NORTHWEST
Brushy Creek Lake
Very few reports of fishing activity are available at this time. Skim ice is forming but melts during the day.  Bluegill – No Report: Fish areas 10-20 feet deep with drop-offs and submerged structure. Try drifting or casting these areas with black jigs tipped with a night crawler, wax worm, or power bait. Black Crappie – No Report: Fish in 12-20 feet of water and near structure located in 35 feet of water. Try vertical jigging over deep structure.

Bacon Creek Lake
Approximately 1,500 rainbow trout were stocked into Bacon Creek Lake on November 3rd. Use anything that will get their attention, such as a small tube and twister jig, spinners, casting spoons, or live minnows under a bobber.

Storm Lake (including Little Storm Lake)
Parts of the lake are starting to ice over, but the entire lake will likely be ice free with the higher daytime temperatures predicted after this weekend. Very few angler reports are available at this time. 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.

Black Hawk Lake
Lake level is 11 inches above crest and water temperatures are in the mid 30’s. Parts of the lake are starting to ice over, but the entire lake will likely be ice free with the higher daytime temperatures predicted after this weekend. Very few reports of fishing activity are available at this time.

Moorland Pond
Approximately 1,500 rainbow trout were stocked into Bacon Creek Lake on November 4th. Use anything that will get their attention, such as a small tube and twister jig, spinners, casting spoons, or live minnows fished under a bobber.

Little Sioux River (Linn Grove to Correctionville)
As of Thursday, discharge around Linn Grove is 1890 cfs (97th percentile) and 3060 cfs (98th percentile) around Correctionville. Although late fall can be a great time to target walleyes in rivers, anglers should use caution and be selective as to where they go due to the high river levels.

North Raccoon River (above State Highway 175 bridge near Auburn)
As of Thursday, discharge around Sac City is 1310 cfs.

Des Moines River (Humboldt to Stratford)
As of Thursday, discharge in the Fort Dodge area is 5630 cfs (98th percentile) and 8270 cfs (97th percentile) in the Stratford area. Although late fall can be a great time to target walleyes in rivers, anglers should use caution and be selective as to where they go due to the high river levels.

The open water season is beginning to wind down in Western Iowa. Water temperatures in most Black Hawk District lakes are in the mid 30’s and many have skim ice in the morning that melts midday. River levels are high. The Black Hawk District includes Cherokee, Buena Vista, Pocahontas, Woodbury, Ida, Sac, Calhoun, Webster, Monona, Crawford, Carroll, and Greene Counties. For more information, call 712-657-2638.

Clear Lake
The west part of the lake has had some ice forming but with the warm weather it will not gain much thickness. No fisherman activity this week.

Blue Pit
1,500 Rainbow trout were stocked at Blue Pit in Mason City on November 25. Blue Pit is located at S Pierce Avenue in Mason City. Use small spinners. 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.

Big Spirit Lake
The north grade has a thin layer of ice, but the main lake is still open. Ice conditions are unsafe. Walleye – Fair: Wader fishing on the old foot bridge has been producing a few walleyes.

East Okoboji Lake
Ninety percent of the lake is ice covered with a pocket of open water on the main lake and on the north end. Ice travel is not recommended due to unsafe ice conditions. With limited fishable water, fishing activity has been low.

Silver Lake (Dickinson)
The lake is covered with a thin layer of ice. Fishing activity has been low due to unsafe ice conditions.

West Okoboji Lake
West Lake is mostly open. Fishing activity has been minimal.

NORTHEAST
Volga Lake
Skim ice is forming but melts during the day. Get your ice fishing gear ready. It won’t be long now.

Lake Hendricks
Ice can be found along the edges and melts quickly. Howard County Conservation Board does not allow permanent shacks or motorized vehicles on the ice. Bluegill – No Report: Not many anglers have been out. Fish have moved to deeper water.

Lake Meyer
As of 12/2, water levels have raised enough to cover most of the habitat that was placed in the lake this summer. The boat ramp remains unusable. Skim ice forms at night but quickly melts during the day.

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 fish during the warmest part of day with streamers such as white wholly buggers. Casting downstream using the current to pull the line out toward current breaks will produce fish. Walleye – Slow: Fish at or near dusk. Use 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)
We have received no information regarding fishing on this water body this week.

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
Look for sporadic midge hatches on warmer days. For these hatches, use #18 or 20 emergers or nymphs with a #22 or #24 drop hook gnarly midge. Now is the time of year to switch gear and use more streamers or scuds as prey availability has changed. Use night crawlers, crankbaits and spinner baits. 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.

First shotgun season for deer opens Saturday. If you’re fishing, make sure you can be seen. Wear hunter orange. Ice is slow to form this year. No areas in Decorah’s Management District have ice safe enough for fishing. 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. River levels are now beginning to fall. Walleye – Fair: The most effective tactic this time of year is 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.

Maquoketa River (above Monticello)
We have received no information regarding fishing on this water body this week.

Walleye fishing reports were few this past week with the recent rain, wind and snow. Interior river levels have plateaued and are beginning to fall. The extended forecast looks fantastic for the next ten days and rivers should begin to clear. Concentrate efforts for walleye in the deeper overwintering holes. Trout streams remain in excellent condition, for further information contact the N.E. District Office at 563-927-3276.

SOUTHWEST
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 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.

Red Rock Reservoir
Crappie – Fair: There is a good size population of 10-13 inch black crappies. Fish live minnows or vertical jig with small tube jigs or ice fishing tackle around the marina docks.

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
Greenfield will be a good destination this winter for ice fishing. The lake has a good panfish population.

Mormon Trail Lake
Mormon Trail has a large year class of 8 to 9 inch crappies.

Lake Anita
Anita will provide good bluegill fishing this winter with fish up to 10 inches. The crappie population has fewer 9 to 10 inch fish but a large year class of 7 to 8 inch fish.

Viking Lake
Fish surveys indicate a good crappie population ranging from 8 to 11 inches.

Farm Creek Lake
Farm Creek has quality size panfish and will provide good ice fishing this winter.

Very few reports of fishing activity are available at this time. 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
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 tipped with a wax worm 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.

MISSISSIPPI RIVER

Mississippi River Pool 9
Mississippi River level at Lansing is has dropped to 8.5 feet and is stable this week. Water temperature is 37 degrees. Crappie – Good: Fish side channels with slight current using small jigs with minnows. Vertically jig in larger brush piles. Walleye – Excellent: Walleye fishing has been excellent as more fish move into the tailwaters of the lock and dams. Vertical jigs tipped with minnows are productive. Sauger – Excellent: Sauger continue to feed actively going into winter. Fish heavy jigs tipped with minnows in the tailwaters and along deeper side channels. Yellow Perch – Good: Many reports of nice size perch up to 18 inches. Bounce a small jig tipped with minnow in side channel areas with little to no current.

Mississippi River Pool 10
Mississippi River level at Lynxville has dropped to 17.5 and is expected to stay at 17 feet over the next week. Water temperature is 37 degrees. Crappie – Good: Fish side channels with slight current using small jigs with minnows. Vertically jig in larger brush piles. Walleye – Excellent: Walleye fishing has been excellent as more fish move into the tailwaters of the lock and dams. Vertical jigs tipped with minnows are productive. Sauger – Excellent: Sauger continue to feed actively going into winter. Fish heavy jigs tipped with minnows in the tailwaters and along deeper side channels. Yellow Perch – Good: Many reports of nice size perch up to 18 inches. Bounce a small jig tipped with minnow in side channel areas with little to no current.

Mississippi River Pool 11
Mississippi River level at Guttenberg is at 9.1 and forecast to stabilize around 9 feet over the next week. Water temperature is 37 degrees. Crappie – Good: Fish side channels with slight current using small jigs with minnows. Vertically jig in larger brush piles. Walleye – Excellent: Walleye fishing has been excellent as more fish move into the tailwaters of the lock and dams. Vertical jigs tipped with minnows are productive. Sauger – Excellent: Sauger continue to feed actively going into winter. Fish heavy jigs tipped with minnows in the tailwaters and along deeper side channels. Yellow Perch – Good: Many reports of nice size perch up to 18 inches. Bounce a small jig tipped with minnow in side channel areas with little to no current.

Upper Mississippi River levels are still high this week but expected to level off. Open water fishing is still occurring this week with no ice forming on backwaters yet.  Fish are active but may be harder to find until conditions stabilize. Water temperatures have dipped into the upper 30’s. Fish prefer a slower presentation using live bait.

Mississippi River Pool 12
Water temperature in Pool 12 is around 38 degrees in the main channel. Water is very clear and receding. Water level was reported at 8.4 feet at Lock and Dam 11 and at 10.7 feet at the railroad bridge. Walleye – Good: Some walleyes are being found in the tailwaters but some are still located on wing dams especially on the upper portions of the Pools. Crappie – Good: Crappie fishing is good in brush piles in large side channel sloughs. Concentrate your efforts in the backwaters of your favorite ice fishing location. Sauger – Good: Sauger fishing is up and down.  Some anglers report the fishing as excellent while others are not catching much. The last water rise seemed to cause a push of sauger into the tailwater.

Mississippi River Pool 13
Water temperature in Pool 13 is around 38 degrees in the main channel. Water is very clear.  Water level was reported at 9.3 feet at Bellevue which is nearly the same as last week.  Expect water to recede all week.  Crappie – Good: Crappies are being taken out of Pool 13, mostly from brush piles located in areas of slight current. Use minnows and fish slowly. Fish near your favorite winter backwaters. Walleye – Good: Walleye have moved to the tailwaters and wing dams in the upper portions of the pools. Sauger – Good: Up and down fishing for sauger but some nice catches were reported last week. Use minnows for bait.

Mississippi River Pool 14
Water temperature in Pool 14 is around 38 degrees in the main channel. Water levels are at 9.4 feet at Fulton, 12.3 feet at Camanche and 6.9 feet above the dam at LeClaire. These are up from last week and levels are expected fall again this week. Crappie – Good: Try snags in Rock Creek backwater and Cattail Sloughs for the best action. The lower sections of Beaver Island across from Clinton have also been good at times. Walleye – No Report: not much fishing for walleyes was recorded this week but some nice walleyes were caught this fall in Pool 14. Sauger – No Report: Not much action due to poor weather conditions.  Expect good fishing at times in the Pool 14 tailwater areas.

Mississippi River Pool 15
Water temperature in Pool 15 is around 38 degrees in the main channel. Water is very clear. Water level was reported at 10.5 feet at Rock Island, up a foot from last week.  It should fall again most of this week. Walleye – No Report: We have not received any reports on fishing on Pool 15 but do not overlook some fine walleye fishing that can be had here.  It is generally not fished as hard as some of the pools but each fall we hear of some very nice catches of walleyes in this reach.

We are moving into the winter patterns. In most places, crappies, sauger and walleyes hit the best in this season.  There is still some good fishing to be had for these three species.  All three species act differently as water cools.  Sauger concentrate in the tailwaters of the dam, walleye move to upper parts of the pool but may hang lower in the river alongside channels or around wing dam locations. Crappies overwinter in calm backwaters.

Mississippi River Pool 16
Tailwater stage at Lock and Dam 15 in the Quad Cities is 10.52 feet and has been falling the past couple days. Tailwater fishing has been slow with the high water conditions. 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: Fishing has been tough with the high water conditions. Try vertical jigging with minnows or pulling three-way rigs.

Mississippi River Pool 17
Tailwater stage at Lock and Dam 16 at Muscatine is 7.47 feet. Fishing has been slow with the high water conditions. Crappie – No Report: Look for crappies in the backwaters around brush piles. Try fishing with minnows under a bobber or jigs and plastics at Eagle Fill, Big Timber, or Cleveland Slough. The ramp at Big Timber is closed due to high water. Sauger – No Report: Fishing has been slow below the dam for saugers with the high water conditions.

Mississippi River Pool 18
Tailwater stage at Lock and Dam 17 at New Boston is 12.28 feet and has been falling the past couple of days. The gates at the dam are being reported as out of the water due to the higher river levels. The toolsboro ramp is underwater and the gate to the ramp is closed. Sauger – Slow: Tailwater fishing for saugers is slow with the high water conditions. Crappie – No Report: Look for crappies in the backwaters around brush piles. Try fishing with minnows under a bobber or jigs and plastics at Huron Island and the Campbell’s Island Complexes.

Mississippi River Pool 19
Tailwater stage at Lock and Dam 18 above Burlington is 8.81 feet. We have not received any fishing reports for this pool this week. Sauger – No Report: We have not received any tailwater fishing information for this pool this week. Tailwater fishing for saugers will most likely be tough with the high water conditions. ,Crappie – No Report: Look for crappies in the backwaters around brush piles. Try fishing with minnows under a bobber or jigs and plastics. Try fishing around the Burlington Island Complex.

Mississippi River Pools 16-19: River stages are high with the recent rains but have been falling the past few days. 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 Darling
Highs in the 50’s and 61 on Thanksgiving warmed the lake again to 39 degrees. The heavy rains we received on Thanksgiving brought the lake up about a foot and left it pretty muddy but it has returned to its normal level and is clearing again.

Skunk River (Coppock to Mississippi River)
A wet November and heavy rains during Thanksgiving brought the river up to a level where the low ground was flooding. It has dropped back down to about two feet from being bank full.

Iowa River (Columbus Junction to Mississippi River)
The river came back down from last week. It is about a foot from being bank full.

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

Lake Macbride
Water temperature is in the low 40’s. All docks have been removed for the season. Crappie – Fair: Jigging over brush in 10-15 feet of water has been producing some fish. Many fish are around 10 inches. Walleye – Fair: Jigging around rock in 10-15 has produced some nice walleyes.

Pleasant Creek Lake
The lake is currently about 15′ low for the upcoming restoration project.

Union Grove Lake
The lake is currently drained for the renovation project that will start this winter.

For more information, contact the Lake Macbride Fisheries Station at 319-624-3615.

Red Haw Lake
Fishing activity 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 activity 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 912.08. 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 activity has been very low. Try areas with submerged points and underwater rock piles and drift minnows. Drifting night crawlers in these same areas can also produce some fish. Crappie – Slow: Fishing activity has been very low. Fish minnows under a bobber in areas known to have submerged trees. Fishing around docks can also be productive this late in the season.

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.