Updated October 15, 2026

    Peace River

    river in Florida

    A popular river for paddling and fossil hunting, it also holds a healthy population of native freshwater fish.

    Bluegill / SunfishPanfishCrappieGarSnookTarpon
    This week's reportAccess & shops

    River flow last 30 days

    08001,600Sep 16Sep 22Sep 27834 cfs
    USGS gauge 02296750 · daily averageUpdated Oct 16
    Flow now
    655cfs
    Below the typical range (1,040–1,510 cfs)
    Last 7 days
    Falling
    834 to 1,653 cfs
    Weather now
    87°F
    Mainly Clear, wind 4 mph SE
    Bite report · week of Oct 4

    What's working on Peace River

    1. 01Peace River is flowing at 397 cfs with clear skies and 78°F temperatures.
    2. 02Focus on baitfish, shrimp, and aquatic invertebrates as primary forage.
    3. 03Snook and Tarpon are key targets in lower, tidal sections.
    4. 04Bluegill, Panfish, and Crappie are active in upstream freshwater areas.
    5. 05Terrestrial activity is waning but can still bring fish to the surface on warmer days.

    Past reports week by week

    6 weeks

    What to tie on

    Picked from reports, hatches and the season. Tap a fly for the recipe and where else it works.

    streamer

    Clouser Minnow (Saltwater)

    Minnow/shrimp
    #1/0#2/0#3/0

    A universal baitfish imitation, effective year-round for Snook, Tarpon, and Gar in tidal and brackish waters.

    Buy at Amazon
    dry

    Deceiver

    #14#16

    Versatile baitfish imitation, effective for predatory saltwater species like Snook, Tarpon, and Gar in fall.

    nymph

    EP Shrimp

    Shrimp
    #2#4#6

    Mimics abundant shrimp, a year-round food source for Snook and Tarpon in the Peace River's lower reaches.

    Buy at Amazon
    streamer

    Tarpon Toad

    Baitfish/crab
    #2/0#3/0#4/0

    A classic tarpon pattern, also effective for Snook, imitating baitfish or crabs in fall conditions.

    Buy at Amazon
    dry

    Popping Bug (Bass)

    #14#16

    Creates surface disturbance, drawing aggressive topwater strikes from Bluegill, Panfish, and Crappie on warmer fall days.

    streamer

    Woolly Bugger (Olive)

    #4#6#8

    A versatile streamer imitating leeches and baitfish, effective year-round for Bluegill, Panfish, Crappie, and Gar.

    nymph

    Scud (Pink/Orange)

    Freshwater amphipod (Gammarus)
    #12#14#16#18

    Mimics freshwater amphipods, a consistent food source for Bluegill, Panfish, and Crappie in vegetated areas.

    Buy at Amazon
    streamer

    Crappie Jig Fly

    Minnow/invertebrate
    #8#10#12

    An excellent imitation for minnows and invertebrates, highly effective for Crappie and Panfish near submerged structure.

    Buy at Amazon

    Where to fish and who to ask

    Salt Fly Pro · NokomisCB’s Saltwater Outfitters · Sarasota1Arcadia2Fort Meade
    AccessFly shop
    1

    Arcadia

    Multiple public ramps and access points in this central stretch.

    27.211°N 81.859°WUSGS 02296750Directions
    2

    Fort Meade

    Upper river access for smaller boats and canoes.

    27.765°N 81.798°WDirections

    Fly shops within 40 miles

    29mi

    Salt Fly Pro

    Nokomis, FL
    32mi

    CB’s Saltwater Outfitters

    Sarasota, FL

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    Florida season by season

    What changes on the water through the year, with the flies for each season.

    Mar – MaySpringRead the guideJun – AugSummerRead the guideSep – NovFallRead the guideDec – FebWinterRead the guide

    Read before you go

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    Fly Line Types Guide: WF, DT, Running & Shooting Heads

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    Quick answers

    Common questions about Peace River.

    What flies work best on Peace River?

    Our top scored fly patterns for Peace River right now are Crappie Jig Fly (80% confidence), Clouser Minnow (Saltwater) (80% confidence), Tarpon Toad (80% confidence). These picks are scored from recent fishing reports, hatch data, and seasonal patterns.

    What fish species are in Peace River?

    Peace River holds Bluegill, Panfish, Crappie, Gar, Snook, Tarpon. See the species links on this page for fly recommendations and seasonal behavior for each.

    What are current flow conditions on Peace River?

    Live USGS streamflow readings for Peace River are charted in the sidebar of this page and updated automatically from the nearest gauge.

    Is Peace River fishing well right now?

    We publish a fresh bite report for Peace River each week based on recent on-the-water intel. The current report — with conditions, hatches, and what's producing — is on this page.