Fishing reports
19291 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
Yellowstone cutthroat season opens amid strong late-May snowmelt flows
USGS gauge 06192500 logged the Yellowstone River corridor at 5,310 cfs and 52°F on May 24, the classic late-spring snowmelt signature that defines this region every year. At that flow, main-stem wading is limited to the most protected seams and back-eddies, but 52°F water is firmly in the prime feeding window for both Yellowstone cutthroat and brown trout. Hatch Magazine's timely piece on spring creek technique points anglers toward the right workaround: spring-fed tributaries and meadow channels off the main stem hold cleaner water and gentler flows during runoff and are typically carrying afternoon PMD and caddis activity right now. Flylords Mag's green drake coverage signals that this hatch is building across the Rocky Mountain corridor; the Yellowstone and Tetons drainage typically sees its own peak a few weeks behind lower-elevation streams as temperatures stabilize. Verify current Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton opening schedules before planning your trip.
South Fork of the Snake cresting on snowmelt ahead of prime cutthroat season
The USGS gauge on the Snake River near Irwin (site 13037500) recorded 13,600 cfs on the morning of May 24 — a robust snowmelt pulse typical for this stretch of the South Fork drainage heading into Memorial Day weekend. Water temperature was not captured in this reading. No regional reports from tackle shops, guides, or state outlets covered the Snake River or South Fork directly in this cycle, so current bite conditions reflect seasonal context rather than on-water testimony. At this flow stage, wading access is restricted to well-protected back channels and eddy lines; a drift boat opens up considerably more water. Cutthroat and rainbow trout are the primary target species on this system, and late-May conditions typically align with emerging caddis and PMD activity as daytime temperatures climb. Anglers should verify Idaho Fish and Game regulations before any harvest, as seasons and size limits vary by section.
Peak Runoff Pushes Bitterroot Trout to Edges as Flathead Lake Heats Up
USGS gauge 12372000 logged 24,600 cfs and 53°F at the close of May 23, a clear signal that peak snowmelt is in full swing across western Montana. At those flows, main-channel visibility on the Bitterroot drops sharply, and trout pile into soft water: undercut banks, back eddies, and slower side channels. None of this week's angler-intel feeds carry a direct Flathead Lake or Bitterroot report, so the picture here draws on gauge data and typical late-May patterns for the region. Hatch Magazine's current spring creek coverage reinforces the principle: when big water muddies the main seam, slow down and work the margins. On Flathead Lake itself, heavy inflows are stirring near-shore nutrients and concentrating cutthroat near creek mouths. Streamers and heavy attractor nymphs are the go-to tools right now; expect dry-fly windows to open as flows peak and begin their seasonal retreat.
Coho, Chinook, and Smallmouth Line Up for Indiana's Memorial Weekend Push
No current buoy readings are available for the Indiana shoreline this cycle; check local forecasts and wave heights before launching. That said, Memorial Day weekend traditionally marks one of the sharper fishing windows of the season along southern Lake Michigan. The WI DNR Lake Michigan Fishing Report notes that 2024 produced record-setting coho and Chinook harvests across the lake: more than 210,000 coho and 160,000 Chinook, credited to strong alewife forage classes that continue to support stocked salmon numbers into 2026. Anglers on the Michigan Sportsman Forum are scheduling bay days and salmon trolling runs for the holiday stretch. Smallmouth bass are a secondary highlight: Tactical Bassin points to paddle-tail swimbaits as top producers for Great Lakes smallmouth in clear water during this prespawn-to-postspawn transition, with fish moving actively over nearshore structure as late-May water temps climb.
Salmon and smallmouth in season as Chicago's Lake Michigan enters late May
The WI DNR Lake Michigan Fishing Report's 2024 harvest data sets a strong backdrop for the 2026 spring season: Chinook salmon topped 160,000 fish, the most since 2012, while coho set an all-time record at more than 210,000 harvested. The DNR credited improving alewife year-classes for lifting stocked-salmon survival lake-wide, a recruitment tailwind that Chicago-area offshore trollers should feel this season. No NOAA buoy data was available for this update, so real-time surface temperatures are not on hand; Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant operates three nearshore Lake Michigan buoys deployed each spring, though no current readings were captured here. Based on typical late-May patterns for southern Lake Michigan, surface temps are likely in the upper 40s to low 50s, keeping salmon accessible at standard trolling depths. Smallmouth bass are on or wrapping the spawn along nearshore rocky structure on the Chicago lakefront. Yellow perch remain a reliable pier and breakwall target. Verify current lake conditions and Illinois bag limits before launching for the Memorial Day weekend.
Post-Spawn Walleye and Catfish Prime Up Through the Clinton-Dubuque Pools
USGS gauge 05420500 puts Upper Mississippi water temperature at 68°F with flows at 54,000 cfs this morning, placing the Clinton-Dubuque pools in peak late-spring transition. That temperature is squarely in the channel catfish feeding surge zone, while walleye fresh off the spawn are staging on wing dam eddies and current seams. Jason Mitchell Outdoors (YT) flags "May Walleye Craziness" as a defining window right now, and AnglingBuzz (YT) is covering slip-bobber setups for big-water walleye that translate directly to pool conditions like these. Fishing the Midwest notes that larger rivers can be good year-round, with summer building momentum quickly. Direct on-water reports specific to this stretch are limited this week, so species assessments below are seasonally grounded estimates rather than confirmed bites. The first-quarter moon should support moderate evening feeding windows through the weekend.
Post-spawn bass and stripers prime for Memorial Day on Texoma and Eufaula
USGS gauge 07331600 logged a steady 44.5 cfs early Sunday, a low and stable inflow pointing to unflooded, clear conditions heading into Memorial Day weekend on Lake Texoma and Lake Eufaula. No significant mud pulse means both reservoirs should hold fishable clarity through the holiday. With water temperatures typical for late May in southern Oklahoma (gauge data returned no temp reading this cycle), the post-spawn window is open and shallow cover is productive. Wired 2 Fish highlights early morning and late evening as the prime topwater feeding window during this transition, with bass holding tight to grass, reeds, and dock edges. Tactical Bassin reinforces that frog and walking-bait presentations are gaining effectiveness as warm-water cover fills in. No local charter or tackle-shop reports were available this cycle, so specific bite accounts are seasonally inferred rather than sourced from on-water testimony. Check with local marinas near Denison or Eufaula before heading out.
Ozark Trout Parks Enter Late-May Prime as Current River Holds Fishable Flows
USGS gauge 07067000 puts the Current River at 1,140 cfs as of early Sunday morning, a moderate late-spring flow that keeps the Ozark corridor accessible without the low, clear conditions that can make pressured trout park fish lockjawed. No water temperature reading was available from this gauge. None of our citable regional intel feeds carried MO-specific reports this week, so conditions here draw on gauge data and typical late-May Ozark seasonality rather than fresh local shop testimony. That caveat noted, late May historically marks a productive transition window on the Current and Niangua: stocked rainbow trout remain active ahead of midsummer heat, hatch windows broaden during cooler morning hours, and smallmouth bass on deeper gravel runs tend to be opportunistic in the weeks immediately following the spring spawn. Check current stocking schedules and applicable regulations before heading out.
Taneycomo rainbow trout season holds steady despite prolonged Ozark drought
Lilleys Landing's May 2026 report leads with a striking observation: nearly 10 months of below-normal rainfall have gripped the Ozarks, dropping Table Rock Lake below power pool and eliminating the seasonal generation cycles that typically define Lake Taneycomo. The upside for trout anglers is meaningful. With no flood-control releases and no shad run expected this summer, turbine generation will follow power demand only, creating long, calm stretches of predictable water. Lilleys Landing notes that these conditions should make trout fishing "easier for most anglers, for the most part." Rainbow trout numbers are also favorable heading into late May. As of March, Lilleys Landing reported a strong population built from light winter fishing pressure and an extra round of fall stocking, putting fish counts above recent norms. No flow or temperature data was returned from USGS gauge 07054410 at time of publication, so anglers should confirm current generation status directly before hitting the water.
Tailwater trout get technical as late-May clears the White River
USGS gauge 07060710 recorded 19.1 cfs and 66°F on the White River near Norfork in the early hours of May 24 — conditions that define technical tailwater fishing. At minimal generation flow, the river runs exceptionally clear and shallow, putting trout on high alert and rewarding anglers who downsize to light tippet and small patterns. At 66°F, water temps are nudging the upper threshold of trout comfort, typically pushing fish toward cooler, deeper water near the dam outflows at Bull Shoals and Norfork. MidCurrent's Tying Tuesday coverage this week specifically highlights midge patterns that excel in the 'clear, pressured water of stillwaters and tailraces' — an apt description of a low-generation White River day. With no high-water generation muddying things up, sight-fishing opportunities improve, but so does the fish's ability to scrutinize your offering. Early mornings, before temps climb and sun angles increase visibility for spooky fish, will be the most productive window this weekend.
Low tailwater flows set up trout as KY bass post-spawn rolls into Memorial Day
The USGS gauge at site 03413200 registered just 27.8 cfs on the Cumberland River system early Sunday morning, signaling a minimal-generation period below Wolf Creek Dam. Low-flow tailwater windows like this historically concentrate rainbow and brown trout in the deeper pools between the dam face and the upper lake's calmer reaches, making drift-and-nymph presentations particularly effective when generation is off. No local tackle-shop or charter intel appeared in this week's feeds specifically covering Lake Cumberland or the Cumberland tailwater section, so the remainder of this report draws on seasonal pattern knowledge. Late May typically marks the post-spawn transition for both largemouth and smallmouth bass across the main lake, with fish migrating off beds toward mid-depth structure and channel ledges. Striped bass in Lake Cumberland's open basin generally run active through this period, following concentrations of threadfin shad. B.A.S.S. News reported competitive bass action wrapping up at Kentucky Lake to the west this week, confirming Kentucky's broader bass season is in full stride heading into Memorial Day weekend.
Kentucky Lake bass delivering big bags through post-spawn transition
The Turtlebox Bassmaster Open at Kentucky Lake/Lake Barkley wrapped up this week with some of the clearest evidence yet that largemouth bass are in a full feeding grind. Per B.A.S.S. News, Clint Knight claimed the rain-soaked victory with a three-day total of 62 pounds, 2 ounces, calling a strategic audible in the final round as morning drizzle turned to afternoon downpours. Day 2 standout Tristan McCormick posted the tournament's heaviest single-day bag at 25 pounds, 4 ounces. USGS gauge 03611500 returned no current water temperature or flow reading, leaving exact lake conditions unconfirmed — but the tournament field's performance makes it clear largemouth are feeding hard through unsettled late-May weather. With the First Quarter moon overhead and Memorial Day weekend approaching, early-morning topwater windows at dawn are where the best bites are likely to cluster before boat traffic builds.
Hiwassee and Caney Fork entering prime late-May tailwater window
USGS gauge 03565000 on the Hiwassee returned no live reading in this update, leaving flow and temperature conditions unconfirmed for late May. That data gap aside, this period marks a critical hatch window on both the Hiwassee and Caney Fork. MidCurrent's recent pattern coverage calls out midge and caddis emerger styles as go-to flies for clear, pressured tailrace water, exactly the challenge these TVA-controlled rivers present between generation pulses. No Tennessee-specific charter, shop, or state-agency reports surfaced in this cycle's intel feed; treat that as a gap, not a clearance. Check TVA's power-generation forecast before any wading trip, as flows can spike quickly on both rivers. The First Quarter moon on May 24 supports moderate dawn-to-mid-morning feeding windows, historically the most productive non-generation slot on these tailwaters. Sulphur and caddis patterns should be in your box for evening sessions; nymph rigs remain the backbone during generation.
Post-Spawn Bass Running Hot on Chickamauga as Memorial Day Weekend Arrives
Lake Chickamauga is firmly in post-spawn transition heading into Memorial Day weekend, with Tactical Bassin reporting an active fishing day targeting bass across the reservoir's distinctly different water zones. That firsthand Chickamauga account found murky water on the upper end suited for power-fishing swimbaits and chatterbaits, while the lower stretch cleared up and demanded finesse presentations. USGS gauge 03578500 logged a modest 142 cfs early Sunday, suggesting steady tributary inflow without the kind of elevated pulse that clouds the cleaner sections. Water temperature was not recorded at the gauge this cycle, but late May on the Tennessee River chain typically puts surface temps in the upper 60s to low 70s, the prime window for post-spawn bass moving back onto feeding structure. A First Quarter moon this weekend reinforces low-light bite windows. Expect company on the water; per Tactical Bassin, Chickamauga draws heavy recreational and tournament pressure, which means off-the-beaten-path structure often holds less-pressured fish.
Post-Spawn Bass Transitioning to Structure on Guntersville and Wheeler
With USGS gauge 03575100 logging 784 cfs early Sunday morning, flow through the Tennessee River system at Guntersville and Wheeler is running at a manageable mid-spring level. No temperature reading accompanied this gauge pull, but late-May conditions in this corridor typically push water temps into the mid-70s°F, signaling that the post-spawn transition is underway for largemouth and spotted bass. Tactical Bassin's recent on-water coverage of Tennessee River neighbor Lake Chickamauga confirms fish are in a transitional phase, with some still holding shallow near docks and grass edges while others push toward main-lake points and mid-depth ledges. B.A.S.S. News tournament coverage from Kentucky Lake, another TVA-system impoundment, shows that big bags remain achievable with the right pattern reads. For technique, Wired 2 Fish highlights low-light topwater as a proven trigger, with pro Justin Lucas emphasizing early-morning presentations around grass, reeds, and docks as the top approach heading into late May.
Smokies Trout Hit Their Stride as Late-May Hatches Come Online
Water temperatures came in at 63°F at USGS gauge 03512000 in the early hours of May 24, with flows running 361 cfs. Those readings place Smokies rainbows and browns squarely in their prime feeding window for late May. Trout are metabolically active at this temperature and willing to move for both nymphs and surface presentations. No specific Western NC guide or tackle-shop reports surfaced in this week's feeds, but the broader fly-fishing press points to late May as a hinge moment for Eastern mountain trout streams. Flylords Mag notes that green drakes emerge on the East Coast between early May and late June, putting Smokies anglers right in the thick of potential activity on larger pools. MidCurrent's recent tying coverage highlights patterns designed for hatches that are beginning to fire as spring trout water warms. For Smokies streams, that context translates to afternoon Sulphur and PMD hatches, heavy caddis through dusk, and sporadic green drake emergences. Flows at 361 cfs keep most streams wading-friendly, with fish holding in defined current seams.
Bull Reds and Slot Drum Light Up Pamlico and Cape Lookout Shoals
Schools of bull red drum are working the Cape Lookout shoals this week, with Steve of Chasin' Tails at Morehead/Atlantic Beach reporting schools of bulls around the shoals along with plenty of good-sized bluefish, per Fisherman's Post (NC). Inside the sound, Donald of Custom Marine Fabrication reports that slot-sized reds have pushed in and the bite has spread across much of the Neuse. At Hatteras and Ocracoke, Ryan of Hatteras Jack confirms surf action has come alive with red drum making a strong push onto the beaches. Further down the coast at Swansboro and Emerald Isle, Morgan of The Reel Outdoors notes sea mullet, black drum, and early pompano rounding out the surf action. NOAA buoy 41037 logged light winds of roughly 9 mph and air temperatures near 77°F on May 21, pointing to a comfortable late-May window for both sound and nearshore runs.
Chincoteague Spring Bite Peaks as Stripers School the Channels
Water temperatures at NOAA buoy 44014 reached 68°F Sunday morning, placing Chincoteague's nearshore waters in a prime late-spring window for multiple target species. The Virginia DWR Wildlife Blog's current fishing report confirms striped bass are schooling along channel edges, sandy flats, and grass beds throughout Virginia's coastal zone, with fish responding to both shore and boat presentations near hard structure. The regional migration picture adds momentum: The Fisherman (Northeast) flagged a spring push of 20- to 30-pound stripers this week, calling it a run the likes of which haven't been seen in many years across the Mid-Atlantic corridor, while On The Water's Striper Migration Map for May 22 places the main push well into Virginia-adjacent latitudes. Weakfish are beginning to appear in Mid-Atlantic shallows per Saltwater Edge Blog, typical once surface temps clear 65°F. Flounder are worth working over sandy flats as well, and First Quarter moon conditions favor active feeding windows through each tidal change.
Stripers Stack on Structure as Drought Reshapes VA Reservoir Fishing
The Virginia DWR Wildlife Blog's spring striper report highlights striped bass schooling along channel edges, rocky shorelines, and hard structure across Virginia fisheries this season — a behavioral pattern that translates well to both Smith Mountain Lake and Buggs Island. The DWR separately flags a historic spring drought across the Southeast that is drawing lake and reservoir levels down, likely compressing fish into deeper, cooler pockets earlier than typical for late May. USGS gauge 02075045 on the Roanoke feeder system recorded 720 cfs in predawn hours Sunday — a moderate, fishable inflow into Buggs Island's back channels. With the First Quarter moon overhead, low-light windows favor early morning and evening pushes for stripers and largemouth alike. Post-spawn largemouth are transitioning to deep structure; Tactical Bassin's recent coverage of comparable Southern reservoir fisheries highlights swimbaits and chatterbaits as consistent producers along drop-off edges at this stage of the season.
Sandy Hook stripers surging as bluefish crash the party for Memorial Day
Water at 55°F (NOAA buoy 44065) is keeping some species waiting but doing nothing to slow the striped bass bite at Sandy Hook. The Fisherman — NJ/DE Surf reports Danny at the Tackle Box in Hazlet describing elevated action at Sandy Hook tip, where one angler landed a five-species super slam (bass, bluefish, fluke, black drum, and blackfish) on a bobber live-killie rig. Bug Light has been yielding bass up to 30 pounds on metal lip swimmers, glide baits, and Jersey Jellies; Keansburg Pier is also holding fish on chunks. OTW Northern New Jersey confirms stripers, bluefish, and black drum are on the beaches as of May 21, and Blue Chip Sportfishing calls it the best striper fishing possible right now. The trade-off: sea bass and fluke are lagging. Multiple Northern NJ party-boat captains aboard the Skylarker, Golden Eagle, and Big Mohawk III report ling dominating the boxes with sea bass mostly throwing back. A warming push heading into Memorial Day could shift that balance.
Big stripers running Delaware Bay beaches as the spring push peaks
Delaware Bay buoy 44009 recorded 57°F water on May 24, and the spring striper push is delivering oversized fish. Per The Fisherman's Southern NJ coverage, Big Dave's Tackle reports fishing 'firing on all cylinders,' with stripers to 46 inches from the bayfront beaches on bloodworms, bloodworm balls, and clam. Higbee's Bait and Tackle out of Fortescue confirms 'all oversize fish from 36 to 46 inches' this week, with bloodworms still leading the way. Black drum are in the mix as well, with fish to 15 pounds on clam baits confirmed in bay waters per Dockside Café and Marina. Flounder remain a work in progress, held back by wind-driven dirty water and cooler temperatures through most of last week, per Anthony Califano's South Jersey report in The Fisherman. The Fisherman's NJ/DE Bay regional forecast for May 21 flagged Memorial Day weekend as the unofficial summer kickoff, noting the first registered Cape May County doormat fluke of the season at 11.86 pounds.
Bass Move Shallow at Quabbin and Wachusett as Spawn Window Opens
The Swift River at Quabbin's outlet registered 39.3 cfs on May 24 (USGS gauge 01174500), confirming stable, low-moderate reservoir conditions heading into Memorial Day weekend. No water temperature was captured at the gauge, but central Massachusetts surface temps typically climb through the low 60s by late May — the threshold where smallmouth bass sweep into spawning shallows and trout begin retreating deeper in the water column. The Fisherman — New England Freshwater's Rod Teehan reported a May 13 outing at Hampton Pond in Westfield, MA, where cold, rainy conditions yielded brook and rainbow trout on a trolled Bobby Garland Baby Shad, with fish marking over deep water on sonar. Since that report, two additional weeks of warming have likely pushed central MA reservoirs further along the seasonal curve. Bass action is trending upward across New England inland waters per The Fisherman — New England Freshwater, with largemouths noted as entering spawn phase — a pattern that parallels what anglers should expect at Wachusett and Quabbin heading into the holiday weekend.
Spring Stripers Flood Buzzards Bay as Bluefish Make Their Move
Water temps of 54°F at NOAA buoy 44085 put Buzzards Bay squarely in the late-spring transition zone, and the bite is reflecting it. AJ at Red Top Sporting Goods called this past weekend "dealer's choice," with bass schools working bait "almost all over Buzzards Bay" and bluefish surfacing off Mattapoisett and Wareham. Capt. Carl of Westport River Outfitters echoed the spread, landing stripers from schoolies to high 30-inchers and locating jumbo scup flooding into the bay. The Cape Cod Canal continues to produce at both ends, with topwater action stretching from Fairhaven to the west end, per Red Top. Tautog are still delivering solid action on structure. The Fisherman (Northeast) flagged a standout spring push of 20- to 30-pound bass described as among the best in years, while bluefish have confirmed arrivals across southern New England. First Quarter moon is in effect.
Deschutes salmonfly season peaks as late-May dry-fly window opens
USGS gauge 14070500 returned no flow or temperature data this update, leaving Deschutes and Upper Klamath conditions unconfirmed by instrument. That gap aside, late May is historically when the salmonfly emergence crests on the Deschutes, one of the Pacific Northwest's marquee dry-fly events, pulling redband trout to the surface along canyon pocket water and riffled runs. MidCurrent's current spring-creek feature is a timely read for anyone rigging up: careful presentation and a quiet approach matter most when fish are actively rising in clear water. The First Quarter moon on May 24 supports strong dawn and dusk feeding windows. No shop, charter, or agency intel for this specific drainage appeared in today's feed; anglers planning a run should confirm current flows and hatch status directly with a local outfitter before making the drive.