouth typically respond well to frogs and soft plastics worked tight to structure at first light, while stripers tend to bite better in the top-water hours and slow down through the midday heat. Sturgeon fishing is usually its slowest stretch of the year in August, picking back up as water cools into fall. Channel catfish generally stay active on cut bait through warm summer nights. Check current CDFW regulations before keeping any species.
Salt and Colorado River anglers shift to dawn and dark through peak summer heat
No buoy or gauge readings and no angler-intel reports specific to the Colorado or Salt River systems came through this cycle, so this update leans on general seasonal knowledge for Arizona freshwater in mid-August rather than any single new report. At this point in summer, surface temperatures on Salt River chain lakes (Saguaro, Canyon, Apache, Roosevelt) and the Colorado River impoundments (Havasu, Mohave, Martinez) typically push largemouth and smallmouth bass into early-morning, late-evening, and after-dark feeding windows, with fish holding deeper and tighter to structure once the sun is up. Striped bass on the Colorado River reservoirs commonly stage near thermoclines this time of year, and channel catfish tend to stay the most consistently catchable species through the heat on cut bait or stinkbait after dark. Tailwater trout below the dams remain the cooler-water option. Anglers should verify current conditions locally and check state regulations before heading out, since no source-specific reports were available to confirm today's bite.
Columbia River anglers troll on as fall Chinook season builds
Direct intel on Oregon's Columbia River salmon and sturgeon fishery was thin in today's sweep, but IFish.net Fishing Reports carried a handful of gear-loss posts from anglers actively trolling near Chinook Landing and around Newport in the past week, a sign boats are already working the lower river for fall Chinook. That's forum chatter, not a confirmed bite report, and no shop, charter, or agency source in today's feed corroborated water conditions or catch counts on the Columbia. Mid-August typically finds the fall Chinook run building through the lower river and into the gorge, with white sturgeon fishing generally constrained by retention closures this time of year and the bulk of steelhead activity still a few weeks out. Anglers should treat those as seasonal expectations rather than confirmed conditions until better local reporting comes through, and always check current ODFW regulations before keeping fish, since sturgeon and salmon rules on the Columbia shift by reach and by week.
Truckee-area trout dial in early before summer heat shuts them down
Reno Fly Shop's most recent Truckee River report (late July) put flows near 350 cfs at the Reno gauge, close to the river's natural channel, and noted that rising air temperatures are pushing trout into a shorter, earlier feeding window before things slow at midday. The shop is steering anglers west of town and onto the California side of the river, where cooler inflow keeps fish more willing to eat. An earlier June update from the same shop described afternoon thunderstorms breaking the heat, increasingly mobile crayfish, and a solid evening bite on caddis, stonefly, and hatch-matching dry flies once the midday crowd of tubers and rafters clears out. The shop also mentioned staff having fun sight-casting carp on the fly during the hottest stretch. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for this cycle, so treat flow and temperature detail as directional rather than current-day numbers.
Driftless streamers score as heat stresses WI trout
Root River Rod Co's go-to Driftless streamer — a pine squirrel jig built to bounce the rocky bottom without hanging up — remains the pattern of choice for the region's tight, technical spring creeks, per this week's Tying Tuesday roundup from MidCurrent. That's useful, because Trout Unlimited is flagging a rougher backdrop this season: ongoing heat and what TU is calling extreme drought have put added stress on trout fisheries, and the organization is steering anglers toward early outings and cooler, shadier water to protect fish. We're leaning into that guidance for the Driftless streams — browns and stocked rainbows are still working through the day, but expect brook trout, the most heat-sensitive of the natives, to sit tighter to spring seeps and cold-water refuges until temperatures ease. No fresh flow or temperature readings came in from local gauges this cycle, so treat conditions as typical for mid-August until confirmed streamside.
Western NY holds to a classic late-summer pattern on Erie
No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for the Lake Erie/Niagara corridor this cycle, and this week's angler-intel feed leaned heavily toward other regions and species rather than Western NY reports specifically, so this update draws on typical late-summer patterns for the fishery rather than fresh on-the-water testimony. Mid-August on Lake Erie's eastern basin typically has walleye holding on deeper main-lake structure as surface temperatures peak, with trollers working crankbaits and spinner rigs well down in the water column. Smallmouth bass fishing is usually strong this time of year around rock piles, reefs, and drop-offs, often the more reliable bite when walleye scatter in the heat. Yellow perch tend to group over deeper basin bottoms. Anglers should check current NY DEC guidance and local shop reports before heading out, since we don't have a same-week confirmation for this specific stretch of water this cycle.
Dialing In Summer Bass Patterns on Eufaula and the Red River
Tactical Bassin's midweek coverage of summer bass tactics is on theme for what late-summer anglers should expect across Oklahoma's Lake Eufaula and Red River fisheries this week: junk fishing, swapping baits through a stretch of water until something clicks. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for this update, and none of our angler-intel feeds filed a direct report from Eufaula or the Red River this cycle, so this outlook leans on typical mid-August patterns for the region. Expect largemouth bass to group up and hold on classic summer structure, feeding hardest in the low-light hours of dawn and dusk before sliding deeper as the sun climbs. Striped bass should be doing the same on main-lake points and humps. Catfish stay a reliable bite through the heat, working deep holes and current seams. Crappie typically slow down this time of year, holding tight to deep brush. Check state regs before harvesting.
New River smallmouth hold steady through mid-August heat
No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for the New River or Ohio River this cycle, and none of today's angler-intel sweep carried a report specific to West Virginia water, so this update leans on typical mid-August patterns rather than a fresh bite report. That's normal for this stretch of summer: New River smallmouth bass typically stay the most reliable target, holding on current breaks, ledges, and rocky drop-offs, with the best windows around dawn and dusk once the sun gets high. Muskellunge tend to go quiet during the hottest stretch of summer, and serious muskie anglers usually shift to early-morning or post-front windows rather than midday grinding. On the Ohio River side, channel catfish are typically the most dependable action once water warms into the mid-70s and up, especially after dark, while walleye and sauger usually slide deeper and become tougher through the peak-heat window. Check current state regs before harvesting anything this time of year.
Deep ledges and dawn topwater carry Guntersville-Wheeler bass through peak summer heat
No buoy or gauge readings came back for the Guntersville/Wheeler stretch this cycle, and none of our tracked sources filed a report specific to these two lakes, so this update leans on the seasonal pattern typical of Tennessee River reservoirs in mid-August. Tactical Bassin's recent sessions on Lake Chickamauga, a comparable TN River impoundment, show bass grouping tight in summer heat and responding best to a junk-fishing approach, switching baits frequently to dial in the pattern as the day changes. That same behavior typically plays out on Guntersville and Wheeler this time of year: largemouth push to river ledges and offshore humps once the sun climbs, with a narrow dawn topwater window before the heat shuts it down. Smallmouth generally slide deeper on Wheeler's rockier stretches. Catfish stay a dependable producer on cut bait in deep holes, while crappie typically go quiet, holding tight to deep brush. Check state regs before harvesting.
Kansas River catfish settle into their reliable late-summer pattern
With no fresh buoy or gauge readings in this cycle and no angler intel specific to the Kansas and Arkansas River systems in today's feed, this update leans on typical late-summer patterns for the region rather than fresh reports. Mid-August on Kansas prairie rivers usually means warm, often turbid flows and a bite that shifts toward low light and after dark. Channel catfish are the most dependable target this time of year, feeding actively on cut bait and stinkbait in slower current seams and below wing dikes once the sun drops. Flathead catfish activity typically picks up at night around submerged wood and deep holes. White bass, which run hard in spring, tend to settle into a slower summer pattern, holding deeper and schooling less predictably during peak heat. Anglers should treat all of the above as general seasonal expectation rather than confirmed current conditions, and check for a fresher regional report before planning a trip around it.
Fall Chinook run builds on the Columbia as Rogue holds steady
Oregon's Columbia and Rogue systems don't have fresh buoy or gauge readings feeding into today's report, but activity on the water hasn't stopped. Per IFish.net's Oregon reports board, anglers are still working the Columbia's traditional troll water near Chinook Landing, running flashers and cold-water gear behind the boat as the fall Chinook run continues its typical August build. Coastal-bound salmon gear is also getting worked near Newport, per the same board, as anglers stage ahead of the migration. On the Rogue, steelhead and smallmouth bass typically hold their own through late summer as flows drop and clear, though we don't have a direct report confirming today's bite there. Lower-Columbia sturgeon activity tends to be slower this time of year. Check current state regulations before harvesting anything, and confirm local flow and temperature before you launch, since we're working without a live reading today.
Lake trout and salmon patterns hold as Superior whitefish buzz grows
A walleye angler working Fish Lake in St. Louis County from a kayak this month, per Wired 2 Fish, is a reminder that action on North Shore-area waters hasn't gone quiet as summer rolls into its back half. Out on Lake Superior itself, we're seeing the conditions line up for the standard August pattern: lake trout holding deep off structure and chinook and coho salmon starting to stage as they work toward river mouths ahead of the fall run, both typical for this stretch of shoreline this time of year. Whitefish are drawing fresh attention on the broader lake system too — WI DNR's Lake Superior Fishing program notes a popular fishery has emerged for lake whitefish in the neighboring Chequamegon Bay area, both through the ice and from a boat, enough to prompt a public meeting and an ongoing angler questionnaire through April. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for this update, so check local conditions before heading out, and expect a fairly normal low-light bite under the waxing crescent moon.
Kentucky Lake's ledge grind carries through peak August heat
No fresh buoy or gauge readings came back for Kentucky Lake or Lake Barkley this cycle, and none of today's angler-intel feeds filed a report from this stretch of water directly. The closest transferable signal is Tactical Bassin's early-August 'Summer Junk Fishing' report out of Lake Chickamauga, where the crew described exactly the grind-it-out, change-baits-every-stop approach that defines mid-August on Kentucky Lake and Barkley: hot, humid, fish grouped tight, and success coming from working through several presentations rather than leaning on one pattern. That lines up with what's typical for this reservoir system at this point in summer — the river-channel ledge bite that made Kentucky Lake famous holds through the hottest weeks, while shallow largemouth activity slows and smallmouth push deeper and get harder to trigger. Crappie and catfish both tend to stay dependable through the heat, suspended over deep brush and active after dark, respectively. Check current state regs before harvesting, and confirm a local forecast before launching since we have no fresh readings to work from today.
Evening topwater bite lights up for Delaware bass, snakeheads
Massey Mills, Garrisons Lake, and Silver Lake are giving up bass and snakeheads this week, per Smith's Bait Shop in Leipsic (The Fisherman — NJ/DE Freshwater). The shop reports the bite is concentrated early and late in the day, with a decent topwater evening bite developing after dark as light fades — a pattern typical once August heat settles in. Recent rain knocked surface temps down briefly before this week's heat pushed water back into the low-to-mid 80s, the kind of warm-water stretch that tends to push largemouth and snakeheads into shallow cover during low-light hours and off structure at midday. No live buoy or gauge telemetry is reporting for the Christina/Nanticoke system today, so treat the shop's temp read as the best available signal. With the moon in a waxing crescent phase, dawn and dusk should stay the most productive windows to be on the water this week.
Uinta high lakes hold steady as Green River tailwater beats August heat
Mid-August has the Green River's dam-regulated tailwater below Flaming Gorge running its usual cold, clear program, while backcountry lakes across the Uinta Mountains continue holding trout at elevation through the hottest stretch of the Utah calendar. No NOAA buoy or USGS gauge reading came through for this region on this update, and this week's angler-intel feeds leaned almost entirely toward bass, saltwater, and Midwest walleye coverage, with nothing specific reported out of Green River or the Uinta Basin. Worth stating plainly rather than glossing over: direct regional testimony wasn't available for this cycle. What holds true regardless of that sourcing gap is seasonal: the Green River tailwater stays cold enough for solid dry-fly and nymph fishing straight through summer heat that shuts down most other Utah trout water, and high-elevation Uinta lakes keep producing for anglers willing to hike in past the pressure closer to the road.
Dog-Days Patterns Hold for Platte and Missouri River Anglers
No fresh dispatches came in from the Platte or Missouri River corridor this cycle, and neither buoy nor gauge data was available, so this update leans on typical mid-August patterns for the region rather than a specific bite report. Water levels this time of year are usually running low and warm, pushing catfish into low-light feeding windows and current breaks while walleye slide deeper to avoid the heat. Fishing the Midwest's Mike Frisch and Bob Jensen note this week that summer walleye anglers are increasingly leaning on Forward-Facing Sonar to find fish suspended off traditional bottom structure, a shift worth trying if the usual points and weedlines are quiet. White bass typically keep schooling on current seams into late summer. We'd rather flag the data gap than guess at specifics, so treat species notes below as seasonal expectations, not confirmed local action, and check a recent state hotline or local shop before planning a trip.
Bitterroot terrestrials and Flathead lake trout carry the August lull
No fresh buoy or gauge readings came back for the Flathead/Bitterroot corridor today, and this week's angler-intel sweep didn't turn up any Montana-specific shop or captain reports either, so this update leans on typical late-summer patterns for the region rather than a fresh bite report. Mid-August on the Bitterroot usually means low, clear, warming flows, which pushes westslope cutthroat and rainbow trout toward morning and evening feeding windows and makes terrestrial patterns (hoppers, ants, beetles) the standard go-to as aquatic hatches thin out, a pattern several regional trout blogs in our broader feed describe as typical for this point in summer. On Flathead Lake, expect lake trout to be holding deeper as surface water warms, with kokanee salmon beginning to stage. Check current Montana FWP hoot-owl and drought restrictions before planning an afternoon trip, since low-flow closures are common on Bitterroot tributaries this time of year.
Snake and Salmon Rivers settle into peak summer patterns
No fresh buoy or gauge readings came in for the Snake and Salmon River drainages this cycle, so this outlook leans on typical mid-August patterns for the region. Statewide context worth noting: Idaho Fish and Game issued a fish salvage order for Lower Goose Creek (Oakley) Reservoir effective Aug. 13 through Nov. 1, per Wired 2 Fish, after irrigation draws and a below-normal snowpack emptied the reservoir's active storage — a reminder that low water has stressed parts of the state this summer, though that reservoir sits in a separate watershed from the Snake and Salmon systems. On the Snake and Salmon themselves, this time of year typically means warm-water smallmouth bass staying aggressive through the day while trout bite windows tighten to dawn and dusk as flows drop and surface temps climb. Early-season steelhead haven't shown up yet. Check current USGS flow and temperature data directly before launching, since no live readings were available for this report.
Iowa River Catfish Hold Steady Through the August Heat
No buoy or gauge readings came through for the Iowa and Des Moines Rivers this cycle, and this week's angler-intel feed carried no shop, charter, or agency reports specific to Iowa water, so this update leans on typical mid-August patterns for these rivers rather than fresh local testimony. That's normal for the season: by mid-August, both rivers usually run warm and lower than spring flows, which typically pushes channel catfish and flathead activity toward dawn, dusk, and overnight hours as they hold in deeper holes and current breaks. Smallmouth bass on rockier stretches tend to stay catchable through the day but often slide toward shaded structure and faster riffles once the sun gets high. Walleye tend to be the toughest bite of the three this time of year, generally pushed deep and less predictable in daytime heat. Anglers should treat all of the above as seasonal generalization, not a confirmed bite report, and check current conditions and regs before heading out.
Smallmouth bass patterns build on Vermont waters as summer peaks
Direct buoy and gauge readings for the Connecticut River and Lake Champlain weren't available this cycle, but the seasonal signal from nearby New England freshwater fisheries points to a pattern Vermont anglers should be seeing too. The Fisherman — New England Freshwater reports bronzeback smallmouth running steady on spinnerbaits along the Merrimack River, with fish from 10 inches to 2 pounds stacked up in numbers, and largemouth to 5-plus pounds coming on shiners from shore at ponds in the Southwick/Bourne corridor. Vermont's Connecticut River and Champlain smallmouth and largemouth typically track this same mid-to-late-August window, holding tight to baitfish schools and deep drop-edges before the fall shakeup begins. Walleye and northern pike remain standard late-summer targets on Champlain, though no direct regional intel on either came through this cycle. Treat this as a seasonal-pattern read rather than a live VT report, and check with local shops for on-the-water confirmation before planning a trip.
Bull reds and slot trout fire up as Texas mid-coast piers reopen
Redfish are the story along the upper and mid-Texas coast this week. The Galveston Daily News — Reel Report notes the Sylvan Beach Fishing Pier has reopened after recent tropical systems wiped out several public piers, and results from the Redfish Series point to a solid start to the weekend. Around Seadrift, Capt. Jeff Larson has stayed busy on the mid-coast per the same report, while captains out of the Galveston Yacht Marina are turning in good reports from the jetties and the open Gulf. The upcoming Reel Dirty Drum Tournament out of Thompson's Bait Camp, which allows anglers to weigh up to two slot reds and two slot trout for heavy stringer, underscores that both species are cooperating right now. Farther south, TexasFishingTips has been filing fresh video reports out of Baffin Bay, Laguna Madre, Aransas Pass, and the Rockport-Copano/Mesquite Bay complex, signaling steady guide activity across the Corpus stretch. Beach bull redfish on lures round out the surf bite per Texas Fish & Game Magazine.
Ohio walleye and smallmouth settle into late-summer patterns
Direct local data is thin this week: our USGS check on gauge 03271601 came back without a current flow or temperature reading, and none of today's angler-intel feeds filed a report specific to Lake Erie or the Ohio River. What we can pass along is technique context from Fishing the Midwest, which notes that walleye anglers across the region are leaning more on forward-facing sonar to find suspended fish rather than assuming they're glued to bottom structure, a shift worth trying if you're marking bait high in the column. For mid-August, Lake Erie walleye typically hold in deeper basin water during the day with better action at dawn and dusk, smallmouth work main-lake rock and reef structure, yellow perch start grouping over mud and gravel, and Ohio River catfish and saugeye stay active after dark in current seams. Check local forecasts and current state regs before heading out, and treat the above as seasonal expectation rather than a confirmed bite today.
Bluefin Jig Bite Heats Up Off Montauk As Fluke Holds Steady
The jig bite for bluefin and yellowfin tuna is running hot off eastern Long Island this week, per On The Water's August 13 report, while sand eels have fueled improved fluke fishing off the South Shore. Out of Montauk, Double D Charters says bluefin tuna fishing has "gotten much better lately," giving offshore anglers another solid option, with fluke also very good and porgies and sea bass rounding out the bottom bite. Tight Lines Tackle in Southampton reports the same tuna push on inshore and midshore grounds, with fish eating jigs within easy reach of local boats. Striped bass have cooled off, with White Water Outfitters noting the bite has slowed inside Shinnecock Inlet and Fishing East Coast Bait and Tackle in Little Neck reporting bass mostly limited to live eels fished after dark. Bluefish remain a bright spot, with Fishooker Charters and Bay Park Fishing Station both seeing solid numbers on topwater poppers and in the back bays.
Redfish, trout hold summer patterns across Lower Laguna Madre
Texas Fishing Tips has posted three straight reports this month for Capt. Kevin Navid working the Baffin Bay and Laguna Madre area (8/13, 8/6, 7/30), a sign that guides up the coast are staying busy through the August heat. We don't have live buoy or gauge readings for the Lower Laguna Madre and South Padre stretch today, so treat water temp and tide as unknown until you check a local source before launching. Texas Fish & Game's surf report notes bull redfish are still eating fresh mullet and cracked blue crab soaked on the bottom along Texas beaches, a pattern that typically holds for South Padre's Gulf side too. Expect the usual mid-August lineup here: redfish and spotted seatrout working the flats and grass edges, with black drum and the occasional snook rounding out catches while water stays warm.