A cool weekend is in store for area anglers. Saturday will be the warmest day with highs in the upper 50’s. Sunday will be cooler with the high in the upper 40’s. Both days will be sunny to mostly sunny.
By contrast, area water temperatures are in the low 50’s which is causing fishing to be rated as fair. Panfish is picking up in some locations.
NORTHWEST
Black Hawk Lake
Surface water temperatures are in the mid to upper 50s. Water levels are about 12 inches below the crest of the spillway. Shore fishing action has picked up. Black Crappie – Fair: Fish are 8- to 11-inches. Panfish action has picked up with the cooler water temperatures. Try along Ice House Point and around the fish house and stone piers in Town Bay. Walleye – Fair: Anglers are starting to pick up more walleye from shore as water temperatures cool. Throw twisters or crankbaits or fish crawlers or leeches under a bobber. Yellow Perch – Fair.
Browns Lake
Water levels remain low; use caution when launching boats.
Brushy Creek Lake
Water temperatures are around 60 degrees. Water clarity is about 3 feet. Water levels are below the crest of the spillway. Black Crappie – Fair: Find crappie near submerged woody structure in 5-10 feet of water. Use a small jig tipped with a crawler or small minnow. Bluegill – Fair: Drift jigs tipped with crawlers in 5-15 feet of water anywhere along weed lines or near submerged trees. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Try plastics and traditional bass lures along submerged woody structure and weed lines near shore.
Storm Lake (incl Little Storm Lake)
All walleye between 19 and 25-inches must be immediately released unharmed at Storm Lake; no more than one walleye longer than 25-inches can be taken per day. Black Crappie – Fair. Channel Catfish – Fair: Storm Lake has a good population of 4-6 pound catfish. Try cut bait, liver or crawlers fished on the bottom along shore. Walleye – Fair: Anglers are picking up walleye along shore with live bait, twisters or crankbaits in mornings or evenings. Yellow Bass – Fair: Fish are 5- to 11-inches long. Use a small piece of crawler fished under a bobber.
Surface water temperatures are in the upper 50s in most area lakes. For more information, contact the Black Hawk District office at 712-657-2638.
Clear Lake
The fish cleaning station is closed for the season. The lake is 8.2 inches below crest. Water temperature is in the low 50s. Water clarity is about 50 inches. Clear Lake has a protected slot on walleye. All walleye between 17 and 22 inches must be immediately released unharmed. No more than one walleye longer than 22 inches may be taken per day. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Try jigs and spinnerbaits near the vegetation edge. Muskellunge – Fair: Cast baits near docks, vegetation beds and reef areas. Walleye – Fair: Use a jig or live bait near vegetation. Shore anglers should target lighted docks after sunset. Yellow Bass – Fair: Try small jigs tipped with cut bait or a crawler. Yellow Perch – Slow.
Rice Lake
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. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Yellow Perch – Slow:
Silver Lake (Worth)
Bluegill – Fair: Catch nice-sized bluegill with small jigs. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Use spinnerbaits and jigs fished near vegetation. Yellow Perch – Good: Try small jigs tipped with a piece of crawler near vegetation.
Winnebago River
Smallmouth Bass – Good: Try a jig in the deeper holes and near woody habitat. Walleye – Fair.
For information on the lakes and rivers in north central Iowa, contact the Clear Lake Fish and Wildlife office at 641-357-3517.
East Okoboji Lake
Lake temperature is in the mid-50s. The water level is 7 inches below crest. There has been a fairly good crappie, bluegill and yellow perch bite recently. Walleye fishing is picking up. Trolling is working fairly well for multiple species. Try fishing under structure or over the top of vegetation. Black Crappie – Good: Try small jigs tipped with a minnow or tube jig and bobber. Bluegill – Fair: Use tube jigs, plastics or other small jigs. Walleye – Fair: Try crawler harnesses, crank baits and minnows. Yellow Perch – Fair: Minnows work well; some sorting may be needed.
Lost Island Lake
Walleye – Good: Try spinners, crankbaits and shallow shad raps. Evening bite is improving as the water cools.
Minnewashta Lake
Bluegill and crappie fishing has been good; some sorting may be needed.
Silver Lake (Dickinson)
This summer’s algae bloom is subsiding with the cooler water temperatures. Walleye – Good: Try spinners, crankbaits and long and shallow shad raps.
Spirit Lake
The lake is 9 inches below crest. The walleye season is open. The water temperature is in the mid-50s. Find structure to fish over or docks and hoists to fish under. Black Bullhead – Fair: Try fishing the northern grade of Spirit Lake. Muskellunge – Good: Try crank baits, buck tails and rubber baits. Walleye – Good: The bite is hit-or-miss at dusk, but the day bite is improving. Many anglers have started to fish in shallower with slip bobbers along weed edges. Try spinners, crankbaits and long and shallow shad raps; look for weed lines to troll or jig off of. Yellow Perch – Good: Use small jigs tipped with a minnow. Sorting may be needed.
West Okoboji Lake
Water temperature is in the mid-50s. The water level is 7 inches below crest. A lot of fish are being caught in shallower water under structure or over weed lines. Black Crappie – Fair: Try small jigs tipped with a minnow. Bluegill – Good: Use tube jigs, plastics or other small jigs. Muskellunge – Fair: Try crankbaits, buck tails and rubber lures. Walleye – Fair: Crawler harnesses, crankbaits and minnows work well. Yellow Perch – Fair: Use small jigs tipped with a minnow. Sorting may be needed.
Area lake temperatures are dropping consistently lately with many in the mid-50s. The walleye bite around the area is picking up. Fishing around hoists and docks has been good, but a large amount of them have been pulled out for the season. Lake levels are low, making points and shallow boat ramps more hazardous. For current conditions, call the Spirit Lake District Office at 712-336-1840.
NORTHEAST
Cedar River (above Nashua)
Water levels are very, low limiting some boat accesses. Channel Catfish – Slow: Dead chubs fished on the river bottom work well for a hungry catfish. Northern Pike – Fair: Find pike in pools. Use a steel leader with a shiny lure. Smallmouth Bass – Fair: Smallie bite is variable. Try artificial lures or a lure tipped with a minnow around rocky outcroppings or ledges. Walleye – Good: Use jig tipped with a minnow or worm near the bottom of deeper holes at dawn and dusk.
Decorah District Streams
All trout stream stockings are unannounced; streams are stocked through the end of October. Streams are in good condition. Hunting seasons are in full swing. Be visible to hunters. Anglers fishing for trout using any kind of light weight rods and reels with spinnerbaits or a hook tipped with a small piece of crawler, cheese, or dough can be just as successful as fly anglers. Brook Trout – Good: Hoppers, beetles or anything else buggy work well this time of year. Please pick up trash. Brown Trout – Good: Use hair jigs, spinnerbaits or small, shallow water crankbaits for aggressive fish. Mayflies, caddis and gnats are hatching on sunny days. Rainbow Trout – Excellent: Try fishing along grassed edges, undercut banks, pools and around boulders. Thank a landowner for allowing stream access on private land.
Lake Hendricks
Water clarity is improving as temperatures drop. Water temperature is in the low 50s. Black Crappie – Fair: Use a small minnow or lure in deeper water. Bluegill – Fair: Find gills along rocky shorelines. Use a small piece of worm fished under a bobber near shore. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Use a jig tipped with aplastic worm or nightcrawler for best luck fished near shore.
Lake Meyer
Water clarity is improving as water temperatures drop. The water has a brownish tint. Black Crappie – Slow: Find crappie suspended in 10-13 feet of water. Use a jig tipped with a minnow or spinnerbait. Bluegill – Slow: Find bluegills along rocky shorelines in the evening. Try a small jig tipped with a small piece of worm. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Find bass in shallow water. Use a jig tipped with a plastic tail or nightcrawler.
Turkey River (above Clermont)
Water levels are low, but clear. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Bass are taking a jig tipped with a variety of plastic tails. Run your lure along vegetated edges or woody debris. Walleye – Good: Find walleye in deeper pools or eddies. Use live bait for best luck.
Upper Iowa River (above Decorah)
Water levels are low, but clear. Water temperatures are in the 50s. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Find smallies in eddies or near rock ledges. Use jigs tipped with a variety of plastics. Walleye – Good: Find walleye in deeper pools or near log jams or other woody debris.
Volga Lake
Water clarity is much improved. Water temperature is in the 50s. Black Crappie – Fair: Use minnows or small jigs in 5 to 8 feet of water. Bluegill – Slow: Find gills along rocky shoreline. Use a small jig tipped with small piece of worm under a bobber. Channel Catfish – Fair: Use a dead chub, worm or squished minnow fished on the bottom in 10 feet or less of water near stumps or other woody structure. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Try crankbaits or jigs with plastic tails.
Temperatures range from the 50s to 30s with gusty west winds. Rivers and streams are in good condition with excellent clarity; many are low, limiting boat access. For current fishing information, please call the Chuck Gipp Decorah Fish Hatchery at 563-382-8324.
Casey Lake (aka Hickory Hills Lake)
Trap nets set and collected last week captured good numbers of good-sized black crappie. Black Crappie – No Report: Try to find structure within the lake fishing a minnow under a slip bobber or vertical jigging with jigs in 8-12 feet of water.
Cedar River (Nashua to La Porte City)
Black Crappie – Fair: Anglers are catching some crappie on the river. Find brush piles or armored banks with a crappie minnow under a slip bobber. Smallmouth Bass – Fair: Smallmouth bite has slowed. Cast crankbaits or jig and crawler rigs near rocky or rip-rap shorelines. Walleye – Fair: Try a jig and crawler or cast crankbaits.
Shell Rock River (Greene to Shell Rock)
Smallmouth Bass – Fair: Smallmouth bite has slowed. Cast crankbaits or jig and crawler rigs near rocky or rip-rap shorelines. Walleye – Fair: Try a jig and crawler or cast crankbaits.
Wapsipinicon River (Tripoli to Troy Mills)
Smallmouth Bass – Fair: Smallmouth bite has slowed. Cast crankbaits or jig and crawler rigs near rocky or rip-rap shorelines. Walleye – Good: Try a jig and crawler or cast crankbaits.
Interior rivers remain low and are in excellent condition for angling opportunities. Walleye and smallmouth bass have been reported as fair this past week. The lakes in and around Black Hawk County have been slow. Trout streams are in excellent condition. Contact your local area bait shops for the most recent hot spots. For more information, contact the Manchester Hatchery at 563-927-3276.
MISSISSIPPI RIVER
Mississippi River Pool 9
Water level is stable at 7.9 feet at Lansing and is expected to remain steady this week. Water temperature is 59 degrees. Fish are biting to prepare for winter. Live minnows work well on a variety of species. Black Crappie – Good: Catch bigger crappie on crappie minnows and hair jigs. Bluegill – Good: Use light tackle tipped with piece of worm in areas away from current along the weed edges in backwaters. Channel Catfish – Fair: Try cut bait fished in deeper holes along current breaks of side channels. Flathead Catfish – Good: Use a shiner or small bluegill for bait to catch bigger catfish. Freshwater Drum – Good: Freshwater drum bite is coming on. Use a weighted crawler rig in the current anywhere from shore. Largemouth Bass – Good: Cast jigs or jerk baits in woody cover in the shallows of backwaters. Northern Pike – Fair: Cast crankbaits off vegetation lines or near the mouth of tributary streams. Sauger – Fair: Sauger are starting to bite as water temperatures cool. Try vertical jigging with a minnow in side channels and near lock and dam tailwaters. Smallmouth Bass – Excellent: Smallmouth are getting more active along main channel rock structure. Cast inline spinners or crankbaits along the faster current. Walleye – Good: Troll crankbaits off the wing-dams and side channels. White Bass – Fair: Watch for schools of white bass chasing minnows out of the water. Cast spinnerbaits or shad colored crankbaits for feeding white bass. Yellow Perch – Good: Use a jig and minnow fished in the backwaters.
Mississippi River Pool 10
Water level is stable 612.2 feet at Lynxville. Water temperature is 61 degrees at the Lynxville dam. Water clarity is good. The bite has picked up as fish are feeding to prepare for winter. Live minnows work well on a variety of species. Black Crappie – Good: Catch bigger crappie on crappie minnows and hair jigs. Bluegill – Excellent: Use light tackle tipped with piece of worm in areas away from current along the weed edges in backwaters. Channel Catfish – Fair: Try cut bait fished in deeper holes along current breaks of side channels. Flathead Catfish – Good: Use a shiner or small bluegill for bait to catch bigger catfish. Freshwater Drum – Good: Freshwater drum bite is coming on. Use a weighted crawler rig in the current anywhere from shore. Largemouth Bass – Good: Cast jigs or jerk baits in woody cover in the shallows of backwaters. Northern Pike – Fair: Cast crankbaits off vegetation lines or near the mouth of tributary streams. Sauger – Slow: Sauger are starting to bite as water temperatures cool. Try vertical jigging with a minnow in side channels and near lock and dam tailwaters. Smallmouth Bass – Excellent: Smallmouth are getting more active along main channel rock structure. Cast inline spinners or crankbaits along the faster current. Walleye – Good: Troll crankbaits off the wing-dams and side channels. White Bass – Fair: Watch for schools of white bass chasing minnows out of the water. Cast spinnerbaits or shad colored crankbaits for feeding white bass. Yellow Perch – Good: Use a jig and minnow fished in the backwaters.
Mississippi River Pool 11
Water level is low and stable around 4.0 feet at Guttenberg. Water temperature is near 56 degrees. Fish are on the early fall feed. Live minnows work well on a variety of species. Black Crappie – Fair: Catch bigger crappie on crappie minnows and hair jigs. Bluegill – Good: Use light tackle tipped with piece of worm in areas away from current along the weed edges in backwaters. Channel Catfish – Good: Try cut bait fished in deeper holes along current breaks of side channels. Flathead Catfish – Good: The flathead bite has been good with the warmer temperatures. Try a shiner or small bluegill for bait. Lots of bank pole fishing with anglers using live bullheads or green sunfish for bait. Freshwater Drum – Good: Use a weighted crawler rig in the current anywhere from shore. Largemouth Bass – Good: Cast jigs or crankbaits in woody cover in the shallows of backwaters. Northern Pike – Fair: Cast crankbaits off vegetation lines or near the mouth of tributary streams. Sauger – Slow: Sauger are starting to bite as water temperatures cool. Try vertical jigging with a minnow in side channels and near lock and dam tailwaters. Smallmouth Bass – Excellent: Smallmouth are getting more active along main channel rock structure. Cast inline spinners or crankbaits along the faster current. Walleye – Good: Troll crankbaits off the wing-dams and side channels. White Bass – Fair: Watch for schools of white bass chasing minnows out of the water. Cast spinnerbaits or shad colored crankbaits for feeding white bass. Yellow Perch – Good: Use a jig and minnow fished in the backwaters.
Upper Mississippi River levels are low and predicted to remain stable, making for good fall fishing. Water temperatures are in the 50s. Boaters are advised to use caution to avoid backing off the end of ramps with the extreme low water levels. Walleye slot length limits now apply on the entire Iowa border of the Mississippi River. All walleyes less than 15 inches long and between 20-27 inches must be immediately released. One walleye over 27 inches may be kept. Walleye/sauger combined daily limit 6/possession 12.
Mississippi River Pool 12
The water level is 4.8 feet at Lock and Dam 11 and 7.4 feet at the RR bridge. Use caution to avoid backing a boat off the ends of the boat ramps with the low river levels. Water temperature is around 58 degrees, and the water is clear. Black Crappie – Good: Use s small jig tipped with a minnow in areas around fallen brush. Bluegill – Good: Try fishing the deeper sloughs around brush piles and rock lines. Rock lines in the tailwater has also been good. Channel Catfish – Fair: Some anglers are still getting channel cats on worm rigs fished in deeper sloughs and around tree snags. Freshwater Drum – Excellent: An egg sinker and worm rig fished in moderate current works best. Largemouth Bass – Excellent: Bass will start to feed heavily on shad; try minnow imitation plastics and crankbaits. Smallmouth Bass – Excellent: Target smallmouth in moderate current areas with lots of rock. Walleye – Good: Angers are throwing crankbaits on the wing-dams, but floating vegetation has been an issue sometimes. Switch over to jigs and jigging spoons to stay away from the weeds. White Bass – Excellent: Look for feeding schools hitting the water surface. Use white jigs or small spinners.
Mississippi River Pool 13
The water level is 3.9 feet at Lock and Dam 12 at Bellevue. Use caution to avoid backing a boat off the ends of the boat ramps with the low river levels. Water clarity is excellent. Water temperature is 59 degrees. Black Crappie – Good: Use small jigs and minnows in brush piles in the larger sloughs. Bluegill – Good: Try a floating bobber and worm along rock lines. Fish will start to move to overwintering sites when the water temperatures hit the lower 40s. Channel Catfish – Fair: Most channel cats are being caught on worm rigs, but some anglers are still using stink baits. Freshwater Drum – Excellent: A simple worm rig fished on the bottom in moderate current areas will produce plenty of drum. Largemouth Bass – Good: Bass fishing will heat up this fall as they start to feed heavily on shad. Smallmouth Bass – Excellent: Try fishing rock lines with moderate current or out to the tips of the wing-dams. Walleye – Good: Use crankbaits fished on the wing-dams. White Bass – Excellent: Try small white jigs or spinners.
Mississippi River Pool 14
The water level is 4.2 feet at Fulton, 9.5 feet at Camanche and 4.3 feet at LeClaire. Water clarity is excellent. Water temperature is 59 degrees. Use caution to avoid backing a boat off the ends of the boat ramps with the low river levels. Black Crappie – Good: Hit areas like Rock Creek backwaters near Camanche and fish in brush piles with deeper water near them. Bluegill – Good: Bobber and worms work best along old vegetation beds. Freshwater Drum – Excellent: Use a worm and egg sinker rig in areas of moderate current. Drum are abundant on the Mississippi River and can be good eating if prepared correctly. Largemouth Bass – Good: Bass fishing will heat up this fall as they start chasing gizzard shad in the backwater lakes. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Try crankbaits and spinners fished in rock lines in moderate current areas. Walleye – Good: Use crankbaits on the wing-dams. Some anglers are starting to move to the Lock and Dam to target walleyes on jigs. White Bass – Excellent: Find white bass feeding mainly in the tailwater areas. Use small white jigs or small spinners.
Mississippi River Pool 15
The water level is 4.5 feet at Rock Island. Water clarity is excellent. Water temperature is 60 degrees. Use caution to avoid backing a boat off the ends of the boat ramps with the low river levels.Freshwater Drum – Excellent: Use an egg sinker and worm rig in moderate current areas. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Try crankbaits and small spinners along rock lines with moderate current. White Bass – No Report: Look for feeding schools of white bass, especially in the tailwater areas.
Fishing conditions are excellent on the Mississippi River. Water levels are low and stable throughout the district. Water temperature is in the upper 50s. Water clarity is good. Use caution when backing off boat ramps with the low river levels. Use the minimum amount of ramp to float your boat to avoid backing off the ends of short ramps. If you have angling questions, please call the Bellevue Fisheries Management Station at 563-880-8781.
Mississippi River Pool 16
Tailwater stage is 4.09 feet at Lock and Dam 15 in the Quad Cities and has been fairly steady. Flood stage is 15 feet. We have not received any reports of tailwater fishing for walleyes and saugers. The bite should pick up as water temperature starts to drop. Channel Catfish – Fair: Look for channel catfish around brush piles and snags along the main channel and side channels. Use dip baits, nightcrawlers or cut shad. Channel catfish can also be caught above the wing-dams. Walleye – No Report: Look for walleye on the wing-dams. Cast crankbaits or troll three-way rigs with nightcrawlers. With the lower water conditions, most walleyes are being found out on the tips of the wing-dams. White Crappie – No Report: Look for crappies in the backwaters and side channels around brush piles. Try jigs and minnows or minnows under a bobber.
Mississippi River Pool 17
Tailwater stage is 3.42 feet at Lock and Dam 16 in Muscatine and has been fairly steady. Flood stage is 15 feet. We have not received much for tailwater fishing reports for walleye and saugers. The bite should pick up as water temperatures begin to fall. Channel Catfish – No Report: Look for channel catfish around brush piles and snags along the main channel and side channels. Use stink bait, nightcrawlers or cut shad. Channel catfish can also be caught above the wing-dams. Sauger – Slow: As water temperatures start to fall, look for saugers in the tailwaters. Try vertical jigging with minnows. Walleye – No Report: Look for walleyes on the wing-dams. Cast crankbaits or troll three-way rigs with nightcrawlers. White Crappie – No Report: Look for crappies around brush piles and snags in the backwaters and side channels. Use jigs and minnows or minnows under a bobber in Big Timber or Cleveland Slough.
Mississippi River Pool 18
Tailwater stage is 3.01 feet at Lock and Dam 17 and has been falling slowly. Flood stage is 15 feet. We have not received any tailwater reports for walleye and sauger fishing. The tailwater bite should pick up as water temperatures start to fall. Channel Catfish – Fair: Look for channel catfish around brush piles and snags along the main channel and side channels. Use stink bait, nightcrawlers and cut shad. Channel catfish can also be caught above the wing-dams. Sauger – No Report: Look for saugers in the tailwaters. Try vertical jigging with minnows. Walleye – No Report: Look for walleyes on the wing-dams. Cast crankbaits or troll three-way rigs with crawlers. White Crappie – No Report: Look for crappies around brush piles in the backwaters and sides channels. Try jigs and minnows or minnows under a bobber in the Huron Island complex.
Mississippi River Pool 19
Tailwater stage is 1.28 feet at Lock and Dam 18 above Burlington and has been fairly steady. Flood stage is 10 feet. We have not received any tailwater fishing reports for walleye and saugers. Channel Catfish – No Report: Look for channel catfish around brush piles and snags along the main channel and side channels. Use stink bait, nightcrawlers and cut shad. Channel catfish can also be caught above the wing-dams. Sauger – No Report: Look for saugers below the Lock and Dam. Try vertical jigging with minnows. White Crappie – No Report: Use jigs and minnows or minnows under a bobber around brush piles in the backwaters and side channels.
Tailwater stages have been fairly steady to falling slowly this past week. Main channel water temperature is 60 degrees. Water clarity is fair. Tailwater fishing for walleye and sauger has been slow. If you have questions on fishing Pools 16-19, contact the Fairport Fish Hatchery at 563-263-5062.
SOUTHEAST
Big Hollow Lake
Water temperature is 64 degrees. Still plenty of duckweed. Bluegill – Fair: Look for bluegill in 5-6 feet of water in the brush; also try around the island downhill from the campground area.
Lake Belva Deer
Water temperature is 62 degrees. Water clarity is 3 feet. Black Crappie – Fair: Crappie are hanging around the edges of the flooded timber in deeper water. Bluegill – Fair: Bluegills have not come in shallow yet. Work off the ends of the jetties and around the trees in 6-8 feet of water.
Lake Darling
Water temperature is 60 degrees. Water clarity at about 30 inches. Black Crappie – Fair: Try a jig and minnow or minnow and slip bobber in 10 to 12 feet of water off the point. Bluegill – Fair: A few anglers are catching nice batches of bluegills over the rock piles and brush piles in 5 to 7 feet of water.
Lost Grove Lake
Water temperature is around 60 degrees. Water clarity is about 2 1/2 feet. Bluegill – Fair: Find bigger bluegills in 6 to 7 feet of water around the flooded brush. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Bass are hunting the little sunfish in the shallows; many are hunting in 6 to 10 feet of water.
Skunk River (Coppock to Mississippi River)
The Skunk River is still just a trickling along. Fish will be headed to their overwintering holes soon. Water temperature is around 58 to 60 degrees.
For more information on the above lakes call the Lake Darling Fisheries Office at 319- 694-2430.
Coralville Reservoir
Black Crappie – Fair. Channel Catfish – Fair. Largemouth Bass – Fair. Walleye – Fair.
Diamond Lake
The lake is reported 2 feet low. Black Crappie – Good: Most fish are 8- to 9-inches. Bluegill – Fair. Channel Catfish – Fair.
Hannen Lake
Bluegill – Fair: Size has been good. Channel Catfish – Good: Nice-sized fish are reported. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Most fish are under 15-inches.
Lake Macbride
Any size motor may be operated at no wake (5 mph) speed. Black Crappie – Fair. Largemouth Bass – Good. Walleye – Slow.
Pleasant Creek Lake
Fishing is reported as slow. The fish cleaning station will be shut down; docks will remain until ice-up.
Wapsipinicon River (Troy Mills to Oxford Junction)
Black Crappie – Fair. Bluegill – Fair. Largemouth Bass – Good. Smallmouth Bass – Fair. Walleye – Good.
For more information, contact the Lake Macbride Fisheries Station at 319-624-3615.
Hawthorn Lake
Black Crappie – Fair: Try minnow and jigs around submerged structure. Bluegill – Fair: Use small jigs tipped with a nightcrawler around submerged structure. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Try crankbaits and plastics around submerged structure and the jetties.
Lake Miami
Bluegill – Fair: Use small jigs around the submerged cedar tree piles and along the shoreline. Channel Catfish – Fair: Use dead chubs around the jetties and shoreline. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Try spinnerbaits and crankbaits around the jetties and cedar tree piles.
Lake Sugema
Black Crappie – Fair: Try small jigs or minnows fished around structure. Bluegill – Fair: Use small jigs around shorelines and on the edge of vegetated areas. Channel Catfish – Fair: Try nightcrawlers around the fishing jetties. Largemouth Bass – Good: Use plastics or spinnerbaits around the rock jetties and along the face of the dam.
Lake Wapello
Black Crappie – Fair: Look for crappies to be up close to structure and the shoreline. Try small jigs and minnows Bluegill – Fair: Use small jigs around the cedar tree piles and rock jetties. Channel Catfish – Fair: Try nightcrawlers around the fishing jetties. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Use rubber worms or other plastics fished around the cedar tree piles.
Rathbun Reservoir
The current lake level is 903.69 msl; recreation pool is 904 msl. Prairie Ridge boat ramp and campground is closed. Bridgeview and Island View campgrounds are closed. Lake Rathbun has zebra mussels, so make sure to properly drain, clean and dry equipment before transporting to another waterbody. Black Crappie – Fair: Try jig and minnow combos around docks and over submerged structure. Channel Catfish – Fair: Use dead chubs or liver. Walleye – Fair: Troll nightcrawler rigs or crankbaits over underwater rock piles. Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) – Fair: Try vertically jigging around rock piles or trolling crankbaits near the old river channel.
Red Haw Lake
Red Haw State Park has partially reopened. Visitors can access the beach and north boat ramp area, but are asked to avoid the campground. Bluegill – Fair: Try small jigs along the shoreline. Channel Catfish – Fair: Use nightcrawlers around the dam and the rock jetties. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Try spinnerbaits around underwater structure near the rock jetties.
Contact the Rathbun Fish Hatchery at 641-647-2406 with questions about fishing in south central Iowa.
SOUTHWEST
Big Creek Lake
Black Crappie – Fair: Catch crappies in the early morning and evenings off rock jetties casting twister tail jigs or fishing live minnows under a float. Walleye – Fair: Try jigging or trolling live bait rigs or shad imitating plastics and crankbaits over humps, near points and where shallow flats drop off to deeper water. A good starting area is out from the marina around to the beach. Target depths of 5 to 15 feet.
Red Rock Reservoir
White Bass – Fair: Drift or troll small plastics or live minnows in wind-protected coves off the main lake and Whitebreast Arm.
For information on Central Iowa lakes and rivers contact Ben Dodd at 641-891-3795 or Andy Otting at 515-204-5885.
Farm Creek Lake (a.k.a. Young’s Pond)
Bluegill – Slow. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Anglers are having success casting the vegetation edges to catch largemouth bass.
Greenfield Lake
Black Crappie – No Report: The lake has a good population of 9- to 10-inch black crappie. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Greenfield has a high percentage of 14- to 16-inch largemouth.
Lake Anita
Water temperature is in the low 60s. Water clarity is good. Black Crappie – Fair: Look for crappies drifting the roadbeds and around deep tree piles. Fish average 9-inches. Bluegill – Slow: Try slow trolling or drifting; tipping your jigs with a crawler or powerbait helps. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Lake Anita has a good bass population. Try casting the lily edges.
Meadow Lake
Black Crappie – Good: Vertical jig or cast minnows under a bobber to the cedar tree piles in the lake to catch 10-inch black crappie. Bluegill – Good: Bluegill fishing picked up this week. Look for 8-inch fish around cedar tree piles.
Prairie Rose Lake
Water temperature is 60 degrees. Black Crappie – No Report: Prairie Rose has a good population of 10-inch black crappie. Bluegill – Fair: Look for bluegills slow trolling or casting around structure; tipping jigs with crawler or powerbait helps. Fish will average 8.5-inches. Largemouth Bass – Fair: There is a high percentage of 14- to 16-inch bass in Prairie Rose.
Viking Lake
All boat ramps are usable. Black Crappie – Slow: Minnows and slip bobbers work well around tree piles. Fish average 9-inches. Bluegill – Fair: Anglers are slow trolling or fishing around tree piles; tipping jigs with small piece of crawler helps. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Bass anglers are casting the shoreline and fishing tree piles to catch all sizes of largemouth bass.
For information on lakes in the Southwest District call the Cold Springs office at 712-769-2587.
Green Valley Lake
Bluegill – Fair: Try nightcrawlers fished along the fishing jetties or shallow coves to catch bluegills up to 8.5-inches.
Little River Watershed Lake
The dock is in at main ramp. Black Crappie – Good: Catch crappie up to 10.5-inches with jigs fished along rocky shorelines. Bluegill – Fair: Try nightcrawlers under a bobber fished in shallow coves to catch bluegills up to 8.5-inches. Largemouth Bass – Good: Catch all sizes of largemouth bass with finesse plastics fished near cedar tree brush piles or rocky shoreline areas.
Three Mile Lake
Courtesy docks are in at the main ramp. Bluegill – Slow: Catch bluegill up to 8.5-inches with nightcrawlers under a bobber fished in shallow coves. Walleye – Fair: Try trolling crankbaits along the roadbed or main lake points to catch all sizes of walleye.
Twelve Mile Creek Lake
The dock is in at the main ramp. Black Crappie – Good: Catch black crappie up to 11-inches with jigs tipped with a minnow fished near cedar tree brush piles or rock piles. Bluegill – Fair: Use small jigs tipped with a nightcrawler fished near brush piles or shallow coves to catch bluegill up to 8.5-inches. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Catch all sizes of largemouth bass with finesse plastics fished near rock piles.
Water temperature is in the low to mid-60s at most Mount Ayr district lakes. For more information, call the Mount Ayr Fisheries office at 641-464-3108.
