Fishing reports
19276 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
Deschutes and Upper Klamath trout season peaks as late-May hatch window opens
USGS gauge 14070500 returned no flow or temperature data at report time — verify current conditions directly with ODFW or the USGS WaterWatch portal before making the drive. No region-specific catch reports surfaced in this week's intel feeds for the Deschutes or Upper Klamath. Historically, though, late May delivers some of the strongest dry-fly fishing of the season on both systems: golden stoneflies, Pale Morning Duns, and caddis all converge on the Deschutes, while the Upper Klamath's spring-fed reaches come into form for brown trout and redside rainbows. Hatch Magazine's 'Essential spring creek skills' coverage this week is a timely read for Upper Klamath anglers working the clear, low-gradient sections — precise mending and light tippet separate productive drifts from refusals here. Tonight's full moon may shift the most productive dry-fly action toward first and last light rather than midday. Summer steelhead returns to the lower Deschutes typically begin building through June.
Columbia River spring Chinook winding down as late-May flows run strong
Water at USGS gauge 14105700 measured 60°F and 207,000 cfs on the Columbia River this morning, a sign that spring snowmelt remains a significant factor as May closes. Those elevated flows push spring Chinook — now in the final stretch of their run on the lower to mid-Columbia — into back eddies, current seams, and slower structure edges where fish stage out of the main channel push. No current shop or charter reports are available in our angler-intel feeds for this corridor this week, so conditions below are grounded in gauge data and seasonal patterns typical for late May. White sturgeon are a consistent year-round option on the mainstem and generally hold well through high-flow periods, maintaining their deep-water lies near the bottom. Summer Chinook and early summer steelhead begin filtering into the lower river by late May, signaling a seasonal handoff. Verify current ODFW emergency orders before heading out, as spring Chinook retention rules can shift mid-run.
Yakima Running High as Post-Spawn Bass and Stocked Trout Come Into Play
The Yakima River is clocking 1,970 cfs as of May 31 (USGS gauge 12484500), reflecting late-spring snowmelt runoff that muddies the main stem and pushes trout toward calmer inside bends and side channels. WA WDFW Fishing Reports confirms the department is actively stocking lakes and streams statewide, making stillwater a productive alternative when rivers run fast and off-color. Specific on-water angler intel for Eastern WA is limited in our current data feed, so this report leans on gauge readings and seasonal patterns for its assessment. Smallmouth bass on the Yakima and Columbia system tributaries are likely in or just past their spawn window — the full moon peaking today is a well-known spawning trigger — and Tactical Bassin's post-spawn coverage highlights finesse presentations such as neko and drop-shot rigs along rocky structure as the go-to technique during the recovery window. Trout anglers working stocked stillwaters have the cleaner setup right now; wild-rainbow nymphing on the Yakima is most productive in slower bucket water and seams well away from main-channel velocity.
Gulf Red Snapper Season Fires Up Along the Florida Panhandle
Water at NOAA buoy 42012 has climbed to 81°F offshore of the Panhandle, offering prime late-May conditions for a productive offshore push. Captain Rick Murphy (FL Insider) is covering Florida's Red Snapper Season in his latest Fishing Report episode, a direct signal that the Gulf's marquee bottom fishery is in full swing for Destin and Pensacola anglers. Seas are running a cooperative 2 to 2.3 feet across both nearby buoys with light winds at 4 to 5 meters per second, making runs to offshore ledges and reef structure accessible to most boats. Inshore, Salt Strong notes that redfish are actively working grass flat edges and potholes in patterns consistent with late spring. Spanish mackerel and cobia are classic Panhandle targets for this time of year; no direct local catch reports were available to confirm their current status, though seasonal conditions remain favorable for both. Full Moon tides will drive strong swings through the weekend, so plan your windows accordingly.
Tarpon Schools Building Along Sarasota Beaches as Snook Hit Peak Season
Water temps of 81-83°F across the nearshore Gulf (NOAA buoys 42036 and 42013) are priming one of the best fishing weeks of the year for Tampa Bay and Sarasota anglers. Capt. Rick Grassett out of CB's Saltwater Outfitters is calling June the month tarpon fishing peaks: schools are building in size and numbers, with migratory fish moving north and south along the beaches. Today's full moon is a key calendar trigger, as Grassett notes that tarpon head offshore to spawn close to new and full moons, making beach travel lanes at first light this weekend the primary target. Live crabs, baitfish, and DOA Baitbusters are the recommended presentations. Snook are equally dialed in: Capt. Brandon Naeve of CB's reports a 34-pound, 4-ounce boat-record snook from Boca Grande on May 9th, with passes and beaches now holding trophy-grade fish through the spawn window. Capt. Chuck Cress adds that upper-slot redfish and trout are cooperating in the bay, while jack crevalle are schooling actively on topwater in Sarasota Bay per Capt. Naeve.
Full Moon Mutton Spawn Peaks Across the Florida Keys
ALL IN Key West reports mutton snappers 'chewing like crazy' right now, with the full moon triggering the annual spawn push that makes late May one of the top fishing windows of the year. Yellowtail snapper are described as 'practically jumping in the boat' along reef edges. A recent Gulf of America outing by ALL IN Key West produced grouper, cobia, barracuda, and kingfish in a single trip, underscoring how broadly the bite has spread. Coastal Angler Magazine documents a black grouper taken off Marathon and an African pompano landed on a deep wreck off Islamorada. Mahi are active offshore with multiple catches reported out of Key West. NOAA buoys SMKF1 and SANF1 logged light winds around 10 mph and air temperatures in the mid-80s°F at dawn, comfortable and settled conditions for both flats and offshore runs.
Whiting hot and redfish active as Laguna Madre hits full summer stride
Whiting are running 'extremely' strong along South Texas coastal waters right now, per Lone Star Outdoor News, making this a prime window to stock the cooler for a fish fry. Water temps along the lower Gulf reached 80°F at NOAA buoy 42043 in mid-May, and the Laguna Madre has only warmed further since. TexasFishingTips (YT) logged back-to-back Baffin Bay and Laguna Madre area reports with Capt. Kevin Navid through late May, a reliable signal of sustained guide-season activity in the corridor. Redfish remain a flats focus, with Salt Strong recently covering how to locate big school fish by reading surface slicks — a technique increasingly critical as summer heat scatters the bite. Tonight's full moon sets up the strongest tidal exchanges of the month through the Laguna passes, a window worth planning around for trout and reds on channel edges. The federal red snapper season opened May 22, per Lone Star Outdoor News, giving offshore-capable boats another target worth the run.
Post-spawn bass push offshore as East Texas reservoirs hit June transition
LakeForkGuy (YT) is reporting the most aggressive post-spawn crappie bite of the year across East Texas timber waters, and with late May's Full Moon peaking overhead, that pattern should hold into early June. Lake Fork Trophy Bass confirmed bass were still spawning through April on nearby Lake Fork, with the lake running about three feet below normal pool. That low-water condition is worth verifying on neighboring Toledo Bend and Sam Rayburn before trailering. By late May, the spawn has wrapped on both reservoirs and most bass are pushing toward summer offshore haunts. Tactical Bassin's post-spawn breakdown identifies chatterbaits, neko rigs, and dropshots over isolated offshore structure as the top bass producers heading into June. The Sabine River is running at 2,670 cfs per USGS gauge 08030500, a moderate inflow that should not affect main-basin water clarity. No water temperature readings are available from our gauges today.
Post-spawn bass and crappie on the move across the Highland Lakes
Conditions across the Hill Country reservoir chain are running eight feet above year-ago levels, per My Canyon Lake Fishing, with WORD confirming ideal boating and fishing conditions through this week. The post-spawn transition is in full swing across Lake Travis, Lake LBJ, and Lake Buchanan heading into June, with a Full Moon pushing bass toward offshore structure. The Colorado River below Travis is moving at 928 cfs (USGS gauge 08158000) with no temperature reading available this cycle. Tactical Bassin reports that targeting isolated offshore structure and drifting wind-blown flats with chatterbaits and finesse rigs, including neko and dropshot presentations, produced multiple quality bass in a recent post-spawn session, a pattern well-suited to the limestone structure of the Highland Lakes chain. LakeForkGuy describes post-spawn as 'the most aggressive crappie bite of the year,' a window that typically holds on brush-pile-rich impoundments like Buchanan and LBJ well into early June.
NorCal Salmon Surge as Upwelling Cools Bay-Area Waters
NOAA buoy 46026 is reading 53°F this morning as northwest winds drive active upwelling along the NorCal coast, and Chinook salmon are responding. Western Outdoor News — Saltwater reports that Half Moon Bay boats are finding 'vastly improved salmon conditions' below Pigeon Point, with Captain Jared Davis of the Salty Lady noting water temps dropped to 54°F after opening at a warm 58°F earlier this season. Davis credits the cooler, nutrient-rich upwelling water for drawing Chinook into productive range. A companion Western Outdoor News — Saltwater report covering the Central Coast confirms a four-to-five-degree temperature drop fueled by strengthening northwest winds, concentrating bait and setting up salmon from Half Moon Bay north toward Bodega. Winds at NOAA buoys 46026 and 46013 are running 10-12 m/s this morning. Full moon tides today will push strong currents through bay gates; plan around slack-water windows for the smoothest bite.
Eastern Sierra trout ready for June as low-snowpack runoff fades early
Reno Fly Shop (NV) reports the Truckee River 'in great shape' for mid-May 2026, with flows running slightly above historic levels but still wadeable throughout, and midday hatches of PMDs and caddis firing reliably when the wind stays down. That adjacent-basin signal is the strongest on-the-water intelligence available for the Eastern Sierra right now: USGS gauge 10265200 returned no data this cycle, leaving local flows unconfirmed. Cutthroat Anglers (CO) adds broader Western context, flagging historically low snowpacks across the region in 2026, which typically translates to an earlier runoff peak and a faster drop to summer-low conditions on Sierra streams. The May 31 full moon may push surface feeding into lower-light windows at dawn and dusk. Anglers heading to Eastern Sierra trout waters should verify local conditions and access before committing to a trip: the low-snowpack season often opens high-elevation reaches earlier than typical.
Post-spawn walleye and shallow smallmouth heating up across the Iron Range
USGS gauge 05129115 registered 756 cfs on May 31, with Iron Range waterways still carrying healthy spring flow as the season crosses into June. Jason Mitchell Outdoors (YT) is calling this stretch the "May Walleye Craziness" window: post-spawn walleye scatter from rocky spawning reefs to adjacent weed edges and mid-depth structure, and the bite can be fast when you find them. Smallmouth bass are right at peak spawn timing across shield-rock shorelines; Jason Mitchell Outdoors (YT) has been targeting shallow fish with prespawn lures that still draw strikes where bass have not fully locked onto beds. AnglingBuzz (YT)'s Jason Freed highlights slip-bobber rigs as a reliable finesse approach for walleye holding in transition zones during the post-spawn lull. Tonight's full moon will compress the best feeding windows toward dawn and dusk. Prioritize first light on rocky points and emerging weed lines for the most consistent action this weekend.
North Shore smallmouth come shallow as late-May flows settle
USGS gauge 04015330 recorded 21.1 cfs on the morning of May 31, signaling that North Shore tributary flows have settled after the spring flush. That stabilizing flow is one of the cleaner indicators that smallmouth bass are entering their late pre-spawn shallow-water window. Jason Mitchell Outdoors (YT) flagged shallow spring smallmouth as a priority pattern this week, emphasizing isolated structure and visual cover as key holding spots. Full moon pressure peaking this weekend will sharpen overnight feeding windows along rocky shorelines. On the broader Lake Superior basin, lake whitefish continue to draw growing interest. WI DNR Lake Superior Fishing reports a popular and expanding lake whitefish fishery in Chequamegon Bay, a signal that reflects healthy populations across the lake. No MN North Shore-specific charter or shop reports were available this cycle; species assessments below are grounded in seasonal context and corroborating regional intel from the Upper Midwest.
Walleye and musky staging shallow as Northwoods lakes ease into June
Rollie & Helen's Musky Shop in Minocqua reports water temperatures across area lakes running in the mid-50s to low-60s, keeping fish somewhat scattered while drawing them into shallower staging areas. Despite the cool late-May readings, the shop notes fishing has been 'quite good,' making this a productive window for anglers willing to run a methodical shallow-to-deep presentation. Walleye are the Northwoods standard this time of year; post-spawn fish typically recover quickly and start feeding actively once temperatures stabilize. Musky are also transitioning from post-spawn behavior, with shallow cabbage beds and emerging weed lines becoming productive zones per the shop's intel. No USGS gauge data was available for this reporting period, so water clarity and flow in tributary streams should be confirmed locally. With a full moon overhead, expect walleye feeding activity to concentrate in low-light windows: dawn and dusk are the high-percentage hours this weekend.
Lake Michigan Coho and Chinook Primed for the Late-May Push
The WI DNR Lake Michigan Fishing Report confirms the Rowley's Bay boat launch in Door County reopens this afternoon, May 31, after being closed for concrete slab improvements since ice-off, restoring full northern access just as the late-spring salmon window gets underway. Per the WI DNR Lake Michigan Fishing Report, 2024 delivered a record coho harvest of more than 210,000 fish and over 160,000 Chinook (the strongest since 2012), gains attributed to several healthy alewife year-classes that improved stocked salmon survival rates. Those fish are now maturing in the system. No live buoy or gauge data was available for this report, so anglers should check local forecasts for current surface temps, which typically run upper-40s to mid-50s in late May, squarely in the prime trolling range for both species. Smallmouth bass along Door County's rocky Green Bay shoreline are in or near the post-spawn phase and typically begin feeding aggressively once they clear the beds.
UP Streams at Fishable Spring Flows as Full Moon Trout Window Opens
The USGS gauge 04059500 on the Ontonagon River drainage recorded 193 cfs as of May 31, indicating moderate and broadly wadeable spring flows as the UP transitions from peak snowmelt into early-summer trout conditions. No water temperature was logged at the gauge this morning. For Lake Superior context, Great Lakes Now has been tracking structural shifts in the regional fishery, including a piece examining whether declining whitefish populations warrant changes to Michigan's commercial harvest policy — a signal of conservation pressure worth noting as recreational interest in the lake grows. The WI DNR Lake Superior Fishing program documents a rising recreational lake whitefish fishery in adjacent Chequamegon Bay, pointing to active nearshore populations that likely extend into Michigan's Lake Superior waters. With the Full Moon peaking today, plan for dawn and dusk to deliver the most consistent action on UP trout streams. Verify current Michigan DNR regulations before keeping whitefish, as management on Lake Superior is under active review.
Saginaw Bay walleye and perch prime up as late-May full moon peaks
Jason Mitchell Outdoors (YT) flags "May Walleye Craziness" as the headline pattern across Great Lakes waters this week, and Saginaw Bay is positioned to follow suit. No water temperature or flow data returned from USGS gauge 04157000 this cycle, leaving instrumented conditions unconfirmed. The calendar tells its own story: walleye in Saginaw Bay typically complete their spawn by mid-May, and fish are now expected to be scattering onto open mud-flat structure for active post-spawn feeding. Tactical Bassin notes that post-spawn bass in this period favor isolated offshore structure over shallow cover — a tendency that mirrors fish behavior broadly across the Lake Huron basin. Yellow perch should be consolidating toward more predictable summer schools. On the Michigan Sportsman Forum, anglers are referencing pier-head action with skein bait — forum-level chatter without agency confirmation, but consistent with the tail end of the typical Lake Huron spring steelhead run. Verify current conditions through local sources before heading out.
Post-spawn smallmouth and river-mouth action build as Grand River runs high
The Grand River is moving at 3,440 cfs as of early May 31 (USGS gauge 04119000), a moderately elevated late-spring flow pushing color into the Lake Michigan river mouth corridor and stacking predators along current seams and pier structure. No water temperature reading is available from the gauge, though late May typically puts Grand Haven nearshore temps in the low-to-mid 50s°F as surface warming accelerates. With the full moon overhead, current pulses at the river mouth are at their peak: a reliable timing window for brown trout and roaming smallmouth. The WI DNR Lake Michigan Fishing Report provides an encouraging backdrop: 2024 set a record coho harvest of more than 210,000 fish and logged the strongest Chinook numbers since 2012, both driven by robust alewife year classes, a forage base that continues to support predator populations across the southern Lake Michigan basin. Smallmouth bass are the most actionable species right now, with post-spawn fish transitioning to adjacent structure through late May, a pattern Jason Mitchell Outdoors has been tracking across the Great Lakes.
Post-spawn bass move to offshore structure at Mosquito and Pymatuning
The Mahoning River inlet is running at 177 cfs (USGS gauge 03110000) heading into the final morning of May, indicating moderate, stable inflows to Mosquito Lake. No live water temperature readings are available from current monitoring, but late May in northeast Ohio typically puts these reservoirs in the upper 60s to low 70s°F — prime territory for post-spawn bass recovery and transitioning walleye. Tactical Bassin reports that bass across northern lakes are in full post-spawn movement right now, responding strongly to chatterbaits and swimbaits worked over isolated offshore flats, with dropshot and neko rigs as the finesse follow-up when the reaction bite tapers. The full moon overhead has likely pushed overnight feeding activity; expect fish to stage deeper during afternoon sun and push shallower again at dawn. Crappie spawning activity is typically winding down at these latitudes by the end of May, though lingering fish can still be found near dock edges and submerged brush.
Post-spawn walleye on the move in Lake Erie's Western Basin
NOAA buoy 45005 recorded 58°F surface temperatures in the Western Basin on May 31, placing conditions squarely in the post-spawn transition window for walleye. The Maumee River is running at a moderate 2,350 cfs with an in-stream reading of 68°F per USGS gauge 04193500, enough flow to keep some turbidity near the river mouth without pushing fish dramatically offshore. Fishing the Midwest highlights slow trolling as a reliable spring walleye technique, and that approach fits the current conditions well as fish begin moving from nearshore spawning shallows toward mid-depth reefs and humps in the 12-20-foot range. Tonight's full moon will likely compress active feeding into low-light windows at dawn and dusk, when walleye typically stage more aggressively along hard-bottom breaks. Direct charter or tackle-shop intel specific to the Western Basin was not available in this reporting cycle; this report draws primarily from instrument data, seasonal patterns, and general Great Lakes coverage from Fishing the Midwest and Great Lakes Now.
PA Limestone Browns Look Up as Late-May Hatch Season Peaks
The USGS gauge 01546500 recorded watershed flows at 95.7 cfs early on May 31, pointing to stable, approachable wading conditions across the Spring Creek and Penns Creek drainages heading into a Full Moon weekend. No water temperature reading was available from the gauge. Gink and Gasoline recently flagged that warm spring conditions can pull Sulphur and Light Cahill emergences ahead of their usual late-April arrival window, a cue worth heeding as May closes out. Hatch Magazine's spring creek technique primer emphasizes precise, drag-free presentations in gin-clear currents, which is exactly the challenge these limestone tailwaters demand. No current-cycle fishing reports from local shops or the PA Fish & Boat Commission Biologist Reports feed were available for this pull; conditions and species assessments below are grounded in USGS gauge data and the well-established seasonal patterns for these waters in late May.
Elevated Allegheny sets up post-spawn smallmouth and full-moon catfish bite
Flow at USGS gauge 03036500 logged 12,200 cfs in the pre-dawn hours of May 31, holding Allegheny tailwater conditions on the elevated side heading into the long weekend. No water temperature was captured at the gauge; late-May readings along this corridor typically run in the low-to-mid 60s°F, though sustained runoff can keep things a few degrees cooler than average. PA Fish & Boat Biologist Reports was accessible in this fetch but returned only navigation structure, with no district narrative available, so specific local bite reports are limited. What the broader freshwater intel does show: Tactical Bassin confirms post-spawn bass have entered their recovery-to-feeding transition, citing neko rigs and dropshot near current seams and offshore structure as the most productive techniques at this stage. With a full moon peaking on May 31, channel catfish on the flats and tailout edges should be actively feeding through the overnight hours.
Walleye and smallmouth prime up as Lake Erie hits late-May temperatures
NOAA buoy 45005 recorded 58°F surface water on Lake Erie at first light May 31 — a milestone temperature that typically signals the opening of the post-spawn walleye feed and the approach of smallmouth bass spawning activity along Presque Isle Bay's protected flats. Conditions were boatable, with 1.6-foot wave heights and winds around 11 mph. USGS gauge 04213000 registered 88.4 cfs in the tributary network, indicating stable spring inflow with no significant runoff muddying nearshore areas. Direct field reports from the PA shoreline were limited in this cycle — the PA Fish & Boat Commission biologist report page did not return current field notes, so anglers should check the commission's site directly for the latest stocking and on-the-water observations. Based on the temperature signal and full-moon timing, walleye and smallmouth bass are the primary targets right now, with yellow perch schooling in nearshore areas through this transition into early June.
Lake Erie walleye and post-spawn bass hit their stride heading into June
With water temperatures reading 65°F at USGS gauge 04231600, Lake Erie and the Niagara corridor are squarely in a productive late-May window. Walleye have finished spawning and are scattering toward mid-depth humps and offshore structure, the classic early-summer Erie transition. Smallmouth bass are in full post-spawn mode as well; Tactical Bassin this week describes the bite as "on fire" when targeting bass around isolated offshore structure with chatterbaits, neko rigs, and dropshots, drifting outside flats and keying on visual cover. Yellow perch are seasonally active across the lake's shallower basin. On a sobering note for tributary trout anglers, Wired 2 Fish reports that the lawsuit over last year's devastating Ischua Creek fish kill, which wiped out tens of thousands of fish from a beloved western NY trout stream, remains active as advocates press the DEC for public records on the incident. Check local tributary conditions before planning any stream trout outing.