Fishing reports
19295 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
Kansas River at 69°F, 8,990 cfs — Catfish and Crappie in Prime Window
USGS gauge 06892350 logged the Kansas River at 69°F and 8,990 cfs on Sunday afternoon — an elevated but fishable flow that puts the river squarely in prime late-spring territory. Water temperatures in the upper 60s are the sweet spot for channel catfish, which feed aggressively at this range, and for crappie pushing into shallow woody structure to spawn. Wired 2 Fish reported crappie actively staging for the spawn at Grenada Lake on April 24, a pattern that typically mirrors what Kansas river systems see at the same thermal window. The elevated flow means fish are likely holding off the main channel; target bank eddies, backwater pockets, and current seams where baitfish concentrate. Clarity may be reduced with flow running this high, so lean toward scent-forward presentations for catfish and slow, tight-to-cover retrieves for crappie and bass working spawning structure.
Colorado River at 62°F and 1,740 cfs as spring runoff begins to build
USGS gauge 09095500 recorded the Colorado River running at 1,740 cfs and 62°F on May 3 — squarely in the prime trout temperature window and a clear marker that early snowmelt has started pushing flow. At this stage, expect a slight green tinge in the current, with trout migrating out of the main thread into slower seams, eddy lines, and the heads of pools. No local shop or charter dispatches arrived in our intel feeds for the Colorado or Arkansas drainages this cycle, so the gauge is our sharpest real-time signal. Field & Stream's freshly published guide on aquatic insects for trout is timely: mayflies, stoneflies, caddisflies, and midges form the backbone of trout feeding at this time of year, and all four should be hatching along Colorado's freestone and tailwater reaches in early May. A dry-dropper or nymph rig — paired with the low-light windows favored by the waning gibbous moon — is the logical approach.
73°F Gulf Water and Light Winds Set Up Mobile Bay for Prime May Fishing
NOAA buoy 42012 put Gulf water at 73°F on the evening of May 3 — right in the sweet spot for speckled trout, redfish, and the Spanish mackerel run that typically peaks through May along the Alabama coast. Both buoys 42012 and 42040 showed winds holding at a steady 4 m/s (~9 mph), keeping conditions favorable for bay and nearshore runs. No Alabama-specific captain or shop reports surfaced in this cycle; species outlooks here draw on seasonal patterns for this water temperature and time of year. Worth noting: Field & Stream covered a new state snook record set by a kayak angler near Pascagoula Bay, Mississippi — just across the Alabama state line — on April 21, with state fisheries managers quoted in the piece confirming snook are expanding their Gulf range westward and northward. Anglers working Alabama's eastern Gulf shore and bay passes should keep a light rod rigged for the possibility.
South Platte Running 110 CFS as May Hatch Season Opens on CO Tailwaters
USGS gauge 06701900 logged the South Platte at 110 cfs at 8:45 a.m. MDT this morning — a moderate, wade-friendly flow that keeps most tailwater access points open ahead of anticipated snowmelt runoff. No water temperature reading was available at time of report. With the Full Moon peaking May 3, crepuscular feeding windows — first light and the final hour before dark — tend to be the most productive periods on these regulated tailwaters. None of the regional angler-intel feeds this cycle carried Colorado-specific on-the-water reports, so conditions here are drawn from the gauge reading and typical early-May tailwater behavior. Field & Stream's current trout-insect primer reinforces what tailwater regulars already know: mid-morning Blue-Winged Olive hatches and late-afternoon caddis activity define this date range, with midge larva and pupa patterns carrying the morning before surface activity builds.
Snake River at 50°F and 2,880 cfs — Tetons cutthroat season hits prime window
USGS gauge 06192500 at Moran, WY registered 50°F and 2,880 cfs at 8:00 Sunday morning — moderate spring flow that keeps the Snake River wading feasible before peak snowmelt locks out most access in June. At 50°F, cutthroat, brown, and rainbow trout are in their prime feeding range, and early May historically marks the strongest pre-runoff stretch in both the Yellowstone and Teton drainages. No Wyoming-specific shop or charter reports reached our feeds this week. Field & Stream's current primer on aquatic insects for trout anglers notes that stoneflies, mayflies, caddisflies, and midges — all four cycling on Teton-area streams this time of year — form the core of a trout's spring diet; matching the emerging naturals will be the key tactic. With the full moon on May 3, expect the most consistent surface feeding during low-light windows: plan to be on the water at first light.
Snake River at 11,300 cfs — Cutthroat Stack in Eddies and Seams
USGS gauge 13037500 put the Snake River at 11,300 cfs Sunday morning — a strong early-May runoff pulse that defines the fishing strategy on both the South Fork and mainstem. No local tackle-shop, charter, or state-agency reports were in our intel feed this cycle, so conditions here are grounded in the gauge reading and seasonal patterns typical for this drainage. With water this high, the fine-spotted cutthroat that make the South Fork famous have pushed entirely out of midchannel and are holding in bankside slacks, foam lines, and protected eddies. Water temperature was unavailable from the gauge at publication time. Field & Stream's current aquatic-insect primer is a timely reminder that stoneflies, caddisflies, and mayflies drive a trout's subsurface diet — on high-water South Fork days, a heavy stonefly nymph drifted tight to the seam where fast and slow water converge is typically the most productive approach. With a full moon tonight, plan your sessions around the dawn and dusk feeding windows.
Spring Runoff Peaks on Flathead & Bitterroot as Water Climbs to 51°F
USGS gauge 12372000 registered 15,000 cfs and 51°F on the morning of May 3 — the most concrete signal available for western Montana's current fishing conditions. Snowmelt from the surrounding ranges is driving flows well above normal, and the Bitterroot corridor is running bank-full, making wading dangerous on most stretches. At 51°F, however, water temperatures are solidly in the feeding range for rainbow and westslope cutthroat trout. No Montana-specific reporting appeared in this cycle's angler-intel feeds; the conditions below reflect the gauge data and typical early-May seasonal patterns for this region. Flathead Lake offers a better near-term option than the river: high tributary inflows are stirring the water column, but boat anglers working structure away from turbid inflows can target lake trout and bull trout in deeper water.
Indiana Lake Michigan Shore Eyes Coho Arrival as Full Moon Peaks
On The Water's Captain Joe Fonzi podcast this week highlighted goby-driven smallmouth and walleye dynamics across the Great Lakes — and while his focus was Lake Erie, the forage pattern is directly relevant to Indiana's Lake Michigan shoreline as early May arrives under a Full Moon. No buoy readings or local charter reports landed in this cycle's feeds for the Indiana stretch, leaving confirmed conditions thin. Seasonal expectations, however, point toward an active transition window: yellow perch typically spread into open-water feeding zones this week, coho salmon commonly begin staging nearshore in early May ahead of their midsummer offshore push, and smallmouth bass should be creeping shallower as lake temperatures climb. The Full Moon adds a favorable solunar angle — concentrated feeding bouts near dawn and dusk are realistic, and lit pier structures can produce well into the night. Treat all species timing as seasonal expectation, not confirmed on-water intel, and verify conditions locally before launching.
Coho Stage Near Chicago Harbors as Early May Full Moon Peaks
Great Lakes Now reported this week on a newly completed fish spawning reef in Lake Huron's Saginaw Bay — a reminder that the broader Great Lakes ecosystem is actively investing in native fish habitat heading into peak spring season. On Chicago's slice of Lake Michigan, no direct buoy readings or charter reports arrived in this cycle, but early May marks the traditional window for coho salmon staging near harbor mouths and pier heads as surface temperatures typically approach the low-to-mid 50s°F. A full moon on May 3 adds a feeding-activity edge during low-light hours. Yellow perch remain a reliable presence along rocky breakwalls and pier structure this time of year. On The Water recently highlighted how gobies have transformed Great Lakes smallmouth growth rates — via Captain Joe Fonzi's Lake Erie account — a dynamic that applies equally to Chicago-area smallmouth beginning their pre-spawn build-up. Check IDNR updates and local tackle shops for the freshest catch data before heading out.
58°F Water and High Flow Push Crappie into Clinton-Dubuque Backwaters
USGS gauge 05420500 at Clinton logged 93,700 cfs and 58°F on the morning of May 3 — elevated spring runoff that's pushing fish out of the main-channel current and into slower water along the pool margins. Crappie are the prime target this week; at 58°F they're staging in flooded backwater timber and protected sloughs, within days of the spawn that typically fires when surface temps breach 60°F. Wing-dam eddies and current seams are holding walleye and sauger as both species pivot from post-spawn recovery into active feeding mode. The full moon peaking this weekend historically triggers a burst of overnight channel-catfish activity in slack-water bays and outside bends. No local shop or charter feeds reached us this cycle, so the conditions picture below is built from gauge data and seasonal patterns for this reach. Check in with a Clinton- or Dubuque-area tackle shop before launching.
Crappie Peak on Full Moon; Stripers Shifting to Mid-Lake Structure
USGS gauge 07331600 recorded a modest 40.4 cfs on May 3, pointing to stable, clearing tributary inflow across the Lake Texoma and Lake Eufaula drainages — solid baseline conditions for late-spring fishing. No direct Oklahoma reports came through this feed, but a strong regional signal puts crappie front and center: Outdoor Hub and Wired 2 Fish both covered a 4.10-pound slab landed April 24 at Grenada Lake, Mississippi, where guide Trent Goss reported fish were "staging for spawning" and heavyweight limits were routine using forward-facing sonar. Grenada Lake shares a latitude band with Eufaula, making it a credible analog for what's likely unfolding in Oklahoma's southeastern coves right now. At Lake Texoma, early May typically marks post-spawn dispersal for striped bass, with fish moving off the Red River arm toward main-lake structure. Check ODWC regulations before keeping fish, as slot limits and bag restrictions vary by species and season.
Current River Running 2,510 cfs as Ozark Trout Parks Hit Full-Moon May
USGS gauge 07067000 shows the Current River moving at 2,510 cfs as of Sunday morning — a moderately elevated pace that pushes productive water toward slower bank seams, inside bends, and tailouts below riffles rather than mid-river flats. No water temperature reading was available from the gauge this cycle; typical early-May conditions in the Ozarks generally settle in the upper-50s to mid-60s °F range, keeping stocked and holdover rainbow trout actively feeding. No direct tackle-shop or charter reports from the Current or Niangua watersheds surfaced in this cycle, so this report is grounded in gauge data and seasonal patterns. Field & Stream's current guide to aquatic insects for trout anglers is a fitting reference: early May in the Ozarks typically coincides with peak caddis emergence and the first reliable mayfly hatches of the season, making dry flies and emergers increasingly viable toward dusk. Tonight's full moon may compress the best surface action into early-morning and evening windows rather than midday.
Taneycomo Trout Season Hits Stride as Full Moon Arrives
USGS gauge 07054410 returned no reading this cycle, leaving live water temperature and flow data for Lake Taneycomo's tailwater unavailable. Based on typical early-May patterns for the White River system, tailwater releases below Table Rock Dam generally hold in the low-to-mid 50s°F at this point in spring — cold enough to keep rainbow and brown trout feeding actively before summer pressure builds. The May 3 full moon adds a meaningful timing variable: trout on Ozark tailwaters tend to compress peak feeding into dawn and dusk windows under bright lunar conditions, so mid-morning sessions may underperform this week. Field & Stream's current trout coverage highlights aquatic insect matching as the seasonal priority — midges and early caddisflies are the mainstays on tailwater fisheries at this time of year and are worth having on hand. No charter, shop, or agency reports specific to Table Rock or Taneycomo surfaced in this reporting cycle; conditions described here reflect seasonal norms rather than direct on-water testimony.
58°F and 9.1 CFS: Wade-Friendly Window Opens on White River Tailwaters
USGS gauge 07060710 logged 58°F and 9.1 CFS on the White River system early this morning — a combination that puts Bull Shoals and Norfork tailwaters squarely in prime wade-fishing range. At these flows, the river drops to ankle- and knee-deep in many runs, opening gravel bars and mid-channel seams that are unfishable during generation. Water at 58°F sits in the sweet spot for rainbow and brown trout metabolism: fish are active, feeding throughout the day, and willing to move for a well-presented fly or small lure. No current on-the-water reports from White River shops or guide captains were available in this update cycle, but gauge conditions alone tell a strong story. Field & Stream's seasonal trout guide notes that mayflies, stoneflies, caddisflies, and midges are the cornerstones of a trout's diet during spring — all four are typically hatching on Arkansas tailwaters through May. With a full moon overhead, expect heightened feeding activity at dawn and dusk. Check generation schedules before wading.
Cumberland Tailwater at 6.86 CFS as Full Moon Opens the May Crappie Spawn
USGS gauge 03413200 registered 6.86 CFS on the Cumberland River at 10:00 AM this morning — an extremely low tailwater flow consistent with minimal dam generation. For wading trout anglers on the tailwater, this is as accessible as the fishing gets; expect shallow runs to fish quickly and trout to concentrate in the deeper pockets and pools below the dam. None of the national fishing feeds consulted this cycle reported on Lake Cumberland or the Cumberland tailwater directly, so real-time bite intel is limited. Based on seasonal patterns, early May with a full moon is typically the peak crappie spawn window in Kentucky's big reservoirs — fish are likely moving into shallow structure now. Striped bass on the lake also tend to pick up in May as surface temps climb through the 60s. Water temperature was unavailable from the gauge this morning; verify local conditions before your trip.
Crappie Spawn Window Opens at Kentucky Lake Under May Full Moon
No water temperature reading is available from USGS gauge 03611500 this cycle, leaving conditions to be read from regional context and seasonal patterns. The May 3 full moon is a reliable trigger for crappie spawning on large TVA-system reservoirs — and the region is delivering: Wired 2 Fish and Outdoor Hub both reported a Grenada Lake guide (Mississippi, April 24) pulling heavyweight crappie limits with fish staging ahead of the spawn, describing the fishery as "on fire." While Grenada Lake runs roughly 300 miles to the south, the same consolidation pattern — crappie moving tight to shallow woody structure and dock pilings in 2–8 feet — is typical for Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley entering the first week of May. Largemouth bass are simultaneously transitioning into spawning posture in protected coves, and white bass are beginning to track shad schools across open-water flats. Crappie is the primary target this week.
Caney Fork & Hiwassee Tailwaters Enter Prime Hatch Window for Early May
No live gauge data is available from USGS site 03565000 today — flow and temperature are offline, so confirm TVA release schedules before heading out. That caveat aside, early May is historically one of the most productive stretches on both the Caney Fork and the Hiwassee: caddisflies and sulphur mayflies begin cycling through their emergences, and Field & Stream's current guide to aquatic insects for trout anglers underscores how tightly tailwater fish key in on these hatches. Rainbows are the primary target on the Caney Fork below Center Hill Dam; the Hiwassee canyon adds quality browns and a smallmouth component along its trophy stretch. Tonight's full moon typically shifts peak feeding toward low-light windows — first light and the final hour before dark tend to outproduce midday on regulated tailwaters. No charter, shop, or agency reports specific to these rivers appeared in this reporting cycle; the conditions described below are seasonally informed rather than confirmed field reports.
Full Moon Peaks Crappie Spawn on Chickamauga and Watts Bar
The May 3 full moon has crappie on Chickamauga and Watts Bar pushed hard into the shallows — this is the spawn window most anglers plan the whole year around. USGS gauge 03578500 recorded a flow of 52.6 cfs this morning, pointing to stable, manageable water levels on the Tennessee River corridor. No direct temperature reading is available from our gauges today, but mid-60s to low-70s°F is typical at this point in the season — squarely in the crappie-spawn trigger zone. For regional context, Wired 2 Fish and Outdoor Hub both flagged a 4.10-pound white crappie taken April 24 from Grenada Lake, Mississippi, a comparably sized Southern reservoir where fish were "staging for spawning" and heavyweight limits were routine. Similar dynamics should be playing out across Chickamauga's submerged brushpiles and Watts Bar's back-creek flats. Bass are transitioning out of spawn, catfish are responding to warming water, and this full moon window won't last — plan your next two days accordingly.
Bass Spawn Window Opens on Guntersville & Wheeler Under Full Moon
USGS gauge 03575100 recorded 294 cfs in the Guntersville and Wheeler drainage this morning — no water temperature data is available in this cycle, though early-May conditions in north Alabama typically push surface temps into the mid-60s to low-70°F range, squarely in the largemouth bass spawn zone. The full moon peaking today (May 3) historically signals the most concentrated bedding activity of the year on both reservoirs, with fish pushed into shallow coves, grass lines, and submerged timber. No Alabama-specific captain or shop reports surfaced in this update's feeds. However, Wired 2 Fish and Outdoor Hub both flagged heavy crappie spawning activity at Grenada Lake (north-central Mississippi) through April 24 — a comparable latitude reservoir — with guide Trent Goss pulling heavyweight limits using forward-facing sonar. A similar crappie staging surge is typical for Guntersville's dock and brush structure this time of year.
Crappie Spawn Push Underway as Chattahoochee Gauge Logs 49°F
USGS gauge 02334430 clocked 49°F and 652 cfs on the Chattahoochee at 10:15 a.m. this morning — a cool inflow temperature reflecting Buford Dam's hypolimnetic release, which runs well below the warmer surface layers building across Lanier's main body in early May. The Full Moon peaks this weekend, historically one of the strongest triggers for crappie spawn activity on North Georgia impoundments. Regional intel supports the pattern: Wired 2 Fish reported this week that crappie at Grenada Lake, Mississippi — a comparable Southern reservoir on a near-identical spring calendar — were 'staging for spawning' and delivering 'heavyweight-limit catches,' with guides working forward-facing sonar to target big slabs. That staging behavior mirrors what Lanier and Allatoona anglers typically see in the first week of May. No Georgia-specific charter, shop, or agency reports are in the current feed; species assessments draw on the Grenada Lake parallel, the gauge reading, and established seasonal patterns for these north Georgia lakes.
Smokies Trout Prime Up as Little Tennessee Hits 52°F and 226 cfs
USGS gauge 03512000 recorded the Little Tennessee River at 52°F and 226 cfs on the morning of May 3 — a near-ideal temperature window for Western NC trout. Rainbows, browns, and native brook trout all feed aggressively through the upper-40s-to-mid-50s range, and current flows are moderate enough to wade primary runs without difficulty. Early May is when aquatic insect activity ramps up hard across Smokies streams: per Field & Stream's recent guide to trout aquatic insects, mayflies, stoneflies, caddisflies, and midges converge as the foundation of a trout's diet, and mid-spring is peak emergence for sulphurs, light cahills, and grannom caddis. The full moon on May 3 tends to dampen midday dry-fly action; expect the most aggressive surface feeding during the first and last hour of light. Nymph and emerger patterns should produce steadily throughout the day at the current 226 cfs.
Crystal Coast Spring Bite In Full Swing: Kings and Scamps Take Center Stage
Coastal Angler Magazine's Crystal Coast May 2026 report confirms spring fishing is "in full swing" along the NC coastline, with a separate Coastal Angler contributor noting that May has historically delivered strong action on king mackerel and scamp grouper. NOAA buoy 41037 logged winds at 11 m/s (about 21 knots) and air temperature at 59.5°F this morning; no water temperature reading was available. The full moon amplifies tidal exchange across Pamlico Sound, compressing bait at current edges and inlet mouths — historically one of the sharpest feeding triggers of the spring. Offshore, Cape Lookout's live-bottom ledges are the traditional staging ground for scamps through mid-May, while king mackerel hunt nearshore structure and rip lines. Inshore on Pamlico Sound, red drum and flounder are typical for this spring window, with fish transitioning from wintering grounds to shallow grass-flat margins. Check state regulations before harvesting any species.
Post-spawn stripers moving through Chincoteague as water hits 51°F
NOAA buoy 44014 logged 51°F water temperature off the Virginia coast on May 3rd — right in the sweet spot for the spring striper migration push. On The Water's May 1st migration update confirms the timing: "the striper migration really snowballs once the large post-spawn females leave the Chesapeake," placing Chincoteague's Atlantic inlets and back bays squarely in the northbound corridor. Further up the coast, The Fisherman (Northeast) reports stripers from 25 to 40 inches hitting aggressively from NJ to New England, a strong signal that this migration lane is fully activated. The Fisherman (Northeast)'s NJ/DE Bay region report also notes Delaware's black sea bass season opened May 1st and NJ fluke opens May 4th — a clear regional indicator that bottom species are arriving along the entire Mid-Atlantic coast. A full moon on May 3rd is driving the month's strongest tidal swings; working current-driven rips at tidal transitions should be the primary tactic for stripers in the inlets and along the barrier island beaches this week.
Spring Spawn Peaks at Smith Mountain & Buggs Island Under May Full Moon
The Roanoke River is running at 949 cubic feet per second (USGS gauge 02075045 as of this morning), feeding moderate current into the upper arms of Smith Mountain Lake as early May's full moon marks the traditional peak of the spring spawn window across both reservoirs. No water temperature data is currently available from local gauges, but typical VA highland lake readings at this stage of the season run 62–68°F — prime territory for crappie bedding and largemouth staging on secondary points. On The Water's May 1 striper migration update notes post-spawn females beginning to push out of the Chesapeake system, a regional signal that striped bass are advancing through their reproductive cycle. At Smith Mountain Lake and Buggs Island, landlocked stripers typically feed aggressively in the days bracketing the full moon before dropping toward summer depth. Crappie are the top target this weekend — work shallow brush piles, dock pilings, and any stained-water coves that warm fastest.