NORTHWEST
Brushy Creek Lake
Bluegill – Fair: Fish areas 10-20 feet deep with drop-offs and submerged structure. Black Crappie – Slow: Fish in 12-20 feet of water and near structure located in 35 feet of water. Yellow Perch – Fair: Fish near submerged structure using a minnow and spoon.
Bacon Creek Lake
Approximately 1,500 rainbow trout were stocked into Bacon Creek Lake on November 3rd.
Storm Lake (including Little Storm Lake)
Walleye regulations for Storm Lake are three fish per day, all fish between 17 and 22 inches must be released and only one over 22 inches may be kept. Walleye – Fair: Some anglers have picked up walleye in the east part of the lake from boat and from shore. White Bass – Fair: Some white bass are being picked up from shore with crawlers and while fishing for walleye. Anglers have had success fishing near the inlet.
Swan Lake
A few catches of bluegill and crappie have been reported. Fishing activity has been slow.
Black Hawk Lake
Lake level is 11 inches above crest and water temperature is 37 degrees F. Water is slightly turbid due to high flows last week. Little fishing activity due to colder water and air temperatures. Bluegill – Fair: A few have been picked up in Town Bay and around Ice House Point. Walleye – No Report. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Anglers are catching largemouth bass using spinners, twister tails, crawlers, or minnows and jigs. There is a 15 inch minimum length limit for largemouth bass. Yellow Perch – Slow: The yellow perch bite has been slow.
Moorland Pond
Approximately 1,500 rainbow trout were stocked into Moorland Pond on November 4th.
Little Sioux River (Linn Grove to Correctionville)
Discharge around Linn Grove is 2930 cfs (97th percentile) and around Correctionville is 4220 cfs (98th percentile).
North Raccoon River (above State Highway 175 bridge near Auburn)
Discharge around Sac City is 1440 cfs (98th percentile).
Des Moines River (Humboldt to Stratford)
Discharge in the Fort Dodge area is 5680 cfs (98th percentile) and 6920 cfs (98th percentile) in the Stratford area.
For more information on the Black Hawk District, call 712-657-2638.
Clear Lake
The lake is still ice free; other area lakes are starting to ice over. No fisherman activity this week to report. Yellow Bass – No Report. Walleye – No Report.
Blue Pit
There will be an Urban Trout Stocking at Blue Pit, Mason City on Wednesday, November 25 at approximately 11:00 a.m. Blue Pit is located at S Pierce Avenue in Mason City. A combination of 1,000 to 2,000 rainbow and/or brook trout will be stocked. Anglers are reminded to have a 2015 fishing license (age 16 and older) and trout stamp.
For lake updates and fishing information in the north central area, contact the Clear Lake Fish and Wildlife office at 641-357-3517.
Lake Pahoja
Bluegill – Fair: Try ice fishing tackle tipped with maggots to find active fish.
Big Spirit Lake
Yellow Perch – Fair: Anglers are picking up a few perch in 18-20 feet of water on the south end of the lake. Silver and blue has been the hot color. Small minnows have been producing some larger fish. Walleye – Fair: Wader fishing in the evenings with live bait has been producing a few walleyes.
East Okoboji Lake
Walleye – Fair: Evening and after dark by the bridges has been producing a few walleyes. Try slower retrieves with the dropping water temperatures.
Minnewashta Lake
Yellow Bass – Fair: Anglers are finding a few yellow bass at the Sawmill bridge. Use smaller presentations with the cooling water as the fish will become less aggressive.
Silver Lake (Dickinson)
Walleye – Slow: Anglers have been catching a few small walleyes fishing from shore.
West Okoboji Lake
Bluegill – Fair: Anglers are catching average sized bluegills on the northwest corner of Smiths bay along the weed lines. Yellow Bass – Fair: Some nice yellow bass have been caught in Smiths bay on top of the weeds.
NORTHEAST
Volga Lake
Skim ice is forming but melts during the day. Get your ice fishing gear ready. Crappie – No Report: Few anglers have been out this week.
Lake Hendricks
Skim ice is beginning to form but quickly melts with daytime temperatures. Bluegill – No Report: Not many anglers have been out. Fish have moved to deeper water.
Lake Meyer
As of 11/24, water levels continue to slowly rise but habitat is still out of the water. The boat ramp remains unusable. Skim ice forms at night but quickly melts during the day. Bluegill – No Report: Very few anglers have been out.
Upper Iowa River (above Decorah)
Water clarity is excellent so try fishing at dawn or toward dusk when the sun is not directly on the water. Fly fishers should try fishing during the warmest part of day and use streamers such as white wholly buggers. Casting downstream using the current to pull the line out toward current breaks will produce fish. Walleye – Slow: Try fishing at or near dusk. Successful anglers are using a jig tipped with a twister tail bounced on the bottom or crankbaits fished with a slow return in deeper pools.
Upper Iowa River (below Decorah)
Very few anglers have braved the snow and colder temperatures this week. Walleye – No Report.
Cedar River (above Nashua)
Water clarity is excellent. Skim ice is forming in the backwaters but melts during the day. Anglers are finding fish below the dams in off channel areas and around current breaks. Walleye – Slow: Use a jig tipped with a minnow or long piece of night crawler with a slow retrieve.
Decorah District Streams
Blue wing olive hatches are more prevalent in late afternoon to early evening now. Look for sporadic midge hatches. For these hatches, try using #18 or 20 emergers or nymphs with a #22 or #24 drop hook gnarly midge. Anglers using night crawlers, crankbaits and spinner baits will catch fish. Brook Trout – Good: Brook trout are fall spawners so watch for shallow cleared gravel depressions or nests called redds and walk around these areas. Spawning usually takes place in October and November with fry emerging from the streambed in March and April. Brown Trout – Good: Brown trout are building nests or redds. Anglers can find fish guarding these areas. Please walk around these small cleared depressions in the stream bottom. Rainbow Trout – Good: Rainbow trout spawn in the spring, usually from March to May in riffles and gravel runs.
A reminder to anglers that it is hunting season. Be aware and be respectful. You may be sharing your favorite hole with a hunter. Decorah Fish Hatchery’s last urban stocking for 2015 will occur this Wednesday at Blue Pit in Mason City. For more information, please call the Decorah Fish Hatchery at 563-382-8324.
Cedar River (Nashua to La Porte City)
Reports have been fair for walleye on the Cedar River in Black Hawk and Bremer Counties. Concentrate efforts near the deep overwintering holes for walleye this time of year. Walleye – Fair: Use a lead head jig and twister tail tipped with a minnow.
Shell Rock River (Greene to Shell Rock)
Reports on the Shell Rock River have been fair for walleye this past week. Walleye – Fair: Use a lead head jig and twister tail tipped with a minnow.
Wapsi River (Tripoli to Troy Mills)
We have received no information regarding fishing on this water body this week. Walleye – No Report.
Maquoketa River (above Monticello)
We have received no information regarding fishing on this water body this week. Walleye – No Report.
Walleye fishing had been good over the past few weeks but with recent wind and snow angling pressure has subsided. Concentrate efforts for walleye in the deeper overwintering holes. Anxious ice anglers await but the next two week forecast looks unfavorable for ice. Trout streams remain in excellent condition, for further information contact the N.E. District Office at 563-927-3276.
MISSISSIPPI RIVER
Mississippi River Pool 16
Tailwater stage is 8.95 feet at Lock and Dam 15 in the Quad Cities. There has not been much tailwater fishing with the recent rising river levels. Crappie – Good: Look for crappies in the backwaters and Sunset Marina. Try fishing around brush piles with minnows under a bobber or jigs and plastics. Look for crappies in the backwaters like the Andalusia Islands around brush piles. Sauger – No Report: Some saugers were being caught in Sylvan slough before the rise in river levels. Try vertical jigging with minnows or pulling three-way rigs.
Mississippi River Pool 17
Tailwater stage is 7.47 feet at Lock and Dam 16 at Muscatine. Crappie – Good: Look for crappies in the backwaters around brush piles. Try fishing with minnows under a bobber or jigs and plastics. Places to try are Eagle Fill, Big Timber, or Cleveland Slough. Sauger – No Report: Fishing has been slow below the dam for saugers.
Mississippi River Pool 18
Tailwater stage is 9.20 feet at Lock and Dam 17 at New Boston. The gates at the dam are being reported as out of the water due to the higher river levels. Sauger – Slow: Tailwater fishing for saugers is being reported as slow. Crappie – No Report: Look for crappies in the backwaters around brush piles. Try fishing with minnows under a bobber or jigs and plastics. Places to try are Huron Island and the Campbells Island Complexes.
Mississippi River Pool 19
Tailwater stage at Lock and Dam 18 above Burlington is 5.70 feet. Sauger – No Report: We have not received any tailwater fishing information for this pool this week. Crappie – No Report: Look for crappies in the backwaters around brush piles. Try fishing with minnows under a bobber or jigs and plastics around the Burlington Island Complex.
Mississippi River Pools 16-19: Tailwater stages have risen over the past week. Tailwater fishing for walleye and saugers will be tough with the higher river conditions. Main channel water temperature is around 39-40 degrees. If you have questions on fishing Pools 16-19, contact the Fairport Fish Hatchery at 563-263-5062.
SOUTHEAST
Lake Belva Deer
There is some thin ice around the edges in the flooded timber. Most of the lake remains open.
Lake Darling
There is currently ice above the in-lake silt dams but the main lake is mostly ice free. If it rains Thursday, as forecasted, there probably wouldn’t be any ice.
For more information about ice conditions on the above lakes, call the Lake Darling Fisheries Office at 319-694-2430.
Red Haw Lake
Fishing pressure has been low. Try small jigs fished around structure or along the rocky shorelines.
Lake Keomah
Lake Keomah State Park is undergoing a road construction project so access to the park is limited. The boat ramps are still accessible by using the entrance to the north and east of the park.
Lake Miami
Lake Miami is full. New jetties and cedar tree piles were installed during a lake renovation project. Channel catfish have been stocked.
Lake Sugema
Lake Sugema has a 12-18 inch protected slot length limit for largemouth bass. Anglers are encouraged to harvest largemouth bass less than 12 inches in length to improve overall largemouth bass growth. Largemouth Bass – Slow: Target areas with rip-rap using a jig and pig combo. Crappie – Slow: Fishing pressure has been very low. Use minnows around the standing timber. Try different depths until finding active fish.
Bob White Lake
Bob White Lake has recently undergone a complete fisheries renovation. Fingerlings were stocked this fall.
East Greater Ottumwa Central Park Pond
Trout were stocked on October 22. Use small spinners or other baits that will grab the trout’s attention.
Rathbun Reservoir
The current lake level is 909.45. The water temperature is 50 degrees. Lake Rathbun contains zebra mussels so make sure to properly drain, clean, and dry boats before transporting to another water body. Spray boats and trailers with high pressure hot water (above 104 degrees) or let them dry for at least 10 days (5 days in the sun). Walleye – Slow: Fishing pressure has been very low. Try areas with submerged points and underwater rock piles and troll or drift crankbaits or minnows. Drifting or trolling night crawlers in these same areas can also produce some fish. Crappie – Slow: Fishing pressure has been very low. Try areas known to have submerged trees and use minnows fished under a bobber.
Take your trash with you so your favorite fishing spot is clean and litter free. Contact the Rathbun Fish Hatchery at 641-647-2406 with questions regarding angling in south central Iowa.
SOUTHWEST
Red Rock Reservoir
Crappie – Fair: There is currently a good size population of 10-13 inch black crappies. Target around the marina docks using live minnows or vertical jigging with small tube jigs or ice fishing tackle.
Lake Petoka
Rainbow Trout – Good: Trout were stocked on October 16th. They are being caught on a variety of methods including small tube and twister jigs, in-line spinners, casting spoons, and live minnows under a bobber.
Ada Hayden Heritage Park Lake
Rainbow Trout – Good: Trout were stocked on November 19th. They can be caught on a variety of methods including small tube and twisters jigs, in-line spinners, casting spoons, and live minnows under a bobber.
Banner Lake (south)
Rainbow Trout – Good: Trout were stocked on October 15th. They are being caught on a variety of methods including small tube and twister jigs, in-line spinners, casting spoons, and live minnows under a bobber.
Des Moines River (Saylorville to Red Rock)
Walleye – Fair: Fall is a great time to target actively feeding walleyes in the rivers. Use slow presentations of 1/16 to 1/4 oz. jigs tipped with minnows or twister tails. Slow retrieves on diving crank baits is another good option. Target areas of water deeper than 4 feet out of or on the edge of the main current.
The open water season is winding down in central Iowa. More fishing reports will be added when the ice fishing season begins. For information on central Iowa lakes and rivers, contact Andy Otting or Ben Dodd at 515-432-2823.
Greenfield Lake
Fish surveys indicate a large crappie population in Greenfield. Look for crappie and bluegills in deep water along the creek channel and brush piles. Crappie – Slow: Crappies averaging 9 inches can be caught vertical jigging deep structure. Bluegill – Slow: Drift or cast around brush piles with black jigs tipped with a night crawler or power bait. Fish will average 8 inches.
Nodaway Lake
Expect to catch 8 inch bluegills and 9 inch crappie at Nodaway. Bluegill – Slow: Cast small jigs tipped with a crawler along the south shore to catch 8 inch fish. Crappie – Slow: Target the many tree piles in the lake to catch crappie up to 11 inches.
Lake Anita
We have received no information regarding fishing on this water body this week. Bluegill – Slow: Look for bluegills associated with the old creek channel or submerged road bed. Fish with small ice fishing jigs tipped with a crawler. Black Crappie – Slow: Drift around the roadbeds and cast around tree piles or reefs to catch crappie up to 11 inches.
Viking Lake
We have received no information regarding fishing on this water body this week. Crappie – No Report: Vertical jig or cast to the many tree piles in the lake to find crappie up to 10 inches. Largemouth Bass – No Report: A good population of bass is present. Look for fish out on the ends of points and associated with the old creek channel.
Prairie Rose Lake
The fishery at Prairie Rose is developing rapidly following the lake renovation. Bluegill growth has been very good with fish over 9 inches being caught. The crappies were stocked last fall. Largemouth bass are growing quickly with many 8 to 10 inch fish in the lake. The initial stocking of catfish are in the 14 to 16 inch range. Bluegill – Slow: Anglers are catching quality size bluegill around the underwater reefs casting small jigs tipped with a crawler. Largemouth Bass – Fair: 10 inch bass are being caught on a variety of baits. Water clarity is extremely good.
Lake Manawa
Anglers are catching a few crappies and an occasional wiper fishing jigs and minnows in the canals. Crappie – Fair: Fish jigs tipped with a minnow under a bobber in the canals on the warmer fall afternoons. Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) – Slow: A few wipers are being caught by anglers fishing jigs and minnows.
Anderson Area Pond 1
Anderson Pond 1 will provide good panfishing this fall and winter. Bluegill – Fair: Anglers are catching 8 inch bluegill with night crawlers under a slip bobber in the upper end of the pond.
Fish have moved into a fall pattern associating themselves around deeper structure and brush piles. Largemouth Bass – Cast along deeper structure with a slow retrieve to catch largemouth bass. Bluegill – Anglers have reported catching bluegills with small jigs and a crawler under a bobber with a very slow retrieve. Crappie – Crappie are in deep water and in brush piles during the fall months. Try vertical jigging around deep structure to catch fall crappies.
For more information, call the Cold Springs District Office at 712-769-2587.
Lake Icaria
Campground and cabins are closed for the season, but all boat ramps are open. Crappie – Slow: Crappies up to 10 inches have been caught using minnows fished near brush piles.
West Lake (Osceola)
The marina has re-opened to the public.
Little River Watershed Lake
Walleye – Slow: Walleye up to 20 inches have been caught using minnows along the rock fields or rock piles. Crappie – Slow: Crappie up to 10 inches have been caught using jigs or minnows fished near brush piles.
Green Valley Lake
Bluegill – Slow: Bluegill up to 8 inches have been caught using jigs fished near the deep cedar tree piles.
Three Mile Lake
Crappie – Slow: Crappies up to 10 inches have been caught using minnows fished along the creek channel.
Twelve Mile Creek Lake
Bluegill – Slow: Bluegill up to 9 inches have been caught using jigs fished near cedar tree piles. Crappie – Slow: Crappies up to 11 inches have been caught using minnows fished near cedar tree piles.
Water temperature in most Mount Ayr District lakes is approximately 42 degrees. The district includes Page, Taylor, Adams, Union, Ringgold, Decatur, Clarke and Madison counties. For more information, call 641-464-3108.
