NORTHWEST

Black Hawk Lake
Water temperatures are in the mid 50’s. Bluegill – Good: Action is fast; 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 – Fair: Use live bait fished along the Ice House Point shoreline and near the outlet in the east basin. Largemouth Bass – Good: Use topwater lures, twisters, or live bait to catch largemouth bass just about anywhere along the shoreline. Yellow Perch – Fair: Perch have been picked up in Town Bay and on the north side of the lake.

Brushy Creek Lake
Bluegill – Fair: Use a small jig tipped with a piece of crawler in 5- to 15-feet of water. Drift near deep 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. Muskellunge – Fair.

Storm Lake (including Little Storm Lake)
Surface water temperatures are in the mid 50’s. 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:Use twisters, live bait and plastics that mimic a shad. Most action has been from shore. Try the Chautauqua Jetty and near the inlet of the lake In the evenings. White Bass – Fair: Use crankbaits, twisters or live bait fished from 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.

Surface water temperatures in area lakes are in the mid 50’s. Shore fishing is good in most of our area lakes.For more information, contact the Black Hawk District office at 712-657-2638.

Clear Lake
The water temperature is 59 degrees. Yellow Bass – Good: Drift a small jig tipped with a piece of crawler or cut bait in 8- to 10-feet of water until you find fish. Try also near the rock reefs. Walleye – Fair: Use a jig and minnow near the rock reefs. Shore anglers are having success fishing off the jetties and docks after sunset. White Bass – Good: Use jigs and minnows. Shore anglers are having success fishing off the jetties in the early morning.

Rice Lake
Walleye – Good: Walleyes are biting on a variety of baits. With the clear water, the best bite is during low light periods.

Silver Lake (Worth)
Largemouth Bass – Good: Largemouth bass are biting on a variety of baits. Yellow Perch – Fair. Bluegill – Good: Try a small piece of crawler near the vegetation.

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

Center Lake
Walleye – Good: Anglers report good walleye activity along the south shore after dusk. Black Crappie – Fair: Use tube jigs by the docks; decent numbers of large crappies are being caught.

East Okoboji Lake
Yellow Bass – Excellent: Yellow bass are very active in shallow; use tube jigs. Walleye – Good: The walleye bite is starting to pick up on the rock points.

Five Island Lake
Yellow Bass – Good: Lots of yellow bass are being caught. Channel Catfish – Good: Large amounts of big channel catfish are prevalent in the lake.

Spirit Lake
Walleye – Good: Walleye activity has picked up after dark. Yellow Perch – Excellent: Lots of good sized perch are being caught, with some measuring up to 12-inches.

West Okoboji Lake
Bluegill – Good: Angler acceptable bluegill are being caught in the bays. Black Crappie – Excellent: Crappie are very active right outside of the weed lines.

West Swan Lake S.W.M.A.
Black Crappie – Good: Recent surveys show good numbers of crappie in the lake.

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

NORTHEAST

Cedar River (above Nashua)
The Cedar River is slowly falling after last week’s rain. Use this opportunity to get out and play before the cold weather sets in. Walleye – Use a jig tipped with a long piece of worm or minnow in deeper pools and around brush piles near evening.

Decorah District Streams
All stream stockings are unannounced in October. All streams continue to be stocked. Trout streams are in good condition. Trout spawning season is upon us. Walk carefully around freshly cleared areas in streams; these are trout nests or “redds”. Many streams run through wildlife management areas where hunting is allowed. Wear bright clothing when not stalking a trout. Brook Trout – Good: Vibrant colors abound on spawning fish. A variety of small 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: Fall rains will put the browns in a feeding frenzy. Use a hopper pattern in pastured or open areas. In wooded areas in the morning, use #22-24 trico patterns. In the evening, use #18-20 blue wing olive patterns. Rainbow Trout – Good: Freshly stocked trout are hitting a variety of lures and baits. Drift a feathered spinner along an undercut bank. Always leave gates and fences as you find them.

Lake Hendricks
Lake Hendricks is an electric motor only lake. Black Crappie – Good: Troll over rock mounds with a jig tipped with minnow or spinnerbait. Largemouth Bass – Good: Use a spinnerbait or jig with a twistertail and a slow retrieve near brush piles and downed trees. Bluegill – Good: Try a small jig tipped with a small piece of nightcrawler or spike.

Lake Meyer
Water temperatures are in the upper 50’s. Lake clarity is excellent at 4- to 5-feet. Anglers will notice recent fish habitat improvements in the lake including spawning beds, shoreline rip-rap, and submersed concrete culverts.

Upper Iowa River (below Decorah)
Few people have been out. Water levels have dropped and clarity is improving after last week’s rain. Walleye – Fair: Find walleye in deeper holes. Use a jig tipped with a worm or baits imitating larger minnows or suckers in eddies and current seams.

Volga Lake
Duck season is open and hunters are on the water. All water to the campground and restroom at the boat ramp is shut off for the season. Black Crappie – Good: Slowly troll along the dam. Use a jig tipped with a minnow in 10- to 12 feet of water.

A cold front will pass through the area Friday evening, bringing rain on Saturday. Frost is not likely. Leaf color peaks this weekend. Area streams and rivers are in excellent condition. For current fishing information, please call the Decorah Fish Hatchery at 563-382-8324.

MISSISSIPPI RIVER

Mississippi River Pool 9
River level at Lansing is 11.7 feet and is predicted to gradually recede about a foot. Water temperature is near 57 degrees. Army Road at New Albin remains closed due to high water. Bluegill – Fair: Some larger bluegills are being picked up near structure on the side channels. Use a small hook tipped with worm fished under a slip bobber. Channel Catfish – Fair: Try nightcrawlers or stink bait fished on the bottom in areas of moderate current where side channels form an eddy. Freshwater Drum – Fair: Drum are still being caught in the swifter current areas along main channel borders. Smallmouth Bass – Excellent: Smallmouth fishing is improving with reports of many 2-3 pound fish being caught with a worm harness along the riprap near the Black Hawk bridge. Largemouth Bass – Good: Largemouth fishing is good on side channel and main channel shoreline structure. Walleye – Fair: Try a little slower presentation as the water temperature is falling. One eye jigs or bait-rig off the bottom has been effective. Yellow Perch – Good: The fall perch bite is picking up. Use small jigs tipped with worm in backwaters with slight flow. Northern Pike – Good: Try soft plastics in areas with slight current in shallow backwaters. Flathead Catfish – Fair: Use live shiners or small bluegill in woody debris to attract flatheads in slack areas off the side channels. Black Crappie – Good: Use light colored jigs or hook tipped with crappie minnows in backwater side-channels.

Mississippi River Pool 10
Lynxville water level is peaking around 21 feet and is predicted to gradually fall over the next week. Water temperature is 57 degrees at the lock and dam. The road to Sny Magill ramp remains closed due to high water. Bluegill – Fair Some larger bluegills are being picked up near structure on the side channels. Use a small hook tipped with worm fished under a slip bobber. Channel Catfish – Fair: Try nightcrawlers or stinkbait fished on the bottom in areas of moderate current where side channels form an eddy. Freshwater Drum – Fair: Drum are still being caught in the swifter current areas along main channel borders.  Smallmouth Bass – Excellent: Use live bait or artificials along 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 – Fair: Try a little slower presentation as the water temperature is falling. One eye jigs or bait-rig off the bottom has been effective. Yellow Perch – Good: The fall perch bite is picking up. Use small jigs tipped with worm in backwaters with slight flow. Northern Pike – Good: Try soft plastics in areas with slight current in shallow backwaters.  Flathead Catfish – Fair: Use live shiners or small bluegill in woody debris to attract flatheads in slack areas off the side channels. Black Crappie – Good: Use light colored jigs or hook tipped with crappie minnows in backwater side channels.

Mississippi River Pool 11
Mississippi River at Guttenberg is cresting around 12 feet and is predicted to gradually fall next week. Water temperature is 53 degrees at the Lock and Dam. Lock gates remain raised this week. Bluegill – Fair: Some larger bluegills are being picked up near structure on the side channels. Use a small hook tipped with worm fished under a slip bobber. Channel Catfish – Fair: Try nightcrawlers or stink bait fished on the bottom in areas of moderate current where side channels form an eddy. Freshwater Drum – Fair: Drum are still being caught in the swifter current areas along main channel borders. Smallmouth Bass – Excellent: Use live bait or artificials along 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 – Fair: Try a little slower presentation as the water temperature is falling. One eye jigs or bait-rig off the bottom has been effective. Yellow Perch – Good: The fall perch bite is picking up. Use small jigs tipped with worm in backwaters with slight flow. Northern Pike – Good: Use soft plastics in areas with slight current in shallow backwaters. Flathead Catfish – Fair: Try live shiners or small bluegill in woody debris to attract flatheads in slack areas off the side channels. Black Crappie – Good: Use light colored jigs or hook tipped with crappie minnows in backwater side-channels. Bertom Lake area has been picking up.

Upper Mississippi water levels have peaked and are expected to gradually recede this week. Many ramps are still under water, but should return to normal in about a week. Water clarity is fair with some debris still floating. Cooler temperatures will move fish toward their winter holes, but they may be hard to find with increased current. Water temperature has fallen into the mid 50’s this week.

Mississippi River Pool 12
Water levels have peaked and have started to drop. Current water levels are 11.5 feet at the Dubuque Lock and Dam and 13.6 feet at the RR bridge. Water clarity is fair. Water temperature is near 59 degrees. Freshwater Drum – Excellent:  A simple egg sinker and worm rig works best. White Crappie – Fair: Fall is the best time to catch crappies on the Mississippi River, but panfish have not been biting the best in recent weeks. Look for them along log jams in backwater sloughs. Walleye – Fair: : Use crankbaits or jigs along sandy banks. Fish are holding tight to the shorelines. Bluegill – Slow: Rapidly changing conditions have made bluegills somewhat hard to find. Smallmouth Bass – Good:Throw spinners or small crankbaits around rocky areas with strong current in the evenings. Floating weeds along the rock lines are causing issues getting to the smallmouths. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Bass are on the wood in deeper sloughs. Yellow Perch – Fair: Yellow perch are being caught in backwater areas on minnows by anglers fishing for bluegills or crappies.

Mississippi River Pool 13
Water levels have peaked and have started to recede. Current water level at Bellevue Lock and Dam is 12.4 feet and is expected to drop a foot this upcoming week. Water clarity is fair. Water temperature is 60 degrees in the main channel. The Bellevue DNR ramp and other small ramps on Pool 13 have minor flooding and debris on them. Northern Pike – Fair: Use flashy white lures. Freshwater Drum – Excellent: Use egg sinker and worm rigs. Drum bite in all types of river conditions. Walleye – Fair: Use crankbaits or jigs fished close to bank on sandy areas. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Throw crank baits or spinners near rock piles with strong current.  Bluegill – Slow: Use worm rigs in log piles in larger backwater and sloughs. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Some fish are on the weed edges while others are close to woody debris in the deeper sloughs.  Black Crappie – Slow: Fall is a great time to fish for crappies. It has been slow, but expect it to improve. Use small minnows in the woody snags in backwater sloughs.

Mississippi River Pool 14
Water levels are currently peaking and are expected to recede this week. Gauge readings are 9.6 feet at Fulton, 12.3 feet at Camanche and 6.9 feet at LeClaire. Water clarity is fair. Water temperature is 60 degrees in main channel. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Bass are on the wood in side channel sloughs. Freshwater Drum – Excellent: Freshwater drum are biting on worm rigs. Catch drum in nearly all moderate current areas. Walleye – Good: Some nice walleyes have been reported from Pool 14 all year. Fish are tight to the bank in this higher water. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Try along rock piles with current. Bluegill – Slow: Use worms and bobbers along vegetation lines. Changing conditions make it hard to consistently find bluegills.

Mississippi River Pool 15
Water levels are peaking; expect it to begin receding this upcoming week. Water clarity is getting better, but still poor. Water temperature is near 60 degrees in the main channel. Freshwater Drum – Good: Freshwater drum bite well this time of year. Put them on ice immediately if you are going to clean them. Smallmouth Bass – Fair: Find smallmouths along rock lines with strong current.

Water levels have peaked this week and levels are starting to drop throughout the district. Expect water to drop a foot or more during the week. The water temperature has dropped to 60 degrees. Some ramps have minor flooding. Aquatic vegetation is floating in the River, so 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 11.85  feet and is forecast to begin falling over the weekend. Walleye – Slow: Use jigs and minnows or troll crankbaits in Sylvan Slough. Sauger – Slow: Try jigs and minnows or troll crankbaits in Sylvan slough. White Crappie – Fair: Some crappies are being caught in the backwaters. Use jigs and minnows or jigs and plastics around brush piles in the Andalusia Island complex, Sunset Marina or Credit Island.

Mississippi River Pool 17
Tailwater stage at Lock and Dam 16 in Muscatine is 10.85 feet and is currently forecasted to begin falling over the weekend. The gates are out of the water at the dam. The ramp at Big Timber (The Breaks) is closed due to high water. White Crappie – Fair: Use jigs and minnows or minnows under a bobber around brush piles in the backwaters and side channels. Bluegill – No Report: Look for bluegills in the backwaters. Use worms or waxworms under a bobber along brush piles. Sauger – No Report: We have not received any tailwater fishing information for this pool this week with the high water conditions.

Mississippi River Pool 18
Tailwater stage is 12.04 feet at Lock and Dam 17 above New Boston and is forecasted to reach 12.2 feet. Current predictions have river stage starting to fall over the weekend. The gates are out of the water at the dam. As of Wednesday(10/18) the Toolsboro ramp is still open. White Crappie – No Report: Use jigs and minnows or minnows under a bobber in the backwaters and flowing side channels around brush piles. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Use spinnerbaits or plastics in New Boston Bay. Sauger – No Report: We have not received any tailwater fishing reports with the high water conditions.

Mississippi River Pool 19
Tailwater stage is 7.94 feet at Lock and Dam 18 above Burlington and is forecasted to reach 8.1 feet. Current predictions have river stage beginning to fall over the weekend. We have not received any fishing reports for this pool this week. White Crappie – No Report: Use jigs and minnows or minnows under a bobber in the side channels and backwaters around brush piles.Sauger – No Report: We have not received any tailwater fishing information for this pool.

River stages have been on the rise the past few days with the recent heavy rains. Current forecasts have river stages beginning to drop over the weekend. Main channel water temperature is 57-58 degrees. Water clarity is poor. Tailwater fishing for walleyes and saugers has been tough with 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
The numbers of boats in the parking lot has tripled in the last week. Bluegill – Good: Bluegills are working their way into shallow water; look for them in the habitat out in 5- to 6-feet of water. Black Crappie – Good: Crappies are working their way into shallow water; still out a little ways from shore.

Deep Lakes
Water temperature was 63 degrees last Thursday. Water clarity was 8 feet. Bluegill – Slow: Bluegills are in the vegetation beds out in 4- to 5-feet of water hiding from the bass. Black Crappie – Slow: Crappies are still out in deeper water around the brush piles. Largemouth Bass – Fair: The bass are cruising the outer edges of the weed beds out in 4- to 5-feet of water hunting bluegills.

Environmental Discovery Park North Pond
The fall trout release will be on Oct. 28th at 10 am. 1000 rainbow trout will be released at that time. 100 will be tagged for prizes.

Lake Belva Deer
Water continues to cool off. Bluegill – Good: Anglers are catching some really nice bluegills = in 4- to 5-feet of water.  Black Crappie – Good: Anglers are catching crappies in 4- to 5-feet of water. Target the tops of the mounds at the upper end of the lake. Channel Catfish – Good: Catfish continue to feed fairly heavily. Try in the rock along the dam, and where any of the feeder creeks enter the lake.

Lake Darling
Water temperature is down to 60 degrees. Water is still a little muddy after last Saturday’s heavy rains, but is not too bad. Largemouth Bass – Good: Bass are just over the tops of the rock piles and brush piles that have 4- to 5-feet of water over them.  Black Crappie – Good: Crappies are a little reluctant to come into shallow water; most are being caught in 8- to 10-feet of water around the habitat. Bluegill – Good:Lots of nice bluegills are hanging out in the brush piles in 4- to 6-feet of water; some are in shallow in 1.5 feet of water.

Lake Geode
The draining of the lake has begun. The rate of drop is very slow more work will be done to increase the rate of drop to one foot a day sometime next week. Bluegill – Slow. Black Crappie – Slow.

Lake of the Hills
The fall trout release was last Saturday. Even with the heavy rain, there was a fairly good turnout and good numbers of trout were caught. Rainbow Trout – Good: Trout were being caught on bobber and worm or Powerbait on Saturday. There are still plenty of trout to be caught as 2000 were stocked. Bluegill – Good: Lots of bluegills were being caught during the trout release. Most were in fairly close to shore and were hitting on bobber and worm.

Lost Grove Lake
Cooler temperatures are getting the fish to bite. Bluegill – Good: Bluegills are running the edges of the weed beds; use a small jig or worm and bobber. Black Crappie – Good: Crappies are starting to work in closer to the shallows, a change from last week when they were still out in deeper water.

Skunk River (Rose Hill to Coppock)
Last Saturday’s rains brought the river up about a foot; probably still not enough to use jon boats, but canoes and kayaks won’t have any problems. Channel Catfish – Fair: Won’t be long before these fish will be on their way to their overwintering sights.

Wilson Lake
The fall trout release will be on Oct. 28th with trout fishing beginning at 1:00 pm. 1000 trout will be released with 200 being tagged for prizes. Rainbow Trout – Excellent: Trout fishing will  pick up next weekend when the truck from Manchester arrives with the trout for the fall release.

For more information on the above lakes and rivers, contact the Lake Darling Fisheries Office at 319-694-2430.

Coralville Reservoir
The lake level as of 10/19 is 685.6′ and is slowly rising. It is predicted to hold at 685.8′ through the end of the month, and then begin rising again. Black Crappie – Good: Use bright jigs or minnows along rock bluffs or over brush piles. White Crappie – Good: Try bright jigs or minnows along rock bluffs or over brush piles.

Diamond Lake
Black Crappie – Fair. Bluegill – Fair. Channel Catfish – Slow. Largemouth Bass – Slow.