NORTHWEST

Black Hawk Lake
Water temperatures are in the mid 70’s. Bluegill – Fair: Try Town Bay, Ice House Point, and the North Shore. Use a small hair or tube jig with a small piece of crawler fished under a bobber in 2-6 feet of water. Walleye – Slow:Try in Town Bay, the shoreline along Ice House Point, and near the inlet bridge. Use leeches fished under a bobber and twisters on the downwind shoreline where walleye are feeding. Black Crappie – Slow: A few have been picked up from Ice House Point, the floating dock, the stone piers and the inlet bridge. Catch fish up to 11 inches with crawlers and leeches fished under a bobber. Look for post-spawn crappie out deeper. Largemouth Bass – Good: Catch largemouth all over the lake using traditional bass lures. Many anglers have found good bass action at the Ice House Point, the east shoreline,and the lake side of the inlet bridge. There is a 15 inch minimum length limit on largemouth bass in Black Hawk Lake. Muskellunge – Fair: There is a 40 inch minimum length limit on Musky at Black Hawk Lake. Channel Catfish – Fair: Use stink bait, cut bait, or crawler fished on the bottom along Ice House Point and in Town Bay.

Brushy Creek Lake
There is a 15 inch minimum length limit on largemouth bass in Brushy Creek Lake, and a 40 inch minimum length limit for Musky. Walleye – Fair: Use minnows and leaches in 15 feet of water. Black Crappie – Fair: Try minnows on a jig in 10-20 feet of water. Yellow Perch – Fair: Fish along the vegetation to find perch. Largemouth Bass – Good: Catch bass along weed lines near shore just about anywhere with traditional bass lures. There is a 15 inch minimum length limit on largemouth bass in Brushy Creek Lake. Muskellunge – Fair: There is a 40 inch minimum length limit for musky on Brushy Creek Lake.

Storm Lake (including Little Storm Lake)
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 crank baits or drifting crawler harnesses on the edges of the dredge cuts around the lake in about 8 feet of water. White Bass – Fair: Use crankbaits; most action has been from boat while fishing dredge cuts.

Swan Lake
Bluegill – Fair: Use a small jig tipped with crawler along the dam and off the jetties. Most fish are 6-7 inches. Look for fish to move closer to shore and the males sitting on nests.

Yellow Smoke Park Lake
Bluegill – Fair: Find bluegill spawning in the arm north of the swim beach and in the coves along the south shore. Yellow Smoke is known for its big bluegill consistently reaching 9 inches or more.

Water temperatures in Black Hawk District lakes are in the upper 70’s. Many rivers levels are high due to heavy rainfall in the area. For more information, contact the Black Hawk District office at 712-657-2638.

Beeds Lake
Black Crappie – Good: Drift fish or troll with tube jig or a small minnow. Bluegill – Fair: Use a small piece of crawler under a bobber in 2 to 4 feet of water.

Clear Lake
Surface water temperature is 73 degrees. Walleye – Good: Try a slip bobber and leeches or crawlers fished near the edge of vegetation in 3 to 6 feet of water. Yellow Bass – Slow: Use a small jig tipped with a piece of crawler at the edge of vegetation. Channel Catfish – Good: With recent rains, fish any spot where water is entering the lake with cut bait, chicken liver or crawlers. The best bite is late evening.  Largemouth Bass – Fair: Try a spinner or topwater bait in the open spots in the vegetation.

Crystal Lake
Bluegill – Good: Bluegill are biting. Use a small piece of crawler and a bobber in 2 to 3 feet of water. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Bass are biting spinners and plastic baits fished near vegetation.

Lake Smith
Largemouth Bass – Good: Largemouth bass are biting on a variety of baits. Bluegill – Good: Bluegill are biting. Use a small piece of crawler and a bobber in 2 to 3 feet of water.

Silver Lake (Worth)
Largemouth Bass – Good: Largemouth bass are biting on plastic baits. Bluegill – Fair: Use a small piece of crawler and a bobber in 2 to 3 feet of water.

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: Use traditional baits in the evening. Black Crappie – Fair: Anglers report a improving panfish bite of bluegill and crappie. Try traditional baits fished in weed lines. Walleye – Good: Use crawlers or leeches. Yellow Bass – Good: Cast mini-jigs or hair-jigs from docks during evening hours.

Five Island Lake
Channel Catfish – Good: Use traditional baits during evening hours. Walleye – Fair: Action is picking up with lots of angler acceptable size and larger being caught.

Lake Pahoja
Bluegill – Good: Recent surveys show good numbers of large angler size fish in the lake.

Lost Island Lake
Walleye – Good: Use bottom bouncers tipped with crawlers or leeches. Yellow Bass – Good: Reports of yellow bass being caught. Use small lures such as a twister tail or hair jigs.

Silver Lake (Dickinson)
Walleye – Good: Troll crank baits when there is a good walleye chop on the lake.

Spirit Lake
Marble Beach campground, including the boat ramp, is closed for the season for renovation. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Anglers report good action on the lake. Walleye – Good: Use live bait trolled on the bottom. Yellow Perch – Good: Try jigs tipped with wigglers along the weedlines.

West Okoboji Lake
Bluegill – Good: Wooden docks in deeper water and new aquatic growth will produce good numbers of angler acceptable sized fish.

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

NORTHEAST

Cedar River (above Nashua)
Water levels are on the rise with poor visibility. Visit the USGS Current Water Data website for current water level information. Watercraft activities are not recommended.
Walleye – Slow: Use a jig tipped with a crawler, minnow or twister tail. Channel Catfish – Fair: Catch catfish in the impoundments with dead chubs fished on the bottom. Smallmouth Bass – Slow: Use a variety of jigs or spinners near brush piles. Black Crappie – Slow: Crappie are keying into shallow rocky shorelines. Use small jigs tipped with twister tail or minnow.

Decorah District Streams
Yellow wild parsnip is blooming. Wear long sleeved clothing when walking through it to prevent skin contact. Catchable trout are stocked weekly as weather and water conditions permit. Listen to the trout stocking hotline (563-927-5736) for daily plans. Brook Trout – Fair: A variety of aquatic and terrestrial insects, like ants and beetles, are more numerous. Use care not to spook a feeding fish. Brown Trout – Fair: Hendrickson, caddis, and cranefly hatches occurring. Use hendrickson, gnat or beadhead nymph patterns and watch the water boil. Pale yellow, black, brown, and grey colors work best.  Rainbow Trout – Fair: Try a piece of worm or small cheese chunk on a hook under a bobber in the deeper holes or floated past an undercut bank. A variety of small spinnerbaits also work.

Lake Hendricks
Water clarity is poor with recent rains. Black Crappie – Slow: Use small jigs in shallow areas. Largemouth Bass – Slow: Fish along edges of vegetation for a cruising bass. Channel Catfish – Fair: Use a worm under a bobber in the later evening. Bluegill – Slow: Try a small jig tipped with small piece of worm along the shoreline.

Lake Meyer
Lake Meyer has about 1 feet visibility. Bluegill – Slow: Use a hook tipped with a worm in shallow water. Black Crappie – Slow: Try a hook tipped with a worm or small spinner bait along a rocky shoreline. Largemouth Bass – Slow: Use buzz or spinner baits in shallow bays. Northern Pike – Slow: Use a night crawler fished along the shallow weedy bays.

Upper Iowa River (above Decorah)
Water clarity is poor. Water temperatures are in the upper 60’s. Water levels are rising. Paddling is not recommended. Walleye – Slow: Bring an assortment of tackle to find what works best for your location and time of day. White Sucker – Slow: Use worms fished on the bottom.

Upper Iowa River (below Decorah)
Water levels are rising with poor visibility. Paddling is not recommended. Visit the USGS Current Water Data website for more information. Walleye – Slow: Cast bright colored jigs and twister tails near undercut banks and log jams. Best fishing is toward dusk. Smallmouth Bass – Slow: Use spinners around tributaries. Light colored jigs and crankbaits work best. Fish 10-12 inches common. White Sucker – Slow: Worms fished off the bottom work for a hungry sucker.

Volga Lake
Water temperatures are in the low 70’s. Black Crappie – Slow: Shallow, rocky, warmer areas are more productive. Largemouth Bass – Slow: Use topwater lures in shallow water. Channel Catfish – Fair: Find catfish shallow in early morning or late night. Use worm or smashed minnow fished on the bottom. Bluegill – Slow: Use small jigs tipped with a small piece of worm along shallow rocky areas. Common Carp – Fair: Fish the shallow bays in the evening.

Continued rain over saturated ground is causing area water bodies to rise and turn muddy. Sunshine is possible Saturday. Temperatures are upper 70s to low 80s for highs over the weekend. For current fishing information, please call the Decorah Fish Hatchery at 563-382-8324.

Big Woods Lake
Largemouth Bass – Fair. Bluegill – Slow. Black Crappie – Slow.

Casey Lake (aka Hickory Hills Lake)
Largemouth Bass – Fair. Bluegill – Fair.

Cedar River (Nashua to La Porte City)
The Cedar River is running at 11,800 CFS in Waterloo or about 3 times above median flow. These flows are creating difficult conditions for smallmouth bass and walleye, but channel catfish action has been good Smallmouth Bass – Slow. Walleye – Slow. Channel Catfish – Good.

George Wyth Lake
George Wyth Park is subject to closure during Cedar River flood events. Bluegill – Fair: Small fish with good catch rates. Black Crappie – Fair: Small fish. Largemouth Bass – Fair.

Manchester District Streams
Trout streams go up fast and fall more quickly than rivers following rain events. Watch weather reports as you plan your trout fishing trips. Brown trout fishing can be excellent in slightly high and turbid water conditions. Brown Trout – Fair. Brook Trout – Good. Rainbow Trout – Good.

Maquoketa River (above Monticello)
The Maquoketa River at Manchester is flowing at about 750 CFS or twice median flow for this time of year. These high water conditions are creating difficult conditions for fishing. Smallmouth Bass – Slow. Walleye – Slow. Channel Catfish – Slow.

Plainfield
Bluegill – Fair. Largemouth Bass – Fair.

South Prairie Lake
Vegetation has become abundant; adjust strategies accordingly, including topwater baits and “weedless” baits. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Use topwater baits. Bluegill – Slow. Black Crappie – Slow.

Stormy and wet weather is impacting fishing on area rivers and lakes. Summer fishing opportunities including channel catfish and topwater bass are heating up. Panfish have been more difficult to catch as spawning activity diminishes. Trout streams are providing excellent fishing in between storms. Most area rivers are 2 – 4 times above median flows for this time of year; making conditions challenging for bass and walleye. Call the N.E. Iowa district office at 563-927-3276 for more information.

MISSISSIPPI RIVER

Mississippi River Pool 9
River level is 10.5 feet at Lansing and is predicted to rise to 13.7 feet this week. Water temperature is near 75 degrees. New Albin ramp road is closed due to high water. The Lansing Village Creek ramp and parking lot construction is expected to start July 30 and the ramp will be closed through October. For more updates, call the Guttenberg Fisheries Management office at 563-252-1156. Walleye – No Report: Some walleye are being caught trolling crankbaits along bottom structure and wing dams. Yellow Perch – No Report: Still a few perch biting along the rocky shorelines and tailwater areas. Sauger – No Report: Try a lightweight jig tipped with minnow fished on the bottom along main channel edges and wing dams. Northern Pike – No Report: Northern are feeding in the vegetation along main channel borders. Cast spinners or a minnow along edges of debris piles. Flathead Catfish – No Report: Expect flatheads to be on the feed as they enter the spawning period. Fish deeper holes with a large shiner or sunfish. Channel Catfish – Fair: Use a crawler fished on the bottom in current eddies. Common Carp – Good: Carp are on the move with the high water. To hook a big one, try fishing the warm shallow backwaters where carp are staging for the spawn. Largemouth Bass – Slow: Main channel areas have poor visibility due to turbid water. Look for bass in the vegetation in protected backwaters. Smallmouth Bass – Slow: Fishing has been difficult. Find smallmouth along shorelines in the current off rocky points. White Bass – No Report: Cast flashy spinners or crankbaits along the rocks in main channel current for big white bass. Bluegill – Slow: Bluegill will move out of the heavy floodwaters current. Look for them in the lilly pads in protected backwater lakes. Freshwater Drum – Good: Freshwater drum are actively biting in areas of current. Drop a heavily weighted worm rig into the current for some big fish action.

Mississippi River Pool 10
River level is 19.3 feet at Lynxville and is predicted to reach 23.8 feet this week. Water temperature is 76 degrees at the Lock 9. Walleye– No Report: Some walleye are being caught trolling crankbaits along bottom structure and wing dams. Yellow Perch – No Report: Still a few perch biting along the rocky shorelines and tailwater areas. Sauger – No Report: Try a lightweight jig tipped with minnow fished on the bottom along main channel edges and wing dams. Northern Pike –  No Report: Northern are feeding along main channel borders. Cast spinners or a minnow along edges of debris piles. Flathead Catfish – No Report: Expect flatheads to be on the feed as they enter the spawning period. Fish deeper holes with a large shiner or sunfish. Channel Catfish – Fair: Use a crawler fished on the bottom in current eddies. Bluegill – Good: Panfish bite is picking up this week. Try a small piece of garden worm on small tackle under a bobber. Common Carp – Good: Carp are on the move with the high water. To hook into a big one, try fishing the warm shallow backwaters where carp are staging for the spawn. Largemouth Bass – Slow: Main channel areas have poor visibility due to turbid water. Look for bass in the vegetation in protected backwaters. Smallmouth Bass – Slow: Fishing has been difficult. Find smallmouth along shorelines in the current off rocky points. White Bass – No Report: Cast flashy spinners or crankbaits along the rocks in main channel current for big white bass. Bluegill – Slow: Bluegill will move out of the heavy floodwaters current. Look for them in the lilly pads in protected backwater lakes. Freshwater Drum – Good: Freshwater drum are actively biting in areas of current. Drop a heavily weighted worm rig into the current for some big fish action.