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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. Make your reservation now. For more information on
availability and rates, visit iowastateparks.reserveamerica.com
Arrowhead Lake
Bluegill - Fair: Anglers have reported catching 8 - 9.5 inch bluegills in
about 5 feet of water using a black jig tipped with a wax worm fished about 3
feet below a bobber.
Black Hawk Lake
Water level is about 4 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 fishing 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 and Texas rigs. Try
also 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: Try stink
bait, leeches and worms on the bottom. A recent netting survey showed that
catfish are up to 23 inches and 5 pounds in Black Hawk Lake.
Blue Lake
Largemouth Bass - No Report: With the water levels up, there is a lot of
shoreline vegetation submerged. Concentrate on these areas with weedless lures.
Channel Catfish - Fair: Use cut and stink bait fished on the bottom.
Brushy Creek
Lake
Bluegill - Fair: Anglers are picking up some bluegill in 15-20 feet of
water. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Some largemouth bass have been picked up along
weed lines, structure and drop-offs using topwater baits and plastic worms.
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.
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. Largemouth Bass - Good: Largemouth are biting on
crankbaits.
Clear Lake
Channel Catfish - Good: Fishing has been good near the seawall in C.L. ,
on the outside edge of the submergent weeds in 8 feet of water,= and after dark
on the Ventura jetties. Use cut bait or live bait. Yellow Bass - Excellent:
Action has been good to excellent once you locate the schools. Lots of 8-9 inch
fish. Drift fish the main lake until you find a school; mark the area and swing
back through again. Try some of the rock reefs. Some anglers have been doing
well in the Baptist camp area fishing the edges of the weeds. Try also Hy-Vee
reef. Walleye - Good: Walleyes are being caught early and late in the day in
3-5 feet of water. The Baptist camp area has been good in the weeds. Try also
near the artificial reefs (HyVee and Fisherman’s). Muskellunge – Good. Black
Crappie - Good: Anglers are doing well on crappies in the artificial weed beds
(Fisherman’s and HyVee reefs).
Lake Cornelia
Channel Catfish - Good: Lake Cornelia has seen a few decent catfish being
caught at dusk or night from shore. Bluegill - Good: Smaller bluegills and
yellow bass are being caught along the shore on night crawlers.
For lake updates and fishing information in the north central area,
contact the Clear Lake Fish and Wildlife office at 641-357-3517.
Center Lake
Black Crappie - Good: Good numbers of crappie and bluegill are reported
in the shoreline wooden habitat; use mini jigs tipped with wigglers or 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 evening hours; fish
bridge sites for the best action. Yellow Perch - Good: Reports of good numbers
of fish being caught off public docks on the north end; cast mini jigs tipped
with wigglers and swim the bait slowly back to the dock.
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. Channel Catfish -
Good: Number of fish are being caught by shore anglers.
Silver Lake
(Dickinson)
Walleye - Good: The hot bite has slowed; anglers are still harvesting
fish from the lake. Troll crank baits for the best action.
West Okoboji
Lake
Bluegill - Good: Bluegill and crappie have moved to deeper water; fish
weed lines for the best action.
For more information on the above lakes, call the Spirit Lake Fisheries Station at 712-336-1840.
Cedar River (above Nashua)
Cedar River water levels continue to fall and clarity is improving. Use
caution when boating; submersed logs and other debris may not be visible.
Walleye – Slow. Channel Catfish - Good: Anglers fishing in current breaks and
eddies are finding catfish. Use chicken livers and stink baits. Northern Pike –
Slow.
Decorah District Streams
Trout streams are fishable but flows are up. Trout anglers continue to
watch for wild parsnip; it is beginning to dry out but there are still a few
green plants. Take care when walking through this weed 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 during the day. Use a #18
blue wing olive or #14 or #16 caddis fly imitation. Strong midge hatches have
also been occurring. Brook Trout - Good: For stained water, use a streamer or
minnow imitation. Terrestrial bugs are beginning to show up on streams. Ants,
grasshoppers and crickets should start to turn heads. Rainbow Trout - Good: A
few of our streams are not stocked in 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 green algae bloom continues on the lake; 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
- Slow: Fishing from shore is difficult due to aquatic beds. Find fish in
deeper water using a hook tipped with small piece of worm. Channel Catfish -
Good: Use chicken livers or night crawlers fished off the bottom.
Lake Meyer
Spotty catches of fish continue to plague anglers on Lake Meyer. Bluegill
- Slow: Gills are in shallow dense vegetation and difficult to catch. Largemouth
Bass - Slow: Try a jig tipped with a variety of soft topwater plastics. Start
along the weed edges and fish deeper. Channel Catfish - Fair: Catfish are
taking a big worm, night crawlers or stinkbait fished off the bottom under a
bobber.
Upper Iowa River (above Decorah)
Water temperatures are in the mid 70's. Water levels have stabilized and
clarity is slowly improving. Smallmouth Bass - Slow: Run a spinner bait along
undercut banks and overhanging rock ledges. Also look at mouths of spring fed
tributaries.
Upper Iowa River (below Decorah)
Water levels have stabilized and clarity is improving. Use care when
paddling; logs, rocks, and other debris may not be visible until it's too late
to maneuver. Smallmouth Bass - Slow: Fish the eddies and tributary mouths using
small crankbaits or spinner baits. 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 –
Slow. Channel Catfish - Good: Use stinkbait, chicken liver and crawlers. Volga
Lake has a very nice population of catfish awaiting the patient angler.
Awesome weather is in store for Northeast Iowa this weekend with temperatures
in the upper 70's to low 80's with minimal chance of showers past Thursday. River levels have stabilized and clarity is
improving. For more information, please
call the Decorah Fish Hatchery at 563-382-8324.
Casey Lake
(aka Hickory Hills Lake)
Reports are excellent for angling on Casey Lake for bluegill, largemouth
bass and channel catfish. Quality size bluegills have been caught with some
approaching 9 inches. Bluegill - Excellent: Try fishing just below the surface
in 1-3 feet of water near structure. Largemouth Bass - Good: Cast crankbaits
near the dam and off of jetties for some great action. Channel Catfish - Good: Use
stink baits, cut baits or chicken livers.
Cedar River
(Nashua to La Porte City)
The Cedar River is currently falling. Angling for walleye, smallmouth
bass and channel catfish should be productive by the upcoming weekend Channel
Catfish - Fair: Use stink baits, cut baits or chicken livers. Flathead Catfish
- Fair: Try fishing with a bluegill or bullhead on the bottom near structure or
in deeper holes. Walleye - Fair: Use a jig tipped with a crawler or cast
crankbaits. Smallmouth Bass - Good: Cast crankbaits near rocky shorelines.
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 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 & 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 falling. Angling for walleye, smallmouth bass and
channel catfish should be productive by the upcoming weekend. Channel Catfish -
Fair: Use stink baits, cut baits or chicken livers. Walleye - Fair: Try a jig tipped
with a crawler or cast crankbaits. Smallmouth Bass - Good: Cast crankbaits near
rocky shorelines.
Wapsipinicon River (Tripoli to Troy Mills)
The Wapsipinicon River is currently at 5.51 feet and falling. Channel
Catfish - Good: Use stink baits, cut baits or chicken livers. Smallmouth Bass -
Fair: Cast crankbaits near rocky shorelines. Walleye - Fair: Try a jig tipped
with a crawler or cast crankbaits.
The interior rivers are in excellent condition, especially for the
upcoming weekend. Panfish reports have been slow as we are in the mid-summer
lulls. Trout streams are in excellent condition. For further information,
contact the N.E. District Office at 563-927-3276.
Mississippi
River Pool 9
Water level is 11.4 feet at Lansing and is expected to fall 2.5 feet to
8.9 over the next week. New Albin army road remains closed. Water temperature
is 79 degrees. 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: Use stink bait or cut bait in shallow
stump beds or snags in side channels. Bluegill - Fair: As water levels fall,
look for bluegills in side channel snags and main channel structure. Walleye -
Slow: Walleye fishing on wing dams is tough with falling water levels but should
pick up as normal levels return. Smallmouth Bass - Good: Try 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 19.5 feet at Lynxville and is expected to fall almost 3 feet
to 16.6 over the next week. Water temperature is 80 degrees. Lock and dam gates
remain open but may close by next week. 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: Use stink bait
or cut bait in shallow stump beds or snags in side channels. Bluegill - Fair:
As water levels fall, look for bluegills in side channel snags and main channel
structure. Walleye - Slow: Walleye fishing on wing dams is tough with falling
water levels but should pick up as normal levels return. Smallmouth Bass -
Good: Try 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 reached 10.7 feet at Lock and Dam 10 at Guttenberg and is
expected to fall almost 3 feet to 7.8 over the next week. The roller dams and
Guttenberg should be lowered early next week. Water temperature is 80 degrees.
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: Use stink bait
or cut bait in shallow stump beds or snags in side channels. Bluegill - Fair:
As water levels fall, look for bluegills in side channel snags and main channel
structure. Walleye - Slow: Walleye fishing on wing dams is tough with falling
water levels but should pick up as normal levels return. Smallmouth Bass -
Good: Try 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 falling quickly on the Upper Mississippi with the river
expected to drop 2-3 feet over the next week. This will keep fish moving toward
deeper water until things stabilize. Current will be a bit stronger and boaters
may have to deal with floating vegetation and debris. Water temperatures are
near 80 degrees.
Mississippi River Pool 12
Water level is near 10.5 feet at Dubuque tailwater and near 12.5 feet at
the RR bridge. These levels are down two feet from last week and water levels
are expected to fall all week. Catfish Creek is very turbid after nearly every
rain. Water temperature in the main channel is 78 degrees. 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. Find
clear water. 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. If you plan on eating drum, throw them immediately on ice after catching
them and avoid freezing them. Channel Catfish - Excellent: Catfish feed heavily
in flooding water. Try fishing fairly close to shore along the vegetation
lines. Move often if they do not bite. Bluegill
- Fair: Some bluegills are showing up in areas of low flow. They have been running small this year. Smallmouth
Bass - No Report: 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 catch smallmouth bass, which
often hold very tight to the rocks. The high water has made angling for them a
challenge. Black Crappie - No Report: Expecting good fishing for crappies to
return this fall.
Mississippi River Pool 13
Water level is expected to be near 11.8 feet at Bellevue which is down
two feet from last week. The water temperature is around 79 degrees. Expect
water to recede this week. Water clarity is improving. Walleye - No Report: It
will remain to be seen if the river will recede enough for walleyes to return
back on the wing dams this summer and fall. Largemouth Bass - Good: Go way back
in large backwater complexes to find cleaner water; this is where the bass will
be. Try 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. Smallmouth Bass - No Report: 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. Smallies
often hold very tight to the rocks. Stay away from the turbid tributary streams
as smallmouths are sight feeders. Black Crappie - Good: Lots of 11 inch crappies
were seen in side channel sloughs; crappies can be found in brush piles during
high water situations. Flathead Catfish - Good: Ditty poles with live bait can
be a good way to catch nice flathead catfish from the Mississippi River.
Mississippi River Pool 14
Water level is near 10.9 feet at Fulton, 13.6 feet at Camanche and 7.7
feet at Le Claire. Water is expected to recede all week. The water clarity is
turbid especially around the Wapsipinicon River mouth; clarity is generally
improving. 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 stink bait. Try the Rock Creek area. Walleye - Fair: Walleyes were
biting during the lower current levels. Smallmouth Bass - No Report: 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. Flathead Catfish - Good: Ditty poles with
live bait can be effective in catching nice flathead catfish. Largemouth Bass -
Good: Go deep into the backwaters along vegetation lines using frog imitation
lures.
Mississippi River Pool 15
Water level is 11.1 feet at Rock Island, which is down substantially from
last week. Expect water levels to recede all week. Water temperature is around 80
degrees in the main channel. Pigeon
Creek and Crow Creek are turbid after nearly every rain this year, but
conditions are improving. 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. Move often if the fish do not bite in
15 minutes. Flathead Catfish - Good: Ditty poles with live bait can be an effective
way of catching nice flathead catfish this time of year.
Water temperatures have fallen slightly and are around 79 degrees. Water
levels are predicted to recede steadily all week in all areas. River turbidity is
improving and good fishing conditions are beginning to return.
Mississippi River Pool 16
Tailwater stage is 10.83 feet at Lock and Dam 15 in the Quad Cities and
has been falling the past few days. Flood stage is 15 feet. We have not
received much for fishing reports this week. Channel Catfish - No Report: Try stink
baits above logs jams and snags in the side channels and main channel. Walleye
- Slow: Walleye fishing has been slow with the high and muddy water conditions.
Bluegill - Slow: Some bluegills are still being caught in Sunset Marina. Use
pieces of worm under a bobber. Some bluegills are also being caught in the
Andalusia Island complex.
Mississippi
River Pool 17
Tailwater stage is 9.73 feet at Lock and Dam 16 in Muscatine and is falling.
Flood stage is 15 feet. We have not received any fishing reports for this pool
this week. The ramp at Big Timber is closed due to the high water. Channel
Catfish - No Report: Look for channel catfish around log jams and snags in the
side channels. Use night crawlers or stink bait.
Mississippi River Pool 18
Tailwater stage is 11.35 feet at Lock and Dam 17 above New Boston and is falling.
The ramp at Toolsboro is open. Flood stage is 15 feet. We have not received any
fishing report information for this pool this week. Channel Catfish - No
Report: Try stink baits above brush piles and log jams in the side channels.
Mississippi River Pool 19
Tailwater stage is 7.68 feet at Lock and Dam 19 above Burlington and is falling.
Flood stage is 10 feet. We have not received any fishing report information for
this pool this week. Channel Catfish - No Report: Try stink baits above brush
piles and log jams in the side channels.
River stage is still high but it has been falling the past few days.
Water clarity is poor. Main channel water temperature is around 81 degrees.
Fishing is being reported as slow. 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.
Coralville Reservoir
The lake is at normal summer pool. Channel Catfish - Fair: Slow troll or
drift cut bait in the channel. Bluegill - Fair: Try worms under bobbers along
the Macbride dam.
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: Try around deeper brush
or drift open water for suspended fish.
Hannen Lake
No minnows are allowed here. Check your boat as this lake contains the
invasive plant, Brittle Naiad. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Many anglers are having
success using worms.
Iowa River
(Marshalltown to Coralville Lake)
Channel Catfish - Good: Use crawlers, stink bait or cut bait. Flathead
Catfish - Good: Bank poles at night have been producing.
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 - Slow: Troll
crankbaits or spinner rigs in 8-12 of water. Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) -
Slow: These have been on and off lately. Look for surface activity at sunset
around schools of shad. Channel Catfish - Fair: Try stink bait or crawlers,
especially towards sunset. East of the causeway has been good. Largemouth Bass
- Fair: Use topwaters and soft plastics.
Otter Creek
Lake
Bluegill - Fair: Try worms around brush piles. Yellow Bass - Fair: Use spinners
or jigs; early in the day has been best.
Pleasant Creek Lake
The lake is currently 10 feet low and is slowly falling. It is being
slowly lowered towards the end goal of 15 feet down. Dirt work for the
restoration project will begin in August. The main ramp is usable at this time.
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.
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 - Fair: Hawthorn has a slot limit; all largemouth bass between
12 and 16 inches must be immediately released. Use crawdad imitating lures or
spinner baits along the dam and rip-rapped shorelines. Black Bullhead - Good:
Use night crawlers fished on the bottom. Most of the action has been on the
upper end of the lake east of the gravel road. Some fish have been up to 12
inches. Bluegill - Fair: Bluegills are biting on small jigs tipped with a chunk
of night crawler. Sorting is needed for larger fish; most fish are about 7
inches.
Lake Keomah
Largemouth Bass - Fair: Try spinnerbaits or rubber worms around the fishing
jetties and the shorelines. Bluegill - Fair: Use a chunk of night crawler under
a bobber along the shorelines and around the fishing jetties. Try also areas
with submerged structure.
Lake Sugema
Largemouth Bass - Fair: Try topwater lures in the early mornings and
later in the evenings. A jig and pig combo can also be productive in the
summertime. Lake Sugema has a slot limit; all largemouth bass 12-18 inches must
be immediately released. Walleye - Slow: Fishing has slowed some with the hot
weather. Drift night crawlers or minnows along the dam and other rip-rapped
shorelines. Try also crankbaits in the same areas.
Lake Wapello
Largemouth Bass - Good: Target the cedar trees piles; the tops of the
piles stick out of the water making them easy to find. Try topwaters along the
aquatic vegetation. Channel Catfish - Fair: Use cut bait or night crawlers. Black
Bullhead - Fair: Use night crawlers fished near the bottom. Try along the
shorelines in 4-6 feet of water.
Rathbun Reservoir
The current lake level is 905.55. The current surface water temperature
is in the upper 70's degrees. Lake Rathbun contains zebra mussels so make sure
to properly drain, clean, and dry equipment before transporting to another
water body. Walleye - Slow: Fishing remains slower than last month. Anglers are
still catching walleye, just not as many at each spot. Use crankbaits that
mimic gizzard shad in submerged points and rock piles. Anglers have been
trolling or drifting crankbaits and crawler harnesses in these areas. White
Bass - Fair: Use chrome colored crankbaits or lead heads and white jigs. Rathbun
also contains hybrid striped bass (wipers); use the same techniques used for
white bass. Channel Catfish - Fair: Look for areas with water flowing into the
lake. Use night crawlers or cut bait.
Red Haw Lake
Bluegill - Fair: Use a chunk of night crawler fished under a bobber
around the jetties and along the shorelines. Largemouth Bass - Good: Use spinner
baits or rubber worms along the dam and around the fishing jetties. Try also crawdad
imitations in these areas. Channel Catfish - Fair: Use cut bait or night
crawlers around the 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. White Bass - Fair: Anglers are catching white bass near schools of
shad. Use your depth finder to locate the shad; look for larger fish
surrounding the school. Try jigging spoons or crankbaits.
Des
Moines River (Stratford to Saylorville Lake)
Channel Catfish - Good: River levels are still good for small boats; use
stink baits.
Don Williams
Lake
Black Crappie - Good: The summer crappie bite is still fair to good at
Don Williams. Most fish are now 8.5-9.5 inches. Slowly troll or drift 1/8 ounce
jigs tipped with minnows or small white or chartreuse twister tails in 15-20 feet
of water in the upper half of the lake. Cappies are suspended from 5 to 10 feet
down.
Hickory Grove Lake
Black Crappie - Fair: Drift or slow trolling 1/8 oz. 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 a crawler
over pallet piles in water less than 15 feet deep. Try also between the island,
the beach and near buoy off the shore from the Plover Bay Shelter. Hickory
Grove can produce some nice 7 to 8.5 inch bluegills.
Red Rock Reservoir
White Bass - Fair: The white bass bite has been hit or miss. Troll points
and windblown shorelines with chrome, chrome/blue or firetiger spoons and
lipless crankbaits. If trolling is producing little results, cast the same
lures shallow to the windblown shoreline and retrieve.
Roberts Creek
Lake
Black Crappie - Fair: Crappies 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 oz. jigs with
twister tails or tipped with minnows. Keep your bait in the top 6 feet of
water.
Saylorville Reservoir
White Bass - Fair: The white bass bite has slowed some. Cast or troll chrome
or chartreuse spoons, lipless crankbaits or square bill crankbaits in the
stretch from Sandpiper Beach to the marina bay. Channel Catfish - Good: Drift
cut creek chubs above the mile long bridge.
Catfishing is good on Central Iowa rivers. White bass fishing on the
reservoirs is fair to good. For information on Central Iowa lakes and rivers,
contact Andy Otting or Ben Dodd at 515-432-2823.
Cold
Springs Lake
Anglers are catching big channel catfish at Cold Springs. The lake has an
18 inch length limit on largemouth bass. Channel Catfish - Good: Cast cut bait
or prepared dip bait in 4 to 6 feet of water to catch catfish up to 10 pounds. Largemouth
Bass - Fair: Bass are in the tree piles and stake beds; cast plastics Texas
rigged to catch fish up to 20 inches.
Greenfield Lake
Greenfield Lake has a good panfish population. Bluegills and crappies can
be caught drifting. Bluegill - Fair: Bluegill up to 8.5 inches are being caught
drifting with power bait or crawlers. Black Crappie - Fair: Concentrate around
the ends of jetties and submerged trees to find crappie up to 12 inches. Channel
Catfish - Good: Catfish are actively feeding; cast cut bait or shrimp to catch
fish averaging 2 pounds.
Lake Anita
Anglers are catching bluegills and crappies drifting on the main lake.
Bass fishing is also good at this time. Bluegill - Fair: Drift small black jigs
tipped with power bait. Fish are 9 inches. Black Crappie - Good: Try over the
road beds and underwater reefs. Sorting is necessary for fish over 10 inches. Largemouth
Bass - Good: Largemouth bass of all sizes are being caught. Cast the shoreline
early in the morning; fish deeper around structure as the temperature warms.
Lake Manawa
Anglers are catching large catfish on the south and west side of the
lake. Channel Catfish - Fair: Anglers report catching large catfish on dip
bait.
Prairie Rose Lake
Anglers are catching bluegills around underwater reefs and vegetation
edges. Prairie Rose water clarity is good. Bluegill - Fair: Drift or slow troll
around the underwater reefs to catch bluegill up to 9 inches. Channel Catfish -
Fair: Anglers are beginning to catch 14 to 16 inch channel catfish around the
jetties on night crawlers.
Viking Lake
Largemouth bass fishing is good at Viking. Crappies can be caught around
the underwater reefs and in brush piles. Water clarity is three feet.
Largemouth Bass - Good: Fish plastics in tree piles to catch largemouth bass up
to 20 inches. Channel Catfish - Good: Anglers are catching catfish on wind
swept points using cut bait. Fish will average 2 pounds. Black Crappie - Fair:
Cast 1/32nd ounce jigs tipped with power bait around the many tree piles in the
lake. Fish will average 9 inches.
Catfishing was good last week. Bluegills and crappies can be caught
drifting. For more information, call the Cold Springs District Office at 712-769-2587.
Green Valley Lake
Largemouth Bass - Fair: Largemouth bass up to 19 inches have been caught
using jigs fished near cedar tree brush piles. Bluegill - Slow: Bluegill up to
8.5 inches have been caught with night crawlers fished near cedar tree brush
piles.
Lake Icaria
Channel Catfish - Good: Channel catfish of all sizes have been caught
using night crawlers, liver or stink bait fished near the fish mounds and
fishing jetties. Bluegill - Slow: Bluegill up to 8 inches have been caught with
jigs tipped with a wax worm fished near the fish mounds.
Little River Watershed Lake
Channel Catfish - Good: Channel catfish of all sizes have been caught
using liver or stink bait fished near the flooded timber. Bluegill - Fair:
Bluegill up to 8.5 inches have been caught with jigs tipped with a wax worm or night
crawlers fished near cedar tree brush piles.
Three Mile Lake
Bluegill - Slow: Bluegill up to 7 inches have been caught using night
crawlers fished in 15 feet of water along the flooded timber.
Twelve Mile Creek Lake
Largemouth Bass - Good: Largemouth bass up to 20 inches have been caught with
crankbaits or jigs fished along the weed line or along the silt dam.
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 - Good: Try live chubs and bluegills fished on
trotlines or rod and reel in current breaks near deeper water in the evening or
after dark.
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 and bluegills fished on
trotlines or rod and reel in current breaks near deeper water in the evening or
after dark. Blue Catfish - Good: Use live chubs and bluegills fished on
trotlines or rod and reel in current breaks near deeper water in the evening or
after dark.
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: Try live chubs and bluegills fished on trotlines
or rod and reel in current breaks near deeper water in the evening or after
dark. Flathead Catfish - Good: Use live chubs and bluegills fished on trotlines
or rod and reel in current breaks near deeper water in the evening or after
dark.
The Missouri River at Decatur, Nebraska is at 20.46 ft. /28,100 cfs./ 81
degrees Fahrenheit. The Missouri fell 0.21 feet from last week. The Missouri
River levels and water conditions are looking good to get out and fish. The
water temperature has warmed up which should be good to get catfish.
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