NORTHWEST
Black Hawk Lake
Water temperatures are in the mid-70s. Water levels are 2 inches above the spillway. Water clarity is about 12 inches. Black Crappie – Fair: Pick up crappie in and around the fish house in Town Bay and along Ice House Point shoreline. Crappie are up to 10- to 12-inches. Morning and evening bite are best. Bluegill – Slow: Use a nightcrawler under a bobber fished from the fish house or around the rock piles. Largemouth Bass – Slow. Walleye – Fair: Try the submerged rock piles in the east basin and the shoreline along Ice House Point. Try along the shore in mornings and evenings.
Brushy Creek Lake
Black Crappie – Fair: Find crappie in 10-15 feet of water. Bluegill – Slow: Find bluegill near submerged rock/brush piles in 5-15 feet of water. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Try soft plastics in deeper weedlines and rock/brush piles in 8-15 feet of water. Walleye – Slow: Pick up walleye in 10-15 feet of water on rock/brush piles. Yellow Perch – Fair.
Crawford Creek Impoundment
Water levels are at crest. Water clarity is around 2 feet. Bluegill – Fair: Recent fishery surveys show a good population and size structure of bluegill with many 8.5 and 9.5 inches. Try drifting or target some of the submerged structure in the lake.
North Twin Lake
Water levels are about 12 inches below the crest of the spillway. Channel Catfish – Fair: Try fishing from shore in 2-6 feet of water near rocky structure. A recent survey showed good numbers of 16-inches to 24-inches fish.
Storm Lake (incl Little Storm Lake)
Water temperatures are in the lower 70s. Black Crappie – Slow. Channel Catfish – Fair. Largemouth Bass – Slow. Walleye – Fair: Pick up walleye off shore near the dredge cuts; use a crawler harness or crankbaits. White Bass – Fair. Yellow Bass – Fair.
Water temperatures are in the low to mid-70s in most area lakes. For more information, contact the Black Hawk District office at 712-657-2638.
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Beeds Lake
Black Crappie – Good: Drift fish or troll small jigs along the north shore. Bluegill – Good. Yellow Bass – Fair.
Clear Lake
Water level is about 4 inch below crest. Water temperatures are in low 70s. Water clarity is 19 inches. Black Crappie – Good. Use electronics to locate fish. Largemouth Bass – Fair. Walleye – Fair: Anglers are catching walleye with live bait and crankbaits. Find fish in 3 to 8 feet of water. Try rock reefs areas and near edge of vegetation. Try fishing after sunset. White Bass – Fair: Yellow Bass – Fair: Anglers are catching a few yellow bass while targeting walleye. Live bait below slip bobbers or drifting works best.
Crystal Lake
Black Crappie– Fair: Drift fish or troll small jigs in the dredge cut. Bluegill – Fair. Walleye – Slow: Try fishing near vegetation edges and along the old roadbed.
Little Wall Lake
The south boat ramp is closed. Use the north ramp located inside Little Wall Lake Park. Channel Catfish – Fair.
Rice Lake
Any water west of the north boat ramp is a waterfowl refuge and is closed to all activity from Sept. 1st through the final day of the duck season. Signs across the lake mark this area. Bluegill – Slow. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Try fishing woody habitat. Morning bite best. Walleye – slow.
Silver Lake (Worth)
Bluegill – Fair: Try a piece of crawler under a bobber near the edge of vegetation. Yellow Perch – slow.
Winnebago River
River level is 4.62 feet. Smallmouth Bass – Fair.
For information on lakes and rivers in north central Iowa, contact Clear Lake Fish and Wildlife office at 641-357-3517.
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East Okoboji Lake
Lake level is just below crest. Black Crappie – Good: Bluegill – Good: Many bluegill seen, easily catchable around functional docks. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Bass are a little ways off shore; you can still find some around docks and other structure. Yellow Perch – Good: Many perch seen; sorting most likely needed.
Ingham Lake
Walleye – Fair: Morning and afternoon bite is best.
Silver Lake (Dickinson)
Lake level is below crest. Lake outlet boards broken during high water this summer have been replaced. Lake is experiencing an algae bloom. Walleye – Good: Bite hit-or-miss, but very good when bite is on.
Spirit Lake
Lake level is below crest. Black Crappie – Good: Anglers finding quality-size crappie; biting on almost anything. Bluegill – Good. Walleye – Good: Anglers are catching quality-sized walleye. Evening bite is best with leech and bobber from shore or crankbaits and slip bobbers by boat. Yellow Perch – Good: Sorting may be needed.
West Okoboji Lake
Lake level is below crest. Black Crappie – Fair: Bluegill – Good. Largemouth Bass – Good. Pumpkinseed – Good. Walleye – Fair. Yellow Perch – Fair: Sorting may be needed.
Water levels are at or below crest. Water temperatures are in the upper 60s low 70s. Water temperatures have slowly been decreasing with the cooler nights. Bass and panfish bite has continued to be good on most lakes. For current conditions, call the Spirit Lake District Office at 712-336-1840.
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NORTHEAST
NORTHEAST
Casey Springs
The second phase of a habitat improvement project should be finished by the end of the week. Bank stabilization and sloping, bankfull benches, and rootballs prevent soil loss, provides improved channel depths, and habitat diversity. Thanks for avoiding this area while work is on-going. Brook Trout – Slow.
Cedar River (above Nashua)
Mitchell dam will undergo a rehabilitation project on the powerhouse intake structure requiring the impoundment to be lowered by Oct. 1. River levels will be lowered one foot per day until desired levels achieved and maintained during the work. After completion, water levels will be allowed to return. Users should prepare for limited access due to lowered water levels. The river below the dam will not be dewatered. Black Crappie – Good: Use a minnow or red worm under a bobber near brush piles. Channel Catfish – Good: Try stink bait or chubs fished on the bottom in calm water or edge of current. Smallmouth Bass – Excellent: Smallmouth biting on crankbaits in off channel areas or eddies. Walleye – Good: Find walleye in deeper water. Use jigs tipped with a minnow or spinnerbaits.
Decorah District Streams
All announced and unannounced streams were stocked this week. Streams are in excellent condition. Terrestrial insects are more abundant as the heat of summer progresses. Gnats, mosquitoes, and no-see-ums are out in force. Small game hunting is occurring in wildlife management areas with trout streams running through them. Brook Trout – Slow: Sneak up on brook trout for a better chance to catch one of these beauties. Good hatches of mayflies, dragonflies, grasshoppers, crickets, and ants. Brown Trout – Good: Use spinner or crankbaits near or around logs or undercut banks. Also try streamers on larger waterbodies. Brown trout like cloudy water. Rainbow Trout – Good: Use spinnerbaits, hair jigs or hooks tipped with a small piece of worm, bread or cheese floated through deeper holes.
Lake Hendricks
Water clarity is about 3 feet. Water temperature is in the low 80s. Black Crappie – Good: Try small jigs tipped with minnow in about 6 feet of water. Bluegill – Fair: Bluegills are shallow; use a small piece of worm or waxworm. Channel Catfish – Fair: Try a nightcrawler or a squashed minnow on a hook near the bottom. Largemouth Bass – Good: Use topwater lures along the edge of vegetation.
Lake Meyer
Lake clarity is about 2 feet due to an algae bloom. Water temperature is in the low 80s. Most fish suspended at depths not greater than 6 feet. Black Crappie – Good: Use spinnerbaits or jig tipped with minnow in 6 feet of water or less. Trolling is a great option. Bluegill – Good: Try small hooks tipped with a waxworm or a small piece of worm under bobber. Channel Catfish – Slow: Use a nightcrawler on a hook fished at the bottom. Largemouth Bass – Good: Try a spinnerbait along the edge of vegetation. Reports of anglers catching quite a few small bass.
North Bear Creek
Stream habitat improvements are completed on upper North Bear downstream of 380th St. bridge with seeding and mulching. Improvements between 128th Ave. and 380th Street will start the end of September. Rainbow Trout – Slow: Thanks for staying out of this area until vegetation gets established. There are many other great locations to fish on North Bear. Stocking continues weekly.
Paint Creek
A habitat improvement project on Paint Creek in Yellow River State Forest should be finished by weekend. Bank stabilization prevents soil loss and provides improved channel depths. Thanks for avoiding this area while work is on-going. Brown Trout – Slow.
Turkey River (above Clermont)
Water clarity is good. Visit National Water Prediction Service webpage for more information. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Use shallow running crankbaits or spinners along current breaks or rocky shores. Walleye – Good: Try fishing near evening along rocky shorelines or current breaks.
Turkey River (below Clermont)
Water clarity is good to excellent. Visit National Water Prediction Service webpage for more. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Find smallies in deeper holes or near rock ledges. Walleye – Good: Use crankbaits or jigs tipped with plastics in off channel areas.
Upper Iowa River (above Decorah)
Water level is low with good clarity. Use caution on the water. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Find bass along rock ledges and deeper pools around woody habitat. Walleye – Good: Find walleye in deeper runs or pools and in back eddies; use spinnerbaits or a jig tipped with a plastic worm.
Upper Iowa River (below Decorah)
Water level is low with improved clarity. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Find smallies in off channel areas and back eddies; use spinners or streamers. Walleye – Fair: Find walleyes near mouths of cold water streams or in riffles. Evening bite is best; try spinners or crankbaits.
Volga Lake
Water clarity is improving. Water temperature is in the 80s. Black Crappie – Good: Find crappies in 6 feet of water or less or near drop-offs; use a jig tipped with a minnow. Bluegill – Good: Try a small piece of worm on a hook under a bobber near brush or rocky areas. Channel Catfish – Good: Use a squished minnow or worm fished on the bottom. Largemouth Bass – Good: Try spinners or crankbaits along jetties or drop-offs.
Volga River
Water levels are stable to low with good to excellent clarity. Visit National Water Prediction Service webpage for details. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Try topwater lures or a light colored jig with a twister tail in deeper pools.
Water levels on area rivers and streams are falling. Water clarity is good but rainfall may affect clarity. Weekend temperatures in the low 80s to 60s at night. Chance of rain through the weekend. For more information, contact the Chuck Gipp Decorah Fish Hatchery at 563-382-8324.
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Big Woods Lake
Anglers are catching crappie and bluegill. Black Crappie – Fair: Use electronics to find and drift over structure in 6 to 8 feet of water with a live minnow under a bobber or artificial jigs. Bluegill – Fair: Try a piece of worm under a bobber near area structure or off the jetties.
Cedar River (Nashua to La Porte City)
Anglers are catching channel catfish and a few walleye. Channel Catfish – Good: Try chubs fished on the river bottom below snags or other structure. Flathead Catfish – Fair: Use chubs fished on the river bottom below snags or other structure. Smallmouth Bass – Fair: Try lead head jigs with twister tails. Walleye – Fair: Cast and retrieve lead head jigs tipped with a nightcrawler.
George Wyth Lake
Anglers are catching crappie and bluegill. Black Crappie – Slow: Use electronics to find and drift a live minnow under a bobber or artificial jigs over structure in 6 to 8 feet of water. Bluegill – Fair: Use a piece of worm under a bobber in areas with structure or off the jetties.
Lake Delhi
Anglers are catching crappie. Avoid weekends; concentrate efforts early morning and evenings during the weekdays. Black Crappie – Fair: Try a minnow under a slip bobber around shoreline structure in 6 to 8 feet of water.
Manchester District Streams
Rainbow trout stockings are on schedule. Brown trout fishing is fair, especially in the evenings. Brown Trout – Fair: Use crankbaits, jigs, spinners, dry flies, or nymphs. Rainbow Trout – Good: Try jigs, spinners, crankbaits, or live bait.
Maquoketa River (above Monticello)
Anglers are catching smallmouth bass and walleye in Delaware County. Smallmouth Bass – Fair: Use live or artificial tackle. Walleye – Fair: Cast and retrieve lead head jigs tipped with a nightcrawler.
Shell Rock River (Greene to Shell Rock)
No fishing information this week.
South Prairie Lake
Fishing has been fair on crappie and bluegill. Black Crappie – Fair: Use electronics to find and drift a live minnow under a bobber or artificial jigs over structure in 6 to 8 feet of water. Bluegill – Fair: Use a piece of worm under a bobber near structure or off the shoreline .
Wapsipinicon River (Tripoli to Troy Mills)
Anglers are catching walleye, northern pike, channel catfish and smallmouth bass. Channel Catfish – Good: Try dead cut baits, stink baits, and chicken livers above woody snags. Northern Pike – Good: Cast and retrieve artificial crankbaits or spoons near woody structure. Smallmouth Bass – Fair: Try lead head jigs with twister tails. Walleye – Good: Use crankbaits off of the edge of sandbar drop-offs.
Interior rivers are at usual levels this time of year and are providing fair walleye, smallmouth bass, northern pike and channel catfish angling. Lakes in and around Cedar Falls are producing catches of panfish. Trout streams remain in excellent condition. For more, contact Manchester Hatchery at 563-927-3276.
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MISSISSIPPI RIVER
River levels are low in all Mississippi River Pools. Use caution not to back off the end of boat ramps
Mississippi River Pool 9
Water level is near 7.7 feet at Lansing and remain steady. Water temperature is 74 degrees. Army Road at New Albin, Heytman’s Landing, and Lansing Village Creek are open. Bluegill – Excellent: Bluegill moved off spawning beds into deeper water. Use light tackle on flooded shorelines and weed beds. Channel Catfish – Good: Anglers are catching channel cats on crawlers and stink bait. Flathead Catfish – Good: Use live bluegill or shiners in tailwaters of Lock & Dams and large tree snags in deeper sloughs. Freshwater Drum – Excellent: Try a piece of crawler off bottom along main channel and side channel current. Largemouth Bass – Good: Cast frog baits along weed edges in upper portions of backwaters. Northern Pike – Good: Try fishing the shallows along weed beds in backwater lakes. Try fishing near the mouth of coldwater streams and spring inlets during the heat of summer. Smallmouth Bass – Excellent: Smallmouth are biting in areas with moderate current. Cast spinners and crankbaits along the main channel rock shorelines. Walleye – Fair: Troll crankbaits on three-way rigs along deep side channel borders and wing-dams. White Bass – Good: Throw inline spinners along current breaks. Watch for schools of minnows jumping as white bass are feeding. Yellow Perch – Fair: Jig for perch in the vegetation off edge of cuts in 6-8 feet of water.
Mississippi River Pool 10
Water level is 612.8 feet at Lynxville and is steady this week. Water temperature is 77 degrees. Boat ramps at Nobles Island, Marquette, McGregor, Bussey Lake, and Sny Magill are open. Bluegill – Excellent: Bluegill have moved off spawning beds into deeper water. Use light tackle on flooded shorelines and weed beds. Channel Catfish – Good: Anglers are catching a few channel cats on crawlers. Flathead Catfish – Good: Use live bluegill or shiners in the tailwaters of the Lock & Dams and large tree snags in deeper sloughs. Freshwater Drum – Good: Try a piece of crawler off the bottom along the main channel and side channel current. Largemouth Bass – Good: Cast frog baits along weed edges in upper portions of the backwaters. Northern Pike – Fair: Try fishing the shallows along weed beds in backwater lakes. Try near the mouth of coldwater streams and spring inlets during the heat of summer. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Smallmouth are biting in areas with moderate current. Cast spinners and crankbaits along the main channel rock shorelines or at the spillway. Walleye – Fair: Troll crankbaits on three-way rigs along deep side channel borders and wing-dams. White Bass – Good: Throw inline spinners along current breaks. Watch for schools of minnows jumping as white bass are feeding. Yellow Perch – Fair: Jig for perch in the vegetation off edge of cuts in 6-8 feet of water.
Mississippi River Pool 11
Water level is 4.6 feet at Guttenberg in the tailwaters and remain steady this week. Water temperature is 77 degrees. Guttenberg City, Turkey River Landing, Finley’s Landing and Mud Lake ramps are open. Bluegill – Excellent: Bluegill have moved off spawning beds into deeper water. Use light tackle on flooded shorelines and weed beds. Channel Catfish – Good: Anglers are catching a few channel cats on crawlers or cut bait. Flathead Catfish – Good: Use live bluegill or shiners in the tailwaters of the Lock & Dams and large tree snags in deeper sloughs. Freshwater Drum – Good: Try a piece of crawler off the bottom along the main channel and side channel current. Largemouth Bass – Good: Cast frog baits along weed edges in upper portions of the backwaters. Northern Pike – Good: Try fishing the shallows along weed beds in backwater lakes. Try near the mouth of coldwater streams and spring inlets during the heat of summer. Smallmouth Bass – Excellent: Smallmouth are biting in areas with moderate current. Cast spinners and crankbaits along the main channel rock shorelines. Walleye – Fair: Troll crankbaits on three-way rigs along deep side channel borders and wing-dams. White Bass – Good: Throw inline spinners along current breaks. Watch for schools of minnows jumping as white bass are feeding. Yellow Perch – Fair: Jig for perch in the vegetation off edge of cuts in 6-8 feet of water.
Upper Mississippi River levels at Pools 9 -11 have fallen slightly this week and predicted to remain stable. Water temperatures are in the mid-70s. A lot of weeds are floating, but water clarity is good. Fish are seeking cooler water at deeper depths and area with some current.
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Mississippi River Pool 12
Water level is steady at 4.8 feet at Dubuque Lock and Dam and 7.4 feet at the RR bridge. Water temperature is around 77 degrees. Black Crappie – Good: Crappie are starting to show up in the creel; use minnows in brush piles in the larger sloughs. Bluegill – Good: Try fishing along the weedline edges that are starting to show back up after the flood receded. Channel Catfish – Excellent: The bite has been phenomenal; most anglers are using stink bait. Flathead Catfish – Fair: Anglers are using trot lines where they can find non-flooded banks. Freshwater Drum – Excellent: Use big crayfish to catch big drum. Try a simple egg sinker worm rig in areas of moderate current. Largemouth Bass – Excellent: Bass are stacked up along shoreline weed edges. Northern Pike – Good: Pike, like other predators, are seen feeding on the abundant forage along the shorelines. Smallmouth Bass – Excellent: Try small crankbaits or spinners along rock lines. Walleye – Good: Many anglers are targeting smaller flowing sloughs with crankbaits. White Bass – Good: White bass have been a consistent in the creel. Try flashy spinners in tailwater areas.
Mississippi River Pool 13
The water level is steady at 4.5 feet at Bellevue. Water temperature is 77 degrees. The water is clear. Black Crappie – Good: Crappie are starting to show up in the creel; use minnows in brush piles in the larger sloughs. Bluegill – Excellent: Some sorting may be needed to find nicer bluegill; many are being caught with worm rigs along the main channel shoreline. Brown Bullhead – No Report: Anglers using egg sinker and worm rigs in the lower pool above Clinton are catching good numbers of this unique bullhead. Channel Catfish – Excellent: Channel catfishing has been phenomenal post-flood; most anglers are using stink bait. Freshwater Drum – Excellent: Drum are a consistent biter in moderate current areas; use an egg sinker and worm rig. Largemouth Bass – Excellent: Find weed lines away from the main channel. Anglers are using gaudy spinnerbaits or frog imitation lures. Smallmouth Bass – Excellent: Try spinners or jigs around rock lines to catch abundant smallies. Walleye – Good: Some vegetation is starting to float after the flood making keeping a crankbait in the water a little difficult. White Bass – Good: Try white jigs or small spinners in the Bellevue tailwaters.
Mississippi River Pool 14
The water level is steady at 4.6 feet at Fulton, 9.3 feet at Camanche and 4.2 feet at LeClaire. The water is clear. Water temperature is 77 degrees. Black Crappie – Good: Crappie are starting to show up in the creel; use minnows in brush piles in the larger sloughs. Bluegill – Excellent: Some sorting may be needed to find nicer bluegill; many are being caught with worm rigs along the main channel shoreline. Channel Catfish – Excellent: Try stink baits in moderate current in 2-8 feet of water. Move often if you do not find fish. Floating nightcrawlers along rock lines can produce some nice channel cats. Freshwater Drum – Excellent: Worm rig with egg sinker fished along shore in moderate current will catch this consistent biter. Largemouth Bass – Excellent: Find weedlines that remain after the flood recedes; throw frog lures or spinnerbaits. Northern Pike – Fair. Smallmouth Bass – Excellent: Use spinners or jigs next to rock lines. White Bass – Excellent: Try flashy spinners or small white jigs along shorelines near the tailwater.
Mississippi River Pool 15
The water level is steady at 4.5 feet at Rock Island. The water is clear. Water temperature is around 77 degrees. Channel Catfish – Excellent: Try stink bait rigs near shore to catch abundant catfish. Freshwater Drum – Excellent: Worm rig with egg sinker fished along shore in moderate current will catch this consistent biter. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Try fishing along the many rock lines with moderate current to catch abundant smallmouth bass. Pool 15 can be an overlooked spot for smallmouth; you need be along the abundant rock lines in moderate to fast current. Smallies live in rock areas with current.
Water level has been somewhat stable the past six weeks. Quality fishing has returned to the river. If you have angling questions, please call Bellevue Fisheries Management at 563-880-8781.
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Mississippi River Pool 16
Tailwater stage is 4.56 feet and falling at Lock and Dam 15 in the Quad Cities. Flood stage is 15 feet. Black Crappie – No Report: Look for crappies in the backwaters around brush piles and snags. With the lower water conditions, look for deeper brush piles or brush piles with a little bit of flow. Try jigs and minnows or jigs and plastics. Crappies can also be caught fishing with minnows under a slip bobber. Channel Catfish – No Report: Look for channel catfish around brush piles and snags along the main channel and side channels. Try cut shad, stink bait, or crawlers above brush piles or on the upstream side of the wing-dam. With lower water conditions, catfish will most likely be toward the ends of the wing-dams where there is more current. Largemouth Bass – No Report: With lower and warmer water conditions, look for bass around brush piles and snags with a bit of current. Walleye – No Report: Look for walleyes on the wing-dams. Cast or troll crankbaits or troll a three-way rig with nightcrawlers on the wing-dams. White Bass – No Report: Try Sylvan slough below the dam outlfows. Cast crankbaits or jigs and twister tails at rocky points with current or on the tips of the wing-dams.
Mississippi River Pool 17
Tailwater stage is 3.62 feet and falling at Lock and Dam 16 in Muscatine. Flood stage is 15 feet. Black Crappie – No Report: Look for crappies in the backwaters around brush piles and snags. With the lower water conditions, look for deeper brush piles or brush piles with a little bit of flow. Try jigs and minnows or jigs and plastics. Crappies can also be caught fishing with minnows under a slip bobber. Channel Catfish – No Report: Look for channel catfish around brush piles and snags along the main channel and side channels. Try cut shad, stink bait, or crawlers above brush piles or on the upstream side of the wing-dam. With lower water conditions, catfish will most likely be toward the ends of the wing-dams where there is more current. Largemouth Bass – No Report: With lower water conditions, look for largemouth around brush piles and snags along the main and side channels. Look for snags with a little bit of current. Walleye – No Report: Look for walleyes on the wing-dams. Try trolling three-way rigs with half a nightcrawler on the upstream side of the wing-dam. Walleyes can also be caught on the wing-dams casting or trolling crankbaits. With lower water conditions look for walleyes towards tips of the wing-dam where there is more current.
Mississippi River Pool 18
Tailwater stage is 3.82 feet and falling at Lock and Dam 17 at New Boston. Flood stage is 15 feet. Black Crappie – No Report: Look for crappies in the backwaters around brush piles and snags. With the lower water conditions, look for deeper brush piles or brush piles with a little bit of flow. Try jigs and minnows or jigs and plastics. Crappies can also be caught fishing with minnows under a slip bobber. Channel Catfish – No Report: Look for channel catfish around brush piles and snags along the main channel and side channels. Try cut shad, stink bait, or crawlers above brush piles or on the upstream side of the wing-dam. With lower water conditions, catfish will most likely be toward the ends of the wing-dams where there is more current. Largemouth Bass – No Report: With lower water conditions, look for largemouth around brush piles and snags along the main and side channels. Look for snags with a little bit of current. Walleye – No Report: Look for walleyes on the wing-dams. Try trolling three-way rigs with half a nightcrawler on the upstream side of the wing-dam. Walleyes can also be caught on the wing-dams casting or trolling crankbaits. With lower water conditions look for walleyes towards tips of the wing-dam where there is more current.
Mississippi River Pool 19
Tailwater stage is 1.66 feet and falling at Lock and Dam 18 above Burlington. Flood stage is 10 feet. Black Crappie – No Report: Look for crappies in the backwaters around brush piles and snags. With the lower water conditions, look for deeper brush piles or brush piles with a little bit of flow. Try jigs and minnows or jigs and plastics. Crappies can also be caught fishing with minnows under a slip bobber. Channel Catfish – No Report: Look for channel catfish around brush piles and snags along the main channel and side channels. Try cut shad, stink bait, or crawlers above brush piles or on the upstream side of the wing-dam. With lower water conditions, catfish will most likely be toward the ends of the wing-dams where there is more current. Largemouth Bass – No Report: With lower water conditions, look for largemouth around brush piles and snags along the main and side channels. Look for snags with a little bit of current. Walleye – No Report: Look for walleyes on the wing-dams. Try trolling three-way rigs with half a nightcrawler on the upstream side of the wing-dam. Walleyes can also be caught on the wing-dams casting or trolling crankbaits. With lower water conditions look for walleyes towards tips of the wing-dam where there is more current.
River stages have been falling this past week for Pools 16-19. River stages are forecast to keep falling. Main channel water clarity is fair. Main channel water temperature is around 76 degrees. If you have questions on fishing Pools 16-19, contact the Fairport Fish Hatchery at 563-263-5062.
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SOUTHEAST
Big Hollow Lake
Water temperature is between 78 to 80 degrees. There are plenty of duckweed up at the upper end. Black Crappie – Slow: Crappies are in deeper water in the flooded timber around the old creek channel where it follows the bluff line on the south side of the lake. Bluegill – Fair: Bluegill fishing has picked up a little bit with anglers working the edge of the flooded timber in 6 to 7 feet of water down towards the dam.
Iowa River (Columbus Junction to Mississippi River)
Water temperature is at 71 degrees. Water levels are holding steady. Boatable water in the Wapello area. Up near Columbus Junction is getting kind of shallow. Channel Catfish – Good: Try minnows and nightcrawlers along the back drop-offs on the sandbars and just behind the back edges of the brush piles, not too far out from the bank.
Lake Belva Deer
Water temperature was 78 degrees. Still a green cast to the water. Lake has not yet turned over for the fall. Black Crappie – Slow: Crappies are staying out in their summer refuges in 10 to 12 feet of water. Try drifting or slow trolling small jigs to find them. Bluegill – Slow: Try the top of the mounds at the upper end. Channel Catfish – Good: Largemouth Bass – Slow: Work the drop-offs into deeper water where they are trying to stay cool. Target the 10 to 12 feet water.
Lake Darling
Water temperature was up to 79 degrees in the afternoons. Water still a green color, and fish are not in a hurry to move shallow. Bluegill – Slow: Some bluegills are in rock piles in 4 to 6 feet of water; most remain out in deeper water. Channel Catfish – Fair: Work the rocky shoreline with cutbait or chicken liver.
Lake Geode
Water temperature is 80 degrees. Water clarity at about 3 feet. Bluegill – Slow: Bluegills are still out in deeper water. Vertical jig over the habitat in those depth moving till you find a concentration of fish. Channel Catfish – Slow: Work the ends of the long mounds across from the beach where they touch the old creek channel.
Lost Grove Lake
Water temperature holding in the upper 70s with the hot weather. Water is starting to lose it’s green color. Water clarity down to about 4 feet. Bluegill – Fair: Try fishing off the ends of rock points in 4 to 5 feet depth. Or in 7 to 8 feet of water in the flooded timber. Largemouth Bass – Slow: Most bass are holding out in the deeper water.
Skunk River (Coppock to Mississippi River)
Water temperature was 71 degrees earlier this week. Water is getting pretty shallow but smaller jonboats and canoes/kayaks shouldn’t have too much trouble. Channel Catfish – Good: Find the deeper holes and you find the fish. It’s time to switch back to minnows and nightcrawlers for bait for the fall.
For more information on the above lakes and rivers call the Lake Darling Fisheries Office at 319-694-2430.
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Cedar River (La Porte City to Cedar Rapids)
Channel Catfish – Fair:
Coralville Reservoir
Lake level is holding at 684.7 feet and slowly rising. Water temperature have been in the upper 70s. Black Crappie – Good: Try bright jigs or minnows along rock bluffs or over brush. Channel Catfish – Fair: Troll or drift cut bait in the channel. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Cast artificials along rocky shorelines. White Crappie – Fair: Use bright jigs or minnows along rock bluffs or over brush.
Lake Macbride
Any sized motor may be used at 5 mph or less. Water temperatures have been in the upper 70s. Black Crappie – Fair: Try jigs or minnows around brush in 8-15 feet of water or troll jig/cranbait in open water for suspended fish.. Bluegill – Fair: Use worms or small jigs around rock shorelines or rock humps. Channel Catfish – Fair: Chicken livers or crawlers work best. Largemouth Bass – Good: Try fishing around rock, wood, or vegetation. Spotted bass – Good: Try fishing along shallow rock. Walleye – Slow: Try troll using crankbaits or live bait rigs over rock or windblown banks. Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) – Slow: Troll crankbaits in open water or watch for surface activity early/late in the day.
Pleasant Creek Lake
Walleye – Fair. try troll with crankbaits or live bait rigs in the evening and after dark. White Bass – Fair: Try using small crankbaits in the evening and after dark.
Wapsipinicon River (Troy Mills to Oxford Junction)
River levels are low. Smallmouth Bass – Good. Use crankbaits or soft plastics along rocky areas with current. Walleye – Good: Try crankbaits or jig/crawler in deeper holes.
For more information, contact the Lake Macbride Fisheries Station at 319-624-3615.
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Hawthorn Lake
Black Crappie – Fair: Try jig and minnow combinations in brush piles. Bluegill – Fair: Use jigs along the shoreline and open areas in the vegetation. Tip the jigs with a chunk of nightcrawler. Channel Catfish – Fair: Try nightcrawlers or chubs in 6-10 feet of water. Largemouth Bass – Good: Target the fishing jetties and rip-rapped shorelines. Use plastics in these areas and in open areas of the vegetation.
Lake Keomah
Lake Keomah is drained for a lake restoration project. Please keep out of the lake bed. Conditions of dried silt give the appearance of solid ground, but the soils are very soft.
Lake Miami
Black Crappie – Fair: Use jigs and minnows along cedar tree brush piles or drift over the brush piles. Bluegill – Fair: Try small jigs in the brush piles and along the shore. Channel Catfish – Fair: Use nightcrawlers along the face of the dam and around the jetties. Largemouth Bass – Good: Try plastics around brush piles and along rip-rapped shorelines.
Lake Sugema
Black Crappie – Fair: Try jigs and minnows in the standing timber. Bluegill – Fair: Use small jigs around submerged brush piles and the shoreline. Largemouth Bass – Good: Try plastics or spinnerbaits along rip-rapped shorelines and around submerged structures.
Lake Wapello
Black Crappie – Fair: Drift jig and minnows in deeper water; try different depths until you find active fish. Bluegill – Fair: Try small jigs around brush piles. Channel Catfish – Fair: Use dead chubs around rip-rapped shorelines. Largemouth Bass – Good: Try plastics and crankbaits around the brush piles and rip-rapped shoreline.
Rathbun Reservoir
The current lake level is 905.06 msl; the 2024 summer recreation target pool is 905.60 msl; typical recreation pool is 904 msl. Lake Rathbun has zebra mussels; properly drain, clean and dry equipment before transporting to another waterbody. Black Crappie – Fair: Try jigs around submerged cedar tree piles and docks. Crappie have moved to deeper water; target brush piles in 15-20 feet of water. Channel Catfish – Fair: Use minnows or nightcrawlers along areas with large rocks. Walleye – Fair: Try trolling crankbaits or crawler harnesses. All walleye less than 15-inches must be immediately released unharmed. Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) – Fair: Use jigging spoons or crankbaits over rock piles and submerged island.
Red Haw Lake
Bluegill – Fair: Try small jigs around the shorelines and submerged structure near the campground shoreline. Channel Catfish – Fair: Use nightcrawlers along the fishing jetties or the face of the dam. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Try plastics along rip-rapped shorelines and the fishing jetties.
Contact the Rathbun Fish Hatchery at 641-647-2406 with questions about fishing in south central Iowa.
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SOUTHWEST
Don Williams Lake
Black Crappie – Good: Drift or troll light jigs with minnows or twister tails from the main boat ramp area to about three quarters up the lake. Crappie are suspended 2 to 6 feet deep away from shore.
Hickory Grove Lake
Black Crappies – Fair: Try slowly trolling small twister tail or swim baits 3 to 6 feet deep in the upper two thirds of the lake. Bluegill – Fair: Drift live bait over habitat in 15 feet of water or less.
Red Rock Reservoir
Channel Catfish – Good: Drift cut bait rigs near and above the mile long bridge.
Saylorville Reservoir
Channel Catfish – Good: Drift cut baits or dead shad near and just above the mile long bridge.
For information on Central Iowa lakes and rivers contact Ben Dodd at 641-891-3795 or Andy Otting at 515-204-5885.
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Carter Lake
Largemouth Bass – Good: Try early morning fishing along the rocks on the north shoreline.
Greenfield Lake
Largemouth Bass – Fair.
Lake Anita
Black Crappie – Fair: Black crappie are being caught around the roadbeds. Early morning and late afternoon bite is best. Sorting is needed for larger fish. Bluegill – Fair: Slow troll small jigs to catch 8 inch bluegill. Tipping with a nightcrawler or Berkley helps. Largemouth Bass – Fair.
Mormon Trail Lake
Water clarity is good. Channel Catfish – Fair: Anglers are having success at night using cut bait. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Anglers are having success fishing top water baits early in the morning then switching to plastics in deeper water.
Prairie Rose Lake
Water clarity is poor. Black Crappie – Slow: Find submerged tree piles and vertical jig to catch 10- to 12-inch black crappie. Bluegill – Slow: Anglers are catching a few fish slow trolling deep water areas. Largemouth Bass – Good.
Viking Lake
Bluegill – Fair: Bluegill average 7.5-inches. Largemouth Bass – Good: Boat anglers are catching good numbers of bass.
For information on lakes in the Southwest District, call the Cold Springs office at 712-769-2587.
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Green Valley Lake
Docks are in at boat ramps. Bluegill – Fair: Catch bluegill up to 7.5-inches with jigs tipped with live bait near cedar tree brush piles. Channel Catfish – Fair: Use nightcrawlers or shrimp along rocky shoreline areas to catch all sizes of channel catfish. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Try finesse plastics around cedar tree brush piles to catch all sizes of largemouth bass.
Little River Watershed Lake
The dock is in at the main boat ramp. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Try finesse plastics near weedlines or cedar tree brush piles to catch all sizes of largemouth bass.
Three Mile Lake
Lake level is 11 feet below normal pool. Boat ramp lanes are out of the water at the main boat ramp.
Twelve Mile Creek Lake
The dock is in at the main boat ramp. Bluegill – Fair: Try jigs tipped with livebait fished near cedar tree brush piles for bluegills up to 8.5 inches. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Catch largemouth bass up to 19-inches with jigs or finesse plastics near weedlines.
West Lake (Osceola)
Lake level increased with recent rains, but still about 1 feet below normal. Boaters can use the boat ramps at their own risk.
Water temperatures are in the mid-70s in most Mount Ayr district lakes. For more information, call Mount Ayr Fisheries office at 641-464-3108.
