NORTHWEST

Arrowhead Lake
Black Crappie – Fair: Try minnows on a small jig fished in deeper water near structure. Bluegill – Fair: Look for bluegills in deeper water near structure or try drifting down the middle to find suspended fish.. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Try a variety of bass baits along weed edges. Also try topwaters on calm evenings.

Black Hawk Lake
Water temperature is around 80 degrees. Water clarity is around 2 feet. Lake level is about 2 inches below the crest of the spillway. Black Crappie – Fair. Bluegill – Slow. Channel Catfish – Fair: The inlet bridge area is a good place to focus efforts on catfish. The pump at the inlet bridge is running and catfish may gather around the flow.  Largemouth Bass – Fair: Try traditional bass baits fished along shore in areas with rocks or vegetation or along docks. Walleye – Slow: If fishing from boat, try near the rock pile off Cottonwood Point, along the dredge shelf out in front of Denison Beach, and the steeper contours out from shore near Lakewood Point.

Brushy Creek Lake
Water levels are at the crest of the spillway. Black Crappie – Fair: Try a small jig tipped with a small minnow in about 15 feet of water. Bluegill – Fair: Pick up fish in 10-15 feet of water. Largemouth Bass – Good: Try weedless lures along vegetation edges and traditional bass lures anywhere with woody structure. Walleye – Slow. Yellow Perch – Fair: Use a small jig and crawler or minnow near structure in 10-15 feet of water.

Storm Lake (incl Little Storm Lake)
Storm Lake has seen a recent increase in algae growth.  Water clarity and surface algae concentration varies based on location and wind direction. Bluegill – Fair: Try minnows or crawlers fished on a small jig under a bobber near vegetation edges and along docks. Channel Catfish – Fair: Use cut bait or dip baits fished on the bottom along shore and near rocky structure. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Pick up largemouth bass along shore in areas with vegetation and along docks with traditional bass lures or weedless lures.  Walleye – Fair: Picking up walleye mid-lake while trolling along the dredge cuts using crankbaits and spinners with crawlers during mid-day. If fishing from shore, try a leech or crawler fished under a bobber in areas with a rocky substrate in the evening or around dusk. White Bass – Fair: Troll along the dredge cuts with crankbaits and spinners with crawlers.  Anglers are also picking up fish from shore with crawlers fished under a bobber.

Swan Lake (Carroll County)
Water temperatures are around 80 degrees. Water clarity is around 2-3 feet. Black Crappie: Fair: Fish are 6- to 10-inches. Try in 4-6 feet in rocky areas near the jetties and along vegetation edges. Bluegill: Fair: Fish are 7- to 8-inches. Use a small jig fished under a bobber in areas around the fishing shelter and jetties.  Also drift in deeper water with a small jig to target suspended fish. Largemouth Bass:  Fair.

Water temperatures are around 80 degrees in most district lakes. For more information, contact the Black Hawk District office at 712-657-2638.

Beeds Lake
Black Crappie – Slow: Drift fish a small minnow or tube jig. Best bite is early morning. Bluegill – Fair: Use a small piece of crawler fished under a bobber near shore.  Yellow Bass – Slow: Drift fish a tube jig.

Clear Lake
Water temperature is in the low 80’s. The lake is 3 inches low. Water clarity is 25 inches. Black Crappie – Slow. Bluegill – Fair: Try a small piece of crawler below a bobber in open areas of vegetation near shore. Channel Catfish – Good: Try stink bait or chicken liver on the wind swept shore after sunset. Walleye – Slow: Use a jig tipped with a minnow or crawler fished near vegetation along the north shore. Also try slip bobber fishing a leech or crawler on the rock reefs. Best bite is at first light or after sunset. Yellow Bass – Fair: Use a small jig tipped with a piece of crawler or cut bait fished on the rock reefs or near vegetation. Best bite is early morning.

Silver Lake (Worth)
Use a kayak to access open areas in the vegetation. Bluegill – Fair: Try a small piece of crawler under a bobber fished in open areas near shore. Largemouth Bass – Good: Use topwater lures.

Upper Pine Lake
Black Crappie – Fair: Use your electronics to find suspended fish or drift fish a tube jig or small minnow. Largemouth Bass – Fair.

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 water temperature is 79 degrees. Many anglers have had success with slip bobbers/spoons and vertical jigging and drop shot fishing. A great bluegill/crappie/yellow bass bite can be found trolling weed lines. Black Crappie – Fair: Crappie are hard to target specifically, but can be caught mixed with other panfish. The bite has improved in and around docks and hoists. Bluegill – Good: Leeches or worms and a simple bobber setup work well. Pumpkinseed – Good: Fun and easier to catch from most docks. Use a small hook, bobber and piece of worm.

Lost Island Lake
Black Crappie – Fair. Bluegill – Fair. Walleye – Fair. Yellow Perch – Fair.

Minnewashta Lake
Panfishing has been good for anglers trolling weed lines. Vertical jigging is improving. Black Crappie – Fair: A nice crappie bite can be found with a little movement around the lake. Bluegill – Fair. Pumpkinseed – Good.

Silver Lake (Dickinson)
Walleye – Fair: Try using slip bobbers and finding weed lines.

Spirit Lake
The water temperature is 78 degrees. Fishing has been hit-or-miss lately. Perch and panfish bites have been good. Walleye – Fair: Bite is hit-or-miss at dusk, but the day bite is improving. Many anglers have started to fish in shallower with slip bobbers along weed edges. Yellow Perch – Fair: Best bite is morning till 11:00 and mid-afternoon. Depths vary depending on the time of day.

West Okoboji Lake
The water temperature is 78 degrees. Many anglers have been most successful with trolling, but jigging and casting has also been very good. Offshore fishing for bass has been great. Black Crappie – Good: Hard to target specifically, but crappie can be caught while picking through other panfish or around weed edges. Bluegill – Good: Jigging, casting, and slip bobbers have been working very well. Leeches or worms and a simple bobber setup work well. Walleye – Fair: Walleye have been hard to target, but many anglers have been catching them while fishing for other species.

Offshore fishing for bass has been very good lately. The panfish/perch bite has been excellent lately. The extended forecast calls for hot temperatures with highs in the 80’s and 90’s. Most lake temperatures are in the the upper 70’s or low 80’s. Fish are under more stress with warmer water temperatures; if you plan to catch and release, try to release the fish as quickly and gently as possible. For current conditions, call the Spirit Lake District Office at 712-336-1840.

NORTHEAST

Cedar River (above Nashua)
Water levels are very low. Fish are concentrated in deeper holes. Walleye – Slow: Walleye angling from shore or by paddle crafts to find holes works best.

Decorah District Streams
Take time to enjoy and keep cool on one of Iowa’s many trout streams. Trout stream stocking continue to be unannounced, but streams are stocked regularly with lots of fish. Wild Parsnip is in full bloom; use care around this plant, it can cause skin to blister. Brook Trout – Good: Eleven streams have naturally reproducing populations with public access; learn more on our Trout Fishing webpage. Brown Trout – Good: Streams are full of brown trout; a wide variety of insects are hatching. Brown trout will go into a feeding frenzy with many streams off-color due to recent rain. Try terrestrial flies like grasshoppers, crickets, and ants. Rainbow Trout – Good: A small number of trout streams are not stocked in July and August due to marginal water temperatures. This is an annual occurrence. To check which ones, please visit the trout fishing website. Rainbows are easy to catch on a hook tipped with a worm, cheese, or bread fished under a bobber. They will also come to a variety of flies.

Lake Hendricks
The lake remains pea green. Try fishing in the upper water column. Bluegill – Fair: Find fish near shore. Try a small piece of worm on a small hook. Channel Catfish – Good: Catch nice catfish near shore at night with cut or stink baits. Your pole might disappear into the lake if you forget to hang on to your pole if a big one hits.

Lake Meyer
Water clarity remains excellent with an abundance of submersed aquatic vegetation making shore fishing difficult. Best access to fish is by watercraft. Evening bite is best. Bluegill – Fair: Try trolling mid-lake for nice sized gills.  Channel Catfish – Fair: Find fish in woody structure. Use cut bait, worms, or stink bait. Largemouth Bass – Good: All size bass are taking a jig tipped with twister tail running over top of aquatic plants.

Turkey River (above Clermont)
Water levels dropped back to summer time lows. Smallmouth Bass – Fair: Find smallies in rocky pools and rocky seams. Walleye – Fair: Find walleye in pools around brush piles; use a jig and twister tail.

Upper Iowa River (below Decorah)
Water levels are low. Paddlers should use caution around log jams and narrow sections in the river. Water is off-color with fair turbidity. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Find fish along rock ledges and eddies; use spinnerbaits or jigs tipped with plastics. Walleye – Good: Shore and paddle anglers are finding fish. Deeper holes and off-channel eddies hold fish. Try a jig and night crawler. White Sucker – Excellent: Suckers are providing fun action for anglers. Use a jig or hook tipped with a worm.

Volga Lake
The green algae bloom continues on Volga Lake. Black Crappie – Fair: Crappies are moving near shore in the evening to feed. Use a jig tipped with a twister tail. Bluegill – Fair: Find gills near shore in the evening. Use a small jig and twister tail or small piece of worm. Channel Catfish – Excellent: This is an excellent time of year and place to catch a

Temperatures in the 90’s for highs to upper 60’s for lows. Thunderstorms are possible. Area rivers and streams remain low. For current fishing information, please call the Chuck Gipp Decorah Fish Hatchery at 563-382-8324.

Big Woods Lake
Anglers are catching crappie. Black Crappie – Fair: Try a crappie minnow under a slip bobber or jigging colored tube jigs in 6-8 feet of water over structure.

Brinker Lake
Anglers are catching crappie. Black Crappie – Fair: Try a crappie minnow under a slip bobber or jigging colored tube jigs in 6-8 feet of water over structure.

Casey Lake (aka Hickory Hills Lake)
Anglers are catching largemouth bass, bluegill, crappie and channel catfish. Black Crappie – Good: Try a crappie minnow or waxworms under a slip bobber or jigging colored tube jigs in 6-8 feet of water over structure. Bluegill – Excellent: Use a piece of worm on a small hook under a slip bobber over bluegill spawning beds. Channel Catfish – Excellent: Try crawlers, leopard frogs, livers or stink baits fished off the lake bottom. Largemouth Bass – Excellent: Cast spinnerbaits or crankbaits off of the jetties or face of the dam. Yellow Perch – Good.

Cedar River (Nashua to La Porte City)
Channel Catfish – Fair: Try crawlers, leopard frogs, livers or stink baits fished off the river bottom above tree snags. Smallmouth Bass – Fair: Cast spinnerbaits or crankbaits near rocky shorelines or woody structure. Walleye – Fair: Cast a jig and plastic tipped with a minnow near woody structure or off current breaks.

George Wyth Lake
Anglers are catching crappie, largemouth bass and bluegill. Black Crappie – Fair: Try a crappie minnow under a slip bobber or jigging colored tube jigs in 6-8 feet of water over structure. Bluegill – Fair: Use a piece of worm on a small hook under a slip bobber over bluegill spawning beds. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Cast spinnerbaits or crankbaits off the jetties or areas of newly placed rip-rap.

Harold Getty Lake
Anglers are catching crappie. Black Crappie – Fair: Try a crappie minnow under a slip bobber or jigging colored tube jigs in 6-8 feet of water over structure.

Manchester District Streams
Trout streams in NE Iowa are in excellent condition with the recent rainfall providing, excellent opportunities for brown trout.

Maquoketa River (above Monticello)
Channel Catfish– Fair: Try crawlers, leopard frogs, livers or stink baits fished off the river bottom above tree snags. Smallmouth Bass – Fair: Cast spinnerbaits or crankbaits near rocky shorelines or woody structure. Walleye – Fair: Use a half of night crawler tipped on a jig or cast crankbaits

North Prairie Lake
Anglers are catching largemouth bass. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Cast and retrieve topwater baits, spinnerbaits or crankbaits early morning or late evening.

Shell Rock River (Greene to Shell Rock)
Anglers have been doing well on smallmouth bass on the Shell Rock River this past week. Smallmouth Bass – Fair: Cast spinnerbaits or crankbaits near rocky shorelines or near woody structure.

South Prairie Lake
Anglers are catching crappie. Black Crappie – Fair: Try a crappie minnow under a slip bobber or jigging colored tube jigs in 6-8 feet of water over structure. Largemouth Bass – Good: Cast and retrieve topwater baits, spinnerbaits or crankbaits early morning or late evening.

Wapsipinicon River (Tripoli to Troy Mills)
Smallmouth bass and channel catfish are biting on the Wapsipinicon River. Channel Catfish– Fair: Try crawlers, leopard frogs, livers or stink baits fished off the river bottom above tree snags. Smallmouth Bass – Fair: Cast spinnerbaits or crankbaits near rocky shorelines or woody structure.

Rivers and streams are in excellent condition. Weather and angling conditions look ideal for the upcoming weekend and into next week. Area Black Hawk County lakes are producing catches of panfish. Call or stop into your local bait shops for local fishing information. Call the Manchester Hatchery at 563-927-3276 for more information.

MISSISSIPPI RIVER

Mississippi River Pool 9
Lansing water level has bumped up slightly near 7.8 feet this week. Water temperature is 79 degrees. Notice: Dredging is planned to start this year for Lansing Village Creek. The Lansing Village Creek and Heytman’s Landing boat ramps are very shallow. Boaters are urged to use caution or use alternative ramps. Black Crappie – Fair: Crappie are seeking deep water. Try a crappie minnow under a bobber fished in areas with moderate to slow current of side channels. Bluegill – Good: Try a small piece of worm under a bobber fished in areas with some current. Channel Catfish – Excellent: Use cut bait or leeches fished off the bottom in areas of moderate current in side channels. Flathead Catfish – Good: Some nice flatheads have been reported this week. Use a sunfish or crawlers fished on the bottom in the main channel. Freshwater Drum – Excellent: Drum fishing is picking up in the main channel areas; use a crawler fished off the bottom. Largemouth Bass – Good: Cast plastics along the weedlines of deep cuts in backwaters or fish the edge of side channels with slight current. Northern Pike – Good: Try a spoon with steel leader fished near cold water springs or incoming tributary streams. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Use spinners or crankbaits fished in main channel rock piles along the tips of islands. Walleye – Good: Find walleye on the wing dams. Troll crankbaits along structure in side channel and main channel current breaks. Yellow Perch – Good: Jig a minnow or piece of worm in areas of vegetation.

Mississippi River Pool 10
Lynxville water level is 612.4 feet. Boaters are urged to use caution when backing trailers on the ramps due to shallow water conditions. Water temperature is 81 degrees at the Lynxville dam. Black Crappie – Good: Some nice crappie reported this week. Try fishing in areas with moderate to slow current amongst the trees in backwaters. Bluegill – Good: Panfish have moved to areas with some current. Use a small piece of worm under a bobber. Channel Catfish – Good: Try cut bait or leeches fished off the bottom in areas of moderate current in side channels. Flathead Catfish – Good: Some nice flatheads have been reported this week. Use a sunfish or crawler fished on the bottom in the main channel. Freshwater Drum – Excellent: Drum fishing is picking up in the main channel areas; use a crawler fished off the bottom. Largemouth Bass – Good: Cast plastics along the weedlines of deep cuts in backwaters or fish the edge of side channels with slight current. Northern Pike – Good: Try a spoon with steel leader fished near cold water springs or incoming tributary streams. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Use spinners or crankbaits fished in main channel rock piles along the tips of islands. Walleye – Good: Find walleye on the wing dams. Troll crankbaits along structure in side channel and main channel current breaks.  Yellow Perch – Fair: Jig a minnow or piece of worm in areas of vegetation.

Mississippi River Pool 11
Water level is 4.3 feet at Guttenberg and is expected to remain stable this week. Boaters are urged to use caution when backing trailers on the ramps due to shallow water conditions. Water temperature is 74 degrees at the Guttenberg dam. Black Crappie – Fair: Crappie are seeking deep water. Try a crappie minnow under a bobber fished in areas with moderate to slow current of side channels. Bluegill – Good: Panfish have moved to areas with some current. Use a small piece of worm under a bobber. Channel Catfish – Good: Try cut bait or a nightcrawler fished off the bottom in areas of moderate current in side channels. Flathead Catfish – Good: Some nice flatheads have been reported this week. Use a sunfish or crawlers fished on the bottom in the main channel. Freshwater Drum – Excellent: Drum fishing is picking up in the main channel areas; use a crawler fished off the bottom. Largemouth Bass – Good: Cast plastics along the weedlines of deep cuts in backwaters or fish edge of side channels with slight current. Northern Pike – Good: Try a spoon with steel leader fished near cold water springs or incoming tributary streams. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Use spinners or crankbaits fished in main channel rock piles along the tips of islands.  Walleye – Good: Find walleye on the wing dams. Troll crankbaits along structure in side channel and main channel current breaks. Yellow Perch – Fair: Jig a minnow or piece of worm in areas of vegetation.

Upper Mississippi River levels remain low.  Boaters are urged to use caution to avoid backing off the end of ramps. Recent rains may stain the water and bump levels up slightly. Water temperatures are in the upper 70’s. Walleye slot length limits now apply on the entire Iowa border of the Mississippi River. All walleyes less than 15 inches long and between 20-27 inches must be immediately released. One walleye over 27 inches may be kept.  Combined walleye/sauger daily limit 6/possession 12.

Mississippi River Pool 12
The water level is expected to recede this week. Water levels are currently 5.3 feet at the Lock and Dam and 7.9 feet at the RR bridge this week. The water temperature is 80 degrees. Water clarity is good. Be careful boating as there are many obstructions in the Mississippi due to low water. Be careful not to back off the ends of any ramp. Use the minimum amount of water necessary to float your boat off the trailer.  Black Crappie – Good: Some black and white crappies are being taken near tree snags in deeper moderate flowing sloughs; use a small jig and minnow. Bluegill – Good: Bluegills have moved out of the backwaters and are along channel edges and the inside parts of wing dams. Channel Catfish – Good: Try targeting wing dams and rock lines along the main channel. Move often if they do not hit quickly. Flathead Catfish – Good: Smaller flathead catfish are being caught in the tailwaters and on the wing dams.  Most anglers are catching them on jigs or crankbaits. Freshwater Drum – Excellent: Drum are on the bite. Use an egg sinker and worm rig in moderate current areas; areas around boat launches can be productive. You will catch a lot of other species as well on an egg sinker rig. Use large crayfish for bait to catch large drum. Largemouth Bass – Excellent: Bass have moved to the opening of major backwater complexes with the low water. Try to find deeper water in sloughs near the backwaters and you will find largemouth bass stacked up. Northern Pike – Good: Cast gaudy spinnerbaits near the mouths of cooler water streams; pike will seek out cooler water. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Try fishing along rock lines or day markers with strong current. Walleye – Fair: When water has cooled, the walleye bite picked up. Try crankbaits fished on the wing dams.

Mississippi River Pool 13
The water level is 5.4 feet at the Bellevue Lock and Dam and is rising. Water temperature is around 80 degrees in the main channel. The water clarity is good. Water level is  low; be careful when boating as there are many obstructions. Be careful not to back off the ends of any ramp. Use the minimum amount of water necessary to float your boat off the trailer. Black Crappie – Good: Some black and white crappies are being taken near tree snags in deeper moderate flowing sloughs; use a small jig and minnow. Bluegill – Good: Some bluegill catches are being reported on the inside edges of wing dams. They can also be found along main channel rocky areas  Bowfin – Excellent: Bowfin are readily being taken in backwater areas on small spinners or worms. They are a hard fighting fish and can be fun to catch.  Channel Catfish – Good: The bite has slowed, but you can still catch cats on wing dams and rock piles.  Flathead Catfish – Good: Smaller flatheads can be taken on worms and egg sinker rigs. Use live bullheads or green sunfish for bait to catch larger flatheads. Freshwater Drum – Excellent: Drum are still on the bite.  Use an egg sinker and worm rig in moderate current areas or areas around boat launches. You will catch a lot of other species as well on an egg sinker rig.  Use large crayfish for bait to catch large drum. Largemouth Bass – Excellent: Bass have moved to the opening of major backwater complexes with the low water. Try to find deeper water in sloughs near the backwaters and you will find largemouth bass stacked up. Northern Pike – Good: Cast gaudy spinnerbaits near the mouths of cooler water streams; pike will seek out cooler water in the summer. Spring areas like Lainsville Slough or along the sand dunes area can cool water enough for northern pike. Paddlefish – No Report: Paddlefish season is closed for the year. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Find places with strong current around rocks and you will find Mississippi River smallmouth bass. Walleye – Fair: The bite picked up some when the river water temperatures cooled.  Try crankbaits fished on exposed wing dams.   White Bass – Fair: White bass can be found in the tailwaters at times using flashy spinners or small spoons. Not many white bass are being caught, but the size has been good.

Mississippi River Pool 14
The water level at the Fulton Lock and Dam is receding and is 5.4 feet, 9.7 feet at Camanche and 4.8 feet at Le Claire. Water temperature is around 81 degrees in the main channel. Water clarity is good. Water level is low; be careful when boating as there are many obstructions. Be careful not to back off the ends of any ramp. Use the minimum amount of water necessary to float your boat off the trailer. Bluegill – Good: Bluegills have moved to the main channel border areas with some current flow.   Bowfin – Excellent: Bowfin are on the bite in backwater areas and can readily be caught on small spinners or worms. Channel Catfish – Excellent: Try fishing for catfish on wing dams and rock lines along the main channel. Anglers are mostly using stink bait. Flathead Catfish – Good: Flatheads bite best on live bait like a live green sunfish or small bullhead. Smaller flatheads are being caught out of the tailwaters usually on jigs or jigging spoons. Freshwater Drum – Excellent: Drum are still on the bite.  Use an egg sinker and worm rig in moderate current areas or areas around boat launches. You will catch a lot of other species as well on an egg sinker rig.  Use large crayfish for bait to catch large drum.  Largemouth Bass – Excellent: Bass have moved to the opening of major backwater complexes with the low water. Try to find deeper water in sloughs near the backwaters and you will find largemouth bass stacked up. Northern Pike –  Fair: Cast gaudy spinnerbaits near the mouths of cooler water streams; pike will seek out cooler water when the river temperatures get this hot. Paddlefish – No Report: The paddlefish season is closed for the year. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Throw small crankbaits up along rocky shorelines with some stronger currents. Walleye – Fair: Most anglers are targeting them on wing dams using crankbaits. The walleye bite will pick up when the water temperatures cool off. White Crappie – Good: Some black and white crappies are being taken near tree snags in deeper moderate flowing sloughs; use a small jig and minnow. Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) – Fair: Some nice 5- to 7-pound hybrids are being caught in the tailwater area by anglers using inline spinners.

Mississippi River Pool 15
The water level is 5.8 feet at Rock Island and is receding The water temperature is near 81 degrees. Water clarity is good. Water level is low; be careful when boating as there are many obstructions. Be careful not to back off the ends of any ramp. Use the minimum amount of water necessary to float your boat off the trailer. Channel Catfish – Good: Try fishing the wing dams or rock lines along the main channel.  Most cat anglers are use stink bait this time of year. Flathead Catfish – Good: Flatheads bite best on live bait like a live green sunfish or small bullhead. Try using jigging spoons in the tailwater areas. Freshwater Drum – Excellent: Drum are still on the bite.  Use an egg sinker and worm rig in moderate current areas or areas around boat launches. Use large crayfish for bait to catch large drum. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Find areas with strong current along rocky shorelines and that is where you will find Mississippi River smallmouth bass. Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) – No Report: Try a shiny spoon or spinner fished in the tailwater pocket for this hard fighting fish.

Water temperature is in the lower 80’s. The water is receding in most areas and the clarity is good. River levels remain low; use caution when boating as there are many obstructions. It is easy to back your trailer off the ends of ramps at these levels. Try to put the trailer in the minimum water needed to float the boat. If you have angling questions please call the Bellevue Fisheries Station at 563-880-8781.

Mississippi River Pool 16
Tailwater stage is 4.47 feet at Lock and Dam 15 in the Quad Cities and is falling. Flood stage is 15 feet. Bluegill – Fair: Look for bluegills in the backwaters. Try pieces of worm under a bobber fished around brush piles.  Some bluegills are being caught in Sunset Marina. Channel Catfish – No Report: Look for channel catfish around snags and brush piles along the main channel or side channels. Use crawlers or stink baits. Also try anchoring above the wing dams and fishing with stink bait or crawlers. Walleye – Fair: Look for walleyes on the wing dams. Try trolling three-way rigs with crawlers or trolling crankbaits. White Crappie – No Report: With the warmer water temperatures, try a jig and minnow or minnows under a bobber fished in the brush piles in the side channels.

Mississippi River Pool 17
Tailwater stage is 3.45 feet at Lock and Dam 16 in Muscatine and is falling. Flood stage is 15 feet. Bluegill – Fair: Look for bluegills in the backwaters around brush piles; try pieces of worm under a bobber. Channel Catfish – No Report: Look for channel catfish along rocky shorelines; use night crawlers or leeches under a bobber. Also look for channel catfish around brush piles and snags along the main channel or side channels. Walleye – Fair: Look for walleyes on the wing dams. Try trolling three-way rigs with crawlers or trolling crankbaits. Trolling crankbaits by GPC can produce fish at times as well. White Crappie – No Report: Try a jig and minnow or minnows under a bobber fished in the brush piles in the the backwaters and side channels.

Mississippi River Pool 18
Tailwater stage is 4.10 feet at Lock and Dam 17 at New Boston. Flood stage is 15 feet. Bluegill – No Report: Look for bluegills in the backwaters around brush piles; use pieces of worm under a bobber. Channel Catfish – No Report: Look for channel catfish along rip-rap shorelines. Try floating bobbers with crawlers or leeches. Also look for channel catfish around brush piles and snags along the main channel or side channels.  Walleye – No Report: Look for walleyes on the wing dams. Try trolling three-way rigs with crawlers or trolling crankbaits. White Bass – Fair: Some white bass are being caught below Lock and Dam 17. Cast jigs and twisters or in-line spinners. White bass are also being caught at the outlet of Lake Odessa. Some white bass are being caught on the backsides of the wing dams close to shore in areas of current. White Crappie – No Report: Look for crappies in the backwaters and side channels around brush piles. Try jigs and plastics or minnows fished under a bobber around brush piles. Some crappies are also being caught at the outlet of Lake Odessa.

Mississippi River Pool 19
Tailwater stage is 1.96 feet at Lock and Dam 18 above Burlington. River stage is 8.21 feet at Burlington. River stage is 525.45 feet at Fort Madison. We have not received any fishing report information for this pool this week. Bluegill – No Report: Look for bluegill in the backwaters around brush piles; use pieces of worm under a bobber. Channel Catfish – No Report: Look for channel catfish along rip-rap shoreline. Try floating bobbers with nightcrawlers or leeches. Also look for channel catfish around brush piles and snags along the main channel.  Walleye – No Report: Look for walleyes on the wing dams. Try trolling three-way rigs with crawlers or trolling crankbaits. White Crappie – No Report: Look for crappies around brush piles in the side channels. Use jigs and plastics or minnows under a bobber.

River levels have been on the fall the past few days. Main channel water temperature is 82 degrees. Water clarity has been fair. Boaters should use caution on the river with the low water conditions. If you have questions on fishing Pools 16-19 contact the Fairport Fish Hatchery at 563-263-5062.

SOUTHEAST

Big Hollow Lake
Water temperature was 80 degrees on 7/19. The thermocline is set up at 5-7 feet deep. Don’t try fishing much below that; there is little to no oxygen below 7 feet. Bluegill – Fair: Most anglers are finding bluegill back in the trees (in the shade) in 3 to 5 feet of water. Channel Catfish – Fair: Catfish don’t mind the hot weather as much as the other fish do.  Drift cut bait along the face of the dam. Largemouth Bass– Slow: Find