Iowa DNR Fishing Report – June 23rd

Iowa DNR Fishing Report – July 14th

July 7, 2016 Comments (0) Fishing Report

Iowa DNR Fishing Report – July 7th, 2016

NORTHWEST

Black Hawk Lake
Bluegill – Good: Bluegill fishing is good in 1-4 feet of water. Use a small jig tipped with live bait, small piece of crawler or wax worms fished below a bobber. Walleye – Fair: Anglers are picking up some walleye in deeper water near rock piles and dredge cuts. Boat anglers have recently had success fishing the rock piles off of Cottonwood Point. Try also the shore off Ice House Point, the dredge cut out from Denison Beach and the rock piles near Gunshot Hill and in the east basin of the lake. Boat anglers are having the best luck. Also try throwing crankbaits and twisters along the weed lines. Largemouth Bass – Good: Top water, weedless baits and Texas rigs work well. Try fishing plastic worms near cover and drop offs. Town Bay and the inlet bridge are popular spots for bass right now. There is a 15-inch minimum length limit for largemouth bass on Black Hawk Lake. Channel Catfish – Fair: Anglers have picked up catfish on stink bait, leeches and worms all fished off the bottom. Anglers are having success in Town Bay. Fish are 17-20 inches.

Black Hawk Pits
Bluegill – Fair: Some bluegill are being picked in near shore areas with a jig fished under a bobber. If no luck near shore, move deeper; bluegills this time of year may start to move away from spawning areas to seek deeper habitats.

Blue Lake
We have received no information regarding fishing on this water body this week. Largemouth Bass – No Report: With the water levels up, there is a lot of shoreline vegetation submerged. Concentrate on these areas with weedless lures. Bluegill – No Report: Fish a worm under a bobber near vegetation. Some sorting required because there are a lot of smaller fish.

Brushy Creek Lake
Bluegill – Fair: Anglers are picking up some bluegill in 15-20 feet of water. Black Crappie – Fair: Fish in 10-20 feet of water with a small piece of crawler or minnow on a jig. Walleye – Fair: Walleyes are being picked up in 15-20 feet of water.

Great Western Park Lake
A recent electrofishing survey showed good numbers of catchable sized largemouth bass. Bluegill up to 8 inches and channel catfish up to 30 inches in length are also present. Fish the weed lines to target bass and bluegill and off the bottom for catfish. Spawning catfish can also be targeted near shore.

North Twin Lake
Black Crappie – Fair: Anglers have picked up crappie near shore using minnows and crawlers fished on a jig under a bobber. Walleye – Fair: Reports of several nice sized walleye being picked up.

Storm Lake (including Little Storm Lake)
The dredge is in operation in the northeast portion of the lake. Boaters should use extreme caution in this area and must maintain a 100 foot distance from the dredge, booster pump and all dredge pipes at all times. Storm Lake has a daily limit of 3 walleye and all 17 to 22-inch walleye must be released; no more than one walleye longer than 22 inches may be taken per day. Walleye – Fair: Try crankbaits fished in the dredge cuts. A few have been picked up from shore with leeches and crankbaits. Channel Catfish – Fair: Anglers are catching catfish from shore with stink bait or cut bait fished off the bottom.

Swan Lake
Bluegill – Fair: Anglers are picking up bluegill near shore along weed lines. Fish a small jig under a bobber with a small piece of crawler, wax worm or minnow. A recent electrofishing survey showed bluegill up to 9 inches. Black Crappie – Fair: Some crappies are being picked up with minnows or crappie candy baits fished under a bobber in 2-5 feet of water.

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

Beeds Lake

Bluegill – Good: Bluegills and a few yellows are being caught drift fishing/trolling small jigs.

Bluebill Lake
Channel Catfish – Good: Channel catfish are biting well on the jetty.

Clear Lake
Channel Catfish – Good: Catfish are still spawning near rocks along the shoreline and deeper rock reefs. The island, Billy’s reef, State Reef and the Ventura Jetties are good places to look. Use cut bait on the bottom with a slip sinker or on a float in the shallows. Jig fish with a piece of cut bait, minnows or leeches if trying near the rocks. Yellow Bass – Fair: Some anglers are catching better numbers of yellows by drifting the main basin or fishing around rock reefs. Walleye – Good: Anglers are picking up a few better sized fish in 10-12 feet of water near the island with live bait. Some legal size fish are using the longleaf pondweed just outside of the rush beds in Farmer’s beach and Baptist camp. Try fishing small pockets with a bobber and minnows or leeches. Wader fishing may be a better option in this area. Fish have also been caught close to docks (early morning) in two to three feet of water. A few keepers have been caught around the reefs with lots of sublegal sized fish. Muskellunge – Fair. Yellow Perch – Fair: Target perch inside the rushes on the north shore or near Farmer’s beach.

Lake Catherine
Channel Catfish – Good: Fish near the rocks along the jetties or shoreline with worms, minnows or cut bait.

Lake Smith
Channel Catfish – Good: Catfish have been on the rocks on the south end. Use bobbers and a piece of cut bait or worms. Largemouth Bass – Good: Largemouth fishing has been good in the weeds and on deeper water structure. Use artificial bait that works well in weeds; fish pockets in the weeds or edges. Bluegill – Fair: Anglers have had fair success with bluegills and crappies out from shore.

For lake updates and fishing information in the north central area, contact the Clear Lake Fish and Wildlife office at 641-357-3517.

Big Spirit Lake
Largemouth Bass – Good: Good numbers of fish are being caught; Try Hales Slough, Anglers Bay and Buffalo Run area. Yellow Perch – Good: Report of good numbers of fish caught; sorting will result in nice numbers in the creel.

East Okoboji Lake
Black Crappie – Good: Cast small jig lures tipped with bait on the wooden docks. Yellow Perch – Good: Fish the south end for the best action.

Lost Island Lake
Yellow Bass – Good: Boat anglers are catching good numbers; fish vertically with a jig tipped with wigglers. Dock anglers casting jigs will produce numbers;, fish evening hours for the best action.

Silver Lake (Dickinson)
Walleye – Good: The walleye bite has slowed; boat anglers are harvesting nice fish along with large yellow perch. Best action is early morning and evening.

West Okoboji Lake
Black Crappie – Good: Good bluegill and crappie action reported fishing the deeper wooden docks; best action is during the evening hours.

For more information on the above lakes, call the Spirit Lake Fisheries Station at 712-336-1840.

NORTHEAST
Cedar River (above Nashua)
Cedar River is fishable and looking good. Anglers using live bait seem to have better luck catching a variety of fish this week. Walleye – Good. Channel Catfish – Fair: Anglers fishing in current breaks and eddies are finding catfish. Use cut bait on a hook. Northern Pike – Fair: Minnows are turning pike heads this week. Rock Bass – Fair: Catches of rock bass have been spotty.

Decorah District Streams

Take care when walking through wild parsnip while getting to your favorite stream. Don’t let it touch your skin; it reacts with the sun and causes horrible blisters. Trout streams are in good condition but flows are up. Brown Trout – Good: A nice variety of insects have been hatching in the evenings. Use a #18 blue wing olive or #14 or #16 caddis fly imitation. Strong midge hatches have also been occurring. Brook Trout – Good: For stained water, use a streamer or minnow imitation. Rainbow Trout – Good: A few of our streams are not stocked in July and August as these streams tend to get too warm for cold water fish. Refer to our calendar and map to find out which ones. Spin fishers should try spinners or worms.

Lake Hendricks
The lake has a green algae bloom; anglers are still catching fish. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Anglers fishing from a boat or canoe are having luck using topwater plastics over the vegetation and reeling to deeper water. Bluegill – Fair: Fishing from shore is difficult due to aquatic beds. Anglers are finding fish in deeper water using a hook tipped with small piece of worm. Channel Catfish – Fair: Use cut bait, worms and stinkbait fished off the bottom.

Lake Meyer
Expect spotty catches of fish depending on day and time.  Bluegill – Fair: Fish over the deeper brush piles and structure. Use a worm under a bobber. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Try a jig tipped with a variety of soft plastics. Start along the weed edges and fish deeper. Channel Catfish – Fair: Nice size catfish are taking a big worm fished off the bottom under a bobber. Evenings are best.

Upper Iowa River (above Decorah)
Water temperatures are in the 70’s. Try fishing the deeper holes and around current breaks. The key is to get to the bottom. A variety of sucker species are showing up in the creel this week. Worms work best. White Sucker – Fair. Smallmouth Bass – Fair.

Upper Iowa River (below Decorah)
Paddlers are having the best luck finding fish this week in the turbid water. Use worms. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Spinner baits are turning smallie heads. Walleye – Slow.

Volga Lake
Volga Lake has a green algae bloom. Anglers drifting over rock or brush piles will find fish. Largemouth Bass – Fair. Black Crappie – Fair. Bluegill – Fair.

With the exception of stormy weather on Thursday, this weekend looks to be fabulous with daytime temperatures in the 70’s and upper 50’s at night. Clarity on most streams has declined with recent rains and water levels have become somewhat flashy; most are fishable. For more information, please call the Decorah Fish Hatchery at 563-382-8324.

Casey Lake (aka Hickory Hills Lake)
Anglers are doing excellent on channel catfish and good on bluegill and largemouth bass in Casey Lake. Anglers are catching bluegill from the shorelines and off of jetties. Target channel catfish off of the middle jetty and west end of the lake. Bluegill – Good: Slowly drift and retrieve small 1/32 or 1/16 oz. jigs near submerged structure two to three feet below the surface. Largemouth Bass – Good: Cast topwater baits early morning or late evening. Try also weedless baits such as frogs and rubber worms. Channel Catfish – Excellent: Use stink baits and cut baits fished on the bottom off of the middle jetty and west end of lake.

Cedar River (Nashua to La Porte City)
The Cedar River is setting up for some good angling opportunities as the beautiful weekend forecast approaches. Fishing in Bremer County has been more productive than in Black Hawk County. Walleye – Good: Walleyes are biting well on a jig tipped with a crawler combination or crankbaits. Target break lines, rocky shorelines, eddies or tailwater riffles for aggressive walleye. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Try a jig and crawler combination, crankbaits or spinner baits near rocky shorelines. Channel Catfish – Fair: Stink baits or chicken livers has been fair; concentrate above logjams or try riffle areas. Northern Pike – Fair: Some northern pike have been caught using the same techniques as walleye or smallmouth bass.

George Wyth Lake
Anglers have been catching crappie on George Wyth Lake in and around weed beds and structure. Black Crappie – Fair: Try drifting a crappie minnow under a slip bobber in and around the edges of weed beds.

Maquoketa River (above Monticello)
The Maquoketa River is in excellent angling condition for the upcoming weekend. Walleye – Fair: A jig tipped with a crawler is a deadly combination this time of year. Look for current breaks and woody structure. Smallmouth Bass – Fair: Try a jig and crawler, crankbaits or spinner baits fished near rocky habitat. Channel Catfish – Fair: Fish chicken livers or stink baits near the upstream end of logjams.

Martens Lake
Anglers are doing well on largemouth bass in Martens Lake, especially early morning and late evening. Largemouth Bass – Good: Use weedless combinations of artificial lures and baits as the vegetation is very dense.

Plainfield Lake
Anglers are doing well on largemouth bass in Plainfield Lake, especially during early morning and late evening. Largemouth Bass – Good: Use weedless combinations of artificial lures and baits as the vegetation is very dense.

Shell Rock River (Greene to Shell Rock)
The Shell Rock River is setting up for some good angling opportunities as the beautiful weekend forecast approaches.

Wapsipinicon River (Tripoli to Troy Mills)

The Wapsipinicon River is currently at 5.29 feet and falling. Conditions and clarity for the upcoming weekend should vastly improve. Walleye – Fair: Walleye are biting well on a jig tipped with a crawler combination or crankbaits. Target break lines, rocky shorelines, eddies or tailwater riffles for aggressive walleye. Smallmouth Bass – Fair: Try a jig and crawler combination, crankbaits or spinner baits near rocky shorelines. Channel Catfish – Fair: Stink baits or chicken livers has been fair; concentrate above logjams or try riffle areas. Northern Pike – Fair: Some northern pike have been caught while using the same techniques as walleye or smallmouth bass.

Interior rivers are slightly on the rise or maintaining levels with the recent rainfall. Walleye and smallmouth bass are back on the bite with some occasional channel catfish and northern pike being caught. Trout streams are in excellent condition, for further information contact the N.E. District Office at 563-927-3276.

MISSISSIPPI RIVER

Mississippi River Pool 9
Water level is 9.1 feet at Lansing and is expected to drop slowly to 8.5 feet over the next week. Water temperature is in the upper 70’s. Freshwater Drum – Excellent: Drum are feeding well on worms bounced on the bottom. Reports of larger drum being caught on minnows. Largemouth Bass – Good: Largemouths are beginning to disperse from spawning areas. Look for largemouth to pull out to side channel and main channel structure. Channel Catfish – Excellent: Channel catfish spawning has mostly ended; use stink bait. Look for catfish in shallow stump beds or snags in side channels. Bluegill – Good: Bluegills are using a wide variety of habitat, but as water levels drop they are beginning to use side channel and main channel habitat more. Keep moving to find active fish. Walleye – Good: Walleye bite is good on the wing dams and deep closing dams trolling a crankbait or a crawler rig above the wing dams.

Mississippi River Pool 10
Water level has fallen to 16.2 feet at Lynxville and is expected to fall over a foot to 15 feet the next week. Water temperature is in the upper 70’s. Freshwater Drum – Excellent: Drum are feeding well on worms bounced on the bottom. Reports of larger drum being caught on minnows. Largemouth Bass – Good: Largemouths are beginning to disperse from spawning areas. Look for largemouth to pull out to side channel and main channel structure. Channel Catfish – Excellent: Channel catfish spawning has mostly ended; use stink bait. Look for catfish in shallow stump beds or snags in side channels. Bluegill – Good: Bluegills are using a wide variety of habitat right now, but as water levels drop they are beginning to use side channel and main channel habitat more. Keep moving to find active fish. Walleye – Good: Walleye bite is good on the wing dams and deep closing dams trolling a crankbait or a crawler rig above the wing dams.

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