NORTHWEST

Black Hawk Lake
Water temperatures are in the mid 50’s. Expect fishing to pick back up as water continues to warm. Bluegill – Fair: Use waxworms and crawlers in the marina. Action has slowed a bit, but a few have been picked up in Town Bay, along Ice House Point and from the inlet bridge. Black Crappie – Slow: Use crawlers and minnows fished from shore and the floating dock. Walleye – Slow: Expect walleye shore fishing action to pick up as water temperatures gradually warm. Fish a minnow or leech under a bobber or throw a twister along the Ice House Point shoreline, North Shore, and East Shore near the outlet.

Storm Lake (including Little Storm Lake)
Water temperature is in the mid 50’s. Walleye – Fair: Throw twisters or fish minnows under a bobber from the state marina. Decent walleye action along the north shore near Chautauqua Park. White Bass – Fair: Anglers are having luck fishing from shore on the east side and from the marina. Black Crappie – Fair: Catch crappie from the marina using minnows and a twister.

Action should pick up as water temperatures continue to warm up. For more information, contact the Black Hawk District office at 712-657-2638.

Beeds Lake
Beeds Lake is ice free.

Clear Lake
Clear Lake is about 95 percent ice free. Water temperature is 46 degrees. The docks are in at the city beach ramp and the Island boat ramp. Black Crappie – Good: Crappies are biting in the cannels and fishing off the jetties. Walleye – Fair: Walleyes are starting to bite near the outlet. Best time to fish is after sunset. Be aware – DNR staff have nets set in this area.

Crystal Lake
Crystal Lake is about 95 percent ice free.

Lake Cornelia
Lake Cornelia is ice free. The docks at the boat ramp are in.

Lower Pine Lake
The docks at the boat ramp are in.

Upper Pine Lake
The docks at the boat ramp are in.

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

East Okoboji Lake
Channel Catfish – Good: Ice out brings excellent channel catfish fishing as catfish go on a feeding frenzy. The north end of the lake and bridges has extensive open water. Fish these areas for some early “pole bending” action.

Silver Lake (Palo Alto)
Silver Lake is open. Report of boat traffic last weekend. Walleye – Fair: Numbers of fish are reported caught.

Ice is receding from the Iowa Great Lakes. Open water exists at the bridges and the north end of East Okoboji, Minnewashta, Upper and Lower Gar Lakes. For more information throughout the week, contact the Spirit Lake Fish Hatchery at 712-336-1840.

NORTHEAST

Cedar River (above Nashua)
Water clarity is improving slowly. Water levels up but stable. Visit the USGS Current Water Data website for current water level information. Walleye – No Report: Walleye bite slowed down a lot with rise and low visibility. Channel Catfish – Good: Catch catfish in the impoundments with dead chubs fished on bottom.

Decorah District Streams
Area trout streams are in good condition. Catchable trout are stocked weekly as weather and water conditions permit. Listen to the trout stocking hotline (563-927-5736) for daily plans. Plan a trip to your favorite trout stream. Check out this year’s trout stream stocking calendar. Brook Trout – Good: Use a streamer to mimic minnows or subsurface flies like scuds or pheasant tail nymphs. Brown Trout – Good: Insect hatches are on the rise, especially in the afternoons. Use small midge, caddis, or flashy streamer patterns. Rainbow Trout – Good: Float a feathered spinner or crankbait past a freshly stocked fish. A piece of worm under a bobber also works in the deeper holes.

Lake Hendricks
Ice went off earlier this week. Water levels are up and the water is off color. Black Crappie – No Report: The bite should improve as water temperature warms.

Lake Meyer
Anglers are out, but the bite is slow. The boat dock is out.

Upper Iowa River (above Decorah)
Water clarity is poor, but improving. Water is bank full, but is currently stable. Water temperatures are rising. White Sucker – Slow: Bite should improve with warmer temperatures. Use worms fished on the bottom.

Upper Iowa River (below Decorah)
Water levels are relatively stable, but clarity is poor. Visit the USGS Current Water Data website for more information.

Volga Lake
Anglers are enjoying the sun and dunking worms. Docks are in. Black Crappie – Slow: Shallow, warmer areas are more productive. Largemouth Bass – Slow: Use a shallow jerk bait with slow retrieve.

Spring is finally here – just in time for the weekend. Temperatures are reaching low 60s for highs, staying above freezing at night. Turbid and high water levels on area rivers and streams. For current fishing information, please call the Decorah Fish Hatchery at 563-382-8324.

Cedar River (Nashua to La Porte City)
River levels remain high and muddy. Anglers are very well catching channel catfish.  Channel Catfish – Excellent: Use cut bait.

Heritage Pond
Heritage Pond was stocked April 14th with both rainbow and brook trout. Trout fishing should be good; the weather forecast looks to be more of average seasonal temperatures next week. Brook Trout – Fair: Cast and retrieve flashy spinner baits like a panther martin jig or similar jigs and spinners. Rainbow Trout – Fair: Cast and retrieve flashy spinner baits like a panther martin jig or similar jigs and spinners.

Maquoketa River (above Monticello)
Reports of anglers catching walleye, smallmouth bass, channel catfish and even an occasional trout on the Maquoketa River in Delaware County. The river remains up a bit, but clarity is not bad. Walleye – Good: Cast and retrieve a jig with plastics tipped with a minnow. Smallmouth Bass – Fair: Cast and retrieve a jig with plastics tipped with a minnow. Channel Catfish – Fair: Try cut bait fished on the bottom.

North Prairie Lake
Reports of anglers catching trout. Trout fishing should be good; the weather forecast looks to be more of average seasonal temperatures next week.  Brook Trout – Fair: Cast and retrieve flashy spinner baits like a panther martin jig or similar jigs and spinners. Rainbow Trout – Fair: Cast and retrieve flashy spinner baits like a panther martin jig or similar jigs and spinners. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Cast artificial crankbaits.

Shell Rock River (Greene to Shell Rock)
The Shell Rock River has been high and muddy, but is starting to drop in water levels. No fishing reports for this week.

Wapsipinicon River (Tripoli to Troy Mills)
No reports on the Wapsipinicon River as the river continues to rise and remains muddy. It may the perfect time to try for some catfish on the backwater areas of the river. Channel Catfish – Fair: Use cut bait fished on the bottom.

Few fishing report this past week as interior rivers are high and muddy from recent precipitation.  Trout stream stockings continue and streams remain in good condition. There have been few reports of crappie being caught on area lakes. Call the N.E. Iowa district office at 563-927-3276 for more information.

MISSISSIPPI RIVER

Mississippi River Pool 9
River level at Lansing is still rising at 10.4 feet and is expected to reach 13.4 feet this week.  Water temperature is near 50 degrees. Look for backwaters and areas of lesser current away from the main channel that concentrate fish. Walleye – Fair: Walleye bite should pick up after spawning. Look for alternate areas to fish as the tailwaters have a lot of current.  Yellow Perch – Slow: Perch are still in spawning areas along the rocky shorelines and near the tailwaters of the dam. Expect the bite to pick up again once temperatures rise. Sauger – Slow: Sauger are in spawning mode, but the recent cool down in water temperatures will prolong the spawn. Northern Pike – Slow: Pike spawn is ending; anglers report catching some nice pike with live bait.

Mississippi River Pool 10
River level at Lynxville has come up several feet to 20.1 feet with a steady rise to 23.6 feet expected. Water temperature is 51 degrees. Look for backwaters and areas of lesser current away from the main channel that concentrate fish. Walleye– Fair: Walleye bite should pick up after spawning. Look for alternate areas to fish as the tailwaters have a lot of current. Yellow Perch – Good: Perch are still in spawning areas along the rocky shorelines and near the tailwaters of the dam. Expect the bite to pick up again once temperatures rise. Sauger – Fair: Sauger are in spawning mode, but the recent cool down in water temperatures will prolong the spawn. Northern Pike –  Fair: Pike spawn is ending; anglers report catching some nice pike with live bait.

Mississippi River Pool 11
River level at Guttenberg has risen to 11.1 feet with a steady rise to 14.6 feet predicted. The gates are all up at the Lock and Dam. Water temperature is 51 degrees. Look for backwaters and areas of lesser current away from the main channel that concentrate fish. Walleye – Fair: Walleye bite should pick up after spawning. Look for alternate areas to fish as the tailwaters have a lot of current. Yellow Perch – Fair: Perch are still in spawning areas along the rocky shorelines and near the tailwaters of the dam. Expect the bite to pick up again once temperatures rise. Sauger – Fair: Sauger are in spawning mode, but the recent cool down in water temperatures will prolong the spawn. Northern Pike – Fair: Pike spawn is ending; anglers report catching some nice pike with live bait.

The Upper Mississippi River is on the rise with snow-melt from up north. Water clarity is diminishing as levels rise. The bite has improved this week with water temperatures jumping into the 50’s. Expect a fast warm-up and increase in fish activity as temperatures rise.

Mississippi River Pool 12
Water levels are rising and presently at 9.7 feet at the Dubuque Lock and 11.5 feet at the RR Bridge. Levels are up from last week, and will continue to rise all week. The channel water temperature is around 46 degrees. Yellow Perch – No Report: Some scattered reports of ring perch catches earlier, but not many people out fishing for them. Northern Pike – No Report: The pike spawn is late this year due to the weather; they might be still spawning some. Once done, pike can go on a good bite. Try flashy spinners. Walleye – Fair: Fishing picked up a bit this week. Most anglers are using crankbaits. Some walleyes may still be spawning.

Mississippi River Pool 13
Water levels at Bellevue are 10.8 feet and are rising. Both Bellevue City ramp and the DNR ramp are open, but no courtesy dock is available yet at the DNR ramp. Paddlefish season is over for the year. The channel water temperature is around 48 degrees. Paddlefish – No Report: Paddlefish season is closed for the year. Sauger – Slow: Hit or miss. Some reports of sauger being caught. Most are being taken on minnow rigs. Walleye – Fair: Nice slot fish are occasionally reported, but fishing is slow. Pulling crank baits is the most consistent method. Largemouth Bass – No Report: Expect the bite for bass and panfish to really start to pick up this week.

Mississippi River Pool 14
Water levels are rising and are 9.7 feet at Fulton, 12.6 feet at Camanche and 7.3 feet at LeClaire. The water temperature is around 50 degrees. Paddlefish season is now closed. Paddlefish – No Report: Paddlefish season is closed for the year. Walleye – Slow: Walleye had an extended spawn on the Mississippi River this year. Some are being taken on crankbaits mostly in the tailwater area. Largemouth Bass – No Report: Expect the largemouth bass fishing to really pick up this week. Fish the newly flooded areas in the backwaters as the water rises this week.

Mississippi River Pool 15
Water levels are 9.8 feet at Rock Island. Water levels are up from last week and will be on a steady rise this upcoming week. Conditions are still favorable for angling.

Expect a significant water rise this week throughout the district. Water temperatures have reached 50 degrees in some places. Paddlefish season is closed for the year.  If you have any angling questions, please contact the Bellevue Fisheries Station 563-872-4976. 

Mississippi River Pool 16
Tailwater stage is 10.71 feet at Lock and Dam 15 in the Quad Cities and has been rising the past few days. There has been some walleye and sauger fishing in Sylvan Slough. Walleye – Fair: Some walleyes are being caught in Sylvan Slough with jigs and plastics. Try fishing around the outflows by the power dam and Arsenal Dam. White Crappie – Fair: Use waxworms or minnows under a bobber in Sunset Marina. Bluegill – Fair: Use waxworms under a bobber in Sunset Marina.

Mississippi River Pool 17
Tailwater stage is 9.46 feet at Lock and Dam 16 in Muscatine and has been rising the past few days. River stage is forecasted to reach 12.3 feet by the middle of next week. Flood stage is 15 feet. Walleye – Slow: Look for walleyes in the tailwaters or down by GPC. Try vertical jigging with minnows or trolling three-way rigs with stick baits. White Crappie – No Report: Look for crappies in the backwaters. Use jigs and plastics or minnows under a bobber in Big Timber or Cleveland Slough.

Mississippi River Pool 18
Tailwater stage is 11.27 feet at Lock and Dam 17 at New Boston and is rising. The gates are out of the water at the dam. River stage is forecasted to reach 13.6 feet by the middle of next week. Flood stage is 15 feet. We have not received any fishing reports for this pool this week. White Crappie – No Report: Look for crappies in the backwaters. Try jigs and minnows or minnows under a bobber around brush piles.

Mississippi River Pool 19
Tailwater stage is 7.47 feet at Lock and Dam 18 above Burlington and is rising. River stage is forecasted to reach 9 feet by the middle of next week. Flood stage at Lock and Dam 18 is 10 feet. We have not received any fishing reports for this pool this week.

River stages have been on the rise the past few days. Main channel water temperature has risen to 52-53 degrees. We have not received much for fishing reports this week. If you have questions on fishing Pools 16-19, contact the Fairport Fish Hatchery at 563-263-5062