NORTHWEST
Black Hawk Lake
Black Hawk Lake is ice free. Bluegill – Good: Catch good numbers of bluegill from shore, especially from the stone piers in Town Bay. Use small tube jigs or hair jigs tipped with bait fished under a bobber. Most fish are 6.5-7.5 inches. Channel Catfish – Fair: After ice out is a good time to catch catfish from shore. Use cut bait and stink bait at Ice House Point, Lakewood Point area, the rock pile north of Cottonwood Point, and the east shore near the outlet. Black Crappie – Fair: Use small jigs fished under a bobber during low light conditions.
Black Hawk Pits
Black Hawk Pits are ice free.
Storm Lake (including Little Storm Lake)
Any remaining ice is unsafe for travel. After ice out is a good time to catch catfish from shore using stink bait and cut bait.
Ice fishing has ended. Most lakes in western Iowa are ice free. Any remaining ice is unsafe. There are some angler reports of good panfish and catfish fishing from shore after ice-out. For more information, contact the Black Hawk District office at 712-657-2638.
Clear Lake
The rain and warm weather the last several days has deteriorated the ice to an unsafe condition.
Winnebago River
Northern Pike – Good: The river came up a few feet this week and slowed the bite some. Try fishing below the dams with live chubs.
With rain and warm weather this week, the ice has really deteriorated and is considered unsafe. For information in the north central area, contact the Clear Lake Fish and Wildlife office at 641-357-3517.
Center Lake
The ice conditions on Center Lake are very poor with a large area of open water on the east side of the lake.
East Okoboji Lake
The north end of East Lake has poor ice conditions with open water at the highway nine boat ramp. The south end of the lake also has many spots of open water including an area at the Hattie Elston access. Due to the poor ice conditions, ice fishing is not advised on East Okoboji at this time. The Iowa Great Lakes walleye season is closed until May 6th.
Little Sioux River (state line to Linn Grove)
Anglers have reported catching some northern pike and yellow perch in the rivers.
Silver Lake (Dickinson)
Ice fishing is not advised at this time as the ice conditions are very poor.
Spirit Lake
The ice on Big Spirit has deteriorated greatly along the shoreline making access to the lake difficult. With the lake refreezing the accesses should patch up, but the ice conditions will still be variable; use caution when venturing out. The Iowa Great Lakes walleye season is closed until May 6th.
West Okoboji Lake
The fishing on West Okoboji has slowed with the increase in temperature. The ice has turned dark and is deteriorating quickly. The Iowa Great Lakes walleye season is closed until May 6th.
Ice conditions deteriorated greatly over the past week as the temperature rose into the mid-fifties. Some of the accesses should firm back with the cold spell coming here in the next couple days, making it possible to get back on the ice. If you go out on the ice after we have some refreezing, use caution as there will likely be spots of weaker ice. For more information throughout the week, contact the Spirit Lake Fish Hatchery at 712-336-1840.
NORTHEAST
Cedar River (above Nashua)
The Cedar River is ice free. Water levels are falling after the majority of snow melted earlier in the week. Water clarity is poor. Gaging stations are now operational Visit the USGS Current Water Data website for more information.
Decorah District Streams
Streams are in fair condition, but flows remain high. Rain/snow will turn streams off color, but streams with better water quality will clear quicker. Gravel roads are beginning to get soft as the frost goes out. Decent hatches of caddis flies and midges have been occurring with the recent spring-like weather. A few early stonefly hatches have also been noticed. Brook Trout – Fair: Use flies or lures that look like sculpins, dace or suckers. Brown Trout – Good: Fishing when the water turns off color from run-off will turn the browns on. Try critters imitating small caddis fly larvae or gnats hatching off the water. Rainbow Trout – Fair: Black fly midge or hares ear wet flies are attracting bows fished in the riffles. Slowly pull a black bead head fly with a yellow scud dropper through the upper and lower ends of pools for trout in deeper water.
Lake Hendricks
Ice fishing is not recommended at this time.
Lake Meyer
Ice fishing is not recommended at this time.
Turkey River (above Clermont)
The Turkey River is ice free. Water levels are falling, but the river remains up. Water clarity is poor. Forecast rain/snow amount will dictate river conditions for the next several days.
Upper Iowa River (above Decorah)
The Upper Iowa River is ice free. Water levels are falling after the majority of snow melted earlier in the week. Water clarity is poor. Gaging stations are now operational. Visit the USGS Current Water Data website for more information. Walleye – Slow: Anglers were catching a few walleye below lower dam before the snowmelt.
Volga Lake
Ice fishing is not recommended at this time.
Winter is back in the northeast corner of the state. Snow/rain, potentially heavy depending on where the front goes, may impact many areas this weekend. Check Iowa 511 for road conditions. Many area rivers are swollen and dirty with snowmelt. For current fishing information, please call the Decorah Fish Hatchery at 563-382-8324.
Cedar River (Nashua to La Porte City)
The Cedar River is currently high and dirty.
Shell Rock River (Greene to Shell Rock)
The Shell Rock is currently high and dirty. No good fishing reports for this week.
Wapsipinicon River (Tripoli to Troy Mills)
There have been no reports for the Wapsipinicon River this week.
Ice fishing is officially over. Interior rivers are currently high and dirty from recent snow melts. Area trout streams are in excellent condition, contact the N.E. District Office at 563-927-3276 for more information.
MISSISSIPPI RIVER
Mississippi River Pool 9
River levels at Lansing have risen to 9.4 feet this week and are expected to reach 12.2 feet over the next week. Ice conditions have deteriorated fast this week. Army road at New Albin is expected to be under water. Walleye – Fair: Walleye fishing is occurring in the tailwaters and over closing dams, but may be more difficult with the high water and current. Sauger – Good: The sauger bite has been good vertical jigging in tailwater areas; the high water may create some challenges.
Mississippi River Pool 10
River levels at Lynxville have risen several feet to 18.5 with levels predicted to reach 22.4 feet this week. The boat ramp is open at Lynxville. Lock gates are expected to be opened. Walleye – Fair: Walleye fishing is occurring in the tailwaters and over closing dams, but may be more difficult with the high water and current. Sauger – Good: The sauger bite has been good vertical jigging in tailwater areas; the high water may create some challenges.
Mississippi River Pool 11
River levels at Guttenberg have risen several feet to 10.4 with levels predicted to reach 14.3 feet next week. Lock gates are up at Lock and Dam 10. The boat ramps are free of ice and open. Walleye – Fair: Walleye fishing is occurring in the tailwaters and over closing dams, but may be more difficult with the high water and current. Sauger – Good: The sauger bite has been good vertical jigging in tailwater areas; the high water may create some challenges.
Upper Mississippi River levels are rising with recent snow melt coming down. Water is expected to rise another 3-4 feet. Backwater ice has deteriorated with warm weather and high water. Ice fishing is not recommended at this time.
Mississippi River Pool 12
The water level is 9.3 feet at the Dubuque tailwater and near 11.5 feet at the RR bridge. Levels are expected to rise fast all week. Levels may approach minor flooding stages. Ice is gone from backwaters for the most part. Tailwater angling is generally wide open with a few smaller ice flows limiting angling. Sauger – Fair: Some tailwater angling is taking place. Anglers are rating tailwater fishing from fair to good with most anglers using a minnow rig. Walleye – Good: Walleye tailwater angling is underway. A gig and minnow rig is probably the most common rig.
Mississippi River Pool 13
The water level is near 10.2 feet at Bellevue. This is up from last week and will rise much further. Expect water levels to go up at least four feet next week. The tailwaters ramps are wide open and ice flows have stopped. Walleye – Fair: High water levels and water level changes are limiting catching walleye a bit. Sauger – Fair: Use a minnow rig. Yellow Perch – Fair: A few nice yellow perch have been caught in the shallow waters in the tailwaters and mouths of tributary streams. Dead minnows work best.
Mississippi River Pool 14
The water level is near 8.9 feet at Fulton, 12.1 feet at Camanche and 6.5 feet at Le Claire. Water levels are once again rising this week. Expect the water to rise nearly 4 feet. Some tailwater angling is underway, but not much has been reported. High water is making it tougher to find walleyes and sauger.
Mississippi River Pool 15
The water level is 8.9 feet at Rock Island and is rising. The water is expected to rise to 14.3 feet by the end of next week. No angling was reported to us.
Ice fishing is officially done with this report; ice is nearly gone from backwaters in Pools 12 to 15. The Mississippi River is still unusually high for this time of year, and is expected to rise this week. Main channel water temperature is 39 degrees. If you have any angling questions, please contact the Bellevue Fisheries Station 563-872-4976.
Mississippi River Pool 16
Tailwater stage is 8.48 feet at Lock and Dam 15 in the Quad Cities and is forecasted to reach 12.1 feet by early next week. The Marquette St. ramp is open. Unsafe ice conditions in the backwaters. Sauger – Fair: Some saugers are being caught in Sylvan Slough. Try fishing with three-way rigs with stick baits or vertical jigging with minnows. Walleye – Slow: Some smaller walleyes are being caught in Sylvan Slough. Try vertical jigging with minnows or trolling three-way rigs with minnows or stick baits.
Mississippi River Pool 17
Tailwater stage is 6.97 feet at Lock and Dam 16 in Muscatine and is forecasted to rise over the weekend. River stage is forecasted to reach 10.9 feet by early next week. The boat ramps in Muscatine are open. Some walleyes and saugers are being caught below the dam. The rising river level could slow down the walleye and sauger bite below the dam. Unsafe ice conditions in the backwaters. Sauger – Fair: A few saugers are being caught below lock and dam 16 in Muscatine. Try vertical jigging with minnows or trolling three-way rigs with minnows or stick baits. Walleye – Fair: Some walleyes are being caught below the dam in Muscatine. Try vertical jigging with minnows or pulling three-way rigs with minnows or stick baits.
Mississippi River Pool 18
Tailwater stage is 8.85 feet at Lock and Dam 17 at New Boston and is forecasted to reach 12.2 feet by the end of the weekend/early next week. The toolsboro ramp is currently open. The gates at the dam are being reported as out of the water. Tailwater fishing has been slow with the higher water levels. Unsafe ice conditions in the backwaters. Sauger – Slow: Fishing has been slow with the higher water levels. Walleye – Slow: Walleye fishing has been slow with the higher water levels.
Mississippi River Pool 19
Tailwater stage is 5.71 feet at Lock and Dam 18 above Burlington and is forecasted to reach 7.9 feet. Some saugers and walleyes were being caught below the dam, but the rising rivers levels may change the bite. There are unsafe ice conditions in the backwaters. Sauger – Fair: Try vertical jigging with minnows or trolling three-way rigs with minnows. Walleye – Fair: Some walleyes were being caught below the dam. Try vertical jigging with minnows or pulling three-way rigs with minnows.
River stages are forecasted to rise over the weekend. Some walleyes and saugers were being caught below the dams this past weekend. The rising river levels may slow down the walleye and sauger bite below the dams. Main channel water temperature has been around 41 degrees. Unsafe ice conditions in the backwaters. If you have questions on fishing Pools 16-19, contact the Fairport Fish Hatchery at 563-263-5062.
SOUTHEAST
Big Hollow Lake
The lake is ice free.
Lake Belva Deer
The lake is ice free. A few boats have been out on the lake, but not much effort has been made to catch fish.
Lake Darling
The final ice in the lake melted last Saturday. A few boats have been out on the water to enjoy the 75 degree weather. Docks are not in yet.
Lake Geode
The lake is ice free. Docks are not in yet.
For more information on the above lakes, contact the Lake Darling Fisheries Office at 319-694-2430.
Cedar River (La Porte City to Cedar Rapids)
The river is rising. Walleye – Slow: A few walleyes were caught in Benton County over the past week, but rising water may put a stop to catches now.
Coralville Reservoir
The lake is ice free and the water level is at 683.4′ as of Feb. 23, but it is starting to be lowered to spring pool. It is predicted to reach 679.4′ on March 9th. At that level, boating above Bobber’s Grill is difficult to impossible for most boats. Channel Catfish – Slow: A few catfish are being caught on shad guts at the 965/380 bridges.
Diamond Lake
The lake is ice free. Anglers have been out but fishing has been slow.
Hannen Lake
The lake is ice free. Some fishermen have been out. No catches were reported.
Iowa River (Coralville Lake to River Junction)
Flow coming out of the Coralville Dam on Feb. 23 is 2500 CFS. It is predicted to increase to 7500 CFS by March 3rd due to the lake being lowered to spring pool. Walleye – Slow: Jigs are catching some fish below the Coralville dam, but fishing conditions will decrease with the increase in flow.
Iowa River (Marshalltown to Coralville Lake)
The river is reported as dirty. There has been some fishing going on, but no catches were reported.
Kent Park Lake
The lake is ice free. Fishing regulations will be relaxed starting March 1 for Kent Park Lake only. There will be no length or bag limits for fish in the lake at that time. This is to take advantage of the fish before the lake is drained later in the year for a scheduled renovation project. Bluegill – Fair: Anglers were catching some fish on wax worms around brush.
Lake Macbride
The lake is ice free. All boats may run at no wake speed at this time. Boat docks are not in yet. Black Crappie – Slow: Some fish are being caught over structure in 15-20 feet on minnows. Walleye – Slow: Some fish were caught this week over structure in 15-25 feet on minnows.
Otter Creek Lake
The lake is ice free.
Pleasant Creek Lake
The lake is currently down 12′ for the restoration project. The lake is ice free. The main boat ramp is open but it is extremely shallow; use caution at these water levels.
Rodgers Park Lake
The lake is mostly open if not completely open by now.
Wapsipinicon River (Troy Mills to Oxford Junction)
The river is up a little and a bit dirty. Walleye – Slow: A few walleyes were caught last week on minnows.
For more information, contact the Lake Macbride Fisheries Station at 319-624-3615.
Lake Keomah
The lake is ice free. Catch channel catfish with cut bait on the windblown shorelines.
Lake Sugema
The lake is ice free. Catch channel catfish with cut bait on the windblown shorelines.
Lake Wapello
The lake is ice free. Use cubit along the windblown shorelines or jetties for channel catfish.
Rathbun Reservoir
The lake is ice free and the current lake level is 904.15 msl. Normal operating elevation is 904.0 msl. Lake Rathbun contains zebra mussels so make sure to properly drain, clean, and dry equipment before transporting to another water body. Channel Catfish – Good: Use shad guts or shrimp along the windblown shorelines.
Red Haw Lake|
The lake is ice free. Catch channel catfish with cut bait on the windblown shorelines.
Contact the Rathbun Fish Hatchery at 641-647-2406 with questions about fishing in south central Iowa.
SOUTHWEST
Ada Hayden Heritage Park Lake
Rainbow Trout – Good: Trout were stocked on Feb. 9th. The lake is ice free. Use spinners, panfish jigs and wax worms or minnows under a bobber.
Lake Petocka
Rainbow Trout – Good: Trout were stocked on Feb. 3rd. Cast small inline spinners, spoons, panfish jigs and wax worms or live minnows under a bobber..
Saylorville Reservoir
Channel Catfish – Fair: A large die off of young shad occurred on Big Creek over the winter. A lot of dead shad are flowing over the Big Creek spillway into Saylorville. This could produce some good channel catfish fishing below the Big Creek spillway using dead shad fished on the bottom or suspended under a bobber.
As of Thursday, Feb. 23rd, Central Iowa lakes are mostly to completely ice free. For information on Central Iowa lakes and rivers, contact Andy Otting or Ben Dodd at 515-432-2823.
Big Lake (Including Gilbert’s Pond)
Rainbow Trout – Good: 1000 rainbow trout were stocked on Feb. 16th. Cast small spinners or minnows under a bobber for best success.
Lake Anita
Lake Anita will provide good fishing this spring. Find a large crappie population in the lake averaging 9 inches and bluegills up to 9.5 inches.
Lake Manawa
The canals at Manawa are ice free. Crappie fishing the canals can be good on warm sunny day’s right after ice out. Manawa has a decent population of 10 to 12 inch white crappie. Manawa is also a good destination for early season catfish. White Crappie – No Report: Cast twister tails or minnows under a bobber in the canals to catch ice out crappie.
Littlefield Lake
Littlefield Lake has quality size black crappies and bluegill.
Prairie Rose Lake
Expect to catch quality size bluegills again this spring. The crappies stocked in 2014 will reach an acceptable size to harvest in 2017. The lake also supports a good population of channel catfish.
Lakes in the southwest district are ice free. A few angler reports show good fishing for channel catfish. For more information, call the Cold Springs District Office at 712-769-2587.
