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This weekly fishing report is compiled from
information gathered from local bait shops, angler creel surveys, and county
and state parks staff. For current information, contact the district fisheries office at the
phone number listed at the end of each district report.
Stay Where You
Play
Make your next
fishing trip an overnight stay. Take advantage of state park cabins and
campgrounds near many of these bodies of water. Some of Iowa’s best fishing is
happening this spring. Make your reservation now. For more information on
availability and rates, visit iowastateparks.reserveamerica.com
Arrowhead Lake
Bluegill - Good: Anglers are catching 8 - 9.5 inch bluegills in about 5
feet of water with a black jig tipped with a wax worm fished about 3 feet below
a bobber.
Black Hawk Lake
Water level is about 10 inches over the crest of the spillway. Bluegill -
Good: Bluegill fishing is good in 1-4 feet of water. Use a small jig tipped
with live bait, small piece of crawler or wax worms fished below a bobber. Walleye
- Slow: Try the shore off Ice House Point, the dredge cut out from Denison
Beach and the rock piles near Gunshot Hill and in the east basin of the lake. Largemouth
Bass - Fair: Use top water, weedless baits or Texas rigs. Try also fishing
plastic worms near cover and drop offs. There is a 15-inch minimum length limit
for largemouth bass on Black Hawk Lake. Channel Catfish - Fair: Fish stink
bait, leeches and worms on the bottom. A recent netting survey showed that
catfish are up to 23 inches and 5 lbs. in Black Hawk Lake.
Blue Lake
We have received no information regarding fishing on this water body this
week. Largemouth Bass - No Report: With the water levels up, there is a lot of
shoreline vegetation submerged. Concentrate on these areas with weedless lures.
Bluegill - No Report: Fish a worm under a bobber near vegetation. Some sorting is
required because there are a lot of smaller fish.
Brushy Creek
Lake
Bluegill - Fair: Anglers are picking up some bluegills in 15-20 feet of
water. Black Crappie - Fair: Fish in 10-20 feet of water with a small piece of
crawler or minnow on a jig. Walleye - Fair: Fish in 15-20 feet of water.
Storm Lake
(including Little Storm Lake)
The dredge is in operation in the northeast portion of the lake. Boaters should
use extreme caution in this area and must maintain a 100 foot distance from the
dredge, booster pump and all dredge pipes at all times. Storm Lake has a daily
limit of 3 walleye and all 17 to 22-inch walleye must be released; no more than
one walleye longer than 22 inches may be taken per day. Walleye - Fair: Most of
the walleye action has been on crankbaits fished in the dredge cuts. A few have
been picked up from shore with leeches and crankbaits. Channel Catfish - Fair:
Anglers are catching catfish from shore using stink bait or cut bait fished off
the bottom.
Swan Lake
Bluegill - Fair: Anglers are picking up bluegills near shore along weed
lines. Fish a small jig under a bobber with a small piece of crawler, wax worm or
minnow for bait. A recent electrofishing survey showed bluegills up to 9
inches.
For more information contact the Black Hawk District Office at
712-657-2638.
Beeds
Lake
Bluegill - Good: Bluegills and a few yellows are
being caught drift fishing/trolling small jigs.
Clear Lake
Channel Catfish - Fair: Catfish have been caught near the state rock reef
and after dark on the Ventura jetties. Yellow Bass - Good: Yellow bass fishing
has been fair to good. Drift fish the main lake until you find a school; mark
the area and swing back through again. Or try some of the rock reefs. Walleye -
Fair: A few walleyes are being caught early and late in the day near the Baptist
camp area in the weeds. A few have been caught near the artificial reefs (HyVee
and Fisherman’s). Muskellunge – Fair. Black Crappie - Fair: Try the artificial weed
beds (Fisherman’s and HyVee reefs).
Lake Catherine
Channel Catfish - Good: Try along the jetties or shoreline with worms,
minnows or cut bait.
Lake Cornelia
Channel Catfish - Good: A few decent catfish have been caught at dusk or
night from shore. Try a piece of cut bait, stink bait or a live chub. Bluegill
- Good: Smaller bluegills and yellow bass are being caught along the shore with
night crawlers.
Lake Smith
Channel Catfish - Good: Catfish are on the rocks on the south end. Try bobbers
and a piece of cut bait or worms. Largemouth Bass - Good: Largemouth fishing
has been good in the weeds and on deeper water structure. Use artificial bait
that works well in weeds; fish pockets in the weeds or edges. Bluegill - Fair:
Anglers have had fair success with bluegills and crappies out from shore.
For lake updates and fishing information in the north central area,
contact the Clear Lake Fish and Wildlife office at 641-357-3517.
Big Spirit
Lake
Yellow Perch - Good: Report of good numbers of fish caught; sorting will
result in nice numbers in the creel.
Center Lake
Black Crappie - Good: Good numbers of crappies and bluegills are reported
in the shoreline wooden habitat; use mini jigs tipped with wigglers or a worm.
East Okoboji
Lake
Black Crappie - Good: Cast small jig lures tipped with bait on the wooden
docks. Yellow Bass - Good: Good action early morning and evenings; fish bridge
sites for the best action.
Lost Island
Lake
Yellow Bass - Good: Boat anglers are catching good numbers; fish
vertically with a jig tipped with wigglers. Dock anglers casting jigs will
produce numbers; fish evening hours for the best action.
Silver Lake
(Dickinson)
Walleye - Good: The walleye bite has slowed but boat anglers are
harvesting nice fish; troll crankbaits for the best action.
West Okoboji
Lake
Black Crappie - Good: Good bluegill and crappie action reported fishing
the deeper wooden docks; best action is during the evening hours.
For more information on the above lakes, call the Spirit Lake Fisheries Station at 712-336-1840.
Cedar River (above Nashua)
Cedar River crested earlier this week and is slowly falling. Water is
very dirty. Use caution when boating as submersed logs and other debris may not
be visible. Walleye – Fair. Channel Catfish - Slow: Anglers fishing in current
breaks and eddies are finding catfish. Use cut bait on a hook. Northern Pike -
Slow: Minnows are turning pikes heads. Rock Bass - Slow: Catches of rock bass
have been spotty.
Decorah District Streams
Trout streams with better watersheds are fishable but flows are up. Take care when
walking through wild parsnip while getting to your favorite stream. Don't let
it touch your skin; it reacts with the sun and causes horrible blisters. Brown
Trout - Good: A nice variety of insects have been hatching in the evenings. Use
a #18 blue wing olive or #14 or #16 caddis fly imitation. Strong midges hatches
are also occurring. Brook Trout - Good: For stained water, use a streamer or
minnow imitation. Rainbow Trout - Good: A few of our streams are not stocked in
July and August as these streams tend to get too warm for cold water fish. Refer
to our calendar and map to find out
which ones. Spin fishers should try spinners
or worms.
Lake Hendricks
The lake has a green algae bloom, but anglers are still catching fish.
Largemouth Bass - Fair: Anglers fishing from a boat or canoe are having luck
using topwater plastics over the vegetation and reeling to deeper water. Bluegill
- Fair: Shore fishing is difficult due to aquatic beds. Find fish in deeper
water; use a hook tipped with small piece of worm. Channel Catfish - Fair: Try cut
bait, worms and stinkbait fished off the bottom.
Lake Meyer
Expect spotty catches of fish depending on day and time. The Algae bloom
is becoming more evident. Bluegill - Fair: Gills are in shallow dense
vegetation and are difficult to catch. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Use a jig tipped
with a variety of soft plastics. Start along the weed edges and fish deeper. Channel
Catfish - Fair: Catfish are taking a big worm fished off the bottom under a
bobber; evenings are best.
Upper Iowa River (above Decorah)
Water temperatures are in the 70's. Water levels have stabilized, but the
river remains very muddy. Smallmouth Bass - Slow: Try running a spinner bait
along undercut banks and overhanging rock ledges.
Upper Iowa River (below Decorah)
Water levels have stabilized, but clarity is poor. Use care when paddling;
logs, rocks, and other debris may not be visible until it's too late to
maneuver. Smallmouth Bass - Slow: Spinnerbaits were turning smallie heads.
Walleye – Slow.
Volga Lake
Volga Lake has a green algae bloom. Anglers drifting
over rock or brush piles will find fish. Largemouth Bass – Fair. Black Crappie –
Fair. Bluegill – Fair.
A chance for stormy weather continues through the weekend. Be careful
when outside. There are excessive heat warnings for our area Thursday and
Friday. Most river levels remain elevated and are very muddy with recent rains.
For more information, please call the Decorah Fish Hatchery at 563-382-8324.
Cedar River
(Nashua to La Porte City)
The Cedar River is rising; there currently are no reports. Channel
catfish may be the best opportunity at this time. Channel Catfish - Fair: Try stink
baits, cut baits or chicken livers.
Manchester
District Streams
Recent fish sampling surveys on the Upper Maquoketa River (Trout Portion)
has shown good numbers of brown trout with many of quality size. Brown Trout -
Fair: Use spinners or dry flies concentrating efforts near overhead cover and
other habitat.
Maquoketa
River (above Monticello)
The Maquoketa River is in excellent angling condition for the upcoming
weekend. Walleye - Fair: A jig tipped with a crawler is a deadly combination
this time of year. Look for current breaks and woody structure. Smallmouth Bass
- Fair: Use a jig and crawler, crankbaits or spinner baits fished near rocky
habitat. Channel Catfish - Fair: Try chicken livers or stink baits near the
upstream end of logjams.
Shell Rock
River (Greene to Shell Rock)
The Shell Rock River is rising; there currently are no reports. Channel
catfish may be the best opportunity at this time. Channel Catfish - Fair: Try stink
baits, cut baits or chicken livers.
Wapsipinicon River (Tripoli to Troy Mills)
The Wapsipinicon River is rising; there currently are no reports. Channel
catfish may be the best opportunity at this time. Channel Catfish - Fair: Try stink
baits, cut baits or chicken livers.
Most interior rivers are on the rise due to recent rainfall; fishing
reports have declined due to the recent heat and humidity. Channel catfish may
be the best angling opportunity on the rivers for the upcoming weekend. Panfish
reports have been slow as we are in the mid-summer lulls. Trout streams are in
excellent condition and recent fish sampling has shown quality brown trout
populations. For further information, contact the N.E. District Office at
563-927-3276.
Mississippi
River Pool 9
Water level is 11.5 feet at Lansing and is expected to rise another foot
over the next week. Access to the boat ramp at New Albin may be closed. Water
temperature remains in the upper 70's. Freshwater Drum - Excellent: Drum are
feeding well on worms bounced on the bottom. Reports of larger drum being
caught on minnows. Largemouth Bass - Good: Largemouth fishing is good alongside
channel and main channel structure. Channel Catfish - Excellent: Channel catfish
spawning has mostly ended; use stink bait. Look for catfish in shallow stump beds
or snags in side channels. Bluegill - Good: Bluegills will be scattered with
the higher water levels. Fish a bit of crawler under bobbers in slack water
still holding vegetation. Walleye - Good: Walleye bite is good on the wing dams
and deep closing dams trolling a crankbait or a crawler rig above the wing dams.
Smallmouth Bass - Excellent: Smallmouth fishing remains good along rocky
shorelines and wing dams at dawn and early evening. Yellow Perch - Fair: A lot
of yellow perch are hanging along weed lines in the back waters and slow moving
side channels.
Mississippi
River Pool 10
Water level is 19 feet at Lynxville and is expected to reach 20.5 feet
this week. Water temperature is in the upper 70's. Freshwater Drum - Excellent:
Drum are feeding well on worms bounced on the bottom. Reports of larger drum being
caught on minnows. Largemouth Bass - Good: Largemouth fishing is good alongside
channel and main channel structure. Channel Catfish - Excellent: Channel catfish
spawning has mostly ended; use stink bait. Look for catfish in shallow stump
beds or snags in side channels. Bluegill - Good: Bluegills will be scattered
with the higher water levels. Fish a bit of crawler under bobbers in slack water
still holding vegetation. Walleye - Good: Walleye bite is good on the wing dams
and deep closing dams trolling a crankbait or a crawler rig above the wing dams.
Smallmouth Bass - Excellent: Smallmouth fishing remains good along rocky
shorelines and wing dams at dawn and early evening. Yellow Perch - Fair: A lot
of yellow perch are hanging along weed lines in the back waters and slow moving
side channels.
Mississippi
River Pool 11
Water level has risen 4 feet at Lock and Dam 10 at Guttenberg in the past
week to near 10 feet. Levels are expected to reach 11.2 feet late next week
before leveling off. Water temperature remains in the upper 70's. Freshwater
Drum - Excellent: Drum are feeding well
on worms bounced on the bottom. Reports of larger drum being caught on minnows.
Largemouth Bass - Good: Largemouth fishing is good alongside channel and main
channel structure. Channel Catfish - Excellent: Channel catfish spawning has
mostly ended; use stink bait. Look for catfish in shallow stump beds or snags
in side channels. Bluegill - Good: Bluegills will be scattered with the higher
water levels. Fish a bit of crawler under bobbers in slack water still holding
vegetation. Walleye - Good: Walleye bite is good on the wing dams and deep
closing dams trolling a crankbait or a crawler rig above the wing dams. Smallmouth
Bass - Excellent: Smallmouth fishing remains good along rocky shorelines and
wing dams at dawn and early evening. Yellow Perch - Fair: A lot of yellow perch
are hanging along weed lines in the back waters and slow moving side channels.
Water levels are up several feet over the past week on the Upper
Mississippi. Lock and Dam gates are open at Lynxville and Guttenberg. The rapid
rise in water levels will create excessive current and vegetation movement. Anglers
may have to search for fish in side channel and backwater refuges. Water temperatures
remain in the upper 70's.
Mississippi River Pool 12
Water level is near 9.0 feet at Dubuque tailwater and near 11.2 feet at
the RR bridge. These levels are up
significantly from last week and water levels are expected to continue to rise.
Tributaries such as Catfish Creek are very turbid. Water temperature in the
main channel is 77 degrees. Walleye - Good: Try fishing the wing dams closer to
bank as the water current picks up its pace this week. Largemouth Bass - Fair:
Try fishing the vegetation lines or in pockets of large coontail and milfoil
weed beds. Frog imitation lures can work great this time of year. Freshwater
Drum - Excellent: Lots of freshwater drum can be caught. Cut out all the red
meat when cleaning them and they are a fine eating fish. Throw them immediately
on ice after catching them, if you plan on eating drum. Channel Catfish -
Excellent: Lots of catfish are being caught off rock lines and piles. Those
bluish looking catfish are NOT blue catfish, rather the male channel cat in
spawning colors. Catfish are nearing the end of their spawning run. Bluegill -
Fair: Some bluegills are showing up usually near areas of slight flow. They are running small this year. Smallmouth
Bass - Good: Smallmouth bass are doing very well in the Mississippi River with
numerous year classes present. The
combination of rock and current are a must to find smallmouth bass, which often
hold very tight to the rocks. Black Crappie - Good: Some early in the year
reports of anglers taking some nice crappies out of brush piles.
Mississippi River Pool 13
Water level is near 9.3 feet at Bellevue which is up a couple of feet
from last week. The water temperature is around 79 degrees. Expect water to
rise during the week. Mill Creek and the Maquoketa River are muddy; avoid them
if possible. Walleye - Good: Walleyes were back on the wing dams; they may move
when the river levels increase. Try fishing near shore on the wing dams in
areas of lesser current. Largemouth Bass - Good: Go way back in large backwater
complexes to find cleaner water; this is where the bass will be. Fish along the
eel grass. Use frog imitation lures or plastics. Freshwater Drum - Excellent:
Loads of freshwater drum are being caught, many from bank anglers. Use large
crayfish to catch really large drum. Channel Catfish - Excellent: Use stink
bait in flowing sloughs, especially above log jams or along rock piles. Catfish
bite usually improves with rising water levels. Smallmouth Bass - Good:
Smallmouth bass are doing very well in the Mississippi River with numerous year
classes present. The combination of rock and current are a must to find
smallmouth bass, which often hold very tight to the rocks. Stay away from the
turbid tributary streams as smallmouth are sight feeders.
Mississippi River Pool 14
Water level is near 8.7 feet at Fulton, 12.0 feet at Camanche and 6.2
feet at LeClaire. These readings are predicted well up from last week. Water is
expected to rise all week. The water clarity is still somewhat turbid,
especially around the Wapsipinicon River mouth. Freshwater Drum - Excellent:
The drum bite is on. Simple sliding sinker and worms fished in current work best.
Channel Catfish - Excellent: The catfish bite is very good. Most anglers are
using crawlers when drum fishing but some f are using stink bait. The Rock
Creek area is a good place to find channel cats. Rising water levels usually
triggers a catfish bite. Walleye - Fair: Walleyes were biting during the lower
current levels. Smallmouth Bass - Good: Smallmouth bass are doing very well in
the Mississippi River with numerous year classes present. The combination of
rock and current are a must to find smallmouth bass, which often hold very
tight to the rocks.
Mississippi River Pool 15
Water level is 8.2 feet at Rock Island, which is up substantially from
last week. Expect water levels to rise all week. Water temperature is around 79
degrees in the main channel. Pigeon Creek and Crow Creek are turbid after
nearly every rain this year. Freshwater Drum - Excellent: Freshwater drum are
abundant in Pool 15 and can easily be caught from shore. Try fishing the eagles
landing area a with worm and egg sinkers. Channel Catfish - Good: Rising water
levels usually trigger what has already been a good catfish bite. Lots of
varieties of stink bait are being used.
Water temperatures are in the upper 70's throughout the district. Water
levels are predicted to raise. River turbidity has been an issue near tributary
streams which continue to be muddy. Some
caddis and mayflies are hatching almost every night.
Mississippi River Pool 16
Tailwater stage is 9.16 feet at Lock and Dam 15 in the Quad Cities.
Tailwater stage has risen the past few days and is forecasted to continue to
rise throughout the weekend. Tailwater stage is forecasted to reach 11.1 feet
by the middle of next week. Flood stage is 15 feet. Channel Catfish - Fair:
Channel catfish are being caught on stink baits. Try fishing above logs jams and
snags in the side channels. Bluegill - Fair: Some bluegills are being caught in
the backwaters. Look for bluegills around brush piles and logs. Try fishing
with pieces of worms under a bobber. White Bass - Slow: White bass fishing
below the dam and in Sylvan Slough has been hit or miss.
Mississippi
River Pool 17
Tailwater stage is 7.40 feet at Lock and Dam 16 in Muscatine and is rising.
River stage is forecasted to reach 10.2 feet by the middle of next week. Flood
stage is 15 feet. We have not received any fishing reports for this pool this
week. Channel Catfish - No Report: Look for channel catfish around log jams and
snags in the side channels. Try night crawlers or stink bait. White Bass - No
Report: Look for white bass on the wing dams. Cast crankbaits or jigs and
twister tails. Bluegill - No Report: Look for bluegills in the backwaters. Try
fishing around brush piles and logs with pieces of worm under a bobber.
Mississippi River Pool 18
Tailwater stage is 9.12 feet at Lock and Dam 17 above New Boston and is
rising. Tailwater stage is forecasted to reach 11.8 feet over the weekend. White
Crappie - Fair: Some crappies are being caught in New Boston Bay. Try fishing
around brush piles and the bridge. White Bass - Fair: White bass are being
caught on the wing dams. Cast crankbaits or jigs and twister tails. Channel
Catfish - No Report: Use stink baits above brush piles and log jams in the side
channels.
Mississippi River Pool 19
Tailwater stage is 5.63 feet at Lock and Dam 19 above Burlington and is rising.
Tailwater stage is forecasted to reach 8 feet over the weekend. Flood stage is
10 feet. We have not received any fishing report information for this pool this
week. Channel Catfish - No Report: Use stink baits above brush piles and log
jams in the side channels.
Pools 16-19: River stages have been on the rise with the recent heavy
rains and forecasted to continue to rise through the weekend. Water clarity is
fair to poor. Main channel water temperature is around 80 degrees. We have not
received many fishing reports with the rising water conditions and hotter
weather. Remember to clean, drain, and dry your boat before going to another
waterbody. If you have questions on fishing pools 16-19, contact the Fairport
Fish Hatchery at 563-263-5062.
Big Hollow
Lake
Water temperature on Wednesday was down to 80 degrees after the heavy
rains. A lot of the duck weed is gone. Bluegill - Fair: Anglers are catching
some nice sized bluegills in deeper water out around the flooded timber. Channel
Catfish - Good: Get up in the areas where runoff is coming into the lake and
you will find some really nice catfish.
Iowa River
(Columbus Junction to Mississippi River)
The forecast is for the Iowa River to come up a couple another feet by
Sunday afternoon. Channel Catfish - Good: Catfishing continues to be pretty
good on a variety of baits; concentrate efforts on the mouths of feeder creeks.
Lake Belva
Deer
Not very many anglers out due to the weather. Bluegill - Good: Fish in
deeper water around the flooded timber. They don’t seem to be coming in shallow
even in the early morning. Largemouth Bass - Good: Bass fishing has been good
early in the morning at the upper end of the lake. Work the brush piles and
over top of the mounds.
Lake Darling
Water temperatures are up in the mid 80's. Bluegill - Fair: Work the
banks along where the campground arm of the lake attaches to the main body of
the lake. Try also around where the deeper water comes near the jetties and
fishing pier.
Lake Geode
Water temperature was cooled down a little by the rain. Bluegill - Fair: Bluegill
fishing has slowed with the hot humid weather and rain. Channel Catfish - Fair:
Try the upper end of the lake where the runoff is coming down Cedar Creek.
Lake Odessa
Because of the rise in the water level out in the Mississippi River, the
inlet and outlet gates have been closed at Odessa to prevent its water level
from coming back up.
Skunk River
(Rose Hill to Coppock)
The river has come up about a foot from the recent rains and it's pretty
muddy. There hasn’t been many anglers out on the river the last few days.
For more information on the above lakes and rivers, call the Lake Darling
Fisheries Office at 319-694-2430.
Coralville Reservoir
The lake is at normal summer pool. Channel Catfish - Fair: Slow troll or
drift cut bait in the channel.
Diamond Lake
No minnows are allowed here. Channel Catfish - Good: Fish around
sunrise/sunset with stink bait or chicken livers. Bluegill - Fair: Look for
fish around offshore brush piles. Black Crappie - Fair: Fish around deeper
brush or drift open water for suspended fish.
Iowa River
(Marshalltown to Coralville Lake)
Channel Catfish - Good: Stink bait and live bait work well around snags. Flathead
Catfish - Good: Use bullheads, sunfish and chubs around snags.
Lake Macbride
There is a 10 horsepower limit operated at no wake (<5mph) speed. For
those using the fish cleaning station by the South Campground, please cut the
spines off catfish before putting them in the grinder. Walleye - Fair: Troll
crankbaits or spinner rigs in 8-12 feet of water. Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) -
Fair: These have been on and off lately. Look for surface activity at sunset
around schools of shad. Black Crappie - Slow: A few fish are being caught
fishing twisters slowly. Channel Catfish - Fair: Try stinkbait or crawlers,
especially towards sunset. East of the causeway has been good.
Pleasant Creek Lake
The lake is currently 9' low. The main ramp is still usable. White Bass -
Fair: Look for fish feeding on the surface towards sunset. There are often some
wipers mixed in. Yellow Perch - Fair: Some fish are being caught on worms.
Wapsi River
(Troy Mills to Oxford Junction)
Channel Catfish - Good: Most typical catfish baits are working. Focus
around woody snags in the river.
For additional information, contact the Lake Macbride Fisheries Station
at 319-624-3615.
Bob White Lake
A complete fisheries renovation was completed in September of 2015. Fingerlings
were stocked last fall. Fishing will continue to improve as the fish grow.
Hawthorn Lake
Largemouth Bass - Good: Largemouth bass fishing has been good. Use
crankbaits or spinner baits around brush piles and other underwater structure. Try
rubber worms or crawdad imitations around the rock jetties and along the dam. Hawthorn
has a slot limit and all largemouth bass between 12 and 16 inches must be immediately
released. Black Bullhead - Good: Use nightcrawler fished on the bottom. Bluegill
- Fair: Bluegills are biting on small jigs tipped with a chunk of night crawler.
Sorting is needed for larger fish with most fish running about 7 inches.
Lake Keomah
Try crankbaits and spinnerbaits fished around the end of the rock jetties
for largemouth bass. Use small jigs tipped with a chunk of night crawler for
bluegill. Try areas around the aquatic vegetation near the shorelines.
Lake Sugema
Largemouth Bass - Fair: Use topwater lures in the early mornings and
later in the evenings. Try spinner baits around the fishing jetties and along
the face of the dam. Lake Sugema has a slot limit, so all largemouth bass 12-18
inches must be immediately released. Black Crappie - Fair: Use jig and minnow
combinations. Try different colors and different depths until you find active
fish. Target areas in the flooded timber. Walleye - Slow: Fishing has slowed
some with the hotter weather. Drift night crawlers or minnows along the dam and
other rip-rapped shorelines.
Lake Wapello
Largemouth Bass - Good: Try crankbaits and topwater lures. Target the
cedar trees piles and open areas along the aquatic vegetation. Channel Catfish
- Fair: Anglers are catching channel catfish using cut bait or night crawlers. Black
Bullhead - Fair: Use night crawlers fished near the bottom. Fish along the
shorelines in 4-6 feet of water.
Rathbun Reservoir
The current lake level is 905.84. The current surface water temperature
is in the low 80's. Lake Rathbun contains zebra mussels, so make sure to
properly drain, clean, and dry equipment before transporting to another water
body. Channel Catfish - Fair: Channel catfish are biting on night crawlers and
cut bait. Walleye anglers are also catching catfish on crankbaits. Walleye -
Fair: Anglers are catching walleyes by trolling crankbaits or crawler harnesses
around rock piles and submerged points. Use crankbaits that mimic gizzard shad.
Try also casting jigs in the shallows. White Bass - Good: Anglers are catching
white bass with chrome colored crankbaits or lead heads and white jigs. Rathbun
also contains hybrid striped bass (wipers); use the same techniques used for
white bass.
Red Haw Lake
Bluegill - Fair: Try a chunk of nightcrawler fished under a bobber; target
areas along the shorelines. Largemouth Bass - Good: Target areas with rock on
the shorelines and around the fishing jetties using spinner baits or rubber
worms. Try also crawdad imitations. Channel Catfish - Fair: Use cut bait or night
crawlers along the shorelines. Target areas with rocks such as along the dam or
around the fishing jetties.
Take your trash with you so
your favorite fishing spot is clean and litter free. Contact the Rathbun Fish Hatchery at 641-647-2406 with questions
regarding angling in south central Iowa.
Big Creek Lake
Walleye - Fair: Troll spinner rigs with minnows or crawlers in 5-15 feet
of water. Focus on the upper/shallower 1/3rd of the lake. The east arm out from
and above the marina has been producing more fish. Flows coming in from the
creeks will attract fish to the silt dam notches. Cast shallow diving
crankbaits in these areas.
Don Williams
Lake
Black Crappie - Good: The good crappie bite continues at Don Williams. Most
fish are 8-9 inches. They are not being caught close to shore. Slowly troll or
drift 1/8 ounce jigs tipped with minnows or small white or chartreuse twister
tails out from shore in 15-20 feet of water in the upper half of the lake. The
crappie are suspended from 5 to 10 feet down.
Hickory Grove Lake
Black Crappie - Fair: A fair to good crappie bite has been going at
Hickory Grove. They are being caught drifting or slow trolling 1/8 ounce or
lighter jigs with twister tails or minnows or 1.5 inch panfish tube jigs. Work the
mid-lake area out from the Oriole Ridge Lodge. Bluegill - Good: Use small jigs
tipped with crawler over pallet piles in water less than 15 feet deep. Try between
the island the beach and near buoy off the shore from the Plover Bay Shelter. Hickory
Grove can produce some nice bluegills from 7 to 8.5 inches.
Red Rock Reservoir
White Bass - Good: Hot weather is keeping a good white bass bite going. Troll
points and windblown shorelines with spoons and lipless crankbaits. Popular
color patterns include chrome, chrome/blue and firetiger. If trolling is
producing little results, cast the same lures shallow to the windblown
shoreline and retrieve.
Roberts Creek
Lake
Black Crappie - Fair: Crappied are in a suspended summer pattern. Drift
or troll small twister tail jigs or tube jigs in the main lake.
Rock Creek
Lake
Black Crappie - Fair: Crappie fishing is good. Drift or troll in the
lower half of the main lake. Use small tube jigs and 1/16 or 1/8 ounce jigs
with twister tails or tipped with minnows. Keep your bait in the top 6 feet of
water.
Saylorville Reservoir
White Bass - Excellent: The white bass bite is
getting more active during the hot weather. Cast or troll spoons, lipless
crankbaits or square bill crankbaits. Color patterns containing chrome or
chartreuse work best. Try the stretch from Sandpiper Beach to the marina bay. Channel
Catfish - Good: Drift cut creek chubs above the mile long bridge
Catfishing is good right now on Central Iowa rivers. White bass fishing
on the reservoirs is good to excellent. For information on Central Iowa lakes
and rivers contact, Andy Otting or Ben Dodd at 515-432-2823.
Green Valley Lake
Largemouth Bass - Good: Largemouth bass up to 19
inches have been caught with finesse plastics or tube jigs fished near cedar
tree brush piles or along the dam. Bluegill - Slow: Bluegill up to 8.5 inches
have been caught using night crawlers fished near cedar tree brush piles.
Lake Icaria
Channel Catfish - Good: Channel catfish of all sizes have been caught with
night crawlers or liver fished near the fish mounds and other rocky structure. Bluegill
- Fair: Bluegill up to 8 inches have been caught using jigs tipped with a wax worm
fished near the fish mounds.
Lake of Three
Fires
Bluegill - Slow: Bluegill up to 8 inches have been
caught with night crawlers fished near deep cedar tree brush piles.
Little River Watershed Lake
Channel Catfish - Good: Channel catfish of all sizes have been caught with
liver or night crawlers fished near the flooded timber. Bluegill - Fair:
Bluegill up to 8.5 inches have been caught using jigs tipped with a wax worm
fished along the weed line in 15 feet of water. Walleye - Slow: A few walleyes
have been caught with jigs fished along the rock fields and main lake points.
Three Mile Lake
Bluegill - Slow: Bluegill up to 7 inches have been caught with night
crawlers fished in 15 feet of water along the flooded timber.
Twelve Mile Creek Lake
Bluegill - Slow: Bluegills up to 9 inches have been caught with night
crawlers fished along feedlines in 14 feet of water. Yellow Perch - Slow:
Yellow perch up to 12 inches have been caught using nightcrawler fished along weed
lines in 14 feet of water.
Water temperature in Mount Ayr district lakes is in the low to mid 80's. For
more information, please contact the Mount Ayr Fisheries office at
641-464-3108.
Missouri River
(Sioux City to Little Sioux)
Channel Catfish - Fair: Use cut bait, stink bait or crawlers fished on
the bottom. Flathead Catfish - Fair: Try live chubs fished in current breaks
near deeper water.
Missouri River
(Little Sioux to Council Bluffs)
Channel Catfish - Good: Use cut bait, stink bait or crawlers fished on
the bottom. Flathead Catfish - Good: Try live chubs fished in current breaks
near deeper water. Shovelnose sturgeon - Slow: Use crawlers fished on the
bottom.
Missouri River
(Council Bluffs to Missouri State Line)
Channel Catfish - Good: Try cut bait, stink bait or worms fished on the
bottom. Blue Catfish - Good: Use cut bait and live chubs. Flathead Catfish -
Good: Try live chubs fished in current breaks near deeper water.
The Missouri River at Decatur, Nebraska is at 20.95 ft. /29,900 cfs./ 79
degrees Fahrenheit. The Missouri has risen 0.51 feet from last week. The
Missouri River levels and water conditions are looking good to get out and fish
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