Fishing reports
19276 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
Spring Chinook push peaks on the Salmon as snowmelt sends flows surging
USGS gauge 13340000 logged 21,000 cfs and 51°F at 6:15 a.m. this morning, placing the Snake and Salmon River system squarely in peak late-May snowmelt territory. Water in the low 50s is a productive range for spring Chinook salmon, which typically reach their highest push into the Salmon River mainstem through the final days of May and into early June. No direct local shop or charter reports are available in this cycle, so the assessment below is grounded in gauge data and established seasonal patterns for this drainage. Flows at 21,000 cfs shut down most wading access on the mainstem, but drift boats and jet sleds can work the slower inside bends and tailouts where holding Chinook stack up ahead of the next push upriver. Trout Unlimited's ongoing habitat work on Snake River cutthroat trout, documented in their recent Spread Creek feature from the Snake's Wyoming headwaters, highlights the importance of this native fishery throughout the corridor. Check state regulations before harvesting any salmon.
Ahi and mahi-mahi active as Hawaiian waters push toward summer
Water temperatures measured at 76°F (NOAA buoy 51001) and 79°F (NOAA buoy 51004) on May 31 place Hawaii's offshore waters in prime warm-season territory for pelagic species. The full moon on May 31 creates strong tidal movement that concentrates baitfish and energizes feeding along current seams. Hawaii Fishing News, the official state record-keeper for island catches, uses the moon and tide calendar as a core planning tool for serious island anglers, underscoring how strongly the lunar cycle shapes the local bite. Trade winds are holding 4-6 m/s across all three offshore buoys, and swells of roughly 6 feet at buoy 51001 reflect typical late-May offshore conditions manageable for most charter vessels. No direct charter or shop catch reports were available in this cycle; the species outlook below is grounded in buoy readings and seasonal patterns typical for Hawaiian waters in late May. Ahi, mahi-mahi, blue marlin, and wahoo are all seasonally on target.
Trout dialed in across Colorado as historic low-snowpack runoff winds down
Crystal Fly Shop (CO) is calling it plainly: the Colorado River is 'on the back end of runoff now with currently great water conditions and happy fish.' USGS gauge 09095500 confirms the Colorado River at 3,440 cfs and 57°F as of this morning — manageable flows for float fishing and select wading. Cutthroat Anglers (CO) frames the broader picture: historically low Western snowpacks produced a compressed, earlier-than-normal runoff, but the upside is that fish are 'active, grouped up, and ready to bite for the angler willing to hike a little further or cast a little lighter,' per their May Update. Hatch activity is building across the region. Crystal Fly Shop reports solid BWO and PMD action on area tailwaters and anticipates green drakes emerging on the Colorado within two weeks. Golden stones and caddis are also queued up. Large attractor dry flies and Rubberleg Stone nymphs are producing. The window Crystal Fly Shop describes as 'sensational' is open now — before summer heat narrows it.
Strong Upwelling Ignites the Central Coast Chinook Salmon Bite
NOAA buoy 46042 is reading 55°F off Monterey Bay, and Chinook salmon have responded in kind. Western Outdoor News — Saltwater's Allen "Bushy" Bushnell, reporting from Monterey, says the Central Coast salmon picture has genuinely improved: northwest winds drove upwelling last week that dropped sea temps four to five degrees, pulling cool, nutrient-rich water to the surface and concentrating baitfish. Captain Jared Davis of the Salty Lady out of Half Moon Bay Sport Fishing echoes that optimism, telling Western Outdoor News — Saltwater that conditions below Pigeon Point are "vastly improved" after water temps fell to 54°F — down from 58°F at the start of salmon season in April. Davis notes the bonito "took a hike" once the cooler water moved in, a trade-off salmon anglers will gladly accept. Buoy readings span from 53°F near the Farallones (buoy 46026) to 60°F further south (buoy 46028), confirming a clear thermal gradient along the coast. The full moon this weekend adds tidal push to an already productive setup.
Post-spawn bass and tailwater trout on deck as AZ rivers hit late-May stride
USGS gauge 09380000 placed the Colorado River at Lee's Ferry at 56°F and 6,120 cfs on the morning of May 31. Cold, regulated flows from Glen Canyon Dam keep rainbow trout feeding reliably year-round on this tailwater stretch. With the full moon landing today, largemouth bass on the Salt River impoundments (Canyon, Saguaro, and Apache lakes) are squarely in the post-spawn transition, pushing off beds toward adjacent offshore structure. Tactical Bassin's late-May coverage notes post-spawn fish keying on isolated offshore flats, responding well to chatterbaits worked on the drift as well as finesse presentations, including dropshots and neko rigs, once the reaction bite fades. No AZ-specific shop, charter, or agency reports appeared in this cycle's feeds, so the Salt River picture is grounded in gauge data and seasonally typical patterns. Plan for early starts: late-May desert heat makes midday sessions unproductive on both systems.
Gulf of Alaska charter season opens: kings and halibut in play
NOAA buoys across Gulf of Alaska offshore stations are logging 42-45°F water temps this May 31, with winds at 14-24 mph from multiple monitoring points, confirming that active charter season is underway. Saltwater Sportsman covered the Armed Services YMCA Combat Fishing Tournament out of Seward, reporting more than 160 service members boarding volunteer charter boats in the pre-dawn hours of a late-May morning, a signal that Gulf charter operations are fully mobilized for the season. Specific bite counts from current intel feeds are limited, but late May in the Gulf of Alaska is traditionally when halibut settle onto nearshore feeding ridges after their winter offshore spawn and the king salmon season enters its first consistent window at tidal rips and river mouths. AK Sea Grant's current focus is on mariculture development, specifically kelp and oyster work, with no fishing-conditions update in the current release. Anglers should verify current king salmon regulations by drainage, as seasons and bag limits vary considerably across Gulf waters.
Early kings pushing the Kenai as late-May flows hold fishable
Water at USGS gauge 15266300 reads 45°F and 3,030 cfs as of early morning May 31, placing Kenai River conditions in a manageable early-season window ahead of the main salmon push. No angler-intel sources in this data pull specifically cover Kenai or interior Alaska rivers this week — AK Sea Grant's current content addresses mariculture fellowships and coastal research programs rather than on-the-water fishing conditions. Drawing on seasonal patterns for this region: 45°F sits squarely in the temperature band when early-run Chinook salmon begin pressing upriver in earnest, and 3,030 cfs is a workable level for drift boats and bank anglers compared to the higher, murkier flows that typically peak in June. Rainbow trout and Dolly Varden are characteristically active ahead of the salmon arrival, holding in current seams and tailouts and taking egg and bead patterns with consistency. Tonight's full moon extends productive low-light windows well into the long Alaska evening. Always verify current state emergency orders before targeting kings — Kenai Chinook management can shift within 24 hours based on sonar counts.
Toledo Bend bass shift post-spawn as gar season opens on the Sabine border
Gar season on the Sabine border is front and center this week. Hatch Magazine ran a feature on the prehistoric ambush hunters that define this stretch of river, with the author's own recollections of childhood gar pursuits on the Sabine itself framing the piece. On the data side, USGS gauge 08025500 recorded 44.6 cfs on the Sabine this morning, lean inflow that points to stable, lower-stage conditions across Toledo Bend's upper arms and fish concentrated in the deeper channel bends. Largemouth bass have moved through the spawn and are now in post-spawn recovery mode; Tactical Bassin's current content targets this exact window with chatterbaits, drop-shots, and neko rigs fished around isolated offshore structure. The Full Moon overhead will push feeding activity into low-light bookends at dawn and dusk. Crappie have scattered off the beds into deeper brush, and LakeForkGuy's post-spawn crappie tips confirm slow vertical jigging is the finesse play until fish settle onto summer haunts.
Post-spawn bass chewing shallow on Hartwell and Russell after recent rains
Per GA Sportsman / Georgia Outdoor News' May 30 roundup, bass have been munching across Georgia waters this week, and the Hartwell-Russell chain fits squarely into that picture. Recent rains have rivers in the region on the rise; the Savannah at Clyo stood at 6.2 feet and climbing as of May 28. At comparable Georgia highland reservoirs, water is running upper 70s to low 80s with bass in a post-spawn transition still holding shallow against shoreline structure. West Point Lake guide Keith Hudson, reporting through GA Sportsman / Georgia Outdoor News, credits Pop-Rs, Whopper Ploppers, and unweighted Senkos cast to shoreline structure as top producers right now, a pattern that translates well to Hartwell's rocky, laydown-dotted banks. USGS gauge 02192000 on the Savannah recorded 2,370 cfs on the morning of May 31, reflecting the freshwater pulse from recent rainfall. Tonight's Full Moon extends prime feeding windows into low-light dawn and dusk periods through the weekend.
Post-spawn bass and active stripers mark late-May Delta window
USGS gauge 11455420 at Rio Vista logged a tidal reversal of -89,300 cfs in the early hours of May 31, a strong flood-tide push consistent with the full moon's amplified spring tidal range. No water temperature was recorded at the gauge, but late-May Delta conditions typically put surface temperatures in the upper 60s to low 70s °F, well within the prime feeding window for largemouth and striped bass. With the moon at full, tidal currents are running hard through the main channels and sloughs, concentrating baitfish at current breaks and channel edges. Largemouth bass are transitioning through post-spawn behavior typical of late May, and Tactical Bassin's recent field sessions highlight isolated offshore structure as the productive holding zone: chatterbaits, swimbaits, and finesse rigs including the neko and dropshot are all drawing bites in comparable post-spawn conditions elsewhere. No direct Delta charter or tackle shop reports were available from named sources this week.
Green River tailwater enters prime late-May trout window below Flaming Gorge
USGS gauge 09234500 recorded 1,170 cfs and 51°F at the Green River below Flaming Gorge Dam early this morning, putting the tailwater squarely in late-spring sweet-spot territory. At 51°F, rainbows and browns are metabolically active without the heat stress that compresses feeding windows come midsummer. The 1,170 cfs flow is moderate for this stretch, keeping most wading sections accessible, with fish likely holding in mid-channel seams, slower foam lines, and current breaks along the banks. No dedicated Green River shop or guide reports surfaced in our current intel feed, so on-the-ground specifics are inferred from gauge data and seasonal patterns rather than firsthand testimony this cycle. MidCurrent's recent Tying Tuesday highlighted spare midge emerger patterns as the go-to for clear tailrace environments under fishing pressure, a profile that fits this stretch precisely. Tonight's full moon may shift peak surface activity toward early morning and evening windows over the weekend.
Post-Spawn Bass Transition Under Way at Roosevelt Lake and the Salt River Chain
The USGS gauge at site 09498500 logged 88.4 cfs on the Salt River early this morning, pointing to low, stable inflow through the reservoir chain. No water temperature was recorded at the gauge, but late May in the Tonto Basin typically puts surface temps in the upper 70s to low 80s°F, placing the fishery squarely in the post-spawn transition window for largemouth and smallmouth bass. Tactical Bassin's current coverage notes that post-spawn bass are migrating off shallow spawning flats toward isolated offshore structure, with chatterbaits, dropshots, and neko rigs drawing strikes when the reaction bite cools. The full moon peaking this weekend should push feeding activity into first and last light. No Arizona-specific charter or shop reports came through this feed cycle; the technique guidance here reflects broadly applicable post-spawn patterns rather than local testimony. Catfish and landlocked stripers should continue building momentum as water temperatures climb.
Lake Mead stripers peak under the full moon as late-May warmth takes hold
With the full moon cresting on May 31, Lake Mead and the lower Colorado enter one of late spring's most dependable striper windows. No angler intel from our feeds directly covers this fishery this week, and USGS gauge 09421500 returned no current readings, so this report leans on seasonal context. Striped bass here typically run active in late May as water temperatures climb into the mid-60s to low-70s range, the sweet spot before summer heat drives fish to the thermocline. Expect stripers to be most catchable in the low-light bookends: the hour before sunrise and the hour after sunset. Full-moon nights historically extend that feeding window well past dark, making after-hours topwater a genuine option. Schooling fish chasing threadfin shad in the upper water column are a hallmark of this period. Plan early starts before midday desert heat builds across the Las Vegas Valley.
Post-spawn bass lock onto offshore structure as Ozarks enters June
USGS gauge 06934500 on the Osage River clocked 72°F and a heavy 134,000 cfs discharge at Bagnell Dam early Sunday morning, putting Lake of the Ozarks and the tailwater in full late-spring mode. Bass fishing is squarely in the post-spawn transition: Tactical Bassin notes this period rewards anglers who shift from the shallows to isolated offshore structure, including bluff ends, submerged points, and channel swings, with chatterbaits, neko rigs, and drop shots leading the charge. The full moon this weekend extends the feeding window into low-light edges at dawn and dusk. Below the dam, the elevated Osage flows are concentrating catfish and white bass in current seams and eddies. Crappie have moved off spawning beds and are settling into deeper brushpiles and standing timber. Fishing the Midwest flags warm-season rivers as consistent producers right now, and that holds for the Osage corridor below Bagnell.
Upper Mississippi pools primed for walleye and smallmouth under full moon
USGS gauge 05344500 recorded the Mississippi River at 18,000 cfs this morning through the Prescott-to-La Crosse pools, a moderate and fishable level keeping wing dams and current edges accessible. The late-May full moon is the dominant story: Jason Mitchell Outdoors has been flagging "May Walleye Craziness" across Midwest river systems, and the Upper Mississippi fits that profile. Walleye, freshly off spawn, are staging on current breaks and feeding hard before summer heat arrives. Smallmouth bass are at or near peak spawn activity under tonight's full moon, pushing onto shallow gravel flats, riprap, and rocky wing-dam structure. Tactical Bassin's post-spawn bass breakdown confirms the big-fish window is open, with finesse rigs around isolated offshore structure producing well. Water temperature wasn't logged at today's gauge, but late May in this region typically delivers surface temps in the low-to-mid 60s, ideal overlap for both walleye and smallmouth to be highly active.
Driftless spring creeks enter their late-May hatch window with elevated regional flows
Root River Rod Co's go-to Driftless streamer, a pine squirrel jig tied to bounce the rocky bottom without snagging, got a spotlight in MidCurrent's recent fly-tying roundup, a reminder that these limestone spring creeks are in their late-May active stretch. The Wisconsin River at Muscoda (USGS gauge 05407000) was reading 8,110 cfs on May 31, reflecting elevated regional flows after recent precipitation. Driftless spring creeks draw from aquifer sources and tend to run clearer and more stable than surrounding freestone drainages, but anglers should scout for off-color water in smaller tributaries before wading in. MidCurrent's tying coverage this week also highlighted patterns designed to cover "every feeding lane from the surface film to open water" as hatches begin to fire, consistent with late-May conditions on these streams. A full moon falling on May 31 typically shifts peak trout activity toward low-light windows, so dawn and dusk sessions deserve priority over midday. No water temperature data was available from the gauge.
Post-spawn walleye and sauger active across the Lake of the Woods corridor
USGS gauge 05133500 put the Rainy River at International Falls at 63°F and 26,000 cfs on the morning of May 31 — water temperature firmly in productive territory for walleye. Jason Mitchell Outdoors (YT) is flagging 'May Walleye Craziness' this week, consistent with the post-spawn transition when fish recover and begin feeding hard on main-lake structure. Elevated river flow pushes walleye and sauger out of the main channel and into wing-dam eddies, back eddies, and slack-water pockets where they can ambush baitfish without fighting the current. AnglingBuzz (YT) featured a slip bobber walleye setup this week — a natural fit for fish staged along slower current seams. Fishing the Midwest notes that shallow presentations remain productive during the spring transition, with fish accessible along weed-edge and bottom structure. Tonight's full moon may push the best walleye action into low-light windows at either end of the day.
Mille Lacs walleye on the move as post-spawn transition begins
Jason Mitchell Outdoors' recent 'May Walleye Craziness' content points to walleye entering one of the more active open-water windows on Minnesota lakes, with late May marking the transition out of post-spawn recovery into early-summer feeding patterns on Mille Lacs. USGS gauge 05227530 logged 0 cfs with no water temperature recorded as of May 31, leaving lake conditions data-light — confirm temps via your onboard sensor before committing to a depth strategy. Tonight's full moon is the headline condition variable: Mille Lacs walleye typically push shallower after dark during moon peaks, then scatter to mid-depth structure by mid-morning. AnglingBuzz this week highlighted guide Jason Freed's slip bobber walleye setup, a technique well-suited to Mille Lacs' open-basin presentation. Fishing the Midwest notes slow trolling as a reliable spring walleye approach. Expect fish scattered across transitional flats between 8 and 18 feet as the bite stabilizes heading into June.
Post-Spawn Smallmouth and Lake Trout Transition on the Finger Lakes
A USGS gauge reading of 56°F puts the Finger Lakes right in the late-spring transition window as May closes. Smallmouth bass have largely wrapped their spawning cycle on the shallower shoals of Cayuga, Seneca, and Skaneateles and are now shifting back toward offshore structure in post-spawn recovery and active feeding mode. Tactical Bassin reports this transitional period rewards anglers who target isolated offshore structure, drifting outside flats and casting to visible cover with chatterbaits, Neko rigs, and dropshot presentations. Lake trout remain reachable in the upper water column before rising surface temps push them toward cooler depths. No dedicated regional charter or shop reports reached us this cycle, so conditions are drawn from gauge data and regional technique feeds. With a Full Moon overhead tonight, plan around early-morning and late-evening feeding windows for the best action on all three lakes.
Rangeley salmon and brook trout prime as late-May flows settle
The Androscoggin headwaters gauge (USGS 01054200) logged 514 cfs at 6 a.m. on May 31, a moderate and declining late-spring flow as snowmelt tapers off. Water temperature was unavailable from this reading, but late May in the Rangeley corridor typically brings surface temps in the upper 40s to low 50s°F, the sweet spot for landlocked Atlantic salmon and wild brook trout. Mainely Fly Fishing (ME) documented ice-out on Dundee Pond at April 4th this spring, and the same source noted in November 2025 that areas around Rangeley picked up 4 inches from a single late-season downpour. With roughly eight weeks of open water behind us, the lakes are settling into early-summer patterns. No current shop or charter reports from the Rangeley system reached our sources this week. Based on seasonal timing, streamers and smelt imitations are the traditional evening play for salmon near lake inlets, while brook trout respond to small dries and soft-hackle wets through the day. Tonight's full moon may flatten the daytime bite, so plan around dawn and dusk windows.
Full moon and post-spawn timing align for Moosehead bass and togue
USGS gauge 01030500 recorded 1,570 cfs on the upper Penobscot drainage at 5:15 a.m. this morning, placing spring flow in the elevated-but-fishable range as May closes. No direct charter or shop reports from Moosehead Lake or the upper Penobscot appear in current angler-intel feeds, so conditions here draw on seasonal patterns and broader regional context. Tactical Bassin's northern-lake bass coverage this week describes the post-spawn period as 'amazing this time of year,' with bass pushed to isolated offshore structure and shallow cover, a signature that typically mirrors Moosehead's own late-May smallmouth window. The full moon tonight can trigger active low-light feeding for both bass and togue. Lake trout (togue), brook trout, and landlocked salmon round out the season's target list; togue are typically accessible in shallower water through early June before summer stratification sets in. Verify current bag limits and season dates with state fish and wildlife before harvesting.
Winnipesaukee bass in post-spawn mode as lake turns toward early summer
The USGS gauge on the Winnipesaukee River (site 01081000) recorded outflow at 2,180 cfs this morning, consistent with late-spring drainage. No water temperature data was available from today's gauge read. With a full moon on May 31, bass activity windows are worth timing carefully this weekend. Tactical Bassin reports that post-spawn bass across the Northeast are producing well on isolated offshore structure, with chatterbaits, swimbaits, and drop-shots all in the mix. Those techniques translate directly to Winnipesaukee's rocky points and mid-lake humps. The Fisherman — New England Freshwater notes active freshwater action across the broader region, with trout responding to Roostertails, Kastmasters, and Mepps spinners in stocked waters. Lake trout and landlocked salmon, which crowd Winnipesaukee's shallows through the ice-out season, are likely transitioning toward deeper, cooler holds as late-May surface temps climb, a typical early-summer shift for this fishery. Check state regulations for current slot limits on all species before heading out.
Lake Champlain smallmouth eye pre-spawn run as cool water holds into June
USGS gauge 04294500 recorded 50°F water temperature on the morning of May 31, signaling that Lake Champlain's smallmouth bass remain locked in pre-spawn staging mode heading into the weekend. At 50°F, bass are congregating along rocky points, shallow boulder fields, and transitional depth edges, close but not yet committed to full spawn activity, which typically fires when temps climb into the low-to-mid 60s. The full moon on May 31 adds a biological push: expect shallow-water activity to peak near dawn and dusk. No direct Lake Champlain shop or captain intel appeared in this week's feeds, but Tactical Bassin's coverage of post-spawn bass patterns highlights chatterbaits worked over isolated offshore structure and finesse presentations including neko and dropshot rigs, a useful cross-reference for anglers targeting fish staging on deeper adjacent flats. Landlocked salmon remain a viable target on cooler portions of the lake before warming surface temps push them to their summer depth.
South Platte Dream Stream delivers best migratory trout run in years
Colorado Trout Hunters describes this spring's Dream Stream as producing 'one of the best runs of migratory fish we have seen on the Dream Stream in quite some time,' a welcome headline in a drought year. USGS gauge 06701900 puts the South Platte at 187 cfs this morning, running lower than typical late-May levels due to what Cutthroat Anglers (CO) calls 'historically bad' Colorado snowpack. Guide Matt Campanella's low-water notes, published via Cutthroat Anglers, offer the tactical reframe: fish are 'active, grouped up, and ready to bite' when flows concentrate them in predictable holds. Midge emerger patterns are the workhorse. AvidMax Blog's recent tying series spotlights foam-back midge emergers and tungsten tube midges as tailwater staples. BWOs and PMDs are also in play on nearby Colorado tailwaters per Crystal Fly Shop, with afternoon hatch windows opening as water warms through midday. Water temperature data is unavailable at this gauge cycle.