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Top Iowa Fishing Spots for the Week of September 20.
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 low 70's. Water levels are 6 inches over the crest of the spillway. Bluegill - Fair: Use a small jig with a small piece of crawler fished under a bobber in 3-6 feet of water in Town Bay from the stone piers along Ice House Point and near the inlet bridge. Walleye - Slow: Try crawler rigs or crankbaits 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. 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 along shore near the outlet. Yellow
Perch - Fair: Use crawlers fished 3-4 feet below a bobber
on the lake side of the inlet bridge and from the stone piers in Town Bay.
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: Drift or troll slowly crawler rigs, minnows or leaches in 15-20 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: Try tube jigs tipped with crawlers in 10-15 feet of water.
North
Twin Lake
Water temperatures are in the low 70's. Water clarity is around
1.5 feet. White Crappie - Slow: No
Report - A recent survey showed most crappie are 6-10 inches with a few up to
14 inches. Walleye - Slow: Walleye
up to 27 inches have been seen in recent netting surveys.
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: Use crawler rigs and troll crankbaits along the edges of the dredge cuts
around the lake in 6-10 feet of water. White Bass - Fair: Troll crankbaits or fish crawlers along the dredge cuts.
Water temperatures in Black Hawk District lakes are in the low 70's. For more information, contact the Black Hawk District office at 712-657-2638.
Beeds
Lake
The park road will be closed Sept. 19th - 21st due to road
construction; there will be no access to the boat ramp. 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. Shore anglers should fish a small piece of crawler or cut bait off
the bottom.
Clear
Lake
Surface water temperature is 70 degrees. Channel
Catfish - Fair: Use crawlers or cut bait in the areas where water is entering the lake. Black
Crappie - Fair: Drift a jig and minnow over deeper submerged vegetation. Yellow
Bass
- Fair: Drift or troll a small jig tipped with cut bait or a minnow over the reefs until you find fish. Muskellunge - Fair: Fish the edge of the vegetation and near docks.
Crystal
Lake
Black
Crappie - Fair: Drift or troll small tube jigs or a minnow in the dredge cut or on the edge of vegetation. Largemouth
Bass - Fair: Use crankbaits.
Lake
Smith
Black
Crappie - Fair: Drift or troll a small jig or minnow in deeper near the
outlet.
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. Don’t overlook the evening bite from docks as these fish will move
shallow at dusk. Walleye - Good: Numbers of
fish are being caught with traditional baits; good numbers of yellow bass are
mixed in with the catch. Northern
Pike - Fair: Anglers report northern pike action on the lake.
Five
Island Lake
Channel
Catfish - Good: Numbers of fish are being caught trolling. Don’t overlook
public areas to fish using traditional "cat" baits which will provide
excellent action.
Lake Pahoja
Bluegill - Good: Recent surveys show good numbers of large angler size fish in the lake.
Little
Sioux River (state line to Linn Grove)
Channel
Catfish - Good: Report of angles catching fish from the river.
Lost Island Lake
Yellow Bass - Good: Reports of yellow bass being caught with black crappie and yellow perch up to 10 inches mixed in the catch. Use small lures such as a twister tail or hair jigs. Bluegill -
Good: Recent surveys show numbers of fish approaching 7 inches in the lake. Black Crappie - Good: Recent surveys show
numbers of angler acceptable size fish up to 10 inches in the lake.
Ocheyedan
Pit #1
Channel Catfish - Fair: Recent surveys show good numbers of 17 -23 inch channel catfish.
Silver
Lake (Dickinson)
Walleye - Good: Expect the
fall walleye bite to start soon. Troll crankbaits during the day; wader fishing
is your best chance to catch trophy size fish.
Spirit Lake
Walleye
- Good: The fall walleye bite has started with action
improving. Yellow
Perch - Good: Good numbers of angler acceptable size yellow perch continue to be caught in the outside line of the weed beds. Bonus bluegill will be mixed in the catch.
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.
Cedar River (above Nashua)
The river is rising and extremely muddy. Boating is not recommended. Visit the USGS Current Water Data website for current water level information. Walleye -Slow. Channel
Catfish - Fair: Use chicken liver, stink bait or dead chubs. Catfish will be in a
slow pocket or area out of the current.
Decorah District Streams
Small game hunting seasons are open in Iowa. Many trout streams flow through areas with hunting. Wear bright colors. Due to recent rain, streams will be stocked depending on stream
conditions the day of stocking. Listen to the trout stocking hotline (563-927-5736) for daily information. Brook Trout - Fair: A variety of aquatic and terrestrial insects, like ants and beetles, are more numerous. Try small spinnerbaits and jigs tipped with twister tails. Brown Trout - Good: Hendrickson caddis and cranefly hatches are occurring. Crickets are common along streams now. Use hendrickson gnat or beadhead nymph patterns. Pale yellow, black, brown, and grey colors work best. Rainbow Trout - Fair: Try a piece of worm or small cheese chunk on a hook under a bobber in the deeper holes or floated past an undercut bank. A variety of small spinnerbaits work well.
French
Creek
The bridge on Mays Prairie Road (CR X6A) is being replaced. Work is scheduled
through mid-November. Access the parking lot from the south. Brown Trout
- Good: The best time to fish French Creek is after rain events so fish will be
less spooky. This stream rarely turns off color.
Lake Hendricks
Water temperatures are in the upper 60's. Clarity remains poor. Black Crappie - Slow: Drift a minnow in deeper water. Largemouth Bass - Slow: Try near submersed rocky habitat or depth contours in
the early morning. Channel
Catfish - Good: Use a large night crawler fished off the
bottom near woody structure. Bluegill - Slow: Activity should pick up with cooler temperatures. Try a small jig tipped with small piece of worm off rocky shoreline or near submersed logs.
Lake Meyer
Lake clarity is about 5 feet, but will likely be much less after this
current rainy period. Water temperatures are in the upper 60's. Few people have
been out fishing. Bluegill - Fair: Use a hook tipped with a small piece of worm or cricket under a bobber in deeper water. Channel
Catfish - Good: Try stink bait or cut baits fished just off
the bottom in the evening. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Use topwater baits along weed edges on overcast days and late evenings. Black Crappie - Fair: Use a jig and minnow near submersed structure.
Osborne
Pond
Osborne Pond is currently being renovated. The dam was breached in July
and a water retention basin installed. Material will be removed over the winter
and new habitat installed in the spring. After repairs to the dam are made, it will
be allowed to fill. The pond will then be restocked with bluegill, channel
catfish, and largemouth bass.
Turkey
River (above Clermont)
The Turkey River is rising again and muddy. Flows remain high. Boating is not recommended. Visit the USGS Current
Condition website for more information. Boat docks at Vernon Springs are out for the season. Smallmouth
Bass - Slow: Try spinner and crankbaits. Walleye -
Fair: Use minnows or lures imitating minnows in deep water drop offs.
Upper Iowa River (above Decorah)
Water levels are rising with poor water clarity. Visit the USGS Current Water
Data website for more information. Boating is not recommended. The dock is out at Lime Springs for the
season.
Upper Iowa River (below Decorah)
The Upper Iowa is rising and clarity is poor. Paddling activities are not
recommended. Visit the USGS Current Conditions website
for more information.
Volga Lake
Bluegill - Slow: Find gills along rocky shoreline or suspended deeper. Use a small jig tipped with a small piece of worm. Black Crappie - Slow: Slowly retrieve a lure over structure in deeper water. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Use topwater lures over structure or run a jig tipped with a
twister tail along a rocky shoreline. Channel Catfish - Good: Use stink bait worms or cut baits fished off the
bottom in the evening near woody structure.
Recent rainfall events have turned a majority of area rivers and streams
off color and running high. Temperatures are cooling greatly for the weekend.
Trout streams are off color and high. For current fishing information, please call the Decorah Fish Hatchery at 563-382-8324.
Casey
Lake (aka Hickory Hills Lake)
Casey Lake is in good condition with clear water. Bluegill – Good: Try fishing various depths with a piece of crawler under a bobber near
the edge of weeds or structure. Largemouth
Bass
- Good: Use topwater and plastic artificial baits. Black
Crappie - Good: Try small pink and white tube jigs or a crappie minnow
fished under a slip bobber by the jetties and dam areas in about 4 feet of
water.
The recent wet weather may provide a great opportunity to gather up bow
hunting gear for the upcoming weekend! Heavy rains and flooding is occurring on
all cold and warm water streams and rivers.Call the N.E. Iowa district
office at 563-927-3276 for more information.
Mississippi River Pool 9
River level is 8.6 feet at Lansing and is expected
to stay stable. Water temperature is near 73 degrees. The Lansing Village Creek ramp is closed through October. For more updates, call the
Guttenberg Fisheries Management office at 563-252-1156. Walleye - Good: Fishing wing dam areas will get easier with a drop in river levels. Use
crankbaits or 3-way rigs tipped with crawlers in 8-12 feet of water. Yellow Perch - Excellent: Perch bite has picked up. Many 13 inch fish are being caught with live minnow floated under a
bobber. Northern
Pike - Good: This time of year pike are attracted to cooler water coming in from
springs and tributaries. Cast spoons along the edge of weed beds. Channel Catfish - Good: Try cut bait or stink bait in the main and side channel borders. Largemouth Bass - Good: Look for largemouth in the slack water areas off the main channel
or running sloughs. Smallmouth Bass - Excellent: Smallmouth activity has picked up. Cast inline spinners or
crankbaits along rock or tree habitat in faster current. White
Bass
- Fair: Cast flashy spinners or crankbaits along the rocks in main channel
current for big white bass. Bluegill
- Excellent: Find bluegills in clearer water with slow current in
backwater areas away from main channel and sloughs. 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 - Fair: Expect the crappie bite to pick up this fall after the water clarity improves. Try
tube jigs or minnow under a bobber in submersed trees in the backwater sloughs.
Mississippi River Pool 10
River level is 16.4 feet at Lynxville and will stabilize near 15.5 feet next week. Water temperature is 74 degrees at the Lock and Dam 9. Walleye- Good: Fishing wing dam areas will get easier with a drop in river levels. Use
crankbaits or 3-way rigs tipped with crawlers in 8-12 feet of water. Yellow Perch - Excellent: Perch bite has picked up. Many 13 inch fish are being caught with
live minnow floated under a bobber. Northern Pike -Good: This time of year pike are attracted to cooler water coming in
from springs and tributaries. Cast spoons along the edge of weed beds. Channel Catfish - Good: Try cut bait or stink bait in the main and side channel borders. Bluegill - Excellent: Find bluegills in clearer water with slow current in
backwater areas away from main channel and sloughs. Largemouth Bass - Good: Look for largemouth in the slack water areas off the main channel
or running sloughs. Smallmouth Bass - Excellent: Smallmouth activity has picked up. Cast inline spinners or
crankbaits along rock or tree habitat in faster current. White
Bass
- Fair: Cast flashy spinners or crankbaits along the rocks in the main channel
current for big white bass. Bluegill - Fair: Find bluegills in clearer water with slow
current in backwater areas away from main channel and sloughs. 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 - Fair: Expect the crappie bite to pick up this fall after the water clarity
improves. Try tube jigs or minnow under a bobber in submersed trees in the
backwater sloughs.
Mississippi River Pool 11
River level at Guttenberg has dropped several feet to 8.9 feet and is expected
to reach 7.5 feet by next week. Water temperature is 68 degrees at
Lock and Dam 10. Walleye - Good: Fishing wing dam areas will get easier with a drop in river levels.
Use crankbaits or 3-way rigs tipped with crawlers in 8-12 feet of water. Yellow Perch - Excellent: The perch bite has picked up. Many 13 inch fish are being
caught with a live minnow floated under a bobber. Northern Pike - Good: This time of year, pike are attracted to cooler water coming in from
springs and tributaries. Cast spoons along the edge of weed beds.
Channel Catfish - Good: Try cut bait or stink bait in the main and side channel borders. Largemouth Bass - Good: Look for largemouth in the slack water areas off the main channel
or running sloughs. Smallmouth Bass - Excellent: Smallmouth activity has picked up. Cast inline spinners or
crankbaits along rock or tree habitat in faster current. White
Bass - Fair: Cast flashy spinners or crankbaits along the rocks in main
channel current for big white bass. Bluegill - Excellent: Find bluegills in clearer water with slow
current in backwater areas away from main channel and sloughs. 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 - Fair: Expect the crappie bite to pick up this fall after the water clarity
improves. Try tube jigs or minnow under a bobber in submersed trees in the
backwater sloughs.
Upper Mississippi River level is falling back into normal fall range.
Look for fish to be more active as they start fall feeding activity. Water temperatures are near 70
degrees.
Mississippi River Pool 12
Water levels will fluctuate this week, starting at 8.2 feet at the
Dubuque Lock and Dam and at 10.7 feet at the RR bridge. Water clarity is fair. The water temperature is around 72 degrees. Channel
Catfish - Good:Try stink bait or worms near shore. Channel cats feed heavily near shore during flooded
conditions. Freshwater Drum - Good: Most anglers use a simple egg sinker and worm rig. Drum will be hanging out relatively near shore in
moderate current areas. Bluegill - Good: Try finding clear water in the upper reaches of backwater areas;
use worms and bobber. Largemouth
Bass
- Fair: Fish the upper ends of backwater areas in cleaner water. Black
Crappie - Fair: Use small minnows in the clear upper reaches of backwater areas.
Mississippi River Pool 13
Water level will fluctuate this week, starting out at 9.2 feet at the
Bellevue Lock and Dam. Water clarity is fair. Avoid large tributary streams as
they are muddy. The water
temperature is around 73 degrees. The north ramp at Sabula is not in use this
year due to bridge construction. Channel
Catfish - Fair: Try stink bait or worms near shore. Move often if you are not finding
catfish. Freshwater Drum - Good:
The drum bite is on. Fish worms with an egg sinker in moderate current areas. Fish near the shorelines if possible. Largemouth
Bass
- Good: Try frog imitation lures and spinner baits in the upper ends of
backwater areas and deep in the vegetated areas. Bluegill - Good: Find the
clear water in the upper reaches of large backwater complexes; use a simple
bobber and worm. Black Crappie -
Fair: Use a small minnow and bobber in the upper reaches of backwaters in clear
water.
Mississippi
River Pool 14
Water levels are predicted to fluctuate this week, starting at around 9
feet at Fulton Lock and Dam, 12 feet at Camanche and 6.7 feet at the LeClaire. Water clarity is fair. The water temperature is around 73 degrees. Channel Catfish - Good: Try stink bait or worms
near shore or along brush piles. Channel cats feed heavily in flooded waters. Freshwater
Drum
- Good: Use a simple egg sinker/worm rig in moderate current areas. Walleye - Slow: A few
walleye were caught off the bank with jigs and minnows. Bluegill - Good: Use a bobber and worm in the upper reaches of Rock
Creek or Cattail Slough.
Mississippi River Pool 15
Water levels are near 10.2 feet at Rock Island and will rise to 12.3 feet. This level will again approach "action" flood stage, so some
boat ramps will be flooded. Water clarity is poor. The water temperature
is around 74 degrees. Channel
Catfish - No Report: Try stink bait or worms
near shore. Fish near shore in flooded waters. Freshwater
Drum - No Report: Use an egg sinker and worm rigs fished near shore in moderate current areas.
The water levels will fluctuate this week. Most ramps are usable again,
but some will have water on them. If you have any angling questions, please contact the Bellevue Fisheries
Station 563-872-4976.
Mississippi River Pool 16
Tailwater stage is 10.36 feet at Lock and Dam 15 in the Quad Cities, but is forecast to reach 12.5 feet by the middle of next week. Flood stage is 15 feet. As of Sept. 19th, the Clark's Ferry boat ramp was still
closed due to high water, but the ramp at Shady creek is open. The docks have been pulled out at the Fairport Recreational area due to
high water. Fishing has been slow.
Mississippi River Pool 17
Tailwater stage is 10.31 feet at Lock and Dam 16 in Muscatine and is forecast to rise over the weekend. Flood
stage at Lock and Dam 16 is 15 feet. River stage at Muscatine is 12.14 feet, but forecast to reach 13.2 feet by the middle of next week. Flood stage at Muscatine is 16 feet. The
Kilpeck Landing is closed. Big Timber is also closed due to high water. Fishing
has been slow.
Mississippi River Pool 18
Tailwater stage is 12.57 feet at Lock and Dam 17 above New Boston and has been falling the past week, but is forecast to rise over the
weekend. Flood stage is 15 feet at Lock and Dam 17. River level at Keithsburg is 12.52 feet and is forecast to reach 13.1 feet by the middle of next. Flood stage at Keithsburg is 14 feet. The Toolsboro access is inaccessible due to the Odessa road being
flooded. Ferry Landing is closed. Fishing has been slow.
Mississippi River Pool 19
Tailwater stage is 9.43 feet at Lock and Dam 18 and is forecast to start rising over the weekend. Flood stage is 10 feet. River level at Burlington is 14.63 feet and is forecast to start rising over the weekend. Flood stage at Burlington is 15
feet. Fishing has been slow with the high water.
River stages have been falling the past few days. With recent heavy
rains, the river is forecast to start rising over the weekend. Some boat ramps
are closed due to high water. Main channel water temperature is around 73
degrees. Water clarity is poor due to high water conditions. Fishing has been
slow with the high water. If you have questions on fishing Pools 16-19, contact the Fairport Fish Hatchery at 563-263-5062.
Big
Hollow Lake
The unstable weather isn't helping the fishing or the number of anglers
out on the lake. Black Crappie - No Report: Start looking for crappies in 6 feet of
water. Bluegill - No Report: Bluegills
should be moving in to more shallow water soon. Start at 6 feet and work your
way in from there.
Deep
Lakes
Grab a pole and go exploring at Deep Lakes; there are lots of
ponds to try. Largemouth Bass -
Fair: Most of the ponds have good numbers of bass in them; most are smaller,
but there are some big ones. Go subtle in your choice of lures with the ultra-clear
water. Bluegill - Good: Find the
right pond and you can catch some nice bluegills.
Iowa River (Columbus Junction to Mississippi River)
The Iowa River still has a lot of flow right now, but is currently back
down in its bank with only some low area flooding; it looks to be headed back
up.
Lake Belva Deer
Water warmed up over the last days to around 78 degrees again. The cooler
weather forecast should reverse that trend. Black Crappie - Fair: Last week was pretty slow; crappie should start biting again with the
water getting back to normal and cooling off. Channel Catfish - Fair: Should still be able to pick up a few catfish up by the inlet
from the marsh. Largemouth
Bass
- Fair: Picking up a few bass in the more shallow water up along the rocks and
gravel bottom areas.
Lake Darling
The water temperature is back up to about 79 degrees. Water clarity is
improving despite more heavy rains earlier this week. Fishing, while still
pretty good, is a little more hit and miss due to the weather. Bluegill - Good: Decent numbers of hand-sized bluegills are being caught in 5 or
less feet of water. Water still hasn’t cleared up after last week’s heavy
rains. So a little flash to any lure is a good idea. Channel Catfish - Good: Anglers continue to catch catfish. It’s a good time to fish the
weirs in the in-lake silt dams as the water from the recent and forecast rains come into the lake. Largemouth
Bass - Good: Bass are hovering over the rock piles in about 5-8 feet of
water. Spinnerbaits and spoons work best.
Lost Grove Lake
Water temperature was 78 degrees on Wednesday; the storm may have cooled
it off more since then. Black Crappie - Fair: Anglers are still catching crappies out deep, but if the nights stay
fairly cool, they should start to move in to shallower water. Largemouth Bass - Good: Run your favorite crankbait on the north side of the lake,
out along the mounds on the flats and in shallow.
Skunk River (Coppock to Mississippi River)
The Skunk River is back down to about 1/2 bank full. The parking
areas and lanes to them are still muddy.
For more information on the above lakes and rivers, call the Lake Darling Fisheries Office at 319-694-2430.
Central Park Lake
The lake is close to full after the renovation
project; fingerling fish have been stocked.
Coralville Reservoir
The lake level is at 705 feet (normal pool is 683.4 feet) and
slowly falling as of 9/20. All public ramps are under water and the Mehaffey
ramp is closed due to construction.
Diamond Lake
The water is muddy. Black Crappie - Fair: Try small jigs fished over deeper brush. Most fish are 8-9 inches. Channel Catfish - Good: Stink bait works best. Some limits are being
reported.
Iowa
Lake (Iowa County)
Largemouth
Bass
– Slow. Channel Catfish – Slow. Bluegill – Fair. Black Crappie - Fair: Fish in 12-15 feet of water and look for fish
suspended a few feet off the bottom.
Iowa
River (Coralville Lake to River Junction)
Catfish were biting at Hills and River Junction before the flows
bumped up to 10,000 CFS. Flows will continue to be this high until the
Coralville Reservoir is back down to normal, which could be weeks.
Kent
Park Lake
The lake is currently drained for a lake restoration project.
Lake Macbride
The motor restriction is off; any sized motor may be
used at no-wake speed (5 mph). Black Crappie - Fair: Use jigs or minnows around brush; some fish are reported as moving shallower. Walleye - Fair: Troll crawlers or crankbaits in 7-14 feet of
water. Largemouth Bass - Fair. Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) – Fair: Try topwater baits early and late then troll
during the day. Channel Catfish - Fair: Try cut bait or stink bait. Evenings are best.
Pleasant Creek Lake
The lake is still 1.5 feet low. Use caution on the lake,
as many of the new rock and wood structures are becoming submerged. There are 2
docks in at the main ramp and the fish cleaning station is open.
For more information, contact the Lake Macbride Fisheries Station at 319-624-3615.
Lake
Keomah
Bluegill - Fair: Use small
jigs tipped with live bait near shore and around the fishing jetties. Black Crappie - Fair: Use a jig tipped with a minnow around deep structure. Try different depths until you find active fish. Channel
Catfish - Fair: Use stink bait or chicken liver in 4-8 feet of water. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Try spinnerbaits, crankbaits or rubber worms around the fishing
jetties and along the dam.
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 a chunk of night crawler along the fishing jetties or around the cedar tree piles.
Lake Sugema
The south boat ramp off of Highway 2 has been reopened. There is now a construction project on the north
ramp. 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: Crappies are suspended. Try drifting minnows around the flooded timber at
different depths to find active fish. Bluegill
-
Fair: Try live bait tipped on a small jig around the shorelines and fishing jetties. Keep moving until you find active fish.
Lake Wapello
Channel
Catfish - Fair: Use chicken liver or stink bait. Don’t fish too deep as the lake does 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. Black Crappie - Slow: Try jigs tipped with a minnow in 6-10 feet of water.
Rathbun Reservoir
The current lake level is 906.10 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 in coves or areas with some water running into the lake. White
Crappie - Fair: Try minnows around deeper structure. Trolling small crankbaits can also catch suspended crappies. Crappies will start to move shallow as the water cools. Wiper
(Hybrid Striped Bass) - Fair: Troll crankbaits along rocky shorelines and around rock
piles. Follow the gulls as they will be where the schools of hybrid striped
bass are feeding. Try also vertically jigging spoon baits around rock piles. Walleye - Fair: Use night crawler rigs
or troll crankbaits around rock piles and submerged points.
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. Topwater lures can be productive along the lily
pads. 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.
Beaver
Lake
Black Crappie -
Fair: Troll twister tails or tube jigs in the top 3 to 8 feet of water
throughout the lake for 9.5 to 10.5 inch crappies
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) - Good: Troll live bait rigs and shad imitating crankbaits or soft
plastics mid-lake where the two upper arms of the lake meet. The hybrids are
still young, so the upper end on size is around 18 inches
Don
Williams Lake
Black
Crappie - Good: Good numbers of crappies are being caught trolling
twister tail or tube jigs in the upper half of the lake mostly from the boat ramp
to 100 yards up from the beach. Many are young fish just under 8 inches, with
some bigger ones mixed in.
Lake
Ahquabi
Black
Crappie - Fair: Drift or troll small white, pink and
chartreuse twister tails or tube jigs.
Red
Rock Reservoir
White
Bass
- Fair: Fishing below the dam has been the best action for a mix of white bass
and hybrid striped bass. Cast white twister tails fluke or paddle tail swim
baits. Black
Crappie - Fair: Some anglers are catching some of Red Rocks large
crappies. Fall is good time to drift or troll panfish jigs in the arms and
coves off the main lake.
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.
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 should improve in ponds this week. Always get permission to fish privately-owned ponds. Bluegill - Slow: Anglers report slow fishing in ponds after heavy
rains this week. Try fishing 4 feet below the surface for suspended fish. Largemouth Bass - Fair: 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 - Fair: Try cut bait or commercial stink baits along weed edges and around structure. Black Crappie - Slow: Find crappies suspended and around structure.
Farm
Creek Lake
Farm Creek has a good fish population with quality sized panfish. Black Crappie - No Report: Fish the creek channel for black crappie up to 12 inches. Bluegill - No Report: 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
Fishing has picked up now that the weather has stabilized. Water temperature has heated back up to 80 degrees. Water clarity is good. Bluegill - Fair: Look for bluegills close to the creek channel. Slow troll small jigs tipped with crawler for bluegills up to 9.5 inches. Black Crappie - Fair: The early morning crappie bite is best. Slow troll small crank baits or 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 - Slow: Channel catfish have slowed a bit, but anglers
report catching fish around Boy Scout Island. Fish will average 2 to 5 pounds. White Crappie - No Report: There is a good population of white crappies in Manawa.
Orient
Lake
Bluegill - No Report: Bluegills at Orient have good body condition. Channel Catfish - Good: Channel catfish are actively
feeding below the rock sediment dam. Cast liver, crawlers or cut bait next to
the current. Black Bullhead - Fair: Catch quality sized bullheads with night crawlers below the rock sediment structure.
Prairie Rose Lake
Prairie Rose will offer good panfishing. The lake has quality sized bluegills and acceptable size crappies. The water clarity has improved to 2 feet this week. Bluegill - Slow: Bluegills are in a summer pattern. Look for fish around underwater reefs and drift/troll open water areas. Bluegills in Prairie Rose are 8 to 9.5 inches. Largemouth Bass - Fair: There is a large population of 12 inch bass in the lake that offers fun catch and release fishing. Black
Crappie - Slow: Try vertical jigging or minnows under a slip bobber in
the brush piles to catch 10 plus inch black crappies. Be prepared to lose
tackle.
Viking Lake
The pontoon area will be closed starting Sept. 28th for repairs to
the seawall. Channel Catfish - Good: Cast liver in the pontoon area of the lake. Sorting is needed for larger fish. Black Crappie - Fair: Use tube jigs early in the morning and late afternoon. The fish are
averaging 9 inches. Largemouth Bass - Slow: Jig plastics in deeper brush piles during the day and cast shallow structure early morning for largemouth bass of all sizes.
Water temperatures have jumped back up near 80 degrees in the S.W.
district. For more information, contact the Cold Springs office at 712-769-2587.
Green
Valley Lake
Largemouth
Bass
- Fair: Catch largemouth bass up to 20 inches with finesse plastics fished near cedar tree brush piles. Bluegill - Good: Catch bluegill
up to 8.5 inches with worms fished in shallow bays and along fishing jetties. Black Crappie - Fair: Catch crappies up to 9 inches using minnows fished near cedar tree brush piles.
Little
River Watershed Lake
Largemouth
Bass - Fair: Largemouth bass of all sizes have been caught using topwater baits
fished in early morning or late evening or finesse plastics fished near cedar tree brush piles. Bluegill - Fair: Catch bluegills up to 9 inches with worms fished near cedar tree brush piles. Channel
Catfish - Good: Catch channel catfish up to 10 pounds with prepared baits or chicken liver fished near main lake points in the evenings. Walleye
-
Fair: Catch walleye up to 22 inches using minnows fished along the roadbed or main
lake points.
Three
Mile Lake
Bluegill - Good: Catch bluegills up to 8 inches with worms fished in shallow bays. Walleye - Fair: Catch walleyes up to 18
inches with crankbaits or minnows fished along the fish mounds or the dam.
Twelve
Mile Creek Lake
Largemouth
Bass
- Good: Largemouth bass of all sizes have been caught with crankbaits or finesse plastics fished along cedar tree brush piles or rocky areas. Bluegill - Good: Catch
bluegill up to 8.5 inches with worms fished in shallow bays. Walleye
- Fair: Catch walleyes of all sizes using minnows or crankbaits fished in 10 feet of water. Black
Crappie - Good: Catch crappie up to 9 inches with minnows fished near cedar tree brush piles.
Water temperature in most district lakes is in the mid to 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 28.26 ft. /63,600
cfs./74 degrees Fahrenheit. Missouri River water temperatures are up 3 degrees
from last week and water levels are down 0.04 feet. Water levels continue to be
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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