Fishing reports
18942 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
Wisconsin River holds steady flow as sonar reshapes walleye tactics
The Wisconsin River is running near 446 cfs at the USGS 05391000 gauge as of early this morning, a moderate late-summer stage that should keep smallmouth bass and walleye tight to current breaks, wing dams, and rock structure rather than roaming the flats. Water temperature wasn't reported by the gauge this cycle, so read the bite by feel and adjust bait speed until a fresh number comes through. On technique, Fishing the Midwest notes that traditional walleye assumptions, bottom-oriented fish glued to structure, don't always hold anymore now that Forward-Facing Sonar has changed how anglers find suspended fish, a pattern worth testing in the river's deeper holes. Up on Lake Superior, WI DNR's Lake Superior Fishing program continues tracking a lake whitefish fishery that has grown in popularity around Chequamegon Bay in recent seasons, both through the ice and from a boat, though this week's feeds carried no fresh Wisconsin catch reports to confirm current bite intensity on either water.
Low Flows Push South Platte, Arkansas Trout Into Early Windows
Flow at USGS gauge 06701900 held near 215 cfs in the pre-dawn hours of Aug. 9, a modest read for South Platte and Arkansas tailwater country in what Pat Dorsey Fly Fishing calls one of Colorado's worst water years on record, in the company of the lean stretches of 1975-78, 2002, 2012, 2018 and 2020. Cutthroat Anglers is flagging the same statewide low-water squeeze and reminding anglers to check a thermometer before wading in: once water hits 68°F, it's time to stop fishing and let trout recover. Anglers Covey Blog, working out of Colorado Springs near the Arkansas drainage, describes classic dog-days behavior this time of year, slower rivers and lazier fish, with the shop crew leaning on early starts to beat the heat. Midges remain the bread-and-butter tailwater food source per AvidMax Blog's ongoing tying coverage, with foam-back and tube-style emergers built for the clear, pressured water these fisheries are known for.
Red River walleye bite holds as summer heat pushes fish deep
The Red River near Fargo (USGS gauge 05054000) is running warm at 77°F with steady flow around 670 cfs as of this morning, the kind of late-summer read that typically pushes walleye and channel catfish off skinny water and onto deeper current breaks through the heat of the day. Direct reports on the Red and Missouri systems are thin this week, but AnglingBuzz's recent Devils Lake walleye coverage shows the ND walleye bite is squarely on anglers' radar right now, and the forward-facing sonar and deep-structure approach Fishing the Midwest has been detailing (Mike Frisch, Bob Jensen) applies well to how walleye stack on wing dams and current seams once water warms like this. Channel cats should stay active in the flow, working cut bait on bottom in the deeper holes. Early morning and last light remain the highest-percentage windows before the shallows stack heat through midday.
Chickamauga and Watts Bar bass slide deep as late-summer heat holds
The regional USGS gauge (site 03578500) logged a low, steady flow of 32.1 cfs early this morning, consistent with a quiet, low-generation stretch on the Tennessee River system. No captain or shop reports came in specifically from Chickamauga or Watts Bar this cycle, so anglers should lean on established late-summer patterns for now. Per Tactical Bassin's recent August coverage, largemouth are grouping tight to deep cover and forage as the heat holds, responding best to jigs and swimbaits worked slowly along ledges and channel drops. Smallmouth typically slide to similarly deep structure on these highland-style reservoirs this time of year. Catfish tend to stay reliably active through August heat, especially after dark, while crappie usually settle into the summer doldrums until water starts cooling toward fall. With low, stable flow and no destabilizing signal in this data, expect consistent water clarity through the week, favoring finesse presentations over reaction baits on both pools.
White River trout and Arkansas River bass settle into summer patterns
Real-time readings from USGS gauge 07263620 on the White River came back empty this cycle, no flow, temperature, or timestamp attached, and this week's angler-intel sweep of regional blogs, shops, and forums turned up nothing specific to Arkansas or the White River. Rather than guess, we're keeping this update honest about that gap. For mid-August, the White River's dam-controlled tailwater sections typically stay cool and stable thanks to bottom-release flows, which tends to keep trout active through summer heat that shuts down surface water elsewhere in the state. Connected reaches known for smallmouth bass typically see fish slide to deeper cover once the sun's up, favoring slow, finesse presentations over reaction baits. Catfish typically feed aggressively after dark in August regardless of surface temperature. We'll refresh conditions and angler reports as soon as gauge data and regional sources are reporting again.
Cumberland system smallmouth hold deep as August heat settles in
USGS gauge 03434500 on the Cumberland system is running a steady 1,350 cfs as of early Wednesday morning, typical late-summer flow that keeps water moving without blowing out fishable structure. Direct regional reports for the Cumberland and Tennessee lakes weren't in this week's intel batch, but national technique coverage lines up with what's usually working here in early August: Tactical Bassin (blog) notes bass have split into two groups post-spawn and are keying on isolated cover and depth transitions as heat peaks, cycling through finesse and moving baits depending on frontal conditions. Fishing the Midwest points out that forward-facing sonar has changed where anglers find bass and walleye, often well off traditional bottom-hugging structure. Expect largemouth and smallmouth to hold on channel swings and deeper brush through midday, sliding shallower on overcast mornings and evenings. Crappie and catfish round out typical summer options on Cumberland impoundments. Check state regs before harvesting, and confirm local temps before you launch since we don't have a fresh reading today.
High Osage flow and summer heat reshape Lake of the Ozarks bite
At the Osage River USGS gauge (06934500), flow is running high at 68,700 cfs with water temperature at 81°F as of early Wednesday morning, conditions that point to strong generation-driven current layered on top of full summer heat across Lake of the Ozarks and the Osage arm. No fresh Missouri-specific angler reports came through this cycle, so what's biting here leans on general seasonal patterns rather than direct local intel: elevated flow typically stacks catfish and baitfish around current breaks and eddies, while 80-plus-degree surface temps usually push largemouth bass and crappie toward deeper, shaded structure to avoid the midday heat, a pattern broadly consistent with Tactical Bassin's recent hot-weather bass coverage. Forward-facing sonar continues reshaping how Midwest anglers locate suspended fish away from traditional bottom contact, per Fishing the Midwest's recent columns. Expect a tougher, deeper bite through midday with better windows early and late while the heat and high water work against typical late-summer patterns.
Deep-summer patterns take hold on Texoma and Eufaula bass
USGS gauge 07331600 logged flow holding steady near 95 cfs in this morning's reading, a low, stable signature typical of Oklahoma's inflow rivers deep into August, though no matching water-temperature data came through on this check. With water temperatures typically running deep into summer highs across Lake Texoma and Lake Eufaula this time of year, bass are following the predictable heat-driven pattern Tactical Bassin broke down this week: fish split into two distinct groups after the spawn, and locating them comes down to reading three key variables rather than luck. Tactical Bassin also flagged jig bites fading as the day warms, with swimbaits picking up the slack once that happens. Striped bass, the signature draw on Texoma, and largemouth on both lakes should still be catchable working classic summer depth transitions, though no direct on-the-water reports came in for either fishery this cycle.
August heat sends Tennessee & Coosa bass deep as flow holds steady
USGS gauge 02339500 logged a steady flow reading at 7 a.m. Sunday, a typical mid-summer stage for the Tennessee and Coosa river systems in north and central Alabama. With no direct shop or captain reports filed for these waters this cycle, we're leaning on general seasonal patterns: peak-August sun pushes bass onto deeper structure and shade during midday, while low-light windows at dawn and dusk still produce on moving baits and topwater, a pattern Tactical Bassin (blog) has been highlighting across its recent summer-bass coverage on positioning and bait selection. Hybrid striper and spotted bass activity on Coosa tailwater stretches tends to track generation schedules, so anglers should watch for current breaks near dam discharge as flow holds in this range. No named catches or specific stringers came through the intel feed for this region today, so treat species notes below as seasonal expectation rather than confirmed bite reports.
Lake Mead stripers push deep as August heat holds
Lake Mead and the lower Colorado run true to form for early August: surface temps deep into the 80s, stripers and the shad they chase sliding below the thermocline through the heat of the day, and the best windows narrowing to first light and after dark when baitfish push up and stripers blow up on top. That's the seasonal pattern rather than a fresh read — the USGS gauge at site 09421500 logged no data this cycle, and this week's shop, charter, and blog wire didn't include a single report specific to Nevada's striper fishery. Largemouth and smallmouth follow the same deep, slow-heat pattern, while channel catfish typically stay more willing to bite through summer nights. Anglers on the water midday should focus on channel edges, humps, and creek-mouth drop-offs with vertical jigging or dropshot rather than shoreline casting. Check current local shop and state reports before heading out since we don't have a direct read this week.
Yellowstone and Snake River trout push feeding to first light
The regional gauge (USGS 06192500) logged 64°F and 2,470 cfs at 5 a.m. this morning, conditions that put cutthroat, rainbow, and brown trout squarely into dog-days mode. Trout Unlimited's seasonal piece on the "cat days of summer" is a useful gut check right now: once trout water pushes toward the warmer end of comfortable range, anglers are encouraged to fish early and ease up to protect released fish. A Hatch Magazine essay from a former Henry's Fork, Yellowstone, and Madison guide on properly leading a rising trout is worth revisiting for dry-fly water this week, since low light and precise presentation matter more once fish turn selective under heat stress. We did not see a fresh, region-specific bite report filed for the Yellowstone/Snake corridor this cycle, so treat the species calls below as seasonal-pattern guidance rather than an on-the-water account from this week. Early starts, gentle handling, and a midday break for the fish are the prevailing themes right now.
Merrimack Smallmouths Keep Chewing Through Summer Lull
Smallmouth bass are still eating on the Merrimack River, where Roger Aziz Jr. of Methuen has been putting together solid catches to 3 pounds on Aziz-rigged Senkos and Yamamoto Cut Tail Worms, per The Fisherman — New England Freshwater. Our monitoring gauge on the system (USGS 01073500) shows flow holding low and steady at 92 cfs, a typical August signature that pushes bronzebacks tight to structure and rock. Winnipesaukee itself doesn't have a fresh report in this week's feeds, but the pattern lines up with what we'd expect this time of year: warm surface water sending smallmouth and largemouth toward deeper edges and shade, while lake trout slide down the water column. Water temp wasn't reported at the gauge this cycle, so dress for August heat and plan trips around early mornings or dusk when bass activity typically peaks.
East Texas bass hunker down in the summer heat
Flow on the Sabine River system near Toledo Bend is holding steady around 2,800 cfs at USGS gauge 08030500, a typical late-summer read with no big swings noted. At nearby Lake Fork, Lake Fork Trophy Bass reports that despite an extremely hot summer, lake levels have held up and big bass are still coming, with plenty of cover keeping fish active through the heat. That pattern lines up with Toledo Bend and Sam Rayburn too: Tactical Bassin's August rundown notes bass get highly predictable once temperatures peak, settling into consistent heat-season staging areas, and calls out jigs and swimbaits as two of the most overlooked producers once the early bite fades. Expect largemouth to hold tight to deeper cover and shade through the midday hours, with the better windows at dawn and dusk. Crappie, white bass, and catfish should be running normal late-summer patterns, but no direct regional reports came in on those species this week, so treat that as a seasonal default rather than confirmed intel.
Delta Stripers Adjust to Strong Late-Summer River Flows
USGS gauge 11447650 logged Sacramento-Delta water at 70°F with flow running a strong 19,700 cfs early this morning, conditions that keep the system well-oxygenated but push bait and predators toward structure and current breaks. This week's regional wire was heavy on Central Valley bass-tournament and gear coverage but light on ground-truth Delta reports, so today's outlook leans on typical August patterns rather than fresh angler intel: striped bass and largemouth bass are the Delta's headline species this time of year, working deeper channels and shaded tule lines as afternoon heat pushes fish off the shallows. Elevated flow can concentrate baitfish along current seams, a good bet for stripers working moving water. Catfish stay a reliable warm-water option after dark. Check current state regulations before targeting sturgeon, which remain catch-and-release only in most Delta waters. We'll flag it here the moment shop or captain reports on the Delta specifically come through the wire.
Colorado River tailwater holds steady as Salt River bass action heats up
Water temperatures on the Colorado River held at 68°F this morning, with flow running steady just under 7,000 cfs per the USGS gauge at station 09380000 - solid tailwater conditions for this time of year. None of this week's angler-intel feeds carried region-specific reports for the Colorado or Salt Rivers, so we're leaning on typical August patterns rather than fresh word from the water. Rainbow trout typically stay catchable on this tailwater stretch through summer, holding in deeper runs and feeding steadily on midges and small nymphs even as surface temperatures climb elsewhere in the watershed. Downstream and on the Salt River, smallmouth bass are usually active around rock structure and current breaks this time of year, and channel catfish typically turn on after dark as water stays warm. Expect fairly stable, on-schedule summer conditions rather than any sharp seasonal shift right now.
Warm Columbia Water Tests Salmon Bite as Sturgeon Stay Steady
USGS gauge 14105700 clocked Columbia River flow at 115,000 cfs and water temperature at 71°F early this morning, a reading on the warm side for the second week of August. That kind of warmth matters for salmon: Chinook start showing thermal stress as water climbs into the low 70s, so expect fish to hold in cooler pockets and bite windows to compress around first light and last light. Sturgeon tolerate the heat far better and typically keep feeding through summer warmth, working deep holes and current breaks. Today's angler-intel feed didn't turn up fresh Columbia-specific bite reports, so treat the species outlook below as seasonal expectation rather than confirmed counts. The broader late-summer pattern still applies: early trolling for Chinook, bait soaks for sturgeon in deeper water, steelhead typically the slowest of the three until temperatures ease. Check current regulations before targeting salmon, since thermal-stress restrictions can appear with little notice this time of year.
Eastern Sierra trout bite shifts to dawn and dusk as heat holds
Truckee River conditions read warm and stable heading into mid-August, per Reno Fly Shop's recent on-the-water reports. Flows have held near 350 cfs on the shop's home gauge, keeping the river close to its natural channel and making wading and locating fish easier than during high water. Sustained hot air temperatures, though, are pushing the trout's peak feeding window earlier in the day, the shop notes, with fish noticeably less active by midday. The recommended play is getting out early and working upstream toward the California side of the drainage, where cooler water keeps trout more willing to eat, then circling back in the evening for late caddis, stonefly, and dry-fly activity. Carp on the fly have also kept rods bent during the slow midday stretch, per the shop. Expect that same dawn-and-dusk pattern to hold across Eastern Sierra trout water through the week as summer heat persists.
High Flows Push Driftless Anglers Toward a Smallmouth Pivot
USGS gauge 05407000 is reading a strong 4,110 cfs this morning, a flow level that points to high, likely stained water across the Driftless Area's spring-fed trout streams. With no water-temp reading available from the gauge today, finding a stretch where trout are still comfortable matters more than usual. Trout Unlimited's midsummer post on the "cat days of summer" is a useful guide here: once favorite trout water climbs into uncomfortable territory for salmonids, many anglers shift over to smallmouth bass with streamers, or work surface poppers, rather than stress fish that need cooler water. For those staying on trout, MidCurrent's Tying Tuesday roundup highlights a Root River Rod Co streamer pattern, a pine-squirrel jig built to bounce a rocky bottom in tight, technical Driftless-style water without hanging up, a solid call when flows are up and visibility is down.
High Mississippi River flow tilts the bite toward catfish
The USGS gauge at Vicksburg (07289000) logged Mississippi River flow at 352,000 cfs early this morning, a big-river stage pushing strong current through backwaters and sloughs across the Mississippi and Pearl River systems. No water-temperature reading came through with this update, but August heat typically keeps surface temps well into the 80s here, which usually pushes catfish into deeper holes and current breaks while bass slide toward shade and thermoclines. We didn't pull any Mississippi- or Pearl River-specific angler reports this cycle, the available intel skewed toward national bass-technique coverage rather than local shop or agency observations, so treat the species status below as seasonal expectation rather than confirmed bites. General technique notes from Tactical Bassin (blog) on summer bass positioning still translate well to high, warm river conditions like these: work deeper structure and current edges rather than open flats. High flow favors catfish anglers working seams and eddies more than sight-fishing for bass or bream this week.
Smallmouth and walleye slide deep as Erie basin holds summer heat
The regional USGS gauge read 77°F with flow holding at 1,210 cfs Sunday morning, a solid mid-summer signature for the Lake Erie and Niagara corridor. At that temperature, smallmouth bass typically pull off shallow rock and slide onto deeper drop-offs and current breaks, while walleye scatter or suspend rather than hug bottom. Fishing the Midwest's recent coverage of walleye trends notes more anglers leaning on Forward-Facing Sonar this season to track suspended fish that traditional bottom-contact presentations miss, a pattern that fits well with warm-water Great Lakes walleye behavior. Tactical Bassin's summer-bass breakdown reinforces the same seasonal split: once surface temps push into the upper 70s, bass separate into distinct depth groups, rewarding anglers willing to adjust rather than fish the same spots as June. Yellow perch tend to go quiet and scatter deeper in this kind of heat. No Western NY-specific angler reports came through this cycle, so treat the species calls below as seasonal expectations rather than confirmed local bites.
Summer heat sends Eufaula bass deep as catfish keep biting
USGS gauge 07247500 is running just 2.31 cfs this morning, a reminder that area streams and tributaries feeding the Eufaula and Red River systems are in typical late-summer drawdown. No direct captain or shop reports came in for these Oklahoma waters this cycle, so we're leaning on seasonal patterns anglers can count on in August. Largemouth bass typically slide off the bank and stack on deeper structure and offshore humps once surface temps climb, a pattern Tactical Bassin's general August coverage describes as bass separating into predictable summer groups tied to heat and forage. Blue and channel catfish tend to stay consistent through the hottest stretch of summer, working river channels and deeper holes. Striped and hybrid striped bass, a signature draw at Lake Eufaula, typically hold and feed in open water and around baitfish schools this time of year. Crappie fishing usually slows as fish pull deep. Check current conditions and local regs before heading out.
New River and Ohio smallmouth settle into a steady August pattern
A USGS gauge on the New River (site 03051000) measured flow at 263 cfs as of early this morning, a steady read with no signs of a recent spike or drawdown. No captain, shop, or state-agency report specific to West Virginia's New River or Ohio River waters came through in this cycle's angler intel, so this update leans on general seasonal knowledge rather than fresh on-the-water testimony. Early August on these fisheries typically means smallmouth bass sliding to deeper structure and current breaks during the heat of the day, with better activity around dawn, dusk, and low-light stretches. The Ohio River's catfish bite is usually dependable this time of year as warmer water pushes channel and blue cats into active feeding windows. We're keeping species calls conservative until region-specific reports come in. Check current conditions and any closures before heading out.
Texas Catfish Stay Active While Summer Heat Pushes Bass Deep
USGS gauge 08211200 logged water at 88°F this morning with flow running low at 50.3 cfs — classic late-summer conditions for Texas lakes and rivers, where warm, sluggish water pushes gamefish toward deeper structure and shade. Catfish remain the most consistent target: North Texas Catfish Guide's Eagle Mountain Lake reports describe blues and channels stacking up and feeding hard whenever fresh water moves through the system, a pattern that typically carries through the hottest stretch of summer even as daily bite windows shift toward low light. Largemouth bass are the tougher read right now — per Tactical Bassin's August guidance, hot-water bass split into predictable groups keyed to depth and cover, so anglers need to target deeper structure or fish the early and late hours instead of expecting an all-day bite. White bass typically stay catchable on Texas reservoirs through August, though no source this week reports directly on them. Overall, expect a dawn-and-dusk pattern with slower midday action until temperatures ease.
August heat pushes Guntersville and Wheeler bass to the ledges
USGS gauge 03575100 is holding a steady 260 cfs this morning, a stable, low late-summer flow that matches the settled pattern typical of the Tennessee River system in early August. No catch reports came in specifically from Guntersville or Wheeler this cycle, but the broader summer-bass intel lines up with what these lakes typically do right now: per Tactical Bassin's breakdown of "Where Do Bass Go When It's HOT," fish split into predictable deep-structure and shade-oriented groups once surface temps peak, and the same outlet's August roundup points to deep cranking, offshore jigs, and slow-worked swimbaits as the go-to moves. Expect largemouth and spotted bass to stack on ledges, humps, and current breaks through midday, with the best windows early and late when fish push shallower to feed. Water temp wasn't reported at the gauge today, so dial in your electronics before committing to a depth.