Fishing reports
19291 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
Post-spawn bass key on bluegill spawn along the Coosa and Tennessee
The Coosa River is flowing at 11,000 cfs at Childersburg per USGS gauge 02339500, putting a premium on current seams and eddy pockets as bass complete the post-spawn transition across Alabama's impoundments. Tactical Bassin's recent on-water coverage of Lake Chickamauga — a Tennessee River system reservoir just across the state line — documents fish responding to swimbaits, chatterbaits, and finesse presentations, with clearer pools demanding a finesse approach and murkier stretches rewarding power-fishing techniques. That same split-personality dynamic likely applies across Wheeler and Guntersville on the Tennessee, and on Logan Martin and Lay Lake on the Coosa. With the bluegill spawn in full swing per Tactical Bassin, early-morning topwater frogs and big-profile baits near mats and laydowns are worth a focused look at first light. No water temperature data is available from the gauge; check conditions locally before launching. The waxing crescent moon favors moderate activity windows concentrated around dawn and dusk.
Crappie and bass hit post-spawn stride at Toledo Bend and Sabine border
The USGS gauge on the Sabine (site 08025500) recorded just 8.69 cfs midday Monday — a very low reading that points to stable, clear conditions heading into Memorial Day weekend. With the spawn largely behind them, post-spawn bass are staging on secondary structure and channel edges. Tactical Bassin (blog) calls this the 'early summer transition' and notes that once fish school up, it can be 'fish after fish for hours.' On the crappie side, LakeForkGuy documented what he called the 'most aggressive crappie bite of the year' during post-spawn sessions on nearby Lake Fork — a pattern that typically mirrors conditions across Toledo Bend's deep timber. Louisiana Sportsman's May 17 column flags topwater as a prime springtime play for finesse-focused anglers, though that report covered coastal trout; the technique translates well to early-morning bass sessions on the reservoir. Blue catfish become increasingly active as May water temperatures climb. The Waxing Crescent moon favors dawn and dusk bite windows.
Post-spawn bass moving deeper as heat builds on the Savannah chain
Georgia Wildlife Blog's May 15 roundup kicked off with 'another great week of fishing' across the state, and that optimism extends to the Savannah chain — though the window is shifting. GA Sportsman's May 10 Southern Waters report cautioned that 'hot weather is now approaching and fish will probably start to move into deeper water,' a transition now well underway on Hartwell and Russell. Recent rains provided timely relief: that same report credited the precipitation with helping 'knock the fires down and helped our rivers and lakes,' and the USGS gauge on the Savannah River logged a moderate 425 cfs on May 18, suggesting stable post-rain levels. Bass have exited the spawn and are staging along main-lake points, channel ledges, and brush piles. Tactical Bassin's post-spawn coverage identifies swimbaits, chatterbaits, and finesse rigs as the confidence baits for this early-summer transition. Crappie, which stacked in 3–8 feet around structure during Georgia's spring spawn per Georgia Wildlife Blog's April reports, are now pulling to deeper timber as surface temps climb toward summer highs.
High Delta Flows Send Stripers and Bass to Slack-Water Edges
USGS gauge 11455420 on the Sacramento River is registering 102,000 cfs as of May 18 — a robust late-spring snowmelt pulse pushing through the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta system. NorCal Fish Reports, which maintains Delta coverage among its regional beats, had no specific catch dispatches available in this feed cycle. With direct angler testimony sparse, current conditions are pieced together from gauge data and seasonal patterns typical of this waterway. At that flow volume, main channels run strong and turbid; striped bass and largemouth bass characteristically retreat to slower backwater sloughs, flooded tule margins, and the downstream lee of riprap where bait concentrates and the current breaks. Channel catfish stage in soft-bottom pockets away from the heavy push. The waxing crescent moon favors low-light ambush windows at first and last light — typically prime for stripers working the slack edges. Check state regulations for current striped bass and sturgeon seasons before launching.
Driftless browns dial in as mid-May caddis hatches begin to fire
USGS gauge 05407000 clocked 64°F and 9,850 cfs on the Wisconsin River corridor this afternoon — elevated spring runoff that's pushing Driftless tributaries high and, in places, off-color. Despite the extra water, the season is primed: MidCurrent's Tying Tuesday this week spotlighted Root River Rod Co's go-to Driftless streamer, a pine squirrel jig built to bounce rocky bottoms without fouling — exactly the right tool when flows are still running off. MidCurrent also flagged that hatches are beginning to fire across the region, with patterns spanning the full water column as caddis emergences ramp up through mid-May. At 64°F, brown trout are in an active feeding range; look for fish tucked into seam water and undercut banks, out of the main current push. Hatch Magazine notes that trout key hardest on caddis during the pupal transition — soft-hackle wets and emerger patterns will outperform dry adults during this window. Wading is technical right now; scout entry points carefully before stepping in.
Finger Lakes Smallmouth Heating Up as Post-Spawn Transition Begins
Water temperature at 65°F as of May 18 (USGS gauge 04232050) places the Finger Lakes — Cayuga, Seneca, and Skaneateles — squarely in the post-spawn transition for smallmouth bass. At this temperature, most fish have completed their spawning cycle on rocky shoreline flats and are now feeding aggressively to recover weight. Tactical Bassin reports that the bluegill spawn is currently in full swing across freshwater bass fisheries, drawing big bass into shallow cover with topwater frogs, swimbaits, and chatterbaits proving most effective. Walleye, which typically spawn in early-to-mid April in the Finger Lakes, should be actively feeding on transition structure between shallow and mid-depth zones. Lake trout are retreating toward thermocline depth as surface temps push past the 60°F comfort threshold. Low tributary inflow on the gauge (39.7 cfs) points to excellent water clarity — a distinct advantage for finesse presentations and sight-fishing along rocky shorelines. The waxing crescent moon favors low-light windows at dawn and dusk.
Landlocked salmon and brookies enter prime late-May window on Rangeley waters
USGS gauge 01054200 on the Androscoggin headwaters recorded 287 cfs on May 18 — a moderate spring flow suggesting snowmelt runoff is tapering. Mainely Fly Fishing logged ice-out at a southern Maine pond as early as April 4 this year; Rangeley-area lakes at higher elevation typically clear 2–3 weeks later, putting them ice-free for roughly three to four weeks by mid-May and well into the prime post-ice-out salmon window. Direct condition reports specific to Rangeley are sparse in this cycle's feeds, but The Fisherman's New England Freshwater contributors confirmed brook and rainbow trout actively feeding across the broader Northeast region as recently as May 13, with fish hitting inline spinners and streamers. Caddis and mayfly hatches are beginning to fire across northeastern trout streams — a trend Hatch Magazine and MidCurrent have both documented in recent coverage — extending evening surface activity on outlet rivers. Anglers covering the water column with smelt imitations and light hardware should find landlocked salmon accessible, while brook trout are taking streamers and dry flies in moderate-flow river sections.
Upper Penobscot running high as landlocked salmon and brook trout peak
USGS gauge 01030500 recorded 3,030 cfs on the upper Penobscot on May 18 — elevated spring flow pointing to active snowmelt drainage from the central Maine highlands. Direct on-the-water reports for Moosehead Lake and the upper Penobscot were not represented in this week's angler-intel feeds, so conditions here are read primarily through the gauge and regional context. High river water typically moves landlocked salmon and brook trout out of the main current and into slack-water pockets, cove mouths, and eddies behind structure. Per The Fisherman — New England Freshwater, cold-water trout species across the broader Northeast remain active as late-season snowmelt holds temperatures in productive range. At Moosehead, the lake has likely been ice-free for several weeks by mid-May, and the waxing crescent moon creates low-light windows at dawn and dusk — historically the most productive timing of the season for togue and landlocked salmon.
Champlain smallmouth approach spawn window; landlocked salmon still on the bite
Water temps logged at 48°F by USGS gauge 04294500 on May 18 put Lake Champlain's smallmouth bass squarely in pre-spawn staging mode — water needs another 5–7 degrees before spawning activity kicks off in earnest. No direct on-the-water reports from Champlain surfaced in this cycle, but regional freshwater intel helps frame the picture: The Fisherman — New England Freshwater notes that smallmouth action "keeps steadily improving" as cold water warms across northern New England impoundments, with shiners and finesse swimbaits leading the way. Tactical Bassin confirms that pre-spawn smallmouth school up and are best approached with fast-moving search baits in clear, cold conditions — a description that fits Champlain well. Landlocked salmon, which thrive at these temperatures, should remain active in open water before a summer thermocline establishes. The waxing crescent moon offers moderate low-light windows at dusk and dawn, favorable for both species.
Spring salmon meet post-spawn smallmouth on Indiana's Lake Michigan shore
The WI DNR Lake Michigan Fishing Report's 2024 season recap — record coho harvests topping 210,000 fish and Chinook numbers not seen since 2012, both driven by abundant alewife year classes — sets a strong lake-wide backdrop for Indiana shoreline anglers heading into 2026. No real-time buoy or gauge readings were available for this report, so water temperatures and wave conditions are unconfirmed; consult NOAA or a local marina before launching. Mid-May typically finds Chinook staging in harbor mouths and transitioning offshore as nearshore water warms, while coho linger near tributary structure. Smallmouth bass are finishing or just completing spawn on rocky and gravel nearshore areas, and the post-spawn feeding window is opening — often the most aggressive bite of the year. Tactical Bassin identifies swimbaits and finesse presentations as top producers for Great Lakes smallmouth in the clear nearshore water typical of this season.
Salmon and Smallmouth Converge as Mid-May Peaks on Chicago's Lakefront
The WI DNR Lake Michigan Fishing Report documented a record-setting 2024 salmon season on the lake — over 210,000 coho and 160,000 Chinook harvested, the best Chinook number since 2012 — driven by strong alewife year classes that boosted stocked-fish survival rates. That population foundation carries into spring 2026. No live NOAA buoy readings for the Chicago nearshore zone were available at report time; IL/IN Sea Grant notes its three nearshore Lake Michigan buoys are in active spring deployment, so confirm current water temps via the IISG buoy portal before launching. Mid-May typically puts coho finishing their nearshore run while smallmouth bass move onto shallow rocky structure in aggressive prespawn feeding mode. Tactical Bassin identifies swimbaits and finesse rigs as top producers for Great Lakes smallmouth when clear, cool prespawn conditions prevail — a window that historically peaks right around this point on the calendar.
White River tailwater trout seek cold refuge as late-May warmth builds
Water registered at 73°F by USGS gauge 07060710 on the afternoon of May 18, with flow at a minimal 5.06 cfs — a strong indicator that the generators at Bull Shoals or Norfork are between cycles. At that temperature, rainbow and brown trout have moved off open mid-river runs and are concentrated near cold-water inputs: the immediate tailrace below each dam, spring seeps along cut banks, and deep shaded pools. None of this week's angler-intel feeds include a direct White River report, so this update draws on gauge data and established tailwater behavior. When water is this low and clear, small flies are the prescription — MidCurrent's current tying coverage highlights midge-style patterns built for "the clear, pressured water of stillwaters and tailraces," while Flylab (Substack) observes that trout key on midge larvae, pupae, and adults at every life stage. Target the first two hours of daylight before warming air amplifies surface temperatures, and fish as close to dam outlets as access allows.
Bass locked onto bluegill spawn on Lanier and Allatoona as summer heat closes in
Water at the Chattahoochee tailwater below Buford Dam reads 50°F at 636 cfs (USGS gauge 02334430), keeping that stretch productive for trout well into late spring. On the impoundments, the Georgia Wildlife Blog — Fishing flagged "another great week of fishing" as of May 15. The dominant pattern right now is the bluegill spawn: Tactical Bassin (blog) notes largemouth are pushing into heavy shallow cover wherever bluegill are fanning beds, making topwater lures and frogs the go-to presentation during low-light hours. GA Sportsman / Georgia Outdoor News (report through May 14) warns that summer heat is arriving and fish are beginning the push toward deeper structure — plan morning sessions before that transition accelerates. Crappie have largely completed their spawn and are likely dropping to 8–15 feet around submerged brush. A waxing crescent moon favors early-morning bite windows on both reservoirs this week.
Smokies Trout Turn to Dawn and Dusk as Late-May Heat Builds
Water temps touching 70°F on the Little Tennessee River watershed — recorded at USGS gauge 03512000 on May 18 — are pushing Smokies trout into classic heat-avoidance behavior. With flow running at a wade-friendly 194 cfs, fish are accessible, but expect them bunched in the deepest, shadiest lies through midday. Severe drought conditions flagged across the Southeast by Flylords Mag have kept many smaller tributaries running lean and warm; anglers willing to hike to high-elevation headwaters will find the coolest, most fishable water. Wild brook trout, temperature-sensitive above 65°F, are likely concentrated in the uppermost reaches. Late May is prime time for caddis flights and early Sulphur hatches in the southern Appalachians — evening rises should be the most productive window of the day, with elk-hair caddis and parachute patterns covering the surface through dusk. Bring a stream thermometer and plan your day around the early and late windows.
Bull reds flood Cape Lookout shoals as Pamlico drum bite opens
Schools of bull red drum are working Cape Lookout shoals in force this week. Steve at Chasin' Tails (Morehead/Atlantic Beach) reports action on bull reds around the shoals alongside plenty of good-sized bluefish, while Donald of Custom Marine Fabrication says the red drum bite is covering nearly the entire Neuse River — slot fish throughout, per Fisherman's Post (NC). Up at Hatteras, Ryan of Hatteras Jack reports the surf has come alive with red drum making a strong push onto the beaches. Nearshore, the Atlantic bonito run is delivering — Tex of Tex's Tackle (Wrightsville Beach) calls it excellent from the Liberty Ship out to the 5-mile range. Surf anglers from Swansboro south are also picking up sea mullet, black drum, and early pompano, per Morgan of The Reel Outdoors. Air temps are running near 78°F with light winds around 7 mph, per NOAA buoy 41037.
Spring stripers schooling the flats as Chincoteague season hits its stride
Water at NOAA buoy 44014 registered 61°F on May 18 — a temperature that puts Chincoteague-area coastal stripers squarely in their spring feeding window. Virginia DWR's spring striped bass report confirms rockfish schooling along channel edges, sandy flats, and grass bed margins throughout Virginia's coastal waters this season, with fish gravitating toward rocky shorelines and hard structure in nearshore zones. OTW Saltwater's May 12 migration update places the main migratory push well up the coast, with 50-pound-class Chesapeake fish staged off New Jersey and Long Island by that date — meaning the bulk of the migration has cleared Virginia waters, and the bite transitions toward resident and post-spawn fish holding along the barrier-island coast. Flounder should be opening up: The Fisherman's NJ/DE Bay forecast from May 14 noted the fluke bite gaining traction with improving weather, a trend that applies to Chincoteague's back-bay channels as May water temps crest 60°F. The waxing crescent moon favors low-light feeding windows along structured edges.
Stripers on Structure as Post-Spawn Bass Bite Builds at SML & Buggs Island
Virginia DWR's spring striped bass update highlights rockfish schooling tight to channel edges, sandy flats, and rocky hard structure throughout Virginia's river systems this season — a behavioral template that applies equally to the landlocked striper fishery at Smith Mountain Lake and Buggs Island. USGS gauge 02075045 recorded 488 cfs this afternoon, reflecting moderate, fishable inflows to the Roanoke/Staunton drainage. No water temperature was logged at the gauge, though mid-May conditions historically push surface temps into the low-to-mid 70s°F at both reservoirs. Alongside the striper action, Tactical Bassin reports the bluegill spawn is currently in full swing, drawing largemouth bass into shallow cover for aggressive topwater and frog-style presentations. A waxing crescent moon this week concentrates feeding activity toward dawn and dusk windows. Neither site had charter or tackle-shop reports in this cycle's feed; the picture is drawn from statewide agency signals and regional bass intel.
Stripers On Fire at Sandy Hook While Sea Bass Season Opens Cold
Blue Chip Sportfishing is calling it "the best Striper Fishing possible" in the Raritan Bay area right now, and Sandy Hook is backing that up. The Fisherman — NJ/DE Surf reports one angler at the Hook tip landing a super slam — striped bass, bluefish, fluke, black drum, and blackfish — all on bobber-rigged live killies, while Bug Light has been producing bass to 30 pounds on metal lip swimmers and Jersey Jellies. Black sea bass season opened May 15 (12.5-inch minimum, 10-fish bag limit through June 21, per The Fisherman — New Jersey edition), but the launch has been sluggish: Capt Ron's Atlantic Highlands found mostly ling with almost no sea bass in opening days, and captains on the Golden Eagle and Big Mohawk III told The Fisherman — Northern NJ that bass numbers are running well below last season's pace. Cold inshore water — holding in the 46–48°F range at the start of the season — is the main obstacle. A pronounced warming trend heading into Memorial Day weekend has bottom-fish optimists watching conditions closely.
Delaware Bay Stripers Running Hot — Black Drum Join the May Push
Water temps at NOAA buoy 44009 hit 60°F on May 18, and the NJ side of Delaware Bay is delivering some of the spring's best fishing. Big Dave's Tackle described conditions as 'firing on all cylinders,' with striped bass to 46 inches working bayfront beaches — bloodworms, bloodworm balls, and fresh clam are the top baits. Higbee's Bait and Tackle confirms the same out of Fortescue, reporting 'all oversize fish from 36 to 46 inches' this week, with bloodworm ball and spawn-net combos drawing strikes. Black drum have joined the mix, with fish to 15 pounds picking up clam baits in the bay per Dockside Café and Marina. Flounder action has been suppressed by persistent winds and cooler inshore bay temps, per Anthony Califano and Dockside Café and Marina reporting for The Fisherman — Southern NJ. New Jersey's black sea bass season opened May 15 with a 12.5-inch minimum and 10-fish bag limit, per The Fisherman (Northeast), giving offshore-ready boats another option heading into Memorial Day weekend.
Landlocked salmon and transitioning bass define Quabbin's May window
The Swift River (USGS gauge 01174500) was flowing at 106 cfs as of May 18 — a moderate spring level suggesting Quabbin Reservoir runoff is tapering toward early-summer stability. No water temperature reading was available from the gauge. No Quabbin- or Wachusett-specific on-the-water reports surfaced in this cycle, but regional freshwater signals from The Fisherman — New England Freshwater provide useful context: an angler fishing Hampton (Pequot) Pond in Westfield, MA on May 13 found brook and rainbow trout actively marking at depth and feeding on surface lures and small swimbaits. That same publication's report from Fishin' Factory 3 in Middletown noted local largemouth bass are now spawning and 'trickier to entice' than during prespawn — a transition that mirrors what Wachusett bass anglers should expect right now. At Quabbin, smallmouth and the reservoir's signature landlocked Atlantic salmon are likely entering their prime May window, with salmon holding in the upper water column before summer stratification sets in. Waxing crescent moon conditions favor first-light and last-light feeding windows at both reservoirs.
Stripers Covering Buzzards Bay as Bluefish, Scup, and Tog Join the Party
Striped bass activity in Buzzards Bay hit a seasonal high point this week, with water temps at 55–58°F per NOAA buoys 44085 and 44020. Capt. Carl of Westport River Outfitters (The Fisherman — Cape Cod & Islands) reports stripers from schoolies to high-30-inch class throughout the Bay, with topwater action running from Fairhaven to the Canal's west end — plus a few fish taken on the fly during a worm hatch. Red Top Sporting Goods confirms bass schools working bait "almost all over Buzzards Bay," plus scattered bluefish appearing off Mattapoisett and Wareham. The Canal is producing at both ends, with mackerel showing in the east end. Charley Soares (The Fisherman — Cape Cod & Islands) also notes a few spotty bluefish schools alongside the stripers in the Bay. Tautog remain strong on green crab, and jumbo scup have pushed inshore — making this a genuine mixed-bag window.
Yakima spring runoff underway — trout on edges, stocked lakes a strong alternative
USGS gauge 12484500 on the Yakima River recorded 2,050 cfs at mid-morning on May 18, placing the river in elevated spring-snowmelt territory for the Eastern WA corridor. Water temperature data was not available from this gauge at publication time. No specific current-week catch reports for Eastern WA appeared in WA WDFW Fishing Reports feeds at time of publication, so the conditions below draw on that gauge reading alongside typical mid-May patterns for the Yakima corridor and Spokane-area fisheries. At 2,050 cfs the Yakima is likely carrying off-color snowmelt; trout will be pushed tight to slower-current refuges — inside bends, undercut banks, and tributary mouths where relief from the main flow exists. Stocked rainbow trout in Spokane-region lakes represent the most consistent bite while river flows run high. The waxing crescent moon phase supports low-light feeding windows at dawn and dusk. Check WA WDFW Fishing Reports for current stocking schedules before heading out.
Spring kings staging in tidal reaches as Olympic Peninsula rivers run fishable in mid-May
Both monitored Olympic Peninsula gauges logged moderate spring flows on May 18: USGS gauge 12041200 at 1,040 cfs and gauge 12035000 at 722 cfs, with no water temperature data available from either sensor. None of this reporting cycle's regional feeds — charter captains, tackle shops, or Washington-specific fishing blogs — provided current on-the-water intel for Peninsula salmon rivers, so species assessments below reflect historical mid-May patterns rather than live angler reports. At these flow levels, lower mainstem and tidal-influenced reaches are typically accessible, and late-spring Chinook begin staging in some Peninsula drainages through May and into June. Summer-run steelhead are an outside possibility in early-entry systems. The WA WDFW Fishing Reports program monitors creel data at access sites statewide but no specific Peninsula conditions appeared in this data pull. Verify current openers and retention rules before heading out, as regulations on these rivers shift frequently.
Beeliners Limit Up, Gag Grouper Prime on Panhandle Offshore Structure
NOAA buoy 42012 is reading 76°F on the Gulf surface — right in the sweet spot for late-spring offshore action out of Destin and Pensacola. A Pensacola Fishing Forum angler this past weekend reported a full limit of beeliners (vermilion snapper) plus releasing roughly two dozen short triggerfish on a run to offshore structure, with blue water and flyingfish marking pelagic conditions; trolling produced bonito in the same area. Coastal Angler Magazine flags May as the peak window for gag grouper and scamp — the formula is locating schools of cigar minnows and sardines on ledges, wrecks, or rock outcrops and dropping live bait straight down. Captain Rick Murphy (FL Insider) reports big tarpon action rolling across Florida right now, with the Panhandle's passes and beaches a classic stop on the late-May migration. Light winds logged at both buoys (5–6 m/s) are holding offshore windows open. The waxing crescent moon favors dawn and dusk feeding edges this week.