The weekly fishing report is broken down by fisheries regions and management districts – Mississippi River, northeast, northwest, southeast and southwest.
Use the new search and filter options to check the activity of your favorite lake, pond, river and stream within each region, including which species are being caught, a rating of the bite (slow, fair, good or excellent), and simple tips and tricks for targeting those fish.
Click on “View entire message” at the bottom of this email so you can view all fisheries regions and management district reports.
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Mississippi River
Bellevue Management District
Mississippi River water levels are about a foot higher than last week and are holding steady across the district. Water temperatures are in the 77-80 degree range. Fishing has improved for several species as the water has cooled. Call your local bait shops or DNR Fisheries office for the latest information. Last updated on 08/06/2026
Pool 12, Mississippi River (Dubuque)
- Water Temperature (°F): 77.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Water level is around 5.1 feet at the Dubuque tailwater and is holding steady. Water temperatures have cooled since last week; the bite has improved for several species. Call your local DNR Fisheries office or local bait shops for the latest information.
- Black Crappie – Slow: Use a small jig and plastic combination or a live minnow rig in side channel areas with woody structure.
- Bluegill – Good: Try a piece of nightcrawler under a bobber or a small jig in areas with woody structure along the edges of side channels. Some anglers are catching bluegill along main channel borders.
- Channel Catfish – Excellent: Use a nightcrawler or dip baits in areas with woody structure or shoreline riprap. Anglers are catching fish off the wing-dams.
- Freshwater Drum – Excellent: Drum are an excellent target for shore anglers. Use a simple egg sinker and nightcrawler rig in areas with moderate current.
- Largemouth Bass – Good: Use smaller spinnerbaits along vegetation edges in backwater areas, or try pitching a jig into woody structure.
- Northern Pike – Good: Try large and flashy spinners in areas with cooler water temperatures or cold water inputs.
- Smallmouth Bass – Good: Throw in-line spinners in rocky areas with some current/current breaks.
Pool 13, Mississippi River (Jackson)
- Water Temperature (°F): 77.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Water level is around 5.1 feet at the Bellevue tailwater and is holding steady. The bite has improved for several species. Call your local DNR Fisheries office for the latest information.
- Black Crappie – Slow: Use a small jig and plastic combination or a live minnow rig in side channel areas with woody structure.
- Bluegill – Good: Try a piece of nightcrawler under a bobber or a small jig in areas with woody structure along the edges of side channels. Some anglers are catching bluegill along main channel borders.
- Channel Catfish – Excellent: Use dip baits in areas with woody structure like stump fields or along shoreline riprap. Anglers are also catching fish off the wing-dams and in the tailwaters.
- Flathead Catfish – Slow: Anglers are catching a few flatheads in the tailwater area.
- Freshwater Drum – Excellent: Drum are an excellent target for shore anglers. Use a simple egg sinker and nightcrawler rig in areas with moderate current.
- Largemouth Bass – Good: Use smaller spinnerbaits along vegetation edges in backwater areas, or try pitching a jig into woody structure near current breaks in side channels.
- Northern Pike – Good: Try large and flashy spinners in areas with cooler water temperatures or cold water inputs.
- Smallmouth Bass – Good: Throw in-line spinners along rocky areas with some current/current breaks.
- Walleye – Good: Try a three-way rig with live bait on the wing-dams. Some anglers are having success trolling crankbaits.
- White Bass – Excellent: Cast a white inline spinner in areas with current where white bass are chasing minnows, such as along the main channel border.
Pool 14, Mississippi River (Clinton)
- Water Temperature (°F): 77.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Water level is around 5.2 feet at Lock and Dam 13 and is holding fairly steady. Call your local bait shops for the most current information.
- Bluegill – Good: Try a piece of nightcrawler under a bobber or a small jig in areas with woody structure along the edges of side channels. Some anglers are catching bluegill along main channel borders.
- Channel Catfish – Excellent: Try a nightcrawler or dip baits in areas with woody structure or shoreline riprap. Some anglers are catching fish off the wing-dams.
- Freshwater Drum – Excellent: Drum are an excellent target for shore anglers. Use a simple egg sinker and nightcrawler rig in areas with moderate current.
- Largemouth Bass – Good: Use smaller spinnerbaits along vegetation edges in backwater areas, or try pitching a jig into woody structure near current breaks in side channels.
- Walleye – Good: Try a three-way rig with live bait on the wing-dams. Some anglers are having success trolling crankbaits.
- White Bass – Good: Cast a white inline spinner or a white jig/plastic combination in areas with current where white bass are chasing minnows, like along main channel borders.
Pool 15, Mississippi River (Scott)
- Water Temperature (°F): 80.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Water level is around 4.8 feet at Lock and Dam 14 and is holding steady. Call your local bait shops for the most current information.
- Channel Catfish – Excellent: Use dip baits in areas with woody structure or shoreline riprap. Anglers are catching fish off lateral rock structures.
- Freshwater Drum – Excellent: Drum are an excellent target for shore anglers. Use a simple egg sinker and nightcrawler rig in areas with moderate current.
- Smallmouth Bass – Fair: Throw in-line spinners in rocky areas with some current/current breaks.
- Walleye – Good: Use a three-way rig with live bait on wing-dams or other rocky structure. Some anglers are having success trolling crankbaits.
- White Bass – Excellent: Cast a white inline spinner or a white jig/plastic combination in areas with current and lateral rock where white bass are chasing minnows, like along main channel borders.
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Fairport Management District
Mississippi River Pools 16-19: River stages have risen 1-1.5 feet. Tailwater stages are forecast to fall over the weekend. Main channel water temperature is around 79 degrees. Water clarity is fair. River level is low; use caution when boating. Last updated on 08/06/2026
Pool 16, Mississippi River (Scott)
- Water Temperature (°F): 79.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Tailwater stage is 5.90 feet at Lock and Dam 15 in Davenport. Tailwater stage is forecast to fall over the weekend. Flood Stage is 15 feet. River stage is 10.37 feet at Fairport; flood stage is 14 feet. River level is low; use caution when boating.
- Bluegill – Status Unsure: Try fishing for bluegills in the backwaters. Use pieces of worm under a bobber around brush piles and logs at Sunset Marina and the Andalusia Island Complex. With the warmer temperatures, some bluegills will move out to areas with some flow around brush piles or wing-dams closer to shore.
- Channel Catfish – Fair: Use dip baits above snags and log jams along the main channel and side channels or on the upstream side of wing-dams.
- Walleye – Status Unsure: Cast or troll crankbaits or troll three-way rigs with nightcrawlers on the wing-dams.
- White Bass – Status Unsure: Cast jigs and twister tails or inline spinner baits in Sylvan Slough or below Lock and Dam 15 along the Davenport River front. Look for current breaks around rocky points.
- White Crappie – Status Unsure: Try vertical jigging with minnows or jigs/plastics in the backwaters and side channels around brush piles. Anglers can also catch crappies with minnows under a bobber in Sunset Marina or the Andalusia Island complex. Look for crappies out in the side channels around brush piles with the warmer temperatures.
Pool 17, Mississippi River (Muscatine)
- Water Temperature (°F): 78.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Tailwater stage is 4.49 feet at Lock and Dam 16 in Muscatine. Tailwater stage is forecast to fall over the weekend. Flood stage is 15 feet. River level is low; use caution when boating.
- Bluegill – Status Unsure: Try fishing for bluegills in the backwaters. Use pieces of worm under a bobber around brush piles and logs at Big Timber and Cleveland Slough. Some bluegills will move out to the main channel and side channels with the warmer temperatures. Try fishing around brush piles or wing-dams with a little bit of flow.
- Channel Catfish – Status Unsure: Try dip baits above log jams and snags along the main channel and side channels or on the upstream side of wing-dams.
- Walleye – Status Unsure: Cast or troll crankbaits or troll three-way rigs with nightcrawlers on the wing-dams.
- White Bass – Status Unsure: Try fishing for white bass around the outfalls of GPC. Cast jigs and twister tails or inline spinner baits on the wing-dams or rocky shorelines with current breaks.
- White Crappie – Status Unsure: Try vertical jigging with minnows or jigs/plastics in the backwaters and side channels around brush piles. Anglers can also catch crappies with minnows under a bobber in Big Timber or Cleveland Slough. Crappies will move out to the side channels with a little bit of flow with the warmer temperatures. Use jigs and minnows or minnows under a bobber around brush piles.
Pool 18, Mississippi River (Louisa)
- Water Temperature (°F): 77.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Tailwater stage is 5.85 feet at Lock and Dam 17 at New Boston. Tailwater stage is slowly falling. Flood stage is 15 feet. Use caution when boating due to low river levels.
- Bluegill – Status Unsure: Use pieces of worm under a bobber around brush piles and logs in the backwaters. Some bluegills will move out to the main channel and side channels with the warmer temperatures. Look for fish around brush piles with a little bit of current or on the wing-dams.
- Channel Catfish – Fair: Use dip baits fished upstream of snags and log jams along the main channel and side channels or on the upstream side of wing-dams.
- Walleye – Status Unsure: Cast or troll crankbaits or troll three-way rigs with nightcrawlers on the wing-dams.
- White Bass – Status Unsure: Cast jigs and twister tails or inline spinner baits on the wing-dams or rocky shorelines with current breaks. Also try fishing for white bass at the outlet of Lake Odessa.
- White Crappie – Status Unsure: Try vertical jigging with minnows or jigs/plastics in the backwaters and side channels around brush piles. Anglers can also catch crappies with minnows under a bobber at the Huron Island complex. Crappies will move out to the side channels with a little bit of flow with the warmer temperatures. Try jigs and minnows around brush piles.
Pool 19, Mississippi River (Lee)
- Water Temperature (°F): 79.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Tailwater stage is 3.38 feet at Lock and Dam 18 above Burlington and is slowly falling. Flood stage is 10 feet. River stage is 9.03 feet at Burlington; flood stage is 15 feet. River stage is 525.56 feet at Fort Madison; flood stage is 528.0 feet.
- Bluegill – Status Unsure: Use pieces of worm under a bobber around brush piles and logs in the backwaters.
- Channel Catfish – Fair: Try dip baits fished upstream of snags and log jams along the main channel and side channels or on the upstream side of the wing-dams.
- Walleye – Status Unsure: Cast or troll crankbaits or troll three-way rigs with nightcrawlers on the wing-dams.
- White Crappie – Status Unsure: Try vertical jigging with minnows or jigs/plastics in the backwaters and side channels around brush piles. Anglers can also catch crappies with minnows under a bobber around brush piles.
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Guttenberg Management District
Upper Mississippi water levels are expected to remain low and stable. Boaters should use caution due to low water conditions. Water temperatures have risen into the 80s, causing fish to vacate backwaters and seek oxygenated water with depth and some current. Try fishing around rock structure and wing-dams along the main channel border. Last updated on 08/06/2026
Pool 09, Mississippi River (Allamakee)
- Water Temperature (°F): 78.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
River level is 8.1 feet at Lansing and is expected to remain stable over the next week. New Albin Army Road ramp improvements are complete and it has reopened. **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.
- Bluegill – Good: High water temperatures will move fish off shore into deeper water. Try a small piece of crawler mid-depth in areas with moderate current.
- Channel Catfish – Excellent: Use dip baits or a nightcrawler around riprap and wood structure in the main channels and side sloughs.
- Freshwater Drum – Good: Use a weighted rig with crawlers in swifter current.
- Largemouth Bass – Excellent: Try a topwater crankbait or frog baits along weedlines of side channels or lower ends of backwater openings.
- Smallmouth Bass – Excellent: Cast spinnerbaits along rocked main channel shorelines and points of islands with moderate current.
Pool 10, Mississippi River (Clayton)
- Water Temperature (°F): 85.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Water level dropped to 612.4 feet at the Lynxville dam and is expected to remain stable this week. Water clarity is good. Look for fish in areas with deeper water with moderate current.
- Bluegill – Slow: High water temperatures have moved fish off shore into deeper water. Use a small piece of crawler mid-depth in areas with moderate current,.
- Channel Catfish – Excellent: Use dip baits or a nightcrawler around riprap and wood structure in the main channels and side sloughs.
- Freshwater Drum – Good: Try a weighted rig with crawlers in swifter current.
- Largemouth Bass – Excellent: Try a topwater crankbait or frog baits along weedlines of side channels or lower ends of backwater openings.
- Smallmouth Bass – Excellent: Cast spinnerbaits along rocked main channel shorelines and points of islands with moderate current.
Pool 11, Mississippi River (Clayton)
- Water Temperature (°F): 83.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Water levels have fallen several feet at Guttenberg Lock & Dam 10 tailwaters and is leveling off at 4.5 feet. Water clarity is slightly stained, but is improving. Boaters should use caution in low water conditions. Look for fish in deeper water with moderate current.
- Bluegill – Slow: High water temperatures have moved fish off shore into deeper water. Use a small piece of crawler mid-depth in areas with moderate current.
- Channel Catfish – Excellent: Use dip baits or a nightcrawler around riprap and wood structure in the main channels and side sloughs.
- Freshwater Drum – Good: Try a weighted rig with crawlers in swifter current.
- Largemouth Bass – Excellent: Try a topwater crankbait or frog baits along weedlines of side channels or lower ends of backwater openings.
- Smallmouth Bass – Excellent: Cast spinnerbaits along rocked main channel shorelines and points of islands with moderate current.
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Northeast
Decorah Management District
A potentially wet weekend for the area. Temperatures in the low 80s to overnight lows in the 60s. Rivers and streams are clearing. Stocking on marginal trout streams during August is temporarily paused due to rising water temperatures. Trout already in these waters are well-acclimated to the seasonal warmth. Visit a local lake or pond for a family fishing outing. Last updated on 08/06/2026
Allamakee County Trout Streams (Allamakee)
- Ramp Condition: Not applicable
Trout streams are in good condition. Wild or yellow parsnip is drying up; continue to use caution around this plant. If the plant’s sap comes in contact with your skin and is exposed to sunlight, it can cause severe burns.
- Brook Trout – Slow: Brook Trout water generally consists of dense beds of aquatic vegetation, cobble-gravel substrate, and narrow channels making them difficult to fish. 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: Brown trout love off-color water and are less picky under these conditions. Good hatches of mayflies, caddis, midges, and scuds are occurring. Terrestrial insects are turning on. Grasshoppers, ants, and crickets are a good bet.
- 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, midges, scuds, mayflies, or caddis flies.
Cedar River (above Nashua) (Floyd)
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Water levels are stabilizing and clearing. Water temperature is in the 70s. Use caution after high water; snags and submerged debris may have moved. For more information, visit https://water.noaa.gov/gauges/
- Black Crappie – Fair: Find crappie near snags in backwater areas. Try a small spinner or crankbait.
- Channel Catfish – Excellent: Use worms, dead chubs or minnows under a bobber near the bottom.
- Rock Bass – Fair: Use a jig tipped with a nightcrawler or a plastic, fished in the middle of the water column.
- Smallmouth Bass – Fair: Find smallmouth along rocky shorelines or limestone ledges. Try a variety of lures.
- Walleye – Good: Use a jig with a live minnow or nightcrawler in a deeper pool near the stream bottom. Try fishing sunrise and sunset on clear days.
Clayton County Trout Streams (Clayton)
- Ramp Condition: Not applicable
Trout streams are in good condition. Wild or yellow parsnip is drying up; continue to use caution around this plant. If the plant’s sap comes in contact with your skin and is exposed to sunlight, it can cause severe burns.
- Brook Trout – Slow: Brook Trout water generally consists of dense beds of aquatic vegetation, cobble-gravel substrate, and narrow channels making them difficult to fish. 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: Brown trout love off-color water and are less picky under these conditions. Good hatches of mayflies, caddis, midges, and scuds are occurring. Terrestrial insects are turning on. Grasshoppers, ants, and crickets are a good bet.
- 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, midges, scuds, mayflies, or caddis flies.
Fayette County Trout Streams (Fayette)
- Ramp Condition: Not applicable
Trout streams are in good condition. Wild or yellow parsnip is drying up; continue to use caution around this plant. If the plant’s sap comes in contact with your skin and is exposed to sunlight, it can cause severe burns.
- Brown Trout – Good: Brown trout love off-color water and are less picky under these conditions. Good hatches of mayflies, caddis, midges, and scuds are occurring. Terrestrial insects are turning on. Grasshoppers, ants, and crickets are a good bet.
- 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, midges, scuds, mayflies, or caddis flies.
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Water clarity is improving. Weeds are up. Water temperature is in the 70s.
- Black Crappie – Fair: Find crappie along weedlines. Try trolling a small spinner or small jigs tipped with a plastic or minnow.
- Bluegill – Fair: Continue to use small jigs tipped with a waxworm, spike, or very small piece of a nightcrawler along weedlines.
- Channel Catfish – Good: Use worms, dead chubs or minnows, or stink bait under a bobber near the bottom.
- Largemouth Bass – Fair: Toss a topwater lure along the edge of a plant bed or rocky shoreline. Keep tension on the line to prevent losing your lure.
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Water clarity is improving. Water temperature is in the 70s.
- Black Crappie – Slow: Find crappie along weedlines. Try trolling a small spinner or crankbait.
- Bluegill – Fair: Continue to use small jigs tipped with a waxworm, spike, or very small piece of a nightcrawler along weedlines.
- Channel Catfish – Good: Use worms, dead chubs or minnows, or stink bait under a bobber near the bottom.
- Largemouth Bass – Fair: Toss a topwater lure along the edge of a plant bed or rocky shoreline. Keep tension on the line to prevent lure loss.
- Northern Pike – Slow: Pike hang in weedy areas stalking prey. Target weedlines with a spoon or hair jig to tease this feisty fish.
Mitchell County Trout Streams (Mitchell)
- Ramp Condition: Not applicable
Trout streams are in good condition. Wild or yellow parsnip is drying up; continue to use caution around this plant. If the plant’s sap comes in contact with your skin and is exposed to sunlight, it can cause severe burns.
- Brown Trout – Good: Brown trout love off-color water and are less picky under these conditions. Good hatches of mayflies, caddis, midges, and scuds are occurring. Terrestrial insects are turning on. Grasshoppers, ants, and crickets are a good bet.
- 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, midges, scuds, mayflies, or caddis flies.
Turkey River (above Clermont) (Fayette)
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Water levels are stabilizing and clearing. Water temperature is in the 70s. Use caution after high water; snags and submerged debris may have moved. For more information, visit https://waterdata.usgs.gov/
- Smallmouth Bass – Fair: Find smallmouth behind rock riffles, rocky shorelines, and limestone ledges. A variety of lures are working; topwater and jigs are producing fish.
- Walleye – Fair: 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 stabilizing and clearing. Water temperature is in the 70s. Use caution after high water; snags and submerged debris may have moved. For more information, visit https://waterdata.usgs.gov/
- Smallmouth Bass – Fair: Find smallmouth along rocky shorelines or limestone ledges. A variety of lures are working. Upper and lower dams are producing fish.
- Walleye – Fair: Use a jig tipped with a nightcrawler or ringworms in a deeper pool near the stream bottom. Try fishing sunrise and sunset on clear days.
Upper Iowa River (below Decorah) (Allamakee)
- Ramp Condition: Not applicable
Water levels are stabilizing and clearing. Water temperature is in the 70s. Use caution after high water; snags and submerged debris may have moved.
- Channel Catfish – Good: Use dead chubs or nightcrawlers fished near the bottom.
- Golden Redhorse – Excellent: Use a nightcrawler fished on the bottom or under a bobber.
- Smallmouth Bass – Fair: Catch smallmouth with jigs or topwater lures near limestone ledges and rock riffles.
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Water clarity is limited and off-color. Water temperature is in the low 80s. Try fishing over structure. Fish are suspended.
- Black Crappie – Fair: Try minnows under a bobber or plastics near and around structure.
- Bluegill – Good: Use small jigs tipped with a waxworm, spike, or a very small piece of a nightcrawler along rocky shorelines or around submerged structure.
- Channel Catfish – Good: Use worms, dead chubs, minnows, or stink bait under a bobber near the bottom. Trophy catfish abound in this waterbody.
- Largemouth Bass – Fair: Toss a crank or spinner bait along the edge of a rocky shoreline or steep depth contour. Keep tension on your line to prevent losing your lure.
Winneshiek County Trout Streams (Winneshiek)
- Ramp Condition: Not applicable
Trout streams are in good condition. Wild or yellow parsnip is drying up; continue to use caution around this plant. If the plant’s sap comes in contact with your skin and is exposed to sunlight, it can cause severe burns.
- Brook Trout – Slow: Brook Trout water generally consists of dense beds of aquatic vegetation, cobble-gravel substrate, and narrow channels making them difficult to fish. 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: Brown trout love off-color water and are less picky under these conditions. Good hatches of mayflies, caddis, midges, and scuds are occurring. Terrestrial insects are turning on. Grasshoppers, ants, and crickets are a good bet.
- 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, midges, scuds, mayflies, or caddis flies.
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Manchester Management District
Interior river water levels are dropping with improved water clarity, making for good angling opportunities this coming weekend. Local area lakes in and around Cedar Falls/Waterloo have been slow for panfish. Water temperatures are in the low 80s. Trout streams in Clayton, Delaware, Dubuque and Jackson counties are in good to excellent conditions. Contact your local area bait and tackle shops for current and most up to date reports. Last updated on 08/05/2026
- Ramp Condition: Not applicable
Spring Branch Creek within Baileys Ford Park is in good to excellent condition.
- Rainbow Trout – Good: Cast and retrieve flashy spinner blades or smaller bead heads.
- Ramp Condition: Not applicable
Trout streams in Dubuque County are in good to excellent condition. Anglers are catching both rainbow and brown trout.
- Brown Trout – Fair: Try matching the hatch with the upcoming warmer weather.
- Rainbow Trout – Status Unsure: Cast and retrieve flashy spinner blades or smaller bead heads.
- Ramp Condition: Not applicable
Trout streams in Jackson County are in good to excellent condition. The Big Mill Wildlife Management area is popular amongst anglers for both rainbow and brown trout.
- Brown Trout – Good: Try matching the hatch with the upcoming forecast of warmer weather.
- 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 conditions are fair to good for channel catfish, smallmouth bass and walleye. The river level bumped up recently, but is again fallingl.
- Channel Catfish – Good: Try nightcrawlers, dead cutbaits or stink baits on the bottom.
- Smallmouth Bass – Fair: Cast and retrieve live baits tipped on a jig or crankbaits.
- Walleye – Fair: Cast and retrieve live baits tipped on a jig or crankbaits.
- Ramp Condition: Not applicable
Trout will not be stocked at Dalton Pond during August or September. A bridge used to access the trout fishing destination is closed due to structural deterioration. Iowa DNR has gathered cost estimates for bridge repair and replacement and is currently determining next steps at Dalton Pond. Local media outlets and this weekly report will be updated with developments. Dalton Pond is currently accessible only as a walk-in fishery. Trout stocking has not occurred at Dalton Pond since March 31.
Delaware County Trout Streams (Delaware)
- Ramp Condition: Not applicable
Trout streams in Delaware County are in good to excellent condition.
- Brown Trout – Good: Try matching the hatch with the upcoming warmer weather.
- 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. Catfish Creek within the upper end of Swiss Valley Park and Bankston Creek are popular areas for both rainbow and brown trout.
- Brown Trout – Fair: Try matching the hatch with the upcoming warmer weather.
- Rainbow Trout – Good: Cast and retrieve flashy spinner blades or smaller bead heads.
Jackson County Trout Streams (Jackson)
- Ramp Condition: Not applicable
Trout streams in Jackson County are in good to excellent condition. The Big Mill Wildlife Management area is popular amongst anglers for both rainbow and brown trout.
- Brown Trout – Good: Try matching the hatch with the upcoming forecast of warmer weather.
- Rainbow Trout – Good: Cast and retrieve flashy spinner blades or smaller bead heads.
Maquoketa River (above Monticello) (Delaware)
- Ramp Condition: Not applicable
River conditions are vastly improving in Delaware County. The river should be in good condition for the upcoming weekend.
- Channel Catfish – Fair: Try live or fresh dead baits near structure.
- Smallmouth Bass – Fair: Try live or artificial baits.
- Walleye – Fair: Cast crankbaits or a jig tipped with half of a nightcrawler.
Maquoketa River (below Monticello) (Jackson)
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Channel catfish are an angler’s best bet. A 2025 fall fish survey showed extreme numbers of quality-size catfish below Pictured Rocks County Park.
- Channel Catfish – Good: Try live or fresh dead baits near structure.
- Ramp Condition: Not applicable
Trout streams in Delaware County are in good to excellent condition. A recent survey on the stream revealed a high density population of brown trout.
- Brown Trout – Good: Try matching the hatch with the upcoming warmer weather.
- Rainbow Trout – Good: Cast and retrieve flashy spinner blades or smaller bead heads.
Shell Rock River (Greene to Shell Rock) (Butler)
- Water Temperature (°F): 80.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Anglers are catching a few walleye.
- Walleye – Fair: Cast and retrieve live baits tipped on a jig or crankbaits.
Wapsipinicon River (Tripoli to Troy Mills) (Buchanan)
- Ramp Condition: Not applicable
The Wapsipinicon River has dropped to 5.1 feet and continues to drop. Anglers are catching a few smallmouth bass and channel catfish.
- Channel Catfish – Fair: Try fishing nightcrawlers or stink baits on the bottom above tree snags on the river.
- Smallmouth Bass – Fair: Use a jig and plastic tipped with half a night crawler or cast and retrieve crankbaits.
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Northwest
Black Hawk Management District
Water temperatures are in the mid-70s on most area lakes. Last updated on 08/06/2026
- Water Temperature (°F): 75.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
- Bluegill – Fair: Pick up bluegill from shore near patches of vegetation, from the stone piers in Town Bay; and near the rock piles from boat. Use a piece of crawler on a jig. Most fish are 7-inches.
- Channel Catfish – Fair: Pick up catfish from shore and around the rock piles in deeper habitat. Use cut bait or crawlers fished on or near the bottom.
- Walleye – Slow: Try drifting or trolling along the dredge cuts and the rock piles in the east basin.
Crawford Creek Impoundment (Ida)
- Ramp Condition: Useable
- Bluegill – Fair: Look for bluegills along the weedlines in 5-10 feet of water and near submerged brush piles. Bigger fish are 7- to 8-inches long.
Storm Lake (incl Little Storm Lake) (Buena Vista)
- Water Temperature (°F): 74.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
- Channel Catfish – Fair: Look for catfish around rocky shorelines and near the dredge cuts. Use cut bait, stink bait, or a crawler on the bottom.
- Walleye – Slow: Look for walleye off shore near the dredge cuts. Use crankbaits, a jig tipped with a minnow fished just off the bottom, or a bottom bouncer with a crawler harness.
- Water Temperature (°F): 74.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
- Black Bullhead – Fair: Catch 10- to 11-inch bullhead from shore along the jetties; use a piece of crawler fished on or near the bottom.
- Bluegill – Slow
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Clear Lake Management District
For information on lakes and rivers in north central Iowa, contact Clear Lake Fish and Wildlife office. Last updated on 04/09/2026
- Ramp Condition: Useable
- Black Crappie – Fair: Drift fish or troll a small jig along the north shore.
- Bluegill – Slow
- Water Temperature (°F): 74.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Lake level is 0.88 inch above crest. Water clarity is around 18 inches.
- Walleye – Fair: Try slip bobber fishing near the rock reefs and submerged vegetation. Best bite is early morning.
- Yellow Bass – Fair: Anglers are catching mostly 7- to 8-inch fish.
- Ramp Condition: Useable
- Black Crappie – Fair: Drift fish or troll a small jig or minnow.
- Bluegill – Fair
- Ramp Condition: Useable
- Largemouth Bass – Fair
- Ramp Condition: Useable
- Bluegill – Fair
- Largemouth Bass – Good: Use topwater and weedless baits.
- Ramp Condition: Not applicable
River level is 4.84 feet.
- Smallmouth Bass – Slow
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Spirit Lake Management District
Lake temperatures are in the low to mid-70s with the cooler nights. Water levels are just below crest. The bite is fairly good for most species. Last updated on 08/06/2026
- Water Temperature (°F): 75.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
The bass and panfish bite is good.
- Pumpkinseed – Good: Fish are biting in and around the docks.
- Water Temperature (°F): 75.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
- Water Temperature (°F): 73.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
A lot of vegetation is reaching the surface, making navigation by boat more difficult.
- Water Temperature (°F): 80.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
The lake currently has a slight algae bloom.
Silver Lake (Dickinson) (Dickinson)
- Water Temperature (°F): 82.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Elevated levels of Microcystin (blue-green algae) have been sampled on the lake recently. The lake is currently experiencing a blue-green algae bloom, which can cause nausea, vomiting, and skin rashes when ingested.
- Walleye – Fair: Nightcrawlers are working for some anglers.
- Water Temperature (°F): 75.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Lake level is at crest.
- Largemouth Bass – Good: Anglers have been catching quality-sized bass all summer.
- Water Temperature (°F): 78.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Water clarity is very good.
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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): 86.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
The thermocline bottoms out at 9 feet. Fish will not be below that depth; the oxygen levels drop too low for them to be comfortable.
- Black Crappie – Fair: Crappies are holding out in 6 to 8 feet of water along the edges of the flooded timber. Fishing activity picked up this week; more anglers got out with the cooler weather.
- Bluegill – Fair: Bluegills are out in deeper water (6 – 7 feet). Use a worm and bobber or try vertical jigging.
- Largemouth Bass – Fair: Throw crankbaits and spinnerbaits around the islands down from the campground and around the end of the jetty in that same area.
Iowa River (Columbus Junction to Mississippi R) (Louisa)
- Ramp Condition: Useable
The Iowa River went up about 2.5 feet by Tuesday, but has dropped a foot since then. It will be difficult to pattern the catfish with variable river levels.
- Channel Catfish – Fair: It’s difficult to guess where the fish will be with the river level going up and down as fast as it is. On it’s way down, work the brush piles with cut bait or stink bait. On it’s way up, hit the mouths of the feeder creeks with nightcrawlers and minnows.
- Water Temperature (°F): 85.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Water is green with a water clarity of a little over 2 feet. The bottom of the thermocline is setting up at between 11 and 12 feet; not much oxygen below that level.
- Bluegill – Fair: The better bluegill fishing is at the upper end of the lake over the submerged mounds or along the old creek channel out from the campground bay.
- Largemouth Bass – Fair: Find bass out in the habitat or over the mounds in 10-12 feet of water. Look for them off the ends of the jetties, along the old creek channel or around the mounds at the upper end hunting bluegills.
- Water Temperature (°F): 86.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Water temperature was 86 degrees Thursday (8/6) morning. The water is green, but the algal scum on the surface isn’t reforming anywhere. The bottom of the thermocline is 10 feet. Fish will not be below that depth; the oxygen levels drop too low for them to be comfortable.
- Bluegill – Fair: Try fishing over the rock piles in 8 to 10 feet of water; the bottom of the thermocline is at about 10 feet (not much oxygen below that). Look for bluegill around the rock piles off the old lagoon point and down by the dam.
- Largemouth Bass – Fair: Anglers getting out at first light are having some luck with soft plastics around the brush piles across from the main boat ramp and the lily pads at the upper end of the lake.
- Water Temperature (°F): 87.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Water temperature went up just a little this week. Water is green. Thermocline bottoms out at 11 feet.
- Black Crappie – Slow: Most of the crappie fishing is concentrated over top of the old Agency Road.
- Bluegill – Slow: The bigger bluegills are out in the fish habitat in 8 to 10 feet of water.
- Water Temperature (°F): 85.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Water temperature has gone up a little bit this week. Water remains with a green cast of planktonic algae. Water clarity is a little over 3 feet.
- Bluegill – Fair: Bluegills are holding out in the flooded trees in 10 to 14 feet of water. Try vertical jigging with a 1/64 oz jig tipped with a waxworm or red worm.
- Largemouth Bass – Fair: Evening bite is best. Try soft plastics along the edges of the weed beds with either or topwater baits on calm nights to watch the surface explode when they hit. Use a little heavier line for the topwater. The muskies are hunting those same areas as the bass.
Skunk River (Rose Hill to Coppock) (Washington)
- Water Temperature (°F): 83.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Not much of a water level drop this week. Water is still boatable with a flat bottom boat.
- Channel Catfish – Fair: Work the brush piles and off the back ends of the sandbars with chicken liver or stink bait.
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Macbride Management District
Cedar River (Cedar Rapids to Moscow) (Cedar)
- Ramp Condition: Useable
- Channel Catfish – Fair: Use cut bait near brush piles and broken concrete or rock.
- Flathead Catfish – Fair: Try live bait around brush piles.
Cedar River (La Porte City to Cedar Rapids) (Linn)
- Ramp Condition: Useable
- Channel Catfish – Fair: Use cut bait near brush piles and broken concrete or rock.
- Flathead Catfish – Fair: Try live bait around brush piles.
- Smallmouth Bass – Fair: Try fishing along rock shorelines.
- Walleye – Fair: Try fishing around current seams along rock shorelines.
Coralville Reservoir (Johnson)
- Ramp Condition: Useable
- Black Crappie – Fair: Try fishing for suspended fish around brush piles.
- Channel Catfish – Fair: Anglers are catching catfish around brush piles.
- Largemouth Bass – Fair: Try fishing along rock shorelines with brush piles.
- White Crappie – Fair: Try fishing for suspended fish around brush piles.
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Fishing regulations are currently relaxed and will continue until September 7th prior to the lake restoration project starting. This applies to only Diamond Lake and not the surrounding ponds within the park.
Iowa River (Coralville Lake to River Junction) (Johnson)
- Ramp Condition: Useable
- Bluegill – Fair: Use a small jig tipped with a worm along rock shorelines.
- Channel Catfish – Fair: Use cut bait near brush piles and broken concrete or rock.
- Flathead Catfish – Fair: Try live bait or soft plastics at brush piles or dams.
- Freshwater Drum – Good: Wiper anglers are catching lots of drum.
- Smallmouth Bass – Fair: Try fishing along rock shorelines and current seams.
- White Bass – Fair: Anglers targeting wipers are catching bass.
- Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) – Fair
Iowa River (Marshalltown to Coralville Lake) (Iowa)
- Ramp Condition: Useable
- Channel Catfish – Fair: Use cut bait near brush piles and broken concrete or rock.
- Flathead Catfish – Fair: Try live bait around brush piles.
- Water Temperature (°F): 84.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
- Largemouth Bass – Fair: Use topwater lures around vegetation or crank baits and soft plastics around brush and rock piles.
- Spotted bass – Fair: Use 2″ paddle tails or ned rigs around main lake brush piles.
- White Crappie – Slow: Move around to find scattered groups of fish suspended near brush piles and weed edges.
- Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) – Slow: Look for surface feeding activity near points and drop offs at sunrise or sunset.
- Ramp Condition: Useable
- Largemouth Bass – Slow: Shore anglers are catching bass.
- Walleye – Fair: Best bite is after sunset.
Wapsipinicon River (Troy Mills to Oxford Junction) (Jones)
- Ramp Condition: Useable
- Channel Catfish – Fair: Use cut bait near brush piles and broken concrete or rock.
- Smallmouth Bass – Fair: Try fishing along rock shorelines with current seams.
- Walleye – Fair: Try fishing along rock shorelines and brush piles with current seams.
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Rathbun Management District
- Ramp Condition: Closed
Lake Keomah underwent a lake restoration this winter and is currently re-filling with water. Fish are being stocked for angling in the future. The boat ramps are currently unusable.
- Ramp Condition: Useable
- Bluegill – Fair: Use small jigs around the cedar tree piles and the other submerged structures.
- Largemouth Bass – Fair: Target rip-rapped shorelines with plastics or crankbaits.
- Ramp Condition: Useable
- Black Crappie – Slow: Target suspended crappies using jigs or small crankbaits.
- Bluegill – Fair: Target cedar tree piles in deeper water with jigs or jigs tipped with a chunk of nightcrawler.
- Channel Catfish – Fair: Try chicken liver along the shoreline. Target 6-8 feet of water.
- Largemouth Bass – Fair: Use spinnerbaits and plastics around the cedar tree piles or along the rip-rapped shorelines.
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Lake level is 905.68 msl; recreation pool is 904 msl. Lake Rathbun contains zebra mussels; clean, drain and dry your boat before going to another water body.
- Channel Catfish – Good: Use chubs or nightcrawlers along areas with rip-rapped shorelines.
- Walleye – Slow: Troll crankbaits over rock ridges or underwater islands. Use crankbaits that mimic gizzard shad.
- White Crappie – Fair: Crappies have moved off-shore; target brush piles and other submerged structures. Crappies will also suspend this time of year; try small crankbaits trolled through the schools of crappie.
- Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) – Fair: Try trolling crankbaits or vertically jigging blade baits along rock piles and submerged points.
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Help us protect Iowa lakes and rivers from aquatic invasive species by cleaning, draining and drying your boat and equipment everytime your boat leaves the water. Learn more about aquatic invasive species on the DNR webpage. |
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Southwest
Boone Management District
Catfishing is good in the reservoirs and rivers. Drifting or slow trolling plastics at depths less than 10 feet deep will find crappies in many Central Iowa lakes. Last updated on 07/09/2026
- Ramp Condition: Useable
- Black Crappie – Fair: Try trolling or jigging panfish plastics over roadbeds and brush piles in water less than 15 feet deep.
- Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) – Fair: Use jigs with shad imitating plastics. Look for surface feeding activity or use electronics to find concentrated schools of gizzard shad.
Des Moines River (Saylorville to Red Rock) (Marion)
- Ramp Condition: Not applicable
- Channel Catfish – Good: Use cut baits or dip baits near wood debris and riprap.
Des Moines River (Stratford to Saylorville Lake) (Polk)
- Ramp Condition: Not applicable
- Channel Catfish – Good: Try dip baits and cut baits near wood debris and deep cutbanks.
- Ramp Condition: Useable
- Channel Catfish – Good: Try drifting or still fishing cut baits on the upper portion of the main reservoir near and above the mile long bridge, and in the upper end of the Whitebreast Creek arm.
- Ramp Condition: Useable
- White Crappie – Fair: Try drifting or slowly trolling 1/16 to 1/8 jigs tipped 2inch or less twister tail or paddle tail plastics.
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Cold Springs Management District
- Contact Person: Mark Boucher or John Lorenzen – 712-769-2587
- Water Temperature (°F): 78.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Cold Springs Lake was drawn-down and renovated in August 2025. The lake is filling and fish have been restocked. Anglers can expect good fishing again by 2028.
- Water Temperature (°F): 80.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
- Black Crappie – Fair: Slow troll open water areas to find schools of black crappie. The early morning bite is best.
- Channel Catfish – Fair: Cast cut bait on the windy shoreline to catch all sizes of channel catfish.
- Largemouth Bass – Good
- Water Temperature (°F): 80.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Bluegill and crappie fishing has been good this week.
- Black Crappie – Fair: Troll the roadbeds or fish along deep tree piles to find black crappies. Early morning bite is best. Sorting is needed for larger fish.
- Bluegill – Good: Anglers are catching bluegill slow trolling close to underwater reefs and around the roadbed.
- Largemouth Bass – Good: Bass anglers are finding fish in deep tree piles and along the roadbed.
- Water Temperature (°F): 80.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Water clarity has improved.
- Black Crappie – Fair: Look for black crappies in the tree piles. Late afternoon bite is best.
- Bluegill – Fair: Slow troll and fish along tree piles to find 8-inch fish.
- Largemouth Bass – Fair: Cast the dam and shallow structure for best success.
- Water Temperature (°F): 78.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
- Black Crappie – Fair: Find black crappies in the tree piles. Fish will average 9.5-inches. Anglers are trolling for larger fish.
- Bluegill – Fair: Look for bluegills in open water areas slow trolling or drifting.
- Largemouth Bass – Fair
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Mt. Ayr Management District
Water temperature is in the low 80s in most Mount Ayr district lakes. Last updated on 08/05/2026
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Docks are in at all boat ramps.
- Channel Catfish – Good: Catch Catfish of all sizes using nightcrawlers or cut bait fished near rocky shoreline areas.
Little River Watershed Lake (Decatur)
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Docks are in at the main and bait shop ramps.
- Bluegill – Slow: Catch Bluegill of all sizes with a piece of nightcrawler under a bobber fished near cedar tree brush piles.
- Channel Catfish – Fair: Catch Catfish of all sizes with cut bait fished along rocky shoreline areas.
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Lake level is back to normal pool as of June 15.
- Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) – Slow: Catch Wipers of all sizes with nightcrawlers or leeches fished along the fish mounds.
Twelve Mile Creek Lake (Union)
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Docks are in at the main ramp.
- Bluegill – Fair: Catch Bluegill of all sizes with a nightcrawler fished along rock piles.
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