Fishing reports
19070 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
Salmon action holds steady as Grand River flow settles in
The Grand River gauge at Grand Rapids (USGS 04119000) read 1,420 cfs early Saturday, a steady late-summer flow feeding the river-mouth push where Lake Michigan salmon, steelhead, and smallmouth typically stage this time of year. Direct on-the-water bite reports for the Lake Michigan/Grand River corridor were thin in this cycle's feeds, so treat the species notes below as seasonally typical rather than confirmed hot bites — we're leaning on regional context more than fresh local intel today. WI DNR's Lake Michigan Fishing Report underscores how productive the broader fishery has been lately, noting anglers hauled in more than 210,000 coho salmon and over 160,000 Chinook in 2024, the strongest Chinook return since 2012. Elsewhere in the Midwest, Fishing the Midwest keeps pointing anglers toward forward-facing sonar to locate suspended walleye rather than assuming they're glued to bottom structure. No water temperature reading was available from the gauge this run.
Maryland closes striper season, Bay anglers turn to panfish
Maryland has closed striped bass fishing across the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries for all of August, per On The Water — a hard stop for the Bay's headline gamefish right as peak summer effort ramps up. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through this cycle, so we're leaning on the regulatory calendar and typical late-summer patterns rather than a fresh bite report. With rockfish off the table, Bay anglers typically shift effort to white perch, spot, and croaker working structure and channel edges, plus blue catfish in the tidal rivers — all standard August targets, though none were called out by name in this week's regional feeds. Check current Maryland fishing regulations before targeting or handling striped bass incidentally, since release requirements can still apply. The waning gibbous moon keeps tide swings moderate into the weekend, useful for planning early and late feeding windows around whatever species you're chasing.
Offshore bluefin fire up as NH stripers settle into surf mode
Bluefin tuna are lighting up Northeast offshore waters right now — OTW Saltwater's July 29 report describes aggressive fish spread across nearly 280 miles of open water, calling it some of the best action of the season. No fresh NH buoy or gauge readings came through this cycle, so exact Gulf of Maine water temps aren't available, but the regional signal points to a typical early-August pattern: striped bass working the immediate surf line rather than open-water blitzes, with live eels after dark and sand fleas on lighter tides producing for Northeast surfcasters per OTW Surfcasting. That same feed flags a longer-term concern worth tracking, not urgent: soft recent striper spawning success across the broader fishery. Saltwater Edge's July forecast notes (Rhode Island) describe the same 'summer doldrums' feel anglers up and down the coast are working through. Check current NH regs before keeping anything, and plan around dawn and dusk as midday heat sets in.
Smokies trout settle into a dawn-and-dusk dog-days pattern
Western NC's Smokies trout water logged a pre-dawn reading of 65°F and 414 cfs at USGS gauge 03512000 on August 2 — flow that's high enough to spread fish through runs and pockets rather than stack them in a few deep holes. Direct regional shop, captain, or state-agency intel on this specific stretch was thin this cycle, so we're leaning on seasonal fundamentals: trout are cold-blooded, and as a midsummer post from Caddis Fly (OR), drawing on Trout Unlimited material, put it, their feeding windows track water temperature directly rather than the calendar. With overnight water already in the mid-60s, expect afternoon warming to push the most reliable bite toward first and last light, with fish holding tighter to shade, riffles, and current breaks once the sun gets high. Treat species and technique notes below as seasonal defaults grounded in that general trout biology, not confirmed on-the-water reports — none came through the feeds for this specific region this cycle.
Whiting run lights up Galveston beaches as trout wait out the wind
Whiting are stacked up along the Galveston beachfront right now — Greg Hagerud and his son reported full stringers of nice-size whiting on the sand this week, according to the Galveston Daily News — Reel Report. Speckled trout are proving tougher in the same stretch, with persistent southwest winds churning the surf and pushing anglers toward calmer water. Inside Galveston Bay and around Freeport, the Reel Report's new contributor Capt. Abby Webster of Texas Legend Charters filed her first update, adding another voice to what the column describes as fish "still biting despite tough conditions" for those willing to wait out the bite. Down the coast, Texas Fish & Game Magazine notes trout continuing to roam grass flats and redfish working shorelines and nearshore reefs with steady action, while late-summer tarpon and shark opportunities are starting to open up for anglers willing to switch to heavier tackle.
High flow pushes Mississippi pool walleye and cats to structure
The Mississippi River gauge at Prescott (USGS 05344500) logged 12,200 cfs on the evening of August 1 — well above typical late-summer base flow for the Prescott-to-La Crosse pools — which pushes fish off open flats and onto current breaks, wing-dam eddies, and rock structure. We didn't turn up a direct bite report out of this specific stretch this week, so this update leans on typical August patterns for these pools rather than fresh testimony: walleye and sauger sliding onto current seams as water warms, smallmouth working riprap and wing dams, and channel catfish turning more active as flow and temperature climb. Fishing the Midwest's Mike Frisch and Bob Jensen note that forward-facing sonar has shifted a lot of Midwest walleye anglers away from a bottom-and-structure-only mindset toward suspended fish in open water — worth trying if the usual wing-dam spots are slow. Wisconsin DNR research highlighted by Wired 2 Fish also found individual bass vary in catchability regardless of conditions, so don't write off a spot after one pass.
Delaware Bay Stripers Steady as Chesapeake Closure Begins
Maryland closed striped bass fishing in the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries for all of August starting August 1, per On The Water — a conservation step that puts extra attention on Delaware's own summer slot fishery just up the coast. Delaware's recreational striper season runs under a 20-24 inch slot limit that DNREC finalized to stay in line with the coastwide ASMFC plan, according to Delaware Surf Fishing, so anglers working the Bay and ocean beaches should keep a tape measure handy and check current DNREC regs before keeping fish. Access along Cape Henlopen's fishing pier keeps shrinking too — Delaware Surf Fishing notes nearly 200 feet of the pier's end is now fenced off, worth knowing before you plan a trip out there. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came in for this update, so treat water temps as seasonal August-typical until a reading lands. Summer flounder and bluefish should still be working the structure and surf as the slot-limit striper fishery holds through the closure news next door.
Bluefin tuna and fluke keep Long Island rods bent into August
Midshore bluefin tuna are keying on sand eels and squid off Long Island's east end, while fluke are biting steadily from the back bays out to the ocean reefs, per On The Water's July 30 Long Island and NYC fishing report. Striped bass are still producing too, with anglers taking bigger fish on live baits over reef structure in the Sound. The bluefin push has legs, and OTW Saltwater's Northeast Offshore Report from July 29 called it one of the best stretches of the season, with fish spread across roughly 280 miles of open water. Fluke have been building all month; On The Water's July 16 and July 23 reports both noted keeper-grade flounder stacking up from the South Shore bays through Long Island Sound. Bluefish were reported moving in off Montauk two weeks back, though recent reports lean more on tuna and fluke. NY DEC's summer flounder and scup seasons are open; check current regs before keeping fish.
Colorado trout anglers eye early mornings as drought heat squeezes rivers
Our gauge reading came back hot: 78°F water and 1,680 cfs of flow, well above the 68°F threshold Cutthroat Anglers (CO) flags as the point to stop fishing and protect stressed trout. That reading lines up with what shops across the state are reporting. Crystal Fly Shop (CO) notes CPW voluntary closures already in effect on stretches of the Roaring Fork, Crystal, and Colorado Rivers as low, warm water pushes fish into cooler pockets, and flies are being downsized as rivers keep dropping. Pat Dorsey Fly Fishing (CO) has been tracking a drought many consider the worst on record for the state. Anglers Covey Blog (CO) describes the classic "dog days" pattern taking hold, rivers slowing and fish turning lazier through the heat of the day. Bottom line for anglers on Colorado and Arkansas River water: fish early, watch your thermometer, and expect the bite to concentrate into a narrow morning window until temperatures ease.
Roosevelt Lake bass slide deep as summer heat holds on the Salt River chain
Flow at USGS gauge 09498500 held steady at 166 cfs as of Friday evening (Aug. 1) — typical, stable late-summer levels for the Salt River water feeding into Roosevelt Lake, with no spike or drop-off to signal a turbidity or temperature swing. No AZ-specific captain, shop, or agency reports came through our feeds this week, so we're leaning on seasonal pattern rather than fresh local intel — worth noting rather than papering over. Nationally, bass-focused coverage from Tactical Bassin this week is all about August heat management: bass pushing off the bank onto offshore structure and suspending over cover as surface temps climb, with jigs, swimbaits, and dropshot rigs doing the work once fish quit chasing shallow. That pattern typically holds true for Roosevelt's largemouth and smallmouth this time of year. Catfish and striped bass tend to feed best in low light and after dark once daytime water temps climb through August, a general seasonal expectation rather than a confirmed local bite.
Adirondacks brookies get a boost as Catskills flows split thin
Flow readings across the region are running in sharp contrast this week: one Catskills-area gauge holds a healthy 685 cfs, while a second, smaller stream sits at just 50 cfs, a low-water signature typical of early August. Water temperatures weren't reported from either gauge as of late Friday, but Trout Unlimited's July dispatch (carried by Caddis Fly) is a timely reminder that trout are cold-blooded and stress quickly once water warms in thin flows — good reason to fish early mornings and keep fights short on the low tributary. On the conservation side, Trout Unlimited and the NY DEC kicked off the South Branch Moose River reconnection project this summer, a multi-year push to reopen 44 miles of native brook trout water in the Adirondacks. Expect browns and rainbows to hold in deeper runs and shaded pockets through the midday heat, with brookies pushing into cooler headwater feeders. Hatch Magazine's reminder on leading rising fish carefully applies directly to any dry-fly work you find in the calmer, low-light windows.
Summer catfish and sauger patterns take over on KY's big rivers
The USGS gauge covering this stretch of the Ohio-Cumberland system (site 03301500) logged flow near 380 cfs early Saturday morning, a level consistent with typical late-summer base-flow stage for these rivers — no water-temperature reading came through this cycle. No Kentucky-specific captain, shop, or agency reports surfaced in our feeds this week, so this update leans on general seasonal patterns rather than confirmed local bites. August typically has catfish working current breaks and deep holes on both rivers, while national bass-technique coverage from Tactical Bassin and Fishing the Midwest points anglers toward main-channel structure and offshore cover instead of the bank as summer heat pushes fish deeper. Forward-facing sonar continues reshaping how anglers locate suspended fish, per Fishing the Midwest's Mike Frisch, a trend increasingly relevant on Kentucky's reservoir-fed tailwaters too. We'd rather flag the light local reporting than guess at bites nobody's confirmed.
Sea Bass and Fluke Bites Stay Red Hot Along the Jersey Shore
Buoy readings this morning put water temps at 75 to 76°F off the Jersey Shore, with a manageable 3-foot swell and light wind, prime late-summer conditions for the mixed bag showing up on local reports. Sea bass fishing is 'red hot' per Blue Chip Sportfishing, with boats limiting out on almost every trip, and the same fleet says shark fishing has 'busted wide open,' including three Mako sharks released on a recent run. Fluke remains the shore's bread-and-butter: Capt Ron's out of Atlantic Highlands is finding quality fish to open August, Grumpys Tackle reports steady surf improvement on bucktails and soft artificials, and The Fisherman's Southern New Jersey report has flounder spread from the back bays to the Cape May Reef Site, with fish to 8 pounds. Offshore, The Fisherman's NJ/DE Offshore report has bluefin tuna to 80 pounds on ballyhoo and spreader bars as boats prep for the White Marlin Open. Bluefish have also pushed in, per The Fisherman's Northern NJ coverage.
Limestone trout settle into a dawn-and-dusk summer rhythm
The regional USGS gauge (01546500) logged 74.6 cfs early this morning, a flow that sits in the stable range these limestone-fed systems typically hold through summer even as freestone streams elsewhere in the state run thinner. Spring Creek and Penns Creek get their reputation from groundwater input that keeps flows and temperatures more consistent than surrounding watersheds, and nothing in today's reading suggests that pattern has broken. No live water-temperature reading came through with this update, so check a thermometer streamside before extending a fight in the afternoon heat. No shop, guide, or agency report came through this cycle specifically for this stretch, so species activity below reflects typical early-August patterns for spring-fed limestone water rather than confirmed catches. Worth noting for planning ahead: per Wired 2 Fish, the PA Fish and Boat Commission has approved raising the statewide trout harvest minimum from 7 to 9 inches starting January 1, 2027, aimed at protecting wild brook trout on water like this.
Hawaii's Offshore Waters Warm Into Peak Pelagic Season
Buoy 51004 southeast of the islands read 82°F this morning, with 51001 close behind at 80°F and light-to-moderate trades near 18-20 knots across the network — warm, settled water that lines up with Hawaii's typical peak offshore pelagic stretch. This week's angler-intel sweep didn't turn up fresh Hawaii-specific bite reports; Hawaii Fishing News, the state's official record-keeper and moon/tide resource, is the reference point worth bookmarking as the season builds. Absent local reports, we're leaning on seasonal norms: water this warm in early August typically pulls mahimahi, ahi, and ono into range of trollers working blue water and current edges. Saltwater Sportsman's recent note on working weed lines to draw mahi to the boat, rather than hunting them down, is a transferable tactic worth trying on any weed patches or debris lines found offshore. Check state regs before harvesting.
Bass dial into weed edges as rivers run high across CT
The Connecticut River gauge near Thompsonville (USGS 01184000) is reading 74°F and running an elevated 13,000 cfs, a sign of recent rain pushing extra water through the system, while the Quinebaug River gauge (USGS 01193500) sits low and clear at roughly 86 cfs. Statewide, freshwater action has settled into a classic August pattern: per this week's regional roundup from The Fisherman, New England freshwater anglers are finding largemouth and smallmouth bass relating to drop-offs, weedlines, and shallow cover, taking Senkos, buzzbaits, and spinnerbaits, with largemouth also coming off shiners around ponds from canoes. Panfish and chain pickerel are showing as steady bycatch around vegetation and rock structure. With surface temps in the mid-70s pushing bass toward shade and cover, low-light mornings and evenings are producing the most consistent bites, and the bump in flow on the bigger rivers means current seams and eddy lines deserve extra attention this week.
Hill Country lakes settle into typical August summer bite
Flow at USGS gauge 08158000 is running near 1,110 cfs heading into August, though no water-temperature reading came through in this cycle. Direct angler intel specific to Lake Travis, Lake LBJ, and Lake Buchanan was thin in this week's sweep — most Texas freshwater chatter pointed instead to Canyon Lake, a separate Guadalupe River reservoir in the broader Hill Country region, where My Canyon Lake Fishing reported water levels running roughly eight feet higher than this time last year with boat ramps, parks, and lakeside recreation still fully open. For the Highland Lakes chain itself, we're leaning on typical seasonal patterns rather than fresh reports: August usually pushes largemouth bass onto deeper main-lake structure and points, sends white bass suspending over creek channels, and gets channel catfish feeding hardest after dark once surface temps peak. Buchanan's hybrid striper schools are also a reliable summer draw worth checking early and late.
Low water tests South Platte and Arkansas trout, tricos keep firing
Pat Dorsey Fly Fishing calls the 2026 season one of Colorado's worst drought years on record, following a string of lean-water summers dating back to 1975-78, 2002, 2012, 2018, and 2020, and that scarcity is defining the bite on the South Platte and Arkansas tailwaters this week. Cutthroat Anglers reports more than 60% of the Lower 48 in some level of drought with Western snowpacks at historic lows, but notes the fish that remain are active, grouped up, and ready to bite for anglers willing to hike farther or downsize gear. AvidMax's Fly Tying Tuesday lineup of midge emergers and jigged tungsten nymphs reflects that low-water reality: small, natural, fished slow. Gink and Gasoline's account of a South Platte trico spinner fall is a reminder that dense summer mayfly hatches remain a hallmark of these tailwaters even in a dry year. Cutthroat Anglers also flags the welfare line: stop fishing once water hits 68°F.
Mille Lacs walleye go vertical as summer sonar tactics take hold
No direct on-the-water reports from Mille Lacs Lake came through this week's feeds, so this update leans on general late-July walleye patterns for the region plus one relevant technique signal. Fishing the Midwest's Mike Frisch notes in "Up & Away!" that the old assumption of walleyes staying glued to bottom structure doesn't always hold anymore, with Forward-Facing Sonar now showing fish suspended off traditional break lines and weed edges rather than hugging points and turns (per Fishing the Midwest). That matters for Mille Lacs anglers working the lake's classic mud flats and rock reefs this time of year, where warm, sunny days typically push walleye into deeper, cooler water or suspended over open basins during daylight, sliding shallower to feed at dawn, dusk, and after dark. With tonight's full moon, expect a stronger low-light and overnight bite than usual. Live bait rigs and leeches remain a Mille Lacs staple; anglers running sonar to mark suspended fish may have an edge over structure-only approaches this week.
ND walleye buzz builds as anglers eye Red, Missouri structure
Statewide walleye buzz is the story heading into late July, after Wired2Fish reported that 21-year-old Jamestown angler Ethan Bear caught and released a strikingly golden-hued walleye on July 10, only for fellow North Dakotan Jacob Wendel to boat the same fish eight days later — a reminder that big walleye are actively feeding across the state's river and lake systems right now. No live buoy or gauge readings came through for the Red or Missouri River sections we cover this cycle, so treat flow and temperature as unknowns until the next update. Technique-wise, Fishing the Midwest's Mike Frisch and Bob Jensen note that forward-facing sonar has shifted a lot of walleye anglers away from bottom-hugging structure toward suspended fish in open water, a trend worth trying if traditional jigging and live-bait rigs feel slow. Sauger, channel catfish, and smallmouth bass should all be typical summer players on these rivers, though we don't have direct river-specific reports on them this week.
Deep-water patterns take over for Chickamauga, Watts Bar bass
Late-July heat has bass sliding off the bank and stacking on ledges, points, and submerged grass across the Tennessee River chain, the kind of shift Tactical Bassin's current summer coverage flags as the move once shallow fish get pressured out. No fresh NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings came back for this stretch today, so treat water temp and flow as typical late-summer numbers for Chickamauga and Watts Bar rather than a hard reading. Dropshot gear is drawing extra attention right now — Tactical Bassin's recent rundown of summer dropshot tricks covers new baits and rigging built for probing that deeper structure, and Fishing the Midwest's notes on forward-facing sonar are a good reminder that fish location on ledges has moved well past the old bottom-hugging assumptions. Crappie and catfish should hold their usual steady summer pattern on both lakes. With a full moon tonight, expect the sharpest activity to bunch up around dawn and dusk rather than spread through the day.
White River trout bite holds steady through peak summer heat
Arkansas's famed White River and Norfork tailwaters keep pumping cold, oxygen-rich water below Bull Shoals and Norfork dams through late July, which is what keeps rainbow and brown trout active here even as regional air temperatures push toward 90 degrees. No fresh buoy or gauge readings and no Arkansas-specific shop or captain reports came through in this cycle's feeds, so we're leaning on general seasonal knowledge rather than fresh, source-attributed intel for the write-up below. Typically for this stretch of summer, trout fishing on the White and Norfork holds up well on generation days when current pushes bait and stacks fish below dam outflows, while low-water, non-generation stretches call for smaller nymphs and finesse presentations. Warm-water species on adjoining Arkansas River pools, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, and catfish, typically settle into a dawn/dusk pattern as midday heat sets in. Check current generation schedules and state regulations before heading out.
Summer Heat Pushes NY Trout to Cool-Water Refuges as Bass Stay Active
Summer heat is the storyline across New York water this week: the NY DEC's Fishing Line newsletter used its July 17th issue to urge anglers to help trout and salmon find cool water as stream temperatures climb, a clear signal that Hudson Valley trout fishing is shifting toward early mornings and spring-fed stretches. Black bass, by contrast, are holding up well under the heat; DEC's mid-June issue noted the bite was picking up with warmer weather heading into the black bass season, a pattern that typically carries through midsummer. Elsewhere in New York, Brookdog Fishing Co. reported nonstop walleye action on Lake Erie in its July 26th report, evidence that summer walleye patterns are running strong statewide, a good sign for Finger Lakes walleye fisheries too. Musky season, flagged by DEC back in May, is now in its prime midsummer window for the region's toothy-fish chasers.
Cumberland bass slide to deep structure as summer heat holds
Tactical Bassin's latest technique roundup is the clearest signal available for TN & Cumberland waters this week — with no fresh buoy or gauge readings in this cycle, we're leaning on late-July seasonal patterns. Largemouth and smallmouth bass on Cumberland-system reservoirs typically slide off the bank onto offshore structure and submerged vegetation as surface temps hold in summer ranges, the same shift Tactical Bassin describes moving anglers "away from the bank" this time of year. Their dropshot-tricks piece and August bait roundup both point toward finesse presentations working docks, ledges, and deeper cover through the heat. No striper, catfish, or crappie reports crossed our feeds this cycle, so treat those as typical-for-season rather than confirmed hot bites. Tonight's full moon should sharpen low-light feeding windows for stripers and catfish around dawn and dusk. Check current Cumberland-system water levels before you launch.