Fishing reports
19203 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
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.
Bass keep biting on the Savannah chain as summer heat settles in
Joshua Barber's July 4 Southern Water Fishing Report for GA Sportsman / Georgia Outdoor News leads with good news for bass anglers: "the bass have been biting this week," with solid reports rolling in from lakes and ponds statewide. His river-gauge roundup had the Savannah at Clyo sitting at 3.5 feet and falling as of July 2, and the USGS gauge at that same location (02192000) is reading a flow of 401 cfs early this morning, consistent with that falling trend. The Georgia Wildlife Blog's Fishing Report continues pointing anglers to its Angler Resources page for stocking updates and species-specific forecasts. On Hartwell and Russell specifically, expect the classic July pattern to hold: fish sliding off the banks toward deeper points, ledges, and thermocline edges as surface water heats up, with the best action clustering around dawn and after dark.
High Water, Hot Bite: Louisiana Bass Anglers Chase the Shade
The Mississippi Basin gauge at USGS site 07374000 logged water in the mid-80s early this morning with flow running well above typical summer stage, a combination that's pushing fish tight to structure across Louisiana's freshwater systems. Louisiana Sportsman — Fishing reports anglers like Charles Thompson working docks at Cross Lake and Caddo Lake specifically for the shade they throw, a pattern holding true statewide as surface temps climb into the mid-80s and largemouth bass slide off open flats. Catfish should stay steady feeders in the stained, high-flow water typical of a swollen Mississippi system, while bream and white perch activity likely tapers during peak afternoon heat. With flows this elevated, expect stronger current seams, more turbidity, and fish relating hard to any hard cover or current break they can find through the Fourth of July stretch.
Summer bass pattern settles onto the Tennessee River chain
USGS gauge 03578500 recorded a flow of just 20.1 cfs early this morning (July 5), pointing to a stable, low-water stretch across the Tennessee River chain as the Chickamauga and Watts Bar pools settle into peak summer conditions. No water-temperature reading came through this cycle, but July on TVA reservoirs typically pushes warm surface layers toward current breaks and shade. Nationally, Tactical Bassin's July bait roundup flags aggressive, high-metabolism feeding this month, with moving baits like soft jerkbaits and topwater working best in low light, while Fishing the Midwest's open-water notes stress working weedlines and mixing techniques as summer progresses. MLF News's coverage of the Bass Pro Tour's eighth-season opener is a reminder tournament anglers nationwide are locked into summer patterns right now. None of this week's feeds carried direct, on-the-water reports from Chickamauga or Watts Bar specifically, so treat the species notes below as seasonal defaults rather than confirmed local bites.
Taneycomo trout turn on as generation eases into July
Trout fishing on Lake Taneycomo has picked up over the last couple of weeks, according to Lilleys Landing's July 4 report, as heavy June generation from a wet watershed finally subsides. That runoff had made things tough on bank and dock anglers all last month, with Lilleys Landing describing operators running generation "anywhere" from light to heavy depending on power demand and mini-fronts moving through with rain and wind. The shop expects July to bring more no-generation windows, especially mornings, which should open up wading and bank access that heavy flows shut down. No USGS flow or temperature readings came through for gauge 07054410 this cycle, so treat generation timing as the primary variable to plan around rather than a specific number. Afternoons and evenings may still see heavier releases per the shop's report, so mornings look like the higher-percentage play for now.
Smokies tailwaters stay the summer trout refuge as heat builds
No fresh reading came back from USGS gauge 03565000 today, so we can't hand you a specific flow or temp number for the Hiwassee or Caney Fork this week — plan around the dam's generation schedule rather than a static number. What we can lean on is the calendar: terrestrial season is in full swing, and Trout Unlimited's latest tip notes trout are keying on hoppers and beetles blown or crawling into the current, a pattern that plays well on these tailraces once flows settle between releases. Trout Unlimited also flags the flip side of summer heat — as cold-blooded fish, trout in water pushing into the mid-60s and warmer struggle with lower dissolved oxygen, which is exactly why the dam-fed cool water on the Hiwassee and Caney Fork stays the go-to escape from free-flowing streams this time of year. Expect rainbows and browns to hold tight to current seams and shaded structure, with smallmouth still workable in the softer water below the tailrace.
Low tailwater flows set up a quiet wade for Cumberland trout
The Cumberland River tailwater below the dam is running a scant 16.4 cfs per USGS gauge 03413200 as of early this morning, a minimal-flow stage that points to no active turbine generation right now. That's the one hard data point we have for this stretch today, no water temperature reading came through, and none of the angler-intel feeds available this cycle mentioned Lake Cumberland or the tailwater by name. Rather than guess at what's biting, we'll stick to what's typical for this fishery in early July: low, stable releases like this usually mean wadable water and clearer sightlines for tailwater trout, while the lake itself is deep into its summer pattern for striped bass and smallmouth. Check current generation schedules before you head out, since a change to a higher release can shift both wading conditions and where fish stage almost immediately.
High water shifts Kansas River bite toward catfish this week
USGS gauge 06892350 on the Kansas-Arkansas river system is reading 78°F with flow pushed up to roughly 14,700 cfs, a clear sign of recent runoff keeping the water high and off-color. Stained, elevated flow like this usually favors current-oriented feeders over sight-hunters, so channel and flathead catfish should be actively working seams, eddies, and washed-in forage rather than holding tight to structure. Bass anglers aren't shut out either - Tactical Bassin's July bait roundup this week points nationally toward moving baits and low-light topwater as water climbs through the upper 70s, a pattern that should carry over to Kansas water. Fishing the Midwest's Bob Jensen is also reminding open-water anglers to work weedlines and stay versatile as the summer pattern locks in. White bass and drum should still be catchable in the margins and slack current if anglers slow down. No direct Kansas or Arkansas River report came in this cycle, so treat the bite calls here as seasonal expectation, not a confirmed local report.
Oklahoma bass settle into summer patterns as river flows dip
USGS gauge 07247500 is reading a lean 6.75 cfs this morning, signaling low, stable flow heading into peak summer heat across the region. Water temperature wasn't captured at this gauge, but for Lake Eufaula and the Red River in early July, water typically runs well into the 80s, pushing largemouth bass and striped bass toward deeper structure and current breaks during daylight hours. No angler reports came in directly from Eufaula or the Red River corridor this cycle, so we're leaning on Tactical Bassin's July playbook: slow-fished soft jerkbaits and Texas-rigged worms worked around deep cover tend to outproduce moving baits once surface temps spike. Fishing the Midwest's Bob Jensen also flags working the weedline as a reliable way to locate active fish along oxygenated grass edges in summer. Low, steady flow like this usually means clearer water and more predictable current breaks for both bass and catfish. Expect early and late light to stay the most productive windows as midday heat pushes fish deep.
Low water tests patience for Champlain bass and CT River trout
USGS gauge 01135300 logged flow at just 18 cfs this morning, a sign of the thin water many Vermont rivers are running under as summer heat sets in. No shop or captain reports crossed our feed specifically for the Connecticut River or Lake Champlain this cycle, so we're leaning on regional technique intel and seasonal norms rather than fresh bite reports. Tactical Bassin's July roundup of go-to bass baits highlights aggressive, high-metabolism feeding this time of year, a pattern that should hold for Champlain's smallmouth and largemouth. Fishing the Midwest's reminder to work summer weedlines applies directly to walleye and pike holding in emerging vegetation. On the fly side, MidCurrent notes hatches are firing and predatory fish are pushing into shallows across the region, useful context for Connecticut River trout as low, clear flows push feeding to first and last light.
Ohio reservoir bass settle onto summer weedlines as flows stay low
The regional USGS gauge (03110000) is holding at a modest 31.1 cfs as of early Thursday morning, a typical low-water signature for early July feeding into the Mosquito and Pymatuning system. No Ohio-specific captain or shop reports crossed our feeds this cycle, so this update leans on general seasonal technique rather than lake-specific bite calls. The seasonal playbook still applies: Fishing the Midwest's Bob Jensen is pointing anglers toward weedlines as the open-water season hits full swing, a pattern that should line up well with largemouth activity around Pymatuning's vegetation edges. Tactical Bassin's July baits roundup notes bass metabolisms are running hot as water warms, pushing fish into aggressive feeding windows at dawn and dusk. Walleye and catfish are likely following their typical summer depth and current patterns on these reservoirs, though we don't have a direct report confirming it this week.
High water pushes Clinton-Dubuque pool fish to current breaks
USGS gauge 05420500 clocked Mississippi River flow at roughly 79,300 cfs and water temperature at 82°F early this morning, putting the Clinton-Dubuque pools well above typical summer pool stage. That kind of push shoves current-loving fish like walleye and sauger off the main channel and into wing-dam eddies, tailwater seams, and backwater cuts where forage collects out of the heaviest flow. Warm water combined with high flow is a classic trigger for channel and flathead catfish, which tend to feed hardest after dark and through low-light stretches when current runs elevated. Smallmouth and largemouth bass are more likely tucked into flooded shoreline cover and slack pockets than holding in open current right now. We don't have region-specific angler reports in today's feed to confirm exact bite windows, so treat species status below as seasonally typical rather than confirmed hot action. Fishing the Midwest's early-July coverage of the 2026 open-water season points to anglers leaning on versatile presentations and working weedlines and current breaks as summer progresses, a pattern that carries over directly to high-water pool fishing here.
Elevated Platte-Missouri flows put catfish and carp on the summer menu
The Platte and Missouri corridor is running strong this morning, with USGS gauge 06796000 showing flow at 3,390 cfs and no water-temperature reading logged for this cycle. No Nebraska-specific angler reports came through in today's sweep, so we're leaning on typical July behavior for this system: catfish tend to stay active through higher, off-color water while walleye and white bass activity often tapers until flows settle and clarity improves. Fishing the Midwest's Bob Jensen has been pushing a versatility message this season, working weed edges and adjusting technique rather than sticking with what worked last week, and that principle applies directly to a river running this much water right now. Carp remain a dependable, underrated target on slack-current edges through the heat. Expect a slower bite for anything sight-dependent until the flow eases and the water cleans up some. Check Nebraska regs before harvesting, and plan trips around the low-light dawn and dusk windows while surface temps stay warm.