Fishing reports
19294 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
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.
Lake Ontario salmon bite heats up with browns and lakers in the mix
Strike Zone Charters (Lake Ontario) reports an excellent past week of salmon fishing, with brown trout and lake trout rounding out the catch. Per their report, targeting 100–160 feet of water has been the consistent approach, though the ideal depth shifts day to day as wind-driven temperature movement keeps fish in flux. Mag Dipsey Divers are the go-to presentation when the thermocline pushes deep, with green, white, and chartreuse e-chips among the top producers. On the tributary side, USGS gauge 04250750 shows the drainage running at 219 cfs—a moderate, fishable flow for wading anglers still targeting the tail end of the spring steelhead run on the Salmon River corridor. No water-temperature data was available from the gauge today, but the sustained charter action reported by Strike Zone suggests salmon have settled into productive near-shore temperature lanes on the open lake.
North Platte tailwaters anchor the bite as Wind River runoff begins
Flylords Mag captures the mid-May mood across Western trout country precisely: 'There's this frenzied energy in the air, this mad dash in trout towns all over the country — get to the rivers, and fish them hard, before runoff hits.' That window is now open — and narrowing — on Wyoming's Wind River and North Platte drainages. USGS gauge 06259000 returned no live reading at press time, so current flows are unconfirmed; verify conditions at USGS WaterWatch before committing to any freestone reach. The tailwater sections of the North Platte, buffered by reservoir releases, remain the most reliable anchors when freestone tributaries blow out with snowmelt. Hatch Magazine notes caddis emergences are building across western fisheries, a pattern consistent with what North Platte canyon anglers typically find in May. Nymphing caddis pupae and small midges is the core technique when visibility tightens on rising water. No region-specific charter or shop intel was available this cycle; conditions below are grounded in seasonal norms.
Walleye and whitefish on the move as Wisconsin's 2026 season gets rolling
Wisconsin's general fishing season opened May 2 with new regulations in effect, per WI DNR Wisconsin Fishing News — and the opener nearly hit a legal snag. Just one day before the season start, a federal court issued a temporary restraining order blocking the Lac du Flambeau Band from enforcing a non-tribal walleye and musky ban on several northern lakes (Outdoor Hub). With that resolved, anglers are now nine days into the season. AnglingBuzz is running dedicated coverage of shallow-water walleye tactics and Lake Superior strategies this week, while Jason Mitchell Outdoors reports the shore walleye bite is on right now. The Wisconsin River is flowing at 607 cfs as of May 11 (USGS gauge 05391000), with no temperature reading available. Up on Lake Superior, WI DNR Lake Superior Fishing documents growing angler interest in the Chequamegon Bay lake whitefish fishery — a relatively new open-water bite that has drawn enough momentum to warrant dedicated DNR management meetings this spring.
New River & Ohio bass lock into post-spawn transition for prime mid-May action
USGS gauge 03051000 is running at 296 cfs as of May 11 — a moderate, fishable flow that puts the New River in solid shape heading into the weekend. The bigger story is the seasonal transition now underway: bass across WV's freshwater systems have largely finished spawning and are dispersing into predictable early-summer staging areas. Tactical Bassin's early-May on-water coverage confirms the bluegill spawn is active across similar mid-continent fisheries, a timing cue that concentrates both largemouth and smallmouth around shallow heavy cover — laydowns, root systems, and riprap banks. Their footage shows fish responding to topwater frogs, swimbaits, and finesse setups like the Karashi. For fly anglers on the New River's wadeable stretches, MidCurrent's Tying Tuesday roundups highlight caddis emergence patterns — soft-hackles, CDC emergers, and sparse nymphs — as a high-percentage hatch window for this part of the season. The waning crescent moon favors daytime feeding windows over nocturnal sessions. Water temperature was unavailable from the gauge this cycle; verify on-site before committing to a depth pattern.
Columbia springers prime as mid-May flows hit the seasonal sweet spot
USGS gauge 14113000 logged 1,350 cfs at 55°F on the afternoon of May 11 — a moderate, wade-accessible flow sitting squarely in the mid-50s temperature range that Washington's spring Chinook prefer during their upriver push. WA WDFW Fishing Reports confirms active statewide angler monitoring and ongoing hatchery stocking, keeping Columbia tributaries and Puget Sound river systems engaged through the month. Direct on-the-water reports from specific Columbia or Puget Sound locations are limited in today's intel feeds, but at 55°F the water is right on target for migrating springers and early summer steelhead beginning to trickle into the system. Smallmouth bass on the lower Columbia's rocky mainstem are likely post-spawn or finishing up, making them receptive to finesse presentations near gravel bars, a pattern Tactical Bassin (blog) documents in their early-summer transition coverage. Puget Sound tributary rainbow and cutthroat trout remain in play with spring stocking in effect per WA WDFW. With a waning crescent moon dimming overnight light, plan first-light or late-evening sessions for the sharpest bite windows.
Post-spawn stripers pushing out of the Chesapeake as spring migration hits full stride
On The Water's May 8 striper migration map confirms the 2026 migration is "hitting full speed as post-spawn bass pour out of the Chesapeake and spread across the Northeast" — and the Chesapeake mouth is ground zero for that exodus. NOAA buoy 44009 puts water temperature at 54°F, still cool but no deterrent for fish moving on post-spawn instinct. The Fisherman (Northeast) reported fish to 47 inches in Narragansett Bay and low-40-pound-class bass at the Cape Cod Canal as of May 7, confirming large fish are in motion all the way up the coast. OTW Surfcasting reports the 2026 Striper Cup is underway, tracking the migration in real time. Saltwater Edge noted what began as a trickle of bass reports has become "a pretty steady flow" heading into the May full moon window. At the Bay mouth, expect concentrations of larger post-spawn fish pushing toward open water — prime timing for targeting serious stripers.
Post-Spawn Bass and Traveling Stripers Prime the Potomac
On The Water's May 8 striper migration update confirms post-spawn fish are clearing the Chesapeake Bay and pushing into major bay tributaries — putting the tidal Potomac firmly in play for traveling stripers through mid-May. On the bass front, Tactical Bassin reports the bluegill spawn is in full swing, a reliable trigger for big largemouth locked into shallow heavy cover and aggressively eating topwater frogs and poppers. The USGS gauge at site 01646500 logged the Potomac at 2,850 cfs Monday afternoon, a moderate spring level that keeps wade-fishing accessible on most reaches. No water temperature reading was available from this gauge this week. The Shenandoah River had no direct source coverage this reporting period, but conditions are broadly favorable for smallmouth bass as mid-May typically places river temperatures in the productive mid-to-upper 60s. Check Virginia regulations before keeping any striped bass — size and creel limits typically apply on Potomac waters.
Vermont's May window: trout hatches fire as tributaries settle into form
Connecticut River tributary flows have settled to prime wading levels — USGS gauge 01135300 logged 71.7 cfs on May 11, confirming that the region's spring runoff pulse is easing and streams are coming into shape. The timing dovetails with the Battenkill Fly Fishing & Arts Festival that wrapped in Arlington, VT at the end of April (MidCurrent), drawing regional fly anglers eager for the season's first serious hatch windows. Caddis emergences are now central to New England trout fishing at this stage, with Hatch Magazine's coverage of the pattern signaling that prime dry-fly action is building. In the warmer, shallower bays of Lake Champlain, bass are completing or exiting the spawn, per the post-spawn transition Tactical Bassin has been documenting — bluegill beds are now active, which pulls larger bass into predictable shallow structure. No water temperature data is available from the current gauge network; check local conditions before heading out.
Nymph deep and drift: Green River peaks with snowmelt as Uinta ice-out nears
USGS gauge 09234500 logged the Green River at 6,870 cfs and 44°F as of midday Monday, confirming that spring snowmelt is running at or near seasonal peak. At these volumes, safe wading is off the table across most river sections; drift-boat anglers will find the best access, targeting slower eddies and current seams where trout stage out of the main push. No Utah-specific angler intel appeared in this reporting cycle, but MidCurrent's recent tying coverage highlighted bead-head nymphs and midge-style patterns for 'clear, pressured water of stillwaters and tailraces' — a solid match for the Green River's character below Flaming Gorge even when the lower river runs heavy. Water at 44°F keeps fish metabolically active but below their peak feeding window; deep drifts along the bottom will outproduce dry-fly work until temps nudge toward 50°F. Up in the Uinta high country, most alpine lakes remain iced or are just beginning to thaw.
Eagle Mountain blue cats on a tear as Texas lakes enter summer mode
USGS gauge data puts Texas water temps at 83°F heading into mid-May, and North Texas Catfish Guide reports Eagle Mountain Lake (Fort Worth) is primed for strong action. The lake is sitting at near-full pool with sustained fresh inflow — a combination the guide calls ideal: fish are moving, fish are feeding, and "when you get on them, it happens fast." Multiple charter reports from the guide this spring document easy limits of quality blue catfish, with 30-pound-plus trophies appearing on nearly every trip. Channel catfish and white bass are also mixing into the main-lake catch. Statewide, post-spawn largemouth bass are in transition — Tactical Bassin notes the bluegill spawn is now driving aggressive topwater and frog bites in heavy cover, a pattern that fits Texas reservoirs well through mid-May. Lone Star Outdoor News flags 2026 as a record-setting year for Texas anglers broadly, pointing to strong productivity across the state's freshwater fisheries this spring.
Post-spawn bass surge across Tennessee as bluegill spawn peaks
Carter and Dylan Nutt's 1-2 finish at Douglas Lake's Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Stop 4, per MLF News, is the clearest on-water signal from Tennessee right now: bass are exiting the spawn and locking into predictable early-summer patterns. USGS gauge 03434500 shows the Cumberland system running at a stable 136 cfs as of May 11 — low, clear conditions that reward precise presentations. Tactical Bassin reports the bluegill spawn is in full swing, pushing largemouth into shallow heavy cover and triggering aggressive responses to frogs and topwater poppers. Wired 2 Fish emphasizes that light penetration and barometric pressure are the real fish-positioning factors this time of year, making low-light windows especially productive. With a waning crescent moon trimming overnight illumination, expect the best feeding activity at dawn and dusk. Swimbaits worked around laydowns and submerged timber are also producing, per Tactical Bassin's early-May on-water reports.
Walleye Shore Bite Heats Up on Missouri River as May Transition Deepens
Jason Mitchell Outdoors reports the shore walleye bite is on across the Midwest right now — a signal that aligns closely with mid-May patterns on Missouri River reservoirs, where walleye typically finish spawning and spread toward rocky shorelines and riprap. The USGS gauge 06440200 registered 0 cfs on May 11, pointing to low or no flow on this tributary; anglers targeting main-stem Missouri River reaches and the reservoir chain should confirm local water levels before launching. Water temperature data was unavailable from instruments this cycle, but mid-May historically puts reservoir temps in the 55–65°F range — prime walleye feeding territory. Tactical Bassin notes bass have entered the post-spawn schooling phase, with topwater frogs and swimbaits near heavy cover the standout presentations right now. In the Black Hills, Hatch Magazine's coverage of caddis emergences suggests dry-fly windows are opening on smaller freestone streams. A waning crescent moon this week amplifies dawn and dusk feeding activity across the region.
Charleston Inshore Heats Up: Red Drum Active as Snapper Season Expands
NOAA buoy 41004 put water temperatures at 76°F off the South Carolina coast on May 11 — a warm early-season reading energizing activity across the Lowcountry and up the Carolinas coast. Fisherman's Post — Carolinas saltwater reports red drum "making a strong push onto the beaches" along the NC outer banks, with "schools of bull red drum" working Cape Lookout shoals — a regional surge that historically tracks south into Charleston Harbor's tidal creeks and nearshore structure as May advances. The same Carolinas reports show black drum and early big pompano mixing into the surf zone, signaling a broad inshore awakening. Offshore, the news is equally encouraging: Saltwater Sportsman and Sport Fishing Mag both confirm that South Carolina anglers are among the South Atlantic states now operating under an exempted fishing permit that delivers a greatly expanded 2026 recreational red snapper season. Light winds around 10 knots and mild air temps in the mid-70s round out a favorable conditions window.
Bass bite heats up as Elite Series rolls from Murray to Santee Cooper
The Bassmaster Elite Series just wrapped a landmark week at Lake Murray — Paul Marks claimed his second Elite title with a four-day total of 90 pounds, 14 ounces (B.A.S.S. News). The tour now shifts to Santee Cooper's Lake Marion and Moultrie, where B.A.S.S. News fantasy analysts describe the system as "target rich" with endless cypress trees and laydowns. The Broad River feeder (USGS 02160390) is running at 187 cfs as of May 11 — moderate-low and stable, suggesting clean reservoir inflows with no significant runoff muddying the main lake. Post-spawn bass are transitioning: Tactical Bassin (blog) reports the bluegill spawn is in full swing, drawing big largemouth into shallow heavy cover. A waning crescent moon compresses active feeding to the first light of day. Get on the water at dawn for the best topwater window.
Stripers to 47 inches running Narragansett Bay as spring push hits full stride
Water temps reading 51–52°F at NOAA buoys 44097 and 44085, and Narragansett Bay's striper run has clearly shifted into high gear. The Fisherman (Northeast) reported linesiders to 47 inches out of the bay this week — and per On The Water, the 2026 migration is "hitting full speed" as post-spawn fish push north from the Chesapeake. The Fisherman — Rhode Island's report from The Saltwater Edge confirms quality bass being taken inside the bay by both boat and surf anglers, with larger fish feeding on adult bunker and herring; big soft plastics and topwater plugs are producing. Squid have arrived around the islands and are starting to spread along the beaches, with the Frances Fleet adding regular squid nights to their schedule after a productive Friday run, per The Fisherman — Rhode Island. Tautog action is picking up on bay structure, and fluke are beginning to show around Block Island.
Post-spawn bass and spring hatches signal peak conditions across PA rivers
Water temperature at USGS gauge 01540500 on the Susquehanna clocked 56°F on May 11, placing the river at the front edge of prime smallmouth bass territory while flow is running elevated at 21,400 cfs. Anglers should key on current breaks, boulder gardens, and softer eddies rather than open mid-channel runs until levels drop. Field & Stream's recent Pennsylvania trout coverage highlights Penns Creek wild brown trout rising to Hendrickson mayflies and Loyalsock Creek producing stocked rainbows — a signal that the central PA hatch calendar is progressing on schedule. For bass, Tactical Bassin's early-May content notes the post-spawn transition as the defining pattern right now: fish are vacating beds and moving toward summer staging structure, with topwater presentations at dawn over shallow bluegill-spawning flats among the best bets. Hatch Magazine identifies caddis emergences as a signature hatch for freestone rivers this time of year, and the Susquehanna's tributary network fits that profile closely.
Salmon Stacking at Buoy 10 as Oregon Coast's Spring Chinook Push Arrives
Water temps at the Columbia River Bar are holding at 57°F (NOAA buoy 46029), and spring Chinook and coho are putting on a show at the river mouth. Saltwater Sportsman features current reporting on Buoy 10 action near Astoria and Warrenton, with Captain Hugh Harris describing pre-dawn armadas of river sleds targeting fish that have never faced a losing battle on their ocean run. The mid-May window is a prime one for spring Chinook along the Oregon Coast, and the angler intel this week matches that expectation. Winds at the Columbia Bar are running a manageable 6 m/s (NOAA buoy 46029), though the outer-coast reading at buoy 46050 is a stiffer 10 m/s—bar timing and sea-state awareness remain essential. Down the coast, rockfish and lingcod are typical mid-May targets over nearshore reefs at these water temperatures, though no current charter or shop reports are available to confirm bite quality. Verify Oregon state regulations before retaining any salmon.
Spring Chinook Running as Columbia and Rogue Warm into Mid-May
USGS gauge 14211720 logged 64°F and 6,210 cfs on the morning of May 11 — on the warm end for a region where spring Chinook typically migrate in cooler flows. At these temperatures, salmon are likely accelerating upriver rather than staging, and anglers should target deeper, cooler holding water near channel edges, tributary mouths, and shaded canyon reaches. No charter or tackle-shop reports were available in this update cycle to confirm specific bite windows on the Columbia or Rogue, but mid-May is historically the heart of the spring Chinook season on both systems, with fish pushing through into late May and early June. On the bass front, Tactical Bassin notes that early May marks one of the most predictable bite windows of the year as bass transition from spawn to post-spawn patterns — smallmouth on the lower Rogue and Columbia side-channels are likely responding similarly, schooling around rocky structure and responding to finesse and topwater presentations.
Post-spawn bass chase bluegill on Eufaula as Red River runs low
The bluegill spawn is firing across Oklahoma impoundments in mid-May, drawing big largemouth into heavy cover — a window Tactical Bassin (blog) calls one of the most productive of the year. USGS gauge 07247500 logged a striking 4.11 cfs on May 11, signaling near-drought flow conditions on the local waterway; on Lake Eufaula, that typically concentrates fish around main-lake structure and remaining shoreline cover rather than allowing them to spread freely through the shallows. A waning crescent moon dims nighttime skies this week, favoring dawn and dusk feeding windows. In Oklahoma's BFL Okie Division, MLF News reported a recent Broken Bow Lake tournament won with a patient offshore approach — a technique worth carrying to Eufaula as post-spawn bass complete their transition from the banks. Crappie, white bass, and catfish round out a fishery that typically hits peak late-spring activity by the second week of May.
Lake Erie walleye and post-spawn bass hit prime May feeding window
Real-time data from USGS gauge 03271601 returned no readings this cycle, leaving conditions on Lake Erie and the Ohio River to be tracked through local launch reports and angler networks. What the seasonal calendar does tell us: mid-May is typically Lake Erie's strongest walleye window of the year, with fish actively feeding on nearshore reefs after completing their spring spawn. Tactical Bassin's early-May coverage highlights bass schooling near adjacent structure as they exit spawning flats — a pattern that applies squarely to Lake Erie smallmouth right now. Fishing the Midwest points to jigs and slip-sinker live-bait rigs as the go-to presentation for walleye at this stage of the season. A waning crescent moon keeps nights dark through the week, historically one of the better low-light windows for walleye activity. On the Ohio River, sauger and channel catfish are typical producers as spring flows stabilize heading into summer.
Post-spawn walleye firing on the Red River through mid-May
USGS gauge 05054000 on the Red River at Fargo logged 56°F and 1,050 cfs at midday May 11 — textbook post-spawn feeding conditions for walleye. Jason Mitchell Outdoors (YT) is running a current piece titled "SHORE WALLEYE BITE IS ON!" aimed squarely at shore anglers dialing in right now, and AnglingBuzz (YT) is covering shallow-water walleye tactics this week alongside sturgeon content, signaling fish are holding in accessible water column depths. At 56°F, walleye that completed their spring spawn in late April have largely recovered and are now chasing forage actively along transitional structure. Fishing the Midwest highlights that jigs and slip-sinker live bait rigs remain the most reliable walleye workhorses at this stage of the season, with the team recently leaning back into spinning gear for finesse presentations. Flow at 1,050 cfs is moderate and fishable — manageable for bank anglers and drift fishing alike. Northern pike are similarly active at this temperature, and channel catfish in both the Red and Missouri systems should begin picking up more consistently as water pushes toward 60°F in the coming days.
Outer Banks Spring Drum Run in Full Swing as Warm May Waters Arrive
Red drum have made a strong push onto Hatteras beaches — Ryan of Hatteras Jack, reporting via Fisherman's Post (NC), says good numbers are being caught along the surf this month in one of the Outer Banks' signature spring events. Water temperatures of 76°F at NOAA buoy 41025 (Diamond Shoals, off Cape Hatteras) confirm the warm-water trigger these fish follow north. The drum run extends to the back side as well: Donald of Custom Marine Fabrication reports slot-sized red drum blanketing the Pamlico Sound from end to end of the Neuse River corridor, per Fisherman's Post (NC). Bluefish are showing strongly near Cape Lookout shoals, per Steve of Chasin' Tails via Fisherman's Post — Carolinas saltwater — a pattern that typically precedes blues pushing north along the Banks. Boat anglers should note that 2026 brings expanded red snapper seasons for North Carolina under federally approved pilot programs, according to Saltwater Sportsman.