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Mississippi River
Bellevue Management District
Water levels are rising slowly across the district after all of the recent rains. Water temperatures have dropped into the mid-60s across the district. Water clarity is poor. Call your local bait shops for the most current information. Last updated on 10/01/2026
Pool 12, Mississippi River (Dubuque)
- Water Temperature (°F): 66.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Water level is around 5.6 feet at the Dubuque tailwater and is rising. Water temperature is in the mid-60s. Water clarity is poor. Call your local DNR Fisheries office or local bait shops for the latest information.
- Black Crappie – Slow: Use a small jig and plastic combination or a live minnow rig in backwater areas with woody structure.
- Bluegill – Slow: Try a piece of nightcrawler under a bobber or a small jig in areas with woody structure in backwater areas or in marinas.
- Channel Catfish – Fair: Use dip baits or live bait in areas with woody structure like stump fields and brush piles in side channels or along current seams.
- Freshwater Drum – Fair: Use a simple sinker and nightcrawler rig in areas with moderate current or in the tailwater. Some anglers are catching freshwater drum on crankbaits.
- Largemouth Bass – Fair: Use spinnerbaits or in-line spinners along vegetation lines in backwater areas, or along areas with rip-rap.
- Northern Pike – Slow: Try large and flashy spinnerbaits or inline spinners along weedlines in backwater areas.
- Sauger – Slow: Try a three-way rig with live bait in the tailwaters.
- Smallmouth Bass – Fair: Throw inline spinners or crankbaits along rocky areas with some current/current breaks.
- Walleye – Slow: Try a three-way rig with live bait on the wing-dams or in the tailwaters.
- Yellow Perch – Slow: Look for the yellow perch bite to improve as water temperatures cool. Focus on dying vegetation lines.
Pool 13, Mississippi River (Jackson)
- Water Temperature (°F): 65.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Water level is around 5.9 feet at the Bellevue tailwater and rising. Water temperature is in the mid-60s. Water clarity is poor. Call your local DNR Fisheries office or local bait shops for the latest information.
- Black Crappie – Slow: Use a small jig and plastic combination or a live minnow rig in backwater areas with woody structure.
- Bluegill – Slow: Try a piece of nightcrawler under a bobber or a small jig in areas with woody structure in backwater areas or in marinas.
- Channel Catfish – Good: Use dip baits or live bait in areas with woody structure like stump fields and brush piles in side channels or along current seams.
- Freshwater Drum – Good: Use a simple sinker and nightcrawler rig in areas with moderate current or in the tailwater. Some anglers are catching freshwater drum on crankbaits.
- Largemouth Bass – Fair: Use spinnerbaits or in-line spinners along vegetation lines in backwater areas or along areas with rip-rap.
- Northern Pike – Slow: Try large and flashy spinnerbaits or inline spinners along weedlines in backwater areas.
- Sauger – Slow: Try a three-way rig with live bait in the tailwaters.
- Smallmouth Bass – Fair: Throw inline spinners or crankbaits along rocky areas with some current/current breaks.
- Walleye – Slow: Try a three-way rig with live bait on the wing-dams or in the tailwaters.
- White Bass – Fair: Cast a white inline spinner in areas with current where white bass are chasing minnows, like along the main channel border. Some anglers have caught white bass in the tailwaters on one-eyes.
- White Crappie – Slow: Use a small jig and plastic combination or a live minnow rig in backwater areas with woody structure.
Pool 14, Mississippi River (Clinton)
- Water Temperature (°F): 66.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Water level is around 5.9 feet at Lock and Dam 13 and rising. Water temperatures are in the mid-60s. Water clarity is poor. Call your local bait shops for the most current information.
- Black Crappie – Fair: Use a small jig and plastic combination or a live minnow rig in side channel areas with woody structure.
- Bluegill – Fair: Try a piece of nightcrawler under a bobber or a small jig in areas with woody structure along the edges of side channels or in backwater areas.
- Channel Catfish – Fair: Use dip baits or live bait in areas with woody structure like stump fields and brush piles in side channels or along current seams.
- Largemouth Bass – Fair: Use spinnerbaits or in-line spinners along vegetation lines in backwater areas or along areas with rip-rap.
- Sauger – Slow: Try a three-way rig with live bait on the wing-dams or in the tailwaters.
- Walleye – Slow: Try a three-way rig with live bait on the wing-dams or in the tailwaters.
- White Crappie – Slow: Use a small jig and plastic combination or a live minnow rig in side channel areas with woody structure.
Pool 15, Mississippi River (Scott)
- Water Temperature (°F): 69.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Water level is around 5.3 feet at Lock and Dam 14 and is on the rise. Water temperature has warmed a few degrees since last week. Water clarity is poor. Call your local bait shops for the most current information.
- Channel Catfish – Fair: Use dip baits or live bait in areas with woody structure or along current breaks.
- Freshwater Drum – Good: Use a simple sinker and nightcrawler rig in areas with moderate current or in the tailwater.
- Walleye – Slow: Try a three-way rig with live bait on the wing-dams or in the tailwaters.
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Fairport Management District
Mississippi River Pools 16-19: Tailwater stages are once again on the rise due to recent heavy rains. Water clarity is poor. Main channel water temperature is 66 degrees. Fishing is slow with the muddy water conditions. Last updated on 10/01/2026
Pool 16, Mississippi River (Scott)
- Water Temperature (°F): 67.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Tailwater stage has reached 7.45 feet at Lock and Dam 15 in Davenport with recent heavy rains. Flood stage is 15 feet. Tailwater stage is forecast to reach 10.9 feet over the weekend. The forecast may change as rain continues. River stage at Fairport is 10.80 feet and flood stage is 14 feet. Fishing will be difficult with the rising and muddy water conditions.
- Channel Catfish – Status Unsure: Try fishing for channel catfish on the upstream side of snags along the main channel and side channels or along the upstream side of the wing-dams. Use dip baits, nightcrawlers, or cut shad fished on the bottom.
- Walleye – Slow: Walleye fishing is slow with the recent heavy rains and muddy water conditions. Try three-way rigs with half a nightcrawler or troll crankbaits on the wing-dams. We have not received any reports for tailwater fishing.
- White Crappie – Status Unsure: Try vertical jigging with minnows or floating minnows under a bobber around brush piles in the backwaters and side channels.
Pool 17, Mississippi River (Muscatine)
- Water Temperature (°F): 66.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Tailwater stage has is 6.26 feet at Lock and Dam 16 in Muscatine. Tailwater stage is forecast to reach 10.2 feet over the weekend. The forecast may change as rain continues. Flood stage is 15 feet. The ramp at Big Timber is currently back open. Fishing will be difficult with the rising and muddy water conditions.
- Channel Catfish – Status Unsure: Try fishing for channel catfish on the upstream side of snags along the main channel and side channels or along the upstream side of the wing-dams. Use dip baits, nightcrawlers, or cut shad fished on the bottom.
- Walleye – Slow: Walleye fishing is slow with the high and muddy water conditions. Try three-way rigs with half a nightcrawler or troll crankbaits on the wing-dams. We have not received any reports for walleye fishing in the tailwaters.
- White Crappie – Status Unsure: Try vertical jigging with minnows or floating minnows under a bobber around brush piles in the backwaters and side channels.
Pool 18, Mississippi River (Louisa)
- Water Temperature (°F): 66.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Tailwater stage has reached 9.18 feet at Lock and Dam 17 at New Boston. Tailwater stage is forecast to reach 12.3 feet over the weekend. The forecast may change as the rain continues. Flood stage is 15 feet. River stage at Keithsburg is 9.37 feet. Fishing will be difficult with the rising, muddy water conditions.
- Channel Catfish – Status Unsure: Try fishing for channel catfish on the upstream side of snags along the main channel and side channels or along the upstream side of the wing-dams. Use dip baits, nightcrawlers, or cut shad fished on the bottom.
- Walleye – Slow: Walleye fishing will be difficult with the high and muddy water conditions. Use three-way rigs with half a nightcrawler or troll crankbaits on the wing-dams. We have not received any tailwater walleye fishing reports.
- White Crappie – Status Unsure: Try vertical jigging with minnows or floating minnows under a bobber around brush piles in the backwaters and side channels.
Pool 19, Mississippi River (Lee)
- Water Temperature (°F): 67.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Tailwater stage is 5.65 feet at Lock and Dam 18 above Burlington and is forecast to reach 10.1 feet by next week. Flood stage is 10 feet. The forecast may change as the rain continues. River stage is 11.18 feet at Burlington; flood stage is 15 feet. River stage is 526.24 feet at Fort Madison; flood stage is 528.0 feet. Fishing will be difficult with the rising and muddy water conditions.
- Channel Catfish – Status Unsure: Try fishing for channel catfish on the upstream side of snags along the main channel and side channels or along the upstream side of the wing-dams. Use dip baits, nightcrawlers, or cut shad fished on the bottom.
- Walleye – Status Unsure: Walleye fishing will be difficult with the high and muddy water conditions. Try three-way rigs with half a nightcrawler or troll crankbaits on the wing-dams. We have not received any tailwater fishing reports for walleyes.
- White Crappie – Status Unsure: Try vertical jigging with minnows or floating minnows under a bobber around brush piles in the backwaters and side channels.
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Guttenberg Management District
Upper Mississippi water levels have risen over the past weeks with recent rainfall. Water clarity is stained with abundant vegetation floating. Temperature has dropped into the mid to upper 60s. Fish are actively feeding with slightly cooler water. Try fishing along wood or rock structure and edges of vegetation lines. Last updated on 10/01/2026
Pool 09, Mississippi River (Allamakee)
- Water Temperature (°F): 68.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
River level is expected to bump up slightly over 8 feet at Lansing. Look for fish along the weedlines in backwaters. **Reminder: Crews are working on the Blackhawk Bridge at Lansing. Boaters should use caution in the construction zone. Please slow down for everyone’s safety.
- Bluegill – Good: Use a small piece of worm under a bobber near the mouths of backwaters as bluegill begin staging toward their overwintering areas.
- Channel Catfish – Good: Channel cats are still actively feeding into late fall. Jig a worm on the bottom in slow to moderate current eddies in side channels or main channel borders.
- Freshwater Drum – Excellent: Try nightcrawlers weighted on the bottom in moderate current.
- Largemouth Bass – Good: Largemouth fall feeding is underway. Cast plastics or buzz-baits along thick vegetation in upper portions of backwaters.
- Smallmouth Bass – Excellent: Smallmouth bass are prepping for winter and actively feeding along the main channel. Use inline spinner-baits along rip-rap.
- Yellow Perch – Fair: Jig small lures or drop shot live bait along the weedlines in backwater lakes.
Pool 10, Mississippi River (Clayton)
- Water Temperature (°F): 68.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Water level will bump up slightly then stabilize to near 614 feet below Lock and Dam 9, Lynxville. Water clarity is stained. Try fishing the weedlines in the clearer water in backwater lakes. Tailwater fishing is starting to pick up.
- Bluegill – Good: Use a small piece of worm under a bobber near the mouths of backwaters as bluegill begin staging toward their overwintering areas.
- Channel Catfish – Good: Channel cats are still actively feeding into late fall. Jig a worm on the bottom in slow to moderate current eddies in side channels or main channel borders.
- Freshwater Drum – Excellent: Try nightcrawlers weighted on the bottom in moderate current.
- Largemouth Bass – Good: Largemouth fall feeding is underway. Cast plastics or buzz-baits along thick vegetation in upper portions of backwaters.
- Smallmouth Bass – Excellent: Smallmouth bass are prepping for winter and actively feeding along main channel. Use inline spinner-baits along rip-rap.
- Yellow Perch – Fair: Jig small lures or drop shot live bait along the weedlines in backwater lakes.
Pool 11, Mississippi River (Clayton)
- Water Temperature (°F): 68.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Water level is 5.4 feet and expected to bump up to 6 feet at Guttenberg, Lock & Dam10 tailwaters. Water clarity is slightly stained. Fishing in the tailwater areas picked up over the last week.
- Bluegill – Good: Use a small piece of worm under a bobber near the mouths of backwaters as bluegill begin staging toward their overwintering areas.
- Channel Catfish – Good: Channel cats are still actively feeding into late fall. Jig a worm on the bottom in slow to moderate current eddies in side channels or main channel borders.
- Freshwater Drum – Excellent: Try nightcrawlers weighted on the bottom in moderate current.
- Largemouth Bass – Good: Largemouth fall feeding is underway. Cast plastics or buzz-baits along thick vegetation in upper portions of backwaters.
- Smallmouth Bass – Excellent: Smallmouth bass are prepping for winter and actively feeding along main channel. Use inline spinner-baits along rip-rap.
- Yellow Perch – Fair: Jig small lures or drop shot live bait along the weedlines in backwater lakes.
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Northeast
Decorah Management District
Highs in the 60s with lows in the low 50s create mild, comfortable fishing weather. Rain chances end by the start of the weekend. Area rivers and streams remain elevated. Wednesday night’s rain caused streams to rise and water turned off-color. Leaves are starting to turn color, creating an extra bonus to your fishing trip. Last updated on 10/01/2026
Allamakee County Trout Streams (Allamakee)
- Ramp Condition: Not applicable
Trout stream water levels are rising and off-color. Levels and clarity should improve by the weekend. Since stocking schedules aren’t announced in October, try fishing the deep pools, runs, and undercut banks. Hunting seasons are open. Wear a blaze orange hat or vest when walking to and from streams on Wildlife Management Areas so you are visible to archers and small game hunters.
- Brook Trout – Slow: Brookies love to ambush land bugs from inside aquatic weed pockets. Aim for the 2-inch gap between the weed bed and the open current channel. Use a reach cast to lay the line across the current to get a few extra seconds of drift. A large variety of terrestrial insects are hatching with the warmer weather. Matching the hatch is vital to success.
- Brown Trout – Good: Early fall is prime time for fishing terrestrials. Land insects constantly get blown or knocked into clear, low-water streams. Drift terrestrial flies within inches of the grass line where trout sit waiting for land bugs to tumble in.
- Rainbow Trout – Excellent: Freshly stocked rainbows hungry for a hook tipped with a small piece of worm, cheese, or dough ball will fill a limit quickly. For anglers interested in catch and release, use flies imitating crickets, grasshoppers, midges, scuds, mayflies, or caddis flies.
Cedar River (above Nashua) (Floyd)
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Water levels are rising, remaining a few feet higher than normal for this time of year. Water clarity is fair. Water temperature is in the 60s. For more information, visit https://water.noaa.gov/gauges/
- Black Crappie – Fair: Find crappie near snags in backwater areas. Try a small spinner or crankbait.
- Channel Catfish – Good: Use worms, dead chubs or minnows under a bobber near the bottom.
- Smallmouth Bass – Fair: Find smallmouth along rocky shorelines or limestone ledges as they move to deeper water. Try a variety of lures.
- Walleye – Fair: Use a jig with a live minnow or nightcrawler in a deeper pool near the stream bottom. Try fishing sunrise and sunset on clear days.
Clayton County Trout Streams (Clayton)
- Ramp Condition: Not applicable
Trout stream water levels are rising and off-color. Levels and clarity should improve by the weekend. Since stocking schedules aren’t announced in October, try fishing the deep pools, runs, and undercut banks. Hunting seasons are open. Wear a blaze orange hat or vest when walking to and from streams on Wildlife Management Areas so you are visible to archers and small game hunters.
- Brook Trout – Slow: Brookies love to ambush land bugs from inside aquatic weed pockets. Aim for the 2-inch gap between the weed bed and the open current channel. Use a reach cast to lay the line across the current to get a few extra seconds of drift. A large variety of terrestrial insects are hatching with the warmer weather. Matching the hatch is vital to success.
- Brown Trout – Good: Early fall is prime time for fishing terrestrials. Land insects constantly get blown or knocked into clear, low-water streams. Drift terrestrial flies within inches of the grass line where trout sit waiting for land bugs to tumble in.
- Rainbow Trout – Excellent: Freshly stocked rainbows hungry for a hook tipped with a small piece of worm, cheese, or dough ball will fill a limit quickly. For anglers interested in catch and release, use flies imitating crickets, grasshoppers, midges, scuds, mayflies, or caddis flies.
Fayette County Trout Streams (Fayette)
- Ramp Condition: Not applicable
Trout stream water levels are rising and off-color. Levels and clarity should improve by the weekend. Since stocking schedules aren’t announced in October, try fishing the deep pools, runs, and undercut banks. Hunting seasons are open. Wear a blaze orange hat or vest when walking to and from streams on Wildlife Management Areas so you are visible to archers and small game hunters.
- Brown Trout – Good: Late summer to early fall is prime time for fishing terrestrials. Land insects constantly get blown or knocked into clear, low-water streams. Drift terrestrial flies within inches of the grass line where trout sit waiting for land bugs to tumble in.
- Rainbow Trout – Excellent: Freshly stocked rainbows hungry for a hook tipped with a small piece of worm, cheese, or dough ball will fill a limit quickly. For anglers interested in catch and release, use flies imitating crickets, grasshoppers, midges, scuds, mayflies, or caddis flies.
- Ramp Condition: Useable
- Black Crappie – Good: Find crappie along weedlines. Try a small spinner or crankbait.
- Bluegill – Fair: Continue to use small jigs tipped with a waxworm, spike, or very small piece of a nightcrawler along weedlines.
- Channel Catfish – Fair: Use worms, dead chubs or minnows, or stink bait under a bobber near the bottom.
- Largemouth Bass – Fair: Toss a topwater lure along the edge of a plant bed or rocky shoreline. Keep tension on the line to prevent losing your lure.
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Water clarity is improving to about 4 feet. Water temperature is in the 60s. The bite should improve as water temperatures fall.
- Black Crappie – Good: Find crappie along weedlines. Try a small spinner or crankbait.
- Bluegill – Good: Continue to use small jigs tipped with a waxworm, spike, or very small piece of a nightcrawler along weedlines.
- Channel Catfish – Fair: Use worms, dead chubs or minnows, or stink bait under a bobber near the bottom.
- Largemouth Bass – Good: Toss a topwater lure along the edge of a plant bed or rocky shoreline. Keep tension on the line to prevent lure loss.
- Northern Pike – Slow: Pike hang in weedy areas stalking prey. Target weedlines with a spoon or hair jig to tease this feisty fish.
Mitchell County Trout Streams (Mitchell)
- Ramp Condition: Not applicable
Trout stream water levels are rising and off-color. Levels and clarity should improve by the weekend. Since stocking schedules aren’t announced in October, try fishing the deep pools, runs, and undercut banks. Hunting seasons are open. Wear a blaze orange hat or vest when walking to and from streams on Wildlife Management Areas so you are visible to archers and small game hunters.
- Brown Trout – Good: Early fall is prime time for fishing terrestrials. Land insects constantly get blown or knocked into clear, low-water streams. Drift terrestrial flies within inches of the grass line where trout sit waiting for land bugs to tumble in.
- Rainbow Trout – Excellent: Freshly stocked rainbows hungry for a hook tipped with a small piece of worm, cheese, or dough ball will fill a limit quickly. For anglers interested in catch and release, use flies imitating crickets, grasshoppers, midges, scuds, mayflies, or caddis flies.
Turkey River (above Clermont) (Fayette)
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Water levels are rising, remaining a few feet higher than normal for this time of year. Water clarity is fair. Water temperature is in the 60s. For more information, visit https://waterdata.usgs.gov/
- Smallmouth Bass – Fair: Find smallmouth along rocky shorelines or limestone ledges as they move to deeper water. Try a variety of lures.
- Walleye – Fair: Use a jig with a live minnow or nightcrawler in a deeper pool near the stream bottom. Try fishing sunrise and sunset on clear days.
Upper Iowa River (above Decorah) (Winneshiek)
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Water levels are rising, remaining a few feet higher than normal for this time of year. Water clarity is fair. Water temperature is in the 60s. For more information, visit https://waterdata.usgs.gov/
- Smallmouth Bass – Fair: Find smallmouth along rocky shorelines or limestone ledges as they move to deeper water. Try a variety of lures.
- Walleye – Fair: Use a jig with a live minnow or nightcrawler in a deeper pool near the stream bottom. Try fishing sunrise and sunset on clear days.
Upper Iowa River (below Decorah) (Allamakee)
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Water levels are rising, remaining a few feet higher than normal for this time of year. Water clarity is fair. Water temperature is in the 60s.
- Smallmouth Bass – Fair: Find smallmouth along rocky shorelines or limestone ledges as they move to deeper water. Try a variety of lures.
- Walleye – Fair: Use a jig with a live minnow or nightcrawler in a deeper pool near the stream bottom. Try fishing sunrise and sunset on clear days.
Winneshiek County Trout Streams (Winneshiek)
- Ramp Condition: Not applicable
Trout stream water levels are rising and off-color. Levels and clarity should improve by the weekend. Since stocking schedules aren’t announced in October, try fishing the deep pools, runs, and undercut banks. Hunting seasons are open. Wear a blaze orange hat or vest when walking to and from streams on Wildlife Management Areas so you are visible to archers and small game hunters.
- Brook Trout – Slow: Brookies love to ambush land bugs from inside aquatic weed pockets. Aim for the 2-inch gap between the weed bed and the open current channel. Use a reach cast to lay the line across the current to get a few extra seconds of drift. A large variety of terrestrial insects are hatching with the warmer weather. Matching the hatch is vital to success.
- Brown Trout – Good: Late summer to early fall is prime time for fishing terrestrials. Land insects constantly get blown or knocked into clear, low-water streams. Drift terrestrial flies within inches of the grass line where trout sit waiting for land bugs to tumble in.
- Rainbow Trout – Excellent: Freshly stocked rainbows hungry for a hook tipped with a small piece of worm, cheese, or dough ball will fill a limit quickly. For anglers interested in catch and release, use flies imitating crickets, grasshoppers, midges, scuds, mayflies, or caddis flies.
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Manchester Management District
Most interior river water levels have risen after localized heavy rainfall. Local area lakes in and around Cedar Falls/Waterloo have been fair for panfish and largemouth bass. Water temperatures are in the mid to lower 60s. Trout streams in Clayton, Dubuque, Delaware and Jackson counties should be in good condition by this weekend. Contact your local area bait and tackle shops for current and most up to date reports.Last updated on 10/01/2026
- Ramp Condition: Not applicable
Spring Branch Creek within Baileys Ford Park should be in good condition by this weekend.
- Rainbow Trout – Good: Cast and retrieve flashy spinner blades or smaller bead heads.
- Ramp Condition: Not applicable
The Big Mill Wildlife Management area is popular amongst anglers for both rainbow and brown trout.
- Brown Trout – Fair: Match the hatch with the upcoming forecast of warmer weather. Grasshopper patterns are a great choice for mid-day action.
- Rainbow Trout – Good: Cast and retrieve flashy spinner blades or smaller bead heads.
Cedar River (Nashua to La Porte City) (Black Hawk)
- Ramp Condition: Useable
River levels continue to rise on the Cedar River in Black Hawk County.
Delaware County Trout Streams (Delaware)
- Ramp Condition: Not applicable
Trout streams in Delaware County should be in good to excellent condition by this weekend.
- Brown Trout – Good: Match the hatch with the upcoming warmer weather. Grasshoppers are abundant.
- Rainbow Trout – Good: Cast and retrieve flashy spinner blades or smaller bead heads.
Dubuque County Trout Streams (Dubuque)
- Ramp Condition: Not applicable
Trout streams in Dubuque County should be in good to excellent condition by this weekend.
- Brown Trout – Fair: Match the hatch with the upcoming warmer weather.
- Rainbow Trout – Good: Cast and retrieve flashy spinner blades or smaller bead heads.
Jackson County Trout Streams (Jackson)
- Ramp Condition: Not applicable
Trout streams in Jackson County should be in good to excellent condition by this weekend.
- Brown Trout – Good: Match the hatch with the upcoming warmer weather. Caddis are almost always a good choice; grasshoppers are abundant in stream corridors.
- Rainbow Trout – Good: Cast and retrieve flashy spinner blades or smaller bead heads.
Maquoketa River (above Monticello) (Delaware)
- Ramp Condition: Not applicable
Water levels on the Maquoketa River are currently rising with the recent rainfall.
- Ramp Condition: Not applicable
Trout streams in Delaware County should be in good to excellent condition by this weekend.
- Brown Trout – Good: Try matching the hatch with the upcoming warmer weather.
- Rainbow Trout – Good: Cast and retrieve flashy spinner blades or smaller bead heads.
Wapsipinicon River (Tripoli to Troy Mills) (Buchanan)
- Ramp Condition: Not applicable
Water levels have risen on the Wapsipinicon River to 7.23 feet as of today.
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Northwest
Black Hawk Management District
Water temperatures are in the mid-60s in the district. Last updated on 10/01/2026
- Water Temperature (°F): 66.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
- Bluegill – Fair: Pick up bluegill from shore with a piece of crawler on a jig. Try along Ice House Point shoreline, the stone piers in Town Bay, and on the rock piles from boat. Most fish are 7-inches.
- Channel Catfish – Fair: There is a good population of 17- to 20-inch catfish. Use cut bait or crawlers fished on or near the bottom from shore and around the rock piles in deeper habitat.
- Walleye – Fair: As water temperatures cool down, walleye will start feeding closer to shore. Throw a crankbait or a twister; you can also use live bait like a minnow or a leach under a bobber fished from shore during mornings or evenings.
Storm Lake (incl Little Storm Lake) (Buena Vista)
- Water Temperature (°F): 65.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
- Channel Catfish – Fair: Look for catfish around rocky shorelines and near the dredge cuts. Use cut bait, stink bait, or a crawler fished on the bottom.
- Walleye – Slow: With water temperatures in the mid-60s, look for more walleye action near shore as fish move in and start actively feeding. Try crankbaits, twisters, or a crawler or leach fished under a bobber.
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Clear Lake Management District
- Contact Person: Scott Grummer – 641-357-3517
Contact Clear Lake Fish and Wildlife office for information on lakes and rivers in north central Iowa. Last updated on 10/01/2026
- Water Temperature (°F): 66.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
The lake is 1 inch above crest.
- Black Crappie – Slow: Anglers are catching crappie off the docks with small jigs around the boat hoists.
- Bluegill – Fair
- Muskellunge – Good: Fall is an excellent time to target musky. Cast baits near docks and vegetation beds.
- Yellow Bass – Excellent: Use small jigs, crawlers , and cut bait on the outside edges of vegetation beds. Anglers are catching all sizes of fish.
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Lake level is near crest. Navigation buoys have been removed for the season.
- Black Crappie – Good: Drift fish or troll crappie jigs in 8-12 feet of water.
- Bluegill – Good: Small jigs and nightcrawler pieces are working in a variety of depths.
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Any water west of the north boat ramp is a waterfowl refuge and is closed to all activity from Sept. 1st through the final day of the duck season. Signs across the lake mark this area.
- Largemouth Bass – Fair: Use topwater and weedless baits. Target woody structure near shore.
- Ramp Condition: Not applicable
River level is 5.6 feet.
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Spirit Lake Management District
Lake temperatures are in the mid-60s. The fishing bite is trending up. Water levels are at crest. Most pleasure boaters are off the lakes for the year. Last updated on 10/01/2026
- Water Temperature (°F): 65.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
The bass and panfish bite has been good.
- Black Crappie – Good: Anglers have been able to target quality size fish.
- Water Temperature (°F): 66.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
- Water Temperature (°F): 69.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
The perch bite has been good as water temperatures continue to fall. Anglers are catching good sized fish.
- Walleye – Good: Trolling and livescope has worked well to target fish.
- Yellow Perch – Good: Anglers are catching perch in 6-12 feet of water. Jigs paired with wigglers works well.
- Water Temperature (°F): 65.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Anglers are catching walleye and smallmouth trolling with crank baits off points.
- Bluegill – Good: The bluegill bite has been steady, with many fish upwards of 9-inches.
- Smallmouth Bass – Fair
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Southeast
Lake Darling Management District
For more information on these lakes and ponds, call the Lake Darling Fisheries at 319-694-2430. Last updated on 03/04/2026
- Water Temperature (°F): 68.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Water clarity has suffered from all the rain. Water is carrying some mud with a clarity of only about 18 inches. The boat ramp bay is also carrying a good amount of duckweed, the main body of the lake not so much.
- Black Crappie – Slow: Try vertical jigging with a minnow trailer or slip bobber and minnow in about 7 – 8 feet of water along and in the trees along the south side of the lake. Crappie are waiting for Fall.
Cedar River (Moscow to Columbus Junction) (Muscatine)
- Water Temperature (°F): 75.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
River level is just above bank full level and continues to rise.
Iowa River (Columbus Junction to Mississippi R) (Louisa)
- Ramp Condition: Useable
River level was down earlier in the week, but has returned to near minor flood stage.
- Water Temperature (°F): 68.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
With all the rain, the lake is up between 12 and 15 inches with lots of water going out the overflow. Despite that the water clarity has actually improved to 49 inches.
- Bluegill – Slow: Little angler activity the last couple of days due to the rain. Expect it to pick up once the weather settles and the bluegills start to move in shallow to fatten up for Fall.
- Largemouth Bass – Slow: Bass fishing should pick up as the weather calms down.
- Water Temperature (°F): 75.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
With all the rain, the water temperature has dropped to 68 degrees and the phytoplankton (green water) has died off for the Fall. Water clarity is 34 inches. Water level is touching the bottom of the fishing pier; up about 18 inches above normal.
- Bluegill – Status Unsure: Once the rain stops and the lake returns to a more “normal” level look, for bluegills to move into shallower water to feed up for Fall.
- Largemouth Bass – Status Unsure: Expect bass to come in shallow once the weather calms down. Little bluegills can be seen in shallow feeding on the bugs washed in by the rain.
- Water Temperature (°F): 70.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
About 5 inches of water going over the overflow at the dam. The water still has a green color to it as the phytoplankton persists.
- Black Crappie – Fair: Crappies continue to remain out over the fish habitat in 8 to 10 feet of water, just out from the steeper banks. Expect them to move in closer to the edges of the water willow beds when the rains stop.
- Water Temperature (°F): 65.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
With all the rain and the cooler nights, the water temperature has dropped. Water clarity remains decent (38″) despite all the rain. Lost Grove Lake has Eurasian Watermilfoil; make sure you clean off your boat and trailer before you leave the ramp parking lot to prevent its spread.
- Bluegill – Fair: Once the rains stop, expect bluegills to start moving in shallower to feed up for Fall. Until then look for them to be out in 10-12 feet of water in the flooded brush.
- Largemouth Bass – Fair: Continue to fish the outer edges of the weedbeds as they wait for the bluegills to come in shallow.
Skunk River (Rose Hill to Coppock) (Washington)
- Ramp Condition: Useable
As of Thursday morning (10/1) The Skunk River at Brighton is at bank full level and is forecast to continue to rise.
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Macbride Management District
Coralville Reservoir (Johnson)
- Ramp Condition: Useable
- Black Crappie – Slow: Fishing is difficult with the jump in water level; fish scatter to get out of the main channel flow.
- Channel Catfish – Status Unsure: No reports received this week.
- White Crappie – Slow: Fishing is difficult with the jump in water level; fish scatter to get out of the main channel flow.
- Ramp Condition: Useable
- Black Crappie – Good
- Redear Sunfish – Good
- Ramp Condition: Useable
No angling reported this week.
Iowa River (Coralville Lake to River Junction) (Johnson)
- Ramp Condition: Useable
- Channel Catfish – Fair: Anglers are catching some nice fish using cut up gizzard shad for bait.
- Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) – Fair: Anglers are catching a few using soft plastics or shad in current seams.
- Water Temperature (°F): 67.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
- Bluegill – Fair: Anglers are catching fish up to 8-inches around docks or vegetation.
- Channel Catfish – Fair: Use chicken livers around docks and fishing jetties.
- Walleye – Slow: Anglers are catching walleye while fishing for other species around rocks or vegetation.
- White Crappie – Good: Some days are better than others; anglers report improvements in crappie fishing this week. Use jigs tipped with plastics or minnows around brush piles or aquatic vegetation. Most fish are 9- to 12-inches with larger fish up to 16-inches.
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Rathbun Management District
- Ramp Condition: Closed
Lake Keomah is refilling after a lake renovation last year. Some fish have been stocked for future angling.
- Ramp Condition: Useable
- Bluegill – Fair: Try small jigs along the fishing jetties and around the submerged cedar tree piles.
- Largemouth Bass – Slow: Use plastics or crankbaits around the cedar tree piles and along the rip-rapped shorelines.
- Ramp Condition: Useable
- Black Crappie – Slow: Target suspended crappies with small crankbaits or small jigs.
- Bluegill – Slow: Try small jigs around openings in the vegetation or along the rip-rapped shorelines.
- Largemouth Bass – Fair: Use crankbaits or plastics around the rock jetties and other rip-rapped shorelines.
- Ramp Condition: Useable
- Black Crappie – Slow: Target suspended crappies using jigs or small crankbaits.
- Largemouth Bass – Fair: Try crankbaits and plastics along brush piles and rocky shorelines.
- Water Temperature (°F): 71.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Lake level is 906.79 msl; recreation pool is 904 msl. Lake Rathbun contains zebra mussels; clean, drain and dry your boat before you go to another water body.
- Black Crappie – Slow: Target suspended crappie with small crankbaits. Look for crappies to gather around brush piles and be closer to shore as the water cools.
- Walleye – Slow: Troll crankbaits over rock piles or underwater islands. Use crankbaits that mimic gizzard shad.
- Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) – Slow: Try vertically jigging over rock piles or trolling crankbaits. Watch for schools of gizzard shad; hybrid striped bass are probably following them.
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Southwest
Boone Management District
Many Central Iowa Lakes have started to turn over. Look for fish in deeper habitat. Fall is good time to slowly troll small plastics or vertical jig plastics or minnows over habitat to catch crappies. Last updated on 09/24/2026
- Ramp Condition: Useable
- Black Crappie – Fair: Try trolling or jigging panfish plastics over roadbeds and brush piles in water less than 15 feet deep. Shore anglers can try the rock fishing jetties in the early mornings and evenings.
- Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) – Fair: Use jigs with shad imitating plastics. Look for surface feeding activity or use electronics to find concentrated schools of gizzard shad.
- Ramp Condition: Useable
- Bluegill – Good: Use 1/32 or 1/16 ounce jig heads tipped with a nightcrawler fished in 4 to 8 feet of water over gravel and rock habitat locations.
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Cold Springs Management District
Very few reports this week due to all the rain. Last updated on 10/01/2026
Farm Creek Lake (a.k.a. Young’s Pond) (Pottawattamie)
- Water Temperature (°F): 69.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
- Black Crappie – Slow: Anglers are catching black crappie off the jetty on the west side of the lake.
- Bluegill – Status Unsure: Farm Creek bluegill will average 8-inches.
- Largemouth Bass – Status Unsure
- Water Temperature (°F): 68.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
- Black Crappie – Status Unsure: Slow troll open water areas to find schools of black crappie.
- Channel Catfish – Status Unsure
- Largemouth Bass – Status Unsure
- Water Temperature (°F): 69.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
- Black Crappie – Slow: Troll the roadbeds or fish along deep tree piles to find black crappies. Sorting is needed for larger fish.
- Bluegill – Fair: Anglers are catching bluegill slow trolling close to underwater reefs and around the roadbed.
- Largemouth Bass – Slow: Bass anglers are finding fish in deep tree piles and along the roadbed.
- Water Temperature (°F): 68.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
- Black Crappie – Slow: Look for black crappies in the tree piles. Late afternoon bite is best.
- Bluegill – Status Unsure: Slow troll and fish along tree piles to find 8-inch fish.
- Largemouth Bass – Status Unsure
- Water Temperature (°F): 69.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Fish surveys this fall showed very good numbers of 10- to 11-inch black crappies and 8-inch bluegill.
- Black Crappie – Status Unsure
- Bluegill – Status Unsure
- Water Temperature (°F): 68.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
- Black Crappie – Slow: Find black crappies in the tree piles. Fish will average 9.5-inches. Anglers are trolling for larger fish.
- Bluegill – Fair: Use red worms or nightcrawlers around the tree piles.
- Largemouth Bass – Status Unsure
- Water Temperature (°F): 69.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Water clarity is good.
- Black Crappie – Status Unsure: Look for 9-inch black crappies in the tree piles.
- Largemouth Bass – Status Unsure
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Mt. Ayr Management District
Water temperature is in the low 70s in most Mount Ayr district lakes. Last updated on 09/30/2026
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Docks are in at all boat ramps.
- Bluegill – Fair: Catch Bluegill of all sizes with a piece of nightcrawler under a bobber along the fishing jetties.
Little River Watershed Lake (Decatur)
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Docks are in at the main and bait shop ramps.
- Bluegill – Fair: Catch Bluegill of all sizes with a piece of nightcrawler under a bobber near shallow coves.
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Lake level is about 12.5 inches above normal pool as of September 30.
Twelve Mile Creek Lake (Union)
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Docks are in at the main ramp.
- Black Crappie – Fair: Catch Crappie of all sizes with jigs tipped with a minnow fished near rock piles.
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