Fishing reports
19291 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
Catskills trout dial in for prime mid-May as caddis and Sulphurs build
USGS gauge 01415000 recorded 66.9 cfs on the Catskills trout corridor as of May 16 — a wade-friendly level arriving exactly as Sulphur and caddis emergences typically begin building. The second gauge (01413500) reads 290 cfs on a heavier main-stem corridor, still productive in softer seams and pocket water behind structure. Water temperatures weren't captured at either station, making a stream thermometer an essential kit item this weekend. MidCurrent's Tying Tuesday this week featured a full water-column toolkit explicitly timed for 'hatches beginning to fire' — attractor dries, CDC emergers, and subsurface wet flies — which mirrors the multi-hatch complexity Catskills mid-May demands. Hatch Magazine's recent coverage on caddis emergence timing adds further signal that afternoon and evening caddis activity should be building across the region. Tonight's New Moon reduces overhead light during the evening rise, historically a favorable condition for surface-feeding brown trout.
Salmon Firing on Lake Ontario as Spring Open-Water Bite Builds
Strike Zone Charters reports salmon fishing has been 'very good' on Lake Ontario this past week, with brown trout and lake trout rounding out the catch in 100–160 feet of water. Targeting depth is the daily variable — wind shifts the temperature layer, and captains are adjusting setups accordingly; Mag Dipsey Divers running green, white, and chartreuse e-chips are the producing rig when temperatures push deeper. On the tributary side, the USGS gauge on the Oswego system reads 270 cfs — moderate, wadeable conditions for mid-May. The spring steelhead push has largely wrapped up, positioning this week as a transitional window: the open-water trolling bite is the headline action, while tributary anglers can prospect for resident brown trout and smallmouth bass beginning to stage for their pre-spawn. The new moon on May 17 favors low-light feeding activity on both the lake and the rivers.
Wyoming rivers entering May runoff — streamers and nymphs near the banks
Flylords Mag reported this week that nearly half the United States — the Rockies among the hardest-hit zones — is experiencing severe drought, a signal that Wyoming's spring snowpack has trailed historical averages. USGS gauge 06259000 returned no real-time readings at report time, so confirmed flow and temperature data for the Wind River and North Platte drainages are unavailable. Working from seasonal patterns and the regional drought picture, rivers in this corridor are likely in the midst of their May runoff pulse — potentially compressed relative to a high-snow year. Trout will be stacked in slower, oxygenated water: behind boulders, along undercut banks, and in the seams at the edge of fast current. Caddis emergences are typical across Wyoming's mountain rivers in this window, and Hatch Magazine's close coverage of Yellowstone-area hatches signals that insects are beginning to move. Verify flows before wading and plan for off-color water.
Post-spawn walleye and bass coming on across Wisconsin waters
The Wisconsin River is running at 656 cfs per USGS gauge 05391000 as of May 17 — a moderate, fishable level suggesting spring runoff has largely passed. No water temperature data is available from the gauge this cycle. Fishing the Midwest notes that spring shallow-water presentations are producing well across the upper Midwest, with simple casting rigs on flats drawing strikes from a range of species. Jason Mitchell Outdoors (YT) highlights shallow walleye as a current focus, with mono-rigged presentations favored for sensitivity when fish are active but selective. On the bass side, Tactical Bassin reports the bluegill spawn is in full swing — a trigger that pushes largemouth into heavy cover and onto topwater and frog baits. On The Water notes big smallmouth firing on Great Lakes structure during windy conditions, a pattern that translates directly to Lake Superior's exposed rocky shorelines. New Moon today supports active feeding windows at dawn and dusk.
New River Smallmouth Enter Post-Spawn Window as June Approaches
USGS gauge 03051000 is registering 241 cfs as of early May 17 — a moderate, wading-friendly flow that sets WV's smallmouth rivers up well for the post-spawn transition. Tactical Bassin's team notes that bass tend to school together after the spawn and it "can be fish after fish for hours" when you locate them; their current pattern relies on topwater frogs and walking baits in heavy cover as the bluegill spawn fires up. Fishing the Midwest reinforces the shallow-and-simple approach for the early-summer transition, flagging drop-shot and finesse rigs as reliable midday backups when surface action cools. No water temperature was logged at the gauge; mid-May typically places WV river temps in the upper 50s to low 60s°F — prime territory for aggressive smallmouth. Today's new moon provides favorable dawn and dusk feeding windows worth planning your float or wade around.
Spring Chinook and halibut season opens along WA coast; offshore swells a factor
NOAA buoy 46087 logged 9.5-foot wave heights off the Washington Pacific coast early Sunday, with both coastal buoys recording winds near 14–15 mph and air temperatures around 50°F — conditions that will dictate whether offshore skippers can make their runs this weekend. Water temperature readings were unavailable from either buoy at press time. Angler-specific bite reports for Puget Sound and the Pacific coast were sparse in current feeds; WA WDFW's fishing reports page is the go-to source for real-time creel data and emergency rule updates. On the ecological side, WA Sea Grant's Crab Team documented Pacific tomcod in Grays Harbor monitoring traps, a signal of healthy and diverse forage in the coastal estuary system. With the New Moon falling this weekend and mid-May historically marking the ramp-up of Puget Sound Chinook and coastal Pacific halibut action, anglers who can wait out the swell and time a calmer weather window stand to find some of the year's best opportunities.
Spring Chinook push on Columbia tributaries as mid-May temps settle in
USGS gauge 14113000 recorded 52°F water temperatures and 1,280 cfs on the evening of May 16 — readings that place Columbia basin tributaries squarely in the prime spring Chinook window. At 52°F, salmon are moving actively upriver and feeding lies along main-stem current seams should be productive. The New Moon phase this weekend typically improves low-light feeding activity for salmon holding in off-color water. No specific catch data from local tackle shops or charter operations came through in this reporting cycle, and WA WDFW Fishing Reports did not carry species-specific harvest numbers in the current feed. Anglers should check WA WDFW current regulations before targeting Chinook, as tributary-specific retention windows can shift week to week during spring. Flow at 1,280 cfs is moderate and suggests manageable wading conditions on smaller river systems, though snowmelt variability remains a factor on higher-elevation drainages through late May.
Chesapeake mouth stripers in full stride as the spring run peaks
Water at 56°F per NOAA buoy 44009 provides a productive backdrop as Virginia's spring rockfish run hits its stride. The Virginia DWR Wildlife Blog is spotlighting the fishery this week, reporting stripers schooling along channel edges, sandy flats, and grass beds across the state's tidal rivers — with coastal fish hugging rocky shorelines and hard structure. OTW Saltwater's May 12 migration update adds broader context: 50-pound-class fish originating from the Chesapeake have already pressed north to New Jersey and Long Island, signaling the heaviest spawning concentrations have cleared the bay. What's likely staging at the mouth now are schoolie-to-slot fish working bait along current transitions. Today's new moon keeps tidal exchanges moderate, favoring methodical structure-oriented presentations over open rips. Wind near 20 knots this morning per buoy 44009 limits small-boat access on the open water — plan around protected channel edges and creek mouths until conditions ease.
Stripers and Smallmouth Lead the Spring Push on the Potomac
The Virginia DWR Wildlife Blog is spotlighting spring striped bass action across Virginia's tidal rivers this week, with rockfish schooling along channel edges, sandy flats, grass beds, and rocky shorelines. On the Potomac, USGS gauge 01646500 recorded 2,500 cfs as of early Sunday morning — a moderate spring flow that keeps wading access manageable on the upper freshwater reaches while holding enough depth in channel runs where stripers and smallmouth stack. On the Water's May 15 striper migration map confirms the Northeast push has fully extended, suggesting the tail of the spring run is still moving through the Potomac corridor right now. Down on the Shenandoah, the post-spawn smallmouth transition is underway — typical for mid-May in this latitude, with fish retreating from spawning gravel to nearby feeding lies. New Moon tonight opens a prime low-light feeding window at dawn and dusk. No water temperature reading is available from our gauge this cycle; check local conditions before targeting hatch-specific windows.
Connecticut River Shad Run Builds; Lake Champlain Smallmouth on the Beds
The Fisherman — New England Freshwater reports the Connecticut River producing shad, carp, and striped bass through its middle stretches — a migration that, by mid-May, typically pushes into Vermont's southern water. USGS gauge 01135300, a Connecticut River tributary in Vermont, logged 129 cfs on May 17, a moderate post-runoff flow consistent with normal upstream fish movement. On Lake Champlain, mid-May marks the heart of smallmouth bass spawning season; fish are moving onto gravel and rocky shallows in the 4–8 foot range, making this a prime window for sight-fishing with finesse presentations. No temperature reading is available at the gauge today; Vermont river temps at this stage of spring typically fall in the high 50s to low 60s°F — right at the threshold for active shad movement and peak smallmouth spawn. New Moon this weekend eliminates bright lunar nights, typically concentrating feeding into stronger daytime and dawn-dusk windows. Plan accordingly.
Green River tailwater trout primed as spring flows hold fishable
Water temperatures on the Green River clocked in at 49°F on the evening of May 16, per USGS gauge 09234500, placing the tailwater squarely within trout's most productive feeding range. Flow is running at 1,300 cfs — elevated but wadeable if you're careful about crossing points and alert to midday bumps driven by snowmelt upstream. No direct tackle-shop or charter reports for the Green River corridor appear in this cycle's feeds, so we're leaning on the gauge data and established mid-May patterns; both tell a hopeful story. At 49°F, resident brown and rainbow trout are metabolically primed for active feeding, and the New Moon (today, May 17) extends low-light feeding windows into dusk and the early morning hours. MidCurrent's current tying coverage specifically flags midge and GFC-style nymph patterns as top choices for 'clear, pressured water of stillwaters and tailraces' — a description that could have been written for the Green River's Section A.
Specks and reds firing from Galveston jetties to Matagorda Bay
Water temperatures touching 79°F at NOAA buoy 42035, the Galveston-to-Corpus Gulf Coast is delivering a standout May bite. Capt. Bink Grimes, reported by the Galveston Daily News — Reel Report, says west Matagorda Bay is producing quality speckled trout over shell on Gulp! baits and live shrimp under popping corks, while the redfish bite in Oyster Lake is solid on live shrimp and mullet. Capt. Greg Ball — also via the Galveston Daily News — Reel Report — reports the Galveston jetties and ship channel heating up fast as bay water temperatures climb into the low 70s. Texas Fish & Game Magazine highlights surf fishing for speckled trout along the Gulf beach at daybreak, with topwater lures drawing explosive early-morning action. The 37th annual CCA Texas STAR Tournament kicks off this month, per Lone Star Outdoor News — Fishing, lending institutional weight to what captains are calling an especially active season. With a new moon and light winds currently holding, conditions are favorable across inshore and surf zones.
Eagle Mountain Lake blue catfish at peak as North Texas late-May bite ignites
Water temperatures have reached 83°F (USGS gauge 08211200), and North Texas lakes are entering one of the year's best freshwater windows. North Texas Catfish Guide reports Eagle Mountain Lake is nearly full with active freshwater inflows — a scenario the captain says triggers fast, aggressive feeding once you locate fish. Blue catfish have been the standout all spring, with guide trips logging easy limits and regular 30-pound-plus specimens per outing; the charter's May–June update confirms fish remain on the move and feeding right now. Channel catfish have also been productive on the same water. Texas Fish & Game Magazine notes that electronics are a growing edge for locating giant catfish on structure as water warms. White bass have historically been active in main-lake open water during comparable late-spring windows, per North Texas Catfish Guide reports. With the new moon tonight and warm water in place, early-morning and evening sessions should deliver the tightest bite windows through the weekend.
Post-Spawn Bass Running Strong on Chickamauga and Cumberland
The bluegill spawn is in full swing across Tennessee's major impoundments, and big bass are locked into shallow heavy cover as a result. Tactical Bassin documented a productive post-spawn day on Lake Chickamauga this week, working swimbaits, chatterbaits, and finesse rigs through sharply contrasting conditions — clear water on the upper end demanding finesse presentations, stained water on the lower end rewarding power fishing. Matt caught a giant on a topwater frog buried in thick cover, with the bluegill spawn identified as the primary trigger. MLF News reported a Phoenix Bass Fishing League weigh-in on Lake Cumberland on May 16, confirming bass are cooperating across the Tennessee-Cumberland corridor heading into mid-May. USGS gauge 03434500 records 59.7 cfs as of May 16 — lean, late-spring flow that typically keeps tributary arms running clear and structure-fishing precise. With the New Moon now open, expect feeding windows concentrated in low-light hours at dawn and dusk.
Post-Spawn Bass and Walleye Prime Along SD's Missouri River and Black Hills
Tactical Bassin reports the bluegill spawn is in full swing across the Midwest this week — a classic seasonal trigger that stacks big bass in heavy shallow cover and signals that walleye have scattered off their spawning gravel onto adjacent flats across South Dakota's Missouri River system and Black Hills waters. USGS gauge 06440200 logged 0 cfs on May 16, a reading that most likely reflects a data gap rather than true flow conditions on the Missouri; no water temperature was available from the gauge. With local conditions data sparse this cycle, Fishing the Midwest's early-season walleye playbook is the most applicable guide in hand: shallow flats, jigs, and slip-sinker live-bait rigs are the consistent producers as the post-spawn transition takes hold. The new moon on May 17 sharpens low-light feeding windows at dawn and dusk — plan your launches accordingly. Black Hills trout anglers should expect caddis and midge emergences building toward their early-summer peak based on typical mid-May timing.
Red Drum Push and Expanded Snapper Season Energize Charleston Harbor
Water temperature of 76°F logged by NOAA buoy 41004 before dawn on May 17 puts Charleston Harbor squarely in early-summer territory — warm enough to push pelagic species onto the move and prime structure fishing throughout the estuary. The clearest regional signal comes from Fisherman's Post, which reports red drum making a strong push onto North Carolina's Hatteras-area beaches, with bull reds stacking around the Cape Lookout shoals. That Carolinas-wide drum activity typically works its way through the Lowcountry as May deepens. Offshore-focused anglers have additional cause to rig up: Saltwater Sportsman and Sport Fishing Mag both confirm South Carolina is participating in a South Atlantic pilot program offering a greatly expanded 2026 red snapper season under federally approved exempted fishing permits. Closer to the harbor, mid-May's warm water and new-moon spring tides create an ideal setup for cobia on peak migration and Spanish mackerel pushing the nearshore shoals — typical for this time of year at these temperatures.
Postspawn bass on fire at Santee Cooper despite low, murky conditions
The 2026 Yokohama Tire Bassmaster Elite at Santee Cooper Lakes is providing the sharpest live read on this system right now. Per B.A.S.S. News, pros entered the event noting low, dirty water — yet the lake kept delivering. Day 2 leader Brandon Palaniuk banked a two-day total of 59-0, anchored by an 8-6 postspawn largemouth, while Day 3 leader Chris Johnston stretched that to 82-13 on a 29-2 limit. Bass are clearly in a post-spawn transitional phase, scattering toward early-summer staging areas in and around shallow cover. USGS gauge 02160390 logged a light 124 cfs as of late May 16, indicating stable, low-flow inflow conditions. On nearby Lake Murray — which shares the same post-spawn seasonal calendar — patterns are likely tracking similarly. With a New Moon falling May 17, the first and last hour of daylight this weekend will offer the week's best low-light feeding windows for bass and catfish along woody structure and channel edges.
Smallmouth stage for spawn as Susquehanna runs bank-full
USGS gauge 01540500 recorded the West Branch Susquehanna at 57°F and 19,800 cfs as of Friday evening — well above typical spring median — pushing turbidity into the main channel and making most wading stretches untenable. At 57°F, smallmouth bass are on the threshold of spawn, staging near gravel bars, rocky flats, and current seams behind wing dams rather than fighting the full brunt of open water. On The Water recently flagged that unsettled, windy conditions push big smallies onto the feed along Lake Erie; that same edge-hugging instinct applies to Susquehanna fish pressed tight to any structure that breaks current. PA Sea Grant recently led community workshops on invasive Round Goby spread in Northwestern Pennsylvania, including Allegheny drainage tributaries — anglers who hook an unfamiliar small, bottom-dwelling fish should photograph and report it. Boat anglers targeting slower side channels and backwater pockets hold a clear advantage at current flows.
Spring Chinook and Nearshore Rockfish in the Mix on the Oregon Coast
NOAA buoys off the Oregon Coast recorded surface water temperatures of 54–56°F on May 17, a cool productive band that typically drives spring Chinook salmon and nearshore rockfish action. Western Outdoor News — Saltwater reported this week that similar 54°F readings off California's Half Moon Bay coincided with "vastly improved salmon conditions" after a temperature drop — a pattern that broadly mirrors Oregon's upwelling-driven spring dynamic. Dedicated Oregon Coast charter and shop intel is absent from this data cycle, so on-the-ground conditions should be confirmed with local operators before any offshore run. Bar crossings on the Oregon Coast deserve fresh intelligence regardless of season. That said, mid-May is historically a core spring Chinook window, nearshore rockfish are reliably active in these water temperatures, and the Pacific halibut spring season is typically underway — verify current ODFW quota status and slot rules before targeting halibut, as this fishery can close quickly once allocation is reached.
Columbia and Rogue hit their spring stride for Chinook and steelhead
USGS gauge 14211720 logged 16,200 cfs and 64°F on the evening of May 16 — flows carrying the tail of Cascade snowmelt, water temperatures now squarely in the prime range for salmon and steelhead activity on the Columbia system. Spring Chinook are the headline species on the Columbia in mid-May, typically concentrated in deep mainstem pools and below tailraces as fish work steadily upriver. The Rogue follows a similar script, with spring Chinook reaching mid-river reaches by this point in the season and summer steelhead beginning to stage in the lower canyon. No specific charter, shop, or agency reports are available in our current intel feeds for these waters this week; conditions here reflect the gauge data and established seasonal patterns for the region. The new moon on May 17 can favor compressed low-light feeding windows — early morning and the final hour before dark are typically the most productive periods for both salmon and bass at this lunar phase.
Lake Eufaula Bass Locked Into Post-Spawn Pattern; Catfish Season Building
USGS gauge 07247500 on the Kiamichi River — a principal Lake Eufaula tributary — recorded just 3.05 cfs on May 16, a strikingly low reading pointing to dry inflow conditions across the watershed. No water temperature data was available this cycle, but mid-May in eastern Oklahoma typically puts reservoir surface temps in the low-to-mid 70s°F. Bass are moving through the post-spawn transition: Tactical Bassin (blog) notes the bluegill spawn is in full swing nationally, a calendar cue that draws big largemouth shallow into heavy wood and grass edges — frogging and punch-bait presentations are the go-to right now. Flukemaster (YT) echoes the shad spawn as a parallel May trigger, pulling schooling fish to rocky points and riprap. On the Red River, blue and channel catfish are entering their most productive stretch of the season. No Oklahoma-specific charter or shop reports surfaced in this cycle's feeds; check with local bait shops before heading out.
Windy Erie Smallmouth on the Feed as Bluegill Spawn Peaks
On The Water reports that windy days are putting Lake Erie's legendary smallmouth bass 'on the feed,' with nasty weather triggering aggressive feeding near the lake's eastern rim. The wind-driven pattern typically extends across Ohio's western and central basin, with smallies stacking on wave-swept rocky points and windward reefs. No readings were available from USGS gauge 03271601, leaving Ohio River flow and temperature conditions unconfirmed for the weekend. On the largemouth front, Tactical Bassin notes the bluegill spawn is currently in full swing — a reliable trigger that pushes big bass into shallow cover where topwater and frog presentations are producing. Fishing the Midwest confirms crappie are also cooperating on spring shallow flats. Tonight's New Moon extends low-light feeding periods into the early morning hours. Mid-May is historically one of the stronger windows across Lake Erie and the Ohio River drainage, and the current signals across available intel feeds are consistent with that.
Post-spawn walleye active as Red River corridor reaches prime May temps
USGS gauge 05054000 on the Red River recorded 63°F and 873 cfs on the evening of May 16 — water temperatures that signal the heart of the post-spawn walleye feeding window for the ND river corridor. Jason Mitchell Outdoors has been focused on shallow walleye this week, with recent content dedicated to trolling shallow fish and new float designs paired with forward-facing sonar. AnglingBuzz reinforces the theme with a dedicated breakdown of shallow-water walleye tactics and swimbait rigs effective across multiple species. Fishing the Midwest contributor Mike Frisch notes that slow-trolling and jig presentations in shallow water are delivering consistent early-season results across the upper Midwest. Flow at 873 cfs is moderate and fishable, concentrating walleye on current seams and inside bends without the murky, high-water conditions that suppress bite windows. The New Moon this weekend amplifies low-light feeding at dawn and dusk — the optimal timing to target active fish.
Red Drum Making a Strong Push onto the OBX Surf
Red drum are the story this week on the Outer Banks. Ryan of Hatteras Jack reports surf action has come alive, with drum making a strong push onto the beaches and anglers catching good numbers along the stretch, per Fisherman's Post (NC). Water temperatures are running warm at 77°F per NOAA buoy 41025 offshore Cape Hatteras — a reading that draws migrating drum inshore in force. Down at Cape Lookout shoals, Steve of Chasin' Tails reports schools of bull red drum working alongside plenty of good-sized bluefish, per Fisherman's Post — Carolinas saltwater. Behind the Banks, Donald of Custom Marine Fabrication notes slot-sized redfish pushing into the Pamlico/Neuse corridor with the bite spread across the entire Neuse. The new moon this weekend produces strong spring tidal surges — plan on peak feeding windows during the strongest tidal flows, especially during the first and last hours of daylight.