NORTHWEST

Arrowhead Lake
Water clarity is good. Surface water temperature is in the upper 70s. Black Crappie – Fair: Look for crappie near structure and contour in 5-15 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 5-15 feet of water near woody structure.

Black Hawk Lake
Water levels are about 3 inches below the crest of the spillway. Surface water temperature is in the upper 70s. Water clarity is roughly 12 inches. 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 – Slow: Find bluegills along shore near Ice House Point and the rock pile by Gunshot Hill.  Fish are 6- to 7-inches. Channel Catfish – Fair: Look for cats around the deeper rock piles or try drifting in the evening and at night. Use cut bait, crawdads or dip bait. Catfish average 4 to 7 pounds.

Browns Lake
Water levels remain low; use caution when launching boats.

Brushy Creek Lake
Surface water temperature is in the upper 70s. Water clarity is roughly 3 feet. 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. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Try plastics and traditional bass lures along submerged woody structure and weed lines near shore.

Storm Lake (incl Little Storm Lake)
Surface water temperature is in the upper 70s. Water clarity is roughly 2 feet. 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 – Fair: 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 are trolling crankbaits using crawler harnesses and drifting leeches and in the edges of the dredge cuts. Some anglers have had luck with a minnow under a slip bobber. Yellow Bass – Fair: Fish are 5- to 11-inches long.  Use a small piece of crawler fished under a bobber. Yellow Perch – Fair: Try crawlers or small minnows fished under a bobber near rocky shorelines.

Surface water temperature is in the upper 70s in most area lakes. For more information, contact the Black Hawk District office at 712-657-2638.

Beeds Lake
Black Crappie – Fair: Drift fish or troll a tube jig along the north shore.

Clear Lake
The lake is 1.5 inches below crest. Water temperature is in the upper 70s. Water clarity is about 17 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. Black Crappie -Slow. Channel Catfish – Good: Try cut bait or chicken liver on the bottom. Best bite is after sunset. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Try fishing weedless baits near the vegetation edge. Walleye – Good: Try fishing a slip bobber with live bait on the rock reefs or a jig and minnow near the vegetation edge. Yellow Bass – Slow.

Lake Cornelia
Channel Catfish – Fair: Use cut bait on the bottom after sunset.

Silver Lake (Worth)
Bluegill – Good: Use a small piece of crawler under a bobber in the open pockets in the vegetation. Largemouth Bass – Good: Bass are biting on weedless and topwater baits; try fishing near the edge of the vegetation. Yellow Perch – Fair.

Upper Pine Lake
Black Crappie – Fair: Drift fish or troll small jigs or minnows. Best bite is early morning. Bluegill – Fair: Try a small piece of nightcrawler under a bobber in 2 to 3 feet of water. Largemouth Bass – Good: Bass are biting on a variety of baits fished near woody structure.

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 1 inch over crest. Fish are out deeper during warm water temperatures. 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. There has been a decent-sized algae bloom lately. 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 and a large algae bloom is making fishing more difficult in many areas. Many large schools of young of the year bullhead are swimming around the lake. Walleye – Fair: Try spinners, crankbaits and long and shallow shad raps.

Spirit Lake
Water temperature is in the low 80s. The lake level is just below crest. The walleye season is open. Most species are out deeper in 15+ feet of water. Black Bullhead – Fair: Try fishing the northern grade of Spirit Lake. Black Crappie – Fair: Use a tube jig and bobber. Bluegill – Fair.  Walleye – Fair: Use spinners, crankbaits and long and shallow shad raps; try to find weed lines. Yellow Perch – Good: Many perch can be caught, you may need to sort for size.

West Okoboji Lake
Water temperature is in the upper 70s. The water level is 1 inch over crest. Most fish are out deeper in 15+ feet of water. Rocky points and areas with new vegetation growth have seen the most success. Black Crappie – Good: Use crankbaits or shad raps. Bluegill – Good: Try small shad raps. 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. Some fish have been caught while trolling for crappie.

Most area lake temperatures are in the mid-70s to 80s. This week’s forecast calls for continued temperatures in the 80s-90s. Algae blooms have popped up on few area lakes making visibility much lower. Bass and panfishing has been great on most lakes out along weed lines in 15+ feet of water. Most bigger fish have been caught out in deeper water as temperatures have increased. For current conditions, call the Spirit Lake District Office at 712-336-1840.

NORTHEAST

Cedar River (above Nashua)
Water levels are stabilizing, but remain about a foot high. 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 – Slow: 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 – Slow: Find smallies below the dams; use a hook tipped with a ringworm, twister tail or nightcrawler.  Walleye – Slow: Try worms or minnows under a slip bobber with enough weight to get your bait near the bottom.

Decorah District Streams
Wild parsnip is still blooming; protect yourself from this plant by keeping arms and legs covered. Sap from this plant can cause serious blisters. Most area trout streams are high ; some may be muddy. Use caution when crossing or fishing in faster current. You might have to find a new favorite fishing hole or stream this week.  Brook Trout – Slow: Try fishing the weed lines and head end of riffles for actively feeding fish. Terrestrial insects are abundant. Brown Trout – Good: Dirty water favors brown trout anglers. Increasing terrestrial insect numbers such as crickets, beetles and grasshoppers washing into streams creates a feeding frenzy for brownies. Rainbow Trout – Good: A few streams get too warm to stock rainbow trout in the heat of the summer. This is an annual occurrence; plenty of fish remain in the streams. Stocking the other streams continues as scheduled.

Lake Hendricks
Severe green algae bloom on Lake Hendricks. Water temperature is in the low 80s. Angling is slow with recent weather and warm temperatures. Black Crappie – Slow: Slowly troll for crappie. Best bite is in the evening. Bluegill – Slow: 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 – Slow: Find fish on the edges of vegetation; use weedless lures to minimize the frustration of casting into weeds.

Lake Meyer
Lake levels are up and off-color from recent rain.  Shoreline angling is much improved. Black Crappie – Fair: Find crappie suspended. Try trolling weed edges with a jig and twister tail. Bluegill – Slow: 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 – Slow: 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 poor water clarity. Paddling is not recommended. Smallmouth Bass – Slow: Find smallies near undercut banks or rock ledges; use a jig with a twister tail or crankbait. Walleye – Slow: Find walleye in deeper pockets just out of flow.

Turkey River (below Clermont)
Water levels are stabilizing with poor water clarity. Flows remain high. Paddling is not recommended. Visit the USGS Water Database for more information on water levels. Smallmouth Bass – Slow: Try fishing the eddies and drop-offs. Walleye – Slow: Find walleye in current breaks or eddies; use crankbaits or spinnerbaits.

Upper Iowa River (above Decorah) 
Water levels are stabilizing, but remain about a foot high. Water clarity is poor. River access is limited; watch for unseen hazards. Paddling is not recommended.

Upper Iowa River (below Decorah)
Water levels are stabilizing with poor clarity. Paddling is not recommended. Current is swift and submerged hazards can’t be seen. 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.

Volga Lake
Water clarity is fair. Water temperature is in the 80s. Few anglers are out. Algae bloom is occurring. Try slowly trolling around lake to find suspended fish. Black Crappie – Slow: Use small jigs tipped with plastic tails or minnows off the jetties. Also try trolling around the lake to find suspended fish. Bluegill – Slow:  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 – Slow: Use crankbaits in drop-offs and around brush piles and other attracting structures.

Temperatures are in the 80s to upper 50s. Area river and stream water levels are stabilizing after last weeks rain events; many remain muddy with high flows. Use caution when paddling with high flows and dirty water. 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, largemouth bass and channel catfish. Black Crappie – Slow: Try a crappie minnow under a slip bobber along the edge of the weed beds off of the jetties. Bluegill – Slow: 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. Any time of the day has been productive.

Cedar River (Nashua to La Porte City)
Anglers are catching channel catfish, smallmouth bass and walleye. Channel Catfish – Fair: Try stink baits, chicken livers or dead cut baits fished above fallen tree snags. Smallmouth Bass – Fair: Cast crankbaits, spinnerbaits or jigs near rocky shoreline areas. Walleye – Fair: Tip a jig with a plastic and half of a nightcrawler or cast crankbaits.

George Wyth Lake
Anglers are catching northern pike, crappie, channel catfish and largemouth bass. Black Crappie – Fair: Try a crappie minnow under a slip bobber near structure. Channel Catfish – Fair: Use nightcrawlers, chicken livers, dead cut baits or leopard frogs on the bottom in 10 feet of water or less. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Cast topwater artificial or spinnerbaits early morning or late evening. Northern Pike – Fair: 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)
Reports of anglers catching smallmouth bass. Smallmouth Bass – Fair: Cast spinnerbaits or crankbaits; concentrate on areas of rock or rip-rapped shorelines.

Wapsipinicon River (Tripoli to Troy Mills)
Water levels on the Wapsipinicon River remain fairly steady. Smallmouth bass, channel catfish and walleye bite should pick up as the river continues to clear. Channel Catfish – Fair: Try stink baits, chicken livers or dead cut baits fished above fallen tree snags. Smallmouth Bass – Fair:  Cast crankbaits, spinnerbaits or jigs near rocky shoreline areas. Walleye – Fair: Tip a jig with a plastic and half of a nightcrawler or cast crankbaits.

NE Iowa interior river levels are in excellent condition. The rivers are providing catfish, smallmouth bass and walleye activity. Trout streams are in excellent condition across NE Iowa. Area Black Hawk county lakes are producing catches of panfish, channel catfish and largemouth bass. 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 8.4 feet at Lansing and is expected to drop slightly. Water temperature is 78 degrees. The water is somewhat stained after heavy rains. Fishing is good, but floating weeds are a nuisance. Heytman’s Landing is closed due to replacing the railroad bridge. 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. Also try rock lines where they are spawning.  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: Reports of sauger coming in using 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 614.5 feet at Lynxville and is expected to be fairly stable. Water temperature is 80 degrees at Lynxville dam. The backwaters are covered in duckweed and lily-pads. 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. Some anglers are using bank poles with bullheads 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: Reports of sauger coming in using 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 5.7 feet at Guttenberg. Water temperature is 73 degrees at the Guttenberg dam. The backwaters are covered in duckweed and lily-pads. The water is slightly turbid after recent rains with the Turkey River running very turbid. 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. Lots of bank pole fishing with anglers using live bullheads or green sunfish 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: Reports of sauger coming in using 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 are expected to gradually fall. Water clarity is improving. Anglers are catching a wide mix. Water temperature is near 80 degrees. 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 6.1 feet at the Lock and Dam and 8.7 feet at the RR bridge. Water clarity is good. Water levels are receding. Water temperature is around 79 degrees. Lots of mixed bags of many species reported. Black Crappie – Good: Black and white crappie are being caught on woody structures in larger side channel areas; most anglers are using small jigs or minnows. Bluegill – Good: Use a simple bobber and worm around rock lines and behind fallen trees. Channel Catfish – Excellent: Catfish angling is still very good, but moving to post-spawn. Many anglers switch to stink baits in larger sloughs and mud flats. Flathead Catfish – Good: Banklines are popular with most anglers using live bullheads or small carp 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. Find fish along weed lines. 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 – Excellent: 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. The bite might have slowed down a bit, but some nice fish are being caught. White Bass – Good: Use white spinners or jigs. Yellow Perch – No Report: 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 receding at near 6.2 feet. The water temperature is around 80 degrees. Lots of mixed bags of many species reported. Black Crappie – Good: Black and white crappie are being caught on woody structures in larger side channel areas; most anglers are using small jigs or minnows. Bluegill – Excellent: Try a simple bobber and worm rigs along rock lines or near fallen trees in larger sloughs. Channel Catfish – Excellent: Switch to stink baits for post-spawn channel cats. Flathead Catfish – Good: Many anglers are using bank poles and a live bullhead or green sunfish for bait. 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: The bass bite is hot. They are heavily feeding on minnows in side channels and rock lines. 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; most are small, but fun on light action poles.  Walleye – Good: Good numbers coming off the wing-dams; use crankbaits or worm rigs. Bite has slowed, but some nice fish are being reported.  White Bass – Good: White bass are feeding at the surface in various parts of Pool 13; use small white jigs or spinners.

Mississippi River Pool 14
The water level at the Fulton Lock and Dam is receding at 5.8 feet, 9.8 feet at Camanche, and 5.1 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: Switch to stink bait for post-spawn walleyes. Try fishing in larger sloughs upstream of fallen trees. Flathead Catfish – Good: Walleye and bass anglers are encountering flatheads in rocky habitat using crankbaits. Anglers are also targeting flatheads with bank poles often with a bullhead for bait. Freshwater Drum – Excellent: 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. Longnose Gar -Excellent: Numerous large gars are  biting in Pool 14. Northern Pike – Good: Some pike have been seen in mixed species bags, mostly by anglers bass fishing. Look for pike along weedy shorelines with gaudy white spinners. 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 – Good: Good numbers of white bass mixed in with hybrid striped bass reported near the tailwater area. Use a white jig or small spinner.  White Crappie – Good: Try larger slow moving side channels and fish around brush piles; use a small jig tipped with minnows. Yellow Perch – No Report: 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 6.2 feet at Rock Island and is receding. The water temperature is near 81 degrees. Water clarity is good. Channel Catfish – Excellent: Switch to stink bait for post-spawn channel cats. 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 – Good: 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.

Fishing conditions are excellent on the Mississippi River. The water temperature is near 80 degrees throughout the district. Water levels are receding. If you have angling questions, please call the Bellevue Fisheries Management Station at 563-880-8781.

Mississippi River Pool 16
Tailwater stage is 6.25 feet at Lock and Dam 15 in the Quad Cities and is forecast to start falling 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 chicken livers around brush piles and snags along the main channel and side channels in the Andalusia Island complex. Channel catfish can also be caught on the upstream side of wing-dams. 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 and Sylvan Slough. Some white bass can also be caught fishing from shore below the Lock and Dam. 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 4.85 feet at Lock and Dam 16 in Muscatine and is forecast to start falling over the weekend. Flood stage is 15 feet. 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 or fishing the upstream side of wing-dams. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Largemouth bass are being caught in Big Timber; use plastics around brush piles and logs. 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 5.56 feet at Lock and Dam 17 and is forecast to begin falling over the weekend. Flood stage is 15 feet. 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. Channel catfish can also be caught fishing the upstream side of wing-dams. Walleye – No Report: Look for walleyes on the wing-dams. Cast or troll crankbaits or three-way rigs with crawlers. White Bass – Fair: Some white bass are being caught in Boston Bay by the bridge; cast jigs and twister tails.  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 2.72 feet at Lock and Dam 18 and is forecast to begin falling over the weekend. Flood stage is 15 feet. River stage is 525.42 feet at Ft. Madison; flood stage is 528.0 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 risen some the past few days. Water clarity is fair. Main channel water temperature is around 81 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-80s. The thermocline bottoms out at 8 feet in the upper end around the beach area and at 10 feet down at the lower end out from the dam. Water is fairly clear; the duckweed is spreading.  Bluegill – Fair: Bluegills are in 6-7 feet of water around the trees and brush piles. Try a bobber and worm dipped down through the duckweed using long poles in the flooded timber. Think crappie fishing, except for bluegills.

Iowa River (Columbus Junction to Mississippi River)
The sandbars by Wapello are getting high and dry; it will be difficult going in that section without a fanboat or jet drive. The ramp across from Columbus Junction is surrounded by sandbars and very shallow water. Channel Catfish – Fair: Start at the brush piles and logjams; use stink bait or cut baits, although a fresh caught frog is hard for them to turn down.