Fishing reports
19036 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
Wachusett smallmouth bite holds as summer patterns settle in
Smallmouth bass are producing at Wachusett Reservoir this week, with anglers picking up fish on the drop-offs, per a shop report relayed through The Fisherman — New England Freshwater. Largemouth bass are also cooperating regionally, with anglers doing well from canoes and small boats working nearby Massachusetts ponds during the same stretch, the same report notes. Quabbin Reservoir itself doesn't have a direct report in this week's feeds, but early-August conditions across central Massachusetts reservoirs typically push warmwater species like smallmouth and largemouth into classic summer patterns — deeper structure, drop-offs, and morning/evening feeding windows — while lake trout and landlocked salmon, the reservoirs' signature coldwater fisheries, sit deeper and are usually best worked with downrigger trolling once surface temperatures climb through summer. No live buoy or gauge telemetry was available for this report, so treat water levels and clarity as unconfirmed until checked locally.
Kenai and interior rivers enter the sockeye-to-silver handoff
No buoy or gauge readings came back for the Kenai and interior river systems this cycle, and this week's angler-intel feeds carried nothing on the ground here beyond Alaska Sea Grant items on oyster aquaculture and Kodiak kelp research, neither of which speaks to fishing conditions. So this report leans on general seasonal knowledge rather than fresh, source-attributed intel. Early August on the Kenai Peninsula and interior rivers typically sits in a handoff window: the sockeye salmon push that peaks through July is usually tapering off, while the first coho (silver) salmon start showing in lower-river systems later in the month. Rainbow trout and Dolly Varden fishing typically holds up well through this stretch, with fish keying on drifting salmon eggs and flesh below active spawning water. Check current state fishing regulations and local reports before heading out, since exact run timing shifts from year to year and can vary by drainage.
Lake Michigan Salmon Fishery Carries Strong Momentum Into August
Fresh, on-the-water reports specifically from the Grand River mouth stretch of Lake Michigan were thin this cycle, but the WI DNR Lake Michigan Fishing Report's season recap points to a fishery riding real momentum: 2024's harvest included the most Chinook salmon landed since 2012 and a record coho catch of over 210,000 fish, credited to strong alewife survival supporting stocked salmon. That kind of forage base typically keeps the king and coho bite dependable into late summer, though early-August surface warming on Lake Michigan usually pushes salmon and steelhead down into cooler water, meaning downrigger and dipsy-rigged trollers working depth are typically who connects this time of year. Nearshore, smallmouth bass and walleye remain a solid daytime option around structure as water warms. No buoy or gauge readings came through for this report, so treat water temp and clarity as unconfirmed until you're on the water — check Michigan DNR's weekly report or a local marina before running out.
Smokies trout bite shifts to dawn hours as August heat sets in
No NOAA buoy or USGS gauge reading came through for the Western NC/Smokies region this cycle, and no state-agency or shop report specific to these mountain streams surfaced in today's intel sweep either. That's worth saying plainly rather than papering over. What we can lean on is general trout biology that applies directly here: trout are cold-blooded, so their activity tracks water temperature, not air temperature, a point Trout Unlimited made in a piece on summer heat stress. For small freestone streams like the Smokies tailwaters and headwater creeks in early August, that typically means a narrowing feeding window, fish pushed into shade and riffles, and midday activity dropping off hard. Until a fresh gauge reading comes in, treat this as a seasonal-pattern call rather than a confirmed local report, and check current flow and temp before you head out.
Trophy Speckled Trout Highlight Strong Galveston Bay Bite
Mason Monroe and Hunter Thiem highlighted an exceptional west bay outing this week, landing a 30.5-inch, 8.5-pound speckled trout, a 28-incher, and three more trout over 25 inches, per the Galveston Daily News Reel Report, then kept a slot-limit haul of trout and five keeper redfish. Elsewhere along the upper coast, the same column notes fish are still biting despite tougher conditions in some spots, with south Texas reported steady by contacts reached for the column. On the Galveston beachfront, Greg Hagerud and his son found whiting stacked up, though persistent southwest winds are keeping trout tough to reach from the sand. Freeport gets fresh coverage too, with Capt. Abby Webster of Texas Legend Charters joining as a new contributing captain. Down toward Baffin Bay, Laguna Madre, Rockport-Copano, Mesquite Bay, and Aransas Pass, captains including Kevin Navid, Larry Bell, and Kenny Kramer have been filing regular reports through late July, per TexasFishingTips. No live buoy or gauge readings are in this cycle's feed.
Deep structure and cats dominate as Upper Mississippi pools go quiet
No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for the Prescott-to-La Crosse stretch of the Upper Mississippi this cycle, and none of today's angler-intel feeds filed a direct report from these pools, so this update leans on typical early-August patterns for the river system. Walleye and sauger are typically sliding off summer flats onto wing dams, current seams, and deeper main-channel structure as surface temps peak, while channel catfish stay some of the most reliably active fish in the pools through the heat. Smallmouth bass hold tight to rock and current breaks. Worth noting: Wired 2 Fish flagged a decade-long Wisconsin DNR study suggesting individual bass vary in how catchable they are regardless of conditions, a useful frame if the bite feels inconsistent boat to boat. Fishing the Midwest's Mike Frisch also notes forward-facing sonar has shifted walleye anglers away from bottom-only structure toward suspended fish in open water, a technique trend worth trying if traditional spots feel slow.
Slot stripers hold at Augustine Wall as Delaware Bay bluefin bite heats up
Slot stripers are holding tight to the Augustine Wall this week, with peeler crab, shrimp, bloodworms and bucktails dressed with squid strips drawing bites, per Smith's Bait Shop — jigs and rattletrap lures are producing too. NOAA buoy 44009 is reading 76°F water offshore with a light-to-moderate 10 m/s breeze, conditions Eric Burnley (The Fisherman — DE/MD/Chesapeake) describes as cool for late July with steady fishing and little change expected into August barring a tropical system. Flounder action is strong across the Bay: Big Dave's Tackle (The Fisherman — Southern NJ) reports shorts and keepers to 4 pounds on Gulp baits, most fish running 20-22 inches, with bigger flounder to 7 pounds at the Cape May Reef Site and Old Grounds. Woodland Beach pier is loaded with croaker. Offshore, bluefin tuna are firing along the 19 Fathom Line and Sea Isle Ridge on trolled spreader bars and ballyhoo, with mahi activity building around the pots.
Fluke Bite Fires Up Across Long Island as Bluefin Push Inshore
Water temps are holding at 76°F on both the 44025 and 44065 buoys as Long Island's summer flounder bite carries strong momentum into August. On the South Shore, Bob's Bait and Tackle reports fluke action good all week on the wrecks and reefs outside the inlet, while the Fishfinder II found pool fish to 7 pounds in 60-70 feet of water. Out east, the Ebb Tide landed a 10.06-pound fluke south of the Point, and Tight Lines Tackle notes Montauk fluking continuing to improve in size and numbers. Striped bass remain in their typical summer slowdown per White Water Outfitters, but live eels after dark are still producing slot fish, and On The Water reports big bass taking live baits over reef structure in the Sound. Bluefin tuna are scattered within 20 miles of Shinnecock on troll and jig, per Tight Lines Tackle, with LI Outdoorsman noting fish holding closer inshore than the offshore yellowfin.
Low, warm rivers push Colorado trout anglers toward mornings and tailwaters
Colorado's freshwater fisheries are running lean under what Pat Dorsey Fly Fishing calls one of the worst droughts on record, and it's reshaping where trout are worth chasing. Crystal Fly Shop reports a CPW full-day voluntary closure on the Colorado River between Glenwood Springs and Rifle, while the upper Crystal River above Redstone is fishing low, clear and cold — "some of the best fishing of the summer" per the shop. The Roaring Fork is dropping and clearing across its gauges, pushing fish off the banks and prompting downsized fly patterns. Cutthroat Anglers is urging anglers to stop fishing once water hits 68°F to protect stressed trout, and reports on the Upper South Platte/Dream Stream corridor (corroborated by both the drought commentary and the 68°F guidance) put water at 74-76°F with voluntary closures in place there too. Best bets right now: cold tailwaters, high-elevation stretches, and early mornings before the heat sets in.
Roosevelt Lake bass push deep as desert summer heat sets in
No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for the Salt River chain this cycle, and none of today's angler-intel feeds reported specifically from Arizona waters, so this update leans on typical early-August patterns for a desert reservoir fishery. Roosevelt Lake's largemouth and smallmouth bass are the headline draw here, and August heat is the dominant factor: expect fish sliding off primary points into deeper, cooler water during peak daylight hours, with the best windows at first light, last light, and after dark. Tactical Bassin's recent look at August bass behavior nationally reinforces the pattern anglers should expect locally — fish keying on submerged vegetation, offshore cover, and deeper structure rather than the bank once the sun gets high. Crappie should be holding tight to brush and deeper cover, and catfish typically stay active through the warm-water stretch. Check local conditions before launching; monsoon activity can move fast this time of year.
Early hours favor Catskills & Adirondacks trout as habitat work expands
Trout Unlimited's South Branch Moose River Reconnection Project broke ground this summer in partnership with the New York DEC, with a three-to-five-year plan to replace 63 culverts and reconnect 44 miles of native brook trout water in the Adirondacks. No live gauge or buoy data came through for Catskills/Adirondacks streams this cycle, and none of the current angler-intel feeds carried direct on-water reports from these watersheds, so this update leans on seasonal norms: early August typically means low, clear flows and warming water region-wide, which pushes trout into low-light feeding windows and cooler headwater stretches. Brook trout in the small, spring-fed tributaries the Moose River project targets should stay the most catchable option through midday heat; browns and rainbows on the bigger freestone rivers are likely tougher until temperatures ease at dawn and dusk. Check current DEC advisories before fishing warmer stretches this week.
August bite settles into summer patterns on KY's Ohio, Cumberland Rivers
No fresh buoy or gauge readings came in for the Ohio or Cumberland Rivers this cycle, so today's update leans on typical late-summer patterns and current national technique trends rather than a site-specific bite report. Early August on Kentucky's river systems usually pushes largemouth and smallmouth bass off the bank and onto offshore structure and vegetation edges as surface heat holds, a shift Tactical Bassin's latest August breakdown backs up broadly: shallow, shoreline patterns fade first this time of year while offshore cover and dropshot presentations pick up the slack. Walleye and sauger behavior is trending the same way elsewhere, per Fishing the Midwest, with more anglers leaning on forward-facing sonar to find suspended fish rather than camping on bottom structure alone. Catfish remain a dependable summer target on the Ohio's deeper channels and current breaks, typical for this stretch of the calendar. Check a current USGS gauge before you launch, since no live flow data came through for this report.
Inshore Bluefin, Keeper Fluke Lead Jersey Shore Bite
Keeper fluke are coming from the rivers and reefs while bluefin tuna are hitting jigs and poppers inshore, per OTW Northern New Jersey's July 30 report — party boats there are also stacking 6-to-10-pound bluefish on diamond jigs. Sea bass fishing has been especially strong: Blue Chip Sportfishing out of Belmar says trips are 'limiting out' almost daily. Fluke remain the backbone of the summer bite south of there too — Capt Ron's in Atlantic Highlands logged multiple keepers over 5 pounds this week, and Grumpys Tackle notes steady surf fluke on bucktails and scented soft baits. Offshore, The Fisherman's NJ/DE Offshore desk has bluefin in the 40-to-80-pound class showing at the East Lump and 19 Fathom Line on ballyhoo and spreader bars, with mahi activity building around the Sea Isle Ridge pots. A rare tiger shark also came out of the NJ surf this week, per On The Water. Waning gibbous moon; check the local marine forecast before running offshore.
Spring Creek, Penns Creek trout lean on terrestrials this August
Pennsylvania's limestone fisheries are heading into a regulatory shift flagged this week by Wired 2 Fish: the Fish and Boat Commission has approved raising the statewide minimum trout harvest size from 7 to 9 inches, effective Jan. 1, 2027, the first change to the rule in more than four decades and one aimed squarely at protecting wild brook trout, the species Spring Creek and Penns Creek are best known for. No direct reports came in from either stream this cycle, so treat conditions as typical for early August on spring-fed limestone water: steadier, cooler flows than nearby freestone streams, with fish holding tight to spring seeps and deeper runs through the afternoon heat. PA Fish & Boat's Biologist Reports and stocking pages remain the best source for water-specific updates and current regs. Expect low, clear water and selective fish, small dries and terrestrials working best in low light, subsurface nymphs once the sun climbs.
Peak marlin season builds in Hawaiian waters as summer bite matures
No NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings came through for Hawaiian waters this cycle, and today's intel sweep turned up no direct on-the-water catch reports either — Hawaii Fishing News, the state's official record-keeper of tide, moon, and catch data, didn't post a fresh conditions update in this pull, and this week's Hawaii Sea Grant coverage focused on Pacific policy fellowships and international collaboration rather than fishing reports. In the absence of grounded, source-attributed "what's biting" intel, we're falling back on typical early-August patterns for the islands: this is generally peak season for blue marlin and other billfish off the Kona coast and around the main islands, with yellowfin tuna (ahi) and wahoo (ono) both typically active on trolled lures along current edges and drop-offs, while the mahimahi run usually tapers by this point in summer. Check local shops and charter logs before planning a trip.
Largemouth bite holds strong as CT anglers work summer cover
Largemouth bass across nearby New England ponds are locked into classic early-August patterns, and Connecticut's inland waters are running the same script this week. Per The Fisherman — New England Freshwater, anglers working Massachusetts ponds near the CT border found bass pushing into shallow cover on Senkos, Spooks, poppers, and frogs worked over and through emerging vegetation, while smallmouth bass held tighter to deep drop-offs in six to twenty feet of water. Pickerel and panfish rounded out mixed-bag days in weedy coves along the same reports. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for CT inland waters this cycle, so treat water temp as seasonally warm until you check a local reading yourself. Trout activity typically slows statewide once water warms into summer, so early mornings, shaded stretches, and deeper holdover pools are the better call if you're chasing trout. Bass and panfish remain the steadier bet through the dog days.
Hill Country bass and stripers push deep as summer heat lingers
Texas Parks & Wildlife has paused its statewide weekly fishing reports while it retools the format, per My Canyon Lake Fishing, leaving Travis, LBJ, and Buchanan without a fresh official read this week. No NOAA buoy or USGS gauge data came back for the Highland Lakes chain today either, so treat the species notes below as a seasonal baseline rather than a live reading. Early August on these reservoirs typically means largemouth and smallmouth bass sliding off the bank onto submerged vegetation, points, and offshore structure as the shallow bite fades in the heat — a pattern Tactical Bassin has been highlighting all month for summer bass generally. Striped bass and white bass tend to school and suspend over deep water and main-lake structure this time of year, with catfish picking up more of the night bite. Nearby Canyon Lake, a separate Central Texas reservoir, is running about 8 feet higher than this time last year per My Canyon Lake Fishing, a decent regional signal that Hill Country lake levels are in better shape than 2025.
Sea Bass and Fluke Keep NJ Anglers Busy as Striper Bite Heats Up
Sea bass fishing is red hot up and down the Jersey coast right now, per Blue Chip Sportfishing, which reports limiting out on almost every trip alongside a shark bite that has busted wide open, including three released mako sharks in a single day. Fluke action is also building: Capt Ron's out of Atlantic Highlands found quality keepers to 5 pounds this week, while Grumpys Tackle notes steady improvement in the surf on bucktails and scented soft artificials. Striped bass are showing well too, with Blue Chip crushing them on every trip even as Grumpys calls the surf bite only occasional. Back in the bays, croaker and spot remain plentiful per Grumpys, and Fishermans HQ on LBI reports croakers cooperating even when weakfish and kingfish stayed quiet on shedder crab. No direct reports came in from the Delaware Bay side this cycle, so treat this as a statewide read on the pattern.
Mille Lacs walleye anglers lean on FFS to unlock summer patterns
Forward-facing sonar keeps reshaping how Midwest anglers find summer walleyes, per Fishing the Midwest's Mike Frisch, who notes that fish once assumed to hug bottom and structure are now regularly found suspended off traditional spots. That shift matters for Mille Lacs Lake in early August, when walleyes typically settle onto mid-depth structure and open-water suspension as the thermocline sets up. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for this update, so we're leaning on regional technique reports rather than a live temp check. Jason Mitchell Outdoors highlights trolling crankbaits as a producer for covering water and finding active fish, while AnglingBuzz's rundown of "timeless" walleye and smallmouth baits backs jigs and livebait rigs as still-reliable options even with FFS in play. Smallmouth bass, pike, and panfish round out the lake's summer mix, with weed-edge and deep-structure patterns typical for the date. Check state regs before harvesting.
Panfish and bass keep biting as NY trout dodge summer heat
Panfish are keeping anglers busy across New York waters this week, with bluegill and pumpkinseed providing steady action even in the summer heat, per the NY DEC's Fishing Line (July 31 issue). Black bass season, which opened statewide as warming water pushed the bite into gear (per the DEC's June 12 issue), continues to produce for Hudson Valley and Finger Lakes anglers working shallow cover and emerging weed edges. Trout and salmon are the exception: the DEC's July 17 issue flagged summer heat stress on cold-water species, with fish pushed into deeper, cooler refuges and anglers urged to target early morning or spring-fed stretches. Elsewhere in the state, Lake Erie's walleye bite has been red hot for Buffalo-area charters, a reminder that New York's fisheries are running strong heading into August even as inland trout waters need a gentler touch.
Western Basin walleye anglers lean on electronics as summer structure bite sets in
No fresh buoy or gauge readings came in for the Western Basin this cycle, so today's read leans on established late-summer walleye behavior for Lake Erie's western end. By early August, Western Basin walleye typically hold tight to bottom structure and reef complexes as the water column stratifies, suspending over deeper basin water during bright midday hours and sliding shallower at dawn and dusk. Fishing the Midwest's Mike Frisch notes that forward-facing sonar has reshaped how many Midwest walleye anglers approach location this season, moving away from the old assumption that walleye stay strictly bottom-oriented near points and weedlines and toward marking and targeting suspended fish directly — worth trying on Erie if bottom presentations go quiet. Perch and smallmouth bass typically hold near reef edges and rockpiles through August, while white bass schooling activity usually slows from its early-summer peak. Check Ohio regs before harvesting, and confirm the current thermocline depth locally before committing to a pattern.
Heat restrictions spread as Holter Lake gives up a trophy pike
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks tightened hoot-owl restrictions again on July 29, adding to closures already covering the Big Hole, Gallatin, East Gallatin, Jefferson, Madison and Ruby Rivers as rising water temperatures push trout into survival mode during the 2 p.m.-to-midnight window; the lower Madison and a stretch above Hebgen Reservoir have carried similar limits since mid-July, and one section of the Madison remains closed outright. On the Missouri River system, Holter Lake produced a strong bite for National Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame anglers Steve Pennaz and Jim Kalkofen, who landed rainbows in the 2-4 pound range on their first day before boating and releasing a 48-inch, 35-pound-class northern pike, per Wired 2 Fish. Flylords Mag notes pike and bass are spreading through the Missouri and Yellowstone basins, adding pressure on native trout fisheries. Early mornings remain the best window before afternoon river closures and midday heat set in.
Wyoming trout bite windows shrink to dawn as August heat builds
No buoy or gauge readings came in for the Wind River or North Platte this cycle, and none of today's angler-intel feeds filed a direct Wyoming report, so this update leans on what's reliably true for the region in early August. Trout Unlimited's recent dispatch on drought stress across Rocky Mountain and Southwest coldwater fisheries is a useful backdrop: as flows drop and water warms through the afternoon, trout activity compresses into the cooler low-light hours, and hoot-owl style restrictions become more common on pressured stretches through late summer. Cutthroat, rainbow and brown trout populations typical of Wind River and North Platte tailwaters are the fish to expect, with feeding windows shifting toward early morning and last light as daytime temperatures climb. We'd treat midday as a rest period for the water rather than the fish this time of year. Check current Wyoming Game and Fish regulations and any active hoot-owl closures before heading out.
Eels and sand fleas keep Bay stripers going as albie season nears
No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through today, so this week's read on Narragansett Bay leans on shop and regional reporting. Saltwater Edge (RI) frames the current stretch as the mid-summer "doldrums" — hot, windy, and better fished in short focused windows than all day long. On The Water's surfcasting desk points to two staples working the beach lip right now: sand fleas (mole crabs) for stripers cruising the wash, and live eels fished on inline circle hooks after dark for the bigger fish. Offshore, OTW Saltwater reports bluefin tuna spread across nearly 280 miles of Northeast water as of July 29, a sign the wider migration is rolling even though that action sits outside the Bay itself. False albacore haven't shown up in this week's intel yet, but On The Water's seasonal albie coverage signals their late-summer push is close. Fluke and bluefish remain the steady bay-water targets while the striper bite holds its early-August pattern.