NORTHWEST
Black Hawk Lake
Water level is about 6 inches over the crest of the spillway. Bluegill – Good: Bluegill fishing is good just about everywhere on the lake. Town Bay, around the handicap dock, near the inlet bridge, and the outlet are producing fish. Use a small hook tipped with a worm suspended from a bobber fished about 2 feet deep near shore. Walleye – Fair: Fish the rock piles in the east basin and near Cottonwood Point. The shoreline just west of Ice House Point also holds fish. Some have had luck with crankbaits fished 5-7 feet deep. Largemouth Bass – Good: Anglers have had luck fishing the north side of Ice House Point. Fish drop offs and brush piles in 3-4 feet of water. Use grey crankbaits, green plastic worms and spinner baits. There is a 15-inch minimum length limit for largemouth bass on Black Hawk Lake. Black Crappie – Fair: There is a good population of black crappie. Fish are 8-10 inches. Use live minnows below a bobber or small tube jigs tipped with power bait.
Black Hawk Pits
Black Crappie – Fair: Try minnows fished in areas along shore and in areas with contour and structure 5-10 feet deep. Bluegill – Fair: Drift in deeper areas or fish near shore with a small black jig tipped with bait suspended below a bobber.
Brushy Creek Lake
Bluegill – Fair: Anglers are picking up some bluegill in 10-15 feet of water. Use small jigs tipped with crawlers or red worms. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Try plastics and spinners along weed lines and near structure in 4-10 feet of water. Yellow Perch – Fair: Some perch are being picked up near structure in 10-15 feet of water along the creek channel. Black Crappie – Fair: Use a small jig such as a 1/32nd ounce jig tipped with crawler or power bait 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: Cooler temperatures means increased feeding activity. Use crankbaits, leeches or minnows and a slip bobber. Drift in the dredge cuts and fish near shore in morning and evenings. Channel Catfish – Fair: Storm Lake has a good catfish population; target catfish from shore using stink bait or cut bait fished off the bottom.
Water temperatures in the Black Hawk District are in the mid 60’s. Bass and bluegill fishing is fair to good in most area lakes. With the onset of cooler temperatures, expect an increase in feeding activity and more opportunities fishing near shore. For more information, contact the Black Hawk District Office at 712-657-2638.
Clear Lake
Anglers without a boat can still find some good wading opportunities in early October for yellow bass and walleyes. Try the MacIntosh swim beach, off the North Shore on the edge of the rushes and off Farmer’s Beach. Use a jig and piece of cut bait or minnows, or try a bobber and small light hook with bait under a bobber. Yellow Bass – Excellent: Farmers beach (just outside the weed edge), MacIntosh swim beach, and the Ventura jetties have been producing well. Hy-Vee and other rock reefs have also continued to produce. Try also the channel between the little lake and big lake. Action has picked up this week with anglers reporting fish on every cast, at times. Walleye – Good: Walleye action is starting to pick up in certain areas. Use jigs and a minnow or cut bait in many of the same areas that yellow bass are biting. Black Crappie – Fair: Some crappies are being caught near the Hy-Vee reef or in tight to docks in early morning. Muskellunge – Good: Musky fishing has been decent; October is usually a good month for musky fishing. Yellow Perch – Good: Yellow perch are hitting by the grade on 1/16 ounce black leadheads with a piece of cut bait.
Lake Smith
Largemouth Bass – Good: Largemouth are starting to go on the feed with cooler water.
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. Yellow Perch – Good: Try along the weed lines; best action is early morning and evening, but perch have been caught throughout the day. Walleye – Good: Reports of fish being caught at the north grade; early morning and evening hours are best. Black Crappie – Good: Reports of bluegill and crappie being caught at the north grade; morning and evenings produce the best action.
Center Lake
Black Crappie – Good: Numbers of fish are being caught around the submerged woody structure; look for schooling fish in the lakes basin with electronics. Bluegill – Good: Numbers of fish are being caught from the fishing pier; sorting is necessary.
East Okoboji Lake
Yellow Bass – Good: Good action early morning and evening hours; fish bridge sites for the best action. Fish are also being caught on the south end of the lake; look for rock piles in 15 – 20 feet of water. Activity is picking up on the north end of the lake; fish mornings before 10:00 a.m., persistence will be rewarded with good numbers of a mixed bag comprised of perch and yellow bass. 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. Walleye – Good: Report of fish being caught in the lakes basin; troll crank baits or crawlers.
Lost Island Lake
Yellow Bass – Good: Good numbers of yellow bass are being caught from shore. Sorting is necessary; persistence will be rewarded with good numbers of fish harvested.
Silver Lake (Dickinson)
Walleye – Good: Use crank baits for the best action. Look for wader fishing to heat up as the water cools; this is the time when trophy size fish are caught from Silver Lake.
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 have stabilized, but flows remain elevated. Clarity is improving and may be fishable by the weekend. Boating is not recommended. Call the local city or county conservation board offices for information on access and campgrounds. Visit http://waterdata.usgs.gov/ia/
Decorah District Streams
Trout streams are fishable. Many roads and parking lots sustained some damage. Stocking has resumed on all streams where possible. There have been nice hatches of small mayflies midday. Bring lots of bug spray as mosquito hatches are incredible. Call the trout stocking number at 563-927-5736 for current stocking information. Brown Trout – Good: Anglers may start to see more color on trout; the kype on male becomes more pronounced as spawning seasons gets closer. Brook Trout – Good: Watch the stream bottom as brookies begin to build their nests or redds in the stream bottom. Rainbow Trout – Good.
Lake Hendricks
Few anglers have been out this week. Fish are becoming more active as water begins to cool down. Fish mid-day for best luck. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Use jigs tipped with a variety of soft plastics. Bluegill – Fair: Find bluegills near shore and in vegetation edges.
Lake Meyer
Lake conditions are improving and anglers are catching fish. Bluegill – Fair: Try a hook tipped with a small piece of worm under a bobber. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Bass can be found cruising the weed edges. Use a jig tipped with a long plastic tail.
Rudd Lake
Anglers have excellent shore and boat access. Channel Catfish – Good: Try a nightcrawler fished on the bottom just out past shoreline vegetation. Bluegill – Fair: Fish for bluegills along the rockier shoreline.
Upper Iowa River (above Decorah)
Water levels have stabilized and clarity has improved. The stream is fishable; use caution if floating as hazards are present. Many access points and campgrounds were affected by the high water. Call local city or county conservation board offices for more information.
Upper Iowa River (below Decorah)
Water levels have stabilized and clarity is improving. Use caution when floating in elevated flows. Snags and submersed logs may have moved. Continually read the river and be prepared to adjust your track. Call local city or county conservation board offices for more information on campground conditions and access points.
Volga Lake
Anglers drifting over rock or brush piles will find fish. Shoreline access is excellent with many submerged cedar trees within casting distance. Black Crappie – Good: Use small jigs with flat tailed plastic body. Bluegill – Good: Fish will be in shallow with cooling water temperatures. Channel Catfish – Slow: Try chicken liver or crawlers. Volga Lake has a very nice population of catfish awaiting the patient angler.
Stream conditions have greatly improved over the last rainless several days. Water levels have stabilized and clarity is better. A slight chance of rain is forecast for Friday and Saturday, but this shouldn’t hinder weekend plans. More seasonal temperatures are in store for the foreseeable future. For current fishing information, please call the Decorah Fish Hatchery at 563-382-8324.
Casey Lake (aka Hickory Hills Lake)
Reports of anglers catch largemouth bass, bluegill and channel catfish. Channel Catfish – Good: Try fishing from the beach and west. Fish with bait on the bottom of the lake using stink bait, night crawlers, cut baits or chicken livers. Numerous 3-10 pound cats have been taken recently. Bluegill – Fair: Try fishing a piece of worm or night crawler a couple feet under the surface with a bobber or small 1/16 oz. hair jigs. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Cast crankbaits, spinner baits or top water baits.
Cedar River (Nashua to La Porte City)
There are no reports on the Cedar River this past week due to high river levels. Walleye – Slow: Casting crankbaits and fishing a jig tipped with a night crawler are productive for walleye this time of year. Smallmouth Bass – Slow: Casting crankbaits and fishing a jig tipped with a night crawler are productive for smallmouth bass this time of year.
Maquoketa River (above Monticello)
Maquoketa River is currently falling and remains a bit turbid; there have been few angler reports this week. Walleye – Slow: Casting crankbaits and fishing a jig tipped with a night crawler are productive for walleye this time of year. Smallmouth Bass – Slow: Casting crankbaits and fishing a jig tipped with a night crawler are productive for smallmouth bass this time of year.
Shell Rock River (Greene to Shell Rock)
There currently are no reports for the Shell Rock River; the river is high and turbid. Walleye – Slow: Smallmouth Bass – Slow.
Silver Lake (Delaware)
Anglers are reporting catches of bluegill, largemouth bass and northern pike. Bluegill – Good: Try fishing a piece of worm or night crawler a couple feet under the surface with a bobber or small 1/16 oz. hair jigs. Bluegill here to tend to run on the small side. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Cast crankbaits, spinner baits or top water baits. Northern Pike – Fair: Troll or cast spoons along weed edges.
Wapsipinicon River (Tripoli to Troy Mills)
There are no reports on the Wapsipinicon River this past week due to high river levels. Walleye – Slow: Casting crankbaits and fishing a jig tipped with a night crawler are productive for walleye this time of year. Smallmouth Bass – Slow: Casting crankbaits and fishing a jig tipped with a night crawler are productive for smallmouth bass this time of year. Channel Catfish – Slow: Try stink baits, cut baits and chicken livers in areas of snags and fallen trees.
Interior river levels are falling and remain at higher levels than expected for this time of year. Angler reports are few due to the higher water levels. Trout streams remain excellent in the Manchester District. For further information, call the N.E. District Office at 563-927-3276.
MISSISSIPPI RIVER
Mississippi River Pool 9
Water level is 11.9 feet at Lansing and predicted to rise to 15.3 feet next week. New Albin army road remains closed. Water temperature is in the mid 60’s. Freshwater Drum – No Report: Drum are feeding well on worms bounced on the bottom. Reports of larger drum being caught on minnows. Largemouth Bass – No Report: Largemouth fishing is good alongside channel and main channel structure. Channel Catfish – No Report: Use crawlers or cut bait in shallow stump beds or snags in side channels. Bluegill – No Report: Look for bluegills in side channel snags and main channel structure. Walleye – No Report: Walleye fishing on wing dams is tough with changing water levels, but should pick up as more normal levels return. Smallmouth Bass – No Report: Smallmouth fishing remains good along rocky shorelines and wing dams at dawn and early evening. Yellow Perch – No Report: 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 19.9 feet at Lynxville. Approximately, a 6 feet rise is predicted through next week reaching 26.4 feet. Water temperature is 64 degrees at the lock and dam. The Lynxville and Sny Magill ramp are closed due to water over the road. Freshwater Drum – No Report: Drum are feeding well on worms bounced on the bottom. Reports of larger drum being caught on minnows. Largemouth Bass – No Report: Largemouth fishing is good alongside channel and main channel structure. Channel Catfish – No Report: Use crawlers or cut bait in shallow stump beds or snags in side channels. Bluegill – No Report: Look for bluegills in side channel snags and main channel structure. Walleye – No Report: Walleye fishing on wing dams is tough with high water levels, some anglers are trolling side channels to find fish. Smallmouth Bass – No Report: Smallmouth fishing remains good along rocky shorelines and wing dams at dawn and early evening. Yellow Perch – No Report: 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 11.1 feet at Lock and Dam 10 at Guttenberg and is predicted to reach over 17 feet. The Lock and Dam gates are out of the water. Water temperature is 66 degrees at the lock and dam. Most boat ramps have water over them and will be inaccessible. Freshwater Drum – No Report: Drum are feeding well on worms bounced on the bottom. Reports of larger drum being caught on minnows. Largemouth Bass – No Report: Largemouth fishing is good alongside channel and main channel structure. Channel Catfish – No Report: Use crawlers or cut bait in shallow stump beds or snags in side channels. Bluegill – No Report: Look for bluegills in side channel snags and main channel structure. Walleye – No Report: Walleye fishing on wing dams is tough with high water levels, some anglers are trolling side channels to find fish. Smallmouth Bass – No Report: Smallmouth fishing remains good along rocky shorelines and wing dams at dawn and early evening. Yellow Perch – No Report: A lot of yellow perch are hanging along weed lines in the back waters and slow moving side channels.
Another significant rise is predicted on the Upper Mississippi River this week after Wednesday’s heavy rains in northeast Iowa. Most boat ramps will be inaccessible this week and flood waters are carrying a lot of debris. Water temperatures are in the mid 60’s.
