NORTHWEST

Arrowhead Lake
The courtesy dock is in at the boat ramp.

Black Hawk Lake
The lake is ice-free. Surface water temperature is around 46 degrees. The courtesy docks are in. Black Crappie – Fair: Use a small jig with a small minnow in Town Bay and along Ice House Point. Bluegill – Fair. Channel Catfish – Fair: After ice-out can be a good time to target channel catfish. Use cut bait or shad fished on the bottom along any windblown shoreline where catfish may be aggressively feeding.

Brushy Creek Lake
The lake is ice-free. Water levels remain about 4-5 feet low. The courtesy dock on the south ramp is in. The west ramp is the best option to launch a boat with the low water.

North Raccoon River (above State Highway 175 bridge near Auburn)
Walleye – Fair. Channel Catfish – Fair.

North Twin Lake
Courtesy docks are in on the south and southeast boat ramps.

Storm Lake (incl Little Storm Lake)
The lake is ice-free. Anglers have picked up perch, crappie and walleye in the marina. Black Crappie – Fair: Try a tube jig with a small minnow. Most have had good luck in the marina. Yellow Perch – Fair: Catch 8- to 11-inch perch in the marina with minnows fished on a jig. Some sorting is needed. Channel Catfish – Fair: Target the abundant channel catfish population that Storm Lake has to offer. Use cut bait or gizzard shad fished on the bottom along any windblown shoreline. Walleye – Fair: Walleye bite has been hit or miss in the marina over the last week. Expect the bite to get better as water temperatures start to gradually warm.

Lakes in the district are ice-free. Water temperatures are in the mid-40’s. For more information, contact the Black Hawk District office at 712-657-2638.

Beeds Lake
The lake is ice-free. Courtesy docks are in.

Blue Pit
Rainbow Trout – Excellent: Trout are biting on a variety of baits. You need a valid fishing license and pay the trout fee to fish for or possess trout. The daily bag limit is 5.

Bluebill Lake
The lake is ice-free. Gates are closed until the access road dries up a bit.

Clear Lake
The lake is ice-free. The courtesy docks are not in yet. Water temperature is in the low 40’s. Black Crappie – Slow: Fish open pockets in the rushes. Channel Catfish – Fair: Try a piece of cut bait fished off the bottom. Walleye – Fair: Walleye fishing is picking up as water temperatures rise. Try a jig and minnow fished near the outlet and around the island after sunset.

Lake Cornelia
The lake is ice-free. Channel Catfish – Slow: Try a piece of cut bait fished off the bottom.

Lake Smith
The lake is ice-free. The dock at the boat ramp is not in yet. No fishing activity reported. Channel Catfish – Slow.

Lower Pine Lake
The lake is ice-free. The courtesy dock is in at the boat ramp.  Channel Catfish – Slow: Try a piece of cut bait fished on the bottom.

Silver Lake (Worth)
The lake is ice-free.

Upper Pine Lake
The lake is mostly ice-free.

Winnebago River
The northern pike bite should pick up; try fishing a chub in slack water below dams and where smaller creeks enter the river.

For information on the lakes and rivers in north central Iowa, contact the Clear Lake Fish and Wildlife office at 641-357-3517.

East Okoboji Lake
The walleye season is closed. The lake is completely open and mostly free of ice.

Spirit Lake
The walleye season is closed. Ice conditions have deteriorated significantly; unsafe ice conditions. The lake is expected to completely open up this week.

West Okoboji Lake
The walleye season is closed. Ice conditions have deteriorated significantly; unsafe ice conditions. The lake is expected to completely open up this week.

The walleye season is closed on Spirit, East Okoboji and West Okoboji Lake. Ice fishing is not recommended. Most of the area ice has deteriorated significantly with total ice-out expected in the next week or so. The extended forecast calls for continued warm temperatures with highs in the 50’s and 60’s.

For current conditions, call the Spirit Lake District Office at 712-336-1840.

NORTHEAST

Cedar River (above Nashua)
Water levels are on a slow rise with fairly clear water. Few anglers have been out. Channel Catfish – Excellent: Shore anglers using dead chubs or worms on the bottom have been successful.

Decorah District Streams
Trout streams are in good to excellent condition. Catchable trout stream stocking begins next week. All catchable trout stockings will be unannounced due to COVID-19 precautions.A stocking calendar will not be available this year. Please observe social distancing and mask rules when visiting hatchery grounds. Rainbow Trout – Fair: Get tackle in front of fish and imitate prey movements. Minnow worm midge and caddis flies work well this time of year. Brown Trout – Fair: Off-color water from rainfall will spur a brownie bite. Use tackle imitating forage fish or midges; fish the edge of a weed bed or large rock. Brook Trout – Fair: Try flies imitating prey drifting down in pool edges and heads. Fish the hatch on sunny afternoons.

Lake Hendricks
Ice went out over the weekend. Few anglers have been out. As bite will improve as the water warms. Channel Catfish – Fair: Try a dead chub or worm fished in wind rowed areas.

Lake Meyer
Few anglers have been out this week. Channel Catfish – Fair: Use a worm or piece of dead chub fished near bottom in areas with wind pushed brush and ice. Northern Pike – Fair: Try fishing in shallow vegetated areas.

Volga Lake
Few anglers have been out this week. The bite will improve as the water warms. Channel Catfish – Good: Try chunks of chubs or worms fished on the bottom along wind rowed shores.

Area river water levels are up and clarity is good. Rain is possible over weekend with highs in low 50’s to 30’s. To reduce the spread of aquatic invasive species, throw unused bait in the trash. For current fishing information, please call the Chuck Gipp Decorah Fish Hatchery at 563-382-8324.

Cedar River (Nashua to La Porte City)
Anglers are getting after walleyes with success on the Cedar River. Walleye – Good: Cast and retrieve jig and plastics tipped with or without a minnow. Concentrate on pools and current breaks. Northern Pike – Fair: Cast and retrieve large spinnerbaits or float a live chub or shiner underneath a bobber in off-channel pools.

Manchester District Streams
All area Manchester trout streams are in excellent condition and providing insect hatches with the recent warmer weather. Brown Trout – Fair: Spring Branch Creek is a favorite amongst anglers for quality and trophy-sized brown trout.

Maquoketa River (above Monticello)
The Maquoketa River in Delaware County has been up and down with the recent rainfall. Walleye – Fair: Cast and retrieve jig and plastics tipped with or without a minnow; concentrate on pools and current breaks.

Shell Rock River (Greene to Shell Rock)
Reports of anglers catching walleye on the Shell Rock River. Walleye – Good: Cast and retrieve jig and plastics tipped with or without a minnow; concentrate on pools and current breaks.

Wapsipinicon River (Tripoli to Troy Mills)
The river has bumped up after the recent rainfall. Reports of anglers catching walleye and northern pike on the Wapsipinicon River. Northern Pike – Good: Cast and retrieve large spinnerbaits or fish a live shiner or chub under a bobber near off-channel areas. Walleye – Good: Cast and retrieve jig and plastics tipped with or without a minnow; concentrate on pools and current breaks.

Interior rivers are providing good angling opportunities for walleye, pike and smallmouth bass. Trout streams are in excellent condition and providing some insect hatches with the warmer weather. For further information contact your area bait and tackle shops. All field stations and fish hatcheries remain closed. Call the Manchester Hatchery at 563-927-3276 for more information.

MISSISSIPPI RIVER

Mississippi River Pool 9
Water level is 8.7 feet at Lansing and is expected to rise a foot late next week. Water temperature is 46 degrees. Yellow Perch – Excellent: Look for perch hanging above vegetation from 4-12 feet of water with a jig and minnow or piece of worm. Northern Pike – Fair: Pike fishing will pick up again post-spawn. Try flashy spoons along openings of backwater lakes as fish move into the vegetation. Black Crappie – Fair: Crappie bite will pick up post ice-out. Fish submerged trees in backwaters and side channels. Walleye – Fair: Drift a three-way rig with a jig or crankbait off current breaks below the Lock & Dams. Sauger – Fair: Drift a three-way rig with a jig or crankbait off current breaks below the Lock & Dams. Bluegill – Good: Try a small piece of worm fished under a bobber in areas with little to no current.

Mississippi River Pool 10
Water level at Lynxville is fluctuating near 617.5 feet. Water temperature is 47 degrees at Lynxville dam. Sauger – Fair: Try vertical jigging with jigs in tailwaters of the Lock and Dam. Walleye – Fair: Drift a three-way rig with a jig or crankbait off current breaks below the Lock & Dams. Yellow Perch – Excellent: Look for perch hanging above vegetation from 4-12 feet of water with a jig and  minnow. Northern Pike – Fair: Pike fishing will pick up again post-spawn. Try flashy spoons along openings of backwater lakes as fish move into the vegetation. Black Crappie – Fair: Crappie bite will pick up post ice-out. Fish submerged trees in backwaters and side channels. Bluegill – Good: Try a small piece of worm fished under a bobber in areas with little to no current.

Mississippi River Pool 11
Water level is 9.2 feet at Guttenberg and is expected to rise near 10.6 feet over the next week. Water temperature is 45 degrees at the Guttenberg dam. Sauger – Fair: Try vertical jigging with jigs in tailwaters of the Lock and Dam. Walleye – Fair: Drift a three-way rig with a jig or crankbait off current breaks below the Lock and Dams. Yellow Perch – Good: Look for perch hanging above vegetation from 4-12 feet of water with a jig and minnow. Northern Pike – Fair:  Pike fishing will pick up again post-spawn. Try flashy spoons along openings of backwater lakes as fish move into the vegetation. Black Crappie – Fair: Crappie bite will pick up post ice-out. Fish submerged trees in backwaters and side channels. Bluegill – Good: Try a small piece of worm fished under a bobber in areas with little to no current.

Upper Mississippi River levels are rising. Water temperature has risen into the mid-40’s this week; fish are more active. Walleye slot length limits now apply on the entire Mississippi River. All walleyes less than 15 inches long and between 20-27 inches long must be released immediately. Only one walleye greater than 27 inches can be kept. Combined walleye/sauger daily harvest limit of 6 and possession of 12.

Mississippi River Pool 12
Water level is expected to rise this week. Water levels are 8.8 feet at the Lock and Dam and 11.1 feet at the RR bridge. The water temperature is around 45 degrees. Water clarity is good. Walleye – Fair: Walleye fishing in the tailwater is all over the place. Some anglers report excellent angling while others are having poor luck. Most anglers are using  a jig and minnow or pulling crankbaits. Largemouth Bass – Good: Report of ice-out bass fishing being very good in the sunny wind swept ends of backwater lakes.  Fish at a slow speed. Northern Pike – No Report: Expect the pike bite to pick up soon as the water warms. Pike will spawn in the Mississippi River when water temperatures are in the mid-40’s; they often go on a feeding spree when spawning is over.

Mississippi River Pool 13
The water level is 10.0 feet at the Bellevue Lock and Dam and is rising. Water temperature is around 46 degrees. Water clarity is good. The Bellevue City and DNR ramps are open for use in the tailwater. Paddlefish – Fair: Paddlefish season is open; check snagging rules before you go out. As the water has risen,  paddlefish have dispersed a bit. Walleye – Fair: The walleye bite is all over the place. Some anglers are on them while others report nothing but frustration. Most anglers are using a jig and minnow or pulling crankbaits. Northern Pike – No Report: Expect the pike bite to pick up soon as the water warms. Pike will spawn in the Mississippi River when water temperatures are in the mid-40’s; they often go on a feeding spree when spawning is over.

Mississippi River Pool 14
Water level at the Fulton Lock and Dam is rising at 9.5 feet, 12.5 feet at Camanche and 7.3 feet at LeClaire. Water temperature is around 46 degrees. Water clarity is good. Paddlefish – Fair: Paddlefish season is open; check snagging rules before you go out. As water has risen, the catch of paddlefish is reduced as the fish are scattered. Walleye – Fair: Most anglers are pulling a minnow rig. The bite has improved from a slow spring start. Some large females were reported in this week’s creel. Northern Pike – No Report: Expect the pike bite to pick up soon as the water warms. Pike will spawn in the Mississippi River when water temperatures are in the mid-40’s; they often go on a feeding spree when that process is over.

Mississippi River Pool 15
Water level is 10.4 feet at Rock Island and is rising. The water temperature is near 46 degrees. Water clarity is good. Channel Catfish – No Report: Try cut shad bait early season catfish.

Water temperature in the main channel is around 45 degrees. Water level is rising throughout the district. If you have any fishing questions, please contact the Bellevue Fisheries Station 563-880-8781.

SOUTHEAST

Discovery Park Pond
Rainbow Trout – Good: It’s a good time to go trout fishing at the front pond at the Discovery Park. You need a valid fishing license and pay the trout fee to fish for or possess trout.

East Lake Park Pond
This city park pond is on the east side of Mount Pleasant by the airport. Rainbow Trout – Good: This 6.5 acre pond was stocked for the first time with rainbow trout earlier this week. You need a valid fishing license and pay the trout fee to fish for or possess trout.

Lake Belva Deer
Water temperature is in the low 40’s. Very little activity on the lake this week. Channel Catfish – Fair: Catch catfish near where the marsh dumps in and in the campground arm of the lake.

Lake Darling
Water temperature dropped to the low 40’s with the rainy weather. Channel Catfish – Fair: Anglers are catching catfish along the in-lake silt dams and up a little into Honey Creek.

Lost Grove Lake 
Wind and rain has kept angler numbers down. Channel Catfish – No Report: Find catfish working the rocky points where the wind is blowing into shore. Walleye – No Report: Work the face of the dam early morning or late evening.

Wilson Lake
Rainbow Trout – Good: Trout were stocked earlier this week. Plenty of nice rainbow trout are waiting to be caught. You need a valid fishing license and pay the trout fee to fish for or possess trout.

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

Cedar River (La Porte City to Cedar Rapids)
Walleye – Fair: Anglers are catching mostly males. Northern Pike – Slow.

Coralville Reservoir
The lake level is 683.3 feet. A dock is in at the Macbride State Park ramp. The Corps’ ramps will have docks in by April 1, when launch fees begin. Channel Catfish – Good: Catch catfish with cut bait around and above the 380/965 bridges. Try shallow windblown flats at the upper end as well.

Diamond Lake
Little fishing activity yet. A year round boat dock is in, but the rest of the facilities are closed.

Iowa Lake (Iowa Co.)
Water temperatures are in the low 40’s. The docks are in and bathrooms are open. Largemouth Bass – Fair: It is quality over quantity right now. Bluegill – Slow. Black Crappie – Slow.

Lake Macbride
Water temperatures are around 40-42 degrees. The boat docks will be put in the first week of April. There are two new boat slips at Main Ramp and Opie Ave ramp for year-round use. Black Crappie – Fair: Try minnows over brush in 10-15 feet of water. Channel Catfish – Fair: Some big fish were caught this week in the upper arms; use cut bait.

Liberty Centre Pond
Rainbow Trout – Excellent: You need a valid fishing license and pay the trout fee to fish for or possess trout.

Otter Creek Lake
Little fishing activity yet. The dock is not in and the fish cleaning station is still closed.

Pleasant Creek Lake
The docks are in. No fishing reports.

Prairie Park Fishery
Rainbow Trout – Good: You need a valid fishing license and pay the trout fee to fish for or possess trout.

Union Grove Lake
Little fishing activity yet. The docks are not in at this time.