Fishing reports
6894 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
Western Basin walleye settle into deep-water summer pattern
No NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings and no direct Western Basin catch reports came through the feeds today, so this update leans on typical mid-July patterns rather than fresh numbers. The one regional data point worth noting: Great Lakes Now's tour of the Detroit River, the primary forage and water-quality conduit feeding Erie's Western Basin, highlighted continued gains from the watershed's long-running cleanup, a positive sign for a fishery that depends on clean nearshore water. Typical for this point in July, Western Basin walleye should be sliding out toward deeper, cooler water as the thermocline sets up, with trollers working crawler harnesses and deep divers over reef complexes. Yellow perch and white bass usually stay more consistent inshore this time of year, and smallmouth bass activity tends to hold around the reef edges and shoals. Check the latest state creel reports and buoy data before heading out, since specific, on-the-water confirmation for this stretch of lake wasn't available this cycle.
Northwoods lakes warm up as summer musky bite turns technical
Water temps across the Minocqua, Oneida, and Vilas County lake chains are pushing into the mid-70s, with darker, shallower lakes running close to 80 degrees and clearer water holding near 78, per Rollie & Helen's Musky Shop this week. That warmth marks the season's harder stretch for muskies: the shop notes fish get tougher to locate, track, and pattern as summer deepens, with forward-facing sonar now doing more of the legwork than blind search. Walleye anglers can lean on standby summer moves, working weedlines as vegetation fills in, per Fishing the Midwest's seasonal advice for the region. Smallmouth bass and panfish should hold to typical July patterns around rock and cover. Stable weather has held over the past week, giving anglers a consistent read on temps rather than a moving target. Expect the warming trend to continue, with musky fishing staying technical and reward going to anglers willing to grind through the midday lull.
Rangeley summer bite settles into dawn-and-dusk rhythm
Mainely Fly Fishing's most recent Rangeley-area dispatches remain our best on-the-ground read for this system, and they describe a season that ran behind schedule: ice didn't clear Dundee Pond until April 4, later than typical, after a dry fall left river flows and groundwater running low. No fresh buoy or gauge readings and no new shop or charter reports came through for this stretch of the Androscoggin headwaters this cycle, so today's picture leans on standard July behavior for these waters rather than a fresh bite report. Expect brook trout and landlocked salmon to hold tight to spring seeps, inlets, and deeper, cooler pockets as afternoon water temperatures climb, with the best action concentrated early and late in the day. Smallmouth bass, more heat-tolerant, should be the more reliable warm-afternoon target in the shallows and around structure. We'll flag any confirmed reports the moment they come in.
Weedline bass and walleye action heats up as Illinois River carp die off
The biggest story out of the Illinois River this week isn't a bite report but an ecological one: Outdoor Hub reports the Illinois Department of Natural Resources is monitoring an extensive die-off of invasive silver carp between Henry and Peoria, with biologists calling it a naturally occurring event tied to spawning stress and rapidly shifting water conditions rather than contamination. For anglers, that generally means a quieter, less carp-choked stretch to work. On technique, Fishing the Midwest's Bob Jensen is pushing anglers toward weedlines now that the 2026 open-water season is in full swing, noting versatility pays whether you're chasing walleye or bass; the outlet also flagged a simple fix, sharpening treble hooks, that turned a missed strike into a five-plus-pound largemouth. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for the Illinois River or southern Lake Michigan this cycle, so treat conditions as seasonal-typical for early July until the next update.
Catawba and Roanoke bass push deep as summer heat locks in
No fresh NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings came through for the Catawba or Roanoke systems today, so this report leans on the seasonal pattern for mid-July freshwater fishing across the Carolinas. B.A.S.S. News describes largemouth stacking on ledges, points, and brushpiles on comparable Southeastern river systems as the heat pushes fish off the bank and current slows, a pattern that typically holds true on both the Catawba chain and the Roanoke this time of year. Wired 2 Fish's recent summer-bass coverage points to jigs and flipping baits as the go-to approach for working that deeper cover. Catfish tend to stay reliably active through the hottest stretches regardless of surface temp. The Roanoke's well-known spring striper run wrapped months ago, so any stripers still around will be holding deep and sluggish. Crappie typically go quiet in July heat, tucking tight to shaded deep structure until conditions ease.
Bay crabs and surf stripers hold steady as summer settles into Delaware Bay
Direct Delaware Bay buoy and gauge data are offline this cycle, but the season's core NJ bay pattern is intact. Grumpys Tackle (NJ) reports "the crab hauls have been good off of the local docks" in its recent "Surf Bite Rebound and Pre-Ray Panic" update, alongside striped bass "taking clams again" in the surf and fluke working bucktails and soft baits, with "a couple of weakfish reported" mixed in. Those are the same species anglers should expect working the Delaware Bay side this time of year: blue crab, weakfish, striper, and summer flounder sharing the same bay-and-surf water column. NJ Saltwater Fisherman's statewide bluefin tuna and size/possession-limit updates remain the reference for anyone running offshore or keeping a mixed bag, so check current retention limits before harvesting. With no bay-specific buoy readings this cycle, treat water temp and current strength as unknowns until the next data pull; plan around clean, moving water and dock/structure edges in the meantime.
Sea Bass Limiting Out Off Sandy Hook as Stripers Stay Strong
Capt Ron's out of Atlantic Highlands is putting anglers on quality black sea bass in the Bay and near-shore grounds, with a 5-pound, 8-ounce fish topping this week's monthly pool and small Gulp sand eels working best on simple bottom rigs. Blue Chip Sportfishing calls sea bass fishing 'red hot' right now, with boats limiting out on almost every trip, and reports striped bass getting crushed on the same trips along with a shark bite that has 'busted wide open,' including released mako sharks on a recent run. Per OTW Northern New Jersey's July 9 report, fluke fishing is on the upswing from the surf out to the reefs after a stretch of heat and rough weather, small bluefish and stripers are working the beaches, and bluefin tuna remain within 15 to 40 miles of shore. Fishermans HQ LBI adds that a fresh bluefin push arrived on the heels of a heavy squid showing off the Jersey coast. Sea bass and stripers are the standout bite for Raritan Bay and Sandy Hook right now.
Lake Superior whitefish fishery grows as UP trout streams go quiet
Direct water-temperature and streamflow readings weren't available for the UP and Lake Superior corridor this cycle, so this update leans on regional intel. The clearest signal comes from WI DNR Lake Superior Fishing, which reports that lake whitefish angling in the Chequamegon Bay area has become a genuinely popular fishery in recent years, drawing pressure both through the ice and from boats, enough that the agency is running an angler questionnaire through the end of April to better track it. On the UP's interior trout streams, no fresh catch reports came through this cycle, so expect the standard mid-July pattern to hold: brook and brown trout tucking into shaded, spring-fed stretches and undercut banks during peak afternoon heat, then moving to feed at dawn, dusk, and under cloud cover. Field & Stream's current trout-tackle guide is a solid baseline reminder for stream anglers this time of year, matching rod length and line weight to water size. Lake trout out in Superior's deeper basin should still be working on standard summer trolling depths. Check current Michigan regs before harvesting.
Erie anglers lean on summer staples as HAB watch opens
Lake Erie's Pennsylvania waters and Presque Isle Bay are settling into a typical mid-July pattern this week. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through in this cycle, so treat water temperature as seasonal expectation rather than a live number for now. Pennsylvania Sea Grant recently partnered with the state's Department of Environmental Protection on a harmful algal blooms webinar, a timely reminder for Erie- and Presque Isle-area anglers to eyeball water color and steer clear of scummy, stagnant stretches before wading or launching this summer. On the broader ecology front, Great Lakes Now reports invasive mussels are stripping nutrients that young whitefish depend on, a slow-building basinwide pressure rather than a Presque Isle-specific alarm. No direct on-the-water bite reports crossed our desk for Erie or Presque Isle this cycle, so we're leaning on the walleye, smallmouth bass, and yellow perch patterns anglers typically work here through mid-summer.
Summer stocking keeps Columbia and Puget Sound rivers fishable as peak season opens
No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for the Columbia and Puget Sound river systems this cycle, and this week's angler-intel pull didn't surface specific creel counts for the region either. What we can lean on is the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife's standing program, which the WDFW notes runs creel interviews at access sites around the state and keeps lakes and streams stocked through the season, per WA WDFW Fishing Reports. Mid-July is typically prime time for Columbia system summer Chinook and sockeye pushes and for Puget Sound tributary steelhead and resident trout, though none of that is confirmed by a specific report in hand this week. Anglers should treat today's window as a solid bet built on seasonal timing and stocking cadence rather than a hot, freshly reported bite, and lean on WDFW's creel and stocking pages directly for the latest access-site numbers before planning a trip.
Toledo Bend bass slide deep as summer heat locks in
Direct field reports for the Toledo Bend and Sabine River border didn't come through this cycle's buoy, gauge, or angler-intel feeds, so this update leans on typical mid-July patterns rather than a fresh bite report. By this point in summer, water on Toledo Bend and the Sabine typically runs warm and stable, pushing largemouth bass off the banks and onto deeper points, ledges, and brushpiles during daylight hours -- a pattern B.A.S.S. News describes playing out on other Southern reservoirs right now as current slows and fish stack tight on structure. Blue catfish typically stay productive through the heat, especially after dark, while crappie tend to slow into a post-spawn summer lull. Elsewhere in Louisiana, LDWF has scheduled a drawdown at Saline Lake in Natchitoches and Winn parishes, per Louisiana Sportsman -- a reminder that state water managers are active on lakes statewide this month, though it doesn't directly touch Toledo Bend or the Sabine.
Mid-July heat pushes Lake Huron walleye and perch into low-light patterns
Great Lakes Now's look at invasive mussels stripping nutrients from young whitefish is a useful reminder of the forage pressure building across the Great Lakes system, including Saginaw Bay, even as the open-water season hits full stride. Direct buoy readings and Huron/Saginaw-specific catch reports were thin in this week's pull, so this update leans on typical mid-July patterns for the region. Walleye are the headline draw here, and with surface water typically pushing into the 70s this time of year, the bite generally shifts to dawn, dusk, and low-light periods as fish slide off structure into deeper, cooler water. Yellow perch stay active around Saginaw Bay's weed edges and reef structure through summer. Smallmouth bass typically turn aggressive in warm shallows, especially early and late in the day. Lake Huron's Chinook salmon and steelhead tend to suspend deep offshore in summer heat, making them a tougher, troll-and-downrigger target than a shoreline one right now.
Upper Mississippi anglers dial in weedlines as summer bite settles in
A Missouri River angler just boated a pair of catfish totaling 178 pounds in a single 25-foot-deep back-eddy hole, per a Wired 2 Fish report, a reminder that regional catfish action is running strong as summer heat settles in. On the Upper Mississippi pools between Clinton and Dubuque, no fresh buoy or gauge readings came through this cycle, so treat pool stage and water clarity as unknowns until you're on the water. Fishing the Midwest's Bob Jensen notes the 2026 open water season is in full swing, and versatility is paying off for anglers willing to add techniques and chase multiple species rather than sticking to one pattern. Mike Frisch, also writing for Fishing the Midwest, points to largemouth responding well to moving baits worked over emerging weed tops, a pattern that should translate to the backwaters and wing dam eddies typical of this stretch. Expect walleye and smallmouth to hold tight to current breaks and weedlines through the warm stretch; small details like sharp hooks are making the difference right now.
High water keeps Atchafalaya basin cats biting through the summer heat
The USGS gauge at station 07374000 logged the Mississippi corridor running near 656,000 cfs with water at 85°F as of Thursday evening, a clear sign the river through the Atchafalaya basin is carrying well above typical mid-July base flow. No angler intel specific to the Mississippi or Atchafalaya corridors came through this cycle. The closest in-state freshwater note is from Louisiana Sportsman, which reports the LDWF has scheduled a drawdown of Saline Lake in Natchitoches and Winn parishes; that's a separate system from this corridor, but it shows the state's freshwater fisheries are getting active management attention this month. Without fresh bite reports to lean on, expect the elevated, warm water to push standard summer patterns: catfish should stay the most dependable target working current seams and deep holes, while bass and crappie likely settle into a slower, shade and structure pattern until flow and heat ease off some.
Lake Eufaula habitat work meets a deep summer bite pattern
Lake Eufaula anglers have fresh incentive to explore new cover this month: MLF News reports the Fisheries Management Division, working with the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation and Kubota, deployed a network of MossBack habitat structures inside a new Tournament Recovery Zone on the reservoir, completing the install despite severe summer thunderstorms. On the water side, our lone reading from USGS gauge 07247500 shows a very low flow, consistent with the stable, low-water conditions typical of a Southern Plains reservoir system in mid-July. B.A.S.S. News notes that on comparable summer river and reservoir systems this week, most bass have pushed deep, with stripers schooling right alongside them on points, ledges, and brushpiles as current drops off, an offshore pattern worth testing on Eufaula and the Red River. Elsewhere in-state, MLF News covered a Grand Lake event where flooded bushes and heavy shoreline cover kept largemouth biting despite the heat, a pattern shallow-cover anglers on Eufaula's arms should keep in their back pocket too.
Champlain smallmouth lock into deep-structure summer pattern
Lake Champlain's water sits at 74°F this evening per USGS gauge 04294500, the kind of summer reading that pushes smallmouth bass onto deep structure and sends landlocked salmon down toward the thermocline. No angler reports came in directly from Champlain this week, but regional New England freshwater intel offers a useful proxy: The Fisherman — New England Freshwater reports smallmouth holding tight to bigwater structure (Rod Teehan's Quabbin Reservoir trip targeted humps and points near Gate 31), while Fishin' Factory 3 notes freshwater fishing across the region has fully shifted into warm-weather mode, with topwater frogs, Whopper Ploppers, and Senkos working the low-light hours and shiners filling the midday lull. Fisherman's World in Norwalk adds that smallmouth, largemouth, and walleye are all feeding well morning and evening at area reservoirs. Champlain smallmouth should be following the same warm-water script; salmon anglers should expect the bite to have pushed deeper as surface temps climbed through the 70s. Treat this as regional context, not site-specific Champlain intel, until local reports come in.
New River smallmouth settle into steady summer flow pattern
USGS gauge 03051000 logged New River flow at 217 cfs as of Tuesday evening (July 10), a stage that keeps wading and drift presentations manageable without heavy current push. Water temperature wasn't reported at this gauge, but sustained July heat has area smallmouth and largemouth bass settling into typical summer behavior. General summer tactics from Tactical Bassin (blog) point anglers toward jig fishing around cover and finesse presentations once bass get pressured by heat and boat traffic, while Fishing the Midwest's weedline advice, working the transition zones as vegetation fills in, applies just as well to New River and Ohio River backwaters. Catfish tend to slide into deep holes and back-eddies during the hottest stretch of the day, a pattern Wired 2 Fish highlighted in a recent big-cat feature on another river system. No state agency, shop, or charter report came in directly for this stretch this cycle, so treat the species notes below as seasonal generalizations rather than confirmed local bites.
Door County anglers ride Lake Michigan's strong salmon program
Lake Michigan's Door County and Sheboygan waters carry momentum from a standout 2024 season, when anglers landed a record 210,000 coho salmon and more than 160,000 Chinook, the best haul since 2012, according to the WI DNR Lake Michigan Fishing Report. The DNR credits stronger alewife survival for keeping stocked salmon and steelhead classes healthy heading into this year. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for Door County or Sheboygan this cycle, and no shop or captain filed a specific bite report this week, so treat conditions as typical for early July until a local update lands. One thing worth watching: Great Lakes Now reports invasive mussels are stripping nutrients Lake Michigan whitefish fry depend on, part of why the WI DNR is actively reworking the whitefish total allowable catch for 2026. The DNR is also collecting input on smallmouth bass management for Green Bay and northern Lake Michigan, a sign that fishery remains a stewardship priority.
Blue cats keep feeding as Texas bass slide deep for summer
USGS gauge 08211200 logged water at 89°F Friday afternoon with flow holding low and steady at 36.5 cfs, textbook mid-July conditions for Texas lakes and rivers. Catfish remain the story: North Texas Catfish Guide reports Eagle Mountain Lake running full with fresh water pushing into the system, and says that combination has fish moving and feeding actively, with a strong numbers bite on blue catfish and the occasional shallow-water trophy still showing. White bass have also been active on the main lake per the same operation's reports. Largemouth bass, by contrast, are sliding deep as surface temps climb into the high 80s; Texas Fish & Game Magazine points anglers toward offshore brush piles and forward-facing Mega 360 imaging to find them holding tight to structure. Water clarity is worth checking before committing to a spot, per the same publication. Expect a typical Texas summer split: catfish and white bass staying catchable through the heat, bass bite pushed to dawn, dusk, and deep cover.
Smokies trout bite shifts to dawn as summer heat pushes streams warm
USGS gauge 03512000 logged water at 74°F Friday evening with flow holding steady at 175 cfs, a combination that nudges Smokies trout toward survival mode rather than active feeding. Water in the low-to-mid 70s is stressful for stream trout, especially native brook trout tucked into headwater pockets, so the better play right now is dawn and dusk sessions when the water cools a few degrees and fish get more willing to move. Terrestrial patterns are the seasonal standout — Trout Unlimited's midsummer terrestrial tip notes that ants, beetles, and hoppers blown into the current become a trout's biggest meal option once aquatic hatches thin out, and that fits July in the Smokies well. For gear fundamentals, Field & Stream's trout guide is a good refresher on matching rod length and leader to water size, favoring light fluorocarbon on tight mountain water. We're targeting shade lines and the deepest plunge pools until temps ease back down.
Deep summer pattern settles onto Santee and Lake Murray
USGS gauge 02160390 has flow on the Santee system holding at a modest 131 cfs, a low-current read typical for mid-July with little rain moving through. No local water-temperature telemetry came through this cycle, but at this point in the summer both Santee and Lake Murray are almost certainly running warm enough to push the bite into a classic deep pattern. Per B.A.S.S. News' recent look at current-starved southern reservoirs, fish slide off the bank and stack on points, ledges, and brushpiles once flow tapers off, a pattern that tracks well for lakes built the way these are. Tactical Bassin's summer rundown backs up the early/late window for largemouth, with jigs and shallow power-fishing moves working best before the sun gets high. No SC-specific captain, shop, or agency reports came through this cycle to confirm striper or catfish activity directly, so treat species notes below as seasonal expectation rather than confirmed bites. Check state regs before harvesting.
Summer Ledge Bite Holds Bass Deep on Guntersville and Wheeler
USGS gauge 03575100 is reading a modest 263 cfs this week, a sign of light current moving through the Tennessee River system that feeds both Lake Guntersville and Wheeler. That lines up with what B.A.S.S. News is hearing from anglers working the upper Tennessee River right now: with current down, bass are pulling off the bank and stacking deep on points, ledges, and brushpiles, often mixed in with schools of stripers. Tactical Bassin's recent jig-fishing breakdown and underwater Neko-rig comparison both point to slow, methodical presentations for that deeper cover, while Wired 2 Fish's look at Lake Fork Lure Co.'s Pro Hog creature bait is worth trying for anglers still punching heavier shallow cover before that bite fades further. The waning crescent moon should mean less lunar-driven urgency and more weather-driven feeding windows. Water temp wasn't logged at the gauge this cycle, so plan around the heat and fish the early and late low-light hours.
Merrimack Valley bass settle into classic summer patterns
USGS gauge 01073500 is reading a lean 56.1 cfs this afternoon, the kind of low, clear summer flow that pushes river and lake bass tight to shade, weed edges and deeper structure. Regional intel backs that read: The Fisherman — New England Freshwater reports bass fishing has "settled into warm-weather patterns," with fake frogs, Whopper Ploppers, Senkos and shiners producing best in the early-morning and evening windows, while trout action goes quiet through the heat. Panfish are filling the gap — the same source notes anglers working small jigs and swimbaits in shallow water are connecting with yellow perch, white perch and crappie, including a few above-average perch. For Merrimack and Winnipesaukee-area anglers, expect the same script this week: low, warming water pushing gamefish into low-light feeding windows, topwater and finesse plastics leading for bass, and light jigs doing the work for perch and crappie once the sun climbs.
Yellowstone-basin trout bite tightens to dawn and dusk as water warms
USGS gauge 06192500 clocked the Yellowstone River at 68°F and roughly 5,060 cfs Friday afternoon, a warm read for mid-July that lands right at the threshold Western states typically use to trigger afternoon hoot-owl trout closures — worth checking current state and park closures before you head out. No angler-specific reports came in from the Yellowstone or Snake corridors this week, so we're leaning on regional seasonal pattern: Caddis Fly's summer hatch notes describe Golden Stonefly and Yellow Sally activity carrying steady dry-dropper action across Western freestone rivers through July, a pattern that typically extends into this basin. Expect cutthroat and rainbows to key on cooler morning and evening windows while midday warmth slows the bite; browns tend to go quieter and more nocturnal once water pushes into the high 60s. Mountain whitefish remain a dependable subsurface option when trout go off the feed. Flows are easing off spring runoff pace, typical for this point in the season.