Fishing reports
19291 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
Black Drum Hit Coral Beds as Delaware Bay's Multi-Species Spring Run Ignites
Water at 54°F per NOAA buoy 44009 is coaxing Delaware Bay's spring progression into gear. Per The Fisherman — DE/MD/Chesapeake, Smith's Bait Shop confirms black drum have arrived at the Coral Beds off Slaughter Beach and at Broadkill Beach, responding to clams, sand fleas, and female blue crabs. Striped bass are the other headline: Old Inlet Bait and Tackle reports early-morning action at the South Pocket and both Indian River Inlet jetties on bucktails and plugs, with fish also hitting from 3Rs Road on clams and sand fleas. Smith's Bait Shop adds that Greens Beach and the Woodland Beach fishing pier are producing big bass on bloodworms and cut bunker. Tautog are filling out the menu with some days better than others on sand fleas and green crab, per Old Inlet. Hickory shad are also running Indian River Inlet on shad darts. On The Water's May 8 striper migration map places Delaware Bay directly in the path of post-spawn fish pouring out of the Chesapeake.
Long Island Sound striper bite fires up from Norwalk to New London
Water temperatures holding at 52°F across Long Island Sound — confirmed by NOAA buoys 44025 and 44065 — have proved enough to trigger a strong spring striper run. Per The Fisherman — Connecticut, fresh sea-liced bass are pushing in from offshore and stacking alongside resident fish from Norwalk to New London. Bobby J's reports anglers fishing fresh bunker chunks are landing stripers into the 20-pound-plus class, with jighead plastics and topwater equally productive. Captain Morgan's Bait and Tackle notes over-slot 40-inch fish turning heads, while typical action runs 24 to 29 inches along the suds and tidal rivers. Fisherman's World in Norwalk calls striper fishing "the best game in town right now," with the freshest arrivals concentrated on deep-water reefs including 11B, Can 13, and the OB Buoy. On The Water's May 8 migration map confirms the 2026 striper push is at full speed regionwide.
Spring trout bite peaks on Colorado and Arkansas rivers before runoff crests
The USGS gauge on the Colorado River recorded 65°F water and 1,880 cfs on May 12 — warm, rising conditions as high-country snowmelt accelerates. Crystal Fly Shop's late-April Colorado River report described fishing as 'sensational' at 1,380 cfs, and that energy carries forward even as flows build. Pat Dorsey Fly Fishing notes the season arrived earlier than normal across the Rockies, with midge hatches already reliable and the BWO-to-caddis transition underway. Cutthroat Anglers points to this winter's historically low snowpack as a key shaping factor: compressed runoff may mean cleaner water holding longer into May than a big snow year would allow. Anglers should target edges and softer pockets rather than wade the main current. On the Arkansas, expect similar dynamics — warming water pushing trout into feeding seams along the banks. Dawn and dusk windows offer the clearest conditions and best dry-fly opportunities as caddis and PMDs build.
Salmon Surge Below Pigeon Point as Central Coast Bite Picks Up
Water temperatures at NOAA buoys 46042 and 46028 measured 58–59°F along the Central Coast on May 12, marking a key shift in the spring pattern. According to Western Outdoor News — Saltwater, Captain Jared Davis of the Salty Lady out of Half Moon Bay Sport Fishing is reporting vastly improved salmon conditions below Pigeon Point after nearshore water cooled from 58°F to 54°F locally — "the water looks different," Davis noted — and the bonita that had moved in during the warmer early stretch have since dispersed. That four-degree drop has the salmon bite firing. Buoy 46026, positioned further north near the Bay Area shelf, clocks a cooler 52°F, hinting at active upwelling feeding the transition. Light winds of 3–4 m/s across all three monitored stations suggest manageable seas. For Central Coast anglers, the grounds below Pigeon Point are worth prioritizing this week.
Post-spawn bass and tailwater trout in stride as Colorado and Salt Rivers run high
USGS gauge 09380000 recorded 57°F and 8,880 cfs on the evening of May 11 — elevated flow consistent with spring snowmelt releases, with water temperatures sitting squarely in the ideal range for trout and transitioning bass alike. In the cool tailwater sections of the Colorado, 57°F is prime territory for nymphing and emerging dry-fly activity. In the warmer downstream reaches and along the Salt, Tactical Bassin reports the bluegill spawn is now in full swing nationally, with big largemouth actively hunting shallow heavy cover — topwater frogs and swimbaits are their current confidence plays for this post-spawn window. Wired 2 Fish's spring bass breakdown underscores warming shallows as the key ambush zone for fish coming off the beds, a pattern that translates directly to the Salt River's slower backwaters and flooded margins. Channel catfish activity typically ramps up once water crosses 55°F; we're right at that threshold, making slackwater eddies worth a set of bottom rods.
Early kings stir on the Kenai as spring snowmelt swells interior rivers
USGS gauge 15266300 logged 2,790 cfs and 43°F on the evening of May 11, reflecting typical spring-runoff conditions across the Kenai drainage as snowmelt accelerates. No charter captains, tackle shops, or state-agency feeds specific to this region were captured this cycle, so on-water bite intel is limited. That said, mid-May historically marks the opening window for early-run king (Chinook) salmon on the lower Kenai, when the first push of kings typically enters the river and bank anglers begin working the combat-fishing zones near the mouth. At 43°F, the water remains cold but is within the range where rainbows and Dolly Varden stay active on egg imitations and small nymphs. Interior rivers are shaking off the last of their ice, with Arctic grayling moving into shallow riffles as water temperatures edge upward. Verify current emergency orders and season dates before heading out — Kenai king allocations can shift week to week.
Post-spawn bass schooling as Toledo Bend enters prime early-summer window
Louisiana Sportsman reports bass fishing is 'game on' at Chicot Lake near Ville Platte as May arrives — a regional signal that Toledo Bend's post-spawn largemouth are likely in a comparable active phase. The Sabine River is running at 65.9 cfs (USGS gauge 08025500) as of May 11, indicating low, stable dam releases and settled conditions throughout the reservoir's sprawling timber-lined arms. Tactical Bassin notes that post-spawn bass are actively schooling at this stage of the season, responding well to topwater frogs over heavy cover, swimbait presentations threaded through standing timber, and Neko-style finesse rigs when fish tighten up on structure. Crappie are also in a high-opportunity window: LakeForkGuy describes the post-spawn as 'the most aggressive crappie bite of the year,' with slabs pushing onto brush piles and dock structure in the shallows. Under a waning crescent moon, early low-light windows are the top priority for topwater bass action before surface conditions flatten out by midmorning.
Post-spawn bass and springtime crappie rolling across Hartwell and Russell
GA Sportsman / Georgia Outdoor News noted in their May 9 report that the bass bite has been good across Georgia this week, and falling Savannah River levels point to improving conditions on the chain. USGS gauge 02192000 logged 731 cfs on the Savannah, and GON's May 7 gauge readings showed the river at Clyo running at 3.3 feet and dropping — a trend that typically tightens fish onto defined structure as clarity improves. The post-spawn transition is in full swing: Georgia Wildlife Blog — Fishing highlighted a prime post-rain largemouth bite in April when a Morgan County angler landed an 8-lb, 11-oz largemouth on a spinnerbait right after storms cleared, a pattern that continues to produce through early summer. Spring crappie fishing has been a consistent bright spot statewide as well. Georgia Wildlife Blog — Fishing reported fish stacked in 3–8 feet around brush piles, docks, and fallen timber through April, though mid-May finds them beginning their transition away from spawning shallows toward deeper summer cover.
Delta largemouth in post-spawn push as high spring flows fill the backwaters
USGS gauge 11455420 on the Sacramento River logged 95,600 cfs on May 11 — a robust late-spring pulse reflecting significant Sierra snowmelt still moving through the system. No Delta-specific charter or tackle-shop reports were captured in this cycle, but Tactical Bassin's current coverage points to an active post-spawn bass window underway: largemouth are vacating beds and regrouping near structure, and with the bluegill spawn now in full swing, big fish are being drawn into shallow, heavy cover on topwater presentations. High flows typically compress Delta largemouth into slower backwater sloughs, tule-lined coves, and eddy pockets off main-channel banks rather than open water. Striped bass and channel catfish round out the core Delta fishery through May; no fresh on-the-water reports on either arrived this cycle. Wired 2 Fish notes that elevated current and barometric shifts can tighten feeding windows, making low-light timing worth prioritizing.
Green River running high and cold — trout tucked into seams below the Dam
USGS gauge 09234500, just below Flaming Gorge Dam, recorded 6,700 cfs and 45°F at 5:30 p.m. on May 11 — high, cold conditions that demand a deliberate change of approach. At flows this elevated, trout have largely vacated midchannel lanes and are holding tight to eddies, boulder shadows, and the soft cushion water just inside each bank. Water at 45°F sits at the cool end of the trout feeding range, slowing metabolic rates and narrowing productive windows to low-light transitions at dawn and dusk. Safe wading is largely off the table at these flows; plan for a drift boat or fish accessible bank seams from shore. MidCurrent's recent tying coverage highlighted midge and nymph patterns that "excel in the clear, pressured water of tailraces" — guidance that maps directly onto high-water Green River tactics. All three primary species here — rainbow, brown, and cutthroat — are assessed from seasonal and thermal baselines rather than direct local angler intel this week; no regional reports in our current feeds specifically cover the Green River.
Post-Spawn Bass Patterns Set Up Across Arizona's Salt River Chain
USGS gauge 09498500 clocked the Salt River at 52.9 cfs on May 11 — a modest late-spring reading pointing to low, clear water on the river sections feeding Roosevelt, Apache, Canyon, and Saguaro lakes. Tactical Bassin notes that early May is a pivotal post-spawn transition for largemouth, with fish scattering off beds toward adjacent structure and beginning to key on the bluegill spawn igniting in the shallows. Expect largemouth holding tight to submerged brush and rocky banks, turning aggressive on topwater frogs and swimbaits as bluegill activity spikes through the morning window. The waning crescent moon this week favors daytime feeding over low-light runs. Striped bass — a Roosevelt Lake staple through late spring — are typical for this time of year pushing bait schools in open water before summer heat drives them to thermocline depths. No water temperature is available from the gauge; surface temps at Roosevelt in mid-May typically run in the low-to-mid 70s°F.
Lake Mead stripers enter prime late-spring window as post-spawn push begins
USGS gauge 09421500 returned no readings this cycle, leaving current water temperature and flow unconfirmed for the lower Colorado drainage — anglers should verify conditions at the ramp before heading out. On The Water's May 8 striper migration update documents post-spawn striped bass pushing hard through the Northeast; Lake Mead's landlocked striper population follows a similar seasonal arc, with fish typically shifting from spawning behavior toward active baitfish pursuit through mid-May. No Nevada-specific charter or shop intelligence surfaced in this report cycle. Wired 2 Fish's recent piece on environmental parameters underscores a truth longtime Mead anglers know well: water temperature and barometric pressure dictate feeding windows here more than any single lure choice. Based on typical late-spring patterns for this impoundment, expect fish schooling near rocky points and submerged structure, responding best to dawn topwater action and subsurface shad-imitation retrieves as surface temps approach the upper 60s°F.
Bluegill Spawn Ignites Big-Bass Bite at Lake of the Ozarks
Water at USGS gauge 06934500 (Osage River at Bagnell Dam) logged 66°F on May 11 — the sweet spot that signals the bluegill spawn is underway and largemouth are in predator mode. Tactical Bassin confirms the bluegill spawn is in full swing across the Midwest right now, with big bass stacked in heavy shallow cover targeting bedding bluegill; their early-May breakdown spotlights frogs, topwater poppers, and swimbaits skipped around flooded timber as the confidence baits for this transition. Below Bagnell Dam, the Osage River is running an elevated 90,300 cfs, pushing fish off main-channel banks and into slack-water eddies, laydowns, and creek-mouth pockets. Crappie are wrapping up their spawn at this temperature range and drifting toward deeper summer structure. White bass remain active in the current seams directly below the dam. Fishing the Midwest notes that drop-shot and finesse presentations continue to produce bass when the topwater bite slows midday.
Walleye and Crappie Prime as Upper Mississippi Spring Flows Peak
USGS gauge 05344500 registered 27,500 cfs on May 11, placing the upper pools in elevated spring-flow territory that pushes walleye and sauger out of the main channel and into backwater sloughs and wing-dam eddies. Statewide, Wisconsin's walleye and musky season is officially clear to proceed after a federal court issued a temporary restraining order on May 1 blocking tribal fishing restrictions on contested northern lakes, per Outdoor Hub — removing the legal uncertainty that had shadowed the opener. AnglingBuzz is actively covering shallow-water walleye and Wisconsin swimbait techniques for walleye, bass, and crappie as the late-spring bite accelerates. Tactical Bassin reports the bluegill spawn is in full swing, pulling largemouth bass into heavy shallow cover for topwater and frog action. Fishing the Midwest continues to highlight jigs and spinner rigs as reliable walleye producers at this time of year. No water temperature reading is available from the gauge at this time.
Driftless brown trout prime up as May hatches begin to fire
Water at 60°F — recorded by USGS gauge 05407000 in the Driftless watershed on May 11 — puts brown trout squarely in their peak feeding window, and fly-tying coverage this week points directly at conditions on these streams. MidCurrent spotlighted Root River Rod Co's go-to Driftless streamer, a pine squirrel jig designed to bounce rocky bottoms in tight, technical water without hanging up — a clear signal that guides tuned to this region are actively prepping for the heart of the spring season. MidCurrent's broader weekly coverage also notes that hatches are beginning to fire across upper-Midwest trout water and fish are pushing into the shallows, consistent with the mid-May window when caddis and early sulphur emergences typically build on Driftless spring creeks. The Wisconsin River main channel is carrying elevated volume at 9,450 cfs, suggesting recent precipitation, but spring-fed Driftless tributaries are naturally buffered from runoff swings and typically maintain fishable clarity. A waning crescent moon this week favors productive low-light feeding windows at dusk and dawn.
Rainy River sturgeon making history as walleye season hits prime
Field & Stream reports that an angler shattered Minnesota's catch-and-release lake sturgeon record on the Rainy River this April — a 6.6-foot fish estimated at over 160 pounds — signaling the river's spring sturgeon window is very much in play. Water temperatures are holding at 44°F with flows at 24,400 cfs (USGS gauge 05133500), conditions that support active movement from both sturgeon and walleye along the Rainy River and Lake of the Woods corridor. AnglingBuzz (YT) is actively covering shallow-water walleye tactics alongside sturgeon strategies, reflecting the dual-species opportunity that defines this region every May. Jason Mitchell Outdoors (YT) is documenting drives to Canadian walleye camps in the border lake region — a reliable seasonal marker that productive patterns are forming. At 44°F, fish are active but still in spring transition; low-light windows at dawn and dusk will consistently outproduce midday until water temperatures push closer to 50°F.
Mille Lacs walleye move off spawning reefs into mid-May transition
USGS gauge 05227530 recorded 181 cfs on May 11, pointing to moderate tributary inflow as Mille Lacs Lake walleye work through their post-spawn transition. No direct charter or tackle-shop reports from the lake appeared in current feeds — this update draws on regional angler content and seasonal context. AnglingBuzz (YT) is actively covering shallow-water walleye tactics this week, timing that tracks well with the post-spawn dispersal phase when fish begin moving off rocky spawning reefs toward adjacent sand-gravel flats and weed edges. Jason Mitchell Outdoors (YT) is focused on float designs and monofilament for walleye right now — both relevant to Mille Lacs's open-basin conditions. Fishing the Midwest points to jigs and slip-sinker live-bait rigs as the walleye workhorses in this region's spring transition. The waning crescent moon phase may dampen sustained feeding; dawn and dusk low-light windows are the highest-percentage timing for active fish.
Smallmouth and lake trout prime up across Cayuga, Seneca, and Skaneateles
USGS gauge 04232050 logged 55°F at the Finger Lakes outlet on May 11 — a textbook mid-spring reading that places smallmouth bass in prime pre-spawn staging and keeps lake trout and landlocked salmon feeding before surface temps climb further. Flow is running at a modest 27 cfs, indicating stable lake levels and clear-water conditions typical of this time of year. Tactical Bassin's early-May coverage notes that bass across the region are currently split between pre-spawn staging and active topwater windows, with swimbaits, soft plastics near structure, and dawn poppers all producing simultaneously. On The Water's recent look at Central New York's bass fisheries underscores the region is entering one of the spring season's most reliable stretches. None of this week's intel feeds included direct Finger Lakes reports, so conditions claims here are grounded in seasonal temperature patterns and regional blog coverage. With a waning crescent moon, low-light windows at dawn and dusk remain the sharpest feeding periods across the board.
Rangeley landlocked salmon and brook trout enter prime post-ice-out window
Mainely Fly Fishing (ME) reported a slow but steady spring arrival in early April — ice-out on Dundee Pond fell on April 4th — placing mid-May roughly five weeks into the post-ice-out season for the Rangeley Lakes and Androscoggin headwaters corridor. The gauge on the upper Androscoggin (USGS 01054200) read 105 cfs on the evening of May 11, a moderate, wade-friendly level; no water temperature reading was available at press time. No direct guide or shop reports from the Rangeley corridor appeared in this cycle's intel feeds, so the tactical picture below draws on seasonal norms. Mid-May is historically the peak surface window for landlocked Atlantic salmon and brook trout in this system before summer stratification sets in. The waning crescent moon this week extends low-light feeding activity at dawn and dusk. Wet flies, streamers, and early caddis and mayfly emerger patterns are the seasonal staples for this period.
Togue and Salmon Prime Time on Moosehead as Penobscot Runs High
USGS gauge 01030500 on the upper Penobscot logged 7,450 cfs on the evening of May 11 — a robust spring-runoff pulse that makes mainstem wading difficult to impossible this week. No direct angler intel from local shops or charter captains was available for the Moosehead Lake and upper Penobscot corridor in this report cycle, so conditions are assessed from gauge data and regional seasonal patterns. Mid-May is typically one of the strongest windows for landlocked Atlantic salmon on Moosehead: ice-out has passed, surface temps are still cool enough to keep fish active near the shallows, and smelt — the primary forage — are completing their spawning runs up the tributaries. Lake trout (togue) follow a similar script, prowling near-surface structure before summer warmth drives them deep. Brook trout remain accessible on smaller tributary streams far more fishable than the swollen mainstem right now. Anglers targeting salmon or togue should verify current state bag limits and slot restrictions before heading out.
Lake Winnipesaukee spring transition: landlocked salmon and bass on the move
The Winnipesaukee River outlet gauge (USGS 01081000) registered 401 cfs on the evening of May 11, reflecting active spring runoff conditions on Lake Winnipesaukee. No water temperature reading was available from instruments this cycle — check locally before committing to depth strategies. Mid-May typically places the lake squarely in its prime window for landlocked Atlantic salmon, with fish still holding in the upper water column as surface temps climb toward the preferred range. Regional freshwater patterns, per Tactical Bassin, are firmly in post-spawn bass territory: "the bluegill spawn is in full swing" across the Northeast, with largemouth hitting topwater frogs and poppers over heavy cover. Smallmouth on Winnipesaukee should be in a similar transitional phase — some still on beds, others beginning to push toward deeper structure. The Fisherman — New England Freshwater notes strong crappie and trout action on ponds across southern New England, a pattern that typically arrives in central New Hampshire a week or two later. No NH-specific charter or shop reports were available this cycle.
Champlain Smallmouth Staging as May Warm-Up Approaches Pre-Spawn Threshold
USGS gauge 04294500 recorded a water temperature of 45°F on Lake Champlain late Monday evening — still well below the 55–60°F mark that triggers the smallmouth spawn, but a telling sign that fish are beginning to stir. No direct Lake Champlain angler reports surfaced in this cycle's feeds; however, Wired 2 Fish's current piece on environmental parameters reinforces why this reading matters: at 45°F, smallmouth are transitioning from winter holding depths toward pre-spawn staging areas, while landlocked salmon remain squarely in their preferred cold-water comfort zone. Pre-spawn smallmouth should be working rocky points and submerged boulder transitions in the 8–15-foot range, responding best to slow, deliberate presentations. Landlocked salmon — which historically peak on Champlain through mid-May — should be feeding actively near the surface. The waning crescent moon this week limits nighttime bite windows and concentrates activity during daytime solar-warming peaks; plan your outing around midday if conditions allow.
Clear low flows and spring hatches put South Platte tailwaters in prime form
USGS gauge 06701900 is logging 112 CFS on the South Platte as of May 11 — a low, clear flow reflecting Colorado's historically poor snowpack this season. Cutthroat Anglers (CO) called the snowpack "historically bad" and noted anglers are searching for silver linings in a "much different season." The tailwater sections are providing exactly that: Colorado Trout Hunters reports one of the best spring runs of migratory fish on the Dream Stream in recent memory, with large lake-run brown trout still accessible to experienced anglers willing to cover water. Pat Dorsey Fly Fishing notes the river woke up "much earlier than normal" this spring, with reliable midge hatches now transitioning into BWOs and early caddis. AvidMax Blog highlights midge emerger patterns — Chocolate Foam Back and Titan Tube Midge — tailored specifically for clear tailwater and tailrace conditions. Flows are stable and low; this is prime technical-fishing season on the South Platte.
Cutthroats hold in the margins as Yellowstone and Snake surge into peak runoff
USGS gauge 06192500 put the Yellowstone River at 7,840 cfs and 55°F on May 11 — a full-bore runoff push that's turning main-stem fishing into a patience game. Flylords Mag frames the moment well this week: 'get to the rivers and fish them hard, before runoff hits and we're confined to lakes until the end of June,' calling the Mother's Day Caddis Hatch the unofficial last call before big water locks down access. That window has effectively closed on the main Yellowstone and Snake River corridors. However, 55°F is genuinely good trout water; the fight is clarity, not temperature. Hatch Magazine's current caddis-emergence coverage — drawing on John Juracek's research in 'Fishing Yellowstone Hatches' — suggests that bug life is active for anglers who can find spring creeks, side channels, or tributary streams with manageable visibility. Tuck away the big-water gear for main-stem inside seams and save dry-dropper setups for tributary pocket water.