NORTHWEST
Bacon Creek Lake
Rainbow Trout – Fair: About 1500 rainbow trout averaging 11 inches were stocked on Nov. 1. Use small tube and twister jigs, in-line spinners, casting spoons, and live minnows or crawlers under a bobber.
Black Hawk Lake
Water temperatures are in the upper 30’s. Courtesy docks at Ice House boat ramp and 30-Acres boat ramp have been removed for the winter. Fishing activity has slowed with the colder weather. Bluegill – Fair: Use a small jig tipped with live bait or a small piece of crawler fished below a bobber off the floating fishing pier and the west stone pier. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Use topwater lures, twisters, or live bait to catch largemouth bass just about anywhere along the shoreline. Black Crappie – Fair: Try a crawler or minnow on a jig fished below a bobber off the floating fishing pier in Town Bay. Walleye – Fair: Use live bait along the shoreline of Ice House Point and near the outlet structure on the east side of the lake.
Little Sioux River (Linn Grove to Correctionville)
Walleye – Fair: Use live bait, creek chubs, and plastics in the deeper pools; areas below riffles, on the outside of a bend, or below the dams are good areas to target walleyes. Northern Pike – Fair: A few are being picked up with red/white spoons fished below dams and riffles.
Moorland Pond
Rainbow Trout – Fair: About 1500 rainbow trout were stocked on Nov. 2. Use small tube and twister jigs, in-line spinners, casting spoons, and live minnows or crawlers under a bobber.
Storm Lake (including Little Storm Lake)
Surface water temperatures are in the upper 30’s. Fishing activity has slowed with the onset of colder weather. Walleye – Fair: Use twisters, live bait and plastics that mimic a shad. Most action has been from shore. White Bass – Fair: Use crankbaits, twisters and live bait fished from shore.
Water temperatures are in the upper 30’s. Fishing activity on area lakes has slowed with the onset of colder temperatures. Walleye fishing in rivers has been fair to good. For more information, contact the Black Hawk District office at 712-657-2638.
Blue Pit
There will be an Urban Trout Stocking here tomorrow, Nov. 22. 1,500 Rainbow trout will be stocked at approximately 11 a.m. You need a 2017 fishing license (age 16 and older) and trout stamp to fish for trout.
Clear Lake
The water temperature is 34 degrees.There has been very little angling activity this week. All courtesy docks at the boat ramps have been removed for the season.
For information in the north central area, contact the Clear Lake Fish and Wildlife office at 641-357-3517.
Center Lake
Black Crappie – Slow: Good numbers of fish 10 inches and larger are available for the upcoming ice fishing season. Fish the basin at dusk for the best action. Bluegill – Slow: Good numbers of angler acceptable size (6.0 – 7.9 inch) fish; persistence and patience will be rewarded with larger fish.
East Okoboji Lake
Yellow Bass – Slow: Ice anglers will continue to harvest good numbers of yellow bass during the upcoming ice season; good numbers of fish approaching 10 inches with the occasional larger fish.
Five Island Lake
Walleye – Slow: Ice anglers will harvest good numbers of angler acceptable size and larger fish. Channel Catfish – Slow: Persistent anglers will find schooled up channel catfish which will provide plenty of pole bending action during the ice fishing season. Yellow Bass – Slow: Ice anglers will continue to harvest large numbers of fish during the upcoming ice season with anglers noting the increase of larger size fish size approaching 8 inches. Black Crappie – Slow: Ice anglers will note the influx of crappie approaching 9 inches; persistence and patience will be rewarded with larger fish.
Lost Island Lake
Walleye – Slow: Ice anglers will continue to enjoy the upswing in the walleye fishery experienced during the 2017 open water season. Black Crappie – Slow: Ice anglers fishing for panfish should see an upswing to the fishery. Fish the deeper rock piles on the west side of the lake.
Mill Creek (Lake)
Black Crappie – Slow: Good numbers of large black crappie are available for the upcoming ice fishing season. Fish the north shore or the flat off the island for the best action. Bluegill – Slow: Good numbers of 6 – 8.5 inch fish are available for the upcoming ice season.
Scharnberg Pond
Rainbow Trout – Slow: Rainbow trout were released here on Nov. 18th.
Silver Lake (Palo Alto)
Yellow Perch – Slow: Good numbers of fish approaching 10 inches are available for the upcoming ice fishing season. Walleye – Slow: Recent surveys show good numbers of angler acceptable size fish available for the upcoming ice fishing season.
Spirit Lake
Walleye – Slow: Ice anglers will continue to harvest good numbers of fish below the slot. Yellow Perch – Slow: Persistent ice anglers will harvest good numbers of large yellow perch during the upcoming ice season.
West Okoboji Lake
Bluegill – Slow: Ice anglers will continue to catch good numbers of fish during the upcoming ice season; fish Little Emerson and Little Millers bay when ice conditions are safe for the best early season action.
West Swan Lake S.W.M.A.
Black Crappie – Slow: Recent surveys show good numbers of crappie available for the upcoming ice season.
For more information throughout the week, contact the Spirit Lake Fish Hatchery at 712-336-1840.
NORTHEAST
Cedar River (above Nashua)
Stable water levels and clear water reported for the Cedar River. Use this opportunity to get out and play before the river freezes. Walleye – Good: Use a jig tipped with a long piece of worm or minnow in deeper pools, eddies, and current breaks. Try also spinnerbaits with a slow retrieve. Northern Pike – Good: Use dead chubs fished under a bobber or spoons. Smallmouth Bass – Slow: A few smallies are picked up while angling for walleye.
Decorah District Streams
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: With cold temperatures in the forecast and spawning fish, it’s time to change strategies. Use patterns imitating small fish, eggs, and scuds. Small gnats, mayflies, caddisflies hatch on warmer afternoons. Rainbow Trout – Good: Drift a feathered spinner or a hook tipped with worm along an undercut bank. Always leave gates and fences as you find them.
Lake Hendricks
Few anglers have been out.
Lake Meyer
Water temperatures are dropping and few anglers are out.
Upper Iowa River (above Decorah)
The Upper Iowa River is in excellent condition. Most angling is from shore or below dams. Walleye – Fair: Find walleye in deeper holes. Use a jig tipped with a minnow, twister tail, or baits imitating larger minnows or suckers in eddies and current seams.
Upper Iowa River (below Decorah)
Water levels are stable and clarity is excellent. Walleye – Good: Fin
Volga Lake
Duck season is open and hunters are on the water.
Mostly sunny with temperatures ranging from the mid 40’s to low 20’s through the weekend. Skim ice is forming on small ponds and river edges in the mornings. Area streams and rivers are in excellent condition and fishing well. Enjoy time with family. Go fishing. For current fishing information, please call the Decorah Fish Hatchery at 563-382-8324.
Big Woods Lake
Black Crappie – Fair: Fish a live minnow about four feet below a slip bobber.
Casey Lake (aka Hickory Hills Lake)
Largemouth Bass – Good: Cast and retrieve shallow running crankbaits.
Cedar River (Nashua to La Porte City)
There have been good to excellent reports of anglers catching walleye, northern pike (particularly Bremer County) on the Cedar River. Target deeper pools or holes for walleye as they migrate to overwintering areas. Walleye – Good: Use jigs tipped with plastics tipped with a minnow. Northern Pike – Good: Cast white bucktail spinner baits.
Harold Getty Lake
Black Crappie – Fair: Try a live minnow about four feet below a slip bobber.
Maquoketa River (above Monticello)
Reports of some anglers having success catching some walleye on the Maquoketa River. Water levels on the Maquoketa River remain in excellent condition. Concentrate on the deeper holes where walleye gather to overwinter. Walleye – Fair: Try jigs tipped with plastics with or without live bait.
North Prairie Lake
Anglers continue to catch trout from the recent stocking of the lake. Rainbow Trout – Good: Cast lures or spinner baits that are flashy in color to attract a good trout bite.
Shell Rock River (Greene to Shell Rock)
Concentrate on the deeper holes where walleye gather to overwinter. Walleye – Good: Use jigs tipped with plastics and a live minnow. Smallmouth Bass – Fair: Try jigs tipped with plastics with or without live bait or spinnerbaits.
Wapsipinicon River (Tripoli to Troy Mills)
Concentrate on the deeper holes where walleye gather to overwinter. Walleye – Good: Use jigs tipped with plastics with or without live bait. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Try jigs tipped with plastics with or without live bait or spinnerbaits.
Interior river water levels remain excellent. River reports have been best for walleye, smallmouth bass and northern pike. Northeast Iowa trout streams remain in excellent condition and provide fantastic trout angling opportunities throughout the entire winter. Call the N.E. Iowa district office at 563-927-3276 for more information.
MISSISSIPPI RIVER
Mississippi River Pool 12
Water levels have dropped and are around 7 feet at the Dubuque Lock and Dam and 10 feet at the RR bridge. The water will continue to recede slowly. Water clarity is good. Water temperature is near 38 degrees in the main channel. Black Crappie – Fair: A few good reports mixed in with several bad. Make sure you fish out of the current areas for late fall crappies. Walleye – Good: Most walleyes are now coming from the tailwater areas. Catch bigger fish with crankbaits. Bluegill – Fair: Bluegills are in their backwater winter homes in places away from current. Yellow Perch – Fair: Find yellow perch in backwater areas especially in what is left of the lily pads. Most anglers use worms. Often perch are caught by folks fishing for bluegills or crappies. Sauger – Good: Lots of tailwater angling going on. Most anglers are using some version of a weight and minnow rig to catch tailwater saugers. Some good and some poor days in the tailwater.
Mississippi River Pool 13
Water levels receded this week and are around 8 feet at Bellevue Lock and Dam. The water is expected to continue to drop slowly. Water clarity is good. Water temperature is 38 degrees in the main channel. Walleye – Good: Walleyes are being found in tailwater areas by anglers using crankbaits. Angling in the tailwaters is good at times and poor at others. Bluegill – Slow: Bluegills are in their backwater winter homes in places away from current. Black Crappie – Fair: Backwater wood is the place for crappies. Crappies have been a bit hard to find for even the avid crappie anglers. Yellow Perch – Fair: The bite in the tailwater may have finally slowed some, but most yellow perch will move to backwater locations. Sauger – Good: Anglers are using some version weight/minnow rig for best sauger catches in the tailwaters.
Mississippi River Pool 14
Water levels receded all week and will continue to drop. Gauge readings are 7.5 feet at Fulton, 11 feet at Camanche and 5.9 feet at LeClaire. Water clarity is good. Water temperature is 40 degrees in the main channel. Walleye – Good: Some nice walleyes have been reported from Pool 14 all year. Most walleyes are coming out of the tailwaters on crankbaits. Bluegill – Slow: Bluegills are in their backwater homes in places like Beaver Island, Rock Creek and Cattail Slough. Black Crappie – No Report: Crappie populations look good and some should be biting in the backwater areas. Yellow Perch – Good: A surprising number of yellow perch are found in Pool 14 recently. Some can be caught in the tailwater areas in 10 to 15 feet of water. Other perch are being caught in backwater areas by bluegill and crappie anglers.
Mississippi River Pool 15
Water levels receded all week and are 7.8 feet at Rock Island. Water clarity is good. Water temperature is near 40 degrees in the main channel. Walleye – No Report: Tailwater angling for walleye and sauger has started in earnest since the water levels have receded in the past weeks.
The water continues to recede; expect water to drop a bit more this upcoming week. The water temperature has dipped to the upper 30’s. Some thin ice is seen in the backwaters at times. 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 7.42 feet and has been slowly falling this past week. Sauger – Slow: Try vertical jigging with minnows or pulling three-way rigs with minnows or stickbaits in Sylvan Slough or below the dam. White Crappie – No Report: Use jigs and minnows or minnows under a bobber in the backwaters 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 6.23 feet and has been slowly falling. White Crappie – No Report: Use jigs and minnows or minnows under a bobber around brush piles in the backwaters at Big Timber. Walleye – Fair: Some walleyes were caught below the dam at Muscatine this past weekend. Sauger – Fair: Some saugers were being caught below the dam this past week. Use jigs and minnows or pull three-way rigs with minnows or stick baits.
Mississippi River Pool 18
Tailwater stage is 6.49 feet at Lock and Dam 17 above New Boston and has been slowly falling. White Crappie – No Report: Use jigs and minnows or minnows under a bobber in the backwaters around brush piles. Sauger – Slow:Vertical jig with minnows or pull three-way rigs with minnows or stick baits.
Mississippi River Pool 19
Tailwater stage is 4.07 feet at Lock and Dam 18. We have not received any fishing report information for this pool this week. White Crappie – No Report: Use jigs and minnows or minnows under a bobber in backwaters around brush piles. Sauger – No Report: Vertical jig with minnows or pull three-way rigs with minnows or stick baits.
Tailwater stages have been slowly falling this past week. Main channel water temperature is around 39 degrees and water clarity has been fair. There has been some tailwater fishing for walleyes and saugers. If you have questions on fishing Pools 16-19, contact the Fairport Fish Hatchery at 563-263-5062.
SOUTHEAST
Environmental Discovery Park North Pond
Pick a nice warm day and go trout fishing; still plenty of trout left from the stocking late last month. Rainbow Trout – Good: Try power bait under a bobber or a small jig or spinner worked through the shallow water.
Lake Darling
Almost no fishing activity over the last several days. Water temperature is 42 degrees. The water is very clear, you can see the bottom in 6 feet of water.
Lake Geode
The lake is drained (nearly). Fun to go out and hike around looking at the lake bottom. Be careful, some of the mud is still very soft and deep.
Lake of the Hills
2000 trout were stocked last month, still plenty of them left in the lake. Rainbow Trout – Good: Work the shallow water from shore; trout won’t be out very deep. Fish in 3 to 4 feet of water and some of the brush piles in 6 to 7 feet of water.
Wilson Lake
Still plenty of trout left from last month. Rainbow Trout – Good: Work the shallow brush piles and culvert piles.
For more information on the above lakes and rivers, contact the Lake Darling Fisheries Office at 319-694-2430.
