Fishing reports
19070 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
Summer heat pushes Snake and Salmon anglers toward dawn and dusk bites
Early Wednesday readings from gauge 13340000 put water on the Snake and Salmon system at 67°F with flow holding near 5,980 cfs, a solid mid-summer stage that keeps the river runnable without pushing anglers into flood-stage caution. At that temperature, redband and rainbow trout tend to feed hardest in the cooler hours around sunrise and again at dusk, while smallmouth bass, which favor warmer water, should be settling into a more consistent daytime bite. Tactical Bassin's July playbook for warm-water bass leans on crankbaits and jigs worked through structure once temperatures climb past the mid-60s, a pattern that tracks with what we're reading off this gauge. Idaho's Salmon River corridor is also home to a summer Chinook run that typically overlaps with this stretch of the calendar, though today's feed carried no direct catch reports from the system itself.
Cumberland system bass and cats stay dialed in on steady summer flow
The Cumberland system's USGS gauge (03434500) logged a steady 942 cfs early this morning, a moderate summer flow that keeps current breaks and structure fishable without the blown-out water that can shut bass down after a heavy rain. Water temperature wasn't reported at the gauge, but July heat has largemouth and smallmouth keying on classic summer patterns: Tactical Bassin's July bait roundup points anglers toward jigs and moving baits worked over emerging weed growth, while Fishing the Midwest's Bob Jensen notes that working the weedline edge is paying off for anglers willing to add versatility to their approach. Catfish typically push into current seams and eddies when flow holds steady like this. Crappie tend to slide deeper and tighter to cover once summer heat sets in, per Field & Stream's crappie fundamentals. No Tennessee-specific angler reports came through this cycle, so treat species calls as seasonal expectation rather than a confirmed local bite.
Colorado trout hold in cooling pockets as post-runoff flows stabilize
Our gauge on the Colorado River system logged 71°F water and 1,660 cfs early this morning, confirming what Roaring Fork and Colorado River reports have been tracking: runoff is on its back end and flows are dropping fast toward prime summer conditions, per Crystal Fly Shop. Nymphing with Rubberleg Stones and green-drake imitations is producing fish below Carbondale, while PMD and BWO patterns are working the Frying Pan's cold tailwater mornings. Cutthroat Anglers' Matt Campanella notes this historic low-water year hasn't hurt catch rates -- grouped-up fish are biting for anglers willing to hike a little further or fish a little lighter. Pat Dorsey Fly Fishing frames 2026 as possibly the driest season on record for the state, a theme running through shop reports all spring. With water pushing 71°F, expect afternoon lulls and early starts to matter more than usual; check state regs on any voluntary closures before fishing through the heat of the day.
Coosa River bass dial into summer patterns as flows hold steady
Alabama's Coosa River chain is pulling extra national attention this month: MLF News reports Logan Martin Lake will host the REDCREST 2027 championship next April, with Alabama native Dustin Connell — a three-time REDCREST winner — already counting down. On the river itself, our USGS gauge at site 02339500 read 826 cfs this morning, a steady flow that should keep bass locked onto predictable current breaks and ambush points along the Tennessee and Coosa systems. Tactical Bassin's latest summer coverage points to jigs and shallow-water power fishing producing through the heat, a pattern that typically carries over well to largemouth and spotted bass in this region during July. Panfish anglers have options too — Field & Stream's crappie and bluegill guides both flag weed lines and secondary cover as the structure to target right now. No water temperature reading came through this cycle, so plan around current heat advisories and fish early.
Truckee River trout settle into skinny summer flows
The Truckee River is running lean this week, with the USGS gauge near town reading about 40 cfs as of this morning — a classic mid-July low-flow signature for this stretch. Water temperature wasn't reported by the gauge this cycle, but flows this low typically mean afternoon warming pushes trout tight to shaded runs, undercut banks, and deeper pockets, with the coolest, most productive windows shifting toward early morning and last light. This week's angler-intel feeds carried no Nevada- or Tahoe-specific reports, so we're leaning on typical seasonal behavior for the region rather than fresh on-the-water testimony — worth flagging honestly rather than guessing at a hot bite nobody actually reported. Expect the standard mid-summer program on the water: rainbow and brown trout holding on structure and riffle edges during low light, while Lake Tahoe's Mackinaw and kokanee salmon drop into the cold water column as surface temps climb. Check current Nevada fishing regs before keeping anything.
Winnipesaukee bass settle into summer weedline and topwater rhythm
The USGS gauge at site 01081000 was reading roughly 1,010 cfs early Wednesday morning, a steady mid-summer flow that lines up with the classic July pattern taking hold across New England lakes. Per The Fisherman — New England Freshwater, shops like Fishin' Factory 3 describe freshwater fishing as fully in "summertime mode" this week — trout gone quiet, bass keyed into fake frogs, Whopper Ploppers, Senkos and shiners worked early and late in the day. That same warm-water shift applies to Winnipesaukee's bass population: expect largemouth and smallmouth to hold tight to weed edges and drop-offs, feeding hardest at dawn, dusk, and under the low light of this waning crescent moon. Tactical Bassin's July bait roundup backs a topwater-into-plastics approach as water temps climb. Lake trout and landlocked salmon, meanwhile, are typically pushing deeper as surface layers warm this time of year, a normal seasonal retreat rather than a slowdown in the fishery overall.
Lake Erie walleye and Ohio River smallmouth ease into peak summer patterns
No fresh buoy or gauge readings landed for this Ohio cycle — the USGS gauge at site 03271601 is currently reporting no flow or temperature data, so this report leans on seasonal knowledge rather than a live snapshot. Mid-July on Lake Erie typically means walleye holding on deeper structure and along the thermocline as surface water warms, while smallmouth bass on both the lake and the Ohio River push shallow at dawn and dusk before sliding to shade and current breaks through the heat of the day. Per Fishing the Midwest, working weedlines and staying versatile with technique remains the top producer for open-water gamefish this time of year, and Tactical Bassin's July bait rundown backs shallow power-fishing baits early, shifting to finesse presentations as the sun climbs. Channel catfish and yellow perch round out a typical summer lineup. Check current state regs before harvesting, and expect this report to sharpen once gauge data returns.
Lake Superior's whitefish fishery keeps drawing anglers this summer
The Wisconsin River is running near 497 cfs as of Tuesday morning per USGS gauge 05391000, a stable summer stage that keeps wading and drift presentations in play for smallmouth bass and walleye through the stretch. Water temperature data wasn't available this cycle, but river conditions this time of year typically favor early and late-day presentations as fish hold tight to current breaks and structure. Up on Lake Superior, WI DNR's Lake Superior Fishing feed has spent 2026 tracking the lake whitefish fishery that has emerged around Chequamegon Bay, drawing both boat and ice anglers to a species outside the traditional trout-and-salmon program. No fresh shop or charter "what's biting" reports came through for this region this cycle, so we're leaning on typical July patterns: smallmouth and walleye active on the river, musky anglers grinding for the follow, and whitefish interest holding steady on Superior. Check current WI DNR regulations before targeting any species, since several season and limit changes took effect for 2026-2027.
Low flows push Potomac, Patapsco bass into dawn-and-dusk mode
Our only hard read this cycle comes from USGS gauge 01589000, showing flow holding at 70.9 cfs as of early Wednesday morning, July 9 — a modest, stable number that points to typical mid-summer low water rather than any recent rain bump. No water temp reading came through with this cycle's data, and no charter, shop, or agency report specifically covering the Potomac or Patapsco freshwater stretches landed in our feed this week, so we're leaning on seasonal pattern knowledge rather than fresh eyewitness intel for the species breakdown below. Stable, low, warm-season flow on a freshwater system like this typically means bass and catfish sliding into a classic summer rhythm: active in low light, sluggish and structure-bound once the sun climbs. Crappie tend to go quiet in the heat. Anglers working these waters this week should plan around early mornings, shaded banks, and deeper holding water rather than expecting all-day action.
Rio Grande flow crashes to a crawl as San Juan tailwater holds steady
A USGS gauge on the Rio Grande (site 08330000) logged a flow reading of 0 cfs as of early Wednesday morning, a stark drop that signals irrigation-season diversions and low snowmelt carryover are pulling hard on the mainstem right now. No water temperature reading came through with this cycle's data, and this week's angler-intel sweep didn't surface any reports specific to New Mexico's Rio Grande or San Juan fisheries — none of the available shop, charter, or blog feeds this cycle covered the region directly, so we're not going to manufacture a bite report. What we can say with confidence: the San Juan's Navajo Dam tailwater is dam-regulated and typically holds cool, stable flows through summer regardless of what the free-flowing Rio Grande is doing, which is usually where trout anglers migrate when the mainstem gets skinny and warm. Rio Grande warmwater species (smallmouth, catfish) tend to concentrate in remaining deeper pools during low-flow stretches like this. Check current NM Game & Fish advisories before heading out.
Grand River Steady as Lake Michigan's Salmon Program Rolls On
The Grand River near its Lake Michigan mouth was running around 2,290 cfs as of this morning (July 9) per USGS gauge 04119000 — a solid, unremarkable mid-summer flow with no dramatic swings to report. Water temperature wasn't reported at the gauge this cycle, so anglers should check surface temps on the water before dialing in trolling depths or picking a smallmouth pattern. Fresh, this-week 'what's biting' intel specific to the Lake Michigan/Grand River mouth stretch was thin in today's feeds — no shop, charter, or MI DNR-specific report came through with current bite details. For broader lakewide context, the WI DNR Lake Michigan Fishing Report notes 2024 was a standout year, with a record coho salmon harvest (over 210,000 fish) and the biggest Chinook catch since 2012, suggesting a healthy baitfish base carrying forward. Expect the typical July program — salmon and steelhead working deeper, cooler water offshore, smallmouth active around nearshore structure — until more localized reports firm up specifics.
Sarasota Bay Trout Bite Turns Aggressive as Summer Peaks
Spotted Seatrout are firing on all cylinders in Sarasota Bay, with Capt. Brandon Naeve of CB's Saltwater Outfitters reporting an aggressive peak-summer bite on inshore grass flats, mangrove shorelines, and local passes — action that produced a nice trout for a young angler and his dad this past week. Tarpon remain a solid target too: per Capt. Rick Grassett's July forecast from the same Sarasota shop, live baits drifted under floats along travel lanes, or sight-cast to fish stacked on bar edges, are drawing strikes, with July fish typically more aggressive than earlier in the season. Redfish are mixing in around oyster bars in upper Sarasota Bay, per Capt. Chuck Cress, alongside mullet schools and the occasional bluefish. Shark activity — blacktips, bull sharks, and occasional migratory species — stays elevated in the bay and nearshore Gulf through the season, per Capt. Naeve. Statewide, Coastal Angler Magazine flags snook and trout as a strong July combo in the passes and along the beaches.
Summer bass patterns hold steady on Smith Mountain Lake and Buggs Island
USGS gauge 02075045 in the Roanoke River system feeding Smith Mountain Lake and Buggs Island (Kerr Lake) logged a moderate 512 cfs flow this morning, typical for a mid-summer stretch with no major rain pulses pushing through. No water-temperature reading came back off the gauge today, but July on these reservoirs usually means largemouth and smallmouth bass locking into classic summer patterns while striped bass and crappie slide onto deeper structure as surface temps climb. General summer bass technique intel from Tactical Bassin this week leans on jig fishing and shallow power-fishing tactics once the sun gets high, while Fishing the Midwest is pointing anglers toward working weedlines and edges as an added pattern. None of today's angler-intel feeds returned reports specific to Smith Mountain Lake or Buggs Island, so treat the species notes below as seasonal expectation rather than confirmed local bites — worth double-checking against a local shop before you head out.
Yakima flows hold steady as Eastern WA anglers wait on the summer bite
The lower Yakima River (USGS gauge 12484500) was running about 3,620 cfs as of early Wednesday morning, a flow that keeps the river fishable for waders and drift boats without pushing into blown-out territory. No water temperature reading came through with this gauge pull, so anglers should check conditions on arrival before deciding between deep runs and skinnier riffles. WA WDFW's Fishing and Stocking Reports page remains the best clearinghouse for Yakima and Spokane basin creel counts, though this cycle's feed didn't carry a fresh regional write-up for either basin. One statewide signal worth flagging: per Outdoor Hub, WDFW canceled the Upper Columbia Sockeye Season this year after early return data came in well under the preseason forecast of 275,000 fish at Bonneville Dam, a reminder that migratory fish counts across the Columbia system are running soft this summer even as resident-fish action holds up.
Western Basin walleye slide to low-light bite as Maumee runs warm
USGS gauge 04193500 on the Maumee River read 83°F with flow at 1,790 cfs as of 7 a.m. this morning, warm river water pushing into Lake Erie's Western Basin ahead of another mid-July stretch of heat. Water that warm typically pushes Western Basin walleye off the shallow reef tops and into deeper, cooler stretches of the column during peak sun, with the better bite window sliding toward dawn and dusk. Yellow perch and smallmouth bass holding tight to the reef complexes tend to stay steadier through the heat than roaming walleye do. Fishing the Midwest's Bob Jensen notes that working weed edges is a versatile summer move once the preferred bite goes quiet at standard depths, a pattern that applies to walleye chasers here just as it does to the largemouth and panfish crowd elsewhere in the Midwest. No direct Western Basin bite reports came through today's feeds, so treat the species status below as seasonal expectation rather than confirmed hot action. Check Ohio regs before harvesting.
Northwoods muskies scatter as summer transition takes hold
Northwoods musky guides are calling this the pivot point of the season: Rollie & Helen's Musky Shop describes the "Early-to-Mid-Summer Transition" now underway across Vilas County water, as warming shallow bays push baitfish, and the muskies chasing them, out of the skinny-water haunts that produced through June. The shop points anglers toward overlooked sleepers like Boot Lake near Eagle River as pressure builds on the marquee chains, and flags that forward-facing sonar alone won't save the day once fish scatter into deeper transition zones. Live gauge and buoy readings for this stretch of Wisconsin weren't reporting at fetch time, so treat water temps as seasonally warm and check a local source before you launch. Walleye anglers should lean on the same weed-edge logic Fishing the Midwest is pushing across the region this week, working emerging weed lines rather than chasing memories of an earlier pattern. We're treating this as a transition week, not a breakout one.
Rangeley trout and salmon shift to dawn as summer bass action heats up
The USGS gauge at 01054200 on the Androscoggin headwaters is reading a lean 36.1 cfs as of 7am this morning, typical low base flow for a mid-July stretch with no rain pulse behind it. No water temperature reading came through on this cycle, but low, warm flows like this usually push landlocked salmon and brook trout into low-light feeding windows while smallmouth bass turn more active in the shallows. Mainely Fly Fishing, the regional ME blog covering the Rangeley area, reported the watershed working through a stretch of drought conditions late last year before rain finally recharged groundwater, a pattern worth watching again if this summer stays dry. Trout Unlimited's current seasonal tip points anglers toward terrestrial patterns, pink ants and beetles blown or dropped into the current, as trout key on bank-side bugs through summer. Expect the best trout and salmon action right at first light and dusk this week.
High water pushes Illinois River bass and cats to current breaks
USGS gauge 05586100 on the Illinois River logged flow at roughly 51,400 cfs early this morning, well above typical July base flow and a strong signal of recent runoff pushing extra volume and stain through the system. Water temperature wasn't captured at this reading, but elevated, moving water this time of year usually pulls bass and catfish off open flats and onto current breaks, wing dams, and eddy seams instead. Fishing the Midwest's Bob Jensen is telling anglers to work the weedline as the 2026 open-water season hits full stride, a pattern that carries over to Illinois River backwaters and Lake Michigan harbor weed edges alike. Tactical Bassin's July roundup leans on jigs and reaction baits for bass with metabolisms running hot in summer heat, worth trying wherever current slackens. No Lake Michigan buoy data came through this cycle, so treat nearshore lake conditions as a check-before-you-go until a fresher reading posts.
Low Catawba flows push bass and crappie toward summer patterns
The USGS gauge on the Catawba (02142900) logged a lean 5.52 cfs early Wednesday morning, a flow reading that points to low, clear water typical of a dry midsummer stretch across the Catawba and Roanoke systems. No tackle-shop or agency desk covering these two rivers filed a bite report this cycle, so we're leaning on the broader freshwater summer playbook rather than a river-specific catch report. Tactical Bassin's July rundown of top baits and its "shallow water tricks" piece both point to early and late-day power fishing as heat spikes midday bass activity in skinny cover, while Fishing the Midwest's weedline advice remains the standard summer play for basin structure. Field & Stream's crappie and bluegill primers back up the seasonal move toward deeper, shaded cover as water warms. Treat species activity below as seasonal expectation, not a confirmed local bite, until a Catawba or Roanoke-specific report comes through.
Bluefin Push In as Delaware Bay's Summer Bite Rounds Into Form
Delaware Bay's shift into summer is delivering across the board, per Eric Burnley's regional column for The Fisherman — DE/MD/Chesapeake, which reports croaker, spot, sheepshead, bluefin tuna, and flounder all showing in stronger numbers than any point so far this year, with more fishable weather than blowouts for the first time all season. Smith's Bait Shop says the Bowers Beach jetty is turning out spot, croaker, and flounder alongside occasional bluefish, while stripers there are still taking bloodworms and cut mullet. Offshore, Fin-Atics and Hands Too Bait and Tackle (The Fisherman — NJ/DE Offshore) report bluefin tuna from footballs to 60 pounds working the inshore lumps and the Cigar on trolled ballyhoo and poppers, with tilefish holding steady in the canyons. Cape Henlopen's pier continues to produce spot, croaker, and the occasional keeper flounder on live minnows. Conditions favor a continuation of this pattern into the coming weeks.
Fluke bite trends upward as bluefish crash poppers off Sandy Hook
Fluke fishing is trending upward on the reefs approaching Raritan Bay and Sandy Hook, with OTW's Northern New Jersey report noting bluefin holding within 15 to 40 miles offshore while surf fluke and bluefish stay steady. Closer to the beach, The Fisherman's NJ/DE Surf report has bluefish running 3 to 5 pounds on poppers most mornings, with stripers and black drum still picking off clam baits along the suds, a pattern corroborated by Grumpys Tackle's own shop report of bass back on clams and fluke turning on with bucktails. Bucktail-and-Gulp combos are the go-to as fluke fishing enters its most productive July stretch. Sea bass action is mixed: Capt Ron's Atlantic Highlands boats are still finding keepers on small Gulp sand eels, but several Northern New Jersey charter captains describe this spring's sea bass season as one of the poorest in years and are shifting focus to fluke and bluefish for July. Water conditions data wasn't available this cycle, so check a local buoy and tide chart before heading out.
Whitefish interest builds on Lake Superior as UP streams settle in
Our streamflow gauge (USGS 04059500) is reading a modest 171 cfs this morning, typical mid-summer base flow for Upper Peninsula trout water and a sign that low, clear conditions favor early and late presentations over midday ones. On Lake Superior, the Wisconsin DNR's Lake Superior Fishing program notes that lake whitefish angling in the Chequamegon Bay region has grown into a genuinely popular fishery in recent seasons, drawn both through the ice and from a boat, popular enough that the agency has run informational meetings and an angler questionnaire to track the pressure. The same feed flags an active Michigan Tech research push surveying angler awareness and preferences for Lake Superior burbot, a reminder that burbot remain a niche, mostly after-dark target most UP anglers overlook. No fresh water-temperature reading came through this cycle, so plan around cool mornings and warmer afternoons until a new number lands.
Salmon push turns on across Lake Ontario's open water
Salmon fishing has been very good this past week on Lake Ontario, with browns and lake trout mixed in, per Strike Zone Charters, who are working anglers in 100 to 160 feet of water. Preferred depths have shifted day to day as wind pushes the thermocline around, and the captains report Mag Dipsey Divers producing when fish sit deep, with green, white, and chartreuse E-Chip spoons in Atomic-style presentations doing the damage. Downstream in the Salmon River system, USGS gauge 04250750 is reading a low, stable 59.6 cfs, typical mid-summer tributary flow with no fresh water pushing fish upriver yet. That keeps the bulk of the action out on the open lake rather than in the river itself. Anglers targeting the Salmon River or Oswego tributaries should expect slow going until flows build later in the season, while open-water trollers keep finding willing kings, browns, and lakers suspended over deep structure.
Presque Isle's summer bite settles in as HAB season begins on Erie
The only hard number in today's sweep is a low, steady 15.4 cfs reading from USGS gauge 04213000 early Wednesday morning, with no water-temp data reported for the Erie/Presque Isle corridor. Today's angler-intel sweep didn't turn up a direct on-the-water report from Presque Isle Bay or the Erie tributaries, so we're leaning on typical July patterns for this fishery rather than a confirmed hot bite. PA Sea Grant's recent Harmful Algal Blooms webinar, run with PA DEP, is a useful seasonal flag — HABs are a growing summer concern on Great Lakes waters like Presque Isle Bay, and anglers wading or launching should watch for scummy, discolored water. Expect the usual mid-summer split: smallmouth bass working rocky structure and drop-offs, walleye sliding deeper and feeding mainly low-light, and yellow perch scattered but catchable in the bay. Steelhead are essentially off the table until fall, with tributary flows this low.