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Top Iowa Fishing Spots for the Week of October 26.
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 around 50 degrees. Bluegill - Good: 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 10-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 around 50 degrees. 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.
Water temperatures are in the low 50's. For more information, contact the Black Hawk District office at 712-657-2638.
Clear Lake
The water temperature is 57 degrees. The fish cleaning station is closed for the season. Yellow Bass - Slow: Drift a small jig tipped with a piece of
crawler or cut bait in 8- to 10-feet of water. Walleye - Fair: Use a jig and minnow near the rock
reefs. Shore anglers are having success fishing off the jetties and docks after
sunset.
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 around dusk. Black Crappie - Good: Use tube jigs by the docks; decent numbers of
large crappies are being caught.
East
Fork Des Moines (state line to Algona)
Walleye - Good: Fish are very active; cast traditional lures for the best
action.
East Okoboji Lake
Yellow Bass - Excellent: Yellow bass are very active in shallow; use tube
jigs in the evening hours. 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 angler acceptable size channel catfish are prevalent in the lake.
Mill
Creek (Lake)
Black Crappie - Good: Recent surveys show good numbers of large black crappie in the
lake.
Silver
Lake (Dickinson)
Walleye - Good: Fish after dark in waders for the best bite.
Spirit Lake
Walleye - Good: Walleye activity has picked up after dark. Northern
Pike - Good: Fish are being caught in the Anglers Bay
area. Yellow Perch - Good: Lots of good sized perch are being caught, with some measuring up to 12 inches.
West Okoboji Lake
Black Crappie - Excellent: Crappie are very active right outside of the weed lines. Bluegill - Good: Catch angler acceptable bluegill in the bays.
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 continues to drop and water clarity is improving. Use this opportunity to
get out and play before the cold weather sets in. Walleye - Good: Use
a jig tipped with a long piece of worm or minnow in deeper pools and around
brush piles near evening.
Decorah District Streams
This is the final week for catchable stream
stocking. Many fish remain in the streams for anglers to catch through the
winter. Brook and Brown 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: With heavy frost, cold temperatures in the forecast,
and spawning fish, it’s time to change strategies. Start using patterns imitating small fish, eggs, and
scuds. Use small gnats, mayflies, caddisflies hatch on warmer afternoons. 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. Few anglers have been out. Black Crappie - Slow: Troll over rock mounds with a jig tipped with minnow or spinnerbait. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Use
a spinnerbait or jig with a twistertail and a slow retrieve near brush piles
and downed trees. Bluegill - Slow: Try
a small jig tipped with a small piece of nightcrawler or spike.
Lake Meyer
Lake clarity is excellent. Anglers will notice
recent fish habitat improvements in the lake including spawning beds, shoreline
rip-rap, and submersed concrete culverts. Few anglers are out. Bluegill - Slow:
Upper Iowa River (below Decorah)
Few
people have been out. Water levels continue to fall and clarity is improving. Walleye - Fair: Find
walleye in deeper holes. Use a jig tipped with a worm, twister tail 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 - Slow: Slowly troll along the
dam. Use a jig tipped with a minnow in 10- to 12-feet of water.
Chances for rain/snow Friday evening into Saturday
are likely. Temperature highs are mid 40's with lows in the low 30's. Area
streams and rivers are in good condition. For current fishing information, please call the Decorah Fish Hatchery at 563-382-8324.
Brinker
Lake
Black Crappie - Good: Try fishing a crappie minnow under a slip bobber at various.
Cedar River (Nashua to La Porte City)
There have been good reports of anglers catching
walleye, northern pike and smallmouth bass on the Cedar River. The impoundment
above Waverly has been producing good catches of crappie. Target deeper pools
or holes for walleye as they migrate to overwintering areas. Walleye - Good: Use jigs tipped with plastics with or without live bait. Northern
Pike - Good: Cast white bucktail spinner baits. Smallmouth Bass - Good: Try jigs tipped with plastics with or without live
bait or spinner baits. Black Crappie - Good: Use a crappie minnow under a slip bobber at various depths.
Maquoketa River (above Monticello)
Reports of some anglers having success catching
some walleye. Water levels on the Maquoketa River remain
in excellent condition. Walleye - Fair: Try jigs tipped with plastics with or without live
bait.
Shell Rock River (Greene to Shell Rock)
Walleye - Good: Use jigs tipped with plastics with or without live bait. Smallmouth Bass - Good: Try jigs tipped with
plastics with or without live bait or spinner baits.
Wapsipinicon River (Tripoli to Troy Mills)
River levels are starting to fall. Walleye - Fair: Use jigs tipped with plastics with
or without live bait. Smallmouth Bass - Fair:
Try jigs tipped with plastics with or without live bait or spinner baits.
Most interior river water levels remain steady or
are falling. River reports have been best for walleye and northern pike. Trout
streams remain in excellent condition; trout stream stockings end this week,
but streams will provide excellent trout fishing throughout the winter. Call the N.E. Iowa district office at 563-927-3276 for more information.
Mississippi River Pool 12
Water levels have dropped and are 10.4 feet at the
Dubuque Lock and Dam and 12.5 feet at the RR bridge. Water clarity is improving.
Water temperature is near 53 degrees. Freshwater Drum - Excellent: A simple egg sinker
and worm rig works best. White Crappie - Good: 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. They have started to move into the tailwater areas. 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 receded this week and are 11.5 feet at
Bellevue Lock and Dam. The water is expected to drop a foot this upcoming week.
Water clarity is good. Water temperature is 54 degrees in the main channel. The
Bellevue DNR ramp and other small ramps on Pool 13 have minor flooding and
debris on them, but should be good to use later in the week. 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 - Fair: 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 started to drop late this past week and
are expected to recede further this upcoming week. Gauge
readings are 10.7 feet at Fulton, 13.4 feet at Camanche and 7.7 feet at
LeClaire. Water clarity is fair. Water
temperature is 54 degrees in the 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. Black
Crappie - No Report: Expect the crappie bite to pick up yet
this fall.
Mississippi River Pool 15
Water levels have peaked and are receding. Water clarity is getting better and is fair. Water temperature is near 54 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. Walleye - No Report: A decent walleye population exists in Pool 15, but we have
not heard anyone catching many lately.
The water receded slowly all week and is expect
water to drop a foot or more again this upcoming week. The water temperature
has dipped down to the mid 50's. Some ramps have minor flooding or debris on
them, but should become usable again soon. 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 10.8 feet and is falling. Walleye - Slow: Use jigs and minnows or troll crankbaits in Sylvan Slough. A few walleyes are being caught on the wingdams. 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. Bluegill - Fair: Some bluegills are being caught in Sunset marina. Use waxworms
under a bobber. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Try spinnerbaits in the
Andalusia Island complex. White Bass – Fair: Use crankbaits in Sylvan
Slough. Some anglers are also picking up white bass while crappie fishing in
Sunset Marina with minnows.
Mississippi River Pool 17
Tailwater stage at Lock and Dam 16 in Muscatine is 9.76 feet and is falling. The gates are out of the water at
the dam. The ramp at Big Timber (The Breaks) is open. 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 11.14 feet at Lock and Dam 17 above New Boston and is falling.The gates are out of the water at the dam. 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 7.29 feet at Lock and Dam 18 above Burlington and is falling. 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 falling the past few days.
Main channel water temperature is 55 degrees. Water clarity is poor. Tailwater
fishing for walleyes and saugers has been tough with the high water conditions.
Crappies and bluegills are being caught in the backwaters. If you have questions on fishing Pools 16-19, contact the Fairport Fish Hatchery at 563-263-5062.
Big
Hollow Lake
Bluegill
- Good: Fish the cedar trees and brush piles that are in 6
foot of water; no deeper or shallower. Black
Crappie - Good: Most of the crappies are out in the deeper 10- to 12-feet water. Largemouth
Bass - Good: Bass are with the bluegills near the bottom
in 6 feet of water.
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 temperature is down into the mid 50's. Bluegill - Good: Anglers
are catching some really nice bluegills in 4- to 5-feet of water. Look for them around the mounds and rock piles at
the upper end of the lake. Black Crappie - Good: Try down by the dam and along the north side of the
lake down at that end. They seem to be out deeper than the bluegills. 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. Largemouth
Bass - Good: Bass are out hunting the bluegills in 4- to
5-feet of water.
Lake Darling
Water temperature is down
to 57 degrees. Fishing remains good; the weather not so much
according to the forecast. 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
of the Hills
The fall trout release was Oct. 14. Rainbow
Trout - Good: Start out fishing in 3- to 4-feet of water. Work
your way around the lake concentrating on the submersed logs and stumps. 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
Lots of wind the last few days have kept angler
numbers down. 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 this 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.
Cedar
Lake
Bluegill - Good: There are lots of bluegills all the way around the lake. Use
small jigs or worms near the shoreline in the rocky areas. Black Crappie
- Fair: A recent netting survey found decent numbers of both black and white
crappies. Try minnows or tubes/twisters around rock or any brush you can find
in the water.
Coralville Reservoir
The
lake level as of 10/26 is 685.8'. It is predicted to hold
at 685.8' through the end of the month, and then start rising again. It is predicted to reach fall pool of 686.4' on
11/5. Black Crappie - Fair: Use bright jigs or minnows along rock bluffs or over brush piles. White Crappie - Fair: 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 the upper 50's. The fish cleaning station will be shut down by the
weekend and docks will most likely be pulled next week. 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. Move to shallower water as it continues to cool
down. 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 2-to 3-feet of water. Try shallow areas as the water cools. 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)
Trout will be stocked on Friday, Oct. 27th at 11:00 a.m. Catch trout with a variety of methods including small tube jigs, small
twister tails, in-line spinners, casting spoons and live bait under a bobber.
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 - Fair: 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. Some fish will move shallow as the water cools, so try some of these
areas.
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. Try shallow areas as the water continues to cool
down. 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.
Banner
Lake (south)
Rainbow Trout - Excellent: Trout were stocked on Thursday, Oct. 26th. They can be
caught using a variety of methods including small in-line spinners, casting
spoons, panfish tube jigs and twister tail jigs and minnows or waxworms under a
bobber.
Big
Creek Lake
Walleye - Fair: Walleye catches are moving from the shallower upper
end to humps and points in 10- to 20-feet of water in the mid-section of the
lake roughly from the marina down to the Williams Drive boat ramp. Jig with
minnows, troll live bait rigs and cast or troll shad imitating crank 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. 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.
Lake
Petocka
Rainbow Trout - Excellent: Trout will be stocked on Friday, Oct. 27th. They can be
caught using a variety of methods including small in-line spinners, casting
spoons, panfish tube jigs and twister tail jigs and minnows or waxworms under a
bobber.
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 is fair right now. 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 - Fair: 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).
Fall is a good time to target walleyes and panfish.
The weather should stabilize again after this weekend. For more information, call the Cold Springs District Office at 712-769-2587.
Green
Valley Lake
Largemouth
Bass - Fair: Catch largemouth bass up to 20 inches with
jigs or spinnerbaits fished near stake beds and cedar tree brush piles.
Little
River Watershed Lake
Bluegill - Good: Catch bluegill up to 8 inches with small jigs or nightcrawlers fished along cedar tree brush piles or rock piles. Walleye - Fair: Catch walleyes up to 22 inches using jigs tipped with a minnow fished
along the roadbed or rock piles. Black Crappie - Fair: Catch crappie up to 11 inches with jigs or minnows fished near
cedar tree brush piles or rock piles.
Summit
Lake
Largemouth Bass - Fair: Catch largemouth bass
up to 15 inches using spinnerbaits fished along the HWY 25 bridge or rocky shoreline areas. Black
Crappie - Fair: Catch crappie up to 10 inches with minnows
or small jigs under a bobber fished near cedar tree brush piles.
Twelve
Mile Creek Lake
Largemouth
Bass - Fair: Catch largemouth bass up to 20 inches with crankbaits fished along rocky shoreline areas or
rock piles. Yellow Perch - Fair: Catch yellow perch up to 9 inches with jigs
tipped with a nightcrawler fished along main creek channels, weed edges, or in the back of bays.
Water temperature in Mount Ayr district lakes is in
the mid to upper 50'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 - Slow: 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 - Slow: Use fresh chunks of cut bait fished just off the bottom in or near the current. Channel Catfish - Slow: 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 - Slow: 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 - Slow: Use fresh chunks of cut bait fished just off the bottom in or near the current. Channel Catfish - Slow: 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 - Slow: 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 - Slow: Use fresh chunks of cut bait fished just off the bottom in or near the current. Channel Catfish - Slow: 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 22.60 ft. /36,600 cfs./51
degrees Fahrenheit (water temperature has dropped 6 degrees from last week).
The Missouri River is up .67 ft from last week. Fishing has been slow with few
anglers out with the windy and colder weather. Water temperatures will continue
to drop with the upcoming colder temperatures.
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