|
Top Iowa Fishing Spots for the Week of November 16.
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.
Bacon
Creek Lake
Rainbow Trout - Fair: About 1500 rainbow trout averaging 11 inches were stocked on Nov. 1.
Use small tube and twister jigs, in-line spinners, casting spoons, and live
minnows or crawlers under a bobber.
Black Hawk Lake
Water
temperatures are around 38 degrees. Courtesy docks at Ice House boat ramp and 30-Acres
boat ramp have been removed for the winter. Fishing activity has slowed with the colder
weather. Bluegill - Fair: 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. Largemouth
Bass - Fair: Use topwater lures, twisters, or live bait
to catch largemouth bass just about anywhere along the shoreline. Black Crappie - Fair: Try a crawler or minnow on a jig fished below a bobber off the
floating fishing pier in Town Bay.
Little
Sioux River (Linn Grove to Correctionville)
Walleye - Fair: Use live bait, creek chubs, and plastics in the deeper pools; areas
below riffles, on the outside of a bend, or below the dams are good areas to
target walleyes. Northern Pike - Fair: A few are being picked up with
red/white spoons fished below dams and riffles.
Moorland
Pond
Rainbow Trout - Fair: About 1500 rainbow trout were stocked on Nov. 2. Use small tube and twister jigs, in-line
spinners, casting spoons, and live minnows or crawlers under a bobber.
Storm Lake (including Little Storm Lake)
Surface water temperatures are in the upper 30's. Fishing activity has slowed with the onset of colder weather. Walleye - Fair:Use twisters,
live bait and plastics that mimic a shad. Most action has been from shore. White Bass - Fair: Use crankbaits, twisters or live bait fished from shore.
Water temperatures are around 40 degrees. Fishing activity on area lakes has slowed with
the onset of colder temperatures, but walleye fishing in rivers has been
fair to good. For more information, contact the Black Hawk District office at 712-657-2638.
Blue
Pit
There will be an Urban Trout Stocking here on
Wednesday, Nov. 22nd. 1,500 Rainbow trout will be stocked at approximately 11
a.m. You need a 2017 fishing license
(age 16 and older) and trout stamp to fish for trout.
Clear Lake
The water temperature are in the low 30's.There has been very little angling activity this week. All courtesy docks at the boat ramps have been
removed for the season.
Rice Lake
Walleye - Fair. Yellow Perch - Slow:
Silver Lake (Worth)
Yellow Perch – Slow.
For information in the north central area, contact the Clear Lake Fish and Wildlife office at 641-357-3517.
Center
Lake
Black Crappie - No Report: Good numbers of fish 10 inches and larger are available for
the upcoming ice fishing season. Fish the basin at dusk for the best action. Bluegill
- No Report: Good numbers of angler acceptable size (6.0 - 7.9 inch) fish; persistence
and patience will be rewarded with larger fish.
East
Okoboji Lake
Yellow Bass - No Report: Ice anglers will continue to harvest good numbers of yellow
bass during the upcoming ice season; good numbers of fish approaching 10 inches
with the occasional larger fish.
Five
Island Lake
Walleye - No Report: Ice anglers will harvest good numbers of angler acceptable
size and larger fish. Channel Catfish - No Report: Persistent anglers will
find schooled up channel catfish which will provide plenty of pole bending
action during the 2017/2018 ice fishing season. Yellow Bass - No Report:
Ice anglers will continue to harvest large numbers of fish during the upcoming
ice season with anglers noting the increase in size of this species.
Lost
Island Lake
Walleye - No Report: Ice anglers will continue to enjoy the upswing in the
walleye fishery experienced during the 2017 open water season. Black Crappie
- No Report: Ice anglers fishing for panfish should see an upswing to the
fishery. Fish the deeper rock piles on the west side of the lake.
Mill
Creek (Lake)
Black Crappie - No Report: Good numbers of large black crappie are available for the
upcoming ice fishing season. Fish the north shore or the flat off the island
for the best action. Bluegill - No Report: Good numbers of fish 6.0 -
8.5 inch fish are available for the upcoming ice season.
Scharnberg
Pond
Rainbow Trout - No Report: Rainbow trout will be released here on Nov. 18th at noon.
Silver
Lake (Dickinson)
Yellow Perch - No Report: Good numbers of fish approaching 10 inches are available
for the upcoming ice fishing season. Walleye - No Report: Recent surveys
show good numbers of angler acceptable size fish available for the upcoming ice
fishing season.
Spirit
Lake
Walleye - No Report: Ice anglers will continue to harvest good numbers of fish
below the slot. Yellow Perch - No Report: Persistent ice anglers will
harvest good numbers of large yellow perch during the upcoming ice season.
West
Okoboji Lake
Bluegill - No Report: Ice anglers will continue to catch good numbers of fish
during the upcoming ice season; fish Little Emerson and Little Millers bay when
ice conditions are safe for the best early season action.
West
Swan Lake S.W.M.A.
Black Crappie - No Report: Recent surveys show good numbers of crappie available for
the upcoming ice season.
For more information throughout the week, contact the Spirit Lake Fish Hatchery at 712-336-1840.
Cedar River (above Nashua)
Stable water levels and clear water reported for the
Cedar River. 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. Northern
Pike - Good: Use dead chubs fished under a bobber or
spoons.
Decorah District Streams
Brook and Brown Trout spawning season is about over.
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 cold temperatures in the forecast and spawning fish, it’s time to change strategies. Use patterns imitating small fish, eggs, and
scuds. Small gnats, mayflies, caddisflies hatch on warmer
afternoons. Rainbow Trout - Good: Drift a feathered spinner or
a hook tipped with worm along an undercut bank. Always leave gates and fences
as you find them.
Lake Hendricks
Few anglers have been out.
Lake Meyer
Water temperatures are dropping and few anglers are
out.
Upper Iowa River (below Decorah)
Water levels are stable and clarity is excellent. Walleye - Good: 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.
Temperatures will range from the mid 40's to low
20's through the weekend. Skim ice is beginning to show up in the mornings. Area
streams and rivers are in excellent condition and fishing well. For current fishing information, please call the Decorah Fish Hatchery at 563-382-8324.
Brinker
Lake
Black Crappie - Fair: Use a live minnow about four feet below a slip bobber.
Casey
Lake (aka Hickory Hills Lake)
Largemouth
Bass - Good: Cast and retrieve shallow running
crankbaits.
Cedar River (Nashua to La Porte City)
There have been good to excellent reports of anglers catching
walleye, northern pike (particularly Bremer County) and smallmouth bass on the Cedar River. Target deeper pools
or holes for walleye as they migrate to overwintering areas. Walleye - Good: Use jigs tipped with plastics tipped with a minnow. Northern
Pike - Fair: Cast white bucktail spinner baits. Smallmouth Bass - Fair: Try jigs tipped with plastics with or without live
bait or spinner baits.
Harold
Getty Lake
Black Crappie - Fair: Try a live minnow about four feet below a slip bobber.
Maquoketa River (above Monticello)
Reports of some anglers having success catching
some walleye. Water levels on the Maquoketa River remain
in excellent condition. Concentrate on the deeper holes where walleye gather
to overwinter. Walleye - Fair: Try jigs tipped with plastics with or without live
bait.
North
Prairie Lake
Anglers are doing well in catching trout in North Prairie Lake from the
recent stocking. Rainbow Trout - Good: Cast lures or spinner baits that
are flashy in color to attract a good trout bite.
Shell Rock River (Greene to Shell Rock)
Concentrate on the deeper holes where walleye gather
to overwinter. Walleye - Good: 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.
Wapsipinicon River (Tripoli to Troy Mills)
Reports have been good for walleye and smallmouth
bass on the Wapsipinicon River as river levels continue to fall. Concentrate on the deeper holes where walleye gather
to overwinter. 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.
Interior river water levels remain excellent. River
reports have been best for walleye, smallmouth bass and northern pike. Trout streams remain in excellent condition; trout
stream stockings are done for the year 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 9
River level at Lansing has fallen to 8.3 feet and is expected to remain stable this week.Water clarity is excellent. Water temperature is near 38 degrees. Backwater areas are forming skim ice, but it is not safe. Walleye - Slow: Try slow trolling crankbaits or jigging; walleye are moving into tailwater areas. Black Crappie - Fair: Crappies are in backwaters just off side channels with slight
current. Jig a crappie minnow in the stumps and fallen tree tops. Yellow
Perch - Fair: Use minnows in backwater areas and shallows with some
vegetation such as marina areas. Smallmouth Bass - Excellent: Smallmouth
are actively feeding on abundant minnows along the main channel borders. Throw
silver inline spinners or minnow imitation crankbaits. Sauger - Fair: Sauger are biting on jig and minnows fished off the bottom in
the tailwater areas and deeper side channels.
Mississippi River Pool 10
Water level at Lynxville is down almost a foot this week at 16.4 feet and is
expected to remain stable. Water temperature at the Lock and Dam has dropped to
38 degrees. Backwater areas are forming skim ice, but it is not safe. Walleye - Slow: Try slow trolling crankbaits or jigging; walleye
are moving into tailwater areas. Black Crappie - Fair: Crappies are in backwaters just off side channels with slight
current. Jig a crappie minnow in the stumps and fallen tree tops. Yellow
Perch - Fair: Try minnows in backwater areas and shallows with some vegetation
such as marina areas. Smallmouth Bass - Excellent: Smallmouth are
actively feeding on abundant minnows along the main channel borders. Throw
silver inline spinners or minnow imitation crankbaits. Sauger - Fair: Sauger are biting on jig and minnows fished off the bottom in the tailwater areas and deeper side channels.
Mississippi River Pool 11
Water level has fallen to 7.9 feet at
Guttenberg tail-water with levels remaining steady this week. Water temperature has fallen to 37 degrees at the Lock and Dam with excellent water clarity. Backwater areas are forming skim ice, but it is not safe. Walleye - Slow: Try slow trolling crankbaits or jigging;
walleye are moving into tailwater areas. Black Crappie - Fair: Crappies are in backwaters just off side channels with slight current. Jig a crappie minnow in the stumps and fallen tree tops. Yellow Perch - Fair: Try minnows in backwater areas and shallows with some vegetation such as marina areas. Smallmouth Bass - Excellent: Smallmouth are actively feeding on abundant minnows along the main channel borders. Throw silver inline spinners or minnow imitation crankbaits. Sauger - Fair: Sauger are biting on jig and minnows fished off the bottom in
the tailwater areas and deeper side channels.
Upper Mississippi River water levels are stabilizing and water clarity is
excellent. Fish have moved to their overwintering areas. Fish will react to a slower presentation or switch to live bait with the
water temps dipping into the upper 30's. Ice is still not thick enough to walk
on.
Mississippi River Pool 12
Water levels have dropped and are 7.6 feet at the
Dubuque Lock and Dam and 10.1 feet at the RR bridge. The water will continue to recede slowly. Water clarity is good.
Water temperature is near 38 degrees in the main channel. Black
Crappie - Good: Fall is the best time of the year to fish
crappies on the Mississippi River. Look for log piles in deeper sloughs and in
backwater lakes. Walleye - Good: Most walleyes are now coming from the tailwater
areas. Catch bigger fish with crankbaits. Bluegill - Fair: Bluegills are in their backwater winter homes in
places away from current. Largemouth
Bass - Fair: Bass
are on the wood in deeper sloughs and in backwater areas. Yellow
Perch - Fair: Find yellow perch in backwater areas especially in
what is left of the lily pads. Most
anglers use worms. Often perch are caught by folks fishing for bluegills or
crappies. Sauger - Good: Lots of tailwater angling going on. Most anglers are using some version of a
weight and minnow rig to catch tailwater saugers.
Mississippi River Pool 13
Water levels receded this week and are at 8.4 feet at
Bellevue Lock and Dam. The water is expected to drop slightly this upcoming week.
Water clarity is good. Water temperature is 39 degrees in the main channel. Walleye - Good: Walleyes are being found in tailwater areas by
anglers using crankbaits. Bluegill - Slow: Bluegills are in their backwater winter homes in
places away from current. Largemouth
Bass - Good: Most bass are now in backwaters away from any
current. Black Crappie - Good: Backwater wood is the place for crappies. Yellow Perch - Fair: The bite in the tailwater may have finally
slowed some, but most yellow perch will move to backwater locations. Sauger - Good: Anglers are using some version weight/minnow rig for best sauger
catches in the tailwaters.
Mississippi River Pool 14
Water levels receded all week and will continue to
drop. Gauge
readings are 7.9 feet at Fulton, 11.3 feet at Camanche and 6 feet at
LeClaire. Water clarity is good. Water
temperature is 41 degrees in the main channel. Walleye - Good: Some
nice walleyes have been reported from Pool 14 all year. Most walleyes are coming out of the tailwaters
on crank baits. Bluegill
- Slow: Bluegills are in their backwater homes in places
like Beaver Island, Rock Creek and Cattail Slough. Black
Crappie - No Report: Crappie populations look good and some should be
biting in the backwater areas. Yellow
Perch - Good: A surprising number of yellow perch are
found in Pool 14 recently. Some can be
caught in the tailwater areas in 10 to 15 feet of water. Other perch are being
caught in backwater areas by bluegill and crappie anglers.
Mississippi River Pool 15
Water levels receded all week and are 8 feet at
Rock Island. Water clarity is good. Water temperature is near 41 degrees in the main channel. Walleye - No Report: Tailwater angling for walleye and sauger has started in earnest since the water levels have receded in the past weeks.
The water continues to recede and is expect water to
drop a bit more this upcoming week. The water temperature has dipped to the low
40's upper 30's. 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 8.03 feet and has been fairly steady the past few days. Sauger - Slow: Try vertical jigging with minnows or pulling
three-way rigs with minnows or stickbaits in Sylvan Slough or below the dam. White Crappie - No Report: Use jigs and minnows or minnows under a bobber in the backwaters 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 6.57 feet and has been fairly steady. White Crappie - No Report: Use jigs and minnows or minnows under a bobber around brush piles in the backwaters at Big Timber. Walleye - Good: Some walleyes were caught below the dam at Muscatine this
past weekend. Sauger - Good: Some saugers were caught below the dam this
past weekend. Use jigs and minnows or pull three-way rigs with
minnows or stick baits.
Mississippi River Pool 18
Tailwater stage is 7.70 feet at Lock and Dam 17 above New Boston and has been fairly steady. White Crappie - No Report: Use jigs and minnows or minnows under a bobber in the backwaters around brush piles. Sauger - Slow:Vertical jig with minnows or pull three-way rigs with minnows
or stick baits.
Mississippi River Pool 19
Tailwater stage is 4.49 feet at Lock and Dam 18 above Burlington and has been fairly steady the past few days. White Crappie - No Report: Use jigs and minnows or minnows under a bobber in backwaters around brush piles. Sauger - Slow: Vertical jig with minnows or pull three-way rigs with minnows or stick baits.
Tailwater stages have been fairly steady this past
week. Main channel water temperature is around 40 degrees and water clarity has
been good. There has been some tailwater fishing for walleyes and saugers. If you have questions on fishing Pools 16-19, contact the Fairport Fish Hatchery at 563-263-5062.
Coralville Reservoir
The
lake level as is 686.4', which is fall pool. Water temperatures are in the low 40's.
Black Crappie - Slow: Use bright jigs or minnows along rock bluffs or over brush piles. White Crappie - Slow: Try bright jigs or minnows along rock bluffs or over brush piles.
Diamond
Lake
The dock stays in year round, but the fish cleaning
station is closed. Black
Crappie –
Fair: Jig over/around brush piles. Most fish are 8- to 9-inches.
Iowa
River (Marshalltown to Coralville Lake)
Walleye - Fair: Jigs have been producing fish in Marshall and Tama Counties.
Lake Macbride
All
sized motors may be operated at no-wake speed. Water temperatures this week were in the low 40's. The fish cleaning station is shut down and docks have been removed. Walleye - Fair: Try jigging in 15- to 25-feet of water during the day, and fish windblown rocky banks 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 deeper brush to catch 10- to 12-inch crappie.
Otter
Creek Lake
The fish cleaning station is closed and the docks have been pulled. There
has been no fishing activity on the lake this week.
Pleasant
Creek Lake
The lake is still 10 feet low from the restoration project. The main ramp is
still useable, but very shallow. Four wheel drive vehicles are strongly
recommended. Water temperatures are in the low 40's.
The fish cleaning station is closed. Walleye - Fair: Try jigging on the
dam and over the roadbeds. Most fish are 13- to 16-inches.
Prairie
Park Fishery
2000 trout will be stocked here this Friday, Nov. 17 at 10 am. You must
have a fishing license and trout stamp to fish for or possess trout.
Sand
Lake
You must have a fishing license and trout stamp to fish for or possess trout. Rainbow Trout - Fair: Worms work best.
Terry
Trueblood Lake
2000 trout will be stocked here this Friday, Nov. 17
at 11 am. You must have a fishing license and trout stamp to fish for or possess trout.
For more information, contact the Lake Macbride Fisheries Station at 319-624-3615.
Lake
Miami
Water temperatures are dropping and few anglers have
been out. Bluegill - Fair: Use small jigs tipped with live bait around brush piles.Try also drifting small jigs in the lower end of the
lake. Largemouth
Bass - Fair: Use rubber worms and crankbaits around the fishing jetties and
brush piles. Target structure along the shorelines with rip-rap.
Lake Sugema
Water temperatures are dropping and few anglers have
been out. Black Crappie - Slow: Try jigs tipped with live bait in the flooded timber or shallow areas with structure. Sorting is needed for larger fish. Walleye - Slow: Use nightcrawlers or a minnow and bobber along areas with rip-rapped shorelines. Bluegill - Slow: Use a small jig tipped with live bait around structure along the shorelines. Sorting is needed for larger fish. Largemouth
Bass - Slow: Try spinnerbaits along the shorelines and around the jetties. Use a rubber worm or jig n pig combo among the vegetated areas and around deep structure.
Lake Wapello
Water temperatures are dropping and few anglers have
been out. Largemouth Bass - Slow: Try spinnerbaits or jig n pig combos around the brush piles. Slow down the presentation with the cooler water. Black Crappie - Slow: 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 South
Trout were stocked on Oct. 27th. Use small tube jigs, small
twister tails, in-line spinners, casting spoons and live bait under a bobber.
Rathbun Reservoir
The current lake level is 903.53 msl. The water temperature is 45 degrees. 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. All docks and the fish cleaning stations have been
removed for the year. The ramps at the Rathbun marina are closed for the
season. White Crappie
- Slow: Use jigs around structure and along the rip-rapped shorelines. Channel Catfish - Slow: Use nightcrawlers or cut bait. Walleye - Slow: Troll crankbaits that mimic shad in areas with a variation in depths. Try also trolling nightcrawler rigs. Some fish will start to move shallow with the cooler temperatures.
Red Haw Lake
Water temperatures are dropping and fishing pressure
has dropped with few anglers out. Bluegill - Slow: Use small jigs tipped with a chunk of nightcrawler along the shoreline and around structure. Largemouth
Bass - Slow: 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 and slow down the presentation. Channel
Catfish - Slow: Use nightcrawlers or chicken liver around the
fishing jetties.
Surface water temperatures in the Rathbun district
lakes are in the low to mid 40's. The district includes Mahaska, Lucas, Wayne,
Monroe, Appanoose, Wapello, Davis and Van Buren counties.Contact the Rathbun Fish Hatchery at 641-647-2406 with questions about
fishing in south central Iowa.
Big
Lake (Including Gilbert's Pond)
1000 rainbow trout were stocked on Oct. 26th. Fishing for trout has been fair on the warmer fall days. Rainbow Trout - Fair: Use white twister
tails or small jigs with spinners.
Cold Springs District Farm Ponds
Pond fishing is fair right now. Fall is a good time to access the abundant private
ponds in southern Iowa. The aquatic plants have died back and water clarity is
good this time of year.
Always get permission to fish privately owned farm ponds.
Farm
Creek Lake
Find quality sized bluegill and black crappies in this Pottawattamie
County lake accessible from boat or shore. Bluegill - Fair: Use a small
jig tipped with a crawler or power bait in and around the old creek channel for
bluegills up to 9 inches. Black Crappie - Fair: Try small jigs or
minnows under a bobber in and around the old creek channel for 10 inch black
crappies.
Greenfield Lake
Greenfield Lake has a good all-around fish population including largemouth
bass, bluegill, black crappie, channel catfish, and walleyes. The lake is 3 feet below crest crowding the fish population. Black Crappie - Slow: Fish any tree pile or along the creek channel to
find fish up to 12 inches. Bluegill - Slow: Drift crawlers or jigs tipped with crawler to catch bluegills up to 8.5 inches.
Lake Anita
Lake Anita will provide good fishing this fall and winter. Find a large crappie population averaging 9 inches and bluegills up to 9.5 inches. Fish in and around the old creek channel out from
the campground. Bluegill - Fair: Catch bluegills up to 9.5 inches with small jigs tipped with power bait or nightcrawlers on
the bottom in 12- to 14-feet of water. Try the same areas that anglers target when ice
fishing. Black Crappie - Fair: Slowly troll or drift small jigs tipped with power bait.
Fish are 9 inches. Look for schools of crappie suspended over the old
creek channel. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Find bass around underwater reefs and along the road beds. 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 or deeper water out from the dam for bluegills up to 9 inches. Largemouth
Bass - Fair: Fish around any of the numerous brush piles
in the lake or the face of the dam.
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 - Slow: Slow troll crawlers or jigs tipped with crawler near the bottom to find bluegills up to 9
inches. Largemouth Bass - Fair: There are many 12 inch bass in the lake that will provide fun catch and release fishing. Black Crappie - Slow: Vertical jig tree piles or slow troll the deeper water off the face of the dam to catch black crappie averaging 9.5 inches.
Viking Lake
The water clarity this fall
is excellent. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Cast the shoreline, rock reefs and brush piles to catch
largemouth of all sizes. Black Crappie - Fair: Vertical jig deeper brush piles for black crappie up
to 10 inches. Anglers, at times, are finding crappies suspended out
from the dam. White
Crappie - Slow: The white crappie in Viking are fewer in
number, but larger fish (10- to 13-inches).
Water temperatures are in the low 40's. There has
been very little angling activity. Fall is a good time to target bluegills and crappies. Use small jigs and lite tackle in the same spots you plan to ice fish. Many of the small impoundments have good crappie and
bluegill populations heading into winter. For more information, call the Cold Springs District Office at 712-769-2587.
Missouri River (Sioux City to Little Sioux)
Flathead Catfish - Slow: Use fresh cut bait or live bait (bluegill, bullhead, and green sunfish) off the tips of wing dikes and rock structures and in deeper holes. Blue Catfish - Slow: Use fresh chunks of cut bait fished just off the bottom in or near the current. Channel Catfish - Slow: Use worms or cut bait in deeper holes. Sauger - Fair: A few sauger have been caught on jigs tipped with minnows.
Missouri River (Little Sioux to Council Bluffs)
Flathead Catfish - Slow: Use fresh cut bait or live bait (bluegill, bullhead, and green sunfish) off the tips of wing dikes and rock structures and in deeper holes. Blue Catfish - Slow: Use fresh chunks of cut bait fished just off the bottom in or near the current. Channel Catfish - Slow: Use worms or cut bait in deeper holes. Sauger - Fair: A few sauger have been caught on jigs tipped with minnows.
Missouri River (Council Bluffs to Missouri State Line)
Flathead Catfish - Slow: Use fresh cut bait or live bait (bluegill, bullhead, and green sunfish) off the tips of wing dikes and rock structures and in deeper holes. Blue Catfish - Slow: Use fresh chunks of cut bait fished just off the bottom in or near the current. Channel Catfish - Slow: Use worms or cut bait in deeper holes. Sauger - Fair: A few sauger have been caught on jigs tipped with minnows.
The Missouri River at Decatur, Nebraska is at 21.29 ft. /32,000 cfs./42
degrees Fahrenheit (water temperature is down 2 degrees from last week). The
Missouri River dropped .85 feet from last week. Fishing has been fair to slow
overall. Fishing for most catfish species has slowed down and fewer anglers are out
with the colder weather.
|
