NORTHWEST

Beeds Lake
Black Crappie – Slow: Drift fish a small tube jig to catch suspended fish. Yellow Bass – Slow.

Clear Lake
The water temperature is in the low 70’s. Walleye – Fair: A few walleyes are being caught fishing a jig and minnow near the vegetation edge. Shore anglers should fish a minnow from lighted docks at night. Channel Catfish – Fair: Drift fish with cut bait in the evening. Shore anglers should try cut bait fished on the bottom from the windswept shore. Yellow Bass – Fair: Use a small piece of crawler fished in 9 to 10 feet of water. Early morning bite is best.

Crystal Lake
Largemouth Bass – Fair: Try spinnerbaits fished on the edge of the vegetation. Black Crappie – Good: Drift fish a tube jig in 7 to 8 feet of water. Bluegill – Fair: Bluegill bite is good fishing along the shoreline.

Silver Lake (Worth)
Largemouth Bass – Fair: Bass are biting on a variety of 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
Bluegill – Good: Fish have moved to deeper water; fish deeper weed lines or deep rock piles. Yellow Bass – Good: Action has picked up. Find fish in 12 feet of water on the south end of the lake; move often to find active fish. Northern Pike – Fair: Action has slowed; anglers report continued action on the north end of the lake. Cast spinning baits for the best action.

Five Island Lake
Yellow Bass – Good: Anglers report good numbers of fish being caught; sorting is needed.

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: Cast mini-jigs tipped with wigglers in shallow water during the morning and evening. 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. Bluegill – Good: Action continues for bluegill, black crappie and yellow perch; sorting is needed.

Silver Lake (Dickinson)
Yellow Perch – No Report: Recent surveys show good numbers of fish approaching 11 inches. Channel Catfish – No Report: Recent surveys show good numbers of 16 – 23.9 inch fish in the lake.

Spirit Lake
Walleye – Fair: Walleyes action has slowed on the lake. Fish the basin; don’t overlook the weed edges. Use crawlers and bottom bouncers or troll crankbaits. Yellow Perch – Good: Good numbers of 8.5 inch fish are being caught. Persistence and patience will be rewarded with larger fish caught.

West Okoboji Lake
Bluegill – Good: Fish the outside weed edges for larger sized bluegill; do not overlook deeper rock piles in 20 – 25 feet of water with aquatic plants.

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

NORTHEAST

Cedar River (above Nashua)
Water levels are low. Water clarity is improvied. Use caution when boating; submersed hazards hazards may have moved. Channel Catfish – Good: Use worms and cheese or stink baits fished on the river bottom. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Try spinnerbaits or crankbaits fished on the edge of eddies or drop-offs. Walleye – Good: Use a jig and twister tail or worm fished in the eddies and slack water. Bluegill – Good: Try a small hook tipped with piece of worm fished along the shoreline. Black Crappie – Good: Find crappies in side channels and backwaters. Use a hook tipped with a minnow or bladed spinner.

Decorah District Streams
A few streams are not stocked in August; water temperatures get too warm for trout. Summer is a perfect time to use terrestrial terminal tackle when fly fishing. Grasshoppers, crickets, and ants should turn a trout head. 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; try grasshopper or cricket flies. Also try 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 woolly buggers, San Juan worms or other subsurface flies and lures. For clear water, use emerging insects with a scud dropper.

Lake Hendricks
Water temperatures are in the mid-70’s. Clarity is poor with an algae bloom limiting visibility. Fish are sitting higher in the water column. Black Crappie – Slow: Crappie are hit or miss. A slow troll might get one to come to a hook. Bluegill – Slow: Find fish on the edge of weed beds. Use a small piece of worm about a foot below a bobber. Largemouth Bass – Slow: 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 mid-70’s. Water clarity is excellent. Anglers report hit or miss action for panfish. Bluegill – Slow: Use a small piece of worm under a bobber just above the submersed weeds. Black Crappie – Slow: A bladed spinnerbait just above the vegetation should turn a crappie head. Largemouth Bass – Slow: Fish topwater lures in the evening and morning. Channel Catfish – Good: Catch nice sized catfish in shallow water near woody structures. Fish during low light conditions with clear water.

Turkey River (above Clermont)
Water levels are low. Water temperatures are in the low 70’s. Flows remain high. Walleye – Fair: Find walleye in deeper pools and brush piles. Use spinnerbaits or a jig tipped with a twister tail. Smallmouth Bass – Fair: Use a jig tipped with a twister tail or crawfish crankbait fished near eddies, rocky outcroppings and ledges.

Upper Iowa River (above Decorah)
Flows remain high, but water levels are low. Use care when paddling; read the water ahead of you – get out if needed. Smallmouth Bass – Fair: Use spinnerbaits or a 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 clarity is good. Use caution on the water; high flows and low water levels can cause dangerous conditions for paddlers. Watch for strainers; go around log jams. Smallmouth Bass – Fair: Use crawdad crankbaits or jigs tipped with black or white twister tails. Walleye – Fair: Fish the eddies and drop-offs. Jigs tipped with minnows or twister tails work well.

Volga Lake
Water temperatures are in the mid-70’s. A green algal bloom is present. Bluegill – Slow: Find fish at depths of 6 feet or less. Use a small piece of worm on a small hook under a bobber. Black Crappie – Slow: Slowly troll through the lake to find suspended fish. Largemouth Bass – Slow: Run a crank or jerk bait along the edge of rocky or woody structure. Channel Catfish – Excellent: Find a shallow shoreline littered with woody debris. Use stink baits or worms and wait for a whiskery tug.

Pleasant weekend weather. Chance for rain on Saturday. Temperatures in the mid-70’s for highs to 50’s for lows. Water clarity is good on area streams. Fish action is picking up with cooler temperatures and settled weather patterns. For current fishing information, please call the Decorah Fish Hatchery at 563-382-8324.

Brinker Lake
Black Crappie – Good: Look for suspended fish around structure. Try vertical jigging with tube jigs or fishing a minnow under a slip bobber.

Casey Lake (aka Hickory Hills Lake)
Channel Catfish – Fair: Use dead cut baits or stink baits for a good catfish bite.

Cedar River (Nashua to La Porte City)
Anglers are catching some channel catfish and a few smallmouth bass on the Cedar River. Channel Catfish – Good: Dead chubs for bait work best. Try also chicken livers or stink baits. Smallmouth Bass – Fair: Cast and retrieve topwater baits, crankbaits or spinnerbaits along rocky shoreline areas.

George Wyth Lake
Anglers are catching northern pike. Northern Pike – Fair: Cast and retrieve spinnerbaits along the weed beds or shoreline willows. Anglers do well trolling for pike on this lake.

Fishing reports have been few, but anglers are catching some crappie, channel catfish and northern pike in rivers and lakes in the Black Hawk County area. Trout fishing remains excellent. The forecast looks fantastic for the upcoming week. Call the N.E. Iowa district office at 563-927-3276 for more information.

MISSISSIPPI RIVER

Mississippi River Pool 9
River level at Lansing remains steady at 8.7 feet. Water temperature is 72 degrees. New Albin ramp has opened; use caution as the road may be rough. Use caution exiting to the channel at Lansing Village Creek; the channel is very shallow. Largemouth Bass – Good: Largemouth are scattered, but hungry. Bass may move to deeper water and wing dams as water levels drop. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Use crankbaits fished on rocky areas along main channel shoreline. Bluegill – Excellent: Fish fallen trees in 5-6 feet of water in side channels with slight current. Channel Catfish – Excellent: Use crawlers or stink bait fished in side channel current. Freshwater Drum – Excellent: Drum are biting. Use worms on the bottom or crayfish to target larger fish. Walleye – Fair: Expect the walleye bite to improve as they move on the wing dams, but so far the bite is slow. Yellow Perch – Fair: Use crawlers fished just off the bottom in about 6-8 feet of water. Black Crappie – Fair: Try a minnow in the fallen trees in slight current of backwater sloughs.

Mississippi River Pool 10
River level at Lynxville has fallen to 15.6 feet and should continue to fall slightly this week. Water temperature is 72 degrees at Lock & Dam 9. Sny Magill road repair and flood clean-up is completed and has reopened. Largemouth Bass – Good: Largemouth are scattered, but hungry. Bass may move to deeper water and wing dams as water levels drop. Bluegill -Excellent: Fish fallen trees in 5-6 feet of water in side channels with slight current. Channel Catfish – Excellent: Catfish are biting on crawlers or stink bait fished in side channel current. Freshwater Drum – Excellent:Drum are biting. Use worms on the bottom or crayfish to target larger fish. Walleye – Slow: Expect the walleye bite to improve as they move on the wing dams, but so far the bite is slow. Yellow Perch – Good: Use crawlers fished just off the bottom in about 6-8 feet of water. Black Crappie – Fair: Use a minnow in the flooded trees in slight current of backwater sloughs. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Try crankbaits fished on rocky areas along main channel shoreline.

Mississippi River Pool 11
River level at Guttenberg has fallen to 7.1 feet and is expected reach 6.3 feet this week. The Guttenberg city ramps are open. Turkey River boat ramp is still closed for flood repair work. Water temperature is near 70 degrees at Lock & Dam 10. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Largemouth are scattered, but hungry. Bass may move to deeper water and wing dams as water levels drop. Bluegill – Excellent: Fish fallen trees in 5-6 feet of water in side channels with slight current. Channel Catfish – Excellent: Catfish are biting on crawlers or stink bait fished in side channel current. Freshwater Drum – Excellent: Drum are biting. Use worms on the bottom or crayfish to target larger fish. Walleye – Fair: Expect the walleye bite to improve as they move on the wing dams. but so far the bite is slow. Yellow Perch – Good: Try crawlers fished just off the bottom in about 6-8 feet of water. Black Crappie – Fair: Crappies have moved into side channels with flooded trees and slight current flows; use a minnow. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Try crankbaits fished on rocky areas along main channel shoreline.

Upper Mississippi River levels have dropped to near normal summer conditions. Boaters should use caution due to new sand deposits and sedimentation of many parts of the river after several months of continuous flood water. As levels continue to drop, boat ramps and channels can become very shallow. Water temperature is in the lower 70’s. Some roads and ramps are still covered in flood debris. Fishing has been good. Fish are transitioning from the flooded areas into the regular spots.

Mississippi River Pool 12
Water levels are receding. Levels are near 6.7 feet at the Dubuque Lock and Dam and 9.1 feet at the RR bridge. Water clarity is good. The water temperature is 72 degrees. Heron Pond is open again, but it may have debris on the dock and path. Channel Catfish – Excellent: Try stink bait fished above brush piles. Some channel cats are still along the rock lines. Largemouth Bass – Good: Use flashy spinners in the tailwater areas. Try also fishing frog imitation lures in vegetated areas. Walleye – Slow: Expect the walleye bite to improve as they move on the wing dams, but so far the bite is slow. Black Crappie – Good: A few crappie are being taken from assorted backwaters where flow is reduced. Freshwater Drum – Excellent: Large freshwater drum can be taken on a crayfish and egg sinker combo fished in moderate current areas. Flathead Catfish – Good: Lots of bank poles are being set with live bait for flathead cats. Northern Pike – Good: Look for cooler springs and tributary areas to target northern pike. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Use flashy spinners along rock lines with strong currents.

Mississippi River Pool 13
Water levels are receding. Bellevue tailwater is near 7.5 feet at Lock and Dam 12. Water clarity is good. The water temperature is 72 degrees. A few boat ramps have debris on them. The Bellevue DNR ramp is usable, but no boat dock is available. Most other parks are opening up after the prolonged flood. Please be patient for cleanup efforts at ramps and parks. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Use frog imitations along vegetation lines. Some bass are moving out to the side channels and tailwater areas. Anglers are having success using spinners and jigs. White Bass – Fair: Small white bass are being caught in the tailwaters with small spinners. Channel Catfish – Excellent: Target above tree deadfalls with stink bait and chicken liver. Bluegill – Good: Bluegills have moved out of backwater areas and are being caught in side channel brush piles and along rock lines in the main channel. Walleye – Slow: Expect the walleye bite to improve as they move on the wing dams, but so far the bite is slow. Black Crappie – Good: Some nice catches of crappie were reported this week by anglers using minnows as bait. Most anglers are fishing in brush piles in side channel type areas. Freshwater Drum – Excellent: Large freshwater drum can be taken on crayfish in moderate current areas. Flathead Catfish – Good: Bank poles are being used for flathead. Anglers are using live green sunfish or bullheads for bait. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Throw spinners or jigs along rock lines with moderate current.

Mississippi River Pool 14
Water levels are receding. Levels are near 6.9 feet at Fulton Lock and Dam, 10.6 feet at Camanche and 5.5 feet at LeClaire. Water clarity is good. The water temperature is around 72 degrees. Some 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 – Fair: Try fishing frog imitation lures in heavily vegetated areas. Channel Catfish – Excellent: Use stink bait and chicken liver fished above tree deadfalls. Freshwater Drum – Excellent: Use a crayfish and egg sinker rig in moderate current areas. Flathead Catfish – Good: Flathead catfish prefer to eat live fish; use a bullhead or green sunfish near large river snags. Walleye – Fair: Expect the walleye bite to improve as they move on the wing dams. Black Crappie – Good: Crappies are holding on brush piles in larger slough areas. Smallmouth Bass – Fair: Fish along rock lines with moderate current.

Mississippi River Pool 15
Water levels are near 7.4 feet at Rock Island. Water clarity is good. The water temperature is around 73 degrees. Some boat ramps will have debris on them. Please be patient for cleanup efforts at ramps and parks. Channel Catfish – Good: Try stink bait fished above tree deadfalls.  Freshwater Drum – Good: Lots of drum are in the system; use a simple egg sinker and worm rig in moderate current areas. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Smaller smallmouths are being taken along rock lines with moderate current. Use a flashy lure fished closely along the rock lines.

Water levels are receding throughout the district. It has been a tough year with all the flooding; it will take some time to get all the boat ramps and campgrounds open. Much progress is being made on cleanup, but some spots are still full of flood debris. If you have any fishing questions, please contact the Bellevue Fisheries Station 563-872-4976.

Mississippi River Pool 16
Tailwater stage is 7.36 feet at Lock and Dam 15 in Davenport and has been fairly steady the past few days. River level is 10.58 feet at Fairport. Channel Catfish – Fair: Use stink bait fished around brush piles and snags along the main channel or side channels. Some channel catfish are also being caught anchoring above the wing dams. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Some largemouth bass are being caught in Sunset Marina and the Andalusia Island complex. Bluegill – Fair: Some bluegills are being caught in Sunset Marina. Bluegills are also being caught in 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 Sylvan slough up by the dams casting jigs and twister tails. White Crappie – Fair: Some crappies are being caught in the Andalusia Island complex. Try jigs and plastics or minnows under a bobber fished around brush piles. Walleye – Fair: Troll crankbaits from the 280 bridge up to Sunset Marina Marina and below the 280 bridge on the Iowa side. Also look for walleyes on the wing dams, casting crankbaits or trolling three-way rigs with crawlers.

Mississippi River Pool 17
Tailwater stage is 6.20 feet at Lock and Dam 16 in Muscatine and has been fairly steady the past few days. River stage is 8.36 feet at Muscatine. The ramp at Big Timber is open. Channel Catfish – No Report: Look for channel catfish around brush piles and snags. Also try anchoring above wingdams. Use nightcrawlers or stink bait. White Crappie – No Report: Look for crappies in the backwaters around brush piles. Use jigs and plastics or minnows under a bobber. Walleye – No Report: Look for walleyes on the wing dams. Troll crankbaits or three-way rigs with nightcrawlers.

Mississippi River Pool 18
Tailwater stage is 7.18 feet at Lock and Dam 17 above New Boston. River stage is 8.58 feet at Keithsburg. The Toolsboro landing is now open. Channel Catfish – No Report: Use stink bait or crawlers fished above brush piles and snags. White Crappie – No Report: Look for crappies in the backwaters around brush piles. Use jigs and plastics or minnows under a bobber. Walleye – No Report: Look for walleyes on the wing dams. Troll crankbaits or three-way rigs with nightcrawlers. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Some largemouth bass are being caught in New Boston Bay/Bell Pocket. Use jigs and plastics. White Bass – Fair: Look for white bass around the wing dams. Cast jigs and twisters or crankbaits.

Mississippi River Pool 19
Tailwater stage is 4.16 feet at Lock and Dam 18 above Burlington and is falling. River stage is 9.92 feet at Burlington. River stage is 525.94 feet at Fort Madison. We have not received any fishing report information for this pool this week. Channel Catfish – No Report: Use stink bait or nightcrawlers fished around brush piles and snags along the main channel and side channels. Also try anchoring above the wing dams. White Crappie – No Report: Look for crappies in the backwaters around brush piles. Try jigs and plastics or minnows under a bobber.

River levels have been falling this past week. Water clarity is fair. Main channel water temperature is around 73 degrees. If you have questions on fishing Pools 16-19 contact the Fairport Fish Hatchery at 563-263-5062.

SOUTHEAST

Big Hollow Lake
Cooler weather should lead to some good fishing this weekend.  Largemouth Bass – Good: Work the shallow water areas that are near the deeper water drop-offs (not too hard to find in this lake). Bass are still hanging on the ledges to the deep water. Bluegill – Fair: Most bluegill are hanging out at about 6 feet deep around the trees; don’t shy away from trying in a little shallower with the cooler weather.

Iowa River (Columbus Junction to Mississippi River)
The Iowa River is dropping at a pretty good rate and is forecast to drop another 6 inches in the next couple of days. Keep that in mind if you’re planning on setting bank lines this weekend. Channel Catfish – Good: Continue to fish the outer edges of the brush piles; grass frogs work well this time of year.

Lake Belva Deer
Water temperature are in the mid-70’s for at least part of the day. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Anglers are starting to pick up more bass in the shallow water with the cool weather. Bluegill – Fair: If the weather remains cool, bluegills should soon be looking for shallower water again. But, look for them to be out deep for a little while longer. Channel Catfish – Fair: Most catfish have moved into deeper water; start along the old creek channel.

Lake Darling
The water temperature is in the mid-70’s, but still gets up into the upper 70’s in the warmer afternoons. Largemouth Bass – Good: Bass are starting to spend more of the day in the shallower water. Work the shallows near the deeper water. Bluegill – Fair: The bigger bluegills are still mostly in the deeper water (8-10 feet) around the rock piles and brush piles; start looking for them to move into shallow water soon. Channel Catfish – Fair: : Continue to drift fish for them using cut bait along the old creek channel in the lake. If we get any of the forecast rains, work the in-lake silt dams where the water flows into the lake. Black Crappie – Fair: Slow drift or troll over the habitat in 10 to 12 feet of water. Early morning or late evening is best.

Lost Grove Lake
Largemouth Bass – Good: Bass fishing is starting to pick up, especially just about dark. Work them out along the edges of the weed beds and out around the trees and brush piles in 4-6 feet of water using soft plastics. Black Crappie – Fair: Anglers continue to pick up crappies out around edges of the flooded timber in 8 to 10 feet of water. Some anglers are finding them all the way down to 20 to 25 feet deep. Try vertical jigging or using a slip bobber and minnow. Bluegill – Fair: The nicer bluegills remain out in deeper water; smaller ones are in shallow. Channel Catfish – Fair: Anglers continue to catch catfish below the causeway.

Skunk River (Coppock to Mississippi River)
The Skunk River is holding pretty steady to dropping very slowly after dropping back down after last week’s rains. There is still enough water to get around with jon boats. Channel Catfish – Good: Work the pools just downstream of the rock riffles slow drifting crawdads or nightcrawlers to catch some nice eating size catfish. Don’t forget to work the brush piles.

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

Coralville Reservoir
The lake level is 683.5 feet. The level will slowly rise to 684.2 feet over the next six days for the early teal season. Channel Catfish – Fair: Slow troll or drift cut bait. White Crappie – Fair: Use minnows or bright jigs over brush piles.

Diamond Lake
Channel Catfish – Fair: Try stink bait or chicken liver. Bluegill – Fair: Use worms or small jigs fished in brush. Black Crappie – Fair: Fish brush piles or drift the basin with jigs.

Lake Macbride
The 10 hp maximum is in effect, but will switch back to any sized motor at no wake starting Sept. 1. Walleye – Fair. Black Crappie – Slow. Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) – Slow. Largemouth Bass – Fair. Channel Catfish – Fair. Bluegill – Fair. Spotted bass – Fair.

Pleasant Creek Lake
The main ramp is still closed for repaving. Bluegill – Fair. Channel Catfish – Fair: Evenings are best.

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. Use topwater lures early and late in the day in the same spots. Channel Catfish – Fair: Use dead chubs or nightcrawlers in 4-8 feet of water. Bluegill – Fair: Try 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 fished around the fishing jetties and rip-rapped shorelines. Drifting this time of year can also produce some fish. Largemouth Bass – Good: Use crankbaits or rubber worms around the fishing jetties and around the submerged cedar trees. Channel Catfish – Fair: Try nightcrawlers along the shorelines.

Lake Sugema
Largemouth Bass – Good: Try rubber worms around openings in the vegetation. Black Crappie – Slow: Use jigs tipped with a minnow around the flooded timber and submerged structure. Drifting in open water areas can also produce some fish this time of year. Bluegill – Fair: Try small jigs jigs tipped with a chunk of nightcrawler in the open areas of the aquatic vegetation.

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: Use rubber worms or spinnerbaits around rock jetties and submerged cedar trees. Bluegill – Fair: Use small jigs along the shorelines and around the aquatic vegetation. Black Crappie – Fair: Try drifting in open water areas for suspended crappie.

Rathbun Reservoir
The current lake level is 905.09 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 nightcrawlers fished along the shorelines or any place with some water flowing into the lake. Black Crappie – Slow: Catch suspended crappie 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 vertically jigging over rock piles with some success. Walleye – Slow: Troll baits that imitate gizzard shad or bottom bouncers with a nighcrawler over submerged points or along rocky shores.

Red Haw Lake
Channel Catfish – Fair: Use cut bait or nightcrawlers along the shorelines. Bluegill – Fair: Try small jigs with a chunk of nightcrawler fished around the shores and submerged structure. Largemouth Bass – Good: Use 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 – Slow: Walleye fishing is slower after the gizzard shad hatch. Use live bait on jigs or troll 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. Also watch for shad busting on the surface; cast into the frenzy. Black Crappie – Fair: Drift or troll jigs with twister tails or minnows in the West Boat Ramp bay. Shore anglers should fish live minnows near the rock jetties in the evenings.

Des Moines River (Saylorville to Red Rock)
Channel Catfish – Good: Use cut baits and dip baits below the Saylorville spillway.

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

Don Williams Lake
Black Crappie – Good: Catch crappies from shore casting live minnows under a bobber 2 to 3 feet deep from the docks. 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 – Fair: Troll spoons and crankbaits in the main lake from the marina down to the dam.

Saylorville Reservoir
White Bass – Fair: Troll or cast shad imitating spoons and shallow diving crankbaits. Tie on a leading or trailing twister tail jig if the bite is slow. Cast jigging spoons once you find fish. Good areas to start are from the Sandpiper boat ramp to the marina cove and out from Oak Grove Beach. Fish are also being caught from Cherry Glen to the dam.

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 or slow trolling for bluegills and crappies. Look for fish around roadbeds and deeper structure as the water cools. Black Crappie – Fair: Anglers targeting brush piles are catching fish. Bluegill – Slow: The north arm of the lake around the road bed has been the best this week for suspended bluegill. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Fishing has been good for largemouth along the vegetation edges. Channel Catfish – Fair: Dip bait is working well on channel catfish around the jetties in the south arm of the lake.

Lake Manawa
A few anglers report catching walleye on the west side of the lake. Manawa’s no-wake restriction has been lifted. Channel Catfish – Fair: Try dip baits fished in the windblown shoreline. Walleye – Fair: Troll shad raps on the west shoreline.

Littlefield Lake
Anglers report catching bluegills in the cedar tree piles. Bluegill – Fair: Use slip bobbers and crawlers around the tree; sorting is needed for larger fish.