Fishing reports
19070 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
Tennessee River chain settles into low-flow summer patterns
USGS gauge 03578500 shows discharge holding low at just 22 cfs as of late Friday night, a sluggish flow reading that points to minimal generation on the Chickamauga/Watts Bar stretch through the weekend. No water-temperature reading came through with this cycle's data pull, and none of today's angler-intel feeds carried reports specific to the Tennessee River chain, so we can't attribute a hot bite to any named source right now. That said, late July on TVA reservoirs like these typically means largemouth and smallmouth settling onto river-channel ledges and main-lake points, hybrid striper activity keying off whatever current does move through, and crappie sliding deep to beat the heat. Catfish tend to stay consistent regardless of generation schedule. With flow this light, current-dependent bites (ledge bass, hybrids) may be tougher to trigger until generation increases. Check TVA's release schedule before planning a trip around moving water.
White River trout hold steady as Arkansas summer heat pushes bass deep
Environmental instrumentation for the Arkansas and White Rivers system came back empty this cycle - the nearest USGS gauge (07263620) logged no fresh flow or temperature reading, and no NOAA buoy covers this inland stretch, so today's numbers are a data gap rather than a calm-water signal. That leaves seasonal pattern and national bite trends as the best guide until fresh readings land. Late-July heat typically keeps White River tailwater trout, both rainbow and brown, in a stable bite below the dam even as air temps climb, while Arkansas River smallmouth and largemouth typically slide deeper and slower through midday sun. Nationally this week, Tactical Bassin (blog) pushed dropshot and jig-and-minnow presentations as go-to summer bass tactics for beating the heat, and Fishing the Midwest highlighted working weedlines and forward-facing sonar to relocate summer fish off traditional structure - both transferable ideas worth testing on AR smallmouth staging around deep rock and ledges.
Strong Delta outflow keeps bass and catfish biting through summer heat
The USGS gauge at Rio Vista (site 11455420) logged Sacramento River flow near 40,000 cubic feet per second on July 25, a stronger push than the Delta typically sees this deep into the dry season, keeping current moving through the lower channels heading into the weekend. Delta-specific bite reports were thin in this week's sweep — NorCal Fish Reports lists Delta conditions among its regular regional coverage, though no fresh specifics came through this cycle — so we're leaning on seasonal patterns and general technique intel. Tactical Bassin's latest summer breakdown highlights dropshot rigs and jig-and-minnow strolling as go-to approaches for bass holding on structure and ledges in summer heat, tactics that translate well to Delta largemouth working submerged tule lines and channel drop-offs. Catfish typically turn on as water warms into late July, while stripers and sturgeon tend to slide deeper and slower until temperatures ease.
Snake River & South Fork trout dial in as summer flows run high
USGS gauge 13037500 recorded 13,700 cfs late Tuesday night, confirming Snake River and South Fork flows are still running heavy on summer irrigation releases, with no water-temperature reading currently available from local monitors. Flows at that level typically push feeding fish out of the main current and into softer seam water, back-eddies, and undercut banks rather than the open channel. Regionally, Caddis Fly (OR) has been highlighting peak golden stonefly activity across Western trout rivers this summer, the kind of large-bug hatch that produces explosive dry-fly eats on both freestone and tailwater stretches, with terrestrial patterns like hoppers and crickets also entering their prime window per the same shop's recent tying posts. Gink and Gasoline's recent report from the Owyhee, a fellow Western tailwater, is a reminder that trophy brown trout fisheries in this part of the country are still producing even under demanding, high-flow conditions. Expect line control and precise drifts to matter more than fly pattern this week.
Lake Trout bite steady on Superior as Twin Cities rivers run high
Lake Trout anglers working Lake Superior's North Shore are into a steady bite on 18- to 30-inch fish, per this week's MN DNR Lake Superior Summer Fishing report (July 23), with Coho Salmon in the 16-18 inch range and a few Chinook mixed in on trolled spoons, stickbaits, and flasher flies worked near the thermocline. Surface temps are swinging wildly with wind-driven upwelling, from the low 40s to upper 60s depending on where you are along the shore. Inland, the picture is more about technique than a hot bite: Fishing the Midwest's Bob Jensen and Mike Frisch are pointing anglers toward weedlines and forward-facing sonar for walleyes, while AnglingBuzz highlights timeless walleye and smallmouth baits out of the Brainerd area. We're watching elevated river flows in the Twin Cities corridor (8,640 and 3,160 cfs as of Friday night) that could push fish activity around for a few days.
Ocean salmon trollers stay busy off the Oregon Coast this week
NOAA buoys are reading water temps in the low 60s along the Oregon Coast this cycle, with buoy 46002 at 63°F and buoy 46029, near the Columbia River bar, at 60°F, alongside light winds under 12 knots at all three monitored stations. On the water, the ocean salmon troll appears to be in full swing off Newport, per IFish.net Fishing Reports, where an angler this week reported a salmon rod and flasher rig flying off the back of the boat along Highway 20, a sign of active trolling gear in the water there. Activity was also noted around Tillamook and the Wilson River, per the same forum, though those posts were about lost gear rather than bite reports. Direct shop or charter intel for Oregon Coast bottomfish and crab was thin this cycle, so lingcod, rockfish, and crabbing are graded on typical late-July seasonal patterns rather than fresh reports.
Mississippi Sound anglers eye red snapper season shift
NOAA buoy 42067 near the Mississippi Sound logged winds around 16 mph and air temps near 82°F on its most recent reading, with no fresh water-temp or wave data available this cycle. Direct MS Sound bite reports were thin this week, but coastal activity is picking up in other ways: MS DMR filed notice of new pier and boathouse construction on the Sound at Pascagoula and Ocean Springs, and NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service is proposing to move the recreational red snapper for-hire season start date up to the Friday before Memorial Day, a change worth watching for anyone planning offshore trips out of the Sound. One county over, Pensacola Fishing Forum anglers report solid redfish on wake baits and steady dock-light trout after dark in Blackwater Bay, a signal the broader Panhandle-to-Sound corridor is fishing well even without confirmed local reports.
Hot Gulf water pushes Mobile Bay reds into low-light feeds
NOAA buoy 42012 off the Alabama coast logged water temps at a toasty 85°F early this morning, with light winds around 12 mph keeping seas manageable for a Gulf run. That kind of summer heat typically pushes speckled trout and redfish into low-light feeding windows, a pattern anglers on the Pensacola Fishing Forum describe just over the state line in the Blackwater Bay system, where a July angler logged 16 slot-or-better reds (best at 31 inches) on topwater lures and reported the strongest trout bite coming after dark or at first light around lit docks as water temps push toward "almost boiling." We can't confirm those exact numbers translate directly to Mobile Bay, but the underlying heat-driven pattern likely holds across the connected northern Gulf right now. Redfish and speckled trout should stay catchable working the cooler hours; flounder and Spanish mackerel round out the typical mid-summer lineup.
Salmon bite runs hot off the Central Coast as upwelling chills the water
Ocean salmon fishing has been "nothing short of spectacular" below Point Arena into San Francisco waters this stretch, per Western Outdoor News — Saltwater, with the main limiting factor being wind keeping boats at the dock rather than a lack of fish. That wind is showing up on the buoys: NOAA buoy 46028 off Cape San Martin reads a cool 56°F, buoy 46026 off San Francisco 58°F, and buoy 46042 in Monterey Bay a milder 62°F, with 11 m/s (about 24 mph) winds at the two northern stations pointing to active upwelling. Cooler, nutrient-rich water like this typically pins bait nearshore and keeps salmon feeding. Meanwhile, further south at the Channel Islands Shootout, Western Outdoor News — Saltwater reported only a single lingcod landed tournament-wide, a sign that bite is grinding rather than wide open right now. Rockfish and California halibut should still be catchable around structure and sandy flats for anglers willing to work for it.</br>
Bluefin push into Catalina waters as SoCal surf action rebounds
A 330-pound bluefin tuna hit the deck at Avalon this week, landed by a family on their first trip out with Capt. Chuck Newberry aboard the Wahooson out of Seadawg Sportfishing, per Western Outdoor News — Saltwater, and it signals the long-awaited local bluefin bite is finally within range of the Channel Islands. NOAA buoys back that up, showing water in the low 70s (71°F at buoy 46025, 72°F at buoy 46221) with light wind and modest 3-foot seas at the outer buoy. Lingcod are producing too, with Larry Johnson topping this year's Western Outdoor News Channel Islands Shootout out of Ventura. On the beach, Surf Fishing in So Cal reports the surf has calmed from June's rough stretch, with spotfin croaker and corbina showing real signs of life after a slow July start. Shore anglers chasing sharks or white seabass should also note California's new wire leader and hook-size restrictions before rigging up.
Salmon bite turns 'spectacular' below Point Arena despite gusty winds
Water temperatures read 58°F off San Francisco (NOAA buoy 46026) this week, with a second buoy near Bodega logging steadier breeze near 11 m/s (about 21 knots). Ocean salmon fishing below Point Arena has been "nothing short of spectacular," per Western Outdoor News — Saltwater, with wind the only real limiting factor, keeping even big boats at the dock on the roughest days. When boats do get out, anglers are connecting: regular halibut and striped bass angler Anna Connolly of Lafayette landed her first-ever ocean salmon with Captain Trent Slate of Bite Me Charters this week. With winds running 15-21 knots across both monitored buoys, expect a mix of fishable mornings and blown-out afternoons through the weekend. Striped bass and halibut remain the dependable fallback for days when the salmon grounds are too rough to reach.
Yakima flows hold steady as summer bass and salmon overlap
The Yakima River basin gauge at USGS site 14113000 read 807 cfs and 63°F early this morning, flows and temps squarely in the comfortable range for mid-summer freshwater fishing in the Columbia system. We didn't pull any fresh captain or shop reports specific to Columbia or Puget Sound rivers this cycle, so for on-the-ground bite detail anglers should lean on WA WDFW Fishing Reports, which compiles creel checks and stocking updates from access sites statewide and is the most reliable freshwater resource in-state right now. Absent direct reports, conditions still tell part of the story: 63°F water and moderate flow are typical smallmouth bass territory this time of year, while summer Chinook and steelhead are typically working through Columbia tributaries in late July. Check current WDFW regulations and any temporary closures before targeting salmonids, since summer run timing and harvest rules shift year to year.
Summer heat pushes Toledo Bend bass into shade and structure
Tactical Bassin's fresh feature this week, "How To Catch Bass When Its HOT!," lands at exactly the right moment for anglers working the Toledo Bend and Sabine border, where late-July heat is now the dominant factor in fish position. The nearby USGS gauge (08025500) is reading a modest 7.21 cfs as of this morning, pointing to stable, low-stage flow typical for this point in summer rather than any runoff-driven color change. Direct regional catch reports were thin in today's feed, so we're leaning on seasonal fundamentals: largemouth pushing into shade lines and current breaks during the hottest hours, with Tactical Bassin flagging dropshot and jig-and-minnow strolling as reliable hot-weather producers worth trying on Toledo Bend's ledges and timber. Crappie and catfish typically hold deeper this time of year, while bream stay catchable early before the sun gets high. Expect a classic dawn-and-dusk bite pattern until conditions shift.
Olympic Peninsula rivers hold steady as summer kings settle in
Flow at the region's primary monitoring station sat at 743 cfs early Wednesday morning (USGS gauge 12041200), a level consistent with settled midsummer flow rather than a fresh rain pulse. A second regional station (USGS gauge 12035000) has no current reading, so this update works from a partial picture of peninsula water levels, and no water temperature is being reported at either site this cycle. This week's angler intel didn't include river-specific catch reports for Olympic Peninsula salmon water, so we're leaning on the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife's statewide fishing and stocking reports as the standard pre-trip check for creel data and stocking activity. With flow steady and no storm system in the data, conditions look workable for anglers probing deeper holes for the summer Chinook push that typically builds into peninsula rivers through late July. Confirm river-specific openings and gear rules before heading out.
High Allegheny flows push smallmouth into the eddies
The Allegheny River gauge at Natrona (USGS 03036500) read 13,100 cfs this morning, well above typical summer base flow for the tailwater stretch below Pittsburgh, a clear signal that recent rain has pushed through and left the river faster and off-color than most anglers want for wading. No water-temperature reading came through this cycle, so plan around the flow more than the thermometer today. Pushy, high water like this typically shoves smallmouth bass out of the main current and into eddies, seams, and slower bank flats, where working a dropshot slow and low tends to out-fish reaction baits, a pattern Tactical Bassin has been hammering all summer for this exact heat-and-flow combination. Walleye often slide off the classic points and wingwalls when flow spikes, and Fishing the Midwest's recent notes on forward-facing sonar are a good reminder that summer walleye aren't always sitting where the old rulebook says. Catfish, as a rule, don't mind the extra water at all.
Lake Michigan salmon season holds strong for Indiana anglers
Indiana's Lake Michigan shoreline heads into peak summer trolling season with no fresh buoy or gauge readings in this cycle, so anglers should lean on recent regional trends. The WI DNR Lake Michigan Fishing Report flagged a standout 2024 lakewide season, with anglers landing a record 210,000-plus coho salmon and the best Chinook salmon numbers since 2012, alongside strong steelhead catches, a run the report ties to healthier alewife survival feeding the stocked salmon program. That basin-wide strength typically carries into summer trolling patterns anywhere along Lake Michigan, including Indiana's southern shoreline. Separately, Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant is funding new 2026 seed-grant research specifically targeting southern Lake Michigan, a sign this stretch of water keeps drawing attention. Direct on-the-water intel for the Indiana shoreline itself was thin in this cycle's feeds, so treat the species status below as seasonal expectations rather than confirmed bites, and check conditions locally before running offshore.
Yellowtail and Mutton Snapper Bite Stays Red-Hot in the Keys
Yellowtail and mutton snapper are lighting up the Florida Keys this July, with ALL IN Key West calling this stretch some of the best fishing the captain has seen in 16 years working out of Key West, reporting "huge yellow tails" and "tons and tons of mutton snappers" with July trip availability still open. Bud n' Mary's Islamorada echoes the pattern in its early-summer report, noting tarpon action on the bridges and mahi mahi showing offshore alongside a strong yellowtail bite on the reef. Backcountry and Gulf-side trips are also producing grouper, cobia, and shark per recent charter reports. On the regulatory side, CCA Florida flags a federal court injunction blocking the 2026 South Atlantic red snapper pilot season just before it opened, so anglers targeting red snapper should check current state rules before keeping fish. Overall, we're seeing a textbook Keys summer pattern: warm water, abundant bait, and reef, flats, and offshore action all firing at once.
Chattahoochee trout and Savannah bass settle into summer holding patterns
Direct buoy and gauge readings weren't available for the Chattahoochee and Savannah systems this cycle, so this update leans on statewide angler resources and general seasonal patterns. The Georgia Wildlife Blog's July 17 fishing report pointed anglers toward the state's network of Public Fishing Areas for accessible summer options, and its Angler Resources hub keeps trout stocking reports and species forecasts current for tailwater fisheries like the Chattahoochee's. Bass action on Georgia's rivers typically settles into classic summer rhythms this time of year: Tactical Bassin's recent coverage highlights dropshotting and jig-and-minnow strolling as go-to warm-water techniques when fish push deep or tuck into shade, while Wired 2 Fish notes the stunted-bass dynamics common in smaller, pressured impoundments. Expect largemouth and spotted bass to favor low-light hours, with bream and catfish holding as steady producers through the heat. Check current stocking updates and water releases with GA DNR before heading out.
Hartwell and Russell settle into deep-structure summer patterns
No fresh buoy or gauge readings came back for the Hartwell/Russell stretch of the Savannah chain this cycle, and this week's angler-intel feed didn't carry a direct report from either lake, so this update leans on the seasonal pattern typical of Piedmont reservoirs in late July. Tactical Bassin's latest hot-weather breakdown, general summer advice rather than a GA-specific report, is the closest technique guidance in the feed: shallow fish tuck into shade and emerging cover during the day, deep fish group up on ledges once the sun climbs, and dropshot or jig-and-minnow strolling both produce when the bite turns finicky. For Hartwell and Russell, that typically maps to spotted and largemouth bass holding on river-channel ledges and brush, with stripers and hybrids pushed toward the thermocline and biting best in low light. Crappie usually go quiet in the heat, holding tight to deep brush. Verify current conditions locally before you launch.
Summer heat pattern settles over Okeechobee and St. Johns bass water
No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for Okeechobee or the St. Johns this cycle, so this report leans on seasonal pattern and general technique intel rather than fresh local numbers. Per Tactical Bassin's latest breakdown on hot-weather bass tactics, summer heat is pushing shallow fish into shade and current breaks during low-light windows while schooling fish group up around deeper structure through the middle of the day — a pattern that tracks with typical late-July behavior on both Okeechobee and the St. Johns. Expect largemouth bass to bite best on early topwater and dusk moving baits before sliding to deeper vegetation edges, ledges, and channel structure once the sun gets high. Panfish and black crappie tend to hold steadier through the heat along the same shaded cover. No Florida-specific angler reports came through this cycle, so treat species status below as seasonal expectation, not a confirmed local bite report, and check current conditions before heading out.
Rangeley area trout head deep as summer heat holds
No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for the Rangeley Lakes and Androscoggin headwaters this cycle, so this update leans on seasonal pattern plus the one regionally grounded voice available: Mainely Fly Fishing (ME), written by an author who fishes and guides this exact water. Late July here typically means brook trout and landlocked salmon have already pushed off the shallows into deeper, cooler pockets and spring-fed inlets as surface layers warm through the summer doldrums, while smallmouth bass pick up the slack around rocky structure and weed edges. The blog's spring dispatch placed ice-out on Dundee Pond, in the broader Rangeley/Androscoggin watershed, at April 4th this year, a normal-to-slightly-late start that nudged the whole thermal season back a notch. Lake trout (togue) are likely holding deep and largely off the table for surface presentations until fall turnover. Regional water levels were still recovering from a dry stretch as of last fall's reporting.
Saginaw Bay walleye shift off bottom as summer weed growth sets in
Wildfire smoke drifting down from Minnesota and Canada pushed Michigan's air quality into hazardous territory this week, per Great Lakes Now, with Detroit briefly logging the worst air-quality index in the world and northern Michigan skies turned brown and hazy. On the water, Great Lakes anglers are leaning into peak summer patterns: Fishing the Midwest notes forward-facing sonar has upended the old assumption that walleye sit tight to bottom structure, with fish now regularly found suspended off traditional points and weedlines. The same source points anglers toward working weedlines as emerging summer growth concentrates baitfish and bass. We're not seeing direct buoy or stream-gauge telemetry for Lake Huron or Saginaw Bay this cycle, so plan around on-the-water verification of water clarity and temperature. Perch chatter on regional forums suggests the bite is still building rather than dialed in, consistent with typical late-July timing before the fall push.
Moosehead togue slide deep as summer thermocline sets in
Late July on Moosehead Lake typically pushes lake trout (togue) and landlocked salmon below the thermocline into 40 to 60 feet of cooler water, while surface temps in the upper Penobscot corridor climb into the upper 60s to low 70s. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for this region this cycle, and none of today's angler-intel feeds covered Moosehead or the upper Penobscot specifically, so this outlook leans on typical seasonal patterns rather than a confirmed catch report. Expect togue to respond best to deep trolling with lead-core line or downriggers, while landlocked salmon fishing usually slows during midday heat and picks back up early morning and near dusk. Brook trout in the upper Penobscot's cooler feeder streams and thoroughfares should still take attractor dry flies and nymphs in shaded, moving water. Smallmouth bass around Moosehead's rocky points and drop-offs are typically active this time of year on soft plastics and early topwater. Treat today's species status as seasonal guidance, not confirmed local intel.
Kennebec and Penobscot bass settle into a summer pattern
No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for the Kennebec or Penobscot systems this cycle, so today's outlook leans on seasonal knowledge rather than a live temperature or flow reading. Late July on Maine's freshwater rivers typically means largemouth and smallmouth bass have pushed off spring staging areas and settled onto deeper structure and weedlines as surface temperatures climb through summer. Tactical Bassin's summer technique breakdown this week emphasizes dropshotting deeper cover once bass move off the shallows in the heat, a pattern that generally applies to Maine's warmwater stretches as well. Fishing the Midwest's Bob Jensen also notes anglers should be working weedlines aggressively as the open-water season hits full swing. Brook trout and landlocked salmon, which prefer cooler water, are typically slower and harder to find in stagnant heat this time of year unless anglers get down deep or fish early and late. Check local conditions before heading out, since no direct readings were available today.