Fishing reports
19272 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
New River smallmouth hit post-spawn stride as June flows run moderate
USGS gauge 03051000 logged 603 cfs on June 16, placing WV river levels at a moderate summer stage that keeps most access points fishable. No water temperature reading was available from the gauge, but mid-June on the New River typically marks the transition from post-spawn recovery into active early-summer feeding for smallmouth bass. On The Water reports that post-spawn bass are responding to finesse presentations as fish regroup off spawning flats, a pattern that maps directly onto New River smallmouth moving to current breaks and deep riffles. Wired 2 Fish flags the catfish spawn as active right now: big fish are moving into shallow cover to guard nests, creating a high-percentage opportunity for anglers targeting channels and blues in slack-water pockets. Tactical Bassin points to swing-head jigs and crankbaits as reliable early-summer river bass tools. The New Moon tonight sets up the best low-light feeding windows of the month. Plan around dawn and last light.
Bass, stripers, and catfish shift to summer patterns on the Salt River chain
The USGS Salt River gauge (09498500) logged 77 cfs on the morning of June 16, placing the Salt River chain at typical low-summer base flows. No water temperature was available at the gauge, though mid-June conditions at Roosevelt Lake historically push reservoir surfaces into the upper 70s to low 80s°F, driving fish off the shallows. No local Arizona tackle-shop or charter reports appeared in this cycle's intel feeds, so current conditions are drawn from seasonal norms and broadly applicable sources. Tactical Bassin's early-summer bass coverage recommends crankbaits and swing-head jigs worked on deeper offshore structure as the go-to June presentation, patterns that map well to Roosevelt's submerged creek channels and main-lake rocky points. Wired 2 Fish notes that catfish are winding down their spawn cycle and shifting back to deeper holding water, which should improve the bottom bite at channel edges over the coming days.
Dream Stream delivers strong spring migratory run despite Front Range drought
Colorado Trout Hunters is reporting one of the best spring runs of migratory fish on the Dream Stream section of the South Platte in recent memory — a notable bright spot in a drought-stricken season. USGS gauge 06701900 recorded 258 cfs on June 16, reflecting the historically low snowpack that Cutthroat Anglers (CO) calls "historic for all the wrong reasons" in their 2026 season outlook. Per Cutthroat Anglers' low-water tips post by Matt Campanella, those reduced flows also concentrate fish into tighter lies, creating focused opportunities for adaptable anglers willing to cast a little lighter and hike a little further. On comparable Colorado tailwaters, Crystal Fly Shop is reporting reliable BWO hatches each day, with PMDs appearing over the past week and midges and caddis rounding out the mix. Hatch Magazine specifically flags Colorado's Front Range as a region where low, clear drought flows demand lighter tippets and more precise presentations — a thread running through every local report this season.
Low Snowpack Clears the Yellowstone Early: Trout and Walleye Both in Play
MT FWP Fishing News is raising flags about the summer ahead: low snowpack and a hotter-than-normal forecast have prompted the agency to host a virtual townhall on protecting Montana's fisheries, and FWP recently launched the TroutCast tool alongside USGS to help track drought impacts on blue-ribbon rivers. On the water, USGS gauge 06043500 on the Yellowstone at Corwin Springs clocked 1,200 cfs on June 16, notably lower than typical mid-June runoff peaks, a direct reflection of that lean snowpack. The silver lining: clearer, lower water tends to improve wade access and dry-fly visibility before summer heat sets in. Meanwhile on the Missouri side of the region, Canyon Ferry Reservoir is drawing targeted management attention from MT FWP, which is encouraging walleye anglers to keep the small fish they catch so larger fish can grow with less competition. Both fisheries are worth a look this week before temperatures climb.
Catfish spawn peaks on the Ohio and Cumberland as bass shift to summer mode
Wired 2 Fish's current catfish spawn guide notes that big channel and flathead catfish abandon their normal bottom haunts and move aggressively into the shallows during the spawn — and mid-June is exactly that window on the Ohio and Cumberland Rivers. USGS gauge 03301500 clocked 372 cfs on June 16, lean enough to concentrate fish around structure rather than spread them across flooded banks. No in-gauge water temperature was recorded this cycle, but mid-June in Kentucky typically places river temps in the low-to-mid 70s°F, the range where catfish spawn activity peaks. Bass anglers face a post-spawn transition: Tactical Bassin's summer coverage identifies swing-head jigs and crankbaits as the top producers when largemouth and smallmouth move off beds to channel edges and offshore structure — techniques that translate directly to both rivers' deeper bends. Check current state regulations before harvesting.
Upper Mississippi catfish peak as post-spawn bass find summer holds
The USGS gauge at Clinton is reading 74°F with flows at 59,500 cfs as of midday June 16 — elevated water that funnels fish toward wing dams, backwater sloughs, and current breaks throughout the Clinton-to-Dubuque pools. Catfish are the prime target right now: Wired 2 Fish notes that as water hits the 70s, flatheads and channels stage in shallow rocky cover during spawn, abandoning the deep-water bottom bite that normally defines summer. Anglers should work undercut banks and riprap rather than main-channel ledges. Post-spawn bass are transitioning to early summer structure; Tactical Bassin recommends swing-head jigs and crankbaits for fish moving to deeper current edges. Walleye remain fishable at classic wing-dam seams — AnglingBuzz's recent walleye content highlights jig-and-crawler rigs as the reliable standby for suspended fish in mid-river current. Tonight's New Moon means dark skies, historically a prime window for walleye and catfish night bites on this stretch of river.
San Juan tailwater holds steady as drought squeezes the Rio Grande
USGS gauge 08330000 on the Rio Grande clocked in at 0 cfs on June 16, a stark signal of how severely the summer drought is bearing down on New Mexico's main river corridor. With the middle Rio Grande at a standstill, the San Juan River below Navajo Dam is the clear destination for freshwater anglers this week: it operates as a regulated tailwater that holds fishable flows year-round regardless of precipitation. No New Mexico-specific shop or guide reports landed in our feeds this cycle, but Hatch Magazine's current guide to fishing through drought conditions is directly on point: fish stack in the deepest, coldest lies as midday temps climb, and the productive window compresses to early morning and evening. Tonight's New Moon typically sharpens low-light feeding through dusk. On the San Juan, plan around midge and caddis nymph presentations; check USGS flows and current dam-release schedules before any Rio Grande outing.
South Fork Snake running high as cutthroat season enters prime window
USGS gauge 13037500 logged the Snake River at 11,400 cfs on June 16, indicating active runoff pushing flows well above typical wading thresholds. For the South Fork Snake's celebrated fine-spotted cutthroat trout, that means fish are stacked along slower inside bends and undercut banks rather than mid-river seams. Direct on-the-water reports for this corridor are sparse in available feeds this week, but Gink and Gasoline's recent Owyhee River dispatch — a nearby trophy tailwater — found resident brown trout to be "quite picky," responding best to accurate drag-free nymph presentations. Outdoor Hub reported that Oregon's ODFW is warning of low water and heat stress on salmon and trout statewide — a stark contrast to the Snake's current high-and-cold runoff regime. The New Moon on June 16 sets up favorable low-light feeding windows at dawn and dusk. Expect conditions to stabilize gradually as snowmelt tapers into mid-summer.
Lake Mead stripers push deep as desert summer heat sets in
Tonight's new moon (June 16) sets up Lake Mead's lowest-light striper window of the month. With USGS gauge 09421500 returning no readings this period and none of this week's regional fishing feeds carrying Lake Mead or lower Colorado River reports, this update draws on established mid-June patterns for the fishery. Surface temperatures at Lake Mead typically push well into the 70s°F by mid-June and beyond, forcing striped bass off the shallows and toward the thermocline. Threadfin shad schools tend to surface after dark and at first light, and stripers that have gone quiet through the blazing midday hours can crash bait aggressively in the pre-dawn period. Canyon arm mouths, submerged channel edges, and rocky points with access to deep water are the structural targets worth prioritizing. Plan an early start and be off the water before desert heat peaks.
Driftless brown trout dig in as June flows run elevated
MidCurrent this week highlighted Root River Rod Co's go-to Driftless pattern: a pine squirrel jig streamer designed to bounce the rocky bottom without hanging up, tuned for the technical spring-creek corridors the region is known for. That pattern advice lands as USGS gauge 05407000 shows the regional Wisconsin River drainage running at 17,700 cfs as of June 16, a notably elevated reading that likely means some Driftless tributaries are pushing higher and carrying more color than typical for mid-June. The spring-fed character of many Driftless streams provides a buffer, but high surrounding flows push brown trout into slower seams and undercut banks where a well-placed streamer earns strikes. The New Moon phase favors feeding windows at first and last light. Surface activity should still emerge on quieter afternoons as June hatches come online, but working streamers along structure is the safer bet until individual stream gauges confirm adequate clarity for dry-fly work.
Mille Lacs walleye moving to early summer structure as June peaks
No water temperature reading is available from USGS gauge 05227530 today, and direct on-lake Mille Lacs walleye reports are absent from this week's angler intel. Mid-June is a well-defined transition point for the fishery, however. AnglingBuzz has been covering forward-facing sonar techniques for targeting walleyes on big plastics when fish are suspended off structure, a tactic that fits the early-summer playbook as post-spawn fish migrate away from shallow sand and gravel. Jason Mitchell Outdoors spotlighted bottom-bouncer and spinner rigs as a reliable walleye approach heading into early summer. Tonight's new moon keeps surface light at a minimum and historically concentrates walleye feeding activity into the low-light windows at dawn and dusk on big open-water lakes like Mille Lacs. Check with local tackle shops for real-time bite reports before you launch.
Smallmouth and Trout Active as Current River Runs High in Mid-June
The USGS gauge on the Current River (07067000) recorded 2,030 cfs on June 16 — above the typical mid-June base flow, pointing to recent upstream rainfall and some off-color water in the main channel. No temperature reading was available from the gauge, though Ozark spring-fed trout parks on the Niangua and related systems typically hold in the 58–64°F range through early summer, buffering fish from the worst of the June heat. None of this week's national angling feeds carried direct reports from Missouri's Ozark trout parks, so conditions here draw from gauge data and established mid-June patterns for these fisheries. Rainbow trout should be most active during the early-morning and late-evening windows in the cooler spring-fed pool sections; smallmouth bass — historically among the most productive targets in the Current River system through late June — are worth targeting with crawdad imitations and swing presentations along current seams. Plan early starts.
Kentucky Lake & Barkley bass go offshore as catfish spawn heats up
No readings returned from USGS gauge 03611500 this cycle, leaving water temperature and flow unconfirmed for Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley. Conditions point to a classic mid-June transition regardless: post-spawn largemouth and smallmouth have pushed off the spawning flats and are staging on main-lake points, ledges, and channel humps. Tactical Bassin highlights the swing-head jig paired with a shaky head worm as a two-bait punch that "early summer bass can't resist" on offshore structure — a setup directly applicable to Kentucky Lake's well-documented ledge fishery. Catfish are a strong play this week: Wired 2 Fish reports that during the spawn, big fish move into the shallows and abandon their usual bottom haunts, rewarding anglers willing to follow them rather than wait out the pattern. The new moon on June 16 favors low-light feeding windows at dawn and dusk across both lakes. No live gauge data was available at press time; confirm pool elevation and current flows before launching.
Eastern Sierra trout dial in as June hatch season hits full stride
Reno Fly Shop (NV) reports the Truckee River, the Eastern Sierra's northern gateway fishery, has entered prime condition in early June 2026, with Pale Morning Duns, Green Drakes, Yellow Sallies, Golden Stones, and caddis all producing. Wet-wading season is fully underway on both the California and Nevada sides, with good flows and trout-friendly water temperatures. Crayfish imitations are also drawing strikes as summer forage patterns develop. No live gauge readings are available from USGS gauge 10265200 this cycle. Cutthroat Anglers (CO) flags a significant regional backdrop: more than 60% of the Lower 48 is under some level of drought, with Western snowpacks at historic lows for 2026, conditions that could push Eastern Sierra streams toward lower, warmer flows earlier than normal. On the native-fish front, Trout Unlimited recently documented a 15-inch Lahontan cutthroat taken on a dapped Parachute Adams in a remote high-elevation Eastern Sierra creek, a strong sign that headwater populations remain healthy. Verify trailhead access and local conditions before heading into high-country water.
Merrimack stripers and shad firing as NH bass shift into summer mode
Striped bass and shad remain active on the Merrimack River as mid-June arrives, with anadromous fish pushing into the system. Dave Anderson, writing in The Fisherman (South Shore MA to ME), reports 'very good' striper fishing and an uptick in shad throughout the region. Surfland Bait and Tackle, also via The Fisherman (South Shore MA to ME), notes the striper bite is trending toward the river mouth as water temperatures rise and herring runs taper to a trickle, a signal that peak inland action may be shifting. USGS gauge 01073500 recorded 48.4 cfs on the morning of June 16, reflecting low summer conditions on the river. On Lake Winnipesaukee, no specific reports were available this cycle, though mid-June typically marks the transition for bass into their first true summer feeding rhythms. Today's new moon coincides with some of the strongest feeding windows of the month, making early and late-day sessions on structure well worth the effort.
Truckee River trout in low, clear water as Lake Tahoe trolling season peaks
The USGS gauge at site 10311000 recorded the Truckee River running at 101 cfs on the morning of June 16, a modest flow for mid-June, when Sierra snowmelt typically drives levels considerably higher. No water temperature reading was available from the gauge at this time. The below-average flow points to a lean snowpack year, consistent with the broader western drought picture Hatch Magazine highlighted recently: their guide to fishing through drought conditions notes that low, warming water compresses trout activity into early-morning and late-evening windows. On Lake Tahoe, mid-June is traditionally the start of the prime mackinaw and kokanee trolling season as surface temperatures warm and baitfish schools stratify by depth. No charter or tackle-shop reports specific to the Truckee corridor were available in this reporting cycle; anglers should reach out to local shops before heading out to confirm current bite conditions.
Delaware Bay Coral Beds Fire Up as Weakfish and Croaker Arrive
Water at NOAA buoy 44009 is sitting at 69°F as of June 16, and the warmth is drawing the season's first concentrated weakfish and croaker action onto the Coral Beds off Slaughter Beach. Smith's Bait Shop in The Fisherman's DE/MD/Chesapeake column reports both species have moved onto that structure, responding well to bloodworms and peeler crab. Black drum are working the same area on clams and peeler after dark. Over at the Bowers Beach jetty, Smith's is also seeing striped bass, trout, and flounder — stripers hitting bloodworms or cut mullet, flounder on live minnows. Old Inlet Bait and Tackle confirms a few stripers are taking bucktails and plugs in the narrow window before and just after sunrise, with bluefish in the mix. Eric Burnley's column in The Fisherman called this the first week all year with reliable fishing weather, noting action from the inland bays through the surf and out to the inshore lumps — a season that appears to be catching its stride.
Stripers Working the Merrimack Mouth as NH Coast Bite Builds
Water at 58°F on NOAA buoy 44007 keeps conditions firmly in the striped bass sweet spot along the NH coast. The Fisherman — South Shore MA to ME reports striper action on the Merrimack River trending toward the mouth as water temps creep higher and the herring run tapers to a trickle; surfcasters are finding consistent success around low tide, morning and night. Plastic swimmers, darters, and lead-headed soft plastics are scoring best. Mackerel are pushing into the region in significant numbers per the same source, giving stripers easy forage and keeping them aggressive. Dave Anderson in The Fisherman — South Shore MA to ME logs bass to 47 inches throughout the region, with the Merrimack corridor a reliable address this week. On The Water's June 12 striper migration map confirms fish remain spread from New Jersey to Maine, and new moon tides this weekend should continue pushing bass and bait toward summer haunts. Offshore haddock reports are also beginning to pick up.
Chesapeake Rockfish on the Move as Bay Shifts to Summer Pattern
Water temps at 69°F, per NOAA buoy 44009, put the Chesapeake squarely in summer transition territory mid-month. On The Water's June 12 striper migration map shows bass running widespread from New Jersey to Maine, with new moon tides pushing fish and bait toward summer haunts, a signal that larger rockfish staging in the Bay through spring are now scattering northward along the coast. On The Water also reports that researchers from William and Mary's Batten School and the Virginia Institute of Marine Science are electrofishing Rappahannock River tributaries this spring to track exactly where those fish are going. Locally, mid-June marks the classic turn toward summer species: spot and croaker establishing in tributary mouths and shallow flats, cobia working channel edges and structure in the lower Bay, and bluefish active as an opportunistic catch. Direct intel from Bay-based captains or tackle shops was not available in this reporting cycle. Check current Maryland regulations before keeping any rockfish, as slot limits and seasonal closures typically apply.
White Seabass Showing Strong Along Central Coast Kelp Lines
Water temps running 60–61°F across the Central Coast, per NOAA buoys 46042 and 46028, and the fish are responding. Western Outdoor News — Saltwater featured a reader report from Gaviota this week: a kayak angler launched into 5-foot surf at dawn, dropped a live bait to the bottom, and connected with a tanker white seabass within seconds — initially mistaken for a halibut. The fish crushed the bait almost immediately after it hit bottom, a textbook account of seabass hunting near-shore structure during the squid window. The new moon phase falling this week concentrates bait schools and tends to spark aggressive pre-dawn feeding from seabass patrolling kelp edges. Winds are light — registering just 1 to 3 m/s at offshore buoys — pointing to manageable near-shore conditions for small-boat and kayak anglers. With cool upwelling-driven water holding anchovies and squid in the kelp, the current stretch looks prime for white seabass hunters along the Central Coast.
Homeguard Yellowtail and Bluefin Fire While Surf Swell Tests Shore Anglers
Water temps at 64-65°F across NOAA buoys 46221 and 46025 are setting up a strong offshore bite along the LA Bight and Channel Islands. Western Outdoor News reports that bluefin tuna re-emerged off Point Loma, with the vessel Old Glory tallying 16 bluefin plus a triple opah hookup on a recent 1.5-day run, with night jigging producing the better shots at larger fish. On the pier front, Western Outdoor News notes that shorepounder Brandon Dawson pulled a 45-plus pound homeguard yellowtail from Crystal Pier in Pacific Beach. A kayak angler also scored a white seabass off Gaviota by dropping live bait quickly to the bottom, per the same outlet. Surf fishing is the exception right now. Surf Fishing in So Cal describes conditions as rough since late May, with a second significant south-southwest swell now building. Sand crabs remain the go-to bait when calm windows appear.
Oregon Coast Enters Summer Mode: Halibut and Chinook Season Building
NOAA buoy 46029 is reading 60°F at the Columbia River Bar, with offshore buoy 46002 logging 59°F — both consistent with the upwelling-moderated temperatures typical of Oregon's early summer. Winds are running light near the bar (buoy 46029 at 4 m/s) and freshening offshore (buoy 46002 at 10 m/s), with buoy 46050 mid-shelf holding at 6 m/s. The New Moon phase this week historically generates stronger tidal movement and more active feeding windows, particularly in the morning and evening hours. Direct on-water bite reports from Oregon Coast charter captains or tackle shops were not available in this reporting cycle — IFish.net activity this week from coastal drainages was limited to lost-gear notices on the Wilson River rather than catch updates. Anglers planning nearshore or offshore runs should contact local charter operators and tackle shops directly for the freshest bite intel before heading out.
Panfish swarming shallow, muskies turning on across Northwoods lakes
Crappies and panfish have pushed shallow across the Minocqua area with an excellent bite developing, per Rollie & Helen's Musky Shop's early June 2026 report — the clearest signal yet that Northwoods lakes have crossed into their early-summer pattern. The shop notes air temperatures have climbed into the 80s, driving water temps to levels that have most species "quite active." For live-bait anglers, worms, Beavertails, and nightcrawlers are producing well on docks and shallow structure. Muskies, just clearing their post-spawn recovery window, are responding to bucktails and downsized rubber baits; Rollie & Helen's describe post-spawn fish as wanting vibration and action but not yet ready to commit to oversized presentations. No NOAA buoy or USGS gauge data arrived for this cycle, so precise water temperatures remain unconfirmed. Walleyes sharing these same basin structures are likely transitioning toward summer weed-edge and mid-depth setups — typical behavior for mid-June across the Northwoods.
Sea Bass Limits and Striper Surf Action Drive Jersey Shore's June Peak
Water temps climbing into the low-to-mid 60s — per Fishermans HQ LBI's June 14 update — are driving the Jersey Shore into its spring-to-summer transition, with a full menu of species responding. Sea bass are the dominant reef story: Blue Chip Sportfishing reports limiting out on nearly every trip and calls the bite red hot, while Capt Ron's Atlantic Highlands confirms fish are present on the inshore grounds despite some finicky windows tied to thick sand-eel forage. In the surf, striped bass remain a reliable target — Fishermans HQ LBI and OTW Northern New Jersey both report clam-soaked rigs producing consistently from Atlantic Highlands south to Long Beach Island. Grumpys Tackle also notes black drum and bluefish joining stripers in the surf mix. On The Water's June 12 striper migration map confirms bass remain widespread across the NJ coast, with the new moon this week expected to fire the tides and push bait toward summer haunts. Offshore, Fishermans HQ LBI reports a massive squid invasion has drawn bluefin tuna within 20 to 30 miles of the LBI coast.