Fishing reports
19028 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
Taneycomo trout turn aggressive as trophy program rebounds
Trout on Lake Taneycomo have turned aggressive this week, per Lilleys Landing's August 1 report, with fish hitting hard and showing no pecking around after a slow spring for the trophy brown trout release program, which has picked back up. Guides are finding afternoon success on the Provo rig, while a simple drift rig, a bottom weight with a drop-shot loop tied about 18 inches up using Vanish fluorocarbon tippet, a technique favored by guide Blake Wilson, has also been producing. The improvement follows a rocky stretch: June brought inconsistent hydropower generation and up-and-down bite windows, and July's heavy rain-driven flows made bank and dock fishing tough, though Lilleys Landing noted trout fishing had already started improving by early July even with afternoon high water. Table Rock's main-lake largemouth are typically holding on deeper summer structure this time of year. Anglers should track the Table Rock Dam generation schedule closely before planning a trip.
Delta bass slide deep as summer heat locks in across the Sacramento-San Joaquin
Early August has Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta water sitting at its warmest stretch of the year, and that heat is doing the steering. Largemouth bass are typically post-spawn and pushed deep by this point in the season — Wired 2 Fish's August lure roundup this week notes bass nationwide are "full-blown post-spawn" and holding "as deep as they'll get all year," a pattern that tracks for Delta largemouth working submerged structure, tule edges, and deeper channel breaks rather than shallow flats. Striped bass typically stay active through the Delta's current-driven sloughs and river mouths this time of year, while catfish lean into their summer peak after dark. Sturgeon tend to slow with the heat. No direct Delta-specific bite reports came through our sources this cycle, so treat the above as a seasonal pattern rather than a fresh report — check regs and local conditions before you head out.
South Fork cutthroat settle into classic August hopper pattern
No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for the Snake River and South Fork stretch in today's sweep, so this update leans on the well-established August pattern for this fishery rather than a same-day number. That means gin-clear, lower-volume flows, warming afternoons, and Yellowstone cutthroat, rainbow, and brown trout pushing their feeding into the cooler morning and evening hours. As Caddis Fly (OR) notes of trout generally this time of year, fish are cold-blooded, so their activity tracks water temperature closely, and the hottest part of the afternoon is typically the slowest window even on a good-looking day. Terrestrial patterns, particularly hoppers and ants, are the seasonal go-to as grasshoppers become more active along undercut banks and grassy margins. Mountain whitefish remain a steady, if secondary, target in deeper runs. Expect technical, low-and-clear presentations rather than a wide-open bite.
Lake Superior lake trout keep biting as North Woods summer sets in
Lake Trout in the 18- to 30-inch range continue coming aboard along Minnesota's North Shore, with anglers trolling bright spoons and stick baits near the thermocline in 100-150 feet of water off Duluth, per MN DNR's Lake Superior Summer Fishing report from July 30. Surface temps have climbed to 60-65°F near Duluth and 50-60°F near McQuade and Knife River, though water stayed cooler (45-50°F) up toward Two Harbors, with warm water pushing as deep as 60 feet in spots. Earlier July reports (7/9, 7/16) also noted steady Coho and a few Chinook Salmon mixed in with the trout haul. Inland across the Twin Cities and North Woods, no fresh state or shop reports came through this cycle, but Fishing the Midwest's Mike Frisch and Bob Jensen note anglers are leaning on forward-facing sonar to relocate walleye and bass off the classic bottom-and-structure spots as summer progresses. Construction on Highway 61 near McQuade and Lighthouse Point Road in Two Harbors is still limiting some shore access.
PA's New Trout Rule Lands as Erie's Summer Bite Goes Deep
Wired 2 Fish flagged a big regulatory shift for Pennsylvania anglers this week: starting January 1, 2027, the statewide minimum trout harvest size jumps from 7 inches to 9 inches, the first change to that rule in more than four decades, aimed mainly at protecting wild brook trout. No buoy or gauge readings came through for Lake Erie or Presque Isle this cycle, and no charter, shop, or state-agency report specific to the bay landed in this week's feed, so treat the bite notes below as seasonal generalization rather than fresh local intel. Wired 2 Fish's national August rundown notes that by this point in summer, water temps have peaked and most fish have pushed fully into their post-spawn pattern, sitting as deep as they'll get all year. That lines up with typical early-August behavior for Erie's walleye, smallmouth, and perch, which tend to hold on deeper structure and open-water suspension once shallow weed growth and warm surface temps push baitfish out.
Champlain smallmouth slide deep as summer heat settles in
No NOAA buoy or USGS gauge feed is currently reporting for Lake Champlain, so this update leans on seasonal pattern rather than live readings. Early August has smallmouth bass and landlocked salmon in their classic post-spawn, deep-water mode, and that lines up with the broader trend Wired 2 Fish flagged in its August lure roundup this week: fish nationwide are done spawning and pushing "as deep as they'll get all year" once surface temps peak. On Champlain that typically means smallmouth sliding onto mid-lake rock piles and humps, while landlocked salmon and lake trout drop toward the thermocline to stay comfortable. No shop, charter, or state-agency reports specific to Champlain came through in this cycle's intel sweep, so treat species status below as seasonal-typical rather than confirmed bites. Check a current forecast and, if available, a local shop report before planning a trip around this write-up.
Smith Mountain and Buggs Island Settle Into Deep-Water August Pattern
No fresh catch reports came in for Smith Mountain Lake or Buggs Island (Kerr Lake) this cycle, and the NOAA/USGS feeds returned no live buoy or gauge readings for the region, so this update leans on typical early-August patterns for Virginia's Piedmont reservoirs rather than fresh testimony. Both lakes are well past the spring spawn, and largemouth and smallmouth bass are typically holding on deep main-lake structure and offshore humps this time of year — a pattern Wired2Fish's August lure roundup describes nationally as fish pushing "as deep as they'll get all year" once they go full post-spawn. Striped bass on both reservoirs usually slide toward cooler water near the thermocline during the hottest stretch of summer, when many anglers voluntarily ease off targeting them because of thermal stress on released fish. Crappie should be suspended over deep brush, and catfish remain a dependable after-dark bite in the creek channels. Check back as shop and gauge reports refresh.
Northwoods musky bite rebounds as cold front cools Oneida, Vilas waters
A cold front swept through Oneida and Vilas counties this week, dropping overnight lows into the 40s and pulling surface temperatures on mid-sized lakes back down into the 70s after a July heatwave had spiked water into the mid-to-high 80s, per Rollie & Helen's Musky Shop's late-July Northwoods report. That's a meaningful shift for musky anglers, since water above 80 degrees is generally considered unsafe for targeting the species, and the shop describes conditions as stabilizing behind the front. Walleye anglers are running a mix of traditional and modern approaches this season — per Fishing the Midwest, jigging live bait, pulling leech-and-crawler rigs, and crankbait trolling still catch fish, but clearer lake water and forward-facing sonar have shifted where those fish show up, with walleye increasingly found suspended off bottom rather than glued to classic points and weedlines. Smallmouth bass should be settling into a typical deep, structure-oriented summer pattern for the region. We're watching whether the cooler trend holds into the weekend.
Columbia and Puget Sound rivers set up for the fall salmon transition
Direct fishing intel for Columbia and Puget Sound river systems is thin this cycle, so we're leaning on WDFW's standing framework rather than fresh reports: the department's Fishing and Stocking Reports page (WA WDFW Fishing Reports) describes an ongoing statewide creel-check program alongside routine lake and stream stocking, which keeps put-and-take trout access viable through summer. Early August sits in the seasonal handoff window for these river systems, with dwindling summer steelhead activity giving way to the build toward fall Chinook and coho entries later in the month. No buoy or gauge data came through for this update, so flows and water temps aren't confirmed; treat conditions as typical late-summer low-water until a fresh report lands. Trout anglers working recently stocked stretches remain the most reliable bet right now. Anglers should verify current regulations and stocking schedules directly with WDFW before heading out, since this report can't confirm specific bite activity for this cycle.
Toledo Bend bass slide deep as peak summer heat settles in
No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for the Toledo Bend/Sabine border area this cycle, so today's picture leans on seasonal pattern rather than a live temp or flow number. Early August has this fishery in full post-spawn mode, and Wired 2 Fish's August 2026 lure roundup this week notes that fish across the country are "done spawning" and pushing "as deep as they'll get all year" once water tops out for the season - a pattern that lines up with what Toledo Bend largemouth typically do this time of year, sliding onto river-channel ledges, deep humps, and standing timber. Blue catfish tend to stay the most reliable bite through the hottest stretch of summer, working deep flats and channel breaks. White bass and crappie usually scatter and go quiet in the heat, holding tight to deep cover or suspending over structure. Check current state regs before harvesting, and expect the bite to concentrate around early morning and late evening as surface temps climb.
Olympic Peninsula summer runs build as anglers await fresh reports
No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for Olympic Peninsula waters today, and this week's intel pull turned up no rivershed-specific catch reports either. WA WDFW Fishing Reports notes the department tracks activity through angler creel checks and ongoing stocking of lakes and streams statewide, but that program-level description is the only Washington-specific signal in today's feed. Without direct steelhead or salmon counts, we're leaning on typical early-August patterns for the Peninsula: summer Chinook and early steelhead runs are usually building in the mainstem systems, with sea-run cutthroat active in the lower reaches as water levels ease off summer lows. Treat today's species read as seasonal expectation, not a confirmed bite report. Anglers should check current WDFW regulations and run-specific openers before targeting any species, since Olympic Peninsula rivers carry a patchwork of run-timing rules that shift year to year.
Perch and smallmouth take over as Lake Michigan salmon push deep
Wisconsin DNR's Lake Michigan program flagged 2024 as a standout year for the basin's salmon fishery, with a record coho harvest of over 210,000 fish and the best Chinook numbers since 2012, a sign of how strong this lake's stocked and naturally reproducing runs have become. We don't have fresh Indiana-specific catch reports to cite this week, so this update leans on typical late-summer patterns for the southern basin. Wired 2 Fish's August roundup notes that around the country fish are done spawning and sitting as deep as they'll get all year, a pattern that fits Lake Michigan's staging salmon and structure-holding smallmouth bass alike. Nearshore, yellow perch typically hold tight to rock and gravel through August and remain a dependable Indiana shoreline target even as bigger fish slide offshore. Walleye tend to feed best after dark this time of year. Always check current Indiana DNR regs before harvesting any species.
GA bass go deep, mountain trout hold as summer heat peaks
A 6.5-lb largemouth landed by Grayson Jackson of Conyers on the last cast of the day, and a rainbow trout taken by Kim Slaton of Dalton from West Armuchee Creek at John's Mountain WMA, headline this week's catches per GA Sportsman/Georgia Outdoor News' August Scrapbook. No buoy or gauge readings came through for the Chattahoochee or Savannah systems this cycle, so treat water temp as a local-forecast check rather than a hard number. The Georgia Wildlife Blog has flagged the summer heat repeatedly in recent weeks, noting it's been "too hot to get on the water" some afternoons, and that's pushing largemouth toward classic post-spawn deep-water behavior — Wired 2 Fish's August rundown notes bass nationwide are done spawning and sliding as deep as they'll get all year once water tops out in peak heat. Expect largemouth to hold tight to structure through midday and trout to stay concentrated in cooler tailwater stretches. We're leaning on early and late-day windows to beat the heat this week.
Lake Michigan salmon and smallmouth carry Chicago anglers into August
Wisconsin's DNR Lake Michigan Fishing Report is still riding the tail of a standout 2024 season, when the lake produced more than 210,000 coho salmon and over 160,000 Chinook salmon, the biggest Chinook count since 2012, credited to stronger alewife survival among recent stocked classes. That lakewide baseline is the closest thing to concrete evidence behind this week's Chicago-area salmon fishery. No fresh NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings came through for the Chicago nearshore this cycle, so treat water temperature as unconfirmed and check your own electronics before committing to a depth. Early August typically has Chinook and coho holding on deep thermocline breaks well offshore, smallmouth bass working rocky nearshore structure and breakwalls, and yellow perch still building toward their stronger fall bite. No shop, charter, or forum report specific to the Chicago lakefront came through this cycle, so this update leans on seasonal pattern rather than a fresh bite call.
Mille Lacs walleye bite shifts deep as summer sonar tactics take over
Mille Lacs walleye anglers are rethinking old assumptions this week, per Fishing the Midwest's Mike Frisch: forward-facing sonar keeps showing walleye suspended well off bottom and away from classic structure like points, turns, and weedlines, upending the fish-near-bottom doctrine many leaned on for years. Traditional presentations still produce, Frisch and fellow Fishing the Midwest writer Bob Jensen note: jigging live bait, pulling spinner rigs tipped with leeches or crawlers, and crankbait trolling all still work even as more boats run electronics-first. No buoy or gauge readings came through for Mille Lacs today, and no shop or charter report specific to the lake landed this cycle, so treat the walleye bite as typical for early August rather than confirmed hot. Wired 2 Fish's August lure roundup echoes the broader Midwest pattern: water temps near their yearly peak, fish pushed to their deepest water of the season. Check sonar and structure carefully before committing to a spot.
NY panfish and bass keep it easy as trout duck the summer heat
Panfish are keeping the bite easy across New York this week, with bluegill and pumpkinseed action highlighted in the NY DEC Fishing Line's July 31st issue as a reliable warm-water target statewide, including waters typical of the Hudson Valley and Finger Lakes. Black bass season is in full swing too, with DEC's June issues tracking the run-up to the opener and the state's new Bass Tournament Permitting and Reporting System, both signs bass are a season-long storyline this summer. Trout and salmon are the softer story: DEC's July 17th issue specifically urged anglers to help trout and salmon "beat the summer heat," a reminder that Finger Lakes tributaries and Hudson Valley trout streams are running warm and thin, which stresses fish and calls for a lighter touch. No fresh NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings came through for this update, so treat water levels as typical for early August until better data lands. Fish mornings and evenings, and ease off trout during the heat of the day.
Hoot-owl restrictions spread as Montana trout waters run hot
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks issued another round of afternoon fishing restrictions on July 29, the fourth wave since July 11, as rising water temperatures continue to stress trout across southwest and western Montana rivers, per MT FWP Fishing News. Earlier hoot-owl rules already covered the Big Hole, Gallatin, East Gallatin, Jefferson, Madison, and Ruby rivers, with a full closure on a stretch of the Madison below Ennis Reservoir. FWP hasn't listed the Yellowstone or Missouri mainstems among the currently restricted waters in these reports, but the trend across the region argues for checking FWP's current hoot-owl page before you head out. On the access side, FWP accepted an 82-acre island donation this month that becomes the new Siskin Island Fishing Access Site on the upper Yellowstone near Livingston, a genuine bright spot for anglers looking for less-pressured water. Plan around early mornings while afternoons stay off-limits on affected rivers.
Wind River & North Platte trout shift to early-morning, deep-water patterns
No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for the Wind River or North Platte systems this cycle, and none of the angler-intel feeds filed a Wyoming-specific report, so this update leans on what's typical for freshwater trout water in early August. Per Wired 2 Fish's August lure roundup, fish nationwide are full-blown post-spawn and holding as deep as they'll get all year as water temps peak for the season, a pattern that generally applies to freestone and tailwater trout fisheries like these. Trout Unlimited's recent look at drought conditions across the Rockies and Southwest notes low snowpack and thinning flows are stressing coldwater fisheries region-wide this summer, worth keeping in mind for the Wind River and North Platte drainages. Expect the bite to concentrate in the first and last hour of daylight, with midday fish pushed into deeper runs and pools until temperatures ease.
Lake of the Woods walleye slide deep as summer patterns set in
No live buoy or gauge readings came back for the Rainy River system this cycle, so this update leans on regional technique reports rather than fresh local numbers. Fishing the Midwest's Mike Frisch notes walleye anglers across the region are increasingly finding fish suspended off bottom rather than glued to classic points and weedlines, a shift he ties to forward-facing sonar changing where anglers look. Separately, Wired 2 Fish's August lure roundup flags that gamefish nationally are now full-blown post-spawn and holding in their deepest water of the year, a pattern that typically reaches Lake of the Woods and the Rainy River by early August too. Expect walleye and sauger working deeper structure and suspended baitfish balls, muskie anglers probing deep weed edges, and panfish scattering into basin water where they're tougher to pattern. Check current Minnesota regs before harvesting sturgeon or panfish limits this month.
Wisconsin Walleye Push Deep As Sonar Reshapes Summer Patterns
Forward-facing sonar continues to rewrite how Midwest walleye anglers fish through summer, and Fishing the Midwest's Mike Frisch notes anglers are moving away from the old rule of hugging bottom and structure, instead finding suspended fish out over open water with FFS. That shift applies directly to Wisconsin River pools and connected backwaters as August settles in. No shop or charter reports specific to the Wisconsin River or Lake Superior came through this cycle, so we're leaning on seasonal pattern and the WI DNR's standing reminder to review the 2026-27 regulation changes before targeting any species. On Lake Superior, DNR's ongoing Chequamegon Bay lake whitefish study points to a fishery anglers have increasingly targeted in recent seasons, both open water and through the ice. Smallmouth and musky are typically tougher in peak-summer heat as fish push to deeper, cooler water and feed mostly in low light, per Wired 2 Fish's national August outlook.
Okeechobee and St. Johns bass slide deep as August heat peaks
Wired2Fish's national August lure roundup this week describes bass as "full-blown post-spawn" and sitting "as deep as they'll get all year," with water temps topping 100°F in the hottest regions — a pattern that tracks with what's typical on Lake Okeechobee and the St. Johns River once peak Florida summer heat sets in. No buoy or gauge readings came through for either water body this cycle, and this week's shop, charter, and agency feeds didn't carry an Okeechobee- or St. Johns-specific dispatch, so treat this as seasonal general knowledge rather than a fresh on-the-water report. Largemouth bass remain the headline species on both waters and typically pull onto deeper structure, mats, and shade once midday temps climb. Black crappie (speck) action usually slows through the heat, while catfish and bluegill stay comparatively steady, especially after dark. Check current Florida fishing regulations before harvesting, and lean on early-morning and after-dark windows over midday through the rest of August.
Kennebec and Penobscot smallmouth push toward deep summer haunts
With no live buoy or gauge readings available for the Kennebec and Penobscot corridor today, this update leans on seasonal patterns and regional analogs rather than direct local telemetry. Nationally, Wired 2 Fish's August lure roundup notes that by this point in the season fish are fully post-spawn and pushing as deep as they'll get all year, a trend that typically tracks for Maine's river-fed lakes and ponds too. Elsewhere in New England, The Fisherman — New England Freshwater reported largemouth bass keying on shallow cover and topwater presentations early and late in the day even as midday action slows in the heat, a pattern anglers on Kennebec and Penobscot waters should expect to mirror. Smallmouth bass are typically holding on deep structure and drop-offs by early August, while brook trout and landlocked salmon retreat toward coldwater refuges as surface temps climb. Fish the margins of the day for best results, and check current Maine regulations before harvesting anything.
South Platte, Arkansas Trout Anglers Beat the Heat as Drought Deepens
Pat Dorsey Fly Fishing is calling the 2026 water year one of the worst droughts Colorado has seen in decades, worse by some measures than the lean years of 1975-78, 2002, 2012, 2018 and 2020. That reality is shaping every report coming out of the South Platte and Arkansas drainages this week. Cutthroat Anglers is urging anglers to carry a stream thermometer and stop fishing once water hits 68°F, noting trout are pushed toward cooler, oxygenated water earlier in the day as flows drop statewide. The upside: Cutthroat Anglers' Matt Campanella notes low water has concentrated fish into fewer holding areas, so the trout that remain are grouped up and still willing to eat for anglers willing to hike farther or downsize tippet. On the tying bench, AvidMax's Fly Tying Tuesday lineup leans hard into small midge patterns like the Chocolate Foam Back and Jigged CDC PT Tungsten, exactly the tailwater staples this bite calls for.
Red and Missouri River walleye slide deep as August heat peaks
Wired 2 Fish's August lure roundup captures where Missouri and Red River fish sit right now: fully post-spawn and pushed to their deepest water of the year as surface temps crest for the season. That seasonal read lines up with what Fishing the Midwest's walleye specialists are describing on clear Midwest waters this stretch — anglers running forward-facing sonar are finding walleye suspended off traditional bottom structure, away from the classic points and weedlines that used to be the default search area. No fresh buoy or gauge reading came through for the Red or Missouri corridor this cycle, so treat water temp and flow as typical-for-August until the next update lands. Channel catfish and smallmouth bass should stay active in current seams and rock structure per general late-summer patterns for this fishery. We're leaning on regional technique intel rather than a fresh on-the-water ND report this round, so plan around seasonal norms and verify locally before you launch.