Fishing reports
19292 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
Eastern WA trout fishing tests patience as spring flows run high
USGS gauge 12484500 logged 2,200 cfs on the afternoon of May 11 — elevated snowmelt flows that push trout toward softer water: inside seams, tailouts, and slow pockets along undercut banks. No dedicated Eastern WA angler reports surfaced from WA WDFW Fishing Reports this pull, so conditions here draw on seasonal patterns and broader freshwater context. Mid-May on the Yakima corridor is typically caddis time, with evening hatches capable of pulling trout to the surface when currents moderate. Hatch Magazine's coverage of caddis emergences reinforces the value of soft-hackles and emerging-pupa patterns fished just below the film on high, off-color days. Smallmouth bass in the Columbia system and Spokane-area lakes are likely in post-spawn transition — a period Tactical Bassin calls one of the most predictable windows of the year. Waning crescent conditions mean darker pre-dawn hours; plan outings for mid-morning onward.
Spring Chinook season peaks on Olympic Peninsula rivers
Flow readings clocked at 1,080 cfs on the Quillayute (USGS gauge 12041200) and 684 cfs on the Hoh (USGS gauge 12035000) as of midday May 11 place both rivers in moderate, fishable condition for mid-spring. No water temperature data was returned by either gauge. Specific angler intel for Olympic Peninsula salmon rivers did not surface in this reporting cycle — WA WDFW Fishing Reports carried no conditions update for this region — so this report draws on gauge readings and general seasonal patterns. Based on calendar timing alone, spring Chinook are the primary draw on both drainages, typically staging in tidal and lower mainstem reaches through mid-May before pushing upriver. Summer steelhead returns are beginning to trickle in on the Hoh and Quillayute systems. The waning crescent moon creates low-light conditions this week that favor early-morning starts. Anglers should confirm current WDFW regulations and verify there are no emergency closures before making the trip.
Late-spring Gulf warmth fires trout and mackerel across the Panhandle
Water temps from NOAA buoy 42039 are clocking 79°F in Gulf waters off the Panhandle, with nearshore buoy 42012 logging 75°F — a warm early-summer setup that has inshore species dialed in. Captain Rick Murphy (FL Insider) called out the trout bite as "ON Across Florida" this week, good news for anglers working grass flats from Pensacola Bay to Choctawhatchee Bay. Seas are running 1.3 to 1.6 feet with light winds of 3–5 m/s, giving nearshore and inshore boats a comfortable operating window. Salt Strong's Florida Panhandle & Big Bend weekend game plan for May 8–10 confirms regional fishing is active enough to draw focused coverage. May is historically the prime window for cobia along this stretch — the northward migration typically puts fish near nearshore structure and inlet passes around mid-month — though no specific charter or shop dispatch from this week is in hand to confirm exact positioning. Spanish mackerel and redfish round out the likely nearshore picture.
Jack crevalle schooling, snook staging, trout fired up across Tampa Bay
Capt. Brandon Naeve of CB's Saltwater Outfitters reports jack crevalle schooling actively in Sarasota Bay this May, feeding on baitfish near oyster bars, seawalls, and inlets — early-morning topwater with poppers and fast-retrieved jigs are the proven approach. NOAA buoys 42036 and 42013 confirm Gulf water temps of 79–81°F, with only 1.6-foot seas and light winds creating near-ideal flats conditions. Capt. Chuck Cress (CB's Saltwater Outfitters) recently put clients on multiple upper-slot redfish alongside trout in the same outing. Captain Rick Murphy (FL Insider) has declared the trout bite ON across Florida. Snook are also part of the picture, with CB's Saltwater Outfitters noting quality fish at Boca Grande, just south of Sarasota. The waning crescent moon keeps overnight tidal swings moderate; first light and last light on a moving tide are the prime windows to target this week.
Mutton Snapper Spawn Peaks in the Keys as Offshore Action Fires Up
ALL IN Key West is reporting mutton snappers "chewing like crazy" during the May full-moon spawning run, with yellowtail snappers equally hot along the reef edges. The full moon has just passed — we're now in the waning crescent phase — but spawning aggregations typically hold for several days post-moon, keeping the snapper bite productive on wrecks and reef structure. NOAA buoys at Sombrero Key (SMKF1) and Sand Key (SANF1) recorded light winds of 5–8 mph on the evening of May 11, making for comfortable offshore runs. Buoy 41114's most recent water temperature reading of 78°F (late April) reflects the warm conditions characteristic of the Keys this time of year. On the Gulf of America side, ALL IN Key West recently logged a mixed offshore bag including grouper, cobia, barracuda, and kingfish — with live bait consistently outperforming dead presentations. May through July historically represents the Keys' most prolific fishing window.
East Texas bass hit the post-spawn transition as bluegill spawn fires up
The bluegill spawn is in full swing across East Texas reservoirs this week, opening a prime window to target largemouth bass in heavy shallow cover. Tactical Bassin reports bass actively feeding around bluegill beds, with anglers connecting on topwater frogs, swimbaits, and Karashi-style jigs skipped through shallow timber. Lake Fork Trophy Bass, covering nearby East Texas reservoir conditions, notes that spring bass fishing in the region has really turned on, with fish having rushed the shallows through April for spawning — and the post-spawn transition now underway. The USGS Neches River gauge (site 08030500) logged 4,940 cfs on May 11, indicating moderate-to-elevated inflow into Sam Rayburn; watch for stained water near upper creek mouths. The waning crescent moon phase shifts the best bite toward daytime windows. At Toledo Bend and Sam Rayburn, probe first-break timber transitions as bass divide between recovering spawners and active post-spawn feeders.
Highland Lakes bass in peak post-spawn window as bluegill spawn fires
Largemouth bass across the Hill Country Highland Lakes are deep in the post-spawn transition, and Tactical Bassin's early-May on-water coverage confirms the bluegill spawn is now in full swing — a seasonal trigger that pulls big bass back into the shallows to feed aggressively. Tactical Bassin reports multiple patterns running simultaneously: a finesse Karashi-style bite, topwater frogs over heavy cover, and swimbaits including the Magdraft skipped around shoreline timber. The USGS gauge on the Colorado River (site 08158000) shows a stable 205 cfs as of May 11, indicating steady conditions on the Highland chain. No real-time water temperature is available this cycle; mid-May in Central Texas typically puts surface temps in the low-to-mid 70s°F range. Lone Star Outdoor News notes 2026 has been a record-setting year for Texas anglers statewide. With a waning crescent moon entering its final days, early-morning feeding windows will be the most reliable — plan your first cast well before sunrise.
Cool Water Brings Improved Salmon Action to Half Moon Bay Coast
Water temps along the NorCal coast have dropped to 53°F — a four-degree cooling from the 58°F readings that opened salmon season below Pigeon Point on April 11. Per Western Outdoor News — Saltwater, that shift has delivered "vastly improved salmon conditions" south of Half Moon Bay: Captain Jared Davis of the Salty Lady reports the warmer early-season water had drawn bonito into the grounds, but those fish "took a hike" as temps fell, leaving the stage set for chinook. NOAA buoy 46026 confirmed the 53°F reading on May 11, aligning with Davis's on-water reports. Buoy 46013 shows light northwest winds at 5 m/s and air temps near 50°F — standard NorCal coastal spring conditions. The waning crescent moon and calm near-shore winds make early-morning offshore runs the prime window this week. Rockfish and halibut remain on seasonal patterns throughout the Bay Area grounds, though no fresh charter intel is available for those species at this time.
Bluefin, yellows, and rare albacore as warm SoCal waters ignite the May bite
Water temps across the LA Bight are running 62–64°F — well above historical norms for mid-May — and the fishing is responding accordingly. Western Outdoor News — Saltwater reports that unseasonably warm conditions have pushed tuna well within one-day-trip range southwest of San Diego, with bluefin, yellowfin, and what's described as the first San Diego fleet albacore in years landed April 30 aboard the Tribute out of Mission Bay. Yellowtail and early dorado are already showing on two- and three-day grounds farther south. In the surf zone, Surf Fishing in So Cal's April report notes a "strange start" to the season but confirms corbina and leopard sharks are beginning to appear along SoCal beaches as nearshore temps climb. BD Outdoors Forums (West Coast) chatter from OC anglers notes mackerel stacking in the mid-column with occasional sand bass around reef structure. With a waning crescent moon and light winds, this shapes up as one of the more promising early-season windows SoCal has seen in years.
Eastern Sierra stillwaters fishing well as May snowmelt window opens
Area stillwaters are fishing well heading into the second week of May, with Reno Fly Shop (NV)'s late-April on-the-water update noting that 'most of our area stillwaters are full and fishing well' as snowmelt fills reservoirs and high-desert lakes — a pattern that typically extends across the broader Eastern Sierra corridor. USGS gauge 10265200 returned no live flow data for this report cycle, making it impossible to confirm precise river conditions on Eastern Sierra drainages. Freestone streams are entering the volatile pre-peak runoff window, when flows can color up and rise sharply with warm overnight temperatures. Stillwaters remain the more reliable option. Reno Fly Shop (NV) points to Tungsten Balanced Leech, Micro Holo Midge, and Yankee Buzzer rigs for nearby area lakes — patterns well-suited to the Eastern Sierra stillwater fishery as well. Flylords Mag flags the Mother's Day Caddis Hatch as 'the unofficial kickoff of the best of pre-runoff fishing' — a window opening right now on lower-elevation streams.
BWCA Walleye Running Shallow as Iron Range Opener Arrives
Field & Stream's April report of a 160-pound-plus lake sturgeon breaking Minnesota's catch-and-release record on the Rainy River is an apt backdrop for the BWCA border waters entering their prime window. USGS gauge 05129115 recorded 1,210 cfs on May 11, signaling active spring snowmelt moving through the watershed; no water temperature reading is available at that site. AnglingBuzz is covering shallow-water walleye tactics that align with the post-opener push typical in the Iron Range corridor. Jason Mitchell Outdoors recently documented a Canadian border-lake walleye camp and reported strong results in that zone — directly relevant to the Lake of the Woods and Rainy River corridor. Fishing the Midwest is advocating spinning gear for walleye jig presentations in cold early-season water, noting its edge on tentative-biting fish. Northern pike are in a characteristic post-spawn feeding surge and should respond well to larger moving presentations through the weekend.
North Shore steelhead run winds down; walleye and lake trout taking over
AnglingBuzz (YT) recently highlighted Lake Superior shallow-water walleye and sturgeon tactics — a timely marker that the North Shore's open-water season is gaining traction. A USGS-monitored North Shore tributary is reading 58.2 cfs as of May 11, signaling that rivers have dropped well off their spring runoff peaks. Those falling flows push any remaining late-run steelhead into deeper holding pools and make wading access considerably more manageable. On the Wisconsin side of the lake, WI DNR Lake Superior Fishing has documented growing angler interest in Chequamegon Bay lake whitefish — a broader signal that the Lake Superior system is active and diversifying heading into late May. Nearshore, lake trout and brown trout remain reliable targets on the North Shore itself, with cold, clear lake water keeping their seasonal window open for several more weeks. A waning crescent moon this week extends low-light feeding windows at dawn and dusk.
Northwoods opener underway as cold water keeps walleye and musky scattered
Water temps across Northwoods lakes are hovering in the 48–50°F range, per Rollie & Helen's Musky Shop in Minocqua, and that cold start is showing — fish of all species remain scattered as of early May. The walleye and musky seasons opened simultaneously on May 2 for the first time since the early 1980s, a calendar shift Rollie & Helen's highlighted as a major change for northern Wisconsin anglers. The opener carried an added legal dimension: Outdoor Hub reported that a federal judge issued a temporary restraining order on May 1 — one day before opening day — clearing the way for non-tribal anglers to target walleye and musky on several northern lakes after the Lac du Flambeau Band moved to restrict access. Cold-front swings are the defining story right now; per Rollie & Helen's, late-spring fronts are pushing baitfish off emerging weed flats and back toward deeper mud, dragging gamefish with them. The waning crescent moon this week favors walleye feeding during low-light windows at dawn and dusk.
Lake Michigan coho and Chinook hit stride along Door County shore
The WI DNR Lake Michigan Fishing Report highlighted a standout 2024 harvest — over 210,000 coho salmon (a record) and more than 160,000 Chinook (best since 2012) — with strong alewife year classes credited for exceptional stocked-fish survival. That forage base sets a promising stage heading into mid-May near Door County and Sheboygan. No real-time buoy readings are available this cycle, so water temperature is unconfirmed; check with local charters before launching. One key access alert: the Rowley's Bay boat launch in Door County (Liberty Grove, near Newport State Park) is closed from ice-off through approximately May 31, 2026, for concrete ramp improvements, per the WI DNR. Anglers heading to northern Door County should plan alternate launches. Smallmouth bass in Green Bay and northern Lake Michigan are also drawing management attention, with the DNR hosting public meetings on their future regulation — a signal the population is healthy enough to warrant careful stewardship.
UP Trout Streams Clearing — Prime Mid-May Window for Brook Trout and Walleye
USGS gauge 04059500, monitoring a western Upper Peninsula stream, logged 428 cfs on May 11 — a moderate spring reading suggesting runoff has crested and conditions are trending toward clearer water. Angler chatter on Michigan Sportsman Forum this weekend described UP-area rivers as "back in their banks" while swamps remain full, pointing to improving wade-fishing access across the region — though that remains unverified forum commentary. No Lake Superior surface temperature was available from buoys this cycle. On the Wisconsin side of Lake Superior, the WI DNR Lake Superior Fishing program has documented a rapidly growing lake whitefish boat fishery in Chequamegon Bay — patterns that likely mirror activity in Michigan's sheltered UP bays as well. AnglingBuzz recently highlighted shallow-water walleye and sturgeon as the targeted species for Lake Superior tactics this time of year. With flows easing and the waning crescent moon reducing overnight light pressure, this week shapes up as one of the stronger early-season openings for UP brook trout anglers.
Saginaw Bay walleye scatter post-spawn as bluegill spawn fires up the flats
Tactical Bassin (blog) reports the bluegill spawn is now in full swing across the Midwest — a reliable trigger that moves largemouth bass into shallow cover and stacks them around active beds — while the Michigan Sportsman Forum captures banner panfish action in Michigan, with one angler logging slab bluegill, crappie, and bass in the 12–16" range from a Kalamazoo-area lake. Those signals, combined with calendar date, suggest the spring transition is well underway statewide. USGS gauge 04157000 returned no flow or temperature reading this cycle, so confirmed water temps for the bay are unavailable. For Saginaw Bay and Lake Huron specifically, mid-May is typically the heart of the post-spawn walleye scatter: fish that crowded the gravel and reef spawning grounds in April now spread across the bay's broad, shallow flats, with jig-and-minnow or slip-sinker live-bait rigs typically producing well in 8–15 feet of water. Yellow perch on the west side of Saginaw Bay usually pick up through this window.
Spring steelhead closing as panfish spawn heats up at the Grand River mouth
The Grand River is running at 4,480 cfs as of May 11 (USGS gauge 04119000), carrying elevated spring flows into Lake Michigan — conditions that typically push the tail end of the steelhead run into deeper pool holds and signal the broader transition to warm-water species. Panfish are the bright spot right now: the Michigan Sportsman Forum reports heavy slab bluegill and crappie action in the region, and Tactical Bassin confirms the bluegill spawn is in full swing across Michigan lakes. Bass are shifting post-spawn as well — Tactical Bassin describes fish beginning to school along shallow edges and open-water structure as May water temperatures climb. Water temperature was not recorded at the gauge this cycle. For context on the Lake Michigan fishery overall, the WI DNR Lake Michigan Fishing Report notes that 2024 produced record coho salmon returns (over 210,000) and the strongest Chinook harvest since 2012, signaling a healthy forage base entering 2026.
Bluegill Spawn Fuels Post-Spawn Bass Action at Mosquito and Pymatuning
The bluegill spawn is in full swing across Ohio's inland reservoirs this week, and Tactical Bassin reports that big bass are actively working shallow cover to intercept them — making topwater frogs and heavy-cover presentations the play right now at Mosquito Lake and Pymatuning. Both impoundments are squarely in the post-spawn transition window for largemouth, with fish staging between spawning flats and early-summer structure. The USGS gauge on the Mahoning River tributary (site 03110000) recorded 134 cfs Monday afternoon — a moderate inflow that may carry some color into Mosquito's upper arms but leaves the main lake fishable. No gauge water temperature is available, though mid-May conditions in northeast Ohio typically see reservoir surfaces in the low-to-mid 60s°F range. Walleye, the marquee species at both lakes, are moving off post-spawn recovery toward summer patterns; a waning crescent moon this week favors low-light feeding windows at dawn and dusk.
Lake Erie Western Basin walleye spreading to open-lake structure in mid-May
The USGS gauge (site 04193500) registered 5,380 cfs on May 11, signaling moderate tributary inflow into the Western Basin — enough to carry turbidity into nearshore staging zones and influence bait positioning near the primary river mouths. No lake-surface temperature sensor data is available for this report. Mid-May typically finds Western Basin walleye completing post-spawn dispersal, transitioning off shallow spawning structure onto open-lake mud-flat edges and rocky shoals. Fishing the Midwest highlights jigs and slip-sinker live-bait rigs on spinning gear as core walleye producers — a combination that excels when fish are scattered during the seasonal transition. The waning crescent moon may push active feeding into dawn and dusk windows rather than overnight. No local charter or tackle-shop reports for the Western Basin were available this cycle; anglers should verify current conditions before heading out.
Wild browns rising on Penns Creek as sulphur season hits its stride
USGS gauge 01546500 logged Spring Creek at 96.9 cfs on the afternoon of May 11 — a moderate, wader-friendly level for Centre County's storied limestone corridor. Water temperature was unavailable from the gauge; limestone spring-fed streams in this area typically hover in the mid-50s°F through mid-May, keeping wild brown trout active. A Field & Stream essay this season names Penns Creek and Spring Creek among Pennsylvania's premier limestone rivers, calling out their 'green drake hatches and big, slurping browns' as eastern fly fishing legend. Flylords Mag pegs the Mother's Day Caddis emergence as 'the unofficial kickoff of the best of pre-runoff fishing' — a window squarely on the current week for central PA limestoners. With a waning crescent moon overhead, low-light feeding at dawn and dusk is worth prioritizing. Sulphur and caddis dry flies, backed by CDC emerger patterns in the film, are the expected surface producers on both creeks right now.
High Water Squeezes Bass to Slack-Water Edges in Allegheny Tailwaters
USGS gauge 03036500 recorded the Allegheny River running at 36,800 cfs on the afternoon of May 11 — elevated spring flow that reshapes where fish will hold and how to reach them. No water temperature reading was available from the gauge this cycle. Tactical Bassin notes that early May locks bass into a post-spawn transition, with fish schooling in predictable ambush zones and multiple patterns — topwater, swimbaits, and finesse drop-shots — all capable of producing once you locate them. At this flow level, smallmouth and largemouth will stack behind wing dams, in current seams, and inside eddy pockets rather than hold in the main channel. Walleye and sauger are seasonal staples in the Pittsburgh tailwaters this time of year. Wired 2 Fish points out that flow velocity is one of the most consequential variables shaping feeding behavior — positioning adjustments rather than presentation changes are the priority call when the gauge is elevated.
Lake Erie smallmouth and walleye prime up as Presque Isle enters post-spawn
USGS gauge 04213000 on Conneaut Creek registered 454 cfs on May 11, reflecting elevated tributary inflows along the eastern Lake Erie shoreline — a typical signal of late-spring runoff that can briefly push fish off nearshore structure. No water temperature data was available from the gauge. Direct charter or tackle-shop reports for Presque Isle are absent from current feeds, so this report leans on seasonal context and broader Great Lakes intel. Tactical Bassin notes that bass are deep in the post-spawn transition in early May — shifting off beds and into adjacent cover and structure — a pattern that smallmouth bass in Presque Isle Bay typically mirror. Walleye, Lake Erie's signature species, historically peak in May before retreating to cooler depths as summer builds. PA Sea Grant's angler engagement sessions last winter around the invasive Round Goby in northwestern Pennsylvania serve as a reminder that tube jigs and bottom rigs near rocky reefs now compete with — and imitate — this prey fish that has reshaped the lake's forage base.
Lake Erie Walleye and Smallmouth Bass Move into Prime Late-Spring Window
USGS gauge 04231600 logged 56°F and 7,580 cfs on May 11 — water temperatures that historically mark peak post-spawn feeding for walleye on Lake Erie's eastern basin and put Niagara River smallmouth right at spawn's edge. No Western NY charter or tackle-shop reports landed in this cycle's feeds, so we're working from regional signal. Forum chatter on Michigan Sportsman Forum from a May 11 Great Lakes outing pointed to walleye biting aggressively before 10 a.m. despite 2–3-foot north-northeast chop — take that as optimistic regional context, not confirmed local testimony. Tactical Bassin notes that mid-May is when post-spawn bass transitions fire up, with topwater, swimbait, and frog patterns all in play as bluegill begin to spawn in the shallows. Per Wired 2 Fish, barometric pressure and water temperature are the dominant variables setting feeding windows this time of year — at 56°F, morning sessions should consistently outperform midday outings across all Erie and Niagara targets.
Catskill caddis season peaks with prime late-spring windows ahead
Flows on two key Catskill-region gauges — 373 cfs at USGS gauge 01413500 and 95.8 cfs at USGS gauge 01415000 as of May 11 — show the watershed carrying solid spring volume, with no water temperature readings available from either station this week. Flylords Mag frames the moment well: the Mother's Day Caddis hatch is "the unofficial kickoff of the best of pre-runoff fishing," when every day on a Catskill tailout could be your last before snowmelt pushes streams into color. MidCurrent's tying coverage this week spotlights patterns that work top-to-bottom during active hatches — subsurface caddis pupa, CDC emergers, and high-floating attractors — reflecting conditions northeastern trout are currently keying on. Hatch Magazine's deep dive into caddis emergences underscores that timing and presentation matter more than pattern choice during peak activity. Direct angler intel from the Adirondacks and Catskills is thin in this week's feeds, but the seasonal picture points clearly to brown trout and brook trout feeding actively on hatch-driven windows through mid-May.