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Top Iowa Fishing Spots for the Week of March 9.
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.
Black Hawk Lake
Water temperatures are around 43 degrees. Bluegill - Fair: Use small tube
jigs or hair jigs tipped with bait fished under a bobber in Town Bay and around
Ice House Point. Try also near the inlet. Most fish are 6.5-7.5 inches. Channel
Catfish - Fair: With these water temperatures, it is a good time to target
catfish from shore. Use cut bait and stink bait at Ice House Point, Lakewood
Point area, the rock pile north of Cottonwood Point, and the east shore near
the outlet. Black Crappie - Fair: Use small jigs fished under a bobber. Walleye
- Fair: Some walleye are being caught from shore on twisters and minnows. Most
are being picked up in Town Bay and along Ice House Point, but anywhere along
shore with rocky structure and drop-offs can produce fish (e.g, Gunshot hill and
east end near the outlet). Muskellunge - Fair: A few musky Anglers have been
picked up a few musky since ice-out. There is a 40 inch minimum length limit on
musky in Black Hawk Lake.
Storm Lake
(including Little Storm Lake)
Storm Lake is ice-free. Water temperatures in the marina are around 42
degrees. This is a good time of year to target catfish from shore using stink
bait and cut bait. As water temperature
begins to slowly rise, look for walleye fishing from shore and panfish in the
marina to start picking up.
Swan Lake
A few panfish have been picked up. More reports will
be available as we receive them.
Water temperatures in Western Iowa lakes are in the
low 40's. Panfishing was good on several lakes last week, but this cool down
has reduced some of the fishing activity. More reports will be available as we
receive them. Look for shore fishing to start picking up next week as water
temperatures gradually warm and fish move into near-shore areas. For more information, contact the Black Hawk District office at 712-657-2638.
Clear Lake
The lake is about 90 percent ice free. No fishing activity reported this
week.
Winnebago River
The cold temperatures and higher river levels have slowed the northern
pike bite, but expect it to pick back up as the water levels drop. Northern
Pike - Slow: Try fishing below the dams with live chubs.
Most of the lakes in the north central area are ice
free. For information in the north central area, contact the Clear Lake Fish
and Wildlife office at 641-357-3517.
East Okoboji Lake
The ice is almost completely out on East Okoboji, making it possible to
take boats out. Black Bullhead - Fair: The most active fish right now are bullheads.
Silver Lake
(Dickinson)
The lake is free of ice except around parts of the shoreline.
Spirit Lake
The middle of the lake is open and there is a minimal amount of ice
around the shorelines. The fish will begin moving to shallow water as this ice
deteriorates and the water gets warmer.
West Okoboji Lake
The majority of the lake is ice free with a minimal amount of ice in the
bays and along the shoreline.
All lakes have begun to open up with a few becoming
completely open water. The fish will begin to move to shallow water as the water
begins to warm up. Shore fishing will to start to pick up on all area lakes. For
more information throughout the week, contact the Spirit Lake Fish Hatchery at
712-336-1840.
Cedar River (above Nashua)
Water levels are falling and clarity is improving. Visit the USGS Current Water Data website
for more information. Walleye - Slow: Walleye are starting to bite. Try a jig
tipped with a flat tailed twister. Channel Catfish - Good: Use dead chubs
fished under a bobber.
Decorah District Streams
The 2017 Catchable
Trout Stocking Calendar is out - stocking starts until April 3. Streams are
in good condition, but flows remain elevated. Gravel roads are soft in spots as
the frost goes out. Decent hatches of caddis and stone flies and midges have
been occurring with the recent spring-like weather. Spin fishers using
swimbaits and spoons are catching nice fish. Brook Trout - Fair: Use flies or
lures that look like sculpins, dace or suckers. Brown Trout - Good: Fishing
when the water turns off color from run-off will turn the browns on. Try
critters imitating small caddis fly larvae or gnats hatching off the water. Rainbow
Trout - Fair: Black fly midge or hares ear wet flies are attracting bows fished
in the riffles. Slowly pull a black bead head fly with a yellow scud dropper
through the upper and lower ends of pools for trout in deeper water.
Lake Hendricks
With warmer temperatures and windy weather, the lake ice will go out
quickly. Any ice left is not safe. Channel Catfish - Fair: Use a dead fish on a
hook in shallower water on windblown shorelines.
Lake Meyer
The aerators have been turned off; ice is covering about half of the
lake. No one has been out on the lake. Channel Catfish - Fair: Find a rocky
windblown shoreline for best luck. Try a dead chub or some other minnow.
Turkey River
(above Clermont)
Water levels are falling, but flows remain up. Water
clarity is improving.
Upper Iowa
River (above Decorah)
Water levels are falling and clarity is improving. Visit the USGS Current Water Data website
for more information. Walleye - Slow: Anglers were catching a few walleye below
dams in deeper holes. Use jigs tipped with twister tails.
Volga Lake
The lake is ice free. Channel Catfish - Good: Use dead minnows or other
dead fish along windblown shores to attract a cruising cat.
Area rivers are falling after rainfall earlier in
the week. Rivers have been producing a few nice fish. It's going to get cold in
Northeast Iowa again this weekend with highs in the 20's. For current fishing information, please call the Decorah Fish Hatchery
at 563-382-8324.
Cedar River
(Nashua to La Porte City)
Most anglers are targeting walleye, but catching other species too.
Walleye - Fair: Use jig and minnow combinations in deeper holes or slack water
areas off of main flow. Channel Catfish - Good: Dead cut baits fished on the
bottom of the river work very well this time of year. Northern Pike - Good: Cast
jig and minnow combinations or float a live chub or shiner underneath a bobber.
Maquoketa River
(above Monticello)
The Maquoketa River is holding fairly stable and should offer some
walleye angling opportunities this weekend. There have been no reports, but
clarity remains fairly good for the river.
Shell Rock
River (Greene to Shell Rock)
There are no fishing reports for this week.
Wapsipinicon River
(Tripoli to Troy Mills)
There have been good reports of anglers catching walleye on the
Wapsipinicon River, mainly below the low head dams. Walleye - Good: Use jig and
minnow combinations in deeper holes or slack water areas off of main flow.
Interior rivers are providing some angling
opportunities as they fluctuate this time of year with varying weather
conditions. Reports have been particularly good on the Cedar and Wapsipinicon
rivers for walleye, channel catfish and northern pike. Area trout streams are in excellent condition, contact the N.E.
District Office at 563-927-3276 for more information.
Mississippi River Pool 9
River levels are at 10.3 feet at Lansing and are predicted to rise very slowly
over the next week. The ice is all out, but many boat ramps are under high
water. Army road at New Albin is closed. Walleye - Fair: Walleye fishing is
occurring in the tailwaters and over closing dams, but may be more difficult with
the high water and current. Sauger - Good: The sauger bite has been good
vertical jigging in tailwater areas, but the high water may create some
challenges. Yellow Perch - Excellent: Perch fishing continues to be successful
at the public boat ramp areas and side channels with little or no current.
Mississippi River Pool 10
River levels are 20.4 feet at Lynnville with a slight rise predicted.
Fish will be scattered and difficult to find until water levels stabilize.
Walleye - Fair: Walleye fishing is occurring in the tailwaters and over closing
dams, but may be more difficult with the high water and current. Sauger - Good:
The sauger bite has been good vertical jigging in tailwater areas, but the high
water may create some challenges. Yellow Perch - Excellent: Perch fishing
continues to be successful at the public boat ramp areas and side channels with
little or no current.
Mississippi River Pool 11
River levels are 12.0 feet at Guttenberg and are predicted to rise
slightly this week. Lock gates are up at Lock and Dam 10. Fish are more active,
but still scattered with the high water. Walleye - Fair: Walleye fishing is occurring
in the tailwaters and over closing dams, but may be more difficult with the
high water and current. Sauger - Good: The sauger bite has been good vertical
jigging in tailwater areas, but the high water may create some challenges. Yellow
Perch - Excellent: Perch fishing continues to be successful at the public boat
ramp areas and side channels with little or no current.
The Upper Mississippi River levels have fallen since last week and are expected
to slowly level off. Many boat ramps still have a lot of water on them. Water
temperature in the channel is in the low 40's. Fish are hugging close to the
rocks and in the trees.
Mississippi River Pool 12
The water level is 12.9 feet at Dubuque tailwater and near 14.8 feet at
the RR bridge. Levels are down from last week and are expected to fall a bit
more. Some of the smaller boat ramps in Pool 12 are still under water. Tailwater
angling is underway, but high water has made finding walleye and sauger
difficult. Sauger - Fair: Some tailwater angling is taking place. Anglers are
rating tailwater fishing from fair to good with most anglers using a minnow
rig. High water makes it difficult to find fish. Walleye - Fair: Walleye
tailwater angling is underway. A gig and minnow rig is the most common rig.
Mississippi River Pool 13
The water level is near 13.6 feet at Bellevue. This is down from last
week and will fall another 1/2 foot or so. The tailwaters ramp is open, but the
DNR ramp is flooded. Paddlefishing is underway. Paddlefishing is underway –
find rules and tips on the DNR
paddlefish website. Walleye - Fair: High water levels and water level
changes are limiting catching walleye a bit. Sauger - Fair: Most anglers are
using a minnow rig. Yellow Perch - Fair: A few nice yellow perch have been
caught in the shallow waters in the tailwaters and mouths of tributary streams.
Dead minnows work best.
Mississippi River Pool 14
The water level is near 13.9 feet at Fulton, 15.7 feet at Camanche and
9.8 feet at Le Claire. Water levels are falling. Paddlefishing has started – find rules and
tips on the DNR
paddlefish website.
Mississippi River Pool 15
The water level is 14.5 feet at Rock Island. The water is expected to
recede all week. No angling was reported
to us.
The Mississippi River water levels are high, but
water is retreating. The main channel water temperature is around 40 degrees. Paddlefishing
is underway – find rules and tips on the DNR
paddlefish website. Many boat ramps
are still under water or have debris on them. If you have any angling questions, please contact the Bellevue
Fisheries Station 563-872-4976.
Mississippi River Pool 16
Tailwater stage is 14.23 feet at Lock and Dam 15 in the Quad Cities and is
falling. Flood stage is 15 feet. The docks have been pulled at the Marquette
St. ramp in Davenport. Fishing has been slow with the high water conditions. Sauger
- No Report: Fishing has been slow with the high water conditions. Walleye - No
Report: Fishing has been slow with the high water conditions.
Mississippi River Pool 17
Tailwater stage is 13.85 feet at Lock and Dam 16 in Muscatine and is falling.
Flood stage is 15 feet. The gates are out of the water at the dam. The Big
Timber access and Kilpeck Landing are closed due to the high water. Fishing has
been slow with the high water conditions. Sauger - No Report: Fishing has been
slow with the high water conditions. Walleye - No Report: Fishing has been slow
with the high water conditions.
Mississippi River Pool 18
Tailwater stage is 15.35 feet at Lock and Dam 17 at New Boston and is
falling. Flood stage is 15 feet. The Toolsboro ramp is closed due to the high
water. The gates are out of the water at the dam. Fishing has been slow with
the high water conditions. Sauger - No Report: Fishing has been slow with the
higher water levels. Walleye - No Report: Walleye fishing has been slow with
the higher water levels.
Mississippi River Pool 19
Tailwater stage is 11.16 feet at Lock and Dam 18 above Burlington and is falling.
Flood stage is 10 feet. River stage is 16.06 feet at Burlington and flood stage
is 15 feet. Fishing has been slow with the high water conditions.
River stage throughout Pools 16-19 crested on Monday
and Tuesday and have been falling the past couple of days. River stages are
still high and some boat ramps are still closed due to the high water. Water
temperature is around 43 degrees and water clarity is poor. There has not been
much fishing with the high water levels and recent storms/high winds. If you have questions on fishing Pools 16-19, contact the Fairport Fish Hatchery at 563-263-5062.
Environmental
Discovery Park North Pond
The spring trout release will be at 10 am on March 24th (Friday).
We'll stock 1000 trout at that time. Rainbow Trout - Excellent: The trout fishing
will be very good, with lots of limits caught shortly after 10 am on March 24.
Lake Belva
Deer
The docks are always in at this lake, they are built that way. The
fishing cleaning stations' water pumps haven't been put back in yet. Very
little fishing activity; mostly people who just want to get the boat out.
Lake Darling
The weather hasn't been good to get a lot of people out to fish. The up
and down weather isn't good for getting fish to bite either. The docks haven't
been put in yet.
Lake of the
Hills
The spring trout release will be on March 24 (Friday) at noon. 2000 trout
will be released. Rainbow Trout - Excellent: Forecasting the fishing at Lake of
the Hills shortly after 12 pm on Friday, March 24th.
Wilson Lake
The spring trout stocking will be at noon on March 24th (Friday). 1000
trout will be stocked at that time. Rainbow Trout - Excellent: Come out on, or
after, March 24th and catch some trout.
For more information on the above lakes, contact the Lake Darling
Fisheries Office at 319-694-2430.
Central Park
Lake
The lake is mostly drained at this time for an upcoming renovation
project. There is still a pool of water that contains fish. The relaxed fishing
regulations have been extended to take advantage of these fish. There are no
length or bag limits for fish in Central Park Lake. Normal regulations still
apply to the new pond in Central Park.
Coralville
Reservoir
The water level is at normal spring pool of 679.4' At this level, boating
above Bobber's Grill is difficult to impossible for most boats. Channel Catfish
- Good: Some catfish are being caught on shad guts and cut bait at the 965/380
bridges.
Diamond Lake
Bluegill - Fair: Use small jigs or worms/waxworms around brush and off
the jetties. Many fish were reported as being 7-8 inches. Black Crappie - Fair:
Try small jigs or waxworms around/off the jetties. Most fish were 7-9 inches.
Iowa River
(Coralville Lake to River Junction)
Flow coming out of the Coralville Dam on 3/9 is 3500 CFS.
Kent Park Lake
Fishing regulations will be relaxed beginning March 1 for Kent Park Lake
only. There will be no length or bag limits for fish in the lake at that time
to take advantage of the fish before the lake is drained later in the year for
a scheduled renovation project. Contact the Johnson County Conservation Board
at 319-645-2315 for questions about the project. Bluegill - Fair: Use wax worms
around brush.
Lake Macbride
All boats may run at no wake speed at this time. Boat docks are not in
yet. Black Crappie - Slow: Some fish are being caught over structure in 15-20
feet of water on minnows. Walleye - Slow: Some fish were caught over structure
in 15-25 feet of water on minnows.
Pleasant Creek Lake
The lake is currently down 12' for the restoration project. The in-lake
construction is completed. The main boat ramp is open but it is extremely shallow;
use caution at these water levels. There have been some anglers fishing by boat
and off shore, but no reports are available.
For more information, contact the Lake Macbride Fisheries Station at 319-624-3615.
Hawthorn Lake
Anglers have been catching channel catfish using nightcrawlers along
windblown shorelines. As the water continues to warm, use small jigs in the
shallows for active bluegills.
Lake Keomah
Use cut bait along windblown shorelines for channel catfish. As the lake
continues to warm, look for areas along the shallows that will have active
bluegills. Try small jigs in these areas.
Lake Sugema
Catch channel catfish with cut bait along windblown shorelines. As the
water warms, try the shallows for active bluegills.
Lake Wapello
Use cut bait along the windblown shorelines or jetties for channel
catfish. Try shallow areas for bluegill as the water continues to warm.
Rathbun Reservoir
The current lake level is 904.07 msl. Normal operating elevation is 904.0
msl. Lake Rathbun contains zebra mussels so make sure to properly drain, clean,
and dry equipment before transporting to another water body. Channel Catfish -
Good: Use shad or shrimp along the windblown shorelines.
Red Haw Lake|
Catch channel catfish with cut bait on the windblown shorelines. Try
small jigs along the shorelines for bluegills as the water continues to warm
up.
Contact the Rathbun Fish Hatchery at 641-647-2406 with questions about
fishing in south central Iowa.
Ada Hayden
Heritage Park Lake
Rainbow Trout - Good: Trout were stocked here on Feb. 9th. Use spinners,
panfish jigs and waxworms or minnows under a bobber.
Des Moines
River (Saylorville to Red Rock)
Now is a good time to snag big head and silver carp below the Red Rock
spillway. The fish are there in high numbers and anglers are doing well. Walleye
- Slow: Fishing below the dams from Saylorville through Des Moines is slow; test
the waters for walleyes and white bass when warmer weather returns. Slowly
retrieve jigs tipped with twister tails, paddle tail swimbaits or live minnows.
Lake
Petocka
Rainbow Trout - Good: Trout were stocked here on Feb. 3rd. Cast small
inline spinners, spoons, panfish jigs and wax worms or live minnows under a
bobber.
More fishing reports will resume when warmer weather
brings anglers back to the water. For information on Central Iowa lakes and rivers, contact Andy Otting or Ben Dodd at 515-432-2823.
Big Lake
(Including Gilbert's Pond)
1000 rainbow trout were stocked here on Feb. 16th. Rainbow Trout - Fair:
Trout fishing has been very good at Big Lake. Cast small spinners or minnows
under a bobber.
Greenfield
Lake
Greenfield Lake has a good fish population. It’s also a good destination
for early spring fishing for channel catfish.
Lake Anita
Lake Anita will provide good fishing this spring. Find a large crappie
population in the lake averaging 9 inches and bluegills up to 9.5 inches. The
pontoon area is a hotspot for crappie this time of the year.
Lake Manawa
Crappie fishing the canals can be good on warm sunny days after ice out.
Manawa has a decent population of 10 to 12 inch white crappie. Manawa is also a
good destination for early season catfish. White Crappie - Fair: Cast twister
tails or minnows under a bobber in the canals. Sorting is needed for the larger
fish. Black Crappie - Fair: Manawa has a large year class of 5 to 7 inch black
crappie. This big group of fish will provide good crappie fishing over the next
couple of years.
Littlefield
Lake
Littlefield Lake has quality size black crappies and
bluegill.
Orient Lake
Orient lake has a good population of 10 inch crappie that will provide
good fishing this spring. The bluegills will average 7 inches.
Prairie Rose
Lake
Expect to catch quality size bluegills again this spring. The crappies
stocked in 2014 will reach an acceptable size to harvest in 2017. The lake also
supports a good population of channel catfish and the largemouth bass will
provide good catch
and release fishing.
Very few angler reports are available at this time. Fish
will move into these shallow areas as the water temperatures warm. For more information, call the Cold Springs District Office at 712-769-2587.
Green Valley
Lake
Largemouth Bass - Fair: Catch largemouth bass up to 18 inches with jigs
fished near fish mounds. Channel Catfish - Fair: Channel catfish of all sizes
have been caught on cut-bait fished along the bottom or along windblown bays.
Water temperature in Mount Ayr district lakes is in the low to mid-40's. For
more information, contact the Mount Ayr Fisheries office at 641-464-3108.
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