NORTHWEST
Black Hawk Lake
Water temperatures are in the low 80s. Water levels are several inches above the spillway. Water clarity is about 12 inches. Black Crappie – Fair: Pick up crappie in and around the fish house in Town Bay and along Ice House Point shoreline. Crappie are up to 10- to 12-inches. Morning and evening bite are best. Bluegill – Slow: Try a nightcrawler under a bobber fished from the fish house or around the rock piles. Largemouth Bass – Slow. Walleye – Slow: Walleye action has slowed; try the submerged rock piles in the east basin and the shoreline along Ice House Point. Yellow Perch – Fair.
Brushy Creek Lake
Water temperatures are in the low 80s. Water clarity is about 3 feet. Black Crappie – Fair: Find crappie near submerged structure in 5-15 feet of water. Fish are 5-inches up to 13-inches. Bluegill – Slow: Find bluegill near submerged rock/brush piles in 5-15 feet of water. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Bass have moved into deeper habitat. Try soft plastics in deeper weedlines and rock/brush piles in 8-15 feet of water. Walleye – Slow: Pick up walleye in 10-15 feet of water on rock/brush piles. Yellow Perch – Fair: sorting is needed.
North Twin Lake
Water levels are about 11 inches below the crest of the spillway. Surface water temperatures are in the low 80s. Water clarity is about 2 feet. Channel Catfish – Fair: Try fishing from shore in 2-6 feet of water near rocky structure. A recent survey showed good numbers of 16-inches to 24-inches fish.
Storm Lake (incl Little Storm Lake)
Water temperatures are around 80 degrees. Water clarity is 2-3 feet. Black Crappie – Slow. Channel Catfish – Fair. Largemouth Bass – Slow. Walleye – Fair: Pick up walleye off shore near the dredge cuts; use a crawler harness or crankbaits. White Bass – Fair. Yellow Bass – Fair.
Area water temperatures are in the low 80s. For more information, contact the Black Hawk District office at 712-657-2638.
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Beeds Lake
Black Crappie – Fair: Drift fish or troll small jigs along the north shore. Bluegill – Fair. Yellow Bass – Fair.
Clear Lake
Water level is about 3.4 inches over crest. Water temperature is in the upper 70s. Water clarity is 20 inches. Black Crappie – Fair: Use your electronics to find suspended fish. Channel Catfish – Fair: Try fishing the reef areas and wind swept shorelines. Best bite is after sunset. Walleye – Fair: Anglers are catching walleye with live bait and crankbaits. Fish are in 3 to 8 feet of water. Try rock reefs areas and near the edge of vegetation. Yellow Bass – Fair: Anglers are catching a few yellow bass while targeting walleye. Live bait below slip bobbers or drifting works best.
Crystal Lake
Black Crappie– Fair: Drift fish or troll small jigs in the dredge cut.
Rice Lake
Bluegill – Slow. Largemouth Bass – Good: Try fishing in the woody habitat. Morning bite is best.
Winnebago River
River level is 5.5 feet. Smallmouth Bass – Fair.
For information on the lakes and rivers in north central Iowa, contact the Clear Lake Fish and Wildlife office at 641-357-3517.
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East Okoboji Lake
Lake level is just under a foot over crest. Most boat ramps and docks are now functional. Black Crappie – Good: Bluegill – Good: Many bluegill have been seen and are easily catchable around functional docks. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Bass are a little ways off shore; you can still find some around docks and other structure. Yellow Perch – Good: Many perch have been seen; sorting will most likely be needed.
Ingham Lake
Walleye – Fair: Anglers have been successful morning and afternoon.
Silver Lake (Dickinson)
Lake level is 4 inches over crest. Walleye – Good: Bite has been hit-or-miss, but has been very good when the bite is on.
Spirit Lake
Lake level is around 6 inches over crest. All major boat ramps and docks are available. Black Crappie – Good: Anglers are finding quality-size crappie; they are biting on almost anything. Bluegill – Fair. Walleye – Good: Anglers are catching quality-sized walleye. Evening bite is best with leech and bobber from shore or crankbaits and slip bobbers by boat. Yellow Perch – Good: Sorting may be needed.
West Okoboji Lake
Lake level is just under a foot over crest. All ramps and docks are available. Some public docks that were damaged from high waters have not been repaired. Black Crappie – Fair: Bluegill – Good. Pumpkinseed – Good. Walleye – Fair. Yellow Perch – Fair: Sorting may be needed.
Water levels are very close to normal on most lakes. Most ramps and accesses are fully functional. Area water temperatures are in the low to mid-80s.For current conditions, call the Spirit Lake District Office at 712-336-1840.
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NORTHEAST
Cedar River (above Nashua)
Water clarity is improving as levels return to normal. Use caution when on water; watch for submerged hazards. Visit the National Water Prediction Service webpage for more information. Channel Catfish – Good: Try worms or chubs fished on the bottom in calm water or the edge of current. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Use crankbaits in off channel areas or eddies. Walleye – Good: Find walleye in deeper water; try jigs tipped with minnow or spinnerbaits.
Decorah District Streams
All announced and unannounced streams were stocked this week. Gnats, mosquitoes, and no-see-ums are out in force. Wild parsnip is blooming. Don’t touch this plant; it can cause painful blisters. Brook Trout – Slow: Brook trout take more persuasion to bite in off-color water. Sneak up on brook trout for a better chance to catch one of these beauties. Good hatches of gnats, mayflies, caddisflies, and midges. Brown Trout – Good: Try fishing near or around logs or undercut banks. Spinnerbaits work well. Also try streamers on larger waterbodies. Brown trout like cloudy water. Rainbow Trout – Good: Use spinnerbaits, hair jigs, or hooks tipped with a small piece of worm, bread, or cheese floated through deeper holes.
Lake Hendricks
Water clarity is is improving. Water temperature is in the 80s. Black Crappie – Good: Try small jigs tipped with a minnow in about 6 feet of water. Bluegill – Good: Bluegills are in shallow; use a small piece of worm or waxworm. Channel Catfish – Good: Try a nightcrawler or squashed minnow on a hook near the bottom. Largemouth Bass – Good: Use topwater lures along the edge of vegetation.
Lake Meyer
Lake clarity is improving. Water temperature is in the low 80s. Most fish are suspended at a depth not greater than 6 feet. Black Crappie – Good: Use spinnerbaits or a jig tipped with a minnow in 6 feet of water or less. Trolling is a great option. Bluegill – Good: Try small hooks tipped with a waxworm or a small piece of worm under a bobber. Channel Catfish – Good: Use a nightcrawler on a hook fished at the bottom. Largemouth Bass – Good: Try a spinnerbait along the edge of vegetation. Reports of anglers catching quite a few small bass.
North Bear Creek
Stream habitat improvements have been completed on upper North Bear just downstream of 380th St. bridge with seeding and mulching. Improvements between 128th Ave. and 380th Street will start soon. Rainbow Trout – Slow: Thanks for staying out of this area until vegetation gets established. There are many other great locations to find fish on North Bear. Stocking continues below this area weekly.
Turkey River (above Clermont)
Water clarity is improving as levels stabilize. Use caution when on the water. Visit the National Water Prediction Service webpage for more information. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Use shallow running crankbaits or spinners along current breaks or rocky shores. Walleye – Good: Try fishing near evening along rocky shorelines or current breaks.
Turkey River (below Clermont)
Water clarity is improving as levels return to normal. Use caution when on the water. Visit the National Water Prediction Service webpage for more information. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Find smallies in deeper holes or near rock ledges. Walleye – Good: Use crankbaits or jigs tipped with plastics in off channel areas.
Upper Iowa River (above Decorah)
Water level is stabilizing with improved clarity. Use caution when on the water. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Find bass along rock ledges and deeper pools around woody habitat. Walleye – Good: Find walleye in deeper runs or pools and in back eddies; use spinnerbaits or a jig tipped with a plastic worm.
Upper Iowa River (below Decorah)
Water level is stabilizing with improved clarity. Use caution as snags and debris move through the system. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Find smallies in off channel areas and back eddies; use spinners or streamers. Walleye – Fair: Find walleyes in deeper water and back eddies. Evening bite is best; try spinners or crankbaits.
Volga Lake
Water clarity is improving. Water temperature is in the 80s. Black Crappie – Good: Find 6 feet of water or less or near drop-offs; use a jig tipped with a minnow. Bluegill – Good: Try a small piece of worm on a hook under a bobber near brush or rocky areas. Channel Catfish – Good: Use a squished minnow or worm fished on the bottom. Largemouth Bass – Good: Use spinners or crankbaits along jetties or drop-offs.
Volga River
Water levels are high, but are stabilizing. Water clarity is improving. Visit the National Water Prediction Service webpage for more information.
Yellow River
Water levels are stabilizing with improved water clarity. Use caution as snags and debris move through the system. Brown Trout – Good: Find trout below or just off riffles. A spinner or shallow running crankbait should interest a hungry mouth. Smallmouth Bass – Fair: Try jigs tipped with plastics in deeper holes or near rocky ledges.
Water levels on area rivers and streams are falling or stabilizing baring localized rainfall. Water clarity is good on most waterbodies. Weekend temperatures in the 80s for highs to low 60s. For more information, contact the Chuck Gipp Decorah Fish Hatchery at 563-382-8324.
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Big Woods Lake
Anglers are catching crappie. Black Crappie – Fair: Find structure using electronics in 8 to 10 feet of water using a live minnow under a bobber.
Cedar River (Nashua to La Porte City)
Anglers are catching channel catfish. Channel Catfish – Good: Try chubs fished on the river bottom below snags or other structure. Flathead Catfish – Fair: Use chubs on the river bottom below snags or other structure. Smallmouth Bass – Fair: Try lead head jigs with twister tails. Walleye – Fair: Cast and retrieve lead head jigs tipped with a nightcrawler.
George Wyth Lake
Anglers are catching crappie and bluegill. Black Crappie – Excellent: Use electronics to find and drift a live minnow under a bobber over structure in 6 to 8 feet of water. Bluegill – Good: Use a piece of worm under a bobber in areas with structure or off the jetties.
Lake Delhi
Anglers are catching crappie. Avoid weekends; concentrate efforts early morning and evenings during the weekdays. Black Crappie – Good: Try a minnow under a slip bobber around shoreline structure in 6 to 8 feet of water.
Manchester District Streams
Rainbow trout stocking has been on schedule. Brown trout fishing has been fair, especially in the evenings. Brown Trout – Fair: Use crankbaits, jigs, spinners, dry flies or nymphs. Rainbow Trout – Good: Try jigs, spinners, crankbaits or live bait.
Maquoketa River (above Monticello)
Anglers are catching smallmouth bass and walleye in Delaware County. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Use live or artificial tackle. Walleye – Fair: Cast and retrieve lead head jigs tipped with a nightcrawler.
Shell Rock River (Greene to Shell Rock)
We have not received information about fishing on this water body this week.
South Prairie Lake
Anglers are catching crappie and bluegill. Black Crappie – Fair: Use a live minnow under a bobber in 6 to 8 feet of water. Bluegill – Fair: Try a piece of worm under a slip bobber at various depths.
Wapsipinicon River (Tripoli to Troy Mills)
Anglers are catching smallmouth bass. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Use lead head jigs with twister tails.
Interior river levels are at usual levels for this time of year and should provide some great angling opportunities. Lakes in and around Cedar Falls are producing some catches of panfish. Trout streams remain in excellent condition. For more information, contact the Manchester Hatchery at 563-927-3276.
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MISSISSIPPI RIVER
Mississippi River Pool 9
Water level is 8.5 feet at Lansing and is predicted to fall to 8 feet by next week. Water is slightly stained. Water temperature is 82 degrees. Army Road at New Albin, Heytman’s Landing, and Lansing Village Creek are open. Bluegill – Excellent: Bluegill have moved off spawning beds into deeper water. Use light tackle on flooded shorelines and weed beds. Channel Catfish – Good: Anglers are catching a few channel cats on crawlers and stink bait. Flathead Catfish – Good: Use live bluegill or shiners in the tailwaters of the Lock & Dams and large tree snags in deeper sloughs. Freshwater Drum – Excellent: Try a piece of crawler off the bottom along main channel and side channel current. Largemouth Bass – Good: Cast frog baits along weed edges in upper portions of the backwaters. Northern Pike – Good: Try fishing the shallows along weed beds in backwater lakes. Try fishing near the mouth of coldwater streams and spring inlets during the heat of summer. Smallmouth Bass – Excellent: Smallmouth are biting in areas with moderate current. Cast spinners and crankbaits along the main channel rock shorelines. Walleye – – Fair: Troll crankbaits on three-way rigs along deep side channel borders and wing dams. White Bass – Good: Throw inline spinners along current breaks. Watch for schools of minnows jumping as white bass are feeding. Yellow Perch – Slow: Jig for perch in the vegetation off edge of cuts in 6-8 feet of water.
Mississippi River Pool 10
Water level is 616.9 feet at Lynxville and is predicted to fall a foot next week. Boat ramps at Nobles Island, Marquette, McGregor, and Bussey Lake are open. Sny Magill boat ramp reopened this week. Bluegill – Excellent: Bluegill have moved off spawning beds into deeper water. Use light tackle on flooded shorelines and weed beds. Channel Catfish – Good: Anglers are catching a few channel cats on crawlers. Flathead Catfish – Good: Use live bluegill or shiners in the tailwaters of the Lock & Dams and large tree snags in deeper sloughs. Freshwater Drum – Good: Try a piece of crawler off the bottom along the main channel and side channel current. Largemouth Bass – Good: Cast frog baits along weed edges in upper portions of the backwaters. Northern Pike – Fair: Try fishing the shallows along weed beds in backwater lakes. Trt near the mouth of coldwater streams and spring inlets during the heat of summer. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Smallmouth are biting in areas with moderate current. Cast spinners and crankbaits along the main channel rock shorelines or at the spillway. Walleye – Fair: Troll crankbaits on three-way rigs along deep side channel borders and wing dams. White Bass – Good: Throw inline spinners along current breaks. Watch for schools of minnows jumping as white bass are feeding. Yellow Perch – Slow: Jig for perch in the vegetation off edge of cuts in 6-8 feet of water.
Mississippi River Pool 11
Water level is 8.1 feet at Guttenberg in the tailwaters and is expected to fall to 7.2 feet next week. Guttenberg City, Turkey River Landing, Finley’s Landing and Mud Lake ramps are open. Bluegill – Excellent: Bluegill have moved off spawning beds into deeper water. Use light tackle on flooded shorelines and weed beds. Channel Catfish – Good: Anglers are catching a few channel cats on crawlers or cut bait. Flathead Catfish – Good: Use live bluegill or shiners in the tailwaters of the Lock & Dams and large tree snags in deeper sloughs. Freshwater Drum – Good: Try a piece of crawler off the bottom along the main channel and side channel current. Largemouth Bass – Good: Cast frog baits along weed edges in upper portions of the backwaters. Northern Pike – Good: Try fishing the shallows along weed beds in backwater lakes. Try near the mouth of coldwater streams and spring inlets during the heat of summer. Smallmouth Bass – Excellent: Smallmouth are biting in areas with moderate current. Cast spinners and crankbaits along the main channel rock shorelines. Walleye – Fair: Troll crankbaits on three-way rigs along deep side channel borders and wing dams. White Bass – Good: Throw inline spinners along current breaks. Watch for schools of minnows jumping as white bass are feeding. Yellow Perch – Slow: Jig for perch in the vegetation off edge of cuts in 6-8 feet of water.
Upper Mississippi River levels at Pools 9 -11 continue to fall steadily. More boat ramps have reopened. Water temperatures are in the upper mid-80s. Water clarity has improved, with a lot of weeds floating. There is still mud and debris at some ramps and fishing access areas as flood clean-up continues.
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Mississippi River Pool 12
Water level is receding to 7.1 feet at Dubuque Lock and Dam and 10.1 feet at the RR bridge. Water temperatures is 81 degrees. Most boat ramps on Pool 12 are back to working operation after recent floods; some campgrounds may still need debris cleanup. Bluegill – Good: Try fishing along the weedline edges that are starting to show back up after the flood receded. Channel Catfish – Excellent: The post-flood bite has been phenomenal; most anglers are using stink bait. Flathead Catfish – Fair: Anglers are using trot lines where they can find non-flooded banks. Freshwater Drum – Excellent: Use big crayfish to catch big drum. Largemouth Bass – Excellent: Bass are often stacked up along cleaner water edges. Most anglers are using crankbaits or spinning baits to catch abundant bass. Northern Pike – Good: Pike, like other predators, are seen feeding on the abundant forage along the shorelines. Walleye – Fair: Many anglers are targeting smaller flowing sloughs with crankbaits. White Bass – Good: White bass have been a consistent in the creel. Try flashy spinners in tailwater areas.
Mississippi River Pool 13
The water level is receding to near 8.3 feet at Bellevue. Water temperature is 82 degrees. The water is clear. Most boat ramps on Pool 13 are open. Please call ahead if you want to use the campgrounds on Pool 13; they may still be affected by recent flood. Brown Bullhead – No Report: Anglers using egg sinker and worm rigs in the lower pool above Clinton are catching good numbers of this unique bullhead. Channel Catfish – Excellent: Channel catfishing has been phenomenal post-flood; most anglers are using stink bait. Freshwater Drum – Excellent: Drum are a consistent biter in moderate current areas; use an egg sinker worm rig. Largemouth Bass – Excellent: Find weed lines away from the main channel. Anglers are using gaudy spinnerbaits or frog imitation lures. Walleye – Good: Some vegetation is starting to float after the flood making keeping a crankbait in the water a little difficult. White Bass – Excellent: Try white jigs or small spinners in the Bellevue tailwaters.
Mississippi River Pool 14
The water level is receding to near 8.8 feet at Fulton, 11.8 feet at Camanche and 6.8 feet at LeClair. Water is clear. Water temperature is 83 degrees. The campground at Rock Creek may still be affected by recent flooding; call ahead if you are planning on a camping trip. Channel Catfish – Excellent: Channel catfish like flood waters and will move along the banks to feed; use stink baits. Freshwater Drum – Excellent: Worm rig with egg sinker fished along shore in moderate current will catch this consistent biter. Largemouth Bass – Excellent: Find weedlines that remain after the flood recedes; throw frog lures or spinner baits. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Use spinners or jigs next to rock lines.
Mississippi River Pool 15
The water level is receding to near 9.9 feet at Rock Island. The water is stained. Water temperature is around 83 degrees. Channel Catfish – Excellent: Try stink bait rigs near shore. Freshwater Drum – No Report: Worm rig with egg sinker fished along shore in moderate current will catch this consistent biter.
Water has lowered again; quality fishing has returned to the river. If you have angling questions, please call Bellevue Fisheries Management at 563-880-8781.
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Mississippi River Pool 16
Tailwater stage is falling to 9.92 feet at Lock and Dam 15 in the Quad Cities. River stage is forecast to fall over the weekend. Flood stage is 15 feet. The Marquette St boat ramp in Davenport is open. The ramps at the Fairport Recreational area are open and the docks are back in the water. We have not received much for fishing reports this week. Black Crappie – No Report: Look for crappies around brush piles in the backwaters and side channels. Try fishing with minnows under a bobber or jigs and minnows. Bluegill – No Report: Look for bluegills in the backwaters around brush piles. Try fishing with pieces of worm under a bobber. Channel Catfish – No Report: Look for channel catfish around brush piles and snags along the main channel and side channels. Try cut shad stink bait or crawlers upstream of the snags.
Mississippi River Pool 17
Tailwater stage is falling to 9.0 feet at Lock and Dam 16 in Muscatine. River level is forecast to fall over the weekend. Flood stage is 15 feet. The gates are out of the water at Lock and Dam 16. The ramp at Big Timber is open. The Kilpeck landing is closed. We have not received much for fishing reports yet. Black Crappie – No Report: Look for crappies around brush piles and snags in the backwaters and side channels. Use minnows under a bobber or jigs and plastics. Bluegill – No Report: Look for bluegills around brush piles and snags in the backwaters and side channels. Try pieces of worm under a bobber. Channel Catfish – No Report: Look for channel catfish around brush piles and snags along the main channel and side channels. Use cut shad, stink baits, or night crawlers upstream of the snag.
Mississippi River Pool 18
Tailwater stage is falling to 11.0 feet at Lock and Dam 17 at New Boston. Flood stage is 15 feet. Tailwater stage is forecast to fall over the weekend. The gates are out of the water at the Lock and Dam. River stage is 10.90 feet at Keithsburg; flood stage is 14 feet. The Toolsboro ramp is closed due to water over the road. We have not received much for fishing reports for this pool this week. Black Crappie – No Report: Look for crappies around brush in the backwaters and side channels. Try with minnows under a bobber or jigs and plastics. Bluegill – No Report: Look for bluegills around brush piles in the backwaters. Use pieces of worms under a bobber. Channel Catfish – No Report: Look for channel catfish around brush piles and snags along the main channel and side channels. Try cut shad, stinkdbait or nightcrawlers upstream of the snags. White Bass – No Report: Look for white bass at the outlet of Lake Odessa. Cast crankbaits, jigs, and twister tails or inline spinners.
Mississippi River Pool 19
Tailwater stage is falling to 8.20 feet at Lock and Dam 18 above Burlington. Flood stage is 10 feet at Lock and Dam 18. Tailwater stage is forecast to fall over the weekend. River stage is 13.50 feet at Burlington; flood stage is 15 feet. We have not received much for fishing reports for this pool this week. Bluegill – No Report: Look for bluegills around brush piles in the backwaters. Try pieces of worm under a bobber. Channel Catfish – No Report: Look for channel catfish around brush piles and snags along the main channel and side channels. Use cut shad, stink bait or nightcrawlers upstream of the snag.
River stage is below flood stage for Pools 16-19. River level is falling and forecast to keep falling over the weekend. Water clarity is fair. Main channel water temperature is around 80 degrees. We have not received many fishing reports. Boat ramps are opening back up. If you have questions on fishing Pools 16-19, contact the Fairport Fish Hatchery at 563-263-5062.
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SOUTHEAST
Big Hollow Lake
Water temperature is in the low 80s. Water is fairly clear; more duckweed. Black Crappie – Fair: Anglers are picking up a few crappies by slow trolling along the outer edges of the trees. Try fishing down about 6 to 8 feet. Bluegill – Fair: Work the edges of the flooded trees in 6 to 7 feet of water. The 6 feet depth is their perennial sweet spot during the summer.
Cedar River (Moscow to Columbus Junction)
The lower end of the Cedar River is forecast to hold steady for at least a few more days at about 3 feet below bank full level.
Iowa River (Columbus Junction to Mississippi River)
The Iowa River is holding steady in this section at about 3 feet below bank full. A pulse of higher water will be coming down from Iowa City in the next couple of days.
Lake Belva Deer
Water temperature is about 80 degrees. Water clarity is just about a foot and a half with green water. Black Crappie – Fair: Find crappies in 10 to 12 feet of water by vertically jigging or slow drift trolling at about the speed of a slow walk. Bluegill – Fair: Anglers are picking up bluegill while drifting for crappies; also look on top of the mounds at the upper end of the lake. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Early in the morning you can get some topwater action along the shallower brush and trees along the north shoreline between the two boat ramps.
Lake Darling
Water temperature is close to 80 degrees. Water is less green, but muddier from the high winds and heavy rains. Bluegill – Fair: some nice bluegills are working the surface on still mornings with out the slightest breeze. Try a flyrod and a popper. Channel Catfish – Good: The lake is stratified; don’t fish below 10 feet with little to no oxygen below that. Find catfish around the rocks on the in-lake silt dams and the culvert piles just out from the shoreline between the lodge and the point.
Lake Geode
Water temperature is holding in the mid-80s. Water remains green in color. Bluegill – Fair: Bluegills are out at their deep water spots. Try slow trolling (drifting) with a small jig tipped with bait until you find them and then vertically jigging. Channel Catfish – Good: Try fishing around the rip-rap shoreline. Use stink bait and cut bait; good numbers of pan-sized fish. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Some are being caught on the quiet mornings with topwater baits along the edges of water willows and rip-rap.
Lost Grove Lake
Water temperature is holding at around 80-81 degrees. The water remains green. Channel Catfish – Fair: When the wind is blowing, look for the areas of the lake on the windward side where the wind is stirring up the bottom mud; that’s where you will find catfish. Largemouth Bass – Slow: Try jigging off the deeper (10-12 feet) habitat: trees and rock piles.
Skunk River (Rose Hill to Coppock)
Heavy rains have brought the Skunk River back up to about 1.5 feet shy of bank full.
For more information on the above lakes and rivers call the Lake Darling Fisheries Office at 319-694-2430.
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Hawthorn Lake
Black Crappie – Fair: Try jig and minnow combinations in brush piles. Bluegill – Fair: Use jigs along the shoreline and open areas in the vegetation. Tip the jigs with a chunk of nightcrawler. Channel Catfish – Fair: Try nightcrawlers or chubs in 6-10 feet of water. Largemouth Bass – Good: Target the fishing jetties and rip-rapped shorelines. Use plastics in these areas and in open areas of the vegetation.
Lake Keomah
Lake Keomah is drained for a lake restoration project.
Lake Miami
Black Crappie – Fair: Use jigs and minnows along cedar tree brush piles or drift over the brush piles. Bluegill – Fair: Try small jigs in the brush piles and along the shore. Channel Catfish – Fair: Use nightcrawlers along the face of the dam and around the jetties. Largemouth Bass – Good: Try plastics around brush piles and along rip-rapped shorelines.
Lake Sugema
Black Crappie – Fair: Try jigs and minnows in the standing timber. Bluegill – Fair: Use small jigs around submerged brush piles and the shoreline. Largemouth Bass – Good: Try plastics or spinnerbaits along rip-rapped shorelines and around submerged structures.
Lake Wapello
Black Crappie – Fair: Drift jig and minnows in deeper water; try different depths until you find active fish. Bluegill – Fair: Try small jigs around brush piles. Channel Catfish – Fair: Use dead chubs around rip-rapped shorelines. Largemouth Bass – Good: Try plastics and crankbaits around the brush piles and rip-rapped shoreline.
Rathbun Reservoir
The current lake level is 905.80 msl; the 2024 summer recreation target pool is 905.60 msl; typical recreation pool is 904 msl. Lake Rathbun has zebra mussels; properly drain, clean and dry equipment before transporting to another waterbody. Black Crappie – Fair: Try jigs around submerged cedar tree piles and docks. Crappie have moved to deeper water; target brush piles in 15-20 feet of water. Channel Catfish – Fair: Use minnows or nightcrawlers along areas with large rocks. Walleye – Fair: Try trolling crankbaits or crawler harnesses. All walleye less than 15-inches must be immediately released unharmed. Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) – Fair: Use jigging spoons or crankbaits over rock piles and near the old river channel.
Red Haw Lake
Bluegill – Fair: Try small jigs around the shorelines and submerged structure near the campground shoreline. Channel Catfish – Fair: Use nightcrawlers along the fishing jetties or the face of the dam. Largemouth Bass – Good: Try plastics along rip-rapped shorelines and the fishing jetties.
Contact the Rathbun Fish Hatchery at 641-647-2406 with questions about fishing in south central Iowa.
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SOUTHWEST
Big Creek Lake
Walleye – Fair: Use crawlers or leeches jigging or troll live bait rigs in 5 to 15 feet of water. Also try trolling live bait jigs or shallow diving crankbaits along the edge of any aquatic vegetation.
Des Moines River (Stratford to Saylorville Lake)
Channel Catfish – Good: Try using stink baits or cut bait near tree falls, rock, and cut banks.
Don Williams Lake
Black Crappie – Good: Drift or troll light jigs with minnows or twister tails from the main boat ramp area to about three quarters up the lake. Crappie are suspended 2 to 6 feet deep away from shore.
Hickory Grove Lake
Bluegill – Fair: Drift live bait over habitat in 15 feet of water or less.
For information on Central Iowa lakes and rivers contact Ben Dodd at 641-891-3795 or Andy Otting at 515-204-5885.
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Lake Anita
Black Crappie – Slow: Black crappie are being caught around the roadbeds. Early morning and late afternoon bite is best. Bluegill – Good: Slow troll small jigs to catch 8.5-inch bluegill. Tipping with a nightcrawler or Berkley helps. Largemouth Bass – Fair.
Mormon Trail Lake
Water clarity is good. Channel Catfish – Fair: Anglers are having success at night using blood bait. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Anglers are having success fishing topwater baits early in the morning, then switching to plastics in deeper water.
Prairie Rose Lake
Black Crappie – Fair: Find submerged tree piles and vertical jig for 10- to 12-inch black crappie. Bluegill – Slow: Anglers are catching a few fish slow trolling deep water areas. Largemouth Bass – Good: Early morning has been good throwing top water baits.
Viking Lake
Bluegill – Fair: Bluegill average 7.5-inches. Largemouth Bass – Fair.
For information on lakes in the Southwest District, call the Cold Springs office at 712-769-2587.
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Green Valley Lake
Docks are in at the boat ramps. Bluegill – Slow: Catch bluegill up to 7.5-inches with jigs tipped with live bait near cedar tree brush piles early in the morning and late in the evening. Channel Catfish – Slow: Use nightcrawlers along rocky shoreline areas to catch all sizes of channel catfish. Largemouth Bass – Slow: Try finesse plastics around cedar tree brush piles to catch all sizes of largemouth bass.
Little River Watershed Lake
The dock is in at the main boat ramp. Bluegill – Slow: Catch bluegill up to 8.5-inches with small jigs tipped with live bait along creek channels early in the morning and late in the evening. Channel Catfish – Slow: Use nightcrawlers in the flooded timber to catch all sizes of channel catfish. Largemouth Bass – Slow: Try finesse plastics near cedar tree brush piles to catch all sizes of largemouth bass.
Three Mile Lake
Lake level is 8 feet below normal pool. Walleye – Slow: Use twister tails or crankbaits along the dam to catch all sizes of walleye.
Twelve Mile Creek Lake
The dock is in at the main boat ramp. Bluegill – Slow: Use small jigs tipped with live bait near the creek channel early in the morning and late in the evening to catch all sizes of bluegill. Largemouth Bass – Slow: Catch largemouth bass up to 19-inches with jigs or finesse plastics near rock piles.
West Lake (Osceola)
Lake level has increased with recent rains, but still remains about 1 feet below normal pool. Boaters can use the boat ramps at their own risk.
Water temperatures are in upper 70s to low 80s in most Mount Ayr district lakes. For more information, call the Mount Ayr Fisheries office at 641-464-3108.
