Fishing reports
19070 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
Striped Bass Still Working the Cape Cod Canal as Doldrums Settle In
Yo-Zuri's Chris Bishop, who fishes stripers everywhere from Sebastian Inlet to Cape Cod Canal, checked in this week right as conditions line up with what Saltwater Edge (RI) is calling the summer doldrums — that stretch after the Fourth of July when the bite slows but doesn't shut off. No live buoy or gauge readings came through for Buzzards Bay and Vineyard Sound this cycle, so treat water temp as unknown and check a local source before heading out. Regionally, Saltwater Edge's late-June forecast noted striped bass had already pushed out to deeper, cooler oceanfront water for the summer, while scup, black sea bass, and fluke settled into their usual bay and structure haunts — a pattern that typically extends into Buzzards Bay and Vineyard Sound too. With a new moon driving stronger spring tides through the Canal and Sound, current-driven structure and rip lines are worth prioritizing over slack water this week.
Sea Bass Limits Out as Bluefin Move In on the Jersey Shore
Surf temperatures have pushed to a seasonal high near 72°F this week, according to Fishermans HQ LBI, locking Long Beach Island and the rest of the Jersey Shore into a full summer pattern. Blue Chip Sportfishing is calling sea bass fishing "red hot," with anglers limiting out on almost every trip, while striped bass action has been strong enough that the crew is "crushing" them trip after trip; the shark bite has also busted wide open, with three Mako sharks landed and released on a recent Friday trip. Fluke fishing is more mixed close to shore — Capt Ron's out of Atlantic Highlands logged a tough midweek bite mixed with better weekend keeper counts — but Grumpys Tackle reports the fluke bite rebounding on bucktails and scented soft baits, with bass still eating clams in the surf. Offshore, Fishermans HQ notes bluefin tuna have moved into range behind a heavy squid push.
Mississippi bass go deep and shady as summer heat locks in
No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for the Mississippi and Pearl River systems this cycle, so we're leaning on seasonal pattern and technique intel rather than a hard temp reading. Mid-July in the Deep South means bass sliding off primary points and into shade, cover, and deeper water during peak daylight — exactly the pattern Tactical Bassin describes in its summer heat coverage this week, recommending jigs and finesse presentations worked slow around cover once the sun gets high. Fishing the Midwest's recent weedline notes echo the same idea for structure-oriented fish generally: work the edges, not just the bottom, and don't overlook shallow shade pockets early and late. Catfish and bream typically stay more cooperative through Mississippi's summer swelter than bass do. Expect a slower bite midday with better windows at dawn, dusk, and after any overnight cooling.
Summer walleye and bass patterns hold on ND's Red and Missouri
No fresh buoy or gauge readings came in for the Red or Missouri River corridor this cycle, so today's outlook leans on broader regional intel rather than a live local reading. Fishing the Midwest's Mike Frisch notes summer walleye increasingly holding off traditional bottom structure, with anglers leaning on forward-facing sonar to find suspended fish rather than fishing bottom and weedlines by habit alone — a shift as relevant to Missouri River basin walleye chasers as anywhere else. On the bass side, Tactical Bassin's summer coverage highlights jig-and-minnow strolling and slow-rolled jigs as go-to producers once water warms into peak summer heat, patterns that translate well to Red River smallmouth. Catfish typically settle into steady summer feeding as nights stay warm. Treat all of the above as general seasonal guidance until fresh local telemetry comes back online — no ND-specific catch reports were available this cycle.
Lake Erie walleye bite settles into deep summer structure
No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for the Erie/Niagara corridor this cycle, and none of this week's angler-intel feeds filed a Western NY-specific bite report, so this update leans on typical mid-July Great Lakes patterns rather than a confirmed local report. Fishing the Midwest's Mike Frisch notes that forward-facing sonar has upended old walleye assumptions this season, with fish increasingly showing up off bottom and away from classic points and weedlines, a trend worth testing on Erie's deeper basin water. Fellow Fishing the Midwest writer Bob Jensen points anglers toward weedlines as a reliable summer bass pattern. Smallmouth should still be working rock piles and green weed edges, yellow perch schooling on deeper flats, and Niagara steelhead sitting in their typical summer lull until water temperatures drop in fall. Treat species status here as seasonal baseline, not a confirmed regional report, until local sources file in.
Delaware River Smallmouth and Pine Barrens Pickerel Settle Into Summer Rhythm
No buoy or gauge readings came back for the Delaware River and Pine Barrens corridor this cycle, and this week's angler-intel pull didn't surface any shop, charter, or captain reports specific to this freshwater region either — the bulk of what came through was coastal NJ striper, fluke, and sea bass chatter from spots like Grumpys Tackle and Fishermans HQ LBI, which don't apply here. With a new moon overhead and mid-July water temps typically settled into the mid-70s across Delaware River pools and Pine Barrens cedar-stained waters, this is a report grounded mostly in seasonal pattern rather than fresh on-the-water intel. Smallmouth bass in the river's rocky stretches and largemouth around Pine Barrens lily pads and stumps are the headline draws this time of year, with chain pickerel and panfish filling in steady action for anglers working the tannic slow water typical of the Barrens.
Chattahoochee and Savannah anglers adapt as GA rivers slip toward summer lows
Georgia's river system is sliding toward classic mid-July norms: Joshua Barber's Southern Waters Fishing Report (GA Sportsman / Georgia Outdoor News) has nearly every gauge in the state's southern basins reading low and falling, including the Savannah River at Clyo, down to 3.1 feet. That kind of drawdown pattern typically pushes Chattahoochee and Savannah River basin bass and catfish tighter to cover and deeper thermoclines as surface water heats through the afternoon. No direct water-temp or flow reading came back for this stretch today, so treat conditions as typical-for-season until confirmed on the water. Georgia Wildlife's Fishing Report continues pointing anglers toward Public Fishing Areas for reliable summer action, several of which sit within reach of both river systems. With no major weather system moving through, expect the same slow-water, early/late bite pattern that defines Georgia summer fishing — worms and jigs worked slow around structure, with better numbers likely at dawn and dusk before the heat sets in.
Hartwell-Russell bass and stripers settle into deep summer holding patterns
No direct buoy or gauge readings came in for the Hartwell/Russell chain this cycle, and this week's angler-intel sweep didn't surface any shop or captain reports specific to these Savannah River reservoirs. That leaves us leaning on the typical mid-July pattern for these fisheries: largemouth and spotted bass pushing to main-lake points, brush piles, and deeper ledges as surface temps climb into the mid-80s, while striped and hybrid bass stack up around the thermocline and can be worked with downlines or live bait over deep humps during the hottest stretch of the day. Crappie fishing typically slows through peak summer heat as fish scatter to deeper brush and standing timber. General summer bass technique coverage from outlets like Tactical Bassin points to slow-presented jigs, Neko rigs, and finesse swimbaits worked around shade and cover once the sun gets high, a pattern that should translate directly to Hartwell and Russell's rocky points and clay banks this week.
Winnipesaukee bass dig into summer patterns as trout go deep
Tactical Bassin's latest summer coverage highlights jig-and-minnow strolling and shade-seeking bass as the go-to pattern once water temperatures climb through mid-summer, and that's the shift Lake Winnipesaukee anglers should expect this stretch. No fresh NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings came through for the lake this cycle, and none of today's angler-intel feeds filed a direct Winnipesaukee report, so this update leans on typical mid-July freshwater behavior for a deep, clear lake at this latitude. Smallmouth and largemouth bass should be pushing toward weedlines, docks, and shaded cover during peak sun, echoing the seasonal bass patterns described by Fishing the Midwest and Tactical Bassin this week, while lake trout and landlocked salmon typically slide toward the thermocline in deeper basins to escape surface warmth. Yellow perch tend to hold steady over deeper structure through summer. Treat this as a seasonal-pattern guide rather than an on-the-water account until local sources check in.
Okeechobee and St. Johns bass settle into a dawn-and-dark summer pattern
No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for the Lake Okeechobee/St. Johns corridor this cycle, and this week's angler-intel feeds carried no direct bite reports for either fishery specifically — so this update leans on typical mid-July Florida patterns rather than fresh readings. With a new moon overhead and water firmly in summer-heat mode, largemouth bass on both fisheries are typically pushing tight to matted vegetation and deeper grass edges during the heat of the day, with the best windows at first light and after dark. Bluegill and shellcracker activity tends to build around moon phases this time of year, making the coming days a reasonable bet for bedding fish in the shallows. Black crappie generally go quiet and deep-structure oriented once summer heat sets in. Treat all of the above as seasonal expectation, not confirmed intel, until region-specific reports come through.
Northwoods muskies get trickier as summer water temps climb
Water temps across the Minocqua, Oneida, and Vilas County lakes have pushed into the mid-70s, with darker, shallower water nearing 80 degrees and clearer lakes holding closer to 78, per Rollie & Helen's Musky Shop's early-July Northwoods report. That warmup is exactly the stretch when musky get harder to pin down — the shop's own breakdown of "ghost muskies" notes that forward-facing sonar has become the main tool for locating and tracking fish once the easy, aggressive spring bite fades into summer's more scattered, structure-and-suspension patterns. On the walleye side, Fishing the Midwest is reminding anglers that the old "bottom and weedlines only" rule doesn't hold up the way it used to — FFS has shown walleyes suspending and roaming well off traditional structure this time of year, so it pays to check open water, not just the classic points and turns. Stable weather the past week has kept conditions consistent, which is generally a plus for pattern-building on pressured Northwoods water.
Rangeley trout push deep as summer heat sets the pattern
Mainely Fly Fishing's latest "Its Hatch Time: Summer Solstice Fishing Update" flags the seasonal turn anglers watch for every July across the Rangeley Lakes and Androscoggin headwaters: as surface water warms through midsummer, brook trout and landlocked salmon typically abandon the shallows for spring seeps, inlets, and deep basins, while smallmouth bass move onto structure and feed aggressively through the heat of the day. No fresh buoy or gauge data came through for this region on this cycle, and no blog or agency source filed a specific Rangeley-area catch report this week, so the outlook below leans on typical mid-July patterns rather than a fresh bite report. Expect classic summer rhythm: cool mornings, warming afternoons, and fish holding to depth and shade once the sun gets high. Check current Maine stocking updates and regulations before targeting trout water this time of year.
Summer jig bite and weedline patterns settle into IL waters
Mid-July has Midwest anglers leaning on slow-rolled jig-and-minnow presentations and tight weedline work as summer patterns lock in, per Tactical Bassin and Fishing the Midwest this week. No fresh buoy or gauge readings and no Illinois-specific catch reports came through in this cycle's intel feeds, so this update leans on what's typical for the Illinois River and Lake Michigan in mid-summer rather than site-specific reports. Largemouth bass should be tucking into shade and emerging weed cover through the heat of the day, answering to jigs and finesse swimbaits fished slow, a pattern Tactical Bassin has been highlighting all month. Walleye anglers working structure and weedlines, the classic go-to per Fishing the Midwest, should still connect, though forward-facing sonar is increasingly changing where anglers look for suspended fish. Catfish and perch action typically holds steady through late July on both waters. Check state regs before harvesting.
Summer heat shifts Catawba and Roanoke bass into deep water
No fresh NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings came back for the Catawba or Roanoke systems this cycle, and this week's angler intel feed skewed heavily toward coastal NC surf reports and national bass-fishing content rather than direct Piedmont or Roanoke reporting, so this update leans on general seasonal expectation rather than a confirmed regional bite. Mid-July on Piedmont reservoirs and the Roanoke system typically means classic deep-summer bass behavior: largemouth push shallow at first and last light, then slide into shade, brushpiles, or deeper breaks once the sun climbs, a pattern Tactical Bassin describes broadly as targeting bass in predictable shaded and cover-related locations once temperatures spike. Catfish tend to stay a dependable summer player, often best after dark. Striped bass in Piedmont reservoirs typically retreat to cooler, deeper water as surface temps climb through July. Crappie and panfish generally slow and hold tighter to structure. Treat the above as seasonal expectation, not a confirmed bite, until fresh regional reporting comes in.
UP trout streams and Lake Superior settle into summer rhythm
The WI DNR Lake Superior Fishing program's continued outreach on the Chequamegon Bay lake whitefish fishery is one of the few concrete signals out of the Lake Superior basin right now, pointing to growing angler interest in a species that's traditionally been an ice- and cold-season target but has drawn more open-water attention in recent seasons. For Michigan's Upper Peninsula trout streams specifically, no fresh buoy or gauge readings came through in today's pull, so treat flows and temps as unconfirmed until you check a local reading before launching. Mid-July typically pushes UP brook and brown trout into early-morning and dusk feeding windows as daytime water warms; headwater sections and spring-fed stretches tend to hold fish better than open runs this time of year. On Lake Superior itself, lake trout fishing typically stays productive through summer via deep trolling or jigging as fish hold in cooler water offshore. We're not seeing direct catch reports for this specific stretch today, so lean on these seasonal norms and verify locally before you go.
Saginaw Bay walleye settle into summer structure pattern
Mid-July puts Lake Huron and Saginaw Bay squarely into peak summer patterns, though this week's source sweep turned up no region-specific catch reports from MI DNR's weekly report or other regional outlets — worth flagging rather than glossing over. In their absence, general summer technique notes from Fishing the Midwest describe walleye anglers increasingly relying on forward-facing sonar to locate suspended fish off traditional bottom structure, and weedline patterns producing consistently for bass as emergent vegetation fills in. Saginaw Bay's classic summer walleye program, bottom bouncers and crawler harnesses worked over the bay's humps and reefs, typically runs strong through July, while yellow perch fishing usually holds steady over deeper mud basins as the water warms. Main-basin Huron salmon and lake trout programs generally push deeper and colder this time of year. Treat the species outlook below as seasonal expectation rather than confirmed local reports until fresher regional intel comes through.
Moosehead Lake salmon and togue settle into summer patterns
Bass across New England are sliding into deeper haunts as summer heat holds on, with anglers reporting fish pushing off the shallows once surface temps climb into the mid-80s, per The Fisherman — New England Freshwater. No buoy, gauge, or angler-intel feed filed a direct report from Moosehead Lake or the upper Penobscot this cycle, so this update leans on that regional trend plus typical mid-July patterns for the fishery. Landlocked salmon and lake trout (togue), the signature draws on Moosehead, should be following the same seasonal cue, holding tighter to cooler water and structure as the lake warms through the day. Smallmouth bass are likely working shoreline structure hardest in the low-light hours. Brook trout action in the main lake typically eases up this time of year, with better odds in spring-fed coves and cooler upper-river stretches.
Kenai's Peak Sockeye Push Arrives as Regional Reports Stay Quiet
Mid-July is traditionally the heart of the sockeye run on the Kenai River system, the stretch when combat-fishing crowds line the banks even in years when on-the-water reporting is thin. This week's sweep of state Sea Grant feeds and national fishing outlets turned up no Kenai-specific or interior Alaska catch reports, and no NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings came back for this region, so this write-up leans on typical seasonal timing rather than fresh dispatches. AK Sea Grant's latest posts this cycle covered invasive green crab spread in Southeast Alaska and a Kodiak marine-heatwave symposium, useful context for the state's broader fisheries picture but not a direct read on interior river conditions. Expect the sockeye push to still be building or near its peak, kings typically tapering by now, and rainbows and grayling holding on egg patterns and dries behind spawning fish, consistent with normal July patterns on this water.
Central Maine bass slide deep as Kennebec, Penobscot settle into summer pattern
No fresh buoy or gauge readings came in for the Kennebec and Penobscot corridor this cycle, so this update leans on seasonal patterns and national technique reporting rather than site-specific water data. Tactical Bassin's midsummer series, including 'How To Catch Bass When Its HOT,' lays out a playbook that fits central Maine too: as surface water warms, largemouth and smallmouth slide toward shade, deeper structure, and current breaks, with topwater windows shrinking to dawn and dusk. Fishing the Midwest's Bob Jensen makes a similar case for working weedlines as summer vegetation fills in. Brook trout and landlocked salmon typically retreat to deeper, cooler water or spring-fed seams by mid-July, favoring early and late sessions over midday heat. Chain pickerel stay a dependable warm-water target around weedy bays and inlets. With tonight's New Moon bringing darker skies, expect low-light bites to outperform bright midday hours over the next few days.
Colorado freestones turn on as this drought year's runoff fades early
The Colorado River near Glenwood Springs is on the back end of runoff and fishing 'sensational' with 'happy fish,' per Crystal Fly Shop, which also has the Roaring Fork producing on large attractor patterns and Rubberleg Stone nymphs at higher flows out of Aspen and Basalt. The Crystal River is dropping fast toward what the shop calls its best stretch of the year, and the Frying Pan tailwater below Ruedi Reservoir stays low, clear, and reliable with daily BWO hatches and fresh PMDs showing up. All of this lands in what Pat Dorsey Fly Fishing is calling the worst drought on record for the state, a read echoed by Cutthroat Anglers, which points to historic-low Western snowpack pushing runoff out weeks early. The upside anglers are reporting: low water has concentrated fish rather than shutting them down, and those willing to hike farther or downsize tippet are finding grouped-up, actively feeding trout across the freestones and tailwaters alike.
Chinook and coho momentum carries into Grand River mouth season
Lake Michigan anglers are still riding the wave of a record 2024 season, according to the WI DNR Lake Michigan Fishing Report, which tallied over 210,000 coho salmon and more than 160,000 Chinook harvested basin-wide, the best Chinook numbers since 2012, credited to improved alewife forage helping stocked fish survive. No fresh NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings came through for the Grand River mouth this cycle, and no shop or captain filed a specific west Michigan bite report, so treat today's outlook as seasonal-pattern guidance rather than an on-the-water update. Separately, Great Lakes Now flags a longer-term concern worth watching: invasive mussels are stripping nutrients baby whitefish depend on, a slow-building pressure on that fishery rather than a today's-bite issue. We're leaning on last year's strong numbers and typical mid-July patterns until better local intel comes in.
Deep-summer stripers and shade-line bass rule Smith Mountain and Buggs Island
This cycle's buoy and gauge feeds came back empty for the Smith Mountain Lake and Buggs Island (Kerr Reservoir) area, so there's no fresh temperature or flow reading to report today — this update leans on typical mid-July patterns for these two Virginia reservoirs. Both lakes are classic deep-summer striper water this time of year, with fish typically suspending well down over old creek channels and humps and feeding hardest in the low-light hours around dawn and dusk. Largemouth bass tend to tuck into dock shade, standing timber, and grass edges through the heat of the day, while blue catfish fishing usually peaks after dark on cut bait near channel bends. Crappie generally slide deeper and stack around brush piles and bridge pilings once surface temps climb. No shop, charter, or state-agency source with Smith Mountain- or Buggs Island-specific intel came through this cycle, so treat the species notes below as seasonal expectation, not a confirmed bite report — check conditions on the water before planning around them.
Eastern WA trout and bass settle into steady summer rhythm
No buoy or gauge telemetry came back for the Yakima and Spokane corridor this cycle, so this report leans on general seasonal knowledge for Eastern Washington's inland waters in mid-July. Statewide, WDFW continues its regular program of stocking lakes and streams and tracking angler activity through creel surveys, per WA WDFW Fishing Reports, and Eastern Washington's stocked lakes and the Yakima and Spokane River systems are typically part of that rotation this time of year. With a new moon overhead, low-light windows around dawn and dusk are usually the more productive stretches for trout and bass alike as surface water warms through the afternoon. Smallmouth bass on rocky structure and rainbow trout holding in deeper, cooler pockets are the standard mid-summer pattern for this region. No angler-specific catch reports for Yakima or Spokane waters came through in this cycle's intel sweep, so treat species status below as seasonal-typical rather than confirmed hot bite, and check WDFW's current stocking and creel reports before heading out.
Delaware Bay flounder bite heats up as keepers stack up in South Jersey
Water at the Delaware Bay entrance buoy (NOAA 44009) held near 74°F this week under light breezes, and South Jersey tackle shops are matching that warmth with some of the summer's better flounder fishing. Big Dave's Tackle, reporting for The Fisherman's Southern New Jersey column, says the Delaware Bay bite 'has really accelerated over the last few weeks,' with keepers running 20 to 22 inches, while Higbee's Bait and Tackle counts a decent flounder bite to 22 inches on live minnows plus plenty of spot and croaker mixed in. Smith's Bait Shop, in The Fisherman's DE/MD/Chesapeake report, notes the bay's reef sites and oyster beds are giving up croaker, flounder and blues on peeler crab, and columnist Eric Burnley calls June's croaker, spot, sheepshead and flounder numbers the best of the year, with no reason that pace should slow into July. Sea bass are also stacked on the wrecks just outside the bay mouth.