• NORTHWEST
• NORTHEAST
• MISSISSIPPI RIVER
• SOUTHEAST
• SOUTHWEST

NORTHWEST

Black Hawk Lake
Shore fishing has been productive. Bite is hit-or-miss with the fluctuating water temperatures.  Anglers are catching some crappie and walleye. Black Crappie – Fair: Fishing along shore has been productive, especially around Ice House Point and the inlet bridge area. Walleye – Fair: The bite has slowed some; anglers are still picking up fish. Town Bay Ice House Point shoreline and the inlet bridge area have been productive.  Yellow Perch – Fair.

Brushy Creek Lake
The courtesy dock on the west ramp is in place.

Storm Lake (incl Little Storm Lake)
Anglers are catching crappie, walleye, and yellow bass in the marina. Black Crappie – Fair: Anglers have picked up some fish in the marina. Walleye – Fair: Look for shore fishing action to improve as water temperatures continue to warm.  Yellow Bass – Fair: Anglers are catching bass in the marina.  Yellow Perch – Fair.

Swan Lake
Anglers are doing well from the fish house. Water levels are 1 to 2 feet low.  Black Crappie – Fair: Anglers have had good luck fishing from the fish house.  Some sorting is needed; keepers are around 9-inches. Bluegill – Fair: Try fishing from the fish house and along shore.

For more information, contact the Black Hawk District office at 712-657-2638.

Clear Lake
Water level is about 4.8 inches below crest. Water temperature is in the low 40s.  Channel Catfish – Slow: Use cut bait on the wind-swept shore.  Walleye – Fair: Use plastics and live bait from the jetties. Best bite is after sunset.  It’s time to target fish on the east shore and around the island.  White Bass – Fair: Try jigs in 3 to 5 feet of water.  Yellow Bass – Slow.

Lake Cornelia
The courtesy dock at the boat ramp is in place.

Rice Lake
Yellow Perch – Slow.

Winnebago River
River level is 5.71 feet. Northern Pike – Fair: Suckers, chubs and slow retrieved jigs work well for early season pike. Walleye – Slow.

For additional information, contact Clear Lake Fisheries Office at 641-357-3517.

East Okoboji Lake
The walleye season is closed. Black Crappie – Fair:  Bluegill – Fair. Largemouth Bass – Fair:  Yellow Perch – Fair: Many fish have been observed; sorting will most likely be needed.

Ingham Lake
Walleye – Fair: Morning and afternoon bite is best.

Silver Lake (Dickinson)
Walleye – Fair: The bite has been hit-or-miss.

Spirit Lake
The walleye season is closed. Black Crappie – Fair: Anglers are finding quality-size fish up to 14-inches. Bluegill – Fair.  Yellow Perch – Fair: Sorting is needed; anglers are finding many of acceptable size.

West Okoboji Lake
The walleye season is closed. Black Crappie – Fair:  Bluegill – Fair.

A handful of courtesy docks are in place and useable at boat ramps.  The walleye season on the IGL’s is closed until May 3rd. For current conditions, call 712-330-2542.

NORTHEAST

Cedar River (Nashua to La Porte City)
Anglers are catching walleye, crappie and a few pike. Black Crappie – Fair: Float a live minnow under a slip bobber at various depth near structure.  Channel Catfish – Fair: Use a live chub, nightcrawler or chicken liver off the bottom.  Northern Pike – Fair: Float a live chub/shiner under a bobber or cast and retrieve flashy spoons in backwater areas. Walleye – Good: Use a jig head with plastics with or without a live minnow. Look for the deeper pools current breaks and tail ends of riffles.

Manchester District Streams
Trout streams are in excellent condition. Next week’s forecast calls for temperatures near the 60s; should be good aquatic insect hatches taking place providing for great trout fishing.

Maquoketa River (above Monticello)
Anglers are catching walleye. Walleye -Fair: Use a jig head with plastics with or without a live minnow. Look for the deeper pools current breaks and tail ends of riffles.

Shell Rock River (Greene to Shell Rock)
Anglers are catching walleye. Northern Pike – No Report: Float a live chub/shiner under a bobber or cast and retrieve flashy spoons in backwater areas. Walleye – Good: Use a jig head with plastics with or without a live minnow. Look for the deeper pools current breaks and tail ends of riffles.

Wapsi River (Tripoli to Troy Mills)
Anglers are catching walleye.  Northern pike bite should pick up in backwater areas in preparation for the upcoming spawn. Northern Pike – Fair: Float a live chuck/shiner under a bobber or cast and retrieve flashing spoons in backwater areas. Walleye – Good: Use a jig head with plastics with or without a live minnow. Look for the deeper pools current breaks and tail ends of riffles.

Interior river levels have stabilized. Anglers are catching walleye, pike, crappie and channel catfish.  For more information, contact Manchester Hatchery at 563-927-3276.

MISSISSIPPI RIVER

Mississippi River Pool 9
Water level is stable at 7.5 feet at Lansing. Water temperature is near 43 degrees.  Northern Pike – Excellent: Pike are on the feed after the spawn.  Try larger flashy spinnerbaits in the shallows and weedy shorelines.  Sauger – Fair:  Reports of lots of smaller fish with some nicer ones mixed in. Use a hair jig tipped with a minnow in the tailwaters of the Lock and Dam.  Walleye– Good: Try vertical jigging with hair jigs tipped with a minnow in the tailwaters.  Some fish are being picked up downriver on closing dams.  Yellow Perch – Good: Use a crappie rig tipped with worms or a minnow in the current seams off shore.

Mississippi River Pool 10
Water level is falling slightly to 14.7 feet at Lynxville.  Fishing is improving in tailwaters of the Lock and Dam.  Water temperature is near 43 degrees.  Northern Pike – Excellent: Pike is on the feed after the spawn. Try larger flashy spinnerbaits in the shallows and weedy shorelines.  Sauger – Fair:  Reports of lots of smaller fish with some nicer ones mixed in. Use a hair jig tipped with a minnow in the tailwaters of the Lock and Dam. Walleye – Good: Try vertical jigging with hair jigs and minnows.  Some fish are being picked up downriver on closing dams.  Yellow Perch – Good: Use a crappie rig tipped with worms or a minnow in the current seams off shore.

Mississippi River Pool 11
Water level is 6.4 feet at Guttenberg and is expected to gradually recede over the next week. Water temperature is 44 degrees.  Northern Pike – Excellent: Pike are on the feed after the spawn. Try larger flashy spinnerbaits in the shallows and weedy shorelines.  Sauger – Fair: Reports of lots of smaller fish with some nicer ones mixed in. Use a hair jig tipped with a minnow in the tailwaters of the Lock and Dam. Walleye – Good: Try vertical jigging with hair jigs and minnows. Some fish are being picked up downriver on closing dams. Yellow Perch – Good: Use a crappie rig tipped with worms or a minnow in the current seams off shore.

Upper Mississippi River water levels are gradually falling.  The bite is picking up again after the cold front.  Expect the bite in the tailwaters at the Lock and Dams to improve as water temperatures climb back into the mid to upper 40s this week. Water clarity is still a little cloudy.

Mississippi River Pool 12
Water level at Dubuque Lock and Dam is steady at 6.2 feet and 8.8 feet at the RR Bridge. The water is stained. Water temperature is around 46 degrees in the main channel. Black Crappie – No report:  Rumors of anglers targeting crappies in the same location where they were ice fishing, but no confirmed report.  Bluegill – No report: Bluegill populations are strong; no reports of anglers fishing for them since ice out. Some backwaters still have remnant ice in them.  Northern Pike – Good: Pike fishing remains good; new catches have been reported from the Olearys area in upper Pool 12.  Walleye – Fair: Small walleyes and a few nice saugers are being caught on jigs and minnow rigs.  Yellow Perch – Fair: Some yellow perch are being caught in the tailwater areas on jig and worm rigs.

Mississippi River Pool 13
Water level is steady at 6.7 feet at Bellevue. Water is clear. Water temperature is near 47 degrees in the main channel. Bluegill – No report:  Lots of bluegills were caught during the ice fishing season; expect a good open water fishing season. Brown Bullhead – Good: The lower pool access sites are good places to fish off the bank to catch brown bullhead and an occasional catfish. Bullheads are good early season biters. Northern Pike – No report: Pike spawning season is upon us.  Pike are one of the earliest of spawners on the Mississippi; they can be difficult to catch when they lay eggs.  Paddlefish – Good: Angling remain good with the stable water level.  Please review the rules for paddlefish snagging.  Rainbow Trout – Excellent: The Kids’ trout pond north of the DNR fisheries station is stocked with trout and should remain good fishing until  April/May when it will weed over. Walleye – Fair: Most anglers are using a jig and minnow rig.  Lots of small walleye are being reported along with a few fish approaching 10 pounds.  Yellow Perch – No report: Some could be caught in the tailwaters as it is common this time of year. No reports yet.

Mississippi River Pool 14
Water level is steady at near 6.2 feet at Fulton, 10.3 feet at Camanche, and 5.1 feet at LeClaire. Water is clear. Water temperature is around 49 degrees. Bluegill – No report: It was a good ice fishing season this year;  hopefully that translates to a good open water season.  Channel Catfish -Good: Seems early, but good channel catfishing is occurring by anglers using blood baits.  Northern Pike – No Report: Pike will be spawning in Pool 14 in the next few weeks. Paddlefish – Good: Paddlefish season on the Mississippi River is March 1 through April 15. Snagging is only allowed within 500 yards of navigation dams and their spillways.  Please review the rules for paddlefish snagging.  Walleye – Fair: Hit-or-miss bite.

Mississippi River Pool 15
Water level is steady at near 6.9 feet at Rock Island. Water is clear. Water temperature is around 49 degrees.

Tailwater ramps are open throughout the district. Water is slowly warming to the upper 40s throughout the district.  If you have angling questions, call Bellevue Fisheries Management at 563-880-8781.

Mississippi River Pool 16
Tailwater stage is steady 7.25 feet at Lock and Dam 15 in the Quad Cities. River stage is forecast to fall slowly over the weekend.  Sauger – No Report: Look for saugers below the Lock and Dam and in Sylvan Slough. Try jigs and minnows or troll three-way rigs with minnows or crankbaits. Walleye – No Report: Look for walleyes below the Lock and Dam and in Sylvan Slough. Use jigs and minnows or troll three-way rigs with minnows or crankbaits.

Mississippi River Pool 17
Tailwater stage is steady at 5.93 feet at Lock and Dam 16 in Muscatine. River stage is forecast to start falling slowly. Sauger – No Report: Look for saugers below the lock and dam. Try jigs and minnows or troll three-way rigs with minnows or crankbaits. Walleye – No Report: Use  jigs and minnows or troll three-way rigs with minnows or crankbaits below the Lock and Dam.

Mississippi River Pool 18
Tailwater stage is steady at 6.90 feet at Lock and Dam 17 at New Boston. River stage is forecast to start falling slowly.  Sauger – No Report: Look for saugers below the lock and dam. Try jigs and minnows or troll three-way rigs with minnows or crankbaits. Walleye – No Report: Use  jigs and minnows or troll three-way rigs with minnows or crankbaits below the Lock and Dam.

Mississippi River Pool 19
Tailwater stage is 4.08 feet at Lock and Dam 18 above Burlington and forecast to start falling slowly. Sauger – No Report: Look for saugers below the Lock and Dam. Try jigs and minnows or troll three-way rigs with minnows or crankbaits. Walleye – No Report: Look for walleyes below the Lock and Dam. Use jigs and minnows or troll three-way rigs with minnows or crankbaits.

Tailwater stages have been fairly steady the past week but are forecast to start falling slowly.  Main channel water temperature is around 45 degrees. Water clarity is fair. There has been some tailwater fishing for walleye and saugers.  If you have questions on fishing Pools 16-19, contact the Fairport Fish Hatchery at 563-263-5062.

SOUTHEAST

Big Hollow Lake
Water temperatures are 48 to 49 degrees with an occasional 50 degrees. Black Crappie – Fair: Some 11- to 12-inch crappies are moving into the shallows to feed on the small bluegills and green sunfish.  Channel Catfish – Good: Catfish are nice and fat; they are  hunting the shallower water for something to eat in the evenings. Drift cut bait along the face of the dam or the old road bed out from the boat ramp jetty.  Muskellundge – Fair: More than a few muskies are cruising the shallows not far off shore during the evenings. Some are 40-inches plus.

Discovery Park Pond
Trout were stocked last week. You need a valid fishing license and pay the trout fee to fish for or possess trout.  Rainbow Trout – Excellent: Anglers were catching trout right after we got done getting them off the truck.

Emma Young Pond
Trout were stocked last week. You need a valid fishing license and pay the trout fee to fish for or possess trout.  Rainbow Trout – Excellent: It took a little while for the trout to settle in; anglers have been catching them since.  Small jigs and bobber and bait works best instead of flashier spinners.

Lake Belva Deer
Water temperature is in the mid 40s.  Black Crappie – Fair: Anglers are catching some crappies moving into the shallows, especially on the north side looking for something to eat. Try small jigs or bobber and minnow worked slowly or just drifted. If they are not in shallow, look for them in the habitat out in 6 to 8 feet of water. Channel Catfish – Fair: Troll the face of the dam with cut bait towards evening . Largemouth Bass – Slow: A few anglers have been out.  Use jigs or soft plastics worked really slow; bass are still plenty cold and not fast on the take.

Lake Darling
Surface water is around 46. The boat docks are not in yet. Black Crappie – Fair: Anglers are finding a few pre-spawn crappies moving in to the near shore habitat (rock piles) looking for small fish to prey on. Channel Catfish – Fair: Work the rip-rap shorelines with cut bait. Hitting those areas with the wind blowing in is even better

Lake Geode
The dock is in. Water temperature is around 48 degrees. Black Crappie – Good: Crappie fishing has picked up as the fish are moving into shallow water to feed.  Work the near shore habitat and trees with small jigs or minnows.

Lost Grove Lake
The gate on the road going to the boat ramp at the dam is still locked. Docks will not be in for a little while longer. Black Crappie – Fair: Anglers are starting to find some crappies moving in shallow to do some pre-spawn feeding.  Find crappie in near shore habitat in 3-4 feet of water.

Vista Park Pond
Vista Park Pond in Kalona (South Town) was stocked with trout last week. You need a valid fishing license and pay the trout fee to fish for or possess trout.  Rainbow Trout – Excellent: After a slight delay as the trout got used to their new home, anglers started to catch them; fishing has not slowed down.

For more information on the above lakes and rivers call the Lake Darling Fisheries Office at 319-694-2430.

Cedar River (Cedar Rapids to Moscow)
Channel Catfish – Slow: Use cut bait. Walleye – Slow: Try fishing jigs in current seams; few fish caught. White Bass – Slow: Try fishing current seams and eddies; few fish caught.

Cedar River (La Porte City to Cedar Rapids)
Channel Catfish – Slow: Use jigs in eddies and current seams.  Smallmouth Bass – Slow: Try jigs in eddies and current seams.  Walleye – Slow: Try jigs in eddies and current seams.

Central Park Lake
Bluegill – Slow.  Largemouth Bass – Slow: Shore anglers have caught a few bass.

Coralville Reservoir
Black Crappie – Fair: Reports of a few fish around brush piles and docks.  Channel Catfish – Fair: Try cut bait on bottom or below a bobber along wind-blown shorelines or neck down areas at bridges.

Diamond Lake
The fish cleaning station will be opened in April when the water is turned on for the park.  The north road is still closed.  Black Crappie – Fair: Anglers are catching a few fish in the mornings.  Largemouth Bass – Fair: Anglers are catching a few fish in the mornings.

Hannen Lake
Black Crappie – Fair: Anglers are catching mostly 6- to 9-inch crappie. Bluegill – Fair: Anglers are catching mostly small bluegill less than 6-inches.

Iowa Lake (Iowa Co.)
Black Crappie – Fair: Anglers are catching a few crappie around brush piles. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Anglers are catching a few bass around brush in the afternoons.

Iowa River (Coralville Lake to River Junction)
Channel Catfish – Slow: Anglers are catching a few catfish. Walleye– Slow: Anglers are catching a few walleye.  White Bass – Slow: Walleye anglers are catching fish.

Iowa River (Marshalltown to Coralville Lake)
Walleye – Slow: Use jigs; few fish caught.

Kent Park Lake
The dock is in.  Fishing has been reported as slow.

Lake Macbride
North and south side docks are in along with the north side fish cleaning float.  Black Crappie – Slow: Anglers are catching a few crappie around brush piles in 8-12 feet of water and along rocks at the causeway bridge.  Bluegill – Slow: Anglers are catching a few bluegill around brush piles in 8-12 feet of water.  Largemouth Bass -Fair: Try fishing brush piles along shorelines.  Muskellunge – Slow: Slow: Anglers are catching a few muskie near green aquatic vegetation.  Spotted Bass – Fair: Try fishing brush piles along shorelines.

Liberty Centre Pond
You need a valid fishing license and pay the trout fee to fish for or possess trout.  Rainbow Trout – Good.

Pleasant Creek Lake
All docks are in. Muskellunge – Slow: Anglers are catching a few muskie near brush piles.  Walleye – Slow: Anglers are catching a few walleye at sunset.

Prairie Park Fishery
You need a valid fishing license and pay the trout fee to fish for or possess trout. Rainbow Trout – Good.

Wapsipinicon River (Troy Mills to Oxford Junction)
The boat ramp at Pinicon Ridge Park is open. Black Crappie – Slow: Anglers are catching a few crappie around brush piles. Channel Catfish – Slow: Anglers are catching a few catfish.  Northern Pike – Slow: Walleye anglers are catching a few pike. Smallmouth Bass – Slow: Using jigs in eddies and current seams.  Walleye – Slow: Use jigs in eddies and current seams.

Water temperatures are in the mid-40s on area lakes. For more information, contact the Lake Macbride Fisheries Station at 319-624-3615.

Hawthorn Lake
Channel Catfish -Slow: Try shad guts or dead minnows on wind-blown shorelines.

Lake Keomah
Lake Keomah is drained for a lake restoration project. Please stay out of the lakebed.

Lake Miami
Channel Catfish – Slow: Try dead minnows on wind-blown shorelines.

Lake Sugema
Channel Catfish – Slow: Use shad guts or dead chubs on wind-blown shorelines.

Lake Wapello
Channel Catfish No report: Try dead minnows on wind-blown shorelines.

Ottumwa Park Pond South (Trout Pond)
1500 trout was stocked last week. You need a valid fishing license and pay the trout fee to fish for or possess trout. Try in-line spinners, chunks of nightcrawlers or prepared trout baits.

Rathbun Reservoir
The current lake level is 903.62 msl; recreation pool is 904 msl. Water temperatures are in the low 40s. Lake Rathbun has zebra mussels; properly drain, clean and dry equipment before transporting to another waterbody.  Channel Catfish – Slow: Use shad guts on wind-blown shorelines.

Red Haw Lake
Channel Catfish – Slow: Try dead minnows on the shorelines.

Contact the Rathbun Fish Hatchery at 641-647-2406 with questions about fishing in south central Iowa.

SOUTHWEST

Boone District Farm Ponds

Big Creek Lake
Walleye – Fair: Catch walleye shallow near riprap shoreline and jetties around sunset and after. Cast jigs with twister tails, swim baits or minnows.

Boone District Farm Ponds
Community ponds are the quickest to warm up after ice out, creating a fair to good pre-spawn largemouth bass and crappie bite. Check the Fish Local page to find ponds with public access. Black Crappie – Fair: Slowly retrieve small twister tails or swim baits.  If it exists in the pond, target edges of cattail stands and any wood habitat. Largemouth Bass – Good: Slowly retrieve plastics and shallow diving crankbaits.

Des Moines River (Saylorville to Red Rock)
Walleye – Fair: Cast jigs with twister tails, swimbaits or live minnows below the Saylorville Spillway and Des Moines dams .

For information on Central Iowa lakes and rivers contact Andy Otting at 515-204-5885.

Greenfield Lake
Greenfield Lake is a good early season catfish destination. Channel Catfish – Fair Use shad sides or cutbait along wind-blown shorelines. Greenfield has a good channel catfish population. Largemouth Bass – No report: Greenfield has a good largemouth bass population.

Lake Anita
Lake Anita will provide good fishing this spring.  The lake has good bass, bluegill and crappie populations. Black Crappie – Fair: Anglers report catching black crappie around deep tree piles last week. There is a big year class of 9-inch fish in the lake.  Largemouth Bass – Fair.

Mormon Trail Lake
Black Crappie – Fair: Bite will pick up along the dam on warm sunny days.  Largemouth Bass – No report: Mormon Trail has a good largemouth bass population with a good percent of fish over 15 inches.

Prairie Rose Lake
Prairie Rose will again be a good fishing destination this season. The lake has an excellent largemouth bass population, large bluegills and black crappies.

Viking Lake
Water clarity is good. Black Crappie – Slow: Bite in the pontoon arm should pick up soon on warm sunny days. Largemouth Bass – Good: Anglers are having good luck casting the shoreline.

For information on lakes in the Southwest District, call the Cold Springs office at 712-769-2587.

Green Valley Lake
Largemouth Bass – Fair: Catch largemouth bass up to 19-inches with finesse plastics along wind-blown rocky shorelines.

Lake Icaria
Channel Catfish – Fair: Try cut bait along wind-blown shorelines to catch all sizes of channel catfish.

Three Mile Lake
**Driving is prohibited on any service roads used to access the lakebed and the lakebed itself.**  Lake level is 11 feet below normal pool. Boat ramp lanes are out of the water at the main boat ramp.

Twelve Mile Creek Lake
The dock is in at main boat ramp.

Water temperature is in the mid-40s in most district lakes. For more information, call Mount Ayr Fisheries office at 641-931-6031.