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Top Iowa Fishing Spots for the Week of June 15.
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.
New fish structure maps added to DNR website
Check out the 60 new maps with fish structure locations for lakes across the state added to our Fishing Maps website this week.
Arrowhead
Lake
Look for bluegill nest colonies along the west and
east shorelines; the highest concentration are
likely in the southern end of the lake.
Black Hawk Lake
Water temperatures are in the mid 70's. Bluegill - Good: Pick up bluegill just
about anywhere along the shoreline.The
fish are averaging 7.5 inches. Use a small hair or tube jig with a small piece
of crawler fished under a bobber off the floating fishing pier, the west stone pier, and the
inlet bridge. Bluegills are sitting on nests; you can easily target the males. Black Crappie - Fair: Crappie are starting to move off shore; anglers
are still picking fish up from Ice House Point, the floating dock, the stone
piers, and the inlet bridge. Catch fish up
to 11 inches with crawlers and leeches fished under a bobber. The crappie spawn has slowed. Walleye
- Fair: Anglers are picking up walleye from shore and
by boat. Town Bay, the shoreline along Ice House Point, and near the inlet
bridge are producing fish.Use leeches
fished under a bobber and twisters on the downwind shoreline where walleye are feeding. Fish being kept are
15 to 21 inches. Late evening into dark and the early mornings are best. Largemouth
Bass - Good: Catch largemouth all over the lake using the traditional bass
lures. Fishing Ice House Point, the east shoreline, and the
lake side of the inlet bridge has provided good bass action for many anglers. Channel
Catfish - Fair: Use cut bait fished on the
bottom along shore. Try also in the marina and near the floating dock in Town
Bay; find catfish anywhere near rocky shoreline or rock piles this time of
year.
Black
Hawk Pits
Bluegill are still on nests near shore. Use a small tube jig tipped
with crawler fished under a bobber near shore.
Blue Lake
Largemouth Bass - Good: Anglers are
catching largemouth bass on various artificial baits near the shoreline
emergent vegetation.
Storm Lake
(including Little Storm Lake)
Water temperatures are around 75 degrees. Dredge is in operation in the northeast
portion of the lake; boaters must maintain a 100 foot distance from the dredge, booster pump and
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. Black
Crappie - Fair: Anglers are picking up some suspended crappie out mid-lake in the dredge cuts while fishing
for walleye. Walleye - Good: Much of the walleye action has shifted to the boat
anglers. Boat anglers are doing well trolling shad raps or ripple shads or drifting
crawler harnesses on the edges of the dredge cuts around the lake. White Bass - Fair: Use crankbaits; most action has been from boat while fishing
dredge cuts. Channel
Catfish - Fair: Find spawning channel
catfish along shore in the rocks this time of year. Use cut bait, stink bait or
crawlers.
Swan
Lake
Bluegill - Fair: Anglers are picking up bluegills from along the
dam and off the jetties. Use a small jig
tipped with crawler. The larger gills are 8.5 inches. Black Crappie - Fair: A few crappie are being
picked up while bluegill fishing.
Yellow
Smoke Park Lake
Find bluegill spawning in the arm north of the swim beach and in the
coves along the south shore. Yellow Smoke
is known for its big bluegill consistently reaching 9 inches or more.
Water temperatures in Black Hawk District lakes are in the mid-70 degrees. Bluegill are still close to shore in many lakes and
ponds. Catfish can be found in the rocks along shore spawning. For more information, contact the Black Hawk District office at 712-657-2638.
Briggs
Woods Lake
Largemouth
Bass - Good: Target areas around trees and downed trees. Bluegill - Good: Use live bait around vegetation and downed trees.
Clear Lake
The water temperature is 80 degrees. McIntosh Woods State Park boat ramp is closed for
repairs. There is a 14 inch minimum length limit for walleyes on Clear Lake with a daily limit of three fish per person; only one walleye
can be greater than 22 inches. It is illegal to transport
bait or fish in lake, stream, or river water. Walleye - Good: Boat anglers are trolling with minnows and leeches around Hy Vee reef, Dodges point and Billys reef. Shore anglers are using using minnows and leeches at the docks or public jetties. Yellow Bass - Fair: Try small jigs tipped with a minnow at at the artificial reefs or around the island. Bluegill - Good: Use live bait around docks, artificial reefs and vegetation. Channel
Catfish - Good: Try live bait around rocky
substrate.
Crystal
Lake
Wader fishermen be aware - swimmers itch has been
reported. Black Crappie - Good: Use small minnow with a slip bobber. Bluegill
- Good: Use live bait in areas with vegetation.
Lake
Pahoja
Bluegill - Good: Use mini jigs and artificial baits near the weed lines.
Mill
Creek (Lake)
Bluegill - Good: Angler acceptable bluegill are abundant here. Largemouth Bass
- Good: Catch lots of largemouth bass.
Silver
Lake (Worth)
Yellow Perch - Good: Use live bait in areas of
vegetation. Largemouth
Bass - Good: Use jigs, crank bait and other artificial
lures.
For information in the north central area, contact the Clear Lake Fish
and Wildlife office at 641-357-3517.
East Okoboji Lake
Fish are active with many people leaving the lake with
full buckets. Yellow Bass - Good: Yellow bass activity has started to
slow on the north end of East Okoboji Lake. Use live baits under bobbers. Yellow
Perch - Fair: Yellow perch are active on the north end of the lake. Use
live bait off of the public docks. Walleye - Good: Walleye have been very active; use live bait in shallow rock
piles.
Five
Island Lake
Yellow Bass - Fair: Yellow bass are active on Five Island Lake. Channel
Catfish - Good: Channel catfish are very
abundant in shallow areas near structures such as downed trees.
Lost
Island Lake
The fishing here has picked up over the past week. Walleye
- Good: Nice sized walleye are coming off the lake. Channel Catfish - Good: Channel catfish are active; cast traditional catfish baits.
Silver Lake
(Dickinson)
The fish on Silver Lake are very active. Walleye - Good: Many fish are being caught; use live baits
such as minnows.
Spirit Lake
The fish are very active with many
people leaving the lake with limits. Black
Bullhead - Fair: Fishing for bullheads is very popular on the north end of
the lake by the grade and at buffalo run. Yellow Perch - Fair: A fair number of angler acceptable perch are being
caught. Walleye - Excellent: The walleye are moving to deeper water, but remain very
active.
West Okoboji Lake
The fishing continues to be very good. Northern Pike - Good: Nice northerns are being caught. Walleye
- Good: Anglers are having a high success rate fishing for walleye;
use live bait such as minnows and leaches.
The fishing on the Iowa Great Lakes continues to be very
active over the past couple of weeks. For
more information throughout the week, contact the Spirit Lake Fish Hatchery at
712-336-1840.
Cedar River (above Nashua)
Water clarity is improving with temperatures in the mid 70's. Water levels bumped up with recent rain. Visit https://waterdata.usgs.gov/ia/nwis/rt
for current water level information. Walleye - Good: Try a jig tipped with a minnow or twister tail below
dams in the pockets. Channel
Catfish - Good: Use dead chubs or stink bait fished from shore under a bobber. Find fish in brush piles and backwater areas. Smallmouth
Bass - Good: Smallmouth are hitting everything that
hits the water. Fish around brush piles for a whopper. Black Crappie - Fair: Use a minnow under a bobber in eddies or off channel
areas.
Decorah District Streams
Streams conditions are good. Flows remain elevated. Use care when crossing. Call 563-927-5736 for
catchable trout stocking locations. Use jigs tipped with twister tails,
feathered spinnerbaits, or flashy spoons. Use a nightcrawler to catch a freshly
stocked fish. Brook
Trout - Good: Use mayfly or caddis fly imitations for the
afternoon hatch. Brown Trout - Good: Off color water is a great time to fish for brown
trout. Try caddis fly and mayfly imitations hatching off the water. Hatches are improving with warming temperatures. Use leach or streamer patterns for more aggressive fish. Rainbow Trout
- Good: Fish rainbow trout in the head end of riffles. Slowly pull a black bead
head fly with a light colored scud or midge dropper through the upper and lower
ends of pools for trout in deeper water.
Lake Hendricks
Near shore fish activity is improving with warmer
temperatures. Water clarity is excellent. Clean off your
boat trailer before you leave the boat ramp. Boat anglers are finding fish over structure in
deeper water. Bluegill - Good: Catch gills moving into shallower water
with a small jig. Let it sink and slowly reel it in. Channel Catfish - Good: Crawlers or stink bait work best as water temperatures
rise. Fish around stumps and other woody structures. Black Crappie - Slow: Use a hook tipped with a
minnow under a bobber. Largemouth Bass - Good: Use a jig tipped with a plastic twister or top water lure.
Lake Meyer
Water clarity is excellent. Water
temperatures are in the low 70's. Please clean off your boat trailers before moving to
another water body. Find the latest hot spots on the Iowa DNR's
fishing atlas. Set your GPS coordinates to WGS84 to key in to your
structure preference. Bluegill - Good: Use a small jig in shallow water with a slow retrieve.
Channel Catfish - Good: Use stink baits with warmer temperatures or a crawler
fished on the bottom. Dawn and dusk are best. Largemouth Bass - Good: Use a spinnerbait; a variety of colors. Bass are moving in as water warms. Black Crappie - Slow: Catch crappie in the evening in shallow water along a rocky shoreline. Try
deeper water in the daytime. A minnow or artificial scented baits fished under a
bobber will catch a nice fish. Northern
Pike - Fair: Try a spinnerbait for a pike hanging in shallow water.
Turkey River
(above Clermont)
Water levels are slowly rising with recent rain. Water
temperatures in the mid to upper 70's. Smallmouth
Bass - Good: Try a jig tipped with a minnow or feathered spinnerbait around
a current break. Walleye - Fair: Use a jig tipped with a soft plastic twister
tail or minnow. White Sucker - Good: Try a hook tipped with a nightcrawler fished off the bottom.
Upper Iowa
River (above Decorah)
Water levels are stable with temperatures in the mid
70's. Visibility is good. Visit https://waterdata.usgs.gov/ia/nwis/rt
for current water level information. Walleye - Good: Try a jig tipped with natural colored twister tails or
small crankbait near coldwater tributaries. White Sucker -
Good: Use a worm with enough weight for it to sit on the bottom. Watch your rod
tip. When it bends, set the hook. Smallmouth
Bass - Good: Catch smallies in the off channel
areas. A variety of lures are working now.
Upper
Iowa River (below Decorah)
Water levels are falling with temperatures in the mid 70's. Visibility is excellent. Bank anglers should toss a lure upstream and let
it float through the current along a ledge or current seam. Walleye
- Good: Use jig tipped with a minnow or plastic twister tail
fished at the head and tail ends of deeper pools. Lots of 8- to10-inch fish in the
creel. Smallmouth Bass - Good: Use a variety of spinnerbaits. White Sucker - Good: Try a hook with a worm and
enough weight to get the worm to the bottom. Northern Pike - Good: A few anglers are picking up pike using spinnerbaits near the mouth of tributaries. Quite a few smaller
fish mixed with 20+ inchers. Channel
Catfish - Good: Morning bite is best; use crawlers and
stink baits.
Volga Lake
Water temperatures are rising. Fish shallower water in the evening. Find fish attracting structure locations on the Iowa DNR's
fishing atlas. Bluegill - Fair: Use small jigs tipped with small piece of nightcrawler or red worm fished deep. Black Crappie - Fair: Find crappie along rocky shoreline especially near
sunset. Try a hook tipped with a small minnow under a
bobber. Channel Catfish - Good: Start using stink baits as temperatures rise. Largemouth Bass - Good: Fish bass moving into shallow water. Try a
spinnerbait or a top water lure.
Temperatures will be in the mid 80's with a chance
for storms each day. Evenings should cool into the mid to upper 60's. It'll be
a great weekend to take dad fishing. Area rivers and streams are falling. Water
clarity is good and water temperatures are rising. For current fishing information, please call the Decorah Fish Hatchery
at 563-382-8324.
Brinker
Lake
Walleye – Fair. Largemouth Bass – Good.
Casey
Lake (aka Hickory Hills Lake)
Largemouth
Bass – Good. Bluegill – Fair. Channel Catfish
– Slow.
Cedar
River (Nashua to La Porte City)
Cedar River is at or near average flows for this time of year. Channel
Catfish – Excellent. Smallmouth Bass – Good. Walleye – Good.
George
Wyth Lake
George Wyth is a good place to take a kid fishing. Catch rates are very
good for bluegill and crappie, but fish are small. Bluegill - Good: Use
small gear and small tackle. Black Crappie – Good.
Manchester
District Streams
Trout fishing has been excellent on most streams. Water conditions have
mostly been good with a bit of dirty water after localized thunderstorms. Bug
hatches have been excellent; consider getting that fly rod out. Caddis patterns
are a good during June. Brown Trout – Good. Rainbow Trout –
Excellent. Brook Trout – Good.
Maquoketa
River (above Monticello)
River is running clear and below average flow for this time of year Walleye
– Good. Smallmouth Bass – Good.
Martens
Lake
Largemouth
Bass - Good: Heavily vegetated. Topwater action has been good using baits such as frog
imitations.
Wapsipinicon
River (Tripoli to Troy Mills)
River is rising after rains in upper watershed with flows at or near
average for this time of year Walleye – Good. Smallmouth Bass –
Good.
Fishing on rivers and streams in Eastern Iowa has
been excellent with generally low and clear river conditions. Hot weather has
slowed fishing a bit on area lakes, but anglers are still catching good numbers
of bluegill and bass. Trout fishing conditions are excellent and June is a
great month for good hatches of caddis. Contact the N.E.
District Office at 563-927-3276 for more information.
Mississippi River Pool 9
River level dropped nearly a foot this week and is
currently at 9.3 feet at Lansing. It is expected to rise to 9.9 feet and
stabilize early next week. Army road at New Albin reopened. Water temperature is near 77 degrees. Walleye - Fair: Tailwater fishing has dropped off; walleye are
scattered in side channel sloughs. Expect walleyes to return to the wing dams
once water levels fall. Yellow Perch - Fair: Look for yellow perch in the vegetation and
trees in shallow backwater cuts. Bluegill
- Fair: Use small hooks with a small piece of garden worms
fished under a bobber along the shorelines with little current. Freshwater
Drum - Excellent: Freshwater drum are actively feeding. Use a crawler fished along the bottom or live
crawdads in current. Channel
Catfish - Excellent: Channel cats are actively feeding and
preparing to spawn. Largemouth
Bass - Excellent: Use plastic worm rigs and crankbaits fished in the trees in
the backwaters. Smallmouth Bass - Excellent: Use spinners and crankbaits along the riprap on main channel borders and rock
piles.
Mississippi River Pool 10
Lynxville river level has dropped several feet to
18.2 feet and is gradually rising to 19.4 feet next week. Water temperature at Lock and Dam 9 is 77 degrees. Gates were lowered at Lock and Dam 9 this week. Noble's Island and Bussey Lake are open. Sny
Magill ramp is accessible but may have water over the road yet. Walleye
- Fair: Tailwater fishing has dropped off; walleye are scattered in side channel sloughs. Expect walleyes to return to the wing dams once water levels fall. Yellow Perch - Fair: Look for yellow perch in the vegetation and
trees in shallow backwater cuts. Bluegill
- Excellent: Use small hooks with a small piece of garden worms
fished under a bobber along the with little current. Freshwater
Drum - Excellent: Freshwater drum are actively feeding. Use a crawler fished along the bottom or live
crawdads in current. Channel
Catfish - Excellent: Channel cats are actively feeding and
preparing to spawn. Many reports of "fiddler" cats with some bigger
sized being caught on night crawlers in deeper holes with a little current.
Largemouth Bass - Excellent: Use plastic worm rigs and crankbait fished in the trees in the backwaters. Smallmouth
Bass - Excellent: Use spinners and crankbaits along the riprap on main channel borders and rock
piles.
Mississippi River Pool 11
River levels have receded another 2 feet at
Guttenberg. Current level is 9.6 feet and is predicted to rise to 12 feet late
next week. Water
temperature at Dam 10 is 72 degrees. Gates remain out of the water at Lock and
Dam 10. Most ramps are open, but may still have mud and debris on them. The
South Guttenberg boat ramp is open. Walleye - Fair: Tailwater fishing has dropped off; walleyes are
scattered in side channel sloughs. Expect walleyes to return to the wing dams
once water levels fall. Yellow Perch - Fair: Look for yellow perch in the vegetation
and trees in shallow backwater cuts. Bluegill - Fair: Use small hooks with a small piece of garden worms
fished under a bobber along the shorelines with little current. Freshwater Drum - Excellent:
Freshwater drum are actively feeding. Use a crawler fished along the bottom or live
crawdads in current. Channel
Catfish - Excellent: Channel cats are actively feeding and
preparing to spawn. Many reports of "fiddler" cats with some bigger
sized being caught on night crawlers in deeper holes with a little current. Largemouth Bass - Excellent: Use plastic worm rigs and crankbaits fished in the
trees in the backwaters. Smallmouth Bass - Excellent: Use spinners and crankbaits along the
riprap on main channel borders and rock piles.
Recent precipitation have predictions for levels to pop back up. Many low
lying area ramps still have mud and debris. A multitude of fish species are
active this week. Main channel water temperatures are in the upper 70's with
shallow backwaters even warmer. Fish will be seeking refuge in cooler deep
water.
Mississippi River Pool 12
River levels are 9.2 feet at the Dubuque Lock and
Dam and 11.4 feet at the RR bridge. These are down over 3 feet from last week, but
water will rise back over a foot this week. Many of the smaller boat may still
be flooded out or will have debris on them. Channel Catfish - Good: Use worms along rock piles and lines as catfish spawn along
this habitat. Freshwater Drum - Good: Drum bite well in
higher water levels. A simple egg sinker
and worm rig works best. White Crappie - Good: A few nice white crappie have been reported all
spring. Not many numbers, but size has
been quality. Walleye - Fair: Some walleyes are biting on crankbaits or pitching
jigs into eddy areas. White
Bass - Fair: Use jigs and spinners in the tailwater
areas.
Mississippi River Pool 13
River level is 10.3 feet at Bellevue. This is down
three feet from last week, but anglers will find the water raising back again. Several
smaller boat ramps may once again become unusable during the higher water
levels. Northern Pike - No Report: Use flashy white lures. Some pike were reported being caught in the Green
Island Wildlife Area. Channel Catfish - Good: Channel catfish
are hitting on worms rigs. Catfish are soon to spawn, so fish along rock piles
or wing dam areas. Freshwater Drum - Good: Drum are being caught on egg
sinker rigs with worms. Largemouth Bass - Good: Find bass in large backwater areas such
as Spring Lake. Many anglers are slow rolling spinnerbaits. Walleye - No Report: Find walleye in eddy currents. High water makes this a challenge, but the
fish are still on the bite so keep pitching jigs until you find them. Smallmouth Bass - Fair: Some smallmouth are being
caught on flooded rocky areas by people pitching jigs or on worms.
Mississippi River Pool 14
River level is 9.8 feet at Fulton, 12.6 feet at
Camanche and 6.9 feet at Le Claire. This is down three feet from last week but
levels will rise once again. Some boat ramps will have water and debris on them
due to the high water levels. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Find bass in the backwater complexes such as cattail and rock creek. Lots of people are slow rolling spinnerbaits and other
flashy lures in the stained waters. Freshwater Drum - Good: Freshwater drum are biting on worm rigs. Channel Catfish - Channel catfish are hitting on worm rigs. Catfish
are soon to spawn, so fish along rock piles or wingdam areas. Walleye - Slow: Some walleyes were being caught in eddy areas by people pitching jigs. Use
bright colors in flooded water. Flathead
Catfish - Good: Some people have begun trot lining flathead
catfish using large bullheads as bait.
Mississippi River Pool 15
River level is at 9.9 feet at Rock Island. This is
down four feet from last week, but levels will begin to rise back again this
week. Little fishing was reported to us on Pool 15 as most boat ramps were
under water or have debris on them. Channel
Catfish - No Report: Catfish are soon to spawn, so fish along rock piles or wing dam areas.
The main channel water temperature remains at 72
degrees, which is the same as last week. Water levels receded all week, but now
are on the rise again. Many of the smaller boat ramps in the district are under
water or will 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 9.99 feet at Lock and Dam 15 in
the Quad Cities and is falling. Flood stage is 15 feet.The Marquette St. ramp will be closed June 16-18 due to a city event. The
dock is in at the Fairport Recreational area.
Channel Catfish - Fair: Float leeches or crawlers under a bobber
along the rocks. Use night crawlers or dip baits in the main channel and side
channel snags. Bluegill - Good: Use worms under a bobber in Sunset
Marina. Try fishing backwater areas like the Andalusia Island along brush piles
and snags. Walleye - Fair: Cast jigs and plastics/minnows or crankbaits along
the riprap shorelines.
Mississippi River Pool 17
Tailwater stage is 8.95 feet at Lock and Dam 16 in
Muscatine and is falling. Flood stage at Lock and Dam 16 is 15 feet. River stage at Muscatine is 10.59 feet and is falling. Flood stage at
Muscatine is 16 feet. The ramp at Big Timber is open. Channel Catfish - No Report: Float
leeches or worms under a bobber along the rocks. Try fishing dip baits above
snags along the main channel and side channels. Bluegill - No Report: Use
worms under a bobber along the brush piles in the backwaters.
Mississippi River Pool 18
Tailwater stage is 10.51 feet at Lock and Dam 17 at
New Boston and is falling. Flood
stage is 15 feet. The Toolsboro ramp is closed. There is still water over the road to Toolsboro. We have not received any
fishing reports for this pool this week.
Mississippi River Pool 19
Tailwater stage is 7.11 feet at Lock and Dam 18 and is falling. Flood stage is 10 feet
at Lock and Dam 18. River stage is 12.46 feet at Burlington and flood stage is
15 feet. We have not received any fishing report information for this pool this
week.
River stages have been falling. River stages are
below flood stage. Main channel water temperature is around 80 degrees. Water
clarity is fair to poor. If you have questions on fishing Pools 16-19, contact the Fairport Fish Hatchery at 563-263-5062.
Cedar
Lake
Bluegill - Excellent: Fish along shallow rock for spawning fish. Most fish are 5-
to 7-inches. Largemouth Bass - Fair: There are quite a few fish up
shallow to spawn. Most fish are 10- to 15-inches.
Cedar
River (Cedar Rapids to Moscow)
Channel
Catfish – Fair.
Coralville
Reservoir
The lake is at normal summer pool of
683.4'. Water temperatures this week were around 80 degrees. Channel Catfish - Fair: Use
cut bait or shad guts in the channel. Some fish are on the shallow rocks to spawn. Black
Crappie – Fair.
Diamond
Lake
No minnows are allowed here. Black Crappie - Fair.
Bluegill - Good. Channel
Catfish – Fair.
Hannen
Lake
A lot of vegetation is making shore fishing
especially difficult. Largemouth
Bass – Fair: Fish weedlines or pockets in the weeds. Bluegill – Fair: Fish brush piles or pockets in the weeds. Black Crappie – Slow.
Iowa
Lake (Iowa County)
The vegetation is dying off a bit. Bluegill - Good: Fish pockets in the weeds. Redear Sunfish - Good: Find redear sunfish in the same areas as the bluegills, but they will be
much bigger. Largemouth Bass - Good: Fish weed lines and pockets in the weeds with plastics, or fish over the weeds with weedless
frogs. Channel Catfish – Fair. Black Crappie - Fair:
Most fish have moved to deeper water. There are many small fish, but also some
10+ inches.
Iowa
River (Marshalltown to Coralville Lake)
Channel
Catfish - Fair: Use live chubs on bank
lines. Flathead Catfish - Good: Try live chubs on bank lines.
Kent
Park Lake
The lake is now drained. The fishing regulations for Kent Park Lake have been relaxed to take
advantage of the fish due to the renovation project. For more information, contact the Kent Park
office at 319-645-2315.
Lake
Iowa Pond
Bluegill – Good. Largemouth Bass – Fair.
Lake Macbride
The motor restriction is now in effect. Motors
greater than 10hp are not to be used and all boats must run at no-wake speed
(5mph). Water temperature this week was in the mid 70's. Black Crappie - Slow: Most have pulled off to deeper structure. Try jigs
or minnows over/around deeper brush/stumps. Walleye - Fair: Most fish are being caught in 8- to 15-feet of
water. Troll crawler rigs or crankbaits. Bluegill - Good: Its quantity over quality for bluegills on Macbride. Use small
jigs or worms around most any shallow structure. Some better fish are being caught in 10- to 15-feet of water around
rock or stumps. Largemouth
Bass - Fair: : Some fish are still shallow from the spawn, while
others have pulled off the bank. Channel
Catfish – Fair: Look for catfish around shallow rock. Love bait is often best at
this time.
Otter
Creek Lake
Channel
Catfish - Good: Evening is best. Yellow
Bass - Good: Use small spinners. Bluegill - Fair: Try a small jig or
worm around shallow pockets and shorelines. Black Crappie – Slow.
Pleasant
Creek Lake
The lake is still about 9 feet low from the restoration project. The main
boat ramp is usable, but still shallow; use caution. The far east lane is best.
There is also a boat dock in at the ramp.
Rodgers
Park Lake
The aquatic vegetation is starting to get thicker. Bluegill - Good: There are a lot of fish on the bank right
now. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Try over or next to the weeds.
Sand
Lake
Black Crappie – Slow. Bluegill – Good. Walleye - Fair: Some nice sized
fish have been caught this week.
Wapsipinicon
River (Troy Mills to Oxford Junction)
Bluegill - Good: Use worms in the backwater areas. Channel Catfish - Fair:
Minnows work well. Walleye - Fair: Use jig and plastics. Largemouth
Bass - Fair: Fish are being caught in the backwater
areas. Smallmouth
Bass - Fair: Try plastics or crankbaits.
For more information, contact the Lake Macbride Fisheries Station at 319-624-3615.
Hawthorn Lake
Largemouth Bass - Fair: Try rubber worms or spinnerbaits along the
shallows and around the jetties. Target areas that are rip-rapped. Topwater lures can also be productive this time of
year. Bluegill - Slow: Use small jigs fished around the fishing jetties and
along the dam. Sorting is needed for larger fish. Add live bait if the fish are not active.
Lake Keomah
Bluegill - Slow: Try live bait tipped on small hooks along the
shorelines with structure. Largemouth
Bass - Fair: Use spinnerbaits or plastic worms around the fishing jetties or along the weed line.
Lake Sugema
Black Crappie - Fair: Use live bait presentations and
different depths until you find active fish. Sorting is needed for larger fish. Walleye - Slow: Try nightcrawlers on jig heads along the dam and other
rip-rapped areas. Try different depths until you find active fish. Bluegill - Fair: Use
live bait and a small jig. Sorting is needed for larger fish. Largemouth
Bass - Fair: Try topwater lures fished in the mornings
and evenings. Use spinnerbaits or crawdad imitating baits along rip-rapped
shorelines.
Lake Wapello
Largemouth Bass - Good: Use jerk baits or spinnerbaits around the cedar tree piles and along the shorelines.Try also rubber worms in the same areas. Use topwater lures in the mornings and
evenings.Black Crappie - Good: Try jigs and minnows along the shorelines. Sorting is needed for
larger fish. Channel
Catfish - Fair: Use chicken liver or cut
bait around the jetties.
Rathbun Reservoir
The current lake level is 905.08 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. White Crappie
- Good: Use jig and minnows or minnows under a bobber along
the rip-rapped shoreline. Sorting is needed for larger fish. Channel Catfish - Good: Try nightcrawlers or cut bait. Look for areas with
large rocks on the shoreline as the catfish are spawning in these areas. Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) - Fair: Try jig
and minnows along shorelines that are rip-rapped. Walleye - Fair: Use
jig and minnows or jigs and nightcrawlers around submerged points and rock
piles. Try also crankbaits that mimic gizzard shad while trolling.
Red Haw Lake
Bluegill - Fair: Try small jigs tipped with live bait along the edge
of the vegetation or areas that are open in the vegetation. Add a bobber as needed. Largemouth
Bass - Fair: Use spinnerbaits or rubber worms around the fishing jetties
and structure along the shoreline. Channel
Catfish - Fair: Use cut bait or chicken liver around the
fishing jetties.
Contact the Rathbun Fish Hatchery at 641-647-2406 with questions about
fishing in south central Iowa.
Big
Creek Lake
Walleye - Good: Troll, drift
or jig live bait rigs on the old road beds, points and steep shorelines on the lower portion of
the lake. Bluegill - Fair: Drift small pieces of nightcrawlers on the old roadbeds and in
the upper end in less than 15 feet of water for decent size bluegills.
Des
Moines River (Saylorville to Red Rock)
White Bass - Good: The white bass bite has been good below the Saylorville and Red Rock dams fishing
minnows under a bobber and casting twister tail jigs or small shad imitating
crankbaits.
Des
Moines River (Stratford to Saylorville Lake)
Channel Catfish - Good: Use stink baits or cut bait.
Don
Williams Lake
Black Crappie - Good: Crappies are being caught throughout the lake fishing minnows or
small jigs near wood habitat. Drift tube jigs and twister or paddle tail jigs 5- to 10-feet down in 10- to 20-feet of
water.
Hickory
Grove Lake
Bluegill - Good: Bluegills are still being caught close to shore and
off sunken pallet structures. Largemouth
Bass - Good: Bass are being caught throughout the lake.
Red
Rock Reservoir
White Bass - Fair: The summer white bass bite is beginning to pick up. Troll
shallow diving crankbaits or spoons around large points and along the windblown
shoreline.
Roberts
Creek Lake
Black Crappie - Fair: Use minnows over submerged brush or drift the lower
half of the lake with small twister tails or tube jigs.
Rock
Creek Lake
White Crappie - Fair: The crappie spawn is wrapping up in Rock Creek, but crappies are
still being caught suspended in the lower portion of the lake, especially out
from the dam. Use minnows under a bobber
3 to 6 feet down or slowly drift or troll 2 inch or smaller twister and paddle
tail jigs.
Saylorville
Reservoir
White Bass - Fair: Hot weather has picked up the white bass bite. Troll
shallow diving crank baits and spoons that imitate shad.
The fishing for white bass in the reservoirs and
channel catfish in the rivers is getting good in Central Iowa. For information on Central Iowa lakes and rivers, contact Andy Otting or Ben Dodd at 515-432-2823.
Cold Springs District Farm Ponds
Many good angler reports from ponds this
week. Always get permission to fish privately owned farm ponds. Largemouth Bass - Good: Largemouth bass are active and easy to catch. Cast a variety of spinner type baits or plastics for fun catch and release fishing. Bluegill - Good: Bluegills are close to shore and are spawning. Black Crappie - Fair: Cast minnows under a bobber. Channel Catfish - Fair: Use cut bait.
Farm
Creek Lake
Bluegills are close to shore spawning. The lake also supports
a good largemouth bass population with many 13- to 15-inch fish.
Greenfield Lake
Greenfield Lake has a good fish population. Catfish are around every jetty in the lake spawning.
Bluegills are also close to shore. Black Crappie - Fair: Crappies have moved to deeper water. Cast small jigs or minnows under a slip bobber around the jetties. Fish will average 9-inches. Bluegill - Fair: Cast the shoreline to find spawning bluegills. Fish will average
8 inches. Channel Catfish - Fair: Channel catfish are spawning in the rocks at
Greenfield. Be prepared to catch large fish. Largemouth
Bass - Good: Cast spinnerbaits or plastics along the
shoreline. Fish are all sizes.
Lake Anita
Lake Anita will provide good fishing this spring. Find a large crappie population averaging 9 inches and bluegills up to 9.5 inches. Black Crappie - Fair: Anglers are starting to catch crappies around underwater reefs and over the road bed. Fish will average 9 inches. Bluegill - Good: Bluegills are on top of the reefs spawning. Cast small jigs to catch fish up to 9.5 inches. Largemouth
Bass - Good: Find bass close to structure with
plastics during the day. Fish are all sizes.
Lake Manawa
Crappies are still being caught on the west side of
the lake and in the canals. Manawa has a decent population of 10- to 12-inch white crappie. Manawa is also a good destination for channel catfish. 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. White Crappie - Fair: Anglers report catching large white crappies on the
west side of the lake. Fish are 12- to 14-inches. Channel
Catfish - Fair: Catfish are being picked
up by crappie anglers using minnows. Walleye - Fair: Anglers report catching walleye trolling lindy rigs with night
crawler or shad raps.
Littlefield Lake
Littlefield Lake has quality size black crappies and bluegill. The lake also has a good channel catfish
population. Black Crappie - Fair: Black crappie are being picked up around the cedar
tree piles in the lake. Fish are 10- to 12-inches. Bluegill - Good: Bluegills are close to shore. Cast
the shoreline with small jigs to find spawning fish. Bluegill average 8.5 inches. Channel
Catfish -Good: Catfish are close to shore near rocky shorelines and are being
caught on a variety of baits including shrimp. Fish average 2 pounds.
Meadow
Lake
Meadow lake bluegills have gained size and body condition after the
mid-summer drawdown in 2016. There is a year class of 10- to 12-inch black
crappie in the lake. Bluegill - Good: Cast to the underwater reefs to
catch spawning bluegills. Fish will average 8 inches. Black Crappie -
Fair: Look for crappies around tree piles in the lake. The large size is
10 to 12 inches. Largemouth Bass - Good: There is a large year class of 12-
to 14-inch bass.
Mormon
Trail Lake
Mormon Trail has a good fish population. Catfish are active and close to
shore. Channel Catfish - Good: Catch large channel catfish after dark with
cut bait. Largemouth Bass - Good: Cast the shoreline to find 13- to 16-inch
largemouth bass. Bluegill - Fair: Cast small jigs in 6 feet of water or
less and move often to find spawning bluegill. Fish will average 8 inches.
Orient Lake
Orient lake has a good population of 10 inch crappie that will provide good fishing in 2017. Bluegills are 7 to 8 inches. The lake also has a good catfish population. Anglers may see dead or dying fish at Orient due to
spawning stress. Black Crappie - Fair: Cast jigs around tree piles to catch 10 inch crappies. Bluegill - Good: Bluegills are spawning and close to shore. Cast nightcrawlers under a bobber or small jigs to catch 7- to 8-inch bluegill. Channel
Catfish - Good: Use nightcrawlers fished
on the bottom. Fish are 18- to 22-inches. Black Bullhead - Good: Cast a
nightcrawler on the bottom for large bullheads up to 15 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. Bluegill - Good: Anglers report catching quality size bluegills on the spawning
beds and underwater reefs placed in the lake during the renovation. Fish are 8.5- to 9-inches. Black Crappie - Fair: Anglers are catching crappies around the jetties. Fish will average 8-inches. Largemouth Bass - Good: There is a large year class of 10- to 12-inch bass in
the lake that is providing fun catch
and release fishing. Channel
Catfish - No Report: Channel catfish are
14- to 16-inches.
Viking Lake
Anglers report catching crappies in deep brush piles
last week. Bass fishing has been good. Black Crappie - Fair: Cast jigs or minnows under a slip bobber to catch black crappies up to 9 inches. Sorting will be necessary. White Crappie - Fair: Vertical jig brush piles to catch 10-to 14-inch
white crappies. Largemouth Bass - Good: Anglers report catching largemouth bass in tree piles jigging plastics. Fish are all sizes. Channel Catfish - Fair: Viking has a good channel catfish population; fish will average 2
pounds. Bluegill
- Good: Catch 7 inch bluegill.
Bluegills can still be found close to shore and
crappies have moved to deeper water around structure. Catfish are in the rocks
spawning. For more information, call the Cold Springs District Office at 712-769-2587.
Green Valley
Lake
Largemouth
Bass - Fair: Largemouth bass of all sizes have been caught
using spinnerbaits or jigs fished near brush piles or
topwater baits fished along weed edges. Black Crappie - Good: Catch crappies up to 8 inches with small jigs under a bobber fished along rocky
spawning areas and cedar tree brush piles. Bluegill - Good: Catch bluegill up to 7 inches with nightcrawlers fished along weed edges and
fishing jetties. Walleye - Fair: Catch walleye up to 18 inches with jigs tipped with a nightcrawler or leech fished along
rock piles and main lake points. Channel
Catfish - Good: Catch channel catfish up to 10 pounds using
cut bait or chicken liver fished near the spillway and rock piles.
Lake
Icaria
Black Crappie - Slow: Catch crappies up to
11 inches using minnows or jigs fished near cedar tree brush piles. Channel Catfish - Good: Channel catfish of all sizes have
been caught with cut bait or nightcrawlers fished along the fishing
jetties and other rocky structures. Bluegill - Good: Catch bluegill up to 8.5 inches using small jigs or
nightcrawlers fished along the fish mounds. Largemouth
Bass - Slow: Catch largemouth bass up to 18 inches with
finesse plastics fished near cedar tree brush piles.
Lake
of Three Fires
Largemouth Bass
- Fair: Catch largemouth bass up to 20 inches using
finesse plastics fished along weed lines.
Little
River Watershed Lake
Largemouth
Bass - Good: Catch largemouth bass up to 20 inches using finesse plastics fished along cedar tree brush piles. Walleye - Slow: Catch walleye up to 22 inches with jigs tipped with live bait fished in 15-20 feet of water. Bluegill - Fair: Catch bluegill up to 9 inches with small jigs or
nightcrawlers fished along the fishing jetties or gravel spawning areas. Black Crappie - Slow: Catch
crappie up to 11 inches using small jigs or minnows fished near rocky shoreline
areas or cedar tree brush piles. Channel
Catfish - Fair: Catch channel catfish up
to 10 pounds using nightcrawlers fished near rocky shoreline areas.
Summit
Lake
Largemouth Bass - Good: Largemouth bass of all sizes have been caught using finesse plastics fished near cedar tree brush piles or topwater baits fished
along the weed lines. Black Crappie - Fair: Catch crappies up to 9 inches with small jigs or minnows fished near cedar tree brushpiles early and late in
the day. Bluegill - Good: Catch bluegill up to 9 inches using jigs or minnows fished along weed lines, main lake
points, and cedar tree brush piles. Yellow Perch - Fair: Catch yellow perch up to 10 inches with small jigs tipped with
nightcrawlers or minnows fished along the dam or along weed lines.
Twelve
Mile Creek Lake
Largemouth
Bass - Fair: Largemouth bass of all sizes have been
caught using finesse plastics or jigs fished near cedar tree brush piles or
topwater baits fished along the weed liness. Bluegill - Good: Catch bluegill up to 9 inches using jigs tipped with nightcrawlers or waxworms fished near shallow rock piles, shallow brush piles, and along the
fishing jetties. Walleye - Good: Walleye of all sizes have been caught using jigs tipped with
live bait fished along rocky structures early and late in the day. Black
Crappie - Good: Catch crappies up to 9 inches with jigs or minnows fished
along weed lines, main lake points, and cedar tree brushpiles.
Water temperature in Mount Ayr district lakes is in
the upper 70's to low 80's. For
more information, contact the Mount Ayr Fisheries office at 641-464-3108.
Missouri River (Sioux City to Little Sioux)
Channel
Catfish - Good: Use cut bait, dip bait, chicken liver, and nightcrawlers near
wing dams, brush piles and along the rock revetment. Flathead Catfish - Good: Anglers are catching a few flathead catfish on rod
and reel and trotlines; live baits working the best. Blue Catfish - Fair: Anglers are catching a few on trotlines and rod and reel. Use
fresh cut bait near wing dam tips and deeper holes near the main channel. Shovelnose
sturgeon - Good: Anglers are catching shovelnose sturgeon near wing dams
and backwater scour holes. Nightcrawlers work best.
Missouri
River (Little Sioux to Council Bluffs)
Channel
Catfish - Good: Use cut bait, dip bait, chicken liver, and nightcrawlers near wing dams, brush piles and along the rock revetment. Flathead Catfish - Good: Flathead catfish are being caught by rod and reel
anglers and on trotlines; use live bait towards evening. Blue Catfish - Fair: Anglers are catching a few catfish on trotlines and rod and reel.
Use fresh cut bait near wing dam tips and deeper holes near the main channel. Shovelnose
sturgeon - Fair: Anglers are catching shovelnose sturgeon near wing dams and
backwater scour holes. Nightcrawlers work best.
Missouri
River (Council Bluffs to Missouri State Line)
Channel
Catfish - Good: Use cut bait, dip bait, chicken liver, and nightcrawlers near wing dams, brush piles and along the rock revetment.t. Flathead
Catfish - Fair: Anglers report catching flathead catfish on
trotlines and rod and reel; use live baits around evening. Blue Catfish - Fair: Anglers are catching a few catfish on trotlines and rod
and reel. Use fresh cut bait near wing dam tips and deeper holes near the main
channel. Shovelnose sturgeon - Fair: Anglers are catching shovelnose
sturgeon near wing dams and backwater scour holes. Nightcrawlers work best.
The Missouri River at Decatur, Nebraska is at 23.43 ft. /39,200 cfs./ 76
degrees Fahrenheit (water temperature is up 3 degrees from last week). The
Missouri River dropped 0.11 feet from last week. The Missouri River has begun
to stabilize and the water temperatures are warmer. Fishing has been fair to
good overall on the Missouri River.
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