Fishing reports
19291 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
Post-Spawn Bass and Channel Cats on the Feed Across Kansas & Arkansas Rivers
USGS gauge 06892350 on the Kansas River is reading 79°F at 1,870 cfs this afternoon — warm, manageable flow that signals post-spawn conditions are fully in play across the drainage. Channel catfish are entering their prime feeding window at these water temperatures, and tonight's New Moon sets up ideal after-dark bite conditions in current seams. Tactical Bassin's current post-spawn coverage documents big largemouth pushing into shallow cover to target bluegill beds — a pattern that applies directly to Midwest river bass in similar warm-water windows right now. Fishing the Midwest recommends keeping presentations simple and shallow early in the season when fish are cover-oriented and actively feeding. White bass, which typically peak their spring run in Kansas river systems when water temps are in the 55–65°F range, are likely past peak with the river this warm. Plan early-morning sessions for topwater bass action and shift to cut-bait catfish rigs after dark.
Bluegill spawn ignites big-bass bite on Lake Okeechobee & the St. Johns
Tactical Bassin reports the bluegill spawn is fully underway, pushing big largemouth into shallow heavy cover where topwater frogs and swimbaits are drawing strikes. The St. Johns River at USGS gauge 02232000 is flowing at 179 cfs — a low-to-moderate stage for mid-May — which tends to concentrate fish along vegetation edges and structural transitions rather than scattering them across open flats. Water temperature was not available in this reading cycle; check local conditions at the ramp. Captain Rick Murphy (FL Insider) is flagging big tarpon action across Florida, and the St. Johns is historically one of the state's premier inland tarpon corridors as the spring push builds toward its peak. Bass on both Lake Okeechobee and the St. Johns are working through the post-spawn transition, with Tactical Bassin noting that schooling behavior kicks in as fish scatter off beds — making swimbaits, chatterbaits, and finesse presentations worth rotating through between topwater sessions.
Tarpon Migration at Full Stride Along the Gulf Coast as Permit Season Peaks
Water temps of 78°F at NOAA buoy 42036 signal prime late-spring conditions along Florida's Gulf Coast, and the fish are cooperating. Naples Offshore Fishing Charters reports the tarpon migration is "fully underway," with boats intercepting migratory fish and jumping quality tarpon on morning runs before switching to permit in the afternoons. Sight fishing for large permit has been consistently productive, with the combination of these two species making for what Naples captains describe as one of the area's marquee late-spring experiences. Kingfish are also delivering steady action on plugs and flies, while cobia and amberjacks are rounding out an offshore spread that captains call "very dynamic." Captain Rick Murphy (FL Insider) independently confirms big tarpon action is occurring across Florida statewide. Light winds of 3–5 m/s across Gulf monitoring stations are keeping conditions calm and fishable. The current New Moon phase brings stronger tidal swings that concentrate baitfish and create productive feeding windows on flats and nearshore structure.
Black drum move into Delaware Bay as spring species stack up
Water temps measured at 58°F by NOAA Buoy 44009 on May 17, and the fishing is heating up to match. Per Smith's Bait Shop (The Fisherman — DE/MD/Chesapeake), black drum have moved into the Coral Beds off Slaughter Beach and are taking clams, sand fleas, and female blue crabs — fish are also showing at Broadkill Beach on the same baits. Old Inlet Bait and Tackle reports stripers and black drum both hitting from 3Rs Road on sand fleas and clams, while the South Pocket and both jetties at Indian River Inlet produced early-morning striper action on bucktails and plugs. Tautog remain in the mix at Old Inlet, though the bite has varied day to day. Hickory shad are running through Indian River Inlet on shad darts. A stretch of wind and small craft advisories kept open-water boats sidelined mid-week per The Fisherman — DE/MD/Chesapeake, but shore and inlet fishing held up throughout.
Long Island Sound Stripers Surging — Fresh Fish and 40-Pounders Arriving
Water temperatures holding at 56°F across Long Island Sound — confirmed by NOAA buoy 44025 and NOAA buoy 44065 — and CT anglers are making the most of it. The Fisherman — Connecticut reports a full-court striper blitz from Norwalk to New London: Bobby J's notes fresh fish with sea lice mixing with resident bass, and bunker chunks producing stripers into the 20-pound-plus class. Captain Morgan's Bait and Tackle calls feeding "cranked up," highlighting over-the-slot 40-pounders turning heads alongside slot and throwback fish on swimmers and plastics along the shoreline. Fisherman's World in Norwalk confirms bass spread from inshore harbors to deep-water structure, with reefs like 11B, Can 13, and the OB Buoy holding the freshest arrivals. The Fisherman (Northeast) describes the 2026 New England striper season as "supercharged," and On The Water's migration tracker placed fish all the way to Maine by May 15. With the new moon now underway, tidal current is running strong — ideal for working rip lines and structure.
Saugatuck Browns, Stocked Trout, and CT River Shad All Firing in May
Two 8-pound brown trout surrendered by Saugatuck Reservoir this week — each taken on a shiner from a different part of the impoundment — headline a freshwater bite that's firing on multiple fronts across Connecticut. Per The Fisherman — New England Freshwater, Fisherman's World in Norwalk confirms the reservoir is also yielding solid largemouth and smallmouth bass, crappies, and perch alongside those trophy browns. Stocked-water trout action is rated "outstanding" by Fishin' Factory 3, with the Salmon River TMA, Coginchaug River, Day Pond Trout Park, and Chatfield Hollow Pond Brook Trout Park all delivering consistent catches. On the Connecticut River — logging 57°F at USGS gauge 01184000 — Fishin' Factory 3 reports shad, carp, and striped bass all active in the Middletown-to-Rocky Hill corridor, with sandworms and chunks working for linesiders. Rivers including the Mianus, Mill, Saugatuck, and Norwalk remain reliable trout spots. The New Moon this weekend sets up a favorable daytime feeding window across all species.
Salmon bite improving off Pigeon Point as cooling water draws fish in
Water temperatures have dropped to the mid-50s along the Central Coast, and per Western Outdoor News — Saltwater, Captain Jared Davis of the Salty Lady out of Half Moon Bay reports "vastly improved salmon conditions below Pigeon Point" since the water cooled from 58°F in April. NOAA buoy 46042 confirms 52°F near Monterey; buoy 46028 logs 57°F off Point Conception; buoy 46026 reads 49°F farther north. The cooling trend is exactly what Chinook salmon want — and the fish appear to be responding. The obstacle right now is access: all three Central Coast buoys are reporting wave heights between 12.8 and 14.1 feet with sustained winds up to 16 m/s, keeping most sport-fishing vessels at the dock. Anglers who can wait out the swell should focus below Pigeon Point and through the Half Moon Bay corridor when seas moderate. New Moon tides this weekend will drive strong tidal currents that concentrate baitfish near bay entrances and reef edges — a timing advantage worth planning around once conditions allow.
Delta bass and stripers prime as late-spring warmth arrives
USGS gauge 11447650 logged 69°F and 15,800 cfs in the Sacramento-Delta on May 17 — water temperatures firmly in the prime feeding range for both largemouth bass and striped bass as the region works through its post-spawn transition. Angler-intel feeds this cycle did not include Delta-specific dispatches from citable sources, so the conditions below draw on the gauge data and established seasonal patterns rather than fresh on-water testimony. At 69°F, post-spawn largemouth should be scattering off beds toward shaded shoreline structure and tule mat margins; topwater and frog presentations are historically productive during the overlapping bluegill spawn, a timing trigger Tactical Bassin (blog) documented this week as producing aggressive big-bass behavior across comparable freshwater fisheries. Striped bass remain the Delta's signature mid-spring target; expect them to be holding on main-channel edges and points where tidal current concentrates on the New Moon cycle. Check NorCal Fish Reports' Delta section for the latest guide and shop intel before launching.
High Delta Flows Push Spring Stripers Into Backwater Sloughs
USGS gauge 11455420 recorded 119,000 cfs on the Sacramento River on the morning of May 17 — a notably elevated reading that signals robust snowmelt runoff still pressing through the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. At that volume, main-channel turbidity runs high and the normal tidal pulse is largely masked by freshwater volume, driving fish out of open cuts and into slower-water refuges: tule edges, backwater sloughs, and eddies behind levee bends. No current catch reports from Delta guides or tackle shops reached our sources this pull; NorCal Fish Reports covers the Delta regularly but no specific recent bite data was available at collection time. Based on mid-May seasonal patterns for this system, striped bass are typically in the back half of their upstream spring run, largemouth bass are wrapping up or just past their spawn, and channel catfish hold reliably in murky conditions. High current demands slow presentations and structure-tight casts.
Rangeley-area landlocked salmon and brookies hit prime spring window
Mainely Fly Fishing (ME)'s early-spring 2026 report logged ice-out on Dundee Pond at April 4th — leaving Rangeley-area lakes well into their open-water season by mid-May. The Androscoggin headwaters are running at 424 cfs at USGS gauge 01054200 as of today, consistent with late-snowmelt drainage from the Western Maine highlands. No water temperature was available from the gauge. With six-plus weeks of open water behind us and today's New Moon, this is the classic window when landlocked Atlantic salmon chase smelt imitations and streamers near the surface before the thermocline fully establishes. Brook trout should be active along inlet streams and rocky lake margins. Mainely Fly Fishing noted spring arrived 'albeit slowly' in 2026, suggesting peak timing may be slightly compressed — anglers who get on the water this week rather than waiting for late May may catch the best of it. Verify size and bag limits against current Maine state regulations before keeping fish.
Post-spawn bass lock onto bluegill beds on Lake Lanier and Allatoona
The USGS gauge at Buford Dam (site 02334430) recorded a tailwater discharge of 49°F at 636 cfs on May 17 — cold, hypolimnetic releases typical of Lanier's deep stratified structure, though lake surface temperatures are running considerably warmer this time of year. The bluegill spawn is in full swing across Georgia's reservoirs, and Tactical Bassin reports bass pushing aggressively into heavy shallow cover — frogs over matted grass and topwater along weed edges are producing big strikes. The Georgia Wildlife Blog — Fishing documented post-rain largemouth success across north-central Georgia, including an 8-pound, 11-ounce fish on a spinnerbait in Morgan County — a feeding trigger pattern that translates well to Lanier and Allatoona structure after storm events. GA Sportsman / Georgia Outdoor News flagged that hot weather is now arriving and fish will likely begin shifting toward deeper water. Crappie anglers should still find fish in 3–8 feet around brush piles and docks per Georgia Wildlife Blog — Fishing spring spawn guidance, though the bite may be transitioning post-spawn.
Smokies trout entering prime late-spring window as hatches ramp up
USGS gauge 03512000 recorded 65°F water temperature and 201 cfs flow on May 17, placing Smoky Mountain streams at the warm edge of the prime trout feeding range. Water in the mid-60s is where rainbow and brown trout typically feed most aggressively ahead of the summer heat push, and the New Moon this weekend eliminates ambient light for active dusk-and-dawn feeding windows. Flylords Mag has flagged severe drought across the Southeast this spring — flows remain moderate for now, but anglers should watch for tightening levels if the dry pattern holds into June. On the hatch front, Gink and Gasoline noted that warm spring temperatures have been accelerating emergence timelines across eastern trout streams this year; mid-May in the Smokies typically aligns with caddis and sulphur activity, and current water temperatures suggest those hatches are likely in motion. Fish early, work the hatch windows, and keep an eye on the gauge.
Eastern Shore rockfish in full swing as spring migration extends north
NOAA buoy 44014 is logging 62°F water at the surface off Virginia's coast — right where spring striped bass action typically ignites on the Eastern Shore. Virginia DWR's Wildlife Blog dedicated its latest fishing report to spring rockfish, describing fish schooling along channel edges, sandy flats, grass beds, and coastal hard structure across Virginia's tidal and coastal systems. On The Water's May 15 striper migration map confirms the run has fully extended through the Northeast, and with the Chesapeake acting as the primary spawning ground, Chincoteague-area inlets are well-positioned to intercept fish moving north along the barrier island coast. OTW Saltwater's May 12 migration report noted 50-pound-class stripers staging off the Chesapeake ahead of this new moon. Today's new moon amplifies tidal swings and should sharpen feeding windows in the inlets. Offshore, buoy 44014 is reading 3.3-foot waves — manageable for seaworthy vessels, though inshore inlet mouths will offer the most accessible action this weekend.
Stripers and black drum converge on Delaware Bay as sea bass season opens
The Fisherman — Southern NJ (via Boulevard Bait & Tackle) reports a 51-inch striped bass pulled from the surf on salted clams and black drum to 38 inches right alongside — a snapshot of Delaware Bay's active spring fishery as NOAA Buoy 44009 reads 57°F on May 17. Multiple Southern NJ sources confirm the pattern: stripers ranging from slot keepers to well-over fish are crushing fresh and salted clams in beach cuts and back bays, while an early black drum push has joined the bite. Fin-Atics adds flounder to 20 inches in the back bay on minnows and strip baits, though Ray Scott's Dock notes keeper fluke remain tough with bay temps still in the low 50s in some areas. Black sea bass season opened May 15, per The Fisherman (Northeast), broadening the inshore menu. And with today's new moon, The Fisherman — NJ/DE Surf's Nick Honachefsky specifically flags weakfish as a species to target right now on the tidal current push along the bayshore.
Columbia Springers Push Upriver in Prime Mid-May Migration Window
USGS gauge 14105700 logged the Columbia River at 57°F and 235,000 cfs on the morning of May 17 — water temperature sitting squarely in the productive zone for spring chinook salmon. No regional angler-intel feeds in this cycle carried specific Columbia River bite reports; the only local signal from IFish.net Fishing Reports was a lost-item post from Chinook Landing, confirming anglers are accessing the mainstem but providing no catch data. Based on seasonal timing and current conditions, spring chinook are the primary target this week. At 235,000 cfs, the river is running with significant spring-runoff velocity, which pushes actively migrating fish into back-eddies, seams, and slack-water pockets along the banks. Anchored-boat presentations with sand shrimp or spinners fished near these calmer holding zones are the typical mid-May approach. White sturgeon are typically present on the mainstem year-round; check current ODFW regulations for retention rules before targeting them, as catch-and-release requirements often apply on the mainstem.
Snook and Jacks Fire Up Across Tampa Bay as Pre-Spawn Season Peaks
Water temperatures of 78–80°F — confirmed by NOAA buoys 42036 and 42013 — have Tampa Bay and Sarasota's inshore bite shifting into high gear. Capt. Brandon Naeve, fishing out of CB's Saltwater Outfitters in Sarasota, put a Pittsburgh visitor onto a 34-pound, 4-ounce snook at Boca Grande on May 9, setting a new boat record. The report calls May prime time as snook migrate from winter haunts toward pre-spawn staging areas. Jacks are another story in Sarasota Bay right now: CB's reports jack crevalle schooling near the surface through April and May, hammering topwater lures and poppers near oyster bars and seawalls — early-morning sessions are the most productive window. Inshore redfish are active too, with Capt. Chuck Cress of CB's putting anglers on upper-slot fish in the 20- to 25-inch range alongside trout. Tarpon action is building regionwide, per Captain Rick Murphy's Florida Insider flagging big fish across the state this week.
Toledo Bend and Sam Rayburn Bass Lock Into Bluegill-Spawn Mode
Mid-May is a transitional moment on Toledo Bend and Sam Rayburn — the spring bass spawn is wrapping, and big fish are pivoting to post-spawn feeding. Tactical Bassin reports the bluegill spawn is now in full swing across East Texas lakes, with largemouth targeting heavy shallow cover; one recent session produced giant bass on a topwater frog over matted vegetation. LakeForkGuy calls this "the most aggressive crappie bite of the year," pointing to post-spawn slabs stacking on brushpiles and submerged timber. Lake Fork Trophy Bass notes that regional East Texas reservoirs have been running roughly 3 feet low after a dry spring — a condition that concentrates fish on remaining structure. Texas Fish & Game Magazine highlights electronics-aided catfish pursuit as especially productive in warming Texas waters right now. The Sabine River (USGS gauge 08030500) is flowing at a moderate 1,960 cfs, keeping Toledo Bend stable without the turbidity issues that accompany high-water periods.
Post-spawn walleye pushing offshore as Western Basin transition window opens
Lake surface water at 56°F — confirmed by NOAA buoy 45005 on the afternoon of May 17 — puts the Western Basin squarely in post-spawn walleye territory, with fish transitioning from spawning reefs toward open-water summer staging areas. The Maumee River is running at 2,170 cfs per USGS gauge 04193500, with tributary water clocking in at 72°F — considerably warmer than the open lake and capable of drawing baitfish to the thermal edge where the plume meets cooler lake water. Tonight's New Moon brings the darkest nights of the month, historically one of the better low-light feeding windows for walleye. No charter or tackle-shop reports specific to Western Erie surfaced in available source feeds this week, but Fishing the Midwest highlights jigs and slip-sinker live-bait rigs on spinning gear as the spring walleye go-to — a setup worth keeping rigged as fish scatter across mid-depth flats.
Red drum surge onto OBX beaches as May surf action heats up
Water at 74°F (NOAA buoy 41013) sets a prime backdrop as mid-May delivers a notable red drum surge along the Outer Banks. Ryan of Hatteras Jack, per Fisherman's Post (NC), reports surf action has come alive with red drum making a strong push onto the beaches and anglers catching good numbers along the Hatteras/Ocracoke stretch. Bull reds are showing near Cape Lookout shoals to the south, and good-sized bluefish are accompanying them, per Steve of Chasin' Tails via Fisherman's Post (NC). Inland, Donald of Custom Marine Fabrication (Fisherman's Post NC) finds slot-sized fish pushing into the Pamlico/Neuse system across a wide swath of water. Today's New Moon kicks off building spring tides — prime timing for surf and back-sound drum action. Offshore, an expanded South Atlantic red snapper season for NC is confirmed for 2026, per Saltwater Sportsman.
Bluegill spawn triggers topwater action across Kentucky's big-river corridors
USGS gauge 03301500 recorded 99.2 cfs as of mid-morning May 17 — a modest, fishable flow that has Ohio and Cumberland River stretches settling into productive shape for the post-spawn transition. Tactical Bassin's recent on-water coverage confirms what anglers across the mid-South are seeing: the bluegill spawn is now in full swing, drawing largemouth into shallow heavy cover and triggering aggressive topwater strikes, with frogs and hollow-body baits performing best over active bluegill beds. On the smallmouth front, Wired 2 Fish flagged new research suggesting river-strain bronzebacks are genetically distinct from reservoir fish — a reminder that Ohio River corridor fish respond to current seams and rocky transitions in ways that differ from their impoundment cousins. Catfish are entering their pre-spawn feeding buildup, historically one of the strongest windows of the calendar year on both the Ohio and Cumberland. No water temperature was returned from the gauge this cycle; verify conditions locally before heading out.
Lake of the Woods walleye on the move as spring flows peak
The USGS gauge at International Falls (Rainy River, site 05133500) clocked 25,000 cfs and 48°F water temperature Sunday morning — elevated spring flows and cool water that define the critical post-spawn transition window for walleye on Lake of the Woods and the Rainy River corridor. No direct local charter or tackle-shop reports surfaced in this cycle's feed, but Jason Mitchell Outdoors (YT) recently spotlighted shallow-walleye trolling and a drive to Canadian walleye camp as productive themes for this time of year in border-waters country. AnglingBuzz (YT) reinforces the shallow bite, highlighting new float designs with forward-facing sonar as an emerging technique for river-mouth walleye. The new moon this weekend keeps ambient light minimal overnight and into dawn — historically a strong window for walleye in low-clarity, current-influenced water. Anglers working the Rainy River mouth should account for elevated current velocity when dialing in jig weight or trolling spread.
Yellowstone cutthroat country deep in runoff — streamers and weighted nymphs rule
USGS gauge 06192500 recorded 7,630 cfs and 44°F on the morning of May 17, placing the Yellowstone and upper Snake drainages squarely in high-water spring runoff. Main-stem wading is difficult at best, dangerous at worst; productive anglers right now are working back eddies, slow inside bends, and any clear side channels insulated from the main surge. Hatch Magazine's recent deep-dive on caddis emergences — drawing on decades of Yellowstone hatch knowledge — notes that consistent insect activity here doesn't ignite until water temperatures climb out of the low-to-mid 40s. We're right at that threshold but not through it. Flylords Mag flagged widespread drought conditions gripping the Rockies this spring, with below-average snowpack in some basins, which may accelerate the seasonal temperature rise once peak runoff subsides. Cutthroat trout are the primary target; big weighted nymphs and streamers are the only reliable producers until the hatch window opens.
Bitterroot and Flathead Running Big — Lake Trout and Bass Fill the Gap
USGS gauge 12372000 on the Flathead River at Columbia Falls recorded 30,100 cfs and 47°F this morning — peak snowmelt levels that render most tributary wade-fishing impractical and push river water into off-color, turbid condition. With the Bitterroot drainage running a similar pattern typical for mid-May, serious river action will require patience. The silver lining: Flathead Lake itself absorbs inflowing turbidity and offers relative stability for deepwater lake trout (mackinaw) and for smallmouth bass beginning to stage in protected rocky coves. Outdoor Hub reported this week that Montana FWP is offering a reward for information on illegally introduced northern pike discovered in Pine Grove Pond near Kalispell — a reminder of the pressures this ecosystem faces. The New Moon phase this weekend favors low-light feeding activity; plan early-morning and late-evening outings on calmer lake margins for the best shot at active fish. Check Montana FWP regulations before targeting any species.
Low flows and warming water push White River trout into cold-water refuges
USGS gauge 07060710 logged just 4.84 cfs and 67°F on the White River this morning — a combination that signals a tough stretch for mid-May tailwater fishing. At the upper edge of the comfortable range for rainbow trout, fish are almost certainly holding tight to the coldest pockets near dam outflows and any deep, spring-fed seams available. Flow this low points to minimal or no generation from Bull Shoals or Norfork dams, leaving gin-clear, pool-like conditions that reward stealth over aggression. No White River–specific shop or charter reports appeared in this week's angler intel. MidCurrent's midweek tying column is well-timed, specifically highlighting the GFC Fly as a pattern that "excels in the clear, pressured water of stillwaters and tailraces" — precisely the conditions at hand. Per Gink and Gasoline, warm spring temperatures can accelerate early hatch activity, making early-morning caddis or midge emergences the best shot at a reliable feeding window today.