NORTHWEST

Black Hawk Lake
Water temperature is 58 degrees. Water level is about 8 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. Try also the shoreline just west of Ice House Point. Some anglers 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 crankbaits, plastics and spinner. There is a 15-inch minimum length limit for largemouth bass on Black Hawk Lake. Black Crappie – Good: Fish are 8-10 inches. Use live minnows below a bobber or small tube jigs tipped with power bait. Try near shore; especially in Town Bay, Ice House Point and near the inlet bridge.

Black Hawk Pits
Black Crappie – Fair: Use 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 have picked up some bluegills 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 – Good: Use a small jig such as a 1/32nd ounce jig tipped with crawler or power bait in 5-15 feet of water. Fish are being picked up near weed lines and structure.

Moorehead Park Pond
Bluegill – Fair: Try a small jig tipped with bait fished below a bobber. Fish are 6-8 inches.

Nelson Park Lake
Bluegill – Fair: Anglers have picked up nice sized bluegills near the dam and along the shoreline with jigs tipped with bait fished below a bobber. Drift jigs along submerged trees and structure. Black Crappie – Good: Crappies are being picked up near the dam and along structure and submerged trees near shore. Use a small jig such as a 1/32nd ounce jig tipped with crawler or power bait fished below a bobber.

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 to find fish. Channel Catfish – Fair: Storm Lake has a good catfish population; target catfish from shore with stink bait or cut bait fished off the bottom.

Swan Lake
Bluegill – Good: Use a small jig tipped with bait fished below a bobber.

Water temperatures in the Black Hawk District are around 60 degrees. For more information, contact the Black Hawk District Office at 712-657-2638.

Clear Lake
Water temperature is around 58 degrees. The fish cleaning station at McIntosh is closed for the season. The bathrooms at Lynne Lorenson and the Ventura Jetty’s are also closed. Anglers without a boat can still find some good wading opportunities in early October for yellow bass and walleyes. Try the McIntosh swim beach, off the North Shore on the edge of the rushes or off Farmer’s Beach. Use a jig and piece of cut bait or minnows. Yellow Bass – Excellent: Try Hy-Vee reef, State Reef, the sandy shoreline near the Ventian Village mouth, McIntosh swim beach, the hump on the little lake out from McIntosh swim beach and the inlet from the Ventura Marsh. Tip a small jig with a minnow or a piece of cut bait and bump it along the bottom. Walleye – Fair: Some walleyes are being caught near the Ventura grade. Use jigs and a minnow or cut bait in many of the same areas that yellow bass are biting. Boat anglers may find walleyes near the Hy-Vee reef, the edge of the North Shore Reed bed or the island. Black Crappie – Fair: Anglers have caught some in the Baptist camp area out near 10 contour. Muskellunge – Good: 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
Yellow Perch – 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. Dock anglers are also catching fish; early morning and evening hours are best. Black Crappie – Good: Reports of bluegill and crappie being caught at the north grade; morning and evening hours are best. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Good numbers of fish have been caught this week in 12 feet of water; fish typical smallmouth bass areas.

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.

Dog Creek (Lake)
Bluegill – Good: Recent survey reflects good numbers of quality sized fish up to 8 inches in the lake.

East Okoboji Lake
Yellow Bass – Good: Good action early morning and evening hours; fish bridge sites. Try also the south end of the lake; look for rock piles in 15 – 20 feet of water. Bluegill – Good: Fish are being caught on the south end of the lake. As the water cools, shallow water rock piles, docks associated with deeper water and 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. Yellow Perch – Good: Anglers are catching fish off the public docks located on the north end of the lake.

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. 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 are moving inshore as the water cools; fish weed lines and docks. Yellow Perch – Good: Fish are being caught in 10 feet; use traditional baits.

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. Use caution when going on water after flooding as the streambed and banks may have changed. Clarity is good and fishable. Visit http://waterdata.usgs.gov/ia/nwis/rt for information on water levels. Walleye – Good: Use a jig tipped with a minnow. Smallmouth Bass – Excellent: Try a crayfish crankbait or flashy spinnerbait.

Decorah District Streams
Trout streams are fishable and the fish are hungry. Many roads and parking lots sustained some damage with the high waters. All catchable stockings are unannounced through October. All streams continue to be stocked. There have been nice hatches of small mayflies and caddis flies midday. Bring lots of bug spray as mosquito hatches are incredible.  Brown Trout – Good: Anglers may start to see more color on trout; the kype on male becomes more pronounced as brown trout 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
More anglers have been out this week. Fish are becoming more aggressive 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 – Good: Find bluegills near shore and in vegetation edges.

Lake Meyer
The lake is in excellent condition and anglers are catching fish. Find the habitat and you’ll find fish. Bluegill – Good: Use a hook tipped with a small piece of worm under a bobber. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Bass can be found cruising the weed edges. Try a jig tipped with a long plastic tail. Black Crappie – Good: Be ready for a light bite. Use a small hook tipped with a minnow.

Rudd Lake
Anglers have excellent shore and boat access. Channel Catfish – Good: Use a nightcrawler fished on the bottom just out past shoreline vegetation. Bluegill – Fair: Try along the rockier shoreline.

Upper Iowa River (above Decorah)
Water levels have stabilized and clarity is good. Use caution if floating as hazards are present. Many access points and campgrounds were affected by the high water. Please call local city or county conservation board offices for more information. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Smallies are hitting crankbaits and spinner baits. Focus efforts on seams and back eddies. Walleye – Good: Use a jig tipped with a minnow or a variety of plastic tails.

Upper Iowa River (below Decorah)
Water levels have stabilized and clarity is good. 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. Smallmouth Bass – Good. Walleye – Fair.

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 continue to improve. Water levels have stabilized and clarity is excellent. For current fishing information, please call the Decorah Fish Hatchery at 563-382-8324.

Big Woods Lake
Anglers are reporting catches of both largemouth bass and crappie. Black Crappie – Fair: Float a crappie minnow under a slip bobber at various depths to locate fish.

Casey Lake (aka Hickory Hills Lake)
Anglers have been catching largemouth bass and channel catfish. Channel Catfish – Good: Try fishing from the beach and west. Use chicken livers fished on the bottom of the lake. Numerous 3-10 pound cats have been taken recently. Afternoon through the early evening hours are best. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Cast crankbaits, spinner baits or top water baits.

Cedar River (Nashua to La Porte City)
The Cedar River has been producing catches of both walleye and smallmouth bass now that the river has receded from recent flooding. Backwater areas with structure have been producing some crappie as well. Walleye – Good: Casting crankbaits or fishing a jig twister tipped with a minnow is productive for walleye this time of year. Smallmouth Bass – Excellent: Casting crankbaits or fishing a jig tipped with a nightcrawler is productive for smallmouth bass this time of year. Black Crappie – Good: Try fishing a crappie minnow under a slip bobber near structure or casting and retrieving tube jigs.

Maquoketa River (above Monticello)
The Maquoketa River continues to fall from recent flooding and is in good condition. Walleye – Good: Casting crankbaits or fishing a jig/twister tipped with a minnow is productive for walleye this time of year. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Casting crankbaits or fishing a jig/twister tipped with a minnow is productive for smallmouth bass this time of year.

Shell Rock River (Greene to Shell Rock)
The Shell Rock River is producing some catches of walleye after the recent high water levels. Walleye – Good: Casting crankbaits or fishing a jig twister tipped with a minnow is productive for walleye this time of year. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Cast artificial crankbaits.

Silver Lake (Delaware)
Anglers are reporting catches of bluegill, largemouth bass and northern pike. Bluegill – Good: Try fishing a piece of worm or nightcrawler a couple feet under the surface with a bobber or small 1/16 ounce hair jigs. Bluegills 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.

South Prairie Lake
Anglers are reporting catches of crappie. Black Crappie – Good: Float a crappie minnow under a slip bobber at various depths to locate fish.

Wapsipinicon River (Tripoli to Troy Mills)
There have been reports of anglers catching walleye on the Wapsipinicon River in Buchanan County. Walleye – Good: Casting crankbaits or fishing a jig tipped with a nightcrawler is productive for walleye this time of year. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Casting crankbaits or fishing a jig tipped with a nightcrawler is 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 continue to fall and are beginning to clear up. Anglers are reporting good to excellent catches of walleye and smallmouth bass once again on the interior rivers. Trout streams remain in excellent condition in the Manchester District. For further information, call the N.E. District Office at 563-927-3276.

MISSISSIPPI RIVER

Mississippi River Pool 9
River level is 11 feet at Lansing and is expected to fall about a foot over the next week. A lot of vegetation and debris is still present in the river after multiple high water events.

Mississippi River Pool 10
Water level is 19.9 feet at Lynxville with predictions calling for a one foot fall this week. Look for fish to be scattered and up in the flooded trees away from the strong current.

Mississippi River Pool 11
River level at Guttenberg has fallen to 11.1 feet this week and is expected to recede another foot.

The Upper Mississippi River levels crested last week and are on a slow decline. Water temperatures have fallen into the upper 50’s. There is still a lot of current and debris coming downriver this week making fishing a challenge. Expect flows to return to normal over the next few weeks. Fishing will be more productive in backwaters and side channels away from the strong main channel current.

Mississippi River Pool 12
The water level is near 10.7 feet at Dubuque tailwater and near 12.8 feet at the RR bridge. The water is expected to fall all week. Tributaries such as Catfish Creek are very turbid after nearly every rain. Water temperature in the main channel is near 60 degrees. Fishing has just started again but very few reports so far. Largemouth Bass – No Report: Find clear water. The Frog pattern was working well in the weed beds, but anglers may need to switch tactics as water once again falls. Freshwater Drum – No Report: Cut out all the red meat 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 – No Report: Channel cats bite well in rising water. Move often if they do not bite. Bluegill – No Report: Good bluegill angling should return when/if the river returns to normal seasonal water levels. 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 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. Lots of nice crappies are present in the Mississippi River. Walleye – Fair: Some walleye are being taken by anglers fishing wing dams very close to the bank. A lot of current remains in the Mississippi River even though the water has fallen.

Mississippi River Pool 13
The water level is near 11.9 feet at Bellevue. The water temperature is around 60 degrees. The Bellevue DNR ramp is once again somewhat functional. Fishing reports have been few, but the walleyes may be starting up again. Walleye – Fair: We have had three good year classes of walleyes in this reach of the Mississippi River and populations are very good.  It has been a difficult year to find them however with the River constantly going up and down. Largemouth Bass – No Report: 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 – No Report: Loads of freshwater drum are available and good fishing should return. Use large crayfish to catch really large drum. Channel Catfish – No Report: Try stink bait in flowing sloughs, especially above log jams or along rock piles. Fish are usually very close to the shoreline. 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. Smallies often hold very tight to the rocks. Stay away from the turbid tributary streams as smallmouths are sight feeders. Black Crappie – No Report: Before the latest water level rise, lots of 11 inch crappies were seen in side channel sloughs. White Bass – No Report: For the first time in a while we are seeing decent numbers of white bass in our fishery surveys.

Mississippi River Pool 14
The river level is near 11.2 feet at Fulton, 13.7 feet at Camanche and 8.1 feet at Le Claire. Some boat ramps may have debris on them yet, but water is receding off most. The water temperature is near 60 degrees. No angling was reported to us; expect fishing to improve shortly. Freshwater Drum – No Report: Use a simple sliding sinker and worm fished in current. Worms are the best bait. Channel Catfish – No Report: Catfish bite well in higher water. Use stink bait once the water levels again return to near normal flows. Find fish near shoreline. Walleye – No Report: Expect good walleye fishing to return to the Mississippi once the water levels return to near normal seasonal flows. 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. Largemouth Bass – No Report: Go deep into the backwaters along vegetation lines using frog imitation lures.

Mississippi River Pool 15
The water level is 11.2 feet at Rock Island, which is down significantly from last week. Water should continue to recede all week. Water temperature has dropped and is around 60 degrees in the main channel. Pigeon Creek and Crow Creek are turbid after nearly every rain. No fishing was reported to us this week. Freshwater Drum – No Report: Freshwater drum are abundant in Pool 15 and can easily be caught from shore. Try fishing the eagles landing area with worm and egg sinkers. Channel Catfish – No Report: Rising water levels usually trigger what has already been a good catfish bite.  Lots of varieties of stink bait are being used. Move often if the fish do not bite in 15 minutes.

Water temperatures have dropped and are around 63 degrees in the main channel. The water levels crested on Sunday or Monday throughout the district and are beginning to recede. Many boat ramps are still closed or will have debris on them. Very little fishing is going on.

Mississippi River Pool 16
River stage at Lock and Dam 15 in the Quad Cities is 11.37 feet and falling. Flood stage is 15 feet. Clark’s Ferry and Shady Creek boat ramps are open. Sauger – Slow: A few saugers are being caught in Sylvan Slough. Vertical jig with minnows or troll three-way rigs. White Crappie – Fair: Some crappies are being caught in Sunset Marina around the public docks. Try fishing with minnows under a bobber or vertical jigging with minnows. Look for crappies in the backwaters around brush piles as well. Bluegill – Slow: Look for bluegills around the docks in Sunset Marina or bush piles in the backwaters.

Mississippi River Pool 17
River stage is 10.74 feet at Lock and Dam 16 at Muscatine. Flood stage at Lock and Dam 16 is 15 feet. Kilpeck landing is closed. The ramp at Big Timber is closed. We have not received any fishing report information due to the recent high water conditions. White Crappie – No Report: Look for crappies in the backwaters. Try fishing around brush piles with jigs and minnows or minnows under a bobber. Sauger – No Report: We have not received any tailwater sauger fishing information this week with the high water conditions.

Mississippi River Pool 18
River stage is 12.80 feet at Lock and Dam 17 at New Boston. Flood stage is 15 feet. The ramp at Toolsboro is closed. We have not received much for fishing reports due to the high water conditions.

Mississippi River Pool 19
River stage is 9.12 feet at Lock and Dam 18 above Burlington. Flood stage is 10 feet. River stage at Burlington is 14.92 feet and flood stage is 15 feet. We have not received any fishing reports for this pool with the high water conditions. Some boat ramps may be closed due to the high water.

Mississippi River Pools 16-19: River stage is below flood stage throughout the pools. Some boat ramps are still closed due to the high water. There is still some debris floating due to the high water. Water clarity is poor and water temperature is 60-61 degrees. We have not received much for fishing reports due to the recent high water. If you have questions on fishing Pools 16-19, contact the Fairport Fish Hatchery at 563-263-5062.

SOUTHEAST

Environmental Discovery Park North Pond
The fall trout release will be at 10:00 am on October 29th. 1000 trout will be released with 100 tagged for prizes. Tags can be turned in at the Learning Center before 4:00 pm for a prize. Rainbow Trout – Excellent: The clear water of the pond allows you to see the fish you’re trying to catch.

Iowa River (Columbus Junction to Mississippi River)
The Iowa at Wapello is finally below bank full level, barely, and is forecasted to continue to slowly drop.

Lake Belva Deer
Fishing has picked up with the return of cooler weather. Channel Catfish – Excellent: Catfish continue to fatten up for winter. Bluegill – Good: Bluegill fishing improved this week. Largemouth Bass – Good: Bass fishing was pretty good over the weekend with a number of big healthy fish up to 6 pounds being caught.

Lake Darling
The water clarity remains around three feet. A few more nights like last night and the water temperature will be down in the low 60’s. Black Crappie – Good: were fairly close to the shore last weekend. Work the tree falls close to shore to find them. Nine to 10 inch fish are common. Bluegill – Good: Find bluegill near the shallower habitat and along the rip. Worm and bobber will catch them. Channel Catfish – Good: Catfish are up around the upper end of the lake. Use nightcrawlers or cut bait to catch 1 to 1 1/2 pound fish. Largemouth Bass – Good: Try around the habitat.

Lake of the Hills
The fall trout release is tomorrow, October 14th at 10:30 am. 2000 trout will be stocked so there will be plenty left for the weekend. Rainbow Trout – Excellent: Trout fishing after about 10:30 am on Friday will really improve. Look for fantastic trout fishing over the weekend.

Skunk River (Coppock to Mississippi River)
The river is back down to about 1/2 bank full. Not very many anglers going out to fish.

Wilson Lake
The fall trout release will be on Saturday, October 29th. 1,000 trout will be released with 200 of them with tags for prizes. Trout fishing will begin at 1:00 pm. Rainbow Trout – Excellent: Trout like flashy spinners in the beginning; wax worms and power baits work better after they calm down a little bit.

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

Central Park Lake
The lake will be drained this fall for a restoration project. There are relaxed fishing regulations for Central Lake with no daily bag limit on all fish species and no size limit on bass. The new 7 acre pond located west of the lake has been stocked with adult bass, bluegill and catfish, which were removed from Central Lake. All normal fishing regulations still apply to this pond. Contact the Jones County Conservation Board for additional information.

Coralville Reservoir
The lake level as of 10/13 is 700.1′ and is slowly falling. Black Crappie – Fair: Try flooded laydowns or steeper rock banks. White Crappie – Fair: Try flooded laydowns or steeper rock banks. Walleye – Fair: Look for windblown rock/gravel banks. White Bass – Fair: Look for windblown rock/gravel banks.

Diamond Lake
No minnows are allowed here. Black Crappie – Fair. Channel Catfish – Fair.

Hannen Lake
Minnows are not allowed here. Channel Catfish – Slow. Largemouth Bass – Slow. Black Crappie – Fair.

Lake Macbride
Any sized motor may be operated at no wake speed (5mph) now. Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) – Slow: Some small fish are more willing to bite. Larger fish have been hit and miss. Evenings are best. Black Crappie – Fair: Crappie fishing is improving. Try over/around brush piles with jigs or minnows. Most reports are in about 10-15 feet of water. Walleye – Fair: A few more fish are being caught. Try jigging in 10-20 feet around structure. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Use plastics, crankbaits and topwaters around shallow rock and wood, or try the offshore rock reefs with crankbaits and plastics. Channel Catfish – Fair: The south arm has been best on shad guts.

Otter Creek Lake
Yellow Bass – Good: Try small jigs, spinners or live bait. Bluegill – Fair: Use small jigs or worms around brush piles.

Pleasant Creek Lake
The lake is down 15′ for the restoration project in process. A lot of dirt work has been done to the lake bed. The boat ramp has been extended with rock and a section of concrete; use extreme caution if attempting to launch a boat as the water just out from the ramp is very shallow and may contain some stumps. 4×4 vehicles only. White Bass – Fair: Use crankbaits or jigs along windblown shores. Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) – Fair: Try crankbaits or jigs along windblown shores. Channel Catfish – Fair: Use crawlers, livers, cut bait, and stink bait. Fish up to 15 pounds have been reported. Muskellunge – Fair: Fish are being seen and caught shallower now.

Rodgers Park Lake
Bluegill – Fair: Use worms under bobbers. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Worms are also catching bass.

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

Corydon Reservoir
The fisheries renovation at Corydon Reservoir has been completed. Fish will be restocked.

Lake Sugema
Largemouth Bass – Fair: Spinnerbaits and rubber worms can be good this time of year as the water cools. Target areas around rocky shorelines and with submerged structure. Lake Sugema has a slot limit, so all largemouth bass 12-18 inches must be immediately released. Bluegill – Fair: Bluegill fishing has improved with the cooler water temperatures. Try small jigs tipped with a wax worm fished below a bobber around any aquatic vegetation or structure. Black Crappie – Slow: Anglers are starting to catch crappies. Use minnows fished under a bobber or small jigs tipped with live bait.

Lake Wapello
Largemouth Bass – Good: Look for the tops of the cedar tree piles as some stick out of the water using spinnerbaits or rubber worms. Try also areas along the aquatic vegetation. Black Bullhead – Fair: Use nightcrawlers fished on the bottom in 4-6 feet of water. Most fish are around 10 inches.

Rathbun Reservoir
The current lake level is 904.84 msl. Normal operating elevation is 904.0 msl. The current surface water temperature is in the mid 60’s °F. Lake Rathbun contains zebra mussels so make sure to properly drain, clean and dry equipment before transporting to another waterbody. Walleye – Slow: Use crankbaits that mimic gizzard shad in submerged points and rock piles. Try also minnows and jigs fished in shallow water. White Crappie – Fair: Crappies should start to move shallow as the water cools. Try minnows or crappie jigs in areas with submerged structure.

Red Haw Lake
Bluegill – Fair: Try small jigs tipped with live bait. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Use crawdad imitations along the dam and around the jetties. Try also rubber worms or spinner baits in these same areas.

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

Banner Lake (south)
Rainbow Trout – Good: The fall stocking of trout in Banner Lake south will occur on Thursday, October 20th at 11:00 a.m. Catch trout with a variety of methods including small in-line spinners, spoons, small tube jigs and wax worms or minnows under a bobber.

Big Creek Lake
Walleye – Fair: The fall walleye bite has been fair to good at Big Creek. Better numbers of legal size fish are being caught in the upper half of the lake around points and over the roadbeds. Several methods are working including jigging, trolling live bait rigs and trolling shad imitating crank baits.

Don Williams Lake
Black Crappie – Fair: The crappie bite is still good at Don Williams. Slowly troll jigs in 12-20 feet of water. When a crappie is caught, continue to fish that area as the fish are suspended in large schools. Use 1/8 ounce jigs tipped with minnows or small white or chartreuse twister tails. The upper half of the lake has been best, but groups of fish can be found throughout.

Lake Petocka
Rainbow Trout – Good: The fall stocking of trout in Lake Petocka will occur on Friday, October 21st at noon. Catch trout with a variety of methods including small in-line spinners, spoons, small tube jigs and wax worms or minnows under a bobber.

Red Rock Reservoir
Black Crappie – Fair: Fall is a good time to target crappies in Red Rock. Drift or slowly troll jigs with twisters or tipped with minnows in the small bays and arms out of the wind that come off the main lake. Try also vertical jigging near the docks and wave breakers in the marina cove.

A good fall crappie bite can be found drifting jigs for suspended fish. For information on Central Iowa lakes and rivers, contact Andy Otting or Ben Dodd at 515-432-2823.

Cold Springs Lake
The bluegill bite has picked up at Cold Springs. The lake has an 18 inch length limit on largemouth bass. Channel Catfish – Fair: 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. Bluegill – Fair: A few 8 inch bluegill are being caught with nightcrawlers under a bobber.

Greenfield Lake
Greenfield Lake has a good panfish population. The crappie bite has picked up this week. Bluegill – Fair: Drift with power bait or crawlers to catch bluegill up to 8.5 inches. Black Crappie – Good: Concentrate around the ends of jetties and submerged trees to find crappie up to 12 inches. Channel Catfish – Slow: Cast cut bait or shrimp to catch fish averaging 2 pounds.

Lake Anita
Anglers are catching bluegills and crappies drifting on the main lake and vertical jigging around cedar tree piles. Bass fishing is good in cedar tree piles.  Bluegill – Fair: Drift small black jigs tipped with power bait. Fish are 9 inches. Black Crappie – Good: Drift or vertical jig over tree piles. Sorting is necessary for fish over 10 inches. Largemouth Bass – Good: Largemouth bass are in the tree piles. Cast or jig plastics to catch bass of all sizes.

Lake Manawa
Manawa has a good walleye population. Target the south and west shorelines for fall walleye. Walleye – Fair: Slow troll worm harness or lindy rigs with nightcrawlers on the west shoreline.

Littlefield Lake
Littlefield lake has quality size crappies and bluegill. Water clarity is poor. Bluegill – Fair: Vertical jig cedar tree piles to catch bluegills up to 10 inches. Black Crappie – Fair: Vertical jig or cast around cedar tree piles to catch black crappie ranging in size from 10 to 12 inches.

Prairie Rose Lake
Anglers report catching bluegills around underwater reefs and tree piles. Prairie Rose water clarity is good and the vegetation is down. Bluegill – Fair: Drift or slow troll around the underwater reefs to catch bluegill up to 9 inches. Channel Catfish – Fair: Anglers are beginning to catch 14 to 16 inch channel catfish around the jetties on night crawlers.

Viking Lake
Viking has a good crappie population. Target tree piles for crappies and largemouth. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Fish plastics in tree piles to catch largemouth bass up to 20 inches. Channel Catfish – Slow: Catch catfish on wind swept points with cut bait. Fish will average 2 pounds. Black Crappie – Fair: Vertical jig 1/32nd ounce jigs tipped with power bait around the many tree piles in the lake. Fish will average 9 inches.

Water temperatures are in the low 60’s. The crappie bite is good on area lakes. For more information, call the Cold Springs District Office at 712-769-2587.

Green Valley Lake
Largemouth Bass – Fair: Catch largemouth bass up to 18 inches with finesse plastics fished near brush piles or rocky structures.

Lake Icaria
Channel Catfish – Fair: Channel catfish of all sizes have been caught using nightcrawlers or cut bait fished along rocky structure. Bluegill – Fair: Catch bluegill up to 8 with nightcrawlers fished in shallow bays. Black Crappie – Fair: Catch Crappie up to 10 inches using jigs or minnows fished along cedar tree brush piles. Walleye – Fair: Walleye of all sizes have been caught trolling crankbaits along the flats.

Little River Watershed Lake
Bluegill – Good: Catch bluegill up to 9 inches with nightcrawlers fished near cedar tree brush piles or shallow bays. Walleye – Fair: Walleye up to 20 inches have been caught trolling crankbaits along main lake points or flats.

Twelve Mile Creek Lake
Largemouth Bass – Fair: Catch largemouth bass up to 20 inches using finesse plastics fished near cedar tree brush piles.

Water temperature in Mount Ayr district lakes is in the mid-60’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 – Fair: Use cut bait, stink bait or crawlers fished on the bottom. Blue Catfish – Fair: Try fresh cut bait fished along the bottom or trotlines near fast water along wing dams near deeper water and current breaks. Flathead Catfish – Fair: Use live bait fished with rod and reel or with trotlines in currents breaks or near deeper water. Sauger – Slow: Anglers report catching a few saugers near wing dams and current breaks on jigs and live bait rigs.

Missouri River (Little Sioux to Council Bluffs)
Channel Catfish – Fair: Try cut bait, stink bait or crawlers fished on the. Blue Catfish – Fair: Use fresh cut bait fished along the bottom or trotlines near fast water along wing dams near deeper water and current breaks. Flathead Catfish – Fair: Try live bait fished with rod and reel or with trotlines in currents breaks or near deeper water.

Missouri River (Council Bluffs to Missouri State Line)
Channel Catfish – Fair: Use cut bait, stink bait or crawlers fished on the bottom. Blue Catfish – Fair: Try fresh cut bait fished along the bottom or trotlines near fast water along wing dams near deeper water and current breaks. Flathead Catfish – Fair: Use live bait fished with rod and reel or with trotlines in currents breaks or near deeper water.

The Missouri River at Decatur, Nebraska is at 20.16 ft. /27,300 cfs./ 54 degrees Fahrenheit. The Missouri River is up 0.28 feet from last week. Water temperatures on the Missouri River have dropped twelve degrees from last week. The cooler fall weather can be a favorable time to get out and enjoy the outdoors and do some fishing on the Missouri River.