Fishing reports
7239 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
Northwoods walleye lakes shift into summer weedline patterns
Northwoods anglers are moving through the early-to-mid-summer transition, per Rollie & Helen's Musky Shop (WI), with water temps holding in the low 70s across the Minocqua, Oneida, and Vilas County lake systems despite recent wind and weather swings. Muskies are fully post-spawn and scattered, but jerkbaits worked over weed edges are producing fish, a pattern the shop credits guide Jake Smith with dialing in. For the walleye crowd, Bob Jensen at Fishing the Midwest points to the weedline as the technique worth adding to the rotation as open-water season hits full stride, noting versatile anglers who chase multiple species tend to catch more right now. Buoy and gauge telemetry for this system came back empty this cycle, so treat the low-70s reading as regional context rather than a site-specific number. Expect the weed-edge bite to hold as the transition plays out through the week.
Early starts pay off for Rangeley trout as summer heat builds
USGS gauge 01054200 near the Androscoggin headwaters logged a steady 43.9 cfs at 8 a.m. on July 5, with no water temperature reading available this morning. That low, stable flow is typical for a Maine summer stretch, but it's also the exact window Trout Unlimited highlights in its ongoing warm-water coverage: cold-blooded trout depend entirely on the water around them, and low dissolved oxygen in warm shallows can push fish into deeper cover during peak daylight. No dedicated Rangeley or Androscoggin bite report came through our feeds this week, so this update leans on general seasonal patterns rather than a specific catch report. Expect brook trout and landlocked salmon to feed hardest in the cool hours around dawn and dusk, while smallmouth bass, which Tactical Bassin lists topwater and moving baits as top July picks, should stay more active into midday across the lake basins.
Illinois River's high flow turns on catfish and carp bite
USGS gauge 05586100 was reading a swollen 58,900 cfs early this morning, a signal that recent rains have pushed the Illinois River well above typical summer flow. High, off-color water like this tends to concentrate catfish along current breaks and below wing dams, and regional reports back that up: Wired 2 Fish highlighted a 48.1-pound catfish out of Michigan's St. Joseph River below a dam, a reminder that big cats key in on heavy flow around Great Lakes-basin tributaries this time of year. On the bass side, Fishing the Midwest's Bob Jensen is pushing anglers toward weedlines as the 2026 open-water season hits full stride, and Tactical Bassin's July roundup leans on moving baits for aggressive, heat-driven bass. Carp remain a steady, underrated target on the river's skinnier flats per Hatch Magazine. Expect stained water and stronger current through the weekend.
Catawba and Roanoke bass tuck into cover as summer flows bottom out
The USGS gauge at station 02142900 logged flow at just 0.17 cfs this morning, a reading that points to drought-level low water across the Catawba and Roanoke systems as the region moves deeper into summer. Water temperature wasn't available at this station, but Piedmont and Coastal Plain rivers typically run into the upper 70s to mid-80s by early July, pushing fish toward deeper holes, shade, and current breaks. No NC Piedmont-specific angler reports came through this cycle's intel feed, so we're leaning on general seasonal patterns and national technique guidance: Fishing the Midwest's midsummer advice to work weedlines fits low, warm water where bass stack on vegetation edges, and Tactical Bassin's July bait roundup points to moving baits and soft plastics as sensible starting points. Catfish tend to hold in the deepest available water during stretches like this, while crappie typically slow down until temperatures ease. Check current conditions before heading out.
Susquehanna smallmouth shift to dawn-dusk bite as summer heat sets in
The USGS gauge on the Susquehanna (01540500) logged water at 84°F this morning with flow running 3,580 cfs, a clear signal that full summer patterns have locked in across the Susquehanna and Allegheny systems. No dedicated PA fishing-report chatter surfaced in this week's intel sweep, so we're leaning on typical July behavior for these rivers: smallmouth bass sliding onto tight dawn and dusk feeding windows as the heat pushes fish off sun-baked shallows, walleye dropping into deeper holes and current breaks through midday, and channel catfish turning most active after dark. The Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission maintains ongoing biologist reports and stocking notices for the region, worth checking before planning a trip since recent stocking can shift bite windows on managed stretches. Muskellunge anglers should be especially cautious targeting fish in water this warm, since elevated release-mortality risk is a real concern during summer heat spikes.
NJ's Delaware feeders and Pine Barrens creeks settle into July rhythm
The USGS gauge at site 01408000 in the Delaware River watershed measured flow at 45.3 cfs as of Saturday morning, a modest, stable read typical of a Pine Barrens-fed tributary settling into its usual summer base flow. No water-temperature reading came through with this cycle's data, but for early July in this region that generally means water has warmed well into the range where smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, and chain pickerel feed most actively, while stocked trout fishing slows as streams lose their spring chill. This week's tackle-shop and charter dispatches were concentrated on the Jersey Shore surf and inshore boats (fluke, sea bass, striped bass) rather than the Delaware River or Pine Barrens freshwater systems, so there's no fresh on-the-water testimony to attribute for this specific region today. Anglers here should lean on typical July patterns: early and late light for bass, deep cedar-stained holes for pickerel, and channel catfish after dark.
Blue Crabs and Weakfish Stir as Delaware Bay Eases Into Summer
Grumpys Tackle's shore report notes crab hauls have been strong off local NJ docks and that a couple of weakfish are starting to show in the mix, both classic signs of a Delaware Bay backwater season waking up as water warms into summer. Direct reports from the bay itself were thin in this cycle's angler intel, but corroborating signals from up the coast point the same direction: Blue Chip Sportfishing says striped bass are being crushed on nearly every trip right now, and Grumpys adds that surf bass are back on clams. Fluke remain a mixed bag elsewhere in the state, per Capt Ron's out of Atlantic Highlands and Fishermans HQ on LBI, with Gulp-style baits and bucktails producing best. For Delaware Bay anglers, that regional pattern usually means blue crabs, weakfish, and striper action building through the bay's channels and marsh edges as the holiday week settles in. Check current NJ size and possession limits before keeping anything.
Striped bass, sea bass fire up Raritan Bay and Sandy Hook
Water temperatures crept into the mid-60s off Atlantic Highlands this week, and Capt Ron's reports fluke finally showing quality after a slow start to the season, with several keepers pushing 4-5 pounds landed on bucktails tipped with Gulp sand eels. Just south, Blue Chip Sportfishing says striped bass fishing is 'the best possible' right now, with clients limiting out on nearly every trip, while black sea bass are running red hot with boats getting enough for everyone aboard. Shark fishing has also busted wide open for Blue Chip, including three released Mako sharks on a recent trip. Grumpys Tackle notes the surf bite rebounded with stripers back on clams and fluke working bucktails and soft baits, plus a few weakfish reported and good blue crab hauls in the back bays. Offshore, OTW Northern New Jersey has bluefin tuna running 15-40 miles out, with bluefish and stripers keeping the surf active in the meantime.
UP trout streams settle into steady summer flow near Superior
USGS gauge 04059500 is holding a steady 196 cfs this week, the kind of stable, well-defined base flow that typically keeps Upper Peninsula trout streams wadable and fishable through early July. Direct "what's biting" testimony specific to UP rivers and Lake Superior was thin across this week's feeds, so the species notes below lean on typical seasonal patterns rather than confirmed hot bites — worth flagging rather than papering over. Lake Superior itself is drawing attention for reasons beyond the rod: WI DNR Lake Superior Fishing continues tracking the fast-growing Chequamegon Bay lake whitefish fishery, and Great Lakes Now reports researchers confirming invasive bloody red shrimp have established in a Lake Superior harbor, a reminder of how the big lake's forage base keeps shifting under the surface. Brook trout and lake trout remain the dependable UP summer targets, with lake whitefish pulling more angler interest on Superior than in past seasons. Check the MI DNR Weekly Fishing Report directly for stream-by-stream detail before heading out.
Bass Bite Holds Strong Across Georgia's River Systems This Week
Georgia Outdoor News' Joshua Barber reported this week that "the bass have been biting," with solid catches coming out of lakes and ponds across the state — a pattern anglers on the Chattahoochee and Savannah systems should expect to hold into the weekend. Our USGS gauge on the Chattahoochee (station 02197000) logged 4,280 cfs early this morning, a healthy summer flow that lines up with active Buford Dam generation, so check release schedules before wading the tailwater. Barber's report also tracked the Savannah system at Clyo running 3.5 feet and falling as of July 2, typical for a river settling into its low-summer stage. No water-temperature reading came through on this cycle, so plan trips around early-morning and evening windows as Georgia moves deeper into peak summer heat. Largemouth and spotted bass are the headline bite on moving baits, with Buford tailwater trout and summer stripers rounding out the mix.
Lake Ontario turns on for kings, browns, and lakers alike
Lake Ontario's open-water bite is rolling right now: Strike Zone Charters (Lake Ontario) reports salmon fishing has been very good over the past week, with browns and lake trout mixing in alongside kings. Captains are working 100 to 160 feet down, with preferred depth shifting day to day as wind pushes the thermocline around — Mag Dipsey Divers are producing when fish sit deep, and green, white, and chartreuse e-chip spoons have been the go-to colors. On the river side, the Salmon River gauge is reading a moderate 112 cfs as of early this morning, with no water temperature reading available this cycle. That's typical staging water ahead of the fall king run rather than a river bite yet. Lake trout and browns round out a solid mixed bag for anyone working the open lake this week.
Presque Isle anglers eye steady summer walleye and perch action
Our only hard read this week comes from USGS gauge 04213000, which logged a modest 15.4 cfs early Saturday morning, a low, stable flow typical of high-summer baseflow in the tributaries feeding the Lake Erie/Presque Isle system. Direct "what's biting" reports for the Erie shoreline were thin in this week's roundup, so treat the picks below as seasonal defaults rather than dock-side dispatches. July on Lake Erie typically means walleye holding over deeper structure, smallmouth bass working rock and gravel edges, and yellow perch schooling over mud flats, consistent with typical patterns for this fishery. Steelhead, by contrast, are largely a fall-through-spring tributary fishery here and sit mostly dormant in the open lake through summer. Pennsylvania Sea Grant flagged a June 25 harmful algal bloom webinar held with the state DEP, a timely reminder to eyeball water conditions before wading Presque Isle Bay's warmer, calmer coves this month.
Columbia Basin rivers settle into a steady midsummer warmwater pattern
The USGS gauge on the Yakima system (site 14113000) logged 815 cfs and 62°F early this morning, a solid mid-summer base flow for Columbia Basin water and a temperature range where smallmouth bass and summer steelhead typically stay active without the sluggish behavior warmer water can trigger later in the season. This week's angler-intel sweep turned up little fresh, river-specific chatter for Washington's Columbia and Puget Sound systems - the regional Sea Grant coverage centered on saltwater and estuarine topics (bull kelp, invasive green crab detections, a boater pumpout app) rather than river fishing conditions. That's not unusual between reporting cycles. For the latest creel and stocking specifics, WDFW's statewide fishing and stocking reports remain the best current source; absent fresh bite reports today, we're leaning on typical early-July patterns for this water rather than claiming anything specific was seen on the water this week.
Toledo Bend and Sabine bass dig into shade as summer heat locks in
Louisiana Sportsman's July 1 bass report has anglers working shaded docks and laydowns as peak summer heat pushes fish out of open water, with writer Don Shoopman noting Charles Thompson splitting time between dock cover and deeper structure over at Caddo Lake and Cross Lake, a pattern that tracks closely with what Toledo Bend and Sabine anglers should expect right now. Our only hard reading for the border stretch comes from USGS gauge 08025500, showing a modest 17.7 cfs flow as of Saturday morning, typically a sign of low, clear, stable water with no recent rain pushing through the system. No water temperature reading came through this cycle, but with early July sun baking the region, expect bathwater-warm shallows and a lake full of fish sliding toward wood, dock pilings, and deeper breaks during peak daylight hours. Early morning and late evening windows remain the highest-percentage times to find fish still shallow and feeding.
Delta channels churn as summer bass and catfish patterns take hold
The USGS gauge at station 11455420 logged Delta flow near 13,200 cfs early this morning, a strong push of water through the system as summer heat settles over the Sacramento-San Joaquin system. No region-specific catch reports came through our angler-intel feeds this cycle, so this update leans on established seasonal patterns for the Delta rather than fresh, source-attributed bite details. Typically for early July, largemouth bass hold tight to tules, docks, and submerged brush, feeding hardest in the low-light hours before the sun climbs and flows keep moving. Striped bass activity in the Delta itself often eases this time of year as a share of the population pushes toward the bay and ocean with warming water. Channel catfish, on the other hand, tend to turn on as water temperatures rise, making summer nights a strong bet along deeper holes and current breaks. Check state regulations before targeting any species this week.
Saginaw Bay walleye settle into summer structure patterns
Direct buoy and gauge readings for the Lake Huron and Saginaw Bay corridor came back empty this cycle, and this week's angler intel likewise skipped the bay itself. The closest specific Michigan catch report we have is Wired 2 Fish's write-up of a 48.1-pound catfish taken below the Berrien Springs Dam on the St. Joseph River, a reminder of what the state's rivers can produce, though that fish came from the southwest corner of the state, not the Huron system. With no fresh instrument data or bay-specific reports to lean on, we're falling back on what's typical for early July here: walleye sliding off spawning grounds into deeper, cooler basin water and nearshore reefs, yellow perch schooling over sand and gravel, and smallmouth bass working rock piles and current breaks as surface temps climb. Treat these as seasonal expectations, not confirmed bites, until fresher local reports come in.
Texas catfish stay red-hot as bass push shallow ahead of peak heat
USGS gauge 08211200 logged water at 89°F this morning with flow holding steady near 89 cfs — a textbook mid-summer Texas signature: warm, low, and stable. Catfish are the story right now. North Texas Catfish Guide reports Eagle Mountain Lake running near full with fresh water pushing into the system, and describes fish actively "moving" and "feeding" on blue and channel cats as levels climb, with that same operation noting white bass schooling up on the main lake during comparable early-summer stretches. On the bass side, Tactical Bassin's July rundown points anglers toward power-fishing shallow cover through the cooler hours, while Texas Fish & Game highlights working brush piles with forward-facing sonar to stack up bass and crappie as fish tuck to structure once the sun gets high. Expect a dawn-and-dusk bite window with everything holding tight to cover, brush, and current breaks through the heat of the day.
Summer bass bite holds steady as St. Johns flow stays consistent
USGS gauge 02232000 on the St. Johns River measured a steady 141 cfs flow early this morning, a sign of stable, typical July conditions across Okeechobee and St. Johns waters. With no major weather disruption reported, largemouth bass should keep holding to their usual summer pattern: shallow cover and moving baits at first light before sliding toward deeper structure as the sun climbs. Tactical Bassin's July roundup highlights topwater and soft jerkbaits as go-to picks for this stretch of summer, along with power-fishing shallow cover during the hottest stretches of the day, both techniques that translate well to Okeechobee's grass lines and the St. Johns' vegetation edges. Bluegill and channel catfish activity typically holds steady through midsummer regardless of bass mood, while crappie fishing usually slows until water cools in fall. We're not seeing region-specific catch reports this cycle, so treat today's outlook as seasonal baseline rather than a hot bite confirmation.
Kennebec and Penobscot anglers adjust to strong summer flows
A Kennebec-basin gauge (USGS 01046500) logged 4,910 cfs early Saturday morning, a strong push of water for the first week of July that's likely pinning smallmouth bass and chain pickerel tight to structure rather than roaming open water. No water-temperature reading came through with this cycle's data, so we're leaning on seasonal norms: smallmouth should be feeding hard, and Tactical Bassin's July rundown of top bass baits (moving baits early and late, slower presentations through the heat of the day) is a reasonable starting point for the Kennebec and Penobscot's warmwater stretches. Landlocked salmon and brook trout typically slide deeper or retreat to cool tributary mouths once flows and daytime temps climb like this, so don't expect much surface action from either species right now. Fishing the Midwest's reminder to work the weedline applies directly to pickerel and bass holding along grass edges in these systems this time of year.
Smokies trout push to dawn hours as summer warmth sets in
Streams gauged at USGS site 03512000 are running 188 cfs and 71°F this morning, a notch warmer than trout prefer as peak summer sets in. Trout Unlimited raised this exact concern this week, noting trout are cold-blooded and that warm water carries less dissolved oxygen, so fish grow stressed and lethargic once afternoon temperatures climb. The same feed's drought-season guidance calls for anglers to fish early, keep fights short, and consider stepping away from already-stressed water when temps push into the mid-60s and above. For Western NC's high country trout, that points to the first few hours of daylight as the best window before the thermal load builds through the day. Rainbow trout are still willing to chase terrestrials and nymphs at dawn; brown trout activity slows as water warms; brook trout, the most temperature-sensitive of the three, are best left to cooler high-elevation feeder streams until conditions ease. Check state regulations before harvesting anything this time of year.
Summer pattern settles in on Santee and Lake Murray for bass and cats
The USGS gauge feeding the Santee system was reading a steady 95.6 cfs early this morning, a modest, stable summer flow that favors normal boat traffic and clear-water sight-fishing over the next few days. With no fresh SC-specific angler reports in this week's feed, we're leaning on typical July patterns: largemouth keying on topwater and moving baits in the low-light hours, per Tactical Bassin's July bait rundown, before sliding toward shade and deeper cover as the sun climbs. Fishing the Midwest's reminder to work the weedline applies here too, since summer largemouth on reservoir systems like these hold tight to grass edges and brush once temps peak midday. Santee's blue catfish and Lake Murray's striper population typically stay active this time of year but push deeper and go nocturnal-leaning as surface water warms, so early and late trips should out-produce midday outings this week.
Alabama bass settle into summer patterns as Guntersville, Wheeler warm
USGS gauge 03575100 in the Guntersville/Wheeler system is holding a steady 304 cfs this morning, with no water-temperature reading logged from local sensors this cycle. Direct on-the-water reports specific to Guntersville and Wheeler weren't in this week's feed, but the broader Alabama picture gives a useful read: MLF News has the Bama Division's summer bite heating up at nearby Neely Henry on the Coosa system, with anglers working shallow cover like water willow as bass settle into a firm summertime pattern. That lines up with the seasonal push Tactical Bassin flags for July generally, when rising water temps put bass metabolism into overdrive and aggressive, cover-oriented baits start producing. Expect Guntersville and Wheeler largemouth to be running a similar script this week: grass edges, willow clumps, and current breaks near the stable flow reading above. Smallmouth, crappie, and catfish should hold to typical mid-summer form until a direct report comes in from the lakes themselves.
Merrimack bass lock into summer weed-line patterns
USGS gauge 01073500 is reading a light 105 cfs this morning, signaling typical low, clear summer base flow across the Merrimack watershed, good news for bank access but a reminder to fish early before the sun climbs high. Water temperature wasn't logged at the gauge, but early July in New Hampshire typically means largemouth and smallmouth bass have settled into steady weed-line patterns, the kind of bite Fishing the Midwest's Bob Jensen flags in his seasonal weedline notes, while Tactical Bassin's July roundup leans on moving baits and reaction strikes as metabolisms climb with the heat. Lake trout and landlocked salmon on Winnipesaukee should be sliding deeper as the surface warms, a normal seasonal shift rather than a slowdown. One flag worth noting for anyone working the lower Merrimack: On The Water reported a sewage main break in Haverhill dumping roughly 8 million gallons a day into the river, so check advisories before wading downstream stretches.
Snake River trout turn on as summer flows start to ease
The Snake River near Moran is running 5,710 cfs and 61°F this morning, water squarely in the comfort zone for cutthroat, rainbow, and brown trout as the river works its way down from spring runoff. That temperature supports solid daytime activity rather than the dawn-only bite that shows up once water pushes into the upper 60s. Nothing in this week's angler intel comes directly out of the Yellowstone/Teton corridor, but Field & Stream's report on a record-class brown trout taken from the South Fork of the Snake this season is a reminder the broader Snake River drainage is fishing well right now. Trout Unlimited's standing note that warmer water carries less dissolved oxygen is worth keeping in mind as afternoons heat up this week — fish will still eat, but the comfort window narrows toward morning and evening as summer progresses. Dry-dropper rigs and attractor patterns matched to emerging summer bugs remain the go-to approach on this stretch.