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Top Iowa Fishing Spots for the Week of December 14.
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.
Black Hawk Lake
Most areas around shore are covered with thin ice.
There has been limited fishing activity this last
week. Area lakes are partially or completely ice covered. Ice is currently not
safe for travel. More reports will be available when ice fishing begins. For more information, contact the Black Hawk District office at 712-657-2638.
Clear
Lake
The lake is about 80 percent ice covered. Ice thickness varies
from 3 to 4 inches near shore to areas of open water. Most of the lake is
unsafe to fish at this time. Use extreme caution and check thickness as you go if
you decide to venture out.
For information on the lakes and rivers in the north central area, contact the Clear Lake Fish and Wildlife office at 641-357-3517.
Center
Lake
Black Crappie - Slow: Good numbers of 10 inch and larger fish available for
the upcoming ice fishing season. Fish the basin at dusk for the best action. Bluegill
- Slow: Good numbers of angler acceptable size (6 - 7.9 inch) fish; persistence
and patience will be rewarded with larger fish.
East
Okoboji Lake
North end of the lake is ice covered, south of Stony Point has
poor ice conditions. No ice fishing activity has been reported.
Five
Island Lake
Walleye - Slow: Ice anglers will harvest good numbers of angler acceptable
size and larger fish. Channel Catfish - Slow: Persistent anglers will
find schooled up channel catfish which will provide plenty of pole bending
action during the ice fishing season. Yellow Bass - Slow:
Ice anglers will continue to harvest large numbers of fish during the upcoming
ice season with anglers noting the increase of larger size fish size approaching 8 inches. Black
Crappie - Slow: Ice anglers will note the influx of crappie
approaching 9 inches; persistence and
patience will be rewarded with larger fish.
Lost
Island Lake
Walleye - Slow: Ice anglers will continue to enjoy the upswing in the
walleye fishery experienced during the 2017 open water season. Black Crappie
- Slow: 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 - Slow: Good numbers of large black crappie available for the
upcoming ice fishing season. Fish the north shore or the flat off the island
for the best action. Bluegill - Slow: Good numbers of 6 -
8.5 inch fish available for the upcoming ice season.
Scharnberg
Pond
Rainbow Trout - Slow: 1500 rainbow trout were released here on Nov. 18th.
Silver
Lake (Palo Alto)
Yellow Perch - Slow: Good numbers of fish approaching 10 inches available
for the upcoming ice fishing season. Walleye - Slow: Recent surveys
show good numbers of angler acceptable size fish available for the upcoming ice
fishing season.
Spirit
Lake
Lake has skimmed over; many open areas still exist on the main
body of the lake. No ice fishing activity observed at the north grade or
anglers bay. Anglers have been ice fishing at Templar Park lagoon.
Upper
Gar Lake
Some ice fishing activity has been observed on the lake; ice
thickness reported at 2 inches off the boat ramp.
West
Okoboji Lake
The lake remains ice free including Little Millers and Little
Emerson bays.
West
Swan Lake S.W.M.A.
Black Crappie - Slow: 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)
Two to three inches of ice on the backwaters. Use caution if going
out on early ice. Check ice depths often, especially in areas with current. Bluegill - Fair: Brave ice anglers are catching
a few fish in 10 feet of water. Use small jigs tipped with a waxworm or spikes.
Black Crappie - Fair: Use bright
colored jigs or small spoons tipped with minnow heads in backwaters.
Decorah District Streams
Second shotgun deer season ends Sunday. Many streams run through
wildlife management areas where hunting is allowed. Wear bright clothing and
make noise when not stalking a trout. Brook Trout - Good: Use a dry fly for insects hatching off the water surface. Use a nymph or
scud dropper for subsurface critters. Brown Trout - Excellent: Use patterns imitating small fish, eggs, and scuds. Light hatches still
occur 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
No motorized
vehicles are allowed on the ice. Aerators are on. Use caution on newly formed ice.
Lake Meyer
Open water in places; about 25 percent open. No anglers this week.
Upper
Iowa River (above Decorah)
We have received no information regarding fishing on this water body this
week.
Upper Iowa River (below Decorah)
We have received no information regarding fishing on this water body this
week.
Volga Lake
Second season shotgun deer ends Sunday. No
anglers out.
Ice angling is just around the corner. Cloudy with temperatures ranging
from the mid 30's to low 20's through the weekend. Ice continues to form on
area lakes. Area streams and rivers are freezing over in places. For current fishing information, please call the Decorah Fish Hatchery at 563-382-8324.
Mississippi River Pool 9
River level is 8.1 feet at Lansing and is expected to remain stable this week.Water clarity is excellent. Water temperature is near 32 degrees. Use caution accessing the ice as shorelines and sloughs still have some
open water. Walleye - Fair: Try slow trolling crankbaits on a 3-way rig or minnow tipped jigs in tailwater areas and side channel rock
structures. Yellow Perch - Fair: Use minnows in about 6-8 feet of water on side channel areas and backwaters vegetation such as marina areas. Smallmouth Bass - No Report: Smallmouth are actively feeding on abundant minnows along the main channel borders. Throw silver inline spinners or minnow imitation crankbaits. Sauger - Fair: Use jig and minnows fished off the bottom in the tailwater areas and deeper side channels. Bluegill - Fair: Anglers are doing lots of sorting for larger bluegill. Use jigs
tipped with waxies in 4-5 feet of water with no current.
Mississippi River Pool 10
Water level is 14.6 feet at Lynxville and is predicted to bump up slightly. Water temperature at the Lock and Dam is 33 degrees. Many backwaters have formed ice, but many areas are variable with high
winds opening up some areas. The Slough at Sny Magill ramp is not iced over
yet. Anglers are catching bluegill on the upper end of Bussey Lake in the cut.
Avoid the lower end of lake as ice is not stable. Park along the south side of
causeway road and walk down from the upper end of Bussey. Walleye - Fair: Try slow trolling crankbaits on a 3-way rig or minnow tipped jigs in the tailwater areas and side channel rock
structures. Black Crappie - No Report: 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 about 6-8 feet of water on side channel areas and
in the backwaters vegetation such as marina areas. Smallmouth Bass - No Report: Smallmouth are actively feeding on abundant minnows along the main channel borders. Throw silver inline spinners or minnow imitation crankbaits. Sauger - Fair: Use jig and minnows fished off the bottom in the tailwater areas and deeper side channels. Bluegill
- Fair: Anglers are doing lots of sorting for larger bluegill. Use jigs tipped with waxies in 4-5 feet of water with no current.
Mississippi River Pool 11
Water level has fallen to 5.6 feet at Guttenberg tail-water and is predicted to rise slightly this week. Water temperature is 32 degrees at the Lock and Dam. Backwaters with no current have formed ice, but many areas of open water
remain. Anglers are picking up some bluegills through the ice at Zollicoffers
at Mud Lake. Avoid walking near the creek area at Zollicoffer. Walleye - Fair: Try slow trolling crankbaits on a 3-way rig or minnow tipped jigs in the tailwater areas and side channel rock structures. Yellow Perch - Fair: Try minnows in about 6-8 feet of water on side channel areas and
in the backwaters vegetation such as marina areas. Smallmouth Bass - No Report: Smallmouth are actively feeding on abundant minnows along the main channel borders. Throw silver inline spinners or minnow imitation crankbaits. Sauger - Fair: Use crankbaits or a jig tipped with minnows fished off
the bottom in the tailwater areas and deeper side channels. Bluegill - Fair: Anglers are doing lots of sorting for larger bluegill. Use jigs tipped with waxies in 4-5 feet of water with no current.
Upper Mississippi River levels have been stable. Look for panfish
to be in the deeper warmer water and out of current. Water temperature is at or
near 32 degrees. Backwaters areas have around 2+ inches of ice, but ice is
still variable in depth and many areas are still unsafe for walking.
Mississippi River Pool 12
Water levels have stabilized and are 5.2 feet at the Dubuque Lock and
Dam and 8 feet at the RR bridge. Water clarity is good.
Water temperature is near 35 degrees in the main channel. The first major ice flows of the season occurred this week. Backwater
are marginally thick for fishing. Heavy winds opened up some previously frozen
areas. Walleye - No Report: This fall was a good season for walleyes on Pool 12. Some
fishing will return if ice flows decrease. Sauger - No Report: This fall was an excellent year for sauger fishing. Lots of
nice sauger were reported. Yellow
Perch - No Report: Yellow perch fishing was strong in the tailwaters and some
should be found ice fishing this winter.
Mississippi River Pool 13
Water levels receded this week and are around 5 feet at
Bellevue Lock and Dam. We may have a slight bump in the water level this upcoming week. Water clarity is good. Water temperature is 35 degrees in the main channel. The first ice flows of the season occurred at Bellevue, but both ramps
remain open for now. Walleye - No Report: Very little fishing this week due to the weather. This fall
was generally good for slot walleyes. Sauger -No Report: Sauger fishing was very good this fall. Lots of nice fish
were reported and fishing pressure was heavy. Yellow Perch - No Report: Yellow perch fishing was very good in the tailwaters
this fall and they should find their way into the backwater lakes.
Mississippi River Pool 14
Water levels receded all week and should remain somewhat steady. Gauge
readings are 4.7 feet at Fulton, 9.4 feet at Camanche and 4.5 feet at
LeClaire. Water clarity is good. Water
temperature is 35 degrees in the main channel. No fishing was reported to us this week.
Mississippi River Pool 15
Water levels receded all week and are 5.1 feet at
Rock Island. Water clarity is good. Water temperature is near 36 degrees in the main channel. No fishing was reported to us this week.
The water is at normal winter lows, but it may come up a bit this week.
The water temperature is around 35 degrees in the main channel and ice is
floating at Dubuque and Bellevue. If you have any angling questions, please contact the Bellevue Fisheries
Station 563-872-4976.
Mississippi River Pool 16
Tailwater stage is 5.53 feet at Lock and Dam 15 in the Quad Cities. Sauger - Slow: Sauger fishing below the dam has been slow. Try fishing with jigs
and minnows or pulling three-way rigs with minnows or stickbaits.
Mississippi River Pool 17
Tailwater stage is 4.37 feet at Lock and Dam 16 in Muscatine. Sauger - Slow: Sauger fishing below the dam has been slow. Try fishing with jigs
and minnows or pulling three-way rigs with minnows or stickbaits.
Mississippi River Pool 18
Tailwater stage is 4.83 feet at Lock and Dam 17 at New Boston. Sauger - Slow: Tailwater fishing has been slow. Vertical jig with minnows or pull three-way rigs with minnows
or stickbaits.
Mississippi River Pool 19
Tailwater stage is 2.56 feet at Lock and Dam 18. Sauger - Slow: Vertical jig with minnows or pull three-way rigs with minnows or stickbaits.
Main channel water temperature is around 33 degrees and water clarity
has been fair. There has been some tailwater fishing for walleyes and saugers, but the bite has been slow. 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. Wednesday the lake was open; Thursday morning it was skimmed over.
Based on the forecast, the lake should have open water this weekend and into next
week.
Lake Macbride
All
sized motors may be operated at no-wake speed. The fish cleaning station is shut down and docks have been removed.
Wednesday the lake was ice free; Thursday morning had skim ice. Based on the
forecast, the lake should have open water over the weekend and in to next week.
Otter
Creek Lake
Skim ice comes and goes with the weather.
Pleasant
Creek Lake
The lake is still 10 feet low from the restoration project. The lake has some skim ice in the coves. The lake should have open water
for at least the next week.
For more information, contact the Lake Macbride Fisheries Station at 319-624-3615.
Lake Miami
Fishing pressure has been low with the colder temperatures. Skim ice is
starting to form around the edges of the lake, but the wind is hindering any
progress. Bluegill - Fair: Use small jigs tipped with waxworms around brush piles. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Use rubber worms and crankbaits around the fishing jetties and brush piles. Target structure along the rip-rapped shorelines.
Lake Sugema
Fishing pressure has been low with the colder temperatures. Skim ice is
starting to form around the edges of the lake, but the wind is hindering any
progress. Walleye - Slow: Use minnows fished under a bobber. Bluegill - Slow: Use small jigs tipped with waxworms around structure along the shorelines and in deeper water. Sorting is needed for larger fish. Largemouth Bass - Slow: Use a rubber worm or jig n pig combo around structure and areas around the jetties.
Lake Wapello
Fishing pressure has been low with the colder temperatures. Skim ice is
starting to form around the edges of the lake, but the wind is hindering any
progress. Largemouth Bass - Slow: Try rubber worms or jig n pig combos around the brush piles. Black Crappie - Slow: Use jigs tipped with live bait around submerged structure. Sorting may be needed for larger fish.
Ottumwa Park Pond South
Trout were stocked in October. Use small tube jigs, small twister tails, in-line spinners, casting spoons and live bait under a bobber. Be prepared for some skim ice around the pond edge.
Rathbun Reservoir
The current lake level is 903.24 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. 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 or jigs tipped with live bait along the rip-rapped shorelines. Walleye - Slow: Try crankbaits or nightcrawlers in areas with
variations in depth.
Red Haw Lake
Fishing pressure has been low with the colder temperatures. Skim ice is
starting to form around the edges of the lake, but the wind is hindering any
progress. Bluegill - Slow: Use small jigs tipped with a waxworm around structure. Largemouth Bass - Slow: Try rubber worms in areas with rip rap or other types of structure.
Surface water temperatures in the Rathbun district lakes are in the 30'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.
Des Moines River (Saylorville to Red Rock)
Walleye - Fair: Anglers fishing below the dams and deep, slow water
on nicer days are still picking up a few walleye in the evenings casting
twister or paddle tail jigs.
More fishing reports will be available
when ice fishing begins. For more information on Central Iowa lakes and rivers, contact Andy Otting or Ben Dodd at 515-432-2823.
Farm Creek Lake
Farm Creek supports quality size bluegills and crappies.
Greenfield Lake
Greenfield Lake has a good fish population. The lake is 3 feet
low.
Lake Anita
Lake Anita will provide good fishing this winter. Find a large
crappie population averaging 9 inches and bluegills up to 9 inches.
Littlefield
Lake
Littlefield has quality size panfish and will be a good ice
fishing destination.
Meadow Lake
Meadow lake bluegills have gained size and body condition after
the mid-summer draw-down in 2016. There is a year class of 10 to 12 inch black
crappie in the lake at this time. Meadow will be a good ice fishing
destination.
Prairie Rose Lake
Expect to catch quality size bluegills again this winter. The
crappies are averaging 9.5 inches and are healthy.
Viking Lake
Viking has a good population of crappies. Black crappies will
average 9 inches and the white crappie are 10 to 12 inches.
There has been no angling activity this week. The extended weather
forecast looks like ice will start to form next week. Many of the
small impoundments in the Cold Springs District have good crappie and bluegill
populations that offer good ice fishing. For more information, call the Cold Springs District Office at 712-769-2587.
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