Fishing reports
19295 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
Largemouth bite surges on Hartwell and Russell in post-spawn window
The Savannah gauge at Clyo was reading 3.3 feet and falling as of May 7, per GA Sportsman / Georgia Outdoor News, signaling the chain is steadying after recent rains. USGS gauge 02192000 logged 801 cfs on the morning of May 11, confirming moderate inflow to the upper Savannah system. No water temperature reading was available on the gauge; mid-to-upper 70s are typical for the Georgia Piedmont in mid-May. Georgia Wildlife Blog — Fishing captured a statewide post-rain largemouth feeding push in late April — highlighted by an 8-lb, 11-oz bass taken on a spinnerbait in Morgan County shortly after showers cleared. That pattern is consistent with the post-spawn transition now under way across Hartwell and Russell. Tactical Bassin notes the bluegill spawn is in full swing regionally, driving big largemouth into topwater and heavy-cover mode. Crappie, per Georgia Wildlife Blog reports through mid-April, were active in the 3–8 foot structure band around brush piles and docks and are now transitioning toward deeper post-spawn holding water.
Delta Bass Locked Into Post-Spawn Transition as May Bite Diversifies
USGS gauge 11455420 logged 17,700 cfs through the Sacramento-San Joaquin system on May 11 — a moderate spring flow that pushes turbidity into main channels while allowing sloughs and backwater pockets to clear, creating a patchwork of conditions across the Delta. No Delta-specific charter or tackle-shop intel surfaced from citable sources this cycle, so current-conditions checks via NorCal Fish Reports' dedicated Delta section are strongly recommended before launching. That said, the seasonal picture is well-defined: striped bass have largely concluded their upstream spawning migration and are now scattering across main-channel structure, while largemouth are deep in a classic post-spawn transition. Tactical Bassin's early-May coverage confirms that bass at this stage split between shallow recovery zones and open-water transitions — with the bluegill spawn flagged as an active trigger for big fish right now. A frog or topwater worked through heavy tule cover at first light fits the moment.
Lake of the Woods Opener: Walleye Shore Bite Active, Fish the Current Breaks
The USGS gauge on the Rainy River (site 05133500) recorded 42°F water temperatures and flows of 24,500 cfs on the morning of May 11 — heavy spring runoff conditions that define opener week on Lake of the Woods and the Rainy River corridor. Jason Mitchell Outdoors (YT) is signaling that the shore walleye bite is on across the upper Midwest right now, a cue that aligns with the post-spawn movement pattern on this system. At 42°F, fish will be stacking tight to current breaks, inside bends, and backwater eddies rather than spreading across open flats; presentations need to stay near the bottom. Fishing the Midwest notes that jigs and slip-sinker live-bait rigs remain the foundational walleye approach in cold-water, current-driven conditions. AnglingBuzz (YT) recently spotlighted a Minnesota DNR deep dive into walleye stocking and hatchery performance — a reminder that the fish population underpinning this fishery is actively managed and enters 2026 from a position of strength.
Finger Lakes bass and trout on the move as post-spawn May window opens
Water logged at 52°F by USGS gauge 04232050 on the morning of May 11 puts the Finger Lakes — Cayuga, Seneca, and Skaneateles — squarely in a productive early-May window. Tactical Bassin reports the bluegill spawn is fully underway across the region, a key trigger that pushes largemouth bass into shallow, heavy cover and fires up aggressive surface feeding; frogs and topwaters are the standout presentations right now. Smallmouth are working through the post-spawn transition, with Tactical Bassin noting fish are splitting between shallow structure and open water, making swimbaits and finesse drop-shots productive depending on where individual schools settle. On The Water's recent feature on the Onondaga Lake bass resurgence — just north of the Cayuga basin — reinforces that Central New York's bass fishery is in strong shape this spring. Lake trout and rainbow trout remain actively feeding at 52°F; the thermocline on Cayuga and Seneca is positioning fish within reach of standard wire-line and lead-core trolling rigs.
Rangeley landlocked salmon enter prime season as post-ice-out window peaks
Mainely Fly Fishing (ME) noted an unusually early ice-out at area ponds this spring — Dundee Pond cleared April 4 — pointing to an advanced seasonal progression across the Rangeley Lakes watershed. The Androscoggin headwaters registered 115 cfs at USGS gauge 01054200 on the morning of May 11, a moderate spring flow as snowmelt contributions taper off in the highlands. No water temperature reading was available from the gauge, but conditions typical for this elevation and date run in the high 30s to mid 40s°F — cold enough to keep landlocked salmon aggressive near inlets and outlet narrows well into the morning. May is historically the best month for this system: salmon pursue the spring smelt run at feeder stream mouths, brook trout feed actively across all depths, and the first significant caddis and Blue-Winged Olive hatches are getting underway. Nymphing with small soft hackles or smelt streamers during low-light hours should be the most reliable tactic this week.
Moosehead lakers and landlocked salmon peak as spring runoff flows through
USGS gauge 01030500 logged 8,020 cfs on the upper Penobscot drainage as of early Monday morning — an elevated spring-runoff figure with no water temperature reading available at the gauge. No direct angler intel from Moosehead Lake or the upper Penobscot appeared in this reporting cycle; coverage in the regional feeds skews coastal (striper migration news from southern New England) rather than Maine's inland waters. Drawing on typical mid-May patterns for this region: if ice-out has cleared — expected late April into early May in a normal year — landlocked Atlantic salmon should be in their most aggressive feeding window right now, targeting smelt near lake inlets and tributary mouths. Lake trout (togue) hold near the thermocline and respond to trolled smelt imitations through May. Brook trout are seasonally prime on the smaller tributaries feeding Moosehead. The elevated river flows suggest some turbidity in feeder streams; focus on lake-edge structure and inlet seams where cleaner water meets runoff.
Tetons Cutthroat Season Builds as Late-May Yellowstone Opening Approaches
Hatch Magazine's coverage of Yellowstone caddis emergences is the strongest regional signal available in current feeds — no Wyoming gauge readings or on-the-water dispatches appeared this week. The seasonal picture is consistent regardless: mid-May on the Yellowstone plateau and in the Teton Range is peak snowmelt runoff, with the Snake River and its tributaries typically running high and off-color. Wade access is limited right now, and weighted nymphs fished tight to slower seams are the practical option for any windows the conditions offer. Caddis hatches in this corridor traditionally begin firing in the final weeks of May, per Hatch Magazine's Yellowstone hatch framing; Flylab contributor John Juracek writes about encountering prime conditions on the Madison in June — a calendar that tracks with the post-runoff window most Yellowstone-area anglers plan around. Most Yellowstone National Park trout waters typically reopen the final Saturday of May — verify current NPS regulations before any trip.
Spring salmon picking up along Indiana's Lake Michigan shore
Spring trolling season is building across southern Lake Michigan, with forum reports from May 9 describing solid action in 18-20 foot water. A Michigan Sportsman Forum post details a productive morning run with Bandits set back 35-40 feet at 1.8-2.0 SOG — "color didn't seem to matter," the poster noted, with additional fish taking jets and spoons. The WI DNR Lake Michigan Fishing Report provides essential backdrop: 2024 delivered record coho harvests lake-wide, topping 210,000 fish, alongside 160,000-plus Chinook — the best Chinook tally since 2012. Both runs were driven by strong alewife year classes boosting stocked-fish survival. Those same cohorts are now maturing into the 2026 season, giving the Indiana shoreline a favorable starting point. No NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings were available for this window; water temperature is listed as unconfirmed, and conditions should be verified locally before launching.
Prime coho season arrives off Chicago as Lake Michigan's May window builds
The WI DNR Lake Michigan Fishing Report documented standout 2024 harvest numbers — over 210,000 coho salmon (a new record) and more than 160,000 Chinook (the most since 2012) — crediting the surge to strong alewife year classes that dramatically improved stocked fish survival rates across the lake. Those forage conditions set a strong foundation heading into 2026. No real-time buoy readings were available for today's report; IL/IN Sea Grant deploys three nearshore Lake Michigan buoys specifically to track these conditions, and checking current readings before any launch is strongly recommended. Mid-May is historically prime time for coho staging along Chicago's lakefront, with fish concentrated in the 15–40-foot zone before summer stratification pushes them deeper. Chinook are also building. Trolling crankbaits and spoons at moderate speeds is the standard approach for both species during this transition window. A waning crescent moon this week typically subdues early topwater surface activity but presents no barrier for subsurface trollers.
Post-spawn bass hunting bluegill cover on Lanier and Allatoona
USGS gauge 02334430 on the Chattahoochee at Buford logged 47°F and 660 cfs at dawn on May 11 — cold tailwater from Lanier's deep dam release, while the lake surface itself runs considerably warmer this time of year. The statewide Georgia bass picture looks strong: the Georgia Wildlife Blog — Fishing reported an 8-lb., 11-oz. largemouth taken on a spinnerbait in Morgan County right after a late-April rain, a reminder of how reliably post-rain windows trigger big bites across Georgia reservoirs in spring. Tactical Bassin (blog) reports the bluegill spawn is now fully underway in the region, with large largemouth locking onto shallow heavy cover and topwater presentations. Crappie remain active as well; the Georgia Wildlife Blog documented fish pushing into 3–8 feet around brush piles, docks, and fallen timber during the spawn window. With a waning crescent moon and bass mid-transition off beds, both Lanier and Allatoona should offer a productive mix of shallow ambush fish and early-summer staging patterns.
Smokies trout dialed in as mid-May conditions peak
The USGS gauge at site 03512000 logged 59°F and 230 cfs on the Little Tennessee drainage as of the May 11 morning read — squarely in the prime feeding window for Smokies trout. Flows at 230 cfs are wading-accessible across most standard access points and represent typical late-spring runoff for the watershed. No specific on-the-water reports from local guides or tackle shops in Western NC appeared in this cycle's angler intel feeds, but 59°F water is prime dry-fly and nymph territory for rainbow, brown, and native brook trout. Mid-May in the Smokies typically brings sulphur and caddis hatches to freestone streams, with afternoon and evening hours producing the most consistent surface activity. The waning crescent moon this week creates favorable low-light windows at dawn and dusk that often correlate with more aggressive trout movement. Tight-line nymphing and dry-dropper rigs are the standard approaches when no visible hatch is underway.
Red drum flood Pamlico Sound and Cape Lookout shoals this May
Bull red drum are making one of the season's strongest inshore pushes this week along the NC coast. Per Fisherman's Post, Donald of Custom Marine Fabrication reports slot-sized reds blanketing the Neuse River and fanning across Pamlico Sound — "the bite has covered just about the whole Neuse." At Cape Lookout, Steve of Chasin' Tails (Morehead/Atlantic Beach) is putting anglers on schools of bull red drum around the shoals, with plenty of good-sized bluefish in the mix. Out on the Outer Banks, Ryan of Hatteras Jack confirms a strong surf drum push from Hatteras to Ocracoke. The surf scene is broadening too: Morgan of The Reel Outdoors (Swansboro/Emerald Isle) is recording sea mullet, black drum, and early pompano arrivals in the suds. NOAA buoy 41037 logged mild winds near 13 mph and air temps around 74°F this morning. Water temperature data was unavailable from the buoy, but mid-spring conditions across the Sound are typically in the mid-60s to low 70s.
Black Drum Parade the Barrier Islands as Spring Stripers Push North
NOAA buoy 44014 recorded 58°F water along the Eastern Shore on the morning of May 11 — right in the window that triggers Chincoteague's most coveted spring runs. Sport Fishing Mag reports that big black drum are transitioning from the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay along the barrier islands in their classic April-to-May push, targeting crabs, clams, and mussels and running to trophy sizes. On the striper front, On The Water's May 8 migration map confirms post-spawn bass are pouring out of the Chesapeake at full speed, with sizable fish spreading along the coast. The Saltwater Edge Blog — reporting from Rhode Island — noted that fresh migratory bass reports have ramped from a trickle to a steady flow over the past week, signaling the migration front is well underway up and down the Atlantic. With the moon in a waning crescent phase, dawn and dusk tidal windows will be the most productive slots for both species. Summer flounder season has opened in neighboring mid-Atlantic states; confirm current Virginia regs before targeting flatties.
Blue catfish firing on ledges as bass lock into post-spawn shift
Guide Zakk Royce of Blues Brothers Guide Service recently notched a remarkable session on Lake Gaston — catching and releasing nearly 300 pounds of blue catfish in roughly two hours drifting Santee Rigs with cut bait along channel ledges in 10 to 20 feet, per Wired 2 Fish. Lake Gaston sits immediately downstream of Buggs Island (Kerr Reservoir) on the Roanoke River chain, and the channel-ledge catfish bite it describes closely mirrors what anglers should expect at Buggs Island this week. Up the chain at Smith Mountain Lake, Tactical Bassin reports the bluegill spawn is now in full swing at Virginia latitudes, triggering largemouth onto topwater and frog presentations around shallow heavy cover. Post-spawn bass are splitting between shallow staging zones and deeper transition edges. Flow on the upper Roanoke drainage (USGS gauge 02075045) registered 562 cfs at 5:45 AM Monday; no surface water temperature reading was available from monitoring stations. Check local marinas for current surface temps before heading out.
Sandy Hook Stripers Hit Full Stride Ahead of the Sea Bass Opener
Water at 52°F per NOAA buoy 44065 hasn't slowed what veterans are already calling one of the best spring striper runs in years along Raritan Bay and Sandy Hook. Per The Fisherman — NJ/DE Surf, Keansburg Pier is 'lit up' with bass hitting clams, chunks, plugs, and shads indiscriminately, while Sandy Hook's Parking Lot areas and North Beach are producing quality fish on chunked bunker — anglers making the hike to the Rip are scoring on wooden swimmers. OTW Northern New Jersey confirms stripers hitting chunks, clams, and bottle plugs throughout the surf and bay system, and Blue Chip Sportfishing reports 'crushing' stripers on every charter. The fluke season opened May 4, but Capt. Ron's Atlantic Highlands notes a slow start — SW winds on opening day yielded just a couple of keepers. All eyes now turn to May 15, when the sea bass opener arrives; per The Fisherman — Northern NJ, the Big Mohawk III is returning to the water specifically to target sea bass.
Stripers to 48 Inches Stacking the Delaware Bay as Drum Bite Builds
Water temp sitting at 56°F at NOAA buoy 44009 on May 11, and the Delaware Bay (NJ side) is delivering on that warmth in a big way. Higbee's Bait and Tackle reports stripers to 48 inches from Fortescue Beach this week, with bloodworms far and away the top producer and a few black drum already falling for bloodworms alongside. Big Dave's Tackle confirms an outstanding bite running Cape May to Salem County — bloodworms, bloodworm bag combos (Vamp Bites and live bloodworm in a spawn net), fresh clam, glide baits, and soft plastics are all scoring, with fish to 46 inches and solid numbers of slot-size keepers. More drum are showing up along the bayshore, with Hands Too Bait and Tackle noting fish to 20 pounds on fresh shucked surf clams. Evening and early morning moving tides remain the prime windows per both shops. Important for boaters: NJ Fish & Wildlife News reports Spicers Creek Boat Ramp in Cape May County is closed May 11–14 for dock replacement and parking-area upgrades — identify your alternate launch before you head south.
Spring trout and post-spawn bass converge at Quabbin and Wachusett
The Fisherman — New England Freshwater confirms spring trout stocking is actively running across Massachusetts this week, making it a prime window to target freshly stocked fish at Wachusett Reservoir and Quabbin's accessible shoreline areas. The USGS Swift River gauge (01174500) at Hardwick logged 73.7 cfs early this morning, indicating stable, regulated outflow from Quabbin — calm conditions with no runoff or turbidity concerns. Water temperature data was unavailable from the gauge, though mid-May readings at these central Massachusetts reservoirs typically land in the low-to-mid 60s°F. Bass are entering post-spawn transition region-wide: Tactical Bassin reports the bluegill spawn fully underway and largemouth beginning the shift toward summer feeding zones. The Fisherman — New England Freshwater notes bedding bass confirmed in nearby Rhode Island waters this week, putting Quabbin and Wachusett largemouth on or just past the beds. Trout, landlocked salmon, and white perch round out a diverse mid-May slate.
Canal stripers fire up as Buzzards Bay tautog approaches peak
Striped bass made their long-awaited appearance at the Cape Cod Canal herring run this past Friday — the signal that the local season is fully underway for Buzzards Bay anglers. Per The Fisherman (Cape Cod & Islands), over-slot fish were caught and released at the run, with bass actively breaking near the mouth. Red Top Sporting Goods confirms the 'game on' moment and notes green crabs as the hot bait all across Buzzards Bay right now. The Fisherman (Northeast) adds that Canal fish reached the low 40-pound class this week. Tautog throughout Buzzards Bay are described as heading for a peak, with black sea bass season expected to open soon, adding a third serious target to local structure fishing. Water temperatures sit at 51°F in the Bay (NOAA buoy 44085) and a slightly warmer 54°F on the Vineyard Sound side (NOAA buoy 44020). Seas are currently running rough at 4.3 feet — pick your access points carefully before heading out.
Spring runoff swells Eastern WA rivers — trout pressing edges as Yakima climbs
USGS gauge 12484500 on the Yakima River recorded 2,200 cfs as of early May 11, signaling active spring snowmelt runoff that is pushing main-channel flows above comfortable wading levels. WA WDFW Fishing Reports notes the department's ongoing stocking program continues to seed eastern Washington lakes and streams, offering stocked-trout opportunity on smaller, calmer waters even while rivers run high. With the Yakima elevated, anglers targeting rainbow and brown trout should work slower water — seams, back eddies, and shallow banks adjacent to the main current — where fish stack to avoid the velocity. No water temperature reading was available from the gauge at time of publication; anglers should check local conditions before heading out. Bass in the Spokane area and eastern reservoir system are likely approaching or entering the spawn window, typical for this point in May. The waning crescent moon phase favors low-light feeding periods at dawn and dusk.
Spring Chinook Window Opens on Olympic Peninsula Salmon Rivers
USGS gauge 12041200 recorded 1,040 cfs on Olympic Peninsula drainage as of 2:15 AM on May 11, while USGS gauge 12035000 logged 715 cfs on the same morning — both readings consistent with moderate, fishable spring flows as the region moves into the heart of its traditional spring Chinook window. No water temperature data was available at either gauge. Specific on-the-water angler intel for Olympic Peninsula salmon rivers was absent from the available feeds this cycle; WA WDFW Fishing Reports remains the go-to real-time source for catch data, hatchery-mark requirements, and any emergency closures on these systems. As general seasonal context, May flows at this volume are typically workable for both drift and bank anglers targeting spring kings in deeper holding lies and slot water. Standard spring Chinook presentations — roe clusters, spinners, and back-trolled plugs — represent conventional starting points for this time of year on Peninsula rivers.
Panhandle Trout and Reds Firing in Blackwater Bay Under Calm May Conditions
Blackwater Bay yielded bull reds to 30 inches and speckled trout in the 15–16-inch range on May 6, per a Pensacola Fishing Forum report, with all fish falling to a Megabass 110 Vision jerkbait worked on water the angler had never fished before. That inshore momentum matches what Captain Rick Murphy (FL Insider) is calling across the state: the trout bite is on in Florida. NOAA buoys 42012 and 42039 show Gulf temps of 74–78°F, seas of 1.3–1.6 feet, and near-zero wind—a clean window for both inshore and nearshore anglers. The waning crescent moon favors early-morning tidal transitions over moon-driven surges. Spanish mackerel are seasonally expected to be pushing through Panhandle bays and passes in mid-May, and the settled conditions should keep them willing. Snapper activity offshore is typical for the season; verify current Gulf regulations before heading out to deeper structure.
Jack Crevalle Schooling and Trout Bite Hot Across Tampa Bay & Sarasota
Water temps at 78–79°F across the eastern Gulf (NOAA buoys 42036 and 42013) have Tampa Bay and Sarasota's inshore fishery in prime late-spring form. Capt. Brandon Naeve of CB's Saltwater Outfitters reports Jack Crevalle schooling aggressively near the surface in Sarasota Bay, feeding on baitfish around oyster bars, seawalls, and inlets — early-morning topwater plugs and poppers are drawing the best strikes, and fly fishing is "starting to cook" per the same report. Capt. Chuck Cress (also CB's Saltwater Outfitters) is landing upper-slot Redfish in the 20–25-inch range alongside Trout and Snook, with clients completing the full inshore slam. Captain Rick Murphy's Florida Insider report confirms the trout bite is "ON across Florida," consistent with the warming water signal. Conditions are cooperative: light Gulf winds of 1–2 m/s and 1.6-foot seas make for comfortable bay and nearshore access, while the waning crescent moon favors early-morning pushes on the flats.
Mutton Snapper Spawn Peaks as Keys Offshore Season Hits Full Stride
With the May full moon just past, ALL IN Key West reports mutton snapper are 'chewing like crazy' in one of the best biting windows of the year. Yellowtail are stacking up as well, with captains describing them as practically jumping in the boat. A recent Gulf-side run by ALL IN Key West produced an impressive mixed bag of grouper, snapper, cobia, barracudas, and kingfish on the same trip, underscoring how diverse the bite is right now. Water temps offshore were sitting at 78°F per NOAA buoy 41114 in late April, and with air temps near 82°F at Sand Key and Sombrero Key, the warmth is holding. The Gulfstream was running close this spring, contributing to strong early-season pelagic action. With May, June, and July described as 'lights out' by local captains at ALL IN Key West, the next several weeks represent a prime window for anglers targeting everything from bottom species to offshore gamefish.
Hill Country bass enter post-spawn mode as bluegill spawn fires up
The post-spawn transition is underway on the Hill Country chain as of mid-May. USGS gauge 08158000 logged a moderate 646 cfs on the Colorado River early this morning, consistent with stable outflow from Lake Travis and no significant flood-pulse disruption to nearshore habitat. No water temperature reading is available from this gauge, but typical mid-May conditions in the region put surface temps in the low-to-mid 70s°F — a range that accelerates the bluegill spawn and draws largemouth into shallow cover. Per Tactical Bassin, the bluegill spawn is "in full swing" right now and big bass are actively foraging in heavy cover, with topwater frogs drawing explosive strikes at first light. Fish are spread across multiple depth zones: some lingering on post-spawn flats, others staging near the first major depth breaks as the early-summer pattern begins to develop. Lone Star Outdoor News reports a record year for Texas anglers statewide, reflecting strong fish populations across the Hill Country impoundments heading into summer.