Fishing reports
6969 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
Blue Crabs and Weakfish Stir as Delaware Bay Eases Into Summer
Grumpys Tackle's shore report notes crab hauls have been strong off local NJ docks and that a couple of weakfish are starting to show in the mix, both classic signs of a Delaware Bay backwater season waking up as water warms into summer. Direct reports from the bay itself were thin in this cycle's angler intel, but corroborating signals from up the coast point the same direction: Blue Chip Sportfishing says striped bass are being crushed on nearly every trip right now, and Grumpys adds that surf bass are back on clams. Fluke remain a mixed bag elsewhere in the state, per Capt Ron's out of Atlantic Highlands and Fishermans HQ on LBI, with Gulp-style baits and bucktails producing best. For Delaware Bay anglers, that regional pattern usually means blue crabs, weakfish, and striper action building through the bay's channels and marsh edges as the holiday week settles in. Check current NJ size and possession limits before keeping anything.
Striped bass, sea bass fire up Raritan Bay and Sandy Hook
Water temperatures crept into the mid-60s off Atlantic Highlands this week, and Capt Ron's reports fluke finally showing quality after a slow start to the season, with several keepers pushing 4-5 pounds landed on bucktails tipped with Gulp sand eels. Just south, Blue Chip Sportfishing says striped bass fishing is 'the best possible' right now, with clients limiting out on nearly every trip, while black sea bass are running red hot with boats getting enough for everyone aboard. Shark fishing has also busted wide open for Blue Chip, including three released Mako sharks on a recent trip. Grumpys Tackle notes the surf bite rebounded with stripers back on clams and fluke working bucktails and soft baits, plus a few weakfish reported and good blue crab hauls in the back bays. Offshore, OTW Northern New Jersey has bluefin tuna running 15-40 miles out, with bluefish and stripers keeping the surf active in the meantime.
UP trout streams settle into steady summer flow near Superior
USGS gauge 04059500 is holding a steady 196 cfs this week, the kind of stable, well-defined base flow that typically keeps Upper Peninsula trout streams wadable and fishable through early July. Direct "what's biting" testimony specific to UP rivers and Lake Superior was thin across this week's feeds, so the species notes below lean on typical seasonal patterns rather than confirmed hot bites — worth flagging rather than papering over. Lake Superior itself is drawing attention for reasons beyond the rod: WI DNR Lake Superior Fishing continues tracking the fast-growing Chequamegon Bay lake whitefish fishery, and Great Lakes Now reports researchers confirming invasive bloody red shrimp have established in a Lake Superior harbor, a reminder of how the big lake's forage base keeps shifting under the surface. Brook trout and lake trout remain the dependable UP summer targets, with lake whitefish pulling more angler interest on Superior than in past seasons. Check the MI DNR Weekly Fishing Report directly for stream-by-stream detail before heading out.
Bass Bite Holds Strong Across Georgia's River Systems This Week
Georgia Outdoor News' Joshua Barber reported this week that "the bass have been biting," with solid catches coming out of lakes and ponds across the state — a pattern anglers on the Chattahoochee and Savannah systems should expect to hold into the weekend. Our USGS gauge on the Chattahoochee (station 02197000) logged 4,280 cfs early this morning, a healthy summer flow that lines up with active Buford Dam generation, so check release schedules before wading the tailwater. Barber's report also tracked the Savannah system at Clyo running 3.5 feet and falling as of July 2, typical for a river settling into its low-summer stage. No water-temperature reading came through on this cycle, so plan trips around early-morning and evening windows as Georgia moves deeper into peak summer heat. Largemouth and spotted bass are the headline bite on moving baits, with Buford tailwater trout and summer stripers rounding out the mix.
Lake Ontario turns on for kings, browns, and lakers alike
Lake Ontario's open-water bite is rolling right now: Strike Zone Charters (Lake Ontario) reports salmon fishing has been very good over the past week, with browns and lake trout mixing in alongside kings. Captains are working 100 to 160 feet down, with preferred depth shifting day to day as wind pushes the thermocline around — Mag Dipsey Divers are producing when fish sit deep, and green, white, and chartreuse e-chip spoons have been the go-to colors. On the river side, the Salmon River gauge is reading a moderate 112 cfs as of early this morning, with no water temperature reading available this cycle. That's typical staging water ahead of the fall king run rather than a river bite yet. Lake trout and browns round out a solid mixed bag for anyone working the open lake this week.
Presque Isle anglers eye steady summer walleye and perch action
Our only hard read this week comes from USGS gauge 04213000, which logged a modest 15.4 cfs early Saturday morning, a low, stable flow typical of high-summer baseflow in the tributaries feeding the Lake Erie/Presque Isle system. Direct "what's biting" reports for the Erie shoreline were thin in this week's roundup, so treat the picks below as seasonal defaults rather than dock-side dispatches. July on Lake Erie typically means walleye holding over deeper structure, smallmouth bass working rock and gravel edges, and yellow perch schooling over mud flats, consistent with typical patterns for this fishery. Steelhead, by contrast, are largely a fall-through-spring tributary fishery here and sit mostly dormant in the open lake through summer. Pennsylvania Sea Grant flagged a June 25 harmful algal bloom webinar held with the state DEP, a timely reminder to eyeball water conditions before wading Presque Isle Bay's warmer, calmer coves this month.
Columbia Basin rivers settle into a steady midsummer warmwater pattern
The USGS gauge on the Yakima system (site 14113000) logged 815 cfs and 62°F early this morning, a solid mid-summer base flow for Columbia Basin water and a temperature range where smallmouth bass and summer steelhead typically stay active without the sluggish behavior warmer water can trigger later in the season. This week's angler-intel sweep turned up little fresh, river-specific chatter for Washington's Columbia and Puget Sound systems - the regional Sea Grant coverage centered on saltwater and estuarine topics (bull kelp, invasive green crab detections, a boater pumpout app) rather than river fishing conditions. That's not unusual between reporting cycles. For the latest creel and stocking specifics, WDFW's statewide fishing and stocking reports remain the best current source; absent fresh bite reports today, we're leaning on typical early-July patterns for this water rather than claiming anything specific was seen on the water this week.
Toledo Bend and Sabine bass dig into shade as summer heat locks in
Louisiana Sportsman's July 1 bass report has anglers working shaded docks and laydowns as peak summer heat pushes fish out of open water, with writer Don Shoopman noting Charles Thompson splitting time between dock cover and deeper structure over at Caddo Lake and Cross Lake, a pattern that tracks closely with what Toledo Bend and Sabine anglers should expect right now. Our only hard reading for the border stretch comes from USGS gauge 08025500, showing a modest 17.7 cfs flow as of Saturday morning, typically a sign of low, clear, stable water with no recent rain pushing through the system. No water temperature reading came through this cycle, but with early July sun baking the region, expect bathwater-warm shallows and a lake full of fish sliding toward wood, dock pilings, and deeper breaks during peak daylight hours. Early morning and late evening windows remain the highest-percentage times to find fish still shallow and feeding.
Delta channels churn as summer bass and catfish patterns take hold
The USGS gauge at station 11455420 logged Delta flow near 13,200 cfs early this morning, a strong push of water through the system as summer heat settles over the Sacramento-San Joaquin system. No region-specific catch reports came through our angler-intel feeds this cycle, so this update leans on established seasonal patterns for the Delta rather than fresh, source-attributed bite details. Typically for early July, largemouth bass hold tight to tules, docks, and submerged brush, feeding hardest in the low-light hours before the sun climbs and flows keep moving. Striped bass activity in the Delta itself often eases this time of year as a share of the population pushes toward the bay and ocean with warming water. Channel catfish, on the other hand, tend to turn on as water temperatures rise, making summer nights a strong bet along deeper holes and current breaks. Check state regulations before targeting any species this week.
Saginaw Bay walleye settle into summer structure patterns
Direct buoy and gauge readings for the Lake Huron and Saginaw Bay corridor came back empty this cycle, and this week's angler intel likewise skipped the bay itself. The closest specific Michigan catch report we have is Wired 2 Fish's write-up of a 48.1-pound catfish taken below the Berrien Springs Dam on the St. Joseph River, a reminder of what the state's rivers can produce, though that fish came from the southwest corner of the state, not the Huron system. With no fresh instrument data or bay-specific reports to lean on, we're falling back on what's typical for early July here: walleye sliding off spawning grounds into deeper, cooler basin water and nearshore reefs, yellow perch schooling over sand and gravel, and smallmouth bass working rock piles and current breaks as surface temps climb. Treat these as seasonal expectations, not confirmed bites, until fresher local reports come in.
Texas catfish stay red-hot as bass push shallow ahead of peak heat
USGS gauge 08211200 logged water at 89°F this morning with flow holding steady near 89 cfs — a textbook mid-summer Texas signature: warm, low, and stable. Catfish are the story right now. North Texas Catfish Guide reports Eagle Mountain Lake running near full with fresh water pushing into the system, and describes fish actively "moving" and "feeding" on blue and channel cats as levels climb, with that same operation noting white bass schooling up on the main lake during comparable early-summer stretches. On the bass side, Tactical Bassin's July rundown points anglers toward power-fishing shallow cover through the cooler hours, while Texas Fish & Game highlights working brush piles with forward-facing sonar to stack up bass and crappie as fish tuck to structure once the sun gets high. Expect a dawn-and-dusk bite window with everything holding tight to cover, brush, and current breaks through the heat of the day.
Summer bass bite holds steady as St. Johns flow stays consistent
USGS gauge 02232000 on the St. Johns River measured a steady 141 cfs flow early this morning, a sign of stable, typical July conditions across Okeechobee and St. Johns waters. With no major weather disruption reported, largemouth bass should keep holding to their usual summer pattern: shallow cover and moving baits at first light before sliding toward deeper structure as the sun climbs. Tactical Bassin's July roundup highlights topwater and soft jerkbaits as go-to picks for this stretch of summer, along with power-fishing shallow cover during the hottest stretches of the day, both techniques that translate well to Okeechobee's grass lines and the St. Johns' vegetation edges. Bluegill and channel catfish activity typically holds steady through midsummer regardless of bass mood, while crappie fishing usually slows until water cools in fall. We're not seeing region-specific catch reports this cycle, so treat today's outlook as seasonal baseline rather than a hot bite confirmation.
Kennebec and Penobscot anglers adjust to strong summer flows
A Kennebec-basin gauge (USGS 01046500) logged 4,910 cfs early Saturday morning, a strong push of water for the first week of July that's likely pinning smallmouth bass and chain pickerel tight to structure rather than roaming open water. No water-temperature reading came through with this cycle's data, so we're leaning on seasonal norms: smallmouth should be feeding hard, and Tactical Bassin's July rundown of top bass baits (moving baits early and late, slower presentations through the heat of the day) is a reasonable starting point for the Kennebec and Penobscot's warmwater stretches. Landlocked salmon and brook trout typically slide deeper or retreat to cool tributary mouths once flows and daytime temps climb like this, so don't expect much surface action from either species right now. Fishing the Midwest's reminder to work the weedline applies directly to pickerel and bass holding along grass edges in these systems this time of year.
Smokies trout push to dawn hours as summer warmth sets in
Streams gauged at USGS site 03512000 are running 188 cfs and 71°F this morning, a notch warmer than trout prefer as peak summer sets in. Trout Unlimited raised this exact concern this week, noting trout are cold-blooded and that warm water carries less dissolved oxygen, so fish grow stressed and lethargic once afternoon temperatures climb. The same feed's drought-season guidance calls for anglers to fish early, keep fights short, and consider stepping away from already-stressed water when temps push into the mid-60s and above. For Western NC's high country trout, that points to the first few hours of daylight as the best window before the thermal load builds through the day. Rainbow trout are still willing to chase terrestrials and nymphs at dawn; brown trout activity slows as water warms; brook trout, the most temperature-sensitive of the three, are best left to cooler high-elevation feeder streams until conditions ease. Check state regulations before harvesting anything this time of year.
Summer pattern settles in on Santee and Lake Murray for bass and cats
The USGS gauge feeding the Santee system was reading a steady 95.6 cfs early this morning, a modest, stable summer flow that favors normal boat traffic and clear-water sight-fishing over the next few days. With no fresh SC-specific angler reports in this week's feed, we're leaning on typical July patterns: largemouth keying on topwater and moving baits in the low-light hours, per Tactical Bassin's July bait rundown, before sliding toward shade and deeper cover as the sun climbs. Fishing the Midwest's reminder to work the weedline applies here too, since summer largemouth on reservoir systems like these hold tight to grass edges and brush once temps peak midday. Santee's blue catfish and Lake Murray's striper population typically stay active this time of year but push deeper and go nocturnal-leaning as surface water warms, so early and late trips should out-produce midday outings this week.
Alabama bass settle into summer patterns as Guntersville, Wheeler warm
USGS gauge 03575100 in the Guntersville/Wheeler system is holding a steady 304 cfs this morning, with no water-temperature reading logged from local sensors this cycle. Direct on-the-water reports specific to Guntersville and Wheeler weren't in this week's feed, but the broader Alabama picture gives a useful read: MLF News has the Bama Division's summer bite heating up at nearby Neely Henry on the Coosa system, with anglers working shallow cover like water willow as bass settle into a firm summertime pattern. That lines up with the seasonal push Tactical Bassin flags for July generally, when rising water temps put bass metabolism into overdrive and aggressive, cover-oriented baits start producing. Expect Guntersville and Wheeler largemouth to be running a similar script this week: grass edges, willow clumps, and current breaks near the stable flow reading above. Smallmouth, crappie, and catfish should hold to typical mid-summer form until a direct report comes in from the lakes themselves.
Merrimack bass lock into summer weed-line patterns
USGS gauge 01073500 is reading a light 105 cfs this morning, signaling typical low, clear summer base flow across the Merrimack watershed, good news for bank access but a reminder to fish early before the sun climbs high. Water temperature wasn't logged at the gauge, but early July in New Hampshire typically means largemouth and smallmouth bass have settled into steady weed-line patterns, the kind of bite Fishing the Midwest's Bob Jensen flags in his seasonal weedline notes, while Tactical Bassin's July roundup leans on moving baits and reaction strikes as metabolisms climb with the heat. Lake trout and landlocked salmon on Winnipesaukee should be sliding deeper as the surface warms, a normal seasonal shift rather than a slowdown. One flag worth noting for anyone working the lower Merrimack: On The Water reported a sewage main break in Haverhill dumping roughly 8 million gallons a day into the river, so check advisories before wading downstream stretches.
Snake River trout turn on as summer flows start to ease
The Snake River near Moran is running 5,710 cfs and 61°F this morning, water squarely in the comfort zone for cutthroat, rainbow, and brown trout as the river works its way down from spring runoff. That temperature supports solid daytime activity rather than the dawn-only bite that shows up once water pushes into the upper 60s. Nothing in this week's angler intel comes directly out of the Yellowstone/Teton corridor, but Field & Stream's report on a record-class brown trout taken from the South Fork of the Snake this season is a reminder the broader Snake River drainage is fishing well right now. Trout Unlimited's standing note that warmer water carries less dissolved oxygen is worth keeping in mind as afternoons heat up this week — fish will still eat, but the comfort window narrows toward morning and evening as summer progresses. Dry-dropper rigs and attractor patterns matched to emerging summer bugs remain the go-to approach on this stretch.
Bass keep biting on the Savannah chain as summer heat settles in
Joshua Barber's July 4 Southern Water Fishing Report for GA Sportsman / Georgia Outdoor News leads with good news for bass anglers: "the bass have been biting this week," with solid reports rolling in from lakes and ponds statewide. His river-gauge roundup had the Savannah at Clyo sitting at 3.5 feet and falling as of July 2, and the USGS gauge at that same location (02192000) is reading a flow of 401 cfs early this morning, consistent with that falling trend. The Georgia Wildlife Blog's Fishing Report continues pointing anglers to its Angler Resources page for stocking updates and species-specific forecasts. On Hartwell and Russell specifically, expect the classic July pattern to hold: fish sliding off the banks toward deeper points, ledges, and thermocline edges as surface water heats up, with the best action clustering around dawn and after dark.
High Water, Hot Bite: Louisiana Bass Anglers Chase the Shade
The Mississippi Basin gauge at USGS site 07374000 logged water in the mid-80s early this morning with flow running well above typical summer stage, a combination that's pushing fish tight to structure across Louisiana's freshwater systems. Louisiana Sportsman — Fishing reports anglers like Charles Thompson working docks at Cross Lake and Caddo Lake specifically for the shade they throw, a pattern holding true statewide as surface temps climb into the mid-80s and largemouth bass slide off open flats. Catfish should stay steady feeders in the stained, high-flow water typical of a swollen Mississippi system, while bream and white perch activity likely tapers during peak afternoon heat. With flows this elevated, expect stronger current seams, more turbidity, and fish relating hard to any hard cover or current break they can find through the Fourth of July stretch.
Summer bass pattern settles onto the Tennessee River chain
USGS gauge 03578500 recorded a flow of just 20.1 cfs early this morning (July 5), pointing to a stable, low-water stretch across the Tennessee River chain as the Chickamauga and Watts Bar pools settle into peak summer conditions. No water-temperature reading came through this cycle, but July on TVA reservoirs typically pushes warm surface layers toward current breaks and shade. Nationally, Tactical Bassin's July bait roundup flags aggressive, high-metabolism feeding this month, with moving baits like soft jerkbaits and topwater working best in low light, while Fishing the Midwest's open-water notes stress working weedlines and mixing techniques as summer progresses. MLF News's coverage of the Bass Pro Tour's eighth-season opener is a reminder tournament anglers nationwide are locked into summer patterns right now. None of this week's feeds carried direct, on-the-water reports from Chickamauga or Watts Bar specifically, so treat the species notes below as seasonal defaults rather than confirmed local bites.
Taneycomo trout turn on as generation eases into July
Trout fishing on Lake Taneycomo has picked up over the last couple of weeks, according to Lilleys Landing's July 4 report, as heavy June generation from a wet watershed finally subsides. That runoff had made things tough on bank and dock anglers all last month, with Lilleys Landing describing operators running generation "anywhere" from light to heavy depending on power demand and mini-fronts moving through with rain and wind. The shop expects July to bring more no-generation windows, especially mornings, which should open up wading and bank access that heavy flows shut down. No USGS flow or temperature readings came through for gauge 07054410 this cycle, so treat generation timing as the primary variable to plan around rather than a specific number. Afternoons and evenings may still see heavier releases per the shop's report, so mornings look like the higher-percentage play for now.
Smokies tailwaters stay the summer trout refuge as heat builds
No fresh reading came back from USGS gauge 03565000 today, so we can't hand you a specific flow or temp number for the Hiwassee or Caney Fork this week — plan around the dam's generation schedule rather than a static number. What we can lean on is the calendar: terrestrial season is in full swing, and Trout Unlimited's latest tip notes trout are keying on hoppers and beetles blown or crawling into the current, a pattern that plays well on these tailraces once flows settle between releases. Trout Unlimited also flags the flip side of summer heat — as cold-blooded fish, trout in water pushing into the mid-60s and warmer struggle with lower dissolved oxygen, which is exactly why the dam-fed cool water on the Hiwassee and Caney Fork stays the go-to escape from free-flowing streams this time of year. Expect rainbows and browns to hold tight to current seams and shaded structure, with smallmouth still workable in the softer water below the tailrace.
Low tailwater flows set up a quiet wade for Cumberland trout
The Cumberland River tailwater below the dam is running a scant 16.4 cfs per USGS gauge 03413200 as of early this morning, a minimal-flow stage that points to no active turbine generation right now. That's the one hard data point we have for this stretch today, no water temperature reading came through, and none of the angler-intel feeds available this cycle mentioned Lake Cumberland or the tailwater by name. Rather than guess at what's biting, we'll stick to what's typical for this fishery in early July: low, stable releases like this usually mean wadable water and clearer sightlines for tailwater trout, while the lake itself is deep into its summer pattern for striped bass and smallmouth. Check current generation schedules before you head out, since a change to a higher release can shift both wading conditions and where fish stage almost immediately.