Fishing reports
19070 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
Rio Grande runs low as summer terrestrials turn on San Juan trout
The USGS gauge at Albuquerque (08330000) read 0 cfs as of midday July 11, in line with the seasonal low flow stretch the Middle Rio Grande often sees in summer when upstream diversions draw the river down through the valley. No water temperature reading came through with this cycle, and no captain, shop, or state agency dispatch specific to New Mexico's Rio Grande or San Juan fisheries arrived this week, so treat the outlook below as seasonal generalization rather than fresh on the water intel. Mid July is peak terrestrial season for Western trout water, and Trout Unlimited's current TROUT Tip flags grasshoppers and other terrestrials as a go to summer pattern, a technique that carries well to San Juan tailwater rainbows and browns. Field & Stream's trout spin fishing guide is a useful refresher on matching rod length to water size for anglers working smaller feeder streams around a San Juan trip.
Grand River holds strong summer flow as Lake Michigan salmon season builds
The Grand River gauge near the river mouth (USGS 04119000) is running a healthy summer flow today, keeping good mixing between the river and Lake Michigan through mid-July. Specific bite reports for this stretch were thin in today's sweep, so anglers should treat this as a seasonal-pattern update rather than a hot-bite alert — check the MI DNR Weekly Fishing Report for the latest on-the-water notes before heading out. Typical mid-July action here centers on Chinook salmon staging for the fall run, smallmouth bass and walleye working current seams near the river mouth breakline, with steelhead in their usual summer lull between spring and fall pushes. Wisconsin DNR's Lake Michigan reporting has flagged 2024 as a standout year for Chinook, coho, and steelhead harvest lakewide, which is useful backdrop for what this basin can produce when conditions align. Water temp wasn't available from today's gauge read, so dress and plan around the current local forecast rather than a specific number.
Summer patterns settle in on Smith Mountain Lake and Buggs Island
USGS gauge 02075045 logged flow at 738 cfs on the afternoon of July 11, a steady read heading into the heart of summer for Smith Mountain Lake and Buggs Island (Kerr Lake) anglers. No water-temperature reading came through on this cycle, but with regional heat building, expect surface temps well into the 80s and fish sliding toward deeper, cooler water. This week's angler-intel sweep turned up no direct reports from Smith Mountain or Buggs Island specifically, so we're leaning on typical mid-July patterns for these reservoirs: striped bass pushing toward thermocline depth and firing best in low light, largemouth bass working weed lines and current breaks per general summer tactics outlined by Fishing the Midwest, and catfish staying consistently active through the heat. The Virginia DWR Wildlife Blog's draft stocked-trout management plan and 2026-27 hunting and fishing regulations update are worth a skim before you head out, though neither touches these warmwater fisheries directly. Stable flow means clear water, not muddy runoff, for now.
High Yakima River Flows Keep Trout and Bass Anglers Adapting
The USGS gauge on the Yakima River (site 12484500) logged flow at 3,750 cfs as of Friday afternoon, a strong summer push that's kept the river running high and moving fast for wading anglers around the Yakima and Spokane region. No water-temperature reading came through on this pass, so plan around clarity and current rather than a confirmed thermal bite window. WDFW's statewide creel-and-stocking program (per WA WDFW Fishing Reports) continues surveying anglers and restocking lakes and streams across the state, though no Eastern Washington-specific catch reports came through our sources this cycle. With no confirmed local intel on what's actively biting, treat species activity as seasonal defaults for this basin: rainbow trout and smallmouth bass typically stay active through mid-summer, while kokanee tend to hold deeper and slower in warmer water. Check current WDFW regulations and local flow conditions before heading out, and expect the elevated water near the gauge to push fish toward softer edges, seams, and structure rather than open current.
Kings and browns keep biting deep as fall run stages on Lake Ontario
Salmon fishing has been very good this past week on Lake Ontario, with Chinook salmon mixing in alongside brown trout and lake trout, according to Strike Zone Charters. Boats are working the 100 to 160 foot range, and preferred depths have been shifting day to day as wind moves the thermocline around. Mag Dipsy divers are producing when fish sit deep, and green, white, and chartreuse e-chip spoons have been drawing strikes. On the tributary side, flow at the Salmon River corridor is running low and steady at 45.3 cfs per USGS gauge 04250750, typical staging-season water for mid-July, well before the fall king run stacks the river mouth. Water temperature wasn't reported at the gauge this cycle, so plan around air temp and time of day for now. For Salmon River and Oswego trips this week, think open-lake trolling first; the river itself stays quiet until flows build and nights cool down.
Delaware Bay stripers and fluke ride the statewide summer push
No buoy or gauge readings came in for the Delaware Bay (NJ side) this cycle, and this week's angler intel feed carries no direct reports from Bayshore towns like Fortescue, Gandys Beach, or the mouth of the Maurice River. What we do have is a strong statewide signal: per Grumpys Tackle, striped bass are still eating clams in the surf and summer flounder are coming on bucktails and scented soft baits, with "a couple weakfish reported" and crab hauls running good off local docks. OTW Northern New Jersey likewise notes fluking trending upward from the surf to the reefs this week. Delaware Bay shares the same striper, fluke, weakfish, and blue crab mix at this latitude and time of year, so these statewide trends are a reasonable proxy until Bayshore-specific reports show up. Check current NJ Saltwater Fisherman size and possession limits before keeping anything.
Red-hot sea bass and crushing striper bite frame Sandy Hook week
Capt Ron's out of Atlantic Highlands logged a strong stretch this week, with Saturday's open-boat crew boxing several three-fish sea bass limits and a pool-leading fish at 4 pounds, 1 ounce; small Gulp sand eels on a plain rig have been the ticket on the drift. Blue Chip Sportfishing calls sea bass fishing 'red hot,' with anglers limiting out on almost every trip, and reports striped bass 'crushing it' on recent charters. Zooming out, On The Water's Northern New Jersey report (July 9) notes fluke rebounding from the surf out to the reefs after a stretch of heat and rough weather, small bluefish and stripers holding steady on the beaches, and bluefin tuna still working the midshore grounds 15 to 40 miles out. Right around the Bay and Hook, sea bass is the most dependable box-filler this week, with striper and fluke action trending the right direction as conditions settle.
Summer heat shifts Mississippi and Atchafalaya bass, catfish deeper
Louisiana Sportsman's freshwater desk flagged a Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries drawdown scheduled for Saline Lake in Natchitoches and Winn parishes this week, a reminder that state agencies are actively managing water levels across the basin heading into peak summer. Direct bite reports specific to the Mississippi River and Atchafalaya Basin corridor were thin in today's sweep, so anglers should lean on typical mid-July patterns: catfish holding in deeper holes and current breaks, largemouth bass sliding off shallow cover into shade and structure as surface temps climb, and bream still working early-morning shallows before the heat shuts them down. With no fresh buoy or gauge readings available for this run, treat flow and clarity as unknowns until you're on the water. Check current LDWF advisories before fishing any lake under active water-level management, and expect the bite window to compress toward dawn and dusk as afternoon heat intensifies through the week.
Deep summer bite takes hold on Lake Eufaula and the Red River
No fresh buoy or gauge readings came back for Eufaula or the Red River this cycle, so this update leans on the broader mid-July pattern national outlets are describing right now. B.A.S.S. News reports offshore schools stacking on points, ledges, and brushpiles as current slows and surface temps climb, with striper often mixed in alongside bass on the same structure — a pattern that tracks with how Eufaula's stripers and largemouth typically set up once the dog days arrive. Tactical Bassin's latest summer breakdowns point toward downsized, natural presentations (finesse paddletails, neko-rigged worms, summer jig tweaks) once the sun gets high and fish slide off the bank. Catfish are producing well nationally too — Wired 2 Fish detailed a 178-pound pair boated from a deep near-shore hole at dusk on the Missouri River, underscoring that summer evenings are prime time for working deep holes after dark, a pattern that should carry over to Eufaula's catfish water as well.
Champlain smallmouth push shallow as summer jig bite heats up
No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for Lake Champlain this cycle, so this update leans on regional technique intel and typical July patterns for the smallmouth and landlocked salmon fishery. Smallmouth are settling into their classic summer pattern, holding tight to rock piles, gravel humps, and weed edges as surface layers warm, and working slow-fished jigs through that cover is producing well right now per this week's summer jig-fishing rundown from Tactical Bassin (blog), a technique that translates directly to Champlain's rock and gravel structure. Landlocked salmon typically slide deeper and cooler this time of year, tracking baitfish toward the thermocline, which makes them tougher to locate without electronics or planer boards. Fishing the Midwest's weedline column is a good seasonal reminder to work emerging weed growth methodically instead of running and gunning. Treat all of this as directional until fresh water-temp and flow readings post; check Vermont regs before harvesting.
Summer heat tests patience for New River and Ohio smallmouth
No fresh gauge or buoy readings came in for the New River or Ohio corridor this cycle, so today's picture leans on seasonal pattern and the same summer-bass playbook running nationwide right now. Fishing the Midwest's Bob Jensen is pushing anglers to work weedlines and stay versatile as the 2026 open-water season hits full swing, a technique that translates directly to New River smallmouth holding tight to grass edges and current breaks in July heat. Tactical Bassin's summer jig-fishing rundown backs that up, favoring slow-worked jigs and finesse paddletails once bass go sluggish in warm water. Muskellunge typically slip into a midday lull this time of year and reward early or late light casts more than midday grinding. Catfish, as is typical for peak summer warmth, should stay the most dependable bite in the deeper holes and back-eddies along the Ohio. Check current flow and temperature locally before launching — no direct New River or Ohio regional reports surfaced this cycle.
Eagle Mountain Lake catfish push carries into peak summer stretch
Eagle Mountain Lake near Fort Worth is holding full with a strong pulse of fresh inflow, and per North Texas Catfish Guide's latest update, that combination has blue catfish moving and feeding actively as the lake settles into summer. Fresh water plus rising levels typically triggers a window of active, feeding fish, and the guide is calling the stretch ahead one of the better opportunities of the year on that system. Channel catfish and white bass have also shown up strong there in the guide's seasonal reports, especially once a full lake holds steady through a run of warm days. Elsewhere on Texas reservoirs, Texas Fish & Game Magazine notes anglers are finding largemouth bass and crappie stacked on submerged brush piles, working forward-facing sonar to pick apart cover instead of blind-casting open water. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for this update, so treat water temperature and flow as typical for mid-July in Texas lake country: warm, stable, and favoring low-light hours or deeper structure over the middle of the day.
Smokies trout still eating if you fish the cool hours
No live gauge or buoy telemetry came back for the Western NC trout streams this cycle, so this report leans on general seasonal knowledge for freshwater trout in the Southern Appalachians in mid-July. Water in the Smokies typically warms into the stressful range for trout by mid-morning this time of year, which pushes the best window to dawn and dusk. Trout Unlimited's latest TROUT Tip flags terrestrials as the play right now, noting that "now that summer is in full swing, you're sure to find terrestrials crawling and hopping along the banks" — ants, beetles, and inchworm patterns fished tight to undercut banks and grassy edges are a solid bet on freestone water like this. For technique on the smaller headwater creeks that define this region, Field & Stream's spin-fishing trout guide recommends scaling down to a 5.5- to 6.5-foot ultralight rod with 2- to 4-pound fluorocarbon and small inline spinners or jigs to stay stealthy in low, clear summer flows.
Santee stripers slide deep as summer heat tightens the bite window
No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for Santee Cooper or Lake Murray this cycle, so today's outlook leans on seasonal patterns typical of South Carolina's Midlands and Lowcountry lakes in mid-July. With a waning crescent moon overhead, expect a fairly stable, low-light bite window at dawn and again near dusk. Landlocked striped bass on Santee Cooper's Lakes Marion and Moultrie typically retreat to deeper, cooler water and suspend over river channels and humps once surface temps climb into summer ranges, making them a tougher, more technical target than in spring. Blue catfish, the signature draw on the Santee system, generally stay productive through the heat on cut bait fished deep along channel edges. Largemouth bass on Lake Murray usually shift to a classic summer pattern: brief topwater windows at first and last light, then a retreat to deeper brush, docks, and drops once the sun gets high. Crappie fishing tends to slow and go deep this time of year.
Guntersville and Wheeler bass push deep as summer ledge bite fires up
On the Tennessee River system that carries into Guntersville and Wheeler, B.A.S.S. News reports the summer pattern has fully arrived: with current slack in the heat, bass are stacking deep, with big schools mixed alongside stripers on points, ledges, and brushpiles in classic offshore fashion. That's the storyline for both lakes this week — warming shallows are pushing largemouth and spotted bass off the bank, while stripers key on the same deep structure. Tactical Bassin's latest summer coverage backs the timing, pointing anglers toward jig fishing and finesse paddletail presentations once fish slide off the bank into cover, and Wired 2 Fish flags fresh gear worth trying — Z-Man's new sinking ElaZtech Kingpin and Stuntman baits — suited to working that same deep water. No buoy or gauge readings came through for this pool today, so treat water temps as seasonally warm; plan trips around low-light windows before afternoon heat locks fish tight to structure.
Summer bass patterns settle in on Winnipesaukee and the Merrimack
Mid-July heat has pushed New Hampshire's inland waters into a full summer pattern, and the technique talk out of the freshwater fishing world this week backs that up. Bass are holding tight to cover and structure as the sun climbs, with Tactical Bassin's crew reporting big largemouth and smallmouth loading the boat on finesse paddletails and jigs worked slow around emerging weeds and shade lines. Fishing the Midwest echoes the same theme, pointing anglers toward working weedlines methodically rather than running and gunning, a pattern that translates directly to Merrimack backwaters and Winnipesaukee's weedy coves. No direct water-temp or flow readings came through our buoy and gauge feeds for this region today, so treat conditions as typical for mid-July until a fresh reading posts. Early mornings and evenings remain the highest-percentage windows as surface temps climb through the day. Pickerel and perch should stay opportunistic around the same cover bass are using.
Stonefly hatches keep Yellowstone-area cutthroat looking up
Anglers flipping rocks on the Henry's Fork this week found the streambed packed with bright orange stonefly nymphs, a scene Flylords Mag called one of the thickest hatches they've seen under a single rock this season. That kind of subsurface stonefly density is a strong signal for the Yellowstone and Snake River drainages generally as summer settles in, with fish keying on the same golden and yellow stonefly patterns moving through the system. Trout Unlimited's latest terrestrial tip notes that as summer fully kicks in, hoppers, ants, and beetles start getting blown or crawling into the current, giving trout an easy, calorie-rich target along undercut banks. Field & Stream's spin-fishing guide reinforces the basics still worth leaning on this time of year: match rod and lure size to water size, and keep presentations tight to structure rather than blind-casting open water. Expect a dry-dropper approach, stonefly nymph under a terrestrial or attractor dry, to keep producing through the week.
Tennessee River bass push deep, school with stripers in summer heat
Fishing on the upper Tennessee River is holding up despite building summer heat, per B.A.S.S. News, which reports most bass have pushed deep as reduced current lets the Chickamauga and Watts Bar system stratify. Anglers are finding big schools of largemouth mixed with striped bass stacked on classic summer structure — main-lake points, river-channel ledges, and brushpiles — a clearly offshore, structure-first bite rather than a shallow morning window. Tactical Bassin's summer jig-fishing rundown and its underwater Neko rig comparison both back a slow, bottom-contact presentation for pressured, deep-holding fish, while Wired 2 Fish's look at the Lake Fork Pro Hog underscores that a bulky creature bait still earns bites when bass tuck into heavier cover. Expect the bite to keep sliding deeper as surface temps climb through the week; smallmouth and catfish activity should hold as secondary options for anglers working the same ledges and current breaks. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through this cycle, so lean on reported patterns over hard numbers for now.
Missouri River cats deliver big as summer bass patterns dial in
A Hazelwood, Missouri angler anchored solo in a 25-foot-deep back-eddy hole on the Missouri River just before the Fourth of July and boated a pair of catfish totaling 178 pounds, per Wired 2 Fish — proof that the near-shore deep holes are holding serious weight right now for Platte and Missouri River anglers willing to fish through the heat. On the bass side, Tactical Bassin reports finesse paddletails and Neko-rigged worms working around cover in the summer heat, with jigs still a go-to when fish tuck into thicker structure. Fishing the Midwest's Bob Jensen is pointing anglers toward weedlines as the open-water season hits full swing, while Mike Frisch notes more boats running forward-facing sonar to locate summer fish. We're seeing a classic mid-July pattern: deep-hole catfish producing trophy weight while bass scatter between shallow cover and emerging weed growth depending on time of day.
Bass season heats up as NY walleye keep filling limits
New York's black bass season is running strong this month, and while dedicated reports from the Hudson Valley and Finger Lakes are thin this cycle, the statewide signal points the same direction. The NY DEC's Fishing Line flagged black bass season opening in mid-June, and anglers working the state's Great Lakes waters have been cashing in since: Brookdog Fishing Co., guiding out of Buffalo and Niagara, reported outstanding walleye action through late June and into July, with quick limits the norm and bass mixed in on most trips. For Finger Lakes anglers, that same warm-water pattern likely carries over — smallmouth and largemouth should be holding tight to cover as summer heat sets in, with finesse paddletails and jigs producing for bass anglers per Tactical Bassin. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came in for this update, so treat water temps and flows as seasonal norms until the next check.
Terrestrial season arrives on Smokies tailwater trout
Trout Unlimited's midsummer TROUT Tip on pink terrestrials is a solid signal for what should be working right now on Southeast tailwaters like the Hiwassee and Caney Fork: as ants, beetles, and hoppers get blown or dropped into these Smokies-fed rivers, resident rainbows and browns start keying on them as easy summer meals. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for this cycle, so treat generator discharge and flow as unknowns until you check the TVA release schedule on-site. Gink and Gasoline's notes on picky tailwater browns are a good reminder that these fish, especially below dam discharges, demand drag-free presentations and precise tippet work even when actively feeding. Field & Stream's trout guide is a useful refresher on matching rod length to water: shorter ultralight setups for tight Caney Fork runs, longer rods for the more open Hiwassee. Smallmouth in these systems have no fresh regional reports this cycle, so treat that bite as typical summer behavior rather than a hot pattern.
Summer heat pushes Cumberland bass and stripers deep
Peak July heat has settled over Kentucky, and Lake Cumberland's mixed bass-and-striper fishery is falling into the pattern typical of Tennessee Valley reservoir systems this time of year: as current slackens and surface temps climb, fish stack up deep on points, ledges, and brushpiles instead of roaming the shallows. B.A.S.S. News reports that on the nearby Tennessee River system, largemouth and smallmouth are now schooling with stripers in these same deep-structure zones as summer heat intensifies, a pattern that typically extends across Cumberland-basin impoundments as well. Below Wolf Creek Dam, the Cumberland River tailwater keeps its cold-water trout fishery active through summer regardless of surface heat, since dam releases hold river temps well below the lake surface. Expect largemouth, smallmouth, and stripers pushed to deeper offshore cover, walleye holding tight to structure, and trout remaining the dependable cooler-water option in the tailwater. Check state regulations before harvesting any species.
Prairie River Cats and Bass Settle Into Peak-Summer Pattern
Direct readings and regional dispatches for the Kansas and Arkansas Rivers are thin this cycle — no NOAA buoy or USGS gauge fed back data, and none of this week's tackle-shop, charter, or state-agency reports covered Kansas water specifically. That leaves us leaning on the typical mid-July pattern for these prairie river systems: warm, often stained flows that push channel catfish into deeper holes and nighttime feeding windows, while largemouth and white bass tuck tight to shade, current breaks, and submerged cover during peak heat. Nationally, catfish are clearly on anglers' minds — Wired 2 Fish this week featured a Midwest river angler boating 178 pounds of catfish off a back-eddy hole in a single evening, a reminder that big-river cats are actively feeding as summer peaks. Fishing the Midwest and Tactical Bassin both stress working current seams and weed edges over old memories — solid general guidance until fresh Kansas-specific intel comes in.
Deschutes Redsides and Klamath Browns Settle Into Summer Rhythms
No fresh NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings came through for the Deschutes and Upper Klamath system this cycle, and today's angler-intel feed carried nothing specific to Oregon water, so this update leans on typical July patterns rather than fresh local reports. Redband trout on the Deschutes are typically most active during low-light windows once summer water temperatures push fish toward faster, oxygenated riffles, while Upper Klamath's tributary browns tend to key on evening caddis and mouse patterns through midsummer. A Field & Stream guide on spin fishing for trout notes that matching rod length and lure size to water size (5.5-6.5 feet for tight streams, stepping up to 7-7.5 feet on bigger water) stays the core tactic regardless of whether you're on stocked or wild water, a principle that applies directly to this stretch. Bull trout remain present in the system but are a protected, catch-and-release-only species per regional regulations; anglers should check current state rules before targeting them intentionally.