NORTHWEST
Black Hawk Lake
Water temperatures are in the low 50’s. Walleye and panfish action has been good. For Black Hawk Lake, there is no length limit for walleye and a daily bag limit of 5 fish. Bluegill – Good: Bluegill can be picked up just about anywhere along the shoreline. The fish are averaging 7.5 inches. Use a small hair or tube jig with a small piece of crawler fished under a bobber. Most action has been from the floating fishing pier, but the west stone pier and inlet bridge are also producing fish. Black Crappie – Fair: Anglers have had luck fishing from Ice House Point, the floating dock, the stone piers, and the inlet bridge. Catch fish up to 11 inches using minnows, crawlers, and leeches fished under a bobber. Walleye – Good: Walleye action has been fast this week. Limits are being picked up in Town Bay and from the shoreline along Ice House Point. The inlet is also producing fish, especially around sunset. Most are being caught on leeches fished under a bobber. Some are being caught on twisters. Fish being kept are 15 to 21 inches. Yellow Perch – Fair: Some yellow perch are being picked up near the inlet bridge and in Town Bay. Keepers are 10- to 13-inches.
Blue Lake
Black Crappie – Fair: Anglers are catching crappie near the shoreline on jigs and slip bobber rigs tipped with minnows.
Storm Lake (including Little Storm Lake)
Water temperatures are in the low 50’s. Dredge operation in the northeast portion of the lake is scheduled to begin May 9th. Boaters need to use caution in this area and maintain a 100 foot distance from the dredge, booster pump and 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. Black Crappie – Fair: Anglers are picking up crappie in the Marina and near the inlet. Walleye – Good: Shore fishing has been good along the east shore from the boat ramp on to the Kings Pointe Resort, the north shore west of Chautauqua point, and near Frank Starr Park. Boat anglers are doing well along the east shore near the dredge cuts. Use leeches fished under a bobber and twisters.
Water temperatures in Black Hawk District lakes are in the low to mid 50’s. For more information, contact the Black Hawk District office at 712-657-2638.
Clear Lake
Water temperature is 56 degrees Fahrenheit. The restrooms at Lynne Lorenzen and jetties are open for the season. All the public access docks are currently in for the season. The McIntosh Park Fish Cleaning Station is open. Walleye – Good: Use jigs and hooks tipped with minnows around rocky substrate. Boat anglers are fishing rock reefs with slip bobbers with jigs or hooks tipped leeches. White Bass – Fair: Use live bait near the jetties. Yellow Bass – Fair: Try jigs or hooks tipped with minnows in or around aquatic vegetation. Wader anglers are catching fish around the island. Black Crappie – Fair: Catch fish near dusk or dawn at the jetties or around aquatic vegetation.
Rice Lake
Walleye and perch fishing are still fair. Try fishing early mornings or near dusk with minnows or leeches.
Silver Lake (Worth)
Yellow Perch – Fair: Use small jigs and a minnow off the jetty.
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: Anglers report good walleye fishing; cast twisters for the best action.
East Okoboji Lake
Fish on East Okoboji are active with many people leaving the lake with full buckets. Yellow Bass – Fair: Yellow bass activity has started to slow up on the north end of East Okoboji Lake. Use live baits under bobbers. Black Crappie – Good: Crappie are active on the north end of the lake. Try fishing with mini jigs and artificial baits off of the public docks. Yellow Perch – Good: Yellow perch are active on the north end of the lake. Use live bait off of the public docks.
Little Sioux River (state line to Linn Grove)
Walleye – Fair: A fair numbers of fish are being caught from the river using traditional baits.
Silver Lake (Dickinson)
The fish on Silver Lake are very active. Walleye – Good: Both wader anglers and boat fishermen have reported catching many. Use live baits such as minnows.
Spirit Lake
The fishing on Big Spirit is picking up nicely as the water temperature increases. Black Crappie – Fair: The Crappie bite has started to slow in the lagoons; active fish are being caught in shallow areas on sunny days. Use mini jigs and artificial baits. Black Bullhead – Good: Fishing for bullheads is very popular on the north end of the lake by the grade. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Largemouth fishing has been fairly good on sunny days. Fish obstructions such as downed trees near the shore. Yellow Perch – Good: Lots of angler acceptable perch are being caught.
West Okoboji Lake
Panfish are very active on West Okoboji. Black Crappie – Good: Many keeper crappies are being caught. Use light jig heads and artificial baits in the shallows. Bluegill – Good: Many keeper bluegills are being caught. Use light jig heads and artificial baits in the shallows.
Fish are very active on the Iowa Great Lakes. For more information throughout the week, contact the Spirit Lake Fish Hatchery at 712-336-1840.
NORTHEAST
Cedar River (above Nashua)
Currently, the river is fishable and water levels are falling. Visit https://waterdata.usgs.gov/ia/
Decorah District Streams
The road to the Decorah Fish Hatchery will be under construction through June. Streams are in good condition. Call 563-927-5736 for catchable trout stocking locations. Use jigs tipped with twister tails, feathered spinnerbaits, or flashy spoons. Use a nightcrawler to catch a freshly stocked fish. Brook Trout – Fair: Use scuds or stonefly imitations for fish not rising to the surface. Brown Trout – Fair: A great time to fish for brown trout is when water turns off color from rainfall events. Try caddis fly and midge larvae imitations hatching off the water. Nice hatches of blue wing olives and dark hendricksons are occurring on warmer sunny afternoons. Rainbow Trout – Good: 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
Water temperatures should start to warm with current weather pattern. Slow your retrieve giving fish time to strike. Boat anglers are finding fish in deeper water. Bluegill – Slow: Catch gills moving into shallower water with a small jig. Let it sink and slowly reel it in. Channel Catfish – Slow: Use cut baits on windblown rocky shorelines. Black Crappie – Slow: Warmer shore temperatures are drawing crappies in. Use a hook tipped with a minnow under a bobber. Largemouth Bass – Good: Try a jerk bait fished slowly over rock piles.
Lake Meyer
Visibility is improving. Water temperatures are in the low 50’s, but should warm with current weather. Find the latest hot spots on the Iowa DNR’s fishing atlas. Set your GPS coordinates to WGS84 to key in to your structure preference. Bluegill – Slow: Use a small jig with a slow retrieve. Channel Catfish – Slow: Try a dead chub or crawler in a rocky windblown shoreline. Largemouth Bass – Good: Use a spinnerbait. Find bass hanging around the shallow water transition zones. Use a slow retrieve in cooler water.
Turkey River (above Clermont)
Water levels are falling and temperatures are in the low to mid 50’s. Smallmouth Bass – Fair: Try a jig tipped with a minnow or feathered spinnerbait around a current break. Walleye – Fair: Use a jig tipped with a soft plastic twister tail. Use a slow retrieve in cooler water. White Sucker – Excellent: The sucker bite is on. Try a hook tipped with a nightcrawler fished off the bottom. Black Crappie – Good: Find a slack water area. Let a small jig sink and slowly reel it in.
Upper Iowa River (above Decorah)
Water levels are falling with temperatures in the low 50’s. Visibility is improving. Visit https://waterdata.usgs.gov/ia/
Upper Iowa River (below Decorah)
Water levels are falling and temperatures are in the low 50’s. Visibility is improving. The sucker bite is on. Walleye – Slow: Try spinnerbaits and jerk baits along rocky shorelines. Smallmouth Bass – Slow: Use jigs tipped with nightcrawlers or ringworms. Try also bright colored twister tails. White Sucker – Good: Use a hook with a worm and enough weight to get the worm to the bottom.
Volga Lake
Water temperature is 50 degrees. Fish attractors were recently added in the lake. Find fish attracting structure locations on the Iowa DNR’s fishing atlas. Bluegill – Slow: Use small jigs tipped with waxworm along a sunny shoreline. Black Crappie – Slow: Panfish anglers should start to see fish in shallow water. Try a hook tipped with a small minnow under a bobber. Channel Catfish – Fair: Use dead minnows or other dead fish along windblown shores to attract a cruising cat. Largemouth Bass – Good: Try a spinnerbait with a slow retrieve in cooler water. Fish are suspended in 5 to 7 feet water near drop-offs.
Wapsipinicon River (state line to Tripoli)
We have received no information about fishing on this water body this week. Northern Pike – Good: Use spoons or hook tipped with a chub.
Daytime temperatures will be in the low 60’s with 30’s overnight. It looks like a great weekend to get outside. Area rivers and streams are improving. 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.
Manchester District Streams
Trout streams are clear and in excellent condition. Rainbow Trout – Good.
Angling reports have been poor and few this past week as cold weather and rain impeded most of the state. Dropping water temperatures and pressure moved fish deeper on most lakes. Interior river water levels have peaked and are beginning to drop. Trout fishing remains good. Angling should improve with the nice extended forecast. Contact the N.E. District Office at 563-927-3276 for more information.
MISSISSIPPI RIVER
Mississippi River Pool 9
River level is 11.1 feet at Lansing and is expected to remain at this level all week. Army road at New Albin is under water. Water temperatures are in the low 50’s. Walleye – No Report: Fishing for walleyes has slowed as the spawn is almost over. Yellow Perch – Slow: Use minnows under a bobber in structure off side channels with little or no current. Bluegill – No Report: Bluegills are becoming more active. Check shoreline brush in backwaters using a slow presentation as the water is still cold. Freshwater Drum – Excellent: Freshwater drum are actively feeding. Try bouncing a nightcrawler on jigs in side channels and backwater areas with slight current.
Mississippi River Pool 10
Lynxville river level is 21.2 feet and is expected to remain high for another week before receding. Water temperatures are in the low 50’s. Walleye – No Report: Fishing for walleyes has slowed as the spawn is almost over. Sauger – No Report: The sauger spawn is almost over, but a few fish are still being caught in the tailwaters. Yellow Perch – Slow: Use minnows under a bobber in structure off side channels with little or no current. Bluegill – No Report: Bluegills are becoming more active. Check shoreline brush in backwaters using a slow presentation as the water is still cold. Freshwater Drum – Excellent: Freshwater drum are actively feeding. Try bouncing a nightcrawler on jigs in side channels and backwater areas with slight current.
Mississippi River Pool 11
River level is 12.6 feet at Guttenberg and is expected to remain high next week. Water temperatures are near 50. Gates are out of the water at Lock and Dam 10. Walleye – No Report: Fishing for walleyes has slowed as the spawn is almost over. Sauger – No Report: Fishing for sauger has slowed as the spawn is almost over, but a few fish are still being caught in the tailwaters. Yellow Perch – Slow: Use minnows under a bobber in structure off side channels with little or no current. B – No Report: Bluegills are becoming more active. Check shoreline brush in backwaters using a slow presentation as the water is still cold. Freshwater Drum – Excellent: Freshwater drum are actively feeding. Try bouncing a night crawler on jigs in side channels and backwater areas with slight current.
The upper Mississippi River remains high this week. Most boat ramps are still under water. Water temperature has fallen to 48 degrees in the main channel.
Mississippi River Pool 12
River levels are 13.0 feet at the Dubuque Lock and Dam and 16.3 feet at the RR bridge. These are up from last week; expect levels to remain steady all week. Many boat ramps are under water as flood heights approach low action stage. Yellow Perch – No Report: Find yellow perch in tailwaters near shore, but out of the main current. Yellow perch are done spawning, but the bite seems to continue for this species. Northern Pike – Fair: Use flashy spoons along the channel edges and backwater openings. Channel Catfish – Good: Some small channel catfish have been reported biting on worms. Freshwater Drum – Good: Drum bite well in higher water levels. A simple egg sinker and worm rig works best.
Mississippi River Pool 13
River level is 13.8 feet at Bellevue. This is up from last week and water will remain steady this week. Several boat ramps are now under water including the DNR boat ramp at Bellevue. Paddlefish – No Report: Paddlefish season is now closed for the year. Yellow Perch – Fair: Find yellow perch in tailwaters near shore, but out of the main current. Northern Pike – Slow: Use flashy white lures. Channel Catfish – Good: Channel catfish are hitting on worms; the bite improves with the dirty water we are experiencing. Freshwater Drum – Good: Drum are being caught on egg sinker rigs with worms. Largemouth Bass – Good: Bass in large backwater areas such as Spring Lake are on the bite. Slow rolling spinner baits work well.
Mississippi River Pool 14
River level is 13.8 feet at Fulton, 15.8 feet at Camanche and 9.6 feet at Le Claire. This is up from last week and levels should begin to hold steady. Some boat ramps will have water and debris on them from the high water levels. Paddlefish – No Report: Paddlefish season is now closed for the year. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Some reports of largemouth bass being caught in the near shore areas and in backwater lakes. Freshwater Drum – Good: Freshwater drum are biting on simple egg sinker rigs with worms for bait. Flathead Catfish – Good: Several catfish were reported this week mostly by anglers using a sinker and worm rig.
Mississippi River Pool 15
River level is 14.8 feet at Rock Island. This is up from last week and levels should begin to hold stable this week. Flooding is in action to minor flooding heights, so many boat ramps may be under water or have debris on them. No angling was reported to us this week, but angling is gearing up on Pool 15.
The main channel water temperature is 52 degrees, which is down considerably from last week. Water levels are high but somewhat steady. The paddlefish season is now closed. If you have any angling questions, please contact the Bellevue Fisheries Station 563-872-4976.
Mississippi River Pool 16
Tailwater stage is 14.86 feet at Lock and Dam 15 in the Quad Cities. Flood stage is 15 feet. River stage is forecasted to reach 15 feet by Thursday. The docks are not in at the Marquette St. landing. The ramp at Clark’s Ferry is closed due to high water. The dock has been pulled at the Fairport Recreation Area and there is water over the lower ramp. River stage at Fairport is 15.37 feet and flood stage is 14 feet. Fishing has been slow with the high and muddy water conditions.
Mississippi River Pool 17
Tailwater stage is 14.69 feet at Lock and Dam 16 in Muscatine and flood stage is 15 feet. The gates are out of the water at the dam. River stage at Muscatine is 16.28 feet and flood stage is 16 feet. The ramp at Big Timber (The Breaks) is still closed due to water over the parking area. Kilpeck landing is also closed due to high water. Fishing has been slow with the high and muddy water conditions.
Mississippi River Pool 18
Tailwater stage is 16.38 feet at Lock and Dam 17 at New Boston. Flood stage is 15 feet. River stage at Keithsburg is 15.30 feet. Flood stage is 14 feet at Keithsburg. The gates at the dam are being reported as out of the water. The Toolsboro ramp is closed. The Hawkeye Dolbee access has water over it as well. We have not received any fishing reports for this pool this week.
Mississippi River Pool 19
Tailwater stage is 12.19 feet at Lock and Dam 18. Flood stage is 10 feet at Lock and Dam 18. River stage is 17.01 feet at Burlington and flood stage is 15 feet. We have not received any fishing report information for this pool this week.
River levels are near or above flood stage throughout the pools. Current forecasts have river levels cresting on Thursday. Main channel water temperature is around 50 degrees. Fishing has been slow with the high and muddy water conditions. Some ramps are inaccessible due to the high water conditions. If you have questions on fishing Pools 16-19, contact the Fairport Fish Hatchery at 563-263-5062.
SOUTHEAST
Big Hollow Lake
Fishing has been slow this week because of the weather. It should start to pick up this weekend. Black Crappie – Fair: Crappies have been out in deeper water most of this week. The cold nights are keeping water temperatures down. Largemouth Bass – Fair.
Iowa River (Columbus Junction to Mississippi River)
The Iowa is running at or just over bank full. It is forecasted to stay at this level for most of next week.
Lake Belva Deer
The water level was up due to the rains last weekend but has returned back to normal. The water temperature dropped 10 degrees since last week. Black Crappie – Slow: Expect it to pick up when the weather warms up. The spawn is not too far off. Bluegill – Slow: They started to come back in shallow the couple days when the sun was out.
Lake Darling
The water temperature was 50 degrees on Tuesday. Up in the creeks coming into the lake the water temperature was 47 degrees. Black Crappie – Slow: Crappies were out in 7 to 8 feet of water around the willow bats and deeper habitat. Bluegill – Slow: Slowed down about the same time as the crappies; there are some in shallow around the fallen trees. Channel Catfish – Fair: Tuesday afternoon, when the sun was out, anglers were having some luck catching catfish above the upper in-lake silt dam where the creeks come into the lake and the shallow water had warmed up.
Lake Geode
The lake was up about 1 1/2 feet earlier this week and the water was pretty cloudy. This was the result of the weekend rains of two inches. Black Crappie – Slow: Look for them along the edges of the steep drop-offs. They should be there waiting for the weather and water to warm back up. Bluegill – Slow.
Skunk River (Rose Hill to Coppock)
The river level is running just about one foot below bank full and the current is moving pretty fast.
For more information on the above lakes, contact the Lake Darling Fisheries Office at 319-694-2430.
Cedar River (Cedar Rapids to Moscow)
Shovelnose sturgeon – Fair. Channel Catfish – Fair.
Coralville Reservoir
The lake is at normal spring pool. At this level, boating is difficult to impossible above Lake Macbride State Park. Channel Catfish – Fair: Use cut bait or shad guts. White Crappie – Fair: Try bright jigs or minnows in brush piles.
Diamond Lake
No minnows are allowed here. Black Crappie – Good: Use a jig/waxworm around the jetties and shallow brush. Most fish are 7- to 10-inches. Bluegill – Fair: Try a jig/waxworm around the jetties and shallow brush.
Hannen Lake
Largemouth Bass – Good. Bluegill – Good. Black Crappie – Slow.
Iowa River (Coralville Lake to River Junction)
Channel Catfish – Fair. Shovelnose sturgeon – Fair.
Kent Park Lake
The fishing regulations for Kent Park Lake have been relaxed to take advantage of the fish before the lake is drained for a renovation project. The lake is currently being lowered. For more information, contact the Kent Park office at 319-645-2315. Black Crappie – Fair: Use minnows around brush. Bluegill – Fair. Largemouth Bass – Fair.
Lake Macbride
All boats/motors may operate at no wake (5 mph) speed. The fish cleaning station and grinder are open at the Primitive Campground ramp. Water temperature this week was in the low 60’s. Black Crappie – Fair: Crappies have started to move to shallow bays/pockets; some fish remain suspended in 15-25 feet of water. Walleye – Fair: Some males still remain along shallow shorelines, especially towards evening. Other post spawn fish have pulled out to structure such as rock or points.
Prairie Park Fishery
You must possess a fishing license and trout stamp to fish for and/or possess trout. Rainbow Trout – Fair: Use small jigs/spinners or live/scented baits.
Sand Lake
2000 trout were stocked here on Saturday, April 22. You must have a fishing license and trout stamp to fish for and/or possess trout. Rainbow Trout – Fair: Try small jigs/spinners or live/scented baits. Black Crappie – Good: Fishing with minnows, especially towards evening, has been the most productive.
Wapsi River (Troy Mills to Oxford Junction)
Bluegill – Fair: Some fish are being caught in the backwaters on worms. Channel Catfish – Fair: Minnows have been working well.
For more information, contact the Lake Macbride Fisheries Station at 319-624-3615.
Hawthorn Lake
Largemouth Bass – Slow: Try rubber worms or spinnerbaits along the shallows and around the jetties as the water warms. Bluegill – Slow: Use small jigs fished around the fishing jetties and along the dam.
Lake Keomah
Bluegill – Slow: Try small jigs tipped with live bait in the shallows. Largemouth Bass – Use spinnerbaits or plastic worms along the dam and around the fishing jetties.
Lake Sugema
Channel Catfish – Slow: Try nightcrawlers along the shorelines. Black Crappie – Fair: Use live bait presentations and different depths as the water warms. Walleye – Slow: Try nightcrawlers on jig heads along the dam and other rip-rapped areas.
Lake Wapello
Channel Catfish – Slow: Try nightcrawlers around the jetties. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Use jerk baits or spinnerbaits around the cedar tree piles and along the shorelines.
Rathbun Reservoir
The current lake level is 906.92 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. White Crappie – Slow: Try areas around docks and areas with rip-rap along the shoreline. As the water warms the crappie will continue to move closer to shore. Channel Catfish – Fair: Channel catfish continue to bite on nightcrawlers or cut bait. Look for areas with the wind blowing toward shore.
Red Haw Lake
Channel Catfish – Slow: Try nightcrawlers along the shorelines. Bluegill – Slow: Try small jigs tipped with live bait in the shallows. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Use spinnerbaits or rubber worms around the fishing jetties and around structure along the shoreline.
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: April and May are good months to target trout in Ada Hayden. Use spinners, panfish jigs and waxworms or minnows under a bobber.
Banner Lake (south)
Rainbow Trout – Good: Trout were stocked on April 8th. Cast small inline spinners, spoons, panfish jigs or live minnows under a bobber.
Des Moines River (Saylorville to Red Rock)
Walleye – Fair: Fishing below the dams from Saylorville through Des Moines is producing a mixed bag of walleye, white bass and catfish. Slowly retrieve jigs tipped with twister tails, paddle tail swimbaits or live minnows.
