NORTHWEST

Arrowhead Lake
Bluegill – Fair: Use a small jig and wax worm below a bobber near contours and structure in 5-10 feet of water. Fish up to 9.5 inches have been caught.

Black Hawk Lake
Water level is about 6 inches over the crest of the spillway. Bluegill – Good: Bluegill fishing is good in 2-5 feet of water. Use a small jig tipped with live bait, small piece of crawler or wax worms fished below a bobber. Walleye – Slow: Try 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: Top water and weedless baits are picking up a few bass. Try also 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: Use stink bait, leeches and worms on the bottom. A recent netting survey showed that catfish are up to 23 inches and 5 pounds in Black Hawk Lake.

Brushy Creek Lake
Bluegill – Fair: Anglers are picking up some bluegill in 10-15 feet of water. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Some largemouth bass have been picked up along weed lines, structure and drop-offs using topwater baits and plastic worms. Yellow Perch – Fair: Some perch are being picked up near structure in 10-15 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 are catching catfish from shore using stink bait or cut bait fished off the bottom.

Water temperatures have dropped to the upper 70’s. Catfish and bluegill fishing is fair to good. For more information contact the Black Hawk District Office at 712-657-2638.

Bluebill Lake
Channel Catfish – Good: Catfish are biting on chicken liver or worms fished on the bottom. Some nice bluegills are mixed in as well. Bluegill – Good.

Beeds Lake
Largemouth Bass – Good: Recent surveys have produced some nice sized largemouth near submerged trees on Beeds lake shorelines.

Clear Lake
Yellow Bass – Good: Action has been fair to good this past week. HyVee and Fisherman’s reefs have been the more consistent locations to find schools of yellows. Lots of 8-9 inch fish. On the little lake, the hump out from the MacIntosh Swim beach has been producing good catches of yellows. Walleye – Fair: An occasional keeper walleye is being caught with the yellow bass fisherman. Dock fishing before sunrise in the early morning can be good for walleyes with minnows and bobbers. Channel Catfish – Good: Anglers fishing on the bottom need to fish deeper than 8 feet in most locations to avoid the submergent weeds. Or fish with bobbers in close to a weed edge or shoreline with a piece of cut bait or live bait. Black Crappie – Fair: Some crappies are being near the HyVee reef or in tight to docks in early morning. Largemouth Bass – Good: Small to a few keeper size (15 inch) bass have been caught near the south Ventura jetty with artificials or bobbers and minnows.

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
Little fishing activity has been observed on the lake.

Center Lake
Bluegill – Good: Good numbers of fish are being caught from the pier; persistence will reward the angler with good numbers of quality sized fish.

East Okoboji Lake
Yellow Bass – Good: Good action early morning and evening hours; fish bridge sites and public docks on the north end. Fish are also being caught on the south end of the lake; look for rock piles in 15 – 20 feet of water. Yellow Perch – Good: Cast mini jigs tipped with wigglers and swim the bait slowly back to the public docks on the north end. Bluegill – Good: Fish are being caught on the south end of the lake in 15 feet of water. Rock piles close to aquatic plants will produce the best action. Channel Catfish – Good: Fish early morning and evening for the best action.

West Okoboji Lake
Bluegill – Good: Bluegills have moved to deeper water; fish weed lines for the best action.

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

NORTHEAST

Cedar River (above Nashua)
Cedar River water levels are on the rise. Clarity is poor. Boating is not recommended. Please call the local city or county conservation board offices for information on access and campgrounds. For more information on water levels, please go to the U.S. Geological Survey website.

Decorah District Streams
Trout streams in Mitchell, Howard, Winneshiek and Allamakee counties are not fishable as of 8/24/2016. Streams with better water quality will clear faster. Access to many streams are limited due to increased flows, poor road conditions and bridge outages. Stocking has been temporarily suspended until conditions improve at Big Spring and Decorah hatcheries. Brown Trout – Slow.

Lake Hendricks
The lower campground and boat ramp are closed at least through the weekend. Elevated water levels from Watson’s Creek and the lake have impacted the road. For more information on this campground or any other in Howard County, please call the Howard County Conservation Board Office at 563-547-3634 or visit their website.

Lake Meyer
The boat ramp and road to the dam are closed at least through the weekend. Water levels in the lake were over 8 feet high and water went over the emergency spillway. For more information on this campground or any other in Winneshiek County, please call the Winneshiek County Conservation Board Office at 563-534-7145 or visit their website.

Upper Iowa River (above Decorah)
Water levels remain above flood stage and clarity is bad. Use of watercraft of any sort is not recommended at this time. Many access points and campgrounds are flooded. Please call the local city or county conservation board offices for more information.

Upper Iowa River (below Decorah)
Water levels are approaching flood stage and clarity is bad. Use of watercraft of any sort is not recommended at this time. Many access points and campgrounds are flooded. Please call the local city or county conservation board offices for more information.

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 – Slow. Channel Catfish – Good: Use stink baits, chicken liver and crawlers. Volga Lake has a very nice population of catfish awaiting the patient angler.

Thunderstorms Tuesday night (8/23/2016) caused major flooding in the northeast corner of Chickasaw County and all of Howard, Winneshiek and Allamakee counties. Rainfall amounts varied from 2 to as much as 8 inches. Rivers and streams in these counties are not fishable nor accessible. Another round of showers is forecast for the weekend. For fishing information, please call the Decorah Fish Hatchery at 563-382-8324.

MISSISSIPPI RIVER

Mississippi River Pool 9
Water level 11 feet at Lansing is and is expected to fall slowly less than a foot over the next week. New Albin army road is closed and probably will remain closed all of next week. Water temperature is 79 degrees. Freshwater Drum – Excellent: Drum are feeding well on worms bounced on the bottom. Reports of larger drum being caught on minnows. Largemouth Bass – Good: Largemouth fishing is good alongside channel and main channel structure. Channel Catfish – Good: Try stink bait or cut bait in shallow stump beds or snags in side channels. Bluegill – Fair: Look for bluegills in side channel snags and main channel structure. Walleye – Slow: Walleye fishing on wing dams is tough with changing water levels but should pick up as more normal water levels return. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Smallmouth fishing remains good along rocky shorelines and 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 18.9 feet at Lynxville and is expected to fall slowly almost a foot over the next week. Lock and dam gates at Lynxville have been raised. Water temperature is 80 degrees. Freshwater Drum – Excellent: Drum are feeding well on worms bounced on the bottom. Reports of larger drum being caught on minnows. Largemouth Bass – Good: Largemouth fishing is good alongside channel and main channel structure. Channel Catfish – Good: Try stink bait or cut bait in shallow stump beds or snags in side channels. Bluegill – Fair: Look for bluegills in side channel snags and main channel structure. Walleye – Slow: Walleye fishing on wing dams is tough with high water levels, some anglers are trolling side channels to find fish. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Smallmouth fishing remains good along rocky shorelines and 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 has reached 10 feet at Lock and Dam 11 at Guttenberg and is expected to fall slowly almost a foot over the next week. The roller dams and Guttenberg have been raised and probably will remain raised all of next week. Water temperature is 80 degrees. Freshwater Drum – Excellent:  Drum are feeding well on worms bounced on the bottom. Reports of larger drum being caught on minnows. Largemouth Bass – Good: Largemouth fishing is good alongside channel and main channel structure. Channel Catfish – Good: Try stink bait or cut bait in shallow stump beds or snags in side channels. Bluegill – Fair: Look for bluegills in side channel snags and main channel structure. Walleye – Slow: Walleye fishing on wing dams is tough with high water levels, some anglers are trolling side channels to find fish. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Smallmouth fishing remains good along rocky shorelines and 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 risen quickly over the last week, but are expected to begin falling slowly over the next week. The high water brought a lot of vegetation out into flowing water hampering boating and fishing. Water temperatures are near 80 degrees.

Mississippi River Pool 12
Water level is near 9.9 feet at Dubuque tailwater and near 12 feet at the RR bridge. These levels are up a foot from last week and water levels are expected to raise several feet due to recent rains in northeast Iowa. Tributaries such as Catfish Creek are very turbid after nearly every rain. Water temperature in the main channel is hovering near 76 degrees. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Try fishing the vegetation lines or in pockets of large coontail and milfoil weed beds. Frog imitation lures can work great this time of year. Find clear water. Some smaller bass are being caught in the tailwaters in places such as O’Leary’s Lake. 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. If you plan on eating drum throw them immediately on ice after catching them and try to avoid freezing them. Channel Catfish – Good: The channel catfish bite continues to be excellent in side channels around snags or rock structures. Move often if they do not bite.  Some anglers are reporting a slower bite lately on the channel cats. Bluegill – Fair: Some bluegills are showing up in areas of low flow. They are running small this year. Smallmouth Bass – Fair: 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 catch smallmouth bass, which often hold very tight to the rocks. The high water has made angling for them a challenge. Black Crappie – No Report: Expect good fishing for crappies to return this fall.

Mississippi River Pool 13
Water level is expected to be near 11 feet at Bellevue which is up from last week. The water temperature is around 77 degrees. Expect water to raise several feet this week due to recent rains in northeast Iowa. Tributaries get turbid after each rain event. Walleye – Fair: Walleyes are constantly moving from side channels to wing dams due to the water current changes.  Levels are a bit too high for good wing dam fishing. 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. Use frog imitation lures or plastics. Freshwater Drum – Excellent: Loads of freshwater drum are being caught, many from bank anglers. Use large crayfish to catch really large drum. Channel Catfish – Good: Most anglers are using stink bait in flowing sloughs, especially above log jams or along rock piles. Smallmouth Bass – Slow: 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. Smallies often hold very tight to the rocks. Stay away from the turbid tributary streams as smallmouth are sight feeders. Black Crappie – Good: Lots of 11 inch crappie have been seen in side channel sloughs.  Crappies can be found in brush piles during high water situations. Flathead Catfish – Good: Ditty poles with live bait can be a good way to catch nice flathead catfish from the Mississippi River.

Mississippi River Pool 14
Water level is near 10 feet at Fulton, 12.9 feet at Camanche and 7.4 feet at Le Claire. Water is forecasted to raise several feet all week. The water temperature is near 78 degrees. Freshwater Drum – Excellent: The drum bite is on. Simple sliding sinker and worms fished in current work best. Channel Catfish – Good: The catfish bite is very good. Most anglers are using stink bait. The Rock Creek area is a good place to find channel cats. Walleye – Fair: Walleyes were biting during the lower current levels; it remains to be seen if anglers can still find them once water recedes. A few real hog walleyes have been reported from Pool 14 this year. Smallmouth Bass – No Report: 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. Flathead Catfish – Good: Ditty poles with live bait can be effective in catching nice flathead catfish. Largemouth Bass – Good: Go deep into the backwaters along vegetation lines using frog imitation lures.

Mississippi River Pool 15
Water level is 10.4 feet at Rock Island, which up significantly from last week. Expect water levels to raise all week. Water temperature is around 78 degrees in the main channel. Pigeon Creek and Crow Creek are turbid after nearly every rain. Freshwater Drum – Excellent: Freshwater drum are abundant in Pool 15 and can easily be caught from shore. Try fishing the eagles landing area a with worm and egg sinkers. Channel Catfish – Good: Rising water levels usually trigger what has already been a good catfish bite.  A variety of stink bait are being used. Move often if the fish do not bite in 15 minutes. Flathead Catfish – Good: Ditty poles with live bait can be effective catching nice flathead catfish this time of year.

Water temperatures have fallen to the upper 70s throughout the district. Water levels are predicted to rise several feet due to recent rains. River clarity is fair in most locations.

Mississippi River Pool 16
Tailwater stage is 10.71 feet and rising at Lock and Dam 15. The river is forecasted to reach 13.6 feet by August 29th. Flood stage is 15 feet. The forecast may change. Fishing has been slow due to the high and muddy water conditions.

Mississippi River Pool 17
Tailwater stage is 9.61 feet and rising at Lock and Dam 16 at Muscatine. River stage at Muscatine is 11.41 feet and rising. River stage at Muscatine is forecasted to reach 14.62 feet by August 30th. Flood stage is 16 feet at Muscatine. The forecast may change. Fishing has been slow with the high and muddy water conditions.

Mississippi River Pool 18
Tailwater stage is 11.35 feet and rising at Lock and Dam 17 at New Boston. River stage is forecasted to reach 14 feet by August 30th. Flood stage is 15 feet. The river forecast may change. We have not received any fishing reports for this pool this week. The Toolsboro ramp is currently open as of Thursday morning, but will most likely be closed soon due to the rising water levels.

Mississippi River Pool 19
Tailwater stage is 7.40 feet and rising at Lock and Dam 18 above Burlington. River stage is forecasted to reach 9.8 feet by August 30th. Flood stage is 10 feet. The forecast may change. We have not received any fishing reports for this pool this week.

River stage has been on the rise with the recent heavy rains. Main channel water temperature is around 77 degrees. Water clarity is poor. We have not received many fishing reports this week due to the high and muddy water conditions. Some boat ramps may close as the water continues to rise. Remember to clean, drain, and dry your boat before going to another waterbody. If you have questions on fishing pools 16-19, contact the Fairport Fish Hatchery at 563-263-5062.

SOUTHEAST

Big Hollow Lake
Channel Catfish – Fair: Anglers are catching some pretty nice catfish. Start with chicken liver or a stink bait around the rocky shorelines and go from there. Bluegill – Fair: Not a lot of anglers are out, but they have been catching bluegills. Look for them to be down about 6 feet out in the flooded timber.

Lake Belva Deer
The upper (west) end of the lake is pretty turbid. Channel Catfish – Good: Catfishing remains good. Look for catfish along the face of the dam and at the upper end along the rocky shorelines. Bluegill – Fair: Bluegill fishing has slowed with the rains. They should still be out in the deeper water down about 6 to 8 feet.

Lake Darling
Water temperature remains at 80 degrees. The water clarity is down to about a foot because of the wet weather. Most of the smaller ponds in the park are very muddy. Bluegill – Fair: Anglers are still doing fairly well on bluegills. Work the rock piles out in 6 to 8 foot of water.

Iowa River (Columbus Junction to Mississippi River)
The river level is headed back up. It is forecasted to crest at just shy of bank full on Saturday.

Skunk River (Coppock to Mississippi River)
The river remains about 2/3 bank full. It’s trying to slowly drop, but every time it starts down it rains again. Channel Catfish – Fair: Not many anglers have been out lately due to the hot weather and fairly fast current.

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

Coralville Reservoir
The lake level on 8/25 is at summer pool of 683.4′. The water is dirty and no fishing reports are available.

Hannen Lake
There is quite a bit of vegetation in the lake. Some anglers are having difficulty fishing many areas. Channel Catfish – Good: The east side of the lake has been reported as best, as the vegetation is not as bad. Largemouth Bass – Good: Anglers in boats are having success.

Iowa Lake (Iowa County)
Channel Catfish – Excellent. Largemouth Bass – Good: Evenings are best…after 5pm; fish in 12-15 feet of water.

Kent Park Lake
Bluegill – Fair. Largemouth Bass – Fair.

Lake Macbride
There is a 10 horsepower limit operated at no wake (<5mph) speed. Bluegill – Fair: Some fish can be caught around shallow structure. Slightly bigger fish can be caught on the rock reefs. Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) – Fair: Some small fish are more willing to bite. Larger fish have been hit and miss. Evening has been the best bet by watching for surface activity. Black Crappie – Slow. Walleye – Slow. Largemouth Bass – Fair. Channel Catfish – Fair.

Pleasant Creek Lake
The lake is close to being down 15 feet for the upcoming restoration project. Some anglers are still using the make-shift ramp at the main ramp, but only four wheel drive vehicles should be used with caution. Some equipment has been moved in and dirt work has begun. White Bass – Fair: Look for schools feeding on the surface at sunset. Throw topwaters, small spoons or jigs. Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) – Fair: Look for schools feeding on the surface at sunset. Throw topwaters, small spoons or jigs.

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

Bob White Lake
A complete fisheries renovation was completed in September of 2015. Fingerlings were stocked last fall. Fishing will continue to improve as the fish grow.

Hawthorn Lake
Largemouth Bass – Good: Anglers are catching quite a few largemouth. Use rubber worms or crawdad imitations along the face of the dam and areas that are rip-rapped. Black Bullhead – Good: Use nightcrawlers fished on the bottom. Most of the action has been on the upper end of the lake east of the gravel road. Bluegill – Fair: Sorting has been needed for larger fish with most fish running about 7 inches. Use small jigs or a bobber fished above a chunk of nightcrawler.

Lake Keomah
Bluegill – Fair: Use a chunk of nightcrawler under a bobber in areas with submerged structure and around the fishing jetties. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Anglers are still catching largemouth bass. Target areas along the dam and around the jetties using crawdad imitations or rubber worms.

Lake Sugema
Largemouth Bass – Fair: Anglers are catching some largemouth bass using topwater lures in the mornings. Try a jig and pig combo around the fishing jetties or along the face of the dam. Lake Sugema has a slot limit so all largemouth bass 12-18 inches must be immediately released. Bluegill – Fair: Anglers are still catching a few bluegills. Try a chunk of nightcrawler under a bobber around any aquatic vegetation. Walleye – Slow: As the water starts to cool, drift nightcrawlers along the face of the dam.

Rathbun Reservoir
The current lake level is 905.29. The current surface water temperature is in the upper 70’s. Lake Rathbun contains zebra mussels so make sure to properly drain, clean, and dry equipment before transporting to another water body. Walleye – Slow: Fishing remains slow but anglers are still catching walleye, just not as many at each spot. Use crankbaits that mimic gizzard shad and target submerged points and rock piles. Troll or drift crankbaits and crawler harnesses in these areas. White Bass – Fair: Use crankbaits that resemble gizzard shad. Rathbun also contains hybrid striped bass (wipers); use the same techniques used for white bass. Channel Catfish – Fair: Try nightcrawlers or cut bait. With the recent rains, target areas where water is flowing into the lake.

Red Haw Lake
Bluegill – Fair: Anglers are catching bluegills using nightcrawlers fished under a bobber. Target areas around the jetties and along the shorelines. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Try spinner baits along the face of the dam and around the fishing jetties. Crawdad imitations such as a jig and pig can also be good in these areas. Channel Catfish – Fair: Use nightcrawlers or liver fished in 6-8 feet of water.

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

Big Creek Lake
Walleye – Fair: Walleyes are being caught trolling spinner rigs with minnows or crawlers in 5-15 feet of water. Focus on the upper/shallower 1/3rd of the lake. The east arm out from and above the marina has been producing more fish. Flows coming in from the creeks will attract fish to the silt dam notches. Cast shallow diving crankbaits in these areas. White Bass – Fair: Anglers are catching white bass near schools of shad. Use your depth finder to locate the shad and look for larger fish surrounding the school. Try jigging spoons or crankbaits.

Des Moines River (Stratford to Saylorville Lake)
Channel Catfish – Good: Use stink baits above tree falls and along deep cut banks. The Highway 30 boat ramp is currently the only ramp too shallow to launch boats.

Don Williams Lake
Black Crappie – Fair: The summer crappie bite is fair to good at Don Williams. Most fish are 8.5-9.5 inches. Slowly troll or drift 1/8 ounce jigs tipped with minnows or small white or chartreuse twister tails in 15-20 feet of water in the upper half of the lake. Crappie are suspended from 5 to 10 feet down.

Hickory Grove Lake
Black Crappie – Fair: A fair to good crappie bite has been going at Hickory Grove. Drift or slow troll 1/8 ounce or lighter jigs with twister tails or minnows or 1.5 inch panfish tube jigs. Work the mid-lake area out from the Oriole Ridge Lodge. Bluegill – Good: Use small jigs tipped with crawler over pallet piles in water less than 15 feet deep. Some bluegills can be found between the island, the beach and near buoy off the shore from the Plover Bay Shelter. Hickory Grove can produce some nice 7 to 8.5 inch bluegills.

Red Rock Reservoir
White Bass – Fair: The white bass bite has been hit or miss. Start by trolling points and windblown shorelines with chrome, chrome/blue and firetiger spoons and lipless crankbaits. If trolling is producing little results, cast the same lures shallow to the windblown shoreline and retrieve.

Roberts Creek Lake
Black Crappie – Fair: Crappies are in a suspended summer pattern. Drift or troll small twister tail jigs or tube jigs in the main lake.

Rock Creek Lake
Black Crappie – Fair: Crappie fishing is good. Drift or troll in the lower half of the main lake. Use small tube jigs and 1/16 or 1/8 ounce jigs with twister tails or tipped with minnows. Keep your bait in the top 6 feet of water.

Saylorville Reservoir
White Bass – Fair: The white bass bite is hit or miss. The best chances will be on the hot days. Cast or troll spoons, lipless crankbaits or square bill crankbaits. Color patterns containing chrome or chartreuse work best. Try the stretch from Sandpiper Beach to the marina bay. Channel Catfish – Good: Drift cut creek chubs above the mile long bridge.

Catfishing is good on Central Iowa rivers. White bass fishing on the reservoirs is fair to good. For information on Central Iowa lakes and rivers, contact Andy Otting or Ben Dodd at 515-432-2823.

Cold Springs Lake
Anglers are catching big channel catfish at Cold Springs. The lake has an 18 inch length limit on largemouth bass. Channel Catfish – Good: Cast cut bait or prepared dip bait in 4 to 6 feet of water to catch catfish up to 10 pounds. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Bass are in the tree piles and stake beds. Cast plastics Texas rigged to catch fish up to 20 inches.

Greenfield Lake
Greenfield Lake has a good panfish population. Bluegills and crappies can be caught drifting. Bluegill – Fair: Bluegill up to 8.5 inches are being caught drifting with power bait or crawlers. Black Crappie – Fair: Concentrate around the ends of jetties and submerged trees to find crappie up to 12 inches. Channel Catfish – Good: Catfish are actively feeding. Cast cut bait or shrimp to catch fish averaging 2 pounds.

Lake Anita
Anglers are catching bluegills and crappies drifting on the main lake. Bass fishing is also good at this time. Bluegill – Fair: Drift small black jigs tipped with power bait. Fish are 9 inches. Black Crappie – Good: Black crappie can be caught over the road beds and underwater reefs. Sorting is necessary for fish over 10 inches. Largemouth Bass – Good: Largemouth bass of all sizes are being caught. Cast the shoreline early in the morning; fish deeper around structure as the temperature warms.

Lake Manawa
Anglers are catching large catfish on the south and west side of the lake. Channel Catfish – Fair: Anglers are catching large catfish on dip bait.

Prairie Rose Lake
Anglers are catching bluegills around underwater reefs and vegetation edges. Prairie Rose water clarity is good. Bluegill – Fair: Drift or slow troll around the underwater reefs to catch bluegill up to nine inches. Channel Catfish – Fair: Anglers are beginning to catch 14 to 16 inch channel catfish around the jetties on nightcrawlers.

Viking Lake
Largemouth bass fishing is good at Viking. Crappies can be caught around the underwater reefs and in brush piles. Largemouth Bass – Good: Fish plastics in tree piles to catch largemouth bass up to 20 inches. Channel Catfish – Good: Anglers are catching catfish on wind swept points using cut bait. Fish will average 2 pounds. Black Crappie – Fair: Cast 1/32nd ounce jigs tipped with power bait around the many tree piles in the lake. Fish will average 9 inches.

Water temperatures have dropped to the mid to upper 70’s in the district. Bass and catfishing is fair to good. Bluegills and crappies can be caught drifting and around brush piles. For more information, call the Cold Springs District Office at 712-769-2587.

Green Valley Lake
Largemouth Bass – Fair: Largemouth bass up to 19 inches have been caught using soft plastics or spinner baits fished near cedar tree brush piles and rock piles. Try also topwater lures fished in the early morning. Bluegill – Fair: Bluegill up to 8.5 inches have been caught with nightcrawlers fished under a bobber along the fishing jetties. Channel Catfish – Fair: Channel catfish of all sizes have been caught using liver or cut bait fished along the fishing jetties.

Lake Icaria
Channel Catfish – Good: Channel catfish of all sizes have been caught using nightcrawlers fished along rocky shoreline areas. Bluegill – Fair: Bluegill up to 8 inches have been caught with nightcrawlers fished under a bobber along the fishing jetties and along other rocky shoreline areas. Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) – Fair: Wipers up to 12 inches have been caught using nightcrawlers fished under a bobber along rocky shoreline areas.

Lake of Three Fires
Bluegill – Slow: Bluegill up to 8 inches have been caught using nightcrawlers fished near the fish mounds.

Little River Watershed Lake
Bluegill – Good: Bluegill up to 8.5 inches have been caught with nightcrawlers fished near cedar tree brush piles and along the fishing jetties.

Three Mile Lake
Dewatering is planned to begin August 29th for the fish renovation planned for the third week in September. Expect limited access to boat ramps due to the low water. Boaters should use extreme caution for potential hazards such as tree stumps, cedar tree brush piles or underwater reefs that may be at or near the water’s surface. Bluegill – Slow: Bluegill up to 7 inches have been caught with nightcrawlers fished along flooded timber.

Twelve Mile Creek Lake
Bluegill – Slow: Bluegill up to 9 inches have been caught using nightcrawlers fished along cedar tree brush piles. Largemouth Bass – Slow: Largemouth bass up to 20 inches have been caught with soft plastics fished near cedar tree brush piles or rock piles.

Water temperature in Mount Ayr district lakes is in the upper 70’s to low 80’s. For more information, please contact the Mount Ayr Fisheries office at 641-464-3108.

MISSOURI RIVER

Missouri River (Sioux City to Little Sioux)
Channel Catfish – Good: Use cut bait, stink bait or crawlers fished on the bottom. Flathead Catfish – Good: Try live chubs and bluegills fished on trotlines or rod and reel in current breaks near deeper water in the evening or after dark.

Missouri River (Little Sioux to Council Bluffs)
Channel Catfish – Good: Try cut bait, stink bait or crawlers fished on the bottom. Flathead Catfish – Good: Use live chubs and bluegills fished on trotlines or rod and reel in current breaks near deeper water in the evening or after dark. Blue Catfish – Good: Try live chubs and bluegills fished on trotlines or rod and reel in current breaks near deeper water in the evening or after dark.

Missouri River (Council Bluffs to Missouri State Line)
Channel Catfish – Fair: Try cut bait, stink bait or worms fished on the bottom. Blue Catfish – Fair: Use live chubs and bluegills fished on trotlines or rod and reel in current breaks near deeper water in the evening or after dark. Flathead Catfish – Fair: Try live chubs and bluegills fished on trotlines or rod and reel in current breaks near deeper water in the evening or after dark.

The Missouri River at Decatur, Nebraska is at 20.45 ft. /27,900 cfs./ 74 degrees Fahrenheit. The Missouri rose .07 feet from last week. The Missouri River levels and water conditions are looking good to get out and fish.  The water temperature has cooled down 6 degrees Fahrenheit from last week.