Fishing reports
19295 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
Green River Running High Challenges Trout Anglers
USGS gauge 09234500 on the Green River clocked 8,990 CFS at 43°F early on May 7 — flows running well above comfortable wade-fishing level. Spring runoff is driving the Green into the upper range for this time of year, putting most publicly accessible wade sections out of play and pushing trout tight into slower current seams. No region-specific guide, shop, or agency reports were available in this update cycle; the picture below is drawn from the gauge reading and typical early-May patterns for this tailwater. On the technique front, MidCurrent's Tying Tuesday series highlighted midge-style patterns that "excel in the clear, pressured water of stillwaters and tailraces" — a prescription that fits the Green River's dam-controlled character whenever anglers can find fishable flow edges. Expect rainbows and browns to respond to slow, natural sub-surface drifts in any available slack. Up in the Uintas, lower-elevation lakes are likely near or at ice-out, with cutthroat and brook trout beginning to stage near inlet streams.
Calm Gulf Waters Prime Late-Spring Bay Fishing
NOAA buoy 42035 clocked 78°F water and just 2.6-ft seas on May 7 — a sharp turnaround from the 11.5-ft surf that hammered buoy 42020 waters on May 2. With winds dropping to near 2 m/s, bay and nearshore access across the Baffin Bay, Laguna Madre, Aransas Pass, and Rockport-Copano corridor has reopened. Charter captains Capt. Kevin Navid (Baffin Bay/Laguna Madre), Capt. Kenny Kramer (Aransas Pass), Capt. Larry Bell (Rockport-Copano and Mesquite Bay), and Capt. Monte Graham (Port Aransas) were all actively filing reports from these waters this week per TexasFishingTips (YT). Upper-70s water temps are historically prime for Texas speckled trout as fish push onto shallow grass flats and bay pockets. Salt Strong (articles) notes that topwater success depends on more than just the clock — water clarity and visible surface activity are the real triggers to read in conditions like these.
Bass Transitioning Into Post-Spawn in Texas
USGS gauge 08211200 logged Texas river water at 80°F early this morning with flow running low at 37.3 cfs — a pairing that tells a clear story: the spawn is wrapping up and bass are sliding into post-spawn dispersal. Tactical Bassin's early-May coverage confirms the transition, noting largemouth splitting between shallow cover and open water with topwater, swimbaits, and finesse presentations all drawing strikes depending on time of day. With water this warm, feeding activity will be tightest at dawn and dusk. Catfish and alligator gar benefit from the elevated temperatures as well; Field & Stream's comprehensive gar guide highlights Texas's Sabine River specifically, noting drifted cut bait as the traditional river presentation for big fish. Direct Texas freshwater angler reports were limited this cycle. Plan around the gauge data and tune sessions to early-morning windows to beat the midday heat.
May post-spawn window opens for bass on Cumberland
USGS gauge 03434500 on the Cumberland watershed recorded 174 cfs in the early hours of May 7 — a manageable, fishable flow with no flood concerns. No water temperature came through on today's pull, but mid-spring conditions across Tennessee typically place lakes and tailwaters in the 60s°F range, squarely in the heart of the bass post-spawn transition. Tactical Bassin's early-May on-water report offers the most directly applicable intel in this week's feeds: their crew dialed in a Karashi finesse bite, then shifted to topwater and a swimbait pattern skipping the Magdraft around trees — a clear sign bass are caught between spawn and early-summer mode, with multiple presentations producing simultaneously. Flukemaster reinforces that reading, naming topwater poppers a prime May choice with fish keyed on the bluegill spawn in the shallows. With a waning gibbous moon overhead, low-light dawn and dusk windows should offer the best topwater shots. No state agency report appeared in today's feeds; check current state regulations before heading out.
Missouri River Walleye Shore Bite On as May Post-Spawn Window Opens
Jason Mitchell Outdoors (YT) is calling it for Midwest river systems this week: 'The shore walleye bite is on' — a signal that tracks closely with South Dakota's Missouri River impoundments as fish scatter off spawning structure into early-May feeding mode. USGS gauge 06440200 returned null flow and temperature readings at the 1:30 AM observation on May 7, so no hard water data is available this cycle; pull current conditions before you launch. With a waning gibbous moon overhead, low-light feeding windows are extended through early morning. AnglingBuzz (YT) highlighted spring river walleye technique this week, featuring the Dubuque rig as a productive current presentation. On the bass front, Tactical Bassin reports early-May fish moving through a clear post-spawn transition, with topwater poppers and swimbaits drawing strikes from fish still holding near shallow cover. Black Hills trout streams are entering a typical spring window, with MidCurrent documenting caddis emergence patterns beginning to fire across regional trout waters.
Red Drum Action Ignites in Charleston Harbor
NOAA buoy 41004 recorded a water temperature of 75°F off South Carolina's coast this morning — well into the warm range that activates the Lowcountry's most sought-after species. Fisherman's Post — Carolinas saltwater reports bull red drum working shoal areas along the Carolina coast, a pattern consistent with what anglers typically encounter in Charleston Harbor's tidal creeks and marsh edges during early May. The same source notes black drum and early pompano showing at nearshore Carolinas locations to the north, a sign that warming-water species are pushing through the region. Sheepshead are a reliable May target around dock pilings and oyster bars; regional interest in the species is elevated — North Carolina regulators recently adopted a temporary sheepshead harvest rule, per Fisherman's Post. Offshore, both Saltwater Sportsman and Sport Fishing Mag confirm that South Atlantic red snapper seasons have been significantly expanded under 2026 pilot programs, opening new opportunities for South Carolina anglers with offshore range.
Saluda River Bass in Post-Spawn Transition
USGS gauge 02160390 on the Saluda River recorded a steady 138 cfs at 2:45 a.m. on May 7, reflecting stable tributary flow into Lake Murray — no water temperature was available from the gauge. With South Carolina firmly in early May, largemouth bass at both Santee Cooper and Lake Murray are well into the post-spawn transition. Tactical Bassin describes this window as "one of the most predictable times of year," with fish splitting between shallow cover and open-water structure. Their early-May coverage identifies topwater, swimbaits around laydowns, and a Karashi-style jig as the top-producing presentations right now. Flukemaster (YT) echoes the topwater push for May and calls out scent-based presentations as bass home in on bluegill spawning activity along the banks. No SC-specific charter, tackle-shop, or state-agency reports appeared in this feed cycle; conditions below are grounded in gauge data, regional bass-fishing intel, and typical seasonal patterns for this latitude.
Striper surge hits Narragansett Bay with 30-lb fish
Water temps are sitting at 48–49°F per NOAA buoys 44097 and 44085, and the spring striper arrival has shifted from a trickle to a full-on push. The Fisherman — Rhode Island, via The Saltwater Edge, reports a wave of 30-pound-plus stripers invaded Narragansett Bay as recently as this past Saturday, with fish moving in along the South Shore and up inside the bay. Schools of bunker have accompanied the bass, and anglers are scoring on live bunker, flutter spoons, and topwater lures — the early-morning window producing best. OTW Saltwater's May 5 migration report confirms bass arrived around the full moon, which peaked just days ago. Tautog are picking up too: the Frances Fleet (per The Fisherman — Rhode Island) reports improved blackfish catches week over week, and Booked Off Charters is targeting tog around Block Island this weekend. Squid are not yet in play — the Frances Fleet says no local squid have shown up yet and plans to wait another week before scheduling those trips.
Susquehanna: Smallmouth in Transition as Spring Flows Run High
USGS gauge 01540500 registered 57°F water temperature and 17,200 cfs on the Susquehanna early this morning — both numbers matter. The temperature puts smallmouth bass squarely in their pre-spawn to early-spawn window, and Tactical Bassin's early-May coverage confirms bass across the region are mid-transition right now, with topwater, swimbaits, and finesse rigs all producing depending on depth and cover. The flow figure is the complication: 17,200 cfs is well above a comfortable wading threshold, and fast, off-color water cuts down on reaction strikes. Fish are stacked in predictable refuge — eddies behind boulders and bridge abutments, the slack behind wing dams, and back channels that bleed off current. Walleye, typically post-spawn and feeding hard in early May, should be holding on those same current breaks. As flows recede over the coming days, expect conditions to improve substantially and both the Susquehanna and Allegheny to fish closer to their spring potential.
Spring Chinook Active Along Oregon Coast
Nearshore water temperatures along the Oregon Coast are holding at 54–55°F as of May 7, per NOAA buoys 46002 and 46029, with light winds of 5–6 m/s across the offshore zone. The strongest on-water signal in this week's intel comes from Saltwater Sportsman, which covers the Buoy 10 salmon fishery at the Columbia River mouth near Astoria and Warrenton: Chinook and coho are drawing pre-dawn armadas of river sleds, with Capt. Hugh Harris guiding anglers on fish described as 'never having lost.' No direct tackle-shop or state-agency dispatches for Oregon nearshore arrived in this feed cycle, so rockfish and halibut outlooks are based on the thermal window and seasonal patterns rather than direct testimony. The waning gibbous moon extends low-light bite windows into the early morning hours — a useful edge if you're planning a salmon run at the river mouth this week.
Spring Chinook and Bass Heating Up on Columbia
USGS gauge 14211720 logged 62°F water temperature and 17,600 cfs flow as of late May 6 — conditions that mark a key transition window across Oregon's Columbia and Rogue drainages. At 62°F, spring Chinook salmon are actively moving through holding areas, and smallmouth bass are in prime pre-spawn and early-spawn phases, with potentially aggressive strikes across multiple presentations. No tackle-shop or charter bite reports specific to the Columbia or Rogue appeared in this cycle's intel feeds; IFish.net Fishing Reports showed Oregon anglers active at Chinook Landing on the Columbia, though posts were lost-and-found notices rather than conditions updates. For bass tactics, Tactical Bassin notes that early May finds fish split between multiple spawn phases — some still on beds, others transitioning post-spawn — with topwater, finesse, and swimbait patterns all producing depending on depth and cover. Verify current Oregon regulations before retaining any Chinook.
Eufaula Bass Scatter Post-Spawn as Red River Drops
USGS gauge 07247500 clocked just 4.63 cfs at 1:30 a.m. on May 7 — well below what's typical for spring on the Red River drainage — and no water temperature was available from the gauge. Bass conditions, however, look promising. Tactical Bassin's blog reports that early May finds fish scattered across every spawn phase: "there are still lingering spawners but there are also a lot of post-spawn fish," making this one of the more versatile fishing windows of the year. Their on-water early May session showed a Karashi finesse rig dialing in first, followed by topwater and swimbait patterns, signaling that fish are accessible both shallow and in transition. Fishing the Midwest reinforces the value of drop-shot presentations when conditions get pressured and fish go finicky. With a waning gibbous moon overhead, low-light windows at dawn and dusk should concentrate feeding activity along Lake Eufaula's shallow flats before bass push toward open-water structure as the sun climbs.
Post-spawn bass firing on multiple patterns across Ohio this week
Bass are in a classic post-spawn split across Ohio freshwater this week. Tactical Bassin confirms early May marks the start of one of the most predictable annual transitions — largemouth and smallmouth pushing between shallow cover and open water simultaneously. Their on-water report describes a productive day that opened on a Karashi finesse bite, pivoted to topwater, then closed on a Magdraft swimbait skipped around timber, signaling that multiple patterns are stacking. On Lake Erie, walleye remain the primary draw; Fishing the Midwest notes jigs and slip-sinker live bait rigs are the reliable mainstays for targeting walleye this time of year. USGS gauge 03271601 returned no readings this cycle, so Ohio River flow and temperature conditions are unconfirmed — check locally before launching. Yellow perch are typical for mid-May on Erie but no direct reports surfaced this cycle. Moon is waning gibbous, which historically correlates with subtler feeding windows, particularly for walleye.
Hot Walleye Bite on ND's Red & Missouri Rivers
Water at USGS gauge 05054000 clocked in at 52°F with a flow of 1,540 cfs early on May 7 — a temperature that puts walleye squarely in post-spawn feeding mode. Jason Mitchell Outdoors recently declared the shore walleye bite is on across the region, backing that up with a dedicated breakdown of bank-fishing tactics. AnglingBuzz's early spring river walleye feature covers the Dubuque rig as a reliable current setup for fish staged in transition zones. Fishing the Midwest confirms jigs and slip-sinker live-bait presentations as staples as water climbs through the low 50s. On the Missouri River drainage, Jason Mitchell highlights Lake Audubon smallmouth bass as an active early-May target. Northern pike are also in play through these transition temps. Channel catfish remain sluggish until water pushes closer to 60°F. With a waning gibbous moon, low-light periods at dawn and dusk are worth prioritizing for walleye this week. Always verify current possession and size limits before harvesting.
Red Drum Surge Hits Hatteras as Waters Warm
Water temps at NOAA buoy 41025 are reading 72°F — and 74°F at buoy 41013 — as of early May 7, and the fish are responding. Ryan of Hatteras Jack, via Fisherman's Post — Carolinas saltwater, reports the surf at Hatteras and Ocracoke has come alive with red drum making a strong push onto the beaches, with anglers finding good numbers along the stretch. Inland of the Banks, Donald of Custom Marine Fabrication (per Fisherman's Post NC) reports slot-sized reds pushing into the Neuse River corridor, with the bite spread across nearly the whole river. Bluefish are also running in good size along the central coast — Steve of Chasin' Tails at Morehead/Atlantic Beach (via Fisherman's Post) reports healthy blues working the nearshore zone. Sea mullet, black drum, and notably early pompano are beginning to show in the Swansboro/Emerald Isle surf, per Morgan of The Reel Outdoors. A waning gibbous moon provides meaningful nighttime light through the weekend, extending productive low-light windows on the beach.
Bass Post-Spawn Transition Opens Across Catawba River, NC
USGS gauge 02142900 on the Catawba system logged 136 CFS early this morning with no water temperature on record — a moderate spring flow that keeps conditions fishable. Direct freshwater intel for the Catawba and Roanoke drainages is sparse this cycle; most Fisherman's Post (NC) coverage this week falls along the coast. The Roanoke River's celebrated spring striped bass run is a fixture of early-to-mid May in this region — no filed captain or shop report this week confirms it directly, but seasonal timing suggests the tail end of the run is still accessible near the lower river. Largemouth bass are the stronger story right now: Tactical Bassin (blog) reports that early-May fish are spread across spawn, post-spawn, and transitional feeding stages, with topwater poppers and swimbaits drawing strikes off shallow cover as fish vacate beds. Crappie and channel catfish fill out the roster on typical seasonal timing. Check state regulations for current striper slot and season rules on the Roanoke.
Striper Blitz Intensifies on Long Island
Water temps at 52°F (NOAA buoy 44025) are driving one of the more productive early-May striper runs in recent memory. The Fisherman — Long Island South Shore reports the bass bite "blew up" last week, with schoolies through oversized fish showing across the bays and beaches. Dick's B&T in Mastic Beach confirms school fish, slot fish, and oversized bass in both bay and ocean, with bunker schools holding fish in place. On the North Shore, Cow Harbor Bait and Tackle reports very good action in Huntington Bay and Cold Spring Harbor — fish running 30 to 44 inches on trolling Mojo's and bunker chunks. At Montauk, Star Island Yacht Club notes slot-size bass in front of the lighthouse on diamond jigs and bucktails worked close to bottom. Fluke season opened May 4 — per The Fisherman — Long Island East End, a three-fish daily bag limit with a 19-inch minimum applies through August. Sea Rogue Charters out of Freeport found keepers to 5 pounds on early exploratory runs.
Hudson: Fresh-Stocked Trout, Stripers Moving, Walleye Season Opens
Water temp at USGS gauge 01357500 on the Hudson clocked 56°F at 1,400 cfs early Thursday morning — firmly in the prime spring feeding range for trout, bass, and stripers alike. NY DEC's April 24th Fishing Line reports hatchery crews have been actively transporting and stocking brook, brown, and rainbow trout across the state, making freshly stocked streams and tributaries top targets right now. The coolwater sportfish season opened statewide on May 1, per NY DEC, unlocking walleye on the Finger Lakes and larger Hudson tributaries. On The Water's May 1 striper migration map notes the push "really snowballs once the large post-spawn females leave the Chesapeake," suggesting Hudson River striper action is intensifying this week. On the bass front, Tactical Bassin reports early-May fish are deep in the post-spawn transition, with topwater and swimbait patterns both producing. This is one of the most active multi-species windows of the year.
Rio Grande Running Lean Into NM Tailwater Season
USGS gauge 08330000 clocked the Rio Grande at 93.5 cfs just after midnight on May 7 — lean for this point in spring and a clear signal that low-water wade-fishing conditions are in play on accessible gorge stretches. Water temperature data was unavailable from the gauge. No regional shop or charter reports from New Mexico surfaced in this update cycle; conditions here are synthesized from gauge readings and general seasonal patterns. The broader western fly-fishing picture reflects the drought pressures that have squeezed snowpack across the region, keeping Rio Grande flows well below historical May norms. On the positive side, low, clear water rewards technical presentation — and MidCurrent's Tying Tuesday this week specifically highlighted midge and caddis pupa patterns dialed in for "clear, pressured water of stillwaters and tailraces," a description that captures the San Juan tailwater perfectly. Expect midges and emerging caddis to be the primary targets through mid-month.
Delaware River Shad Run Delivering 65-Fish Hauls; Stripers Push Past Trenton
The Lewis Shad Fishery on the Delaware River is producing single-session hauls of 30 to 65-plus fish, per JB Kasper's report in The Fisherman — NJ/DE Freshwater — a marked improvement over the sluggish early-season pace. Spawning striped bass have pushed well above Trenton into the non-tidal river, with a 35-inch fish documented in nets near Lambertville and catch-and-release bass confirmed in the same stretch. Old School Outdoors in Ewing, also reporting in The Fisherman — NJ/DE Freshwater, independently corroborates both the shad pickup and the presence of large, releasable stripers in the Trenton area. Canal trout continue to hold well following recent stockings, and crappie are actively working mid-river structure on jig-and-minnow rigs. On the Pine Barrens side, USGS gauge 01408000 on the Manasquan River registered 36 cfs as of early May 7, indicating moderate, fishable stream levels. With the moon now waning from last week's full phase, feeding windows are trending more consistent across daylight hours.
Spring Striper Vanguard at the Merrimack
NOAA buoy 44007 recorded 44°F water and near-calm 1 m/s winds off the NH coast early Thursday — cold, but the migration freight train is on schedule. The sharpest on-the-ground signal for this stretch came from The Fisherman — South Shore MA to ME, where a Surfland Bait and Tackle staffer reported landing a 35-inch striper from the Merrimack River mouth, almost certainly a holdover working its way back to sea. The broader migration picture is bullish: OTW Saltwater's May 5 migration report placed fresh stripers filling in on Cape Cod, and Dave Anderson (via The Fisherman — South Shore MA to ME) wrote that fish reaching the South Shore "will be migrating further north with each passing day." The full-moon surge that lit up Narragansett Bay and the Cape Cod Canal this past week, per Saltwater Edge Blog and The Fisherman — Cape Cod & Islands, is moving northeast. NH coast anglers may be days away from the first consistent bite of 2026.
35-inch holdover striper hits Merrimack as shad bite builds
A 35-inch striped bass hammered a paddletail shad at the mouth of the Merrimack River last Sunday morning — almost certainly a holdover working its way downriver, per The Fisherman — South Shore MA to ME. Shad action is also slowly picking up along the Merrimack corridor, with North Andover already tagged as the hot zone by the same source. USGS gauge 01073500 logged a moderate 119 cfs in the early hours of May 7, offering manageable flows that should concentrate migratory fish at pool heads and current seams. No direct angler reports came through for Lake Winnipesaukee this week, but early May is prime post-spawn territory for the lake's smallmouth bass on its rocky shoals. Across the broader region, bass are deep in the post-spawn transition with multiple presentations working, per Tactical Bassin — topwater at first light through finesse mid-lake. The waning gibbous moon favors early-morning and late-evening feeding windows heading into the weekend.
Truckee River Snowmelt Peaks; Caddis on Deck
USGS gauge 10311000 recorded the Truckee River flowing at 649 cfs on the evening of May 6 — a brisk spring pace driven by Sierra Nevada snowmelt, with no water temperature reading available. At these flows, trout retreat from mid-channel push and stack in slower eddies, side channels, and seams along the bank — productive water for drift-fishing nymphs or swinging soft-hackles. Hatch Magazine's coverage of caddis emergences is timely reading for this stretch of the season: May typically marks the start of Brachycentrus and early Hydropsyche activity on Sierra freestone rivers like the Truckee. Field & Stream's early-season guide recommends targeting slower current edges as the primary holding water during high spring flows, advice that translates directly here. MidCurrent's recent midge and nymph-pattern tying roundup highlights beaded nymphs and sparse midge patterns for clear, pressured water — exactly the toolkit for the Truckee's technical downstream stretches. Lake Tahoe's mackinaw fishery offers a viable parallel option for those who'd rather troll structure than wade a running river.
Platte: post-spawn bass and walleye active as May picks up steam
The Platte River near Louisville is measuring 2,270 cfs as of early May 7 (USGS gauge 06796000), with no temperature reading attached to that pull. At that flow, the lower Platte runs with enough current to concentrate fish along structure and current breaks without pushing into unfishable high-water territory. Tactical Bassin confirms that across Midwest river and lake systems, bass are fully in the post-spawn shuffle right now — some fish remaining on shallow cover, others beginning their move to deeper water — with topwater and swimbait presentations dialing in early-May bites on comparable water. Fishing the Midwest notes that walleye on spinning gear with jig and slip-sinker live-bait rigs remain highly productive as water temps climb toward the low-60s range. No current temperature data is available from the gauge; typical early-May readings on the lower Platte run in the upper-50s to low-60s°F, which keeps walleye, white bass, and channel cats all in the mix.