Fishing reports
19276 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
Snake River cutthroat move to the margins as Teton snowmelt crests
USGS gauge 06192500 is logging 11,300 cfs and 49°F water as of May 31, textbook peak-runoff conditions for the Yellowstone and Teton corridor this time of year. At those flows, the main channel is a wade-fishing challenge. Seasoned anglers in this drainage know to target the quieter margins: back channels, sloughs, eddy lines, and tributary confluences where Snake River fine-spotted cutthroat stack when runoff peaks. No charter or shop intel from this drainage landed in this week's feeds, but Flylab (Substack) published a timely retrospective on Yellowstone insect hatches, noting that emergence timing and species distribution have shifted measurably over the past three decades, a useful reminder that hatch calendars here are flexible. Trout Unlimited also spotlighted habitat work on Spread Creek in northwest Wyoming aimed at bolstering Snake River cutthroat populations. With the full moon now overhead, fish may push into edge water and feed more actively at dusk and dawn. Verify Grand Teton and Yellowstone park regulations before heading out, as season dates vary by water.
South Fork Snake in peak runoff as cutthroat season shifts into gear
USGS gauge 13037500 on the Snake River registered 13,700 cfs at 3:30 a.m. on May 31, a flow consistent with active late-May snowmelt pushing through the upper drainage. No water temperature data was available from the gauge. At this level, most traditional wade-fishing access along the South Fork is compromised; drift-boat floats become the practical approach for reaching prime cutthroat and brown trout water. Trout Unlimited's recent spotlight on Snake River cutthroat habitat improvements at Spread Creek is a reminder of how central this drainage's fine-spotted cutthroat are to the region's identity. With the full moon peaking this weekend, daytime surface activity may be muted; early morning and evening sessions tend to outperform midday hours under a big moon. No Idaho-specific guide or shop reports were available in current intel feeds, so checking with local outfitters before launching is strongly recommended.
Flathead Lake shines as runoff peaks across the Bitterroot system
USGS gauge 12372000 on the Flathead River near Columbia Falls recorded 45,200 cfs and a water temperature of 56°F as of May 31 — well above seasonal norms and consistent with peak runoff conditions in the Northern Rockies. No Montana-specific charter or shop reports circulated in this intel cycle, so conditions guidance draws from gauge data and regional seasonal patterns. The 56°F reading sits within the productive range for westslope cutthroat and lake trout, but the heavy flow will push river fish tight to slack water in inside bends, eddies, and tributary mouths along the Bitterroot. Flathead Lake offers a considerably more forgiving option: surface temps are climbing toward prime range and northern pike should be feeding aggressively in the post-spawn phase along shallow bays. Tonight's Full Moon will shift feeding activity toward low-light windows at first and last light. Field & Stream's cutthroat trout primer notes these fish favor protected Rocky Mountain stream pockets through late spring — good advice for anyone probing the Bitterroot's margins this week.
Indiana south-shore coho run peaks ahead of Skamania steelhead season
Indiana's southern Lake Michigan shoreline enters one of its signature fishing windows this week: late May coho salmon action is hitting stride, backed by a strong lake-wide population. The WI DNR Lake Michigan Fishing Report confirmed a record 2024 Lake Michigan coho harvest of more than 210,000 fish — the highest on record — fueled by robust alewife forage classes that boosted stocking survival across the system. Indiana benefits from the same food web. On the Michigan Sportsman Forum, west-side Lake Michigan anglers are already calling out peak coho action and teeing up for the Skamania steelhead run, the summer-run strain that makes Indiana's south-shore pier fishing uniquely productive among Great Lakes destinations. No buoy data is available for the Indiana nearshore this cycle, so surface temperatures can't be confirmed by instrument; IL/IN Sea Grant operates three Lake Michigan nearshore buoys worth checking before you launch. The Full Moon on May 31 will likely compress the best bite windows toward dawn and last light.
Coho season peaks along Chicago's Lake Michigan shore
The WI DNR Lake Michigan Fishing Report's 'High Numbers For 2024 Lake Michigan Fish Harvest' sets the stage for this season: a record 210,000-plus coho were landed across the lake in 2024, alongside more than 160,000 Chinook — the strongest king count since 2012 — fueled by improved alewife year classes boosting stocked-salmon survival. Late May is the traditional peak window for nearshore coho along the Chicago lakefront, and that strong population base is fully in play right now. Michigan Sportsman Forum threads referencing west-side pier fishing flag spring coho and Skamania steelhead as current targets, corroborated by the WI DNR population data. No real-time buoy temperature readings are available for this update; IL/IN Sea Grant notes its three nearshore Lake Michigan buoys are freshly deployed for the 2026 season, so check live buoy data before any offshore run. Today's full moon can push salmonid activity into strong dawn and dusk windows worth planning around.
Post-Spawn Bass and Walleye Work Wing Dams on the Upper Mississippi
Water temperature on the Upper Mississippi is running at 74°F (USGS gauge 05420500) with flows at 46,900 cfs — elevated conditions that concentrate fish around current breaks, wing dams, and flooded backwater timber. Tactical Bassin reports post-spawn largemouth bass are targeting isolated offshore structure this time of year, with chatterbaits, swimbaits, and finesse rigs like the neko and dropshot producing when worked around visible cover and outside flats. Jason Mitchell Outdoors is tracking what it calls 'May Walleye Craziness' across upper-Midwest river systems, and AnglingBuzz highlights slip bobber rigs as a proven presentation on current-adjacent structure. Fishing the Midwest's Bob Jensen notes that larger rivers produce well through summer, with current breaks serving as key fish-holding zones. With tonight's full moon, low-light windows at dawn and dusk should reward walleye anglers working the downstream faces of wing dams. Smallmouth are also showing in the shallows, per Jason Mitchell Outdoors' recent shallow spring smallmouth coverage.
Texoma stripers and post-spawn bass set up for late-May push
USGS gauge 07331600 logged 42.9 cfs in the early hours of May 31, indicating stable, low-to-moderate inflow consistent with pre-summer conditions. No Oklahoma-specific angler reports reached our sources this cycle, so conditions here draw on seasonal patterns and applicable national technique coverage. The full moon on May 31 is a significant timing marker: bass on both Lake Texoma and Lake Eufaula have very likely completed their spawn and are in the early post-spawn transition, moving from spawning coves toward offshore structure as water temperatures continue climbing. Tactical Bassin this week highlighted post-spawn bass responding well to isolated offshore structure with chatterbaits, dropshot, and Neko rigs, a playbook that translates directly to Eufaula's expansive flats and Texoma's points. Striped bass at Texoma typically fire up in late May as shad push toward open water, making this weekend a window worth targeting.
Ozark Trout Parks Transition to June as the Current River Runs High
USGS gauge 07067000 on the Current River clocked 1,880 cfs at dawn on May 31, elevated above the typical late-May median and pointing to recent upstream precipitation in the Ozark watershed. No water temperature was recorded at the gauge; late-May stream temps across the region typically track the upper-50s to low-60s°F, keeping stocked rainbows active and willing when presentations land in the right seams. No Missouri-specific shop, charter, or state-agency reports appeared in this week's angler-intel feeds, so bite conditions on the ground are largely unconfirmed. Hatch Magazine's spring creek coverage, the closest analog in today's sources, points toward deliberate nymph fishing and careful line management as the tools of choice when water runs high. The Niangua River had no gauge data in today's pull. Full moon fell on May 31, which can extend feeding activity into early morning and late evening windows — the most productive hours when flows are elevated.
Low generation on Taneycomo makes for accessible trout fishing through June
Lilleys Landing's May 1 report from Lake Taneycomo leads with a clear headline: no spring rains, and that changes everything for this season's trout fishing. A persistent Ozarks drought means turbine generation will run only on power-demand schedules with no flood-control releases and no shad-run surges. For wading anglers and drift-boat crews alike, that spells calmer, more consistent conditions through summer. The same shop noted in March that Taneycomo's rainbow population is strong, boosted by light winter fishing pressure and extra fall stocking. No live flow reading was available from USGS gauge 07054410 at publication time; check current generation schedules before heading out. Today's full moon can concentrate feeding activity into low-light windows at dawn and dusk, worth timing your access around the dam's quieter periods to get the most out of it.
Trout dial in below Bull Shoals and Norfork in late-May window
The USGS gauge on the White River (site 07060710) logged 141 cfs and 63°F at dawn on May 31 — conditions that sit squarely in the prime trout feeding range for Ozark tailwaters. At flows this low, wade access below both Bull Shoals and Norfork dams typically improves considerably, with rainbows and browns stacking in pool tails and current seams where they can hold without fighting heavy current. No regional shop or charter reports appeared in this cycle's angler-intel feeds, so conditions here are grounded in gauge data and seasonal patterns for late-May tailwaters. That said, 63°F is a productive temperature for both rainbow and brown trout. MidCurrent's recent tying roundup highlighted a midge-style pattern built specifically for the clear, pressured water of tailraces — directly applicable guidance for these dam-release fisheries. The full moon overhead may compress feeding into low-light windows; an early start or evening session will likely outperform midday under bright skies.
Post-spawn bass fire up offshore as Cumberland tailwater runs clear and low
USGS gauge 03413200 on the Cumberland River logged just 36.9 cfs at dawn on May 31 — a lean, low-generation reading that puts wading conditions in the tailwater below Wolf Creek Dam at their best. No water temperature was recorded this cycle, though cold reservoir releases typically hold the tailwater well within the trout comfort zone through late May. On the bass front, Tactical Bassin's post-spawn coverage describes fishing "on fire" as largemouth dial in on isolated offshore structure, with chatterbaits, dropshots, and neko rigs doing the damage on outside flats and deep creek-channel ledges — a pattern that maps directly onto Lake Cumberland's ledge-heavy basin. A regional note worth flagging: per Wired 2 Fish this week, Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources confirmed Alabama bass hybrids in Rockcastle County's Lake Linville, a tributary watershed that drains into Lake Cumberland. KDFWR is actively monitoring the situation.
Post-spawn bass targeting ledges on Kentucky Lake and Barkley
A B.A.S.S. News contributor writing directly from Kentucky Lake this week describes eyeing main-lake ledges as the benchmark pattern for the post-spawn transition now underway on these expansive western Kentucky reservoirs. No gauge reading is currently available from USGS station 03611500, but the late-May calendar puts bass firmly in transition mode: spawning has wrapped up and fish are staging toward deeper offshore structure. Tactical Bassin (blog) details the current post-spawn playbook — target isolated offshore humps, drift wind-blown outside flats with chatterbaits and swimbaits, and follow up with dropshot or neko rigs for fish that won't commit to a reaction bait. The full moon tonight should push feeding activity into low-light windows at both ends of the day. Crappie and catfish are rounding into summer form; crappie are typically staging on secondary points and brush piles in the 8–15-foot range this time of year, while catfish key on channel ledges after dark.
Trout Active on Smokies Tailwaters as Cold Dam Releases Offset Summer Heat
USGS gauge 03565000 returned no flow or temperature readings this cycle, so conditions on the Hiwassee and Caney Fork should be confirmed directly before heading out. That said, late May is historically a productive window on these Tennessee tailwaters: cold dam discharges hold rainbows and brown trout in fishable numbers well into early June. MidCurrent's current tying coverage highlights sparse midge patterns built for "the clear, pressured water of tailraces" — a description that fits both rivers under normal flows. With a full moon landing on May 31, feeding activity is likely concentrated in the low-light bookends of the day. Early morning before the ridgelines warm and the final 45 minutes before dark are the windows worth building a schedule around. Nymph rigs probing deeper tailout seams and eddy lines should be the default approach when surface hatches aren't visibly showing.
Tennessee River Chain Bass Deep in Post-Spawn as June Approaches
USGS gauge 03578500 logged 120 cfs as of May 31, a notably low reading pointing to stable, clear-water conditions across the Tennessee River chain. Largemouth and smallmouth bass on Chickamauga and Watts Bar have cleared spawning beds and are shifting toward early-summer offshore structure. Tactical Bassin (blog) is covering this transition actively, with on-water footage showing post-spawn fish gravitating to isolated offshore humps and outside flats, best reached with chatterbaits and swimbaits when they are feeding aggressively and dropshot or neko rigs when they are not. Tonight's full moon can tighten the feeding window to low-light periods; plan an early topwater run before the sun crests the ridgeline. No water temperature was recorded at the gauge this cycle, so verify conditions at the ramp before committing to a depth plan. Check state regulations before harvesting any species from this system.
Guntersville and Wheeler bass go offshore in late-May post-spawn push
Largemouth bass on Guntersville and Wheeler have completed the spawn and are relocating to isolated offshore structure as late May transitions toward summer. Tactical Bassin's recent on-water session on a comparable Southeast impoundment confirms the pattern: chatterbaits, drop-shots, and neko rigs fished on wind-blown flats and hard offshore breaks drew multiple quality fish, with the bite centering on isolated hard structure over flat bottom rather than visible shoreline cover. The USGS gauge (site 03575100) recorded 1,190 cfs early this morning, indicating moderate tributary inflow and stable main-lake conditions. Water temperature data was unavailable at the gauge; upper-70s surface temps are typical for this stretch of the Tennessee River system in late May. Tonight's full moon marks a brief window for shallow topwater and frog action after dusk before the lunar peak passes. Crappie have largely vacated spawning coves and are settling into deeper timber, while catfish are entering one of their most productive warm-water stretches of the year.
Post-spawn bass and stripers priming at Lake Lanier and Allatoona
The USGS Chattahoochee gauge below Lake Lanier is reading 48°F at 652 cfs, cold tailwater drawn from the dam's hypolimnion that keeps the river productive for striped bass even as summer arrives. Lake surface temps across Georgia are tracking warmer, with GA Sportsman / Georgia Outdoor News reporting neighboring reservoirs like Lake Sinclair approaching 80°F with clear water. The same GON roundup from May 30 notes bass have been 'munching' across the state after recent rains pushed fish into stained, shallow coves. At Lanier and Allatoona, both lakes are in a classic post-spawn transition: largemouth and spotted bass are moving off beds and setting up on nearby structure, while stripers stage around the cold-water column. The Georgia Wildlife Blog flags National Fishing and Boating Week (June 6-14) as prime time to get on the water, and for North Georgia highland reservoirs that timing lines up well with the early-summer topwater and reaction-bite window.
Smokies Trout Prime Window: Late May Temps and Steady Flows Align
Water temperature at 62°F on USGS gauge 03512000 this morning places Western NC trout squarely in their preferred feeding range as May closes out. Flows are running at 572 cfs, moderate and wadeable, with enough current to concentrate fish in runs, seams, and pocket water without shutting down access. No region-specific tackle shop or guide reports were captured in this cycle's intel feeds, so conditions here are drawn from the gauge data and seasonal patterns. Late May in the southern Appalachians typically marks the transition from spring caddis and sulphur hatches toward terrestrial season. Gink and Gasoline recently noted that warmer spring temperatures can push insect hatches ahead of schedule; worth carrying late sulphur and Light Cahill imitations alongside early beetle and ant patterns. Today's full moon tends to shift the best dry fly action to low-light edges. Rainbow, brown, and native brook trout should all be accessible across elevation zones.
Bull reds push onto Cape Lookout shoals as the Neuse bite heats up
Bull red drum are making a strong push along the Cape Lookout shoals, with schools working the outer beaches and pushing deep into the Neuse River as May closes. Steve at Chasin' Tails in Morehead/Atlantic Beach tells Fisherman's Post that anglers off the beach are connecting with bull reds around the Cape Lookout shoals, with plenty of good-sized bluefish mixed in. Up at Hatteras and Ocracoke, Ryan of Hatteras Jack confirms the surf has come alive, with red drum making a strong push onto the beaches. In the Pamlico Sound proper, Donald of Custom Marine Fabrication reports slot-sized drum pushing into the Neuse from end to end of the river. Sunday's full moon is driving strong tidal flow through the inlets, typically one of the best windows of the spring for drum movement. NOAA buoy 41037 logged sustained winds near 21 knots Sunday morning, enough to roughen the open sound and push anglers toward protected back-bay water.
Stripers and Black Drum Rolling Through Chincoteague as Spring Migration Peaks
NOAA buoy 44014 recorded 66°F surface temps off the Virginia coast on May 31, putting Eastern Shore waters firmly in late-spring form. On The Water's May 29 striper migration map shows big fish pushing north along the mid-Atlantic coast and feeding aggressively on bunker, squid, and river herring, conditions that typically translate to active inlet and nearshore action at Chincoteague this time of year. OTW Saltwater highlights today's full moon as a potential catalyst for a major migration push, which aligns with the spring-tide window anglers here should be watching. The Fisherman's NJ/DE Bay report from May 28 places black drum as far north as Staten Island, meaning this species has been moving through barrier beach surf and inlet waters along the Virginia coast in recent days. No Chincoteague-specific charter or shop reports were available this cycle, so this update draws on regional coastal migration intelligence. Conditions overall look favorable for boat and surf anglers working rip lines and the ocean beach.
Full moon fuels post-spawn bite at Smith Mountain Lake and Buggs Island
Virginia DWR Wildlife Blog flagged a historic spring drought affecting aquatic habitats across the southeastern United States and Virginia this season, a condition worth monitoring at both Smith Mountain Lake and Buggs Island (Kerr Reservoir), where drawn-down water can concentrate gamefish on remaining structure. The USGS gauge on the Roanoke River (site 02075045) logged 783 cfs at 3:45 a.m. this morning, and no water temperature reading was available from gauges or buoys. With today's full moon overhead, dawn and dusk feeding windows should be at their strongest of the month on both lakes. Largemouth bass have moved past the spawn and are beginning the predictable slide toward offshore structure; per Tactical Bassin's recent post-spawn coverage, isolated points, humps, and outside flats are the place to look, with chatterbaits, dropshots, and neko rigs as the primary presentations. Striped bass and hybrid stripers, Buggs Island's signature draw, typically follow baitfish toward cooler, deeper water as late-May warmth builds, but full-moon feeding windows can pull them toward the surface at first and last light.
Sandy Hook Stripers Running Hot as Sea Bass Bite Improves Post-Storm
Water holding at 55°F per NOAA buoy 44065, and striped bass are running strong at Sandy Hook. Blue Chip Sportfishing declares it "the best Striper Fishing possible," reporting crushing action on every trip. Out of Atlantic Highlands, Capt Ron's Atlantic Highlands NJ logged a banner midweek session with non-stop bass on jigs and bait, with gulp sand eel teasers doing the heavy lifting, before Thursday's bite tightened back up despite solid bait marks. The Fisherman — NJ/DE Surf reports bass holding at the Sandy Hook tip on bunker chunks, NLBNs, and clams, with one angler also pulling a big black drum from the Hook beach. Sea bass have turned a corner: Capt Ron's called out clear 56°F blue water and solid keeper action earlier this week, and OTW Northern New Jersey's May 28 report confirms sea bass "dramatically improved" following the Memorial Day weekend washout. Fluke are rebounding in the rivers and on the backside of Sandy Hook, with bluefish also joining the show on bay and beach edges.
Black Drum Running Big on New Jersey's Delaware Bay Shore
Water temperatures at NOAA buoy 44009 have settled at 58°F in Delaware Bay, and the black drum bite is at a seasonal peak on the NJ side. Hands Too Bait and Tackle reports several fish in the 60-pound class taken this past week just off the Villas Beaches on fresh clams, with Tom Lynan landing the week's top fish at 75 pounds. Big Dave's Tackle calls the overall bay drum bite "excellent," with fish approaching 80 pounds in the mix this week. Notably, Hands Too reports the Jersey side is producing larger fish than the Delaware side this season. Meanwhile, Higbee's Bait and Tackle notes the spring striper run at Fortescue Beach is winding down. Fish to 44 inches are still on bloodworms, but the horseshoe crab spawn is creating interference with bait presentations. Back-bay flounder action has been modest but is improving, and gator bluefish to 10 pounds are also showing in the bay per Big Dave's Tackle.
Post-spawn smallmouth active as late May closes at Quabbin and Wachusett
The USGS Swift River gauge (01174500), monitoring Quabbin Reservoir's outflow, logged 41.9 cfs on May 31, a moderate late-spring flow signaling the post-snowmelt drawdown is well underway. No Quabbin- or Wachusett-specific shop reports surfaced in this week's intel pull, but the broader New England freshwater picture from The Fisherman — New England Freshwater is encouraging: Jeff Sullivan found largemouth bass and chain pickerel active at multiple Massachusetts and Rhode Island waters on 10-inch power worms and spinnerbaits. Tactical Bassin's post-spawn coverage confirms bass are now transitioning to isolated offshore structure, with chatterbaits, neko rigs, and drop-shots all producing in comparable large-impoundment settings. Tonight's Full Moon will drive feeding activity into the overnight hours; plan early-morning sessions around first light for the best shot at active fish.
Canal firing 'like the Good Old Days' as stripers flood Buzzards Bay
Red Top Sporting Goods describes Cape Cod Canal striper action as 'like the Good Old Days of years ago,' with regulars reporting anglers hooked up in both directions across the cut, per The Fisherman — Cape Cod & Islands. Water temps sit at 54–56°F per NOAA buoys 44020 and 44085, with 2-foot seas, as the full moon peaks today. Westport River Outfitters is posting limit trips on legal black sea bass alongside multiple stripers from 34 to 42 inches this week, also per The Fisherman — Cape Cod & Islands. Bluefish are beginning to probe Vineyard Sound: Charley Soares in The Fisherman — Cape Cod & Islands reports teen-sized blues taken at Quicks Hole and Middle Ground, with one fish in the 15–17-pound class photographed, though the broad bluefish push on the Vineyard has not fully arrived yet. On The Water's May 29 striper migration map confirms big bass are pressing north, feeding on bunker, squid, and river herring, with more fish filling in from the south.