Fishing reports
19295 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
Western Basin walleye moving to reefs as post-spawn dispersal peaks
The Maumee River, the Western Basin's primary tributary, is running at 7,420 cfs as of May 10 (USGS gauge 04193500) — an elevated flow that historically pushes a turbid plume into the near-shore lake, shifting walleye positioning along the clarity edge rather than tight to structure. With no buoy water temperature on hand, anglers should scout conditions before committing to a zone. Direct on-the-water reports for the Western Basin are sparse in this cycle, though Fishing the Midwest notes that spinning-gear presentations — specifically jigs and slip-sinker live-bait rigs — remain the high-percentage walleye setup as fish move into early-summer patterns. By mid-May the annual Maumee spawning run is long over; walleye should be scattered across main-lake reefs and hard-bottom shoals, fueling up after the spawn. Yellow perch and white bass are typical mid-May co-targets in the basin. Verify current bag limits with Ohio DNR before harvesting.
Penns Creek wild browns on the rise as sulphurs replace fading Hendricksons
Flow at USGS gauge 01546500 on Spring Creek registered 89.7 cfs as of 7:45 a.m. on May 10 — a moderate, wadeable level for Pennsylvania's limestone corridor in mid-spring. No water temperature was recorded at the gauge this morning. Field & Stream recently described the allure of Penns Creek's Hendrickson hatch for wild brown trout, calling these limestoners' green drake hatches and 'big, slurping browns the stuff of legend.' That Hendrickson window is at or past its seasonal peak now, but the transition sets up well: sulphur emergences typically begin filling the gap on both Spring Creek and Penns Creek through the second half of May, and the green drake — Pennsylvania's most celebrated trout-stream emergence — is generally two to three weeks out. Evening dry-fly fishing during the transitional hatch windows is a real opportunity for anglers who time their arrival carefully. No weather data was available for this report; check local conditions before heading out.
High Allegheny flows push smallmouth toward slack edges in post-spawn May
USGS gauge 03036500 on the Allegheny recorded 36,300 cfs as of 8 a.m. this Sunday — a significantly elevated flow that defines conditions across the Pittsburgh tailwaters this week. No water temperature data was available from the gauge. At these levels the river is running high and likely carrying color, pushing fish off main-channel structure and into slack-water edges, backwater pockets, and tributary mouths. Tactical Bassin (blog) reports that early May is the heart of the post-spawn bass transition nationally, with the bluegill spawn in full swing and larger fish beginning to prowl shallow cover — a pattern generally applicable to Pennsylvania's warm-water rivers, though high flows complicate access to those shallow haunts. PA Sea Grant recently convened Allegheny-area anglers around invasive Round Goby management in the watershed, underscoring the broader ecological pressures the river system is navigating this season. Anglers should target slack-water seams and consult PA Fish & Boat — Biologist Reports for current stocking and access information before heading out.
Lake Erie walleye rolling into May at Presque Isle
A Michigan Sportsman Forum angler trolling Lake Erie's Canadian side on May 8 reported landing six walleyes on Bandit crankbaits run 25 feet back on planer boards, pausing first at Bassett Channel in 21 feet of water to probe for perch before a mid-afternoon wind shift ended the session. While that report covers Ontario waters, walleye range freely across the PA boundary this time of year, and the same trolling approach remains the standard for Lake Erie's Erie County zone. USGS gauge 04213000 shows Cattaraugus Creek — a key Lake Erie tributary — at a moderate 395 cfs as of May 10, signaling that spring runoff is still present in the system. Steelhead runs in Lake Erie feeders are typically winding down by mid-May, though elevated tributary flows can briefly extend the window. No PA-specific state agency or charter reports were available in this update cycle; seasonal patterns and the available Great Lakes intel guide the outlook.
Lake Erie walleye on the troll as smallmouth post-spawn peaks in Western NY
Water temperature at 54°F (USGS gauge 04231600, recorded May 10) puts Western New York squarely in the prime spring window for walleye and smallmouth bass. A Michigan Sportsman Forum report from May 8 describes anglers trolling crankbaits (bandits) 25 feet back on planer boards along the Canadian side of Lake Erie, finishing the afternoon with six walleye — a result suggesting post-spawn fish are positioned and actively feeding. Perch were staging in about 21 feet of water in the same area, though the bite faded after a modest flurry. On the bass front, Tactical Bassin's early-May breakdown highlights that smallmouth and largemouth are split between post-spawn shallow cover and transitional open-water zones right now, with topwater and swimbait presentations both drawing strikes. The Last Quarter moon sets up favorable low-light feeding windows at dawn and dusk — plan your launch time accordingly.
Catskill and Adirondack streams primed for May caddis and evening rises
Flows on Catskills-area streams are running at moderate-to-elevated spring levels this morning — USGS gauge 01413500 posted 437 cfs and gauge 01415000 registered 118 cfs at 06:45 ET, with no water temperature readings available at either site. MidCurrent's recent Tying Tuesday roundups highlight that Northeast trout hatches are "beginning to fire," spotlighting caddis-pupa and CDC emerger patterns alongside high-floating attractors for fish that have started looking up — consistent with what mid-May typically brings to Catskills freestone streams. Field & Stream's spring stocked-trout feature is a timely reminder that DEC-stocked reaches are currently holding fresh rainbows. No direct shop, charter, or guide reports from the Adirondacks or Catskills appear in our feeds this week; these conditions are grounded in gauge data and regional seasonal patterns. Verify locally before committing to the drive, and rig both a heavy nymph setup and a caddis dry for the evening window.
Salmon and Browns Active on Lake Ontario; Tributaries Running Clear and Fishable
Strike Zone Charters out of Lake Ontario reported an excellent salmon bite this past week, with brown trout and lake trout rounding out catches across 100–160 feet of open water. Mag Dipsey Divers in green, white, and chartreuse — paired with e-chips — were the productive trolling combination, with productive depths shifting day to day as wind repositions the thermocline, per Strike Zone Charters. On the tributary side, USGS gauge 04250750 logged 259 cfs Sunday morning — a low, settled flow pointing to clear, wader-friendly conditions on the Salmon River and Oswego drainages. At those levels, any late-season steelhead still holding in the system will be more visible and considerably more selective; downsizing to lighter tippets and smaller presentations is the practical adjustment. Water temperature data was unavailable from the gauge this cycle. Whether you're running dipseys on the open lake or wading the Salmon River's deeper pools, mid-May conditions this week call for precision over brute-force coverage.
Wisconsin opener delivers walleye, whitefish, and post-spawn bass
Eight days into Wisconsin's general inland fishing season — which opened May 2 per WI DNR Wisconsin Fishing News — anglers are finding active bites across both the Wisconsin River corridor and Lake Superior's Chequamegon Bay. On the lake, WI DNR Lake Superior Fishing reports a surging whitefish fishery near Ashland, grown popular enough to prompt formal DNR management meetings this spring, with boat anglers targeting 15–30-foot gravel flats. On the Wisconsin River, USGS gauge 05391000 logged 669 cfs at 7 a.m. on May 10, indicating moderate, fishable flows. Jason Mitchell Outdoors reports the shore walleye bite is actively producing now, with jigs and live bait the go-to presentation along current seams. Bass are in the post-spawn transition window — Tactical Bassin and AnglingBuzz both confirm swimbaits and topwater are working as fish scatter between shallow cover and adjacent deeper structure. New 2026-2027 regulations are in effect; review the DNR rules before heading out.
Pre-spawn smallmouth prime up on New River as WV's May window opens
USGS gauge 03051000 logged 358 cfs on the morning of May 10, placing WV's monitored watershed in moderate, fishable condition. Water temperature was not returned by the gauge, but mid-May in the New River corridor typically brings surface readings in the upper-50s to mid-60s°F — the sweet spot for smallmouth bass moving onto spawning flats and shoals. Tactical Bassin reports the bluegill spawn is fully underway in nearby bass fisheries, a known trigger that draws aggressive smallmouth into shallow structure; topwater frogs and poppers over heavy cover are the go-to presentations right now. On the catfish front, Wired 2 Fish documents a strong catfish bite on Santee rigs and cut bait drifted along channel ledges — a technique that translates directly to the Ohio River's deep-ledge zones. Fishing the Midwest notes jig and slip-sinker rigs remain reliable for walleye on deeper river structure, a pattern worth exploring on the Ohio's main channel. The Last Quarter moon this weekend tends to favor midday feeding windows.
Spring Salmon Push Builds Along Pacific WA Coast as Seas Stay Moderate
NOAA buoy 46087 off Grays Harbor logged 5.9-foot seas and air temps near 52°F on May 10, with buoy 46041 near the Columbia approaches recording 5.2-foot swells — conditions that compress productive fishing windows to calmer inshore tidal breaks. Direct angler intel for Puget Sound and the outer Pacific WA coast is sparse this reporting cycle; WA WDFW Fishing Reports confirms active stocking and creel monitoring programs are operating statewide but provides no species-specific catch data for this week. The nearest regional salmon signal comes from Saltwater Sportsman, which documented chinook and coho activity at Buoy 10 on the Columbia River mouth, suggesting the coastal spring push is building along adjacent Pacific WA waters. WA Sea Grant's Crab Team continues biological monitoring in Grays Harbor this season, though no direct fishing-condition updates were published this cycle. On a typical seasonal schedule, May is a core month for Puget Sound chinook returns and Pacific coast halibut. Last-quarter moon may suppress surface bite windows — plan around dawn and dusk tides.
Spring Chinook Window Opens on Columbia and Puget Sound River Systems
USGS gauge 14113000 recorded 53°F and 1,400 cfs at 5 a.m. on May 10 — water temperatures firmly in the feeding window that Washington's spring Chinook salmon favor on Columbia River systems. Specific on-the-water reports for WA's Columbia and Puget Sound drainages were limited in today's intel feeds; WA WDFW Fishing Reports remains the first stop for current creel data and stocking schedules, and anglers should check it directly before heading out. Broader signals offer context: Tactical Bassin notes May puts bass in full post-spawn transition, with fish splitting between shallow cover and open-water structure — a pattern that applies directly to Columbia River smallmouth. MidCurrent's fly-fishing coverage flags building caddisfly emergences at these water temperatures, pointing toward productive evening dry-fly windows on Puget Sound tributaries. Modest flows help concentrate fish in predictable seams and deep pools, generally a positive for access and readability.
Post-spawn stripers pouring out of the Chesapeake as spring migration peaks
Water at 53°F by NOAA buoy 44009 (May 10) marks the Chesapeake mouth as prime post-spawn territory. On The Water's May 8 striper migration map confirms the 2026 run is 'hitting full speed as post-spawn bass pour out of the Chesapeake and spread across the Northeast, delivering big fish and fast action.' The Fisherman's Northeast forecast for May 7 noted stripers to 47 inches in Narragansett Bay — fish that rode the migration current north from these very waters — and the Saltwater Edge Blog reports fresh bass have gone 'from a trickle to a pretty steady flow' over the past week as the push moves up the coast. Light winds and mild air temps favor boat anglers working channel edges and rip lines at the Bay mouth. Summer flounder seasons are opening across the mid-Atlantic (The Fisherman reports New Jersey's opener was May 4; check Virginia DWR regs for current season dates). The 2026 Striper Cup is underway per On The Water, a reliable signal that this migration window is fully open.
Post-spawn Potomac bass and incoming Chesapeake stripers mark peak May fishing
USGS gauge 01646500 logged the Potomac at 2,960 cfs Sunday morning — a moderate spring flow that keeps most ramps and wading reaches open and the channel well-defined. The headline item this week is striper movement: On The Water's May 8 migration map reports post-spawn stripers pouring out of the Chesapeake at full speed, setting up the tidal Potomac for quality action over the next 7–10 days. Farther inland, Tactical Bassin notes that bass across the region are deep in the post-spawn transition — some fish still on beds, many pushing toward early-summer cover — a pattern consistent with typical smallmouth behavior on the Shenandoah and upper Potomac for this time of year. Finesse soft plastics worked around rocky structure and shallow wood are the go-to approach for transitioning fish. Blue catfish remain seasonally reliable along Potomac channel ledges on cut bait, typical for mid-May on this system.
CT River Shad Run Builds as Lake Champlain Bass Enter Post-Spawn
The Connecticut River shad run has kicked into gear over the past 10 days — a welcome signal for Vermont anglers watching fish push northward. The Fisherman — Connecticut reports strong shad action, and The Fisherman — New England Freshwater confirms rising shad numbers with Steaves Leaves willow-leaf rigs on ¾- to 1-ounce sinkers as the hot ticket downriver. Those same presentations should produce on Vermont's Connecticut River stretches as fish press upstream. USGS gauge 01135300 logged 82.8 cfs this morning — moderate, fishable spring flow. Water temperature data is unavailable at this gauge. On Lake Champlain, no direct charter or shop reports surfaced this week, but mid-May puts smallmouth bass squarely in their spawn-to-post-spawn window — historically one of the most productive periods of the year on the big lake's shallow rock flats. Fly anglers should watch for caddis emergence windows in the afternoons, a pattern highlighted in recent regional hatch coverage from MidCurrent.
Green River surging with spring releases; tailwater trout retreat to soft water
USGS gauge 09234500 clocked the Green River at 8,960 cfs and 43°F early this morning — flows significantly above typical tailwater fishing windows and a clear signal of heavy spring release from Flaming Gorge Dam. At these levels, wade access through most of the tailwater is limited; trout are stacked in eddies, seam lines, and any soft-water refuge available. Nymphing weighted rigs into slack pockets near the bank is the tactic best matched to current conditions. MidCurrent's recent coverage of midge-style patterns that excel in pressured tailrace water offers directly applicable guidance, and Hatch Magazine's caddis-emergence piece is timely as warmer afternoons may still trigger surface activity despite the cold water column. No local reports from the Uinta Lakes basin are in circulation; at elevation, ice-out is typically mid-to-late May, putting most high-country lake access a few weeks out.
Spring Reds and Trout in Full Swing Across the Texas Gulf Coast
Water temps sitting at 76–77°F (NOAA buoys 42020 and 42035) have the upper Texas Gulf Coast firing on multiple species. The Texas Redfish Rumble tournament, run out of Pier 6 in San Leon on May 2, drew strong participation and results, per Galveston Daily News — Reel Report — a clear signal that redfish are active and well distributed across the bay complex. Live shrimp is the bait of choice right now: Shane Rilat of Lee's Bait Camp on the Texas City Dike has been busy keeping inventory stocked, and Captains L.G. Boyd and Donnie Wood logged great catches from surrounding areas, per the same source. TexasFishingTips (YT) has charter captains actively filing reports from Baffin Bay, Laguna Madre, Aransas Pass, and Rockport-Copano Bay through the first week of May. The 37th annual CCA Texas STAR Tournament kicks off this month, per Lone Star Outdoor News — Fishing, ramping up angling pressure coast-wide.
Blue catfish on fire across North Texas lakes as May bite peaks
With water at 81°F and Eagle Mountain Lake running nearly full on fresh inflows, North Texas's blue catfish bite is peaking right on schedule for mid-May. North Texas Catfish Guide reports active, feeding blues across Eagle Mountain Lake (Fort Worth), with recent trips producing easy limits and multiple fish over 30 pounds per outing. The guide attributes the surge to rising lake levels combined with fresh water pushing into the system — a combination that, as the captain notes, means fish are moving and feeding fast. Channel catfish are also active in the main lake. Bass anglers shouldn't overlook this window: Tactical Bassin notes the bluegill spawn is in full swing statewide, pulling largemouth into heavy cover for aggressive topwater and frog bites. Lone Star Outdoor News reports 2026 is shaping up as a record year for Texas anglers broadly, and current conditions suggest that momentum will hold through the end of May.
Douglas Lake pros unlock two patterns as Tennessee's post-spawn transition peaks
Dylan Nutt and Keith Poche are tied atop the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Stop 4 on Douglas Lake with 30 pounds, 10 ounces over two days, per MLF News — a vivid sign that Tennessee's largemouth bite is firing on multiple patterns at once. Nutt is targeting offshore schools with summertime tactics on the main lake body, while Poche is dominating shallow water at the far upper Nolichucky arm. That deep-versus-shallow split defines early May across the Tennessee drainage: bass are actively transitioning out of the spawn, and the bluegill spawn now in full swing is pulling big fish into heavy cover, per Tactical Bassin (blog). Topwater frogs and shallow presentations are producing in those areas. The Cumberland River near Carthage is flowing at 164 cfs per USGS gauge 03434500, with no water temperature reading available at this time. With several depth ranges and presentations all viable simultaneously, this is shaping up as one of the more versatile stretches of the season for Tennessee anglers.
Missouri River walleye in post-spawn surge as Black Hills streams hit prime
Jason Mitchell Outdoors is calling the shore walleye bite 'on' right now — timing that maps directly onto the Missouri River chain's classic post-spawn dispersal window, when walleye move from shallow spawning gravel to mid-depth humps and channel ledges. USGS gauge 06440200 returned no flow or temperature readings this cycle, so regional angler intel is doing the heavy lifting. Fishing the Midwest reinforces the walleye playbook: jigs and slip-sinker live-bait rigs remain foundational, with a growing push toward light spinning gear for finesse presentations. On the bass front, Tactical Bassin documents the early-May split — some fish still holding shallow cover, others already transitioning toward open water — a pattern that applies predictably across the Missouri River impoundments. Black Hills streams are entering their prime May window as spring runoff moderates and early-season hatches begin building through afternoon hours.
Red Drum and Cobia Headline Charleston Harbor's Peak Spring Push
Water temperatures logged at 74°F by NOAA buoy 41004 place Charleston Harbor squarely in its most productive spring window. Regionally, Fisherman's Post — Carolinas saltwater reports red drum making a strong push onto Carolina beaches, with bull drum active around nearshore coastal shoals — patterns that typically extend through the South Carolina Low Country during mid-May. Black drum are also showing along NC surf zones, and structure-holding sheepshead remain a consistent target with fiddler crabs and live shrimp around docks and bridge pilings. Cobia are prime migration quarry at 74°F; the species typically stages around buoys, channel ledges, and floating structure from now through June. Saltwater Sportsman reports that South Atlantic states including SC will see greatly expanded red snapper access in 2026 under new federal EFP pilot programs — check SCDNR for specific open dates before planning an offshore run. Light winds and 2-foot wave heights from station 41004 point to comfortable nearshore and harbor conditions heading into the weekend.
Lake Murray Largemouth Firing as Bassmaster Elite Reaches Final Day
Brandon Cobb, South Carolina's hometown pro, entered the final day of the Tedy's Team Bassmaster Elite at Lake Murray leading the field with a three-day total of 67 pounds, 3 ounces, per B.A.S.S. News — a concrete sign that largemouth are stacking on mid-lake structure and feeding hard. B.A.S.S. News coverage noted herring schools are complicating presentations for the Elite field, but anglers who positioned on bait have consistently cashed in; Andrew Loberg reinforced the point by sacking 21 pounds, 4 ounces on Day 3 despite a hand injury from a prop mishap. Flow on the Saluda system is stable at 238 cfs (USGS gauge 02160390), keeping lake levels predictable and ramp access clean. With bass in full post-spawn transition toward ledges and channel breaks, Murray is fishing about as well as it does all year. Santee-Cooper's striper and catfish fisheries are simultaneously entering their productive late-spring window as water temperatures continue their seasonal climb.
Striper push fires up Narragansett Bay with 30-plus-pound fish
Striped bass fishing in Narragansett Bay has shifted from a trickle to a steady flow. Per The Fisherman — Rhode Island, Chris at the Saltwater Edge reports a push of fish exceeding 30 pounds invaded the bay last Saturday, with anglers scoring on live bunker, flutter spoons, and topwater offerings — the bite sharpest early in the morning. The Fisherman (Northeast) confirms stripers to 47 inches are moving through the bay this week, with 40-pound-class fish expected soon as bunker schools pour in. On The Water's May 8 migration update places the 2026 run at full speed, with post-spawn bass spreading from the Chesapeake to Rhode Island. Water temperatures sit at 49–51°F per NOAA buoys 44097 and 44085 — cold enough to slow the metabolism slightly, but clearly no barrier to active feeding. Tautog remain in the mix: the Frances Fleet notes gradual tog improvement, and Booked Off Charters plans Block Island tautog trips this coming weekend, per The Fisherman — Rhode Island.
Susquehanna tributaries alive for trout as smallmouth approach the spawn
Water temps hit 56°F at USGS gauge 01540500 on the morning of May 10, with the Susquehanna running at an elevated 20,300 cfs — the spring push still very much in play. Field & Stream this week published a firsthand account of productive stocked-rainbow fishing on Loyalsock Creek, a Susquehanna tributary, with the author noting that Penns Creek and Spring Creek wild-brown regulars are eyeing the incoming Hendrickson and green drake hatches as peak mid-May approaches. That 56°F reading puts smallmouth bass squarely in their spawn window across lower-gradient stretches; Tactical Bassin's early-May update confirms that bass across mid-Atlantic latitudes are still cycling through the spawn, with post-spawn fish beginning their transition toward open-water structure. Elevated main-stem flows keep wading anglers focused on tributary mouths and slower inside bends. PA Sea Grant's recent Allegheny-area outreach flagged Round Goby expansion as an emerging concern — clean and dry gear when moving between river systems.
Spring Chinook fire up at the Columbia Bar as Oregon Coast temps hold
Water temperatures at 55°F across NOAA buoys 46002 and 46029 have the Oregon Coast sitting in a favorable mid-May salmon window. Saltwater Sportsman features active Chinook and coho action at Buoy 10 near the mouth of the Columbia River, with Capt. Hugh Harris leading early-morning runs out of Astoria and Warrenton into an armada of river sleds targeting fish fresh from the open ocean. Light winds — 2 m/s at buoy 46029 and 4 m/s at 46002, with a moderate 7 m/s at buoy 46050 further offshore — point to manageable near-shore conditions, though wave height data is unavailable and a NOAA marine forecast check is essential before crossing any bar. The last quarter moon this weekend typically eases tidal exchange, which can concentrate baitfish and salmon in predictable nearshore lanes. Pacific halibut and bottom rockfish round out the options for anglers looking to fill a box — both are seasonally on the table at current ocean temps.