Fishing Reports

USGS gauge 14105700 logged the Columbia River at 57°F and 235,000 cfs on the morning of May 17 — water temperature sitting squarely in the productive zone for spring chinook salmon. No regional angler-intel feeds in this cycle carried specific Columbia River bite reports; the only local signal from IFish.net Fishing Reports was a lost-item post from Chinook Landing, confirming anglers are accessing the mainstem but providing no catch data. Based on seasonal timing and current conditions, spring chinook are the primary target this week. At 235,000 cfs, the river is running with significant spring-runoff velocity, which pushes actively migrating fish into back-eddies, seams, and slack-water pockets along the banks. Anchored-boat presentations with sand shrimp or spinners fished near these calmer holding zones are the typical mid-May approach. White sturgeon are typically present on the mainstem year-round; check current ODFW regulations for retention rules before targeting them, as catch-and-release requirements often apply on the mainstem.

May 17

Water temperatures of 78–80°F — confirmed by NOAA buoys 42036 and 42013 — have Tampa Bay and Sarasota's inshore bite shifting into high gear. Capt. Brandon Naeve, fishing out of CB's Saltwater Outfitters in Sarasota, put a Pittsburgh visitor onto a 34-pound, 4-ounce snook at Boca Grande on May 9, setting a new boat record. The report calls May prime time as snook migrate from winter haunts toward pre-spawn staging areas. Jacks are another story in Sarasota Bay right now: CB's reports jack crevalle schooling near the surface through April and May, hammering topwater lures and poppers near oyster bars and seawalls — early-morning sessions are the most productive window. Inshore redfish are active too, with Capt. Chuck Cress of CB's putting anglers on upper-slot fish in the 20- to 25-inch range alongside trout. Tarpon action is building regionwide, per Captain Rick Murphy's Florida Insider flagging big fish across the state this week.

May 17

Mid-May is a transitional moment on Toledo Bend and Sam Rayburn — the spring bass spawn is wrapping, and big fish are pivoting to post-spawn feeding. Tactical Bassin reports the bluegill spawn is now in full swing across East Texas lakes, with largemouth targeting heavy shallow cover; one recent session produced giant bass on a topwater frog over matted vegetation. LakeForkGuy calls this "the most aggressive crappie bite of the year," pointing to post-spawn slabs stacking on brushpiles and submerged timber. Lake Fork Trophy Bass notes that regional East Texas reservoirs have been running roughly 3 feet low after a dry spring — a condition that concentrates fish on remaining structure. Texas Fish & Game Magazine highlights electronics-aided catfish pursuit as especially productive in warming Texas waters right now. The Sabine River (USGS gauge 08030500) is flowing at a moderate 1,960 cfs, keeping Toledo Bend stable without the turbidity issues that accompany high-water periods.

May 17

Lake surface water at 56°F — confirmed by NOAA buoy 45005 on the afternoon of May 17 — puts the Western Basin squarely in post-spawn walleye territory, with fish transitioning from spawning reefs toward open-water summer staging areas. The Maumee River is running at 2,170 cfs per USGS gauge 04193500, with tributary water clocking in at 72°F — considerably warmer than the open lake and capable of drawing baitfish to the thermal edge where the plume meets cooler lake water. Tonight's New Moon brings the darkest nights of the month, historically one of the better low-light feeding windows for walleye. No charter or tackle-shop reports specific to Western Erie surfaced in available source feeds this week, but Fishing the Midwest highlights jigs and slip-sinker live-bait rigs on spinning gear as the spring walleye go-to — a setup worth keeping rigged as fish scatter across mid-depth flats.

May 17

Water at 74°F (NOAA buoy 41013) sets a prime backdrop as mid-May delivers a notable red drum surge along the Outer Banks. Ryan of Hatteras Jack, per Fisherman's Post (NC), reports surf action has come alive with red drum making a strong push onto the beaches and anglers catching good numbers along the Hatteras/Ocracoke stretch. Bull reds are showing near Cape Lookout shoals to the south, and good-sized bluefish are accompanying them, per Steve of Chasin' Tails via Fisherman's Post (NC). Inland, Donald of Custom Marine Fabrication (Fisherman's Post NC) finds slot-sized fish pushing into the Pamlico/Neuse system across a wide swath of water. Today's New Moon kicks off building spring tides — prime timing for surf and back-sound drum action. Offshore, an expanded South Atlantic red snapper season for NC is confirmed for 2026, per Saltwater Sportsman.

May 17

USGS gauge 03301500 recorded 99.2 cfs as of mid-morning May 17 — a modest, fishable flow that has Ohio and Cumberland River stretches settling into productive shape for the post-spawn transition. Tactical Bassin's recent on-water coverage confirms what anglers across the mid-South are seeing: the bluegill spawn is now in full swing, drawing largemouth into shallow heavy cover and triggering aggressive topwater strikes, with frogs and hollow-body baits performing best over active bluegill beds. On the smallmouth front, Wired 2 Fish flagged new research suggesting river-strain bronzebacks are genetically distinct from reservoir fish — a reminder that Ohio River corridor fish respond to current seams and rocky transitions in ways that differ from their impoundment cousins. Catfish are entering their pre-spawn feeding buildup, historically one of the strongest windows of the calendar year on both the Ohio and Cumberland. No water temperature was returned from the gauge this cycle; verify conditions locally before heading out.

May 17

The USGS gauge at International Falls (Rainy River, site 05133500) clocked 25,000 cfs and 48°F water temperature Sunday morning — elevated spring flows and cool water that define the critical post-spawn transition window for walleye on Lake of the Woods and the Rainy River corridor. No direct local charter or tackle-shop reports surfaced in this cycle's feed, but Jason Mitchell Outdoors (YT) recently spotlighted shallow-walleye trolling and a drive to Canadian walleye camp as productive themes for this time of year in border-waters country. AnglingBuzz (YT) reinforces the shallow bite, highlighting new float designs with forward-facing sonar as an emerging technique for river-mouth walleye. The new moon this weekend keeps ambient light minimal overnight and into dawn — historically a strong window for walleye in low-clarity, current-influenced water. Anglers working the Rainy River mouth should account for elevated current velocity when dialing in jig weight or trolling spread.

May 17

USGS gauge 06192500 recorded 7,630 cfs and 44°F on the morning of May 17, placing the Yellowstone and upper Snake drainages squarely in high-water spring runoff. Main-stem wading is difficult at best, dangerous at worst; productive anglers right now are working back eddies, slow inside bends, and any clear side channels insulated from the main surge. Hatch Magazine's recent deep-dive on caddis emergences — drawing on decades of Yellowstone hatch knowledge — notes that consistent insect activity here doesn't ignite until water temperatures climb out of the low-to-mid 40s. We're right at that threshold but not through it. Flylords Mag flagged widespread drought conditions gripping the Rockies this spring, with below-average snowpack in some basins, which may accelerate the seasonal temperature rise once peak runoff subsides. Cutthroat trout are the primary target; big weighted nymphs and streamers are the only reliable producers until the hatch window opens.

May 17

USGS gauge 12372000 on the Flathead River at Columbia Falls recorded 30,100 cfs and 47°F this morning — peak snowmelt levels that render most tributary wade-fishing impractical and push river water into off-color, turbid condition. With the Bitterroot drainage running a similar pattern typical for mid-May, serious river action will require patience. The silver lining: Flathead Lake itself absorbs inflowing turbidity and offers relative stability for deepwater lake trout (mackinaw) and for smallmouth bass beginning to stage in protected rocky coves. Outdoor Hub reported this week that Montana FWP is offering a reward for information on illegally introduced northern pike discovered in Pine Grove Pond near Kalispell — a reminder of the pressures this ecosystem faces. The New Moon phase this weekend favors low-light feeding activity; plan early-morning and late-evening outings on calmer lake margins for the best shot at active fish. Check Montana FWP regulations before targeting any species.

May 17

USGS gauge 07060710 logged just 4.84 cfs and 67°F on the White River this morning — a combination that signals a tough stretch for mid-May tailwater fishing. At the upper edge of the comfortable range for rainbow trout, fish are almost certainly holding tight to the coldest pockets near dam outflows and any deep, spring-fed seams available. Flow this low points to minimal or no generation from Bull Shoals or Norfork dams, leaving gin-clear, pool-like conditions that reward stealth over aggression. No White River–specific shop or charter reports appeared in this week's angler intel. MidCurrent's midweek tying column is well-timed, specifically highlighting the GFC Fly as a pattern that "excels in the clear, pressured water of stillwaters and tailraces" — precisely the conditions at hand. Per Gink and Gasoline, warm spring temperatures can accelerate early hatch activity, making early-morning caddis or midge emergences the best shot at a reliable feeding window today.

May 17

Red drum are the headline story across Pamlico Sound and Cape Lookout this week. Per Fisherman's Post (NC), Steve at Chasin' Tails in Morehead City reports schools of bull red drum showing up around the Cape Lookout shoals, with good-sized bluefish mixed in along the beach. Inland, Donald at Custom Marine Fabrication reports slot-sized red drum blanketing nearly the entire Neuse River corridor — fish pushing into the sound system on the spring tidal flush. At Hatteras, Ryan of Hatteras Jack reports red drum making a strong push onto the surf beaches, with anglers catching good numbers along the stretch. Light winds near 1 m/s (NOAA buoy 41037) and the New Moon phase are combining to set up favorable low-light feeding conditions at dawn and dusk. Bluefish are running alongside the bulls at Cape Lookout — worth having heavier fluorocarbon in your kit if you're targeting both.

May 17

Virginia DWR's spring striped bass report highlights rockfish actively schooling along channel edges, sandy flats, and rocky structure across the Commonwealth this season — a positive indicator for both Smith Mountain Lake and Buggs Island heading into the holiday weekend. USGS gauge 02075045, draining into the region, reads 498 cfs as of Sunday morning, pointing to stable, moderate flows with no runoff concerns. No water temperature reading is available from this gauge cycle. Tactical Bassin notes the bluegill spawn is in full swing across freshwater impoundments right now, pushing largemouth bass into shallow heavy cover and triggering aggressive topwater bites near laydowns and grass edges. Post-spawn transition conditions typically make this one of the more productive largemouth windows of the year on Virginia piedmont reservoirs. Between the striper schooling activity confirmed by Virginia DWR and the bluegill-spawn bass pattern noted by Tactical Bassin, both lake regulars and weekend visitors have solid reason to be on the water.

May 17

NOAA buoy 44065 recorded 53°F at Sandy Hook on May 17, right in the spring striper migration window. Per The Fisherman — Northern NJ, Capt. Pete Wagner of Hyper Striper had another outstanding week in Raritan Bay, with fish to 25 pounds and consistent keeper counts, adding that significant numbers of linesiders are still pushing north from the south. The Fisherman — NJ/DE Surf's Tackle Box in Hazlet correspondent described Sandy Hook beaches as "lit up" with bass on bunker chunks and clams; Blue Chip Sportfishing echoed that it's some of the best striper action possible this spring. OTW Northern New Jersey (May 14) notes the bay boat bite has eased slightly as fish move up on the beaches. Black drum are mixing in along the surf on clam baits. Black sea bass opened May 15 per The Fisherman — New Jersey edition but early bottom reports are mixed, and fluke is underway but spotty as inshore water temps remain cool.

May 17

Schools of stripers — per correspondent Charley Soares in The Fisherman — Cape Cod & Islands — "very few of them below 37 inches" are locked into a topwater bite through upper Buzzards Bay, running west toward Fairhaven and east to the Canal's west end. Red Top Sporting Goods (same publication) had AJ out in mid to upper Buzzards over the weekend finding slots to jumbos "breaking on bait." Capt. Carl of Westport River Outfitters confirms strong numbers but is struggling to find slot fish amid all the oversize class. Water temps of 52–55°F measured by NOAA buoys 44085 and 44020 are holding conditions in place across multiple bites simultaneously. Also per The Fisherman — Cape Cod & Islands: tautog is building around canal openings, West Falmouth, and Cleveland Light; scup schools just arrived on rock piles from West Island to Wareham; and Fish Linked Charters is already targeting black sea bass (season opened May 16) in mid to lower Buzzards Bay.

May 17

ALL IN Key West charters are reporting mutton snappers "chewing like crazy" following the recent full-moon spawn cycle, with yellowtail snappers described as "practically jumping in the boat." A separate Gulf-side ALL IN Key West trip added groupers, cobia, barracudas, and kingfish to the box — a well-rounded mixed bag that signals the offshore bite is firing on multiple fronts. Live bait has been the consistent edge for king mackerel, tuna, and sailfish along the reef lines, per the same source. Air temps are running in the low 80s°F per SMKF1 and SANF1, with winds at 12–14 knots — breezy but workable for most offshore runs. A late-April water temp reading of 78°F from buoy 41114 suggests warm, inviting conditions supportive of the active snapper bite. Today's new moon marks a tidal transition from the full-moon spawn peak; bottom-fishing action should remain elevated on the incoming tide through the coming days.

May 17

The Colorado River system checked in at 280 cfs at USGS gauge 08158000 on the morning of May 17 — a moderate late-spring flow for the Highland Lakes chain — though no surface temperature reading was available from local instruments. The dominant story across Texas right now is the bluegill spawn: Tactical Bassin reports bass locked into heavy cover and aggressively taking topwater frogs and poppers during peak bluegill bed activity, a pattern that translates directly to the shallow coves and rocky points of Lakes Travis, LBJ, and Buchanan. On the crappie front, LakeForkGuy is calling the current post-spawn window "the most aggressive crappie bite of the year," with fish relocating from spawning flats back to adjacent structure. Texas Fish & Game Magazine highlights electronics-driven targeting as the key to locating blue catfish over deep channel structure this season. Tonight's New Moon means minimal moonlight and compressed low-light feeding windows — first and last hour of daylight will be the prime time to be on the water.

May 17

Water off the NorCal coast has cooled sharply since mid-April, and salmon anglers are reaping the reward. Captain Jared Davis of the Salty Lady out of Half Moon Bay Sport Fishing told Western Outdoor News — Saltwater that conditions below Pigeon Point 'vastly improved' after surface temps dropped to 54°F — four degrees below the 58°F reading at the April 11 season opener. NOAA buoy 46026 logs an even colder 49°F as of Sunday morning, confirming the regional cool-down. The bonita that briefly cluttered early-season salmon sets have dispersed with the falling temps. Both buoy stations are recording sustained winds of 25–27 knots, so Bodega-area captains and small-boat anglers should verify advisories before departure. The New Moon is generating strong spring tides — a reliable driver of bait concentrations along rip lines and bay structure — and conditions favor a productive window for striped bass and halibut inside the bay when the wind lays down.

May 17

Water temperatures of 62–64°F across the LA Bight — logged by NOAA buoys 46025 and 46221 — are running significantly above typical mid-May norms, and the warm conditions are already paying dividends offshore. Per Western Outdoor News — Saltwater, spring bluefin and yellowfin tuna have crept into one-day range southwest of San Diego, with the first San Diego fleet albacore in years gaffed April 30 aboard the Tribute out of Mission Bay. Yellowtail and early dorado are also showing on multi-day trips heading south. Closer to shore, Surf Fishing in So Cal notes that late spring marks the opening window for corbina and leopard shark along SoCal sandy beaches — both species favor the 60°F-plus water range now present. A New Moon this weekend drives stronger tidal swings, favorable for bait movement and predator feeding windows along the surf line and shallow inshore structure.

May 17

The Sturgeon River near Sidnaw is running at 358 cfs this morning per USGS gauge 04059500, signaling persistent high spring runoff that is pushing UP stream trout into slower, off-channel refuges. Specific bite reports for MI trout streams are sparse this week — the MI DNR Weekly Fishing Report was unavailable due to a site compatibility issue — but adjacent sources point to a spring running behind schedule across the basin. On the Lake Superior side, WI DNR Lake Superior Fishing has documented a growing and actively studied lake whitefish fishery in the Chequamegon Bay corridor, and AnglingBuzz (YT) recently posted content on shallow-water walleye and sturgeon tactics tailored specifically to Lake Superior — both pointing to productive near-shore structure opportunities for boat anglers. Tonight's New Moon eliminates moonlight entirely, widening the effective dawn and dusk bite windows. Water temperature was unavailable from the gauge this morning; anglers should probe conditions before committing to a specific stretch, as fish location in high, cold water shifts reliably toward edge structure and tributary confluences.

May 17

Michigan Sea Grant recently launched research specifically tracking seasonal movements and populations of smallmouth bass in Saginaw Bay — a signal that bronzebacks are a species worth watching closely as the region moves through mid-May. No live buoy readings were recovered for this update, and USGS gauge 04157000 returned no current flow or temperature data, so conditions here reflect established seasonal patterns rather than real-time measurements. In a typical mid-May window on Lake Huron and Saginaw Bay, walleye are post-spawn and actively feeding along structural transitions — sandy drop-offs, rock piles, and the edges of the bay's shallower flats. Smallmouth are staging ahead of their spawn on gravel and rocky points in the 10–20-foot range, while yellow perch hold active across mid-depth flats throughout the bay. The New Moon on May 17 should support broader daytime feeding windows. Anglers should pull the MI DNR Weekly Fishing Report directly for current on-the-water updates; the page was unavailable for this edition.

May 17

The Wisconsin River (USGS gauge 05391000) is running at 634 cfs as of May 17 — a moderate, fishable level for this time of year. Water temperature readings are unavailable from the gauge. Wisconsin's general inland fishing season opened May 2 per WI DNR Wisconsin Fishing News, putting walleye, bass, and panfish squarely in play. AnglingBuzz highlights shallow-water walleye and Lake Superior tactics as key early-season approaches, with swimbait presentations for walleye, bass, and crappie drawing attention from Hooked Up Wisconsin contributors. Up on Lake Superior, WI DNR Lake Superior Fishing continues to track a growing lake whitefish bite in Chequamegon Bay — a fishery that built momentum through an active ice season and is now carrying into open water. New regulations are in effect for 2026–2027; WI DNR Wisconsin Fishing News urges all anglers to review updated rules before heading out. New Moon conditions this weekend can favor active feeding windows around dawn and dusk, particularly for walleye.

May 17

NOAA buoys 46041 and 46087 are registering light winds of 3–4 m/s and cool air temperatures between 46–50°F along the WA coast as of May 17, though water temperature sensors returned no readings from either station this cycle. WA Sea Grant's Crab Team field program in Grays Harbor and Willapa Bay continues through spring 2026, with estuarine monitoring active in areas that overlap coastal salmon staging grounds. No direct charter, tackle-shop, or creel-survey reports for Puget Sound or the outer Pacific coast appeared in this data pull. Based on typical mid-May patterns for this region, spring Chinook are the headliner across multiple Puget Sound marine areas, Pacific halibut draw serious attention from inland straits and offshore banks, and lingcod hold on nearshore reef structure. Anglers should confirm current WDFW area-specific retention rules and any emergency closures before launching — Chinook quotas and halibut area allocations can shift quickly through May.

May 17

Water temperature sits at 52°F across NOAA buoys 44097 and 44085 as of midday May 17, and the cool spring hasn't kept stripers off the feed in Narragansett Bay. The Saltwater Edge, reporting via The Fisherman — Rhode Island, notes nice-sized bass taken inside the bay by both boat and surf anglers, with larger fish locked onto adult bunker and herring — big soft plastics and topwater plugs leading the charge. Squid have arrived: the Frances Fleet ran successful squid trips Friday with customers filling buckets and is now scheduling regular squid dates. Saltwater Edge Blog (RI) calls the bay "loaded with life," noting the tautog bite has come to life and weakfish starting to show in decent numbers. The Fisherman (Northeast) adds that Rhode Island is producing its first real fluke reports of 2026, with early action around Block Island. Today's new moon is driving the strongest tidal push of the month — a well-timed window for the weekend.

May 17

The USGS gauge on the Susquehanna (site 01540500) logged 19,200 cfs at 58°F on the morning of May 17 — temperatures that place smallmouth bass squarely in pre-spawn staging mode, with beds typically occupied once water crosses 60–65°F. Elevated spring flows are pushing fish toward current seams, eddy pockets, and slack side channels. On The Water is reporting big smallmouth on Lake Erie right now in rough, windy conditions — a strong regional signal that Erie-connected tributaries and the upper Allegheny are worth targeting as fish crowd shallower structure ahead of the spawn. Tactical Bassin confirms the bluegill spawn is in full swing, which reliably triggers predatory bass to work the shallows in shallow-cover and backwater areas. Trout remain comfortable at 58°F; stocked fish from Pennsylvania's spring program should still be holding in cooler tributary stretches. PA Sea Grant flags an ongoing Round Goby spread-prevention effort in Northwestern PA and the Allegheny watershed — clean, drain, and dry all gear between drainages.

May 17