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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 - Fair: Use a small jig and wax worm below
a bobber near contours and structure in 5-10 feet of water. Fish up to 9.5
inches have been caught.
Black Hawk Lake
Water level is about 6 inches over the crest of the spillway. Bluegill -
Good: Bluegill fishing is good in 2-5 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: Top water and weedless baits are picking up a few bass. 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: Use 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.
Brushy Creek
Lake
Bluegill - Fair: Anglers are picking up some bluegill in 10-15 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. Yellow
Perch - Fair: Some perch are being picked up near structure in 10-15 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.
Water temperatures have dropped to the upper 70's. Catfish and bluegill
fishing is fair to good. For more information contact the Black Hawk District
Office at 712-657-2638 .
Bluebill Lake
Channel Catfish - Good: Catfish are biting on chicken liver or worms
fished on the bottom. Some nice bluegills are mixed in as well. Bluegill –
Good.
Beeds Lake
Largemouth Bass - Good: Recent surveys have produced some nice sized
largemouth near submerged trees on Beeds lake shorelines.
Clear Lake
Yellow Bass - Good: Action has been fair to good this past week. HyVee
and Fisherman’s reefs have been the more consistent locations to find schools
of yellows. Lots of 8-9 inch fish. On the little lake, the hump out from the
MacIntosh Swim beach has been producing good catches of yellows. Walleye -
Fair: An occasional keeper walleye is being caught with the yellow bass
fisherman. Dock fishing before sunrise in the early morning can be good for
walleyes with minnows and bobbers. Channel Catfish - Good: Anglers fishing on
the bottom need to fish deeper than 8 feet in most locations to avoid the
submergent weeds. Or fish with bobbers in close to a weed edge or shoreline
with a piece of cut bait or live bait. Black Crappie - Fair: Some crappies are
being near the HyVee reef or in tight to docks in early morning. Largemouth
Bass - Good: Small to a few keeper size (15 inch) bass have been caught near
the south Ventura jetty with artificials or bobbers and minnows.
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.
Center Lake
Bluegill - Good: Good numbers of fish are being caught from the pier; persistence
will reward the angler with good numbers of quality sized fish.
East Okoboji
Lake
Yellow Bass - Good: Good action early morning and evening hours; fish
bridge sites and public docks on the north end. Fish are also being caught on
the south end of the lake; look for rock piles in 15 - 20 feet of water. Yellow
Perch – Good: Cast mini jigs tipped with wigglers and swim the bait slowly back
to the public docks on the north end. 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. Channel Catfish - Good: Fish early morning
and evening for the best action.
West Okoboji
Lake
Bluegill - Good: Bluegills 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 are on the rise. Clarity is poor. Boating is not
recommended. Please call the local city or county conservation board offices
for information on access and campgrounds. For more information on water
levels, please go to the U.S.
Geological Survey website.
Decorah District Streams
Trout streams in Mitchell, Howard, Winneshiek and Allamakee counties are
not fishable as of 8/24/2016. Streams with better water quality will clear
faster. Access to many streams are limited due to increased flows, poor road
conditions and bridge outages. Stocking has been temporarily suspended until
conditions improve at Big
Spring and Decorah
hatcheries. Brown Trout – Slow.
Lake Hendricks
The lower campground and boat ramp are closed at least through the
weekend. Elevated water levels from Watson's Creek and the lake have impacted
the road. For more information on this campground or any other in Howard
County, please call the Howard County Conservation Board Office at 563-547-3634
or visit their website.
Lake Meyer
The boat ramp and road to the dam are closed at least through the
weekend. Water levels in the lake were over 8 feet high and water went over the
emergency spillway. For more information on this campground or any other in
Winneshiek County, please call the Winneshiek County Conservation Board Office
at 563-534-7145 or visit their website.
Upper Iowa River (above Decorah)
Water levels remain above flood stage and clarity is bad. Use of
watercraft of any sort is not recommended at this time. Many access points and
campgrounds are flooded. Please call the local city or county conservation
board offices for more information.
Upper Iowa River (below Decorah)
Water levels are approaching flood stage and clarity is bad. Use of
watercraft of any sort is not recommended at this time. Many access points and
campgrounds are flooded. Please call the local city or county conservation
board offices for more information.
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 Tuesday night (8/23/2016) caused major flooding in the
northeast corner of Chickasaw County and all of Howard, Winneshiek and
Allamakee counties. Rainfall amounts varied from 2 to as much as 8 inches. Rivers
and streams in these counties are not fishable nor accessible. Another round of
showers is forecast for the weekend. For fishing information, please call the
Decorah Fish Hatchery at 563-382-8324.
Mississippi
River Pool 9
Water level 11 feet at Lansing is and is expected to fall slowly less
than a foot over the next week. New Albin army road is closed and probably will
remain closed all of next week. 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 -
Good: Try stink bait or cut bait in shallow stump beds or snags in side
channels. Bluegill - Fair: Look for bluegills in side channel snags and main
channel structure. Walleye - Slow: Walleye fishing on wing dams is tough with
changing water levels but should pick up as more normal water 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 18.9 feet at Lynxville and is
expected to fall slowly almost a foot over the next week. Lock and dam gates at
Lynxville have been raised. 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 - Good: Try
stink bait or cut bait in shallow stump beds or snags in side channels. Bluegill
- Fair: Look for bluegills in side channel snags and main channel structure. Walleye
- Slow: Walleye fishing on wing dams is tough with high water levels, some
anglers are trolling side channels to find fish. 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 feet at Lock and Dam 11 at Guttenberg and is
expected to fall slowly almost a foot over the next week. The roller dams and
Guttenberg have been raised and probably will remain raised all of 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 - Good: Try stink bait or cut bait in shallow stump beds or snags in
side channels. Bluegill - Fair: Look for bluegills in side channel snags and
main channel structure. Walleye - Slow: Walleye fishing on wing dams is tough
with high water levels, some anglers are trolling side channels to find fish. 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 risen quickly over the last week, but are expected to
begin falling slowly over the next week. The high water brought a lot of
vegetation out into flowing water hampering boating and fishing. Water temperatures
are near 80 degrees.
Mississippi River Pool 12
Water level is near 9.9 feet at Dubuque tailwater and near 12 feet at the
RR bridge. These levels are up a foot from last week and water levels are
expected to raise several feet due to recent rains in northeast Iowa. Tributaries
such as Catfish Creek are very turbid after nearly every rain. Water
temperature in the main channel is hovering near 76 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. Some smaller bass are being caught in the tailwaters in places
such as O’Leary’s Lake. 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 - Good: The
channel catfish bite continues to be excellent in side channels around snags or
rock structures. Move often if they do not bite. Some anglers are reporting a slower bite
lately on the channel cats. Bluegill - Fair: Some bluegills are showing up in areas
of low flow. They are running small this year. Smallmouth Bass - Fair:
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: Expect good fishing for crappies to return this fall.
Mississippi River Pool 13
Water level is expected to be near 11 feet at Bellevue which is up from
last week. The water temperature is around 77 degrees. Expect water to raise
several feet this week due to recent rains in northeast Iowa. Tributaries get
turbid after each rain event. Walleye - Fair: Walleyes are constantly moving
from side channels to wing dams due to the water current changes. Levels are a bit too high for good wing dam
fishing. 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 - Good: Most anglers are using stink
bait in flowing sloughs, especially above log jams or along rock piles. Smallmouth
Bass - Slow: 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 smallmouth are sight feeders. Black
Crappie - Good: Lots of 11 inch crappie have been 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 feet at Fulton, 12.9 feet at Camanche and 7.4 feet
at Le Claire. Water is forecasted to raise several feet all week. The water
temperature is near 78 degrees. Freshwater Drum - Excellent: The drum bite is
on. Simple sliding sinker and worms fished in current work best. Channel
Catfish - Good: 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 remains to be seen if anglers
can still find them once water recedes. A few real hog walleyes have been reported
from Pool 14 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 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 10.4 feet at Rock Island, which up significantly from last
week. Expect water levels to raise all week. Water temperature is around 78
degrees in the main channel. Pigeon Creek and Crow Creek are turbid after
nearly every rain. 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. A variety 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 have fallen to the upper 70s throughout the district. Water
levels are predicted to rise several feet due to recent rains. River clarity is
fair in most locations.
Mississippi River Pool 16
Tailwater stage is 10.71 feet and rising at Lock and Dam 15. The river is
forecasted to reach 13.6 feet by August 29th. Flood stage is 15 feet. The
forecast may change. Fishing has been slow due to the high and muddy water
conditions.
Mississippi
River Pool 17
Tailwater stage is 9.61 feet and rising at Lock and Dam 16 at Muscatine.
River stage at Muscatine is 11.41 feet and rising. River stage at Muscatine is
forecasted to reach 14.62 feet by August 30th. Flood stage is 16 feet at
Muscatine. The forecast may change. Fishing has been slow with the high and
muddy water conditions.
Mississippi River Pool 18
Tailwater stage is 11.35 feet and rising at Lock and Dam 17 at New Boston.
River stage is forecasted to reach 14 feet by August 30th. Flood stage is 15
feet. The river forecast may change. We have not received any fishing reports
for this pool this week. The Toolsboro ramp is currently open as of Thursday
morning, but will most likely be closed soon due to the rising water levels.
Mississippi River Pool 19
Tailwater stage is 7.40 feet and rising at Lock and Dam 18 above
Burlington. River stage is forecasted to reach 9.8 feet by August 30th. Flood
stage is 10 feet. The forecast may change. We have not received any fishing
reports for this pool this week.
River stage has been on the rise with the recent heavy rains. Main
channel water temperature is around 77 degrees. Water clarity is poor. We have
not received many fishing reports this week due to the high and muddy water
conditions. Some boat ramps may close as the water continues to rise. 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
Channel Catfish - Fair: Anglers are catching some pretty nice catfish. Start
with chicken liver or a stink bait around the rocky shorelines and go from
there. Bluegill - Fair: Not a lot of anglers are out, but they have been
catching bluegills. Look for them to be down about 6 feet out in the flooded
timber.
Lake Belva
Deer
The upper (west) end of the lake is pretty turbid. Channel Catfish -
Good: Catfishing remains good. Look for catfish along the face of the dam and at
the upper end along the rocky shorelines. Bluegill - Fair: Bluegill fishing has
slowed with the rains. They should still be out in the deeper water down about
6 to 8 feet.
Lake Darling
Water temperature remains at 80 degrees. The water clarity is down to
about a foot because of the wet weather. Most of the smaller ponds in the park
are very muddy. Bluegill - Fair: Anglers are still doing fairly well on
bluegills. Work the rock piles out in 6 to 8 foot of water.
Iowa River
(Columbus Junction to Mississippi River)
The river level is headed back up. It is forecasted to crest at just shy
of bank full on Saturday.
Skunk River
(Coppock
to Mississippi River)
The river remains about 2/3 bank full. It's trying to slowly drop, but
every time it starts down it rains again. Channel Catfish - Fair: Not many
anglers have been out lately due to the hot weather and fairly fast current.
For more information on the above lakes and rivers, call the Lake Darling
Fisheries Station at 319-694-2430.
Coralville Reservoir
The lake level on 8/25 is at summer pool of 683.4'. The water is dirty
and no fishing reports are available.
Hannen Lake
There is quite a bit of vegetation in the lake. Some anglers are having difficulty fishing many areas. Channel Catfish - Good: The east side of the lake has been reported as best, as the vegetation is not as bad. Largemouth Bass - Good: Anglers in boats are having success.
Iowa Lake (Iowa County)
Channel Catfish – Excellent. Largemouth Bass - Good: Evenings are
best...after 5pm; fish in 12-15 feet of water.
Kent Park Lake
Bluegill – Fair. Largemouth Bass – Fair.
Lake Macbride
There is a 10 horsepower limit operated at no wake (<5mph) speed. Bluegill
- Fair: Some fish can be caught around shallow structure. Slightly bigger fish
can be caught on the rock reefs. Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) - Fair: Some small
fish are more willing to bite. Larger fish have been hit and miss. Evening has
been the best bet by watching for surface activity. Black Crappie – Slow.
Walleye – Slow. Largemouth Bass – Fair. Channel Catfish – Fair.
Pleasant Creek Lake
The lake is close to being down 15 feet for the upcoming restoration
project. Some anglers are still using the make-shift ramp at the main ramp, but
only four wheel drive vehicles should be used with caution. Some equipment has
been moved in and dirt work has begun. White Bass - Fair: Look for schools
feeding on the surface at sunset. Throw topwaters, small spoons or jigs. Wiper
(Hybrid Striped Bass) - Fair: Look for schools feeding on the surface at sunset.
Throw topwaters, small spoons or jigs.
For more 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: Anglers are catching quite a few largemouth. Use
rubber worms or crawdad imitations along the face of the dam and areas that are
rip-rapped. Black Bullhead - Good: Use nightcrawlers fished on the bottom. Most
of the action has been on the upper end of the lake east of the gravel road. Bluegill
- Fair: Sorting has been needed for larger fish with most fish running about 7
inches. Use small jigs or a bobber fished above a chunk of nightcrawler.
Lake Keomah
Bluegill - Fair: Use a chunk of nightcrawler under a bobber in areas with
submerged structure and around the fishing jetties. Largemouth Bass - Fair:
Anglers are still catching largemouth bass. Target areas along the dam and
around the jetties using crawdad imitations or rubber worms.
Lake Sugema
Largemouth Bass - Fair: Anglers are catching some largemouth bass using
topwater lures in the mornings. Try a jig and pig combo around the fishing
jetties or along the face of the dam. Lake Sugema has a slot limit so all
largemouth bass 12-18 inches must be immediately released. Bluegill - Fair:
Anglers are still catching a few bluegills. Try a chunk of nightcrawler under a
bobber around any aquatic vegetation. Walleye - Slow: As the water starts to
cool, drift nightcrawlers along the face of the dam.
Rathbun Reservoir
The current lake level is 905.29. The current surface water temperature
is in the upper 70's. 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 slow but anglers are still catching
walleye, just not as many at each spot. Use crankbaits that mimic gizzard shad
and target submerged points and rock piles. Troll or drift crankbaits and crawler
harnesses in these areas. White Bass - Fair: Use crankbaits that resemble
gizzard shad. Rathbun also contains hybrid striped bass (wipers); use the same
techniques used for white bass. Channel Catfish - Fair: Try nightcrawlers or
cut bait. With the recent rains, target areas where water is flowing into the
lake.
Red Haw Lake
Bluegill - Fair: Anglers are catching bluegills using nightcrawlers
fished under a bobber. Target areas around the jetties and along the
shorelines. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Try spinner baits along the face of the dam
and around the fishing jetties. Crawdad imitations such as a jig and pig can
also be good in these areas. Channel Catfish - Fair: Use nightcrawlers or liver
fished in 6-8 feet of water.
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: Walleyes are being caught trolling 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 and look for larger fish surrounding the school. Try jigging
spoons or crankbaits.
Des Moines
River (Stratford to Saylorville Lake)
Channel Catfish - Good: Use stink baits above tree falls and along deep cut
banks. The Highway 30 boat ramp is currently the only ramp too shallow to
launch boats.
Don Williams
Lake
Black Crappie - Fair: The summer crappie bite is fair to good at Don
Williams. 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. 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. Drift or slow troll 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. Some bluegills can be found
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. Start by
trolling 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 ounce 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 is hit or miss. The best chances
will be on the hot days. 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: Black crappie
can be caught 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 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 nine inches. Channel
Catfish - Fair: Anglers are beginning to catch 14 to 16 inch channel catfish
around the jetties on nightcrawlers.
Viking Lake
Largemouth bass fishing is good at Viking. Crappies can be caught around
the underwater reefs and in brush piles. 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.
Water temperatures have dropped to the mid to upper 70's in the district.
Bass and catfishing is fair to good. Bluegills and crappies can be caught
drifting and around brush piles. 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 soft plastics or spinner baits fished near cedar tree brush piles and rock
piles. Try also topwater lures fished in the early morning. Bluegill - Fair:
Bluegill up to 8.5 inches have been caught with nightcrawlers fished under a
bobber along the fishing jetties. Channel Catfish - Fair: Channel catfish of
all sizes have been caught using liver or cut bait fished along the fishing
jetties.
Lake Icaria
Channel Catfish - Good: Channel catfish of all sizes have been caught
using nightcrawlers fished along rocky shoreline areas. Bluegill - Fair:
Bluegill up to 8 inches have been caught with nightcrawlers fished under a
bobber along the fishing jetties and along other rocky shoreline areas. Wiper
(Hybrid Striped Bass) - Fair: Wipers up to 12 inches have been caught using
nightcrawlers fished under a bobber along rocky shoreline areas.
Lake of Three
Fires
Bluegill - Slow: Bluegill up to 8 inches have been caught using
nightcrawlers fished near the fish mounds.
Little River
Watershed Lake
Bluegill - Good: Bluegill up to 8.5 inches have been caught with
nightcrawlers fished near cedar tree brush piles and along the fishing jetties.
Three Mile
Lake
Dewatering is planned to begin August 29th for the fish renovation
planned for the third week in September. Expect limited access to boat ramps
due to the low water. Boaters should use extreme caution for potential hazards
such as tree stumps, cedar tree brush piles or underwater reefs that may be at
or near the water's surface. Bluegill - Slow: Bluegill up to 7 inches have been
caught with nightcrawlers fished along flooded timber.
Twelve Mile
Creek Lake
Bluegill - Slow: Bluegill up to 9 inches have been caught using
nightcrawlers fished along cedar tree brush piles. Largemouth Bass - Slow:
Largemouth bass up to 20 inches have been caught with soft plastics fished near
cedar tree brush piles or rock piles.
Water temperature in Mount Ayr district lakes is in the upper 70's to low
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: Try cut bait, stink bait or crawlers fished on
the bottom. 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. 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.
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 20.45 ft. /27,900 cfs./ 74
degrees Fahrenheit. The Missouri rose .07 feet from last week. The Missouri
River levels and water conditions are looking good to get out and fish. The water temperature has cooled down 6
degrees Fahrenheit from last week.
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