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.
Click on “View entire message” at the bottom of this email so you can view all fisheries regions and management district reports
|
|
- Mississippi River
- Northeast
- Northwest
- Buy your Missouri River paddlefish license today!
- Southeast
- Southwest
- Book a state park cabin this winter and save
|
|
Mississippi River
Bellevue Management District
- Contact Person: Dave Bierman – 563-872-5495
Tailwaters are fishable. Good panfish populations exist across the District. Fishable ice has developed in a few backwaters but is slushy on top; use caution when accessing these areas and have your safety gear with you. Last updated on 12/18/2025
Pool 12, Mississippi River (Dubuque)
- Ice Condition: None
- Water Temperature (°F): 32.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Water level is around 4.8 feet at the Dubuque tailwater and holding steady. Use caution if you go on the ice; have your safety gear with you.
- Black Crappie – Status Unsure: Excellent panfish populations exist in Pool 12; use caution when accessing backwater areas; ice conditions are not ideal.
- Bluegill – Slow: Excellent panfish populations exist in Pool 12. Anglers report a light bite; dead sticking can be effective. Use caution when accessing backwater areas; ice conditions are not ideal.
- Sauger – Slow: Very little angling efforts. Use a jig with a twister tail/plastics in the tailwater if you venture out.
- Walleye – Slow: Very little angling efforts. Use a jig with a twister tail/plastics in the tailwater if you venture out.
Pool 13, Mississippi River (Jackson)
- Ice Condition: None
- Water Temperature (°F): 32.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Water level is around 4.6 feet at the Bellevue tailwater and holding steady. Use caution if you go on the ice; have your safety gear with you.
- Black Crappie – Status Unsure: Use caution when accessing backwater areas; ice conditions are not ideal.
- Bluegill – Slow: Use caution when accessing backwater areas; ice conditions are not ideal.
- Sauger – Slow: Use a jig with a twister tail/plastics in the tailwater if you venture out.
- Walleye – Slow: Use a jig with a twister tail/plastics in the tailwater if you venture out.
- White Crappie – Status Unsure: Use caution when accessing backwater areas; ice conditions are not ideal.
Pool 14, Mississippi River (Clinton)
- Ice Condition: None
- Water Temperature (°F): 32.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Water level is around 4.3 feet at the Lock and Dam 13. Use caution if you go on the ice; have your safety gear with you.
- Black Crappie – Status Unsure: Good panfish populations exist in Pool 14; once safer ice develops head to the backwaters to target these fish.
- Bluegill – Status Unsure: Good panfish populations exist in Pool 14; once safer ice develops head to the backwaters to target these fish.
- Sauger – Slow: Very little angling efforts. Use a jig with a twister tail/plastics in the tailwater if you venture out.
- Walleye – Slow: Very little angling efforts. Use a jig with a twister tail/plastics in the tailwater if you venture out.
- White Crappie – Status Unsure: Good panfish populations exist in Pool 14; once safer ice develops head to the backwaters to target these fish.
Pool 15, Mississippi River (Scott)
- Ice Condition: None
- Water Temperature (°F): 35.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Water level is around 4.2 feet at Lock and Dam 14 and is forecast to remain fairly stabe.
- Sauger – Slow: Use a jig with a twister tail/plastics in the tailwater if you venture out.
- Walleye – Slow: Use a jig with a twister tail/plastics in the tailwater if you venture out.
|
|
Fairport Management District
- Contact Person: Andy Fowler – 563-263-5062
Tailwater stages have been fairly steady. Main channel water temperature is 33-34 degrees. The backwaters are iced over. Unsafe ice conditions. Last updated on 12/18/2025
Pool 16, Mississippi River (Scott)
- Ice Condition: Not Recommended
- Water Temperature (°F): 34.0
- Ramp Condition: Not applicable
Tailwater stage is 4.55 feet and has been fairly steady this past week. As of Dec. 18, the main channel was open but the Marquette Street ramp was still locked in by a sheet of ice that would prevent launching a boat. Unsafe ice conditions.
- Bluegill – Status Unsure: Backwaters are freezing over. Unsafe ice conditions.
- Sauger – Status Unsure: As of Dec 4th, the Marquette street ramp was open but ramp conditions may change with freezing temperatures in the forecast.
Pool 17, Mississippi River (Muscatine)
- Ice Condition: Not Recommended
- Water Temperature (°F): 32.0
- Ramp Condition: Not applicable
Tailwater stage is 3.75 feet at Lock and Dam 16. As of Dec. 18, the main channel is open, but the ramps in Muscatine are still locked in by a sheet of ice. Unsafe ice conditions.
Pool 18, Mississippi River (Louisa)
- Ice Condition: Not Recommended
- Water Temperature (°F): 32.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Tailwater stage is 3.95 feet at Lock and Dam 17 at New Boston. Tailwater stage is forecast to stay fairly steady. As of Dec. 18, there is one ramp open at Toolsboro, but there is some flow ice coming down the channel. The Toolsboro road is slushy and muddy with the rain and warm weather. Unsafe ice conditions.
Pool 19, Mississippi River (Lee)
- Ice Condition: Not Recommended
- Water Temperature (°F): 32.0
- Ramp Condition: Not applicable
Tailwater stage at Lock and Dam 18 above Burlington is 1.93 feet and has been rising slightly. We have not received any fishing report information for this pool this week. Unsafe ice conditions.
|
|
Guttenberg Management District
- Contact Person: Karen Osterkamp – 563-252-1156
Many ramps have opened back up for open-water fishing below the dams. Use caution on backwaters on the upper Mississippi River. Recent rains may make ice unsafe. Refreezing after the rain will cause slick conditions. Don’t forget your ice cleats. Ice thickness is 8-10 inches in some areas. Anglers are catching good numbers of panfish and bass with some sorting. Entice lethargic fish to bite by presenting live bait such as a waxworm or spike motionless a few inches off the bottom. Fish have been more active in mid to late afternoon this week. Last updated on 12/18/2025
Pool 09, Mississippi River (Allamakee)
- Ice Condition: Not Recommended
- Water Temperature (°F): 33.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
River level is 613 feet at Lansing and stable. Ice fishing in Shore Slough and Village Creek harbor is producing bluegills and some perch. Use caution accessing ice from the shorelines. Recent rains will cause unsafe ice along shore and create slick conditions. Ice cleats are recommended.
- Black Crappie – Slow: Use small teardrops jigs tipped with waxworms or spikes along the weed edges of cuts.
- Bluegill – Good: Use small teardrops jigs tipped with waxworms or spikes along the weed edges of cuts.
- Largemouth Bass – Fair: Use small teardrops jigs tipped with waxworms or spikes along the weed edges of cuts.
- Northern Pike – Fair: Set a tip-up with shiners or a small bluegill.
- Sauger – Fair: Ice at the ramps has opened back up. Tailwaters are open and fishable. Use a slow presentation with live bait and cover lots of area.
- Walleye – Slow: Ice at the ramps has opened back up. Tailwaters are open and fishable. Use a slow presentation with live bait and cover lots of area.
- Yellow Perch – Fair: Use small teardrops jigs tipped with spikes along the weed edges of cuts.
Pool 10, Mississippi River (Clayton)
- Ice Condition: Not Recommended
- Water Temperature (°F): 33.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Use caution accessing ice from the shorelines. Recent rains will cause unsafe ice along shore and create slick conditions. Ice cleats are recommended. River level is 611.7 feet at Lynxville dam and stable. McGregor Lake -reports of bluegills with some sorting through the ice at Sturgeon Slough above the causeway. Sny Magill- Ice has frozen across Johnson Slough. Some anglers are walking up to Norwegian Lake. Ice is unsafe to cross to Methodist Lake. Bussey Lake-Do not access at the boat ramp due to current and unsafe ice; use Island Road.
- Black Crappie – Fair: Use small teardrops jigs tipped with waxworms or spikes along the weed edges of cuts.
- Bluegill – Good: Use small teardrops jigs tipped with waxworms or spikes along the weed edges of cuts.
- Largemouth Bass – Fair: Use small teardrops jigs tipped with waxworms or spikes along the weed edges of cuts.
- Northern Pike – Fair: Set a tip-up with shiners or a small bluegill.
- Sauger – Fair: Ice at the ramps has opened back up. Tailwaters are open and fishable. Use a slow presentation with live bait and cover lots of area.
- Walleye – Slow: Ice at the ramps has opened back up. Tailwaters are open and fishable. Use a slow presentation with live bait and cover lots of area.
- Yellow Perch – Fair: Use small teardrops jigs tipped with spikes along the weed edges.
Pool 11, Mississippi River (Clayton)
- Ice Condition: Not Recommended
- Water Temperature (°F): 33.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Use caution accessing ice from the shorelines. Recent rains will cause unsafe ice along shore and create slick conditions. Ice cleats are recommended. Mud Lake fishing is picking up through the ice. Avoid walking near the spring down to Zollicoffers. Perch and Bluegill bite is good along edges of deeper cuts.
- Black Crappie – Fair: Use small teardrops jigs tipped with waxworms or spikes along the weed edges of cuts.
- Bluegill – Good: Use small teardrops jigs tipped with waxworms or spikes along the weed edges of cuts.
- Largemouth Bass – Fair: Use small teardrops jigs tipped with waxworms or spikes along the weed edges of cuts.
- Northern Pike – Fair: Set a tip-up with shiners or a small bluegill.
- Sauger – Fair: Ice at the ramps has opened back up. Tailwaters are open and fishable. Use a slow presentation with live bait and cover lots of area.
- Walleye – Slow: Ice at the ramps has opened back up. Tailwaters are open and fishable. Use a slow presentation with live bait and cover lots of area.
- Yellow Perch – Fair: Use small teardrops jigs tipped with spikes along the weed edges of cuts.
|
|
Northeast
Decorah Management District
- Contact Person: Caleb Schnitzler – 563-382-8324
Weekend temperatures fluctuating from mid-30s in the day to single digits at night. Winds are shifting from northwest to southwest. Chance of mixed precipitation possible Wednesday into Thursday. As lakes, ponds, and impoundments freeze, use extreme caution when walking on new ice. Check ice depths often. Second shotgun deer season is open through Dec. 21; wear blaze orange. Last updated on 12/17/2025
Cedar River (above Nashua) (Floyd)
- Ice Condition: None
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Impoundments and areas with little to no current are iced over. Use caution when going out on first ice; check ice depths often.
- Smallmouth Bass – Slow: Find smallies in off-channel areas or backwaters near structure. Try small jig or crankbait fished near bottom.
Clayton County Trout Streams (Clayton)
- Ice Condition: None
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Second shotgun deer season closes Dec. 21. Public hunting occurs on many wildlife management areas that contain trout streams; anglers may observe increased activity on these shared lands. For your safety, dress appropriately (e.g., wear blaze orange). Please respect all users of these shared natural resources. The Trout Team thanks the dedicated anglers, generous landowners, and loyal supporters who contributed to the success of our program. Your support and kind words ensure our program remains strong and vibrant.
- Brook Trout – Slow: Brookies like skinny water with lots of aquatic vegetation to hide in. Try fishing the edges of the weed beds and around rocks. Make sure the fly or bait moves in front of the fish.
- Brown Trout – Good: A good trout stream doesn’t freeze in the winter because water temperatures remain above 32 degrees. Use larger flies like streamers that imitate smaller fish for a hungry brownie.
- Rainbow Trout – Good: Area streams hold plenty of carryover trout to keep anglers busy through the off season, even with the close of the catchable trout stocking season. Use spinner baits, hair jigs, or hooks tipped with a small piece of worm, bread, or cheese floated through deeper holes.
- Ice Condition: None
- Water Temperature (°F): 32.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Use caution around the open area near the aerator. Forecast rain may weaken the ice. Check ice depths often.
- Black Crappie – Slow: Find fish near submersed humps or drop-offs. Be ready for the light bite.
- Bluegill – Fair: Use waxworms on a small jig fished near the bottom. Move to a different spot if they don’t bite.
- Ice Condition: None
- Water Temperature (°F): 32.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Ice thickness is 4 to 5 inches with little to no snow on the ice. Use caution; ice conditions can change quickly depending on weather.
- Black Crappie – Slow: A few crappie are hitting jigs while anglers are fishing for bluegill.
- Bluegill – Fair: Anglers are finding gills in deep water; use a small jig tipped with a waxworm.
Turkey River (above Clermont) (Fayette)
- Ice Condition: None
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Vernon Springs impoundment near Cresco is iced over. The parking lot is cleared. Use caution when going out on ice. Ice depths in areas with currents vary greatly.
- Smallmouth Bass – Slow: Use a jig or crankbait fished near bottom.
- Walleye – Slow: Find walleye in deeper holes or along areas with structure.
Upper Iowa River (above Decorah) (Winneshiek)
- Ice Condition: None
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Impoundments and areas with little to no current are iced over. Lidtke Mill parking lot is plowed.
- Smallmouth Bass – Slow: Find smallies in deeper holes near the stream bottom.
- Ice Condition: None
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Use caution walking across deeper areas; check ice depths often. Popping ice is happy ice.
- Black Crappie – Slow: Find fish near steeper drop-offs or around brush piles. Use a small jig tipped with a minnow.
- Bluegill – Fair: Find bluegill near brush piles. Use a small jig tipped with a waxworm.
Winneshiek County Trout Streams (Winneshiek)
- Ice Condition: None
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Second shotgun deer season closes Dec. 21. Public hunting occurs on many wildlife management areas that contain trout streams; anglers may observe increased activity on these shared lands. For your safety, dress appropriately (e.g., wear blaze orange). Please respect all users of these shared natural resources. The Trout Team thanks the dedicated anglers, generous landowners, and loyal supporters who contributed to the success of our program. Your support and kind words ensure our program remains strong and vibrant.
- Brook Trout – Slow: Brookies like skinny water with lots of aquatic vegetation to hide in. Try fishing the edges of the weed beds and around rocks. Make sure the fly or bait moves in front of the fish.
- Brown Trout – Good: A good trout stream doesn’t freeze in the winter because water temperatures remain above 32 degrees. Use larger flies like streamers that imitate smaller fish for a hungry brownie.
- Rainbow Trout – Good: Area streams hold plenty of carryover stocked trout to keep anglers busy through the off season. Use spinner baits, hair jigs, or hooks tipped with a small piece of worm, bread, or cheese floated through deeper holes.
|
|
Manchester Management District
- Contact Person: Dan Kirby – 563-927-3276
Fishing reports are very minimal with most water bodies maintaining fair to good ice conditions. The extended ten day forecast is calling for temperatures above freezing. Use extreme caution over this time period as ice conditions may deteriorate. For further information, contact your local area bait shops for the most recent up to date hotspots. Last updated on 12/18/2025
- Ice Condition: None
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Anglers report catching some bluegill last week. Use extreme caution when venturing out onto the ice.
- Bluegill – Fair: Use electronics to locate fish and structure. Try jigging small ice jigs tipped with a waxworm under a bobber or spring bobber.
|
|
Northwest
Black Hawk Management District
- Contact Person: Ben Wallace – 712-657-2638
There are some open areas on district lakes; most are covered in ice ranging in thickness from 3-8 inches. Last updated on 12/18/2025
- Ice Condition: None
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Ice thickness is around 5 inches off the boat ramp.
- Ice Condition: None
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Ice thickness is around 6 inches near the Ice House Point boat ramp.
- Black Crappie – Slow: Anglers are picking up some crappie; sorting is needed.
- Walleye – Slow
- Yellow Perch – Slow
- Ice Condition: None
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Ice thickness is around 5 inches off the boat ramp.
- Ice Condition: None
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Ice conditions will deteriorate with wind and warmer temperatures. Reports of open water and unsafe ice conditions in some areas of the lake. Anglers reported only 3 to 5 inches at the north end and open water in the south end.
- Bluegill – Fair: Anglers are catching a 6-inch or less bluegill. Sorting is needed.
Storm Lake (incl Little Storm Lake) (Buena Vista)
- Ice Condition: None
- Ramp Condition: Useable
The lake is ice-covered. Unsafe conditions with possible open water and seams in some areas and up to 8 inches of ice in other areas. Conditions are variable; use caution.
|
|
Clear Lake Management District
- Contact Person: Scott Grummer – 641-357-3517
Aeration systems are running at Clear Lake, Crystal Lake, Rice Lake and Silver Lake. For information on lakes and rivers in north central Iowa, contact Clear Lake Fish and Wildlife office at 641-357-3517. Last updated on 12/18/2025
- Ice Condition: Fishable
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Ice thickness is 8 to 11 inches. Use caution fishing near the rushes. The West open water aeration system is running.
- Black Crappie – Fair
- Walleye – Slow: Best bite is near sunset.
- Yellow Bass – Fair: Try a small jig tipped with bait near the rush edge.
- Yellow Perch – Fair
- Ice Condition: Fishable
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Ice thickness is 8 to 10 inches. The open water aeration system is running.
- Black Crappie – Slow
- Ice Condition: Fishable
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Ice thickness is 8 to 9 inches.
- Black Crappie – Slow
- Yellow Perch – Fair
- Ice Condition: Fishable
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Ice thickness is 8 to 10 inches. The open water aeration system is running.
- Bluegill – Slow
- Yellow Perch – Slow
- Ice Condition: Fishable
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Ice thickness is 8 to 10 inches. The open water aeration system is running.
- Bluegill – Slow
- Yellow Perch – Fair: Use a small jig tipped with bait.
|
|
Spirit Lake Management District
- Contact Person: Jed Siegwarth – 712-330-2542
Most lakes have 8+ inches of fishable ice. Recent rains have melted most surface snow and diminished ice thickness close to shore in some areas. Ice quality should hold strong looking into the next week’s forecast. Remain cautious and take extra precautions with early season ice. Last updated on 12/18/2025
- Ice Condition: None
- Water Temperature (°F): 32.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Most areas have around 10-12 inches of ice. Reports of anglers catching quality-sized panfish species. Hole hopping may be needed.
- Black Crappie – Fair
- Bluegill – Good
- Pumpkinseed – Good
- Ice Condition: None
- Water Temperature (°F): 32.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Ice thickness is around 10 inches.
- Walleye – Fair
- Ice Condition: None
- Water Temperature (°F): 32.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Ice thickness is around 9 inches.
- Yellow Bass – Good: Reports of anglers catching lots of smaller yellow bass.
Silver Lake (Dickinson) (Dickinson)
- Ice Condition: None
- Water Temperature (°F): 32.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Ice thickness is variable at 9-12 inches.
- Walleye – Good: Reports of anglers catching 9- to13-inch walleye.
- Ice Condition: None
- Water Temperature (°F): 32.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Ice thickness is 9+ inches in most areas. Porta-potty units are available at Marble Beach and Mini-Wakan boat ramps.
- Black Crappie – Good: Anglers are catching crappie on jigs with minnows or plastics, as well as Berkley PowerBait shiners.
- Yellow Perch – Good: Reports of anglers catching 9+ inch perch.
- Ice Condition: None
- Water Temperature (°F): 34.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
The lake has almost entirely frozen over. Some bays may permit fishing, but most areas are still not recommended.
Black Crappie – Fair
|
|
Buy your Missouri River paddlefish license today!
Don’t miss your chance to catch a big fish this spring on the Missouri and Big Sioux rivers. Paddlefish can reach lengths of more than 50 inches and weigh more than 50 pounds.
Buy your special paddlefish license and tags on the Iowa DNR online licenses sales website.
You can buy up to two tags – one until Dec. 31 and an additional tag from Jan. 1 to Jan. 7, or two tags if you didn’t buy one in December.
|
|
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 12/18/2025
- Ice Condition: Not Recommended
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Big Hollow froze over last weekend. The return of warm weather this week is in the process of getting rid of that ice; rain in the forecast won’t help conditions.
- Ice Condition: Not Recommended
- Ramp Condition: Useable
- Ice Condition: Not Recommended
- Ramp Condition: Useable
High winds last weekend kept a large area of the lake open. A little ice around the edges.
- Ice Condition: Not Recommended
- Water Temperature (°F): 32.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Ice thickness is about 3 inches near shore with fairly large areas on the main lake where lake water has turned the snow into a frozen slush and even a few small areas of open water. The swans and geese left last weekend.
- Ice Condition: Not Recommended
- Ramp Condition: Useable
- Ice Condition: Not Recommended
- Water Temperature (°F): 32.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Ice thickness was 2 – 3.5 inches last weekend. Warm weather for the end of this week won’t help make more ice.
- Bluegill – Slow: Anglers are picking up a few small bluegills through the ice. Try fishing over the bigger brush piles.
- Ice Condition: Not Recommended
- Ramp Condition: Useable
With all the snow on the ice, the lake hasn’t put much new ice on this week. Ice thickness is about 3 – 4 inches on the west end of the laske; the east end didn’t freeze over completely until last weekend. The snow will hide where the ice is too thin to walk; use caution.
- Ice Condition: Not Recommended
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Ice thickness is about 2 to 3 inches at Pride Lake in Scott County Park. A hand full of anglers were out last weekend catching small bluegills and a few small bass.
- Bluegill – Slow: Anglers were picking up a few small bluegills over the weekend in 8 to 10 feet of water.
- Ice Condition: Not Recommended
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Ice thickness was about 2 to 3.5 inches before the warm weather began this week.
- Ice Condition: Not Recommended
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Wilson Lake skimmed over with ice last weekend. Now in the process of opening back up.
|
|
Macbride Management District
- Contact Person: D. J. Vogeler or Chris Mack – 319-624-3615
Check ice thickness often if going out. Some lakes are reporting varied ice depths. Last updated on 12/18/2025
- Ice Condition: None
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Ice thickness is 6 inches. There is a small open hole on north end of pond.
- Ice Condition: None
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Ice thickness is 6.5 inches.
-
- Ice Condition: None
- Ramp Condition: Useable
- Bluegill – Good
- Redear Sunfish – Good
- Walleye – Good
- Ice Condition: None
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Ice thickness is 6 inches.
- Bluegill – Fair
- Ice Condition: None
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Ice thickness is 4.5 inches; thinner areas are possible due to past waterfowl concentrations.
- Ice Condition: None
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Anglers have started venturing out fishing in the north and south arms of the lake where the best ice conditions are currently at. No activity is being reported in the main lake basin with it just capping over in past few days. North Shore Ramp: 5.5 inches of ice Main Lake Park Ramp: 3 inches of ice South Arm Campground Ramp: 6 inches of ice Cottage Reserve Ramp: 3.5 inches of ice.
- White Crappie – Fair: Anglers are catching crappie in the south arm east of causeway and in the north arm.
- Ice Condition: None
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Ice thickness is 6.5 inches.
- Rainbow Trout – Fair: Use waxworms or small minnows.
- Ice Condition: None
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Ice thickness is 5-6 inches.
- Bluegill – Fair
- Ice Condition: None
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Ice thickness is 6 inches.
|
|
Rathbun Management District
- Contact Person: Rathbun Fish Hatchery personnel – 641-647-2406
Ice is not thick enough for anglers. Last updated on 12/18/2025
- Ice Condition: None
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Skim ice forming at night will make fishing difficult to impossible until it thickens to support anglers. Very little to no fishing activity. All 12- to 16-inch largemouth bass must be immediately released.
- Ice Condition: None
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Lake Keomah is drained for a lake restoration project. Please stay out of the lakebed.
- Ice Condition: None
- Ramp Condition: Useable
- Ice Condition: None
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Skim ice is forming on calm, cold nights. No to very little fishing activity. All 12- to 18-inch largemouth bass must be immediately released.
- Ice Condition: None
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Ice is not thick enough to support anglers.
Ottumwa Park Pond South (Trout Pond) (Wapello)
- Ice Condition: None
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Thicker ice is needed for angling. Trout were stocked in early November.
- Ice Condition: None
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Lake level is 904.11 msl; recreation pool is 904 msl. Lake Rathbun contains zebra mussels; clean, drain and dry your boat before going to another water body. No to very little fishing activity. The boat ramps at Prairie Ridge and Honey Creek Resort are closed. The campgrounds at Bridgeview, Prairie Ridge and Island View are closed for the season.
|
|
Southwest
Boone Management District
- Contact Person: Andy Otting – 515-204-5885
As of Dec. 18, ice conditions remain highly variable on Central Iowa waterbodies due to rain and thawing temperatures. Ice conditions range from thin ice on lakes to 7 inches on small ponds. Ice fishing is not recommended on most lakes. Last updated on 12/18/2025
- Ice Condition: Not Recommended
- Ramp Condition: Useable
As of Dec. 18, Big Creek is mostly thin ice with up to 5.5 inches of ice at the north end.
- Ice Condition: Not Recommended
- Ramp Condition: Not applicable
As of Dec. 18, ice thickness is 5 inches at the South Ramp. Thickness decreases toward mid-lake and especially toward the western half of the lake where the lake froze last.
- Ice Condition: Not Recommended
- Ramp Condition: Useable
As of Dec. 11, ice anglers have been getting on the ice. Use extra caution with the variable ice thickness.
Rainbow Trout – Fair: Try jigging spoons and panfish ice jigs tipped with waxworms.
|
|
Cold Springs Management District
- Contact Person: Mark Boucher or John Lorenzen – 712-769-2587
Ice is deteriorating quickly in the southwest district. Last updated on 12/18/2025
- Ice Condition: None
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Ice conditions are variable and deteriorating quickly. Use extreme caution.
- Black Crappie – Fair: Fish surveys show a good population of black crappie averaging 9-inches.
- Bluegill – Fair: Anglers report good fishing around the cedar tree piles.
|
|
Mt. Ayr Management District
- Contact Person: Andy Jansen – 641-464-3108
Variable ice conditions ranging from 0-4 inches on most Mount Ayr district lakes. Some larger lakes have areas of open water as of Tuesday, Dec. 16. Last updated on 12/18/2025
- Ice Condition: None
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Variable ice conditions from 0 to 3 inches as of Tuesday, Dec. 16. Geese are keeping an area of open water near the beach area. Area of open water has increased since last week.
- Ice Condition: None
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Large areas of open water near the beach, campground point, and Kale Ave. boat ramp as of Wednesday, Dec. 10.
- Ice Condition: None
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Variable ice conditions from 0 to 4 inches as of Tuesday, Dec. 16. Ice thickness may be less near the HWY 25 bridge.
- Ice Condition: None
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Ice thickness is 3 inches at the main boat ramp as of Tuesday, Dec. 16. Open water observed on the south end of the lake. Water level remains about 8 feet below normal pool.
Twelve Mile Creek Lake (Union)
- Ice Condition: None
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Ice thickness is 3 inches at the main boat ramp as of Tuesday, Dec. 16. Open water observed in the upper end of the lake.
- Ice Condition: None
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Open water observed near the main boat ramp as of Tuesday, Dec. 16.
Stay Connected with 95.1 The Bull
Add 95.1 The Bull as a preferred source on Google to see more local news, weather, and sports in your feed.
Follow us on Facebook for breaking news, severe weather alerts, sports, and more.
