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Top Iowa Fishing Spots for the Week of August 24.
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- to 9-inch bluegills near structure in 5- to 10-feet of water. For deeper fish, drift a small jig tipped with a piece of crawler. Use a bobber if fishing closer to shore.
Black Hawk Lake
Surface water temperature is around 74 degrees. Water levels are near the crest of the spillway. 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: Use a jig with a minnow in 2- to 6-feet of water along
Ice House Point, the floating dock and the stone piers in Town Bay. Walleye - Slow: Use live bait fished along Ice House Point shoreline
and the rock piles near Cottonwood Point and in the east basin. Largemouth Bass - Good: Catch largemouth bass just about anywhere along the
shoreline with topwater lures, twisters or live bait. Channel Catfish - Fair: Use night crawlers and cut bait fished on the bottom near the floating
dock, Ice House Point and the rock piles near Cottonwood Point and the east
basin.
Brushy Creek Lake
Bluegill - Fair: Use a small jig tipped with a piece of crawler in 5- to 15-feet of water. Drift near structure, drop-offs and weed lines. Black Crappie - Fair: Try a small piece of crawler or minnow on a jig in 10- to 15-feet of water. Largemouth Bass - Good: Throw topwater lures, weedless baits, spinners and plastic worms along weed lines, near cover and wood structure. Fish deeper for larger fish. Pick up small fish in the shallows. Walleye – Fair.
Storm Lake (including Little Storm Lake)
Surface water temperatures are around 74 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: Try areas with rocky structure and along weed lines in 2- to 6-feet of water near the jetties, the fish house and the dam. Use a small jig tipped with a piece of crawler or minnow under a bobber. Expect 6- to 9-inch fish.
Yellow Smoke Park Lake
Bluegill - Fair: 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, the flooded timber near the southwest shoreline, and the coves on the
south shore.
Surface water temperature in area lakes is around 75 degrees. 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. Bluegill - Fair: Use a bobber and
small piece of crawler near the edge of the vegetation.
Clear Lake
The water temperature is 75 degrees. Yellow Bass - Good: Drift a small jig tipped with a piece of crawler in 8- to 13-feet of water until you find fish. Walleye - Fair: Use a slip bobber and leech or crawler near the rock
reefs or try trolling bottom bouncers with bright colored
blades and a nightcrawler. Channel Catfish - Fair: Use cut bait, stink bait or chicken liver on the windward side of the lake. Late evening bite is best. Muskellunge - Fair: Fish the weed edge and shady areas near docks.
Crystal
Lake
Bluegill
- Fair: Use a small piece of crawler under a slip bobber near the dredge cut.
For information in the north central area, contact the Clear Lake Fish
and Wildlife office at 641-357-3517.
East Okoboji Lake
Yellow Bass - Good: Good sized yellow bass are still being caught
shallow near docks; jig with pilkies and crawlers. Yellow Perch - Good: Jig
using tube jigs and pilkies around docks and weed lines.
Spirit Lake
Walleye - Fair: Walleye are still active, but are harder to find as
they move to deeper water. Yellow Perch - Good: The yellow perch picked up over the past week; use tube jigs and
pilkies.
West Okoboji Lake
Bluegill - Good: Nice sized bluegill are coming off the lake. Try in
shallow areas around weed lines. Black Crappie - Good: Crappie are very
active; cast tube jigs along weed lines.
Iowa Great Lakes fish have been very active for 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)
Fish are more active with stable water levels and
cooler temperatures. Fish are taking a variety of lures and baits. Walleye - Good: Find walleye in brush piles or deeper holes. Try fishing along current breaks. Channel Catfish - Good: Use a hook with a dead chub or crawler for a 2 pound catfish. Try also chicken liver, stink bait and nightcrawlers. Black Crappie - Good: Use a hook tipped with a crawler in eddies
below dams and backwaters. Smallmouth Bass - Slow: Use crawdad crankbaits along rocky shorelines and
substrates.
Decorah District Streams
Trout streams are in good condition. Be respectful of private property; it’s a privilege to fish these areas. Call 563-927-5736 for current catchable trout stocking locations. Wild parsnip is done for the year, but beware of
first year plants. Freshly stocked trout are hitting a variety of lures and
baits. Brook Trout - Excellent: A variety of mayflies are hatching mid-afternoon. Use a dry fly
for insects hatching off the water surface. Use a nymph or scud dropper for
subsurface critters. Brown Trout - Excellent: Brown trout are more active when water is off color.
A hopper pattern with a scud dropper is a dangerous combination. Rainbow Trout - Excellent: Flies imitating grasshoppers, crickets, and ants
will turn a trout head this time of year. Use any number of black ant or leaf hopper patterns.
Lake Hendricks
The lake is looking good. Use a canoe to paddle out
or troll for fish suspended around rock piles. Black
Crappie - Good: Use a minnow or spinnerbait around the
jetties. Largemouth Bass - Good: Try topwater lures on the edge of a vegetation for a hiding bass. Channel Catfish - Good: Use a hook tipped with a nightcrawler, chicken liver or
stink bait. Bluegill - Good: Find bluegills near vegetation edges
Lake Meyer
Water clarity is improving as water begins to cool. Water temperatures are in the low 70's. Bluegill - Good: Use a small hook tipped with a piece of worm under a
bobber near jetties in the evening. Black Crappie - Fair: Find crappie suspended near submersed structure. Use
a spinner or jig with bright colored twister tail. Largemouth Bass - Good: Early morning and evening bite is best. Use topwater
lures fished along vegetation beds or spinners along rocky edges. Northern Pike - Fair: Pike are biting off anglers’ lines. Use a steal leader with a spoon along
vegetation edges near springs. Pike are great eating; take time to learn how to
clean them.
Upper Iowa River (above Decorah)
The Upper Iowa is in excellent condition. Clarity
and temperatures are improving fish activity. Northern
Pike - Good: Use a steel leader tipped with 1/4 oz. jig
tipped with natural colored plastic to a 3 inch jerk bait fished around
tributaries or brush piles. Walleye - Good: Find a walleye drifting through a deeper hole or
along a current break. Use a jig tipped with a twister tail or worm. Try also a small crankbait. Smallmouth Bass - Good: Try jigs tipped with any number of plastic tails.
Upper Iowa River (below Decorah)
Water temperatures are in the mid to low 70's with good clarity. Morning and midafternoon is best for bank anglers. Northern
Pike - Good: Use a steel leader tipped with 1/4 oz. jig
tipped with natural colored plastic to a 3 inch jerk bait fished around
tributaries or brush piles. Smallmouth Bass - Fair: Find a smallie in the current breaks or near
rock ledges. Use jigs tipped with any number of plastic tails. Walleye - Good: Drift a jig tipped with a twister tail or worm, or crankbait through a deeper hole or along a current break. Anglers are catching a good number of 10- to 12-inch
fish with larger fish caught while trolling at night. Channel Catfish - Good Catch a catfish from shore using a hook tipped with a crawler. Evening
is best.
Volga Lake
Morning and evening
bite is best. Overcast days extend angling times. Black Crappie - Fair: Use a small hook tipped with a minnow under a bobber near submersed trees for suspended crappie. Largemouth Bass - Good: Bass are hitting crankbaits. Try a topwater lure
in the evening as fish come in shallow to feed. Bluegill - Fair: Use a small hook tipped with a piece of worm under a
bobber. Channel Catfish - Good: Use stink bait, worms, and cheese baits. Catfish are active in the evening.
Chances for rain in the weekend forecast with
temperature highs in the low 80's and 60's for lows. Area streams and rivers are in good condition. For current fishing information, please call the Decorah Fish Hatchery at 563-382-8324.
Brinker
Lake
There have been reports of anglers catching northern pike in Brinker
Lake. Northern Pike - Good: Troll spinner or crankbaits at different
depths or contours for some good pike action.
Casey
Lake (aka Hickory Hills Lake)
Bluegill
- Good: Try a piece of nightcrawler under a bobber. Largemouth
Bass - Good: Use artificial spinner baits and crankbaits or plastics. Channel
Catfish - Fair: Channel catfish bite has slowed, but anglers are still
catching a few; stink baits are usually most productive for this time of year.
Cedar
River (Nashua to La Porte City)
The river is as low as it has been all summer, so the fish are
concentrated. Walleye - Fair: Try a jig and plastic tipped with half a
nightcrawler. Smallmouth Bass - Good: Use artificial spinner baits or a
jig and plastic tipped with half a nightcrawler. Channel Catfish - Good:
Try stink baits on the upstream side of log jams; catfish will come to scented
baits. Northern Pike - Good: Spinner baits have been the
"go-to" lure for northern pike. Try near areas of structure or woody
debris.
George
Wyth Lake
There have been reports of anglers catching northern pike in George Wyth
Lake. Northern Pike - Good: Troll spinner or crankbaits at different
depths or contours.
Maquoketa
River (above Monticello)
River levels are at an all-time low for this summer. Smallmouth Bass
- Good: Try artificial spinner baits or a jig and plastic tipped with half a
nightcrawler. Walleye - Good: Use a jig and plastic tipped with half a
nightcrawler or a shallow running crankbait.
Shell
Rock River (Greene to Shell Rock)
The river is as low as it has been all summer, so the fish are
concentrated. Walleye - Fair: Try a jig and plastic tipped with half a
nightcrawler or a shallow running crankbait. Smallmouth Bass - Good: Use
artificial spinner baits or a jig and plastic tipped with half a nightcrawler. Channel
Catfish - Good: Try stink baits on the upstream side of log jams; catfish
will come to scented baits.
Wapsipinicon
River (Tripoli to Troy Mills)
There have been no reports for walleye or smallmouth bass, but anglers are
reporting catches of northern pike in the upper and lower portions of the
Wapsipinicon River. Walleye and smallmouth fishing should be productive as the
river is at its lowest level of the summer. Northern Pike - Good:
Spinner baits have been the "go-to" lure for northern pike; try near
areas of structure or woody debris.
The weekend forecast looks fantastic for fishing as all lakes, rivers and
streams are in good condition. Anglers have had some success trolling for pike
on some area Black Hawk County lakes. Interior river fishing has been extremely
good for walleye, smallmouth bass, channel catfish and northern pike. Trout
streams remain in excellent condition. Call the N.E. Iowa district office at
563-927-3276 for more information.
Mississippi River Pool 9
River level has risen to 9.2 feet at Lansing and is predicted
to stabilize there. Water temperature is in the low to mid 70's. Bluegill - Excellent: Some larger bluegills are being picked up near
structure on the side channels. Use a small hook tipped with a small piece of worm fished under a slip bobber. 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 - Good: Smallmouth fishing has been good on wing dams and
rocky shorelines with good current. Best bite is towards evening. Largemouth Bass - Good: Largemouth fishing is good on side channel and main
channel shoreline structure. Walleye - Good: Walleye fishing is improving as the water
stabilizes. Try fast trolling crankbaits or bait-rig off the bottom. Yellow Perch - Fair: Look for perch in vegetated areas along the main
channel. 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 10
Lynxville water level has risen to 16.4 feet and is predicted to stabilize at this level over the next week. Water temperature is 73 degrees at the
lock and dam. Bluegill - Excellent: Some larger bluegills are being picked up near
structure on the side channels. Use a small hook tipped with a small piece of worm fished under a slip bobber. 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 - Good: Smallmouth fishing has been good on wing dams and
rocky shorelines with good current. Best bite is towards evening. Largemouth Bass - Good: Largemouth fishing is good on side channel and main
channel shoreline structure. Walleye - Good: Walleye fishing is improving as the water
stabilizes. Try fast trolling crankbaits or bait-rig off the bottom. Yellow Perch - Fair: Look for perch in vegetated areas along the main
channel. 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 11
Mississippi River at Guttenberg has risen almost 2 feet
and is predicted to stabilize at 7.8 feet this week. Water temperature is 68
degrees at the Lock and Dam. Bluegill - Excellent: Some larger bluegills are being picked up near
structure on the side channels. Use a small hook tipped with a small piece of worms fished under a slip bobber. 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 - Good: Smallmouth fishing has been good on wing dams
and rocky shorelines with good current. Best bite is towards evening. Largemouth Bass -Good: Largemouth fishing is good on side channel and
main channel shoreline structure. Walleye - Good: Walleye fishing is improving as the water
stabilizes. Try fast trolling crankbaits or bait-rig off the bottom. Yellow Perch - Fair: Look for perch in vegetated areas along the main
channel. 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 water levels have bumped up over a foot this week. Boaters
should use caution while launching as trailers may drop off the end of the
ramp. Water clarity continues to be good with lots of vegetation present. Look
for fish to move to deep cooler water midday. Many backwater species have moved
to main channel borders and side sloughs. Fishing has been best early morning
and early evening. Water temperature is in the mid 70's.
Mississippi River Pool 12
River levels are up about a foot from last week. Water levels are 7.1 feet at the Dubuque Lock and Dam and 9.5 feet
at the RR bridge. Water clarity is good. Levels should hold steady this week. Water temperature is around 74 degrees. Channel Catfish - Good:Channel catfish are biting on worms and stink
bait; move often if you do not find biting fish. Freshwater Drum - Excellent: A simple egg sinker
and worm rig works best. White Crappie - Good: Nice 11- to 13-inch crappies have been reported off
snags in backwater sloughs fishing with minnows. Size has been good this year. Walleye - Good: The wing dam fishing has returned to the
Mississippi River. Some anglers are
using worm rigs while others are throwing crankbaits on the dams. Floating weeds are starting to be a hindrance
at times. White
Bass - No Report: Some white bass were caught along main channel rock
lines earlier in the year. Bluegill - Good:Find bluegills at the mouths of large
backwater areas that have been dewatered in recent weeks. Flathead
Catfish - Excellent: Pull worm rigs near rocky
habitats. Lots of flatheads have been caught this year. Smallmouth Bass - Excellent:Throw spinners or small crankbaits around rocky
areas with strong current in the evenings. Largemouth
Bass - Good: Largemouths have pulled out of the
shallow backwater areas and are on trees and sandy shoals often chasing
minnows. The scum frog bite has been very good in the weed pads.
Mississippi River Pool 13
Water level is 7.6 feet at the Bellevue Lock and
Dam. Water should hold steady this week. Water clarity is decent and
temperature is around 75 degrees in the main channel. Northern Pike - Good: 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 - Excellent: Use egg
sinker rigs with worms. Drum bite in all types of river conditions. Walleye - Good: Wing dam walleye fishing has returned. Throw
crank baits over the rock piles. Floating vegetation is becoming a hindrance to wing dam
fishing. Smallmouth Bass - Excellent: Throw crank baits or spinners near rock piles with
strong current. Bluegill - Fair: Fish deep sloughs next to large backwater
complexes that have been dewatered due to low water levels. Flathead Catfish - Excellent: Small flathead catfish are hitting on worms; mostly
by people fishing for channel cats. Try large
live bait fished in the evening hours for bigger flatheads. Largemouth
Bass - Good: Largemouth bite has improved with the lower water
levels. Some fish are on weed edges while others are in logs in deeper sloughs. Scum frogs and other frog imitations are a good bet.
Mississippi River Pool 14
Water levels are 6.9 feet at Fulton, 10.6 feet at
Camanche and 5.4 feet at LeClaire. Water
clarity is decent. Water levels are predicted to hold steady this week. Water temperature is 75 degrees in the main channel. Largemouth Bass - Good: Bass had moved out of the large shallow areas into
deeper slough habitats. Use frog imitation lures along the weed edges. Freshwater Drum - Excellent: Freshwater drum are biting on worm rigs. Catch drum in nearly all moderate current
areas. Channel Catfish - Good: Use worm rigs and prepared stink baits fished
close to shoreline snags or along rock lines. Walleye - Good: Try near the outside tips of wing dams in low water
levels. Flathead
Catfish - Excellent: Some people are trot lining flathead
catfish using large bullheads as bait. Flathead are most active during the night and evening hours. Smallmouth
Bass - Good: Try along rock piles with current. Bluegill
- Good: Fish deeper sloughs next to large backwater
complexes that have been dewatered due to lower water levels.
Mississippi River Pool 15
River levels are 7.4 feet at Rock Island. This is up a foot from last week. Water clarity is decent and temperature is 75
degrees in the main channel. Water levels should hold steady this week. Channel
Catfish - Good: Try 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. Smallmouth
Bass - Fair: Find smallmouths along rock lines with
strong current.
The main channel water temperature is staying near 75 degrees. Fishing conditions have been good throughout the district this week. Lots of aquatic vegetation is floating in the River
right now; please do your best to clean your boats and trailers and not
transport vegetation to other bodies of water. 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 is 7.39 feet and has risen slightly the past few days. Flood stage is 15 feet. Channel
Catfish - Good: Use nightcrawlers, stink bait or chicken livers above
brush piles in the sloughs in the Andalusia Islands. Try also
around the mouth of Sunset Marina. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Use plastics around brush piles and logs in the Andalusia Island complex. White
Crappie - Fair: Use minnows or plastics around brush piles in the
Andalusia Island complex. Try also in the Andalusia Harbor. Walleye - No Report: Look for walleyes on the wing dams. Cast crankbaits or
troll three-way rigs with nightcrawlers.
Mississippi River Pool 17
Tailwater stage at Lock and Dam 16 in Muscatine is 5.97 feet and has risen slightly the past few days. Flood stage is 15 feet. The ramp at Big Timber is open. Channel
Catfish - Fair: Use nightcrawlers or stink bait around brush
piles and snags along the main channel and side channels. White Crappie
- Fair: Try minnows or plastics around brush piles in Cleveland Slough and
Big Timber. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Look for largemouth bass in the
backwaters. Try around brush piles and logs in Cleveland Slough and Big
Timber. Walleye - Fair: Look for walleyes on the wing dams. Cast crankbaits or
pull three-way rigs with crawlers. Look for walleyes around GPC. Try trolling
crankbaits.
Mississippi River Pool 18
Tailwater stage is 6.85 feet at Lock and Dam 17 at New Boston and has risen slightly the past few days. Flood stage is 15
feet. The Toolsboro landing is open. Channel
Catfish - Fair: Try nightcrawlers or stink baits above
brush piles and snags along the main channel and side channels. White
Crappie - No Report: Look for crappies in brush piles in the backwaters and sloughs; use
minnows or plastics the Huron Island complex or Campbells slough area. Walleye - No Report: Look for walleyes on the wing dams. Cast crankbaits or pull
three-way rigs with crawlers.
Mississippi River Pool 19
Tailwater stage is 3.63 feet at Lock and Dam 18 and has risen slightly the past few days. Flood
stage at Lock and Dam 18 is 10 feet. We have not received any fishing reports for this
pool this week. Channel Catfish - No Report: Try nightcrawlers or
stink baits in snags and brush piles along the main channel and side channels. White
Crappie - No Report: Look for crappies in the backwaters and
sloughs; use minnows or plastics around brush piles in the Burlington Island complex and Carthage Lake
areas. Bluegill - No Report: Look for bluegills in the backwaters and sloughs or in the
weed beds around Montrose and Keokuk. Try fishing pieces of worm under a bobber
around brush piles in the Burlington Island complex and Carthage Lake.
River stages have been rising slightly the past few
days. Water clarity is fair. Main channel water temperature is around 74
degrees. If you have questions on fishing Pools 16-19, contact the Fairport Fish Hatchery at 563-263-5062.
Big
Hollow Lake
Black Crappie
- Slow: Crappies continue to stay out in deeper water; the water temperature is going cooler, so it shouldn’t
be too long before they come in shallow. Largemouth
Bass - Fair: Go shallow in the early morning and late
evening; as the day gets warmer flow them out to deeper water. Bluegill – Slow.
Lake Belva Deer
Cool nights have brought the water temperature back
down to mid 70's. The water is a little murky. Largemouth
Bass - Fair: Fish the late evening and early morning in
the densest cover you can find; be prepared to lose some lures. Bluegill - Slow: Bluegill fishing slowed back down this week. Channel Catfish -
Fair: Catfishing has been decent around the rocks along the jetties and on the
mounds at the upper end of the lake.
Lake Darling
Water temperature is back down to 75 degrees. The
water is a little brown but not too bad, with a thin film of planktonic algae
on the surface. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Use soft plastics on the shallow edge of the
drop-offs. Black Crappie - Slow: Look for crappies around the drop offs. Bluegill – Slow.
Lake
Geode
The planktonic algae is still making the water green. Water temperatures
are cooling off with the cool night. Bluegill - Slow: Not many boats out
on the lake. Work the edges of the water willow beds along the north side near
the drop offs.
Lost Grove Lake
Largemouth
Bass - Fair: Catch decent numbers of bass in shallower
water during the early morning and late evening. They are deeper the rest of
the day. Channel Catfish - Fair: Work the face of the dam and along the
old creek channel below the causeway. Black Crappie - Slow: Look around the flooded timber in 8- to 10-foot of water.
Skunk River (Coppock to Mississippi River)
A little bump in level from the rains last week, but
the river has dropped back down to pre-rain levels already. Channel
Catfish - Fair: Find the holes and you can find catfish
willing to bite. Use cut baits and stink baits.
For more information on the above lakes and rivers, contact the Lake Darling Fisheries Office at 319-694-2430.
Coralville Reservoir
The lake is at normal summer pool of 683.4'. Black
Crappie - Slow: Most fish have been smaller. Channel Catfish - Fair: Drift/troll cut bait along the channel.
Diamond Lake
Channel
Catfish – Fair. Bluegill – Slow. Black
Crappie – Slow.
Hannen
Lake
Largemouth
Bass – Good.
Lake Macbride
The motor restriction is still in effect. Motors greater than 10hp are not to be used and all boats must run at no-wake speed (5mph). Bluegill - Fair. Walleye - Slow: Troll crankbaits or crawlers in 7- to 11-feet of water. Largemouth
Bass – Fair. Black Crappie - Slow: Fish around
brush/wood in 10- to 15-feet of water.
Otter Creek Lake
The lake is a little low and the water has lots of color to it. Bluegill
– Slow. Channel Catfish – Fair. Black Crappie – Slow. Yellow
Bass – Fair.
Pleasant Creek Lake
The lake is still 9.5 feet low from the restoration project. The main boat ramp is usable, but is still shallow; use caution. Inspect, clean, drain, and dry your boat/trailer
before leaving as there is a lot of the invasive species, Brittle Naiad, in the
lake.
Wapsipinicon
River (Troy Mills to Oxford Junction)
Bluegill – Fair. Smallmouth Bass – Fair. Walleye - Fair: Use nightcrawlers,
either on a split shot rig or jighead.
For more information, contact the Lake Macbride Fisheries Station at 319-624-3615.
Lake Keomah
Bluegill - Slow: Try small jigs tipped with live bait along the
shorelines in the edge of the vegetation and open pockets in the vegetation. Largemouth
Bass - Fair: Use rubber worms or spinnerbaits along the shorelines. Try submerged structure in 6- to 8-feet of water. Channel
Catfish - Fair: Try nightcrawlers or liver in about 4- to 6-feet of water.
Lake Sugema
Black Crappie - Fair: Try jig and minnows in the flooded timber. Sorting is needed for larger fish. Walleye - Slow: Drift or troll nightcrawlers along the dam and other
rip-rapped shorelines. Try casting crankbaits in the same areas. Bluegill - Fair: Use
live bait and a small jig. Sorting is needed for larger fish. Largemouth
Bass - Fair: Try spinnerbaits or crawdad imitating baits along the shorelines, among vegetation and around the jetties.
Lake Wapello
Largemouth Bass - Fair: Try crankbaits or spinnerbaits around the cedar tree
piles and along the shorelines. Use topwater lures among the vegetation and
lily pads. Channel
Catfish - Fair: Use chicken liver or cut
bait fished in 6- to 8-feet of water. Black Crappie - Fair: Try live bait around submerged structure.
Rathbun Reservoir
The current lake level is 904.23 msl. Normal operating elevation is 904.0
msl. Lake Rathbun has zebra mussels, so make sure to properly drain, clean,
and dry equipment before transporting to another water body. White Crappie
- Fair: Try crankbaits along
submerged points and underwater islands. Some fish can still be caught shallow, but sorting is needed for
larger fish. Channel Catfish - Good: Use nightcrawlers or cut bait along windblown shorelines. Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) - Fair: Try crankbaits or blade baits around submerged
points and rock piles. Walleye - Slow: Troll crankbaits that mimic gizzard shad around submerged points and rock piles; look for areas with changing depths
Red Haw Lake
Bluegill - Fair: Use small jigs tipped with live bait in open areas in the vegetation. Largemouth
Bass - Fair: Try spinnerbaits and crankbaits along the
shorelines, around the jetties, and along the face of the dam. Channel
Catfish - Fair: Use stink 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 and cast or troll shallow
diving crank baits on the upper end of the lake.
Des
Moines River (Saylorville to Red Rock)
Channel
Catfish - Good: Use stink baits and cut
baits.
Don
Williams Lake
Black Crappie - Fair: Drift or troll 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 - Fair: Cooling water temperatures over the past week
has slowed the white bass bite. Boats spending decent time on the water are
coming in with anywhere from a few to around 30 white bass. Troll small shallow
diving rattle baits or spoons around large points, out from the beach and dam
and along the wind blown shoreline. Troll in depths of 5 to 15 feet. 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.
Saylorville
Reservoir
White Bass - Slow: The white bass action has been slow. Occasionally
anglers have been getting into short term good bites in the mornings and late
afternoons. Troll shad imitating crankbaits and spoons. Channel
Catfish - Good: Drift cut creek chubs in the upper end of the reservoir
above and just below the mile long bridge. Wiper (Hybrid
Striped Bass) - Fair: Anglers trolling for white
bass are catching better numbers of hybrid striped bass than in recent previous years. Troll shad imitating
lipless or shallow diving crankbaits.
White bass fishing on the reservoirs has slowed some
with the cooling water temperatures. Channel catfishing on the reservoirs and
the Des Moines River is good. 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 fair 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 - Slow: Cast minnows under a slip bobber. Channel Catfish - Good: Use cut bait or prepared baits around structure and vegetation edges.
Greenfield Lake
Greenfield Lake has a good fish population. The lake is 3 feet low. Black Crappie - Slow: A few crappies can be caught around structure. Late
afternoon bite is best. Fish average 9 inches. Bluegill - Slow: Drift small jigs tipped with a crawler to catch 8 inch bluegill. Channel Catfish - Fair: Use cut bait or shrimp in less than 8 feet of water. Anglers have a chance to catch large catfish at
Greenfield.
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 beds. Fish will average 9 inches. Bluegill - Fair: Catch bluegills up to 9.5 inches with small jigs tipped power bait or nightcrawlers over the road beds and rock piles. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Find bass around underwater reefs and vegetation edges. Fish are all sizes.
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 - Slow: 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 or trolling along the dam. Channel Catfish - Fair: Use liver or nightcrawlers in the upper end of the lake for 14- to 16-inch catfish.
Viking Lake
Anglers report catching crappies in deep brush piles and drifting. Bass fishing has been good. Largemouth Bass - Good: Anglers are catching largemouth bass in tree piles with plastics and around the shoreline with
spinnerbaits. 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 - Fair: Drifting has been good for 7 inch bluegill.
Panfish have slowed, but should continue to improve
with cooler water temperatures. 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 with crankbaits or spinnerbaits fished near cedar tree brushpiles, stakebeds, or earth mounds. Black
Crappie - Excellen: Catch crappies up to 8 inches using small
jigs under a bobber or spinners fished along the fishing piers, weed edges or cedar tree brush piles. Try also drift fishing the main lake. Channel
Catfish - Fair: Drift cut-bait along the
weed lines to catch channel catfish up to 15 pounds.
Lake
Icaria
Lake Icaria received high amounts of rain earlier in
the week. Lake levels were 3 foot above normal pool. Channel Catfish - Fair: Channel catfish of all sizes have
been caught with cut bait, worms and shrimp fished along rock structure and fish mounds.
Little
River Watershed Lake
Largemouth
Bass - Fair: Catch largemouth bass up to 20 inches with finesse plastics or crankbaits fished along cedar tree brush piles or rock fields. Bluegill - Fair: Catch bluegill up to 8 inches with jigs tipped with a
nightcrawler or waxworm fished near cedar tree brush piles.
Twelve
Mile Creek Lake
Largemouth
Bass - Fair: Largemouth bass of all sizes have been
caught with finesse plastics or jigs fished along cedar tree brush piles or topwater baits fished along weed edges early and
late day. Try also soft plastic baits and crank baits around
points and flooded timber near creek channel bends and cuts. Bluegill - Good: Catch bluegill up to 8 inches using small jigs tipped with nightcrawlers or waxworms fished near the fishing jetties, along weed edges, and near flooded timber along
the channel or roadbed Black Crappie - Good: Catch black crappie up to 10 inches with small tube jigs or jigs tipped with a minnow fished
near cedar tree brush piles or rock piles, or drifting the main lake. Yellow Perch - Good: Use minnows or nighcrawlers fished on the bottom
near rock jetties, points, and flats with weed lines. Walleye
- Fair: Walleyes of all sizes have been caught with jigs
tipped with minnows and leeches or crank baits trolled along rock piles, humps,
and points.
Water temperaturea in most Mount Ayr District lakes
are in the mid-70's. The district includes Page, Taylor, Adams, Union,
Ringgold, Decatur, Clarke and Madison counties.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 cut bait fished just off the bottom in or near the current. Channel Catfish - Good: Use worms, chicken livers, cut bait and dip baits along wing dams, brush piles and along the rock revetment.
Missouri River (Little Sioux to Council Bluffs)
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 fished just 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 fished off the bottom in or near the main river channel. Channel Catfish - Good: Use chicken livers, worms, cut bait and dip baits near wing dams, brush piles and along the rock revetment.
The Missouri River at Decatur, Nebraska is at 22.25 ft. /35,100 cfs./73
degrees Fahrenheit (water temperature is the same as last week). The Missouri
River is down .94 feet from last week. Anglers are mostly catching catfish
species (channels, flatheads, and blue cats). Fishing continues to be fair to
good overall for all catfish species. The Decatur Bridge West of Onawa closed
August 14 for repairs and will reopen sometime in September.
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