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Top Iowa Fishing Spots for the Week of August 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.
Black Hawk Lake
Water temperatures are in the upper 70's. Water levels are 3 inches over the crest of the spillway. Bluegill - Slow: Try Town Bay, Ice House Point, and the North Shore. Use a small hair or tube jig with a small piece of crawler fished under a bobber in 5-6 feet of water. Target deeper fish this time of year on the rock piles near Gunshot Hill, Cottonwood Point, and the East Basin. Walleye - Slow: Try leeches or crawler harnesses around Ice House Point, the dredge cut
near Denison Beach, and around the rock piles near Gunshot Hill, Cottonwood
Point and the East Basin. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Catch largemouth all over the lake using traditional bass lures. Many anglers have found good bass action at the Ice House Point, the east shoreline, and the lake side of the inlet bridge. There is a 15 inch minimum length limit on largemouth bass in Black Hawk Lake. Channel Catfish - Fair: Use stink bait, cut bait, or crawler fished on the bottom along Ice House Point and in Town Bay, and anywhere along rocky shorelines.
Brushy Creek Lake
There is a 15 inch minimum length limit on largemouth bass in Brushy Creek Lake, and a 40 inch minimum length limit for musky. Walleye - Fair: Use minnows and leaches in 15-20 feet of water. Black Crappie - Fair: Try a small piece of crawler or minnow on a jig in 10-20 feet of water. Yellow Perch - Fair: Find perch along the vegetation and deeper structure. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Catch bass along weed lines near shore just about anywhere with traditional bass lures. There is a 15 inch minimum length limit on largemouth bass in Brushy Creek Lake. Bluegill -
Fair: Anglers are picking up bluegills in 15-20 feet of water.
Storm Lake (including Little Storm Lake)
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: Boat anglers are picking up fish trolling crankbaits or drifting crawler harnesses on the edges of the dredge cuts around the lake in about 8 feet of water. White Bass - Fair: Use crankbaits; most action has been from boat while fishing dredge cuts. Channel
Catfish - Fair: Fish stink bait, leeches, and crawlers on the bottom.
Water temperatures in Black Hawk District lakes are in the upper 70's. For more information, contact the Black Hawk District office at 712-657-2638.
Beeds
Lake
Black
Crappie - Fair: Drift fish or troll with a tube jig or small minnow. Yellow
Bass
- Fair: Drift fish or troll with a small jig.
Clear
Lake
Surface water temperature is 77 degrees. Walleye - Good: Jig a minnow or leech above submerged vegetation in 6 to 10 feet of
water. Channel
Catfish - Good: Use cut bait or crawlers fished after sunset. Black
Crappie - Good: Try a jig and minnow near the deeper submerged vegetation. Yellow
Bass
- Excellent: Drift or troll a small jig tipped with cut bait in 6 to 8 feet of
water until you find the fish.
Crystal
Lake
Largemouth
Bass - Fair: Bass are biting topwater baits. Black
Crappie - Good: Drift or troll small tube jigs in the dredge cut.
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: Excellent bite continues with good numbers of fish being caught. Cast mini-jigs or
hair-jigs or use small baits tipped with wigglers. Walleye - Good: Numbers of
fish are being caught with traditional baits; good numbers of yellow bass are
mixed in with the catch. Bluegill -
Good: The bite has fluctuated with the changing weather, but persistence
will be rewarded with good numbers caught.
Lake Pahoja
Bluegill - Good: Recent surveys show good numbers of large angler size fish in the lake.
Lost Island Lake
Walleye - Good: Walleye action has improved; reports of the best action in areas with flow. Yellow Bass - Good: Reports of yellow bass being caught with black crappie and yellow perch mixed in the catch. Use small lures such as a twister tail or hair jigs. Channel
Catfish - Good: Anglers report catching large channel catfish after dark. Bluegill -
Good: Recent surveys show numbers of fish about 7 inches in the lake. Black Crappie - Good: Recent surveys show
numbers of angler acceptable size fish up to 10 inches in the lake.
Spirit Lake
Walleye
- Fair: The walleye bite has slowed, but persistence will be rewarded with good
catches of fish. Yellow
Perch - Good: Good numbers of angler acceptable size yellow perch are being
caught shallow; start on the outside line of the weed beds. Bluegill - Good: Reports of
bluegill, crappie and yellow perch being caught in the Illinois Pondweed in 8 -
10 feet of water. Use a slip bobber and jigs to fish fast and find active fish.
Trumbull
Lake
Yellow
Perch
- Fair: Anglers fishing from a boat or kayak report some perch action from the
lake.
Tuttle
Lake
Walleye - Fair: Use
crankbaits in the basin.
West Okoboji Lake
Bluegill
-
Good: Rock piles in deeper water with stands of aquatic growth will produce
good numbers of angler acceptable sized fish.
For more information throughout the week, contact the Spirit Lake Fish Hatchery at 712-336-1840.
Big
Woods Lake
Reports of anglers catching crappie. Black
Crappie - Good: Try fishing various depths near structure with a slip
bobber and minnow or jigging colored tube jigs.
Casey
Lake (aka Hickory Hills Lake)
Casey Lake is in good condition with clear water. Vegetation remains
abundant around edges, but it is starting to die back. Catfish, bluegill, crappie and bass are biting well. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Best bite is mornings and evenings. Bluegill – Good: Try fishing various depths with a piece of crawler under a bobber near
the edge of weeds or structure. Channel
Catfish - Good: Catfish are biting on a variety of baits. Best bite is early morning and late evening. Catfish size has been
excellent. Black
Crappie - Fair: Jig tube jigs or fish a minnow under a bobber near
structure in the lake towards the dam area.
Cedar
River (Nashua to La Porte City)
The Cedar River continues to improve. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Cast artificial baits along rocky shorelines. Walleye – Good: A jig tipped with a half crawler and twister tail is a deadly combination
this time of year. Channel Catfish – Excellent: Use stink baits in the top or upstream end of log jams. Flathead
Catfish - Fair: Fish the larger snags with live bait.
Maquoketa
River (above Monticello)
The Maquoketa River is in excellent condition. Smallmouth bass and
walleye fishing should be good throughout Delaware and Jones counties.
Martens
Lake
Expect to fish through and around vegetation. Adjust tactics as needed,
including heavy baits or topwater options. Reports of some quality size bass being caught. Largemouth Bass - Good: Use weedless
artificial lures with the dense vegetation. Try also topwater frog imitation baits.
Shell
Rock River (Greene to Shell Rock)
Reports have been good for walleye, smallmouth bass and some northern pike. Walleye - Good: A jig tipped with a
half crawler and twister tail is a deadly combination this time of year. Northern Pike - Fair: Float a live chub
or shiner under a bobber or cast larger artificial spoons or lures. Smallmouth
Bass
- Good: Cast crankbaits along and near rock shorelines.
Wapsipinicon
River (Tripoli to Troy Mills)
The Wapsipinicon River continues to fall in Buchanan County; conditions
have vastly improved. Reports of anglers doing well on northern pike on the Upper Wapsipinicon
in Bremer County. Northern
Pike - Good: Cast large bucktail spinners.
All interior rivers received some rain, but some more than others. The
Cedar and Shell Rock in Butler counties remain in good condition and anglers are
doing well. The Wapsipinicon and Maquoketa Rivers remain a bit high and mudd. Trout streams remain in excellent condition. Call the N.E. Iowa district
office at 563-927-3276 for more information.
Mississippi River Pool 9
River level is 8.3 feet at Lansing and is expected to remain steady. Water temperature is near 81 degrees. New Albin ramp road is open. The Lansing Village Creek ramp is closed through October. For more updates, call the
Guttenberg Fisheries Management office at 563-252-1156. Walleye - Good: Water levels are at a good level to find walleyes on wing dams. Use a 3-way
rig with a floating jig and a worm. Yellow Perch - Fair: Perch bite has been spotty, but some nicer ones are being caught with
live minnow rigs. Northern
Pike - Good: This time of year pike are attracted to cooler water coming in from
springs and tributaries. Channel Catfish - Good: Try cut bait or stink bait in the main and side channel borders. Largemouth Bass - Good: : With lower water levels, bass will be pulling out to wing dams and
structure along the main channel. Smallmouth Bass - Good: Find smallmouth along
shorelines in slight current off rocky points. White
Bass
- Fair: Cast flashy spinners or crankbaits along the rocks in main channel
current for big white bass. Bluegill
- Excellent: Use light tackle tipped with small piece of worm under a bobber in 4-6 feet
of water. Freshwater Drum - Excellent: Freshwater drum are actively biting in areas of current. Drop a
heavily weighted worm rig into the current for some big fish action. Black
Crappie - Good: Try tube jigs or minnow under a bobber in submersed trees in
the backwater sloughs.
Mississippi River Pool 10
River level is 14.7 feet at Lynxville and is expected to fall slowly to 14 feet. Water temperature is 82 degrees at the Lock and Dam 9. Sny Magill ramp is open. Walleye- Fair: Water levels are at a good level to find walleyes on wing dams. Use a 3-way
rig with a floating jig and a worm. Yellow Perch - Fair: Perch bite has been spotty, but some nicer ones are being caught with
live minnow rigs. Northern Pike -Good: This time of year pike are attracted to cooler water coming in
from springs and tributaries. Channel Catfish - Good: Try cut bait or stink bait in the main and side channel borders. Bluegill -
Good: Panfish bite is picking up this week. Try a small piece of garden worm on
small tackle under a bobber. Common
Carp - Good: Carp are on the move with the high water. To
hook into a big one, try fishing the warm shallow backwaters where carp are
staging for the spawn. Largemouth Bass - Good: With lower water levels, bass will be pulling out to wing dams and
structure along the main channel. Smallmouth Bass - Good: Find smallmouth
along shorelines in slight current off rocky points. White
Bass
- Fair: Cast flashy spinners or crankbaits along the rocks in the main channel
current for big white bass. Bluegill - Excellent: Use light tackle tipped with small piece of worm under a bobber in 4-6 feet
of water. Freshwater
Drum - Excellent: Freshwater drum are actively biting in
areas of current. Drop a heavily weighted worm rig into the current for some
big fish action. Black
Crappie - Good: Try tube jigs or minnow under a bobber in submersed trees in
the backwater sloughs.
Mississippi River Pool 11
River level is 6.2 feet at Guttenberg and is expected to fall slowly and stabilize near 5 feet. Water temperature is 76 degrees at
Lock and Dam 10. Walleye - Fair: Water levels are at a good level to find walleyes on wing dams. Use a 3-way
rig with a floating jig and a worm. Yellow Perch - Fair: Perch bite has been spotty, but some nicer ones are being caught
with live minnow rigs. Northern Pike - Excellent: This time of year, pike are attracted to cooler water coming in from
springs and tributaries. Channel Catfish - Good: Try cut bait or stink bait in the main and side channel borders. Largemouth Bass - Good: With lower water levels, bass will be pulling out to wing dams and
structure along the main channel. Smallmouth Bass - Good: Find smallmouth along
shorelines in slight current off rocky points. White
Bass - Fair: Cast flashy spinners or crankbaits along the rocks in main
channel current for big white bass. Bluegill - Excellent: Use light tackle tipped with small piece of worm under a bobber in 4-6 feet
of water. Freshwater Drum - Excellent: Freshwater
drum are actively biting in areas of current. Drop a heavily weighted worm rig
into the current for some big fish action. Black
Crappie - Good: Try tube jigs or minnow under a bobber in submersed trees
in the backwater sloughs.
Upper Mississippi River levels are leveling off this week with good
water clarity, but lots of vegetation present. Boaters should use caution with the lower water with wing
dams and sandbars now at or just below the water surface. As water levels settle back
to summer lows, look for fish along side channels as the temperatures warm
up. Water temperatures are in the upper 70's to low 80's.
Mississippi River Pool 12
Water levels are 6.1 feet at the Dubuque Lock and Dam and 8.6 feet at the RR bridge. Expect water levels to drop slowly this upcoming week. Water clarity is good. The water temperature is around 81 degrees. Channel
Catfish - Excellent:Try stink bait or worms near shore. Freshwater Drum - Excellent: Most anglers use a simple egg sinker and worm rig. Drum will be hanging out relatively near shore in
moderate current areas. Largemouth
Bass
- Excellent: Largemouth bass are being caught along flooded weed lines and in weedy
backwater using lures like scum frogs. White
Bass - Good: Look for schools of white bass feeding on the surface in the
morning and evenings. Bluegill - Good: Try along the vegetation lines in 4 to 6 feet of water. Flathead
Catfish - Good: Current areas along rocks are starting to again produce
some nice eating sized flathead catfish. Walleye
- Good: Use crankbaits on the wing dams. White
Crappie - Good: Try small minnows in newly exposed brush piles along
major side channels or deeper backwater areas. Smallmouth Bass - Good: Use spinners or crankbaits along rocky
areas with strong current.
Mississippi River Pool 13
Water level is 6.5 feet at the Bellevue Lock and Dam. Expect water levels to
recede this upcoming week. Water clarity is good. The water
temperature is around 82 degrees. The north ramp at Sabula is not in use this
year due to bridge construction. Channel
Catfish - Excellent: Try stink bait or worms near shore. Move often if you are not finding
catfish. Freshwater Drum - Excellent:
The drum bite is on. Fish worms with an egg sinker in moderate current areas. Fish near the shorelines if possible. Largemouth
Bass
- Excellent: Most are feeding along the edge of weed lines. Use a bright
colored spinner that imitates minnows. Try also frog imitation lures in the weedy backwaters. White
Bass
- Good: Look for feeding schools of white bass in the morning and evenings. Small
spinners and white jigs work best. Bluegill -
Good: Bluegills have returned to the creel. Try fishing along
vegetation lines in 4 to 6 feet of water. Flathead
Catfish - Good: Try live bait in high current areas or above large brush piles. Smallmouth Bass - Good: Focus on rock lines and
piles with strong current. Spinners, jigs and crankbaits work best. White Crappie - Good: Some nice
crappies were reported coming out of deeper backwater areas along newly exposed brush piles.
Mississippi
River Pool 14
Water levels are 6.1 feet at Fulton Lock and Dam, 10.2 feet at Camanche
and 5 feet at LeClaire. Expect water levels to drop this upcoming week. Water clarity is fair. The water temperature is around 82 degrees. Channel Catfish - Excellent: Try stink bait or worms
near shore or along brush piles. Freshwater
Drum
- Excellent: Use a simple egg sinker/worm rig in moderate current areas. Find fish near the shoreline in flooded conditions. Largemouth
Bass
- Good: Bright colored spinners fished along flooded shorelines are picking up
some bass. White
Bass
- Good: Some schools of white bass have been seen in the tailwater area. Use
bright jigs or flashy lures. Smallmouth
Bass
- Fair: Focus on rock lines and rock piles with strong current. Flathead Catfish - Good: Some flatheads
are hitting crankbaits and jigs along rocky areas. Anglers are using live baits on trot lines with some success. Bluegill - Good: Lower ends
of Rock Creek and Catfish Slough have produced some nice bluegills; mainly
using worms and bobbers. White Crappie
- No Report: Try newly exposed brush piles with small minnows and jigs.
Mississippi River Pool 15
Water levels are 6.3 feet at Rock Island. Expect water levels to drop this upcoming week. Water clarity continues to improve. The water temperature
is around 82 degrees. Channel
Catfish - Excellent: Try stink bait or worms
near shore. Freshwater
Drum - Excellent: Use an egg sinker and worm rig fished near shore in moderate current areas. Flathead
Catfish - Good: Use live bait above large dead falls. Smallmouth
Bass
- Fair: Try spinners, jigs and crankbaits in rock lines and piles with strong
current.
Water levels are receding throughout the district. Levels are below what
anglers have seen in a few years. Be careful boating; many underwater hazards
are now exposed. 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 Davenport has fallen to 6.32 feet. River stage is forecast to continue to fall. Channel
Catfish - Good: Use stink bait in Sunset Marina. Try also above brush piles and snags in the back channels and main channel in the Andalusia Island complex. Walleye - Fair: Troll crankbaits between the mouth of the Rock River and Sunset
Marina. Try fishing on the wing dams along Credit Island with crankbaits or
three-way rigs with crawlers. White
Bass
- Good: Try jigs and twister tails or topwater baits in Sunset Marina. Bluegill - Fair: Use pieces of worm
under a bobber in Sunset Marina.
Mississippi River Pool 17
Tailwater stage is 5.1 feet at Lock and Dam 16 in Muscatine and is falling. The ramp at Big Timber is open. We have not received any
fishing reports for this pool this week. Channel
Catfish - No Report: Try fishing above snag piles along the side channels
and main channel with stink bait or shad. Walleye
- No Report: Look for walleyes on the wing dams; use crankbaits or three-way
rigs with crawlers. Trolling crankbaits by GPC can work, too. Bluegill - No Report: Look for
bluegills in the backwaters around brush piles. Try fishing with pieces of
worms under a bobber.
Mississippi River Pool 18
Tailwater stage is 6.01 feet at Lock and Dam 17 above New Boston and is falling. The ramp at Toolsboro is open.Channel
Catfish - Good: Use stink bait or shad above brush piles and snags along side
channels and the main channel. Bluegill - No Report: Look for
bluegills in the backwaters around brush piles; use worms under a
bobber. White
Bass
- Fair: Look for white bass at the outlet tube of Lake Odessa. Cast jig and twister
tails or inline spinners. Walleye -
No Report: Look for walleyes on the wing dams. Cast crankbaits or troll
three-way rigs with crawlers.
Mississippi River Pool 19
Tailwater stage is 3.12 feet at Lock and Dam 18 above Burlington and is falling. We have not received any fishing report information for this pool this
week. Channel
Catfish - No Report: Use stink bait or shad above brush piles and snags along the
side channels and main channel. Bluegill - No Report: Look for bluegills in the backwaters around
brush piles; use worms under a bobber. Walleye - No Report: Look
for walleyes on the wing dams. Cast crankbaits or troll three-way rigs with
crawlers.
River stages have been falling this past week. Water clarity is fair. If you have questions on fishing Pools 16-19, contact the Fairport Fish Hatchery at 563-263-5062.
Iowa River (Columbus Junction to Mississippi River)
River gauges upstream had a little bump go through on Wednesday; expect
that to move through in the next couple of days, it won't last long. Channel Catfish - Good: Catfishing has picked up a little more. Still plenty of water that you don’t have to concentrate all your
efforts on the deeper holes. Work some of the runs with frogs as bait.
Lake Belva Deer
Water temperature is around 80 degrees. Water clarity is still affected by a phytoplankton bloom. Black Crappie - Slow: Most boats out t last weekend were drifting through that stretch on the
north side between the beach and the dam. Largemouth
Bass
- Slow: Work the tops of the mounds at the upper end of the lake.
Lake Darling
Water temperatures is in the upper 70's. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Anglers are picking up bass around the deeper habitat. In the early and
late parts of the day, look for them to be in shallow but not far from the deep
water ledges. Bluegill - Fair: Find bluegills out around the rock piles and brush in 6-8 feet
of water. Black
Crappie - Fair: Anglers are picking up some crappies while drifting over
the habitat in 8 to 10 feet of water. Channel
Catfish - Fair: Anglers have caught some nice catfish in the last few
days. Stink baits, cut baits and chicken liver work best in hot weather.
Lost Grove Lake
Black Crappie - Fair: Crappie fishing has moved deep with anglers catching them while slow
trolling in 20 to 25 feet of water. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Anglers are catching bass in the flooded brush on the north side of the
lake in the early morning hours.
Skunk
River (Coppock to Mississippi River)
The South Skunk by Oskaloosa went up by near two feet on Wednesday. Look
for that water to be down our way in a couple of days. The North Skunk is
holding steady. Channel Catfish - Fair: Try at the bottoms of the bigger riffles before the water level
drops much more and the fish are pushed back into the deeper holes. Use night
crawlers or a frog pitched into the eddie just below the faster water.
For more information on the above lakes and rivers, call the Lake Darling Fisheries Office at 319-694-2430.
Des
Moines River (Ottumwa to Farmington)
Channel
Catfish - Fair: Use chicken liver or night crawlers around log jams and slack water areas.
Lake
Keomah
Bluegill - Fair: Use small
jigs tipped with live bait near shoreline and around the fishing jetties. Black Crappie - Fair: Use a jig and minnow around deep structure. Channel
Catfish - Fair: Use stink bait or chicken liver 4-8 feet of water. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Try spinnerbaits or crankbaits around the fishing jetties and
along the dam. Switch to rubber worms and deeper structure as the day heats up.
Lake
Miami
Largemouth
Bass
- Fair: Try topwater lures in the early mornings and evenings then switch to
rubber worms or crankbaits during the hotter parts of the day. Target the cedar
tree piles and the fishing jetties. Bluegill
- Fair: Use jigs tipped with live bait along the rip-rapped shorelines, the
jetties and around the cedar tree piles.
Lake Sugema
The south boat ramp off of Highway 2 is closed due to a parking lot
construction project. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Use topwater lures in the early mornings and evenings. As the day
progresses, target deeper structure using rubber worms or deep diving
crankbaits. Black
Crappie - Slow: Use tube jigs or jigs tipped with a minnow in deeper water structure. Bluegill
-
Fair: Try live bait tipped on a small jig around the shorelines and fishing jetties. Channel
Catfish - Fair: Use dead chubs or chicken liver along the dam or around
the fishing jetties.
Lake Wapello
Channel
Catfish - Fair: Use chicken liver or stink bait around areas with rip-rapped shorelines or rock piles. Don’t fish too deep as the lake will stratify; target 6-8 feet of water. Largemouth Bass - Good: Use rubber worms or crawdad imitating crankbaits around deep structure. Try also topwater lures around the cedar tree piles in the morning. Bluegill - Fair: Try small
jigs tipped with a chunk of night crawler around aquatic vegetation or near the fishing jetties. White
Crappie - Slow: Use jigs tipped with a minnow around deeper structure and the
outer edge of the weed line.
Rathbun Reservoir
The current lake level is 904.45 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. Channel Catfish
- Good: Use stink bait or chicken liver. White
Crappie - Fair: Try minnows around deeper structure. Trolling small crankbaits can also catch suspended crappies. Best bite is early in the day. Wiper
(Hybrid Striped Bass) - Good: Troll crankbaits or night crawler rigs along rocky shorelines and around rock
piles. Try also vertical jigging in the same areas. Walleye - Fair: Walleye bite has slowed from earlier in the year. Use night crawler rigs
or troll crankbaits around rock piles and submerged points. Leeches can also be productive this time of year.
Red Haw Lake
Largemouth Bass - Good: Cast the shorelines in the early part of the day and then fish deeper
structure as the day warms up. Use rubber worms or crankbaits. Black
Crappie - Fair: Try tube jigs along the shorelines. Bluegill
- Fair: Use small jigs tipped with live bait around the shorelines and fishing jetties. Channel
Catfish - Fair: Try night crawlers or chicken liver around the fishing jetties and the outer edge of the lily pads.
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
Creek Lake
Walleye - Fair: Troll shallow diving shad imitating crankbaits or spinner rigs with
night crawlers with little weight to fish 3 to 10 feet deep. The northern half
of the lake is best during the summer; start from the beach up to the
marina boat ramp. Wiper
(Hybrid Striped Bass) - Fair: Troll and cast crankbaits, spoons or in-line spinners in the main lake. Look for schools of fish busting shad on the surface.
Des
Moines River (Stratford to Saylorville Lake)
Channel
Catfish - Good: The channel catfishing is very good in the Des Moines
River using stink baits. Water levels are still fair for small boats, but are dropping quickly.
The Highway 30 ramp may be close to dry by the end of the weekend.
Red
Rock Reservoir
White
Bass
- Fair: Anglers are reporting better white bass fishing than what has been
happening so far this summer. Look for feeding activity on the surface and
troll these areas with shallow diving shad imitating crankbaits or spoons.
Fishing below the dam has also been fair to good for a mix of white bass and
hybrid striped bass.
Rock
Creek Lake
White Crappie - Good: Drift or slowly troll jigs or
minnows in the lower half of the lake in the mornings to just after noon.
Saylorville
Reservoir
White
Bass
- Fair: A summer white bass bite has finally picked up. Look for schools of
small gizzard shad breaking the surface and cast or troll shad imitating
crankbaits or spoons in these areas. With the lake still being a little higher
than normal, try the edges of flooded willows and vegetation.
For more information on Central Iowa lakes and rivers, call Ben Dodd at 641-891-3795 or Andy Otting at 515-204-5885.
Cold Springs District Farm Ponds
Water clarity is good in most ponds. Always get permission to fish privately-owned ponds. Bluegill - Fair: Try fishing 4 feet below the surface for suspended fish in the summer. Black Crappie - Fair: Find crappies suspended and around structure. Largemouth Bass - Good: Largemouth bass are very active and can be caught with a variety of lures and plugs. Fish shallow early and late and go deeper during the middle of the day. Channel Catfish - Good: Try cut bait or commercial stink baits along weed edges and around structure.
Farm
Creek Lake
Farm Creek has a good fish population with quality sized panfish.
Water quality is good. Black Crappie -
Fair: Fish the creek channel for black crappie up to 12 inches. Bluegill - Fair: Drift or slow troll
along the creek channel for bluegills up to 9.5 inches. Largemouth Bass - No Report: There is a good population of 13 to 15
inch bass in the lake.
Lake Anita
Anglers report good panfishing this week. Water temperatures
are back down to 80 degrees. Bass fishing has been good. Bluegill -
Fair: Drift small jigs tipped with crawler for bluegills up to 9 inches. Black Crappie - Fair: The early morning crappie bite is good. Slow troll small jigs tipped
with power bait to catch 9 to 11 inch fish. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Throw spinners along the vegetation and plastics around deep
structure during the day
Lake Manawa
Lake Manawa is a good destination for summer catfishing. Channel Catfish - Good: Use shrimp and bubble gum bait on the west shore. Fish in the 2 to 5 pound range were reported.
Prairie Rose Lake
Prairie Rose will offer good panfishing. The lake has quality sized bluegills and acceptable size crappies. The lake has a significant algae bloom. Bluegill - Slow: Bluegills have moved into a summer pattern. Look for fish around underwater reefs and drift/troll open water areas. Bluegills in Prairie Rose are quality size fish. Largemouth Bass - Fair: There is a large population of 12 inch bass in the lake that offers fun catch and release fishing.
Viking Lake
Catfishing has been good. A few crappies are being caught in
the deep brush piles. Channel Catfish - Fair: Cast cut bait or liver close to rocky shorelines for catfish up to 10 pounds. Late afternoon bite is best. Black Crappie - Fair: Crappies are being caught in the deeper tree piles. Sorting is needed for larger fish. Largemouth Bass - Good: Jig plastics in deeper brush piles during the day and cast shallow structure early morning for largemouth bass of all sizes.
Panfish are in their summer pattern; target open water and deep
structure. Catfishing has been good around the district. For more information, contact the Cold Springs office at 712-769-2587.
Green
Valley Lake
Largemouth
Bass
- Good: Catch largemouth bass up to 18 inches with finesse plastics fished along cedar tree
brush piles. Bluegill - Fair: Catch bluegill
up to 8 inches using worms fished along the fishing jetties or shallow bays. Black Crappie - Good: Catch crappie up
to 9 inches with minnows or jigs fished along cedar tree brush piles. Walleye
- Slow: Catch walleye up to 19 inches using minnows fished in 10 feet of
water.
Lake
Icaria
Channel
Catfish - Good: Channel catfish of all sizes have been caught using
night crawlers or cut bait fished along rocky shoreline areas. Bluegill -
Fair: Catch bluegill up to 8 inches with worms fished along the fish mounds or fishing jetties.
Little
River Watershed Lake
Largemouth
Bass - Slow: Catch largemouth bass up to 18 inches using crankbaits or
finesse plastics fished near
cedar tree brush piles or rock reefs. Bluegill - Fair: Catch bluegills up to 9 inches with worms fished along cedar tree brush piles. Channel
Catfish - Good: Catch channel catfish up to 10 pounds with night crawlers or cut bait fished
along rocky shoreline areas. Walleye - Slow: Catch walleye
up to 22 inches using crankbaits fished in 10 feet of water.
Three
Mile Lake
Bluegill - Fair: Catch bluegill
up to 7 inches with worms fished along the fishing jetties or cedar tree brush piles. Walleye - Fair: Catch walleye
up to 18 inches using crankbaits or live bait fished along the fish mounds and main lake points. Largemouth
Bass
- Slow: Catch largemouth bass up to 15 inches with finesse plastics fished
along weed lines or cedar tree brush piles.
Twelve
Mile Creek Lake
Largemouth
Bass
- Fair: Largemouth bass of all sizes have been caught with crankbaits or finesse plastics fished along cedar tree brush piles. Bluegill - Good: Catch
bluegill up to 8 inches with worms fished near cedar tree brush piles or shallow bays. Walleye
- Fair: Catch walleyes of all sizes using crankbaits fished in 10 feet of water. Black
Crappie - Good: Catch crappie up to 9 inches with jigs or minnows fished along weedl ines or the flooded timber.
Water temperature in most district lakes is in the upper 70's. The district includes Page, Taylor, Adams, Union,
Ringgold, Decatur, Clarke and Madison counties. For more information, please call the Mount Ayr
Fisheries office at 641-464-3108.
Missouri
River (Sioux City to Little Sioux)
Channel Catfish - Good: During high water levels, try below flooded wing dams and close to the bank or slower flooded areas
from shore. Smaller tributaries should also be good, where channel catfish will
find refuge from faster currents. Use worms, cut bait, or dip baits. Freshwater Drum - Fair: Try using live bait rigs or
jigs tipped with worms along the bank and around tributary stream or rivers
where they join the Missouri River. Blue Catfish - Good: Anglers report catching a few blue catfish on rod and reel and
trotlines. Use live bait or fresh cut bait with live bait rigs along wing dam
tips or in or close to the main channel of the Missouri River. Flathead
Catfish - Good: Flathead catfish are being caught on trotlines and rod
and reel using live baits (chubs, bullheads, green sunfish). Fish below wing
dam tip, near rock structures, logs and along the bank with deeper water
nearby.
Missouri
River (Little Sioux to Council Bluffs)
Channel Catfish - Good: During high water levels, try below flooded wing dams and close to the bank or slower flooded areas from shore. Smaller tributaries should also be good, where channel catfish will find refuge from faster currents. Use worms, cut bait, or dip baits. Freshwater Drum - Fair: Try using live bait rigs or jigs tipped with worms along the bank and around tributary stream or rivers where they join the Missouri River. Blue Catfish - Good: Anglers report catching blue catfish on rod and reel and trotlines. Use live bait or fresh cut bait along wing dam tips or in or close to the main channel of the Missouri
River. Flathead Catfish - Fair: Flathead catfish are being caught on trotlines and rod and reel using live baits (chubs, bullheads, green sunfish). Fish below wing dam tip, near rock structures, logs and along the bank with deeper water nearby.
Missouri
River (Council Bluffs to Missouri State Line)
Channel Catfish - Good: During high water levels, try below flooded wing dams and close to the bank or slower flooded areas from shore. Smaller tributaries should also be good, where channel catfish will find refuge from faster currents. Use worms, cut bait, or dip baits. Freshwater Drum - Fair: Try using live bait rigs or jigs tipped with worms along the bank and around tributary stream or rivers where they join the Missouri River. Blue Catfish - Good: Anglers are catching a few blue catfish on rod and reel and trotlines with
fresh cut bait or live bait. Try by the wing dam tips, close to or in the main channel of the
Missouri River for your best chance at getting bigger blue catfish. Flathead
Catfish - Fair: Flathead catfish are being caught on trotlines and rod
and reel using live baits (chubs, bullheads, green sunfish). Fish below wing
dam tip, near rock structures, logs and along the bank with deeper water
nearby.
The Missouri River at Decatur, Nebraska is at 28.37 ft. /63,400
cfs./80 degrees. Missouri River water temperatures are up 1 degree from last
week and water levels are down 0.06 feet. Water levels are up due to recent
rains in the Missouri River watershed and release of water from reservoirs. Anglers
and boaters are advised to use caution going on the Missouri River. Fishing has
been good to fair.
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