Fishing reports
18913 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
Smallmouth and walleye beat the August heat on early bites
August heat has settled over New River and Ohio River waters, and the pattern per Wired2Fish's summertime playbook is straightforward: beat the crowds and the sun by fishing early mornings and late evenings, when smallmouth and largemouth still feed aggressively before recreational boat traffic and high water temperatures push them tight to cover. Tactical Bassin's recent August coverage backs that up, highlighting jig and swimbait presentations as two baits anglers commonly overlook once the more obvious summer bite fades into midday funk. On the walleye side, Fishing the Midwest notes anglers increasingly leaning on forward-facing sonar to find suspended fish away from bottom structure, a shift from the traditional live-bait-rig approach. Channel catfish typically stay active through the warmest stretch of summer in rivers like these. With a waning crescent moon this week, low light around dawn and dusk should sharpen the bite further for early risers targeting bass.
Blue cats stay the headline bite as Texas lakes hold summer patterns
Eagle Mountain Lake near Fort Worth remains the clearest signal we have for Texas lake fishing right now, with North Texas Catfish Guide describing a blue catfish program that stays productive once fresh water and rising levels get fish actively feeding, and channel catfish and white bass rounding out the main-lake action in warmer stretches per the same outfit's reports. For largemouth bass on busy Texas reservoirs, Wired 2 Fish and Tactical Bassin both point to the classic August adjustment: fish early and late to dodge recreational boat traffic and midday heat, and don't overlook moving baits and swimbaits worked over emerging cover once the bite slows midday. We don't have a fresh state-agency or tackle-shop report specific to this week, so treat the catfish numbers as a strong seasonal baseline rather than a today reading, and expect the bass bite to track the same early/late, high-heat pattern anglers are reporting across recreational Texas waterways this time of year.
Summer bass shift to early/late bite on Guntersville and Wheeler
With no fresh buoy or gauge readings in this cycle, the best signal for Lake Guntersville and Wheeler comes from the regional bass-fishing playbook, and it points to typical mid-August heat stress. Wired 2 Fish's piece on summertime bass on busy recreational waterways backs the standard prescription for our lakes right now: fish the first and last light windows, when boat traffic thins and bass feed more aggressively before the day heats up. Tactical Bassin (blog) reinforces that pattern from two angles — one report described bass splitting into two predictable summer groups once temperatures peak, holding shallow around cover or pulling out to deeper structure, while another had an angler working a jig bite before switching to a swimbait as the bite faded through the day. Expect largemouth and spotted bass to stay catchable but sun-shy; crappie and catfish are typically slower producers on these lakes through the dog days. Check state regs before harvesting.
Kansas heat pushes river bass deep as catfish action heats up
Late-summer heat has settled over the Kansas and Arkansas Rivers, and the fish are behaving the way they typically do this time of year: catfish feeding aggressively through warm, moving water while bass slide into deeper, shaded holds during the heat of the day. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for this stretch this cycle, and no Kansas-specific shop or charter reports landed in our feed this week, so this update leans on seasonal patterns and national technique trends rather than local eyewitness accounts. Tactical Bassin's recent breakdown of where bass go when it's hot lines up with what we'd expect here — fish pulling to channel breaks and shaded cover once the sun climbs, with better action in the first and last light hours, a pattern Wired 2 Fish also flagged for pressured, boat-traffic-heavy water this summer. Catfish, as is typical for Kansas rivers in August, should be the more consistently dependable target through the middle of the day.
Deschutes and Klamath trout settle into typical August rhythm
No buoy or gauge readings came back for the Deschutes or Upper Klamath basin today, and this sweep's angler-intel feeds carried nothing specific to Oregon freshwater conditions — the closest regional chatter was a handful of IFish.net lost-and-found posts from Newport and the Willamette system, none of which speak to what's actually biting. Rather than guess, this update leans on typical late-summer patterns for the basin: redband trout and mountain whitefish holding through the heat, with summer steelhead continuing to push upriver on the Deschutes. Expect the bite to concentrate around the cooler edges of the day as water warms through mid-August. We'll flag real numbers and named-source reports the moment they show up in the feed. Until then, treat today's picture as seasonal baseline, not a live conditions call — verify flows and temps locally before you launch.
Fall Chinook begin easing into the Columbia and Rogue
Early August marks the seasonal hinge on the Columbia and Rogue systems: summer steelhead are still moving through while the first fall Chinook typically start stacking in lower-river holding water this time of year. No buoy or gauge telemetry came back for either river today, and none of the angler-intel feeds we pulled carry a direct Columbia or Rogue report — the closest signal is IFish.net Fishing Reports, an Oregon-focused board showing anglers actively working the coast and Lake Hebo this week, though those posts are lost-gear notices rather than bite reports, so we're not treating them as conditions data. Smallmouth bass and sturgeon remain the dependable summer options on the lower Columbia while salmon numbers build toward the fall push. Water clarity and flow should still favor early-morning and evening presentations. Check current state fishing regulations before targeting salmon or steelhead, since seasons and bag limits shift through the run.
North Shore fishery eases into late-summer holding pattern
No live buoy or gauge feed came through for the North Shore this morning, so today's read leans on regional signals and seasonal norms rather than a specific catch report. The one directly on-lake item in this cycle is administrative rather than a bite report: the Wisconsin DNR's Lake Superior Fishing program flagged a growing lake whitefish fishery developing on the Chequamegon Bay side of the lake, evidence that Lake Superior's cold-water fisheries are drawing more attention basin-wide this year, even outside Minnesota waters. On the North Shore itself, early August sits in the late-summer holding pattern: coho and lake trout typically stay catchable on deep trolling presentations while chinook salmon begin their slow build toward the fall staging push near river mouths. Steelhead fishing is usually its quietest stretch of the year right now. Treat species notes below as seasonal defaults, not confirmed local reports, until fresher intel comes in.
Early-late bass windows rule KY Lake and Barkley through August heat
No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley this cycle, so this week's read leans on technique reports rather than temp data. Wired 2 Fish's new piece on summertime bass fishing on busy recreational waterways lines up squarely with two of the country's most heavily boated reservoirs in August, pushing early and late trips to dodge both peak boat traffic and stressed, hot-water fish. Tactical Bassin's breakdown of where bass position once it gets hot, plus their note on the jig-to-swimbait progression anglers are overlooking this month, both point to a midday pattern shift as the bite fades. Fishing the Midwest's ongoing forward-facing sonar coverage is relevant too, since FFS keeps changing where regulars are finding suspended schools instead of classic bottom structure. Crappie typically slide deep and go quiet on the thermocline this time of year; catfish and Barkley's striper fishery tend to hold up better through the heat.
Delaware bass and snakehead dial in on early topwater
Steve at Smith's Bait Shop in Leipsic reports solid largemouth and snakehead action across Delaware's freshwater lakes and ponds this week, per The Fisherman — NJ/DE Freshwater. Garrisons Lake, Silver Lake, Massey Mills and McCulleys Pond have been the top producers, with most of the bite coming first thing in the morning on topwater frogs, poppers, constant-motion surface baits and weedless rigged plastics. That early-morning topwater window lines up with a typical early-August pattern for the region, before the sun climbs and fish slide deeper or tuck into shade. Chain pickerel and bluegill, the other Diamond State freshwater staples, should be following the same seasonal midday slowdown even without a specific report on them this week. No live NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings are currently available for the Christina and Nanticoke watersheds, so check a local forecast before heading out. With the moon in a waning crescent phase, that low-light bite should extend a little later than usual.
Green River tailwater trout hold steady as Uinta alpine lakes call for early starts
With no fresh buoy or gauge readings in hand for the Green River and Uinta Lakes corridor this week, the sharpest signal available is technique, not numbers. MidCurrent's Tying Tuesday column flags patterns built for "the clear, pressured water of stillwaters and tailraces" this time of year, a near-perfect description of Utah's tailwater-and-alpine-lake combo, and points anglers toward smaller, sparser fly patterns as water clarifies under August sun. Hatch Magazine's guidance on leading a rising trout is worth a refresher for anyone working dry-fly water on bright, low-flow days. None of this week's angler-intel feeds filed a direct Green River or Uinta report, so treat the bite itself as typical for the season rather than confirmed hot. Early and late outings, a tip Wired 2 Fish makes for pressured summer waters generally, should still be the play here: cooler water, calmer surface, and fish more willing to commit before the sun gets high.
Platte and Missouri anglers shift to early/late as August heat sets in
Summertime heat is doing more to dictate tactics than location this week. Per Wired 2 Fish's latest advice on fishing busy recreational waterways, bass anglers are pushing trips to dawn and dusk as water warms and pleasure-boat traffic picks up on popular stretches — a pattern that tracks for the Platte and Missouri systems too. Walleye anglers are following a similar shift: Fishing the Midwest notes that forward-facing sonar has changed where fish get found in summer, with more fish showing up off traditional bottom structure than the old "stay on bottom" rule would suggest. No direct buoy or gauge readings came back for this stretch this cycle, so treat flow and temp as typical for early-August in the region until fresh data lands. Channel catfish remain the most dependable producer through the heat, a pattern that holds most Augusts on these rivers regardless of what the sport-fish bite is doing.
Bitterroot trout push to dawn patrol as Flathead lakers go deep
No live buoy or gauge readings came back for the Flathead Lake / Bitterroot pull this cycle, and none of today's angler-intel sources filed a report specific to Montana water, so this update leans on typical August patterns for the region rather than a fresh bite report. Trout Unlimited's seasonal note on the "cat days of summer" is a useful guide right now: once trout water pushes into stressful territory during the hottest part of the day, the ethical move is fishing early, fishing light, and giving fish a rest through the heat of the afternoon. That logic maps directly onto the Bitterroot in August, where low, clear, sun-warmed flows typically mean the reliable window is dawn through mid-morning, with a secondary shot at last light. Flathead Lake's lake trout fishery runs on a different clock, holding deeper and staying catchable through the day as surface temps climb. Check current Montana FWP water conditions and any hoot-owl restrictions before you head out.
Snake and Salmon anglers lean on summer patterns as fall run nears
No live buoy or gauge readings came back for the Snake and Salmon system today, and this week's incoming source intel skewed toward other regions rather than Idaho's freshwater rivers specifically, so we're not going to manufacture numbers that were not actually reported. What we can offer is seasonal grounding. Early August on Rocky Mountain freshwater systems typically means smallmouth bass holding tight to current breaks, rock structure and depth changes through the heat of the day, while resident trout push toward deeper runs and cooler tributary mouths as surface temperatures climb. Elsewhere in the region, Reno Fly Shop (NV) is already advising anglers to start early and focus on cooler stretches as afternoon heat narrows the trout activity window, a pattern likely echoed on the Snake and Salmon. Chinook summer-run activity is typically tapering by this point in the season, with the fall steelhead push still weeks away. Check current state fishing regulations before targeting any anadromous species.
Summer heat sends Iowa river anglers chasing early light and suspended fish
No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through this cycle for the Iowa and Des Moines Rivers, so today's read leans on technique intel from regional and national sources rather than a hard number. Peak-summer heat is the dominant storyline: per Wired 2 Fish, bass anglers on busy recreational waterways are shifting to early-morning and late-evening windows to dodge boat traffic and stressed, warm-water fish. On the walleye side, Fishing the Midwest notes that forward-facing sonar has changed where anglers look entirely, with contributors Mike Frisch and Bob Jensen both describing suspended, structure-independent fish that traditional bottom-bumping presentations would have missed entirely. Channel catfish are typically dependable through August heat on Midwest river systems, feeding actively in low-light and after-dark windows. Smallmouth should be holding tight to current seams and rock structure as the Des Moines and Iowa Rivers settle into a stable summer pattern. Check local flow and temperature before heading out, since we don't have a fresh reading today.
VT Bass Slide Deep as August Heat Grips Champlain, CT River
Bass fishing has turned tough on nearby New England waters as August heat sets in — Saunders Boat Livery in Southwick reports largemouth sliding onto deep drop-edges, lily pads, and deep-water docks, still biting Ned Rigs, jigs, and Senkos, while Merrimack River smallmouth are keying on Senko-style plastics and Yamamoto Cut Tail Worms fished on Aziz rigs (per The Fisherman — New England Freshwater). No VT buoy or gauge data came through this cycle and no direct Champlain or Connecticut River reports landed, so we're reading the regional trend: expect Vermont bass to follow the same pattern, sliding deeper and going quieter through midday. Walleye should still respond to structure changes worth probing with forward-facing sonar, a technique shift Fishing the Midwest has tracked closely, and morning and evening windows remain the reliable bet as recreational boat traffic picks up on popular water.
Hawaii's Summer Pelagic Bite Rolls On Into August
No fresh NOAA buoy readings, USGS gauge data, or Hawaii-specific catch reports came through the feed this cycle, so this update leans on seasonal pattern rather than fresh testimony. Hawaii Fishing News, the state's official record-keeper for its biggest catches and home to the monthly moon and tide calendar, remains the standing reference for timing trips around this week's waning crescent moon. Typically for early August, Hawaii's offshore waters keep producing yellowfin tuna (ahi), mahimahi, and wahoo (ono) around current edges and fish-aggregating devices, with blue marlin activity generally building toward the islands' peak late-summer billfish stretch. Inshore and reef species generally stay active in the warm summer water column this time of year. Treat today's species read as a seasonal baseline rather than a confirmed bite report, and check with local shops or charters for what's actually showing before planning a trip.
Door County and Sheboygan salmon settle into late-summer deep-water pattern
Direct bite reports for Door County and Sheboygan weren't in this week's feeds, but the WI DNR's Lake Michigan Fishing Report gives useful backdrop: 2024 was one of the strongest salmon years on record, with anglers landing over 210,000 coho salmon (a record) and more than 160,000 Chinook, fueled by improved alewife survival supporting stocked fish. With no fresh buoy or gauge readings available this cycle, we're leaning on typical August patterns for the region: Chinook and coho salmon holding deeper as surface water warms, lake trout still working structure via downriggers, and smallmouth bass staying active around Door County's rocky reefs and shoals. The DNR has also been gathering public input on future smallmouth bass management in Green Bay and northern Lake Michigan, a sign of the fishery's growing recreational profile. Check current water temps and forecasts before heading out.
Lake Michigan salmon season keeps rolling off the Indiana shoreline
Indiana shoreline anglers are in the thick of Lake Michigan's late-summer salmon season, and expectations remain high on the back of last year's numbers: the WI DNR Lake Michigan Fishing Report recorded a record coho harvest of more than 210,000 fish in 2024 plus over 160,000 Chinook, the strongest king return since 2012, with healthy alewife survival keeping the forage base stocked for stocked salmon and steelhead. A recent Outdoor Hub gear review used a king salmon trip on Lake Michigan as its own testing backdrop this summer, one more sign boats are working open water for Chinook. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for the Indiana shoreline this cycle, and no shop or charter filed a current bite report, so treat the species notes below as seasonal expectation rather than a confirmed hot bite. Yellow perch and smallmouth bass typically hold tight to structure and drop-offs through mid-August; check water clarity and recent local reports before committing to a spot.
Presque Isle anglers lean on classic August patterns as Erie data stays quiet
Presque Isle Bay and the Lake Erie shoreline head into the second week of August under a waning crescent moon, with no fresh buoy or gauge readings in this cycle and no region-specific catch reports from our angler-intel feeds. That's not unusual for a mid-August lull in reporting, but it means today's picture leans on typical seasonal patterns rather than fresh, attributed intel. Late-summer conditions on Erie's Pennsylvania waters typically push smallmouth bass onto rock piles, humps, and current breaks, send walleye out to deeper, cooler water during daylight, and group yellow perch into tighter summer schools around the bay's channel and grass edges. Anglers checking in should treat today's report as a seasonal baseline rather than a live bite report, and lean on PA Fish & Boat's own Biologist Reports page for the most current Erie-specific updates before heading out, since our other feeds didn't carry direct Presque Isle intel this cycle.
August heat pushes WA river bite toward dawn and dusk hours
No fresh creel numbers came through this cycle for the Columbia or Puget Sound river systems, and neither buoy nor gauge data was available to confirm current water levels or temps. WDFW's fishing and stocking reports program is the standing source for creel and catch data on these waters, but this cycle's feed carried none of its specific figures, so treat today's picture as seasonal generalization rather than confirmed conditions. Early August on Northwest rivers typically means warm, lower-flow water that pushes feeding activity into the first and last light hours, with smallmouth bass working current seams and drop-offs on the Columbia mainstem and sea-run cutthroat starting to stage in Puget Sound tributaries ahead of fall salmon returns. Summer steelhead should be present in some Columbia tributaries per typical late-summer timing, though no report in hand confirms numbers or location specifics this week. Check WDFW's creel and stocking reports directly before planning a trip, since that's the only citable source for this region in today's feed.
Trout Turn Finicky in West Bay as Texas STAR Grinds On
West Bay speckled trout have gone quiet in the wells this week, with Galveston Daily News' Reel Report pointing to stronger-than-normal current pushing fish off the pattern Capt. Rafael Manias had been working out of Eagle Point Fishing Camp. Guide traffic hasn't slowed everywhere, though: TexasFishingTips has posted fresh reports out of Baffin Bay and Laguna Madre with Capt. Kevin Navid, Rockport-Copano and Mesquite Bay with Capt. Larry Bell, and Aransas Pass with Capt. Kenny Kramer, all within the last two weeks, a sign boats are still finding fish worth writing up along the middle coast. The CCA Texas STAR Tournament leaderboard, tracked by Texas Fish & Game Magazine, is heating up across both inshore and offshore divisions as the Aug. 2 standings update. With most Texas kids back in school, expect quieter weekday boat ramps and a shift toward serious tournament effort over casual trips this week.
Ohio reservoir walleye and bass adjust to peak summer heat
August has settled into Mosquito Lake and Pymatuning Reservoir with the deep, high-sun pattern typical of Ohio's inland fisheries this time of year. Fishing the Midwest's Mike Frisch notes that Forward-Facing Sonar has changed how walleye anglers work these waters, letting them target suspended fish instead of leaning only on bottom structure and weedlines the way anglers did a decade ago. On the bass side, Tactical Bassin's recent breakdowns of summer positioning point to fish splitting between shallow, shade-holding groups and deeper offshore schools once surface temperatures climb, with moving baits over emerging weed tops still drawing strikes in low light, per Fishing the Midwest's Bob Jensen. No NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings were available for Mosquito or Pymatuning this cycle, so treat water temperature and clarity as unconfirmed until you're on the water. Crappie should still be working deeper cover as the waning crescent moon keeps low-light windows productive.
Winnipesaukee bass settle into the mid-August summer pattern
No direct reports have come in yet this week for Winnipesaukee itself, but the broader New England freshwater picture, per The Fisherman — New England Freshwater, is squarely in the mid-August bass mode: on the Merrimack River, Roger Aziz Jr. has been tallying smallmouth bass to 3 pounds on Senkos and Yamamoto Cut Tail Worms, while shops on the Cape and in Plymouth report largemouth still eating Booyah Pad Crasher Frogs worked through lily pads and drop-shotted deep structure. Winnipesaukee's smallmouth and largemouth typically mirror that mid-summer behavior this time of year, holding on deep drop-edges, rocky points, and weedlines through the heat, with lake trout and landlocked salmon pushing deeper as surface temps climb. The waning crescent moon should mean quieter, more productive low-light bites at dawn and dusk. Check local forecast before heading out; this week's read leans on general seasonal knowledge pending direct Winnipesaukee reports.
Cumberland tailwater trout hold steady as lake bass slip deep for August
No buoy or gauge readings and no direct angler reports came through for Lake Cumberland or the Cumberland River tailwater this cycle, so this update leans on general seasonal knowledge rather than fresh intel. Early August is typically a two-fishery month here: the Wolf Creek Dam tailwater runs cold off bottom-release water, keeping rainbow and brown trout feeding through the heat, while the main lake pushes striped bass and smallmouth bass deeper and toward thermocline structure as surface temps climb. Walleye tend to slide into similar deep, cooler water. None of this cycle's angler-intel feeds covered Kentucky specifically, so treat species status below as seasonal expectation rather than confirmed bite reports. Check current generation schedules before a tailwater trip, since dam releases drive both water temp and safe wading conditions on the Cumberland below Wolf Creek Dam.