Mississippi River
Bellevue Management District
Mississippi River water levels are extremely low across the district; use caution when navigating in off-channel areas. Water temperatures are in the upper 70s. Call your local bait shops or DNR Fisheries office for the latest information. Last updated on 08/27/2026
Pool 12, Mississippi River (Dubuque)
- Water Temperature (°F): 77.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Water level is around 4.3 feet at the Dubuque tailwater and is holding steady. Use caution when navigating in off channel areas. Call your local DNR Fisheries office or local bait shops for the latest information.
- Black Crappie – Fair: 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 or live bait in areas with woody structure like stump fields and brush piles in side channels or along main channel borders.
- Freshwater Drum – Excellent: Use a simple egg sinker and nightcrawler rig in areas with moderate current.
- Largemouth Bass – Excellent: Use spinnerbaits or in-line spinners along rock lines, or try pitching a jig into woody structure in deeper side channels.
- Northern Pike – Fair: Try large and flashy spinnerbaits or inline spinners in areas with cold water inputs.
- Smallmouth Bass – Good: Throw inline spinners in rocky areas with some current/current breaks.
Pool 13, Mississippi River (Jackson)
- Water Temperature (°F): 77.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Water level has dropped to around 3.2 feet at the Bellevue tailwater and is holding steady. Please use caution when navigating in off channel areas. Call your local DNR Fisheries office or local bait shops for the latest information.
- Black Crappie – Fair: Use a small jig and plastic combination or a live minnow rig in side channel areas with woody structure.
- Bluegill – Fair: Try a piece of nightcrawler under a bobber or a small jig in areas with woody structure along the edges of side channels. Some anglers are catching bluegill along main channel borders and in the tailwaters.
- Channel Catfish – Excellent: Use dip baits or live bait in areas with woody structure like stump fields and brush piles in side channels or along main channel borders.
- Flathead Catfish – Slow
- Freshwater Drum – Excellent: Use a simple sinker and nightcrawler rig in areas with moderate current or in the tailwater.
- Largemouth Bass – Excellent: Use spinnerbaits or in-line spinners along rock lines, or try pitching a jig into woody structure in deeper side channels.
- Northern Pike – Fair: Try large and flashy spinnerbaits or inline spinners in areas with cold water inputs.
- Smallmouth Bass – Good: Throw inline spinners along rocky areas with some current/current breaks.
- Walleye – Fair: Try a three-way rig with live bait on the wing-dams. Some anglers are having success trolling crankbaits.
- White Bass – Fair: 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 3.7 feet at Lock and Dam 13 and is holding steady. Use caution when navigating in off channel areas. 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: Use dip baits or live bait in areas with woody structure like stump fields and brush piles in side channels or along main channel borders.
- Freshwater Drum – Excellent: Use a simple sinker and nightcrawler rig in areas with moderate current.
- Largemouth Bass – Excellent: Use spinnerbaits along vegetation edges in backwater areas or along rock lines, or try pitching a jig into woody structure in side channels.
- Walleye – Fair: Try a three-way rig with live bait on the wing-dams. Some anglers are having success trolling crankbaits.
Pool 15, Mississippi River (Scott)
- Water Temperature (°F): 79.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Water level is around 4.3 feet at Lock and Dam 14 and is holding fairly 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: Try 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 – Fair: Use a three-way rig with live bait on wing-dams or other rocky structure.
- White Bass – Good: 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 been falling this past week. Main channel water temperature is around 79-81 degrees. Water clarity is good. River level is low; use caution when boating. Last updated on 08/26/2026
Pool 16, Mississippi River (Scott)
- Water Temperature (°F): 81.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Tailwater stage is 3.87 feet at Lock and Dam 15 in Davenport. Tailwater stage is forecast to stay steady over the weekend. Flood Stage is 15 feet. River stage is 10.19 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): 81.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Tailwater stage is 2.65 feet at Lock and Dam 16 in Muscatine. Tailwater stage is forecast to stay steady 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): 79.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Tailwater stage is 3.04 feet at Lock and Dam 17 at New Boston. Tailwater stage is forecast to stay steady over the weekend. 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): 80.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Tailwater stage is 1.47 feet at Lock and Dam 18 above Burlington and forecast to stay steady over the weekend. Flood stage is 10 feet. River stage is 7.97 feet at Burlington; flood stage is 15 feet. River stage is 525.44 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 remain extremely low and stable. Boaters should use caution due to low water conditions. Avoid backing your trailer in too far and dropping off the end of the ramp. Water temperature is in the upper 70s. Fish are seeking deeper water with wood or rock structure. Wing-dams along the main channel border are productive. Last updated on 08/26/2026
Pool 09, Mississippi River (Allamakee)
- Water Temperature (°F): 79.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
River level is 7.9 feet at Lansing and is expected to remain stable over the next week. New Albin Army Road ramp improvements are complete and open. **Reminder: Crews are working on the Blackhawk Bridge at Lansing. Boaters should use caution in the construction zone. Please slow down for everyone’s safety.
- Black Crappie – Fair: Use a light jig or small spinner bait in moderate current in side channel sloughs with wood structure.
- 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: Stink baits are the hot bait for channel cats. Try fishing in moderate current in 2 to 7 feet of water.
- Flathead Catfish – Slow: Use live bait like a shiner or small sunfish in deep water holes with snags or wood structure.
- Freshwater Drum – Good: Use a simple egg sinker and nightcrawler rig in areas with moderate current.
- Largemouth Bass – Excellent: Try a topwater crankbait or frog bait along weedlines of side channels and backwater lakes.
- Northern Pike – Good: Northern pike will seek cold water during hot summer days. Throw flashy spinners at the mouths of tributaries.
- Smallmouth Bass – Excellent: Cast spinnerbaits along rocked main channel shorelines and points of islands with moderate current.
- Walleye – Fair: Troll crankbaits or a three-way rig with a whole crawler on the wing-dams.
- Yellow Perch – Fair: Jig small lures or drop shot live bait along the weedlines in backwater lakes.
Pool 10, Mississippi River (Clayton)
- Water Temperature (°F): 80.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Water level remains stable at 611.9 feet below Lock and Dam 9, Lynxville. Boaters should use caution to not back off the end of boat ramps in low water. Water clarity is good. Look for fish in deeper water with moderate current.
- Black Crappie – Fair: Try a light jig or small spinner bait in moderate current in side channel sloughs with wood structure.
- 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: Stink baits are the hot bait for channel cats. Try fishing in moderate current in 2 to 7 feet of water.
- Flathead Catfish – Slow: Use live bait like a shiner or small sunfish in deep water holes with snags or wood structure.
- Freshwater Drum – Good: Use a simple egg sinker and nightcrawler rig in areas with moderate current.
- Largemouth Bass – Excellent: Try a topwater crankbait or frog bait along weedlines of side channels and backwater lakes.
- Northern Pike – Good: Northern pike will seek cold water during hot summer days. Throw flashy spinners at the mouths of tributaries.
- Smallmouth Bass – Excellent: Cast spinnerbaits along rocked main channel shorelines and points of islands with moderate current.
- Walleye – Fair: Troll crankbaits or a three-way rig with a whole crawler on the wing-dams.
- Yellow Perch – Fair: Jig small lures or drop shot live bait along the weedlines in backwater lakes.
Pool 11, Mississippi River (Clayton)
- Water Temperature (°F): 78.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Water levels have fallen to 3.6 feet in Guttenberg Lock & Dam 10 tailwaters. Water clarity is good. Boaters should use caution in low water conditions. Look for fish in deeper water with moderate current.
- Black Crappie – Fair: Use a light jig or small spinner bait in moderate current in side channel sloughs with wood structure.
- 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: Stink baits are the hot bait for channel cats. Try fishing in moderate current in 2 to 7 feet of water.
- Flathead Catfish – Slow: Use live bait like a shiner or small sunfish in deep water holes with snags or wood structure.
- Freshwater Drum – Good: Use a simple egg sinker and nightcrawler rig in areas with moderate current.
- Largemouth Bass – Excellent: Try a topwater crankbait or frog bait along weedlines of side channels and backwater lakes.
- Northern Pike – Good: Northern pike will seek cold water during hot summer days. Throw flashy spinners at the mouths of tributaries.
- Smallmouth Bass – Excellent: Cast spinnerbaits along rocked main channel shorelines and points of islands with moderate current.
- Walleye – Fair: Troll crankbaits or a three-way rig with a whole crawler on the wing-dams.
- Yellow Perch – Fair: Jig small lures or drop shot live bait along the weedlines in backwater lakes.
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Northeast
Decorah Management District
Chance of rain for the area this weekend. Temperatures in the low 80s to overnight lows in the 60s. Most area rivers and streams crested with improving clarity. 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 08/13/2026
Allamakee County Trout Streams (Allamakee)
- Ramp Condition: Not applicable
Trout streams are in good condition. Spotty heavy weekend rain showers could turn streams off-color. Take this opportunity to find the next best spot to fish.
- 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: Off-color water is prime for a picky Brown Trout. Terrestrial insects are turning on. Flies imitating 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. Spotty heavy weekend rain showers could turn streams off-color. Take this opportunity to find the next best spot to fish.
- 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: Off-color water is prime for a picky Brown Trout. Terrestrial insects are turning on. Flies imitating 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. Spotty heavy weekend rain showers could turn streams off-color. Take this opportunity to find the next best spot to fish.
- Brown Trout – Good: Off-color water is prime for a picky Brown Trout. Terrestrial insects are turning on. Flies imitating 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
A severe green algae bloom is occurring. Blooms should lessen as water temperatures cool. Weeds are up. Water temperature is in the 70s.
- Black Crappie – Fair: Find crappie along weedlines. Try trolling in deeper water with 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. The bite should improve as water temperatures fall.
- 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. Spotty heavy weekend rain showers could turn streams off-color. Take this opportunity to find the next best spot to fish.
- Brown Trout – Good: Off-color water is prime for a picky Brown Trout. Terrestrial insects are turning on. Flies imitating 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 – Fair: 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. Spotty heavy weekend rain showers could turn streams off-color. Take this opportunity to find the next best spot to fish.
- 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: Off-color water is prime for a picky Brown Trout. Terrestrial insects are turning on. Flies imitating 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 continue to drop. Eastern Iowa interior rivers are in excellent condition for fishing. Rivers are providing good fishing for channel catfish, smallmouth bass, and walleye. Local area lakes in and around Cedar Falls/Waterloo have been slow for panfish and largemouth bass. Water temperatures are in the upper 70s. Trout streams in Clayton, Dubuque, Delaware and Jackson counties are in good to excellent condition. Contact your local area bait and tackle shops for current and most up to date reports. Last updated on 08/27/2026
- Ramp Condition: Not applicable
Spring Branch Creek within Baileys Ford Park is in 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 – Good: 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.
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Anglers are catching crappie.
- Black Crappie – Fair: Look for structure in 8 to 9 feet of water; use multi colored tube or hair jigs or a live minnow under a slip bobber.
- White Crappie – Fair: Look for structure in 8 to 9 feet of water; use multi colored tube or hair jigs or a live minnow under a slip bobber.
Cedar River (Nashua to La Porte City) (Black Hawk)
- Ramp Condition: Useable
River conditions are good for channel catfish, smallmouth bass and walleye. The river level continues to fall, providing good angling opportunities.
- Channel Catfish – Good: Try nightcrawlers, dead cutbaits or stink baits on the bottom.
- Smallmouth Bass – Good: Cast and retrieve live baits tipped on a jig or crankbaits.
- Walleye – Good: Cast and retrieve live baits tipped on a jig or crankbaits.
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. Anglers are catching 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.
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Anglers are catching crappie from the shoreline.
- Black Crappie – Fair: Cast and retrieve artificial jigs of various colors.
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 warmer weather.
- Rainbow Trout – Good: Cast and retrieve flashy spinner blades or smaller bead heads.
Maquoketa River (above Monticello) (Delaware)
- Ramp Condition: Not applicable
The Maquoketa River continues to drop in Delaware County and should provide good angling opportunities this weekend.
- Channel Catfish – Fair: Try fishing the bottom of the river with cutbaits or stink bait.
- Smallmouth Bass – Good: Use a jig and plastic tipped with half a nightcrawler or cast and retrieve crankbaits.
- Walleye – Good: Cast crankbaits or a jig tipped with half of a nightcrawler.
Maquoketa River (below Monticello) (Jackson)
- Ramp Condition: Useable
The Maquoketa River continues to drop in Jones and Jackson counties. Few or no showers in the ten day forecast, providing good angling opportunities. Anglers are catching channel catfish and walleye. 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.
- Walleye – Fair: Cast crankbaits or a jig tipped with half of a nightcrawler.
- 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.
Wapsipinicon River (Tripoli to Troy Mills) (Buchanan)
- Ramp Condition: Not applicable
The Wapsipinicon River continues to fall to 5.1 feet. Anglers are catching a few smallmouth bass, walleye and channel catfish. The extended ten day forecast calls for beautiful weather, providing good angling opportunities.
- Channel Catfish – Good: Try fishing nightcrawlers or stink baits on the bottom above tree snags on the river.
- Smallmouth Bass – Good: Use a jig and plastic tipped with half a nightcrawler or cast and retrieve crankbaits.
- Walleye – Good: Cast crankbaits or a jig tipped with half of a nightcrawler.
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Northwest
Black Hawk Management District
Water temperatures are in the mid 70s in the district. Last updated on 08/27/2026
- Water Temperature (°F): 75.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
- Bluegill – Fair: Pick up bluegill from shore with a piece of crawler on a jig near patches of vegetation, the stone piers in Town Bay, and on the rock piles from boat. Most fish are 7-inches.
- Channel Catfish – Fair: There is a good population of 17- to 20-inch catfish. Use cut bait or crawlers fished on or near the bottom from shore and around the rock piles in deeper habitat.
- Walleye – Slow: Look for walleye along the dredge cuts and near the rock piles in the east basin. Try crankbaits, crawler harness rigs, or a minnow and jig.
Crawford Creek Impoundment (Ida)
- Ramp Condition: Useable
- Bluegill – Fair: Look for bluegills near submerged brush piles. Bigger fish are 7- to 8-inches long.
Storm Lake (incl Little Storm Lake) (Buena Vista)
- Water Temperature (°F): 75.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
- Channel Catfish – Fair: Look for catfish around rocky shorelines and near the dredge cuts. Use cut bait, stink bait, or a crawler fished on the bottom.
- Walleye – 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.
- 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 – Fair
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Clear Lake Management District
- Contact Person: Scott Grummer – 641-357-3517
Contact Clear Lake Fish and Wildlife office for information on lakes and rivers in north central Iowa. Last updated on 08/27/2026
- Ramp Condition: Useable
- Black Crappie – Good
- Bluegill – Slow
- Water Temperature (°F): 73.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
- Walleye – Slow: Anglers are catching fish near vegetation with jigs and live bait.
- Yellow Bass – Good: Anglers are catching mostly 7- to 8-inch fish.
- Ramp Condition: Useable
- Black Crappie – Good: Drift fish or troll small jigs or minnows.
- Bluegill – Good: Average size is 7- to 8-inches. Use small jigs tipped with nightcrawlers.
- Ramp Condition: Useable
- Black Crappie – Fair: Drift or troll live bait or small crappie jigs.
- Bluegill – Good: Try small jigs or nightcrawler pieces near woody structure.
- Largemouth Bass – Good
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Submerged aquatic vegetation is thick in areas.
- Bluegill – Fair
- Largemouth Bass – Fair: Use topwater and weedless baits.
- Ramp Condition: Useable
- Bluegill – Slow
- Largemouth Bass – Good: Use topwater and weedless baits.
- Ramp Condition: Not applicable
River level is 4.62 feet.
- Northern Pike – Fair
- Smallmouth Bass – Fair
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Spirit Lake Management District
Lake temperatures are trending down into the low 70s. Water levels are at crest. Some lakes are experiencing late summer algae blooms. The fishing bite is trending up. Last updated on 08/27/2026
- Water Temperature (°F): 75.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
The bass and panfish bite has been good, but has begun to slow a bit.
- Black Crappie – Fair
- Yellow Bass – Fair
- Water Temperature (°F): 73.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
- Water Temperature (°F): 73.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Vegetation has started to fall back, making navigation easier.
- Yellow Perch – Fair
Silver Lake (Dickinson) (Dickinson)
- Water Temperature (°F): 75.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
The lake still has a slight algae bloom.
- Water Temperature (°F): 75.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
A large blue-green algae bloom has been observed on the lake. The down wind side typically has been worse. Lake level is at crest.
- Largemouth Bass – Good: Anglers are catching quality-sized bass.
- Walleye – Good: Anglers are targeting fish effectively using livescope, as well as trolling.
- Water Temperature (°F): 75.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
The lake is experiencing a slight algae bloom; water clarity remains good.
- Bluegill – Good: Bluegill are out a bit deeper. Many anglers are catching fish upwards of 9-inches.
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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): 78.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Water temperature is in the upper 70s to low 80s. Water has more of a green color this year, but the duck weed is less dense.
- Black Crappie – Fair: Try vertical jigging with a minnow trailer or slip bobber and minnow in about 7 – 8 feet of water along and in the trees along the south side of the lake across from the campground fish jetty and the kayak launch area.
Cedar River (Moscow to Columbus Junction) (Muscatine)
- Water Temperature (°F): 82.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
The Cedar River was dropping fairly quickly last week; down over two feet.
- Channel Catfish – Fair: Use cut bait or stink bait around the brush piles.
Iowa River (Columbus Junction to Mississippi R) (Louisa)
- Ramp Condition: Useable
The level of the Iowa River continues to drop fairly quickly; lost another couple of feet last week.
- Channel Catfish – Slow: Catfish need time to adjust to the falling water levels. Look for them to be hanging out around the log jams. Use cut bait or stink baits.
- Water Temperature (°F): 79.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Water temperature is holding in the upper 70s. Water clarity is around 30 inches.
- Bluegill – Fair: Bluegills continue to stay out in deeper water. Anglers are catching mostly smaller, more aggressive fish. The bigger bluegill continue to bide their time.
- Largemouth Bass – Slow: The continually changing weather is keeping the bass out deep and locked down.
- Water Temperature (°F): 77.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
The lake has returned to about normal levels. The heavy rains flushed a lot of the “green” out of the lake. Water clarity is about 2 feet. Water temperature was 77 degrees Thursday (8/27) morning.
- Bluegill – Fair: Cooler weather might tempt them to come in shallower, but the weekend forecast of a return to the 90s they will liekly stay out in deeper water.
- Largemouth Bass – Fair: After sundown is the best bite.
- Water Temperature (°F): 80.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
The water temperature hit 80 degrees on most afternoons.
- Black Crappie – Slow: No change in their position; crappies are holding tight to their fish habitat in 8 to 10 feet of water.
- Bluegill – Slow: Bluegills are out in the fish habitat in 8 to 10 feet of water. They will most likely stay there with the forecast of temperatures in the 90s this weekend.
- Water Temperature (°F): 77.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Water temperature is holding at around 77 degrees, a little cooler in the mornings. Water clarity is about 3 feet, despite the green color (phytoplankton).
- Bluegill – Fair: Bluegills are staying out in the trees in 10 to 14 feet of water. A return to air temperatures in the 90s the next few days will probably keep the bluegills right where they are.
- Largemouth Bass – Fair: Mostly a late (just about sunset) bite. Try fishing the outer edges of the weed beds that are closest to deeper water.
Skunk River (Rose Hill to Coppock) (Washington)
- Water Temperature (°F): 80.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
The Skunk River dropped another 3 feet last week; it’s still at very boatable levels.
- Channel Catfish – Status Unsure: It’s difficult to pattern what catfish are doing with the water levels dropping as fast as they are.
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Macbride Management District
- Ramp Condition: Useable
- Walleye – Fair: Best bite is after sunset.
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Rathbun Management District
- Contact Person: Rathbun Fish Hatchery personnel – 641-647-2406
- 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: Try small jigs along the fishing jetties and around the submerged cedar tree piles.
- Largemouth Bass – Fair: Target rip-rapped shorelines with plastics or crankbaits.
- Ramp Condition: Useable
- Black Crappie – Slow: Target suspended crappies with small crankbaits or small jigs.
- Bluegill – Slow: Try small jigs around openings in the vegetation or along the rip-rapped shorelines.
- Largemouth Bass – Fair: Try crankbaits around the rock jetties and other rip-rapped shorelines.
- 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.
- Largemouth Bass – Fair: Use spinnerbaits and plastics around the cedar tree piles or along the rip-rapped shorelines.
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Lake level is 905.89 msl; recreation pool is 904 msl. Lake Rathbun contains zebra mussels; clean, drain and dry your boat before you go to another water body.
- Black Crappie – Slow: Target suspended crappie with small crankbaits.
- Walleye – Slow: Troll crankbaits over rock ridges or underwater islands. Use crankbaits that mimic gizzard shad.
- Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) – Slow: Try vertically jigging over rock piles or trolling crankbaits.
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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 (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
- Bluegill – Good: Use 1/32 or 1/16 ounce jig heads tipped with a nightcrawler fished in 4 to 8 feet of water over gravel and rock habitat locations.
- 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
- Channel Catfish – Good: Drift cut baits in the upper portion of the reservoir near and just above the mile long bridge.
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Cold Springs Management District
- Water Temperature (°F): 80.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
- Water Temperature (°F): 80.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
- Black Crappie – Status Unsure: 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
- Black Crappie – Good: 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 – Fair: 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 plastics in the shallow tree piles.
- Water Temperature (°F): 80.0
- 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 – Slow: Look for bluegills in open water areas slow trolling or drifting.
- Largemouth Bass – Fair
- Water Temperature (°F): 80.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Water clarity is good.
- Black Crappie – Good: Find underwater tree piles to catch 9-inch black crappie.
- Largemouth Bass – Fair
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Mt. Ayr Management District
Water temperature is in the upper 70s to low 80s in most Mount Ayr district lakes. Last updated on 08/26/2026
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Docks are in at all boat ramps.
- Bluegill – Fair: Catch Bluegill of all sizes with a piece of nightcrawler under a bobber near cedar tree brush piles.
- Channel Catfish – Fair: 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 – Fair: 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 creek channels in the flooded timber.
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Lake level is back to normal pool as of June 15.
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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