Fishing reports
19272 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
Kansas River Catfish Spawn Peaks as White Bass Seek Cove Mouths
Elevated flows at 21,600 cfs and water temperatures of 77°F on the Kansas River (USGS gauge 06892350) mark a pivotal early-summer turning point for anglers across the state. Wired 2 Fish reports white bass proving elusive at Marion Reservoir in the central Kansas Flint Hills this week: Tyler Clements found fish abandoning their usual haunts entirely before relocating to a cove-mouth flat, where the bite finally turned around. That willingness to adjust location is the key takeaway for Kansas impoundment fishing right now. At 77°F, water sits squarely in the prime window for catfish spawning activity. Wired 2 Fish's spawn-strategy breakdown notes that big channels and flatheads migrate into the shallows during this period, largely vacating the deep holes most bottom fishers target. Anglers who probe shallow rock and woody cover stand the best shot at trophy-class fish of the year this week.
Hudson Valley bass primed as water warms and season opener arrives
The Hudson River logged 75°F at USGS gauge 01357500 on June 16, placing water temps squarely in summer feeding territory for black bass. NY DEC's Fishing Line (June 12 issue) reports that "the fish bite is picking up with the warmer summer weather" as black bass season approaches, a signal that post-spawn largemouth and smallmouth are actively repositioning to summer structure. On The Water's post-spawn bass breakdown confirms that finesse baits are the go-to for early-summer fish recovering from the spawn. River flow reads 3,250 cfs on the upper Hudson at gauge 01357500 and 8,240 cfs at gauge 01358000 further downstream, both moderate summer levels keeping current seams productive. Today's New Moon limits overnight surface activity and concentrates feeding into daytime windows. Musky anglers have a head start: DEC's May 22 Fishing Line confirmed the musky season is open, and warming water is pushing fish into active summer patrol range.
Eufaula largemouth firing on the shad spawn as summer transition arrives
Banks Shaw's winning performance at the MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit event on Lake Eufaula, fishing a shad spawn and offshore brush pile pattern, confirms the big reservoir is in a productive early-summer transition. Per MLF News, Shaw relied on a Z-Man ChatterBait JackHammer Baby Jack in golden shiner and Rapala CrushCity Freeloader swimbaits on VMC Redline Tungsten Swimbait Jigheads to build his winning bag, indicating Eufaula largemouth are split between shallow shad-staging areas and deeper offshore structure. On the Red River, USGS gauge 07247500 recorded 543 cfs on June 16, a moderate and fishable level. No water temperature data was available from the gauge. MLF News coverage of a concurrent Arkansas River tournament near Muskogee found spinnerbaits, frogs, and swim jigs dominating the river bass bite, a pattern that translates directly to the Red River's current seams and grass edges. Today's New Moon concentrates aggressive feeding into low-light dawn and dusk windows.
Tennessee River chain: post-spawn bass and spawning catfish take center stage
USGS gauge 03578500 logged just 42.3 cfs on June 16, pointing to low, stable inflow conditions across the Tennessee River chain. That tracks with the broader TVA picture: MLF News previewing Cherokee Lake noted that reservoir sitting roughly 10 feet below normal pool, suggesting a region-wide low-water summer is taking shape. For anglers on Chickamauga and Watts Bar, the upside is clear-water visibility and fish concentrated on predictable structure. Mid-June puts largemouth and smallmouth firmly in post-spawn recovery mode, retreating from spawning flats to main-lake points, offshore ledges, and submerged brush piles. Meanwhile, Wired 2 Fish spotlights the catfish spawn as the headline bite this week. Big blue and channel cats are pushing into shallow, rocky structure right now, abandoning the deep bottom haunts that typically hold them. Tonight's new moon darkens overnight skies and typically extends active feeding windows well past sunset for both bass and catfish.
Wyoming trout waters enter summer transition as runoff clears
Hatch Magazine's recent guide to drought-year trout fishing on Colorado's Front Range frames a key question for mid-June in Wyoming: are the Wind River and North Platte clearing ahead of schedule after another intermountain West winter with below-average snowpack? The answer requires ground truth that wasn't available this cycle — USGS gauge 06259000 returned null flow and temperature readings, and no Wyoming-specific angler reports surfaced in this week's intel feeds. Seasonal patterns suggest mid-June marks the tail end of peak runoff on these drainages, with flows typically beginning to drop and clear through the third week of June and the first wade-accessible windows of summer opening for brown trout, rainbow trout, and native cutthroat. The New Moon this week tends to support more active daytime feeding behavior. Until direct local reports come in, conditions here carry more uncertainty than our coastal and Great Lakes updates.
Catfish push shallow as bass lock into summer structure on Lake Cumberland
The monitored USGS gauge (site 03413200) on the Cumberland River system recorded just 7.29 cfs as of June 16 afternoon — an extremely low flow reading that points to minimal tailwater releases and near-glassy conditions through the lower river. No water temperature is available from this gauge, though mid-June on Lake Cumberland typically means upper-layer temps climbing into the mid-to-upper 70s, pushing largemouth and smallmouth toward deeper structure and cooler tailwater pockets. Wired 2 Fish reports that catfish are in full spawn mode this week, moving into shallow structure where the typical summer bottom bite gives way to structure-oriented presentations. On the bass side, Tactical Bassin's current June coverage highlights an offshore wobble-head jig and shaky head worm combination as the go-to one-two punch for early-summer bass in transition. On The Water's post-spawn rundown adds that finesse baits are winning where power fishing has stalled.
North Shore Rivers Wind Down as Summer Smallmouth Season Opens
The USGS gauge on a Lake Superior North Shore tributary (site 04015330) is reading a modest 7.47 cfs as of June 16, signaling low, clear conditions in the river corridors. The iconic spring rainbow trout run that drew fly anglers to the Stewart River through May has largely played out. Wired 2 Fish documented a record-setting 30-inch, 10-pound lake-run rainbow caught there on May 10, but with rivers running this low and water warming into early summer, the catch-and-release steelhead bite is trailing off. Attention is shifting lakeward, where Great Lakes smallmouth bass are moving into their post-spawn summer pattern. Tactical Bassin highlights windy Great Lakes conditions as a productive window for smallmouth, noting that swimbaits like the Dark Sleeper and Spark Shad are generating quality fish in open water. Lake trout remain a year-round North Shore staple and should be accessible for trollers working the deeper reaches of Superior.
Deschutes and Klamath trout squeezed by drought: ODFW urges early mornings
Record-low snowpack and statewide drought ranging from moderate to extreme are stressing trout and salmon across Oregon rivers this summer, per Outdoor Hub's coverage of a fresh ODFW advisory; the Deschutes and Upper Klamath are no exception. ODFW is urging anglers to fish smart, fish early, and know where the fish are before heading out. No live readings are available from USGS gauge 14070500, so verify current flow and temperature independently before launching. The New Moon phase this week reduces ambient light, making the low-light periods around dawn and dusk the highest-value windows. Redband rainbow trout and summer steelhead are likely concentrated in deeper, cooler holding slots and shaded pockets rather than typical summer lies. Plan for compressed fishing hours, short fights, and cold-water releases to protect fish during heat stress.
Missouri River walleye find early-summer rhythm as catfish crowd the shallows
Wired 2 Fish reports this week that catfish are in the thick of their spawn: 'big fish move into the shallows' as the reliable deep bottom bite all but vanishes, rewarding Missouri River anglers who adjust to shallow presentations along logjams and cut banks. Walleye, the Missouri's signature species, have shifted from post-spawn recovery into early-summer feeding mode; Jason Mitchell Outdoors highlights bottom-bouncer and spinner rigs as a proven river walleye setup, well-suited to channel edges and wing-dam faces. USGS gauge 06440200 logged 0 cfs at midday June 16, likely a dry tributary rather than main-stem flow, making it essential to verify current river levels before launching. Today's new moon phase can concentrate feeding activity into low-light windows at dawn and dusk. Water temperature data is unavailable from gauge readings; check conditions locally before heading out, as warming surface temps push fish deeper by midday.
Western Basin walleye shift to summer structure as June heat settles in
Water temperature at USGS gauge 04193500 (Maumee River) logged 77°F on June 16, signaling that the Western Basin is fully into its seasonal warm-up. Walleye thrive in the 55-68°F range, and that reading suggests the bite is shifting away from shallower flats toward deeper structure along mid-basin reefs and hard bottom in the 18-28 foot range. No regional fishing feeds this week carried direct Lake Erie walleye reports from Ohio waters; conditions here are drawn from environmental data and typical mid-June patterns for the basin. NOAA buoy 45005 recorded winds at 6 m/s (roughly 12 knots) on Monday evening, enough chop to keep baitfish disrupted and maintain walleye activity during low-light windows. The New Moon tonight delivers the darkest skies of the month, traditionally one of the most reliable triggers for Erie walleye feeding activity. A pre-dawn run over rocky reefs with crawler harnesses and bottom bouncers is the go-to call this week.
Blue Catfish and White Bass Lighting Up North Texas as Summer Bite Peaks
Water at USGS gauge 08211200 is reading 79°F, and that summer warmth is powering aggressive feeding across Texas freshwater. North Texas Catfish Guide is reporting exceptional blue catfish action on Eagle Mountain Lake near Fort Worth, where near-full pool levels and fresh inflows have fish moving and biting fast. The guide notes June trips are producing easy limits of quality blue catfish, with multiple 30-pound-plus fish showing up in recent boat sessions — calling this one of the best windows of the year. Channel catfish are also in the mix, biting well across the lake. White bass have moved into the main lake on Eagle Mountain, offering a secondary target for open-water anglers. The New Moon this week typically tightens feeding windows around dawn and dusk, so early-morning launches and evening anchors are worth building into your plan. Conditions look favorable across North Texas freshwater through mid-June.
Walleye Dial Into Summer Depths on the Missouri as Catfish Spawn Kicks Off
Water temperatures have crossed 70°F at USGS gauge 05054000, putting North Dakota's Missouri River corridor firmly in early-summer mode. Jason Mitchell Outdoors (YT) has been targeting walleye on Lake Sakakawea, the Missouri River's premier impoundment, with recent content covering bottom bouncer and spinner rigs that reflect the post-spawn transition away from shallow structure toward deeper mid-channel breaks. The new moon tonight eliminates ambient light, which typically extends walleye feeding windows into dawn and dusk hours. Catfish fishing is entering its productive window: Wired 2 Fish describes how big catfish push into the shallows during the spawn, making traditional bottom-bite patterns less reliable but targeted shallow presentations surprisingly effective. Flow is running at 1,460 cfs, moderate and fishable conditions across the river system. Northern pike and smallmouth bass are transitioning to their early-summer holding areas, though no region-specific reports are available this week to sharpen that picture.
Champlain Smallmouth Hit Post-Spawn Transition, Landlocked Salmon Go Deep
At 68°F (USGS gauge 04294500, June 16), Lake Champlain's smallmouth bass are firmly in post-spawn transition — fish have moved off the beds and are regrouping on adjacent rocky structure and depth breaks. On The Water's recent breakdown of post-spawn bass tactics identifies this as the early-summer finesse window, when recovering fish respond better to subtle presentations than to power fishing. Tactical Bassin's Great Lakes smallmouth report this week offers a directly transferable blueprint: pairing a finesse swimbait like the Spark Shad with a swinging jig head drew consistent bites on wave-swept rocky points — a setup that reads naturally on Champlain's exposed boulder fields and shoal edges. Landlocked salmon, which prefer water well below 65°F, are retreating to thermocline depth (typically 25–45 feet by mid-June) as surface temperatures climb. Tonight's New Moon reduces ambient light, widening the low-light dawn and dusk windows that typically produce the best topwater smallmouth action of the day. No direct Champlain charter or shop reports were available this cycle; conditions are grounded in temperature data and analogous regional intel.
Green River tailwater enters prime window as mid-June hatches come online
USGS gauge 09234500 recorded 1,100 cfs and 55°F on the Green River below Flaming Gorge Dam as of June 16 — both readings land squarely in the sweet spot for rainbow and brown trout. Mid-June is when PMD, caddis, and Yellow Sally hatches typically overlap on this tailwater, setting up well for technical dry-fly and nymphing presentations across the river's various reaches. MidCurrent's current tying coverage spotlights a spare midge-style GFC pattern built for "clear, pressured water of tailraces" — a directly applicable pointer for the Green River's famously selective fish. No region-specific guide or shop reports surfaced this cycle, so treat specific hatch timing as approximate; the gauge readings are objectively favorable. Verify flow updates via USGS and check with local outfitters near the Flaming Gorge access points for current hatch conditions before heading out.
Green River tailrace in prime mid-June form as high Uinta lakes open
USGS gauge 09234500 recorded the Green River at 1,100 cfs and 55°F as of midday June 16 — squarely in the sweet spot for rainbow and brown trout on this Flaming Gorge tailrace. At these moderate flows, drift boats and wading anglers alike should find productive conditions across the main river sections. MidCurrent's current tying roundup singles out the GFC Fly, a midge-style pattern, as a standout for the 'clear, pressured water of stillwaters and tailraces' — a description the Green River earns every day of the year. Up in the Uinta Mountains, high-elevation lakes are moving through ice-out, unlocking early-season action for brook and cutthroat trout at moderate elevations. Tonight's new moon will keep nighttime light minimal, generally nudging trout toward more aggressive feeding behavior in the low-light transitions at dawn and dusk. Overall, conditions favor a strong mid-June outing for freshwater anglers across the region.
Big catfish moving shallow as Missouri River runs high and warm
Water temp at 77°F and flow at 225,000 cfs (USGS gauge 06934500) as of June 16 define an elevated, early-summer Missouri River pushing fish into slack-water pockets and flooded cover. The catfish spawn is the dominant story: Wired 2 Fish notes that during the spawn, big catfish leave deep haunts and move into shallow, protected structure — woody debris, undercut banks, and calm backwater pockets — where the reliable bottom-drift bite softens and anglers must hunt cover rather than anchor mid-river. High, stained flows concentrate bass behind current breaks, tributary mouths, and wing-dam eddies. Tactical Bassin's summer two-bait approach of swing-head jigs and shaky-head worms is well-suited to early-June river bass, and MLF News coverage from the Arkansas River — a comparable flowing-water system — confirms spinnerbaits, swim jigs, and frogs as go-to tools in turbid river current. Plan trips around dawn low-light windows while the New Moon phase holds.
LOZ bass and catfish shift into summer mode as Osage flows run high
The Osage River at USGS gauge 06934500 is running at an elevated 225,000 cfs with water temperatures at 77°F as of midday June 16 — a flow level signaling substantial releases from Bagnell Dam that will concentrate fish along current seams and structure below the lake. Mid-June at Lake of the Ozarks typically finds largemouth bass completing their post-spawn transition, and On The Water's recent post-spawn bass coverage confirms that finesse baits are the ticket during this early-summer lull. Wired 2 Fish covered catfish spawn dynamics this week, noting that big fish "move into the shallows" during the spawn before the summer bottom bite resumes — a pattern directly applicable to Missouri's flathead and channel catfish populations. No direct Lake of the Ozarks captain or shop reports appeared in this week's feeds; confirm current bite conditions locally before heading out.
Snake & Salmon summer window opens: steelhead incoming, trout and bass heating up
Water temp at USGS gauge 13340000 came in at 62°F on June 16 with flows at 9,010 cfs, placing the Snake River in an early-summer window that keeps salmonids within their thermal comfort zone for now. On the Owyhee River, a Snake drainage tailwater on the Idaho-Oregon border, Gink and Gasoline recently found resident brown trout 'quite picky,' with tight dead-drift presentations and precise positioning proving essential over searching runs, a direct heads-up for nymph anglers targeting the Snake's canyon tailwaters this week. Outdoor Hub is flagging a challenging summer across the broader Pacific Northwest, reporting record-low snowpack and drought ranging from moderate to extreme across Oregon, a regional pattern worth watching closely in Idaho's interconnected drainages. The current temperature gives anglers a workable early-season window, but it will not hold indefinitely. Plan morning sessions while water holds cool, target shaded canyon pools as midday heat builds, and confirm current IDFG salmonid regulations before heading out.
Chequamegon Bay whitefish active as Wisconsin River bass dial in for summer
Lake whitefish fishing in Chequamegon Bay has emerged as one of Lake Superior's standout open-water fisheries this season. WI DNR Lake Superior Fishing has been actively surveying the Chequamegon Bay whitefish population and gathering angler input — a formal DNR research effort reflecting the fishery's rapid rise in popularity. On the Wisconsin River, USGS gauge 05391000 recorded 895 cfs on June 16, placing flows in a moderate, fishable mid-June range for both drift boats and wading anglers. The 2026–2027 general inland season opened May 2, and WI DNR Wisconsin Fishing News flags several updated regulations and season structures in effect this year — review the regs before you head out. Lake Superior's spring steelhead run peaked in early May; Wired 2 Fish documented a 30-inch, 10-pound lake-run rainbow taken from a Lake Superior North Shore tributary on May 10, and those fish have largely returned to open water. Smallmouth bass and walleye are the primary mid-June targets across the Wisconsin River corridor.
Peak Runoff Grips the Yellowstone and Snake — Cutthroat Window Builds
The Yellowstone River at Corwin Springs clocked 7,020 cfs at 56°F as of midday June 16, per USGS gauge 06192500 — squarely in peak-snowmelt territory for the upper Yellowstone drainage. Both the Yellowstone and the Snake River through Grand Teton National Park are carrying fast, turbid water this week, pushing cutthroat trout into protected softer edges: inside bends, back channels, and structure breaks away from the main current tongue. Heavy nymphing in seams adjacent to slack water is the most productive approach under these conditions; as Gink and Gasoline (fly) notes broadly for high-flow trout fishing, adding more weight than feels comfortable is the single most overlooked adjustment anglers make. Water temperature at 56°F is ideal for active trout metabolism despite the flow challenges. Mid-June marks the early edge of the golden stonefly hatch on these systems — a cycle that accelerates meaningfully once turbidity drops and flows ease later in the month. No Wyoming-specific guide or shop reports appeared in this week's available intel feeds.
Iron Range Walleye Move to Summer Depth as BWCA Lakes Warm Into June
USGS gauge 05129115 logged 412 cfs on June 16, signaling active flow through waterways draining northeastern Minnesota. That current pushes baitfish through lake narrows and river mouths, concentrating feeding walleye along current seams. Walleye are the Iron Range and BWCA's flagship species, and AnglingBuzz has been covering summer walleye tactics in depth this season, including forward-facing sonar setups for suspended fish and jig-and-crawler rigs on mid-depth rock structure, techniques that translate directly onto Boundary Waters lakes. No water temperature reading is available from the gauge this reporting period. For anglers willing to run toward North Shore tributaries, Wired 2 Fish documented active lake-run rainbow trout spawning on the Stewart River as recently as May 10. A 12-year-old angler landed a 30-inch, 10-pound fish that day, though that run is typically winding down by mid-June. The New Moon phase this week creates prime low-light windows at dawn and dusk, a reliable plus for walleye fishing across the region.
Potomac Catfish in Prime Spawn Mode as Patapsco Bass Reset Post-Spawn
The Patapsco River was reading 54.7 cfs as of mid-afternoon June 16 (USGS gauge 01589000), running low and relatively clear, a condition that concentrates fish in deeper pools and shaded structure. Catfish are the season's freshwater headliner right now: Wired 2 Fish published a catfish spawn strategy piece this week, with Southeast Louisiana guide Mike Jones noting that most anglers simply wait out the spawn for the bite to return to normal, when adjusted presentations near shallow cover can actually produce some of the season's biggest fish. That same dynamic is in play on the Potomac's mid-river stretches. Post-spawn bass are simultaneously in transition; On The Water this week covers the post-spawn largemouth adjustment period, pointing to finesse baits as the key to drawing strikes from fish still recovering after leaving the beds. No water temperature was recorded on today's Patapsco gauge pull.
Bass ease into summer mode on Champlain as low flows tighten the river game
USGS gauge 01135300 registered 53.7 cfs on June 16, a low-water reading that signals classic early-summer conditions across Vermont's freshwater systems. Lake Champlain bass have wrapped the spawn and are shifting to summer feeding patterns: per Tactical Bassin's June breakdown, a wobble-head jig paired with a shaky head worm is the go-to presentation for offshore post-spawn fish staging on structure. On The Water's recent post-spawn coverage adds that finesse baits (drop shots and light plastics) remain key when bass are still recovering and reluctant to commit to larger presentations. Connecticut River tributaries face tighter angling windows under the low flow; Hatch Magazine's guide to drought trout fishing recommends targeting deep, shaded pools before 9 a.m. and after 6 p.m., with lighter tippet and longer leaders in clear water. New Moon timing this week removes overhead light pressure, giving fish an added edge even in low-water conditions and potentially extending productive dawn and dusk windows into the weekend.
Post-spawn bass and catfish prime up on Mosquito and Pymatuning
Post-spawn bass are transitioning to early-summer offshore patterns on Mosquito Lake and Pymatuning Reservoir this week. On The Water's breakdown of post-spawn bass behavior points to finesse baits and mid-depth structure as the key adjustment once fish vacate the beds after spawning — the so-called early summer slump window rewards anglers who slow down and go deep rather than staying shallow. Wired 2 Fish flags the catfish spawn as a strategic opportunity most anglers overlook: big channel and flathead cats have pushed into the shallows, making standard bottom fishing unpredictable but rewarding for those targeting wood and rock structure. USGS gauge 03110000 logged 64.1 cfs on June 16, indicating stable, moderate watershed conditions with no turbidity-spiking runoff events in play. The new moon phase favors walleye and other low-light feeders at dawn and dusk transitions. Tactical Bassin breaks down swing-head jigs paired with a shaky head worm as their go-to combination for June offshore bass — a pairing that translates cleanly to the submerged structure both reservoirs offer.