- Check docks and equipment for invasive species before storing this winter
- Mississippi River
- Northeast
- Northwest
- Southeast
- Southwest
- Still time for fall fun and big savings when you camp in Iowa state parks
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Check docks and equipment for invasive species before storing this winter
Fall is a great time for lake property owners to check their boats and trailers, docks and lifts for new infestations of aquatic invasive species like zebra mussels. As you bring each item out of the water, visually inspect areas that have been submerged for months. Juvenile zebra mussels should be visible this time of year, but also run your hand over smooth surfaces to check for very small juvenile zebra mussels that feel like sandpaper.
Learn more abbout how you can help prevent the spread of invasive species on the DNR webpage.
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Mississippi River
Bellevue Management District
Water levels are steady to slightly rising across the district. Water temperatures are in the mid-60s across the district. Water clarity continues to improve. Call your local bait shops for the most current information. Last updated on 10/15/2026
Pool 12, Mississippi River (Dubuque)
- Water Temperature (°F): 65.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Water level is around 4.9 feet at the Dubuque tailwater and is steady to slightly rising. Water clarity has improved, but there is a lot of duckweed on the surface in many areas. 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. Anglers are catching freshwater drum on crankbaits and blade baits.
- 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 – Fair: Try a three-way rig with live bait or blade baits in the tailwaters. The sauger bite is slowly improving and should get better in the coming weeks.
- 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. Expect walleye fishing to improve in the coming weeks.
- 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 4.5 feet at the Bellevue tailwater and is steady to slowly rising. 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 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.
- Flathead Catfish – Slow: Anglers are catching a few flatheads in the tailwater on blade baits.
- Freshwater Drum – Good: Use a simple sinker and nightcrawler rig in areas with moderate current or in the tailwater. Anglers are catching freshwater drum on crankbaits and blade baits.
- 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 – Fair: Try a three-way rig with live bait or blade baits in the tailwaters. The sauger bite is slowly improving and should get better in the coming weeks.
- 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. Expect walleye fishing to improve in the coming weeks.
- White Bass – Fair: Anglers are catching white bass in the tailwaters on one-eyes or blade baits.
- White Crappie – Slow: Use a small jig and plastic combination or a live minnow rig in side channel areas with woody structure.
Pool 14, Mississippi River (Clinton)
- Water Temperature (°F): 66.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Water level is around 4.7 feet at Lock and Dam 13 and is steady to slightly rising. Water temperatures remain in the mid-60s. Water clarity is has improved. 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 – Fair: 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. Look for walleye fishing to improve as the water temperature continues to drop.
- 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): 68.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Water level is around 4.4 feet at Lock and Dam 14 and is holding fairly steady. Water temperature has risen slighlty since last week. 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. Look for walleye fishing to improve as the water temperature continues to drop.
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Fairport Management District
Mississippi River Pools 16-19: Tailwater stages are falling and forecast to keep falling over the weekend. Water clarity is poor. Main channel water temperature is 63-65 degrees. Fishing is slow with the muddy water conditions. Last updated on 10/08/2026
Pool 16, Mississippi River (Scott)
- Water Temperature (°F): 65.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Tailwater stage has reached 6.60 feet at Lock and Dam 15 in Davenport. Flood stage is 15 feet. Tailwater stage is forecast to keep falling over the weekend. River stage is 10.59 feet at Fairport; 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 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): 64.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Tailwater stage is 5.36 feet at Lock and Dam 16 in Muscatine. Tailwater stage is forecast to fall over the weekend. Flood stage is 15 feet. Fishing will be difficult with the 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 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): 63.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Tailwater stage is 9.09 feet at Lock and Dam 17 at New Boston. Tailwater stage is forecast to keep falling over the weekend. Flood stage is 15 feet. Fishing will be difficult with the 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): 64.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Tailwater stage is 6.41 feet at Lock and Dam 18 above Burlington and is forecast to keep falling over the weekend. Flood stage is 10 feet. River stage is 12.11 feet at Burlington; flood stage is 15 feet. River stage is 526.62 feet at Fort Madison; flood stage is 528.0 feet. Fishing will be difficult with the 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 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 are expected to bump up slightly then level off this week. Clarity is fair with abundant floating vegetation. Water temperature has dropped into the mid to upper 60s. Fish are on their fall feeding patterns before they transition to their overwintering habitat. Try fishing along wood or rock structure and edges of vegetation lines. Last updated on 10/15/2026
Pool 09, Mississippi River (Allamakee)
- Water Temperature (°F): 65.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
River level is expected to remain stable near 7.8 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.
- Black Crappie – Fair: Crappie bite is improving. Use light tackle in 4-6 feet of water in trees and stumps in slight current.
- 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.
- Sauger – Fair: A few sauger are moving upstream toward the Lock & Dam tailwaters.
- Smallmouth Bass – Excellent: Smallmouth bass are prepping for winter and actively feeding along main channel. Use inline spinner-baits along rip-rap.
- Walleye – Good: The walleye bite is picking up as they move upstream toward the Lock & Dam tailwaters.
- 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): 65.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Water level is 612.5 feet below Lock and Dam 9, Lynxville; will bump up slightly then level off this week. Water clarity is stained. Try fishing the weedlines in the clearer water in backwater lakes. Tailwater fishing is starting to pick up.
- Black Crappie – Fair: Crappie bite is improving. Use light tackle in 4-6 feet of water in trees and stumps in slight current.
- 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.
- Sauger – Fair: A few sauger are moving upstream toward the Lock & Dam tailwaters.
- Smallmouth Bass – Excellent: Smallmouth bass are prepping for winter and actively feeding along main channel. Use inline spinner-baits along rip-rap.
- Walleye – Fair: The walleye bite is picking up as they move upstream toward the Lock & Dam tailwaters.
- 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): 65.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Water level has dropped to 4.5 feet and is expected to fall slowly after a small bump at Guttenberg, Lock & Dam10 tailwaters. Water clarity is slightly stained. Fishing in the tailwater areas picked up last week.
- Black Crappie – Fair: Crappie bite is improving. Use light tackle in 4-6 feet of water in trees and stumps in slight current.
- 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.
- Sauger – Good: A few sauger are moving upstream toward the Lock & Dam tailwaters.
- Smallmouth Bass – Excellent: Smallmouth bass are prepping for winter and actively feeding along the main channel. Use inline spinner-baits along rip-rap.
- Walleye – Good: The walleye bite is picking up as they move upstream toward the Lock & Dam tailwaters .
- 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 50s with lows in the low 40s create mild, comfortable fishing weather. Rain chances end and are replaced with breezy conditions by the start of the weekend. Area rivers and streams remain elevated for this time of year. Fall leaf color is reaching its peak, creating an extra bonus to your fishing trip. Last updated on 10/15/2026
Allamakee County Trout Streams (Allamakee)
- Ramp Condition: Not applicable
Trout stream water levels are elevated, but clear. 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 to help hunters see you.
- 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 falling, but remain higher than normal for this time of year. Water clarity is excellent. Water temperature is in the 60s. For more information, visit https://water.noaa.gov/gauges/
- Black Crappie – Excellent: Find crappie near snags in backwater areas. Try a small spinner or crankbait.
- Channel Catfish – Fair: Use worms, dead chubs or minnows under a bobber near the bottom.
- 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 stream water levels are elevated, but clear. 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 to help hunters see you.
- 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 stream water levels are elevated, but clear. 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 to help hunters see you.
- 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
Water clarity is good to excellent. Water temperature is in the low 60s. The bite should improve as water temperatures continue to fall.
- Black Crappie – Good: Find crappie around submersed or downed trees or logs. 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 rocky structure or woody debris.
- Channel Catfish – Fair: Use worms, dead chubs or minnows, or stink bait under a bobber near the bottom.
- Largemouth Bass – Good: Toss a crank or spinner bait along a rocky shoreline or drop-off. Keep tension on the line to prevent losing your lure.
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Water clarity is good to excellent. Water temperature is in the low 60s. The bite should improve as water temperatures continue to fall.
- Black Crappie – Good: Find crappie around submersed or downed trees or logs. 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 rocky structure or woody debris.
- Channel Catfish – Fair: Use worms, dead chubs or minnows, or stink bait under a bobber near the bottom.
- Largemouth Bass – Good: Toss a crank or spinner bait along a rocky shoreline or drop-off. Keep tension on the line to prevent losing your lure.
- Northern Pike – Slow: Pike are ambush predators with an attitude. Target structure 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 elevated, but clear. 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 to help hunters see you.
- 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 falling, but remain higher than normal for this time of year. Water clarity is excellent. Water temperature is in the 60s. For more information, visit https://waterdata.usgs.gov/
- 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 falling, but remain higher than normal for this time of year. Water clarity is excellent. Water temperature is in the 60s. For more information, visit https://waterdata.usgs.gov/
- Rainbow Trout – Good: Rainbows are hitting lures imitating minnows near the mouth of trout streams.
- 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 falling, but remain higher than normal for this time of year. Water clarity is excellent. Water temperature is in the 60s.
- 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.
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Water clarity is good to excellent. Water temperature is in the low 60s. The bite should improve as water temperatures continue to fall.
- Black Crappie – Good: Find crappie around submersed or downed trees or logs. 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 rocky structure or woody debris.
- Channel Catfish – Fair: Use worms, dead chubs or 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 a rocky shoreline or drop-off. Keep tension on the line to prevent losing your lure.
Winneshiek County Trout Streams (Winneshiek)
- Ramp Condition: Not applicable
Trout stream water levels are elevated, but clear. 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 to help hunters see you.
- 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 continue to fall and are producing good catches of walleye and smallmouth bass. Local area lakes in and around Cedar Falls/Waterloo are fair for panfish and largemouth bass. Water temperatures are in the lower 60s. 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. Last updated on 10/15/2026
- Ramp Condition: Not applicable
Spring Branch Creek within Baileys Ford Park is in good condition.
- 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 are falling on the Cedar River in Black Hawk County. Anglers are doing very well on smallmouth bass and walleye. River conditions should be very favorable by this weekend.
- Smallmouth Bass – Good: Cast and retrieve jigs and plastics tipped with or without a half of nightcrawler. Crankbaits work well this time of year.
- Walleye – Good: Cast and retrieve jigs and plastics tipped with or without a half of nightcrawler. Crankbaits work well this time of year.
Delaware County Trout Streams (Delaware)
- Ramp Condition: Not applicable
Trout streams in Delaware County are in good to excellent condition.
- 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 are in good to excellent condition.
- 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 are in good to excellent condition.
- 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.
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Anglers are catching bass and some crappie.
- Black Crappie – Fair: Try fishing around shoreline structure near fallen trees in the 8-10 feet of water jigging colored tube jigs or hair jigs. A live minnow tipped under a slip bobber can be very effective.
- Largemouth Bass – Fair: Cast artificial lures or crankbaits along shoreline areas and around the docks.
- White Crappie – Fair: Try fishing around shoreline structure near fallen trees in the 8-10 feet of water jigging colored tube jigs or hair jigs. A live minnow tipped under a slip bobber can be very effective.
Maquoketa River (above Monticello) (Delaware)
- Ramp Condition: Not applicable
Water levels on the Maquoketa River are falling with the recent dry weather. Recent fisheries surveys revealed good to excellent walleye and smallmouth bass populations within Delaware County.
- Smallmouth Bass – Good: Cast and retrieve jigs and plastics tipped with or without a half of nightcrawler. Crankbaits work well this time of year.
- Walleye – Good: Cast and retrieve jigs and plastics tipped with or without a half of nightcrawler. Crankbaits work well this time of year.
- Ramp Condition: Not applicable
Trout streams in Delaware County are in good to excellent condition.
- Brown Trout – Good: Match the hatch with the upcoming warmer weather.
- Rainbow Trout – Good: Cast and retrieve flashy spinner blades or smaller bead heads.
Shell Rock River (Greene to Shell Rock) (Butler)
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Anglers should have some success angling on the Shell Rock River; good to excellent reports on the Cedar River for both walleye and smallmouth bass.
- Smallmouth Bass – Status Unsure: Cast and retrieve jigs and plastics tipped with or without a half of nightcrawler. Crankbaits work well this time of year.
- Walleye – Status Unsure: Cast and retrieve jigs and plastics tipped with or without a half of nightcrawler. Crankbaits work well this time of year.
Wapsipinicon River (Tripoli to Troy Mills) (Buchanan)
- Ramp Condition: Not applicable
Water levels have risen to 5.79 feet on the Wapsipinicon River as of today. Walleye and smallmouth bass fishing should improve as water levels continue to drop.
- Smallmouth Bass – Fair: Cast and retrieve jigs and plastics tipped with or without a half of nightcrawler. Crankbaits work well this time of year.
- Walleye – Fair: Cast and retrieve jigs and plastics tipped with or without a half of nightcrawler. Crankbaits work well this time of year.
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Northwest
Black Hawk Management District
Water temperatures are around 60 degrees in many district water bodies. Last updated on 10/15/2026
- Water Temperature (°F): 62.0
- 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 near the inlet bridge. Most fish are up to 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: Anglers have had luck from shore. Throw a twister or use live bait like a minnow or a leech under a bobber from shore. Anglers have had luck near the fish house in Town Bay and the inlet bridge.
- Ramp Condition: Useable
- Black Crappie – Fair: Find crappie near submerged structure in 5-15 feet of water.
- Walleye – Fair: Pick up walleye in 5-15 feet of water using minnows or crawlers.
- Water Temperature (°F): 62.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
- Walleye – Slow: Look for walleye near shore as water temperatures cool down. Try throwing twisters or using a minnow under a bobber.
Storm Lake (incl Little Storm Lake) (Buena Vista)
- Water Temperature (°F): 60.0
- 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 – Fair: Look for walleye action near shore. Try crankbaits, twisters, or a crawler or leach fished under a bobber.
- Water Temperature (°F): 62.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
- Black Crappie – Fair: Find black crappie near shore this time of year. Most fish are 9- to 10-inches. Use a small jig tipped with a piece of crawler or minnow fished under a bobber from shore and from the jetties.
- Bluegill – Fair: Look for bluegill near shore. A recent survey showed good numbers of 7- to 8-inch fish. Use a piece of crawler under a bobber near shore and from the jetties.
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Clear Lake Management District
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): 60.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Lake level is 0.84 inches below crest. Navigation buoys have been removed for the season.
- Black Crappie – Slow: Anglers are catching crappie off the docks with small jigs around the boat hoists.
- Muskellunge – Good: Fall is an excellent time to target musky. Cast baits near docks and vegetation beds.
- Walleye – Fair
- 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 4.95 feet.
- Smallmouth Bass – Fair
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Spirit Lake Management District
Lake temperatures are in the mid-60s. The fishing bite is good for many species. Water levels are at crest. Most pleasure boaters are off the lakes for the year; many docks and hoists are out for the season. Last updated on 10/15/2026
- Water Temperature (°F): 60.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
The panfish bite is good.
- Black Crappie – Good: Anglers are targeting quality-sized fish.
Silver Lake (Dickinson) (Dickinson)
- Water Temperature (°F): 66.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
- Water Temperature (°F): 65.0
- 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 from the weedline out to 15 feet of water. Some chasing may be needed to stay on top of schools. Jigs with minnows or jigs paired with wigglers work well.
- Water Temperature (°F): 65.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Anglers are catching walleye and smallmouth trolling with crank baits off points.
- Bluegill – Good: The bite has been variable, but very good when it’s on.
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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): 67.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
- Black Crappie – Fair: The crappie bite picked up a little at the end of last week, then slowed down over the weekend. It’s starting to pick back up with the cooler weather. 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. Also try around some of the brushpiles up the lake from the beach.
Cedar River (Moscow to Columbus Junction) (Muscatine)
- Ramp Condition: Useable
The Cedar River is dropping fairly quickly; down about 2 feet below bank full.
Iowa River (Columbus Junction to Mississippi R) (Louisa)
- Ramp Condition: Useable
River level continues to drop very slowly; currently about 1/2 feet below bank full level. Fairly fast current.
- Water Temperature (°F): 65.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Water temperature warmed up a couple of degrees over the weekend, but started cooling back down. Friday’s lows of near freezing will take it down a few more degrees.
- Bluegill – Fair: Their advance into shallower water was halted by the warm weather last weekend. A return to cooler weather has them moving back in shallow.
- Largemouth Bass – Fair: Bass were holding in 6-8 feet of water over the weekend. A big drop in nighttime temperatures should get them back into the feeding mode to fatten up for the winter.
- Water Temperature (°F): 66.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Water temperature gained a couple of degrees over the weekend, and is cooling back down. The water still has a definite brown cast from the rain, as well as the fall turn over.
- Black Crappie – Fair: Anglers were picking up crappies at the end of last week around the jetties and the boat docks. Warm weather over the weekend slowed that bite down; it’s starting to pick back up as the cooler weather returns.
- Bluegill – Fair: Bluegill are spread out between the shallow 2 – 3 feet of water around the tree falls and the rock piles in about 6 feet of water.
- Water Temperature (°F): 67.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
The water still has a green tint, but it’s thinning. Cold temperatures forecast for the next couple of nights might finish off the phytoplankton.
- Black Crappie – Fair: Look for crappies along the rock shorelines adjacent to the fish habitat in 8 to 10 feet of water.
- Water Temperature (°F): 62.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
The water continues to clear, but there’s still a definite brown color. Water clarity is about 3 feet; less where the wind is blowing into the shoreline. 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: Bluegills slowed down their move to shallower water with the warm/hot weather last weekend. They should come back in shallower with the cooler weather forecast.
- Largemouth Bass – Fair: Work the edges of the weedbeds near deeper water on the main body of the lake by flipping jigs with crawdad trailers back into them. Hopefully they can settle in when the weather quits changing every other day.
Skunk River (Rose Hill to Coppock) (Washington)
- Ramp Condition: Useable
River level is about 1 foot below bank full level; it’s dropping very slowly.
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Macbride Management District
Coralville Reservoir (Johnson)
- Ramp Condition: Useable
- Black Crappie – Fair: Fishing has been day to day; anglers are catching fish with minnows or soft plastics. Larger fish have been mixed with smaller ones in brush piles out of the current.
- Channel Catfish – Status Unsure: No reports received this week.
- White Crappie – Fair: Fishing has been day to day; anglers are catching fish with minnows or soft plastics. Larger fish have been mixed with smaller ones in brush piles out of the current.
- Ramp Condition: Useable
- Black Crappie – Good
- Redear Sunfish – Good
- Water Temperature (°F): 68.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
- Black Crappie – Good: Use 3″ twister tails or minnows around brush piles.
- Bluegill – Good: Crappie anglers are catching bluegills with a downsized twister tail.
- Channel Catfish – Good: Anglers are using creek chubs or dipbait on the north end of the lake.
- Largemouth Bass – Good: Use jerk baits, chatter baits or square bill crankbaits in 8-10 feet of water in the mornings. Anglers are catching some on topwater in the mornings or evenings.
Iowa River (Coralville Lake to River Junction) (Johnson)
- Ramp Condition: Useable
No reports received this week.
- Water Temperature (°F): 68.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
The fish cleaning station will close next week.
- Bluegill – Fair: Anglers are catching fish up to 8-inches around docks or vegetation.
- Muskellunge – Fair: Anglers are catching a few.
- Walleye – Fair: Try fishing around the stump line edges or rock reefs.
- White Crappie – Good: Some days are better than others; anglers report improvements in crappie fishing this week with a few limits caught. Use jigs tipped with plastics or minnows around brush piles or aquatic vegetation. Most fish are 9- to 12-inches with a few larger ones.
- Water Temperature (°F): 68.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
The fishing cleaning station is closed for the season.
- Black Crappie – Fair: Try minnows around brush piles.
- Muskellunge – Fair: Anglers are catching a few.
- Walleye – Fair: Some days are better than others; best bite is after sunset.
- Yellow Perch – Fair: Try minnows or a piece of worm around the coontail beds.
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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. Fish should move into shallow water as it cools.
- Ramp Condition: Useable
- Bluegill – Slow: Try small jigs around the cedar tree piles and along the vegetation near the shoreline.
- Largemouth Bass – Fair: Use crankbaits and plastics or spinnerbaits along brush piles and rocky shorelines.
Ottumwa Park Pond South (Trout Pond) (Wapello)
- Ramp Condition: Not applicable
Trout will be stocked on Monday, November 2. You need a valid fishing license and pay the trout fee to fish for or possess trout.
- Water Temperature (°F): 70.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Lake level is 907.62 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.
- 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. Use baits that mimic shad, like silver crankbaits or blade baits.
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Southwest
Boone Management District
Central Iowa Lakes have turned over for the fall. Look for fish in deeper habitat. Fall is a good time to slowly troll small plastics or vertical jig plastics or minnows over habitat to catch crappies. Â Fall trout stockings in community ponds are nearing, with Ada Hayden Lake and Lake Petocka on Friday October 23, and Terra Lake and Triumph Park Pond on Monday October 26. You need a valid fishing license and pay the trout fee to fish for or possess trout. Last updated on 10/15/2026
- 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. If fishing from shore, concentrate on the shoreline the wind is blowing into.
- Ramp Condition: Useable
- Black Crappie – Fair: Try vertical jigging or slowly trolling small plastics over habitat. Afternoons and early evening bite is best.
- Bluegill – Good: Drift or troll 1/32 or 1/16 ounce jig heads tipped with a nightcrawler fished 5 to 15 feet deep near habitat locations and just over the tops of the small flooded trees that grew throughout the lake when it was drawn down.
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Cold Springs Management District
Fishing has improved with stable weather conditions. Last updated on 10/07/2026
- Water Temperature (°F): 66.0
- Ramp Condition: Not applicable
1200 rainbow trout will be stocked on October 23rd in pond 1. You need a valid fishing license and pay the trout fee to fish for or possess trout. The bag limit is 5 trout with possession of 10.
Farm Creek Lake (a.k.a. Young’s Pond) (Pottawattamie)
- Water Temperature (°F): 65.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
- Black Crappie – Fair: Anglers are catching black crappie off the jetty on the west side of the lake.
- Bluegill – Fair: Farm Creek bluegill will average 8-inches.
- Largemouth Bass – Fair: Farm Creek has a good largemouth bass population.
- Water Temperature (°F): 65.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
- Black Crappie – Fair: Slow troll open water areas to find schools of black crappie.
- Largemouth Bass – Fair: Greenfield has a high percentage of 12- to 14-inch largemouth bass.
- Water Temperature (°F): 65.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
- Black Crappie – Fair: 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 – Fair: Bass anglers are finding fish in deep tree piles and along the roadbed.
- Water Temperature (°F): 65.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
- Black Crappie – Fair: Look for black crappies in the tree piles. Late afternoon bite is best.
- Bluegill – Slow: Slow troll and fish along tree piles to find 8-inch fish.
- Largemouth Bass – Status Unsure
- Water Temperature (°F): 65.0
- 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 – Fair: Anglers are catching bluegill with worms under a bobber.
- Water Temperature (°F): 65.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
- Black Crappie – Fair: Find black crappies in the tree piles. Fish will average 9.5-inches.
- Bluegill – Fair: Use red worms or nightcrawlers around the tree piles.
- Largemouth Bass – Fair
- Water Temperature (°F): 65.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
- Black Crappie – Good: Look for 9-inch black crappies in the tree piles.
- Largemouth Bass – Fair: Boat anglers are finding largemouth bass in shallow tree piles.
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Mt. Ayr Management District
Water temperature is in the upper 60s to low 70s in most Mount Ayr district lakes. Last updated on 10/08/2026
- 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 in shallow coves.
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.
- Largemouth Bass – Fair: Catch Largemouth Bass of all sizes using crankbaits fished along rocky shoreline areas.
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Lake level is about 3.5 inches above normal pool as of October 5.
Twelve Mile Creek Lake (Union)
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Docks are in at the main ramp.
- Bluegill – Fair: Catch Bluegill of all sizes with a piece of nightcrawler under a bobber in shallow coves.
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