NORTHWEST

Arrowhead Lake
Bluegill – Fair: Catch 8- to 9-inch bluegills near structure in 5- to 10-feet of water. For deeper fish, drift a small jig tipped with a piece of crawler. Use a bobber if fishing closer to shore.

Black Hawk Lake
Surface water temperature is around 74 degrees. Water levels are near the crest of the spillway. Bluegill – Fair: Pick up bluegill just about anywhere along the shoreline in 2- to 5-feet of water. Use a small jig tipped with live bait or a small piece of crawler fished below a bobber off the floating fishing pier, the west stone pier, and the inlet bridge. Black Crappie – Fair: Use a jig with a minnow in 2- to 6-feet of water along Ice House Point, the floating dock and the stone piers in Town Bay Walleye – Slow: Use live bait fished along Ice House Point shoreline and the rock piles near Cottonwood Point and in the east basin. Largemouth Bass – Good: Catch largemouth bass just about anywhere along the shoreline with topwater lures, twisters or live bait. Channel Catfish – Fair: Use night crawlers and cut bait fished on the bottom near the floating dock, Ice House Point and the rock piles near Cottonwood Point and the east basin.

Brushy Creek Lake
Bluegill – Fair: Use a small jig tipped with a piece of crawler in 5- to 15-feet of water. Drift near structure, drop-offs and weed lines. Black Crappie – Fair: Try a small piece of crawler or minnow on a jig in 10- to 15-feet of water. Largemouth Bass – Good: Throw topwater lures, weedless baits, spinners and plastic worms along weed lines, near cover and wood structure. Fish deeper for larger fish. Pick up small fish in the shallows. Walleye – Fair.

Storm Lake (including Little Storm Lake)
Surface water temperatures are around 74 degrees. 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. Walleye – Fair: Boat anglers are doing well trolling shad raps or drifting crawlers 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: Use cut bait, stink bait or crawlers near rocks along shore.

Swan Lake
Bluegill – Fair: Try areas with rocky structure and along weed lines in 2- to 6-feet of water near the jetties, the fish house and the dam. Use a small jig tipped with a piece of crawler or minnow under a bobber. Expect 6- to 9-inch fish.

Yellow Smoke Park Lake
Bluegill – Fair: Bluegills can reach 9 inches or more. Look for bluegills in 5- to 10-feet of water near the arm north of the swim beach, the flooded timber near the southwest shoreline, and the coves on the south shore.

Surface water temperature in area lakes is around 75 degrees.For more information, contact the Black Hawk District office at 712-657-2638.

Bluebill Lake
Largemouth Bass – Fair: Bass are biting on a variety of baits fished near vegetation. Bluegill – Fair: Use a bobber and small piece of crawler near the edge of the vegetation. Yellow Perch – Fair: Try a bobber and small piece of crawler near the edge of the vegetation.

Clear Lake
The water temperature is 70 degrees. Yellow Bass – Good: Drift a small jig tipped with a piece of crawler in 8- to 13-feet of water until you find fish. Walleye – Fair: Use a slip bobber and leech or crawler near the rock reefs or try trolling bottom bouncers with bright colored blades and a nightcrawler. Channel Catfish – Fair: Use cut bait, stink bait or chicken liver on the windward side of the lake. Late evening bite is best. Muskellunge – Fair: Fish the weed edge and shady areas near docks. Black Crappie – Good: Use a minnow or small jig near vegetation. Early morning bite is best.

Crystal Lake
Bluegill – Fair: Use a small piece of crawler under a slip bobber near the dredge cut.

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

NORTHEAST

Cedar River (above Nashua)
Fish are more active with stable water levels and cooler temperatures. Fish are taking a variety of lures and baits. Walleye – Good: Find walleye in brush piles or deeper holes. Try fishing along current breaks. Channel Catfish – Good: Use a hook with a dead chub or crawler for a 2 pound catfish. Try also chicken liver, stink bait and nightcrawlers. Black Crappie – Good: Use a hook tipped with a crawler in eddies below dams and backwaters. Smallmouth Bass – Slow: Use crawdad crankbaits along rocky shorelines and substrates.

Decorah District Streams
Trout streams are in good condition. Be respectful of private property; it’s a privilege to fish these areas. Call 563-927-5736 for current catchable trout stocking locations. Wild parsnip is done for the year, but beware of first year plants. Freshly stocked trout are hitting a variety of lures and baits. Brook Trout – Excellent: A variety of mayflies are hatching mid-afternoon. Use a dry fly for insects hatching off the water surface. Use a nymph or scud dropper for subsurface critters. Brown Trout – Brown trout are more active when water is off color. A hopper pattern with a scud dropper is a dangerous combination.  Rainbow Trout – Excellent: Flies imitating grasshoppers, crickets, and ants will turn a trout head this time of year. Use any number of black ant or leaf hopper patterns.

Lake Hendricks
The lake is looking good. Use a canoe to paddle out or troll for fish suspended around rock piles. Black Crappie – Good: Use a minnow or spinnerbait around the jetties. Largemouth Bass – Good: Try topwater lures on the edge of a vegetation for a hiding bass. Channel Catfish – Good: Use a hook tipped with a nightcrawler, chicken liver or stink bait. Bluegill – Good: Find bluegills near vegetation edges

Lake Meyer
Water clarity is improving as water begins to cool. Water temperatures are in the low 70’s.  Bluegill – Good: Use a small hook tipped with a piece of worm under a bobber near jetties in the evening. Black Crappie – Fair: Find crappie suspended near submersed structure. Use a spinner or jig with bright colored twister tail. Largemouth Bass – Good: Early morning and evening bite is best. Use topwater lures fished along vegetation beds or spinners along rocky edges.  Northern Pike – Fair: Pike are biting off anglers’ lines. Use a steal leader with a spoon along vegetation edges near springs. Pike are great eating; take time to learn how to clean them.

Upper Iowa River (above Decorah)
The Upper Iowa is in excellent condition. Clarity and temperatures are improving fish activity. Northern Pike – Good: Use a steel leader tipped with 1/4 oz. jig tipped with natural colored plastic to a 3 inch jerk bait fished around tributaries or brush piles. Walleye – Good: Find a walleye drifting through a deeper hole or along a current break. Use a jig tipped with a twister tail or worm. Try also a small crankbait. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Try jigs tipped with any number of plastic tails.

Upper Iowa River (below Decorah)
Water temperatures are in the mid to low 70’s with good clarity. Morning and midafternoon is best for bank anglers. Northern Pike – Good: Use a steel leader tipped with 1/4 oz. jig tipped with natural colored plastic to a 3 inch jerk bait fished around tributaries or brush piles. Smallmouth Bass – Fair: Find a smallie in the current breaks or near rock ledges. Use jigs tipped with any number of plastic tails. Walleye – Good: Drift a jig tipped with a twister tail or worm through a deeper hole or along a current break. Anglers are catching a good number of 10- to 12-inch fish with larger fish caught while trolling at night. Channel Catfish – Good Catch a catfish from shore using a hook tipped with a crawler. Evening is best.

Volga Lake
Morning and evening bite is best. Overcast days extend angling times. Black Crappie – Fair: Use a small hook tipped with a minnow under a bobber near submersed trees for suspended crappie. Largemouth Bass – Good: Bass are hitting crankbaits. Try a topwater lure in the evening as fish come in shallow to feed. Bluegill – Fair: Use a small hook tipped with a piece of worm under a bobber. Channel Catfish – Good: Use stink bait, worms, and cheese baits. Catfish are active in the evening.

Chances for rain in the weekend forecast with temperature highs in the low 80’s and 60’s for lows. Area streams and rivers are in good condition. For current fishing information, please call the Decorah Fish Hatchery at 563-382-8324.

Casey Lake (aka Hickory Hills Lake)
Bluegill – Fair. Largemouth Bass – Fair. Channel Catfish – Good: Use stink baits, frogs, and other prepared baits.

Cedar River (Nashua to La Porte City)
The Cedar River is near or slightly above median water flow for this time of year with a gage reading of 2040 CFS at Waterloo.  Walleye – Fair. Smallmouth Bass – Fair. Channel Catfish – Good.

George Wyth Lake
Bluegill – Fair: Fish are running small. Black Crappie – Fair: Fish are running small.

Manchester District Streams
Dry fly action has slowed, but fishing has been good using spinners, jigs, live bait or nymphs. Streams are well stocked this time of year with rainbow trout. Brown trout have been challenging during midday, but they have been biting near sundown or following rain showers. Rainbow Trout – Good. Brown Trout – Fair:

Maquoketa River (above Monticello)
The Maquoketa River is near or slightly above median water flow for this time of year with a gage reading of 164 CFS at Manchester. Fishing has been good on the Maquoketa River in Delaware and Jones County. Channel Catfish – Fair. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Use crankbaits or live bait. Walleye – Good: Try crankbaits or live bait.

Wapsipinicon River (Tripoli to Troy Mills)
Smallmouth Bass – Good. Walleye – Fair. Channel Catfish – Fair. Northern Pike – Fair.

Fishing is good on eastern Iowa rivers and streams. Rivers are near median water levels for this time of year and fish are in late summer feeding patterns. Expect catches of channel catfish, smallmouth bass and walleye in rivers. Lake fishing is slow, but should improve over the next few weeks as autumn approaches and water temperatures begin to drop. Trout streams are in good condition with most fishing action subsurface using jigs, spinners, live bait, or nymphs.

MISSISSIPPI RIVER

Mississippi River Pool 9
River level is 8.4 feet at Lansing and is predicted to stabilize around 8 feet this week. Water temperature is near 75 degrees. Bluegill – Excellent: Some larger bluegills are being picked up near structure on the side channels. Use a small hook tipped with a small piece of worm fished under a slip bobber. Channel Catfish – Good:Try nightcrawlers or stink bait fished on the bottom in areas of moderate current where side channels form an eddy. Freshwater Drum – Excellent: Lots of drum are still being caught in the swifter current breaks. Bounce a nightcrawler along the bottom or try crayfish for bigger fish. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Smallmouth fishing has been good on wing dams and rocky shorelines with good current. Best bite is towards evening.  Largemouth Bass – Good: Largemouth fishing is good on side channel and main channel shoreline structure. Walleye – Good: Walleye fishing is improving as the water stabilizes. Try fast trolling crankbaits or bait-rig off the bottom.  Yellow Perch – Fair: Look for perch in vegetated areas along the main channel.  Northern Pike – Fair: Northern pike fishing is picking up in the shallows or in the mouths of tributary streams. Flathead Catfish – Fair: Try live shiners or small bluegill in woody debris to attract flatheads in slack areas off the side channels.

Mississippi River Pool 10
Lynxville water level is 15 feet and is predicted to stabilize at this level over the next week. Water temperature is 75 degrees at the lock and dam. Bluegill – Excellent: Some larger bluegills are being picked up near structure on the side channels. Use a small hook tipped with a small piece of worm fished under a slip bobber. Channel Catfish – Good: Try nightcrawlers or stink bait fished on the bottom in areas of moderate current where side channels form an eddy. Freshwater Drum – Excellent: Lots of drum are still being caught in the swifter current breaks. Bounce a nightcrawler along the bottom or try crayfish for bigger fish. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Smallmouth fishing has been good on wing dams and rocky shorelines with good current. Best bite is towards evening. Largemouth Bass – Good: Largemouth fishing is good on side channel and main channel shoreline structure.  Walleye – Good: Walleye fishing is improving as the water stabilizes. Try fast trolling crankbaits or bait-rig off the bottom.  Yellow Perch – Fair: Look for perch in vegetated areas along the main channel.  Northern Pike – Fair: Northern pike fishing is picking up in the shallows or in the mouths of tributary streams. Flathead Catfish – Fair: Use live shiners or small bluegill in woody debris to attract flatheads in slack areas off the side channels.

Mississippi River Pool 11
Mississippi River at Guttenberg is 6 feet and is predicted to stabilize at this level over the next week. Water temperature is in the mid 70’s. Bluegill – Excellent: Some larger bluegills are being picked up near structure on the side channels. Use a small hook tipped with a small piece of worms fished under a slip bobber. Channel Catfish – Good: Try nightcrawlers or stink bait fished on the bottom in areas of moderate current where side channels form an eddy. Freshwater Drum – Excellent: Lots of drum are still being caught in the swifter current breaks. Bounce a nightcrawler along the bottom or try crayfish for bigger fish. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Smallmouth fishing has been good on wing dams and rocky shorelines with good current. Best bite is towards evening. Largemouth Bass -Good: Largemouth fishing is good on side channel and main channel shoreline structure. Walleye – Good: Walleye fishing is improving as the water stabilizes. Try fast trolling crankbaits or bait-rig off the bottom. Yellow Perch – Fair: Look for perch in vegetated areas along the main channel.  Northern Pike – Fair: Northern pike fishing is picking up in the shallows or in the mouths of tributary streams. Flathead Catfish – Fair: Try live shiners or small bluegill in woody debris to attract flatheads in slack areas off the side channels.

Upper Mississippi water levels continue to be at summer lows. Boaters should use caution as many sandbars and wing-dams have little water over them. Water clarity continues to be good with lots of vegetation present. Look for fish to move to deep cooler water midday. Many backwater species have moved to main channel borders and side sloughs. Fishing has been best early morning and early evening. Water temperature is in the mid 70’s. 

 Mississippi River Pool 12
River levels are low and are predicted to remain down. Water levels are 5.8 feet at the Dubuque Lock and Dam and 8.3 feet at the RR bridge. Water clarity is good. Levels may slowly recede this week. Water temperature is around 74 degrees. Channel Catfish – Excellent:Channel catfish are biting on worms and stink bait; move often if you do not find biting fish. Freshwater Drum – Excellent:  A simple egg sinker and worm rig works best. White Crappie – Fair: A few nice white crappie have been reported all spring. Some crappie are being reported off snags in backwater sloughs fishing with minnows. Walleye – Fair: The wing dam fishing has returned to the Mississippi River.  Some anglers are using worm rigs while others are throwing crankbaits on the dams. White Bass – Good: Some white bass were caught along main channel rock lines before the large rain event. Bluegill – Good:Find bluegills at the mouths of large backwater areas that have been dewatered in recent weeks. Flathead Catfish – Excellent: Pull worm rigs near rocky habitats. Lots of flatheads have been caught this year. Smallmouth Bass – Excellent:Throw spinners or small crankbaits around rocky areas with strong current in the evenings. Largemouth Bass – Good: Largemouths have pulled out of the shallow backwater areas and are on trees and sandy shoals often chasing minnows.

Mississippi River Pool 13
Water level is 7.0 feet at the Bellevue Lock and Dam. Water may recede again later in the week. Water clarity has improved and temperature is around 75 degrees in the main channel. Northern Pike – No Report: Use flashy white lures lures in the mouths of cooler tributary streams. Channel Catfish – Excellent: Use worm rigs and stink bait above log jams and rock piles to lure the catfish out. Move often if you don’t find fish. Freshwater Drum – Excellent: Use egg sinker rigs with worms. Drum bite in all types of river conditions. Walleye – Fair: Wing dam walleye fishing has returned. Throw crank baits over the rock piles. Smallmouth Bass – Excellent: Throw crank baits or spinners near rock piles with strong current.  Bluegill – Fair: Fish deep sloughs next to large backwater complexes that have been dewatered due to low water levels. Flathead Catfish – Excellent: Small flathead catfish are hitting on worms; mostly by people fishing for channel cats. Try large live bait fished in the evening hours for bigger flatheads. Largemouth Bass – Good: Largemouth bite has improved with the lower water levels. Some fish are on weed edges while others are in logs in deeper sloughs.

Mississippi River Pool 14
Water levels are 5.8  feet at Fulton, 9.8  feet at Camanche and 4.8 feet at LeClaire.  Water clarity has improved greatly. Water levels are predicted to slowly recede again this week. Water temperature is 75 degrees in the main channel. Largemouth Bass – Good: Bass had moved out of the large shallow areas into deeper adjacent habitats. Freshwater Drum – Excellent: Freshwater drum are biting on worm rigs. Catch drum in nearly all moderate current areas. Channel Catfish – Excellent: Use worm rigs and prepared stink baits fished close to shore or along rock lines. Walleye – Good: Try near the outside tips of wing dams in low water levels. Flathead Catfish – Excellent Some people are trot lining flathead catfish using large bullheads as bait. Flathead are most active during the night and evening hours. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Try along rock piles with current. Bluegill – Fair: Fish deeper sloughs next to large backwater complexes that have been dewatered due to lower water levels.

Mississippi River Pool 15
River levels are 6.5 feet at Rock Island. This is down a half a foot from last week. Water clarity has improved and temperature is 75 degrees in the main channel. Water levels may recede slightly this week. Channel Catfish – Good: Try stink bait along the rock piles near Campbells and Arsenal Island. Freshwater Drum – Good: Freshwater drum bite well this time of year.  Put them on ice immediately if you are going to clean them. Flathead Catfish – Good: Use large live bait fished near shore during the night and evening hours. Smallmouth Bass – Fair: Find smallmouths along rock lines with strong current.

The main channel water temperature has dropped to 75 degrees. Fishing conditions have been good throughout the district this week. If you have any angling questions, please contact the Bellevue Fisheries Station 563-872-4976. 

Mississippi River Pool 16
Tailwater stage at Lock and Dam 15 in the Quad Cities is 6.10 feet. Flood stage is 15 feet. River stage is 9.99 feet at Fairport and flood stage is 14 feet. Channel Catfish – Good: Use nightcrawlers, stink bait or chicken livers above brush piles in the sloughs in the Andalusia Islands. Try also around the mouth of Sunset Marina. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Try fishing with plastics around brush piles and logs in the Andalusia Island complex. White Crappie – Fair: Use minnows or plastics around brush piles in the Andalusia Island complex. Try also in the Andalusia Harbor. Walleye – No Report: Look for walleyes on the wing dams. Cast crankbaits or troll three-way rigs with nightcrawlers.

Mississippi River Pool 17
Tailwater stage at Lock and Dam 16 in Muscatine is 5.14 feet. Flood stage is 15 feet. River stage is 7.17 feet at Muscatine and flood stage is 16 feet. The ramp at Big Timber is open. Channel Catfish – Fair: Use nightcrawlers or stink bait around brush piles and snags along the main channel and side channels. White Crappie – No Report: Try minnows or plastics around brush piles in Cleveland Slough and Big Timber. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Look for largemouth bass in the backwaters. Try around brush piles and logs in Cleveland Slough and Big Timber. Walleye – No Report: Look for walleyes on the wing dams. Cast crankbaits or pull three-way rigs with crawlers.

Mississippi River Pool 18
Tailwater stage is 6 feet at Lock and Dam 17 at New Boston. Flood stage is 15 feet. River stage is 7.50 feet at Keithsburg and flood stage is 14 feet. The Toolsboro landing is open. We have not received any fishing reports for this pool this week. Channel Catfish – No Report: Try nightcrawlers or stink baits above brush piles and snags along the main channel and side channels. White Crappie – No Report: Look for crappies in brush piles in the backwaters; use minnows or plastics. Walleye – No Report: Look for walleyes on the wing dams. Cast crankbaits or pull three-way rigs with crawlers.

Mississippi River Pool 19
Tailwater stage is 3.18 feet at Lock and Dam 18. Flood stage at Lock and Dam 18 is 10 feet. River stage at Burlington is 9.06 feet. Flood stage at Burlington is 15 feet. River stage is 525.79 feet at Fort Madison and flood stage is 528.0 feet. We have not received any fishing reports for this pool this week. Channel Catfish – No Report: Try nightcrawlers or stink baits in snags and brush piles along the main channel and side channels. White Crappie – No Report: Look for crappies in the backwaters and sloughs; use minnows or plastics around brush piles.

River levels are low, so use caution when boating. River levels continue to fall. Water clarity is good. Main channel water temperature is around 76 degrees. If you have questions on fishing Pools 16-19, contact the Fairport Fish Hatchery at 563-263-5062.

SOUTHEAST

Big Hollow Lake
The water is warming back up to near 80 degrees. Black Crappie – Fair: Crappies continue to stay out in deeper water, waiting for cooler weather. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Go shallow in the early morning and late evening; as the day gets warmer flow them out to deeper water.

Chatfield Lake
Water temperature is about 76 degrees. This 10 acre pond was lowered for repairs and is refilling; still about 3 feet low. The fish are in good condition. The boat ramp is at a usable depth. Black Crappie – Fair: There are some nice sized crappies in this lake; they were out along the edges of the weed beds yesterday. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Mostly sub-legal sizes, but would be fun for a little evening fishing.

Iowa River (Columbus Junction to Mississippi River)
Lots of sandbars are showing up. Channel Catfish – Fair: Look for deeper water holes.

Lake Belva Deer
Water temperatures is back up into the upper 70’s to near 80. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Fish the late evening and early morning in the densest cover you can find; be prepared to lose some lures. Bluegill – Fair: Bluegill fishing is starting to pick up after a couple of weeks of slow fishing. Look to deeper water for the fish. Channel Catfish – Fair: Catfishing has been decent around the rocks along the jetties and on the mounds at the upper end of the lake.

Lake Darling
The water temperature is working its way back up, was 78 degrees this morning (8/17). The planktonic algae bloom is also coming back a little. Largemouth Bass –