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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 are 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 topwater, 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: Use
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
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: Try 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 with 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 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
Water temperature is around 79-80 degrees. 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. Hy-Vee reef has been good. Walleye - Good:
Walleyes are being caught early and late in the day in 3-5 feet of water. Baptist
camp area has been good in the weeds. Try also near the artificial reefs (HyVee
and Fisherman’s). Black Crappie - Good: Anglers have been 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.
Big Spirit
Lake
Little fishing activity has been observed on the lake. Smallmouth Bass -
Good: Good action this week for smallmouth bass. The best action has been at Foot
bridge and any other rock piles. Use topwater and crankbaits.
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 and public docks on the north end. Try
also the south end of the lake; look for rock piles in 15 - 20 feet of water. 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. Bluegill - Good: Fish are being caught on the south end of
the lake in 15 feet of water. Rock piles close to aquatic plants will produce
the best action.
Five Island
Lake
Channel Catfish - Fair: A few fish are being caught
from the lake.
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: Bluegills and crappies 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 as 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. 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. Brown Trout - Good: A nice
variety of insects have been hatching in the late afternoon. 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:
Spin fishers should try spinners or worms.
Lake Hendricks
The green algae bloom continues on the lake, 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 - 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: Try 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: Use 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 stink bait 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. Try also 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: Try small crankbaits or spinner baits in eddies
and tributary mouths. 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 stink baits, chicken liver and crawlers. Volga
Lake has a very nice population of catfish awaiting the patient angler.
Thunderstorms are predicted for Thursday into Friday; after that another
cool shot of weather is in store for Northeast Iowa with temperatures in the
upper 70's and plenty of sunshine. Rainfall amounts and severity of storms will
dictate what rivers and streams will look like. Currently, 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 have been good for angling on Casey Lake for bluegill, largemouth
bass and channel catfish. Quality size bluegills have been caught with some
approaching 9 inches. Bluegill - Good: Try just below the surface in 1-3 feet
of water near structure. Largemouth Bass - Good: Cast crankbaits near the dam
and off jetties. 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 - Good: Use a jig tipped with a crawler or cast
crankbaits. Smallmouth Bass - Good: Cast crankbaits near rocky shorelines.
Maquoketa
River (above Monticello)
The Maquoketa River is in excellent angling condition for the upcoming
weekend. Anglers are catching walleye on a consistent basis. Walleye - Good: A
jig tipped with a crawler is a deadly combination this time of year. Look for
current breaks and woody structure. Smallmouth Bass - Fair: Try a jig &
crawler, crankbaits or spinner baits fished near rocky habitat. Channel Catfish
- Fair: Use 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 - Good: 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 5.40 feet and falling. The river
remains a bit stained due to higher turbidity or algal bloom. Channel Catfish -
Fair: 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 good condition, especially for the upcoming
weekend. Weather today is calling for a fair amount of rainfall which may cause
a rise in river levels. Panfish reports have been slow as we are in the
mid-summer lulls other than Casey Lake which remains good. 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 more normal levels return. Smallmouth Bass - Good: 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 19.5 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 more normal levels return. Smallmouth Bass
- Good: 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 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 more normal levels return. Smallmouth Bass
- Good: 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 have fallen, but are expected to begin rising again. The
change in level will keep fish moving, but may make shoreline fishing better as
fish follow the rise. Water temperatures are near 80 degrees.
Mississippi River Pool 12
Water level is near 7.8 feet at Dubuque tailwater and near 10.1 feet at
the RR bridge. These levels are down
over two feet from last week and water levels are expected to continue to
slowly fall. Tributaries such as Catfish Creek are very turbid after nearly
every rain. Water temperature in the main channel is 80 degrees. Largemouth
Bass - Fair: Fish 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 try to avoid freezing
them. Channel Catfish - Excellent: The channel catfish bite continues to be
excellent in side channels around snags or rock structures. Move often if they
do not bite. Bluegill - Fair: Some bluegills are showing up in areas of low
flow. They are 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 crappie fishing 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 but may decline with
forecast precipitation. Walleye - Fair: As the water levels have dropped, success
on wing dams has increased. 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 with 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 crappie were being 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 8.6 feet at Fulton, 11.8 feet at Camanche and 6.3
feet at Le Claire. Water is forecast to
continue to recede. The water clarity has improved over the last week, but may
decline with forecast precipitation. 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. The Rock Creek area is a good place to
find channel cats. Walleye - Fair: Walleyes were biting during the lower current
levels; it will remain to be seen if people can still find them again once
water recedes. 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 8.9 feet at Rock Island, which is down substantially from
last week. Expect water levels to slowly recede. 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 effective catching nice flathead catfish this time of
year.
Water temperatures are around 80 degrees in the main channel. Water
levels are predicted to recede steadily all week in all areas, but this could
change with rains moving in the later part of the week. River turbidity is
improving and good fishing conditions are beginning to return.
Mississippi River Pool 16
Tailwater stage is 8.90 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
- No Report: Look for walleyes on the wing dams. Cast crankbaits or pull
three-way rigs with crawlers. Bluegill - Slow: Some bluegills are 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 7.52 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. Channel Catfish - No Report: Look for channel catfish around log
jams and snags in the side channels. Use night crawlers or stink bait. Walleye
- No Report: Look for walleyes on the wing dams. Cast crankbaits or pulling
three-way rigs with crawlers.
Mississippi River Pool 18
Tailwater stage is 9.30 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. Walleye
- No Report: Look for walleyes on the wing dams. Cast crankbaits or pull
three-way rigs with crawlers.
Mississippi River Pool 19
Tailwater stage is 5.96 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 has been falling the past few days. Main channel water
temperature is around 81 degrees. 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
With the hot and humid weather and three plus inches
of rain last Thursday, there haven’t been too many anglers out on the lake. Channel
Catfish - Good: There are some real nice catfish in this lake. Boat through the
trees to the upper end of the lake where the creeks come in. Try also along the
rocks on the dam.
Iowa River
(Columbus Junction to Mississippi River)
The river continues to slowly drop since last week. Channel Catfish -
Fair: Catfishing always seems to slow down with a falling water level. Work the
brush piles and off the back ends of the sand bars to find some hungry catfish.
Lake Belva
Deer
The lake has recovered from last Thursday's four plus inch rain. Bluegill
- Good: Anglers are catching bluegills down about 12 feet out in the flooded
timber. Black Crappie - Good: Crappies are being caught out in six to eight feet
of water. Anglers are catching them trolling out in the main body of the lake. Channel
Catfish - Excellent: Catfishing has remained excellent; start by the tubes
where a good amount of water is entering the lake from the marsh.
Lake Darling
The lake has mostly recovered from the heavy rains from last week; the
water is back off the docks and jetties. The water temperature is down to 82
degrees and water clarity is about 2.5 to 3 feet. Bluegill - Fair: Not a lot of
anglers are out with the hot humid weather, but they are catching some decent
bluegills around the deeper rock piles in 6-8 feet of water. Largemouth Bass -
Fair: Evenings and early morning are best as bass come in shallow to feed on
the little fish.
Lake Odessa
The inlet and outlets and are closed because of the rising water levels
in both the Iowa and the Mississippi rivers. Water levels in Odessa are still
plenty high for boats to reach most of the areas. Channel Catfish - Good:
Catfishing is very good especially around the riprap and the tree falls.
Lost Grove Lake
The middle ramp is open. Construction has closed the ramp by the dam.
Channel Catfish - Fair: Look for them up by the causeway and down by the dam;
try also around some of the culvert piles around the jetties. Bluegill - Fair:
Anglers are catching bluegills in 8 to 10 feet of water around the flooded
trees.
Skunk River
(Rose Hill to Coppock)
Last Thursday's rains brought the river up to nearly bank full last
Friday; it's been dropping fast since then. Channel Catfish - Fair: The few
anglers that have been out haven’t been doing too bad. Cut bait and stinkbait work
best.
For more information on the above lakes and rivers, call the Lake Darling
Fisheries Station at 319-694-2430.
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. Try
areas along the dam and rip-rapped shorelines with crawdad imitating lures or
spinner baits. 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 nightcrawler. Sorting is needed for larger fish
with most fish running about 7 inches.
Lake Keomah
Largemouth Bass - Fair: Try rubber worms around the fishing jetties and
the shoreline. Bluegill - Fair: Use a chunk of night crawler under a bobber along
the shorelines and around the fishing jetties. Target areas with submerged
structure.
Lake Sugema
Largemouth Bass - Fair: A jig and pig combo can be productive in the
summer. 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. Use crankbaits fished along the dam and other rip-rapped shorelines. Try
also minnows fished under a bobber.
Rathbun Reservoir
The current lake level is 905.43. The current surface water temperature
is in the upper 70's °F. 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 a month ago. 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 are 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 night crawlers fished under a bobber. Try areas
around the jetties and along the shorelines. Largemouth Bass - Good: Target
areas along the dam and around the fishing jetties using spinnerbaits or rubber
worms. 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 is 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. Channel
catfishing is good using stink baits.
Don Williams
Lake
Black Crappie - Good: The summer crappie bite is still fair to good. Most
fish are 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. Crappies 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. Drift or slow troll 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 crawler over
pallet piles in water less than 15 feet deep. Try also between the island and
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 and 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
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 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 and as the temperature warms fish deeper around structure.
Lake Manawa
Anglers are catching large catfish on the south and
west side of the lake. Channel Catfish - Fair: Anglers are 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 cubit. 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 with
crankbaits or tube jigs fished near cedar tree brush piles. Bluegill - Slow:
Bluegill up to 8.5 inches have been caught using nightcrawler fished near cedar
tree brush piles.
Lake Icaria
Channel Catfish - Fair: Channel catfish of all sizes have been caught using
night crawlers, liver or stinkbait fished near the fish mounds and fishing
jetties Bluegill - Slow: Bluegill up to 8 inches have been caught with night
crawlers fished near the fish mounds.
Little River Watershed Lake
Channel Catfish - Slow: 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 or along the fishing jetties.
Three Mile Lake
Bluegill - Slow: Bluegills up to 7 inches have been caught with night
crawlers fished along flooded timber.
Twelve Mile Creek Lake
Black Crappie - Slow: Crappies up to 12 inches have been caught with jigs
fished near the rock fish mounds. Bluegill - Slow: Bluegill up to 9 inches have
been caught with jigs fished near the rock fish mounds.
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 - 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.
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 - Fair: Try cut bait, stink bait or worms fished on the
bottom. Blue Catfish - Fair: Use 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 - Fair: Try 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 which should be good to get catfish.
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