Local NewsLocal Sports

Iowa DNR Fishing Report for Week of September 10, 2026

Photo of Mark Pitz Mark Pitz Send an email September 10, 2026
32 minutes read
Shutterstock 2650137285 780x470

Mississippi River

Bellevue Management District

Mississippi River water levels remain low across the district; use caution when navigating in off-channel areas. Water temperatures are in the upper 70s to low 80s, but will likely drop over the next week. Call your local bait shops or DNR Fisheries office for the latest information. Last updated on 09/10/2026

Pool 12, Mississippi River (Dubuque)

  • Water Temperature (°F): 77.0
  • Ramp Condition: Useable

Water level is around 4.5 feet at the Dubuque tailwater and is holding steady. Use caution when navigating in off-channel areas. Water clarity is fair. 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 side channel areas with woody structure.
  • 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 – Excellent: Use a simple egg sinker and nightcrawler rig in areas with moderate current.
  • Largemouth Bass – Excellent: Use spinnerbaits or in-line spinners along rock lines, or try pitching a jig into woody structure in deeper side channels.
  • Northern Pike – Fair: Try large and flashy spinnerbaits or inline spinners in areas with cold water inputs.
  • Smallmouth Bass – Good: Throw inline spinners in rocky areas with some current/current breaks.
  • Walleye – Fair: Try a three-way rig with live bait on the wing-dams. Some anglers are having success trolling crankbaits.
  • Yellow Perch – Status Unsure: Look for the yellow perch bite to improve as water temperatures cool.

Pool 13, Mississippi River (Jackson)

  • Water Temperature (°F): 76.0
  • Ramp Condition: Useable

Water level is around 3.8 feet at the Bellevue tailwater and is holding steady. Use caution when navigating in off-channel areas. Water clarity is fair. 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 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. Some anglers are catching bluegill along main channel borders and in the tailwaters.
  • Channel Catfish – Excellent: Use dip baits or live bait in areas with woody structure like stump fields and brush piles in side channels or along current seams.
  • Flathead Catfish – Slow
  • Freshwater Drum – Excellent: Use a simple sinker and nightcrawler rig in areas with moderate current or in the tailwater.
  • Largemouth Bass – Excellent: Use spinnerbaits or in-line spinners along rock lines, or try pitching a jig into woody structure in deeper side channels.
  • Northern Pike – Fair: Try large and flashy spinnerbaits or inline spinners in areas with cold water inputs.
  • Sauger – Slow: A few sauger have showed up in the tailwaters, but not in great numbers. Use a live bait rig.
  • Smallmouth Bass – Good: Throw inline spinners along rocky areas with some current/current breaks.
  • Walleye – Fair: Try a three-way rig with live bait on the wing-dams. Some anglers are having success trolling crankbaits.
  • 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.

Pool 14, Mississippi River (Clinton)

  • Water Temperature (°F): 77.0
  • Ramp Condition: Useable

Water level is around 4.1 feet at Lock and Dam 13 and is holding steady. Use caution when navigating in off-channel areas. Water temperatures are in the upper 70s. Water quality is fair. Call your local bait shops for the most current information.

  • 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.
  • Channel Catfish – Excellent: 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 – Excellent: Use a simple sinker and nightcrawler rig in areas with moderate current.
  • Largemouth Bass – Excellent: Use spinnerbaits along vegetation edges in backwater areas or along rock lines, or try pitching a jig into woody structure in side channels.
  • Walleye – Fair: Try a three-way rig with live bait on the wing-dams. Some anglers are having success trolling crankbaits.
  • 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): 81.0
  • Ramp Condition: Useable

Water level is around 4.2 feet at Lock and Dam 14 and is holding fairly steady. Water clarity is fair. Call your local bait shops for the most current information.

  • Channel Catfish – Good: Use dip baits or live bait in areas with woody structure or along current breaks.
  • Freshwater Drum – Excellent: Try a simple egg sinker and nightcrawler rig in areas with moderate current.
  • Walleye – Fair: Use a three-way rig with live bait on wing-dams or other rocky structure.
  • White Bass – Good: Cast a white inline spinner or a white jig/plastic combination in areas with current and lateral rock where white bass are chasing minnows, like along main channel borders.

Fairport Management District

Mississippi River Pools 16-19: River stages have been fairly steady this past week. Main channel water temperature is around 80-82 degrees. Water clarity has been good. Clarity may change with recent heavy rains. River level is low; use caution when boating. Last updated on 09/09/2026

Pool 16, Mississippi River (Scott)

  • Water Temperature (°F): 82.0
  • Ramp Condition: Useable

Tailwater stage is 3.97 feet at Lock and Dam 15 in Davenport. Tailwater stage is forecast to stay steady over the weekend. Flood Stage is 15 feet. River stage is 10.18 feet at Fairport; flood stage is 14 feet. River level is low; use caution when boating.

  • 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. With low water conditions, look for channel catfish to be off the ends of the wing-dams where there is more current. Use dip baits, nightcrawlers, or cut shad fished on the bottom.
  • Walleye – Status Unsure: Try three-way rigs with half a nightcrawler or troll crankbaits on the wing-dams. With the low water conditions, try fishing off the ends of the wing-dams where there is more current.
  • White Crappie – Status Unsure: Try vertical jigging with minnows or floating minnows under a bobber around brush piles in the backwaters and side channels. With the low water conditions, looks for brush piles with a little bit of current.

Pool 17, Mississippi River (Muscatine)

  • Water Temperature (°F): 82.0
  • Ramp Condition: Useable

Tailwater stage is 3.28 feet at Lock and Dam 16 in Muscatine. Tailwater stage is forecast to stay steady over the weekend. Flood stage is 15 feet. River level is low; use caution when boating.

  • 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. With low water conditions, look for channel catfish to be off the ends of the wing-dams where there is more current. Use dip baits, nightcrawlers, or cut shad fished on the bottom.
  • Walleye – Status Unsure: Try three-way rigs with half a nightcrawler or troll crankbaits on the wing-dams. With the low water conditions, try fishing off the ends of the wing-dams where there is more current.
  • White Crappie – Status Unsure: Try vertical jigging with minnows or floating minnows under a bobber around brush piles in the backwaters and side channels. With the low water conditions, looks for brush piles with a little bit of current.

Pool 18, Mississippi River (Louisa)

  • Water Temperature (°F): 80.0
  • Ramp Condition: Useable

Tailwater stage is 3.47 feet at Lock and Dam 17 at New Boston. Tailwater stage is forecast to stay steady over the weekend. Flood stage is 15 feet. Use caution when boating due to low river levels.

  • 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. With low water conditions, look for channel catfish to be off the ends of the wing-dams where there is more current. Try dip baits, nightcrawlers, or cut shad fished on the bottom.
  • Walleye – Status Unsure: Use three-way rigs with half a nightcrawler or troll crankbaits on the wing-dams. With the low water conditions, try fishing off the ends of the wing-dams where there is more current.
  • White Crappie – Status Unsure: Try vertical jigging with minnows or floating minnows under a bobber around brush piles in the backwaters and side channels. With the low water conditions, looks for brush piles with a little bit of current.

Pool 19, Mississippi River (Lee)

  • Water Temperature (°F): 81.0
  • Ramp Condition: Useable

Tailwater stage is 1.54 feet at Lock and Dam 18 above Burlington and forecast to stay steady over the weekend. Flood stage is 10 feet. River stage is 7.94 feet at Burlington; flood stage is 15 feet. River stage is 525.28 feet at Fort Madison; flood stage is 528.0 feet.

  • 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. With low water conditions, look for channel catfish to be off the ends of the wing-dams where there is more current. Use dip baits, nightcrawlers, or cut shad fished on the bottom.
  • Walleye – Status Unsure: Try three-way rigs with half a nightcrawler or troll crankbaits on the wing-dams. With the low water conditions, try fishing off the ends of the wing-dams where there is more current.
  • White Crappie – Status Unsure: Try vertical jigging with minnows or floating minnows under a bobber around brush piles in the backwaters and side channels. With the low water conditions, look for brush piles with a little bit of current.

Guttenberg Management District

Upper Mississippi water levels remain extremely low and stable. Boaters should use caution due to low water conditions. Avoid backing your trailer in too far and dropping off the end of the ramp. Water clarity is slightly stained after recent rainfall. Temperature has dropped into the mid to upper 70s. Fish are actively feeding with slightly cooler water. Try fishing along wood or rock structure and edges of vegetation lines. Last updated on 09/10/2026

Pool 09, Mississippi River (Allamakee)

  • Water Temperature (°F): 79.0
  • Ramp Condition: Useable

River level is 7.9 feet at Lansing and is expected to remain stable over the next week. New Albin Army Road ramp improvements are complete and open. **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.

  • Black Crappie – Fair: Use a light jig or small spinner bait in moderate current in side channel sloughs with wood structure.
  • Bluegill – Good: High water temperatures will move fish off shore into deeper water. Try a small piece of crawler mid-depth in areas with moderate current.
  • Channel Catfish – Excellent: Stink baits are the hot bait for channel cats. Try fishing in moderate current in 2 to 7 feet of water.
  • Flathead Catfish – Slow: Use live bait like a shiner or small sunfish in deep water holes with snags or wood structure.
  • Freshwater Drum – Good: Use a simple egg sinker and nightcrawler rig in areas with moderate current.
  • Largemouth Bass – Excellent: Try a topwater crankbait or frog bait along weedlines of side channels and backwater lakes.
  • Northern Pike – Good: Northern pike will seek cold water during hot summer days. Throw flashy spinners at the mouths of tributaries.
  • Smallmouth Bass – Excellent: Cast spinnerbaits along rocked main channel shorelines and points of islands with moderate current.
  • Walleye – Fair: Troll crankbaits or a three-way rig with a whole crawler on the wing-dams.
  • Yellow Perch – Good: Jig small lures or drop shot live bait along the weedlines in backwater lakes.

Pool 10, Mississippi River (Clayton)

  • Water Temperature (°F): 78.0
  • Ramp Condition: Useable

Water level remains stable at 612.1 feet below Lock and Dam 9, Lynxville. Boaters should use caution to not back off the end of boat ramps in low water. Water clarity is good. Look for fish in deeper water with moderate current.

  • Black Crappie – Fair: Try a light jig or small spinner bait in moderate current in side channel sloughs with wood structure.
  • Bluegill – Good: High water temperatures will move fish off shore into deeper water. Try a small piece of crawler mid-depth in areas with moderate current.
  • Channel Catfish – Excellent: Stink baits are the hot bait for channel cats. Try fishing in moderate current in 2 to 7 feet of water.
  • Flathead Catfish – Slow: Use live bait like a shiner or small sunfish in deep water holes with snags or wood structure.
  • Freshwater Drum – Good: Use a simple egg sinker and nightcrawler rig in areas with moderate current.
  • Largemouth Bass – Excellent: Try a topwater crankbait or frog bait along weedlines of side channels and backwater lakes.
  • Northern Pike – Good: Northern pike will seek cold water during hot summer days. Throw flashy spinners at the mouths of tributaries.
  • Smallmouth Bass – Excellent: Cast spinnerbaits along rocked main channel shorelines and points of islands with moderate current.
  • Walleye – Fair: Troll crankbaits or a three-way rig with a whole crawler on the wing-dams.
  • Yellow Perch – Good: Jig small lures or drop shot live bait along the weedlines in backwater lakes.

Pool 11, Mississippi River (Clayton)

  • Water Temperature (°F): 78.0
  • Ramp Condition: Useable

Water level is 3.9 feet in Guttenberg Lock & Dam 10 tailwaters. Water clarity is slightly stained. Boaters should use caution in low water conditions. Look for fish in deeper water with moderate current.

  • Black Crappie – Fair: Use a light jig or small spinner bait in moderate current in side channel sloughs with wood structure.
  • Bluegill – Good: High water temperatures will move fish off shore into deeper water. Try a small piece of crawler mid-depth in areas with moderate current.
  • Channel Catfish – Excellent: Stink baits are the hot bait for channel cats. Try fishing in moderate current in 2 to 7 feet of water.
  • Flathead Catfish – Slow: Use live bait like a shiner or small sunfish in deep water holes with snags or wood structure.
  • Freshwater Drum – Good: Use a simple egg sinker and nightcrawler rig in areas with moderate current.
  • Largemouth Bass – Excellent: Try a topwater crankbait or frog bait along weedlines of side channels and backwater lakes.
  • Northern Pike – Good: Northern pike will seek cold water during hot summer days. Throw flashy spinners at the mouths of tributaries.
  • Smallmouth Bass – Excellent: Cast spinnerbaits along rocked main channel shorelines and points of islands with moderate current.
  • Walleye – Fair: Troll crankbaits or a three-way rig with a whole crawler on the wing-dams.
  • Yellow Perch – Good: Jig small lures or drop shot live bait along the weedlines in backwater lakes.

Northeast

Decorah Management District

Highs in the 70s with lows in the 50s create mild, comfortable fishing weather. A slight chance of rain for the area on Sunday. Area rivers and streams are at normal summer levels with excellent visibility. Stocking all trout streams resumed after the summer heat pause. Visit a local lake or pond for a family fishing outing. Last updated on 09/10/2026

Allamakee County Trout Streams (Allamakee)

  • Ramp Condition: Not applicable

Trout streams are in excellent condition. With fall around the corner, take this opportunity to find the next best spot to fish.

  • 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.

Cedar River (above Nashua) (Floyd)

  • Ramp Condition: Useable

Water levels are stable and clear. Water temperature is in the 70s. For more information, visit https://water.noaa.gov/gauges/05457700.

  • Black Crappie – Good: Find crappie near snags in backwater areas. Try a small spinner or crankbait.
  • Channel Catfish – Excellent: Use worms, dead chubs or minnows under a bobber near the bottom.
  • Rock Bass – Fair: Use a jig tipped with a nightcrawler or a plastic, fished in the middle of the water column.
  • Smallmouth Bass – Excellent: Find smallmouth along rocky shorelines or limestone ledges as they move to deeper water. Try a variety of lures.
  • Walleye – Excellent: 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 streams are in excellent condition. With fall around the corner, take this opportunity to find the next best spot to fish.

  • 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.

Fayette County Trout Streams (Fayette)

  • Ramp Condition: Not applicable

Trout streams are in excellent condition. With fall around the corner, take this opportunity to find the next best spot to fish.

  • 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.

Lake Hendricks (Howard)

  • Ramp Condition: Useable

A severe green algae bloom is occurring. Blooms should lessen as water temperatures cool. Weeds are up. Water temperature is in the 70s.

  • Black Crappie – Fair: 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 – Good: 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 losing your lure.

Lake Meyer (Winneshiek)

  • Ramp Condition: Useable

Water clarity is improving to about two feet. Water temperature is in the 70s. 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 – Good: 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 streams are in excellent condition. With fall around the corner, take this opportunity to find the next best spot to fish.

  • 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.

Turkey River (above Clermont) (Fayette)

  • Ramp Condition: Useable

Water levels are stable and clear. Water temperature is in the 70s. For more information, visit https://waterdata.usgs.gov/monitoring-location/USGS-05411850.

  • Smallmouth Bass – Excellent: Find smallmouth along rocky shorelines or limestone ledges as they move to deeper water. Try a variety of lures.
  • Walleye – Excellent: 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 stable and clear. Water temperature is in the 70s. For more information, visit https://waterdata.usgs.gov/monitoring-location/USGS-05387500.

  • Smallmouth Bass – Excellent: Find smallmouth along rocky shorelines or limestone ledges as they move to deeper water. Try a variety of lures.
  • Walleye – Excellent: 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 stable and clear. Water temperature is in the 70s.

  • Smallmouth Bass – Excellent: Find smallmouth along rocky shorelines or limestone ledges as they move to deeper water. Try a variety of lures.
  • Walleye – Excellent: 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.

Volga Lake (Fayette)

  • Ramp Condition: Useable

Water clarity is limited and off-color. Water temperature is in the low 80s. Try fishing over structure. Fish are suspended.

  • Black Crappie – Fair: Find crappie along rocky shorelines or snags. Try minnows under a bobber or plastics near and around structure.
  • Bluegill – Good: Use small jigs tipped with a waxworm, spike, or a very small piece of a nightcrawler along rocky shorelines or around submerged structure.
  • Channel Catfish – Good: Use worms, dead chubs, minnows, or stink bait under a bobber near the bottom. Trophy catfish abound in this waterbody.
  • Largemouth Bass – Good: Toss a crank or spinner bait along the edge of a rocky shoreline or steep depth contour. Keep tension on your line to prevent losing your lure.

Winneshiek County Trout Streams (Winneshiek)

  • Ramp Condition: Not applicable

Trout streams are in excellent condition. With fall around the corner, take this opportunity to find the next best spot to fish.

  • 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.

Manchester Management District

Interior river water levels are stable and seasonal. Eastern Iowa interior rivers are in excellent condition for fishing. Rivers are providing good fishing for channel catfish, smallmouth bass, walleye and northern pike. Local area lakes in and around Cedar Falls/Waterloo have been slow for panfish and largemouth bass. Water temperatures are in the upper 70s. Trout streams in Clayton, Dubuque, Delaware and Jackson counties are in good to excellent condition. Contact your local area bait and tackle shops for current and most up to date reports.

Baileys Ford (Delaware)

  • Ramp Condition: Not applicable

Spring Branch Creek within Baileys Ford Park is in excellent condition.

  • Rainbow Trout – Good: Cast and retrieve flashy spinner blades or smaller bead heads.

Bankston Creek (Dubuque)

  • Ramp Condition: Not applicable

Trout streams in Dubuque County are in good to excellent condition. Anglers are catching both rainbow and brown trout.

  • Brown Trout – Fair: Try matching the hatch with the upcoming warmer weather.
  • Rainbow Trout – Good: Cast and retrieve flashy spinner blades or smaller bead heads.

Big Mill Creek (Jackson)

  • Ramp Condition: Not applicable

Trout streams in Jackson County are in good to excellent condition. The Big Mill Wildlife Management area is popular amongs anglers for both rainbow and brown trout.

  • Brown Trout – Fair: Try matching 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.

Brinker Lake (Black Hawk)

  • Ramp Condition: Useable

Anglers are catching crappie.

  • Black Crappie – Fair: Look for structure in 8 to 9 feet of water; use multi colored tube or hair jigs or a live minnow under a slip bobber.
  • White Crappie – Fair: Look for structure in 8 to 9 feet of water; use multi colored tube or hair jigs or a live minnow under a slip bobber.

Cedar River (Nashua to La Porte City) (Black Hawk)

  • Ramp Condition: Useable

River conditions are good for channel catfish, smallmouth bass and walleye. River levels are stable, providing good angling opportunities.

  • Channel Catfish – Good: Try nightcrawlers, dead cutbaits or stink baits on the bottom.
  • Smallmouth Bass – Good: Cast and retrieve live baits tipped on a jig or crankbaits.
  • Walleye – Good: Cast and retrieve live baits tipped on a jig or crankbaits.

Delaware County Trout Streams (Delaware)

  • Ramp Condition: Not applicable

Trout streams in Delaware County are in good to excellent condition.

  • Brown Trout – Good: Try matching 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 are in good to excellent condition. Anglers are catching both rainbow and brown trout.

  • Brown Trout – Fair: Try matching the hatch with the upcoming warmer weather.
  • Rainbow Trout – Good: Cast and retrieve flashy spinner blades or smaller bead heads.

George Wyth Lake (Black Hawk)

  • Ramp Condition: Useable

Anglers are catching crappie and small bluegill from shore.

  • Black Crappie – Fair: Cast and retrieve artificial jigs of various colors.

Jackson County Trout Streams (Jackson)

  • Ramp Condition: Not applicable

Trout streams in Jackson County are in good to excellent condition. The Big Mill Wildlife Management area is popular amongst anglers for both rainbow and brown trout. Mill Creek in Bellevue is popular for easy access Rainbow Trout.

  • Brown Trout – Good: Try matching 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.

Lake Delhi (Delaware)

  • Water Temperature (°F): 76.0
  • Ramp Condition: Useable

Anglers are catching largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, and crappie.

  • Black Crappie – Fair: Look for structure in 8 to 9 feet of water; use multi colored tube or hair jigs or a live minnow under a slip bobber.
  • Largemouth Bass – Fair: Cast and retrieve crankbaits, spinner baits or topwater lures early morning or late evening.
  • Smallmouth Bass – Fair: Cast and retrieve crankbaits, spinner baits, or topwater lures early morning or late evening.
  • White Crappie – Fair: Look for structure in 8 to 9 feet of water; use multi colored tube or hair jigs or a live minnow under a slip bobber.

Maquoketa River (above Monticello) (Delaware)

  • Ramp Condition: Not applicable

Water levels on the Maquoketa River are stable and seasonal. River conditions are excellent for fishing heading into the Labor Day weekend.

  • Channel Catfish – Fair: Try cutbaits or stink bait near wood habitat on outside bends.
  • Smallmouth Bass – Good: Use a jig and plastic tipped with half a nightcrawler or cast and retrieve crankbaits.
  • Walleye – Fair: Cast crankbaits or a jig tipped with half of a nightcrawler.

Maquoketa River (below Monticello) (Jackson)

  • Ramp Condition: Useable

The Maquoketa River continues to drop in Jones and Jackson counties. Few or no showers in the ten day forecast, providing good angling opportunities. Anglers are catching channel catfish and walleye. A 2025 fall fish survey showed extreme numbers of quality-size catfish below Pictured Rocks County Park.

  • Channel Catfish – Fair: Try live or fresh dead baits near structure.
  • Walleye – Fair: Cast crankbaits or a jig tipped with half of a nightcrawler.

Richmond Springs (Delaware)

  • Ramp Condition: Not applicable

Trout streams in Delaware County are in good to excellent condition.

  • 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 are seasonal and stable on the Wapsipinicon River, providing great fishing opportunities. Anglers are catching smallmouth bass, walleye, northern pike and channel catfish.

  • Channel Catfish – Good: Try fishing nightcrawlers or stink baits on the bottom above tree snags on the river.
  • Northern Pike – Good: Use a jig and plastic tipped with half a nightcrawler or cast and retrieve crankbaits.
  • Smallmouth Bass – Good: Use a jig and plastic tipped with half a nightcrawler or cast and retrieve crankbaits.
  • Walleye – Good: Use a jig and plastic tipped with half a nightcrawler or cast and retrieve crankbaits.

Northwest

Black Hawk Management District

Water temperatures are in the mid-70s in the district. Last updated on 09/10/2026

Black Hawk Lake (Sac)

  • Water Temperature (°F): 74.0
  • 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 – Slow: Look for walleye along the dredge cuts and near the rock piles in the east basin. Try crankbaits, crawler harness rigs, or a minnow and jig. Expect the walleye bite to start picking up near shore ss water temperatures start to cool.

Crawford Creek Impoundment (Ida)

  • Ramp Condition: Useable
  • Bluegill – Fair: Look for bluegills near submerged brush piles. Bigger fish are 7- to 8-inches long.

Storm Lake (incl Little Storm Lake) (Buena Vista)

  • Water Temperature (°F): 74.0
  • 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: Look for walleye off shore near the dredge cuts. Use crankbaits, a jig tipped with a minnow fished just off the bottom, or a bottom bouncer with a crawler harness. Expect shore fishing to be more productive as water temperatures start to cool.

Swan Lake (Carroll)

  • Ramp Condition: Useable
  • Black Bullhead – Fair: Catch 10- to 11-inch bullhead from shore along the jetties; use a piece of crawler fished on or near the bottom.
  • Bluegill – Fair

Clear Lake Management District

Contact Clear Lake Fish and Wildlife office for information on lakes and rivers in north central Iowa. Last updated on 08/27/2026

Clear Lake (Cerro Gordo)

  • Water Temperature (°F): 74.0
  • Ramp Condition: Useable

The lake is 1.6 inches below crest. Water clarity is around 22 inches.

  • Black Crappie – Fair
  • Bluegill – Fair
  • Walleye – Slow: Anglers are catching fish near vegetation with jigs and live bait.
  • Yellow Bass – Good: Anglers are catching mostly 7- to 8-inch fish.

Lower Pine Lake (Hardin)

  • Ramp Condition: Useable
  • Black Crappie – Fair: Drift or troll live bait or small crappie jigs.
  • Bluegill – Good: Try small jigs or nightcrawler pieces near woody structure.
  • Largemouth Bass – Good

Rice Lake (Winnebago)

  • 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.

Silver Lake (Worth) (Worth)

  • Ramp Condition: Useable

Winnebago River (Cerro Gordo)

  • Ramp Condition: Not applicable

River level is 4.85 feet.

Spirit Lake Management District

Lake temperatures have cooled to the low to mid-70s with recent rains. Water levels are just below crest. Many of the late summer algae blooms are starting to subside. The fishing bite is trending up. Last updated on 09/10/2026

East Okoboji Lake (Dickinson)

  • Water Temperature (°F): 75.0
  • Ramp Condition: Useable

The bass and panfish bite is good.

Ingham Lake (Emmet)

  • Water Temperature (°F): 73.0
  • Ramp Condition: Useable

Little Swan Lake (Dickinson)

  • Water Temperature (°F): 73.0
  • Ramp Condition: Useable

Vegetation has started to fall back, making navigation easier.

Silver Lake (Dickinson) (Dickinson)

  • Water Temperature (°F): 75.0
  • Ramp Condition: Useable

The lake still has a slight algae bloom.

Spirit Lake (Dickinson)

  • Water Temperature (°F): 75.0
  • Ramp Condition: Useable

The lake is just below crest. The perch bite has picked up recently.

  • Largemouth Bass – Good: Anglers are catching quality-sized bass.
  • Walleye – Good: Anglers are targeting fish effectively using livescope, as well as trolling.
  • Yellow Perch – Good: Many anglers are catching perch in 6-12 feet of water. Jigs paired with wigglers work well.

West Okoboji Lake (Dickinson)

  • Water Temperature (°F): 75.0
  • Ramp Condition: Useable

The lake is experiencing a slight algae bloom; water clarity remains good.

  • Bluegill – Good: Bluegill are out a bit deeper. Many anglers are catching fish upwards of 9-inches.

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

Big Hollow Lake (Des Moines)

  • Water Temperature (°F): 78.0
  • Ramp Condition: Useable

About two inches of rain on Tuesday/Wednesday. The water is starting to cool down with the rain and the cooler nighttime temperatures.

  • Black Crappie – Slow: As the week has gone on, crappie fishing has slowed. 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 across from the campground fishing jetty and the kayak launch area.

Cedar River (Moscow to Columbus Junction) (Muscatine)

  • Water Temperature (°F): 75.0
  • Ramp Condition: Useable

River level is up about 8 inches in the last 24 hours.

  • Channel Catfish – Fair: Use cut bait or stink bait around the brush piles. Most of the feeder streams aren’t bringing in much extra water.

Iowa River (Columbus Junction to Mississippi R) (Louisa)

  • Ramp Condition: Useable

River level is up about a foot in the last 24 hours with recent rain.

  • Channel Catfish – Fair: Look for catfish to be hanging out around the log jams. Use cut bait or stink baits. Another good bait to try this time of the year are grass frogs (leopard frogs) freshly caught in the wet grass along the river bank.

Lake Belva Deer (Keokuk)

  • Water Temperature (°F): 79.0
  • Ramp Condition: Useable

Two inches of rain in the last 48 hours. Lake level has come up a little bit. Water clarity is just under 2 feet.

  • Bluegill – Slow: Bluegill fishing might pick up as the water continues to cool.
  • Largemouth Bass – Slow: Bass fishing was good on Monday before the rain; the bite slowed after the storm.

Lake Darling (Washington)

  • Water Temperature (°F): 77.0
  • Ramp Condition: Useable

3.25 inches of rain Tuesday/Wednesday. Lake level is up 18 inches, touching the bottom of the fishing pier. The water is brown tinted; a good amount of duckweed and planktonic algae was blow into the lake from the ponds and from upstream.

  • Bluegill – Status Unsure: With the big change in lake conditions, expect bluegills to be holding tight to the deeper water habitat.
  • Largemouth Bass – Status Unsure: Lots of extra water in the lake with reduced water clarity. Expect bass to be holding tight until conditions return back to normal.

Lake Geode (Henry)

  • Water Temperature (°F): 78.0
  • Ramp Condition: Useable

The last storm dropped about 2 inches of rain.

  • Black Crappie – Fair: Crappie fishing was slow over the weekend. Expect crappie to still be hanging out in the fish habitat in 8 to 10 feet of water next to the ledges.
  • Bluegill – Fair: Bluegills are hanging out with the crappies in the fish habitat nearest the steep drop-offs.

Lost Grove Lake (Scott)

  • Water Temperature (°F): 75.0
  • Ramp Condition: Useable

Cooler weather the last couple of days and some rain is starting to drop the water temperatures. Lost Grove has Eurasian Watermilfoil; properly clean your boat and trailer before you leave the boat ramp parking lots to help prevent its spread to other lakes.

  • Bluegill – Fair: Bluegills aren’t ready to come in shallower. they are staying out in the trees in 10 to 14 feet of water; a little deeper is some areas.
  • Largemouth Bass – Fair: The cooler overcast weather is starting to let the evening bite creep up into a little earlier in the evening. Try fishing the edges of the weedbeds along the points that drop off into deeper water.

Skunk River (Rose Hill to Coppock) (Washington)

  • Water Temperature (°F): 80.0
  • Ramp Condition: Useable

The river level is up about 3 feet in the last 24 hours with a lot more water coming down the South Skunk from up by Oskaloosa.

Macbride Management District

Cedar River (Cedar Rapids to Moscow) (Cedar)

  • Ramp Condition: Useable
  • Channel Catfish – Fair: Use cut bait or stink bait near brush piles and broken concrete or rock.
  • Flathead Catfish – Fair: Use cut bait or live bait near brush piles.

Cedar River (La Porte City to Cedar Rapids) (Linn)

  • Ramp Condition: Useable
  • Channel Catfish – Fair: Use cut bait or stink bait near brush piles and broken concrete.
  • Flathead Catfish – Fair: Try live bait around brush piles.
  • Smallmouth Bass – Fair: Use crank baits, topwater or jigs along rock shorelines.
  • Walleye – Fair: Use jigs or nightcrawlers.

Coralville Reservoir (Johnson)

  • Ramp Condition: Useable
  • Black Crappie – Fair: Crappie have been scattered. The best bite has been early in the morning with a minnow on a jig head.
  • Channel Catfish – Fair: Fishing has been hit-or-miss trolling shad on rattle rigs.
  • White Crappie – Fair: Crappie have been scattered. The best bite has been early in the morning with a minnow on a jig head.

Iowa Lake (Iowa Co.) (Iowa)

  • Ramp Condition: Useable

Iowa River (Coralville Lake to River Junction) (Johnson)

  • Ramp Condition: Useable
  • Channel Catfish – Good: Use cut bait in tailwater and brush piles.
  • Flathead Catfish – Fair: Anglers are catching a few catfish on soft plastics or shad while targeting wipers.
  • Walleye – Fair: Use soft plastics or shad.
  • White Bass – Fair: Anglers targetting wipers are catching a few.
  • Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) – Fair: Use soft plastics or shad in tailwater areas or deep holes with brush piles.

Iowa River (Marshalltown to Coralville Lake) (Iowa)

  • Ramp Condition: Useable

Lake Macbride (Johnson)

  • Ramp Condition: Useable
  • Largemouth Bass – Fair: Few reports of bass on topwater at sunrise/sunset or on jigs or crank baits around stumps and brush piles.
  • Spotted bass – Fair: Use topwater lures at sunrise and sunset.
  • White Crappie – Fair: Anglers are catching crappies around brush piles.

Wapsipinicon River (Troy Mills to Oxford Junction) (Jones)

  • Ramp Condition: Useable
  • Channel Catfish – Fair: Try cut bait or stink bait along brush piles.
  • Smallmouth Bass – Good: Try fishing along rock shorelines with current seams.
  • Walleye – Fair: Try fishing along rock shorelines with current seams.

Rathbun Management District

Lake Keomah (Mahaska)

  • Ramp Condition: Closed

Lake Keomah is refilling after a lake renovation last year. Some fish have been stocked for future angling.

Lake Miami (Monroe)

  • 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.

Lake Sugema (Van Buren)

  • 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.

Lake Wapello (Davis)

  • 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.

Rathbun Reservoir (Appanoose)

  • Ramp Condition: Useable

Lake level is 905.72 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 ss 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.

Southwest

Boone Management District

Catfishing is good in the reservoirs and rivers. Drifting or slow trolling plastics at depths less than 10 feet deep will find crappies in many Central Iowa lakes. Last updated on 07/09/2026

Big Creek Lake (Polk)

  • 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.

Des Moines River (Stratford to Saylorville Lake) (Polk)

  • Ramp Condition: Not applicable
  • Channel Catfish – Good: Try dip baits and cut baits near wood debris and deep cutbanks.

Hickory Grove Lake (Story)

  • 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.

Red Rock Reservoir (Marion)

  • Ramp Condition: Useable
  • Channel Catfish – Good: Try drifting or still fishing cut baits on the upper portion of the main reservoir near and above the mile long bridge, and in the upper end of the Whitebreast Creek arm.

Saylorville Reservoir (Polk)

  • Ramp Condition: Useable
  • Channel Catfish – Good: Drift cut baits in the upper portion of the reservoir near and just above the mile long bridge.

Cold Springs Management District

  • Contact Person: Mark Boucher or John Lorenzen – 712-769-2587

Greenfield Lake (Adair)

  • Water Temperature (°F): 80.0
  • Ramp Condition: Useable
    • Black Crappie – Fair: Slow troll open water areas to find schools of black crappie. The early morning bite is best.
    • Channel Catfish – Slow: Cast cut bait on the windy shoreline to catch all sizes of channel catfish.

Lake Anita (Cass)

  • Water Temperature (°F): 80.0
  • Ramp Condition: Useable
  • Black Crappie – Fair: Troll the roadbeds or fish along deep tree piles to find black crappies. Early morning bite is best. Sorting is needed for larger fish.
  • Bluegill – Fair: Anglers are catching bluegill slow trolling close to underwater reefs and around the roadbed.
  • Largemouth Bass – Fair: Bass anglers are finding fish in deep tree piles and along the roadbed.

Meadow Lake (Adair)

  • Water Temperature (°F): 80.0
  • Ramp Condition: Useable
  • Black Crappie – Fair: Look for black crappies in the tree piles. Late afternoon bite is best.
  • Bluegill – Fair: Slow troll and fish along tree piles to find 8-inch fish.
  • Largemouth Bass – Fair: Cast plastics in the shallow tree piles.

Prairie Rose Lake (Shelby)

  • Water Temperature (°F): 80.0
  • Ramp Condition: Useable
  • Black Crappie – Fair: Find black crappies in the tree piles. Fish will average 9.5-inches. Anglers are trolling for larger fish.
  • Bluegill – Slow: Look for bluegills in open water areas slow trolling or drifting.
  • Largemouth Bass – Fair

Viking Lake (Montgomery)

  • Water Temperature (°F): 80.0
  • Ramp Condition: Useable

Water clarity is good.

Mt. Ayr Management District

Water temperature is in the upper 70s to low 80s in most Mount Ayr district lakes. Last updated on 08/31/2026

Green Valley Lake (Union)

  • 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.
  • Largemouth Bass – Fair: Catch Largemouth Bass of all sizes on finesse plastics along rocky shoreline areas during early morning and late evening.

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 fished near rock piles.

Three Mile Lake (Union)

  • Ramp Condition: Useable

Lake level is about 9 inches below normal pool as of September 9th.

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.

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.

Add on Google

Follow us on Facebook for breaking news, severe weather alerts, sports, and more.

Photo of Mark Pitz Mark Pitz Send an email September 10, 2026
32 minutes read
Photo of Mark Pitz

Mark Pitz

Mark Pitz is News and Sports Director for KCHA Radio, covering local news and sports across North Iowa. He also hosts Middays with Mark Pitz and is the radio voice of the Nashua-Plainfield Huskies on 95.9 KCHA.
Back to top button