NORTHWEST
Black Hawk Lake
Water temperatures are in the mid 50’s. Bluegill – Fair:
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: Troll slowly crawler rigs, minnows or leaches in 10-15 feet of water. Yellow Perch – Fair: Find perch along the vegetation. Largemouth Bass – Fair: 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. Bluegill – Fair: Try tube jigs tipped with crawlers in 5-15 feet of water.
Crawford Creek Impoundment
Water temperatures are in the mid 50’s. Black Crappie – Fair: A recent survey showed crappie up to 10 inches along shore. Use minnows or crawlers fished below a bobber in the mornings and evenings. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Use traditional bass lures along the shoreline.
North Twin Lake
Water temperatures are in the mid 50’s. White Crappie – Slow: No Report – A recent survey showed most crappie are 6-10 inches with a few up to 14 inches. Walleye – Slow: Walleye up to 27 inches have been seen in recent netting surveys.
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: Use crawler rigs and troll crankbaits along the edges of the dredge cuts around the lake. Try twisters and leaches fished under a bobber from shore. White Bass – Fair: Use crankbaits and crawlers fished from shore. Black Crappie – Fair: A recent survey showed crappie up to 10 inches can be found near shore; use a crawler or minnow fished on a small jig below a bobber.
Water temperatures in Black Hawk District lakes are in the mid 50’s. 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. Shore anglers should fish a small piece of crawler or cut bait off the bottom.
Clear Lake
Surface water temperature is 57 degrees. Channel Catfish – Fair: Use crawlers or cut bait in the areas where water is entering the lake. Muskellunge – Fair: Fish the edge of the vegetation and near docks. Walleye – Good: Try a jig and minnow in the lighted areas around docks after dark.
Crystal Lake
Black Crappie – Fair: Drift or troll small tube jigs or a minnow in the dredge cut or on the edge of vegetation. Walleye – Fair: Try a jig and minnow in the area near the old road bed.
Rice Lake
Yellow Perch – Good: Use a small minnow or a plastic bait in the deeper 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
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. Don’t overlook the evening bite from docks as these fish will move shallow at dusk. Walleye – Good: Numbers of fish are being caught with traditional baits; good numbers of yellow bass are mixed in with the catch. Northern Pike – Good: Anglers report northern pike action on the lake; best area is where there is flow into the lake.
Lake Pahoja
Bluegill – Good: Good numbers of large angler acceptable size fish being caught. Channel Catfish – Good: Report of a good fall bite with large angler acceptable size fish being caught.
Lost Island Lake
Yellow Bass – Good: Reports of yellow bass being caught with black crappie and yellow perch up to 10 inches mixed in the catch. Use small lures such as a twister tail or hair jigs. Bluegill – Good: Recent surveys show numbers of fish approaching 7 inches in the lake. Black Crappie – Good: Reports of fish being caught from the lake. Look for the bite to continue. Walleye – Good: The fall walleye bite has started. Use traditional baits during “prime time”.
Ocheyedan Pit #1
Channel Catfish – Good: Recent surveys show good numbers of 17 -23 inch channel catfish.
Silver Lake (Dickinson)
Walleye – Good: The fall walleye bite is on. Troll crankbaits during the day; wader fishing is your best chance to catch trophy size fish.
Spirit Lake
Walleye – Good: The fall walleye bite has started with action improving. Yellow Perch – Good: Good numbers of fish are being caught with sorting needed; anglers continue to harvest numbers of angler acceptable size fish. Use mini jigs tipped with wigglers or a minnow. Northern Pike – Good: Angler reports of northern pike action on the lake; best area is where there is flow into the lake.
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 high, but are stabilizing. Boating is not recommended. Please visit the USGS Water Data website for more information.
Decorah District Streams
Catchable trout stocking is now unannounced. Stocking frequency and amounts are the same as conditions allow. Area streams are high and muddy; ones with better watersheds will clear faster. Brown Trout – Fair: Brown Trout have been finicky this week. Try using larger flies mimicking grasshoppers or minnows.
Lake Hendricks
Few anglers have been out. Water is muddy. Black Crappie – Fair: Shoreline anglers are using a tube jig fished under a bobber.
Lake Meyer
Water temperatures are cooling, but turned muddy with rain. Angling has been spotty. Docks will be out by the weekend. Bluegill – Slow. Black Crappie – Slow.
Turkey River (above Clermont)
The Turkey River crested yesterday and is muddy. Use care around swollen rivers. Recreational activities are not recommended.
Upper Iowa River (above Decorah)
Water levels are falling, but the river remains muddy. Water temperatures are in the upper 50’s. Paddling activities are not recommended. Visit the USGS Water Data website for current information.
Upper Iowa River (below Decorah)
Water levels are falling, but the river remains muddy. Water temperatures are in the upper 50’s. Paddling activities are not recommended. Visit the USGS Water Data website for current information.
Rainfall from this past week turned area waterbodies muddy with increased water levels and flows. No rain is in the weekend forecast. Temperatures in the upper 40’s to below freezing at night. It’s a good time to enjoy the fall colors. For current fishing information, please call the Decorah Fish Hatchery at 563-382-8324.
Big Woods Lake
Black Crappie – Fair: Float a crappie minnow under a slip bobber near drop-offs or structure.
Manchester District Streams
Most Manchester District streams should provide angling opportunities by the upcoming weekend. Flows will remain swift, but clarity should be good.
Silver Lake (Delaware)
Silver Lake is in excellent condition for angling, but there have been no reports. Bluegill, crappie, largemouth bass and northern pike are the main species in this lake.
Angling opportunities have been almost nonexistent with recent flooding events. Rivers and streams will start to fall with the extended dry forecast. Trout streams should be in good condition for the upcoming weekend. 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 risen to 12.2 feet and is expected to reach 12.4 feet. Water temperature is near 57 degrees. New Albin ramp road is closed due to high water.
The Lansing Village Creek ramp construction is complete and the ramp is open. Walleye – Fair: High water and current will make fishing difficult this week. Try fishing side channel sloughs with less debris and current. Yellow Perch – Fair: Expect the perch bite to pick up into late fall. Look for fish out of the main channel using live minnow floated under a bobber. Largemouth Bass – Good: Look for largemouth in the slack water areas off the main channel or running sloughs. Smallmouth Bass – Fair: Smallmouth action has slowed with the high muddy water. Cast inline spinners or crankbaits along rock or tree habitat in current. Bluegill – Fair: Find bluegills in clearer water with slow current in backwater areas away from main channel and sloughs. Black Crappie – Fair: Expect the crappie bite to pick up this fall after the water clarity improves. Try tube jigs or minnow under a bobber in submersed trees in the backwater sloughs.
Mississippi River Pool 10
River level is 20.5 feet at Lynxville and is expected to reach 21.8 feet. Sny Magill road is closed due to high water. Water temperature is 59 degrees at the Lock and Dam 9. Walleye– Slow: High water and current will make fishing difficult this week. Try fishing side channel sloughs with less debris and current. Yellow Perch – Fair: Expect the perch bite to pick up into late fall. Look for fish out of the main channel using live minnow floated under a bobber. Bluegill – Fair: Find bluegills in clearer water with slow current in backwater areas away from main channel and sloughs. Largemouth Bass – Good: Look for largemouth in the slack water areas off the main channel or running sloughs. Smallmouth Bass – Fair: Smallmouth action has slowed with the high muddy water. Cast inline spinners or crankbaits along rock or tree habitat in current. Black Crappie – Fair: Expect the crappie bite to pick up this fall after the water clarity improves. Try tube jigs or minnow under a bobber in submersed trees in the backwater sloughs.
Mississippi River Pool 11
River level is 12.6 feet at Guttenberg and will rise to near 15 feet. Water temperature is 54 degrees at Lock and Dam 10. Walleye -Fair: High water and current will make fishing difficult this week. Try fishing side channel sloughs with less debris and current. Yellow Perch – Fair: Expect the perch bite to pick up into late fall. Look for fish out of the main channel using a live minnow floated under a bobber. Largemouth Bass – Good: Look for largemouth in the slack water areas off the main channel or running sloughs. Smallmouth Bass – Fair: Smallmouth action has slowed with the high muddy water. Cast inline spinners or crankbaits along rock or tree habitat in current. Bluegill – Fair: Find bluegills in clearer water with slow current in backwater areas away from the main channel and sloughs. Black Crappie – Fair: Expect the crappie bite to pick up this fall after the water clarity improves. Try tube jigs or minnow under a bobber in submersed trees in the backwater sloughs.
Upper Mississippi River levels are still rising. Many ramps are under water. Water clarity is poor with a lot of debris. Water temperatures are in the mid 50’s. Fish are beginning to move toward the overwintering holes.
Mississippi River Pool 12
Water levels will rise this week and peak near a predicted 15.2 feet at the Dubuque Lock and Dam and 17 feet at the RR bridge. Water clarity is poor. The water temperature is around 60 degrees. Channel Catfish – Good:Try stink bait or worms near shore. Channel cats feed heavily near shore during flooded conditions especially along rock shorelines. Freshwater Drum – Good: Most anglers use a simple egg sinker and worm rig. Drum will be hanging out near shore in moderate current areas. Bluegill – No Report: Try finding clear water in the upper reaches of backwater areas; use worms and bobber. Largemouth Bass – No Report: Some bass may be found in the upper ends of backwater areas in cleaner water. Black Crappie – No Report: Use small minnows in the clear upper reaches of backwater areas. Bowfin – No Report: Bowfin are feeding in the leftover lotus patches. Spinners are working well, but some may also be taken on night crawlers.
Mississippi River Pool 13
Water levels will rise this week and peak near a predicted 15.8 feet at the Bellevue Lock and Dam. Water clarity is poor. Avoid large tributary streams as they are muddy. The water temperature is around 60 degrees. The north ramp at Sabula is not in use this year due to bridge construction. Channel Catfish – Good: Try stink bait or worms near shore. Channel cats feed heavily near shore during flooded conditions especially along rock shorelines. Freshwater Drum – Good: Fish worms with an egg sinker in moderate current areas near shorelines. Largemouth Bass – No Report: Try frog imitation lures and spinner baits in the upper ends of backwater areas and deep in the vegetated areas. Bluegill – No Report: Find the clear water in the upper reaches of large backwater complexes; use a simple bobber and worm. Black Crappie – No Report: Use a small minnow and bobber in the upper reaches of backwaters in clear water. Bowfin – No Report: Try a spinner in the dying lotus patches or a night crawler for this hard fighting fish.
