Fishing reports
19070 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
Smallmouth bite locks into peak summer pattern on Maine rivers
Field & Stream's midsummer river-smallmouth guide frames this week well: peak season for river smallmouth arrives once warming water pushes feeding activity to its highest point of the year, and that's exactly where Kennebec and Penobscot anglers sit heading into mid-July. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through this cycle, so this report leans on seasonal patterns and technique reports rather than hard numbers. Per Field & Stream, smallmouth are holding tight to shaded cover and current seams through the heat of the day, then sliding into open pools as evening cools things down, a pattern that maps directly onto Kennebec and Penobscot river structure. Fishing the Midwest's weedline advisory is a useful reminder for pickerel and other weed-relating species: work the margins where emerging vegetation meets open water. Brook trout and landlocked salmon typically pull back from aggressive daytime feeding once water warms through July, favoring low light and deeper, cooler pockets instead.
Taneycomo trout perk up as generation eases into July
Trout fishing on Lake Taneycomo has improved over the last couple of weeks, per Lilleys Landing (Lake Taneycomo MO), even with generation still running heavy through the afternoons and evenings. June brought needed but disruptive rain to the watershed, and the resulting high flows made fishing tough for bank and dock anglers most of the month. With those rains now subsided, Lilleys Landing expects July to bring more stretches of no generation, especially in the mornings — the kind of low, slow water that favors wading and light-tackle presentations for Taneycomo's rainbow and brown trout. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through this cycle, so treat flow and temperature as shop-reported rather than instrument-verified for now. Table Rock's warmwater fishery should be settling into a typical early-July pattern as water temps climb, though no direct reports on those species came in this round.
Iowa river bass and catfish settle into summer weedline pattern
No fresh NOAA or USGS readings came through for the Iowa and Des Moines Rivers this cycle, so this report leans on regional intel and seasonal norms. Fishing the Midwest's Bob Jensen notes the 2026 open-water season is in full swing across the region, with more anglers running forward-facing sonar to track bait and structure — a trend worth adopting on Iowa's river systems where largemouth bass are holding tight to emerging weedlines this time of year. Mike Frisch, also writing for Fishing the Midwest, points out that boat position and sharp hooks separate anglers who convert bites into fish in the boat right now. Channel catfish typically feed heavily through early July as water warms, and walleye continue biting current breaks on the Des Moines system, though no direct Iowa reports came through this cycle to confirm current bite intensity. Check state regs before harvesting.
Snake and Salmon River trout dial in on summer terrestrials
Gink and Gasoline's latest report out of the Owyhee River — part of the Snake River drainage — describes picky brown trout still keying on accurate, drag-free nymph presentations in clear tailwater flows, a solid proxy for what's likely happening across the Snake and Salmon system with no fresh buoy or gauge data available this cycle. Trout Unlimited's newest Trout Tip flags terrestrials as prime summer fare now that hoppers, ants, and beetles are working onto the banks, a pattern that should be firing for redband and cutthroat holding tight to grassy edges here too. Caddis Fly (OR) is still seeing Western Green Drake and Yellow Sally nymphs producing on nearby freestones, hatches that run on a similar clock through Idaho this time of year. Lower-river smallmouth should be firming up as well, per Field & Stream's current-seam summer playbook.
Summer bass patterns take hold across TN reservoirs and rivers
No NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings came through for Tennessee and Cumberland this cycle, so this update leans on the current national bass-fishing conversation rather than a fresh local temperature or flow snapshot. Tactical Bassin's July playbook ("Top 5 Baits For July Bass Fishing") frames this stretch of summer as peak-metabolism season for largemouth, with fish aggressively chasing baitfish imitations from first light through midday before sliding deeper as the sun climbs. Fishing the Midwest's Bob Jensen makes a similar case for versatility, pointing anglers toward weedlines as a reliable summer holding zone. Field & Stream's river-smallmouth primer adds that mid- and late-summer warmth peaks smallmouth feeding activity along current seams and shaded cover, a pattern that typically tracks onto Cumberland River tributaries. Crappie tend to slide deep and sluggish once surface water heats up this much. Water clarity and stocking-schedule specifics for Tennessee waters were not available in today's feed, so treat species notes below as seasonal generalizations rather than confirmed local bites.
Historic Drought Pushes Colorado Trout Into Prime Skinny-Water Lies
Colorado's rivers are running about as thin as most anglers have seen in years, but low water is concentrating trout rather than shutting them off. Pat Dorsey Fly Fishing's Drought Update calls 2026 one of the worst snowpack years on record for the state, echoing Cutthroat Anglers' May Update on a historically bad winter runoff. Still, Cutthroat Anglers' Low Water Pro Tips note fish remain active and grouped up for anglers willing to hike farther and downsize tippet. Per Crystal Fly Shop, the Roaring Fork and mainstem Colorado River near Glenwood Springs are fishing well post-runoff on Rubberleg Stones and green-drake nymphs, with green drakes fully emerging below Carbondale within two weeks. The Frying Pan, already low and clear near Ruedi Reservoir, is holding steady on daily BWO and PMD hatches under light 6X tippet. We're seeing a compressed, early-arriving hatch calendar as a direct result of the thin flows.
Summer bass patterns settle in on the Tennessee and Coosa
No on-the-water reports have come in yet this week specifically for Alabama's Tennessee and Coosa river systems, so this update leans on the broader July bass pattern anglers nationwide are seeing right now. Tactical Bassin's rundown of top baits for July points anglers toward power-fishing moving baits early and finesse presentations like the Neko rig as bass slide from shallow cover into deeper water once the sun climbs, a pattern that typically tracks for Coosa spotted bass and Tennessee River largemouth alike. Fishing the Midwest's Bob Jensen is reminding anglers to work weedlines now that the open-water season is in full swing, advice that applies just as well to river ledges and grass edges on these systems. The Coosa's Logan Martin Lake remains a marquee bass fishery in its own right, per MLF News, which notes Alabama native Dustin Connell has won all three prior REDCREST championships held there. Catfish are typically most active in summer heat; crappie usually slow down this time of year.
Tahoe Basin trout bite leans on classic stillwater tactics this week
No direct Truckee or Lake Tahoe reports came through this cycle, so this update leans on seasonal fundamentals rather than fresh local intel. Field & Stream's stillwater trout primer this week is a useful proxy for what's typically working on Tahoe and its feeder waters right now: locating stocked and holdover fish near bottom structure, working a Carolina rig with floating dough bait for less active fish, and switching to small spinners like a Mepps or Rooster Tail to draw strikes from cruising trout. Early July on Tahoe usually means fish pushing deeper as surface layers warm, with Mackinaw trolling deep structure and kokanee schooling for downrigger presentations. Brown trout activity typically slows through the warmest midday hours. Treat species status below as seasonal expectation rather than confirmed local reports, and check current conditions before planning a trip.
July heat turns on the weedline bite at Lake Winnipesaukee
July's warm-water pattern is the story on Winnipesaukee this week, with rising bass metabolism doing most of the work in the absence of any fresh buoy or gauge data for the lake itself. Tactical Bassin's July bait roundup notes that warming water pushes bass into aggressive, near all-day feeding, a pattern that tracks with the shallow-cover, weed-edge bite anglers should expect around Winnipesaukee's coves and points. Fishing the Midwest's Bob Jensen points anglers toward the weedline as open-water season settles in, a solid template for the lake's milfoil and cabbage beds that hold both largemouth and smallmouth. Lake trout and landlocked salmon are typically pushed deep by now, sitting near the thermocline as surface temps climb; there is no direct NH intel on that bite this week, so treat it as seasonal expectation rather than a confirmed report. No NOAA buoy or USGS gauge currently covers Winnipesaukee directly, so today's read leans on general technique guidance and typical July patterns.
Ohio anglers lean on summer patterns as Erie and river reports stay quiet
No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through this cycle for Lake Erie or the Ohio River, so this update leans on seasonal know-how rather than a specific on-the-water report. Fishing the Midwest's Bob Jensen is pointing anglers to work the weedline right now, a classic July move for walleye and bass holding on emerging summer vegetation, while Tactical Bassin's rundown of top July bass baits underscores that warming water has largemouth and smallmouth metabolisms running hot and feeding aggressively. Field & Stream's river-smallmouth primer backs that up, noting mid- and late-summer as peak window for river smallmouth keyed on current seams and shaded cover, a pattern that translates directly to Ohio River structure. Expect walleye to hold deeper and smallmouth to key on current breaks until a real Erie or river-specific report comes in. Check state regs before harvesting and treat species status below as seasonal-typical rather than a confirmed hot bite.
Weedlines and whitefish define Wisconsin's mid-summer bite
Wisconsin's open-water season is deep into its mid-summer rhythm, and the standout storyline from the north is the lake whitefish fishery that has taken off in the Chequamegon Bay region of Lake Superior, strong enough that WI DNR Lake Superior Fishing hosted a dedicated management meeting and angler questionnaire this spring to keep pace with interest. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for the Wisconsin River or Lake Superior today, so plan around typical early-July patterns rather than a specific reading. Fishing the Midwest reports anglers are working weedlines hard as vegetation fills in, a reliable move for walleye and other weed-oriented species this time of year, while Field & Stream's rundown on river smallmouth tactics points anglers toward shaded cover and current seams during the day, with open pools producing better after the sun drops. No hot-bite reports came in for the Wisconsin River specifically this week, so expect steady, technique-dependent action rather than a wide-open bite.
Potomac and Patapsco smallmouth shift into peak summer feeding
No fresh NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings came through for the Potomac or Patapsco this cycle, so this report leans on seasonal technique rather than a live snapshot. The signal that matters most right now is timing: Field & Stream's river-smallmouth roundup this week flags mid- and late-summer as peak season for river smallmouth, noting that warming water pushes aggressive feeding along shaded cover and current seams during the day, shifting to open pools in the evenings. Tactical Bassin's July baits rundown echoes the same seasonal driver for largemouth, pointing out that rising water temperatures put bass metabolism at its yearly high, with fish keyed on a wide range of forage. For the Potomac and Patapsco, that points anglers toward current breaks and shade during midday heat, moving to coves and weedlines as the sun drops. Catfish should stay a steady, temperature-tolerant option through the heat. Check local gauge levels before launching, since no flow data was available for this cycle.
Quiet week for NM intel, but summer trout patterns hold steady
No NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings came back for the Rio Grande or San Juan this cycle, and this week's angler-intel sweep turned up no first-hand reports specifically from either river — the feeds skewed toward Truckee River, Pacific Northwest, and Northeast saltwater coverage instead. Rather than guess at numbers, we're leaning on typical early-July patterns for New Mexico trout water: the San Juan's dam-controlled flow keeps it fishing cold and consistent through summer regardless of air temperature, while the Rio Grande tends to run warmer and more variable once monsoon season ramps up. Expect morning and evening windows to outproduce the midday heat, with terrestrial patterns (ants, hoppers, beetles) becoming more relevant as summer progresses — a seasonal trend echoed generally across trout fisheries nationwide this time of year, per Trout Unlimited's terrestrial-focused tip this week, even though that piece wasn't NM-specific. Check current flow and clarity locally before heading out.
Deep-water salmon push holds as walleye work Grand River weedlines
Wisconsin DNR's Lake Michigan fishing report highlights just how strong recent seasons have been on this lake system, noting 2024 anglers landed a record 210,000 coho salmon and over 160,000 Chinook salmon, the best Chinook numbers since 2012, with strong alewife survival credited for boosting stocked fish. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came in for the Grand River mouth area this cycle, so we're leaning on regional season patterns rather than a same-day bite report. Fishing the Midwest's Bob Jensen notes the 2026 open-water season is in full swing statewide and encourages anglers to stay versatile, working weedlines as emerging vegetation holds walleye and baitfish. The WI DNR is also gathering public input on smallmouth bass management in Green Bay and northern Lake Michigan, a sign that fishery remains a management priority. Expect salmon running deeper water typical for July, with walleye and smallmouth activity nearshore along weed edges and river-mouth structure.
Chesapeake Bay mouth settles into peak cobia and red drum season
No buoy or gauge readings came through this cycle, and this week's angler-intel feeds didn't turn up a shop, captain, or state-agency report specific to conditions at the Chesapeake mouth — the Virginia DWR Wildlife Blog and VA Sea Grant items in this pull cover trout stocking policy, deer, and fellowship news rather than saltwater bite reports, so we're not going to stretch them into claims about what's biting. What we can say with confidence is seasonal: early July at the Bay mouth is squarely inside the window when cobia, red drum, and Spanish mackerel typically hold over structure and along the shipping channel edges, with flounder scattered on sandy bottom nearby. Striped bass are generally scarce and stressed in warm summer water this time of year, and most Virginia guidance leans toward releasing any incidental catches. Check local shop reports and VMRC regulations before targeting any of these species, since none of that is confirmed by this week's sources.
Narragansett Bay stripers push oceanward as summer settles in
Rhode Island's striped bass are shifting toward open water as Narragansett Bay slides into summer conditions, with Saltwater Edge Blog (RI) noting bass moving out to the cooler oceanfront for the season while scup, black sea bass, and fluke settle into their usual bay haunts. The same shop reported the June squid run still going strong and showing no signs of slowing as of late June, though that bite typically tapers as surface temps keep climbing into July. On The Water is pointing anglers toward pre-dawn hours for stripers, working quiet, crowd-free backwaters before the sun pushes fish deeper, and OTW Surfcasting's guide to circle hooks for live eels remains the standard after-dark approach for bigger bass around structure. Fluke anglers should carry a spread of Berkley Gulp colors, per On The Water, since summer flounder get particular about presentation once the water clears. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through this cycle, so lean on local knowledge for exact temps and current tide stage.
Cobia and flounder headline the seasonal turn on Chincoteague's Eastern Shore
No live buoy or gauge readings came through for the Chincoteague area this cycle, and this week's angler-intel feeds didn't carry a single region-specific catch report for Virginia's Eastern Shore. That leaves general seasonal knowledge as the baseline: early July typically has cobia cruising nearshore structure and channel markers around the barrier islands, flounder settling into the inlets and back-bay channels near Chincoteague and Wachapreague, and croaker and spot filling out bottom-rig catches in the bays behind Assateague. Spanish mackerel and bluefish often push along the beachfront as surf temperatures climb into the 70s. None of this is confirmed by a specific report in hand today, so treat it as a seasonal baseline rather than a live bite update, and check with a local bait-and-tackle shop or charter captain before planning a trip around any one species this week.
Red Drum Heat Up Pamlico Flats as Surf Bite Turns Mixed
Red drum are the story on the Pamlico and Neuse River shorelines this week, with anglers working flats and structure landing fish of all sizes — including some big drum — per Fisherman's Post (NC). A few miles south, Topsail/Sneads Ferry is seeing its best red drum action early, with topwaters producing on the morning bite before things slow later in the day, also per Fisherman's Post (NC). Surf conditions are more of a mixed bag: Carolina Beach anglers are picking through sharks, croakers, pompano, whiting and pinfish, while Swansboro/Emerald Isle is seeing bluefish, spots, sea mullet and some pompano. Southport/Oak Island surf anglers are fighting dirty water and heavy seaweed but still finding whiting, croakers and bluefish. With a Last Quarter moon this week, expect moderate tidal swings rather than the peak flows of a full or new moon.
Kodiak's marine heatwave forum keeps Gulf of Alaska anglers watching water temps
No fresh buoy or gauge readings came back for the Gulf of Alaska this cycle, but the season's most relevant signal comes from Kodiak Island, where the 34th Lowell Wakefield Fisheries Symposium just wrapped a session on marine heatwaves in high-latitude oceans, per AK Sea Grant. That's the backdrop worth knowing before you plan a trip: warm-water anomalies in this region have historically pushed groundfish and salmon behavior around, shifting depth and timing. Separately, AK Sea Grant also flagged invasive European green crabs continuing their advance in Southeast Alaska, a reminder to rinse gear and check traps between spots. No charter, shop, or state-agency bite reports came through the feed this week, so treat halibut, salmon, and lingcod activity below as typical-for-July expectations rather than confirmed current bite. Check a local forecast and recent agency updates before heading out.
Tarpon push still rolling as Gulf Coast anglers dial in Permit, AJs
Naples Offshore Fishing Charters reports the spring Tarpon migration has been in full swing along Florida's Gulf Coast, with captains jumping and landing quality fish through the mornings before switching over to sight-fishing large Permit in the afternoons. Kingfish, cobia, and amberjack have been mixed in as steady bonus species on those same trips. Up in the Panhandle, a Pensacola Fishing Forum angler's July 4th trip found the amberjack bite still alive over bridge rubble, scaling down to slow-pitch jigs to also pick up vermillion snapper (mingos) once the AJs got wise to the first offering - a pattern that lines up with the amberjack and offshore-structure action Naples-area captains have also been working this season. Regulatory backdrop matters too: CCA Florida has flagged ongoing concern from Gulf-state senators over illegal foreign harvest pressuring red snapper stocks, a reminder to check current federal and state rules before keeping fish. Overall it's shaping up as a solid, on-schedule summer stretch for FL's Gulf side with good variety across the water column.
Summer pelagic run keeps Hawaiian offshore grounds active
No buoy or gauge readings came through for the islands this cycle, and this week's angler-intel sweep didn't surface any Hawaii-specific catch reports beyond general site notes from Hawaii Fishing News, which maintains the state's record-keeping and moon/tide calendar rather than day-to-day bite updates. With that gap, this report leans on typical July patterns for Hawaiian saltwater: peak summer conditions generally keep offshore pelagics — ahi, mahi mahi, ono, and marlin — active around FADs, current edges, and drop-offs, while inshore bottomfish stay a steadier, less dramatic producer through the season. The Last Quarter moon typically means more moderate tidal swings than the new or full phases, which can spread bite windows out rather than concentrating them around a single peak. Anglers should treat today's picture as seasonal baseline rather than a live read and check current local reports before planning a trip.
Treasure Coast snook feeding well as inlet dredging halts
The St. Lucie Inlet's snook bite has rebounded now that a channel dredging project has paused, per Snook Nook's July report out of Stuart — anglers with side-scan are marking big schools near the detached jetty and Hole in the Wall, with live croakers and pilchards drawing bites. Florida's snook season stays closed statewide through September 1, so it's catch-and-release only on the Treasure Coast for now. The bigger story for Atlantic-side anglers is red snapper access: CCA Florida reports a federal court just granted a preliminary injunction blocking the 2026 South Atlantic red snapper Exempted Fishing Permit pilot programs for Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina, landing hours before Florida's planned Atlantic season opener. Anglers Journal notes the state-management push, including a proposed 39-day season, remains in legal limbo. Tarpon should be moving through inlets and along the beaches as usual for early July, a typical seasonal pattern along this stretch.
Trout bite stays hot on Sarasota grass flats as tarpon linger into July
Spotted seatrout are attacking baits aggressively across Sarasota Bay's grass flats, mangrove shorelines, and passes right now, according to Capt. Brandon Naeve of CB's Saltwater Outfitters, who called it the peak of the summer trout bite. Redfish are cooperating too: Capt. Chuck Cress reported clients pulling a red off an upper Sarasota Bay oyster bar amid mullet schools and bluefish. Tarpon haven't checked out yet. Capt. Rick Grassett's July forecast has spin anglers still working travel lanes with live baits under floats, noting July fish tend to fight harder before schools thin out later in the month. Shark action remains a Sarasota Bay staple through summer, with Naeve noting bull, blacktip, and lemon sharks working the bay and nearshore Gulf. With no fresh buoy or gauge readings available today, we're leaning on this week's captain and shop reports rather than raw water data. Check a local forecast before you run out.
Bull Redfish Popping Corks Working Louisiana's Marsh Drains
Bull redfish are keeping Louisiana guides busy this week, with Capt. Mike Frenette of The Redfish Lodge of Louisiana in Venice working popping-cork rigs to draw strikes from the oversized reds that run in the Delta nearly year-round, per Sport Fishing Mag. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for the Gulf Coast & Delta zone in this cycle, so treat water temp and flow as unconfirmed until the next data pull. Speckled trout fishing is holding steady as summer heat pushes fish off the shallow flats; Salt Strong notes anglers should stop covering water at random and instead target the specific reload spots that consistently hold trout through the hottest stretch of the season. Flounder tend to be a slower, incidental target through mid-summer in this region ahead of the fall run. Marsh drains and points remain the go-to structure per Salt Strong's rundown of core inshore terrain features.