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Top Iowa Fishing Spots for the Week of March 8.
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.
The schedule is set - it's time to plan your northeast Iowa trout fishing trips. Get the most out of your trip with information
about each stream's location, qualities, and other fun facts on the trout
streams webpage.
Black
Hawk Lake
Town Bay is open. Any remaining ice on the lake is unsafe for travel. More
reports will be available as open water fishing begins.
Brushy
Creek Lake
Any remaining ice is unsafe for travel. More reports will be available as
we receive them.
Storm
Lake (including Little Storm Lake)
Ice is pulling away from many access points along shore. There are large
areas of open water. Travel on any remaining ice is not recommended. Immediately
after ice out is a good time to target channel catfish along shore using cut
bait.
Remaining ice in western Iowa is unsuitable for ice
fishing. For more information, contact the Black Hawk District office at 712-657-2638.
Clear
Lake
Ice thickness is 15-17 inches. Avoid areas near the aerators. Vehicle traffic is not recommended. Yellow Bass - Good: The bite has picked up. Use light tackle and be
mobile to stay on fish. The best bite is still at early morning and late afternoon. Walleye – Fair: Try jigging spoons and minnow heads. The best bite is still at early morning and the last hour of light. Yellow Perch - Fair.
Crystal
Lake
Ice thickness is 14-17 inches. Avoid areas near the aerators. Vehicle traffic is not recommended. Black Crappie - Slow: Use a small jig tipped with spikes or a minnow head near the edge of the dredge cut. Bluegill - Good: Try a
small jig tipped with spikes near the edge of the dredge cut.
Rice
Lake
Ice thickness is 15-18 inches. Avoid areas near the aerators. Vehicle traffic is not recommended. Walleye - Slow. Yellow Perch - Slow.
Silver
Lake (Worth)
Ice thickness is 15-18 inches. Avoid areas near the aerators. Vehicle traffic is not recommended.
For information on the lakes and rivers in the north central area, contact the Clear Lake Fish and Wildlife office at 641-357-3517.
East
Okoboji Lake
Yellow
Bass
- Good: Yellow bass action continues; best early morning with jigs tipped with wigglers. Fish
traditional sites and move often to find active fish.
Five
Island Lake
Walleye - Fair: Ice anglers have had good pole bending activity
with numbers of fish harvested. Yellow
Bass - Good: Action has picked up, good numbers of fish have been harvested; fish the dredge cuts
for the best action. Black Crappie - Good: Incidental catches by yellow bass anglers reflect bonus
numbers in the creel.
Ingham
Lake
Use caution; thin ice conditions around the aeration system.
Lost
Island Lake
Yellow
Bass - Good: Good numbers of fish are being caught; fish the Stoney Point
area for the best action. Walleye -
Fair: Numbers of fish are reported from Lost Island Lake; change tactics with the changing weather conditions. Yellow
Perch - Fair: Some yellow perch and black crappie are being caught by
anglers fishing for yellow bass.
Silver
Lake (Dickinson)
Use caution; thin ice conditions around the aeration system.
Silver
Lake (Palo Alto)
Walleye - Fair: Ice
anglers report catching walleye; best bite is during late day. Yellow
Perch - Fair: Fishing action has been very variable; ice anglers are catching nice
size perch.
Spirit
Lake
Limited access to the lake. Yellow
Perch - Fair: Reports of yellow perch action on the south east end of the lake. Black Crappie - Fair: Report
of crappie and bluegill from the Templar Park area.
Trumbull
Lake
Yellow
Perch - Good: Persistent and patient anglers will be rewarded with good
numbers of yellow perch 12 inches and larger in the creel. Northern
Pike
- Good: Action has picked up; anglers are harvesting northern pike from the lake.
West
Okoboji Lake
Bluegill - Good: Bluegills continue to be fussy; persistence and patience will be rewarded
with good numbers of fish caught. Reports of improving water clarity. Northern
Pike - Good: Good numbers of fish up to 36 inches are being caught. Tip-up
action will improve in the next few weeks. Yellow
Perch - Fair: Report of yellow perch being caught from
the deep water areas and some fish reported from the north end.
For more information throughout the week, contact the Spirit Lake Fish Hatchery at 712-336-1840.
Cedar River (above Nashua)
Ice conditions in the impoundments are unsafe,
especially with fluctuating water levels. Water clarity is improving. Walleye -
Slow: Use a worm hooked in a worm harness fished below the dams.
Decorah District Streams
Many streams remain slightly off color. Slack water in deeper holes may freeze, but should melt by afternoon With a
slower bite, use bigger flashier flies and lures. Parking lots on wildlife management areas are not plowed. Use care when
parking along the road. Brook Trout - Fair: Midges hatch all season. Try wholly buggers or a flashy fly for a hungry brookie. Brown Trout - Brown Trout are aggressive with melt water or
run-off inputs. Increasing numbers of insects are hatching on sunny afternoons. Use small midge or caddis patterns. With off color water, try a
flashy spinner or fly. Rainbow Trout - Fair: Drift a feathered spinner, crankbait or
a hook tipped with worm along an undercut bank.
Lake Hendricks
Ice thickness is at least 12 inches. Few anglers are out. Open water around the aerator. No motorized vehicles are allowed on the ice. Black Crappie - Slow:
Move around to find fish. Use a small jig tipped with a minnow head. Bluegill - Slow: Use small jigs
tipped with waxworms or spikes around structure.
Lake Meyer
Ice thickness is about 12 inches.Water clarity is improving. Early morning bite is
best. When the bite slows, move to a different spot. Few anglers have been
out. Bluegill - Slow: Use small jigs tipped with spikes or waxworms. Black Crappie
- Slow: Key in to brush and dangle a small jig about a foot or two above the
stems.
Volga Lake
Ice thickness is 12+ inches. Early and late bite is best. Culverts were placed on the ice for habitat; avoid this area as ice may not be safe. Black
Crappie - Slow: Drop your lure about 3 feet above
structure and watch them swim up to the bait. Use small teardrop shaped jigs tipped with spikes
or waxworms. Bluegill - Slow: Fish around
structure in 14-16 feet water about a foot off the bottom.
Temperatures warm to the upper 30s through the weekend. Possibility of rain/snow Saturday night into Sunday.
River and stream clarity is improving.For current fishing information, please call the Decorah Fish Hatchery at 563-382-8324.
Cedar
River (Nashua to La Porte City)
Reports of a few walleye being caught on the Cedar
River in Black Hawk and Bremer Counties. Walleye – Fair: Cast and retrieve a jig and plastic tipped with a minnow; concentrate on
areas of deeper open water.
Manchester
District Streams
Trout Streams are in good condition. Continue to use winter tactics including
streamers, jigs, and crankbaits. Brown Trout - Good: Browns can be
easier to catch on days where the water color is stained. Rainbow Trout – Slow. Brook
Trout – Slow.
Maquoketa
River (above Monticello)
There have been no reports on the Maquoketa River, but levels remain good
for walleye angling opportunities. Walleye - No Report: Cast and
retrieve a jig and plastic tipped with a minnow; concentrate on areas of deeper
open water.
Shell
Rock River (Greene to Shell Rock)
There have been no reports on the Shell Rock River, but levels remain
good for walleye angling opportunities. Walleye - No Report: Cast and
retrieve a jig and plastic tipped with a minnow; concentrate on areas of deeper
open water.
Wapsipinicon
River (Tripoli to Troy Mills)
There have been no reports on the Shell Rock River, but levels remain
good for walleye angling opportunities. Walleye - No Report: Cast and
retrieve a jig and plastic tipped with a minnow; concentrate on areas of deeper
open water.
Ice fishing is not recommended anywhere as
conditions are not safe. Eastern Iowa rivers are beginning to open; open water
fishing opportunities are available on the Cedar, Shell Rock, Wapsipinicon and
Maquoketa. Flows are above seasonal averages on rivers, but are not excessively
high for spring. Area trout streams are in good condition. Call the N.E. Iowa district
office at 563-927-3276 for more information.
Mississippi River Pool 9
River level at Lansing is fairly stable at 7.9 feet.Main channel ice has broken up and the ice flows
have moved through. Ice conditions are variable with very few areas having safe
access. Walleye - Fair: Expect the bite to pick up as water temperatures rise. Use crankbaits fished on a 3-way rig or jigs with
minnows. Black
Crappie - No Report: Occasional crappie being caught in just 2-4 feet of water just under the ice. Yellow Perch - Excellent: Late ice can be a good time for perch fishing with
some of the larger fish being caught this time of year. Sauger - Fair: Use jig and minnows fished off the bottom in the tailwater areas. Bluegill - Good: Some last ice bluegills are still being caught in backwaters with no current. Northern
Pike - Fair: Northern pike will start to feed actively
before the spawn. Look for the bite to pick up with warming temperatures.
Mississippi River Pool 10
River level at Lynxville has fallen a foot to 14.3 feet. . Main channel ice has broken up and the ice flows
have moved through. Ice conditions are variable in the backwaters with very few
areas having safe access. Walleye - Fair: Expect the bite to pick up as warmer
water temperatures rise. Use crankbaits fished on a 3-way rig or jigs with
minnows. Yellow Perch - Excellent: Late ice can be a good time for perch fishing with
some of the larger fish being caught this time of year. Sauger - Fair: Some fish are in the tail-waters. Expect the bite to pick up with warmer
water temperatures this week. Bluegill
- Fair: Some last ice bluegills are still being caught in backwaters with no
current. Black Crappie - No Report: Occasional crappie being caught in just 2-4 feet of water just under the ice. Northern
Pike - Fair: Northern pike will start to feed actively
before the spawn. Look for the bite to pick up with warming temperatures.
Mississippi River Pool 11
Guttenberg tail-waters have fallen several feet to 6.08
feet this week. Main channel ice has broken up and the ice flows have moved through.
Backwater ice conditions are variable with very few areas having safe access. Walleye - Fair: Expect the bite to pick up as water temperatures rise. Use crankbaits fished on a 3-way rig or jigs with
minnows. Black Crappie - No Report: Occasional crappie being caught in just 2-4 feet of water just under the ice. Yellow Perch - Excellent: Late ice can be a good time for perch fishing with
some of the larger fish being caught this time of year. Sauger -
Slow: Some fish are in the tail-waters. Expect the bite to pick up with warmer
water temperatures this week. Bluegill - Fair: Some last ice bluegills are still being caught in backwaters with no
current. Northern
Pike - Fair: Northern pike will start to feed actively
before the spawn. Look for the bite to pick up with warming temperatures.
Upper Mississippi River levels have fallen slightly this week with main
channel areas mostly free of ice flows with water temperatures still in the low
30's. Water clarity is still poor from the spring melt-off. Ice fishing is not
recommended due to unsafe ice.
Mississippi River Pool 12
Water levels are stabilizing at 5.7 feet at the Dubuque Lock and the RR
bridge is 8.3 feet. This is down a few feet from last week. Some ice flows still reported. Places like O'Leary's
backwater still have some ice in them, but it is melted along the shore. Yellow Perch - No Report: Look for the perch bite to pick up as the ice melts. Northern
Pike - No Report: Expecting the northern pike creel to increase over the
next couple of months. Walleye - Fair: Some scattered reports of
walleyes being taken in the tailwaters and more along wing dams. Fishing is
fair to poor, but could improve with better weather conditions.
Mississippi River Pool 13
Water levels are stabilizing at 6.5 feet at Bellevue. This down over a foot from last week. Both
Bellevue City ramp and the DNR ramp are open, but some minor ice flows are
still seen. Paddlefish season is now underway. Please review the Paddlefishing
regulations. Paddlefish - Fair: Some were caught, especially on the opener, but fish
are reported up off the bottom. Sauger - Fair: Hit or miss. Some reported good catches when weather was nice while
others struggled. Walleye – Fair.
Mississippi River Pool 14
Water levels are falling and are 6.2 feet at Fulton, 10.3 feet at
Camanche and 5.1 feet at LeClaire. This down over a foot from last week. Paddlefish season season is underway; Ramps are mostly open and free of ice, but you will find periodic ice chunks. Paddlefish - No Report: Season is underway; please review the Paddlefishing regulations. Sauger - Fair: Anglers report sauger fishing as scattered, but it could get
decent if water levels stabilize.
Mississippi River Pool 15
Water levels are falling and are 7.8 feet at Rock Island. This is down two feet from last week and will be much more "fishable" this
week. Sauger - Fair: Fish are scattered, but some are being reported on jigs and
minnow.
The River levels have dropped throughout the district. Tailwaters are
open for boat launching, but some ice flows are still occurring. Ice fishing
appears to be over in the district, but some ice remains in backwaters
especially in Pool 12. Most backwaters are now open water in Pool 13 through
15. If you have any angling questions, please contact the Bellevue Fisheries
Station 563-872-4976.
Mississippi River Pool 16
Tailwater stage is 7.81 feet at Lock and Dam 15 in the Quad Cities and is falling. Marquette St boat ramp is open. Tailwater fishing for walleyes and
saugers has been slow. Sauger - Slow: Reports of a few saugers being caught in Sylvan Slough. Try
vertical jigging with minnows or pulling three-way rigs with stick baits or
minnows.
Mississippi River Pool 17
Tailwater stage is 6.78 feet at Lock and Dam 16 in Muscatine and is falling. We have not received any reports on tailwater fishing for walleyes
and saugers. Sauger - No Report: Try fishing below the dam with jigs and minnows or pulling
three-way rigs with stick baits or minnows.
Mississippi River Pool 18
Tailwater stage is 8.99 feet at Lock and Dam 17 at New Boston and is falling. We have not received any tailwater fishing information for walleye and
saugers this week. Sauger - No Report: Look for saugers below the dam.
Try vertical jigging with minnows or pulling three-way rigs with stick baits or
minnows.
Mississippi River Pool 19
Tailwater stage is 6.12 feet at Lock and Dam 18 above Burlington and is falling. We have not received any tailwater fishing
reports for walleyes and saugers.
River stages have been falling the past few days.
Water clarity is poor. Tailwater fishing for walleye and saugers has been slow. If you have questions on fishing Pools 16-19, contact the Fairport Fish Hatchery at 563-263-5062.
Big Hollow Lake
Some skim ice in the mornings. Lake is open otherwise.
Lake Belva Deer
The lake is ice free. Not much angler activity.
Lake Darling
The lake has been ice free for the last week. On the cold mornings, there
is a little ice around the edges in the bays. The boat docks are not in; be
careful on the boat ramps, there is some ice on them from the waves coming in.
Just a few anglers out, mostly to get the boats off the trailers.
Lake Geode
Drained for renovation work scheduled for later this year. With the warmer weather, the bottom of the lake will thaw out and get
soft again; use caution when walking around on the bottom of the lake.
Skunk
River (Rose Hill to Coppock)
The river has been ice free since early last week. River level is running
about 1/2 bank full. Have seen a couple of boats out on the river, but no
reports on the fishing.
For more information on the fishing at the above lakes and rivers, contact the Lake Darling Fisheries Office at 319-694-2430.
Central
Park Lake
The lake is drained for the renovation project that is going on now.
Coralville Reservoir
The lake is ice free. The lake level is now being
drawn down. It is predicted to reach spring pool of 679.4' on March 16. There
is about 3,000 CFS flowing out of the lake this week. Channel
Catfish - Fair: Some fish have been caught
on cut shad in shallow windblown areas. Some fish are also being caught around the
380/965 bridges.
Diamond
Lake
The lake is ice free and a boat dock is in. No
fishing activity has been reported yet.
Green
Castle Lake
Most of the ice was gone this week.
Hannen
Lake
Most of the ice was going out this week.
Iowa
Lake (Iowa County)
The lake is ice free and the boat dock is in. There have been a few
anglers out, but no fishing reports are available.
Kent
Park Lake
The lake is drained for the renovation project that will take
place next winter.
Lake Macbride
The lake is ice free. No docks are in yet. There have been boat and shore
anglers out, but no reports are available.
Otter
Creek Lake
The lake is ice free. There is no boat dock in at this time. No fishing activity
has been reported yet.
Pleasant
Creek Lake
The lake is still 8 feet low from the restoration project, but the lake is ice free.
Rodgers
Park Lake
Most of the ice was going out this week.
Sand
Lake
Most of the ice was gone this week.
Wapsipinicon
River (Troy Mills to Oxford Junction)
The river and backwaters are open at Pinicon Ridge. The water is dropping,
but it is still turbid. No fishing reports are available.
Lakes in the Macbride District are unsafe for ice fishing. For more information, contact the Lake Macbride Fisheries Station at 319-624-3615.
Lake Miami
The lake is ice free.
Lake Sugema
Lake Sugema and Tug Forks are completely free of ice.
Lake Wapello
The lake is free of ice. Use cut bait on the windblown shorelines to
catch channel catfish this time of year.
Ottumwa
Park Pond South
Trout are scheduled to be stocked on Saturday, March
24th at 11:00 a.m.
Rathbun Reservoir
The current lake level is 903.46 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. The campgrounds are closed. The lake is ice free. Channel Catfish
- Fair: Use shad sides or cut bait on the windblown shorelines.
Red Haw Lake
The lake is ice free.
The lakes across the district all have open water. 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.
Ada
Hayden Heritage Park Lake
Rainbow Trout - Good: Cast small in-line spinners, spoons, twister tail or
tube jigs and live minnows or waxworms under a bobber in the open water areas.
Big
Creek Lake
As of Wednesday, March 8, Big Creek was open water
north of the Williams Drive boat ramp.
Des
Moines River (Saylorville to Red Rock)
Walleye - Fair: As flows reduce, it’s a good time to start fishing
below the Saylorville and downtown dams. Jigs tipped with twister tails and/or
minnows work best.
Lakes in Central Iowa are mostly ice free or the remaining
ice is unsuitable for ice fishing.For more information on Central Iowa lakes and rivers, contact Andy Otting or Ben Dodd at 515-432-2823.
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