Fishing reports
19295 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
Post-Spawn Bass in Full Transition at Kentucky Lake & Lake Barkley
Tactical Bassin (blog) reports early May as one of the most productive bass windows of the season, with fish split between active spawn-guarding on shallow flats and an accelerating post-spawn push to secondary structure. The technique intel in play: topwater poppers and walking baits at dawn along main-lake points, a Karashi-style finesse rig through midday, and swimbaits skipped around flooded timber for reaction bites — all confirmed patterns for this transitional period. Fishing the Midwest adds that drop-shot remains a reliable finesse fallback when the post-spawn bite tightens. No USGS gauge reading was available at site 03611500 at press time, leaving water temperature and current lake stage unconfirmed for Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley specifically — verify conditions locally before launching. Crappie, catfish, and white bass round out the target list; direct local reports for those species were unavailable this week, and status ratings below reflect typical early-May seasonality for these reservoirs.
Caddis and Sulphur Hatches Due on Hiwassee and Caney Fork as May Peaks
MidCurrent this week flagged that midge-style patterns "excel in the clear, pressured water of stillwaters and tailraces" — a timely cue for anglers eyeing the Hiwassee and Caney Fork during what is historically their most productive early-May window. USGS gauge 03565000 on the Hiwassee returned null readings this cycle, leaving flow rate and water temperature unavailable; check TVA's generation schedule before wading. When generation drops overnight or early morning, both tailwaters clear quickly and trout move into feeding lanes where caddis dries, sulphur emergers, and midge nymphs become primary producers. No local shop, charter, or state agency reports were captured in this update — conditions should be confirmed with a local outfitter before making the drive. That said, early May is the season's inflection point on both rivers, when dam-released water temperatures typically sit in the mid-50s to low 60s°F range and multiple hatch cycles overlap, making both dry-fly and nymph fishing viable across much of the day.
Bass in Full Post-Spawn Transition on Chickamauga and Watts Bar
USGS gauge 03578500 is reading 153 cfs this morning—a modest, stable flow that should keep both Chickamauga and Watts Bar at fishable lake levels heading into the weekend. No water temperature reading accompanied today's gauge pull, and no hyper-local Tennessee River chain reports surfaced in our current feeds. That said, Tactical Bassin's early May coverage maps well onto TVA reservoir conditions: bass are deep into the post-spawn transition, with some fish still staging near shallow spawning flats while the rest push toward secondary cover and main-lake structure. Tactical Bassin reports that finesse baits—including the Karashi and drop-shot rigs—are producing alongside topwater poppers and swimbaits skipped around flooded timber and laydown wood. Field & Stream notes the buzzbait remains a versatile May topwater pick when surface activity is visible. The waning gibbous moon favors dawn and dusk activity edges. Crappie typically hold on brushpiles and dock pilings through mid-May on TVA chain lakes.
Guntersville & Wheeler: Post-Spawn Bass in Transition
USGS gauge 03575100 recorded a Tennessee River flow of 4,550 cfs at 4:30 a.m. on May 7 — stable, moderate conditions for both TVA impoundments. No water temperature was captured at the gauge, but early May typically places Guntersville and Wheeler surface temps in the upper 60s to low 70s°F, the core window for post-spawn bass transitions. Tactical Bassin's early May on-water coverage shows bass scattered across multiple phases right now: late spawners still holding shallow, recovering post-spawn fish susceptible to a finesse Karashi bite, and fully transitioned fish aggressively chasing topwater and swimbaits. Their session specifically produced a Magdraft swimbait bite skipping around standing timber as a late-day follow-up after topwater cooled off. Topwater poppers are flagged by Tactical Bassin as broadly overlooked this time of spring. Flukemaster's May coverage similarly highlights topwater as a primary producer. No local charter or tackle-shop intel was available in this cycle; conditions are drawn from gauge data and regional bass fishing coverage.
Spring Crappie Spawn Peaks on GA Reservoirs
USGS gauge 02334430 logged 47°F on the Chattahoochee tailwater below Buford Dam this morning at 668 cfs — cold hypolimnetic releases that affect the river corridor, though lake surface temps on Lanier and Allatoona run considerably warmer by early May. The featured bite right now is crappie: Georgia Wildlife Blog — Fishing has consistently documented through its March and April reports that warming water pulls crappie into 3–8-foot spawning areas around brush piles, fallen timber, docks, and submerged vegetation. Live minnows and small jigs fished slowly through that structure are the top producers. Bass are in mid-transition: Tactical Bassin (blog) characterizes early May as a multi-pattern window with post-spawn fish accessible on topwater, swimbaits, and finesse rigs depending on depth preference. Bluegill are beginning their own spawn in calm coves, a pattern Flukemaster (YT) notes attracts stacked bass on shallow flats. A Waning Gibbous moon extends low-light feeding windows at dawn and dusk. Verify lake surface temps and dam generation schedules locally before launching.
Smokies Streams: Early-May Window for Mountain Trout
USGS gauge 03512000 recorded 518 cfs and 58°F on the morning of May 7, placing Western NC mountain streams squarely in the prime trout feeding range. At this temperature, rainbow, brown, and brook trout are metabolically engaged and willing to eat across the water column — well below summer thermal stress thresholds and warm enough to trigger afternoon insect emergences. The 518 cfs flow is moderate and wadeably fishable, concentrating fish in predictable soft-water seams and pocket water behind mid-channel structure. Hatch Magazine's spring caddis emergence coverage is seasonally on point: early May at Smokies elevations typically sees afternoon caddis activity intensify as daytime temps peak. MidCurrent's recent hatch-focused fly tying roundup highlights CDC emergers, attractor dries, and nymph patterns well-matched to this transitional stage. No regional tackle shop, charter, or state agency report surfaced for this drainage in this cycle; condition guidance beyond the gauge reading reflects what is typical for Western NC mountain streams at this time of year.
Red Drum Surge Hits Pamlico Sound and Cape Lookout Shoals
Bull red drum are the story across both Pamlico Sound and Cape Lookout this week. Per Fisherman's Post (NC), Donald of Custom Marine Fabrication reports slot-sized red drum pushing throughout the Pamlico/Neuse River system, with the bite covering just about the whole Neuse. Down at the Cape, Steve of Chasin' Tails at Morehead/Atlantic Beach reports schools of bull reds working the Cape Lookout shoals, with good-sized bluefish joining the mix. Along the Outer Banks, Ryan of Hatteras Jack calls the surf action alive, with red drum making a strong push onto the beaches. Air temperatures are running near 75°F with winds around 14 knots per NOAA buoy 41037 — comfortable conditions that should keep angler pressure steady through the weekend. Morgan of The Reel Outdoors at Swansboro/Emerald Isle also notes sea mullet, black drum, and early pompano showing in the surf, signaling a broad spring activation along the NC coast.
Big Stripers Running VA Barrier Island Beaches
NOAA buoy 44014 put Virginia coastal water at 55°F on the morning of May 7, right as the regional striper migration is in full swing. OTW Saltwater's May 5 report shows big striped bass running the beaches from Maryland to Long Island, with the leading edge of the push having moved north — but On The Water's migration map notes the movement "really snowballs once the large post-spawn females leave the Chesapeake," meaning fresh fish are still streaming north past Chincoteague's barrier island coast. Sport Fishing Mag separately reports giant black drum transitioning along Chesapeake barrier islands from April into May, feeding on crabs and shellfish near nearshore structure. Seas registered 4.6 feet at the offshore buoy this morning — plan inlet and surf access around sea state. With the waning gibbous moon driving strong tidal swings, fishing the tide change hard is the regionally consistent pattern, per OTW Saltwater.
SML Bass in Full Post-Spawn Mode as Shad Push Stripers to Channel Edges
Virginia DWR Wildlife Blog's spring fishing coverage confirms shad remain active across Virginia's river systems through early May — and at Smith Mountain Lake and Buggs Island, those migrating baitfish are the key forage drawing striped bass to staging areas near creek mouths and channel edges. USGS gauge 02075045 logged a flow of 632 cfs at 4:45 a.m. Thursday; no water temperature was recorded at the gauge this cycle. Largemouth and smallmouth bass are deep into the post-spawn transition. Tactical Bassin reports that this early May window produces across multiple presentations: topwater poppers at first light, finesse drop-shots and Karashi-style rigs when fish suspend midday, and swimbaits skipped around shallow timber throughout the day. The waning gibbous moon sets up active feeding windows at dawn and dusk. No on-water charter or shop reports were available this cycle to pinpoint specific bite locations or confirm exact water temperatures.
Sandy Hook Stripers: Best Spring Run in Years
NOAA buoy 44065 logged 49°F water at Sandy Hook on the morning of May 7, with 3-foot seas and winds around 12 knots — framing a striper season that multiple captains and shop owners are calling one of the best in recent memory. The Fisherman — NJ/DE Surf reports Keansburg Pier lit up on clams and plugs, while Sandy Hook's parking lot areas and North Beach are producing big bass on chunked bunker; anglers making the hike out to the Rip are scoring on wooden swimmers. OTW Northern New Jersey noted larger bass pushing into Raritan Bay on the heels of bunker schools as of late April, and Blue Chip Sportfishing reports crushing stripers on every trip. The Fisherman — NJ/DE Surf's Nick Honachefsky put it plainly: 'Old heads are calling it one of the best spring bass runs in a long time,' with fish from 24 to 45 inches from Sandy Hook down the coast. Fluke season opened May 4th; Capt. Ron's Atlantic Highlands had a tough first sail on southerly winds but reports flatfish present and building.
Stripers to 48 Inches Along Delaware Bay
Water at NOAA buoy 44009 is reading 53°F — prime spring territory for Delaware Bay striped bass, and the reports confirm it. Higbee's Bait and Tackle (via The Fisherman — Southern NJ) reports stripers to 48 inches out of Fortescue Beach on bloodworms, with slot keepers and oversize fish appearing throughout the week. Big Dave's Tackle confirms an outstanding bite from Cape May to Salem County on bloodworms, clam combos, and artificials including glide baits and soft plastics, with fish to 46 inches — evening and early morning moving tides producing the best windows. Black drum are a growing part of the Bay picture: Hands Too Bait and Tackle logs drum to 20 pounds on fresh shucked surf clams, and Big Dave's echoes that drumfish presence is building. Bluefish have entered the back bay creeks near North Wildwood, with racer blues to 36 inches feeding alongside stripers to 38 inches on soft plastics per The Fisherman — Southern NJ. Fluke season opened May 4th, and early scouting suggests the back bays are well-stocked with flatfish.
Bass hit post-spawn stride at Swift River, Quabbin & Wachusett
USGS gauge 01174500 on the Swift River below Quabbin logged 59.7 cfs at 4:30 a.m. this morning — a moderate, fishable outflow as central Massachusetts enters the heart of the early-May post-spawn transition window. No water temperature data was captured at the gauge. Per The Fisherman — New England Freshwater, spring trout stocking remains active across Massachusetts, with stocked fish still drawing consistent action for early-morning anglers. Bass are the bigger story this week: The Fisherman — New England Freshwater reports a 7.25-pound largemouth taken on a bladed jig after dark at Cook Pond, Massachusetts, and The Fisherman — South Shore MA to ME confirms largemouth action has stayed strong across the broader region. Tactical Bassin highlights early May as one of the most productive post-spawn windows of the year, with fish splitting between shallow cover and open-water structure and multiple patterns — topwater, swimbaits, and finesse rigs — all producing strikes.
Canal Stripers Running Over-Slot at Buzzards Bay
Water sitting at 50°F (NOAA buoy 44085) and 53°F (NOAA buoy 44020) marks the moment the spring striper season shifted into gear for Buzzards Bay. The Fisherman — Cape Cod & Islands reports that stripers arrived at the Cape Cod Canal herring run last Friday — and not just schoolies: Red Top Sporting Goods confirmed over-slot bass caught and released, with fish breaking just off the run. The tautog bite throughout Buzzards Bay is described as "heading for a peak," and green crabs are the consensus bait across all inside waters, per The Fisherman — Cape Cod & Islands. OTW Saltwater's May 5 migration report confirms fresh fish filling in on Cape Cod following the full moon push, while The Fisherman — Rhode Island notes a push of 30-pound-class bass hit Narragansett Bay last Saturday — a strong indicator of what's heading our way. The waning gibbous moon is still driving strong tidal swings, ideal for working canal edges and bay rip lines at dawn.
Deschutes Caddis Hatch Peaks in Early May; Upper Klamath Trout Active
Early May marks the heart of caddis hatch season on the Deschutes River, and Hatch Magazine's recent deep-dive on caddis emergences underscores why anglers should carry elk-hair caddis and soft-hackle wets right now. No live flow or temperature readings were available from USGS gauge 14070500 at publication time — check USGS WaterWatch for current stage before heading out. On the Deschutes, late April through mid-May typically sees the storied Mother's Day caddis hatch push redbands to the surface, with the most productive windows running from late afternoon into dusk. MidCurrent's recent pattern coverage highlights surface-film and film-breaker flies for pressured tailrace water — a description that fits the lower Deschutes precisely. In the Upper Klamath basin, early May typically brings improving clarity and gradually warming water as snowmelt moderates, setting up brown trout and resident rainbows in the shallows. With no live data to anchor specific conditions, this report draws on seasonal baselines; conditions appear on track for early May.
Spring Chinook Window Peaks on Columbia River
USGS gauge 14105700 recorded the Columbia River at 213,000 cfs and 56°F in the early hours of May 7 — a pairing that lands squarely in the prime temperature band for spring Chinook salmon migration. At 56°F, water temps sit near the sweet spot where actively migrating Chinook move most freely; the fish typically show their best bite in the 48–58°F range before summer warming pushes them through faster. No charter, tackle-shop, or regional blog reports specific to this reach appeared in today's intel feeds, so this update draws on gauge data and seasonal knowledge rather than firsthand angler testimony. Mid-May is historically the core of the spring Chinook push on the mid-Columbia, and elevated flows like these tend to concentrate fish along slower inside seams, behind mid-channel structure, and in eddy lines below tributary mouths. White sturgeon remain a year-round option in the deeper main-channel slots; verify current state retention regulations before targeting them.
Yakima Post-Spawn Bass Transition Begins
The USGS gauge on the Yakima River (site 12484500) recorded 3,390 cfs at 2:15 a.m. on May 7, reflecting active spring snowmelt runoff across the Eastern WA drainage. No water temperature data was available from the gauge, but mid-elevation snowmelt typically keeps mainstem temps in the upper 40s to low 50s°F at this stage. WA WDFW's stocking program is running statewide, adding hatchery fish to accessible lakes and streams throughout the region per the agency's ongoing creel and stocking reports. On the bass front, Tactical Bassin notes early May is a prime post-spawn transition window — fish spread across shallow cover, open water, and mid-depth structure, with topwater poppers, swimbaits, and finesse drop-shots all producing. That pattern applies directly to Columbia Basin smallmouth near Spokane. Meanwhile, Hatch Magazine's coverage of caddis emergences and MidCurrent's recent surface-to-subsurface tying roundup both highlight late spring as a key window for trout on tailwater and freestone rivers — a timing cue worth watching on the Yakima as flows begin to ease.
Spring Chinook Pushing into Olympic Peninsula Rivers at Moderate May Flows
USGS gauge 12041200 on the Hoh River recorded 1,400 cfs as of early May 7 — a moderately elevated but fishable level that typically pushes spring Chinook into slower inside seams, tailouts, and deep pools where current breaks offer holding lies. The adjacent drainage tracked by USGS gauge 12035000 is reading 773 cfs, somewhat lower and potentially offering better clarity. Neither gauge logged water temperature, leaving thermal conditions uncertain; snowmelt influence is standard for early May on the peninsula. WA WDFW Fishing Reports confirms the department actively monitors Olympic Peninsula river systems through angler creel interviews, though no specific conditions update for this week was available in our current reporting cycle. With no charter or shop intel for the region represented in this feed, the analysis below draws on gauge readings and well-established seasonal patterns. Spring Chinook are the headline target at this time of year; steelhead opportunity is generally tapering by mid-May. Verify current retention rules with WA WDFW before rigging up.
Offshore Pelagics Moving Into Range Off Destin
NOAA buoy 42039 recorded 77°F water temperatures south of Destin early Thursday, with buoy 42012 reading 73°F closer to the Pensacola area — warm, consistent conditions signaling the Panhandle's offshore season is fully underway. Three-foot seas and 13-mph winds off Destin leave most runs manageable, though the Pensacola area is running a touch choppier at 18 mph (buoy 42012). No charter or tackle-shop reports for the Destin/Pensacola corridor populated this intel cycle, so species assessments below draw on seasonal norms at these water temperatures rather than confirmed catches. At 73–77°F in early May, cobia traditionally move along nearshore structure and the beach corridor — the textbook migration timing for the Panhandle. Spanish mackerel and king mackerel typically occupy nearshore reefs in 20–60 feet, and amberjack stack on deeper live-bottom. Inshore, speckled trout and redfish hold on grass flats near bay passes through morning. The Waning Gibbous moon supports pre-dawn bite windows through the weekend.
Jack Crevalle Schools Active in Sarasota Bay
Water temps at NOAA buoys 42036 and 42013 are holding at 76°F with just 1-foot wave heights and light 4 m/s winds — near-ideal inshore conditions for early May. Capt. Brandon Naeve out of CB's Saltwater Outfitters (Sarasota) reports jack crevalle are stealing the show right now in Sarasota Bay, schooling near the surface and hammering baitfish around oyster bars, seawalls, and inlets. Early morning topwater and popper action has been most productive — follow the diving birds and you'll find the fish. Snook are also building toward their summer peak; CB's Saltwater Outfitters logged a full inshore slam — trout, redfish, and snook — out of Boca Grande recently, and Snook Nook (FL) confirms the statewide snook bite is heating up as fish prepare to stage for the spawn. Spotted sea trout and redfish remain reliable on the shallow grass flats with paddletails or live bait presentations.
Mutton Snapper Spawn Peaks in the Keys as May Full Moon Fires the Bite
Mutton snapper fishing is at a full-season high in the Florida Keys right now, with ALL IN Key West reporting fish "chewing like crazy" in the days surrounding the recent full moon spawn aggregation. Yellowtail snapper are also firing — captains describe them as nearly jumping into the boat on the reef. A recent Gulf-side run out of Key West turned up groupers, snappers, cobia, barracudas, and kingfish in a single trip, signaling that the broader summer offshore pattern is firmly in place. Live bait has been the top producer: ALL IN Key West notes king mackerel, tuna, and sailfish have all been responding well to live presentations near the reef edges. Water temps were holding at 78°F per NOAA buoy 41114 as of late April — a comfortable range for the species mix now showing. Winds at NOAA buoys SMKF1 (Sombrero Key) and SANF1 (Sand Key) are running 11–15 mph, which is workable for most offshore runs. The waning gibbous moon still carries residual tidal pull from the full, keeping snapper aggregations active through the early part of the week.
Calm Returns to Laguna Madre: Flats Prime After Rough Seas
Water temperatures at 77°F — confirmed by NOAA buoys 42020 and 42043 — place the Lower Laguna Madre and South Padre flats in prime late-spring condition on May 7. Buoy 42020 logged 11.5-foot seas and 12 m/s winds on May 2, conditions capable of dirtying the shallow system and scattering fish off grass-flat structure. By today, buoy 42043 shows winds down to just 1 m/s — a significant calm-down that opens a key window for wade fishers and skiff anglers. TexasFishingTips (YT) has Capt. Kevin Navid reporting from Baffin Bay and the Laguna Madre area today (May 7), confirming local guides are on the water. Salt Strong's topwater content identifies low-wind, warm-water conditions exactly like these as the optimal trigger for inshore surface strikes. With 77°F water across the system, speckled trout, redfish, and black drum are all within their preferred temperature range and likely in active feeding mode.
Post-Spawn Bass Bite Diversifies Across Toledo Bend and Sam Rayburn
Sabine River inflow to Toledo Bend is running at 2,810 cfs per USGS gauge 08030500 as of early Wednesday morning, a moderate reading consistent with late-spring water levels. Direct on-the-water reports from the reservoirs themselves are thin this cycle, but the early May timing tells a clear story: largemouth bass across East Texas are deep into post-spawn transition. Tactical Bassin's early May coverage documents exactly this split — some fish pushing toward open-water structure while others hold shallow around flooded timber and bank cover. In a recent session, Tim from Tactical Bassin worked a Karashi finesse presentation, a topwater, and a Magdraft swimbait skipped through standing trees — three patterns that translate directly to the flooded timber corridors Toledo Bend and Sam Rayburn are famous for. Crappie, typically finishing their spawn in early May at these latitudes, should be moving off beds toward deeper brush. No water temperature data is available from current gauges.
Hill Country Bass Enter Post-Spawn Scatter
The Colorado River logged 321 CFS at USGS gauge 08158000 just before 4 a.m. this morning — a moderate, non-flood inflow suggesting stable lake levels and workable clarity across the Highland Lakes chain. No dedicated Hill Country boat-ramp or captain reports surfaced in this cycle's feeds; Texas Fishing Forum's freshwater thread was inaccessible behind a login wall at pull time. Conditions assessments here are grounded in seasonal patterns, supported by Tactical Bassin's early-May bass coverage, which documents Texas-region lakes deep in the post-spawn transition. Largemouth should be scattering from spawning flats toward the first depth-break cover, with some fish still shallow enough for topwater at dawn. Guadalupe bass — native to Hill Country rocky structure — likely finished spawning earlier and are already positioned in creek-arm margins. White bass may still be reachable in upper cove systems. Water temperature is unavailable from the gauge this morning; take your own readings to calibrate depth strategy before committing to a presentation.
Bluefin and albacore heating up off SoCal
NOAA buoy 46221 recorded water temps at 62°F and a 3.3-foot swell as of early this morning, with nearby buoy 46025 logging 61°F and light winds near 2 m/s — readings that corroborate what anglers are already finding offshore. Western Outdoor News — Saltwater reports that unseasonably warm conditions have pushed bluefin and yellowfin tuna into 1-day range southwest of San Diego, with a lone albacore — the first San Diego fleet albacore in years — gaffed aboard the Tribute out of Mission Bay on April 30. Longer 2–3 day trips are already picking up yellowtail and early dorado farther south. Inshore, Surf Fishing in So Cal's April season preview signals corbina and leopard sharks are entering their prime run along SoCal beaches as temperatures climb. The early pelagic push and active surf fishing make this a strong early-May window for anglers covering the LA Bight and Channel Islands.