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.
Clear Lake
The water temperature is 75 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.
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.
East Okoboji Lake
Yellow Bass – Good: Good sized yellow bass are still being caught shallow near docks; jig with pilkies and crawlers. Yellow Perch – Good: Jig using tube jigs and pilkies around docks and weed lines.
Spirit Lake
Walleye – Fair: Walleye are still active, but are harder to find as they move to deeper water. Yellow Perch – Good: The yellow perch picked up over the past week; use tube jigs and pilkies.
West Okoboji Lake
Bluegill – Good: Nice sized bluegill are coming off the lake. Try in shallow areas around weed lines. Black Crappie – Good: Crappie are very active; cast tube jigs along weed lines.
Iowa Great Lakes fish have been very active for 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)
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 – Excellent: 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, or crankbait 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.
Brinker Lake
There have been reports of anglers catching northern pike in Brinker Lake. Northern Pike – Good: Troll spinner or crankbaits at different depths or contours for some good pike action.
Casey Lake (aka Hickory Hills Lake)
Bluegill – Good: Try a piece of nightcrawler under a bobber. Largemouth Bass – Good: Use artificial spinner baits and crankbaits or plastics. Channel Catfish – Fair: Channel catfish bite has slowed, but anglers are still catching a few; stink baits are usually most productive for this time of year.
Cedar River (Nashua to La Porte City)
The river is as low as it has been all summer, so the fish are concentrated. Walleye – Fair: Try a jig and plastic tipped with half a nightcrawler. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Use artificial spinner baits or a jig and plastic tipped with half a nightcrawler. Channel Catfish – Good: Try stink baits on the upstream side of log jams; catfish will come to scented baits. Northern Pike – Good: Spinner baits have been the “go-to” lure for northern pike. Try near areas of structure or woody debris.
George Wyth Lake
There have been reports of anglers catching northern pike in George Wyth Lake. Northern Pike – Good: Troll spinner or crankbaits at different depths or contours.
Maquoketa River (above Monticello)
River levels are at an all-time low for this summer. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Try artificial spinner baits or a jig and plastic tipped with half a nightcrawler. Walleye – Good: Use a jig and plastic tipped with half a nightcrawler or a shallow running crankbait.
Shell Rock River (Greene to Shell Rock)
The river is as low as it has been all summer, so the fish are concentrated. Walleye – Fair: Try a jig and plastic tipped with half a nightcrawler or a shallow running crankbait. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Use artificial spinner baits or a jig and plastic tipped with half a nightcrawler. Channel Catfish – Good: Try stink baits on the upstream side of log jams; catfish will come to scented baits.
Wapsipinicon River (Tripoli to Troy Mills)
There have been no reports for walleye or smallmouth bass, but anglers are reporting catches of northern pike in the upper and lower portions of the Wapsipinicon River. Walleye and smallmouth fishing should be productive as the river is at its lowest level of the summer. Northern Pike – Good: Spinner baits have been the “go-to” lure for northern pike; try near areas of structure or woody debris.
The weekend forecast looks fantastic for fishing as all lakes, rivers and streams are in good condition. Anglers have had some success trolling for pike on some area Black Hawk County lakes. Interior river fishing has been extremely good for walleye, smallmouth bass, channel catfish and northern pike. Trout streams remain in excellent condition. Call the N.E. Iowa district office at 563-927-3276 for more information.
MISSISSIPPI RIVER
Mississippi River Pool 9
River level has risen to 9.2 feet at Lansing and is predicted to stabilize there. Water temperature is in the low to mid 70’s. Bluegill – Excellent:
Mississippi River Pool 10
Lynxville water level has risen to 16.4 feet and is predicted to stabilize at this level over the next week. Water temperature is 73 degrees at the lock and dam. Bluegill – Excellent: Som
Mississippi River Pool 11
Mississippi River at Guttenberg has risen almost 2 feet and is predicted to stabilize at 7.8 feet this week. Water temperature is 68 degrees at the Lock and Dam. Bluegill – Excellent:
Upper Mississippi water levels have bumped up over a foot this week. Boaters should use caution while launching as trailers may drop off the end of the ramp. 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 up about a foot from last week. Water levels are 7.1 feet at the Dubuque Lock and Dam and 9.5 feet at the RR bridge. Water clarity is good. Levels should hold steady this week. Water temperature is around 74 degrees. Channel Catfish – Good: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 – Good: Nice 11- to 13-inch crappies have been reported off snags in backwater sloughs fishing with minnows. Size has been good this year. Walleye – Good: The wing dam fishing has returned to the Mississippi River. Some anglers are using worm rigs while others are throwing crankbaits on the dams. Floating weeds are starting to be a hindrance at times. White Bass – No Report: Some white bass were caught along main channel rock lines earlier in the year. 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. The scum frog bite has been very good in the weed pads.
Mississippi River Pool 13
Water level is 7.6 feet at the Bellevue Lock and Dam. Water should hold steady this week. Water clarity is decent and temperature is around 75 degrees in the main channel. Northern Pike – Good: Use flashy white lures lures in the mouths of cooler tributary streams. Channel Catfish – Good: 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 – Good: Wing dam walleye fishing has returned. Throw crank baits over the rock piles. Floating vegetation is becoming a hindrance to wing dam fishing. 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. Scum frogs and other frog imitations are a good bet.
Mississippi River Pool 14
Water levels are 6.9 feet at Fulton, 10.6 feet at Camanche and 5.4 feet at LeClaire. Water clarity is decent. Water levels are predicted to hold steady 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 slough habitats. Use frog imitation lures along the weed edges. Freshwater Drum – Excellent: Freshwater drum are biting on worm rigs. Catch drum in nearly all moderate current areas. Channel Catfish – Good: Use worm rigs and prepared stink baits fished close to shoreline snags 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 – Good: Fish deeper sloughs next to large backwater complexes that have been dewatered due to lower water levels.
Mississippi River Pool 15
River levels are 7.4 feet at Rock Island. This is up a foot from last week. Water clarity is decent and temperature is 75 degrees in the main channel. Water levels should hold steady 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 is staying near 75 degrees. Fishing conditions have been good throughout the district this week. Lots of aquatic vegetation is floating in the River right now; please do your best to clean your boats and trailers and not transport vegetation to other bodies of water. 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 7.39 feet and has risen slightly the past few days. Flood stage is 15 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: Use 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 5.97 feet and has risen slightly the past few days. Flood stage is 15 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 – Fair: 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 – Fair: Look for walleyes on the wing dams. Cast crankbaits or pull three-way rigs with crawlers. Look for walleyes around GPC. Try trolling crankbaits.
Mississippi River Pool 18
Tailwater stage is 6.85 feet at Lock and Dam 17 at New Boston and has risen slightly the past few days. Flood stage is 15 feet. The Toolsboro landing is open. Channel Catfish – Fair: 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 and sloughs; use minnows or plastics the Huron Island complex or Campbells slough area. 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 3.63 feet at Lock and Dam 18 and has risen slightly the past few days. Flood stage at Lock and Dam 18 is 10 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 in the Burlington Island complex and Carthage Lake areas. Bluegill – No Report: Look for bluegills in the backwaters and sloughs or in the weed beds around Montrose and Keokuk. Try fishing pieces of worm under a bobber around brush piles in the Burlington Island complex and Carthage Lake.
River stages have been rising slightly the past few days. Water clarity is fair. Main channel water temperature is around 74 degrees. If you have questions on fishing Pools 16-19, contact the Fairport Fish Hatchery at 563-263-5062.
SOUTHEAST
Big Hollow Lake
Black Crappie – Slow: Crappies continue to stay out in deeper water; the water temperature is going cooler, so it shouldn’t be too long before they come in shallow. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Go shallow in the early morning and late evening; as the day gets warmer flow them out to deeper water. Bluegill – Slow.
Lake Belva Deer
Cool nights have brought the water temperature back down to mid 70’s. The water is a little murky. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Fish the late evening and early morning in the densest cover you can find; be prepared to lose some lures. Bluegill – Slow: Bluegill fishing slowed back down this week. 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
Water temperature is back down to 75 degrees. The water is a little brown but not too bad, with a thin film of planktonic algae on the surface. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Use soft plastics on the shallow edge of the drop-offs. Black Crappie – Slow: Look for crappies around the drop offs. Bluegill – Slow.
Lake Geode
The planktonic algae is still making the water green. Water temperatures are cooling off with the cool night. Bluegill – Slow: Not many boats out on the lake. Work the edges of the water willow beds along the north side near the drop offs.
Lost Grove Lake
Largemouth Bass – Fair: Catch decent numbers of bass in shallower water during the early morning and late evening. They are deeper the rest of the day. Channel Catfish – Fair: Work the face of the dam and along the old creek channel below the causeway. Black Crappie – Slow: Look around the flooded timber in 8- to 10-foot of water.
Skunk River (Coppock to Mississippi River)
A little bump in level from the rains last week, but the river has dropped back down to pre-rain levels already. Channel Catfish – Fair: Find the holes and you can find catfish willing to bite. Use cut baits and stink baits.
For more information on the above lakes and rivers, contact the Lake Darling Fisheries Office at 319-694-2430.
Coralville Reservoir
The lake is at normal summer pool of 683.4′. Black Crappie – Slow: Most fish have been smaller. Channel Catfish – Fair: Drift/troll cut bait along the channel.
Diamond Lake
Channel Catfish – Fair. Bluegill – Slow. Black Crappie – Slow.
Hannen Lake
Largemouth Bass – Good.
Lake Macbride
The motor restriction is still in effect. Motors greater than 10hp are not to be used and all boats must run at no-wake speed (5mph). Bluegill – Fair. Walle
Otter Creek Lake
The lake is a little low and the water has lots of color to it. Bluegill – Slow. Channel Catfish – Fair. Black Crappie – Slow. Yellow Bass – Fair.
Pleasant Creek Lake
The lake is still 9.5 feet low from the restoration project. The main boat ramp is usable, but is still shallow; use caution. Inspect, clean, drain, and dry your boat/trailer before leaving as there is a lot of the invasive species, Brittle Naiad, in the lake.
Wapsipinicon River (Troy Mills to Oxford Junction)
Bluegill – Fair. Smallmouth Bass – Fair. Walleye – Fair: Use nightcrawlers, either on a split shot rig or jighead.
For more information, contact the Lake Macbride Fisheries Station at 319-624-3615.
Lake Keomah
Bluegill – Slow: Try small jigs tipped with live bait along the shorelines in the edge of the vegetation and open pockets in the vegetation. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Use rubber worms or spinnerbaits along the shorelines. Try submerged structure in 6- to 8-feet of water. Channel Catfish – Fair: Try nightcrawlers or liver in about 4- to 6-feet of water.
Lake Sugema
Black Crappie – Fair: Try jig and minnows in the flooded timber. Sorting is needed for larger fish. Walleye – Slow: Drift or troll nightcrawlers along the dam and other rip-rapped shorelines. Try casting crankbaits in the same areas. Bluegill – Fair: Use live bait and a small jig. Sorting is needed for larger fish. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Try spinnerbaits or crawdad imitating baits along the shorelines, among vegetation and around the jetties.
Lake Wapello
Largemouth Bass – Fair: Try crankbaits or spinnerbaits around the cedar tree piles and along the shorelines. Use topwater lures among the vegetation and lily pads. Channel Catfish – Fair: Use chicken liver or cut bait fished in 6- to 8-feet of water. Black Crappie – Fair: Try live bait around submerged structure.
Rathbun Reservoir
The current lake level is 904.23 msl. Normal operating elevation is 904.0 msl. Lake Rathbun has zebra mussels, so make sure to properly drain, clean, and dry equipment before transporting to another water body. White Crappie – Fair: Try crankbaits along submerged points and underwater islands. Some fish can still be caught shallow, but sorting is needed for larger fish. Channel Catfish – Good: Use nightcrawlers or cut bait along windblown shorelines. Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) – Fair: Try crankbaits or blade baits around submerged points and rock piles. Walleye – Slow: Troll crankbaits that mimic gizzard shad around submerged points and rock piles; look for areas with changing depths
Red Haw Lake
Bluegill – Fair: Use small jigs tipped with live bait in open areas in the vegetation. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Try spinnerbaits and crankbaits along the shorelines, around the jetties, and along the face of the dam. Channel Catfish – Fair: Use stink bait or chicken liver around the fishing jetties.
Contact the Rathbun Fish Hatchery at 641-647-2406 with questions about fishing in south central Iowa.
SOUTHWEST
Big Creek Lake
Walleye – Fair: Troll live bait rigs and cast or troll shallow diving crank baits on the upper end of the lake.
Des Moines River (Saylorville to Red Rock)
Channel Catfish – Good: Use stink baits and cut baits.
Don Williams Lake
Black Crappie – Fair: Drift or troll tube jigs and twister or paddle tail jigs 3- to 8-feet down in 10- to 20-feet of water throughout the lake until you find schools of fish.
Red Rock Reservoir
White Bass – Fair: Cooling water temperatures over the past week has slowed the white bass bite. Boats spending decent time on the water are coming in with anywhere from a few to around 30 white bass. Troll small shallow diving rattle baits or spoons around large points, out from the beach and dam and along the wind blown shoreline. Troll in depths of 5 to 15 feet. Use colors imitating young gizzard shad. Channel Catfish – Good: Drift cut creek chubs or shad above the mile long bridge in 6- to 12-feet of water.
Saylorville Reservoir
White Bass – Slow: The white bass action has been slow. Occasionally anglers have been getting into short term good bites in the mornings and late afternoons. Troll shad imitating crankbaits and spoons. Channel Catfish – Good: Drift cut creek chubs in the upper end of the reservoir above and just below the mile long bridge. Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) – Fair: Anglers trolling for white bass are catching better numbers of hybrid striped bass than in recent previous years. Troll shad imitating lipless or shallow diving crankbaits.
White bass fishing on the reservoirs has slowed some with the cooling water temperatures. Channel catfishing on the reservoirs and the Des Moines River is good. For information on Central Iowa lakes and rivers, contact Andy Otting or Ben Dodd at 515-432-2823.
Cold Springs District Farm Ponds
Pond fishing was fair this week. Always get permission to fish privately owned farm ponds. Largemouth Bass – Good: Largemouth bass are active and easy to catch. Cast a variety of spinner type baits or plastics for fun catch and release fishing. Bluegill – Fair: Catch bluegills around weed edges and deep structure. Black Crappie – Slow: Cast minnows under a slip bobber. Channel Catfish – Good: Use cut bait or prepared baits around structure and vegetation edges.
Greenfield Lake
Greenfield Lake has a good fish population. The lake is 3 feet low. Black Crappie – Slow: A few crappies can be caught around structure. Late afternoon bite is best. Fish average 9 inches. Bluegill – Slow: Drift small jigs tipped with a crawler to catch 8 inch bluegill. Channel Catfish – Fair: Use cut bait or shrimp in less than 8 feet of water. Anglers have a chance to catch large catfish at Greenfield.
Lake Anita
Lake Anita will provide good fishing this year. Find a large crappie population averaging 9 inches and bluegills up to 9.5 inches. Black Crappie – Fair: Anglers are catching crappies around underwater reefs and over the road beds. Fish will average 9 inches. Bluegill – Fair: Catch bluegills up to 9.5 inches with small jigs tipped power bait or nightcrawlers over the road beds and rock piles. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Find bass around underwater reefs and vegetation edges. Fish are all sizes.
Prairie Rose Lake
Expect to catch quality size bluegills again this spring. The crappies stocked in 2014 will reach an acceptable size to harvest in 2017. The lake also supports a good population of channel catfish and the largemouth bass will provide good catch and release fishing. Bluegill – Fair: Anglers report catching quality size bluegills around the underwater reefs placed in the lake during the renovation. Fish are 8.5- to 9-inches. Largemouth Bass – Slow: There are many 12 inch bass in the lake that will provide fun catch and release fishing. Black Crappie – Slow: A few 8 inch black crappie are being picked up drifting or trolling along the dam. Channel Catfish – Fair: Use liver or nightcrawlers in the upper end of the lake for 14- to 16-inch catfish.
Viking Lake
Anglers report catching crappies in deep brush piles and drifting. Bass fishing has been good. Largemouth Bass – Good: Anglers are catching largemouth bass in tree piles with plastics and around the shoreline with spinnerbaits. Fish are all sizes. Channel Catfish – Fair: Viking has a good channel catfish population; fish will average 2 pounds with the opportunity to catch larger fish. Black Crappie – Fair: Drift the open water with small jigs tipped with power bait to catch crappie up to 9 inches. Sorting is needed for larger fish. Bluegill – Fair: Drifting has been good for 7 inch bluegill.
Panfish have slowed, but should continue to improve with cooler water temperatures. For more information, call the Cold Springs District Office at 712-769-2587.
Green Valley Lake
Largemouth Bass – Good: Largemouth bass of all sizes have been caught with crankbaits or spinnerbaits fished near cedar tree brushpiles, stakebeds, or earth mounds. Black Crappie – Excellen: Catch crappies up to 8 inches using small jigs under a bobber or spinners fished along the fishing piers, weed edges or cedar tree brush piles. Try also drift fishing the main lake. Channel Catfish – Fair: Drift cut-bait along the weed lines to catch channel catfish up to 15 pounds.
Lake Icaria
Lake Icaria received high amounts of rain earlier in the week. Lake levels were 3 foot above normal pool. Channel Catfish – Fair: Channel catfish of all sizes have been caught with cut bait, worms and shrimp fished along rock structure and fish mounds.
Little River Watershed Lake
Largemouth Bass – Fair: Catch largemouth bass up to 20 inches with finesse plastics or crankbaits fished along cedar tree brush piles or rock fields. Bluegill – Fair: Catch bluegill up to 8 inches with jigs tipped with a nightcrawler or waxworm fished near cedar tree brush piles.
Twelve Mile Creek Lake
Largemouth Bass – Fair: Largemouth bass of all sizes have been caught with finesse plastics or jigs fished along cedar tree brush piles or topwater baits fished along weed edges early and late day. Try also soft plastic baits and crank baits around points and flooded timber near creek channel bends and cuts. Bluegill – Good: Catch bluegill up to 8 inches using small jigs tipped with nightcrawlers or waxworms fished near the fishing jetties, along weed edges, and near flooded timber along the channel or roadbed Black Crappie – Good: Catch black crappie up to 10 inches with small tube jigs or jigs tipped with a minnow fished near cedar tree brush piles or rock piles, or drifting the main lake. Yellow Perch – Good: Use minnows or nighcrawlers fished on the bottom near rock jetties, points, and flats with weed lines. Walleye – Fair: Walleyes of all sizes have been caught with jigs tipped with minnows and leeches or crank baits trolled along rock piles, humps, and points.
Water temperaturea in most Mount Ayr District lakes are in the mid-70’s. The district includes Page, Taylor, Adams, Union, Ringgold, Decatur, Clarke and Madison counties.For more information, contact the Mount Ayr Fisheries office at 641-464-3108.
MISSOURI RIVER
Missouri River (Sioux City to Little Sioux)
Flathead Catfish – Good: Use rod and reel and trotlines with live bait off the tips of wing dikes and rock structures. Evening or after dark is best. Blue Catfish – Good: Use fresh cut bait fished just off the bottom in or near the current. Channel Catfish – Good: Use worms, chicken livers, cut bait and dip baits along wing dams, brush piles and along the rock revetment.
Missouri River (Little Sioux to Council Bluffs)
Flathead Catfish – Good: Use rod and reel and trotlines with live bait off the tips of wing dikes and rock structures. Evening or after dark is best. Blue Catfish – Good: Use fresh cut bait fished just off the bottom in or near the current. Channel Catfish – Good: Use worms, chicken livers, cut bait and dip baits near wing dams, brush piles and along the rock revetment.
Missouri River (Council Bluffs to Missouri State Line)
Flathead Catfish – Good: Use rod and reel and trotlines with live bait off the tips of wing dikes and rock structures. Evening or after dark is best. Blue Catfish – Good: Use fresh cut bait fished off the bottom in or near the main river channel. Channel Catfish – Good: Use chicken livers, worms, cut bait and dip baits near wing dams, brush piles and along the rock revetment.
The Missouri River at Decatur, Nebraska is at 22.25 ft. /35,100 cfs./73 degrees Fahrenheit (water temperature is the same as last week). The Missouri River is down .94 feet from last week. Anglers are mostly catching catfish species (channels, flatheads, and blue cats). Fishing continues to be fair to good overall for all catfish species. The Decatur Bridge West of Onawa closed August 14 for repairs and will reopen sometime in September.
