Plan your fall fishing trips with our new interactive fishing report
Our popular fishing report has been updated with new search and filter options including by location, fish species and various amenities available at each location.
The weekly fishing report is broken down by fisheries regions and management districts – Mississippi River, northeast, northwest, southeast and southwest. You can check the activity of your favorite lake, pond, river and stream within each region, including which species are being caught, a rating of the bite (slow, fair, good or excellent), and simple tips and tricks for targeting those fish.
Go to https://programs.iowadnr.gov/lakemanagement/FishingReport/ to plan your next fishing adventure.
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Mississippi River
Bellevue Management District
- Contact Person: Dave Bierman – 563-872-5495
Water levels have dropped over the past couple of weeks and are holding steady; use caution when navigating in off channel areas. Water clarity is improving. Last updated on 10/15/2025
Pool 12, Mississippi River (Dubuque)
- Water Temperature (°F): 63.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Water level is 5 feet at the Dubuque Lock and Dam and is stable. Water clarity is fair.
Black Crappie – Fair: Use a minnow or small plastic on a crappie rig in the tree piles in sloughs and backwater areas. Expect the bite to pick up as water temperatures fall.
Bluegill – Fair: Look for bluegill in backwaters and side channels around brush piles. Use a simple bobber and worm rig. Jigging a worm with a split shot rig can also be effective.
Channel Catfish – Fair: Use nightcrawlers or dip baits in areas with moderate current and hard bottoms.
Freshwater Drum – Good: Use a simple nightcrawler rig with a sinker in moderate current areas.
Largemouth Bass – Fair: Try spinnerbaits along weed edges or crankbaits along rocky structures or edges of dredge cuts in backwater areas.
Northern Pike – Good: Cast spoons, spinnerbaits or inline spinners at the mouth of tributary streams or along vegetation edges.
Sauger – Slow: Reports of saugers biting in the tailwaters of the Lock and Dam. Vertical jig live minnows or twister tails.
Smallmouth Bass – Good: Cast inline spinners or crankbaits as close as possible to rock piles or shoreline rip-rap.
Walleye – Fair: Try wing-dams throughout Pool 12; fishing has improved with the stable water levels. Troll crankbaits or crawlers on a three-way rig. Hair jigs have been effective as well.
White Bass – Fair: Look for feeding schools of white bass in the tailwaters or along rocky shorelines.
Yellow Perch – Status Unsure
Pool 13, Mississippi River (Jackson)
- Water Temperature (°F): 63.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Water level is 4.8 feet at Bellevue and holding steady. Water clarity is fair. Use caution when navigating in off channel areas.
Black Crappie – Slow: Use a minnow or small plastic on a crappie rig in the tree piles in sloughs and backwater areas. Expect the bite to pick up as water temperatures fall.
Bluegill – Fair: Look for bluegill in backwaters and side channels around brush piles. Use a simple bobber and worm rig. Jigging a worm with a split shot rig can also be effective, even along channel borders in the tailwaters.
Channel Catfish – Good: Use a crawler or dip baits in moderate current areas with hard bottoms. Lower pool stump fields can be excellent for channels.
Flathead Catfish – Status Unsure
Freshwater Drum – Fair: Use a simple nightcrawler rig with a sinker in moderate current areas.
Largemouth Bass – Fair: Try spinnerbaits along weed edges or crankbaits along rocky structures or edges of dredge cuts in backwater areas. Find clearer water within vegetation beds, which are dying off.
Northern Pike – Good: Cast spoons, spinnerbaits or inline spinners at the mouth of tributary streams or along vegetation edges.
Sauger – Slow: Reports of saugers biting in the tailwaters of the Lock and Dam. Vertical jig live minnows, nightcrawlers or twister tails.
Smallmouth Bass – Good: Cast inline spinners or crankbaits as close as possible to rock piles or shoreline rip-rap.
Walleye – Fair: Wing-dam fishing has improved with the stable water levels. Troll crankbaits or crawlers on a three-way rig on the upstream side of wing dams. Anglers are catching fish in the tailwater on jig and minnow rigs.
White Bass – Slow: Look for feeding schools of white bass in the tailwaters or along rocky shorelines. Watch for them to start breaking water; cast your rig into the area. Use a small inline spinner or small white jig with a twister tail.
White Crappie – Fair: Use a minnow or small plastic on a crappie rig in the tree piles in sloughs and backwater areas. Expect the bite to pick up as water temperatures fall.
Yellow Perch – Status Unsure
Pool 14, Mississippi River (Clinton)
- Water Temperature (°F): 64.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Water level is 4.6 feet at Lock and Dam 13 and is forecast to remain fairly steady. Water clarity is fair. Use caution when navigating in off channel areas.
Bluegill – Fair: Look for bluegill in backwaters and side channels around brush piles. Use a simple bobber and worm rig.
Channel Catfish – Fair: Try a nightcrawler or stinkbait rig on the upstream side of brush piles/snags along the main channel border or in side channels.
Flathead Catfish – Status Unsure
Largemouth Bass – Fair: Try spinnerbaits along weed edges or crankbaits along rocky structures or edges of dredge cuts in backwater areas. Find clearer water within vegetation beds, which are dying off. Also try pitching a jig into wood piles and snags.
Smallmouth Bass – Slow: Find smallmouths along rock lines with moderate current; use small crankbaits or spinners.
Walleye – Fair: Wing-dam fishing has improved with the stable water levels. Troll crankbaits or crawlers on a three-way rig on the upstream side of wing-dams.
White Bass – Fair: Try small inline spinners or small white jigs with twister tails in the tailwaters or along rocky structure. Rocky points with current can hold schools of white bass; look for them to start breaking water and cast your rig into the area.
White Crappie – Slow: Look for crappies in the backwaters and side channels around brush piles and snags; use minnows or plastics under a bobber,.
Pool 15, Mississippi River (Scott)
- Water Temperature (°F): 67.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Tailwater stage is 4.3 feet at Lock and Dam 14 and is forecast to remain fairly steady.
Channel Catfish – Fair: Use a nightcrawler and sinker or dip baits in moderate current areas with hard bottoms.
Freshwater Drum – Fair: Use a simple nightcrawler rig in moderate current areas.
Sauger – Slow: Try a jig and minnow rig or a jig and twister tail in the tailwaters.
Smallmouth Bass – Slow: Try spinners or crankbaits along shoreline rip-rap and later rocks.
Walleye – Fair: Try a jig and minnow rig or a jig and twister tail in the tailwaters.
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Fairport Management District
- Contact Person: Andy Fowler – 563-263-5062
Tailwater stages are forecast to stay fairly steady. Main channel water clarity is fair. Water temperature is around 65-67 degrees. River conditions are low; use caution when boating. Last updated on 10/16/2025
Pool 16, Mississippi River (Scott)
- Water Temperature (°F): 66.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Tailwater stage is 4.62 feet at Lock and Dam 15 in the Quad Cities and forecast to stay fairly steady. Flood stage is 15 feet.
Bluegill – Status Unsure: Look for bluegills in the backwaters and side channels around brush piles. Fish with pieces of worm under a bobber.
Walleye – Slow: Look for walleyes on the wing-dams. Cast crankbaits, jigs with minnows or plastics or troll crankbaits on the wing-dams. Tailwater fishing for walleyes has been slow; expect fishing to pick up as water temperatures drop.
White Crappie – Status Unsure: Look for crappies in the backwater and side channels around brush piles. Try vertical jigging with minnows/plastics or minnows under a bobber.
Pool 17, Mississippi River (Muscatine)
- Water Temperature (°F): 65.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Tailwater stage is 3.5 feet at Lock and Dam 16 in Muscatine and forecast to stay fairly steady. Flood stage is 15 feet.
Bluegill – Status Unsure: Try pieces of worm under a bobber in the backwaters and side channels around brush piles.
Walleye – Status Unsure: Cast jigs and minnows/plastics on the wing-dams. Cast or troll crankaits on the upstream side of the wing-dam. We have not received any reports of tailwater fishing for walleyes. Expect the tailwater bite to improve as water temperatures start to fall.
White Crappie – Good: Use jigs and minnows/plastics or minnows under a bobber in the backwaters and side channels around brush piles. Places to try are Big Timber and Cleveland Slough.
Pool 18, Mississippi River (Louisa)
- Water Temperature (°F): 66.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Tailwater stage is 3.93 feet at Lock and Dam 17 at New Boston and forecast to stay fairly steady. Flood stage is 15 feet. The outlet at Odessa has been closed.
Bluegill – Status Unsure: Try pieces of worm under a bobber in the backwaters and side channels around brush piles. Places to try are the Huron Island complex.
Walleye – Slow: Cast jigs and minnows/plastics on the wing-dams. Cast or troll crankaits on the upstream side of the wing-dam. We have not received any reports of tailwater fishing for walleyes. Expect the tailwater bite to improve as water temperatures start to fall.
White Crappie – Status Unsure: Vertical jig with minnows or plastics or fish with minnows under a bobber in the backwaters and side channels around brush piles. Places to try are the Huron Island complex.
Pool 19, Mississippi River (Lee)
- Water Temperature (°F): 67.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Tailwater stage is 1.60 feet at Lock and Dam 18 above Burlington and forecast to stay fairly steady. Flood stage is 10 feet.
Bluegill – Status Unsure: Try pieces of worm under a bobber in the backwaters and side channels around brush piles.
Walleye – Status Unsure: Cast jigs and minnows/plastics on the wing-dams. Cast or troll crankaits on the upstream side of the wing-dam. We have not received any reports of tailwater fishing for walleyes. Expect the tailwater bite to improve as water temperatures start to fall.
White Crappie – Status Unsure: Vertical jig with minnows/plastics or minnows under a bobber in the backwaters and side channels around brush piles.
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Guttenberg Management District
- Contact Person: Karen Osterkamp – 563-252-1156
Water temperatures are in the mid-60s. Water levels remain stable. Fish are feeding to prepare for colder weather and are staging toward their over-wintering areas. Last updated on 10/15/2025
Pool 10, Mississippi River (Clayton)
- Water Temperature (°F): 66.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Water level is 8.0 feet at Lynxville Dam and expected to remain stable. Water clarity is good.
Black Crappie – Good: Fall is one of the best times to catch crappie on the river. Drop small jig and minnow combos into snags in running sloughs near backwater areas.
Bluegill – Good: Comment: Look for bluegills near the mouth of backwaters and sloughs. Use a small piece of worm under a bobber.
Channel Catfish – Fair: Catfishing will be shutting down with colder weather. A last bite on stink bait is working for some anglers with reports of nice fish.
Largemouth Bass – Good: Largemouth will be moving into overwintering areas. Look for fish on woody structures near backwaters.
Northern Pike – Good
Sauger – Fair: Sauger bite should improve in tailwaters as colder weather moves in.
Smallmouth Bass – Good: Good fall feed is on. Look for bass on rocky shorelines and near wing-dams.
Walleye – Fair: Walleye fishing is starting to pick up at the dams. Try vertical jigging with a minnow. A crankbait or crawler on a three-way rigs on closing dams down river are still successful.
Pool 11, Mississippi River (Dubuque)
- Water Temperature (°F): 66.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Water level is 613.3 at Lock and Dam 11 and expected to fall slightly. Water clarity is clear with some weeds floating.
Black Crappie – Good: Fall is one of the best times to catch crappie on the river. Drop small jig and minnow combos into snags in running sloughs near backwater areas.
Bluegill – Good: Comment: Comment: Look for bluegills near the mouth of backwaters and sloughs. Use a small piece of worm under a bobber.
Channel Catfish – Fair: Catfishing will be shutting down with colder weather. A last bite on stink bait is working for some anglers with reports of nice fish.
Largemouth Bass – Good: Largemouth will be moving into overwintering areas. Look for fish on woody structures near backwaters.
Northern Pike – Fair
Sauger – Fair: Sauger bite should improve in tailwaters as colder weather moves in.
Smallmouth Bass – Good: Good fall feed is on. Look for bass on rocky shorelines and near wing-dams.
Walleye – Fair: Walleye fishing is starting to pick up at the dams. Try vertical jigging with a minnow. A crankbait or crawler on a three-way rigs on closing dams down river are still successful.
Pool 9, Mississippi River (Allamakee)
- Water Temperature (°F): 66.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Water level is 8.00 feet at Lansing and remains stable. Water is clear with some vegetation floating.
Black Crappie – Good: Fall is one of the best times to catch crappie on the river. Drop small jig and minnow combos into snags in running sloughs near backwater areas.
Bluegill – Good: Comment: Comment: Look for bluegills near the mouth of backwaters and sloughs. Use a small piece of worm under a bobber.
Channel Catfish – Fair: Catfishing will be shutting down with colder weather. A last bite on stink bait is working for some anglers with reports of nice fish.
Largemouth Bass – Good: Largemouth will be moving into overwintering areas. Look for fish on woody structures near backwaters.
Sauger – Good: Sauger bite should improve in tailwaters as colder weather moves in.
Smallmouth Bass – Good: Good fall feed is on. Look for bass on rocky shorelines and near wing-dams.
Walleye – Fair: Walleye fishing is starting to pick up at the dams. Try vertical jigging with a minnow. A crankbait or crawler on a three-way rigs on closing dams down river are still successful.
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Northeast
Decorah Management District
- Contact Person: Caleb Schnitzler – 563-382-8324
Weekend temperatures in the lower 70s to 40s at night with a chance of showers through Saturday. Water levels on many area rivers and streams are normal for this time of year. Water clarity is excellent. Last updated on 10/15/2025
Cedar River (above Nashua) (Floyd)
- Water Temperature (°F): 55.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Water levels are stable with good to excellent clarity. Try fishing overcast days and at dawn or dusk.
Smallmouth Bass – Good: Use crank baits or jigs tipped with plastic tails in back eddies or off channel areas.
Walleye – Good: Find walleye in deeper holes; use jigs tipped with minnows or nightcrawlers.
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Water clarity is improving as water temperatures fall.
Black Crappie – Slow: Try a small minnow fished about a foot from the bottom under a bobber or a small bladed lure slowly retrieved.
Bluegill – Slow: Many shoreline anglers are finding success. Use a small piece of worm on a hook under a bobber.
Channel Catfish – Slow: Find catfish near woody debris. Use a hook tipped with a full worm near the bottom.
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Water clarity is improving with about 3 feet visibility.
Bluegill – Fair: Use a jig tipped with small piece of worm or waxworm under a bobber in about 6 feet of water or shallower.
Trout Run (Winneshiek) (Winneshiek)
- Ramp Condition: Useable
All stream stockings are unannounced. Streams continue to be stocked through the end of October. Water clarity is excellent. Approach streams slowly to avoid casting a shadow in the stream. Fishing these streams may be more challenging than normal. Don’t be afraid to switch terminal tackle often.
Brook Trout – Fair: Good hatches of terrestrial insects like grasshoppers, crickets, and ants. Hatches of mayflies and midges are common on warm, sunny afternoons. Sneak up on brookies for a better chance at catching one of these beauties.
Brown Trout – Good: Brown trout are building nests or redds in the stream bottom. Walk around these cleared off areas. Use spinner baits near or around logs and undercut banks. Try streamers or a variety of terrestrial insect patterns on larger waterbodies.
Rainbow Trout – Excellent: Use spinner baits, hair jigs, or hooks tipped with a small piece of worm, bread, or cheese floated through deeper holes. Freshly stocked fish await you.
Upper Iowa River (above Decorah) (Winneshiek)
- Water Temperature (°F): 55.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Water levels are stable with excellent clarity. Try fishing overcast days or at dawn and dusk due to clear water.
Smallmouth Bass – Good: Use jigs tipped with a worm or plastic tails near rocky outcroppings or ledges.
Walleye – Good: Find walleye in deeper holes or near log jams. Use spinner or crank baits.
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Water clarity is improving with cooler temperatures. Try fishing along rocky shoreline.
Black Crappie – Fair: Use a tube jig tipped with a minnow under a bobber. Find submersed trees to fish around.
Bluegill – Fair: A small piece of worm or waxworm on a small jig works well.
Largemouth Bass – Fair: Use a crankbait or spinner bait with a slow retrieve along a sharp depth contour.
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Manchester Management District
- Contact Person: Dan Kirby – 563-927-3276
Most interior rivers are providing fair to good walleye, smallmouth bass and channel catfish angling opportunities. A few area lakes are producing some bluegill and crappie. Trout streams are in excellent condition. Contact your local bait shops for the most recent hot spots. Last updated on 10/15/2025
Cedar River (Nashua to La Porte City) (Black Hawk)
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Smallmouth Bass – Good: Cast crankbaits or jig and plastics tipped with or without half a nightcrawler.
Walleye – Fair: Cast crankbaits or jig and plastics tipped with or without half a nightcrawler.
- Ramp Condition: Useable
White Crappie – Good: Anglers are catching some quality sized fish. Try various colored tube jigs or a live minnow under a slip bobber near structure.
Maquoketa River (above Monticello) (Delaware)
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Anglers are catching smallmouth bass, channel catfish and walleye. The river is in excellent condition and should provide good angling opportunities.
Channel Catfish – Fair
Smallmouth Bass – Fair: Cast crankbaits or jig and plastics tipped with or without half a nightcrawler.
Walleye – Fair: Cast crankbaits or jig and plastics tipped with or without half a nightcrawler.
Shell Rock River (Greene to Shell Rock) (Butler)
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Smallmouth Bass – Good: Cast crankbaits or a jig tipped with a nightcrawler or float a nightcrawler under a slip bobber.
Walleye – Good: Cast crankbaits or jig and plastics tipped with or without half a nightcrawler.
Wapsipinicon River (Tripoli to Troy Mills) (Buchanan)
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Walleye and smallmouth bass are very susceptible to angling with low river levels.
Smallmouth Bass – Good: Cast crankbaits or a jig tipped with a nightcrawler or float a nightcrawler under a slip bobber.
Walleye – Good: Use live or artificial baits; fish are very susceptible with low river levels.
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Northwest
Black Hawk Management District
- Contact Person: Ben Wallace – 712-657-2638
Water temperatures are around 60 degrees. Last updated on 10/16/2025
- Water Temperature (°F): 60.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Water levels are at the crest of the spillway. Water temperatures are around 60 degrees.
Black Bullhead – Fair: Use nightcrawlers fished on or near bottom from shore. Most bullheads are 10- to 12-inches.
Black Crappie – Fair: Anglers have had some luck from the fish house in Town Bay and near the stone piers. Most fish are smaller; a few keepers are being picked up.
Channel Catfish – Fair
Walleye – Fair: Walleye are moving in closer to shore; try during evenings along shore near Ice House Point and in Town Bay.
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Yellow Perch – Fair: Sorting is needed; catch perch up to 11- to 12-inches long. Use small jigs or a piece of crawler under a bobber. Find fish along the edges of the cattails.
- Water Temperature (°F): 60.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Black Bullhead – Fair: Use a piece of crawler fished on the bottom near shore. Most fish are 11-inches.
Yellow Bass – Fair: Use a piece of crawler on a small hook or a jig under a bobber near shore. Catch bass up to 8-inches.
Storm Lake (incl Little Storm Lake) (Buena Vista)
- Water Temperature (°F): 58.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Channel Catfish – Fair: Try crawlers or cut bait on the bottom fished from shore in 2-8 feet of water.
Walleye – Slow: Expect shore fishing to pick up as water temperatures drop in the next week or two.
White Bass – Fair
Yellow Perch – Fair: Keepers are in the 9-inch range.
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Black Crappie – Fair: Catch 9.5-inch crappie in and around the fish house.
Bluegill – Slow: Fish are 7- 8 inches.
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Clear Lake Management District
- Contact Person: Scott Grummer – 641-357-3517
For additional information, contact Clear Lake Fisheries Office. Last updated on 10/15/2025
- Water Temperature (°F): 58.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Lake level is 1 inch below crest.
Walleye – Fair: Use crankbaits and live bait rigs near vegetation.
White Bass – Fair: Use your electronics to find the fish.
Yellow Bass – Fair: Try small jigs tipped with with a piece of crawler or cut bait in areas with submerged vegetation.
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Black Crappie – Fair: Drift fish or troll small jigs or live bait in 8-12 feet of water.
Bluegill – Fair
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Any water west of the north boat ramp is a waterfowl refuge and is closed to all activities from September 1st through the final day of the duck season.
Bluegill – Good
Yellow Perch – Fair: Try a small jig tipped with a piece of crawler fished in 3-6 feet of water.
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Bluegill – Fair: Use a small jig tipped with a piece of crawler near submerged vegetation.
Yellow Perch – Fair
- Ramp Condition: Not applicable
River level is 5.1 feet.
Smallmouth Bass – Fair
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Spirit Lake Management District
- Contact Person: Jed Siegwarth – 712-330-2542
Water temperatures are dropping with consistent cooler weather; most areas are in the low 60s. Fishing is picking up for many species. Fish are moving shallower as the weed line dies back. Docks and hoists have started to be pulled from the lake. All boat ramps are still open for use. Last updated on 10/16/2025
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Water temperature is in the low 60s. Anglers are catching many panfish species.
Black Crappie – Fair
Bluegill – Good
Yellow Bass – Good
Yellow Perch – Fair: Many fish have been observed; sorting will most likely be needed.
- Ramp Condition: Useable
The lake is clearing up for the fall.
Walleye – Fair: Best bite is morning and afternoon.
Silver Lake (Dickinson) (Dickinson)
- Water Temperature (°F): 60.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
The lake has started to clear up with the cooler weather.
- Ramp Condition: Useable
The walleye, crappie and perch bite is picking up.
Black Crappie – Excellent
Bluegill – Fair
Muskellunge – Good
Walleye – Good: Anglers are using crawlers and following weed lines.
Yellow Perch – Good: Sorting is needed; anglers are finding many acceptable-size fish.
- Water Temperature (°F): 62.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Black Crappie – Fair
Bluegill – Good
Largemouth Bass – Fair
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Southeast
Lake Darling Management District
- Contact Person: Vance Polton – 319-694-2430
For more information on these lakes and rivers call the Lake Darling Fisheries Office at (319) 694-2430. Last updated on 10/16/2025
- Water Temperature (°F): 68.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Water clarity remains very good; still plenty of duckweed on the lake.
Black Crappie – Fair: Crappie bite is improving. Look for crappies in 10 to 12 feet of water. No sign of movement to shallower water.
Iowa River (Columbus Junction to Mississippi R) (Louisa)
- Water Temperature (°F): 62.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
A lot of sandbars are showing as river levels continue to drop. Boating with anything with out a shallow drive/jet drive or a paddle is will be difficult.
Channel Catfish – Good: Catfishing is picking back up for the shoreline anglers. Try minnows or nightcrawlers along the rocky banks. They are starting to fatten up for the winter migration.
White Bass – Fair: Anglers are picking up some white bass below Wapello using nightcrawlers.
- Water Temperature (°F): 66.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
The lake turned over earlier this week or last weekend. The water still has a green tint, but less than last week.
Black Crappie – Fair: Crappie fishing is slowly improving. Find crappies in 10 to 12 feet of water out in the trees. Try vertically jigging and slowly drifting or trolling until you find active fish.
- Water Temperature (°F): 67.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
The lake has turned over for the Fall; there is good oxygen all the way to the bottom of the lake. There is still a green tint to the lake, but not the thick layer on top.
Black Crappie – Fair: Crappies are starting to bite a little better, but not great. Try vertical jigging or slip bobbers and minnows out over the habitat in 10 to 12 feet of water. Anglers are catchisng mostly smaller, 8- to 10-inch fish.
Bluegill – Slow: Bluegills remain in a holding pattern with the water temperature continuing to rise. Look for them out in the brush piles in 10-12 feet of water.
Largemouth Bass – Fair: Find 10- to 14-inch bass in shallow, despite bluegills moving out into deeper water. Lots of green sunfish to feed on in the rocks; look for the bass there first.
- Water Temperature (°F): 70.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
The lake turned over earlier this week; fish are still getting use to the change. The turnover mixed the water so the algae layer, while dispersed, is deeper than usual.
Black Crappie – Slow: Crappies were still adjusting to the up and down of the water temperature; 70 degree water temperatures in October? And then the fall turnover mixed the lake water. Find crappie holding tight in the habitat in 8 to 10 feet of water; they don’t seem to be eager to bite.
- Water Temperature (°F): 60.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Water clarity is 24 inches. Water temperature is holding at about 60-62 degrees.
Bluegill – Fair: Bluegills are still a little small, only having been first stocked a little over three years ago. There are increasing numbers of 7- to 8-inch fish.
Largemouth Bass – Fair: The initial stocking of bass is starting to produce 16-inch and 17-inch bass. Look for them around the tree falls in the coontail weedbeds.
- Water Temperature (°F): 60.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Water clarity is around 4 feet. Look for the water temperature to rise during the next couple of days. Eurasian Watermilfoil has returned to the lake. Please make sure to clean off your boat and trailer before leaving.
Bluegill – Fair: The bigger bluegills are holding firm to their habitat spots in 6-7 feet of water as the water temperature rollercoaster ride continues. If it water temperatures stabilize, expect them to start feeding actively again.
Largemouth Bass – Fair: Bass are starting to get more active as they adjust to the up and down water temperature. Work the edges of the weed beds in 5 to 6 feet of water along with any brush at those same depths.
- Water Temperature (°F): 61.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Water clarity is good at about 30 inches.
Largemouth Bass – Fair: Look for bass in the outer edges of the weedbeds in 5-6 feet of water where they are hunting bluegills and out in the tree piles sticking out of the water in the middle of the lake. Use crankbaits along the weedbeds and jigs out amongst the trees.
Skunk River (Rose Hill to Coppock) (Washington)
- Water Temperature (°F): 63.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Water levels are down to “canoes” level. Lots of exposed gravel and sandbars.
Channel Catfish – Fair: Bank fishing for catfish is picking up as leaves start to fall. Catfish are trying to fatten up for their fall migration to their overwintering spots. Try nightcrawlers and minnows along the back edges of the gravel bars and out front of the brush piles.
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Macbride Management District
- Contact Person: D. J. Vogeler or Chris Mack – 319-624-3615
Cedar River (La Porte City to Cedar Rapids) (Linn)
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Channel Catfish – Fair
Smallmouth Bass – Fair
Walleye – Fair
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Bluegill – Fair
Largemouth Bass – Fair
Coralville Reservoir (Johnson)
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Black Crappie – Fair
Largemouth Bass – Fair
Spotted bass – Fair
White Crappie – Fair
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Bluegill – Good: Mostly 5″-7″ fish.
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Black Crappie – Fair
Bluegill – Good
Channel Catfish – Slow
Largemouth Bass – Fair
Iowa River (Coralville Lake to River Junction) (Johnson)
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Channel Catfish – Fair
Sauger – Slow
Saugeye – Slow
Walleye – Fair
White Bass – Slow
Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) – Slow
Iowa River (Marshalltown to Coralville Lake) (Iowa)
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Channel Catfish – Fair
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Largemouth Bass – Good
Spotted bass – Fair
White Crappie – Good
Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) – Fair: Look for surface activity on wind-blown shorelines at sunrise or sunset.
North Ridge Park Pond (Johnson)
- Ramp Condition: Not applicable
Bluegill – Fair
Largemouth Bass – Good
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Bluegill – Fair
Largemouth Bass – Fair
Walleye – Slow
Wapsipinicon River (Troy Mills to Oxford Junction) (Jones)
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Channel Catfish – Fair
Smallmouth Bass – Fair
Walleye – Fair
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Rathbun Management District
- Contact Person: Rathbun Fish Hatchery personnel – 641-647-2406
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Black Crappie – Slow: Try small jigs around the submerged structure and around the jetties.
Bluegill – Fair: Use small jigs along the shorelines and in openings in the vegetation.
Largemouth Bass – Fair: Try plastics around the jetties and along the face of the dam.
- Ramp Condition: Closed
Lake Keomah is drained for a lake restoration project. Please stay out of the lakebed.
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Black Crappie – Slow: Try small jigs along the face of the dam and around the docks.
Bluegill – Slow: Use small jigs around the cedar trees piles or along the shoreline.
Largemouth Bass – Fair: Target areas of the lake with rip-rap such as the jetties and along the face of the dam.
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Black Crappie – Fair: Try jig and minnow combos. Look for suspended fish in 6-8 feet of water. Crappies should start to move shallow as the water cools.
Bluegill – Fair: Try small jigs in the open areas around the vegetation.
Largemouth Bass – Fair: Try plastics around the fishing jetties and along any rip-rapped shoreline.
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Black Crappie – Fair: Use jigs around the cedar tree piles or target suspended fish in 6-8 feet of water.
Bluegill – Fair: Look for bluegills around structure. Use small jigs.
Largemouth Bass – Fair: Use spinnerbaits and plastics around the cedar tree piles.
- Water Temperature (°F): 68.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
The lake level is 904.97 msl; recreation pool is 904 msl. Lake Rathbun contains zebra mussels; clean, drain and dry your boat before going to another water body.
Black Crappie – Slow: Target brush piles and other underwater areas with structure.
Channel Catfish – Fair: Try chicken liver or cut bait.
Walleye – Slow: Use crankbaits around rock piles and the old river channel.
Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) – Fair: Try vertically jigging over rock piles or trolling crankbaits.
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Black Crappie – Fair: Try small jigs along the shoreline and around the jetties.
Bluegill – Fair: Try small jigs around the shallows and on the edge of the lily pads.
Channel Catfish – Fair: Target rocky shorelines and fishing jetties using nightcrawlers.
Largemouth Bass – Good: Target shorelines and the edge of the lily pads with spinners or plastics.
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Southwest
Boone Management District
- Contact Person: Andy Otting – 515-204-5885
October is good time to catch crappies in Central Iowa’s lakes and large reservoirs and walleye in the rivers. Last updated on 10/15/2025
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Walleye – Fair: Try jigging or trolling nightcrawlers or shad imitating plastics off jetties and around points and humps deeper during the day at depths of 8 to 15 feet and shallower in the evenings at 3 to 10 feet deep.
White Crappie – Good: Try small panfish plastics or live minnows suspended above sunken cedar trees. Use the same baits in the evenings just before dark on the rock jetties to catch crappies feeding shallow.
Des Moines River (Stratford to Saylorville Lake) (Polk)
- Ramp Condition: Not applicable
Walleye – Good: Catch walleye through the fall jigging 1/16 to 1/4 ounce jigs with twister tails, swim baits or live minnows on current seams in depths greater than 5 feet. Look for deep outside bends, and where ravines have deposited large amounts of cobble into the river channel.
- Ramp Condition: Useable
White Crappie – Fair: Try slowly trolling panfish plastics in coves off the main lake or still fishing over artificial structure. Find a map of the structures on the Army Corps of Engineer’s Lake Red Rock Homepage under Fishing Information.
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Cold Springs Management District
- Contact Person: Mark Boucher or John Lorenzen – 712-769-2587
Big Lake (Including Gilbert’s Pond) (Pottawattamie)
- Water Temperature (°F): 65.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
A community trout stocking is scheduled for October 29th. The fish will arrive around 3pm.
Farm Creek Lake (a.k.a. Young’s Pond) (Pottawattamie)
- Water Temperature (°F): 65.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Farm Creek has a good population of 8-to 10-inch black crappie.
- Water Temperature (°F): 65.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
There is a good population of 9-inch black crappie in the lake.
Black Crappie – Fair: Shore anglers are catching black crappie around the jetties with minnows under a bobber.
Largemouth Bass – Good
- Water Temperature (°F): 65.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Water clarity is good.
Bluegill – Fair: Catch bluegills around the roadbeds and deep tree piles.
- Water Temperature (°F): 64.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Alum is being applied to the lake this week. Boat ramps are available for the public.
Black Crappie – Status Unsure: Target the tree piles to catch 10-inch black crappie.
Bluegill – Slow: Anglers report nightcrawlers are the best bait to catch bluegill right now.
Largemouth Bass – Good
- Water Temperature (°F): 64.0
- Ramp Condition: Not applicable
Riepe Pond is shore fishing only.
Black Crappie – Good: Use minnows in the flooded timber.
Bluegill – Fair: Catch 8-inch bluegill along the dam with small jigs.
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Mt. Ayr Management District
- Contact Person: Andy Jansen – 641-464-3108
Water temperature is in the mid-60s in most Mount Ayr district lakes. Last updated on 10/15/2025
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Dock is in at main boat ramp.
Bluegill – Slow: Try using worms fished under a bobber fished along the fishing jetties for Bluegill of all sizes.
Largemouth Bass – Fair: Try using spinnerbaits fished near rocky shoreline areas for Largemouth Bass of all sizes.
Little River Watershed Lake (Decatur)
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Dock is in at main boat ramp.
Largemouth Bass – Fair: Try using jigs or finesse plastics fished along rocky shorelines for Largemouth Bass up to 19 inches.
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Lake level is approximately 7 feet below normal pool.
