Fishing reports
19291 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
Smallmouth bass hitting stride as Columbia & Rogue warm into prime spring
USGS gauge 14211720 logged 63°F on the Columbia system this morning — a reading that puts smallmouth bass squarely in their spawning window and keeps spring Chinook on the move through the mainstem. With today's new moon and water in the low 60s, smallmouth are pressing into rocky shallows; Tactical Bassin's post-spawn coverage highlights swimbaits, topwater frogs, and drop-shot rigs as confidence baits when fish are staged near heavy cover. Specific bite reports for the Columbia and Rogue were thin in this cycle — IFish.net Fishing Reports shows Oregon anglers active in the region, including recent activity around Meldrum Bar near the Columbia confluence, though posts centered on lost-gear notices rather than confirmed catch accounts. Spring Chinook are typically moving through Columbia mainstem reaches by mid-May, but no charter or shop source corroborated run strength this week. Confirm current run status and regulations before heading out.
Red drum surge hits Outer Banks surf as spring bite heats up
Red drum are making a strong push onto Outer Banks beaches, with Ryan of Hatteras Jack reporting that surf action has come alive and anglers are catching good numbers along the Hatteras/Ocracoke stretch. Water temps at NOAA buoy 41025 (Diamond Shoals) have reached 78°F — right in the wheelhouse for the late-spring drum run that defines this coastline each May. The wider region confirms the trend: Steve of Chasin' Tails out of Morehead/Atlantic Beach reports schools of bull red drum working the Cape Lookout shoals, with solid bluefish mixed in. Inland, Donald of Custom Marine Fabrication notes slot-sized drum holding across the full Neuse River corridor in the Pamlico system. Sheepshead are also on the radar — state managers have adopted a temporary harvest rule affecting joint and inland waters, so verify current regulations before keeping any. New Moon tides this week produce clean, predictable current changes that favor first-light and last-light surf sessions.
Michigan Bass Dial In as Bluegill Spawn Fires; Walleye Active on the Grand
The Grand River registered 3,870 cfs at USGS gauge 04119000 this morning — a moderate spring volume that keeps walleye positioned in current seams without washing fish off their feeding lanes. The MI DNR Weekly Fishing Report (May 13) reminds Great Lakes anglers to watch for commercial netting gear marked by tall, orange-flagged buoys near several popular ports. No water temperature data was available from gauges this morning. On the bass front, Tactical Bassin reports the bluegill spawn is in full swing, driving big largemouth into shallow heavy cover where topwater frogs are producing explosive strikes. AnglingBuzz is currently spotlighting shallow walleye patterns and Lake Superior sturgeon activity as prime mid-May targets. Today's New Moon alignment typically opens a stronger low-light feeding window at dawn and dusk — a favorable setup for walleye anglers drifting jigs or live bait through mid-depth current breaks on the Grand River.
Post-spawn largemouth lock onto bluegill beds — Okeechobee & St. Johns
The St. Johns River is running at 72.8 cfs as of this morning per USGS gauge 02232000, offering stable, navigable freshwater conditions heading into the back half of May. The seasonal picture is squarely post-spawn for largemouth bass across both Lake Okeechobee and the St. Johns corridor — and with the bluegill spawn now in full swing, the bite on big bass in shallow heavy cover is on. Tactical Bassin's crew reports catching giant bass on topwater frogs worked over active bluegill beds, with shallow, heavy-cover presentations outperforming finesse rigs in warm conditions. Captain Rick Murphy's Florida Insider Fishing Report (S22 E7) highlights big tarpon action unfolding across Florida this week, a signal that the broader spring migration is at or near peak. Tonight's new moon sets up the darkest low-light windows of the month — prime for topwater at dawn and dusk. Water temperature data was unavailable from the available gauge; check a local thermometer before committing to a specific pattern.
Sacramento-Delta Bass and Stripers Finding Their Late-Spring Stride
Water at 67°F as of early Monday morning at USGS gauge 11447650 (Freeport) puts the Sacramento-Delta squarely in late-spring mode — ideal conditions for multiple resident species. Flow is running at 2,890 cfs, a moderate pace that keeps tidal-influenced channels fishable without the fast-water complications that arrive in higher-runoff years. No specific local charter or shop reports came through in this cycle from NorCal Fish Reports' Delta section, so seasonal and gauge-based context guides most of what follows. At 67 degrees, largemouth bass are wrapping up spawning activity and beginning the post-spawn transition toward deeper adjacent structure. Striped bass, which push through tidal reaches of the Delta each spring, remain opportunistic feeders at this temperature range. Wired 2 Fish's current coverage of tight-lining and finesse techniques for suspended post-spawn fish is directly applicable here — bass are often holding just off primary structure rather than actively chasing on the surface.
Post-spawn bass on the Salt as Colorado tailwater trout hold in prime form
USGS gauge 09380000 logged 55°F and 6,180 cfs on the Colorado River early this morning — cold tailwater conditions that keep the Lees Ferry reach in productive trout territory through late May. On the Salt River, mid-May typically puts largemouth and smallmouth squarely in post-spawn mode, with fish recovering off redds and staging along deeper adjacent structure. Tactical Bassin notes the bluegill spawn is in full swing across comparable late-spring fisheries, a pattern that pulls big largemouth into heavy shoreline cover — frog and topwater presentations in flooded brush are the reported play right now. Wired 2 Fish highlights tight-lining ("moping") as a reliable method for targeting suspended bass in clear conditions, keeping a finesse minnow in the strike zone without triggering refusals. No Arizona-specific shop or charter reports were available this cycle; this update draws on gauge data and broadly applicable seasonal patterns from comparable fisheries.
Gulf of Alaska halibut and salmon seasons roll into mid-May window
Water temps of 41–43°F across three Gulf of Alaska NOAA buoys mark a characteristic cold-water mid-May in the northern Pacific — well within the normal range for this region at this time of year. AK Sea Grant reports that Kodiak's fishing community turned out in strength last month for the ComFish skills competition at the city harbor, a clear signal that the spring commercial and charter season is in motion along the central Gulf coast. Direct bite reports from charter captains or tackle shops are absent from this cycle's intel feeds, so species activity levels here reflect seasonal norms and environmental readings rather than on-the-water testimony. Winds running 14–20 knots across the monitoring array could limit smaller-vessel access to offshore grounds. With the new moon underway, bottom feeders may be feeding more freely in the coming days. Confirm current conditions with your charter operator before heading out.
Post-spawn bass prowl heavy cover as bluegill spawn peaks on Tennessee & Coosa
The bluegill spawn is in full swing across Alabama's warmwater systems this week, and big largemouth are shadowing shallow cover hard. Tactical Bassin's Matt, fishing heavy cover with a frog and topwater, reports "big bass on the prowl" with the bluegill spawn driving a legitimate shallow bite. On the broader Tennessee River corridor, a Tactical Bassin post-spawn report from Lake Chickamauga details a highly variable fishery: Tim found clear-water finesse conditions at one end and power-fishing opportunities in stained water at the other, working swimbaits, chatterbaits, and soft plastics throughout the day. USGS gauge 02339500 shows the Coosa at Wetumpka holding at 1,080 cfs — a moderate, fishable stage. No instrument water temperature is available today, but mid-May in Alabama typically places these river systems in the low-to-mid 70s°F range — an ideal post-spawn window for bass regrouping along channel edges and shaded nearshore structure.
Delta stripers and shad in prime May window as New Moon tides surge
USGS gauge 11455420 logged a strong tidal reversal of -94,800 cfs at 12:30 a.m. on May 18, indicating a powerful flood-tide pulse pushing through the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta — the kind of water movement that historically stacks striped bass and American shad at slough mouths and channel junctions. No Delta-specific angler reports were available from our feeds this cycle; NorCal Fish Reports was reachable but no current region text loaded. Working from the tidal data and seasonal context: mid-May is typically the heart of the Delta's striper post-spawn feeding window, with fish scattered across main channels and tributary mouths. The American shad run, which peaks April through June in the Sacramento system, should be in full swing. Largemouth bass are transitioning post-spawn in the backwater sloughs. Tonight's New Moon amplifies tidal swings, creating strong low-light feeding opportunities at dawn and dusk. Water temperature was unavailable from gauge 11455420 at time of publication.
Finger Lakes smallmouth go post-spawn as caddis bite heats up
Water temperatures on the Finger Lakes watershed have reached 60°F, recorded at USGS gauge 04232050 early this morning — a threshold that marks the tail end of smallmouth bass spawning on Cayuga, Seneca, and Skaneateles. Post-spawn fish are leaving the beds and beginning to stage on adjacent structure. Per Tactical Bassin's recent on-water coverage, the bluegill spawn is in full swing, pulling big bass into shallow heavy cover and making topwater frogs and walking baits productive right now. Lake trout and brown trout remain active as surface temps move through the low 60s, and caddis emergences are beginning to fire; MidCurrent's current fly-tying roundup features sparse nymph and emerger patterns well-suited to this transition window. Walleye on Seneca are in post-spawn recovery and will likely be found on deeper structure. New Moon conditions today extend the low-light feeding window at dawn and dusk. No local shop or charter reports were available in this feed cycle.
Big Water Ahead: Flathead & Bitterroot Trout Seek the Slower Edges
The Flathead River is running 30,100 cfs and 48°F (USGS gauge 12372000) as of May 18 — peak spring snowmelt territory for northwest Montana. This is big, fast water, and trout across both the Flathead watershed and the Bitterroot corridor are responding by tucking into current seams, bank eddies, and inside bends away from the main channel push. MidCurrent's Tying Tuesday series this week spotlighted a beaded nymph "built for low-light, overcast days when high-contrast color is doing the work" — the same principle applies to the turbid, high-flow conditions defining this region right now. On Flathead Lake itself, Mackinaw are holding in cold-water depths well-suited to the 48°F range. Anglers fishing still waters near Kalispell should also take note: Outdoor Hub reports Montana FWP is offering a reward for information on illegally introduced northern pike discovered in Pine Grove Pond — a sign that invasive species pressure near the lake remains a live concern.
Salmon season in stride as Indiana's Lake Michigan shoreline hits mid-May
The WI DNR Lake Michigan Fishing Report documented a record 2024 coho salmon harvest exceeding 210,000 fish — plus more than 160,000 Chinook, the highest since 2012 — crediting a strong alewife forage class for improved stocked-fish survival across the lake. That forage base underpins what should be an active spring salmon fishery for Indiana's southern shoreline as of mid-May 2026. No real-time buoy readings are available for this update; the Michigan Sportsman Forum logged late-April water temps in the low-50s°F in adjacent Michigan waters, consistent with typical southern Lake Michigan surface conditions for this period. With no Indiana-specific angler intel in current feeds, our picture draws on lake-wide trends and general seasonal knowledge. Salmon trolling, steelhead near tributary mouths, and yellow perch jigging are all historically productive at this calendar date; check the IL/IN Sea Grant's active nearshore buoy network for the latest temperature and wave data before launching.
Hill Country Post-Spawn: Bass on Top, Crappie Firing Strong
LakeForkGuy is calling the current crappie bite 'the most aggressive of the year' in post-spawn conditions — a strong signal that the Texas freshwater transition from spawn to early summer is well underway on the Highland Lakes chain. The USGS gauge on the Colorado River (site 08158000) recorded 728 cfs early this morning, indicating moderate inflow into Travis's upstream margin with no water temperature reading available at the gauge. Tactical Bassin reports the bluegill spawn now in full swing, the annual trigger that pushes big largemouth bass into heavy shallow cover for frog and topwater presentations — expect that same dynamic across the cedar-studded flats and rocky points of LBJ and Buchanan. Direct real-time reports specific to Travis, LBJ, and Buchanan are limited this week; Lone Star Outdoor News notes 2025 set record angling benchmarks for Texas waters broadly, suggesting the underlying fishery health heading into this season remains strong.
Salmon bite improves off Half Moon Bay as NorCal seas run rough
Captain Jared Davis aboard the Salty Lady out of Half Moon Bay reports vastly improved salmon conditions below Pigeon Point, per Western Outdoor News — Saltwater. Water has cooled to 54°F from the 58°F reading logged at the April 11 season opener — the four-degree drop pushed bonita offshore but firmed up the chinook bite. Unfortunately, NOAA buoy 46013 off Bodega recorded 10.5-foot seas and 10 m/s winds Monday morning, and buoy 46026 showed comparable 9.5-foot swells, keeping most private vessels at the dock. A New Moon phase now underway sharpens tidal swings and can improve low-light bite windows for both offshore and bay-side anglers when conditions allow a run. Inside SF Bay, halibut and striped bass should be in their typical late-spring pattern along channel ledges, though no specific charter or shop reports for bay-side action came through this cycle's feeds. Watch for the next swell window before booking an offshore run.
Tuna Creep Into 1-Day Range as Warm SoCal Waters Come Alive for May
Water temps holding at 65°F across the LA Bight — confirmed by NOAA buoys 46025 and 46221 — are fueling an early offshore push that SoCal anglers haven't seen in years. Western Outdoor News reports bluefin and yellowfin tuna have already moved into grounds southwest of San Diego, well within 1-day-trip range, and the first albacore in the San Diego fleet in several years was gaffed April 30 aboard the Tribute. Two- and three-day trips are adding yellowtail and early dorado to the mix. Closer in, Surf Fishing in So Cal calls May a turnaround after a mixed April: "things are starting to come together in a big way." Corbina and leopard shark are the go-to surf targets right now, and 65°F water has them active along sandy beaches throughout the region. Wave heights of 4.3–5.2 ft (buoys 46221 and 46025) will add texture to the surf zone — plan your beach entries accordingly.
Saginaw Bay walleye scatter post-spawn as Lake Huron pike bite heats up
No live buoy or gauge data reached this report cycle — the USGS gauge at site 04157000 returned no readings — so conditions here are drawn from angler chatter and seasonal patterns. The Michigan Sportsman Forum logged a punishing early-season outing out of Oscoda: water barely clearing freezing at the pier, pockets of bait marking on sonar but no takers, and air cold enough to ice a windshield. By late April the picture had shifted considerably — a Michigan Sportsman Forum thread titled "Wind and Waterwolves" (April 30) documented water in the lower 50s with roughly two feet of blue-green visibility, and pike answering aggressive jerk-pause retrieves from the very first cast. Now at mid-May with a new moon overhead, Saginaw Bay's celebrated walleye fishery should be in full post-spawn dispersal mode, fish fanning out from gravel and river-mouth structure onto open-bay flats. Yellow perch, staging smallmouth, and the season's first panfish blitzes fill out what is typically the most productive stretch of the Great Lakes calendar.
Spring Salmon Staging at Michigan's Grand River Mouth
The Grand River is running at 3,910 cfs as of early morning May 18 (USGS gauge 04119000), a solid mid-spring flow delivering a warm, sediment-laden river plume into Lake Michigan at Grand Haven — historically one of the most reliable triggers for Chinook and coho salmon to stack near the river mouth ahead of the season's first big wave. No water temperature reading is available from the current instrument array; anglers should probe conditions on arrival. The WI DNR Lake Michigan Fishing Report provides optimistic context: 2024 was a banner year on the lake's open water, with more than 210,000 coho harvested (a record) and 160,000 Chinook (the most since 2012), both tied to a strong alewife forage class that sharply boosted stocked-fish survival. That strong baitfish base suggests the nearshore food web remains in solid shape heading into this spring's salmon staging window.
Green Drake season peaks on Penns Creek as limestone spring creeks hit stride
USGS gauge 01546500 registered 81.2 cfs Monday morning, with no water temperature available from this station. Mid-May is the signature moment for Centre County's limestone trout fisheries: the Green Drake hatch on Penns Creek — one of the most celebrated emergences in Eastern fly fishing — sits squarely in its typical mid-May-to-early-June window. Flylords Mag reported this week that nearly half the U.S. is in severe drought, the Mid-Atlantic included; however, groundwater-fed limestone spring creeks are far more insulated from runoff swings than freestone streams and should hold steady flows and temperatures. Gink and Gasoline noted earlier this season that unseasonably warm temperatures pushed Sulphur and Light Cahill hatches ahead of their normal late-April–May schedule, suggesting 2026 emergence timing across the region may be running early. Today's New Moon can extend the productive evening hatch window into low-light dusk periods. No shop, charter, or state-agency field reports specific to Spring Creek or Penns Creek appeared in today's intel feeds.
Erie's late-May transition: walleye and bass approach peak staging window
NOAA buoy 45005 logged 57°F on Lake Erie's surface this morning — water temperatures that typically push walleye into mid-column transition patterns and put Presque Isle Bay smallmouth on the doorstep of pre-spawn staging. Direct on-water reports from PA's Erie waters were sparse in this week's intel feeds; PA Fish & Boat Commission biologist report data did not return populated conditions in this pull, so anglers should check that page directly for the most current local update. Broader Great Lakes context: Michigan Sportsman Forum chatter from late April described walleye active in the low 50s using aggressive jerk-and-pause retrieves — chatter only, not confirmed for PA waters, but suggestive of regional fish behavior heading into the 57°F window. A tributary watershed gauge (USGS 04213000) shows flow at 161 cfs, indicating moderate and fishable conditions in Lake Erie feeders. PA Sea Grant flagged active Round Goby management concerns in Northwestern Pennsylvania as recently as December 2025 — worth noting for live-bait anglers working near bottom structure. Today's new moon keeps overnight light minimal; expect stronger morning bite windows at first light.
New River smallmouth in post-spawn mode as mid-May flows hold steady
Flow at 217 cfs (USGS gauge 03051000) signals moderate, wadeable conditions across WV freshwater as of May 18. With the new moon aligning with peak post-spawn timing, smallmouth on the New River are expected to be recovering from beds and dispersing toward transition structure — typical behavior for this week of May. Tactical Bassin reports the bluegill spawn is now in full swing across the region, a key trigger that draws big bass into shallow heavy cover for aggressive topwater and frogging action. Finesse rigs, swimbaits, and chatterbaits round out the post-spawn playbook, per the same source. Wired 2 Fish spotlighted new research this week suggesting Appalachian smallmouth may represent a genetically distinct evolutionary lineage from their Midwest counterparts — a timely note for New River regulars. No local charter or state-agency conditions reports were available for this cycle.
Spring Chinook and halibut season building across Puget Sound and WA Pacific
NOAA buoy 46041, positioned off Washington's outer coast, logged winds of 7 m/s and air temperatures near 52°F this morning — manageable spring conditions for Sound runs and coastal bar crossings. Buoy 46087, near the Strait of Juan de Fuca entrance, showed similar readings at 6 m/s and 51°F; water temperature was unavailable from both stations. No specific catch reports for Washington's Puget Sound or Pacific zones appeared in today's angler-intel feed; WA WDFW Fishing Reports is the go-to source for current creel data and stocking updates. Seasonally, mid-May is a recognized prime window for spring Chinook moving through Puget Sound sub-areas, with Pacific halibut season drawing significant effort to offshore grounds. Lingcod and rockfish complete the spring bottom-fishing picture. The New Moon phase this week intensifies tidal exchanges — plan salmon and halibut windows around peak current changes and verify current WDFW Emergency Rules before heading out.
Spring Chinook window peaks across Columbia system tributaries
USGS gauge 14113000 recorded water at 53°F and 1,240 cfs on May 18 — conditions sitting squarely in the prime temperature band for spring Chinook salmon migrating through Columbia system tributaries. WA WDFW Fishing Reports maintains statewide creel and stocking data but no targeted weekly field intel surfaced in this update cycle, so the assessment leans on gauge readings and mid-May seasonal patterns. At 53°F, trout and late-run steelhead are also feeding actively, and the cool water keeps migrating Chinook holding longer in deep runs rather than racing through. New Moon conditions on May 18 typically compress feeding windows into low-light periods — dawn and dusk transitions are worth prioritizing. On the Columbia mainstem, smallmouth bass are likely finishing the spawn or transitioning to post-spawn mode at these water temperatures, staging near rocky points and current seams. Always confirm current retention rules with WA WDFW before targeting spring Chinook, as seasons carry strict punch-card and wild-fish-retention restrictions.
Spring rockfish and post-spawn bass converge on Virginia's Potomac corridor
The Virginia DWR Wildlife Blog's spring striped bass report spotlights rockfish schooling along channel edges, sandy flats, grass beds, and rocky structure across Virginia's tidal rivers — a pattern directly applicable to the lower Potomac. On The Water's May 15 striper migration map confirms the spring push has fully extended through the region. USGS gauge 01646500 shows the Potomac at 2,500 cfs early Monday, a moderate, fishable flow. Upstream on the Shenandoah and upper Potomac reaches, smallmouth bass are in the post-spawn transition typical of mid-May. Per Tactical Bassin, the bluegill spawn is in full swing regionally, drawing largemouth into shallow cover and making topwater and frog presentations productive around dawn and dusk. No water temperature reading was available from the gauge, but mid-May conditions in this watershed typically push surface temps into the upper 60s to low 70s°F — a productive range for all three warmwater targets. New Moon phases this week sharpen feeding windows.
Shad push north on the Connecticut River as bass and trout hit spring stride
USGS gauge 01135300 logged a flow of 99.4 cfs in Vermont's Connecticut River watershed early May 18 — a moderate spring level that leaves shorelines accessible and wading conditions manageable. The Fisherman — New England Freshwater reports the Connecticut River in its middle reaches is already producing shad and carp, signaling that the head of the annual shad migration is working its way northward toward Vermont's stretches. On Lake Champlain, the new moon (May 18) falls right at the onset of the smallmouth bass spawning window; Tactical Bassin notes that bass pushing into heavy shallow cover during the bluegill spawn respond aggressively to topwater frogs and big swimbaits. MidCurrent recently spotlighted the Battenkill Fly Fishing & Arts Festival in Arlington, Vermont, a clear indicator that trout in the state's tributary drainages are active and drawing anglers out. Walleye are likely wrapping their spring run on Champlain and transitioning toward mid-depth structure.