Fishing reports
19276 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
Long Island Sound Stripers Running Hot on a Loaded Baitfish Buffet
Fisherman's World is calling the striper bite 'lights out' throughout Long Island Sound, with fish stacked from inshore flats to deep-water reefs and true cows showing at spots like 11B, 28C, and the OB Buoy, per The Fisherman — Connecticut. Bobby J's confirms bass in the 20-pound class on deep structure and slot-to-mid-30s fish from the beach on chunks, flutter spoons, soft plastics, and topwater. Captain Morgan's Bait and Tackle credits a remarkable bait convergence: Aaron Swanson's Sound-wide field notes in The Fisherman — Connecticut describe bunker, squid, mackerel, butterfish, whiting, sand eels, and spearing all stacked simultaneously in the Sound. The Fisherman (Northeast) reported 40-pound-class fish and staggering numbers of 20-pounders across the region as of June 4. Black sea bass are building momentum too, with Rock and Roll Charters captain TJ Karbowski reporting more legal-sized fish with each trip out. On The Water's June 5 striper migration map notes water temps remain a few degrees below seasonal norms, keeping fish mobile and actively feeding.
South Swell Grounds Surf Fishing as El Nino Offshore Season Builds
A persistent south-southwest swell has kept Southern California surf anglers sidelined since late May, and Surf Fishing in So Cal reports a second significant swell was still building as the first full week of June arrived. Shorebreak is rough enough along the LA Bight to make corbina and surf-perch work a waiting game for now. When conditions settle, sand crabs, covered in depth this week by Surf Fishing in So Cal as a premier summertime offering, will be the go-to bait for croaker species along sandy beach flats. Offshore, the picture brightens: Western Outdoor News — Saltwater is flagging anticipated El Nino conditions for the season, with charter operators already booking runs targeting yellowtail, tuna, and dorado at the outer banks. The Channel Islands remain reachable for anglers willing to navigate residual chop, where calico bass hold in the kelp on typical early-summer patterns. No NOAA buoy temperature readings were available for this report.
Northwoods bite heating up as warm June air activates all species
Rollie & Helen's Musky Shop out of Minocqua is reporting a notably active early-June stretch across Wisconsin Northwoods lakes. With air temperatures pushing into the 80s, water temps have climbed sharply from the mid-50s to low-60s range that defined late May, and the shop notes that "most species have become quite active." Crappies and panfish have already pushed into the shallows, with Rollie & Helen's calling the bite "excellent" on worms, Beavertails, and nightcrawlers. Muskies are drawing solid attention around the Minocqua-area waters, per the same report. Walleyes, the headline species of these Northwoods chains, should be benefiting from the same warmth, and Fishing the Midwest flags weedlines as the key structural target as the post-spawn transition gives way to summer feeding patterns. No instrument readings are available from USGS gauge 05400650 this period, so conditions are drawn from shop reports rather than gauge data.
Coho and Chinook peak window opens along Door County and Sheboygan shores
The WI DNR documented a standout 2024 season on Lake Michigan — over 210,000 coho salmon harvested statewide (a new record) and more than 160,000 Chinook, the strongest Chinook showing since 2012, both tied to healthy alewife forage recovery. That stocking and forage foundation carries into 2026 as early June typically marks the peak window for coho and Chinook action off Door County and Sheboygan. The Rowley's Bay boat launch in Liberty Grove — Door County's northern Lake Michigan access point — was closed from ice-out for concrete improvements but was scheduled to reopen around May 31 per the WI DNR, restoring offshore access heading into the heart of the salmon run. No live buoy readings are available for this report, so exact surface temps are unknown. A Michigan Sportsman Forum post noted spring cohos being landed near Harbor Beach this past week, a signal consistent with the early-June coho push that historically tracks the western Lake Michigan shoreline toward Sheboygan and points north.
UP Streams Hit Fishable Flows as Early June Trout Window Opens
The Ontonagon River is logging 165 cfs at USGS gauge 04059500 as of June 7, putting one of the UP's signature trout streams in a workable, fishable range heading into the week. Water temperature data is unavailable from the gauge, but early June typically brings UP streams into the upper-50s to low-60°F zone — the sweet spot for brook trout and brown trout on the dry fly. Direct on-the-water reports from UP streams and Lake Superior are limited this cycle, but the broader Michigan fishing conversation is active: Wired 2 Fish is covering significant angler pushback against House Bills 5801 and 5802, which would open walleye and lake trout to commercial netting in state waters — a regulatory fight UP lake trout anglers will want to track. On the lake itself, Great Lakes Now is executing a live ROV dive to Lake Superior's deepest point on June 7, noting deepwater lake trout and kiyi as expected species at depth. WI DNR Lake Superior Fishing has flagged growing interest in lake whitefish in the adjacent Chequamegon Bay fishery.
Saginaw Bay walleye and Thumb coho highlight Michigan's early-June fishing
Unconfirmed angler chatter on the Michigan Sportsman Forum puts two spring coho in the boat out of Harbor Beach on June 6, with the poster expecting full coho season to build over the next couple of weeks — though no charter or state agency source has corroborated that report. On the broader Michigan fishing scene, Wired 2 Fish reports that proposed House Bills 5801 and 5802 would allow commercial netting of walleye and lake trout in state waters, drawing fierce pushback from recreational anglers who prize both species as pillars of Lake Huron sport fishing. No water temperature or flow readings are available from USGS gauge 04157000 this cycle, and the MI DNR Weekly Fishing Report was inaccessible for this update. Seasonally, early June is a historically prime window on Saginaw Bay as post-spawn walleye scatter onto mid-bay flats and weedlines; smallmouth bass on Lake Huron's nearshore rocky structure are typically entering their most aggressive post-spawn feeding phase of the year.
Post-spawn bass and June walleye warm up on Mosquito and Pymatuning
USGS gauge 03110000 on the Mahoning River recorded 75.2 cfs on the morning of June 7, pointing to stable, low-summer flows and steady reservoir levels at both Mosquito Lake and Pymatuning. No hyper-local reports from these specific waters appeared in this week's feeds, but the regional picture from Fishing the Midwest and Tactical Bassin aligns with what early June typically delivers here. Per Fishing the Midwest, weedlines are becoming the primary contact zone as vegetation fills in, a pattern that translates directly to Pymatuning's sprawling shallow bays and Mosquito's north basin. Tactical Bassin's June coverage highlights post-spawn bass pushing to offshore structure, favoring a wobble head jig paired with a shaky head worm on main-lake humps and points. Walleye, the signature species on both reservoirs, typically stage along rocky transitions and deeper channel edges in June, with evening and low-light windows delivering the sharpest action. The Last Quarter moon this weekend should help sharpen those feeding windows.
Green Drake Season at Peak on Central PA's Limestone Trout Creeks
USGS gauge 01546500 recorded 81.3 cfs on the morning of June 7, reflecting moderate flow in the Bald Eagle Creek watershed that Spring Creek feeds. Wading access on central Pennsylvania's limestone trout streams remains manageable. No water temperature was available from the gauge; limestone springs typically buffer both Spring Creek and Penns Creek into the high 50s to low 60s°F through early June, keeping trout actively feeding. Flylords Mag is currently running coverage of the green drake hatch, noting dun activity drawing eager strikes from trout. That timing aligns with Penns Creek's nationally celebrated green drake emergence, which typically peaks from late May into mid-June. Hatch Magazine's current feature on essential spring creek skills highlights the technical, gin-clear presentation demands these fisheries impose on anglers. PA Fish & Boat Commission Biologist Reports was accessed but returned no specific current-conditions data for these waters. Evening dry-fly fishing to green drake duns and sulphur hatches should be the primary focus this week.
Post-spawn bass find the eddies as Allegheny tailwaters run full
USGS gauge 03036500 logged 7,450 cfs this morning — flows are running well above midsummer baseline, pushing bass and catfish off open water and tight against current seams, bridge pilings, and eddy pockets. Specific bite reports from Pittsburgh-area shops or guides did not appear in this cycle's feeds, but regional signals carry weight: Wired 2 Fish documented a record 36.2-pound flathead catfish taken from Pennsylvania's Delaware River on June 1, with the angler soaking cut gizzard shad on slow-moving ledges in 17–23 feet — a clear indicator that PA catfish are in full feeding mode as water temperatures climb into June. For bass, Tactical Bassin's early-summer breakdown targets post-spawn fish on wobble-head jigs, shaky-head worms, and drop-shot rigs worked on isolated offshore structure and current breaks. No water temperature reading is available from the gauge this morning; verify conditions locally before launching.
Lake Erie Post-Spawn Bass and Walleye Enter Early-Summer Mode
USGS gauge 04231600 is logging 70°F water temperature as of June 7, confirming that western NY tributaries and nearshore Lake Erie have crossed firmly into early-summer thermal territory. Smallmouth bass are the focal story this week: per Tactical Bassin's early-June coverage, fish are transitioning out of spawning mode and pushing toward isolated offshore structure, where a wobble head jig paired with a shaky head worm is the proven one-two combination. Post-spawn fish have also responded well to chatterbaits worked over outside flats, according to the same source. Fishing the Midwest notes that weedlines are now productive region-wide as vegetation fills in, a technique that translates directly to Lake Erie's inshore edges and drop-offs. Lake Erie walleye and yellow perch, the flagship species on this stretch, have no direct charter reports in this cycle, but the warming temps and post-spawn calendar timing place them squarely in an active early-summer window.
Green Drakes emerging on Catskills streams as flows drop to summer lows
Morning flow readings from two USGS gauges confirm the Catskills have shifted into summer-low mode. The Beaverkill at Cooks Falls (USGS gauge 01415000) measured 11.2 cfs at 6:45 a.m. on June 7 — well below the seasonal median — while the East Branch Delaware at Margaretville (USGS gauge 01413500) registered 69.1 cfs. Neither station reported water temperature. Despite thin, gin-clear conditions, timing favors the fly angler: Flylords Mag this week highlighted the Green Drake hatch in full swing, noting that brook trout fed actively on the duns through an afternoon session. MidCurrent's latest Tying Tuesday spotlighted surface and film presentations suited for exactly these opening hatch windows across Northeast freestone streams. Low water calls for a disciplined approach — long leaders, fine tippets, and minimal wading disturbance. Focus on pool heads and tailouts where oxygenation is highest and trout stage when flows run this thin.
Early-summer salmon firing on Lake Ontario as tributaries run low and clear
Strike Zone Charters (Lake Ontario) is leading this week's news with a direct headline: "salmon are here!!" — with brown trout and lake trout mixed into the catch. The productive zone sits in 100 to 160 feet of water on the main lake, where Mag Dipsey Divers rigged in green, white, and chartreuse e-chip combos are getting the job done. Preferred depths have been shifting from day to day as wind moves temperature bands, so reading the column each morning before committing to a spread is essential. Inshore, USGS gauge 04250750 shows the local tributary running at 62.8 cfs as of Sunday morning — low, clear conditions that make wading sight-lines easy but fish skittish. Smallmouth bass are typically one of the most reliable tributary targets in the lower river reaches and harbor edges through June. With the Last Quarter moon this weekend, dawn and dusk low-light windows are worth prioritizing across both the lake and tributary stretches.
Post-Spawn Bass Running Strong as Chequamegon Whitefish Draw Attention
Free Fishing Weekend — June 6 and 7 — opens all Wisconsin waters to anglers without a license, per WI DNR Wisconsin Fishing News, landing right as post-spawn bass and walleye shift into summer feeding mode. The Wisconsin River is flowing at a stable 489 cfs (USGS gauge 05391000) as of June 7, supporting fishable conditions across much of the system. Inland, post-spawn bass are transitioning from spawning flats to structural breaks and weedline edges; Tactical Bassin recommends a wobble-head jig paired with a shaky head worm for offshore fish, with dropshot and neko rigs extending the bite through midday. Fishing the Midwest highlights weedlines as the key address for walleye and panfish now that vegetation is filling in. On Lake Superior, Chequamegon Bay's lake whitefish fishery is drawing steady open-water boat traffic — a rapidly growing recreational bite the WI DNR Lake Superior Fishing program has been actively studying through questionnaires and management meetings this spring. Rough weather on Lake Superior June 6 (Great Lakes Now) underscores the need to check conditions before launching on the big lake.
New River smallmouth prime up for summer as post-spawn patterns lock in
Tactical Bassin's June bass breakdown identifies wobble-head jigs paired with shaky-head worms as the dominant early-summer one-two punch for post-spawn bass on offshore structure — a pairing that maps directly to the New River's rocky ledges and deep current seams. USGS gauge 03051000 records 148 cfs this morning, pointing to low-moderate summer conditions that concentrate fish in defined current breaks and make wading accessible across much of the system. No water temperature reading is available from this gauge; mid-June typically pulls WV river surfaces into the low-to-mid 70s. Tactical Bassin also notes that chatterbaits, dropshots, and neko rigs are drawing strikes on isolated offshore cover as bass fully transition out of post-spawn recovery. On the Ohio River corridor, flathead catfish are entering prime summer form — Wired 2 Fish recently covered a 36.2-pound flathead taken on cut gizzard shad soaked on deep river ledges, a technique that translates well to Ohio River structure. Fishing the Midwest confirms that rivers broadly are in strong summer shape right now.
Calm Seas Open Early June Window for Puget Sound Salmon and Halibut
Air temperatures of 52–53°F logged at NOAA buoys 46041 (Cape Elizabeth) and 46087 (Neah Bay) on June 7 reflect typical early-June Pacific Northwest conditions, with winds running calm to 10 knots off the outer coast. Washington's boating season is officially underway, per WA Sea Grant, but the available angler-intel feeds for Puget Sound and the Pacific coast carried no on-water catch reports from charter captains, tackle shops, or state creel surveys this week. WA WDFW Fishing Reports confirms the state actively monitors fishing access statewide, though no catch detail appeared in this cycle's payload. Species status below reflects standard early-June seasonal expectations rather than reported catches. This period typically sees chinook salmon beginning to show in marine areas, Pacific halibut accessible through open seasons, and lingcod opportunities on the outer-coast reefs. Consult WA WDFW's live creel data before launching, and verify bar conditions carefully on any coastal crossing.
Late Spring Chinook and Summer Steelhead Window Opens on Washington Rivers
USGS gauge 14113000 recorded 993 cfs and 53°F at 4 a.m. on June 7, placing water temperatures squarely in the productive zone for salmonids across Washington's Columbia and Puget Sound tributary systems. Direct on-the-water reports from guides, shops, and charter captains are absent from this week's intel feeds, so conditions here are built from the gauge reading and well-established June seasonality for the region. At 53°F, late spring Chinook remain active in the Columbia corridor as summer-run fish begin their initial push, overlapping into a productive transition window. Summer steelhead are a reasonable early-June expectation in coastal tributaries feeding Puget Sound. Smallmouth bass in the Columbia's lower reaches grow increasingly opportunistic as days lengthen. American shad, a genuine early-summer highlight on the Columbia, typically run strong through June and offer consistent light-tackle action for anglers willing to throw small hardware. Check WA WDFW Fishing Reports for current creel data and any emergency closures before launching.
Stripers in transition at the Chesapeake mouth as post-spawn push settles in
Regional water temps at 64°F (NOAA buoy 44009, June 7) are running a few degrees behind the seasonal curve for this date, and that thermal lag is shaping the bite across the mid-Atlantic. On The Water's June 5 striper migration map reports that fish are beginning to settle into summering grounds but haven't fully committed yet. The May 29 OTW Saltwater update tracked big stripers pushing north on heavy concentrations of bunker, squid, and river herring; that bait concentration continues to dictate where fish stack. For anglers at the Chesapeake mouth, the bridge between the post-spawn migration and the resident summer fishery is still open. Dawn and dusk on moving water near structure offer the best windows. No local Virginia charter reports were in this update's source pool; the picture draws from regional migration tracking and the buoy reading.
Potomac & Shenandoah Post-spawn Bass Windows Open in Early June
The Potomac River is flowing at 5,290 cfs as of Sunday morning (USGS gauge 01646500), sitting in a moderate early-June range that keeps wading access viable on the Shenandoah's main channel. No water temperature was available from the gauge this morning. Tactical Bassin reports that early June marks peak post-spawn timing for bass, with isolated offshore structure holding fish that respond well to a wobble head jig or shaky head worm — their preferred June two-bait combination. Chatterbaits, neko rigs, and drop-shots have also produced quality fish on similar mid-depth transitions, per Tactical Bassin's post-spawn coverage. On The Water's June 5 striper migration map notes that fish are beginning to settle into summering grounds along the mid-Atlantic coast, with water running a few degrees cooler than seasonal norms — a detail worth tracking for Potomac rockfish targeting deeper structure. Weedline ambush points are worth targeting as aquatic vegetation reaches peak early-summer growth, per Fishing the Midwest.
Bass and trout prime up on Vermont waters as rivers clear to summer lows
The USGS Passumpsic River gauge (site 01135300) logged 58 cfs early Sunday morning, signaling that Connecticut River tributaries are settling into their summer-low range as snowmelt wraps up. Vermont-specific bite reports are limited this cycle, but MidCurrent's coverage of the Battenkill Fly Fishing & Arts Festival in Arlington, Vermont this spring reflects an active trout community already working the region's technical streams. Tactical Bassin reports post-spawn bass are producing well right now on comparable inland waters, with chatterbaits and shaky-head worms around isolated offshore structure drawing quality fish, a pattern that translates directly to Lake Champlain's early-June bass bite. Hatch Magazine's current guide to fishing through low-water drought conditions is timely: as Vermont rivers continue to drop and clear, trout will concentrate in deeper pools and become more selective. Plan morning and dusk sessions around the Last Quarter moon for the best shot at active fish.
Green River tailwater in prime early-June form as hatches begin to fire
USGS gauge 09234500 clocked the Green River at 54°F and 1,170 cfs early this morning, textbook conditions for the famous tailwater fishery below Flaming Gorge Dam. Water in the mid-50s sits squarely in the prime feeding band for brown and rainbow trout, and flows just above 1,000 cfs keep the tailwater sections accessible for wading anglers. No direct Green River shop or guide reports appeared in this week's regional intel feeds, so we're leaning on gauge data and seasonal patterns. MidCurrent's current tying coverage highlights midge-style patterns designed for 'clear, pressured water of stillwaters and tailraces,' a fitting match for the Green River's technical lower sections, alongside surface and film patterns timed to early-summer hatch windows. On the Uinta Lakes, early June typically marks recently thawed access and willing cutthroat and brook trout patrolling shallow shorelines.
Spanish Mackerel and Sheepshead Signal Charleston Harbor's Summer Turn
NOAA buoy 41004 puts water at 78 degrees with light winds around 8 mph, solid early-June conditions for Charleston Harbor. Fisherman's Post Carolinas saltwater June reports from the adjacent NC coast paint a consistent picture moving south: Spanish mackerel are arriving in good numbers along nearshore beachfronts and inlet edges, and bluefish are running strong in the same zones. At Carolina Beach, the nearest reporting point just north of the SC line, the first push of smaller sheepshead has moved into the Cape Fear River system and is staging on hard structure, a seasonal pattern that typically extends to Charleston's jetties, dock pilings, and bridge rubble around this window. Inshore, red drum are scattered but concentrating in deeper tidal holes around structure. With water now in the upper 70s, the summer nearshore and inshore bite is accelerating on schedule. Plan sheepshead and redfish trips around moving tides: the last-quarter moon is delivering moderate but reliable tidal flow through harbor structure.
Post-spawn bass and landlocked stripers move deep at Santee and Lake Murray
USGS gauge 02160390 recorded 135 cfs on the morning of June 7, placing flow at a moderate-low summer baseline entering the weekend. Direct, on-the-water intel specific to Santee Cooper and Lake Murray is limited in this reporting cycle, but the broader early-June picture is clear: bass are in a classic post-spawn transition. Tactical Bassin reports quality fish keying on isolated offshore structure, with a wobble head jig paired with a shaky head worm as the two-bait combination producing results right now. Tactical Bassin's June breakdown also confirms chatterbaits remain effective search baits for fish still working shallow-to-mid-depth transition zones. B.A.S.S. News has covered Lake Marion and Santee Cooper as a serious big-bass venue, and the system's deep channel network and standing timber typically hold landlocked stripers once surface temps push past 80 degrees. Last Quarter moon on June 7 favors early morning and late evening feeding windows.
Free Fishing Weekend Hits Mississippi Sound with Favorable Early-June Conditions
MS DMR has designated June 6 and 7 as Free Fishing Weekend across all of Mississippi's public waters, meaning any angler can fish without a recreational license this weekend. NOAA buoy 42067 is logging 2.6-foot seas with light winds near 4 meters per second and air temperatures around 80°F, pointing to a comfortable outing across the Sound. On-the-water reports specific to Mississippi Sound are limited this cycle, but the seasonal picture is encouraging: early June typically brings warming inshore water and active speckled seatrout, redfish, and flounder across the shallow grass flats and nearshore structure that define this fishery. Sport Fishing Mag notes that northern Gulf oil and gas platforms represent prime early-summer structure from Mobile Bay westward for offshore-capable boats. July 4 is also a free fishing day per MS DMR. Check current state regulations for any species-specific limits before heading out.
Illinois River Summer Bite Builds as Post-Spawn Bass Season Peaks
The USGS gauge on the Illinois River (site 05586100) recorded 6,280 cfs as of June 7, placing the river in a low-to-moderate summer stage that funnels fish toward current breaks, wingdam edges, and channel structure. No water temperature reading was available from this gauge, but conditions are consistent with warming early-summer patterns across the region. Fishing the Midwest's Bob Jensen is actively encouraging anglers to target rivers right now, writing that they 'can provide some outstanding fishing action throughout the summer.' Tactical Bassin hit the water this week targeting post-spawn bass on offshore structure, finding a wobble-head jig paired with a shaky head worm to be 'more than early summer bass can resist' — a pattern that translates directly to Illinois River wing dams and channel breaks. On Lake Michigan, Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant has deployed their three nearshore monitoring buoys for the 2026 season, providing real-time conditions data for southern Lake Michigan anglers.