NORTHWEST
Arrowhead Lake
Some bluegill are still sitting on nests. Look for nest colonies along the west and east shorelines; the highest concentration are likely in the southern end of the lake.
Black Hawk Lake
Water temperatures are in the mid 70’s. Bluegill – Good: Pick up bluegill 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 off the floating fishing pier, the west stone pier, and the inlet bridge. Some bluegills are sitting on nests; you can easily target the males. Black Crappie – Fair: Crappies are mostly off shore now. Walleye – Fair: Anglers are picking up walleye from shore and by boat. Town Bay, the shoreline along Ice House Point, and near the inlet bridge are producing fish.Use leeches fished under a bobber and twisters on the downwind shoreline where walleye are feeding. Late evening into dark and the early mornings are best. Largemouth Bass – Good: Catch largemouth all over the lake using the traditional bass lures. Fishing Ice House Point, the east shoreline, and the lake side of the inlet bridge has provided good bass action for many anglers. Channel Catfish – Fair: Use cut bait fished on the bottom along shore. Try also in the marina and near the floating dock in Town Bay; find catfish anywhere near rocky shoreline or rock piles this time of year.
Storm Lake (including Little Storm Lake)
Water temperatures are in the low 70’s. Dredge is in operation in the northeast portion of the lake; boaters must 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 some suspended crappie out mid-lake in the dredge cuts while fishing for walleye. Walleye – Good: Much of the walleye action has shifted to the boat anglers. Boat anglers are doing well trolling shad raps or ripple shads or drifting crawler harnesses on the edges of the dredge cuts around the lake. White Bass – Fair: Use crankbaits; most action has been from boat while fishing dredge cuts. Channel Catfish – Fair: Find spawning channel catfish along shore in the rocks this time of year. Use cut bait, stink bait or crawlers.
Water temperatures in Black Hawk District lakes are in the low 70’s. Bluegills are still close to shore in many lakes and ponds. Catfish can be found in the rocks along shore spawning. For more information, contact the Black Hawk District office at 712-657-2638.
Beeds Lake
Black Crappie – Good: Use small jigs and minnows. Largemouth Bass – Good: Try spinner baits and other surface artificial lures. Bluegill – Good: Use live bait in areas of vegetation, jetties, and docks.
Bluebill Lake
Bluegill – Good: Use a small jig or live bait with a slip bobber. Channel Catfish – Good: Use live bait.
Briggs Woods Lake
Largemouth Bass – Good: Use weedless and surface lures. Bluegill – Good: Use small lures or live bait around shore, docks and vegetation .
Clear Lake
The water temperature is 72 degrees. McIntosh Woods State Park boat ramp is closed for repairs. There is a 14 inch minimum length limit for walleyes on Clear Lake with a daily limit of three fish per person; only one walleye can be greater than 22 inches. It is illegal to transport bait or fish in lake, stream, or river water. Clean, Drain, and Dry your boats to help stop the spread of aquatic invasive species. Walleye – Good: Use live bait and artificial lures around reefs and rocky substrates. Bluegill – Fair: Use live bait or a small jig with a slip bobber. Channel Catfish – Good: Try live bait around docks and banks.
Crystal Lake
Wader fishermen be aware – swimmers itch has been reported. Black Crappie – Good: Use small minnow with a slip bobber to detect depth. Bluegill – Good: Use live bait tipped on small hook or small artificial lures.
Fin and Feather Lake
Bluegill – Good: Use small minnows and jig lures. Channel Catfish – Good: Try live bait near the shore or shallow areas.
Silver Lake (Worth)
Yellow Perch – Good: Use live bait and small artificial lures. Largemouth Bass – Good:Try top water lures such as spinners and floating crank baits.
For information in the north central area, contact the Clear Lake Fish and Wildlife office at 641-357-3517.
East Okoboji Lake
Fish are active with many people leaving the lake with full buckets. Yellow Bass – Good: Yellow bass activity has started to slow on the north end of East Okoboji Lake. Use live baits under bobbers. Yellow Perch – Fair: Yellow perch are active on the north end of the lake. Use live bait off of the public docks. Walleye – Good: Walleye have been very active; use live bait in shallow rock piles.
Five Island Lake
Yellow Bass – Fair: Yellow bass are active on Five Island Lake. Channel Catfish – Good: Channel catfish are very abundant in shallow areas near structures such as downed trees.
Lake Pahoja
Bluegill – Good: Use mini jigs and artificial baits near the weed lines.
Lost Island Lake
Walleye – Good: Nice sized walleye are coming off the lake. Channel Catfish – Good: Channel catfish are active; cast traditional catfish baits.
Mill Creek (Lake)
Bluegill – Good: Angler acceptable bluegill are abundant here. Largemouth Bass – Good: Good numbers of largemouth bass are being caught.
Silver Lake (Dickinson)
The fish on Silver Lake are very active. Walleye – Good: Many fish are being caught; use live baits such as minnows.
Spirit Lake
The fish are very active with many people leaving the lake with limits. Yellow Perch – Fair: A fair number of angler acceptable perch are being caught. Walleye – Excellent: The walleye are moving to deeper water, but remain very active.
West Okoboji Lake
The fishing continues to be very good. Northern Pike – Good: Nice northerns are being caught. Walleye – Good: Anglers are having a high success rate fishing for walleye; use live bait such as minnows and leaches.
The fishing on the Iowa Great Lakes continues to be very active over the past couple of weeks. For more information throughout the week, contact the Spirit Lake Fish Hatchery at 712-336-1840.
NORTHEAST
Cedar River (above Nashua)
Water clarity is improving with temperatures in the mid 70’s. Water levels bumped up with recent rain. Visit https://waterdata.usgs.gov/ia/
Decorah District Streams
Streams conditions are good. Wild parsnip is in full bloom. Wear light clothing to protect exposed skin from this plant’s effects. 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 – Good: Use mayfly, caddis fly and small gnat imitations for the hatching insects. Brown Trout – Good: Off color water is a great time to fish for brown trout. Try caddis fly and mayfly imitations hatching off the water. Use leach or streamer patterns for more aggressive fish. 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
Clean off your boat trailer before you leave the boat ramp. Boat anglers are finding fish over structure in deeper water. Bluegill – Good: Use a small jig tipped with a small piece of crawler fished under a bobber. Channel Catfish – Good: Crawlers or stink bait work best as water temperatures rise. Fish around stumps and other woody structures. Black Crappie – Slow: Use a hook tipped with a minnow under a bobber. Largemouth Bass – Good: Use a jig tipped with a plastic twister or top water lure.
Lake Meyer
Water clarity is good. Water temperatures are in the low 70’s. Clean off your boat trailers and drain boats before you move to another water body. 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 – Fair: Use a small jig tipped with a small piece of worm under a bobber in shallow water. Channel Catfish – Good: Use stink baits with warmer temperatures or a crawler fished on the bottom. Dawn and dusk are best. Largemouth Bass – Good: Use frog or mouse topwater lures fished along the weed beds. Overcast, windy days are best. Black Crappie – Slow: Catch crappie in the evening in shallow water along a rocky shoreline. Try deeper water in the daytime. A minnow or artificial scented baits fished under a bobber will catch a nice fish. Northern Pike – Fair: Try a spinnerbait for a pike hanging in 1 to 4 feet of water.
Turkey River (above Clermont)
Water levels are slowly rising with recent rain. Water temperatures in the mid to upper 70’s. Smallmouth Bass – Good: 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 or minnow. White Sucker – Good: Try a hook tipped with a nightcrawler fished off the bottom.
Upper Iowa River (above Decorah)
Water levels are stable with temperatures in the mid 70’s. Visibility is good. Visit https://waterdata.usgs.gov/ia/
Upper Iowa River (below Decorah)
Water levels are falling with temperatures in the mid 70’s. Visibility is excellent. Bank anglers should toss a lure upstream and let it float through the current along a ledge or current seam. Walleye – Good: Use jig tipped with a minnow or plastic twister tail fished around brush piles or coldwater tributary mouths. Lots of 8- to 10-inch fish in the creel. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Use a variety of spinnerbaits. White Sucker – Good: Try a hook with a worm and enough weight to get the worm to the bottom. Channel Catfish – Good: Morning bite is best; use crawlers and stink baits.
Volga Lake
Water temperatures are rising. Find fish attracting structure locations on the Iowa DNR’s fishing atlas. Bluegill – Fair: Use small jigs tipped with small piece of nightcrawler or red worm fished deep. Black Crappie – Fair: Find crappie hovering over submersed trees or cruising open water. Use a hook tipped with a small minnow under a bobber. Channel Catfish – Good: Start using stink baits as temperatures rise. Late evenings are best.
Largemouth Bass – Fair: Bass fishing has been hit and miss. Try a spinnerbait or a top water lure.
Temperatures will be in the low 70’s with a chance for storms each day. Evenings should cool into the low 50’s. Area rivers and streams are relatively stable, but recent rain may cause a bump in levels. Water clarity is good and water temperatures are rising. For current fishing information, please call the Decorah Fish Hatchery at 563-382-8324.
Cedar River (Nashua to La Porte City)
The Cedar River has been producing catches of walleye, smallmouth bass and channel catfish. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Try live bait or artificial crankbaits on areas of rock habitat. Walleye – Fair: Use a jig tipped with a night crawler or artificial crankbaits in eddies or current breaks below fallen trees or log jams. Channel Catfish – Fair: Try dead cut baits or stink baits.
Manchester District Streams
Trout streams remain in excellent condition as long as heavy rains hold off for the upcoming weekend.
Maquoketa River (above Monticello)
The Maquoketa River has been producing catches of walleye, smallmouth bass and channel catfish. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Try live bait or artificial crankbaits in areas of rock habitat. Walleye – Fair: Use a jig tipped with a nightcrawler or artificial crankbaits in eddies or current breaks below fallen trees or log jams. Channel Catfish – Fair: Try dead cut baits or stink baits.
Shell Rock River (Greene to Shell Rock)
The Shell Rock River has been producing catches of walleye, smallmouth bass and channel catfish. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Try live bait or artificial crankbaits in areas of rock habitat. Walleye – Fair: Use a jig tipped with a nightcrawler or artificial crankbaits in eddies or current breaks below fallen trees or log jams. Channel Catfish – Fair: Try dead cut baits or stink baits.
Wapsipinicon River (Tripoli to Troy Mills)
There have been no reports for the Wapsipinicon River this week, but should provide good opportunities for smallmouth bass, walleye and channel catfish.
Interior river levels remain in good condition and should be good for the upcoming weekend if we don’t get heavy rains this evening. Lake fishing has slowed as most fish species have completed spawning.Trout fishing conditions are excellent and June is a great month for good hatches of caddis. Contact the N.E. District Office at 563-927-3276 for more information.
MISSISSIPPI RIVER
Mississippi River Pool 9
River level has risen a foot this week and is currently at 10.6 feet at Lansing. It is expected to stabilize late next week. Army road at New Albin is again closed due to water over the road. Water temperature is near 73 degrees. Walleye – Fair: Tailwater fishing has dropped off; walleye are scattered in side channel sloughs. Expect walleyes to return to the wing dams once water levels fall. Yellow Perch – Fair: Look for yellow perch in the vegetation and trees in shallow backwater cuts. Bluegill – Good: Use small hooks with a small piece of garden worm fished under a bobber along the shorelines with little current. Freshwater Drum – Excellent: Freshwater drum are actively feeding. Use a crawler fished along the bottom or live crawdads in current. Channel Catfish – Excellent: Channel cats are actively feeding and preparing to spawn. Use nightcrawlers with heavy weight to keep your bait on the bottom in holes with current. Largemouth Bass – Excellent: Use plastic worm rigs and crankbaits fished in the trees in the backwaters. Smallmouth Bass – Excellent: Use spinners and crankbaits along the riprap on main channel borders and rock piles.
Mississippi River Pool 10
Lynxville river level has risen several feet to 20.1 feet and will stay high through next week. Water temperature is 73 degrees at Lock and Dam 9. Gates are up at Lock and Dam 9 this week. Noble’s Island and Bussey Lake are open. Sny Magill ramp is accessible, but may have water over the road yet. Walleye – Fair: Tailwater fishing has dropped off; walleye are scattered in side channel sloughs. Expect walleyes to return to the wing dams once water levels fall. Yellow Perch – Fair: Look for yellow perch in the vegetation and trees in shallow backwater cuts. Bluegill – Good: Use small hooks with a small piece of garden worm fished under a bobber along the shorelines with little current. Freshwater Drum – Excellent: Freshwater drum are actively feeding. Use a crawler fished along the bottom or live crawdads in current. Channel Catfish – Excellent: Channel cats are actively feeding and preparing to spawn. Many reports of “fiddler” cats with some bigger sized being caught on night crawlers in deeper holes with a little current. Largemouth Bass – Excellent: Use plastic worm rigs and crankbait fished in the trees in the backwaters. Smallmouth Bass – Excellent: Use spinners and crankbaits along the riprap on main channel borders and rock piles.
Mississippi River Pool 11
River levels are again up several feet at Guttenberg. Current level is 11.9 feet and is predicted to remain high through next week. Water temperature is 67 degrees at Dam 10. Gates remain out of the water at Lock and Dam 10. Most ramps are open, but may still have mud and debris on them. The South Guttenberg boat ramp is open. Walleye – Fair: Tailwater fishing has dropped off; walleyes are scattered in side channel sloughs. Expect walleyes to return to the wing dams once water levels fall. Yellow Perch – Fair: Look for yellow perch in the vegetation and trees in shallow backwater cuts. Bluegill – Fair: Use small hooks with a small piece of garden worms fished under a bobber along the shorelines with little current. Freshwater Drum – Excellent: Freshwater drum are actively feeding. Use a crawler fished along the bottom or live crawdads in current. Channel Catfish – Excellent: Channel cats are actively feeding and preparing to spawn. Many reports of “fiddler” cats with some bigger sized being caught on night crawlers in deeper holes with a little current. Largemouth Bass – Excellent: Use plastic worm rigs and crankbaits fished in the trees in the backwaters. Smallmouth Bass – Excellent: Use spinners and crankbaits along the riprap on main channel borders and rock piles.
Upper Mississippi River levels have risen again and water clarity is poor due to recent rains. Main channel water temperatures fell slightly to the mid to low 70’s.
Mississippi River Pool 12
River levels are 11.4 feet at the Dubuque Lock and Dam and 13.5 feet at the RR bridge. These are up two feet from last week and water level is expected to hold steady or recede slowly. Many of the smaller boat may still be flooded out or have debris on them. Channel Catfish – Good: Use worms along rock piles and lines as catfish spawn along this habitat. Freshwater Drum – Excellent: Drum bite well in higher water levels. A simple egg sinker and worm rig works best. White Crappie – Good: A few nice white crappie have been reported all spring. Not many numbers, but size has been quality. Walleye – Fair: Some walleyes are biting on crankbaits or pitching jigs into eddy areas. White Bass – Fair: Use jigs and spinners in the tailwater areas. Bluegill – Good: Smaller gills are being reported out of the clearer backwater areas. Most being caught on worm rigs.
Mississippi River Pool 13
River level is at 12.4 feet at Bellevue. This is up two feet from last week and water level may hold steady or start to recede this upcoming week. The small boat ramps in the pool may have water on them. Northern Pike – Fair: Use flashy white lures. Channel Catfish – Excellent: Channel catfish are hitting on worms rigs. Catfish are soon to spawn, so fish along rock piles or wing dam areas. Freshwater Drum – Good: Use egg sinker rigs with worms. Largemouth Bass – Good: Find bass in large backwater areas such as Spring Lake. Many anglers are slow rolling spinnerbaits. Walleye – Good: Find walleye in eddy currents. High water makes this a challenge, but the fish are still on the bite so keep pitching jigs until you find them. Try also wingdams near the shore in this higher water. Smallmouth Bass – Fair: Pitch jigs or on worms in flooded rocky areas.
Mississippi River Pool 14
River level is 11.4 feet at Fulton, 13 feet at Camanche and 8.1 feet at Le Claire. These are up from last week, but levels may stabilize. Some boat ramps will have water and debris on them due to the high water levels. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Find bass in the backwater complexes such as cattail and rock creek. Lots of people are slow rolling spinnerbaits and other flashy lures in the stained waters. Freshwater Drum – Good: Freshwater drum are biting on worm rigs. Channel Catfish – Channel catfish are hitting on worm rigs. Catfish are soon to spawn, so fish along rock piles or wingdam areas. Walleye – Slow: Some walleyes were being caught in eddy areas by people pitching jigs. Use bright colors in dirty water. Flathead Catfish – Good: Some people are trot lining flathead catfish using large bullheads as bait.
Mississippi River Pool 15
River level is at 11.5 feet at Rock Island. This up a foot and half from last week and flow levels should stabilize. Channel Catfish – No Report: Catfish are soon to spawn, so fish along rock piles or wing dam areas. Freshwater Drum – No Report: Freshwater drum bite well this time of year. Put them on ice immediately if you are going to clean them.
The main channel water temperature remains at 76 degrees, which is up slightly from last week. Water levels have peaked and may recede this week. Many of the smaller boat ramps in the district are under water or will 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 11.54 feet at Lock and Dam 15 in the Quad Cities and has been rising the past few days with the recent heavy rains. Flood stage is 15 feet. The docks at the Marquette St. ramp in Davenport were reported as being in earlier in the week. The dock is in at the Fairport Recreational area. Channel Catfish – Fair: Float leeches or crawlers under a bobber along the rocks. Some catfish are being caught along the rocks in Sylvan Slough. Use night crawlers or dip baits in the main channel and side channel snags. Bluegill – Good: Use worms under a bobber in Sunset Marina. Try fishing backwater areas like the Andalusia Island along brush piles and snags.
Mississippi River Pool 17
Tailwater stage is 10.55 feet at Lock and Dam 16 in Muscatine and has been rising due to the recent heavy rains. Flood stage at Lock and Dam 16 is 15 feet. River stage at Muscatine is 12.26 feet and is raising. Flood stage at Muscatine is 16 feet. The ramp at Big Timber has been closed once again due to high water. Channel Catfish – No Report: Float leeches or worms under a bobber along the rocks. Try fishing dip baits above snags along the main channel and side channels. Bluegill – No Report: Use worms under a bobber along the brush piles in the backwaters.
Mississippi River Pool 18
Tailwater stage at Lock and Dam 17 at New Boston is 11.92 feet and has been rising due to the recent rains. Floodstage is 15 feet. The Toolsboro ramp is currently open. We have not received any fishing reports for this pool this week. Channel Catfish – No Report: Float leeches or worms under a bobber along the rocks in riprap shorelines. Try fishing dip baits above snag piles along the main channel or side channels.
Mississippi River Pool 19
Tailwater stage is 8.04 feet at Lock and Dam 18 and has been rising with the recent heavy rains. Flood stage is 10 feet at Lock and Dam 18. River stage is 13.15 feet at Burlington and flood stage is 15 feet. We have not received any fishing report information for this pool this week. Channel Catfish – No Report: Float leeches or crawlers under a bobber along the rocks in riprap shorelines.
