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Top Iowa Fishing Spots for the Week of July 20.
This weekly fishing report is compiled from information gathered from local bait shops, angler creel surveys and county and state parks staff. For current information, contact the district fisheries office at the phone number listed at the end of each district report.
Stay Where You
Play
Make your next
fishing trip an overnight stay. Take advantage of state park cabins and
campgrounds near many of these bodies of water. Make your reservation now. For
more information on availability and rates, visit iowastateparks.reserveamerica.com
Arrowhead
Lake
Bluegill - Fair: Catch 8-9 inch bluegills near structure in about 5 feet of
water. Use a small jig tipped with a piece of crawler fished about 3 feet below
a bobber.
Black Hawk Lake
Surface water temperature is 83 degrees. Bluegill - Fair: Pick up bluegill just about anywhere along the shoreline in 2- to 5-feet of water. Use a small jig tipped with live bait or a small
piece of crawler fished below a bobber off the floating fishing pier, the west
stone pier, and the inlet bridge. Black Crappie - Fair: Crappies are mostly off shore now, but a few are being picked up by shore anglers along Ice House Point. Walleye - Fair: Use leeches fished under a bobber and twisters near rock piles in late evening and early morning. The rock pile off of Cottonwood point has been
producing fish. Largemouth Bass - Good: Catch largemouth all over the lake using the traditional bass lures. Fishing Ice House Point and the lake side of the inlet bridge has provided good bass action for many anglers. Channel Catfish - Fair: Use cut bait, stink bait and leeches fished on the bottom along shore in the marina and near the floating dock in Town Bay. Catch fish up to 25 inches long.
Brushy
Creek Lake
Bluegill - Fair: Use a small jig tipped with a piece of crawler in about 10 feet
of water. Black Crappie - Fair: Try a small piece of crawler or minnow
on a jig in 10- to 15-feet of water. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Throw
topwater lures, weedless baits, spinners and plastic worms along weed lines,
near cover and wood structure.
Storm Lake (including Little Storm Lake)
Water temperatures are around 82 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. Walleye - Fair: Boat anglers are doing well trolling shad raps or drifting crawlers 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: Use cut bait, stink bait or crawlers near rocks along shore.
Swan
Lake
Bluegill - Fair: Use a small jig tipped with a piece of crawler or minnow fished
under a bobber near shore along weed lines. Expect 6- to 9-inch fish.
Yellow
Smoke Park Lake
Bluegill - Fair: Yellow Smoke Lake bluegills can reach 9 inches or more. Look
for bluegills in 5- to 10-feet of water near the arm north of the swim beach
and the coves on the south shore.
Water temperatures in Black Hawk District lakes are in the low 80's. For more information, contact the Black Hawk District office at 712-657-2638.
Bluebill
Lake
Largemouth
Bass - Fair: Bass are biting on a variety of baits
fished near vegetation.
Clear Lake
The water temperature is 79 degrees. Clean, Drain, and Dry your boats to help stop the spread of aquatic invasive species. Yellow Bass - Good: Drift small jigs tipped with a piece of crawler in 8- to 13-feet of water. Walleye - Fair: Use a slip bobber and leech or minnow in the rock
reefs. Channel Catfish - Fair: Use cut bait on the windward side of the lake.
Crystal
Lake
The boat ramp will be closed for a few days the week
of July 24th for construction. Bluegill
- Fair: Use a small piece of crawler under a slip bobber near the dredge cut. Black Crappie - Slow: Drift a small jig or minnow 4- to 5-feet below a slip bobber in
the dredged area. Look for suspended fish on your electronics and adjust depth
accordingly.
Silver
Lake (Worth)
Largemouth
Bass - Good: Use plastic baits.
For information in the north central area, contact the Clear Lake Fish
and Wildlife office at 641-357-3517.
Bigalk
Creek
The road is closed at 30th St. west of the Howard County Conservation
Board parking area on Bigalk Creek. The bridge is out until further notice. Rainbow Trout – Good.
Cedar River (above Nashua)
Water levels are somewhat stable and have reached
summer flows. Clarity is excellent. Visit https://waterdata.usgs.gov/ia/nwis/rt
for current water level information. Channel Catfish - Fair: Stink baits, cut baits and crawlers attract hungry catfish. Find fish around log jams and slack water areas. Smallmouth
Bass - Fair: Smallmouth are hitting a variety of lures. Crawdad imitations work best. Walleye - Slow: Try a jig tipped with a minnow or crawler. Drift a jig in the main channel or find deeper holes.
Coldwater
Creek
The private property south of Coldwater Creek Rd. bridge on Coldwater
Creek is closed to the public until further notice. Brown Trout – Good.
Decorah District Streams
Be respectful of private property; it’s a privilege
to fish these areas. Call 563-927-5736 for current catchable trout stocking locations. Brook
Trout - Good: For nymphing or wet flies, use streamer patterns
such as wholly buggers to imitate fish, or a pink squirrel to imitate scuds. Use
dry flies size 12 to 20 imitating midges and sulfers hatching off the water. Try
also a variety of caddis and mayfly nymphs. Brown Trout - Good: Fish will soon be looking for terrestrial insects
falling into the water. Ants are a favorite. Gnats, mayflies, and caddis flies
are hatching. Rainbow Trout
- Good: Use jigs tipped with twistertails, feathered spinnerbaits, or flashy
spoons. Use a nightcrawler or cheese to catch a freshly stocked fish.
Lake Hendricks
Clean off your
boat trailer before you leave the boat ramp. Visibility is marginal due to a green algae bloom on
lake.Find the latest how spots with the Iowa DNR's
fishing atlas. Set your GPS coordinates to WGS84 to key in to your
structure preference. Bluegill - Fair: Catch bluegills on the bottom at the ends of the
jetties; use a small
piece of crawler. Channel Catfish - Good: Use stink baits or worms along a rocky shoreline after sunset. Largemouth Bass - Good: Try a topwater lure on the edge of a vegetation bed. Early morning and evenings are best.
Lake Meyer
A green algae bloom is reducing water clarity. Clean off your boat trailers and drain boats before you move to
another water body. Bluegill - Slow: Find gills in deeper water on edges of vegetation
beds. Fish off the docks and jetties for a big one. Channel Catfish - Good: Use stink baits and nightcrawlers in the evenings along the rock jetties or around
stumps for a cruising cat. Largemouth Bass - Good: Top water lures and buzz baits are good, but try a
frog just off the weed line in about 5 feet of water. Early mornings are best. Use
frogs or buzz bait in calm water. Black Crappie - Good: Catch crappie near the docks and jetties in the evenings. Northern
Pike - Fair: Try near the docks and jetties early mornings or
evenings.
Turkey River
(above Clermont)
Water levels are stabilizing, but conditions could
change depending on rainfall. Water temperatures are in the mid 70's. Visibility
is excellent. Smallmouth
Bass - Good: Lures imitating a crawdad will drive smallies
crazy. Walleye - Fair: Use a crawler or jig and twister tail fished along a current break or in
a deeper pool.
Turkey
River (below Clermont)
Water levels have stabilized but flows remain
elevated. Water temperatures are in the mid 70's. Visibility is excellent. Visit
https://waterdata.usgs.gov/ia/nwis/uv?site_no=05412500
for more information. Smallmouth Bass – Slow.
Upper Iowa
River (above Decorah)
Flows remain high as water levels stabilize. Water
temperatures are mid 70's with much improved visibility Toss a lure upstream and let it float through the
current along a ledge or current seam. Walleye - Fair: Try a jig tipped with a minnow, nightcrawler, or natural colored twister
tail. Smallmouth
Bass - Fair: A nightcrawler or crawfish crankbait will
attract a smallmouth
Upper
Iowa River (below Decorah)
Water levels continue to fall but flows remain high.
Water temperatures in the mid 70's with improved visibility. A variety of baits
are working, but nightcrawlers work best in stained water. Visit https://waterdata.usgs.gov/ia/nwis/rt
for current water level information. Walleye
- Slow. Smallmouth Bass - Fair. Channel
Catfish - Good: Bank anglers are catching fish using a jig tipped
with a crawler with weight to keep it on the bottom.
Volga Lake
Water clarity is marginal due to a green algae bloom. Find fish attracting structure locations on the Iowa DNR's
fishing atlas. Bluegill - Slow. Largemouth Bass - Good: Find bass in shallow water toward evening; use
topwater lures. Black Crappie - Slow: Crappies are suspended around submersed structure
during the day and come in shallow in the evening. Use a hook tipped with a
minnow or bright colored jig. Channel
Catfish - Fair: Use worms, cut baits, and
stink bait in the late evenings and night. During daylight hours, find catfish
near stump fields and submersed logs.
Be prepared for some unstable weather Thursday
through Sunday. Localized flooding is possible in areas with repeated
thunderstorms. Wild parsnip continues to be a problem along trails and
accesses. Wear light clothing to protect exposed skin from sun and the effects
of wild parsnip. For current fishing information, please call the Decorah Fish Hatchery
at 563-382-8324.
Big
Woods Lake
Anglers are doing well on Big Woods Lake for walleye and northern pike. Walleye
- Good: Try jigging a jig and twister tipped with a nightcrawler or trolling a
crankbait.
Casey
Lake (aka Hickory Hills Lake)
The park ranger reports that the bluegill and largemouth bass fishing has
been good. Largemouth Bass - Good: Use topwater artificial baits and plastics
off of the jetties and dam. Bluegill - Good: Try off of the jetties and
in the cove areas in 2- to 4- feet of water.
Cedar
River (Nashua to La Porte City)
Anglers in Black Hawk and Bremer Counties are doing
well on smallmouth bass, channel catfish, northern pike and walleye. Fishing
has been really good this past week on the Cedar River. Channel Catfish - Good: Use dead/live chubs, nightcrawlers, stink baits or leaches fished on
the bottom of the river. Smallmouth
Bass - Good: Try topwater, crankbaits and spinner baits along rocky shoreline
or other instream habitat. Walleye - Fair: Use a jig and twister tipped with a nightcrawler. Northern Pike - Good: Use large spinner baits or live chubs under a bobber.
George
Wyth Lake
Largemouth
Bass - Good: Mornings and evenings have been best; try
topwater baits, spinner baits or crankbaits.
Harold
Getty Lake
Largemouth
Bass - Good: Mornings and evenings have been best; try
topwater baits, spinner baits or crankbaits.
Manchester
District Streams
Anglers are doing well catching trout on imitation hoppers on Spring
Branch Creek and other area streams with a banner crop of grasshopper this
summer. Brown Trout - Good: Use imitation hoppers on the surface.
Maquoketa
River (above Monticello)
Recent creel reports show that anglers are catching
a variety of species on the Maquoketa River in Delaware County. Walleye - Fair: Use a jig and twister tipped with a nightcrawler. Smallmouth Bass - Fair: Try plastics and spinnerbaits along rocky shoreline
or other instream habitat. Channel Catfish - Fair: Use dead chubs, nightcrawlers or leaches fished on the bottom of the
river.
Shell
Rock River (Greene to Shell Rock)
Smallmouth Bass - Good: Use topwater, crankbaits and spinner baits along
rocky shoreline or other instream habitat.
Wapsipinicon
River (Tripoli to Troy Mills)
The Upper Wapsipinicon River is producing good catches of northern pike. Northern
Pike - Good: Use large spinner baits or live chubs under a bobber.
With the recent summer storms, interior river fishing
has been unpredictable with changing river levels. Most anglers are
targeting channel catfish during early morning or late evening hours to beat
the summer heat. Trout streams remain in good condition. Contact the N.E.
District Office at 563-927-3276 for more information.
Mississippi River Pool 9
River level is 8.6 feet at Lansing and is predicted
to remain stable this week. Water temperature is near 79 degrees.
Army Road at New Albin has reopened. Bluegill - Excellent: Use small hooks with a small piece of worm fished under a bobber in the backwaters where there is vegetation. Channel Catfish - Good:Try nightcrawlers or stink bait fished on the bottom
in areas of moderate current where side channels form an eddy. Freshwater Drum - Excellent: Lots of drum are still being caught in the swifter
current breaks. Bounce a nightcrawler along the bottom or try crayfish for
bigger fish. Smallmouth Bass - Fair: Smallmouth fishing should pick up as water clarity
improves over the next week. Fish rock piles at the tips of the islands and
backside of islands with current. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Largemouth fishing is expected to pick up as river
levels recede and water clarity improves. Use jerk baits in protected
backwaters with clearer water. Walleye - Fair: Use crankbaits in off channel areas. Fish the
shallows in early morning or late evening. Yellow Perch - Fair: Perch are sitting in 4- to 5-feet of water in the
backwaters. Use small minnows or worms fished on the bottom. Northern
Pike - Fair: Northern pike fishing is picking up in the
shallows or in the mouths of tributary streams. Flathead
Catfish - Fair: Use live shiners or small
bluegill in woody debris to attract flatheads in slack areas off the side
channels.
Mississippi River Pool 10
Lynxville level has fallen to 15.9 feet and will bump up slightly then remain stable. Water temperature is 80 degrees at the
lock and dam. Some area boat ramps may be difficult to access due
to storm damage clean up in the McGregor/Marquette area. Bluegill - Excellent: Use small hooks with a small piece of worm fished under a bobber in the backwaters where there is vegetation. Channel Catfish - Good: Try nightcrawlers or stink bait fished on the
bottom in areas of moderate current where side channels form an eddy. Freshwater Drum - Excellent: Lots of drum are still being caught in the swifter
current breaks. Bounce a nightcrawler along the bottom or try crayfish for
bigger fish. Smallmouth Bass - Fair: Smallmouth fishing should pick up as water
clarity improves over the next week. Fish rock piles at the tips of the islands
and backside of islands with current. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Largemouth fishing is expected to pick up as
river levels recede and water clarity improves. Try jerk baits in protected
backwaters with clearer water. Walleye - Fair: Use crankbaits in off channel areas. Fish the
shallows in early morning or late evening. Yellow Perch - Fair: Perch are sitting in 4- to 5-feet of water in the
backwaters; use small minnows or worms fished on the bottom. Northern
Pike - Fair: Northern pike fishing is picking up in the
shallows or in the mouths of tributary streams. Flathead
Catfish - Fair: Try live shiners or small bluegill in woody
debris to attract flatheads in slack areas off the side channels.
Mississippi River Pool 11
Mississippi River is 8.3 feet at Guttenberg with a
slight fall predicted this week. Water temperature is 74 degrees at the Lock and Dam. Bluegill - Excellent: Use small hooks with a small piece of worms fished under a bobber in the backwaters where there is vegetation. Channel Catfish - Good: Try nightcrawlers
or stink bait fished on the bottom in areas of moderate current where side channels
form an eddy. Freshwater Drum - Excellent: Lots of drum are still being caught in the swifter
current breaks. Bounce a night crawler along the bottom or try crayfish for
bigger fish. Smallmouth Bass - Fair: Smallmouth fishing should pick up as water
clarity improves over the next week. Fish rock piles at the tips of the islands
and backside of islands with current. Largemouth Bass -Fair: Largemouth fishing is expected to pick up as
river levels recede and water clarity improves. Try jerk baits in protected
backwaters with clearer water. Walleye - Fair: Use crankbaits in off channel areas. Fish the
shallows in early morning or late evening. Yellow Perch - Fair: Perch are sitting in 4- to 5-feet of water in the
backwaters: use small minnows or worms fished on the bottom. Northern
Pike - Fair: Northern pike fishing is picking up in the
shallows or in the mouths of tributary streams. Flathead Catfish - Fair: Try live shiners or small bluegill in woody debris to attract flatheads in slack areas off the side channels.
Upper Mississippi River levels are steady this past week. Heavy localized
rains have many tributaries running muddy and will impact the Mississippi water
clarity. Fish are settling into their normal spots with the water stabilizing.
Water temperature is in the upper 70's to 80°F this week. Some area boat ramps
may be difficult to access due to storm damage clean up in the
McGregor/Marquette area.
Mississippi River Pool 12
River levels are around 7 feet at the Dubuque Lock and
Dam and 10 feet at the RR bridge. These are down a couple feet from last week. Water clarity is turbid, but conditions are
improving. Water levels are predicted to hold steady and then begin to recede later in the week, without any more heavy rains Channel Catfish - Good:Channel catfish are biting on worms and stink
bait. Anglers are catching some off
spinners and crankbaits in a 1- to 2-feet of water. Freshwater Drum - Excellent: A simple egg sinker
and worm rig works best. White Crappie - Good: A few nice white crappie have been reported all
spring. Some black crappies are also showing up now. Walleye - Fair: Conditions are improving, but the rapidly changing
water levels and floating weeds have limited fishing for walleyes again this
week. White
Bass - Good: This spring has seen a nice run of white bass on
Pool 12. Some white bass were caught along main channel rock
lines prior to the large rain event. Bluegill - Good:Receding water levels have pulled the gills out the
shallow backwater areas. Angle near the mouths of large backwater complexes as
bluegills should concentrate in these areas. Most are being caught on worm rigs. Flathead
Catfish - Good: Pull worm rigs near rocky
habitats. Smallmouth Bass - Good: The smallmouth bite was progressing
nicely before the large rainfall event and turbid water. Throw spinners or
small crankbaits in the evening. Largemouth
Bass - Good: Largemouths have pulled out of the shallow
backwater areas and are on trees and sandy shoals often chasing minnows.
Mississippi River Pool 13
The river level is near 8.8 feet at Bellevue. This
level is down a couple feet from last week due to the large rains received just
north of Dubuque. Water levels are predicted to hold steady to slightly recede
this week. Northern Pike - Fair: Use flashy white lures lures in the mouths of cooler tributary streams. Channel Catfish - Good: Use worm rigs and stink bait above log jams
and rock piles to lure the catfish out. Move often if you don’t find fish. Freshwater Drum - Good: Use egg
sinker rigs with worms. Walleye - Slow: The rapid rise and turbid conditions from the large
rain north of Dubuque hampered conditions, but angling should improve this
week. Water clarity is getting
considerably better. Smallmouth Bass - Fair: The smallmouth bite had just started to begin along
rock piles, but the rapidly raising water may stall the bite. Bluegill - Fair: Receding water levels have pulled the gills out in the shallow
backwater areas. Angle near the mouths of large backwater complexes as
bluegills should concentrate in these areas. Most are being caught on worm
rigs. Flathead Catfish - Good: Some nice flathead catfish were caught with
worm rigs before the river rise. Largemouth
Bass - Good: Largemouth bite was very good just before last week’s big
rains and it is expected to be good again once clarity improves.
Mississippi River Pool 14
River level is 8.2 feet at Fulton, 11.6 feet at
Camanche and 6.3 feet at Le Claire.These levels are down from last week and the water
clarity is rapidly improving. Largemouth Bass - Good: Bass had moved out of the large shallow areas into
deeper habitats. Freshwater Drum - Good: Freshwater drum are biting on worm rigs. Channel Catfish - Good: Use worm rigs and prepared stink baits fished
close to shore or along rock lines. Walleye - Slow:Before the river rise, some anglers were reporting catching walleyes off the wing dams with worm rigs. Conditions should greatly improve this week. Flathead
Catfish - Good: Some people are trot lining flathead
catfish using large bullheads as bait. Flathead are active most during the night and evening hours.
Mississippi River Pool 15
River level is 9.2 feet at Rock Island.Levels have stabilized and are predicted to recede
some this week. Channel
Catfish - Good: Many anglers are fishing stink bait along the rock
piles near Campbells and Arsenal Island. Freshwater
Drum - Good: Freshwater drum bite well this time of
year. Put them on ice immediately if you
are going to clean them. Flathead
Catfish - Good: Use large live bait fished near shore
during the night and evening hours.
The main channel water temperature is still near 80
degrees. Water levels and clarity are both improving after lots of rain just
north of Dubuque last week. Water was extremely turbid from the big rain event,
but clarity is improving each day. If you have any angling questions, please contact the Bellevue Fisheries
Station 563-872-4976.
Mississippi River Pool 16
Tailwater stage at Lock and Dam 15 in the Quad
Cities has risen to 8.69 feet and is currently forecast to reach 9.2 feet by Sunday. Flood stage is 15 feet. Channel Catfish - Fair: Look for catfish in the main channel and
side channel snags; use nightcrawlers or dip baits. Walleye - Slow: Some walleyes were caught on the wing dams along Credit Island
earlier in the week. Fishing may become tough with the river forecast to rise. Largemouth
Bass - Fair: Use topwater lures in the backwaters. Also
try plastics around brush piles and logs. White Crappie - Fair: Look for
crappies in the Andalusia Island complex. Try minnows or plastics around brush
piles in Velie Chut.
Mississippi River Pool 17
Tailwater stage at Lock and Dam 16 in Muscatine is
7.52 feet. River level is 9.23 feet at Muscatine and is forecast to reach 9.6 feet over the weekend. Channel Catfish - No Report: Try dip baits fished above snags along the main
channel and side channels. Largemouth
Bass - Good: Use plastics around brush piles and logs in
the backwater areas like Big Timber (The Breaks) or Cleveland Slough.
Mississippi River Pool 18
Tailwater stage is 8.98 feet at Lock and Dam 17 at New Boston. Floodstage is 15
feet. We have not received much for fishing reports for
this pool this week. Channel Catfish - No Report:Try dip baits fished above snag piles along the main channel or side
channels.
Mississippi River Pool 19
Tailwater stage is 5.49 feet at Lock and Dam 18. Flood stage at Lock and Dam 18 is 10 feet. River stage at Burlington is 11.03 feet. We have not received any fishing report
information for this pool. Channel
Catfish - No Report: Use nightcrawlers or dip baits in
brush piles and snags along the main channel and side channels. Largemouth
Bass - No Report: Try plastics around brush piles and snags. Walleye
- Slow: Walleye fishing on the wing dams has been slow with the muddy water
conditions.
River stages had been falling this past week. Water
clarity is improving, but may muddy up again with the recent rains up river.
Main channel water temperature is around 80 degrees. If you have questions on fishing Pools 16-19, contact the Fairport Fish Hatchery at 563-263-5062.
Iowa
River (Columbus Junction to Mississippi River)
The river level continues to drop; has gone down
about six inches in the last week. Channel Catfish - Fair: Try around the brush piles in the deeper pools.
Lake Belva Deer
Water temperature is around 85 degrees by mid-day.Fishing is slowing down to the first couple of hours
in the morning and the last couple in the evening. Bluegill - Fair: Look for bluegils in 12- to 14-feet of water around
the trees. Some very nice fish are being caught.
Bite is best before 10 a.m. and after about 6 p.m. Largemouth
Bass - Fair The evening bite in the last few hours of
daylight is best. Some anglers are using soft plastics while others are using
crankbaits.
Lake Darling
The water temperature was 84 degrees this morning
(Thursday). Bluegill - Fair:Drift small jigs tipped with waxworms or worms near
the deeper rock piles. Largemouth
Bass - Slow: The hot weather has slowed the bass fishing. Look
for them to be out off the drop off in deep water around the structure. Black Crappie - Fair: Crappies are hanging out with bluegills over the deeper habitat.
Lake Geode
The water temperature is in the mid 80's. A strong
algae bloom is turning the lake green. No date is set yet for the start of the draw down of the lake. Bluegill - Fair: Bluegills are hanging out in the deeper water off the drop offs.
Lake
Odessa
The outlet has been open; water is flowing out into the Mississippi. Lots of
small minnows and shad are getting flushed out into the river. Black
Crappie - Fair: Look around the woody habitat and beaver lodges for
the fish who had been spending most of their time on the flooded island. Channel Catfish - Good: Try cut bait and chicken liver.
Lost
Grove Lake
Water temperature is between 83 and 85 degrees during the day. Most
anglers are out on the lake in early morning and late evening. Black Crappie
- Fair: Work the flooded timber along the old creek channel down about 12 feet.
Bluegill - Fair: Bluegills are out in the deeper water around the
flooded timber
Skunk
River (Coppock to Mississippi River)
The river continues to drop; you can still use a
boat, but use caution. Channel Catfish - Fair: They are back in the log jams and brush piles trying
to stay cool.
For more information on the above lakes and rivers, contact the Lake Darling Fisheries Office at 319-694-2430.
Cedar
River (Cedar Rapids to Moscow)
Channel
Catfish – Fair.
Coralville
Reservoir
The lake is at normal summer pool of
683.4'. Channel Catfish - Fair: Use
cut bait in the channel.
Diamond
Lake
No minnows are allowed here. Black Crappie - Slow.
Bluegill - Good: Many fish are shallow now. Channel
Catfish – Good.
Hannen
Lake
Largemouth
Bass – Fair. Channel
Catfish – Good. Black Crappie – Fair.
Iowa
Lake (Iowa County)
Bluegill - Good. Largemouth Bass - Good. Channel Catfish – Good. Black Crappie - Fair.
Iowa
River (Marshalltown to Coralville Lake)
Channel
Catfish - Fair: Use live chubs on bank
lines. Flathead Catfish - Fair: 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 – Good.
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 low to mid
80'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 7- to 11-feet of
water. Troll crawler rigs or crankbaits. Bluegill - Good: Most fish are small, but slightly better fish are
around deeper stumps. Largemouth
Bass - Fair. Channel
Catfish – Fair.
Otter
Creek Lake
Channel
Catfish - Good: Evening bite is best; use stink bait. Yellow
Bass - Fair: Use small spinners. Bluegill - Fair: Try a small jig or
worm .
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. The invasive plant, Brittle Naiad, is growing here. It
is extremely bad around the ramp area. Check your boat and trailer for plants
and drain your boats before you leave. Walleye - Fair: Troll crankbaits or crawler rigs over hard
bottoms; after dark is best. Bluegill - Fair: Use small leeches in about
6 feet of water. Muskellunge – Fair. White Bass - Fair: Sunrise
and sunset are best. Look for topwater action as they chase young shad. Wiper
(Hybrid Striped Bass) - Fair: Sunrise and sunset are best. Look for
topwater action as they chase young shad. Channel Catfish - Fair: The
dam area has been producing fish.
Rodgers
Park Lake
Bluegill - Fair: Use small worms under a bobber. Most fish are under
7 inches. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Decent sized fish are being caught on artificials,
especially those that are more weedless. Channel
Catfish - Fair: Try stink bait around brush piles.
For more information, contact the Lake Macbride Fisheries Station at 319-624-3615.
Hawthorn Lake
Largemouth Bass - Fair: Try topwater lures in the mornings and evenings
along the shorelines. As the day heats up, use rubber worms or spinnerbaits along rip-rapped shorelines and around the rock piles. Bluegill - Fair: Use small jigs tipped with live bait around the fishing jetties and
along the dam. Sorting is needed for larger fish.
Lake Keomah
Bluegill - Slow: Try small jigs tipped with live bait along the
shorelines and around the fishing jetties. Largemouth
Bass - Fair: Cast the shorelines early in the mornings, fish
deeper as the day heats up. Channel
Catfish - Fair: Try nightcrawlers or liver near the shorelines in about 4- to 6-feet of water.
Lake Sugema
Black Crappie - Fair: Use live bait presentations around structure. Sorting is needed for larger fish. Walleye - Slow: Drift or troll nightcrawler rigs along the
dam. Try as trolling crankbaits in the same area. 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 and around the jetties.
Lake Wapello
Largemouth Bass - Fair: Use jerk baits or spinnerbaits around the cedar tree piles and along the shorelines. As the day heats up, try rubber worms in the same deeper areas. Use topwater lures in the mornings and
evenings. Channel
Catfish - Fair: Use chicken liver or cut
bait around the jetties.
Rathbun Reservoir
The current lake level is 904.68 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
- Fair: Troll crankbaits as the crappies are suspended. Some fish can still be caught shallow, but sorting is needed for
larger fish. Channel Catfish - Good: Try nightcrawlers or cut bait. Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) - Fair: Troll crankbaits along submerged points and
rock piles. Walleye - Fair: Troll crankbaits around submerged points and rock piles.
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: Cast the shorelines in the mornings and evenings topwater lures; fish deeper in the heat of the day
around submerged structure using rubber worms. 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 - Fair: Troll live bait rigs or cast or troll shallow diving crank baits. White Bass - Fair: Troll shallow diving shad imitating baits out
from the beach and up to the marina. There are some good size white bass in Big
Creek up to 16 inches.
Des
Moines River (Saylorville to Red Rock)
Channel Catfish - Good: Use stink baits and cut baits.
Des
Moines River (Stratford to Saylorville Lake)
Water levels are getting low enough to make boat
fishing challenging. The Highway 30 ramp is dry. Channel Catfish - Good: Use stink baits or cut bait.
Don
Williams Lake
Black Crappie - Fair: Anglers are averaging around 10 fish in an hour. Drift tube jigs and twister or paddle tail jigs 3- to 8-feet down in 10- to 20-feet of
water throughout the lake until you find schools of fish.
Red
Rock Reservoir
White Bass - Good: The hot weather white bass bite is going. Troll
shallow diving rattle baits or spoons around large points, out from the beach and dam, and along the windblown
shoreline in 5- to 15-feet of water. Use colors imitating young gizzard shad. Channel
Catfish - Good: Drift cut creek chubs or
shad above the mile long bridge in 6- to 12-feet of water.
Roberts
Creek Lake
Black Crappie - Fair: Slowly drift the lower
half of the lake with small twister tails or tube jigs. Fish are suspended 3 to 10 feet deep.
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 reservoirs and rivers is 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
Pond fishing was good 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 - Fair: Catch bluegills around weed edges and deep structure. Black Crappie - Fair: Cast minnows under a slip bobber. Channel Catfish - Good: Channel catfish are close to structure; use prepared
baits or cut bait.
Greenfield Lake
Greenfield Lake has a good fish population. Catch catfish close to shore. Bluegills have moved away from shore. Black Crappie - Slow: Crappies have moved to deeper water. Cast small jigs or minnows under a slip bobber to catch fish averaging 9 inches. Bluegill - Fair: Drift small jigs to catch 8 inch bluegill. Largemouth Bass - Good: Cast spinnerbaits or plastics along the shoreline to catch 12- to 16-inch bass. Channel Catfish - Fair: Use cut bait or shrimp around the jetties. Be prepared to catch large
fish.
Lake Anita
Lake Anita will provide good fishing this year. Find a large crappie population averaging 9 inches and bluegills up to 9.5 inches. Black Crappie - Fair: Anglers are catching crappies around underwater reefs and over the road bed. Fish will average 9 inches. Bluegill - Fair: Catch bluegills up to 9.5 inches over the road beds
and rock piles. Largemouth Bass - Good: Find bass around underwater reefs and vegetation edges. 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. Channel Catfish - Good: Channel catfish are being caught on a variety of
prepared bait as well as minnows. Manawa has a good catfish population with opportunity
to catch large fish.
Littlefield Lake
Littlefield Lake has quality size black crappies and bluegill. The lake also has a good channel catfish population. Channel Catfish - Good: Catfish are close to rocky shorelines and are being caught on a variety of baits including shrimp. Fish average 2 pounds. Bluegill - Slow: Drift or cast to tree piles in the lake to catch bluegills up to 9.5 inches. Black Crappie - Slow: Catch crappies up to 12 inches around cedar tree
piles. The evening bite has been best.
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. Largemouth Bass - Good: There is a large year class of 12- to 14-inch bass. Channel Catfish - Fair: Use cut bait off the face of the dam. Meadow Lake has large channel catfish. Black Crappie - Fair: Find 10 inch crappies around underwater reefs and brush
piles. Bluegill - Fair: Drift nightcrawlers to find 8 inch bluegills.
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 - Slow: Bluegills have moved to deeper water; use small jigs and worms in 8 feet of water. Fish will average 8 inches. Black Crappie - Fair: A few 9 inch crappie are being caught around deep brush piles.
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. Water clarity is poor at this time. Channel Catfish - Fair: Use nightcrawlers fished on the bottom. Fish are 18- to 22-inches. Black Bullhead - Fair: Cast a nightcrawler on the bottom for large bullheads up to 15 inches. Black Crappie - Slow: Vertical jig brush piles to catch 10 inch crappies. Bluegill - Slow: Bluegills have moved away from shore and can be
caught around structure or drifting. Fish are 7 to 8 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 - Fair: Anglers report catching quality size bluegills around the underwater reefs placed in the lake
during the renovation. Fish are 8.5- to 9-inches. Largemouth Bass - Good: There are many 12 inch bass in the lake that will
provide fun catch and release fishing. Black Crappie - Slow: A few 8 inch black crappie are being picked up
drifting. Channel Catfish - No Report: Channel catfish are 14- to 16-inches.
Viking Lake
Anglers report catching crappies in deep brush piles and drifting. Bass fishing has been good. 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 with the opportunity to catch larger fish. Black Crappie - Fair: Drift the open water with small jigs tipped with
power bait to catch crappie up to 9 inches. Sorting is needed for larger fish. Bluegill - Good: Drifting has been good for 7 inch bluegill.
Anglers report good catfishing in rivers.. Panfish have slowed with hot weather, but can
still be caught drifting open water areas. For more information, call the Cold Springs District Office at 712-769-2587.
Green Valley
Lake
Largemouth
Bass - Good: Largemouth bass of all sizes have been caught using finesse plastics fished
near cedar tree brush piles. Black
Crappie - Good: Catch crappies up to 9 inches using small
jigs or spinners fished along the fishing jetties, weed
edges or cedar tree brush piles. Bluegill - Fair: Catch bluegill up to 8 inches with nightcrawlers under a bobber or small jigs tipped with a worm fished near
the earth mounds, cedar tree brush piles or spawning structures.
Lake
Icaria
Channel Catfish - Fair: Channel catfish of all sizes have
been caught with cut bait or chicken liver fished near the fish mounds. Bluegill - Slow: Catch bluegill up to 8.5 inches using nightcrawlers fished near the fish
mounds.
Lake
of Three Fires
Channel
Catfish - Fair: Channel catfish of all
sizes have been caught with cut bait or chicken liver fished along rocky
shoreline areas.
Little
River Watershed Lake
Largemouth
Bass - Fair: Catch largemouth bass up to 20 inches using finesse plastics fished along cedar tree brush piles. Bluegill - Fair: Catch bluegill up to 9 inches with small jigs or or nightcrawlers fished along cedar tree brush piles. Channel
Catfish - Fair: Catch channel catfish up
to 10 pounds using nightcrawlers fished near rocky shoreline areas.
Twelve
Mile Creek Lake
Largemouth
Bass - Fair: Largemouth bass of all sizes have been
caught with finesse
plastics along weed edges and cedar tree brush piles early in the day. Bluegill - Good: Catch bluegill up to 8 inches using small jigs tipped with nightcrawlers fished near rock piles and along the
roadbed. Black
Crappie - Good: Catch crappies up to 9 inches with small jigs or minnows fished near cedar tree brush piles and rock piles.
Water temperature in Mount Ayr district lakes is in the mid 80's. For
more information, contact the Mount Ayr Fisheries office at 641-464-3108.
Missouri River (Sioux City to Little Sioux)
Flathead Catfish - Good: Use rod and reel and trotlines with live bait
off the tips of wing dikes and rock structures. Evening or after dark is best. Blue Catfish - Good: Use fresh chunks of fish (cut bait) fished off the bottom in or near the current. Channel Catfish - Good: Use worms, chicken livers, cut bait and dip baits along the wing dikes, brush piles and along the rock revetment.
Missouri River (Little Sioux to Council Bluffs)
Flathead Catfish - Slow: Use rod and reel and trotlines with live bait off the tips of wing dikes and rock structures. Evening or after dark is best. Blue Catfish - Good: Use fresh chunks of fish (cut bait) fished off the bottom in or near the current. Channel Catfish - Good: Use worms, chicken livers, cut bait and dip baits near wing dams, brush piles and along the rock revetment.
Missouri River (Council Bluffs to Missouri State Line)
Flathead Catfish - Good: Use rod and reel and trotlines with live bait off the tips of wing dikes and rock structures. Evening or after dark is best. Blue Catfish - Good: Use fresh cut bait off off the bottom in or near the main river channel. Channel Catfish - Good: Use worms, chicken livers, cut bait and dip baits near wing dikes, brush piles and along the rock revetment.
The Missouri River at Decatur, Nebraska is at 22.20 ft. /35,000 cfs./81
degrees Fahrenheit (water temperature is up 1 degree since last week). The
Missouri River is down .11 ft from last week. Fishing has been fair to good
overall.
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