NORTHWEST
Storm Lake (including Little Storm Lake)
Storm Lake is ice free. Look for early spring temperatures to bring on the bite. More reports will be posted as open water fishing ramps up. Right after ice out is a good time to target channel catfish from shore. Use cut bait or shad guts fished off the bottom to capitalize on the abundant channel catfish population.
Black Hawk Lake
Black Hawk Lake is ice free. Water level is 11 inches over the crest of the spillway. Some walleye and crappie have been picked up in Town Bay. More reports will be posted as open water fishing ramps up. Right after ice out is a good time to target channel catfish from shore. Use cut bait or shad guts fished off the bottom to capitalize on the abundant channel catfish population. Walleye – Fair: Some 12-18 inch walleye have been picked up in Town Bay. Black Crappie – Fair: Anglers have had luck fishing from the south stone pier in Town Bay.
Arrowhead Lake
Arrowhead Lake is ice free. More reports will be added as we receive them.
Black Hawk Pits
Black Hawk pits are ice free. More reports will be added as open water fishing picks up.
Ice fishing season has come to an end in the Black Hawk District. Early spring weather has made for good shore fishing in some areas. More reports will be added as open water angling picks up. For more information, contact the Black Hawk District Office at 712-657-2638.
Beeds Lake
Ice is almost out, probably will be out this weekend.
Lake Smith
Lake Smith has open water. No reports of fishing activity.
Clear Lake
Shorelines with cattails are getting honeycombed ice; no ice fishing activity in the last few days. Ice fishing is not advised. Walleye – No Report: Anglers will start wading the east shoreline as the ice melts. Walleye activity will pick up in the coming weeks. Use jig and minnow combinations, fished very slow. Channel Catfish – No Report: Catfish activity picks up during late winter. Fishing near the Ventura Grade on warm evenings should get some bites.
Lake Cornelia
Cornelia is almost open.
Shell Rock River (above Greene)
Northern Pike – Good: Look for backwaters and stream mouths to catch northerns. Anglers are catching a few northerns below the dams near Greene and Marble Rock. Walleye – Good: Some walleyes are being caught near Marble Rock.
Winnebago River
Northern Pike – Fair: Anglers have had continued success on northerns along backwater eddies and creek mouths at various locations. Fish with cut suckers, minnows, or a slow artificial presentation.
Most lakes in Cerro Gordo and Hancock counties and farther north have some ice remaining but most should be considered unsafe. 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
Ice conditions: 8-12 inches of ice, but ice is deteriorating rapidly. Use caution while on the ice. Yellow Perch – Fair: Anglers are picking up a few perch once they find them. Bakers Point and north of the pump house in 20 feet of water has been producing. Try small silver spoons or gold tear drops tipped with maggots or wax worms.
Center Lake
Ice conditions: 8-10 inches of ice, but ice is deteriorating rapidly. There is a large pocket of open water on the western shore. Use caution while on the ice. Fishing activity was minimal the past week.
East Okoboji Lake
Ice condition: 8-12 inches of ice, but ice is deteriorating rapidly. Use caution while on the ice. Yellow Bass – Good: Some nice yellow bass have been caught out in front of Parks Marina in the main lake basin. Tungsten jigs tipped with wax worms or maggots work well. Keep moving to find active schools of fish. Yellow Perch – Fair: Anglers have been picking up some nice perch on Peppermint Point and in front of Parks Marina. Pilkie style lures or tungsten jigs tipped with maggots or wax worms work well. Gold or black are the hot colors.
Minnewashta Lake
Ice conditions: 8-12 inches of ice. Use caution while on the ice. Areas near the bridges have opened up. Fishing activity has been minimal.
Silver Lake (Dickinson)
The eastern shoreline is all open. No reports from the previous week.
West Okoboji Lake
Ice conditions: 8-12 inches of ice, but ice is deteriorating rapidly. Use caution while on the ice. Bluegill – Fair: The southwestern shoreline in Millers bay has been producing nice bluegills in 8-10 feet of water. Look for standing vegetation. A few bluegills have been picked up in Emerson bay as well. Gold tear drops or small tungsten jigs tipped with wax worms work well.
Ingham Lake
Ice conditions: 8-10 inches of ice, but ice is deteriorating rapidly. No reports from the last week.
Five Island Lake
Ice conditions: 12-13 inches of ice, but conditions varied. Use caution while on the ice. The aeration system is in use. Yellow Bass – Good: Anglers are catching numbers of yellow bass. Keep moving until you find active fish. Tungsten jigs tipped with wax worms or maggots have been producing well.
Lost Island Lake
Ice condition: 8-12 inches of ice. Ice is deteriorating rapidly. Use caution while on the ice. Yellow Bass – Fair: The bite has slowed the past week, but anglers are still finding some nice yellows. Keep moving until you find the schools of fish. Small tungsten jigs tipped with wax worms work well. Early morning and evenings are the best bites.
Upper Gar Lake
The entire lake is ice free. No reports from the last week.
Silver Lake (Palo Alto)
Ice Conditions: 8-10 inches of ice. Ice is deteriorating rapidly. Use caution while on the ice. No reports from the past week.
Some open water near shorelines and bridges. Most of the ice is starting to honeycomb. Walleye season is closed on Big Spirit, West and East lakes.
NORTHEAST
Volga Lake
Ice fishing is not recommended at this time.
Lake Hendricks
Ice fishing is not recommended at this time.
Lake Meyer
Ice fishing is not recommended at this time.
Upper Iowa River (above Decorah)
Water levels have come up about 1/2 foot the last few days. Water clarity is off color. Walleye – Slow: Use a jig tipped with a minnow fished off the bottom. Smallmouth Bass – Slow: A crankbait has been turning on smallies fished below impoundments or in deeper holes.
Upper Iowa River (below Decorah)
Anglers have been paddling and shore fishing with success. A variety of fish have shown up in the creel this week including walleye, perch, smallmouth bass, sauger and suckers. Walleye – Slow: Use red worms and night crawlers on a jig. White Sucker – Slow: Suckers are starting their pre-spawn runs. Use a jig tipped with night crawler fished on the bottom. Smallmouth Bass – Slow: Anglers using crankbaits and hair jigs are finding smallmouth bass. Brown Trout – Slow: Trout are coming to natural patterned crankbaits.
Yellow River
Fishing the Yellow River by canoe or kayak is the only legal means to trout fish without landowner permission. The river has been fishing well. Brown Trout – Fair: Spinner baits work well. Fly fishers using streamers are also finding fish.
Turkey River (above Clermont)
Ice fishing the backwaters is not recommended. The river is open below the dams. The river is up about a foot.
Cedar River (above Nashua)
Ice fishing the backwaters is not recommended. River conditions are great. Walleye – Slow: Try using a jig tipped with a minnow or night crawler.
Decorah District Streams
Trout streams are in excellent condition. Flows are up due to snow melt. This is an excellent time of year to hook into a brown trout. Historically, March is a great time for Hendrickson hatches and with warmer temperatures look for some to come off early this year. Blue Wing Olives are starting to show up. Streamers or scuds are good for hungry fish. Brook Trout – Good: Overhead movement and shadows will scare a wily brook trout. Take care when approaching streams with exceptionally clear water. Use larger jigs or streamers that imitate minnows or small trout. Brown Trout – Fair: Sny Magill and North Cedar Fish and Wildlife areas were the first private lands purchased for the purpose of trout stream management open to the public, according to the 1975 Job Completion Report by Fisheries Management Section to the State Conservation Commission. Rainbow Trout – Good: Anglers will find larger rainbows moving upstream this time of year. Try using baits imitating minnows and small trout.
Temperatures will be in the upper 50’s to low 60’s over the weekend. Spring is on its way and much of the snow is gone. Ice conditions continue to degrade. River levels are fluctuating between 1/2 foot to a foot depending on snow melt and rain. Clarity is good on most rivers. For more information, please call the Decorah Fish Hatchery at 563-382-8324.
Cedar River (Nashua to La Porte City)
Anglers are catching walleye, smallmouth bass and northern pike on a consistent basis on the Cedar River near the Cedar Falls/Waterloo and Waverly areas. Walleye – Good: Cast and retrieve a jig tipped with a twister tail and minnow bounced off of the bottom; stay as light as possible with the weight of the jig if possible. Crankbaits have also been reported as successful. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Target smallmouth bass just as you would fish for walleye; jigs and twisters or crankbaits have been good. Northern Pike – Good: Try casting larger bucktail spinners or a live shiner or chub underneath a bobber near the deeper holes.
Shell Rock River (Greene to Shell Rock)
There have been good reports of anglers catching walleye and smallmouth bass on the Shell Rock River. Walleye – Good: Cast and retrieve a jig tipped with a twister tail and minnow bounced off of the bottom; stay as light as possible with the weight of the jig if possible. Crankbaits have also been reported as successful. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Target smallmouth bass just as you would fish for walleye; jigs and twisters or crankbaits have been good.
Wapsi River (Tripoli to Troy Mills)
Walleye and northern pike catches are being reported on the Wapsipinicon River. Concentrate efforts for northern pike in Buchanan County and further north. Walleye – Fair: Cast and retrieve a jig tipped with a twister tail and minnow bounced off of the bottom; stay as light as possible with the weight of the jig if possible. Crankbaits have also been reported as successful. Northern Pike – Good: Try casting larger bucktail spinners or a live shiner or chub underneath a bobber near the deeper holes.
Maquoketa River (above Monticello)
Some anglers have been fishing the Maquoketa River with success; a few nice walleye have been reported as being caught. Walleye – Good: Cast and retrieve a jig tipped with a twister tail and minnow bounced off of the bottom; stay as light as possible with the weight of the jig if possible. Crankbaits have also been reported as successful. Smallmouth Bass – Fair: Target smallmouth bass just as you would fish for walleye; jigs and twisters or crankbaits have been good.
Manchester District Streams
Spring Branch Creek has been good fishing this past week for both brown and rainbow trout. There is a 14 inch minimum length limit on all trout and artificial lure only regulation on this stream from the main spring downstream to Highway D5X. Brown Trout – Good: Mimic the hatch with dry flies on warmer days or try flashy artificial spinner baits or tiny tinsel jigs. Rainbow Trout – Good: Mimic the hatch with dry flies on warmer days or try flashy artificial spinner baits or tiny tinsel jigs.
Anglers are feeling as though spring is in the air, including walleye, smallmouth bass and northern pike on the interior rivers. Reports have been very good on the interior rivers for these species. Trout streams are in excellent condition and have been seeing increased angling activity as well. For further information, contact the N.E. Manchester District Office at 563-927-3276.
MISSISSIPPI RIVER
Mississippi River Pool 9
Mississippi River level at Lansing remains stable at 8 feet. With warmer temperatures predicted over the next few days, ice fishing is not recommended. Yellow Perch – Good: Perch are biting on minnows in side and main channel areas. Jigging minnows has produced some nice size perch. Northern Pike – Fair: Expect the northern pike bite to pick before the spawn. Fish the openings to backwaters and shallow shorelines.
Mississippi River Pool 10
Mississippi River level at Lynxville remains stable at 16.2 feet. Tailwater fishing at Lynxville has been picking up this week with warming temperatures. Sauger – Fair: Fewer reports of sauger over the past few days due to water level changes and weather. Fishing should improve as the weather warms and the river stabilizes. Walleye – Fair: A few nice walleyes reported, but mixed results due to water level changes. Yellow Perch – Good: Perch are biting on minnows in side and main channel areas. Jigging minnows has produced some nice size perch. Northern Pike – Fair: Expect the northern pike bite to pick up before the spawn. Fish the openings to backwaters and shallow shorelines.
Mississippi River Pool 11
Mississippi River level at Guttenberg has held around 8 feet and is predicted to remain stable over the next week. Tailwater fishing at Guttenberg has improved over the past week with many smaller walleyes and good numbers of sauger. Fishing should improve as the weather warms and the river stabilizes. Walleye – Fair: A few walleyes are being caught in the tailwaters on jig and minnow. Sauger – Fair: Fewer reports of sauger over the past few days due to water level changes and weather. Fishing should improve as the weather warms and the river stabilizes. Yellow Perch – Good: Perch are biting on minnows in side and main channel areas. Jigging minnows has produced some nice size perch. Northern Pike – Fair: Expect the northern pike bite to pick up before the spawn. Fish the openings to backwaters and shallow shorelines.
Main channel Upper Mississippi and tailwaters are ice-free with occasional ice flows as backwater and side channel ice leaves. Ice fishing is not recommended as backwater ice has deteriorated. Main channel water temperature has reached 36 degrees with upper 40’s in the backwaters.
Mississippi River Pool 12
Water level at Dubuque tailwater is 7.4 feet and 9.8 feet at the RR bridge; nearly the same as last week. It is expected to rise slightly this week. Yellow Perch – Fair: Some nice perch are being caught this spring in the tailwaters and opening to major backwater areas. Sauger – Good: Anglers are catching sauger and enjoying the spring weather. Northern Pike – Good: The River has a good population of northern pike and anglers are already targeting them in the O’Leary’s backwater and other places as the ice is receding. Walleye – Good: Lots of small walleyes caught. Last year’s year class was the largest we have ever recorded on the Mississippi River.
Mississippi River Pool 13
Water level at Bellevue is 9.8 feet which is up from last week. Expect water levels to rise slightly this week. Paddlefish season is going strong with some nice fish being reported. Be cognizant of all paddlefish rules as they are somewhat complicated, especially at Bellevue. Yellow Perch – Fair: Some nice yellow perch were caught in the tailwater this week. Not a lot reported but they are sizable fish. Sauger – Good: Reports for walleye and sauger fishing are all over the board but generally most people are catching some fish. Walleye – Good: Lots of small walleye from last year’s record year class are being caught. This bodes very well for the near future of walleye fishing in the Mississippi River.
Mississippi River Pool 14
Water level at Fulton recorded at 7.7 feet, 11.2 feet at Camanche and 6.0 feet at Le Claire. These readings are all nearly the same as last week but expected to rise slowly this upcoming week. Paddlefish snagging is going on and some fish are being caught. Please review paddlefish rules before taking to the water. Walleye – Good: Lots of small (9 to 10 inch) fish reported as we had a very strong year class last year. Some very nice walleyes were also taken on jig and minnow.
Mississippi River Pool 15
Water levels at Rock Island are around 8.3 feet, which is about the same as last week. Expect water levels to rise slightly this week. No fishing was reported to us from Pool 15. Ice fishing is over although some ice does persist in a few backwaters. Water temperatures in some backwaters on Pool 13 have reached 55 degrees during the day which is unseasonably warm. Paddlefish snagging season continues through April 15. Review paddlefish rules or call the DNR station if uncertain.
Mississippi River Pool 16
Tailwater stage at Lock and Dam 15 is 8.61 feet and starting to fall. The Marquette St. boat ramp is open. There has been some walleye and sauger fishing by the dam and in Sylvan slough but fishing has been hit or miss. Sauger – Fair: Some fish are being caught by the dam and in Sylvan Slough. Try vertical jigging with plastics and minnows or pulling three-way rigs with minnows. Walleye – Slow.
Mississippi River Pool 17
Tailwater stage at Lock and Dam 16 above Muscatine is 6.75 feet. Fishing for walleye and saugers below the dam has been fair. Sauger – Fair: A few saugers are being caught by the dam on the Iowa side. Try trolling three-way rigs with stick baits or minnows or vertical jigging with minnows.
Mississippi River Pool 18
Tailwater stage at Lock and Dam 17 at New Boston is 8.67 feet. The gates at the lock and dam are back in the water. Boats are able to launch at Toolsboro. Fishing for walleye and saugers below the dam has been slow. Sauger – Slow. Walleye – Slow.
Mississippi River Pool 19
Tailwater stage at Lock and Dam 19 above Burlington is 5.51 feet. We have not received any reports on tailwater fishing.
Mississippi River Pools 16-19: Tailwater fishing has been fair over the past few days. Tailwater stages have been falling but are forecasted to rise. Main channel water temperature is 42-44 degrees. If you have questions on fishing pools 16-19, contact the Fairport Fish Hatchery at 563-263-5062.
SOUTHEAST
Lake Geode
A few anglers have been out, mostly to get the boat out. Largemouth Bass – Slow: Work the area around the beach and shallow open areas on the North side where the sun can heat up the water with a jig or soft plastics.
Lake Belva Deer
A few anglers are getting out on the nicer days. Lake Belva has been ice free for about a week now. Water temperature is running about 41 degrees. Largemouth Bass – Slow: On the warmest days you are going to have the best chance to catch bass in the shallow sunlit bays on the North side of the lake during the middle of the day.
Lake of the Hills
The Spring trout release is tomorrow, Friday, March 11th. a couple thousand trout will be released at 10:30 a.m. Rainbow Trout – Excellent: Expect trout fishing to really pick up shortly after 10:30 a.m. on Friday, March 11th. Largemouth Bass – Slow: Anglers are starting to catch some bass on the warmer afternoons. Work the shallow waters around the stumps and submersed logs out in the sun.
Lake Darling
Lake Darling is ice free. Water temperature is between 38-39 degrees. Largemouth Bass – Slow: Anglers are picking up a few nice bass in the shallows during the warm days in the middle of the day.
Big Hollow Lake
Largemouth Bass – Slow: Work the face of the dam and around the islands on the North side with a slowly fished jig or soft plastics.
For more information on the above lakes, call the Lake Darling Fisheries Office at 319-694-2430.
Hannen Lake
Hannen Lake is ice free and fishing is reported as slow.
Iowa Lake
Iowa Lake is ice free and people have been fishing. Bluegill – Fair. Black Crappie – Slow.
Lake Macbride
Lake Macbride is ice free and the courtesy docks are now in. Walleye – Fair: A few walleye have been caught in the past week.
Pleasant Creek Lake
Pleasant Creek Lake is currently about 10′ low for the upcoming restoration project. The lake is ice free. Rock was added to the main ramp area to extend the boat ramps. These ramps are “Use at your own risk” to allow boaters to use the lake while the lake level is down. These ramps are still shallow and could be soft, especially below the water line.
Diamond Lake
Diamond Lake is ice free and the courtesy dock is in. Crappie – Fair: A few crappies are being caught around the jetties. Try a jig/waxie under a slip bobber.
Otter Creek Lake
Otter Creek Lake is ice free. There hasn’t been much fishing activity and no reports are available.
Union Grove Lake
Union Grove Lake is currently drained for the renovation project that started this winter.
Coralville Reservoir
Coralville Reservoir is ice free. The lake is down to spring pool of 679.3′. Boating above Bobbers Marina is difficult due to shallow water. Channel Catfish – Good: Catfish are hitting on shad in shallow, muddy bays. The area around/under 965 and 380 are popular shore fishing areas.
Iowa River (Coralville Lake to River Junction)
There is 3700 CFS being released from the Coralville Dam as of March 10th. Outflows should continue to slowly decrease. Walleye – Fair: A few fish are being caught below the Coralville dam on jigs.
For more information, contact the Lake Macbride Fisheries Station at 319-624-3615.
Red Haw Lake
Anglers have been catching some largemouth bass throwing plugs. Fishing activity has been slow. Look for areas with flowing water and try using cut bait for channel catfish.
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 Sugema
Look for areas with flowing water and try using cut bait for channel catfish. Use minnows on rocky shorelines for walleye. Fishing activity has been slow.
Bob White Lake
A complete fisheries renovation was completed in September. Fingerlings were stocked in the fall.
Ottumwa Park Pond East (Trout Pond)
Trout are scheduled to be stocked on Saturday, March 26 around 11:00 AM. A trout stamp is required to fish for or possess trout.
Rathbun Reservoir
The current lake level is 904.51. Look for areas where the wind has been blowing in and try cut bait or shad sides for ice-out channel catfish. Lake Rathbun contains zebra mussels so make sure to properly drain, clean, and dry equipment before transporting to another water body.
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
Des Moines River (Stratford to Saylorville Lake)
Walleye – Slow: Current river flows are high, making for tough fishing conditions, but still fishable. The continued warm weather could make for good walleye fishing conditions by mid-March. Popular areas to target first are the Fraser dam and Boone Waterworks. Use slow presentations of jigs tipped with twisters, paddle tails or live minnows.
Des Moines River (Saylorville to Red Rock)
Walleye – Slow: Current river levels are elevated, but flows below Saylorville have dropped since last week. Walleye fishing has been fairly slow. Good areas to target are below the Saylorville spillway and Scott Street dam. Use slow presentations of jigs tipped with twisters, paddle tails or live minnows. Channel Catfish – Good: Anglers fishing below Center Street dam in Des Moines have been doing well catching channel and flathead catfish slowly retrieving large plastic swim baits. Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) – Fair: Anglers fishing large plastic swim baits for catfish and walleyes below the dams in Des Moines are occasionally hooking into some good size hybrid striped bass.
The ice fishing season has ended in Central Iowa as all lakes are now partially to completely open. River fishing is beginning to pick up. More fishing reports will resume when open water fishing begins. For information on Central Iowa lakes and rivers, contact Andy Otting or Ben Dodd at 515-432-2823.
Greenfield Lake
We have received no information regarding fishing on this water body this week. Channel Catfish – No Report: Use cut bait and fish the windy side of the lake.
Meadow Lake
We have received no information regarding fishing on this water body this week. Crappie – No Report: Try the face of the dam for crappies.
Mormon Trail Lake
We have received no information regarding fishing on this water body this week. Crappie – No Report: Try fishing jigs and/or minnows off the face of the dam for 9-inch crappies.
Littlefield Lake
We have received no information regarding fishing on this water body this week. Channel Catfish – No Report: Fish the windy side of the lake with cut bait for early spring catfish.
Lake Anita
Fishing starts early at Lake Anita as crappies and bluegills move into the east arm on the warm sunny days. Crappie – Fair: Crappies are being caught on jigs in the upper end of the east arm. Anglers have to sort through 7-inch fish to get the larger 9-inch fish. Bluegill – Fair: A few bluegills are being caught in the upper end of the east arm of the lake.
Viking Lake
We have received no information regarding fishing on this water body this week. Channel Catfish – No Report: Try fishing the windy shoreline with cut bait for early spring catfish action.
Lake Manawa
On warm sunny days anglers are catching crappies in the canals on the north side of the lake. Crappie – Fair: Fish with a jig or jig and minnow combination under a bobber. The best action is on the warmer days. Channel Catfish – No Report: Lake Manawa has a good catfish population for anglers to tap into. Fish the windblown shoreline with cut bait. Cut shad works best.
The early spring weather has jump started the fishing in some areas. Good catfishing has been reported on farm ponds and crappies are being caught in a few locations. More reports will be added as they come in. For more information, call the Cold Springs District Office at 712-769-2587
Lake Icaria
The dock at the main boat ramp is installed. Crappie – Fair: Crappie up to 10 inches have been caught using minnows fished near deep cedar tree brush piles. Channel Catfish – Fair: Channel catfish of all sizes have been caught using cut bait fished along windblown shallow flats and bays.
Little River Watershed Lake
Channel Catfish – Fair: Channel catfish of all sizes have been caught using cut bait fished near windblown shallow bays and flats.
Three Mile Lake
A public meeting to discuss proposed fish renovation is scheduled for March 15 at 6:30pm in Room 900 of the Allied Health Building on the Southwest Iowa Community College campus in Creston.
All lakes in the Mount Ayr district are 10 percent ice free. For more information, please call 641-464-3108.
