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Top Iowa Fishing Spots for the Week of October 19.
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.
Urban Trout Lakes - fun for
everyone
Grab
your neighbors, friends and kids and experience the thrill of trout fishing
this fall at an urban trout lake near you. DNR fisheries staff will
release between 1,000 to 2,000 rainbow trout at 17 locations across Iowa in October and November.
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Black Hawk Lake
Water
temperatures are in the mid 50's. Bluegill - Good: Action
is fast; 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 - Fair: Use live bait fished along the Ice House Point shoreline
and near the outlet in the east basin. Largemouth
Bass - Good: Use topwater lures, twisters, or live bait
to catch largemouth bass just about anywhere along the shoreline. Yellow
Perch - Fair:
Perch have been picked up in Town Bay and on the north side of the lake.
Brushy Creek Lake
Bluegill - Fair: Use a small jig tipped with a piece of crawler in 5- to 15-feet of water. Drift near deep 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. Muskellunge – Fair.
Storm Lake (including Little Storm Lake)
Surface water temperatures are in the mid 50's. 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:Use twisters,
live bait and plastics that mimic a shad. Most action has been from shore. Try the Chautauqua Jetty and near the inlet of the lake In the evenings. White Bass - Fair: Use crankbaits, twisters or live bait fished from 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.
Surface water temperatures in area lakes are in the mid 50's. Shore
fishing is good in most of our area lakes.For more information, contact the Black Hawk District office at 712-657-2638.
Clear Lake
The water temperature is 59 degrees. Yellow Bass - Good: Drift a small jig tipped with a piece of crawler or cut bait in 8- to 10-feet of water until you find fish. Try also near the rock reefs. Walleye - Fair: Use a jig and minnow near the rock
reefs. Shore anglers are having success fishing off the jetties and docks after
sunset. White
Bass - Good: Use jigs and minnows. Shore anglers are
having success fishing off the jetties in the early morning.
Rice
Lake
Walleye - Good: Walleyes are biting on a variety of baits. With the clear water, the
best bite is during low light periods.
Silver
Lake (Worth)
Largemouth Bass - Good: Largemouth bass are biting on a variety of baits. Yellow Perch – Fair. Bluegill - Good: Try a small piece of crawler near the vegetation.
For information in the north central area, contact the Clear Lake Fish
and Wildlife office at 641-357-3517.
Center
Lake
Walleye - Good: Anglers report good
walleye activity along the south shore after dusk. Black Crappie - Fair: Use tube jigs by the docks; decent numbers of
large crappies are being caught.
East Okoboji Lake
Yellow Bass - Excellent: Yellow bass are very active in shallow; use tube
jigs. Walleye - Good: The walleye bite is starting to pick up on the rock points.
Five Island Lake
Yellow Bass - Good: Lots of yellow bass are being caught. Channel Catfish - Good: Large
amounts of big channel catfish are prevalent in the lake.
Spirit Lake
Walleye - Good: Walleye activity has picked up after dark. Yellow Perch - Excellent: Lots of good sized perch are being caught, with some measuring up to 12-inches.
West Okoboji Lake
Bluegill - Good: Angler acceptable bluegill are being caught in the
bays. Black Crappie - Excellent: Crappie are very active right outside of the weed lines.
West
Swan Lake S.W.M.A.
Black
Crappie -
Good: Recent surveys show good numbers of crappie in the lake.
For more information throughout the week, contact the Spirit Lake Fish Hatchery at 712-336-1840.
Cedar River (above Nashua)
The
Cedar River is slowly falling after last week’s rain. Use this opportunity to
get out and play before the cold weather sets in. Walleye - Use
a jig tipped with a long piece of worm or minnow in deeper pools and around
brush piles near evening.
Decorah District Streams
All stream stockings are unannounced in October. All streams continue to be stocked. Trout
streams are in good condition. Trout spawning season is upon us. Walk carefully
around freshly cleared areas in streams; these are trout nests or
"redds". Many streams run through wildlife management areas where hunting is allowed. Wear bright clothing when not stalking a trout. Brook Trout - Good: Vibrant
colors abound on spawning fish. A variety of small 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: Fall rains will put the browns in a feeding frenzy. Use a hopper pattern in pastured or open areas. In wooded areas in the morning, use #22-24 trico patterns. In the evening, use #18-20 blue wing olive patterns. Rainbow Trout - Good: Freshly stocked trout are hitting a variety of lures and baits. Drift a feathered spinner along an undercut bank. Always leave gates and fences
as you find them.
Lake Hendricks
Lake Hendricks is an electric motor only lake. Black Crappie - Good: Troll over rock mounds with a jig tipped with minnow or spinnerbait. Largemouth Bass - Good: Use
a spinnerbait or jig with a twistertail and a slow retrieve near brush piles
and downed trees. Bluegill - Good: Try
a small jig tipped with a small piece of nightcrawler or spike.
Lake Meyer
Water temperatures are in the
upper 50's. Lake clarity is excellent at 4- to 5-feet. Anglers will notice
recent fish habitat improvements in the lake including spawning beds, shoreline
rip-rap, and submersed concrete culverts.
Upper Iowa River (below Decorah)
Few
people have been out. Water levels have dropped and clarity is improving after
last week's rain. Walleye - Fair: Find
walleye in deeper holes. Use a jig tipped with a worm or baits imitating larger
minnows or suckers in eddies and current seams.
Volga Lake
Duck
season is open and hunters are on the water. All water to the campground and
restroom at the boat ramp is shut off for the season. Black Crappie - Good: Slowly troll along the
dam. Use a jig tipped with a minnow in 10- to 12 feet of water.
A
cold front will pass through the area Friday evening, bringing rain on
Saturday. Frost is not likely. Leaf color peaks this weekend. Area
streams and rivers are in excellent condition. For current fishing information, please call the Decorah Fish Hatchery at 563-382-8324.
Mississippi River Pool 9
River level at Lansing is 11.7 feet and is predicted to gradually
recede about a foot. Water temperature is near 57 degrees. Army
Road at New Albin remains closed due to high water. Bluegill - Fair: Some larger bluegills are being picked up near
structure on the side channels. Use a small hook tipped with worm fished under a slip bobber. Channel Catfish - Fair: Try nightcrawlers or stink bait fished on the bottom
in areas of moderate current where side channels form an eddy. Freshwater Drum - Fair: Drum are still being caught in the swifter
current areas along main channel borders. Smallmouth Bass - Excellent: Smallmouth fishing is improving with reports of many
2-3 pound fish being caught with a worm harness along the riprap near the Black
Hawk bridge. Largemouth Bass - Good: Largemouth fishing is good on side channel and main
channel shoreline structure. Walleye - Fair: Try a little slower presentation as the water
temperature is falling. One eye jigs or bait-rig off the bottom has been
effective. Yellow Perch - Good: The fall perch bite is picking up. Use small jigs
tipped with worm in backwaters with slight flow. Northern
Pike - Good: Try soft plastics in areas with slight current in
shallow backwaters. Flathead
Catfish - Fair: Use live shiners or small bluegill in woody
debris to attract flatheads in slack areas off the side channels. Black
Crappie - Good: Use light colored jigs or hook tipped with
crappie minnows in backwater side-channels.
Mississippi River Pool 10
Lynxville
water level is peaking around 21 feet and is predicted to gradually fall over
the next week. Water temperature is 57 degrees at the
lock and dam. The
road to Sny Magill ramp remains closed due to high water. Bluegill - Fair Some larger bluegills are being picked up near
structure on the side channels. Use a small hook tipped with worm fished under a slip bobber. Channel Catfish - Fair:
Try nightcrawlers or stinkbait fished on the bottom in areas of moderate
current where side channels form an eddy. Freshwater Drum - Fair: Drum are still being caught in the swifter current
areas along main channel borders. Smallmouth Bass - Excellent: Use live bait or artificials along 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 - Fair: Try a little slower presentation as the water
temperature is falling. One eye jigs or bait-rig off the bottom has been
effective. Yellow Perch - Good: The fall perch bite is picking up. Use small jigs
tipped with worm in backwaters with slight flow. Northern
Pike - Good: Try soft plastics in areas with slight current in
shallow backwaters. Flathead
Catfish - Fair: Use live shiners or small bluegill in woody
debris to attract flatheads in slack areas off the side channels. Black
Crappie - Good: Use light colored jigs or hook tipped with
crappie minnows in backwater side channels.
Mississippi River Pool 11
Mississippi
River at Guttenberg is cresting around 12 feet and is predicted to gradually
fall next week. Water temperature is 53 degrees at the Lock and Dam. Lock
gates remain raised this week. Bluegill - Fair: Some larger bluegills are being picked up near
structure on the side channels. Use a small hook tipped with worm fished under a slip bobber. Channel Catfish - Fair: Try nightcrawlers
or stink bait fished on the bottom in areas of moderate current where side channels
form an eddy. Freshwater Drum - Fair: Drum are still being caught in the swifter
current areas along main channel borders. Smallmouth Bass - Excellent: Use live bait or artificials along 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 - Fair: Try a little slower presentation as the water
temperature is falling. One eye jigs or bait-rig off the bottom has been
effective. Yellow Perch - Good: The fall perch bite is picking up. Use small jigs
tipped with worm in backwaters with slight flow. Northern
Pike - Good: Use soft plastics in areas with slight current in
shallow backwaters. Flathead
Catfish - Fair: Try live shiners or small bluegill in woody
debris to attract flatheads in slack areas off the side channels. Black Crappie - Good: Use light colored jigs or hook tipped with crappie minnows in
backwater side-channels. Bertom Lake area has been picking up.
Upper
Mississippi water levels have peaked and are expected to gradually recede this
week. Many ramps are still under water, but should return to normal in about a
week. Water clarity is fair with some debris still floating. Cooler temperatures will move fish toward
their winter holes, but they may be hard to find with increased current. Water temperature has fallen
into the mid 50's this week.
Mississippi River Pool 12
Water
levels have peaked and have started to drop. Current water levels are 11.5 feet
at the Dubuque Lock and Dam and 13.6 feet at the RR bridge. Water clarity is fair. Water temperature is near 59 degrees. Freshwater Drum - Excellent: A simple egg sinker
and worm rig works best. White Crappie - Fair: Fall is the best time to catch crappies
on the Mississippi River, but panfish have not been biting the best in recent
weeks. Look for them along log jams in backwater sloughs. Walleye - Fair: : Use
crankbaits or jigs along sandy banks. Fish are holding tight to the shorelines. Bluegill - Slow: Rapidly changing conditions have made bluegills
somewhat hard to find. Smallmouth Bass - Good:Throw spinners or small crankbaits around rocky
areas with strong current in the evenings. Floating weeds along the rock lines are causing issues
getting to the smallmouths. Largemouth
Bass - Fair: Bass
are on the wood in deeper sloughs. Yellow
Perch - Fair: Yellow perch are being caught in backwater areas on
minnows by anglers fishing for bluegills or crappies.
Mississippi River Pool 13
Water
levels have peaked and have started to recede. Current water level at Bellevue
Lock and Dam is 12.4 feet and is expected to drop a foot this upcoming week. Water clarity is fair. Water temperature is 60
degrees in the main channel. The
Bellevue DNR ramp and other small ramps on Pool 13 have minor flooding and
debris on them. Northern Pike - Fair: Use flashy white lures. Freshwater Drum - Excellent: Use egg
sinker and worm rigs. Drum bite in all types of river conditions. Walleye - Fair: Use
crankbaits or jigs fished close to bank on sandy areas. Smallmouth Bass - Good: Throw crank baits or spinners near rock piles with
strong current. Bluegill - Slow: Use worm rigs in log piles in larger backwater and
sloughs. Largemouth
Bass - Fair: Some fish are on the weed edges while others
are close to woody debris in the deeper sloughs. Black Crappie - Slow: Fall is a great time to fish for crappies. It
has been slow, but expect it to improve. Use small
minnows in the woody snags in backwater sloughs.
Mississippi River Pool 14
Water
levels are currently peaking and are expected to recede this week. Gauge
readings are 9.6 feet at Fulton, 12.3 feet at Camanche and 6.9 feet at
LeClaire. Water clarity is fair. Water
temperature is 60 degrees in main channel. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Bass
are on the wood in side channel sloughs. Freshwater Drum - Excellent: Freshwater drum are biting on worm rigs. Catch drum in nearly all moderate current
areas. Walleye - Good: Some
nice walleyes have been reported from Pool 14 all year. Fish are tight to the
bank in this higher water. Smallmouth
Bass - Good: Try along rock piles with current. Bluegill
- Slow: Use worms and bobbers along vegetation lines. Changing conditions make it hard to
consistently find bluegills.
Mississippi River Pool 15
Water
levels are peaking; expect it to begin receding this upcoming week. Water
clarity is getting better, but still poor. Water temperature is near 60 degrees in the main channel. Freshwater
Drum - Good: Freshwater drum bite well this time of
year. Put them on ice immediately if you
are going to clean them. Smallmouth
Bass - Fair: Find smallmouths along rock lines with
strong current.
Water
levels have peaked this week and levels are starting to drop throughout the
district. Expect water to drop a foot or more during the week. The water
temperature has dropped to 60 degrees. Some ramps have minor flooding. Aquatic vegetation is floating
in the River, so 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 11.85 feet and is forecast
to begin falling over the weekend. Walleye - Slow: Use jigs and minnows or troll crankbaits in Sylvan Slough. Sauger - Slow: Try jigs and minnows or
troll crankbaits in Sylvan slough. White Crappie - Fair: Some
crappies are being caught in the backwaters. Use jigs and minnows or jigs and plastics around brush piles in
the Andalusia Island complex,
Sunset Marina or Credit Island.
Mississippi River Pool 17
Tailwater stage at Lock and Dam 16 in Muscatine is 10.85 feet and is currently
forecasted to begin falling over the weekend. The gates are out of the water at
the dam. The ramp at Big Timber (The Breaks) is closed due to high water. White Crappie - Fair: Use jigs and minnows or minnows under a bobber around brush piles in the backwaters and side channels. Bluegill - No Report: Look for bluegills in the backwaters. Use worms or waxworms under a bobber along brush
piles. Sauger - No Report: We have not received any tailwater fishing information for
this pool this week with
the high water conditions.
Mississippi River Pool 18
Tailwater stage is 12.04 feet at Lock and Dam 17 above New Boston and is forecasted
to reach 12.2 feet. Current predictions have river stage starting to fall over
the weekend. The gates are out of the water at the dam. As of Wednesday(10/18)
the Toolsboro ramp is still open. White Crappie - No Report: Use jigs and minnows or minnows under a bobber in the backwaters and flowing side channels around brush piles. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Use spinnerbaits or plastics in New Boston Bay. Sauger - No Report: We have
not received any tailwater fishing reports with the high water conditions.
Mississippi River Pool 19
Tailwater stage is 7.94 feet at Lock and Dam 18 above Burlington and is forecasted
to reach 8.1 feet. Current predictions have river stage beginning to fall over
the weekend. We have not received any fishing reports for this pool this week. White Crappie - No Report: Use jigs and minnows or minnows under a bobber in the side channels and backwaters around brush
piles.Sauger - No Report: We have not
received any tailwater fishing information for this pool.
River
stages have been on the rise the past few days with the recent heavy rains.
Current forecasts have river stages beginning to drop over the weekend. Main
channel water temperature is 57-58 degrees. Water clarity is poor. Tailwater
fishing for walleyes and saugers has been tough with the high water conditions. If you have questions on fishing Pools 16-19, contact the Fairport Fish Hatchery at 563-263-5062.
Big
Hollow Lake
The numbers of boats in the
parking lot has tripled in the last week. Bluegill
- Good: Bluegills are working their way into shallow water; look for them in
the habitat out in 5- to 6-feet of water. Black
Crappie - Good: Crappies are working their way into shallow water; still
out a little ways from shore.
Deep
Lakes
Water temperature was 63 degrees
last Thursday. Water clarity was 8 feet. Bluegill
- Slow: Bluegills are in the vegetation beds out in 4- to 5-feet of water
hiding from the bass. Black Crappie
- Slow: Crappies are still out in deeper water around the brush piles. Largemouth Bass - Fair: The bass are cruising the outer edges
of the weed beds out in 4- to 5-feet of water hunting bluegills.
Environmental
Discovery Park North Pond
The fall trout release will be
on Oct. 28th at 10 am. 1000 rainbow trout will be released at that time. 100
will be tagged for prizes.
Lake Belva Deer
Water
continues to cool off. Bluegill - Good: Anglers
are catching some really nice bluegills = in 4- to 5-feet of water. Black Crappie - Good:
Anglers are catching crappies in 4- to 5-feet of water. Target the tops of the
mounds at the upper end of the lake. Channel
Catfish -
Good: Catfish continue to feed fairly heavily. Try in the rock along the dam,
and where any of the feeder creeks enter the lake.
Lake Darling
Water temperature is down
to 60 degrees. Water
is still a little muddy after last Saturday's heavy rains, but is not too bad. Largemouth Bass - Good: Bass
are just over the tops of the rock piles and brush piles that have 4- to 5-feet
of water over them. Black Crappie - Good: Crappies
are a little reluctant to come into shallow water; most are being caught in 8-
to 10-feet of water around the habitat. Bluegill - Good:Lots
of nice bluegills are hanging out in the brush piles in 4- to 6-feet of water; some
are in shallow in 1.5 feet of water.
Lake
Geode
The draining of the lake has
begun. The rate of drop is very slow more work will be done to increase the
rate of drop to one foot a day sometime next week. Bluegill – Slow. Black
Crappie – Slow.
Lake
of the Hills
The fall trout release was last
Saturday. Even with the heavy rain, there was a fairly good turnout and good
numbers of trout were caught. Rainbow
Trout - Good: Trout were being caught on bobber and worm or Powerbait on
Saturday. There are still plenty of trout to be caught as 2000 were stocked. Bluegill - Good: Lots of bluegills were
being caught during the trout release. Most were in fairly close to shore and
were hitting on bobber and worm.
Lost
Grove Lake
Cooler
temperatures are getting the fish to bite. Bluegill - Good:
Bluegills are running the edges of the weed beds; use a small jig or worm and
bobber. Black
Crappie - Good:
Crappies are starting to work in closer to the shallows, a change from last
week when they were still out in deeper water.
Skunk
River (Rose Hill to Coppock)
Last Saturday's rains brought
the river up about a foot; probably still not enough to use jon boats, but
canoes and kayaks won't have any problems. Channel
Catfish - Fair: Won’t be long before these fish will be on their way to
their overwintering sights.
Wilson
Lake
The fall trout release will be
on Oct. 28th with trout fishing beginning at 1:00 pm. 1000 trout will be
released with 200 being tagged for prizes. Rainbow
Trout - Excellent: Trout fishing will pick up next weekend when the truck from
Manchester arrives with the trout for the fall release.
For more information on the above lakes and rivers, contact the Lake Darling Fisheries Office at 319-694-2430.
Coralville Reservoir
The
lake level as of 10/19 is 685.6' and is slowly rising. It is predicted to hold
at 685.8' through the end of the month, and then begin rising again. Black Crappie - Good: Use bright jigs or minnows along rock bluffs or over brush piles. White Crappie - Good: Try bright jigs or minnows along rock bluffs or over brush piles.
Diamond
Lake
Black
Crappie –
Fair. Bluegill – Fair. Channel Catfish – Slow. Largemouth Bass – Slow.
Lake Macbride
All
sized motors may be operated at no-wake speed (5 mph). Water temperatures this week were in the low 60's. Walleye - Fair:
Troll crankbaits during the day, and cast them shallower towards evening. There
are a lot of 13- to 15-inch fish with some larger ones mixed in. Black Crappie - Fair: Use jigs and minnows over brush piles to catch 10- to 12-inch crappie. The
causeway and to the east has been a popular area.
Otter Creek Lake
The
water is a little low and green yet. Yellow Bass - Good: Try
small jigs, spinners or live bait. Bluegill - Fair: Use small
jigs or worms around brush.
For more information, contact the Lake Macbride Fisheries Station at 319-624-3615.
Lake
Miami
Bluegill - Fair: Try small jigs around underwater structure. Use
a chunk of nightcrawler if fish get picky. Largemouth
Bass - Fair: Use rubber worms and crankbaits around the fishing jetties and
brush piles.
Lake Sugema
Black Crappie - Fair: Try jigs tipped with live bait in the flooded timber. Sorting is needed for larger fish. Walleye - Slow: Use nightcrawlers along the dam and other rip-rapped
areas. Try also a minnow and bobber. Bluegill - Fair: Use a small jig tipped with live bait around structure in 4-to 6-feet of water. Sorting is needed for larger fish. Largemouth
Bass - Fair: Try spinnerbaits or crankbaits along the shorelines and around the jetties. Use a rubber worm among the vegetated areas and around deep structure.
Lake Wapello
Largemouth Bass - Fair: Try crankbaits or spinnerbaits around the brush piles. Slow down the presentation as the water cools. Black Crappie - Fair: Use jigs tipped with live bait around submerged structure. Sorting may be needed for larger fish. Black Bullhead - Slow: Try nightcrawlers fished on the lake bottom in about 6 feet of
water.
Ottumwa
Park Pond East (Trout Pond)
A trout stocking is planned for
Friday, Oct. 27th at 11:00 a.m.
Rathbun Reservoir
The current lake level is 903.79 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: Use
small jigs around docks and structure. Look for fish to keep moving shallower
as the water cools. Channel Catfish - Good: Use nightcrawlers or cut bait in areas where recent rains are flowing into the lake. Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) - Fair: Try
vertically jigging around rock piles and submerged points. Walleye - Slow: Troll crankbaits around submerged points; look for areas with a variation in depths. Try also trolling nightcrawler rigs.
Red Haw Lake
Bluegill - Fair: Use a small jig tipped with a chunk of nightcrawler in areas along the shoreline with structure. Largemouth
Bass - Fair: Try rubber worms or spinnerbaits in areas with rip rap or other types of structure. Channel
Catfish - Fair: Use nightcrawlers 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 or cast or troll shallow
diving crank baits on the upper end of the lake. Black
Crappie - Fair: Use minnows or panfish jigs near riprap on
the jetties for 9-to 10.5-inch crappies.
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. The middle section of the lake has been the most consistent. Anglers will have to fish through the younger fish
that are around 5 inches to find the older 9 inch fish.
Hickory
Grove Lake
Bluegill - Good: Bluegill are biting near shoreline vegetation
and sunken brush piles throughout
the lake.
Red
Rock Reservoir
Channel
Catfish - Good: Use dead shad above the mile long bridge in 6- to
12-feet of water. Black
Crappie - Fair: Slowly troll twister tail jigs or jigs
tipped with minnows. Crappies will be schooled in areas such as the small bays
off the main lake and Whitebreast arm, in the Marina Cove and the South
Overlook arm.
Fall is an excellent time to target crappies. For more information on Central Iowa lakes and rivers, contact Andy Otting or Ben Dodd at 515-432-2823.
Cold Springs District Farm Ponds
Pond fishing has picked up with cooler water
temperatures. Always get permission to fish privately owned farm ponds. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Cast a variety of spinner type baits or plastics for fun catch and release fishing. Bluegill - Good: Cast small jigs or crawlers under a bobber to structure
and along the shoreline. Black Crappie - Fair: Cast minnows under a slip bobber. Channel Catfish - Fair: Use cut bait around structure.
Greenfield Lake
Greenfield Lake has a good fish population. The lake is 3 feet low. Black Crappie - Fair: Fish any tree pile and along the creek channel to
find fish up to 12 inches. Bluegill - Fair: Drift crawlers to catch bluegills up to 8.5 inches. Largemouth
Bass - Fair: Cast the shoreline and around jetties to
find largemouth bass. Greenfield has a good number of 12- to 16- inch bass.
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. Bluegill - Fair: Catch bluegills up to 9.5 inches with small jigs tipped power bait or nightcrawlers on
the bottom in 12- to 14-feet of water. Black Crappie - Good: Slowly troll or drift small jigs tipped with power bait.
Fish are 9 inches. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Find bass around underwater reefs and vegetation edges. Fish are all sizes.
Meadow
Lake
Meadow Lake bluegills have gained size and body condition after the
mid-summer draw-down in 2016. Black Crappie - Fair: Find deeper tree piles and
vertical jig to catch crappies up to 12 inches. Bluegill - Fair: Drift
the open part of the lake for bluegills up to 9 inches.
Prairie Rose Lake
Expect
to catch quality size bluegills again this year at Prairie Rose. Crappies are
now averaging 9.5 inches and are healthy fish. The lake also supports a good
population of channel catfish and the largemouth bass will provide good catch
and release fishing. Bluegill - Fair: Slow troll crawlers to find bluegills up 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 - Fair: Vertical jig tree piles or slow troll the face of
the dam to catch black crappie averaging 9.5 inches.
Viking Lake
Largemouth Bass - Slow: Cast the shoreline and brush piles to catch
largemouth of all sizes. Black Crappie - Fair: Vertical jig deeper brush piles for black crappie up
to 10 inches. White
Crappie - Fair: The white crappie in Viking are fewer in
number, but larger fish (10- to 13-inches).
Fish are more active with cooler water temperatures; get out
to your favorite lake for good fall fishing.For more information, call the Cold Springs District Office at 712-769-2587.
Little
River Watershed Lake
Bluegill - Fair: Catch bluegill up to 8 inches with small jigs or nightcrawlers fished along cedar tree brush piles or shallow bays. Walleye - Good: Catch walleyes up to 22 inches using jigs tipped with a minnow fished
along the roadbed or main lake points.
Summit
Lake
Largemouth Bass - Fair: Catch largemouth bass
up to 15 inches using spinnerbaits fished along cedar
tree brush piles, the HWY 25 bridge or rocky shoreline areas.
Twelve
Mile Creek Lake
Largemouth
Bass - Fair: Catch largemouth bass up to 20 inches with crankbaits fished along rocky shoreline areas or jigs fished near
cedar tree brush piles or
rock fields. Black Crappie - Good: Catch crappies up to 9 inches using using
small jigs and minnows fished along cedar tree brush piles and rock piles. Bluegill - Good: Catch
bluegill up to 8 inches with jigs tipped with a nightcrawler or
waxworm fished near rock
piles or
fishing jetties. Yellow Perch - Fair: Catch yellow perch up to 9 inches with jigs
tipped with a minnow fished along main lake points. Walleye
- Slow: Walleye of all sizes have been caught with jigs tipped
with a minnow or leech fished near rock piles, along the roadbed or along the dam.
Water temperature in Mount Ayr district lakes is in
the upper 50's to low 60'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 - Fair: Use rod and reel and trotlines with live bait (bluegill, bullhead, and green sunfish) off the tips of wing dikes and rock structures. Evening or after dark is best. Blue Catfish - Fair: Use fresh chunks of cut bait fished just off the bottom in or near the current. Channel Catfish - Fair: Use chicken livers, worms, cut bait and dip baits along the wing dikes, brush piles and the rock revetment.
Missouri River (Little Sioux to Council Bluffs)
Flathead Catfish - Fair: Use rod and reel and trotlines with live bait (bluegill, bullhead, and green sunfish) off the tips of wing dikes and rock structures. Evening or after dark is best. Blue Catfish - Good: Use fresh chunks of cut bait fished just off the bottom in or near the current. Channel Catfish - Fair: Use chicken livers, worms, cut bait and dip baits along the wing dikes, brush piles and the rock revetment.
Missouri River (Council Bluffs to Missouri State Line)
Flathead Catfish - Fair: Use rod and reel and trotlines with live bait (bluegill, bullhead, and green sunfish) off the tips of wing dikes and rock structures. Evening or after dark is best. Blue Catfish - Good: Use fresh chunks of cut bait fished just off the bottom in or near the current. Channel Catfish - Fair: Use chicken livers, worms, cut bait and dip baits along the wing dikes, brush piles and the rock revetment.
The Missouri River at Decatur,
Nebraska is at 21.93 ft. /34,000 cfs./57 degrees Fahrenheit (water temperature
is up 1 degree from last week). The Missouri River dropped 1.57 feet from last
week. Fishing has been fair overall and the weather has been desirable to go
fishing on the Missouri River.
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