NORTHWEST

Black Hawk Lake
Bluegill – Good: Bluegill action has been fast. The fish are averaging 7.5-inches. Use a small hair or tube jig with a small piece of bait under a bobber from the floating fishing pier, the west stone pier and inlet bridge. Black Crappie – Good: Anglers have had good luck fishing from Ice House Point, the floating dock, the stone piers, and the inlet bridge. Larger (10- to 12-inch) crappies are from the ends of the dead falls (about 20 to 30 feet from shore) in town bay. Walleye – Fair: Walleye have been caught in town bay and from the east shore. Fishing is starting to pick up and should get better as the water warms. Fish are 15- to 20-inches. Muskellunge – Fair: Anglers continue to catch a fair number of muskies. The largest fish are around 38 inches long.

Storm Lake (including Little Storm Lake)
Walleye broodstock collection started at Storm Lake on Wednesday this week. Water temperature is 48 degrees. Black Crappie – Fair: Anglers are picking up crappie in the Marina and near the inlet. Walleye – Fair: Walleye fishing has been hit and miss for some anglers. Some are catching their limits while others are striking out. Try along the east shore from the boat ramp on to the Kings Pointe Resort and the north shore west of Chautauqua point.

Water temperatures in Black Hawk District lakes were around 44 degrees on Thursday. More reports will be available as more favorable weather brings anglers back out. Shore fishing will pick up next week as temperatures warm. For more information, contact the Black Hawk District office at 712-657-2638.

Bluebill Lake
Courtesy dock is in at the boat ramp.

Clear Lake
All courtesy docks are in. The water temperature is 48 degrees Fahrenheit. Walleye – Good: Shore anglers are catching walleyes off the jetties with jigs tipped with minnows near dusk. Wader and boat anglers are catching walleyes near the outlet after sunset. Yellow Bass – Good: Use hooks or jigs tipped with small minnows off the Ventura jetty.

Lake Cornelia
Courtesy dock is in at the boat ramp. Catch small panfish off the docks in the harbor using live bait.

Morse Lake
Catch yellow perch using minnows.

For information in the north central area, contact the Clear Lake Fish and Wildlife office at 641-357-3517.

East Fork Des Moines (state line to Algona)
Walleye – Good: Excellent angling has been reported by anglers. Cast twisters for the best action.

East Okoboji Lake
Channel Catfish – Good: Use cut bait or other traditional baits after dark for “pole bending” action. Yellow Perch – Good: Numbers of fish are being caught on the north end of the lake; sorting is need. Cast small jigs for the best action. Yellow Bass – Fair: Report of fish being caught from the lake. Bluegill – Good: Numbers of fish being caught from the trestle; expect the action to pick up as the water warms.

Little Sioux River (state line to Linn Grove)
Walleye – Good: Good numbers of fish are being caught from the river using traditional baits.

Lost Island Lake
Yellow Bass – Fair: Report of anglers catching fish from the lake. Black Crappie – Good: Report of action from shallow water areas such as the canal and the little lake. Use small jigs tipped with waxworms or wigglers under a bobber. Yellow Perch – Fair: Report of some fish being caught.

Silver Lake (Dickinson)
Walleye – Good: Wader anglers fishing after dark will catch fish; use a slow presentation for the best action.

Spirit Lake
Walleye and muskie bloodstock collection began April 5th on the Iowa Great Lakes. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Fish shallow rock piles on sunny days for active fish. Use a slow presentation such as a jig and minnow. Black Crappie – Fair: Action has slowed; expect action to improve with sunshine and warmer temperatures in the forecast. Try fishing in Trickles Slough, Anglers Bay and Templar Park Lagoon. Black Bullhead – Fair: Expect excellent “pole bending” action at the north grade to improve as the water warms.

West Okoboji Lake
Largemouth Bass – Good: Numbers of fish are being caught in the canals. Use traditional bass baits. Bluegill – Good: Fish shallow water areas such Triboji and Turtle Lake canal area. Sorting is needed; persistent anglers will be rewarded with good numbers of angler acceptable sized fish.

For more information throughout the week, contact the Spirit Lake Fish Hatchery at 712-336-1840.

NORTHEAST

Cedar River (above Nashua)
Flows remain high, but water levels are falling after this week’s gentle rain shower. Visit the USGS Current Water Data website for more information. Walleye – Excellent: Try a jig tipped with a minnow or nightcrawler below dams in the pockets. Channel Catfish – Excellent: Shore anglers using dead chubs fished or crawlers under a bobber will find success. Smallmouth Bass – Fair: Catch good numbers of 9- to 12-inch smallies with an occasional fish over 18-inches.

Decorah District Streams
All trout streams have been stocked with catchable trout; check the proposed stocking schedule. Streams are in good condition, but flows remain high. Catch nice trout using jigs tipped with twister tails or feathered spinnerbaits. Use a nightcrawler to catch a freshly stocked fish. Brook Trout – Fair: Use flies or lures that look like sculpins, dace or suckers. Brown Trout – Good: Off color water from run-off turns the browns on. Try critters imitating small caddis fly larvae or gnats hatching off the water. Rainbow Trout – Excellent: Fish rainbow trout in the head end of riffles. Slowly pull a black bead head fly with a light colored scud or midge dropper through the upper and lower ends of pools for trout in deeper water.

Lake Hendricks
Few anglers have been out. Stay off the jetties until further notice. County Conservation Board Staff are establishing grassed walkways. Channel Catfish – Fair: Use a dead fish on a hook in shallower water on windblown rocky shorelines. Black Crappie – Slow.

Lake Meyer
New cedar tree clusters were placed in the lake last week; many are within casting distance of the shoreline. Bluegill – Fair: Use a small jig tipped with a waxworm under a bobber near edges of fish attracting structures. Channel Catfish – Slow: Try a dead chub or some other minnow along a rocky windblown shoreline.

Turkey River (above Clermont)
Water levels are falling, but flows remain up. Water clarity is improving.  Smallmouth Bass – Fair: Try a jig tipped with a minnow around a current break. White Sucker – Good: Suckers are starting to bite more consistently. Use a hook tipped with a nightcrawler fished off the bottom.

Upper Iowa River (above Decorah)
Water levels have stabilized after this week’s rain. Visit the USGS Current Water Data website for more information. Walleye – Fair: Try a blade bait or bigger crankbait near coldwater tributaries. Brown Trout – Fair: Use spinnerbaits near the mouths of coldwater tributaries. White Sucker – Fair.

Upper Iowa River (below Decorah)
Water levels are stable and clarity is improving. Catch a nice trout near cold water tributaries. The sucker bite is just starting. Walleye – Good: Use jigs tipped with twister tails or nightcrawlers. Smallmouth Bass – Fair. White Sucker – Fair: Try a hook tipped with a nightcrawler fished on the bottom.

Volga Lake
Few anglers have been out this week.  Bluegill – Slow: Use small jigs tipped with a waxworm along a sunny shoreline. Channel Catfish – Fair: Use dead minnows or other dead fish along windblown shores to attract a cruising cat.

Wapsipinicon River (state line to Tripoli)
Popular areas to fish are around North Washington, Frederika, and Independence. Northern Pike – Fair: Use spoons or jigs tipped with a twister tail.

A beautiful weekend is in store for Northeast Iowa. Temperatures will be in the upper 60’s to low 70’s. Rain is forecast for Sunday evening. Grab a fishing pole and take advantage of the many angling opportunities available. Anglers must get a landowner’s permission to fish private property, even if it can be accessed through public property. For current fishing information, please call the Decorah Fish Hatchery at 563-382-8324.

Cedar River (Nashua to La Porte City)
Reports are good for both walleye and smallmouth bass and fair for northern pike on the Cedar River. Walleye – Good: Use jig and minnow combinations in eddies or slack water areas off of main flow. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Try jig and minnow combinations in rip-rap or rocky shoreline areas. Many anglers will catch smallmouth while fishing for walleye.

Shell Rock River (Greene to Shell Rock)
Walleye – Good: Use jig and minnow combinations in eddies or slack water areas off of main flow. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Try jig and minnow combinations in rip-rap or rocky shoreline areas. Many anglers will catch smallmouth while fishing for walleye.

Wapsipinicon River (Tripoli to Troy Mills)
Northern pike fishing has been good on the Upper Wapsipinicon River in Bremer County. Walleye and smallmouth bass should be biting in Buchanan County. Walleye – Fair: Use jig and minnow combinations in eddies or slack water areas off of main flow. Northern Pike – Good: Cast bucktail spinner baits or float a live shiner or chub under a bobber. Smallmouth Bass – Fair: Try jig and minnow combinations in rip-rap or rocky shoreline areas. Many anglers will catch smallmouth while fishing for walleye.

Angling reports remain good for walleye and smallmouth bass on the interior rivers; rivers are rising with the recent rainfall. 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 level is 8.7 feet at Lansing and is expected to remain stable this week. The boat ramp at New Albin is now open. Water temperatures are in the mid 40’s. Walleye – Fair: Walleyes are beginning the spawn. Some nice walleyes have been caught in the tailwaters over the past week mostly on jig and minnow. Yellow Perch – Fair: Perch are spawning; the bite will drop off until after the spawn. Use minnows under a bobber in structure off side channels with little or no current. Bluegill – Slow: Bluegills are becoming more active. Check shoreline brush in backwaters using a slow presentation as water is still cold.

Mississippi River Pool 10
River level is up from last week at 18 feet at Lynxville and is expected to stabilize. Water temperatures are in the mid 40’s. Walleye – Good: Walleyes are beginning the spawn. Some nice walleyes have been caught in the tailwaters over the past week mostly on jig and minnow. Sauger – Good: The sauger bite has been good vertical jigging in tailwater areas. Yellow Perch – Fair: Perch are spawning; the bite will drop off until after the spawn. Try minnows under a bobber in structure off side channels with little or no current. Bluegill – Slow: Bluegills are becoming more active. Check shoreline brush in backwaters using a slow presentation as water is still cold.

Mississippi River Pool 11
River level has risen a foot to 10.1 at Guttenberg and will rise slightly before leveling off. Water temperatures are in the mid 40’s. Walleye – Good: Walleyes are beginning the spawn. Some nice walleyes have been caught in the tailwaters over the past week mostly on jig and minnow. Sauger – Good: The sauger bite has been good vertical jigging in tailwater areas. Yellow Perch – Fair: Perch are spawning; the bite will drop off until after the spawn. Use minnows under a bobber in structure off side channels with little or no current. Bluegill – Slow: Bluegills are becoming more active. Check shoreline brush in backwaters using a slow presentation as water is still cold.

The Upper Mississippi River levels are slightly high, but are predicted to remain stable this week. Water temperatures have risen into the mid to upper 40’s. Expect fishing to pick up with warmer temperatures and stable water levels.

Mississippi River Pool 12
River levels are 9.3 feet at the Dubuque Lock and Dam and 11.5 feet at the RR bridge.  These are up from last week, but will rise a bit this coming week. Some of the smaller boat ramps in Pool 12 may still have debris on them from the high water. Sauger – Good: Conditions improved this week and a lot of sauger fishing took place.  Most reported catching sauger on some sort of minnow rig. Walleye – Good: Walleye tailwater angling is underway. Use a gig and minnow rig. Yellow Perch – Excellent: Find yellow perch in tailwaters near shore but out of the main current. Northern Pike – Good: Northern Pike are almost done spawning and quickly turned to feeding.

Mississippi River Pool 13
River level is 10.4 feet at Bellevue. This is up a foot from last week and will rise slightly this coming week. Some of the smaller boat ramps in Pool 13 still have debris on them from the high water. Paddlefish – Slow: Find paddlefish in the deeper holes in the tailwaters. The high water was making paddlefish snagging difficult; conditions have improved but the fish do not seem to be present. Sauger – Good: Use jigs and minnows. Yellow Perch – Excellent: Find yellow perch in tailwaters near shore but out of the main current. Walleye – Fair: A few slot fish reported on jig and minnows. Most walleyes have been below the 15-inch slot limit. Northern Pike – Good: The northern pike spawning run is nearly complete; they are starting to readily hit lures.

Mississippi River Pool 14
River level is 9.8 feet at Fulton, 12.7 feet at Camanche and 7.2 feet at Le Claire. This is up over one foot from last week and levels will rise this week. Some of the smaller boat ramps in Pool 14 still have debris on them.  Paddlefish – Slow: Find paddlefish in the deeper holes in the tailwater areas. Check paddlefish rules before you venture out. Sauger – Good: Good to excellent reports are mixed in with fair to poor reports.  Most successful anglers are using a jig and minnow rig.

Mississippi River Pool 15
River level is 10.7 feet at Rock Island. This is up one foot from last week and levels will rise this week. Some of the smaller boat ramps in Pool 15 will have debris on them. Some sauger angling was noted this week on Pool 15.

The main channel water temperature is 46.2 degrees; this is up two degrees from last week. Water levels will rise slightly all week. Paddlefish season is underway; please review snagging rules. Many boat ramps are now back in operation, but may have debris on them. If you have any angling questions, please contact the Bellevue Fisheries Station 563-872-4976.

Mississippi River Pool 16
Tailwater stage is 11.15 feet at Lock and Dam 15 in the Quad Cities and is forecasted to rise. The docks are not in at the Marquette St. landing. Tailwater fishing has slowed down below the dam and in Sylvan Slough.  Sauger – Slow: Fishing for saugers has slowed down in Sylvan Slough. Try vertical jigging with minnows or pulling three-way rigs with minnows or stickbaits. Walleye – Slow: Walleye fishing has slowed down below the dam and Sylvan Slough with the recent rains. Try vertical jigging with minnows or pulling three-way rigs with minnows or stickbaits.

Mississippi River Pool 17
Tailwater stage is 10.60 feet at Lock and Dam 16 in Muscatine and is forecasted to rise. River stage is forecasted to reach 11.3 feet by the weekend. Tailwater fishing has been slow for walleyes and saugers. Walleye – Slow: Fishing has been slow. Sauger – Slow: Fishing below the dam for saugers has been slow.

Mississippi River Pool 18
Tailwater stage is 12.81 feet at Lock and Dam 17 at New Boston. Tailwater stage is forecasted to rise. River stage is forecasted to reach 13.6 feet by the weekend. Flood stage is 15 feet. The gates at the dam are being reported as out of the water. We have not received any fishing reports for this pool this week.

Mississippi River Pool 19
Tailwater stage is 9.23 feet at Lock and Dam 18 and is rising with the recent rains. River stage is forecasted to reach 10 feet by the weekend. Flood stage is 10 feet. We have not received any fishing report information for this pool this week.

Recent rains has the river rising. Main channel water temperature is around 46-47 degrees. Tailwater fishing has been slow with the recent rains. Water clarity is poor. If you have questions on fishing Pools 16-19, contact the Fairport Fish Hatchery at 563-263-5062.

SOUTHEAST

Hawthorn Lake
Channel Catfish – Fair: Try nightcrawlers along windblown shorelines. Largemouth Bass – No Report: As the water warms, try rubber worms or spinnerbaits along the shallows and around the jetties.

Lake Keomah
Bluegill – No Report: Try small jigs in the shallows as the water warms.

Lake Sugema
Channel Catfish – Slow: Try nightcrawlers along the shorelines. Black Crappie – No Report: Try live bait presentations at different depths as the water warms.

Lake Wapello
Channel Catfish – Slow: Try nightcrawlers around the jetties. Largemouth Bass – No Report: Use jerk baits or spinnerbaits in cedar tree piles as the water warms.

Ottumwa Park Pond East (Trout Pond)
Trout were stocked here on March 25th. Try jigs tipped with a chunk of nightcrawler or in- line spinners.

Rathbun Reservoir
The current lake level is 906.37 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 or shrimp along windblown shorelines. White Crappie – Slow: Some anglers have been catching a few crappies around docks.

Red Haw Lake
Channel Catfish – Slow: Try nightcrawlers along the shorelines. Bluegill – No Report: Try small jigs in the shallows as the water warms.

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 here Feb. 9th. Try spinners, panfish jigs and waxworms or minnows under a bobber.

Boone District Farm Ponds
Bluegill – Fair: Find good early season fishing for bluegill, largemouth bass and crappies as farm ponds and urban ponds warm up. Fish live bait or small plastics slowly from the north and west shorelines that receive the most sunlight.

Des Moines River (Saylorville to Red Rock)
Anglers interested in snagging big head and silver carp should try below the Red Rock spillway. The fish are there in high numbers and anglers are doing well. Walleye – Fair: Fishing below the dams from Saylorville through Des Moines is picking up. A mixed bag of walleye, white bass and catfish are being caught. Slowly retrieve jigs tipped with twister tails, paddle tail swimbaits or live minnows.

Don Williams Lake
Black Crappie – Fair: Some crappie are being caught on the warmer, sunny days on the upper half of the lake slowly fishing jigs or live minnows.

Lake Petocka
Rainbow Trout – Good: Trout were stocked here on Feb. 3rd. Cast small inline spinners, spoons, panfish jigs and waxworms or live minnows under a bobber.

More fishing reports will resume when warmer weather brings anglers back to the water. For information on Central Iowa lakes and rivers, contact Andy Otting or Ben Dodd at 515-432-2823.

Big Lake (Including Gilbert’s Pond)
1000 rainbow trout were stocked here on Feb. 16th. Rainbow Trout – Slow: Cast small spinners or minnows under a bobber.

Greenfield Lake
Greenfield Lake has a good fish population. It’s also a good destination for early spring channel catfish fishing.

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. The pontoon area is a hotspot for crappie this time of the year. Largemouth Bass – Slow: A few early season anglers are having success in deep water around trees. Largemouth bass in Anita are all sizes.

Lake Manawa
Crappie fishing the canals can be good on warm sunny days. Manawa has a decent population of 10- to 12-inch white crappie. Manawa is also a good destination for early season catfish. White Crappie – Fair: Cast twister tails or minnows under a bobber in the canals. Sorting is needed for the larger fish. Black Crappie – Fair: Manawa has a large year class of 5- to 7-inch black crappie. This big group of fish will provide good crappie fishing the next couple of years. Walleye – Slow: Cast twister tails tipped with a minnow on the south shoreline.

Littlefield Lake
Littlefield Lake has quality size black crappies and bluegill.

Mormon Trail Lake
Expect good fishing at Mormon Trail in 2017. The lake has a good panfish population with 10-inch black crappies. Largemouth bass and channel catfish also have good numbers of large fish.

Orient Lake
Orient lake has a good population of 10-inch crappies that will provide good fishing this spring. Bluegills average 7-inches. The lake also has a good catfish population. Black Crappie – Fair: Cast minnows under a bobber to sunken trees in the lake to catch 10-inch black crappie.

Prairie Rose Lake
Expect to catch quality size bluegills again this spring. The crappies stocked in 2014 will reach an acceptable size in 2017. The lake also supports a good population of channel catfish. Largemouth bass will provide good catch and release fishing.

Water temperatures in the southwest district are in the mid 40’s. Cool temperatures and rain have slowed fishing activity. Fishing reports will resume as angler reports come in. For more information, call the Cold Springs District Office at 712-769-2587.

Green Valley Lake
Largemouth Bass – Fair: Largemouth bass of all sizes have been caught using tube jigs fished along the silt dam or along other windblown rocky shorelines.

Lake Icaria
Walleye – Fair: Catch walleye up to 20-inches with jigs or crankbaits fished near cedar tree brush piles.

Little River Watershed Lake
Largemouth Bass – Fair: Catch largemouth bass up to 20-inches using jigs fished near cedar tree brush piles or windblown rocky shoreline areas.

Summit Lake
Largemouth Bass – Fair: Largemouth bass of all sizes have been caught with spinnerbaits or crankbaits fished along the dam or along the HWY 25 bridge. Black Crappie – Slow: Catch crappies up to 10-inches using minnows under a bobber fished near cedar tree brush piles.

Twelve Mile Creek Lake
Largemouth Bass – Good: Largemouth bass of all sizes have been caught using crankbaits or jigs fished along windblown shorelines or near cedar tree brush piles. Walleye – Fair: Walleyes of all sizes have been caught with jigs tipped with a minnow fished along the dam. Channel Catfish – Fair: Catch channel catfish up to 15 pounds using cut bait drifted along main lake points. Yellow Perch – Slow: Catch yellow perch up to 10-inches with jigs tipped with a minnow fished in the main basin or along the dam. Black Crappie – Good: Catch crappies up to 9-inches using jigs or minnows fished near cedar tree brush piles.

Water temperature in Mount Ayr district lakes is in the upper 40’s. For more information, contact the Mount Ayr Fisheries office at 641-464-3108.