Fishing reports
19276 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
Post-spawn bass bite heats up as Missouri River runs elevated in early June
Water temps of 77°F at USGS gauge 06934500 on the Missouri River confirm a full early-summer transition, though main-stem anglers are contending with elevated flow at 118,000 cfs, pushing turbid water through channel bends and sending bass into protected backwaters, creek mouths, and slack pockets. The Phoenix Bass Fishing League held its June 6 event at Truman Lake near Warsaw, confirming tournament-quality bass are catchable throughout the region despite high water, per MLF News. Tactical Bassin reports that post-spawn bass are keying on isolated offshore structure, with a wobble head jig paired with a shaky head worm drawing the most consistent results right now. On cleaner Ozark tributaries, morning topwater and chatterbait sessions remain productive through mid-morning. Catfish anglers should find the warm water and fast current concentrating fish on main-channel ledges and deep outside bends, prime staging areas for flathead and blue cats in early summer.
High Water Reshapes the Mississippi: Catfish and Bass Adapt to Flood Stage
USGS gauge 07289000 recorded 865,000 cfs on the Mississippi River on June 6, setting the defining story on the water this week: an aggressively high, turbid river running well above its summer norm. At these flows, the main channel is challenging from a small boat, but catfish (blue, channel, and flathead) move to the edges, staging in deep eddies, behind wing dams, and at tributary mouths where the current softens. Backwater lakes and oxbow channels offer the best refuge for bass and panfish. On the Pearl River, largemouth bass have completed their spawn and are transitioning into summer patterns; Tactical Bassin's June coverage highlights post-spawn bass responding well to a wobble-head jig and shaky-head worm fished around offshore structure. No local tackle-shop or charter intel is available this cycle, so this report draws on gauge data and regional seasonal patterns. Verify boat ramp access before heading out: flood conditions may restrict staging areas.
Coho Salmon Running Hot Near Duluth as MN Lakes Shift to Summer Mode
The MN DNR Lake Superior Summer Fishing report from June 4 puts coho salmon at peak status near Duluth and Superior, with most anglers catching at least a few and many filling limits trolling stickbaits 5-10 feet down in 80-140 feet of water. Lake trout are also producing well along the lower North Shore, with trollers doing best on bright spoons run 40-80 feet down in 70-140 feet of water, or jigging plastics near structure. Surface temps along the lower shore ranged 35-50 degrees F as of that report. On the rivers feeding the Twin Cities, the Mississippi (USGS gauge 05331000) was at 10,600 cfs and the Rum River (USGS gauge 05288500) at 5,100 cfs as of June 6, both running with enough push to move walleye and smallmouth toward slack-water edges and current seams. The MN DNR declared the summer boat creel open in late May, officially marking the transition from spring stream runs to open-water season across the state.
Michigan Walleye Active on Blade Rigs as Early June Bug Hatches Emerge
The Grand River is flowing at 3,180 cfs as of June 6, per USGS gauge 04119000 — moderate summer levels that keep boat ramps accessible and structure fishing productive across the lower river. The MI DNR Weekly Fishing Report (June 3) is the most recent agency pulse on statewide conditions. On the angler-chatter side, a Michigan Sportsman Forum report from Marine City on June 6 describes steady evening walleye action in 35–40 feet of water on the US side, with a silver blade-and-red-bead harness accounting for 15 fish ranging 15" to 18" across a four-hour session — that should be treated as forum-level intel until charter or agency sources confirm. A dense white-bug hatch was noted blanketing the surface the same evening, a signal that early-season insect emergences are underway. Meanwhile, Wired 2 Fish is tracking a significant legislative development: Michigan House Bills 5801 and 5802 would open walleye and lake trout to commercial netting in state waters, drawing sharp pushback from the recreational angling community. Bass are transitioning through post-spawn recovery across inland lakes and Grand River reaches.
Post-spawn bass primed for structure and weedlines across Central MA
USGS gauge 01105500 registered 13.8 cfs overnight on June 7, with gauge 01111500 logging 39.4 cfs late June 6 — moderate flows consistent with an early-June seasonal taper. Water temperature readings are unavailable from either station, but mid-June surface temps in Central MA lakes and ponds generally settle into the upper-60s to low-70s°F range, a window that pulls largemouth and smallmouth bass out of post-spawn staging and onto offshore structure. Tactical Bassin reports that wobble-head jigs, shaky heads, and dropshot rigs are producing for bass on offshore flats and isolated structure, with chatterbaits and neko rigs also drawing strikes. Fishing the Midwest highlights the weedline as the emerging focal point of the season: as submerged vegetation fills in, ambush-oriented species cluster along the edges. No Central MA–specific tackle shop or charter intel is available this cycle; species outlooks are shaped by gauge data and regional blog reports.
White perch hitting bloodworms as Potomac and Patapsco ease into summer
White perch are biting well in tidal creeks and rivers across the Chesapeake watershed, with Smith's Bait Shop reporting consistent catches on bloodworms from tidal rivers and creeks, per The Fisherman (DE/MD/Chesapeake). The Patapsco River is flowing at 56.7 cfs at USGS gauge 01589000 as of June 6, a low and manageable level that keeps bank and wading access in good shape heading into the weekend. Water temperatures have been running cold for late spring across the region; Eric Burnley's column in The Fisherman (DE/MD/Chesapeake) noted that high winds and cool water made for difficult conditions through much of last week, though good-weather days produced solid action. On The Water's June 5 striper migration map confirms mid-Atlantic fish are beginning to settle into summer grounds with water temperatures sitting a few degrees below seasonal norms. Bass and catfish on the Potomac and Patapsco should gain momentum as the first full week of June adds heat to the system.
Shad push arrives as Kennebec & Penobscot hit their June stride
The Kennebec is flowing at 2,450 cfs as of June 6 (USGS gauge 01046500), a moderate late-spring volume that concentrates baitfish in current seams and keeps migratory species moving. Regional shad reports are ticking upward — The Fisherman — South Shore MA to ME noted an uptick in shad activity across the MA-ME corridor this week — and the Kennebec's historic American shad run typically reaches its peak between early and mid-June. On The Water's June 5 striper migration map confirms northeast stripers are beginning to settle into summering grounds, though water temperatures remain a few degrees below average regionally, which may be tempering the push into tidal freshwater reaches. No water temperature reading was available at gauge 01046500. For the upper drainages, landlocked salmon and brook trout are transitioning to summer holding patterns this month, with anglers focusing on deeper pools and dawn windows before air temperatures climb.
Gulf Platforms and Delta Marshes Prime as Louisiana Summer Arrives
NOAA buoy 42001 recorded open-Gulf water temperatures at 83°F in the early hours of June 7, confirming the northern Gulf has locked into its summer pattern. Sport Fishing Mag's recent feature on northern Gulf rig fishing describes the region's oil and gas platforms — stretching from Mobile Bay to the Texas Coast — as "the continent's most diverse and abundant fishing opportunity," with warm-season conditions drawing amberjack, red snapper, and a range of bottom species to structure. Offshore seas are running 4 to 5 feet at buoy 42001, with winds at 13 to 16 mph across both buoys — manageable for larger boats making platform runs. Inshore across the Louisiana Delta, speckled trout and redfish are following a typical early-June pattern: trout staging near tidal grass edges and channel drops while reds push onto shallow marsh flats on the flooding tide. Saltwater Sportsman notes bull redfish are prized for their fighting ability, and June delivers plenty of opportunities along the Louisiana coast.
Louisiana bass finding slack water as summer heats up on the Atchafalaya
Per Louisiana Sportsman, Alexandria angler Will Carstens landed a 13.42-pound largemouth at Indian Creek Reservoir during a May 25 tournament, a benchmark catch that signals quality bass are active heading into early June. Water temps have reached 78°F at USGS gauge 07374000, squarely in the range where bass move predictably between shallow feeding flats and nearby deep structure. The Mississippi is running at 616,000 cfs, a strong flush pushing fish out of the main-stem current and into the Atchafalaya's maze of oxbows, cut-offs, and timber-choked backwaters. Tactical Bassin notes that June bass respond well to a wobble head jig and shaky head worm combo worked on offshore structure, a one-two punch worth deploying on the outside flats and submerged timber that define the Atchafalaya system. With the moon in last quarter, plan for the sharpest feeding windows at dawn and dusk. Confirm current limits and seasons with state regulations before heading out.
Kentucky rivers shift to summer mode as bass transition and cats heat up
USGS gauge 03301500 recorded 244 cfs on June 6, signaling moderate, navigable flow across the Ohio and Cumberland drainage. No water temperature was logged at the gauge, but early June in Kentucky typically pushes river temps into the upper 70s°F, marking the full swing into post-spawn bass patterns and prime catfish season. Tactical Bassin notes that June bass are abandoning spawning flats for isolated offshore structure, with a wobble-head jig paired with a shaky-head worm emerging as a reliable two-bait combination for quality fish. Fishing the Midwest reinforces the value of river systems at this stage, noting that larger rivers sustain quality action straight through summer. Wired 2 Fish flagged a record 36.2-pound flathead taken June 1 on cut gizzard shad along a Delaware River ledge in 17–23 feet of water — a timely reminder that flatheads are feeding aggressively this month across the country's major river systems.
Catfish and bass peak building on the Kansas River as summer sets in
USGS gauge 06892350 logged the Kansas River at 22,100 cfs and 76°F on June 6, a warm, high-flow reading that pushes fish off the main current and into eddy lines, wing dams, and slower backwater pockets. No local charter or shop intel surfaced for this stretch this cycle, but 76°F water sets up classic early-summer catfish conditions. Channel and flathead catfish are typically most aggressive once river temps climb past 70°F, with cut bait in deep pool tailouts being the standard play. Tactical Bassin notes that post-spawn bass have shifted to summer offshore patterns, with wobble-head jigs and shaky-head worms producing around isolated structure. Fishing the Midwest echoes that rivers are underrated summer destinations, with catfish and bass occupying the same current seams and shaded undercuts. With flows running well above typical low-summer levels, targeting slack water and eddy pockets behind wing dams will be the key adjustment this week.
Post-Spawn Bass and Catfish Finding Slack Water on a Running Iowa River
USGS gauge 05465500 put the Iowa River at 8,610 cfs on June 6, well above typical early-summer base flows and a clear signal to work slack water rather than fight the main channel. No water temperature was recorded at this snapshot. With no local tackle-shop or charter reports available this cycle, conditions draw from gauge data and regional Midwest pattern signals. Tactical Bassin's current June coverage highlights that post-spawn largemouth are responding to offshore structure presentations, with wobble-head jigs and shaky-head worms leading the charge on mid-depth flats, techniques that translate cleanly to the riprap ledges and submerged timber common on the Iowa and Des Moines. Channel catfish are entering their seasonal June peak, and the elevated flows are doing them a favor by concentrating cut-bait scent trails in current-break pockets below wing dams.
Post-Spawn Bass and Catfish Prime Up as the Wabash Runs Full into June
The Wabash River logged 3,210 cfs at USGS gauge 03335500 on June 6, running elevated but within fishable range as late-spring rainfall drains through the system; no water temperature reading was available from the gauge. For bass, Tactical Bassin reports post-spawn fish are keying on isolated offshore structure and responding well to reaction presentations: chatterbaits, neko rigs, and drop shots were producing quality bites when targeting fish that have pushed off spawning flats. Fishing the Midwest advises working weedline edges with versatile presentations as summer patterns take hold, noting river current seams as a reliable fish locator. On Lake Michigan's Indiana shoreline, IL/IN Sea Grant has nearshore buoys actively deployed for the season, providing real-time conditions data for anglers planning trips to the dunes area. The Last Quarter moon this week typically favors dawn and dusk feeding windows, so timing your launch accordingly is worthwhile.
Cutthroat Rising on the Snake as Spring Runoff Finds Its Exit
Water temps hit 56°F on the Snake River drainage (USGS gauge 13340000, June 6) with flows running at 14,400 cfs — still elevated from snowmelt but beginning to ease, which typically opens Idaho's best trout window. Trout Unlimited's current video series spotlights ongoing Snake River cutthroat habitat improvements in the Spread Creek drainage, a sign of how productive this native fishery has become. With water in the mid-50s and clarity improving as flows drop, nymphing deep slots and swinging streamers through current seams should put cutthroat in the net. Flylords Mag's recent green drake coverage is timely: late-morning emerger activity on Idaho's big rivers typically ramps up in early June, and this year's cool water temps may have compressed that hatch toward midday windows. Spring Chinook are typically moving through the Salmon River system in June — check current state regulations on Chinook retention before you go, as hatchery vs. wild rules vary by reach.
Offshore Season Peaks in Hawaii as Blue Water Locks Into Summer Range
NOAA buoy 51004 registered 79°F on June 7, confirming Hawaiian offshore waters are locked into early-summer range. Trade winds are steady at 8-10 m/s and ocean swells are running 6.9 to 8.9 feet across the island chain per NOAA buoys 51001, 51002, and 51004 — conditions that push most boat anglers toward leeward-side staging grounds. Specific charter and tackle-shop bite reports are limited in this data cycle, so precise what's-hot calls carry less confidence than usual. Based on water temperature and seasonal position, blue marlin, ahi (yellowfin tuna), mahi-mahi, and ono (wahoo) are all in their characteristic early-summer range around the islands. Hawaii Fishing News, the official state record-keeper for Hawaii's biggest fish, maintains the monthly moon and tide calendar that serious island anglers rely on for trip planning — this week's Last Quarter moon calls for early-morning and late-night windows to maximize the bite.
Georgia Coast: Calm Offshore Seas as River Runoff Muddies Inshore Waters
GA Sportsman / Georgia Outdoor News reported as of June 4 that most Georgia rivers are running high and muddy, with the Savannah River at 6.3 feet and falling and the Altamaha at 8.8 feet and still rising. That elevated runoff is pushing turbid water into coastal sounds and tidal marshes, making estuary clarity the defining factor for inshore fishing this week. NOAA buoy 41008 shows a calmer offshore picture: 2-foot seas and winds near 10 knots put nearshore and offshore runs well within reach. With no water-temperature reading from the buoy this cycle, temperatures are likely in seasonally typical territory for early June. Georgia Wildlife Blog — Fishing notes that National Fishing and Boating Week (June 6–14) is underway, with Free Fishing Days now in play. No direct saltwater catch reports are available this cycle; species outlooks reflect seasonal norms for Georgia's Atlantic coast in early summer.
Lake Okeechobee & St. Johns Bass Make the Post-Spawn Shift
USGS gauge 02232000 logged 180 cfs on the St. Johns as of the evening of June 6, a modest, below-average flow that typically means clearer, slower water along the river's corridor. Water temperature readings were unavailable from the gauge. No direct on-the-water captain or tackle-shop reports surfaced this week specifically for Lake Okeechobee or the St. Johns, so we're grounding this update in seasonal baselines and regional technique intel. Florida largemouth bass are firmly in the post-spawn transition through early June, pushing off spawning flats toward offshore structure, hydrilla edges, and submerged brush piles as surface temps climb into the low-to-mid 80s. Tactical Bassin's June breakdown highlights wobble-head jigs, shaky-head worms, chatterbaits, and dropshot rigs as the dominant post-spawn producers, setups well-suited to Okeechobee's expansive grass flats. Panfish including bluegill and redear sunfish typically stay active through mid-June before heat pushes them deeper.
Snook Spawn Peaks and Smoker Kingfish Run Hot Along Florida's Atlantic Coast
Snook Nook out of Stuart reports June as one of the best months of the year for trophy snook on the Treasure Coast, with pre-spawn fish staging in numbers and 40-plus-inch fish a realistic target right now. Snook season closed June 1 and does not reopen until September 1, so all catches must go back carefully. Captain Rick Murphy's Florida Insider report declares smoker kingfish action "HOT" along the Atlantic coast, making this a prime week to target mackerel in nearshore and mid-shelf zones. At Vilano Beach, Coastal Angler Magazine readers reported limit days on pompano and multiple jack crevalle up to 24 inches, pointing to a healthy nearshore bite across the region. Bonefish have also been turning up on Biscayne Bay flats per Coastal Angler Magazine. On the regulatory front, CCA Florida reports that a federal court injunction has blocked the South Atlantic red snapper EFP pilot season that had been approved this spring, closing that fishery for now.
Tarpon Migration Peaks on the FL Gulf Coast as Kingfish Fire Up
With water temperatures at 80°F per NOAA buoy 42036, the Florida Gulf Coast has fully shifted into summer fishing mode. Naples Offshore Fishing Charters reports the tarpon migration is fully underway, with captains intercepting migrating fish and jumping quality tarpon throughout the area. After morning tarpon sessions, afternoons have been productive targeting permit on sight-fishing flats, and large permit are showing consistently. King mackerel action has turned red hot: Captain Rick Murphy's Florida Insider reports that smoker kings are biting, making kingfish one of the premier offshore targets right now. Coastal Angler Magazine documents a solid 23-inch trout out of Naples on a jig, confirming healthy inshore action as well. Salt Strong's June 5-7 Weekend Game Plan highlights the Florida Gulf Coast as an active zone this weekend. With light winds and warm water locked in, the window for multi-species days, tarpon at dawn, permit on the flats, kings offshore, is squarely open.
Stripers holding in Delaware Bay through early June transition
NOAA buoy 44009 recorded 64°F water in Delaware Bay early this morning, right in the productive range as the spring striper run stretches into June. On The Water's June 5 striper migration map notes fish are beginning to settle into their summering grounds along the mid-Atlantic coast, though water temperatures are still running a few degrees cooler than normal — a lag that tends to keep bass lingering rather than pushing north in earnest. OTW's May 29 migration update had big stripers feeding hard on bunker, squid, and river herring across the region. Weakfish are beginning to show in decent numbers as well, per Saltwater Edge Blog's late-May full-moon forecast — a pattern that typically reaches Delaware Bay within a week or two of first reports up the coast. Fluke season is building as bay water climbs toward the upper 60s. Check current state regulations before keeping stripers; a summer slot season typically opens July 1 in Delaware.
Delaware catfish run strong while post-spawn bass shift to summer structure
Wired 2 Fish reports a 36.2-pound record flathead catfish landed June 1 on the Delaware River near Augustine Beach — a Pennsylvania angler soaking cut gizzard shad on bottom ledges in 17 to 23 feet of water — a clear signal that Delaware's big-catfish season is in full swing. USGS gauge 01493500 registered just 2.26 cfs late June 6, pointing to lean, low-flow conditions in the regional drainage. When water runs this thin, fish concentrate in the deepest available pools and slower channel bends. Tactical Bassin notes post-spawn bass across mid-Atlantic freshwater are keying on isolated offshore structure, with chatterbaits, dropshot rigs, and wobble head jigs leading production. On the Christina and Nanticoke, largemouth and smallmouth should be in a similar mode: off the shallows now, holding on timber, bridge structure, and shaded deep edges. Evening catfish sessions on cut bait look like the headline opportunity heading into the weekend.
Post-Spawn Bass Lock Onto Offshore Structure Across CT Inland Waters
Water temps on Connecticut's larger river systems are reading 68°F per USGS gauge 01184000, signaling that largemouth and smallmouth bass have moved firmly into post-spawn transition and are shifting toward summer structure. Tactical Bassin reports early June as prime time to target bass around isolated offshore areas, with a wobble-head jig paired with a shaky head worm as a productive one-two punch as the reaction bite settles down. Weedline edges are also producing: Fishing the Midwest notes that anglers working transitional zones between open water and vegetation are getting consistent action as the season matures. Trout fishing has slowed with water approaching the upper limits of their comfort range, so early-morning sessions in shaded, well-oxygenated stretches give the best shot. A smaller CT tributary gauged at 42.5 cfs by USGS gauge 01193500 reflects low, clear conditions typical of early June, favoring finesse presentations and light line. Panfish are likely near peak spawning activity on shallow, sandy flats.
Early Bluefin Sightings Signal Season Start as June Swells Build Offshore
Western Outdoor News — Saltwater reports bluefin tuna showing up near Half Moon Bay, with the Codfather crew trolling south of the weather buoy to connect after a few hours of searching — a promising indicator that the offshore pelagic season is beginning to click along this stretch of coast. Water temps measured by NOAA buoys 46042 and 46028 sit at 54°F and 58°F respectively, consistent with the cool upwelling conditions typical of early June. Seas are rough right now: buoy 46026 logged 10.2-foot swells early Sunday, with winds at 14 m/s across multiple stations — conditions that will keep small-boat anglers close to protected waters until a calmer window opens. On the conservation front, Western Outdoor News — Saltwater notes that CCA California has launched a campaign against invasive Sargassum horneri, nicknamed 'Devil Weed,' which is spreading through the state's native kelp ecosystem and could affect nearshore habitat for rockfish and kelp bass over the longer term. Western Outdoor News also flags expected El Niño-influenced warm water this summer that could eventually push yellowtail and dorado closer to Central Coast waters.
Sacramento-Delta largemouth in post-spawn mode as summer warmth settles in
The USGS gauge at the Sacramento River logged water at 73°F on the evening of June 6 — solidly into the post-spawn transition window for Delta largemouth. While no direct Delta captain or tackle-shop dispatches came through this cycle, the California bass scene elsewhere offers useful signal: at the B.A.S.S. Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series on Clear Lake, Simon Her of Oroville led Day 1 with a 103.75-inch five-bass limit, pointing to aggressive, active feeding across Northern California's warmer stillwaters. Tactical Bassin is pushing hard on June offshore tactics — a wobble-head jig paired with a shaky head worm for post-spawn fish holding on deep structure — and those patterns translate cleanly to the Delta's main channel drops and tule-edge shelves. Elevated river flow should concentrate baitfish and keep resident stripers on the move. Catfish action typically improves as Delta water temperatures crest 70°F. Check current California state regulations before keeping stripers.