Fishing reports
19273 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
Bass Push Deep Structure on Arizona Rivers as Summer Heat Builds
Wired 2 Fish reports a devastating fish kill at Arizona's San Carlos Lake, where prolonged drought and dam releases wiped out a trophy largemouth bass, crappie, and flathead catfish fishery entirely. It is a stark reminder that water conditions are the variable that matters most across Southwest fisheries this June. The Colorado and Salt Rivers, both fed by larger upstream reservoir systems, carry more buffer against acute drought collapse, though no gauge data is currently available to confirm flow levels. Mid-June typically finds bass pressing into early-morning shallows before retreating to shaded banks and deeper channel structure as desert temperatures climb through the afternoon. Catfish activity intensifies through warm June nights. Today's new moon sets up favorable low-light windows at dawn and dusk. Tactical Bassin highlights swing jigs worked along bottom structure and crankbaits at varying depths as reliable summer bass producers, technique guidance that translates well to desert river systems.
Summer bass bite opens on Hill Country lakes as heat builds
At nearby Canyon Lake, levels have climbed to 886.46 feet — a full eight feet above where they stood this time last year, per My Canyon Lake Fishing — a signal that water conditions across the Hill Country chain are running stronger than recent summers. TPWD briefly paused its weekly fishing reports while rolling out a new format, per My Canyon Lake Fishing, so local sources are your best current reference. The new moon on June 15 sets up a prime low-light window for topwater bass before the Texas summer heat locks fish down on deeper structure. Tactical Bassin recommends swing-head jigs and tube baits for June largemouth holding on main-lake points, while early topwater walks at dawn remain productive before the sun climbs. Lone Star Outdoor News notes that Rio Grande cichlids are drawing attention as a summer freshwater target now that rainbow trout season has closed. No USGS gauge readings are available for Travis, LBJ, or Buchanan at this time.
Delaware catfish surging while low flows reshape the mid-June bite
Blue catfish are stealing the show on the Delaware River from Trenton south right now. Per The Fisherman — NJ/DE Freshwater, John Bullock at Old School Outdoors in Ewing reports big blue cats have been headlining river action, with stripers still making occasional appearances at the Trenton Bridges. The backdrop is a drought-stressed system: JB Kasper's weekly roundup (The Fisherman — NJ/DE Freshwater) put Delaware flows at Trenton around 4,700 cfs as of June 7 — well below seasonal normal — with no significant rain in the near-term forecast and streams, lakes, and reservoirs drawing down across the board. Despite the low water, post-spawn bass have stepped up their feeding, with Carnegie Lake and Mercer Lake producing decent largemouth and crappie action. Flathead catfish have slowed on the main river, but channel cats are making up for it in the D&R Canal. Trout fishing in the canal has tapered off with warming temperatures.
White River tailwaters hold steady as mid-June heat builds across AR
No real-time gauge readings or local angler reports landed in this data cycle for Bull Shoals and Norfork, so treat conditions as unverified and confirm flows via the USGS gauge network before launching. That caveat aside, the White River tailwaters operate by a different logic than free-stone streams: cold hypolimnetic dam releases from both Bull Shoals and Norfork keep water temperatures in the productive 48 to 55 degree range through mid-June heat that would trigger hoot-owl restrictions on unregulated trout rivers, a dynamic Field and Stream's current trout temperature guide addresses directly. Generator schedules are the primary variable on this system. Off-generation windows produce low, clear water and reward technical dry-fly and midge presentations; rising water during generation calls for streamer and heavier nymph rigs. The New Moon this week can extend prime surface-feeding windows into mid-morning on slower tailouts.
Summer ledge bite builds on Alabama's Tennessee and Coosa systems
Mid-June marks the full transition to summer structure patterns on Alabama's Tennessee and Coosa River systems. No USGS gauge data was available for this report cycle, so anglers should verify current flows via ADCNR or gauge.water.usgs.gov before launching. On comparable Tennessee River water upstream, the 2026 Turtlebox Bassmaster Open at Kentucky Lake produced competitive largemouth bags through mid-June conditions, per B.A.S.S. News — a useful benchmark suggesting bass are holding on offshore ledges and main-channel drops throughout the system. Tactical Bassin highlights crankbaits and swing-head jigs as the dominant summer presentations, and both translate cleanly to the river ledges and depth transitions that define June fishing on Guntersville, Wheeler, and Lay Lake. The new moon on June 15 compresses productive topwater windows to low-light hours at dawn and dusk, but can also push catfish into aggressive night-feeding patterns on the Coosa. No hyper-local shop or charter reports surfaced for these specific waters this week.
Colorado breaks from runoff early as green drakes and golden stones approach
Crystal Fly Shop reports the Colorado River at Glenwood Springs is on the back end of runoff with 'currently great water conditions and happy fish' — the float-fishing window is open now before summer heat tightens things up. Green drakes, golden stones, PMDs, and caddis are queued to emerge within the next two weeks on the main stem, while the Frying Pan tailwater (110 cfs below Ruedi Reservoir) is already fishing reliably with daily BWO and PMD hatches; Crystal Fly Shop recommends 6X fluorocarbon and morning nymphing until afternoon dries come on. Large attractor patterns are producing in still-elevated flows. Cutthroat Anglers (CO) sets the broader context: Colorado's snowpack landed at historic lows this season, meaning flows across both the Colorado and Arkansas drainages will taper earlier and faster than normal. The upside, as Cutthroat Anglers puts it, is that fish are 'active, grouped up, and ready to bite' in concentrated lies for anglers willing to adapt.
Smallmouth Active at Grand River Mouth as Lake Michigan Salmon Season Builds
Tactical Bassin (blog) recently put Great Lakes smallmouth bass anglers on the board with trophy-class fish landed on windy-day swimbait presentations — the Dark Sleeper and Spark Shad specifically — a signal that post-spawn fish along Lake Michigan's eastern shore have made their move to offshore structure. No NOAA buoy or USGS gauge data was available for this reporting window, so water temperature and flow at the Grand River mouth are unconfirmed. On the salmon front, the WI DNR Lake Michigan Fishing Report offers useful historical context: the 2024 season delivered over 160,000 Chinook (best since 2012) and a record 210,000-plus coho, both credited to a robust alewife forage base that should continue to support strong 2026 returns. As fish distribute across the open lake in mid-June, trollers should be targeting the developing thermocline off the Grand River mouth. The June 15 New Moon is a classic low-light trigger for Grand River walleye, making dawn and dusk current seams the priority timing window this week.
Lake of the Woods walleye begin summer structure push in mid-June
Mid-June arrives on Lake of the Woods and the Rainy River with the open water season in full swing. Fishing the Midwest contributor Bob Jensen notes the 2026 season is producing for versatile anglers willing to track fish across techniques and species, and his current call to work weedline edges translates directly to LOTWs' sprawling basin, where walleye follow cabbage and coontail margins in 6 to 12 feet as baitfish concentrate in warming shallows. No specific on-water reports from local guides, charter captains, or area tackle shops appeared in this update's feeds, so this report draws on established seasonal patterns for the region. Walleye are the primary draw, transitioning off post-spawn staging areas and settling onto main-lake rock humps and sand flats. Tonight's new moon (June 15) suppresses ambient light, historically concentrating walleye feeding into the low-light shoulders of dawn and dusk. Northern pike and smallmouth bass are expected active in warming bays and along rocky shorelines.
Great Lakes smallmouth heating up across Lake Erie as June window opens
Tactical Bassin reports Great Lakes smallmouth bass responding well to swimbaits in windy conditions, a pattern that translates directly to Lake Erie's open-water structure and rocky points. No NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings are available for this cycle, but mid-June typically marks a turning point for western Lake Erie and the Niagara River corridor. Post-spawn smallmouth have recovered and are actively chasing bait, with power swimbaits like the Dark Sleeper and finesse offerings both producing on the water per Tactical Bassin's Great Lakes coverage. The new moon on June 15 suppresses overnight feeding, concentrating daytime action during dawn and dusk windows. Walleye remain a consistent mid-June draw, and yellow perch schools are accessible on shallow flats. Real-time charter and shop reports for the region were not available in this cycle. Check local marinas before heading out.
East Texas Bass Shift Post-Spawn at Toledo Bend and Sam Rayburn
Lake Fork Trophy Bass's May 2026 report signals a seasonal shift that Toledo Bend and Sam Rayburn anglers should recognize: the spawn is winding down and largemouth bass are replenishing themselves across a wide range of depths. Per that report, 'you can catch big bass fishing just about any way you'd like to from shallow to deep' as fish disperse from the beds and chase bait in earnest. Tactical Bassin highlights swing-head jigs and wobble heads as reliable early-summer producers for offshore bass, while Wired 2 Fish recommends dialing crankbait depth based on where fish are staging: shallow cover in the morning, deeper structure as the sun climbs. The New Moon today reduces lunar pressure and can sharpen dawn bite windows. No USGS gauge data was available for this report cycle; anglers should check local marina boards for current lake-level status at Toledo Bend and Sam Rayburn before launching.
Local knowledge wins as summer bass patterns lock in on Texoma and Eufaula
MLF News reports that Sallisaw's Rodney Copeland won the Toyota Series on the Arkansas River at Muskogee with a 40-pound, 13-ounce three-day total, rallying from fifth on the strength of local knowledge — a pattern that resonates with Texoma and Eufaula regulars heading into peak summer. On both lakes, striped bass and largemouth are transitioning to deeper structure as daytime temperatures climb; flathead and blue catfish are entering their prime summer night-bite window on channels and submerged timber. Early mornings and evenings are the premium periods right now; Tactical Bassin points to swing-head jigs and medium-diving crankbaits as reliable producers as bass make that seasonal depth push. Wired 2 Fish documented white bass aggressively chasing bait at regional impoundments this week, a pattern that often mirrors activity on Texoma's creek-mouth flats before midday heat shuts down surface action. No NOAA or USGS gauge data was available for either lake this cycle; verify current pool levels before launching.
White Bass Hot on Marion Reservoir as Kansas Rivers Enter Summer
Per Wired 2 Fish, white bass are actively feeding on Marion Reservoir in central Kansas's Flint Hills region, though location scouting is essential. Angler Tyler Clements reported working his usual spots without success before pulling up to a cove mouth where the bite immediately turned on. That cove-mouth staging pattern, with fish schooled at the structural break between open water and protected cove, is worth replicating across Kansas's reservoirs and river-connected impoundments right now. Today's new moon reinforces the value of targeting low-light windows: dawn and dusk feeding windows should be most productive through the weekend. No USGS flow data was available at press time for the Kansas or Arkansas River mainstems, so check current gauge readings before heading out. Fishing the Midwest's Bob Jensen notes that summer rivers consistently deliver multi-species action, with structure-hugging bass and catfish as the primary targets during the day's warmest hours.
Great Lakes Smallmouth Running Hot on Swimbaits in Mid-June
Tactical Bassin's Great Lakes crew landed trophy smallmouth this week on a windy day afloat, with the Dark Sleeper and Spark Shad proving a deadly one-two swimbait punch for post-spawn bass in open-water conditions. The power/finesse combination fired up fish quickly, producing two trophy-class smallmouth once the pattern was dialed in. Fishing the Midwest underscores that weedline structure is the place to be for Michigan anglers this time of year, noting the 2026 open water season is running strong for versatile anglers willing to mix species and techniques. The MI DNR Weekly Fishing Report has been publishing through the season; the June 10 edition covers all major regions including the Upper Peninsula and Great Lakes temperature maps. No buoy or gauge data was available for this update, so water temperatures are unconfirmed. With today's new moon coinciding with mid-June's post-spawn transition, the low-light edges of dawn and dusk are shaping up as the most productive windows on the Great Lakes.
Spanish mackerel flood NC nearshore as big bluefish push at Hatteras
Spanish mackerel are showing in solid numbers across the NC coast this June, with conditions particularly promising around Pamlico Sound and Cape Lookout. Per Fisherman's Post (NC), Morgan at The Reel Outdoors in Swansboro/Emerald Isle reports mackerel arriving in good numbers nearshore and along the beachfront, while Rich at Chasin' Tails in Morehead/Atlantic Beach confirms the same bite alongside bluefish and bonito at surf and pier near Cape Lookout. Pulling spoons off the beach is the go-to tactic: Tex at Tex's Tackle out of Wrightsville Beach reports the same spanish/bluefish combination for anglers working spoons. At Hatteras/Ocracoke on the Pamlico Sound side, Tom at Hatteras Jack reports bigger bluefish reaching 30-plus inches hammering casting metals and cut baits in the surf. Inshore, red drum remain scattered but are holding in deeper holes around structure. New moon tides today will drive a stronger tidal push, so plan your windows around peak incoming and outgoing flow.
Bass season opens this week across Hudson Valley and Finger Lakes
NY DEC's Fishing Line (June 12th issue) is direct: 'the fish bite is picking up with the warmer summer weather arriving just in time' for black bass season, which opens on most NY waters the third Saturday of June. For Hudson Valley and Finger Lakes anglers, that means the next several days are ideal for pre-season scouting and for targeting species already in season. Walleye, whose coolwater season opened May 1 per NY DEC, are positioned on deeper structure as surface temps climb. Spring-stocked trout from DEC hatcheries remain catchable in tributaries and lake shallows, though warming conditions will push them progressively deeper through the coming weeks. A new moon this weekend extends low-light feeding windows at dawn and dusk — a favorable coincidence with the bass opener just around the corner. No NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings were available for this report cycle; check local conditions and flow levels before launching. Verify current DEC regulations for your specific water body before targeting bass.
LIS stripers red-hot as squid invasion fuels deep-structure bite
Captain TJ Karbowski at Rock and Roll Charters has been sorting stripers from schoolies to cows, filling boat limits of slot fish with bunker, squid, and butterfish all in the water. That picture holds across the Sound. Per The Fisherman — Connecticut, deep-water reefs — Green's Ledge, The Race, Cable and Anchor, 28C, and the OB Buoy — are all holding quality fish, many in the 20- to 30-pound class with 40-plus-inch cows in the mix. Bobby J's says the bite is 'very good and getting better,' calling the next few weeks the best action of the season. Bluefish are beginning to show in scattered reports, and sea bass numbers are quietly building at area structure. Driving it all is a region-wide squid invasion that The Fisherman (Northeast) called 'unequaled' this week, fueling striper, sea bass, and fluke bites from Fishers Island to the Cape. Today's new moon sets up the season's biggest tidal swings.
Oklahoma bass in mid-summer mode as Red River and Eufaula warm into June
MLF News reports Rodney Copeland of Sallisaw, Oklahoma claimed the Toyota Series at the Arkansas River out of Muskogee this week, totaling 40 pounds, 13 ounces over three days on a fishery where local knowledge proved decisive. While that event unfolded on the Arkansas River system rather than Lake Eufaula or the Red River directly, the result signals that Oklahoma bass are locked into mid-summer feeding behavior across the state's eastern river and reservoir systems. No buoy or gauge readings are available this cycle, so water temperature and flow are unconfirmed; check local resources before trailering. Tonight's New Moon typically sharpens low-light feeding windows at dawn and dusk. Catfish on the Red River historically hit peak summer activity in mid-June, congregating along deeper channel bends. Crappie are likely in their summer suspension pattern, pulling away from banks and toward deeper brush. This is a good week to be on the water early.
Summer ledge bite setting up on Chickamauga and Watts Bar
No direct Chickamauga or Watts Bar reports surfaced in the current intel feeds, but mid-June on TVA impoundments historically marks one of the year's strongest offshore ledge-fishing windows. The 2026 ACA Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship drew more than 200 teams to nearby Pickwick Lake, a Tennessee River impoundment, signaling high regional confidence across the chain right now, per Outdoor Hub. Broader summer bass guidance from Tactical Bassin favors swing-head jigs and tube jigs worked along offshore structure, while Wired 2 Fish highlights crankbaits from shallow to deep as reliable producers once summer staging locks in. On Chickamauga and Watts Bar, largemouth and spotted bass stacking on main-channel ledges and long sloping points are the logical primary targets. Post-spawn crappie should be migrating toward deeper brush and standing timber. Tonight's New Moon suppresses ambient light, making pre-dawn topwater and reaction-bait windows worth an early alarm. No USGS gauge data was available; confirm current TVA pool elevations before launching.
PMD and caddis hatches converge on Wyoming's Wind River and North Platte
Reno Fly Shop's early-June Truckee River report finds PMDs, Green Drakes, Yellow Sallies, Golden Stones, and caddis firing simultaneously on that Nevada tailwater — a strong signal that the same hatch convergence is working its way through comparable Mountain West freestone rivers, including Wyoming's Wind River and North Platte drainages. No real-time USGS gauge readings were available for this report cycle, so verify current flows before heading out. Hatch Magazine's current guide to fishing through drought warns that low water and rising temperatures are placing trout in high-stress conditions across similar Western rivers, and Wired 2 Fish reports fish kills spreading across drought-stressed Western reservoirs. Wyoming cutthroat populations are on solid footing, per Trout Unlimited's active conservation work on a Wyoming Colorado River cutthroat tributary. For Wind River and North Platte anglers, the new moon this weekend favors brighter daytime feeding windows. Plan morning nymph sessions in deeper runs and time your dry-fly casts for the 1 PM to dusk hatch period. Check state regs before harvesting.
Summer Bass Goes Deep on Guntersville and Wheeler as Mid-June Heat Builds
Direct on-the-water reports from Lake Guntersville and Wheeler are limited this cycle, but the regional picture offers useful context. Over 200 teams competed at nearby Pickwick Lake for the ACA Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship (per Outdoor Hub), confirming that TVA Tennessee River reservoirs are drawing serious competition in mid-June. The broader bass intel points to a clear summer shift: Tactical Bassin ranks crankbaits and swing jigs among the top producers as bass slide off shallow flats and stack on deep offshore structure. Wired 2 Fish notes that summer fish follow bait movement and oxygen levels, making adaptability the key attribute this time of year. No gauge or buoy data is available this cycle, so verify current pool levels and surface temperatures through TVA or local resources before heading out. Tonight's New Moon creates dark conditions that extend low-light feeding windows; early morning topwater and late-evening presentations are worth the extra effort on both impoundments this week.
Lake Cumberland stripers and tailwater trout settle into summer patterns
Field & Stream's current water-temperature guide for trout arrives at a fitting moment for Cumberland River tailwater anglers: no gauge data came through for this cycle, and none of this week's angler-intel feeds included direct reports from Lake Cumberland or the tailwater below Wolf Creek Dam. Seasonal norms are the best compass available. Mid-June typically marks the transition to summer's deep-structure grind on the main lake, as warming surface temps push stripers off shallow flats and onto deeper points and channel edges — live-bait trolling on downriggers targeting 25 to 40 feet is the standard approach once fish go vertical. The tailwater stays cold year-round thanks to dam discharge, keeping rainbow and brown trout active. For bass, Tactical Bassin notes that crankbaits fished on offshore structure and swing-head jigs are the early-summer standouts. Tonight's New Moon window can be productive at dawn and dusk.
Upper Mississippi walleye and catfish hit summer stride at new moon
Fishing the Midwest's Bob Jensen is pointing summer anglers toward river current edges and weedlines as the 2026 open-water season hits full stride, a setup that maps cleanly onto mid-June conditions for the Upper Mississippi pools. No USGS gauge readings are available for the Prescott-to-La Crosse stretch this cycle, leaving flow stage unconfirmed; pull live data before launching. Tonight's new moon suppresses ambient light, historically one of the strongest triggers for low-light feeding on the pools; walleye and catfish sessions at dusk and pre-dawn are worth prioritizing this week. The same outlet's summer river guide reinforces wing dams, channel seams, and backwater transitions as the structural priorities once post-spawn fish shift into warm-weather patterns. Without pool-level tackle shop or charter reports in this week's feeds, conditions on specific pools remain unconfirmed; channel catfish historically peak on the Mississippi pools through June, and the new-moon window should favor night sessions.
North Shore smallmouth move post-spawn as Lake Superior shifts to summer mode
Lake Superior's North Shore enters a productive mid-June transition with smallmouth bass moving off spawning beds and actively feeding along rocky structure. Tactical Bassin's Great Lakes crew recently put together strong smallmouth catches on windy days, running a finesse swimbait to generate initial bites before switching to a larger profile once fish fired up: a power-to-finesse approach well-suited to the mixed rock and cobble shorelines found along the Minnesota coastline. On the Wisconsin side of the lake, WI DNR Lake Superior Fishing has documented a surge in angler interest in lake whitefish around Chequamegon Bay, with the fishery drawing enough attention to prompt management meetings and an online angler questionnaire. The broader Lake Superior whitefish fishery appears to be gaining momentum. No real-time buoy or gauge data was available for today's report. Today's New Moon can sharpen feeding windows at first and last light, so plan launches accordingly.
Deschutes redsides peak on golden stones as summer steelhead season opens
No gauge or buoy readings arrived for the Deschutes or Upper Klamath drainages this period, and no region-specific field reports surfaced this cycle. Seasonal patterns point to mid-June as a critical transition window on both systems. On the Deschutes, golden stonefly activity typically ramps up after the salmonfly push ends, with Pale Morning Dun hatches adding afternoon dry-fly opportunities for the river's prized redside rainbows. The leading edge of the summer steelhead run usually reaches the lower canyon by mid-June. Hatch Magazine's current drought guide and Field & Stream's trout temperature piece both flag rising afternoon water temps as a serious concern across the West, reinforcing the value of pre-10 a.m. sessions. Wired 2 Fish reports drought-driven fish kills across western reservoirs, a timely reminder to check ODFW closure advisories before your trip. On Upper Klamath, post-spawn largemouth bass are typically feeding actively on weedline structure through mid-June.