NORTHWEST

Arrowhead Lake
The courtesy dock is removed for the season.

Bacon Creek Lake
About 1,600 rainbow trout were stocked on Nov. 7. Use small tube and twister jigs, in-line spinners, casting spoons, and live minnows or crawlers fished under a bobber.

Black Hawk Lake
Water temperatures are in the upper 40’s. The courtesy dock at the marina stays in year-round. Ice House Point and state campground courtesy docks have been removed for the season. Bluegill – Fair: There has been limited fishing activity this week, but a few have had luck using a small jig with a small piece of crawler fished under a bobber in  Town Bay and in the marina. Largemouth Bass – Fair: There is a 15 inch minimum length limit on largemouth bass in Black Hawk Lake.

Brushy Creek Lake
Courtesy docks are removed for the season. Walleye – Fair: Use minnows or leaches in the evenings. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Catch bass along shore and near vegetation 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 5-10 feet of water.

Moorland Pond
About 1,500 rainbow trout were stocked on Nov 1. Use small tube and twister jigs, in-line spinners, casting spoons, and live minnows or crawlers fished under a bobber.

North Twin Lake
Courtesy docks at the two south ramps are removed for the season.

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: Try twisters and leaches fished under a bobber from shore and near the inlet. White Bass – Fair: Use crankbaits and crawlers fished from shore and near the inlet.

Water temperatures have dropped into the upper 40’s in the Black Hawk District. Most Courtesy docks have been removed for the season. For more information, contact the Black Hawk District office at 712-657-2638.

Clear Lake
Surface water temperature is in the lower 40’s. Courtesy docks have been removed from boat ramps. Walleye – Fair: Fish off the jetties at the Ventura Grade in the evenings. Yellow Bass – Slow: Limited fishing activity this past week.

Water temperatures have dropped into the low 40’s and most courtesy docks have been removed for the season. 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
All docks including boat ramps are out. Limited fishing activity.

Silver Lake (Dickinson)
Walleye – Good: Wader fishing is your best chance to catch trophy size fish.

Spirit Lake
Majority of the docks, including boat ramps are out. Limited fishing activity. Walleye – Good: Wader angler action is the best bite during the evening hours.

West Okoboji Lake
Most of the docks, including boat ramps are out. Limited fishing activity.

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. Flows remain high. Please visit the USGS Water Data website for more information. Walleye – Fair: Find walleye in pockets and deeper water. Fish are taking a variety of bright colored lures or jigs tipped with worms or minnows. Smallmouth Bass -Slow: Use a slow presentation with a small spinnerbait.

Decorah District Streams
Check our fall community trout stocking schedule to find out when trout are coming to a lake near you. Iowa’s trout season stays open all year long; many catchables stay in the streams to challenge even the best anglers. Brown Trout – Good: Brown Trout spawn is near complete. Continue to watch the stream bottom for cleared areas in gravel (trout nests). Avoid stepping in the nests. Use larger flies or lures mimicking minnows. Rainbow Trout – Good: Use a small piece of worm or cheese on a hook under a bobber in a deeper hole. Brook Trout – Good: Brook Trout spawn is here; brook trout build nests in the stream bottom. Good insect hatches occur on warm sunny afternoons. Try nymphs emerger or topwater patterns.

Lake Hendricks
Water clarity is improving as temperatures cool. Fish movements slow down to conserve energy, slow presentations down and use smaller tackle. Black Crappie – No Report: Fish lighter gear in deeper water for suspended fish. Try a small jig with a minnow and a slow retrieve.

Lake Meyer
Excellent water clarity. Fish activity slows as water temperatures cool. No angling activity. Bluegill – No Report: Use small lures with a piece of waxworm.

Turkey River (above Clermont)
The Turkey River water levels are falling with improved clarity. Smallmouth Bass – Slow: Use lures mimicking minnows in off channel areas or deeper water. Walleye – Slow: Try jigs tipped with a minnow, worms and a variety of lures in current breaks and deeper water.

Upper Iowa River (above Decorah)
Water levels stabilized with the last rainfall. Visit the USGS Water Data website for current information. Walleye – Fair: Use crankbaits or a hook tipped with a minnow in eddies and deeper water. Catches are highly variable. Smallmouth Bass – Fair: Anglers report nice catches of smallmouth. Look for fish in deeper pocket eddies and near undercut banks. A variety of lures and baits are working.

Upper Iowa River (below Decorah)
Water levels stabilized after rain earlier in the week. Visit the USGS Water Data website for current information. Smallmouth Bass – Slow: Use bright colored lures fished in deeper water and rock ledges. Walleye – Fair: Try a jig tipped with minnow or bright twister tail fished deep. Shore fishing should yield better catches.

Volga Lake
Water clarity is improving. No anglers have been out. Fish move deeper during the day and shallow in evening, taking advantage of the sun warmed water.

Snow forecast Thursday/Friday with highs around freezing. Might be time to get your ice fishing gear ready. Area rivers and streams are producing a few fish. Many rivers are up about 2 feet due to earlier rainfall. Flows and current remain high. For current fishing information, please call the Decorah Fish Hatchery at 563-382-8324.

Cedar River (Nashua to La Porte City
Reports of anglers catching walleye and smallmouth bass on the Cedar River in Black Hawk and Bremer Counties. Walleye – Good: Anglers are doing well with jigs and plastics. Water temperatures have fallen quickly; look for deeper holes as walleye move into over wintering areas. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Try jig and plastics or crankbaits. Northern Pike – Fair: Cast and retrieve spoons or crankbaits.

Heritage Pond
Heritage Pond will be stocked with trout tomorrow, Nov. 9th. Rainbow Trout – Good: Cast and retrieve lighter jigs or flies.

Lake Delhi
A few reports of anglers catching fish on Lake Delhi. Black Crappie – Fair: Try a jig and plastic or minnow under a slip bobber near structure fished at various depths to find crappie. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Use live baits or cast crankbaits.

Manchester District Streams
Spring Branch Creek has been busy with angling activity as many trout escaped with the recent flooding event.

Maquoketa River (above Monticello)
The Maquoketa River is in good condition as water levels continue to fall, but flows remain swift. Walleye – No Report: Water temperatures have fallen quickly; look for deeper holes as walleye move into over wintering areas. Smallmouth Bass – No Report: Try jig and plastics or crankbaits. Rainbow Trout – No Report: With recent flooding at the fish hatchery, many trout moved to the Maquoketa River.

North Prairie Lake
North Prairie Lake will be stocked with trout tomorrow, Nov. 9th. Rainbow Trout – Good: Cast and retrieve lighter jigs or flies.

Shell Rock River (Greene to Shell Rock)
Reports of anglers catching walleye and smallmouth bass on the Shell Rock River in Bremer and Butler Counties. Walleye – Good: Anglers are doing well with jigs and plastics. Water temperatures have fallen quickly; look for deeper holes as walleye move into over wintering areas. Anglers are still also having luck fishing the shallower water. Smallmouth Bass – Excellent: Anglers have been doing well with jigs and plastics.

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.

Reports of anglers fishing the interior rivers as they are now in good condition. Trout streams are in excellent 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 fallen to 9.6 feet and is expected to remain stable next week. Water temperature is near 44 degrees. Walleye – Fair: Use jigs and walleye minnows. Fish are moving to the dams and side channel sloughs with closing dams. Yellow Perch – Fair: Expect the perch bite to pick up into late fall. Use a live minnow floated near the bottom in edges of weed beds in deeper cuts. Largemouth Bass – Good: Look for largemouth in the slack water areas off the main channel or running sloughs. Smallmouth Bass – Fair: Smallmouth bite is picking up. 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. Sauger – Slow: Still a lot of current until water drops more. Sauger are moving into tailwater areas and main channel borders near the dams. Try jigging with minnows.

Mississippi River Pool 10
River level at Lynxville has fallen to 19.3 feet and is expected to remain stable next week. Water temperature is 46 degrees at the Lock and Dam 9. Walleye– Fair: Use jigs and walleye minnows. Fish are moving to the dams and side channel sloughs with closing dams. Yellow Perch – Fair: Expect the perch bite to pick up into late fall. Use a live minnow floated near the bottom in edges of weed beds in deeper cuts. 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 bite is picking up. 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. Sauger – Slow: Still a lot of current until water drops more. Sauger are moving into tailwater areas and main channel borders near the dams. Try jigging with minnows.

Mississippi River Pool 11
River level at Guttenberg has fallen to 10.8 feet and is predicted to rise slightly next week. Water temperature is 44 degrees at Lock and Dam 10. Walleye -Fair: Use jigs and walleye minnows. Fish are moving to the dams and side channel sloughs with closing dams. Yellow Perch – Fair: Expect the perch bite to pick up into late fall. Use live minnow floated near the bottom in edges of weed beds in deeper cuts. Largemouth Bass – Good: Look for largemouth in the slack water areas off the main channel or running sloughs. Smallmouth Bass – Fair: Smallmouth bite is picking up. 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. Sauger – Slow: Still a lot of current until water drops more. Sauger are moving into tailwater areas and main channel borders near the dams. Try jigging with minnows.

Upper Mississippi River levels have slowly fallen and will stabilize through next week. Water temperatures are in the mid 40’s. Fish are on the feed preparing for winter in overwintering areas. Try fishing with a slower presentation as temperatures fall.

Mississippi River Pool 12
Water levels are predicted to be near 11.5 feet at the Dubuque Lock and Dam and 13.6 feet at the RR bridge. Water clarity is fair. The water temperature is around 49 degrees. Yellow Perch – Fair: Some anglers are finding yellow perch in the vegetated backwaters near shore. Worms work best. This year’s spawns of yellow perch is very impressive. Walleye – Good: Some anglers are using three way rigs with a minnow and some are pulling crankbaits.

Mississippi River Pool 13
Water levels are predicted to be near 13.6 feet at the Bellevue Lock and Dam. Water clarity is fair. The water temperature is around 49 degrees. The north ramp at Sabula is not in use this year due to bridge construction. The DNR ramp at Bellevue is still somewhat flooded. Yellow Perch – Fair: Some anglers are finding yellow perch in the vegetated backwaters near shore. Worms work best. Some perch could also be picked up in the tailwater regions near shore. Walleye – Good: Some anglers are using three way rigs with a crawler and some are pulling crankbaits.

Mississippi River Pool 14
Water levels are predicted to be near 13.6 feet at Fulton Lock and Dam, 14.5 feet at Camanche and 8.8 feet at LeClaire. Water is below flood stages. Water clarity is fair. The water temperature is around 49 degrees. Walleye – No Report: Expect walleye and sauger fishing to pick up soon as water levels recede.

Mississippi River Pool 15
Water level is predicted to be 13.2 feet. This level is in flood action stage. Water clarity is fair. The water temperature is around 49 degrees.

Water creeped up again this week due to the weekend showers. The water remains high and some debris may be on the boat ramps. If you have any angling questions, please contact the Bellevue Fisheries Station 563-872-4976.

SOUTHEAST

Cedar River (La Porte City to Cedar Rapids)
Walleye – Fair: Try crankbaits or jig/crawler. Smallmouth Bass – Fair: Crankbaits or jigs work best.

Central Park Lake
The lake is full after the renovation project; fingerling fish have been stocked.

Coralville Reservoir
The lake level is at 701 feet on Nov. 8 and is falling. It is dropping about .5 feet per day. All ramps are currently flooded or closed. The ramp in Lake Macbride State Park should open back up after the weekend.

Diamond Lake
Minnows are not allowed here. Bluegill – Fair: Use small worms or jigs tipped with worms. Black Crappie – Fair: Anglers are catching fish off the jetties. Jigs tipped with worms work best. Most fish are 8-9 inches.

Iowa Lake (Iowa Co.)
Black Crappie – Fair: Use small jigs and/or minnows in 15-20 feet of water.

Kent Park Lake
The lake is currently drained for a lake restoration project.

Lake Macbride
The motor restriction is off; any sized motor may be used at no-wake speed (5 mph). Water temperatures are in the low 50s. The fish cleaning station at the primitive campground has been shut down. The boat docks have been removed. Black Crappie – Fair: Fish over structure in 15-20 feet of water. There are a lot of 12 inch fish right now. Walleye – Fair: Troll crankbaits or jig in 9-15 feet of water. The shallow water bite should pick up along windblown rock especially towards evening. Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) – Fair: Minnows and jigging is working. Fish are anywhere from 10-20 feet of water and on rock or open water.

Pleasant Creek Lake
The lake is still about 1 feet low. The fish cleaning station is closed. Walleye – Fair: Try trolling or jigging over the roadbeds or new rock structures.

Prairie Park Fishery
Trout were stocked here Nov. 2. You must have a trout stamp to fish for and/or possess trout. Rainbow Trout – Fair.

Sand Lake
Trout were stocked here on Oct. 19. You must have a trout stamp to fish for and/or possess trout.

Terry Trueblood Lake
Trout will be stocked here on Nov. 2. You must have a trout stamp to fish for and/or possess trout. Rainbow Trout – Fair.

For more information, contact the Lake Macbride Fisheries Station at 319-624-3615.

Lake Miami
Fishing pressure has been low with the recent colder temperatures. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Use rubber worms and spinnerbaits in the cedar tree piles. Bluegill – Fair: Use small jigs tipped with live bait in the brush piles and standing timber. Black Crappie – Fair: Try minnows or jigs tipped with a minnow around the cedar tree piles. Drifting minnows in the lower half of the lake can also produce some crappies that are suspended.

Lake Sugema
The north ramp is closed due to a parking lot construction project. Fishing pressure has been low with the recent colder temperatures. Bluegill