Fishing reports
19295 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
Midge and Caddis Hatches Signal Prime Time for Eastern Sierra Trout
Field & Stream's freshly published guide to aquatic insects for trout anglers confirms that early May marks the full hatch cycle — midges, mayflies, stoneflies, and caddisflies — coming into play across Western trout waters. USGS gauge 10265200, which monitors a key Eastern Sierra drainage, returned no live readings as of May 4, leaving conditions best read through seasonal context and national hatch intelligence. Hatch Magazine's current caddis emergence feature underscores that presentation precision is essential as fish key on specific insect stages during this window. MidCurrent's tying roundups this week spotlight midge patterns optimized for clear, pressured water of stillwaters and tailraces — a description that maps closely onto many Eastern Sierra tailwaters and alpine lakes. Lower-elevation Owens Valley corridor streams are typically in their peak transitional spring phase this week: water still cold from snowmelt, trout feeding actively as metabolism climbs with lengthening days. Verify current flows via USGS gauge 10265200 before launching.
Little Fork at 1,530 cfs: Iron Range Pre-Opener Walleye Outlook
USGS gauge 05129115 on the Little Fork River logged 1,530 cfs in the early hours of May 4, signaling active spring snowmelt across Iron Range drainages — a level consistent with elevated but fishable flows heading into the final stretch before the Minnesota walleye opener. Water temperature data was unavailable this cycle, but recent air temps suggest area lakes have shed ice or are approaching ice-out, putting walleye in a pre-spawn staging phase on protected shallow flats. No regional Minnesota tackle shops or charter captains filed reports in this cycle's intel feeds. Wired 2 Fish's Brandon Coulter notes that as water temperatures rise, fish move shallow and react to swimbaits near beds and shallow structure — a dynamic that applies to Iron Range walleye and smallmouth moving toward rock-rubble shoreline transitions. Hatch Magazine makes the case for pursuing pike, musky, and smallmouth on the fly beyond the trout angler's universe — species that define the Boundary Waters experience.
North Shore Tributaries Running 138 cfs — Peak Steelhead Window Open
USGS gauge 04015330 is clocking 138 cfs on a North Shore tributary as of May 4 — a moderate, wading-friendly level that keeps steelhead presentations accessible without the blown-out visibility of peak runoff. Direct, attributed angler reports for this specific stretch of Minnesota's Lake Superior shore are absent from current feeds, leaving the gauge reading and established seasonal patterns as the primary reference points for today's conditions. That said, the timing is right: early May is the heart of the spring rainbow trout push into North Shore tributary systems, when fish move into pools and pocket water ahead of their spawning cycle. The waning gibbous moon this week favors low-light activity at dawn and just before dark. No water temperature reading is available from the gauge, but tributary temps in early May typically run in the upper 30s to low 40s °F — squarely within steelhead's preferred thermal window. Walleye anglers should confirm the MN opener before heading out, as it typically falls in mid-May.
Post-Spawn Walleye Window Opens Across Wisconsin Northwoods Lakes
USGS gauge 05400650 returned no readings as of this update, leaving us without real-time water temperature or flow data for the Northwoods region. That said, early May is historically one of the most productive walleye windows in Wisconsin, with fish typically completing their spawn in the shallows and beginning their post-spawn scatter to adjacent structure. On The Water's recent podcast with Lake Erie guide Captain Joe Fonzi highlighted a 'booming walleye fishery' energized by strong forage — a pattern that resonates broadly across the Great Lakes walleye belt, including the inland lakes of the Northwoods. Hatch Magazine recently noted that anglers who expand beyond trout to target species like musky, pike, and smallmouth 'greatly increase the number of angling opportunities available,' and all three are in seasonal play right now. With a Waning Gibbous moon overhead this week, low-light feeding windows at dawn and dusk are worth building your schedule around.
Door County Harbors Draw Early Browns as Lake Michigan's May Window Opens
Early May delivers some of the most consistent brown trout action of the year along Wisconsin's Lake Michigan shore, with Door County harbors and Sheboygan's pier heads serving as traditional staging areas when surface temps climb into the upper 40s to low 50s°F. No live buoy or gauge readings reached this cycle's data feed, and no charter or shop reports from this corridor appeared in the national feeds — conditions here are grounded in established seasonal benchmarks rather than live intel. Great Lakes Now's recent coverage of Lake Huron reef restoration underscores a basin-wide commitment to nearshore fish habitat that benefits Wisconsin's entire Lake Michigan fishery. The waning gibbous moon on May 4 sets up low-light bite windows at dawn and dusk, the prime times to work harbor walls and breakwaters for browns. Wisconsin's bass season typically opens the first Saturday of May, meaning smallmouth are just coming online along rocky Door Peninsula structure. Contact Sturgeon Bay or Sheboygan area tackle shops for live on-the-water intel before heading out.
Tahquamenon at 963 cfs as May Hatches Build on UP Trout Streams
The Tahquamenon River is running at 963 cfs per USGS gauge 04059500 as of early May 4 — an elevated spring-runoff level pushing color into the main stem and compressing productive wading water to inside bends and back-channel pockets. No water temperature reading was available from the gauge this cycle; typical early-May conditions on UP freestone streams place temps in the low-to-mid 40s°F, cold enough to keep fish metabolically measured but warming with each clear, lengthening day. Resident brook and brown trout are the primary near-term targets, staged in slack-water seams where they can intercept drifting nymphs. Hatch Magazine's seasonal caddis coverage notes that emergences begin firing once water climbs toward 50°F — a milestone UP streams typically reach by mid-to-late May. No direct regional angler reports were available in this data cycle; species status below reflects seasonal patterns and gauge data only.
Saginaw Bay's Restored Reef Primes Native Fish for Spawning Season
A nearshore spawning reef at Channel Island in Saginaw Bay completed its restoration last October and enters its first full fishing season, with the project designed to increase native fish concentrations and sustain the broader Lake Huron fishery, per Great Lakes Now. No water temperature or flow data is available from USGS gauge 04157000 this cycle. Based on typical early-May patterns, Saginaw Bay walleye are transitioning off spawning shoals toward post-spawn feeding flats — the most accessible and active window of the year for this species. Yellow perch are pushing into shallower bay structure, and smallmouth bass are entering pre-spawn staging; Wired 2 Fish reports that warming spring water is moving bass into the shallows across the Great Lakes region. No charter or tackle-shop reports surfaced directly for this area in the current intel cycle — check local sources before launching, and verify current regulations with the state.
Grand River Surging at 6,160 CFS as Spring Steelhead Season Winds Down
The Grand River is running full and fast — USGS gauge 04119000 logged 6,160 CFS in the early hours of May 4, well above typical late-spring baseline. High water pushes fish off main-channel seams, but anglers find steelhead and walleye stacked near current breaks, inside bends, and softer back-eddies where they can hold without bucking the full current. No water temperature reading accompanied the gauge data this cycle, though mid-spring conditions along this corridor typically put river temps in the low-to-mid 50s°F. None of the region-specific charter or tackle-shop feeds yielded Grand River mouth reports in this round, so we're weighting gauge data and seasonal norms heavily here. At the mouth, walleye are typically dropping back toward Lake Michigan post-spawn by early May, and steelhead stragglers continue to hold in the lower river. Smallmouth bass, per Wired 2 Fish's spring bass spawn coverage, are likely approaching pre-spawn staging as water temps climb toward the mid-50s. Check current Michigan DNR regulations for species-specific seasons and gear restrictions before heading out.
Bass on Beds, Crappie in Brush: Early May at Mosquito and Pymatuning
Wired 2 Fish's spring bass coverage confirms fish are moving shallow and onto beds as water temperatures rise — a transition that typically reaches Mosquito Lake and Pymatuning Reservoir in the first week of May. USGS gauge 03110000 on the Mahoning River drainage recorded a moderate 95.7 cfs on May 4, indicating steady inflows that shouldn't disturb shallow spawning flats. No water temperature was returned by the gauge, but early-May surface temps on these northeast Ohio impoundments typically fall in the 58–66°F range — prime territory for crappie staging in flooded brush and timber. Wired 2 Fish highlights the swimbait-to-finesse-bait two-punch for locating and converting bed fish near stumps and shallow cover. Walleye should be wrapping their post-spawn recovery and pushing back onto deeper structure. Muskellunge at Pymatuning remain slow — typical for post-spawn — but early May marks the warming window that begins to bring them back into play.
Western Basin Walleye Season at Full Stride as Maumee Runs at 8,710 cfs
The On The Water podcast (Ep. 81) featuring Captain Joe Fonzi spotlights Lake Erie as home to a "booming walleye fishery," with goby-driven growth credited for exceptional fish size and condition entering the 2026 season. The Maumee River — the Western Basin's largest tributary and North America's premier walleye spawning corridor — is running at 8,710 cfs as of May 4 (USGS gauge 04193500), an elevated late-spring flow that can push turbid plumes into the near-shore zone. When Maumee flow runs high, post-spawn walleye tend to stack along the turbidity edge or push toward cleaner offshore water, making that color-change seam the primary trolling target. Fonzi also covered the basin's trophy smallmouth fishery, benefiting from the same goby forage base. Yellow perch are seasonally active in the Western Basin at this time of year, though no direct catch reports were available this week. No water temperature reading was available at time of reporting.
101 cfs and stable — Spring Creek limestone trout ready for May hatch window
USGS gauge 01546500 logged 101 cfs on Spring Creek's watershed at 2:45 a.m. on May 4 — a moderate, comfortably wadeable level that keeps classic limestone pools intact. Water temperature data was unavailable from the gauge; based on typical late-April/early-May limestone conditions in Centre County, stream temps likely hover in the 52–60°F band — prime feeding range for wild brown trout. No regional tackle-shop or state-agency feeds reached our network this cycle, but the broader fly-fishing press points to a live hatch window opening now: Hatch Magazine's current coverage digs into caddis emergence tactics applicable to pressured limestone spring creeks, while Field & Stream's aquatic-insect primer reminds anglers that mayflies, stoneflies, caddisflies, and midges drive trout feeding throughout May. MidCurrent's tying roundup highlights sparse midge and caddis patterns built specifically for clear, pressured water — the signature challenge of Spring Creek and Penns Creek.
Allegheny Running 30,300 CFS — High Water Pushes Smallmouth to Slack-Water Edges
The Allegheny River is running at an elevated 30,300 CFS as of early morning May 4 (USGS gauge 03036500), creating challenging but fishable conditions for anglers targeting the Pittsburgh tailwaters. Water temperature data is unavailable from the gauge at this reading. With no hyperlocal shop or charter reports in this cycle, conditions intel draws on broader regional signals. Wired 2 Fish this week highlighted a swimbait-and-finesse-bait system for locating spring bass moving toward shallow structure as water temperatures rise — a tactic well-suited to the slack eddies and backwater pockets that form behind wing dams and bridge pilings when the Allegheny swells. On The Water's podcast with Joe Fonzi explored the Lake Erie smallmouth and walleye fishery, noting goby-driven forage gains — a regional trend that broadly benefits walleye and sauger across western PA tailwaters. The waning gibbous moon extends low-light windows into the evening, favoring overnight catfish and walleye sessions on the Pittsburgh pools this week.
Lake Erie Smallmouth and Walleye Surge as Goby Forage Fuels May Bite
Captain Joe Fonzi's Lake Erie breakdown on On The Water podcast puts trophy smallmouth and a 'booming walleye fishery' front and center for PA anglers this week, crediting goby-driven forage as the engine behind Erie's fish growth. USGS gauge 04213000 clocked 289 cfs at the top of May 4 — moderate tributary flow, sufficient for late-season steelhead access in lower creek reaches, though the spring run typically winds down through early May. No surface temperature was recorded at the gauge, but mid-spring on this stretch of Lake Erie normally puts nearshore temps in the upper 40s to low 50s°F — prime range for walleye recovering from the spawn and smallmouth actively staging ahead of theirs. Wired 2 Fish's spring bass coverage this week highlights a swimbait-to-finesse approach for targeting bed fish as water temps push fish shallow — a technique directly applicable to Presque Isle Bay's protected shorelines and rocky nearshore structure.
Lake Erie Walleye and Trophy Smallmouth Active as Water Hits 51°F
Water temperature is logging 51°F at USGS gauge 04231600 as of early May 4 — a benchmark reading that puts Lake Erie's western basin directly in the pre-spawn smallmouth staging window and signals walleye well into post-spawn feeding mode. On The Water's latest podcast features Captain Joe Fonzie, whose Lake Erie operation covers trophy smallmouth and a walleye fishery he describes as 'booming,' crediting goby-driven forage for accelerating fish growth across the western basin. Gauge flow is running 7,250 cfs, a typical spring volume for this corridor. No direct charter or tackle-shop dispatches from the Western NY shoreline surfaced in this update cycle, so verify hyper-local conditions with area shops before launching. That said, 51°F in early May is exactly when western Lake Erie traditionally turns on for both headline species. The waning gibbous moon through this week favors lower-light feeding pushes at dawn and dusk — worth building walleye and smallmouth trips around.
Beaverkill holding at 55 cfs as Catskills hatch season hits stride
USGS gauge 01415000 puts the Beaverkill at 55.2 cfs at Cooks Falls as of May 4 — a moderate-to-low flow that typically means clear, wadeable water on one of the Catskills' most fished trout streams. The East Branch Delaware is carrying 274 cfs at Margaretville (USGS gauge 01413500), fishable but with enough push to favor pocket-water and seam-line presentations. No water temperatures came through at either gauge; early May in the Catskills typically places stream temps in the 52–58°F range, prime for trout activity. Direct NY on-the-water reports didn't surface in this cycle's feeds, but MidCurrent's recent hatch-timing coverage notes this is exactly the window when hatches 'begin to fire' across the Northeast. Hatch Magazine highlights the importance of reading caddis emergence windows, and Field & Stream's aquatic-insect primer reinforces that mayflies, caddisflies, and midges are the go-to match for early May Catskills trout.
Salmon River Running 252 cfs as May Tributary Window Shifts Gears
USGS gauge 04250750 recorded the Salmon River at 252 cubic feet per second as of early May 4 — a moderate, wade-friendly flow suggesting the river is settling cleanly out of spring melt. No water temperature reading was available from the gauge this cycle. None of this week's angler-intel feeds carried specific reports from the Salmon River or Oswego system, so conditions here are built from the gauge reading and seasonal patterns typical for early May on Lake Ontario's southern tributaries. The spring steelhead window typically peaks in March and April and tapers through the first two weeks of May; any rainbows still in the system are likely post-spawn fish staging to drop back to the lake. Brown trout and walleye remain realistic targets on the tributaries and in Oswego Harbor. The Waning Gibbous moon aligns with active low-light feeding windows — early-morning and dusk runs are worth prioritizing this week.
Caddis Emergences Begin on Wyoming Tailwaters as May Runoff Window Opens
Hatch Magazine's coverage of caddis emergences arrives at exactly the right moment for Wind River and North Platte anglers entering one of the year's most productive early-season windows. No current flow or temperature data was available from USGS gauge 06259000, leaving exact river conditions unconfirmed for this report — verify live gauge readings before driving out. Field & Stream's trout angler insect guide reinforces the typical early-May hatch sequence: midges and Blue-Winged Olives provide the first consistent surface opportunities, with caddis emergences building strongly through midday as water temperatures climb. No Wyoming-specific shop, charter, or agency reports appeared in this week's angler intel feeds. The species assessments below reflect established seasonal patterns for these drainages rather than direct on-the-water testimony, and actual conditions may vary significantly depending on current snowmelt pace and reservoir release rates on the regulated North Platte sections.
Wisconsin River at 952 cfs as Pre-Spawn Bass and Driftless Trout Converge
USGS gauge 05391000 logged the Wisconsin River at 952 cfs on May 4 — a workable spring flow that keeps many wade sections accessible. Water temperature data was unavailable at the gauge, though early May on this stretch typically puts river temps in the low-to-mid 50s°F. Bass are staging for the pre-spawn push: Wired 2 Fish this week detailed covering shallow structure with a swimbait to draw reaction strikes, then following up with a finesse bait when fish hold near stumps or bed edges — a tactic well-suited to Wisconsin River backwaters right now. On the fly-fishing side, MidCurrent's latest coverage spotlights Root River Rod Co's pine squirrel jig streamer as their pick for the Driftless area's rocky, technical runs this season. On Lake Superior's south shore, we're tracking the tail end of the steelhead run and the early build of the walleye and smallmouth fishery, which On The Water describes as entering a strong stretch across the Great Lakes.
Chain Pickerel Record Falls in WV; New River Bass Go Pre-Spawn
Matt Born of Reedsville snapped his own West Virginia chain pickerel state record on April 21—a 27.95-inch, 5.65-pound fish taken on a homemade spinner and 4-pound-test line from a Preston County pond, per Wired 2 Fish. That benchmark catch signals what early May typically delivers across WV freshwater: predators in full feed mode. USGS gauge 03051000 logs flows at 387 cfs as of 2:30 AM this morning—moderate, fishable levels that should yield decent water clarity. Temperature data is unavailable from that gauge. With bass activity ramping up statewide, Wired 2 Fish contributor Brandon Coulter recommends a swimbait-to-finesse combination for targeting fish near beds and shallow structure: cover ground with a larger profile lure to trigger reactionary strikes, then drop a finesse plastic to close the deal. The waning gibbous moon phase typically cools topwater urgency—subsurface and mid-column presentations are the call right now.
7.5-Foot Swells Limit Pacific Access as WA Spring Chinook Season Peaks
Saltwater Sportsman reports active pre-dawn chinook and coho battles at Columbia River Buoy 10 — the closest on-water captain intel to reach Pacific Northwest feeds this week — signaling that spring salmon are moving along the coast. NOAA buoys 46041 and 46087, positioned off the Washington and northern Oregon Pacific coast, both recorded 7.5-foot wave heights at 06:50 UTC on May 4, with air temps of 13.9°C (57°F) and 12.5°C (55°F) respectively. No surface water temperature readings were available from either station. Light winds of 2–4 m/s suggest the swell is residual groundswell rather than locally generated chop. With a waning gibbous moon driving active tidal exchange, Puget Sound's protected passages remain the practical near-term target while offshore Pacific conditions stay rough. Washington's spring chinook season typically peaks through May, and once swell moderates, coastal access should improve considerably.
Columbia at 58°F and 1,490 CFS: Caddis Season Opens Across WA Rivers
USGS gauge 14113000 logged 58°F water and 1,490 cfs on May 4, placing the Columbia watershed squarely in spring transition. That temperature band is the sweet spot for caddis and stonefly emergences — Hatch Magazine's ongoing caddis-emergence coverage underscores how these hatches can turn neutral river trout aggressive. No Columbia- or Puget-Sound-specific charter or tackle-shop reports arrived this cycle, so conditions assessments below lean on gauge data and seasonal norms. Spring Chinook are the marquee fish for May on the Columbia system; hatchery-origin retention is typically open on select reaches — check current state regulations before harvest. Smallmouth bass in the mid-Columbia are entering their pre-spawn window as water climbs through the 55–60°F band. On Puget Sound tributaries, sea-run cutthroat and resident rainbows should be responding to insect activity as temperatures tick upward through the month.
Potomac at 4,110 cfs as post-spawn stripers push into Chesapeake tributaries
On The Water's May 1 striper migration map signals that large post-spawn females are now leaving the Chesapeake and pushing into major tributaries — putting tidal Potomac stripers squarely in play for early May. USGS gauge 01646500 recorded Potomac flow at 4,110 cfs early this morning, a moderate level that keeps launch ramps accessible and current breaks fishable. No water temperature was logged at the gauge, but early-May regional patterns typically place the Potomac in the low-to-mid 60s°F — prime territory for largemouth and smallmouth bass moving toward the spawn. Wired 2 Fish highlights a swimbait-to-finesse-bait sequence for targeting bed fish in shallow water, a technique directly applicable to Potomac coves and Shenandoah flats right now. On the Shenandoah, Hatch Magazine's seasonal caddis coverage points to evening emergences picking up across mid-Atlantic limestone rivers this week. Waning gibbous moon may ease the midday surface bite; target low-light windows at dawn and dusk for the most consistent action.
Lake Champlain Bass Beds Active; CT River Caddis Hatches Peak
Largemouth and smallmouth bass are crowding Champlain's shallows in full spawn mode — MA Bass Federation competitors at Ticonderoga confirmed a productive bite, with state championship results fresh off the water (MA Bass). On Vermont's moving water, USGS gauge 01135300 registered 71.7 cfs on the Connecticut River system early this morning, and Hatch Magazine reports caddis emergences are hitting their spring stride. The Battenkill Fly Fishing & Arts Festival just wrapped May 2 in Arlington, Vermont, drawing regional fly anglers to benchmark spring conditions (MidCurrent). Wired 2 Fish this week outlined a swimbait-to-finesse-bait two-punch for bed fish in shallow cover — well suited to Champlain's weedy bays and rocky transitions. Walleye should also be seasonally active in Champlain's shallower bays as water temperatures climb, though no direct reports were available this week. The waning gibbous moon favors active morning and evening windows. No water temperature reading was available at publication time.
Green River Flowing 4,640 cfs at 44°F — Caddis and Midge Window Opening
USGS gauge 09234500 recorded 4,640 cfs and 44°F on the Green River early this morning — elevated spring flows with water temperatures approaching the threshold where trout feeding activity meaningfully accelerates. No regional shop or guide reports are included in this pull, but the gauge reading places the river squarely in classic early-May pre-caddis territory. Hatch Magazine's seasonal coverage of caddis emergences is timely reading right now: caddis activity on cold-water tailwaters typically builds as water temps climb into the upper 40s, and that window is close. MidCurrent's Tying Tuesday this week spotlighted a midge-style pattern that, per the feature, excels in the clear, pressured water of tailraces — a description that fits the Green River precisely. Field & Stream's seasonal guide to aquatic insects reinforces the full picture: midges, baetis, and early caddis form the overlapping hatch sequence trout anglers target through May. The Uinta Mountain lakes remain largely inaccessible at elevation until late May; the Green River tailwater is the primary fishable draw in the region right now.