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.
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Click on “View entire message” at the bottom of this email so you can view all fisheries regions and management district reports.
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Mississippi River
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Bellevue Management District
- Contact Person: Dave Bierman – 563-872-5495
Water levels are low and forecast to hold steady; use caution when navigating in off channel areas. Main channel temperatures are in the low 50’s across the district and are steadily dropping. The fall walleye/sauger tailwater bite is picking up with some limits being reported. Wing dam anglers are reporting success as well. Last updated on 10/30/2025
Pool 12, Mississippi River (Dubuque)
- Water Temperature (°F): 50.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Water level is around 4.7 feet at the Dubuque tailwater and holding steady. Water temperatures are steadily dropping. Water clarity has decreased some after recent rains. 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 near backwater overwintering areas.
Bluegill – Slow: Look for bluegill in backwaters and side channels around brush piles. Bluegill are on the move into overwintering areas.
Channel Catfish – Fair
Freshwater Drum – Fair: Use a simple nightcrawler rig with a sinker in moderate current areas.
Largemouth Bass – Excellent: Try spinnerbaits along dying weed edges or crankbaits along rocky structures or edges of dredge cuts in backwater areas. Also try pitching jigs into woody structure.
Northern Pike – Slow: Cast spoons, spinnerbaits or inline spinners at the mouth of tributary streams or along dying vegetation edges in backwaters.
Sauger – Good: Saugers are biting in the tailwaters of the Lock and Dam. Vertical jig live minnows, hair jigs or twister tails.
Smallmouth Bass – Fair: Cast inline spinners or crankbaits as close as possible to rock piles or shoreline rip-rap.
Walleye – Good: Try wing dams throughout Pool 12; fishing has improved with stable water levels, and many fish are still on the wing dams. Troll crankbaits or crawlers on a three-way rig. Hair jigs have been effective. The tailwater bite has picked up over the past week.
White Bass – Slow
Pool 13, Mississippi River (Jackson)
- Water Temperature (°F): 50.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Water level is around 4.6 feet at the Bellevue tailwater and holding steady. Water temperatures are steadily dropping. Water clarity has decreased some after recent rains. 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 near backwater overwintering areas.
Bluegill – Slow: Look for bluegill in backwaters and side channels around brush piles. Bluegill are on the move into overwintering areas.
Channel Catfish – Fair: Use nightcrawlers or blood baits in areas with moderate current and hard bottoms.
Freshwater Drum – Fair: Use a simple nightcrawler rig with a sinker in moderate current areas.
Largemouth Bass – Excellent: The bite has picked up recently. Try spinnerbaits along dying weed edges or crankbaits along rocky structures or edges of dredge cuts in backwater areas. Also try pitching jigs into woody structure.
Northern Pike – Fair: Cast spoons, spinnerbaits or inline spinners at the mouth of tributary streams or along dying vegetation edges in backwaters.
Sauger – Good: The Sauger bite in the tailwaters of the Lock and Dam has picked up as water temperatures drop. Vertical jig live minnows, hair jigs or twister tails.
Smallmouth Bass – Fair: Cast inline spinners or crankbaits as close as possible to rock piles or shoreline rip-rap in areas with stronger current.
Walleye – Good: Try wing dams throughout Pool 13; fishing has improved with stable water levels, and many fish are still on the wing dams. Troll crankbaits or crawlers on a three-way rig. Hair jigs have been effective. The tailwater bite has picked up over the past week as well, with some limits being reported.
White Bass – Good: 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 – Slow: Use a minnow or small plastic on a crappie rig in the tree piles in sloughs near backwater overwintering areas.
Pool 14, Mississippi River (Clinton)
- Water Temperature (°F): 51.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Water level is around 4.5 feet at Lock and Dam 13 and is holding steady. Water temperatures are steadily dropping. Water clarity has decreased some after recent rains. The tailwater bite has picked up recently. Use caution when navigating in off channel areas.
Bluegill – Slow: Look for bluegill in backwaters and side channels around brush piles. Bluegill are on the move into overwintering areas.
Channel Catfish – Good: Try a nightcrawler or blood bait rig on the upstream side of brush piles/snags along the main channel border or in side channels. Some catfish have been caught off of wing dams recently as well.
Freshwater Drum – Fair: Use a simple nightcrawler rig in moderate current areas.
Largemouth Bass – Good: 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 – Good: Try wing dams throughout Pool 14; fishing has improved with stable water levels, and many fish are still on the wing dams. Troll crankbaits or crawlers on a three-way rig. Hair jigs and paddle tails have been effective. The tailwater bite has also picked up over the past week.
White Bass – Fair: Try small inline spinners or small white jigs with twister tails in the tailwaters. Rocky points with current can hold schools of white bass; look for them to start breaking water and cast your rig into the area. Some white bass catches on wing dams have been recently reported.
White Crappie – Slow: Look for crappies in the backwaters and side channels around brush piles and snags; use minnows or plastics under a bobber. Crappie will move into overwintering areas soon.
Pool 15, Mississippi River (Scott)
- Water Temperature (°F): 53.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Tailwater stage is 4.4 feet at Lock and Dam 14 and is forecast to remain fairly stable. Water clarity has decreased some with the recent rains. Water temperature has cooled off considerably in the past week; the tailwater bite has picked up recently.
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 – Good: Try a jig and minnow rig or a jig and twister tail in the tailwaters. The tailwater bite has picked up over the past week.
Smallmouth Bass – Fair: Try spinners or crankbaits along shoreline rip-rap and lateral rock.
Walleye – Good: Try a jig and minnow rig or a jig and twister tail in the tailwaters. The tailwater bite has picked up over the past week.
Fairport Management District
- Contact Person: Andy Fowler – 563-263-5062
Tailwater stages have been steady this past week and forecasted to stay fairly steady. Main channel water temperature is 53 degrees and water clarity has been fair. Last updated on 10/30/2025
Pool 16, Mississippi River (Scott)
- Water Temperature (°F): 54.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Tailwater stage is 4.98 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. Places to try are Sunset Marina and the Andalusia Island complex.
Pool 17, Mississippi River (Muscatine)
- Water Temperature (°F): 53.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Tailwater stage is 3.84 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 crankbaits 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: 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): 53.0
- 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.
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 crankbaits 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): 53.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Tailwater stage is 1.77 feet at Lock and Dam 18 above Burlington and forecasted to stay fairly steady. Floodstage is 10 feet.
Bluegill – Status Unsure: As water temperatures drop look for bluegills in the backwaters. 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 crankbaits 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: As water temperatures drop look for crappies in the backwaters. 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 cooling to the mid-50s. Water levels remain stable. Fish are feeding to prepare for colder weather and are staging toward their over-wintering areas. Last updated on 10/23/2025
Pool 09, Mississippi River (Allamakee)
- Water Temperature (°F): 53.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Water level is 7.8 feet at Lansing and remains stable. Water clarity is improving. Fishing is beginning to pick up in side sloughs and backwater lakes as fish move into overwintering spots.
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: 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: Cast blade baits along the receding vegetation beds and on the edge of openings to backwater lakes where pike lay waiting for bait fish.
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.
Pool 10, Mississippi River (Clayton)
- Water Temperature (°F): 54.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Water level is 613 feet at the Lynxville Dam and expected to remain stable. Water clarity has improved .Fishing is beginning to pick up below the lock and dam.
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: 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: Cast blade baits along the receding vegetation beds and on the edge of openings to backwater lakes where pike lay waiting for bait fish.
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 (Clayton)
- Water Temperature (°F): 53.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Water level is 4.8 at Lock and Dam 10 at Guttenberg and expected to remain stable. Water clarity has improved. The bite has been fair but picking up below the lock and dam.
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: 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: Cast blade baits along the receding vegetation beds and on the edge of openings to backwater lakes where pike lay waiting for bait fish.
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.
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Northeast
Decorah Management District
- Contact Person: Caleb Schnitzler – 563-382-8324
Weekend temperatures in the 50s 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 10/23/2025
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: Not applicable
Trout stocking continues in all streams through the end of October though specific dates are not announced. Many trout streams are in wildlife management areas where hunting seasons are now open. Anglers may notice increased activity on these lands. Dress appropriately for safety. Please respect all users of these shared natural resources.
Brook Trout – Fair: Hatches of mayflies and midges are common on warm, sunny afternoons. Use flies imitating small minnows on pre-spawn brookies looking to bulk up. Avoid walking in clear gravelly spots; these are trout nests or redds.
Brown Trout – Good: Brown trout are building nests or redds in the stream bottom. Walk around these clean, gravelly spots. They might be a bit finicky during the spawn. Be ready for a challenge. Don’t be afraid to try something different if one approach isn’t working,.
Rainbow Trout – Excellent: Freshly stocked fish await you. Use spinner baits, hair jigs, or hooks tipped with a small piece of worm, bread, or cheese floated through deeper holes.
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 – Fair: Try using a crank or spinner bait through a deeper hole.
- 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 and smallmouth bass fishing. Anglers have been targeting Lakes in and around Cedar Falls/Waterloo for primarily crappie; focus your efforts in deeper water near structure as water temperatures cool quickly. Contact your local bait shops for the most recent hot spots. Last updated on 10/30/2025
- Ramp Condition: Not applicable
The Bellevue kids trout pond was stocked earlier this week with 250 catchable rainbow trout.
Rainbow Trout – Good: Try using small flashy jigs or spinner baits or the old reliable piece of night crawler under a slip bobber for some good trout action.
- Ramp Condition: Useable
There have been reports of anglers chasing crappie on Big Woods Lake.
Black Crappie – Status Unsure: Focus efforts in the deeper water near structure with the cooler water temperatures. Try both jigging with colored tube jigs or hair jigs and/or floating a crappie minnow under a slip bobber for some crappie action.
- Ramp Condition: Useable
There have been reports of anglers chasing crappie on Brinker Lake.
Black Crappie – Status Unsure: Focus efforts in the deeper water near structure with the cooler water temperatures. Try both jigging with colored tube jigs or hair jigs and/or floating a crappie minnow under a slip bobber for some crappie action.
Cedar River (Nashua to La Porte City) (Black Hawk)
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Anglers have been focusing on the walleye and smallmouth bass on the Cedar River.
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.
- Ramp Condition: Useable
There have been reports of anglers chasing crappie on George Wyth Lake.
Black Crappie – Status Unsure: Focus efforts in the deeper water near structure with the cooler water temperatures. Try both jigging with colored tube jigs or hair jigs and/or floating a crappie minnow under a slip bobber for some crappie action.
- Ramp Condition: Not applicable
Heritage Pond is being stocked with roughly 1800 catchable rainbow trout today.
Rainbow Trout – Good: Try using small flashy jigs or spinner baits or the old reliable piece of night crawler under a slip bobber for some good trout action.
Maquoketa River (above Monticello) (Delaware)
- Ramp Condition: Useable
The Maquoketa River is in excellent condition and there have been reports of anglers catching both walleye and smallmouth bass in Delaware County.
Smallmouth Bass – Good: Cast crankbaits or a jig tipped with a nightcrawler or float a nightcrawler under a slip bobber.
Walleye – Fair: Use live or artificial baits; fish are very susceptible with low river levels.
North Prairie Lake (Black Hawk)
- Ramp Condition: Not applicable
North Prairie Lake is being stocked with roughly 1800 catchable rainbow trout today.
Rainbow Trout – Good: Try using small flashy jigs or spinner baits or the old reliable piece of night crawler under a slip bobber for some good trout action.
Shell Rock River (Greene to Shell Rock) (Butler)
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Anglers have been focusing on the walleye and smallmouth bass on the Shell Rock River.
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.
Wapsipinicon River (Tripoli to Troy Mills) (Buchanan)
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Anglers have been focusing on the walleye and smallmouth bass on the Wapsipinicon River.
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 50 degrees in most area lakes. Last updated on 10/30/2025
- Water Temperature (°F): 50.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Boat ramp docks are still in.
Black Bullhead – Fair
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 though.
Channel Catfish – Fair
Walleye – Fair: Anglers are picking some fish up from shore during mid-day as well as evenings. Try along Ice House Point, Town Bay, and the east end near the outlet. Anglers have been successful with jigs and minnows.
- Water Temperature (°F): 50.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Boat ramp docks are still in. The docks at the south and west ramps will remain in year round.
Bluegill – Fair: Some sorting is needed but fish are up to 8-9 inches.
Walleye – Fair
- Water Temperature (°F): 50.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Boat ramp docks at the South and SE ramp are still in.
Black Bullhead – Fair
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): 49.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Channel Catfish – Fair
Walleye – Fair: A few fish are being picked up from shore. Try evenings for the best luck.
White Bass – Fair
Yellow Perch – Fair: Keepers are in the 9-inch range.
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Black Crappie – Fair
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 10/23/2025
- Water Temperature (°F): 50.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Lake level is 1.7 inches below crest. The fish cleaning station is closed for the season.
Walleye – Fair: Use crankbaits and live bait rigs near vegetation. Shore anglers are catching walleyes fishing from the jetties. Best bite is early morning and evenings.
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
The courtesy dock at the boat ramp has been removed.
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: Useable
River level is 5.24 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 mid to low 50s. Fishing has been good for a variety of species. Fish have been moving shallower. Many private docks and hoists have been removed from the lake. All boat ramps are still open for use. Last updated on 10/30/2025
- Water Temperature (°F): 50.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Anglers have reported doing well catching various 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
Silver Lake (Dickinson) (Dickinson)
- Water Temperature (°F): 52.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
- Water Temperature (°F): 50.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Black Crappie – Excellent: Anglers are catching crappie on jigs with minnows or plastics in 8-12 feet of water.
Bluegill – Fair
Muskellunge – Good
Walleye – Good: Anglers are using crawlers and following weed lines.
Yellow Perch – Fair: Anglers have reported greater numbers being caught recently.
- Water Temperature (°F): 55.0
- 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 ponds call the Lake Darling Fisheries at (319) 694-2430. Last updated on 10/30/2025
- Water Temperature (°F): 54.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Black Crappie – Fair: The crappies are working around the outer edges of the flooded trees in 6-8 feet of water. They seemed to have moved out there with this last big drop in water temperature.
- Water Temperature (°F): 54.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
The fall community trout stocking at East Lake Park Pond (Mount Pleasant) and associated fishing events have been rescheduled for Nov. 14. The East Lake fishing event is planned for Nov. 14 at 10 a.m.
Rainbow Trout – Status Unsure: The fall community trout stocking has been rescheduled for Nov. 14 at 10 a.m.
- Water Temperature (°F): 52.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
With falling water temperatures most planktonic algae has died off clearing the water. Water clarity a little over four feet. Water temperature 52 degrees.
Black Crappie – Fair: Crappies seem determined to stay out in deeper areas 10 to 15 feet around the trees and brush piles.
Bluegill – Fair: Bluegills have come in to feed up for the winter. A good number are in 3-4 feet of water especially near the rocks along the north side of the lake where the sun is making the water between 2 and 4 degrees warmer than the rest of the lake.
Largemouth Bass – Fair: A good number of good sized bass have come in shallow with the bluegills but an equal number have stayed out in deeper water around the flooded timber in that 10 to 15 feet depth.
Redear Sunfish – Fair: The redears have moved into shallower water to feed on the snails on the rip rap. Concentrate your efforts on the northside where the water is just a couple of degrees warmer than it is on the south side of the lake.
- Water Temperature (°F): 52.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Another big drop in the water temperature from last week. Water clarity is good although there is still some planktonic algae near the surface.
Black Crappie – Fair: Crappies continue to move in shallow especially around tree falls and docks. Lots of 9 to 10 inch fish along with a fair number of crappies in the 11-12 inch range. Cast small jigs parallel to structures and retrieve slowly back to shore.
Bluegill – Fair: Bluegills are in rock piles close to shore. The tops of the rock piles are about 4 feet down. Try a worm and bobber or a small jig tipped with a piece of worm over the top of the rock piles. There is also a fair number in the tree falls and brush piles along the north side of lake catching that extra bit of sunshine.
Largemouth Bass – Fair: A fair number of bass are working the shallows especially along the old willow along the north side of the lake.
- Water Temperature (°F): 56.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
The water temperature took another big drop this last 7 days.
Black Crappie – Fair: Crappies have divided into two groups: those staying out in deeper habitat and those coming in shallow to feed along the edges of water willow beds.
Bluegill – Fair: Bluegills are in shallow. Work edges of the willow beds that are catching the sun using bobber and waxworm.
- Water Temperature (°F): 50.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
The water temperature is finally dropping down into the low 50’s.
Bluegill – Fair: Look for bluegills around edges of coontail weed beds. Target the edges (especially weed beds) in sunlit areas where the water is slightly warmer. Use a bobber and worm.
Largemouth Bass – Fair: Continue to look for bass on the ends of the brush piles and trees sticking out from the edges of the coontail weed beds. Jigs pitched back into this structure should get you some bites.
Rainbow Trout – Status Unsure: The fall trout stocking has been rescheduled for November 14th at noon.
- Water Temperature (°F): 50.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Black Crappie – Fair: Crappies seem to be holding where they have been the last few weeks–woody habitat in deeper water; a few are in the shallower 8 to 10 feet deep habitat, and even fewer are a little shallower. As water continues to slowly cool, try a small jig over the top of the cedar trees in front of the fishing piers.
Bluegill – Fair: More bluegills have moved to shallower water to feed. Look to the north side of the lake that catches a little more sunshine especially along the rocks, but don’t overlook the edges of weed beds there, too. Concentrate your efforts in 2 to 3 feet of water.
Largemouth Bass – Fair: More bass in shallow water this week along edges of weed beds hunting bluegills. Anglers are also catching them in the deeper water habitat.
Skunk River (Rose Hill to Coppock) (Washington)
- Water Temperature (°F): 50.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
While the river is low it is high enough for fish to reach their overwintering holes with not too much trouble. The migration should be occurring now.
Channel Catfish – Good: Should still be a little time to catch some catfish as they make their way to their overwintering spots.
- Water Temperature (°F): 54.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
The fall community trout stocking has been rescheduled for Nov. 14 at noon.
Rainbow Trout – Status Unsure: The fall community trout stocking has been rescheduled for Nov. 14 at noon.
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Macbride Management District
- Contact Person: D. J. Vogeler or Chris Mack – 319-624-3615
Water temperatures are now in the 50’s across the management area. Last updated on 10/29/2025
Cedar River (La Porte City to Cedar Rapids) (Linn)
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Channel Catfish – Slow
Smallmouth Bass – Fair: Fish rock shorelines with deeper holes.
Walleye – Fair: Fish rock shorelines and deeper holes with current seams.
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Bluegill – Fair: Fish around brush piles.
Largemouth Bass – Fair: Fish brush piles along shorelines.
Coralville Reservoir (Johnson)
- Water Temperature (°F): 60.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Black Crappie – Fair: Try fishing in brush piles and along rock ledges.
Channel Catfish – Fair
Largemouth Bass – Fair
Spotted bass – Fair: Try fishing in brush piles and rocks.
Walleye – Slow: Fish rock points.
White Crappie – Fair: Fish brush piles and rock ledges.
- Ramp Condition: Not applicable
- Ramp Condition: Not applicable
Largemouth Bass – Fair
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Black Crappie – Fair
Bluegill – Fair
Channel Catfish – Slow
Largemouth Bass – Fair
Iowa River (Coralville Lake to River Junction) (Johnson)
- Water Temperature (°F): 60.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Channel Catfish – Fair: Fish have been getting caught using worms or cut bait.
Sauger – Slow: Use soft plastics along deep holes with rock and current seams.
Saugeye – Slow: Use soft plastics along deep holes with rock and current seams.
Smallmouth Bass – Fair: Use soft plastics along deep holes with rock and current seams.
Spotted bass – Fair: Use soft plastics or crank baits along rock shorelines and brush piles.
Walleye – Fair: Use soft plastics along deep holes with rock and current seams.
White Bass – Fair: Fish below dams with soft plastics or minnows.
Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) – Slow: Fish below dams with soft plastics or minnows.
Iowa River (Marshalltown to Coralville Lake) (Iowa)
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Channel Catfish – Slow
- Water Temperature (°F): 60.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Largemouth Bass – Fair
Spotted bass – Fair
Walleye – Fair: Fish rock areas or wind blown shorelines after sunset.
White Crappie – Fair: Try fishing in brush piles located in less than 12 feet of water.
Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) – Slow: Look for schools of baitfish near points.
North Ridge Park Pond (Johnson)
- Ramp Condition: Not applicable
Bluegill – Fair
Largemouth Bass – Fair
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Its been reported the lake is in the process of fall turnover so fishing will most likely be tough for next couple of weeks.
Walleye – Fair: Try fishing along wind-blown shorelines after sunset.
Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) – Slow: Fish have been scatttered but look for schools of bait fish near points with brush piles or along wind blown shorelines.
- Ramp Condition: Useable
All docks have been taken out.
Wapsipinicon River (Troy Mills to Oxford Junction) (Jones)
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Channel Catfish – Slow
Northern Pike – Slow: Anglers are catching a few pike while fishing for smallmouth and walleye.
Sauger – Slow: Use soft plastics along deep holes with rock and current seams.
Smallmouth Bass – Good: Fish rock shorelines and deeper holes with current seams.
Walleye – Fair: Fish rock shorelines and deeper holes with current seams.
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: Use 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): 62.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Lake level is 904.64 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: Use small jigs around the shallows and on the edge of the lily pads.
Channel Catfish – Fair: Use nightcrawlers along rocky shorelines and fishing jetties.
Largemouth Bass – Good: Try spinners or plastics along shore and the edge of the lily pads.
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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
Ada Hayden Heritage Park Lake (Story)
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Rainbow Trout – Good: Trout will be stocked on Monday November 3 at noon. Catch trout casting small in-line spinners, spoons, twister tail jigs and live baits under floats.
- 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 (Saylorville to Red Rock) (Marion)
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Walleye – Good: Catch walleyes below the dams and in deeper water with slow current near rip-rap or wood. Cast 1/8 to 1/2 ounce jigs tipped with minnows, twister tails or swim baits that imitate small shad or shiners.
Des Moines River (Stratford to Saylorville Lake) (Polk)
- Ramp Condition: Useable
The boat ramp at Ledges State Park will be closed beginning Monday, Oct. 27 for repairs.
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.
- Ramp Condition: Not applicable
Rainbow Trout – Good: Trout were stocked on Monday October 27. Catch trout casting small in-line spinners, spoons, twister tail jigs and live baits under floats.
- Ramp Condition: Not applicable
Rainbow Trout – Good: Trout were stocked on Monday October 27. Catch trout casting small in-line spinners, spoons, twister tail jigs and live baits under floats.
- Ramp Condition: Not applicable
Rainbow Trout – Good: Trout were stocked on Monday October 27. Catch trout casting small in-line spinners, spoons, twister tail jigs and live baits under floats.
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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): 52.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Rainbow Trout – Good: Small spinners, twister tails or live bait all work well to catch rainbow trout.
Farm Creek Lake (a.k.a. Young’s Pond) (Pottawattamie)
- Water Temperature (°F): 51.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Largemouth Bass – Fair
- Water Temperature (°F): 54.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Black Crappie – Fair
Largemouth Bass – Good
- Water Temperature (°F): 53.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Bluegill – Fair: Catch bluegills around the roadbeds and deep tree piles.
Largemouth Bass – Fair
- Water Temperature (°F): 51.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
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): 53.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Black Crappie – Fair
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 low to mid-50s in most Mount Ayr district lakes. Last updated on 10/29/2025
- Ramp Condition: Useable
The dock is in at main boat ramp.
Largemouth Bass – Slow: Catch Largemouth Bass up to 19 inches with finesse plastics fished around rocky shorelines.
Little River Watershed Lake (Decatur)
- Ramp Condition: Useable
The dock is in at the main boat ramp.
Largemouth Bass – Fair: Catch largemouth bass up to 19-inches with jigs or finesse plastics fished along rocky shorelines.
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Lake level is about 7 feet below normal pool.
Twelve Mile Creek Lake (Union)
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Yellow Perch – Fair: Catch all sizes of yellow perch with jigs tipped with live bait fished in shallow coves.
