Fishing reports
19295 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
Striper vanguard approaching Maine as spring migration charges northeast
Fresh striped bass arrived on Massachusetts' South Shore this week and are pushing steadily northward — The Fisherman's South Shore MA to ME coverage notes fish "migrating further north with each passing day," putting the Kennebec and Penobscot estuary mouths squarely in the near-term path. On The Water's May 8 striper migration map confirms post-spawn bass are spreading rapidly across the Northeast from New Jersey to Rhode Island and beyond. The USGS Kennebec gauge (site 01046500) recorded 6,470 cfs on May 10 — elevated spring flows that will steer early arrivals toward channel edges and depth transitions in the lower river. No direct Kennebec or Penobscot on-water reports surfaced in this window, so local confirmation is still pending. Landlocked salmon and shad should be active in the river system given mid-May timing, with insect emergences underway and water temperatures likely approaching prime range. Check current flow conditions and local regulations before heading out.
Chicot Lake bass heating up as high Mississippi flows flood LA backwaters
Water temperature holding at 69°F and the Mississippi running at 600,000 cfs — well above typical for early May — is pushing hard into backwater lakes, flooded cypress groves, and oxbow edges across the basin. Louisiana Sportsman reports it's "game on for bass fishing at Chicot Lake near Ville Platte" as of early May, with guide Brad Romero confirming the bite flipped on the moment the calendar turned. Post-spawn bass are in full transition; Tactical Bassin's May breakdown notes that fish at this stage split between shallow heavy cover and early open-water patterns, making flooded timber, grass edges, and laydowns the prime targets. Frogs and topwater poppers are working dawn to mid-morning, with swimbaits and finesse soft-plastics picking up the midday slack. The Atchafalaya basin is similarly primed — elevated spring stages consistently push bass, crappie, and catfish deep into flooded timber before fish concentrate as river levels ease. Last Quarter moon this weekend favors the dawn and dusk windows.
Post-spawn bass and catfish on the move as Kansas rivers warm into May
USGS gauge 06892350 clocked the Kansas River at 69°F and 4,320 cfs on the afternoon of May 10 — prime conditions for warm-water species across both the Kansas and Arkansas River corridors. Bass are firmly in the post-spawn transition, and Tactical Bassin reports the bluegill spawn is now in full swing, pulling aggressive largemouths into shallow heavy cover; a topwater frog or popper worked through timber is drawing explosive strikes. For anglers who want to cover more water, a finesse Karashi bite and a swimbait pattern skipping around flooded trees round out the mid-May playbook, per Tactical Bassin. On the broader regional scene, Wired 2 Fish covered Cole Floyd's 56-pound, 24-fish bass bag at Beaver Lake in Arkansas this weekend, a clear sign the regional bite is dialed in. Channel catfish should be highly active at 69°F — right in the heart of their prime spring feeding range on both river systems. Check current Kansas and Arkansas state regulations before harvesting.
Indiana bass deep in spawn transition as Wabash River runs full
The USGS gauge on the Wabash River (03335500) logged 10,300 cfs as of Sunday evening — a robust spring flow pushing color into the main channel and moving fish toward eddies, riprap seams, and sheltered backwaters. Tactical Bassin confirms that across the Midwest, bass are currently straddling multiple spawn phases: lingering spawners, active bedders, and post-spawn fish transitioning to adjacent cover are all catchable. The bluegill spawn is fully underway, and per Tactical Bassin, frogs and topwater poppers over heavy shallow cover are the priority presentation right now. Elevated Wabash flows favor wing-dam structure and slower inside bends for walleye and catfish. On Lake Michigan's southern Indiana shoreline, IL/IN Sea Grant has deployed its nearshore buoy network for the season — though no Indiana-side temperature readings were available in today's environmental pull. Anglers targeting yellow perch on the south end of the lake should check the IISG buoy network for current conditions before heading out.
Illinois River running big — bass in the backwaters as Lake Michigan warms
USGS gauge 05586100 put the Illinois River at 43,200 cfs on May 10, a substantial spring flow pushing fish out of the main channel and into flooded backwater sloughs, timber edges, and any slack-water pocket anglers can reach. Tactical Bassin reports the bluegill spawn is in full swing across the Midwest, and big largemouth are tracking the bait into heavy cover — frogs and topwaters are producing where fish have settled into refuge habitat. On Lake Michigan, IL/IN Sea Grant notes that spring is buoy deployment season for their nearshore monitoring network, a seasonal marker that the lake is now transitioning into its warm-water window. Walleye are an important target on both the river and the lake system; Fishing the Midwest highlights jigs and slip-sinker live bait rigs as the go-to approach as fish shift from late-spring staging to early summer feeding. No water temperature reading was available from the gauge on May 10.
Spring Chinook on the move as Snake River hits May runoff peak
USGS gauge 13340000 clocked the Snake River at 25,600 cfs and 51°F on the afternoon of May 10 — a flow level consistent with peak spring snowmelt runoff across the Idaho drainage. At 51°F, water temps sit squarely in the productive range for spring Chinook salmon, the primary draw on both the Snake and Salmon rivers this time of year. High runoff flows like these push salmon upstream aggressively but can color the main stem; anglers typically shift to channel-edge seams and back-eddy zones when flows run elevated. No Idaho-specific tackle shop or guide reports surfaced in this intel cycle; the broader regional picture from Caddis Fly (OR) suggests that spring Pacific Northwest valley flows are stabilizing and insects are beginning to emerge — a signal that salmonfly nymph patterns may start producing on protected tributary reaches of the Salmon River. Trout Unlimited recently spotlighted Idaho's overwhelming public-land access support, a welcome backdrop for anglers planning trips this season.
Post-spawn bass prowling heavy cover as bluegill spawn ignites Georgia
Georgia bass fishing is delivering in a productive post-spawn window, with the bluegill spawn now in full swing offering prime topwater and heavy-cover opportunities. Per GA Sportsman/Georgia Outdoor News's May 9 conditions report, the bass bite has been solid across the region this week with multiple patterns working. Earlier this month, the Georgia Wildlife Blog highlighted a standout catch: 10-year-old Max Collins landed an 8-pound, 11-ounce largemouth in Morgan County on a spinnerbait in post-rain conditions — a signal of how well fish are responding to recent weather events. On the Savannah system, GA Sportsman noted the Clyo gauge reading 3.3 feet and falling as of May 7, while USGS gauge 02197000 shows flow at 4,350 cfs as of May 10, suggesting improving clarity as levels drop. Crappie remain a strong secondary target — the Georgia Wildlife Blog reported fish staging in 3–8 feet around brush piles, fallen timber, and docks through the spring spawn window. The Last Quarter moon opens up effective low-light feeding windows at dawn and dusk.
Permit, Kings, and Cobia on Fire as Gulf Spring Hits Its Stride
Water temperatures holding at 78°F across NOAA buoys 42036 and 42039 mark the heart of Gulf Coast Florida's spring bite window. Naples Offshore Fishing Charters is reporting conditions "as good as it gets for this time of year," with consistent sight-fishing for large permit, steady kingfish action on plugs and flies, and cobia plus amberjacks filling out the offshore menu. Inshore, Captain Rick Murphy (FL Insider) declares the trout bite "on across Florida" — a claim well-supported by the warm, settled nearshore temperatures. Winds at just 2 m/s at both buoys are keeping offshore runs accessible. Up in the Panhandle, the Pensacola Fishing Forum logs blue water pushing close to the Oriskany area, where anglers report amberjacks and snappers in the mix — corroborating the region-wide offshore warmup. The Last Quarter moon moderates tidal swings this weekend; plan around early-morning and late-afternoon transitions on the flats for the best permit and trout windows.
Stripers break through the Sound: big fish in CT bays and tidal rivers
Captain Morgan's Bait and Tackle, reported in The Fisherman — Connecticut, described over-slot striped bass — fish running 30 to 36 inches — crashing bays and lower tidal rivers right around last week's full moon tides, with topwaters and swimmers drawing violent strikes. Water temperatures registered 55°F at NOAA Buoy 44025 and 54°F at Buoy 44065, cool but squarely in the productive spring striper range. Fisherman's World (CT) noted bass pushing into the far western reaches of the Sound on both troll and topwater, while Bobby J's (CT) confirmed consistent schoolie action in river mouths and harbors alongside larger fish chasing herring runs. The Fisherman (Northeast) flagged tanks landed in Long Island Sound as part of a broad Northeast surge. The spring tautog season has closed per Connecticut sources, and winter flounder has wound down — striped bass own the spotlight. The Connecticut River shad run, per Aaron Swanson in The Fisherman — Connecticut, adds fresh forage that should keep migratory bass anchored in the area.
Colorado River trout prime window peaks as spring flows build toward runoff
USGS gauge 09095500 recorded the Colorado River at 1,690 cfs and 65°F on the afternoon of May 10 — water temps have reached the upper edge of the comfortable trout feeding range, signaling the spring prime window may be near its peak. Crystal Fly Shop (CO) described the Colorado from Glenwood Springs to Rifle as 'sensational' in late April when flows sat around 1,380 cfs with good emerald clarity; since then, flows have climbed roughly 300 cfs as snowmelt accelerates. Pat Dorsey Fly Fishing notes the season arrived unusually early this year, with reliable midge hatches ongoing and a BWO-to-caddis transition already underway. Cutthroat Anglers (CO) was candid about the backdrop: 'this winter has been historic for all the wrong reasons,' pointing to a record-poor snowpack — which paradoxically means runoff will be shorter and more modest than average, extending the fishable window a bit. AvidMax Blog (CO) highlights midge emergers and tungsten nymphs as consistent producers on Colorado tailwaters right now.
Chinook salmon improving as Central Coast waters cool to prime spring temps
Water temperatures have dropped to 54°F below Pigeon Point — four degrees cooler than the 58°F recorded when salmon season opened in mid-April — and Captain Jared Davis of the Salty Lady out of Half Moon Bay Sport Fishing is reporting vastly improved chinook salmon conditions with the shift, per Western Outdoor News — Saltwater. Davis notes the water "looks different" at the cooler mark, a positive read on where the fish want to be. NOAA buoy 46042 near Monterey Bay is currently at 55°F; buoy 46026 at the northern edge of the region reads 53°F, while buoy 46028 to the south sits at 59°F. The critical caveat this week is sea state: offshore swell is running 6.9–8.9 feet with sustained winds of 10–12 m/s across the region, limiting access for most of the fleet. Rockfish and halibut remain seasonal targets in play, though no captains or shops filed specific reports on those species in this week's feeds.
Bluegill spawn ignites Delta largemouth bite in warm May conditions
The USGS gauge at site 11447650 clocked the Sacramento-Delta system at 15,300 cfs and 69°F on May 10 — warm enough to push the bluegill spawn into full swing and trigger aggressive largemouth bass behavior across the Delta's tule margins. Per Tactical Bassin, the bluegill spawn is driving big bass into shallow, heavy cover right now, with topwater frogs producing strikes at the edges of grass mats. Post-spawn fish are in active transition: some stay locked onto shallow structure while others begin pushing toward open water, making a versatile bait rotation essential. Striped bass, a mid-May staple in the Delta's main channels as post-spawn fish scatter, should be on the prowl given current temperatures and flows — though no Delta-specific charter or shop reports surfaced this cycle to confirm. Channel catfish are becoming more active in the warming water. The Last Quarter moon typically favors early-morning topwater activity before the sun fully climbs.
Gulf of Alaska Spring Chinook Run Opens as May Swells Build
NOAA buoy 46001 is putting Gulf of Alaska surface water at 41°F and wave heights at 7.2 feet as of Sunday evening — cold, choppy conditions that are par for the course in the second week of May. Buoy 46066 reads a slightly calmer 5.2-foot swell with winds down to 3 m/s, and buoy 46080 is logging 43°F, suggesting modest temperature variation across the Gulf's broad expanse. No specific angler-intel reports for Gulf of Alaska waters appeared in this cycle's feeds, so the assessment below pairs environmental data with what is historically reliable for this time of year. May is the traditional peak window for Chinook king salmon staging along the Gulf coast, and the 41–43°F range sits squarely within prime king territory. Pacific halibut charters are typically ramping up this month as fish begin their seasonal shallowing. AK Sea Grant is currently active on mariculture development and coastal resilience work across the region, reflecting a community deeply invested in sustainable harvest.
Toledo Bend largemouth locked onto bluegill spawn in May timber
USGS gauge 08025500 recorded just 29.3 cfs on the Sabine River on May 10, signaling low, stable inflows to Toledo Bend and likely cleaner water conditions across the reservoir. That clarity sets up a textbook post-spawn bass bite: Tactical Bassin's blog reports the bluegill spawn is in full swing across Southern fisheries, with big largemouth piling into heavy shallow cover — frogs and topwaters are drawing aggressive blowups from fish guarding nearby beds. Louisiana Sportsman confirms the regional momentum, noting that guide Brad Romero called bass fishing "game on" at Chicot Lake once May arrived, a trend consistent with Toledo Bend's typical early-May transition. The dual pattern — shallow timber for post-spawn fish tracking bluegill beds, and transition structure for recovering females — is the calling card of this period. Field & Stream's alligator gar feature identifies the Sabine River corridor as prime spring gar water. Catfish are a reliable secondary target on stable, warming flows.
Hartwell & Russell bass in post-spawn transition as crappie bite stays strong
Spring crappie fishing on Lake Hartwell and Russell continues to produce as warming temperatures hold fish on shallow structure. Georgia Wildlife Blog — Fishing's April reports confirm crappie staging around brush piles, fallen timber, and dock pilings in 3–8 feet of water, with live minnows and small jigs drawing the most action. The largemouth bass bite has also been performing well across north Georgia: a Georgia Wildlife Blog — Fishing report from April 24 highlights an 8-lb., 11-oz. largemouth taken in Morgan County on a spinner bait during post-rain conditions, and GA Sportsman / Georgia Outdoor News confirmed a good regional bass bite in their May 9 report. The Savannah River (USGS gauge 02192000) was running at 962 cfs on the morning of May 10, indicating moderate discharge between Hartwell Dam and Russell — manageable for boat traffic on both impoundments. No water temperature reading was available from instruments on-site; check local sources before heading out.
Delta post-spawn bass and stripers shift as strong tidal push reshapes channels
USGS gauge 11455420 recorded a reversed flow of −26,100 cfs Sunday morning, signaling a forceful tidal push from San Francisco Bay into the Delta system — a pattern that typically compresses baitfish against channel edges and lights up feeding lanes for striped bass. No Delta-specific angler dispatches appeared in this feed cycle; NorCal Fish Reports covers the region but no fresh Delta write-ups were retrieved this cycle. With that caveat noted, the gauge reading and the calendar align with the classic early-May post-spawn transition. Tactical Bassin reports the bluegill spawn is now fully underway — a trigger that drives largemouth into heavy shallow cover and makes topwater and frog presentations productive, a pattern that translates directly to the Delta's tule banks and dock pilings. Channel catfish typically accelerate through mid-May as daytime temperatures climb. Anglers should verify current slot limits and any emergency regulations with California state resources before heading out, as Delta rules can shift with water-year conditions.
Green River tailwater surging — trout stacked in seams and slack-water edges
USGS gauge 09234500 recorded the Green River below Flaming Gorge Dam at 9,050 cfs and 44°F Sunday morning — well above wade-friendly thresholds and firmly in drift-boat territory. None of this cycle's angler-intel feeds carried direct reports from the tailwater, so conditions below draw on the gauge data and general tailwater knowledge. At 44°F, fish metabolism is sluggish; trout are tucked into protected seams, eddies, and slack edges rather than actively patrolling the main current. MidCurrent's recent Tying Tuesday roundup highlighted midge patterns that "excel in the clear, pressured water of stillwaters and tailraces" — an approach well matched to these temperatures. Expect nymphing to outperform dries across most of the day; any surface action will be compressed into the warmest midday window, when midges and small Blue-Winged Olives are the most likely hatch triggers. Caddis and Pale Morning Dun emergences remain weeks away at current water temps.
Post-spawn largemouth and landlocked stripers active on the Salt River chain
The Salt River near Roosevelt is running at 56.1 cfs as of this morning (USGS gauge 09498500) — low, stable flow consistent with late-spring drawdown conditions on the chain. No water temperature reading was available at the gauge, but surface temps on Roosevelt Lake typically climb into the upper 70s to low 80s°F by mid-May, putting largemouth bass firmly in post-spawn mode. Tactical Bassin reports the bluegill spawn is currently in full swing at warm-water impoundments nationally, with big largemouth actively hunting in shallow heavy cover — topwater frogs and poppers are drawing early-morning strikes in that pattern. The same source notes that May bass now split between shallow-holding fish and those transitioning toward deeper summer structure, making versatility the week's priority. Landlocked striped bass on Roosevelt typically remain active through this window, though no local charter or shop reports were available in this data pull. Check current Arizona Game and Fish regulations before harvesting any species.
Lake Mead Stripers Enter Late-Spring Feeding Window as Shad Schools Push
Tactical Bassin reports that early-May bass across U.S. reservoirs are deep in post-spawn transition, splitting between shallow cover and open water — a behavioral pattern that maps closely to Lake Mead's resident striper population as the fishery enters its late-spring window. USGS gauge 09421500 returned no flow or temperature readings this cycle, so precise instrument data for the lower Colorado corridor is unavailable. Seasonal benchmarks fill the gap: May on Mead typically means warming surface temps coax threadfin shad schools into coves and open flats at first light, with stripers in close pursuit. Topwater lures and fast-running swimbaits historically dominate the dawn-to-mid-morning window before fish push deeper as desert heat builds. No local charter, shop, or agency reports are available in this reporting cycle to confirm on-the-water conditions. Verify the current bite with local sources before heading out.
Lake of the Ozarks bass hot on the bluegill spawn as post-spawn transition kicks in
Water temperatures hit 65°F on the Osage system as of May 10 (USGS gauge 06934500), placing Lake of the Ozarks squarely in the late-spawn-to-post-spawn transition window for largemouth bass. Tactical Bassin reports the bluegill spawn in full swing, with big largemouth hunting shallow cover hard — frogs and topwater poppers are drawing strikes on fish actively defending and scavenging near beds. The post-spawn shift is already underway: per Tactical Bassin, some bass are sliding to deeper structure and open water while others remain locked to heavy timber and matted vegetation. Tim at Tactical Bassin documented three productive patterns in a single early-May session — a Karashi finesse bite, topwater, and a Magdraft swimbait skipped around submerged trees — underscoring how adaptive the bite is right now. The Osage River is running at 97,400 cfs, funneling baitfish toward slack-water coves and mid-lake pockets away from the main channel.
Walleye, bass, and crappie home in on wing dams across the Mississippi pools
USGS gauge 05344500 shows the Upper Mississippi running at 28,400 cfs as of May 10, signaling elevated spring flows that are pushing fish toward slow-water sanctuaries: wing dam eddies, backwater sloughs, and pool-edge seams. AnglingBuzz (YT) spotlights swimbaits as a multi-species solution right now, with Wisconsin-focused content highlighting walleye, crappie, and bass all responding to swimbait presentations. The bass angle looks particularly strong: Tactical Bassin reports the bluegill spawn is in full swing, a reliable trigger that pulls big largemouth into shallow, heavy cover — frog and topwater poppers are producing fish, and the post-spawn transition is pushing active bass toward predictable summer staging areas. Jason Mitchell Outdoors (YT) notes a strong shore walleye bite is developing, suggesting fish are feeding actively in current seams. Last Quarter moon typically supports stronger daytime feeding windows, favoring mid-morning and early afternoon sessions across the pools.
Driftless brown trout dial in as May hatches build momentum
Water temperature at USGS gauge 05407000 on the Wisconsin River hit 58°F this morning — squarely in the prime feeding range for Driftless Area brown trout. MidCurrent's fly-tying lineup this week spotlighted a pine squirrel jig from Root River Rod Co tied specifically for Driftless streams, engineered to bounce rocky bottoms through tight, technical lies without hanging up. That streamer approach is a reliable early-session producer when fish are holding low in the water column. Hatch Magazine's recent look at caddis emergence patterns aligns with what anglers typically see on Driftless limestone tributaries through mid-May: grannom and tan caddis building toward afternoon and evening pulses. With temps in the 55–60°F zone, the proven transition is subsurface nymphing in the morning, shifting to soft-hackled emergers and elk-hair caddis dries as light fades. Last Quarter moon keeps fish on a daytime-heavy feeding schedule — plan sessions around the evening window.
Walleye Shore Bite Fires Along Rainy River as Spring Opener Arrives
The USGS gauge at International Falls (05133500) clocked the Rainy River at 24,600 cfs and 42°F this morning — elevated flow and cold water that define early-May conditions on this legendary walleye fishery. Per Jason Mitchell Outdoors, the shore walleye bite is on right now, with anglers picking up fish from accessible current breaks and shoreline structure. Water in the low 40s places walleye in a late-spawn or immediate post-spawn mode; fish are actively feeding but respond better to slower, natural presentations than aggressive reaction baits. Fishing the Midwest reinforces the slip-sinker live-bait rig — a leech or crawler on a walking sinker just downcurrent of a break — as the go-to setup for cold, high-flow rivers. AnglingBuzz recently spotlighted the Minnesota DNR's walleye stocking and hatchery program, a reminder that this fishery's productivity is actively managed for the long term. Northern pike remain a strong secondary target, with Jason Mitchell Outdoors noting pike among the region's bucket-list draws.
Shore walleye bite fires on Mille Lacs as post-spawn transition hits stride
Jason Mitchell Outdoors (YT) is flagging the shore walleye bite as actively firing right now — a call that aligns with Mille Lacs Lake's typical early-May character, when post-spawn fish pull off spawning reefs and move toward accessible shallow points. USGS gauge 05227530 logged 271 cfs on the morning of May 10; no water temperature was recorded at the gauge, so check local marina or DNR sources before rigging up. Fishing the Midwest highlights jigs and slip-sinker live bait rigs as the core walleye presentations for this stage of spring, with spinning gear gaining renewed traction for finesse setups. AnglingBuzz (YT) recently ran a Minnesota DNR segment on walleye stocking and hatchery programs — a timely reminder that Mille Lacs regulations, including slot limits, can shift season to season and should be confirmed before you head out. Last Quarter moon conditions favor the low-light feeding windows at dawn and dusk.