NORTHWEST

Arrowhead Lake
Water clarity is good. Find bluegill and crappie in deeper habitat as their spawning season ends. Black Crappie – Fair: Look for crappie near structure and contour in 5-10 feet of water. Use a jig tipped with a crawler or a small minnow on a jig drifted over deeper habitat. Bluegill – Fair: Look for bluegill in 5-10 feet of water near woody structure.

Black Hawk Lake
Water levels are about 8 inches below the crest of the spillway. Surface water temperature is in the upper 70s to around 80 degrees. Black Crappie – Fair: Fish are 8- to 11-inches. Most fish have moved to more off shore areas, but can still be picked up along Ice House Point and around the fish house and stone piers in Town Bay. Bluegill – Fair: Find bluegills along shore near Ice House Point and the rock pile by Gunshot Hill.  Fish are 6- to 7-inches.

Browns Lake
Water levels remain low; use caution when launching boats. Find channel catfish along shore near rocky areas and downed trees.

Brushy Creek Lake
Surface water temperature is in the upper 70s. Black Crappie – Fair: Find crappie near submerged woody structure in 5-20 feet of water. Use a small jig tipped with a crawler or small minnow. Bluegill – Fair: Fish are moving off shore to deeper habitat. Use a small jig fished under a bobber in 5-15 feet of water. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Try plastics and traditional bass lures along submerged woody structure and weed lines near shore. Walleye – Fair. Yellow Perch – Slow.

Crawford Creek Impoundment
Largemouth Bass – Good: Catch largemouth bass along shore and weed lines with traditional bass baits.

Storm Lake (incl Little Storm Lake)
Surface water temperature is in the upper 70s. All walleye between 19 and 25-inches must be immediately released unharmed at Storm Lake; no more than one walleye longer than 25-inches can be taken per day. Black Crappie – Fair. Channel Catfish – Good: Anglers are catching fish from shore. Storm Lake has a good population of 4-6 pound catfish.  Try cut bait, liver or crawlers fished on the bottom along shore or minnows or crawlers fished under a bobber. Walleye – Fair: Boat anglers have had luck with crankbaits and crawler harnesses in the edges of the dredge cuts. Most walleye action is off shore in deeper water. Yellow Bass – Fair: Fish are 5- to 11-inches long.  Use a small piece of crawler fished under a bobber. Yellow Perch – Fair: Find perch along shore. Try crawlers or small minnows fished under a bobber near rocky shorelines.

Surface water temperature is in the upper 70s and low 80s. Panfish are moving off shore to deeper habitat in most lakes as their spawning season ends. For more information, contact the Black Hawk District office at 712-657-2638.

Clear Lake
The lake is 2.4 inches above crest. Water temperature is in the upper 70s.Water clarity is about 24 inches. Clear Lake has a protected slot on walleye. All walleye between 17 and 22 inches must be immediately released unharmed. No more than one walleye longer than 22 inches may be taken per day. Channel Catfish – Fair: Try cut bait or crawlers on the bottom. Best bite is after sunset. Walleye – Good: Try fishing a slip bobber with live bait on the rock reefs or troll spinnerbaits near the vegetation edge. Yellow Bass – Slow.

Crystal Lake
Black Crappie – Fair: Troll or drift fish a small jig or a minnow in the dredge cut.

Lower Pine Lake
Bluegill – Good: Use a small piece of crawler under a bobber near shore. Largemouth Bass – Fair.

Rice Lake
Bluegill – Fair: Try a small piece of nightcrawler under a bobber in 2 to 3 feet of water. Largemouth Bass – Good: Cast crankbaits, spinnerbaits and jigs.

Silver Lake (Worth)
Bluegill – Good: Bluegills are on their spawning beds. Use a small piece of crawler under a bobber near shore. Largemouth Bass – Good: Bass are biting on a variety of baits; try fishing near the edge of the vegetation.

Upper Pine Lake
Black Crappie – Good: Drift fish or troll small jigs or minnows. Best bite is early morning. Bluegill – Fair: Try a small piece of crawler under a bobber near shore. 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
Lake temperature is in the lower 80s. The water level is level with crest. Fish are moving shallower post-spawn. Trolling has been working very well. Find crappie and yellow bass in 10-16 feet of water. Try fishing weed lines where there is new vegetation growth. Black Crappie – Good: Best bite is in 10-15 feet of water along weed lines. Bluegill – Good. Walleye – Fair: Try spinners, crankbaits and long and shallow shad raps in the main basins. Best bite is an hour before and after sunset. Yellow Bass – Good.

Lost Island Lake
Fishing/trolling is getting more difficult as aquatic vegetation reaches the surface in many places. Black Crappie – Fair. Walleye – Slow: Try trolling crankbaits or with lindy rigs off weed lines. Best bite is an hour before and after sunset. Yellow Perch – Fair.

Minnewashta Lake
Bluegill and crappie fishing has been good; some sorting may be needed. Black Crappie – Good. Bluegill – Good.

Silver Lake (Dickinson)
The late afternoon bite has been fair. Many anglers are targeting fish schools during the day. Vegetation growth is making fishing more difficult in many areas. Walleye – Fair: Try spinners, crankbaits and long and shallow shad raps.

Spirit Lake
Water temperature is in the upper 70s. The lake is 7 inches below crest. The walleye season is open. Black Bullhead – Good: Try fishing the northern grade of Spirit Lake. Black Crappie – Fair: Use a tube jig and bobber. Bluegill – Fair.  Walleye – Good: Use spinners, crankbaits and long and shallow shad raps; try to find weed lines. Yellow Perch – Fair: Many perch can be caught, you but may need to sort for size.

West Okoboji Lake
Water temperature is in the upper 70s. The water level is even with crest. Many fish are moving deeper post-spawn. Rocky points and areas with new vegetation growth have seen the most success. The walleye season is open. Black Crappie – Fair. Bluegill – Fair. Largemouth Bass – Fair. Smallmouth Bass – Fair: Try fishing off points with surface baits or jerk baits. Walleye – Fair: Try fishing off points by trolling crankbaits or with lindy rigs. Best bite is an hour before and after sunset.

Most area lake temperatures have warmed into the upper 70s-80s over the last week. This week’s forecast calls for continued temperatures in the 80s. Water clarity is fairly good on most area lakes. Bass and panfishing is great on most lakes closer along weed lines in 10-15 feet of water. Most fish species are moving to deeper water as their spawning season ends. For current conditions, call the Spirit Lake District Office at 712-336-1840.

NORTHEAST

Cedar River (above Nashua)
Water levels are back down and stabilizing. Clarity is improving. Fish eddies and current breaks. Visit the USGS Water Dashboard for current water levels. Channel Catfish – Excellent: Try a hook loaded with a crawler, chub, chicken livers or stink bait. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Use a spinnerbait or crankbait along lake edges at dawn and dusk. Northern Pike – No Report: Find pike in shallow vegetated areas out of current. Smallmouth Bass – Fair: Find smallies below the dams; use a hook tipped with a ringworm, twister tail or nightcrawler.  Walleye – Fair: Try worms or minnows under a slip bobber with enough weight to get your bait near the bottom.

Decorah District Streams
Wild parsnip is in peak bloom; protect yourself from this plant by keeping arms and legs covered. Sap from this plant can cause serious blisters. Some streams are off-color. Flows are up; use caution when crossing or fishing in faster current. Brook Trout – Good: Numerous insect hatches on sunny afternoons. Use midge, caddis, mayfly or scud patterns for hungry brookies. Brown Trout – Excellent: Its a great time to fish for a brown trout when water is off-color. Use spinnerbaits or crankbaits near or around structure. Midge, gnat and caddisfly hatches remain strong. Rainbow Trout – Excellent: Freshly stocked rainbow trout are waiting for anglers. Use small spinnerbaits, hair jigs or hooks tipped with a worm or minnow floating past structure or around large rocks.

Lake Hendricks
Water clarity is good; aquatic vegetation is becoming a nuisance, making fishing from shore difficult.   Black Crappie – Slow: Find crappie in 6 to 8 feet of water. Bluegill – Fair: Catch one of these beauties with a small piece of worm. Channel Catfish – Excellent: Best time to catch a nice-size cat is at night using stink bait. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Find fish on the edges of vegetation; use weedless lures to minimize the frustration of casting into weeds.

Lake Meyer
Anglers are finding hit-and-miss action. The lake is very weedy; electric motors may have trouble getting through the vegetation. Black Crappie – No Report: Find crappie in 6 to 8 feet of water around vertical structure. Bluegill – Fair: Find a cove or weed edge. Use an ice fishing jig tipped with a small piece of worm. Channel Catfish – Good: Try a chunk of worm or squished minnow fished off the bottom near stumps or other woody debris. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Use crankbaits or a jig with plastic tail on weedless hooks along vegetation edges.

North Bear Creek
Bridge replacement work is starting on the Sacquitne Bridge on 360th St. Stream access and parking lot remain open; be courteous to workers. Rainbow Trout – Excellent: Stocked weekly from April through October.

Turkey River (above Clermont)
Water levels are stabilizing with much improved water clarity. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Find smallies near undercut banks or rock ledges; use a jig with a twister tail or crankbait. Walleye – Good: Find walleye in deeper pockets just out of flow.

Turkey River (below Clermont)
Water levels are stabilizing with swift current; use caution if paddling. Visit the USGS Water Database for more information on water levels. Smallmouth Bass – Fair: Try fishing the eddies and drop-offs. Walleye – Good: Find walleye in current breaks or eddies; use crankbaits or spinnerbaits. White Sucker – Good: Try a piece of worm on a hook fished on the stream bottom.

Upper Iowa River (below Decorah)
Water levels are stabilizing, but remain dirty. Use caution when paddling; current is swift. Smallmouth Bass – Slow: Find deeper holes and eddies. Try fishing near the bottom. Walleye – Slow: Anglers are catching 10-inch walleye with a jig tipped with a natural colored twister tail in the edges of eddies. White Sucker – Good: Sucker fishing is heating up with warmer temperatures. Find fish off the bottom using a jig tipped with a worm.

Volga Lake
Water clarity is good. The main park road is open to campground and lake; expect delays due to shoulder work continuing for the next few weeks. See park bulletin for more information. Black Crappie – Good: Use small jigs tipped with plastic tails or minnows off the jetties. Bluegill – Fair:  Anglers are finding gills off the jetties. Try a small piece of worm under a bobber. Channel Catfish – Good: Trophy-sized catfish are abundant in this lake. Use a dead chub or squished minnow fished off the bottom near woody debris. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Use crankbaits in drop-offs and around brush piles and other attracting structures.

Temperatures are in the 80s to upper 50s; chance of thunderstorms Thursday afternoon into next week. Area river and stream water levels are slowly stabilizing. Some waterbodies remain dirty. Use caution when paddling when flows are up. For current fishing information, please call the Chuck Gipp Decorah Fish Hatchery at 563-382-8324.

Casey Lake (aka Hickory Hills Lake)
Anglers are catching bluegill, crappie and channel catfish. Black Crappie – Good: Try a crappie minnow under a slip bobber along the edge of the weed beds off of the jetties. Bluegill – Good: Use a piece of crawler under a slip bobber along the edge of the weed beds off of the jetties. Channel Catfish – Good: Try fishing off of the old beach area and to the west using stink baits, livers, leopard frogs or dead cut baits fished on the bottom.

Cedar River (Nashua to La Porte City)
Anglers are catching channel catfish on the river with the receding high water levels. Channel Catfish – Good: Try stink baits, chicken livers or dead cut baits fished above fallen tree snags.

George Wyth Lake
Anglers are catching northern pike and crappie; some sorting on crappie as fish are running on the small side. Black Crappie – Good: Try a crappie minnow under a slip bobber near structure. Northern Pike – Good: Troll crankbaits around the lake or cast spinnerbaits along the edges of willows on the west end of the lake.

Maquoketa River (above Monticello)
The Maquoketa River is in good condition. Anglers are catching smallmouth bass, walleye and channel catfish. Channel Catfish – Fair: Use a piece of crawler on a jig or fished off of the bottom. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Cast spinnerbaits, crankbaits or jigs near rocky shoreline areas. Walleye – Fair: Tip a jig with a plastic and half of a nightcrawler or cast crankbaits.

Shell Rock River (Greene to Shell Rock)
No reports for the Shell Rock River at this time.

Wapsipinicon River (Tripoli to Troy Mills)
Water levels on the Wapsipinicon River continue to drop. Smallmouth bass bite should pick up as the river continues to clear.

Interior river levels are falling, but remain high except for the Maquoketa River in Delaware County. Trout streams are in excellent condition across NE Iowa. Area Black Hawk county lakes are producing catches of panfish. Contact your local area bait shops for the most recent hot spots. For more information, contact the Manchester Hatchery at 563-927-3276.

MISSISSIPPI RIVER

Mississippi River Pool 9
Water level is 8.5 feet at Lansing and is expected to rise slightly then level off. Water temperature is 77 degrees. New Albin Army road ramp is open.  Black Crappie – Fair: Anglers are catching crappies in the flooded timber on crappie rigs with minnows. Bluegill – Excellent: Use light tackle tipped with piece of worm in areas away from current along the weed edges in backwaters. Channel Catfish – Excellent: Try cut bait or stink bait fished in deeper holes along current breaks of side channels. Flathead Catfish – Good: Reports of lots of small flathead biting on nightcrawlers. Try a shiner or small bluegill for bait to catch bigger catfish. Freshwater Drum – Excellent: Freshwater drum bite is coming on. Use a weighted crawler rig in the current anywhere from shore. Largemouth Bass – Good: Cast jigs or jerk baits in woody cover in the shallows of backwaters. Northern Pike – Excellent: Cast crankbaits off vegetation lines or near the mouth of tributary streams. Sauger – Slow: Try a crawler drifted on the bottom in tailwater shorelines. Smallmouth Bass – Excellent: Smallmouth are getting more active along main channel rock structure. Cast inline spinners or crankbaits along the faster current. Walleye – Good: Troll crankbaits off the wing-dams and side channels. Yellow Perch – Good: Use a jig tipped with a crawler.

Mississippi River Pool 10
Water level is 615.5 feet at Lynxville and is expected to rise slightly then level out. Water temperature is 79 degrees at Lynxville dam. Sny Magill and Nobles Island ramps are open. Black Crappie – Fair: Anglers are catching crappies in the flooded timber on crappie rigs with minnows. Bluegill – Excellent: Use light tackle tipped with piece of worm in areas away from current along the weed edges in backwaters. Channel Catfish – Good: Try cut bait or stink bait fished in deeper holes along current breaks of side channels. Flathead Catfish – Good: The flathead bite is picking up with the warmer temperatures. Try a shiner or small bluegill for bait. Freshwater Drum – Excellent: Freshwater drum bite is coming on. Use a weighted crawler rig in the current anywhere from shore. Largemouth Bass – Good: Cast jigs or jerk baits in woody cover in the shallows of backwaters. Northern Pike –  Excellent: Cast crankbaits off vegetation lines or near the mouth of tributary streams. Sauger – Slow: Use a crawler drifted on the bottom in tailwater shorelines. Smallmouth Bass – Excellent: Smallmouth are getting more active along main channel rock structure. Cast inline spinners or crankbaits along the faster current.  Walleye – Good: Troll crankbaits off the wing-dams and side channels. Yellow Perch – Good: Use a jig tipped with a crawler.

Mississippi River Pool 11
Water level is 6.9 feet and is expected to rise half a foot then level off next week. Water temperature is 70 degrees at the Guttenberg dam. Black Crappie – Fair: Anglers are catching crappies in the flooded timber on crappie rigs with minnows. Bluegill – Good: Use light tackle tipped with piece of worm in areas away from current along the weed edges in backwaters. Channel Catfish – Good: Try cut bait or stink bait fished in deeper holes along current breaks of side channels.  Flathead Catfish – Good: The flathead bite is picking up with the warmer temperatures. Try a shiner or small bluegill for bait. Freshwater Drum – Excellent: Freshwater drum bite is coming on. Use a weighted crawler rig in the current anywhere from shore. Largemouth Bass – Good: Cast jigs or crankbaits in woody cover in the shallows of backwaters. Northern Pike – Excellent: Cast crankbaits off vegetation lines or near the mouth of tributary streams. Sauger – Slow: Use a crawler drifted on the bottom in tailwater shorelines. Smallmouth Bass – Excellent: Smallmouth are getting more active along main channel rock structure. Cast inline spinners or crankbaits along the faster current.  Walleye –  Good: Troll crankbaits off the wing-dams and side channels. Yellow Perch – Good: Use a jig tipped with a crawler.

Upper Mississippi River levels will bump up slightly after recent rains this week. Water temperature is in the upper 70s. 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. Walleye/sauger combined daily limit 6/possession 12.

Mississippi River Pool 12
Water levels are 7.1 feet at the Lock and Dam and 9.5 feet at the RR bridge. Water clarity is good. Water levels are stable. Water temperature is around 80 degrees. Lots of mixed bags of many species reported. Bluegill – Good: Check various harbors in Dubuque for bluegills; use a worm and bobber in 3 feet or less of water. Bobber and worm rigs work best. Channel Catfish – Excellent: Channel cats have moved into their spawning areas which is often along rock lines. Try to float a bobber or leaches with a simple nightcrawler rig along rocky areas. Those bright blue channel cats you catch are males channel catfish in spawning colors, not blue catfish. Flathead Catfish – Good: Most anglers are using banklines with live bullheads for bait. Freshwater Drum – Excellent: Drum are being taken in areas of moderate current with an egg sinker and worm rig. Keep fish on ice if you plan to eat them; they can be very good table fare. Largemouth Bass – Excellent: Bass of all sizes are being reported mostly from backwater areas on spinnerbaits and swimbaits. Northern Pike – Good: Some nice pike are being reported on spinnerbaits. Find fish along the newly established vegetation lines; use gaudy white spinnerbaits. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Use a spinnerbait or crankbait along rock lines with moderate current. Walleye – Good: The walleye bite has picked up with many anglers throwing crankbaits on wing-dams. White Bass – Good: Lots of small white bass are being caught on white spinners or jigs. Yellow Perch – Good: Find lots of yellow perch in the Mississippi River after several good reproduction events. Usually caught incidentally when panfishing, but you can try to target them with minnow heads on a jig.

Mississippi River Pool 13
The water level at the Bellevue Lock is stable at near 7.9 feet. The water temperature is around 80 degrees. Lots of mixed bags of many species reported. The water is completely off the DNR ramp at Bellevue; the courtesy dock is in place. Bluegill – Good: Try a simple bobber and worm in the Sabula area backwaters. Channel Catfish – Excellent: Channel cats have moved into their spawning areas which is often along rock lines. Try to float a bobber with a simple nightcrawler rig along rocky areas. Those bright blue channel cats you catch are males channel catfish in spawning colors, not blue catfish. Freshwater Drum – Excellent: Drum are being taken in areas of moderate current with a egg sinker and worm rig. Keep your fish on ice if plan to eat them; they can be very good table fare. Largemouth Bass – Excellent: Nice bass are being caught in the Spring Lake area; other places in the pool are producing bass of all sizes.  Most anglers are using spinnerbaits or swimbaits. Use frog imitation lures in areas with heavy vegetation. Northern Pike – Good: Use gaudy white spinners. Rainbow Trout – No Report: The Kids Trout Pond is unfishable due to excessive vegetation. The pond will be restocked with trout in later fall. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Try spinnerbaits or crankbaits along rock lines. Some nice 3 pound smallmouths have been reported this spring; most are small, but fun on light action poles.  Walleye – Fair: Anglers are targeting larger sloughs with crankbaits.  White Bass – Fair: Small white bass have been reported in the tailwater area; use small white jigs or spinners. Yellow Perch – Good: The bite has been good at times; most anglers are using minnow heads for bait.

Mississippi River Pool 14
The water level at the Fulton Lock and Dam is stable at 7.5 feet, 11.0 feet at Camanche, and 6.2 feet at Le Claire. Water temperature is around 80 degrees in the main channel. Water clarity is good. Bluegill – Good: Bluegills are on the bite throughout Pool 14; use a simple bobber and worm rig in 3 feet of water or less. Channel Catfish – Excellent: Channel cats have moved into their spawning areas which is often along rock lines. Try to float a bobber with a simple nightcrawler rig along rocky areas. Those bright blue channel cats you catch are males channel catfish in spawning colors, not blue catfish.  Freshwater Drum – Excellent: Lots of drum are taken in areas of moderate current with an egg sinker and worm rig. Keep your fish on ice if you plan to eat them; they can be very good table fare. Largemouth Bass – Excellent: Bass of all sizes are being reported out of most of the common highly fished backwater lakes in Pool 14 like Beaver Island, Rock Creek and Sunfish Lake. Northern Pike – Fair: Some pike have been seen in mixed species bags, mostly by anglers bass fishing. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Look for smallmouth bass along rock lines with stronger currents; try fishing in 1 to 2 feet of water next to the rock. Walleye – Good: Some nice walleyes continue to be reported from sloughs and near shore wing-dams. Most anglers are using crankbaits. White Bass – No Report: Small white bass are common in upstream reports, but no report on Pool 14. Some are being caught in the tailwaters on small white spinners.  White Crappie – Fair: Some crappie are being taken in marina areas around docks. A few reported around the fallen trees at Rock Creek. Yellow Perch – Fair: Lots of small perch are in the system; the future for yellow perch fishing looks bright in Pool 14. Yellow perch are often caught by anglers fishing for bluegills and crappies.

Mississippi River Pool 15
The water level is slowly receding at 9.4 feet at Rock Island. The water temperature is near 81 degrees. Water clarity is good. Channel Catfish – Excellent: Channel cats have moved into their spawning areas which is often along rock lines. Try to float a bobber with a simple nightcrawler rig along rocky areas. Those bright blue channel cats you catch are males channel catfish in spawning colors, not blue catfish. Freshwater Drum – Excellent: Drum are being taken in areas of moderate current using an egg sinker and worm rig.  Keep your fish on ice if you plan to eat them; they can be very good table fare. Smallmouth Bass – Fair: Pool 15 can be surprising good smallmouth fishing with lots of rock lines available; this a preferred habitat for smallmouth bass. Use small spinners or crankbaits near these rock habitats.

Good river conditions entering the holiday weekend. Water temperatures are near 80 degrees throughout the district. Water levels are stable. If you have angling questions, please call the Bellevue Fisheries Management Station at 563-880-8781.

Mississippi River Pool 16
Tailwater stage is 7.35 feet at Lock and Dam 15 in the Quad Cities and is forecast to stay fairly steady over the weekend. Flood stage is 15 feet. Bluegill – Fair: Look for bluegills in the backwaters. Use pieces of worm under a bobber around brush piles in Sunset Marina and the Andalusia Islands. Channel Catfish – Fair: Try stink baits or nightcrawlers around brush piles and snags along the main channel and side channels. Walleye – Fair: Look for walleye on the wing-dams. Cast or troll crankbaits or three-way rigs with nightcrawlers. Some walleyes are also being caught in Sylvan slough on jigs and plastics. White Bass – Fair: Cast jigs and twister tails in Sunset Marina. White Crappie – No Report: Look for crappies in the backwaters. Try jigs and minnows or minnows under a bobber around brush piles.

Mississippi River Pool 17
Tailwater stage is 6.10 feet at Lock and Dam 16 in Muscatine and is and forecast to stay fairly steady over the weekend. Flood stage is 15 feet. The gates at the dam are going back in the water. The ramp at Big Timber is open. Bluegill – Fair: Look for bluegills in the backwaters. Try pieces of worm under a bobber around brush piles at Big Timber and Cleveland Slough. Channel Catfish – Fair: Try stink bait or nightcrawlers around brush piles and snags along the main channel and side channels. Some channel catfish can also be caught fishing from shore along the Muscatine River front along the rocks floating bobbers with worms or leeches. Walleye – Fair: Look for walleyes on the wing dams. Cast or troll crankbaits or three-way rigs with crawlers. White Crappie – Fair: Look for crappies in the backwaters around brush piles. Use jigs and minnows or minnows under a bobber in Big Timber and Cleveland Slough.

Mississippi River Pool 18
Tailwater stage is 8.40 feet at Lock and Dam 17 at New Boston and is slowly falling. Flood stage is 15 feet. The gates are going back in the water at the Lock and Dam. The Toolsboro ramp is open. Bluegill – No Report: Look for bluegills in the backwaters around brush piles. Try pieces of worm under a bobber. Channel Catfish – No Report: Look for channel catfish around brush piles and snags along the main channel and side channels. Use stink bait and crawlers or float nightcrawlers or leeches under a bobber along rocky shorelines. Walleye – No Report: Walleye fishing has been difficult with the higher water conditions. Look for walleyes on the wing-dams. Cast or troll crankbaits or three-way rigs with crawlers. White Crappie – No Report: Look for crappies in the backwaters. Try jigs and minnows or minnows under a bobber around brush piles.

Mississippi River Pool 19
Tailwater stage is 5.62 feet at Lock and Dam 18 and is falling. Flood stage is 15 feet. Bluegill – No Report: Use pieces of worm under a bobber in the backwaters around brush piles. Channel Catfish – No Report: Try stink bait or nightcrawlers around snags and brush piles along the main channel and side channels. White Crappie – No Report: Use jigs and minnows or minnows under a bobber in the backwaters around brush piles.

River stage has been falling this past week. Water clarity is fair. Main channel water temperature is around 79 degrees. If you have questions on fishing Pools 16-19, contact the Fairport Fish Hatchery at 563-263-5062.

SOUTHEAST

Big Hollow Lake
Water temperature is in the mid- to upper 80s. Water is fairly clear; the duck weed is spreading.  Black Crappie – Slow: Crappie fishing is sporadic. Crappies remain in 14-16 feet of water. Move around to find the schools that are feeding. Anglers are catching them using vertical jigging. Bluegill – Fair: With the increase in water temperatures, bluegills have set up in deeper water for the summer; 6-8 feet of water is their zone during the heat of the summer. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Bass fishing has slowed as the water temperature climbed into the mid- to upper 80s.  Best bite is early morning before it get hot. Try fishing near the deep water drop-offs.

Lake Belva Deer
Water temperature is in the mid- to upper 80s. Fishing pressure is light. Black Crappie – Fair: Slow troll along the tree line in front of the beach or along the face of the dam. Bluegill – Slow: Find bluegills in 8-12 feet of water trying to stay cool. Try vertical jigging along the tree line or slip bobber and worms. Largemouth Bass – Fair: With most of the weed beds gone and hot weather, look for bass to have moved to deeper water. The sides of the mounds at the upper end of the lake is a good place to find them in early summer.

Lake Darling
Water temperature is around 86 degrees. Water clarity is at least 6 feet. Water continues to have a tan cast to it. Black Crappie – Fair: The number of anglers has dropped off considerably.  Expect crappies to still be in 10-12 feet of water. Bluegill – Good: Bluegill continue to bite; most are hanging around the habitat piles in 6-8 feet of water. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Most bigger fish are in 10-12 feet of water in the habitat near the drop-offs.