NORTHWEST

Black Hawk Lake
Water temperatures are around 80 degrees. Water levels are 4 inches over the crest of the spillway. 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 5-6 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: Try leeches or crawler harnesses around Ice House Pt, the dredge cut near Denison Beach, and around the rock piles near Gunshot Hill, Cottonwood Point and the East Basin. 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.  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 near submerged structure. Yellow Perch – Fair: Find perch along the vegetation and deeper structure. 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.

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 picking up fish trolling crankbaits 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 in 3-6 feet of water. Most fish are 6-7 inches.

Water temperatures in Black Hawk District lakes are around 80 degrees. For more information, contact the Black Hawk District office at 712-657-2638.

Beeds Lake
Black Crappie – Fair: Drift fish or troll with a tube jig or small minnow. Yellow Bass – Fair: Drift fish or troll with a small jig.

Clear Lake
Surface water temperature is 72 degrees. Walleye – Fair: Jig a minnow or leech above submerged vegetation in 6 to 10 feet of water. Channel Catfish – Good: Use stink bait or cut bait fished on the bottom after sunset. Black Crappie – Good: Try fishing the edge of the vegetation with a jig and minnow.

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 topwater baits. Black Crappie – Good: Drift or troll small tube jigs in the dredge cut.

Upper Pine Lake
Largemouth Bass – Good: Use topwater baits.

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
The dock at East Okoboji Beach boat ramp is out. Yellow Bass – Good: Excellent bite continues with good numbers of fish being caught. Cast mini-jigs or hair-jigs or use small baits tipped with wigglers. Walleye – Good: Numbers of fish are being caught with traditional baits; good numbers of yellow bass are mixed in with the catch. Bluegill – Good: Anglers report a good panfish bite of bluegill and crappie continues. Use small jigs tipped with waxworms in the weed lines.

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

Lost Island Lake
Walleye – Good: Walleye action has improved; reports of the best action in areas with flow. Yellow Bass – Good: Reports of yellow bass being caught. Use small lures such as a twister tail or hair jigs. Channel Catfish – Good: Numbers of fish were caught over the weekend, contact the local bait shop for more information.

Spirit Lake
Walleye – Good: Troll live bait or crankbaits. Yellow Perch – Good: Report of yellow perch action “picking up” on the lake with good numbers of angler acceptable size fish being caught. Northern Pike – Good: Look for areas with flow for the best action. Bluegill – Good: Reports of bluegill, crappie and yellow perch being caught in the Illinois Pondweed in 8 – 10 feet of water. Use a slip bobber and jigs to fish fast and find active fish.

West Okoboji Lake
Bluegill – Good: Rock piles in deeper water with stands of 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 stabilizing and low. Flows remain high. Visibility has improved. Visit the USGS Current Water Data website for current water level information. Walleye – Good: Use a jig tipped with a crawler or minnow in slack water pockets. Use a jig tipped with twister tail in deep water drop offs. Channel Catfish – Slow: Target snags for catfish using stink baits, chicken liver or crawdads fished on bottom. Smallmouth Bass – Excellent: Use crawdad crankbaits along rocky shorelines.

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. Listen to the trout stocking hotline (563-927-5736) for daily information. Brook Trout – Good: A variety of aquatic and terrestrial insects, like ants and beetles, are more numerous. Use care not to spook a feeding fish. Brown Trout – Good: Hendrickson, caddis, and cranefly hatches are 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 – Good: 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; limited visibility.  Best bite is toward evening and early morning. 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 – Fair: Try a small jig tipped with small piece of worm along the shoreline.

Lake Meyer
Green algae bloom continues. Water clarity is good. Water temperatures are in the low 80’s. Fish activity is improving with cooler temperatures. Bluegill – Good: 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 spinnerbait along a rocky shoreline. Largemouth Bass – Good: Use topwater baits  along weed edges.

Turkey River (below Clermont)
Anglers are finding fish from Clermont to Elkader. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Use spinner or crawfish crankbait in drop offs or undercut banks. Walleye – Good: Try spinners or jig tipped with worm or twister tail in slack water and eddies.

Upper Iowa River (above Decorah)
Water clarity is much improved. Water levels are stabilizing, but flows remain high. Be aware of river conditions ahead of you; strainers may have moved or trees may be blocking the river corridor.  Walleye – Good: Use jigs tipped with natural colored twister tails or a flashy spinner. Smallmouth Bass – Fair: Use feathered spinnerbaits or crankbaits near rocky ledges.

Upper Iowa River (below Decorah)
River is in good condition. Use caution when floating on an unfamiliar section of river; trees and other debris may be blocking the main channel. Visit the USGS Current Water Data website for more information. Walleye – Good: Cast bright colored jigs tipped with twister tails or larger spinner baits into deep water drop offs or eddies. Smallmouth Bass – Excellent: Use spinnerbaits and crankbaits near rock ledges and undercut banks. Channel Catfish – Good: Catfish actively taking baits at night bank fishing.

Volga Lake
Algae bloom continues. Fish activity improving with cooler temperatures. Black Crappie – Good: Find fish near submersed structure or in open water. Use a light colored jig with twister tail. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Use topwater lures around structure. Channel Catfish – Fair: Find catfish shallow in early morning or late night. Use worm, chicken liver, or stink bait fished on the bottom. Bluegill – Good: Use small jigs tipped with a small piece of worm along shallow rocky areas. Anglers are catching lots of small gills with a few keepers.

Weather couldn’t be better for the end of July. Temperatures are in the 70’s. Rivers and streams are in good condition. For current fishing information, please call the Decorah Fish Hatchery at 563-382-8324.

Big Woods Lake
We have not received information about fishing on this water body this week.

Casey Lake (aka Hickory Hills Lake)
Casey Lake is in good condition with clear water. Vegetation remains abundant around edges, but it is starting to die back a bit.  Catfish anglers are fishing deep water with frogs, shrimp or stink baits. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Size has been good. Bluegill – Fair. Channel Catfish – Excellent: Catfish are biting on a variety of baits. Best bite is early morning and late evening. Catfish size has been excellent.

Cedar River (Nashua to La Porte City)
The Cedar River is running at 5280 CFS as of July 26 in Waterloo or about 2 times above median flow. The river is reported as clearing and providing decent fishing despite flows that are still high for this time of year. Smallmouth Bass – Fair. Walleye – Fair: Use jig and night crawler combinations or crankbaits. Not too many big fish, but catch has been good for smaller fish. Channel Catfish – Good: Use stink baits or fresh baits.

George Wyth Lake
Bluegill – Fair: Good catch rates, but fish are mostly small. Largemouth Bass – Fair.

Lake Delhi
Lake Delhi is providing good fishing for panfish and bass. This is a popular boating lake, so fishing conditions are often best on weekdays and mornings. Bluegill – Good: Lots of smaller fish with some keepers, too. Black Crappie – Fair: Fish near structure. Largemouth Bass – Good: Lots of small fish. Smallmouth Bass – Fair.

Manchester District Streams
Trout streams in Delaware, Dubuque, and Jackson Counties are in good condition. Trout stocking was completed as scheduled during the week of July 23-27. Stocked fish are biting on a variety of presentations. Brown Trout – Fair. Brook Trout – Good. Rainbow Trout – Good.

Maquoketa River (above Monticello)
The Maquoketa River at Manchester is flowing at about 126 CFS as of July 26; this is near average for median flows on this date. Smallmouth Bass – Fair. Walleye – Fair. Channel Catfish – Fair.

Maquoketa River (below Monticello)
The lower Maquoketa was high and “dirty” early in the week, but conditions are improving. White Sucker – Fair. Walleye – Fair: Use crankbaits or live bait. Smallmouth Bass – Slow.

Martens Lake
Expect to fish through and around vegetation. Adjust tactics as needed, including heavy baits or topwater options. Largemouth Bass – Good.

Plainfield
Clear water and plants around the lake perimeter are creating some challenging conditions. Adjust tactics including lighter gear for panfish or weedless options for bass. Bluegill – Slow. 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.

Wapsipinicon River (Tripoli to Troy Mills)
The Wapsipinicon River at Independence has a flow of about 500 CFS as of July 26; this water discharge rate is about 1.5 times above median levels for this time of year. Fishing has been improving with better water conditions . Northern Pike – Good. Smallmouth Bass – Fair. Channel Catfish – Fair.

River conditions are improving in eastern Iowa. The Shell Rock and Cedar remain high, but are providing decent fishing. The Maquoketa and Wapsipinicon have river flows near median levels for this time of year and are in excellent condition for fishing. Lakes are providing fair bass fishing. Trout streams are providing excellent fishing opportunity. Call the N.E. Iowa district office at 563-927-3276 for more information.

MISSISSIPPI RIVER

Mississippi River Pool 9
River level at Lansing has fallen about a foot to 10.9 feet and is predicted to reach 9.5 feet midweek. Water temperature is near 78 degrees. New Albin ramp road is closed due to water over the road. 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: Some walleyes are feeding in the shallow water out of the current.  Yellow Perch – Fair: Perch bite has been spotty, but some nicer ones are being caught with live minnow rigs. Northern Pike – Excellent: Northern are feeding in the trees in the backwaters on crawler rigs with a leader. Channel Catfish – Good: Try cut bait or stink bait in the main and side channel borders. 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 slight current off rocky points. White Bass – Fair: Cast flashy spinners or crankbaits along the rocks in main channel current for big white bass. Bluegill – Excellent:  Bluegills are biting on small piece of worm fished about mid depth in 8 feet of water in the flooded trees. Freshwater Drum – Excellent: Freshwater drum are actively biting in areas of current. Drop a heavily weighted worm rig into the current for some big fish action.