NORTHWEST

Black Hawk Lake
Bluegill – Fair: Use crawlers fished under a bobber in Town Bay off the stone piers, the floating dock, and the fish house.Try also the rock pile off Gunshot Hill as fish have moved deeper. Walleye – Slow: Use leeches or crankbaits near the inlet bridge along Ice House Point shoreline, the east end near the outlet, or rock piles off Cottonwood Point and the east basin. Mornings and evenings are best. Channel Catfish – Fair: Try a minnow on a small jig under a bobber or cut bait fished on the bottom near the stone piers along Ice House Point shoreline, near the inlet bridge and the rock piles off Shotgun Hill and Cottonwood Point. Any rocky shoreline should be good places to target catfish this time of year. Largemouth Bass – Good: Catch fish about anywhere in the lake along shore using traditional bass lures. Try the Ice House point shore, east shore near the outlet, and the inlet bay near the inlet bridge.

Brushy Creek Lake
Black Crappie – Fair: Use minnow or crawler on a jig fished near submerged structure in 5-10 feet of water. Bluegill – Fair: Use crawlers and small minnows fished under a bobber near shore and submerged structure. Largemouth Bass – Good: Catch bass along the shore near weed lines using traditional bass lures. Weedless and topwater lures work well.

North Twin Lake
Water temperature is in the low 80’s. Water clarity is around 3 feet. Walleye – Fair: Pull crankbaits or fish live bait in areas where walleye gather to feed on baitfish near vegetation and inlets. Early mornings or evenings are best.

Storm Lake (including Little Storm Lake)
White Bass – Fair: Use leeches, crawlers and twisters. Walleye – Fair: Try leeches or crankbaits. Trolling crankbaits along the dredge cuts on the east side of the lake and to the west of the big island has been working well. Channel Catfish – Fair: Try cut bait, stink bait or crawlers fished on the bottom. Target areas with rocky structure near shorelines.

For more information, contact the Black Hawk District office at 712-657-2638.

Clear Lake
The water temperature is in the upper 70’s. Walleye – Fair: Anglers are having success slip bobber fishing the rock reefs with a jig and leech and fishing under docks with a minnow. Channel Catfish – Good: Drift fish the rock reefs with crawlers. Yellow Bass – Fair: Fish the edge of vegetation in 4 to 6 feet of water with a small piece of crawler or leech.

Crystal Lake
Largemouth Bass – Good: Try spinnerbaits fished on the edge of the vegetation. Bluegill – Good: Use a small piece of crawler fished under a bobber in 2 to 3 feet of water. Black Crappie – Fair: Drift fish a minnow or tube jig in the dredge cut.

Silver Lake (Worth)
Largemouth Bass – Good: Bass are biting on a variety of baits. Bluegill – Good: Use a small piece of crawler fished under 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
Bluegill – Good: Fish have moved shallow; fish deeper wooden docks for the best action or from docks at dusk for good action.

Five Island Lake
Channel Catfish – Good: Local bait shop reports a good bite with large fish being caught. Walleye – Fair: Some fish are being caught.

Lake Pahoja
Bluegill – No Report: Recent surveys show good numbers of angler acceptable size and larger bluegill in the lake.

Lost Island Lake
Walleye – Fair: Report of 14 – 18 inch fish being caught. Yellow Bass – Fair: Anglers report that the yellow bass action has started. Channel Catfish – Good: Good numbers of large angler acceptable size fish continue to be caught. Use cut bait to provide plenty of pole bending action.

Silver Lake (Dickinson)
Walleye – Good: Boat anglers report that walleye fishing has been hit or miss. Troll crankbaits or other popular walleye baits for the best action. Yellow Perch – No Report: Recent surveys show good numbers of fish approaching 11 inches.

Spirit Lake
Walleye – Good: Report of walleyes being caught in the flats; don’t overlook the weed edges. Use leeches and slip bobbers or troll crankbaits.Yellow Perch – Good: Good numbers of fish being caught. Try a yellow and white mini jig tipped with wigglers fished in the outside edges of the weed beds. Move often to find active fish.

Trumbull Lake
Northern Pike – Good: Cast traditional northern baits below the spillway areas with calm spots.

West Okoboji Lake
Bluegill – Good: Bluegill action has picked up; fish the outside weed edges for larger sized bluegill.

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

NORTHEAST

Cedar River (above Nashua)
Water levels have stabilized, but could change depending on localized shower activity. Water is dirty and flowing fast. Use caution when boating; submersed hazards are not visible. Channel Catfish – Good: Use worms and cheese or stink baits fished on the river bottom. Smallmouth Bass – Fair: Use spinnerbaits or crankbaits fished deep. Walleye – Fair: Try a jig and twister tail or worm fished in the eddies and slack water.

Decorah District Streams
Wild parsnip is at peak bloom; use caution when walking through this plant to get to your favorite stream. Keep your arms and legs covered to avoid nasty blisters. Weekly stockings continue. Check the 2019 trout stream stocking calendar  or call the stocking number at 563-927-5736 to find out when your favorite trout stream will be stocked. Brown Trout – Good: Brown trout are feasting on terrestrial insects washing into the stream from the storms. Try also crayfish. Rainbow Trout – Good: A crappie or bluegill set-up works great for trout fishing. Put a piece of cheese or small piece of worm on a hook under a bobber in a good hole and wait. Brook Trout – Fair: With dirtier water, try using woolly buggers, San Juan worms or other subsurface flies and lures.

Lake Hendricks
Water temperatures are in the low 80’s. Clarity is improving, but an algae bloom is starting. Black Crappie – Fair: Crappie are hit or miss. Fish deeper water. A slow troll might get one to come to a hook. Bluegill – Fair: Find fish in deeper water on the edge of weed beds. Use a small piece of worm under a bobber. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Use topwater lures fished in the edge of weeds. Channel Catfish – Good: Channel catfish are biting. Use worms, stink bait or cheese baits. Leave your bait on the bottom until you feel a tug; set the hook.

Lake Meyer
Water temperatures are in the low 80’s. An algae bloom is starting. Anglers reporting hit or miss action for panfish. Bluegill – Fair. Black Crappie – Fair. Largemouth Bass – Fair. Channel Catfish – Good.

Upper Iowa River (above Decorah)
Water remains dirty and flows are high. Use care when paddling; submersed logs and rocks are not visible. Smallmouth Bass – Fair: Use spinnerbaits or jig tipped with plastic tails fished in the deeper pools and eddies. Walleye – Fair: Fish undercut ledges and brush piles.

Upper Iowa River (below Decorah)
Water remains dirty. Pop-up showers will cause the water to stay dirty. Use caution on the water; high flows and limited visibility can cause dangerous conditions for paddlers. Smallmouth Bass – Fair. Walleye – Fair.

Volga Lake
Water temperatures are in the mid 80’s. A green algal bloom is present. With warmer temperatures, fish are moving to deeper water. Bluegill – Fair.  Black Crappie – Fair. Largemouth Bass – Fair. Channel Catfish – Excellent.

Typical summer weather for the weekend; scattered showers possible with high humidity. Temperatures in the low 90’s for highs to upper 60’s for lows. Flows remain high on area rivers; many have poor visibility. Use care when on any waterbody. For current fishing information, please call the Decorah Fish Hatchery at 563-382-8324.

MISSISSIPPI RIVER

Mississippi River Pool 9
River level at Lansing is 12.5 feet and is expected to fall slowly to 11.5 feet over the next week. Water temperature is 78 degrees. Lansing ramp is accessible. New Albin ramp remains closed due to flood damage to Army Road. Largemouth Bass – Good: As water levels drop, look for bass near woody structure along the main channel. Black Crappie – Slow:  A few crappie are still being caught, but the bite has slowed. Bluegill – Good: Look for bluegills near snags in side channels. Keep moving to find active fish. Northern Pike – Good: Look for pike near cold water streams flowing into the river. Flathead Catfish – Slow: Flatheads are spawning. After the spawn, they will be more active at night. Channel Catfish – Good: Catfish spawn is over. It’s a good time to catch catfish on stink bait. Freshwater Drum – Good: Drum bite will be getting good. Fish a worm on the bottom along main channel borders. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Look for smallmouth near rocky areas along the main channel.

Mississippi River Pool 10
River level at Lynxville is 21.9 feet and is expected to fall slowly to 20.9 feet over the next week. Sny Magill ramp is still closed. Noble’s Island is open. Water temperature is 78 degrees. Largemouth Bass – Good: As water levels drop, look for bass near woody structure along the main channel. Bluegill – Good: Look for bluegills near snags in side channels. Keep moving to find active fish. Northern Pike – Good: Look for pike near coldwater streams flowing into the river. Flathead Catfish – Slow: Flatheads are spawning. After the spawn, they will be more active at night. Channel Catfish – Good: Catfish spawn is over. It’s a good time to catch catfish on stink bait. Freshwater Drum – Good: Drum bite will be getting good. Fish a worm on the bottom along main channel borders. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Look for smallmouth near rocky areas along the main channel.

Mississippi River Pool 11
River level at Guttenberg is 13.2 feet and is expected to fall slowly to 11.8 feet over the next week. The Guttenberg city ramp is closed due to high water, but that may change with dropping levels. Water temperature is 77 degrees at the lock & dam. Largemouth Bass – Good: As water levels drop, look for bass near woody structure along the main channel. Bluegill – Good: Look for bluegills near snags in side channels. Keep moving to find active fish. Northern Pike – Good: Look for pike near coldwater streams flowing into the river. Flathead Catfish – Slow: Flatheads are spawning. After the spawn, they will be more active at night. Channel Catfish – Good: Catfish spawn is over. It’s a good time to catch catfish on stink bait. Freshwater Drum – Good: Drum bite will be getting good. Fish a worm on the bottom along main channel borders. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Look for smallmouth near rocky areas along the main channel.

River levels have crested and are expected to fall slowly over the next week. Water is over the tops of many islands, making it hard to find shoreline cover. Some boat ramps are still closed; others have water to the top of the ramp and may be difficult for some boats to put in. Water clarity is improving. Water temperatures are nearing 80 degrees.

Mississippi River Pool 12
Water levels will recede later this week. Levels are at or near action flood stages at 13.8 feet at the Dubuque Lock and Dam and 15.6 feet at the RR bridge. Water clarity is fair. The water temperature is 79 degrees. Many boat ramps still have flood debris on them. Please be patient for cleanup efforts at ramps and parks. Channel Catfish – Good: Channel catfish bite is best in high water conditions. Float bobbers along rock lines and use leaches for bait. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Bass are starting to bite in the tailwater areas; use flashy spinners. Recent poor water quality has clouded the water making it difficult for site predators, like bass, to see lures. White Bass – Fair: Some schools of white bass are being found feeding along flooded shorelines or in the tailwaters. Bluegill – Fair: Some bluegills are starting to be caught out of slack water areas. Walleye – No Report: When conditions are good, we see a lot of walleye being caught. Most anglers are using crankbaits to get to hungry fish. Black Crappie – Fair: A few crappie are being taken from assorted backwaters where flow is greatly reduced.

Mississippi River Pool 13
Water levels will recede later this week. Bellevue tailwater is 14.2 feet at Lock and Dam 12. Water clarity is fair. The water temperature is 79 degrees. Most boat ramps are closed or have debris on them. The Bellevue City Ramp is open; the DNR ramp has water on it once again. Please be patient for cleanup efforts at ramps and parks. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Clear flooded areas like Spring Lake have been good. Green Island wildlife area has been good for bass at times this year. White Bass – Fair: Small white bass are being caught in the tailwaters with small spinners. The white bass bite has tailed off with the recent rains and cloudy water. Channel Catfish – Good: Float a bobber and leach along rock lines for spawning channel cats. Bluegill – Good: Good numbers of bluegills are starting to be caught out of slack water areas. Walleye – Fair: A brief flurry of walleye were reported before the recent rise. Crankbaits work best. The bite seemed to diminish considerably due to the recent bump in water levels and muddy water conditions. Pumpkinseed – Good: Good catches of this colorful sunfish are being reported in clear backwater areas and in the Green Island wildlife area. Simple bobber and worm works best. Black Crappie – Fair: A few black crappie are being caught out of backwater areas by anglers using minnows.

Mississippi River Pool 14
Water levels will recede later this week. Levels are 14.1 feet at Fulton Lock and Dam, 16 feet at Camanche and 9.7 feet at LeClaire. Water clarity is fair. The water temperature is around 80 degrees. Many boat ramps will have flood debris on them. Please be patient for cleanup efforts at ramps and parks. White Bass – Fair: Use small spinners in the tailwater areas. Largemouth Bass – Good: Finding clear water in the upper ends of backwaters can yield some nice largemouth bass. Channel Catfish – Good: Catfish are abundant and easily caught in flooded conditions. Fish near the shorelines, especially in rock habitats. Anglers often float bobbers and leaches along rock lines.

Mississippi River Pool 15
Water levels are 14.2 feet at Rock Island. This is action flood stage. Water clarity is fair. The water temperature is around 80 degrees. Boat ramps are flooded or will have debris on them. Please be patient for cleanup efforts at ramps and parks. Channel Catfish – Fair: Float a bobber and leach along rock piles as the water recedes. Channel cats are nearing their spawning times. Freshwater Drum – Good: Lots of drum are in the system; use a simple egg sinker and worm rig in moderate current areas.

Water levels should stabilize and start to fall later this week. Some areas re-entered action flood stage due to heavy rains. It will take some time to get all the boat ramps and campgrounds open, and some will remain closed or will have debris on them for a while. If you have any fishing questions, please contact the Bellevue Fisheries Station 563-872-4976.

Mississippi River Pool 16
Tailwater stage is 14.21 feet at Lock and Dam 15 in Davenport. Flood stage is 15 feet at Davenport. River stage is 14.57 feet at Fairport and flood stage is 14 feet. Walleye – Fair: Reports of walleyes being caught in Sunset Marina on jigs and twister tails. Channel Catfish – Fair: Use stink bait fished around brush piles and snags along the main channel or side channels. Some channel catfish are being caught floating crawlers or leeches under a bobber along rocky shores. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Some largemouth bass are being caught in Sunset Marina. Bluegill – Fair: Some bluegills are being caught in Sunset Marina and the Andalusia Island complex. Try fishing with pieces of worm or waxworms under a bobber. White Bass – Fair: Some white bass are being caught in Sunset Marina casting jigs and twister tails.

Mississippi River Pool 17
Tailwater stage is 13.55 feet at Lock and Dam 16 in Muscatine. Flood stage is 15 feet. River stage is 15.44 feet at Muscatine and flood stage is 16 feet. The gates are still out of the water at the lock and dam. Kilpeck and Big Timber boat ramps are still closed. We have not received any fishing report information for this pool due to the high water.

Mississippi River Pool 18
Tailwater stage is 14.86 feet at Lock and Dam 17 above New Boston. Flood stage is 15 feet at Lock and Dam 17. River stage is 14.20 feet at Keithsburg and flood stage is 14 feet. The Toolsboro landing is closed due to high water. The hawkeye dolbee access is also under water. We have not received any fishing report information for this pool this week due to the high water.

Mississippi River Pool 19
Tailwater stage is 10.99 feet at Lock and Dam 18 above Burlington. Flood stage is 10 feet at Lock and Dam 18. River stage is 15.90 feet at Burlington and flood stage is 15 feet. River stage at Fort Madison is 528.32 feet and flood stage is 528 feet. We have not received any fishing report information for this pool this week.

Mississippi River Pools 16-19 are still high with some portions of the river just above flood stage. Some boat ramps are still closed due to high water. Main channel water clarity is poor. Main channel water temperature is around 80 degrees. We have not received much for fishing reports this week. If you have questions on fishing Pools 16-19 contact the Fairport Fish Hatchery at 563-263-5062.

SOUTHEAST

Big Hollow Lake
The heat has driven the water temperature up to the low 80’s. Look for the fish to have moved to deeper water. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Anglers are picking up a few bass in 5 to 6 feet of water around the flooded timber. Bluegill – Fair: With the heat, switch to fishing early mornings and late evening. Concentrate your efforts around the brush piles near the upper end and the flooded timber near deep water at the lower end. Black Crappie – Slow: Look for crappies out in the trees and brush piles in 6 to 7 feet of water. The bite slowed some since last week, maybe because the bluegill bite is drawing more anglers. Channel Catfish – Good: Fish near the rocks on the dam jetties and island to catch some nice catfish.

Iowa River (Columbus Junction to Mississippi River)
The Iowa River is below bank full and dropping fast. Use caution; the water is still moving fast.

Lake Belva Deer
Water temperature was 84 degrees on July 8. Water clarity is 29 inches. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Look for bass around the mounds in the deeper water at the upper end and around the rip-rap at the lower end of the lake. Early morning or late evening is best. Bluegill – Good: Bluegills are getting use to the hot weather and are out deep. Start out in 10 to 12 foot of water early in the morning. Channel Catfish – Fair: Most catfish have moved into deeper water; start along the old creek channel.

Lake Darling
The water temperature was 85 degrees on July 8. Water clarity is running just over two feet. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Bass are out around the rock piles and brush piles in 6-10 feet of water coming in shallower early in the morning before it gets hot. Bluegill – Fair: Most bluegills have moved off into deeper water (8-10 feet) around the rock piles and brush piles. Channel Catfish – Fair: Catfish have wrapped up the spawn. Try drift fishing with cut bait along the old creek channel in the lake. Black Crappie – Good: The run of dry stable weather has helped. Work the deeper habitat in 10-12 feet of water or slow troll over the same area. A storm front coming through really messes it up. Early morning or late evening is best.

Lost Grove Lake
Water temperature has climbed into the 80’s. Water clarity is decent. For a little while, improving conditions on the River helped reduce the number of boats out on the lake. Largemouth Bass – Good: Anglers continue to catch bass; work them out along the edges of the weed beds and around the trees and brush piles in 4-6 feet of water using soft plastics. Black Crappie – Good: The bite continues to improve for crappies out around edges of the flooded timber in 8 to 10 feet of water. Try vertical jigging or using a slip bobber and minnow. Bluegill – Fair: The hot weather has put a quick end to the spawn.  Look for the bluegills around the deeper habitat now. Channel Catfish – Fair: The spawn is mostly over. Start working the areas below the flow under the causeway and along the creek channel.

Skunk River (Rose Hill to Coppock)
The Skunk River is holding at about 3/4 bank full; use caution, the current is still moving fast.

For more information on the above lake, call the Lake Darling Fisheries Office at 319-694-2430.

Cedar Lake
Bluegill – Good: Lots of 6-7 inch fish are along the shore. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Fish plastics along shorelines.

Central Park Lake
Bluegill – Fair: Fish up to 8 inches have been reported. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Most fish are 11-12 inches.

Central Park Pond
Located just west of Central Park Lake. Bluegill – Fair. Channel Catfish – Fair.

Coralville Reservoir
The lake level as of July 3 is 687 feet (normal summer pool is 683 feet) and is slowly falling. It is predicted to reach normal pool around July 12th. Channel Catfish – Slow.

Diamond Lake
Channel Catfish – Good: Stink bait or chicken liver works best.Best bite is early and late in the day. Bluegill – Fair: Try deeper brush with worms or small jigs. Black Crappie – Fair: Try deeper brush or drift the basin with jigs for suspended fish.

Hannen Lake
Bluegill – Fair: Bluegills are spawning. Nice sized fish can be caught in the shallows. Largemouth Bass – Fair. Black Crappie – Slow: Look for suspended fish around deeper brush. Numbers are low, but size is good.

Iowa Lake (Iowa County)
Bluegill – Fair: Some nice sized fish are being caught. Largemouth Bass – Slow. Black Crappie – Slow.  Channel Catfish – Fair: Early and late in the day is best.

Lake Macbride
Only outboards 10 hp or less may be operated on the lake. Water temperatures are in the mid 80’s. Walleye – Fair: Troll or cast in 8-10 feet of water; target weed or rock edges. Black Crappie – Slow. Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) – Fair: Cast crankbaits or swimbaits along windblown rock or rock breaks. Topwaters can work early and late in the day. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Try fishing around the weed edges and shallow rock/weed. Channel Catfish – Fair. Bluegill – Good: Target rock reefs in 8-12 feet of water or around shoreline rip-rap. Size is marginal.

Pleasant Creek Lake
The main ramp and parking lot will be closed starting July 8 for repaving. It will most likely be closed for a couple months. Bluegill – Fair: Use small jigs or worms in shallow pockets. Muskellunge – Slow: A few fish were reported this week. Yellow Perch – Slow: Some 8 inch perch are being caught. Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) – Slow: Target windblown rock or drop-offs during the day and open water at sunset.

Rodgers Park Lake
Bluegill – Good: Fish are in the shallows. Small jigs and worms work best. Largemouth Bass – Slow.

Sand Lake
You must have a trout stamp to fish for and/or possess trout. Rainbow Trout – Fair: 16-18 inch trout are being caught. Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) – Fair: Schools of wipers around 16 inches are being caught on occasion.

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

Hawthorn Lake
Largemouth Bass – Fair: Try rubber worms or spinnerbaits along the rock jetties and the face of the dam. Channel Catfish – Fair: Try dead chubs or nightcrawlers in 4-8 feet of water. Bluegill – Fair: Use small jigs tipped with a waxworm. Sorting is needed for larger fish.

Lake Miami
Bluegill – Fair: Try small jigs tipped with a chunk of nightcrawler around the rock jetties. Largemouth Bass – Good: Use rubber worms or spinnerbaits around the fishing jetties and along the face of the dam. Try also topwater lures in the mornings and evenings. Channel Catfish – Fair: Use nightcrawlers or chicken liver around the rocky shores.

Lake Sugema
Largemouth Bass – Good: Try spinnerbaits or crankbaits in areas with rip-rap. Use topwater lures early and late in the day. Black Crappie – Fair: Use jigs tipped with a minnow around the flooded timber and submerged structure. Keep moving until you find active fish. Bluegill – Fair: Try small jigs tipped with a waxworm or chunk of nightcrawler around the shoreline. Also try open areas in the aquatic vegetation. Channel Catfish – Fair: Use chicken liver or dead chubs along the rocky shores.

Lake Wapello
Channel Catfish – Fair: Use cut bait or dead chubs along the shore. Don’t fish too deep, most lakes have stratified. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Try rubber worms or spinnerbaits around rock jetties and submerged cedar trees. Try topwater lures in the same areas. Bluegill – Fair: Try small jigs along the shorelines and around the aquatic vegetation.

Rathbun Reservoir
The current lake level is 912.59 msl. Normal operating elevation is 904.0 msl. Lake Rathbun has zebra mussels, so make sure to properly drain, clean, and dry equipment before transporting to another water body. Channel Catfish – Good: Try cut bait or shad sides fished in shores and around structure. Black Crappie – Slow: Try jigs and minnows along rocky shores and around structure. Catch suspended with small crankbaits. Sorting is needed for larger fish. Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) – Good: Anglers have been successful trolling crankbaits along rocky shores. Anglers are also catching wipers with slip bobbers and nightcrawlers. Walleye – Slow: Try trolling over submerged points or along rocky shores. Use baits that imitate gizzard shad.

Red Haw Lake
Channel Catfish – Fair: Use cut bait or dead chubs along the shorelines. Bluegill – Fair: Try small jigs fished around the shores and submerged structure. Tip your jig with a waxworm. Largemouth Bass – Good: Try rubber worms or spinnerbaits around brush piles and other submerged structure.

The district includes Mahaska, Lucas, Wayne, Monroe, Appanoose, Wapello, Davis and Van Buren counties. Contact the Rathbun Fish Hatchery at 641-647-2406 with questions about fishing in south central Iowa.

SOUTHWEST

Big Creek Lake
Walleye – Fair: Walleye fishing is slower after the gizzard shad hatch. Use live bait on jigs, trolling spinner rigs and shad imitating crankbaits in the upper half of the lake around road beds humps and weed edges in 10 feet of water and less. Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) – Fair: Troll shad imitating crankbaits and spoons throughout the lake.

Des Moines River (Stratford to Saylorville Lake)
Channel Catfish – Excellent: Use stink baits or cut baits.

Don Williams Lake
Black Crappie – Good: Slowly troll jigs 3 to 6 feet deep. Good areas to troll are mid-lake between the boat ramp and the beach and from the beach north to the next bend.  Largemouth Bass – Good: Catch quality 3 to 6 pound bass with shallow diving crankbaits and soft plastics around the tree falls and submerged stumps throughout the lake. Fish at depths of 8 feet and shallower.

Red Rock Reservoir
White Bass – Good: Troll spoons and crankbaits in the main lake from the marina down to the dam.

Roberts Creek Lake
White Crappie – Good: Drift jigs 3 to 6 feet deep in the lower half of the lake.

For more information on Central Iowa lakes and rivers, call Ben Dodd at 641-891-3795 or Andy Otting at 515-204-5885.

Lake Anita
Lake Anita is a good lake to try drift fishing for suspended bluegills and crappies. Fish the edge of the Lillie pads for largemouth bass. Black Crappie – Fair: Drift or troll for suspended crappies with small jigs. Fish 8 to 10 feet down. Bluegill – Good: Drift or troll for suspended bluegills with small jigs. Fish 8 to 10 feet down. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Use spinners, jigs or topwater fished along the edge of the Lillie pads.

Lake Manawa
Manawa is under a no-wake restriction due to higher than normal water levels. Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) – Fair: Troll or cast crankbaits on the windblown shoreline. Early morning is best. Channel Catfish – Good: Catfish are being caught on a variety of baits from stink bait to livers. Early morning is best.

Littlefield Lake
Littlefield is a good lake to fish for catfish. Anglers are also catching quality bluegills and largemouth bass. Bluegill – Good: Troll or drift around the brush piles. Largemouth Bass – Good: Fish the face of the dam and around the brush piles.