NORTHWEST

Black Hawk Lake
Water temperatures are in the low 70’s. Water levels are 15 inches over the crest of the spillway. Water clarity is around 2 feet. Bluegill – Slow: 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 3-6 feet of water. Target deeper fish this time of year on the rock piles near Gunshot Hill, Cottonwood Point, and the East Basin. Walleye – Fair: Use leeches fished under a bobber in the shoreline along Ice House Point. Boat anglers have had some luck on the rock piles near Gunshot Hill, Cottonwood Point and the East Basin.  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. Look for fish along rocky shorelines this time of year.

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 15-20 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.

Yellow Smoke Park Lake
Bluegill – Fair: Use a small jig fished under a bobber with a minnow or piece of crawler around structure in 5-10 feet of water. Yellow Smoke is known for its big bluegill consistently reaching 9 inches or more.

Water temperatures in Black Hawk District lakes are in the low 70’s. 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
Clear Lake is 7 inches above crest. Surface water temperature is 74 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: Catfish are biting baits fished on the rock reefs and off the jetties. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Try a spinner or topwater bait in the open spots in the vegetation. Muskellunge – Fair.

Crystal Lake
Bluegill – Fair: 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. Black Crappie – Fair: Drift or troll small tube jigs in the dredge cut.

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 – Good: 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.

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 – Good: Catch catfish in the impoundments with dead chubs or chicken liver 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. Flows are up and most streams are muddy after rains on 6/26.
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. Crickets are common along streams now. Use hendrickson, gnat or beadhead nymph patterns. Pale yellow, black, brown, and grey colors work best. Try using terrestrial patterns for crickets and ants. 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 is stained green with vegetation around the boat dock. Limited visibility.  Black Crappie – Fair: Use small jigs in shallow areas. Anglers are finding large numbers of small fish. Largemouth Bass – Good: Use spinnerbaits and soft plastics along edges of vegetation. Bluegill – Good: Try a small jig tipped with small piece of worm along the shoreline.

Lake Meyer
Lake Meyer has about 1 feet visibility. Water is stained a brown color. Fish activity is variable. Bluegill – Fair: Use a hook tipped with a worm in shallow water along vegetated edges. Black Crappie – Slow: Try a hook tipped with a worm or small spinner bait along a rocky shoreline. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Use buzz or spinner baits in shallow bays and along weed edges.

Upper Iowa River (above Decorah)
Water clarity poor. Water levels are rising. Watercraft activities are not recommended. Walleye – No Report: Bring an assortment of tackle to find what works best for your location and time of day.

Upper Iowa River (below Decorah)
Water levels are rising with poor visibility. Watercraft activities are not recommended. Visit the USGS Current Water Data website for more information. Walleye – No Report: Cast bright colored jigs and twister tails near undercut banks and log jams. Smallmouth Bass – No Report: Use spinners around tributaries. Light colored jigs and crankbaits work best.

Volga Lake
Black Crappie – Slow: Find fish near submersed structure or in open water. Largemouth Bass – Good: Use topwater lures around structure. Channel Catfish – Fair: Find catfish shallow in early morning or late night. Use worm, chicken liver, or cut bait fished on the bottom. Bluegill – Fair: Use small jigs tipped with a small piece of worm along shallow rocky areas. Common Carp – Good: Fish the shallow bays at night using bright lights and bows.

As of 6/26, rain over saturated ground is causing area water bodies to rise and turn muddy. Clearing by the weekend, but high humidity could pop-up more showers. Temperatures in the upper 80s to low 90s for highs over 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)
Vegetation has become abundant around lake edges, so adjust strategies to fish over or through plants. Largemouth Bass – Size has been good. Bluegill – Good. Channel Catfish – Good:

Cedar River (Nashua to La Porte City)
The Cedar River is running at 16,900 CFS as of June 28 in Waterloo or about 4 times above median flow. These flows are creating difficult conditions for smallmouth bass and walleye, but channel catfish action has been good at times. Smallmouth Bass – Slow. Walleye – Slow. Channel Catfish – Fair.

George Wyth Lake
George Wyth Park is subject to closure during Cedar River flood events. The ramp and lake access are open as of June 28. 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. Trout stocking has continued mostly as planned during the week of June 25 – 29. Brown Trout – Fair. Brook Trout – Good. Rainbow Trout – Good.

Maquoketa River (above Monticello)
The Maquoketa River at Manchester is flowing at about 475 CFS as of June 28 or about twice median flow for this time of year. These high water conditions are creating difficult conditions for fishin, but the Maquoketa is starting to clear and is fishable at current levels. With limited rainfall during the next few days, it is expected that the Maquoketa River could provide good fishing during the upcoming weekend and 4th of July holiday. Watch the rainfall and river levels. 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.

Wapsipinicon River (Tripoli to Troy Mills)
The Wapsipinicon River at Independence has a flow of about 3800 CFS as of June 28; this water discharge rate is about 5 times above median levels for this time of year. Fishing has been limited. Northern Pike – Slow. Smallmouth Bass – Slow. Channel Catfish – Fair.

Weather continues to impact fishing success and opportunities in east-central Iowa with heavy rainfall causing high water conditions on all area rivers. Summer fishing opportunities including channel catfish and largemouth bass are available where conditions are fit. Trout streams are providing excellent fishing in between storm events. 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 up 4 feet from last week at 14.7 feet. Levels are predicted to gradually fall to 12 feet by late next week. Water temperature is near 76° 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 – Fair: Fishing has been tough with high water. Some walleye are being picked up bottom bouncing crawlers on side channel and bottom structure Yellow Perch – No Report: Still a few perch biting along the rocky shorelines and tailwater areas. Sauger – Slow: Try a lightweight jig tipped with minnow fished on the bottom along main channel edges and wing dams. Northern Pike – Fair: Northern are feeding in the vegetation along main channel borders. Cast spinners or a minnow along edges of debris piles. Flathead Catfish – Fair: Use a large shiner or sunfish in deeper holes. Channel Catfish – Good: Use a crawler fished on the bottom in current eddies. Largemouth Bass – Good: Bass are biting along the vegetation in backwater lakes and areas protected from the current. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Fishing has been difficult with floating flood debris and weeds. Find smallmouth along shorelines in the current off rocky points. White Bass – Fair: 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 at Lynxville jumped 5 feet from last week to 624.2 feet. The River is cresting and a slow fall is predicted. Water temperature is 76 degrees at the Lock 9. Walleye– Fair: Fishing has been tough with high water. Some walleyes are being picked up bottom bouncing crawlers on side channel and bottom structure. Yellow Perch – No Report: Still a few perch biting along the rocky shorelines and tailwater areas. Sauger – Slow: Try a lightweight jig tipped with minnow fished on the bottom along main channel edges and wing dams. Northern Pike – Fair: Northern are feeding in the vegetation along main channel borders. Cast spinners or a minnow along edges of debris piles. Flathead Catfish – Fair: Use a large shiner or sunfish in deeper holes. 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 – Good: Bass are biting along the vegetation in backwater lakes and areas protected from the current. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Fishing has been difficult with floating flood debris and weeds. Find smallmouth along shorelines in the current off rocky points. White Bass – Fair: 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 11
River level at Guttenberg is cresting at around 15 feet this week. A slow fall is expected over the next week. Water temperature is 71 degrees at Lock and Dam 10. Walleye – Fair: Fishing has been tough with high water. Some walleyes are being picked up bottom bouncing crawlers on side channel and bottom structure. Yellow Perch – No Report: Still a few perch biting along the rocky shorelines and tailwater areas. Sauger – Slow: Try a lightweight jig tipped with minnow fished on the bottom along main channel edges and wing dams. Northern Pike – Fair: Northern are feeding along main channel borders. Cast spinners or a minnow along edges of debris piles. Flathead Catfish – Fair: Use a large shiner or sunfish in deeper. Channel Catfish – Good: Use a crawler fished on the bottom. Largemouth Bass – Good: Bass are biting along the vegetation in backwater lakes and areas protected from the current. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Fishing has been difficult with floating flood debris and weeds. Find smallmouth along shorelines in the current off rocky points. White Bass – Fair: 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.

Upper Mississippi River is cresting this week with gradual fall predicted. Most ramps are currently under water. Water temperature is in the mid 70’s.