Fishing reports
19028 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
Tennessee River bass push deep as post-spawn summer pattern sets in
Wired 2 Fish's August lure roundup pegs water temps at their yearly peak across the country right now, topping 100°F in some places and settling in the 80s elsewhere, with bass everywhere pushed into full post-spawn mode and holding about as deep as they'll get all season. That's the pattern to expect on Chickamauga and Watts Bar heading into this stretch: fish pulling off the bank and stacking on deep structure and current breaks rather than shallow cover. Elsewhere on the Tennessee River system, B.A.S.S. News reports anglers have been putting together strong smallmouth and largemouth stringers on sister reservoirs Pickwick, Wheeler and Guntersville, a good sign the river chain overall is fishing well for anyone willing to work deep water. No buoy or gauge readings came back for this stretch today, so treat flow and temp as typical for late-summer TN River conditions until fresh numbers post. Slow down, fish deep, and be patient between bites.
White River tailwater trout hold steady as summer heat settles in
No AR-specific angler reports or live buoy/gauge readings came through this cycle, so this update leans on seasonal pattern rather than fresh on-the-water word. Wired 2 Fish's August rundown lays out the broader trend bluntly: most gamefish nationally are full-blown post-spawn right now and pushed as deep as they'll get all year, with the bite toughening wherever water temps peak. Arkansas's White River is a partial exception to that story — its cold, bottom-release tailwater below the White River system's dams keeps trout comfortable through the hottest stretch of summer, which is exactly why the fishery draws crowds in August when warmwater lakes struggle. Smallmouth bass and catfish in the river's warmer reaches are the more likely candidates to follow the deep, sluggish post-spawn pattern described above. Treat species status below as seasonal-baseline reasoning, not a confirmed bite report, until direct regional intel comes in.
Cumberland bass slide deep as peak summer heat sets the pattern
No NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings are reporting for the Cumberland system this cycle, so we're working off seasonal signal rather than a fresh temp or flow reading today. Nationally, water temps have topped out for the year and fish are full-blown post-spawn, sitting as deep as they'll get all season, per Wired 2 Fish's August lure roundup — a pattern that typically holds for Tennessee reservoirs and the Cumberland system too. Expect largemouth and smallmouth to pull off primary structure into deeper water during peak daylight hours, with better activity around dawn, dusk, and low-light stretches. Catfish typically run strong through August regardless of the heat, and Cumberland's tailwater stretches are a reliable summer draw for striper and hybrid activity below the dams. We're leaning on general seasonal patterns here rather than region-specific intel, since this cycle's angler-report feeds didn't surface anything Tennessee- or Cumberland-specific.
Lake of the Ozarks bass push deep as August heat sets the pattern
Wired 2 Fish's August lure roundup frames the week for Lake of the Ozarks and the Osage River: water temps have peaked for the season, bass are full-blown post-spawn, and most fish across the country are sitting as deep as they'll get all year. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for this stretch today, so treat the Conditions panel numbers as unavailable and lean on seasonal pattern instead of an exact reading. Fishing the Midwest's recent pieces on Forward-Facing Sonar and walleye location shifts offer a useful frame for working main-lake points and channel swings right now, even though those notes weren't written about the Ozarks specifically. Crappie and catfish should still be catchable around brush piles and current breaks on the Osage arm. Expect a technical, deep-water bite this week rather than an early-morning topwater blowup, with the Last Quarter moon favoring a shorter, more concentrated feeding window around dawn and dusk.
Texoma stripers and Eufaula bass push deep as August heat sets in
No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for Lake Texoma or Lake Eufaula this cycle, and none of today's angler intel names either lake directly, so this report leans on the seasonal pattern most fisheries nationwide are reporting right now. Per Wired 2 Fish's August lure roundup, bass across the country have gone full post-spawn, with water temps peaking for the year and fish holding as deep as they'll get all season, a pattern that typically hits warm Oklahoma reservoirs like Texoma and Eufaula hard by early August. Forward-facing sonar continues to reshape how anglers locate suspended fish rather than working bottom structure alone, per Fishing the Midwest's recent coverage. Expect a tougher, deeper bite on largemouth and striped bass, with catfish staying the more dependable target through the heat. Check Oklahoma regs before harvesting, and confirm conditions locally before you launch since we don't have a direct read on either lake this cycle.
Tennessee River bass slide deep as Alabama's dog days set in
No live buoy or gauge readings came back for the Tennessee and Coosa system this cycle, so today's read leans on seasonal pattern and regional bass activity rather than a fresh temp or flow number. Wired 2 Fish's August lure roundup notes that fish across the country are full-blown post-spawn by now, pushed as deep as they'll get all year, with surface temps topping out well north of 80–100 degrees in many watersheds — a pattern that lines up with what Tennessee River system anglers typically deal with heading into August. B.A.S.S. News highlighted the strength of the Tennessee River system this season, pointing to Hayden Marbut's run through Pickwick, Wheeler and Guntersville as evidence the smallmouth-and-largemouth mix on that chain is still producing quality bags. Expect largemouth and spotted bass to be holding tight to deep structure and current breaks, with catfish staying active on the bottom through the heat. Check current TVA and Alabama Power generation schedules before launching, since no live flow data was available for this report.
Raritan Bay fluke bite delivers pool winners as sea bass stay hot
Water temps held at 75°F on NOAA buoy 44065 overnight, and the fluke bite in Raritan Bay stayed locked in — Capt Ron's Atlantic Highlands NJ put anglers on quality fluke this week, with Justin taking over the monthly pool lead at 5lb 1oz and Cobie logging four keepers for high hook. Sea bass are mixed into the same drifts, and Blue Chip Sportfishing reports sea bass fishing "red hot," with boats limiting out on nearly every trip. Bluefish remain a steady presence — Grumpys Tackle notes bluefish and the occasional striped bass working bunker in the surf south of the bay, while croaker and spot fill out the bay bite. Wind is running around 16 mph, keeping drift speed up on the open boats, and current plus 10oz-plus leads are needed to hold bottom during faster tide stages, per Capt Ron's crew.
Lake Mead stripers slide deep as peak summer heat holds
No fresh buoy or river-gauge readings came through for Lake Mead or the lower Colorado this cycle, and none of the angler-intel sources available today covered Nevada or striper-specific conditions directly, so this report leans on the seasonal pattern anglers typically see here in early August. Striped bass are usually well into their post-spawn slump by now, holding deep below the thermocline as surface temps run into the 80s, with the more consistent bites coming at first light, last light, and after dark as shad move. Largemouth and smallmouth bass tend to follow the same deep, structure-oriented pattern through peak heat, while catfish generally stay a steadier producer than the bass species this time of year. We're treating the species status below as a seasonal baseline rather than a confirmed bite report, since no direct testimony on this water came through today. Check current lake level and flow before heading out.
Winnipesaukee smallmouth push deep as August heat settles in
August has fish across the country pushed into the deepest water they'll hold all season, per Wired 2 Fish's national lure roundup this week — a post-spawn pattern that typically applies to Lake Winnipesaukee's smallmouth and largemouth too. No NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings are currently available for this stretch of water, so today's report leans on seasonal norms and regional New England intel rather than direct lake data. The Fisherman's New England Freshwater column reports smallmouth still producing in nearby Massachusetts waters like the Congamond Lakes and Artichoke Reservoir on deep drop-edges, docks, and Ned Rigs — patterns that translate reasonably well to Winnipesaukee's rocky points and deep structure this time of year. Largemouth activity in the region has held up on slow-worked soft plastics along cover. Lake trout and landlocked salmon, both Winnipesaukee staples, typically settle into cold, deep basins by early August. With the moon in its Last Quarter, low-light dawn and dusk windows are generally the better bet.
Yellowstone and Snake cutthroat demand precise drifts as summer heat builds
With water temperatures climbing through late July and into August, presentation is doing more work than fly pattern selection on the Yellowstone, Snake, and Madison systems. Hatch Magazine's veteran Henry's Fork, Yellowstone, and Madison guide notes that most anglers misjudge how far to lead a rising trout, a timing error that costs more takes than fly choice this time of year. Trout Unlimited's reporting on drought across the Rockies and Southwest flags low snowpack, drying reservoirs, and heat-driven hoot-owl restrictions as a recurring theme for coldwater fisheries region-wide this summer, a signal worth watching for Yellowstone-area anglers as well. Cutthroat and rainbow trout are still responding to careful dry-fly drifts during cooler morning and evening windows, while browns are pulling tighter to cover and deeper runs as afternoon temperatures peak. Check current state regulations before fishing midday, since heat-related closures are common practice across the region in years like this one.
Merrimack River Smallmouth Keep Biting Into Early August
Smallmouth bass are keeping Merrimack River anglers busy, with Roger Aziz Jr. tallying fish up to 3 pounds on Aziz-rigged Senkos and Yamamoto Cut Tail Worms this week, per The Fisherman — New England Freshwater. The same report notes anglers picking up big white catfish at Artichoke and Brockton Reservoirs in the Merrimack Valley, a fish that gets less attention than bass but is clearly active right now. No fresh word came in from Lake Winnipesaukee itself this week, and with no buoy or gauge readings available for the region, we're leaning on regional intel over hard numbers for now. Early August typically pushes largemouth and smallmouth into deeper, structure-oriented post-spawn patterns as surface temps peak, per Wired 2 Fish's general seasonal lure guidance — worth trying deep drop-shot and jig presentations on Winnipesaukee's rocky points while river smallmouth keep responding to soft plastics.
Lake Cumberland stripers, tailwater trout settle into summer rhythm
No NOAA buoy or USGS gauge data came back for Lake Cumberland or the Cumberland River tailwater this cycle, and this week's regional intel sweep turned up nothing specific to this stretch of Kentucky, so this report leans on typical early-August patterns for the fishery. Lake Cumberland's striped bass, the lake's signature species, are usually pushed deep and suspended over the thermocline by now, a post-spawn pattern Wired 2 Fish's August lure roundup describes as standard nationwide once summer water temps peak. The tailwater below Wolf Creek Dam keeps running cold on dam discharge, which typically holds rainbow trout in a stable bite regardless of surface heat upstream. Smallmouth and walleye in the lake proper should be doing the same deep, structure-oriented thing; anglers elsewhere are locating suspended fish with forward-facing sonar this time of year, per Fishing the Midwest. Treat this as seasonal expectation, not confirmed local activity, until fresher reports come in.
East Texas bass slide deep as August heat holds
Lake Fork Trophy Bass's August 2026 report describes a summer of 100-plus-degree days that hasn't knocked the bass bite down, with lake levels holding steady and plenty of cover keeping fish active despite the heat. Toledo Bend and Sam Rayburn sit in the same East Texas basin and are tracking the same weather pattern, so anglers there should expect a comparable post-spawn, deep-water setup this week. Wired 2 Fish's August lure roundup backs that up on a broader scale, noting that by August most bass across the country are full-blown post-spawn and pushed as deep as they'll get all year, which typically means offshore structure, ledges, and deeper brush outproduce the bank. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for Toledo Bend or Sam Rayburn this cycle, so treat water temp and flow as unconfirmed and lean on early-morning and late-evening windows to beat the day's peak heat.
Delta anglers shift deep as August heat locks in
NorCal Fish Reports, which tracks conditions across the Delta and Central Valley waterways, heads into peak-summer August with no fresh buoy or gauge readings logged for this cycle, so today's outlook leans on typical seasonal patterns for the region. Water temperatures on Sacramento-Delta waters are typically at or near their yearly high in early August, and fish across the country are largely post-spawn and pushing to their deepest structure of the year, per Wired 2 Fish's August lure outlook. For the Delta, that generally means striped bass and largemouth bass sliding onto deeper tule lines, river bends, and submerged structure during the heat of the day, with better windows at dawn, dusk, and through low-light periods. Sturgeon and catfish tend to stay consistent bottom-bite options through hot water when bass activity slows. Treat today's report as a seasonal-pattern guide rather than a live conditions snapshot until fresh buoy or gauge data comes back online.
Colorado and Salt River anglers push deeper as summer peaks
No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for the Colorado and Salt River systems this cycle, so this report leans on seasonal pattern rather than a live number. Wired 2 Fish's August lure roundup notes that fish nationwide are done spawning and full-blown post-spawn by early August, pushed as deep as they'll sit all year as water temps peak for the season — a pattern that typically holds on Arizona's warmwater fisheries too, with largemouth and smallmouth bass sliding off main-lake and river structure into deeper channel bends, ledges, and shade during daylight hours. Catfish tend to be the most dependable bite through the heat, feeding actively after dark and into early morning. Trout below the dams are usually the outlier: tailwater stretches run cooler and more stable than the open river, so that bite typically holds steadier through August than the warmwater fishery does. Check current Arizona regs before harvesting anything.
Columbia River anglers eye the fall Chinook build as August opens
No buoy or gauge readings came through for the Columbia River system this cycle, and none of today's angler-intel feeds carried a direct bite report for salmon or sturgeon on the river. What we do have is circumstantial: IFish.net's Oregon forum board logged several fresh posts from around the state this week, including a lost salmon rod near Newport and lost gear at the Wilson River and Lake Hebo, which at least confirms boats and bank anglers are actively working Oregon waters right now, even if none of those posts describe what's biting. Early August on the Columbia is typically when the fall Chinook run starts building behind the tail end of the summer push, with sturgeon activity holding steady on catch-and-release effort in most stretches. Until we get a confirmed report naming techniques or numbers for this stretch, treat today's outlook as seasonal expectation rather than an on-the-water account, and check current ODFW regulations before targeting either species.
Truckee-area trout keep biting ahead of the midday heat
Wet-wading conditions dominate the Eastern Sierra trout scene right now, with the Truckee River running close to its natural channel per Reno Fly Shop (NV), which put flows around 350 cfs on the Reno gauge in its late-July report. Hot air temperatures are pushing the trout's peak feeding window earlier in the day, and the shop is steering anglers toward the California side upstream of town where water stays cooler and fish stay more willing through the morning. A separate on-the-water note from the same shop mentions anglers having good luck targeting carp on the fly in addition to trout, a fun midsummer side game when the trout bite goes quiet by midday. With a Truckee Trout Spey Clinic scheduled for July 31 and August 1, guide attention on the river is high this stretch, which is typically a good proxy for consistent conditions. Get out early, focus west of town, and expect the bite to fade fast once the sun gets high.
Post-spawn smallmouth and tailwater trout settle into August patterns
Wired2Fish's August lure roundup notes most U.S. bass are now full-blown post-spawn, holding as deep as they'll get all year, a pattern that typically shows up on Pittsburgh's three-rivers smallmouth water by early August. No fresh buoy or gauge telemetry came through for the Allegheny basin this cycle, so we're working from seasonal norms rather than a live reading until local data lands. The bigger Pennsylvania headline this month is regulatory: per Wired2Fish, the PA Fish and Boat Commission approved raising the statewide trout minimum harvest size from 7 to 9 inches, effective January 1, 2027, aimed at protecting wild brook trout. It doesn't change anything on the water today, but it's worth knowing before planning fall trips. Tailwater trout below Pittsburgh-area dams should still respond to typical low-flow, low-light presentations, while main-stem smallmouth and walleye settle into the deep, subtle approach anglers nationwide are leaning on right now.
Rangeley smallmouth bass fire up as trout push deep
No buoy readings, gauge data, or Maine-specific dispatches came through this cycle, so this report draws on typical early-August patterns for the Rangeley Lakes and Androscoggin headwaters rather than fresh testimony. By now, surface water on the bigger lakes has warmed enough that landlocked salmon and lake trout have typically pushed down toward cooler, oxygenated water, leaving early morning and late evening as the reliable windows for anything still working the shallows and inlet mouths. Smallmouth bass, well past their spawn, are usually the most consistently active species region-wide right now, working rocky points and drop-offs. Nationally, Wired 2 Fish's August lure roundup notes most gamefish are full-blown post-spawn and sitting as deep as they'll get all year, a pattern that lines up with what Rangeley's coldwater species are typically doing. Fish structure with confidence, and downsize presentations if the bite feels sluggish through midday heat.
Moosehead Lake anglers shift tactics as August heat pushes fish deep
No fresh buoy or gauge telemetry came in for the Moosehead Lake and upper Penobscot corridor this cycle, and this week's tackle-shop, charter, and state-agency feeds didn't carry a direct report from the region either, so this update leans on typical early-August patterns rather than a specific bite report. By early August, surface water on Moosehead has typically warmed enough that landlocked salmon and lake trout (togue) push down toward the thermocline and are usually found by trolling deep rather than casting the surface. Smallmouth bass, by contrast, tend to stay the most consistently catchable species through the heat, working shoreline structure and rocky points on topwater and soft plastics into the morning and evening. Brook trout fishing typically slows in the lake itself this time of year and shifts toward colder feeder streams and the upper Penobscot's moving water. Check current Maine IF&W guidance before planning a trip, since none of today's feeds confirmed specific conditions.
Driftless browns key on streamers as summer heat pushes bite early
MidCurrent's Tying Tuesday roundup this week highlighted a go-to pattern from Root River Rod Co: a pine squirrel jig streamer built to bounce along rocky bottoms in the Driftless Area's tight, technical spring creeks without hanging up — a solid signal for how local tiers are approaching these skinny, brush-choked runs right now. With no fresh buoy or gauge readings available for the region today, we're leaning on seasonal patterns and that direct testimony: early August typically pushes Driftless trout into deeper runs and spring-fed seams as surface water warms, echoing general summer trout-care guidance from Trout Unlimited that Caddis Fly (OR) recirculated this season. Expect browns to keep eating streamers worked tight to cover, while brookies and stocked rainbows get pickier through midday heat. Plan around dawn and dusk windows, and check current WI DNR regulations before harvesting, since size and creel rules vary by stream classification.
Mississippi freshwater settles into deep, post-spawn August patterns
With no fresh NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings feeding this update for the Mississippi and Pearl River systems, we're leaning on seasonal patterns and this week's national lure roundup from Wired 2 Fish, which notes that as of early August, bass across the country have moved into full post-spawn mode, holding as deep as they'll get all year in water that's peaked for the season. That pattern typically holds true on Mississippi's freshwater systems too, where largemouth bass push toward river-channel structure and deep holes once surface temps climb through midsummer. Catfish tend to stay active on the bottom in these same deep runs regardless of heat, while crappie generally slow down and bream stay catchable in shadier, shallower cover. Check current conditions and local reports before heading out, since no site-specific intel came through this cycle.
Erie walleye, smallmouth dial into deep summer patterns
Buoy 45132 on eastern Lake Erie logged 71°F water this morning with a nearly flat lake, wave heights just 0.3 feet under a light 2 m/s breeze, textbook calm conditions for early August. That warmth has fish locked into the deep, post-spawn holding pattern typical of this stretch of the calendar: per Wired 2 Fish's August lure roundup, gamefish nationally are pushing to their deepest water of the year, and Erie/Niagara fish should be following the same script. Fishing the Midwest's Mike Frisch and Bob Jensen note walleye increasingly suspending off bottom rather than sitting tight to points and weedlines, a shift they credit to forward-facing sonar changing where anglers look. Expect smallmouth working deep rock and gravel, perch schooling tight to structure, and muskellunge fishing slow but present on the Niagard River. Check current NY DEC regulations before harvesting anything.
Eufaula bass, Red River cats slide deep as August heat peaks
No fresh buoy or gauge readings came in for Lake Eufaula or the Red River this cycle, so this report leans on the broader seasonal picture. Per Wired 2 Fish's August roundup, water temps across much of the country have hit their yearly peak, sometimes topping 100 degrees, and bass everywhere are done spawning and pushing as deep as they'll get all year. That pattern typically holds for Oklahoma reservoirs and rivers this time of year: largemouth bass slide onto deep structure and suspend off channel breaks, while Eufaula's hybrid striper and white bass schools chase shad in open water during low-light hours. Blue and channel catfish tend to be the most consistent bite on the Red River through peak summer heat, feeding actively after dark. Crappie usually go quiet, holding deep and tight to brush until water starts to cool. Check local shops for current reports before planning a trip.