NORTHWEST
Arrowhead Lake Bluegill – Good: Anglers reported catching 8 – 9.5 inch bluegills in about 5 feet of water using a black jig tipped with a wax worm fished about 3 feet below a bobber.
Black Hawk Lake Water level is about 10 inches over the crest of the spillway. 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 – Slow: A few have been picked up in deeper water near rock piles and dredge cuts. Try fishing 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. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Use top water, weedless baits or Texas rigs. Try also fishing plastic worms near cover and drop offs. 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 fished off the bottom. Anglers are having success in Town Bay. Fish are 17-20 inches.
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.
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: Most of the walleye action has been on crankbaits fished in the dredge cuts. A few have been picked up from shore with leeches and crankbaits. Channel Catfish – Fair: Anglers reported catching catfish from shore using 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, waxworm or minnow. A recent electrofishing survey showed bluegill up to 9 inches.
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.
Clear Lake
Channel Catfish – Good: Catfish have been caught on the Ventura jetties and state reef on the main lake. 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 – Good: Yellow bass fishing has been fair to good. Drift fish the main lake until you find a school, then mark the area and swing back through again or try some of the rock reefs. Walleye – Fair: 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 2 to 3 feet of water. A few keepers have been caught around the reefs with lots of sublegal sized fish. Muskellunge – Fair.
Lake Catherine Channel Catfish – Good: Try near the rocks along the jetties or shoreline with worms, minnows or cut bait.
Lake Smith Channel Catfish – Good: Catfish are 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 are being caught; best areas are Hales Slough, Anglers Bay and Buffalo Run. 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 up about 1.5 feet. Use live bait to catch a variety of fish. Walleye – Fair. Channel Catfish – Slow: Anglers fishing in current breaks and eddies are finding catfish. Use cut bait on a hook. Northern Pike – Slow: Minnows are turning pikes heads. Rock Bass – Slow: 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 are also 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 but 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. Algae bloom is becoming more evident. Bluegill – Fair: Gills are in shallow dense vegetation and difficult to catch. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Use a jig tipped with a variety of soft plastics. Start along the weed edges and fish deeper. Channel Catfish – Fair: 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. Fish 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 are the bait of choice. White Sucker – Fair. Smallmouth Bass – Fair: Try running a spinner bait along undercut banks and overhanging rock ledges.
Upper Iowa River (below Decorah) Water is slowly clearing, but clarity will depend on rainfall amounts. 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.
A chance for stormy weather continues through the weekend, daytime temperatures in the 70’s and upper 50’s at night. Most streams and rivers are fishable even with recent rains. Water levels have become somewhat flashy. 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. 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 2 to 3 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 good angling opportunities as the beautiful weekend forecast approaches. Walleye – Fair: Walleye are biting well on the jig tipped with a crawler combination or crankbaits. Target break lines, rocky shorelines, eddies or tailwater riffles for aggressive walleye. Smallmouth Bass – Fair: Use 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.
Manchester District Streams Recent fish sampling surveys on the Upper Maquoketa River (Trout Portion) has shown good numbers of brown trout with many of quality size. Brown Trout – Fair: Use spinners or dry flies near overhead cover and other habitat.
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: Use 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.
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. Walleye – Fair: Walleye are biting well on the jig tipped with a crawler combination or crankbaits. Target break lines, rocky shorelines, eddies or tailwater riffles for aggressive walleye. Smallmouth Bass – Fair: Use a jig and crawler combination, crankbaits or spinner baits near rocky shorelines.
Wapsipinicon River (Tripoli to Troy Mills) The Wapsipinicon River is currently at 5.48 feet and falling. Conditions and clarity for the upcoming weekend should vastly improve. Walleye – Fair: Walleye are biting well on the jig tipped with a crawler combination or crankbaits. Target break lines, rocky shorelines, eddies or tailwater riffles for aggressive walleye. Smallmouth Bass – Fair: Use 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.
Interior rivers continue to fall and fishing reports have declined due to the recent heat and humidity. Channel catfish, smallmouth bass and walleye still provide great angling opportunities on the rivers. Panfish reports have been slow as we are in the mid-summer lulls. Trout streams are in excellent condition and recent fish sampling has shown quality brown trout populations. For further information, contact the N.E. District Office at 563-927-3276.
MISSISSIPPI RIVER
Mississippi River Pool 9 Water level is 8.7 feet at Lansing and is expected to rise 2 feet slowly to 10.7 feet over the next week. Access to the boat ramp at New Albin may be closed. Water temperature remains in the upper 70’s. Freshwater Drum – Excellent: Drum are feeding well on worms bounced on the bottom. Reports of larger drum caught on minnows. Largemouth Bass – Good: Largemouth fishing is good alongside 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. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Smallmouth fishing is good on wing dams at dawn and early evening. Yellow Perch – Fair: A lot of yellow perch are hanging along weed lines in the back waters and slow moving side channels.
Mississippi River Pool 10 Water level is 15 feet at Lynxville and is expected to rise nearly 4 feet to 18.9 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 caught on minnows. Largemouth Bass – Good: Largemouth fishing is good alongside 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. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Smallmouth fishing is good on wing dams at dawn and early evening. Yellow Perch – Fair: A lot of yellow perch are hanging along weed lines in the back waters and slow moving side channels.
Mississippi River Pool 11 Water level is 6.2 feet at Lock and Dam 10 at Guttenberg and is expected to rise over 3 feet to 9.4 feet over the next week. Water temperature remains in the upper 70’s. Freshwater Drum – Excellent: Drum are feeding well on worms bounced on the bottom. Reports of larger drum caught on minnows. Largemouth Bass – Good: Largemouth fishing is good alongside channel and main channel structure. Channel Catfish – Excellent: Channel catfish spawning has mostly ended; use stink baits. 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. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Smallmouth fishing is good on wing dams at dawn and early evening. Yellow Perch – Fair: A lot of yellow perch are hanging along weed lines in the back waters and slow moving side channels.
Water levels have been stable over the past week and fishing has been good on the Upper Mississippi. Expect a fairly rapid rise in water levels over the next week which may shift fishing patterns. Shoreline fishing may get better as fish follow the rising water. Anglers may have to deal with vegetation issues. Water temperatures remain in the upper 70’s.
Mississippi River Pool 12 Water level is near 5.8 feet at Dubuque tailwater and near 8.2 feet at the RR bridge. These levels are down from last week and water levels are expected to slowly recede all week; there may be a slight rise again in water levels late in the week. Water temperature is 79 degrees in the main channel. Walleye – Good: Walleyes will move back on the wing dams when water gets lower; try a leech or worm rig or a crankbait. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Try fishing the vegetation lines along the Vallisnaria (Eel grass). Use weed less spinners. Freshwater Drum – Excellent: Lots of freshwater drum can be caught. Cut out all the red meat when cleaning them and they are a fine eating fish. Throw them immediately on ice after catching them, if you plan on eating drum. Channel Catfish – Excellent: Lots of catfish are being caught off of rock lines and piles. Those bluish looking catfish are NOT blue catfish, rather the male channel cat in spawning colors. Catfish are nearing the end of their spawning run. Bluegill – Fair: Some bluegills are showing up usually near areas of slight flow. They are running small this year. Smallmouth Bass – Excellent: Smallmouth bass are doing very well in the Mississippi River with numerous year classes present. The combination of rock and current are a must to find smallmouth bass, which often hold very tight to the rocks. Black Crappie – Fair: Some crappies are being taken out of snags and by anglers fishing for bluegills with worm and bobber.
Mississippi River Pool 13 Water level is near 7.1 feet at Bellevue which is down from last week. The water temperature is around 79 degrees. Expect water to slowly recede all week, and then maybe rise later next week. The river is clearing up and fishing conditions have improved; the tributary streams like Mill Creek and the Maquoketa River are muddy after nearly every rain. Walleye – Good: Walleyes were reported back on the wing dams. Use a small crawler rig. The high and dirty water curtailed walleye fishing for a bit, but water conditions and levels are becoming more favorable for quality angling. Largemouth Bass – Good: Go way back in large backwater complexes to find cleaner water; this is where the bass will be. Try along the eel grass. Freshwater Drum – Excellent: Loads of freshwater drum are being caught, many from bank anglers. Use large crayfish to catch really large drum. Channel Catfish – Excellent: Use stink bait in flowing sloughs, especially above log jams or along rock piles. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Smallmouth bass are doing very well in the Mississippi River with numerous year classes present. The combination of rock and current are a must to find smallmouth bass, which often hold very tight to the rocks.
Mississippi River Pool 14 Water level was recorded at 7.6 feet at Fulton, 10.5 feet at Camanche and 5.3 feet at LeClaire. These readings are predicted to be down from last week. Water is expected to recede this week. The water clarity is somewhat turbid, especially around the Wapsipinicon River mouth. Freshwater Drum – Excellent: The drum bite is on. Simple sliding sinker and worms fished in current work best. Channel Catfish – Excellent: The catfish bite is very good. Most anglers are using crawlers when drum fishing but some are using stink bait. The Rock Creek area is a good place to find channel cats. Walleye – Fair: Walleyes are reported back on the bite as water levels have receded a bit. Current is still a bit strong on most wing dams; try fishing the near shore sections of dams to avoid strong currents. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Smallmouth bass are doing well in the Mississippi River with numerous year classes present. The combination of rock and current are a must to find smallmouth bass, which often hold very tight to the rocks.
