NORTHWEST
Black Hawk Lake
Skim ice along shore in many areas during the mornings this last week. Anglers are still fishing along shore near Ice House point. Most courtesy docks have been removed for the season, except for the floating courtesy dock for the ramp at the Marina on the northeast side of the lake. This dock stays in the entire winter season. Black Crappie – Fair: Fish are 8- to 11-inches. Try along Ice House Point and around the fish house in Town Bay. Yellow Perch – Fair: A few anglers are picking up some perch along Ice House Point and near the boat ramp.
Brushy Creek Lake
Boat ramp courtesy docks have been removed for the season. Bluegill – Fair: Drift jigs tipped with crawlers in 5-15 feet of water anywhere along weed lines or near submerged trees. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Try plastics and traditional bass lures along submerged woody structure and weed lines near shore.
North Twin Lake
Water levels are nearly 3 feet below the crest of the spillway. The boat ramp courtesy dock for the south ramp has been removed for the season. Fishing activity has been low throughout the week with the cold temperatures.
Storm Lake (incl Little Storm Lake)
Areas along some shorelines had skim ice this last week. A few anglers have been out and there are still shoreline fishing opportunities, but overall action this last week has been slow.
Little fishing activity this last week. Most lakes have been partially covered with skim ice along shore. Boat ramp courtesy docks have been removed for the season except for a few remaining floating docks that stay in year-round. For more information, contact the Black Hawk District office at 712-657-2638.
Blue Pit
Blue Pit will be stocked with rainbow trout on Nov. 22. You need a valid fishing license and pay the trout fee to fish for or possess trout. Rainbow Trout – No Report: Use spinnerbaits and small jigs.
Clear Lake
All courtesy docks have been removed for the season. The lake is 9.8 inches below crest. Water temperature is in the upper 30s. Water clarity is about 90 inches. Clear Lake has a protected slot on walleye. All walleye between 17 and 22 inches must be immediately released unharmed. The daily limit is 3 with no more than one walleye longer than 22 inches may be taken per day. Walleye – Good: Evening fishing near vegetation, sand beach areas, and the Ventura Grade has been good. Use plastics and live bait. Yellow Bass – Fair: Warmer afternoons are best to find schooling yellow bass. Use small jigs, live bait, or cut bait. Yellow Perch – Fair: Try live bait and small jigs near vegetation beds.
Rice Lake
Any water west of the North boat ramp is a waterfowl refuge and is closed to all activity from Sept. 1st through the final day of the duck season. Bluegill – Slow. Yellow Perch – Fair: Try a piece of nightcrawler or small plastic jigs in the deeper water along the south shoreline.
Silver Lake (Worth)
Bluegill: Slow. Yellow Perch – Fair: Vertical jig in mid-lake areas with small jigs tipped with a piece of nightcrawler.
Winnebago River
Walleye – Fair: Use live bait in deeper holes. Best bite is after sunset.
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 low 40s. The north bay is iced over. The water level is 10 inches below crest. Walleye fishing is picking up from shore early morning and later at night using live bait, jigs with live bait, or crankbaits. Try fishing under structure or over the top of vegetation. Black Crappie – Good: Try small jigs tipped with a minnow or tube jig and bobber. Bluegill – Fair: Use tube jigs, plastics, or other small jigs. Walleye – Fair: Try crawler harnesses, crankbaits, and minnows. Yellow Perch – Fair: Minnows work well; some sorting may be needed.
Lost Island Lake
Walleye – Good: Try spinners, crankbaits, and shallow shad raps. Evening bite is improving as the water cools.
Minnewashta Lake
Bluegill and crappie fishing has been good; some sorting may be needed.
Silver Lake (Dickinson)
The walleye bite has picked up as water temperatures cool. Walleye – Good: Use spinners, crankbaits, and long and shallow shad raps.
Spirit Lake
The lake is 13 inches below crest. The walleye season is open. The water temperature is in the upper 40s. Walleye fishing is picking up from shore early morning and later at night using live bait, jigs with live bait, or crankbaits. Muskellunge – Good: Try crankbaits, buck tails, and rubber baits. Walleye – Good: The 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. Try spinners, crankbaits, and long and shallow shad raps; look for weed lines to troll or jig off of. Yellow Perch – Good: Use small jigs tipped with a minnow. Sorting may be needed.
West Okoboji Lake
Water temperature is in the mid-40s. The water level is 10 inches below crest. Black Crappie – Fair: Try small jigs tipped with a minnow. Bluegill – Good: Use tube jigs, plastics, or other small jigs. Walleye – Fair: Crawler harnesses, crankbaits, and minnows work well. Yellow Perch – Fair: Use small jigs tipped with a minnow. Sorting may be needed.
Many smaller area lakes have started to freeze over. Most large lakes are mostly ice-free. All docks and hoists are out for the season. Area lake levels are low. For current conditions, call the Spirit Lake District Office at 712-336-1840.
NORTHEAST
Cedar River (above Nashua)
Few anglers are out fishing. Ice is starting to form on the backwaters. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Smallie bite is variable. Try artificial lures or a lure tipped with a minnow around rocky outcroppings or ledges.
Decorah District Streams
2022 catchable stream trout stocking concluded October 31. Staff would like to thank all our trout anglers and supporters for making this season one of the best. Streams are in good condition. Hunting seasons are in full swing. Be visible to hunters. Brook Trout – Fair: Brookies are colored up for spawning. Look for small areas of freshly cleaned gravel; these are trout nests or redds. Please avoid walking on these. Brown Trout – Fair: Fall is brown trout spawning season. Walk carefully around freshly cleaned off gravel; these are trout nests or redds. Good hatches of midges on sunny days. Rainbow Trout – Good: Community trout stockings continue. Check the DNR website to find out when and where. Try fishing along grassed edges, undercut banks, pools, and around boulders.
Lake Hendricks
Few anglers are out as the lake starts to freeze. Water clarity is improving.
Lake Meyer
Few anglers are out as they transition from open to hard water fishing.
Volga Lake
Few anglers are out. Water clarity is improving.
Very cold temperatures through the weekend from teens for highs to single digits. Snow amounts about 1 inch or less. Gravel roads are slippery. Look for smaller bodies of water to start to freeze. For current fishing information, please call the Chuck Gipp Decorah Fish Hatchery at 563-382-8324.
Casey Lake (aka Hickory Hills Lake)
Anglers report catching crappie and channel catfish. Black Crappie – Fair: Try a minnow under a slip bobber around structure in 8-12 feet of water. Channel Catfish – Fair: Anglers are catching channel catfish off the jetties with leopard frogs fished off the bottom.
Cedar River (Nashua to La Porte City)
Northern Pike – Good: Cast bucktail jigs in pools or near current breaks. Smallmouth Bass – Fair: Smallmouth bite has slowed this past week. Cast crankbaits or jig and crawler rigs near rocky or rip-rap shorelines. Walleye – Good: Try a jig and crawler or cast crankbaits.
Dalton Pond
The outlet structure boards were pulled on Nov. 16th. The pond is drained until spring of 2023.
Heritage Pond
Heritage Pond was stocked with rainbow trout recently. You need a valid fishing license and pay the trout fee to fish for or possess trout. Rainbow Trout – Fair: Cast and retrieve flashy spinnerbaits.
Maquoketa River (above Monticello)
Anglers report catching a few smallmouth bass below the Lake Delhi Dam. Smallmouth Bass – Slow: Smallmouth bite has slowed this past week. Cast crankbaits or jig and crawler rigs near rocky or rip-rap shorelines.
North Prairie Lake
North Prairie Lake was stocked with rainbow trout recently. You need a valid fishing license and pay the trout fee to fish for or possess trout. Rainbow Trout – Fair: Cast and retrieve flashy spinnerbaits.
Shell Rock River (Greene to Shell Rock)
Northern Pike – Good: Cast bucktail jigs in pools or near current breaks. Smallmouth Bass – Fair: Smallmouth bite has picked up. Cast crankbaits or jig and crawler rigs near rocky or rip-rap shorelines. Walleye – Good: Try a jig and crawler or cast crankbaits.
Wapsipinicon River (Tripoli to Troy Mills)
Northern Pike– Good: Cast bucktail jigs in pools or near current breaks. Smallmouth Bass – Fair: Smallmouth bite has slowed this past week. Cast crankbaits or jig and crawler rigs near rocky or rip-rap shorelines. Walleye – Good: Try a jig and crawler or cast crankbaits.
Interior rivers remain low and are in excellent condition for angling opportunities. Walleye and smallmouth bass are biting well on plastics. The lakes in and around Black Hawk County have been slow. Trout streams are in excellent condition. 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 8.2 feet at Lansing and is expected to remain steady this week. Water temperature is 40 degrees. Look for panfish in backwaters with no current. Live minnows work well on a variety of species. Black Crappie – Fair: Catch bigger crappie on crappie minnows and hair jigs. Bluegill – Good: Bluegills are moving to less current. Use light tackle tipped with piece of worm along the weed edges in backwaters. Largemouth Bass – Good: Cast jigs or jerk baits in woody cover in the shallows of backwaters. Sauger – Good: Sauger are starting to bite as water temperatures cool. Try vertical jigging with a minnow in side channels and near Lock and Dam tailwaters. Walleye – Good: Walleye are moving into the Lock & Dam tailwaters. Bounce a jig and minnow off the bottom. Best bite is in the evenings. Yellow Perch – Good: Use a jig and minnow fished in the backwaters.
Mississippi River Pool 10
Water level is 614.7 feet at Lynxville and is expected to recede next week. Water temperature is 43 degrees at the Lynxville dam. Water clarity is good. Panfish have settled into backwaters with no current. Live minnows work well on a variety of species. Black Crappie – Good: Catch bigger crappie on crappie minnows and hair jigs. Bluegill – Good Bluegills are moving to less current. Use light tackle tipped with piece of worm along the weed edges in the backwaters. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Cast jigs or jerk baits in woody cover in the shallows of backwaters. Sauger – Good: Sauger are starting to bite as water temperatures cool. Try vertical jigging with a minnow in side channels and near Lock and Dam tailwaters. Walleye – Good: Walleye are moving into the Lock & Dam tailwaters. Bounce a jig and minnow off the bottom. Best bite is in the evenings. Yellow Perch – Fair: Use a jig and minnow fished in the backwaters.
Mississippi River Pool 11
Water level is 6.3 feet at Guttenberg and is expected to recede next week. Water temperature is 44 degrees. Panfish have settled into the backwaters for winter. Live minnows work well on a variety of species. Black Crappie – Fair: Catch bigger crappie on crappie minnows and hair jigs. Bluegill – Good: Bluegills are moving to less current. Use light tackle tipped with piece of worm along the weed edges in the backwaters. Largemouth Bass – Good: Cast jigs or crankbaits in woody cover in the shallows of the backwaters. Sauger – Good: Sauger are starting to bite as water temperatures cool. Try vertical jigging with a minnow in side channels and near Lock and Dam tailwaters. Walleye – Good: Walleye are moving into the Lock & Dam tailwaters. Bounce a jig and minnow off the bottom. Best bite is in the evenings. Yellow Perch – Fair: Use a jig and minnow fished in the backwaters.
Upper Mississippi River levels are receding. Water temperature is in the 40s. Panfish have settled into areas with no current. Boaters are advised to use caution to avoid backing off the end of ramps with the extreme low water levels. 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
The water level is 6.5 feet at Lock and Dam 11 and 9.0 feet at the RR bridge. Use caution to avoid backing a boat off the ends of the boat ramps with the low river levels. Water temperature is around 51 degrees; the water is clear. Black Crappie – Good: Use s small jig tipped with a minnow in areas around fallen brush. Bluegill – Slow: Bluegills and most panfish are in backwater areas with minimal flow and deep enough to not freeze out. Largemouth Bass – Good: Bass are feeding heavily on shad; try minnow imitation plastics and crankbaits. Lotus pads around 4 feet deep can be ideal. Bass will feed on shad right up to ice-up conditions. Look for wind-swept backwater areas with lots of sun. Northern Pike – Good: Pike are chasing shad. Use gaudy white spinnerbaits. Pike will bite right up to ice-up conditions. Sauger – Good: The walleye and sauger bite has been up and down all year. Some anglers are targeting walleyes with cranks on the edges of the wing-dams or on rock piles. One-eye jigs also have been very popular. A simple jig and minnow is the lure of choice for many tailwater anglers. White Bass – Good: Look for feeding schools hitting the water surface. Use white jigs or small spinners. Yellow Perch – Fair: Lots of yellow perch are being caught in nearly all habitats; worm and bobber works best. Mostly small fish are being caught.
Mississippi River Pool 13
The water level is 6.5 feet at Lock and Dam 12 at Bellevue and is receding. Use caution to avoid backing a boat off the ends of the boat ramps with the low river levels. Water clarity is excellent. Water temperature is in the low 40s. Black Crappie – Fair: Use small jigs and minnows in brush piles in the larger sloughs. Some good reports with other anglers having difficulty and moving often. Some anglers are using slip bobbers to fish deeper sloughs. Bluegill – Good: Bluegills and other panfish are in their backwater homes for the winter; this is deeper water with zero current if possible. Largemouth Bass – Excellent: Bass fishing will heat up as they start to feed heavily on shad. Bass can be caught right up to ice-up. When it gets cold, try fishing in the wind-swept warmer water that gets a lot of sunlight. Northern Pike – Good: Use gaudy white spinnerbaits in backwater areas. They will bite right up to ice-up as they are feeding heavily on shad. They will bite on sunny warm days if any remain. Rainbow Trout – Excellent: The Kids trout pond is stocked; it’s a nice safe spot to fish on a warmer fall or winter day. Please limit yourself to two trout per kid if you plan to eat them. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Try fishing rock lines with moderate current or out to the tips of the wing-dams. Walleye – Good: Walleye and sauger angling has been up and down. Try cranks on the edges of wing-dams and rock piles. Many anglers are also using one-eye jigs in the tailwater. White Bass – Good: Use small white jigs or spinners. Look for the feeding gulls and you will often find white bass.
Mississippi River Pool 14
The water level is 6.2 feet at Fulton, 10.2 feet at Camanche and 5.2 feet at LeClaire. Water clarity is excellent. Water temperature is in the low 40s. Use caution to avoid backing a boat off the ends of the boat ramps with the low river levels. Black Crappie – Good: Hit areas like Rock Creek backwaters near Camanche; try fishing in brush piles with deeper water near them. Bluegill – Good: Bobber and worms work best along old vegetation beds. Bluegill will be moving to deeper backwater areas. Largemouth Bass – Excellent: Bass fishing will heat up as they start chasing gizzard shad in the backwater lakes. Northern Pike – Good: There are a lot of pike in Pool 14; target backwater areas with large gaudy spinnerbaits. Pike will bite right up to ice-up in backwater lakes. Walleye – Good: Most anglers are using a jig and minnow for walleye and sauger in the tailwaters. White Bass – Good: Find white bass feeding mainly in the tailwater areas. Use small white jigs or small spinners. Yellow Perch – Good: Lots of yellow perch are being caught; many are small.
Mississippi River Pool 15
The water level is 6.7 feet at Rock Island. Water clarity is excellent. Water temperature is 43 degrees. Use caution to avoid backing a boat off the ends of the boat ramps with the low river levels. Sauger – Good: Try a jig and minnow or a jigging spoon. Walleye – No Report: Expect anglers to be fishing the tailwaters, mostly using a jig and minnow. White Bass – Good: Look for feeding schools of white bass, especially in the tailwater areas. Some hybrid striped bass can be caught within the white bass schools.
Fishing conditions are excellent on the Mississippi River. Water levels have risen, but are low and may recede this week. Water clarity is good. Use caution when backing off boat ramps with the low river levels. Use the minimum amount of ramp to float your boat to avoid backing off the ends of short ramps. If you have angling questions, please call the Bellevue Fisheries Management Station at 563-880-8781.
Mississippi River Pool 16
Tailwater stage is 6.50 feet at Lock and Dam 15 in the Quad Cities and is forecast to start to fall over the weekend. Sauger – No Report: Look for saugers below the Lock and Dam and in Sylvan Slough. Try vertical jigging with minnows or trolling three-way rigs with minnows. Walleye – No Report: Look for walleye below the Lock and Dam and in Sylvan Slough. Try vertical jigging with minnows or trolling three-way rigs with minnows. Some walleyes can also be caught trolling three-way rigs on the the wing-dams. White Crappie – No Report: Look for crappies in the backwaters. Try vertical jigging with minnows or minnows under a bobber around brush piles.
Mississippi River Pool 17
Tailwater stage is 5.06 feet at Lock and Dam 16 in Muscatine and is forecast to fall over the weekend. As of Nov. 17, Big Timber was ice-free. Conditions may change with colder temperatures over the weekend. Sauger – No Report: Look for saugers below the Lock and Dam. Try vertical jigging with minnows or trolling three-way rigs with minnows. Walleye – No Report: Look for walleyes below the Lock and Dam. Try vertical jigging with minnows or trolling three-way rigs with minnows. Some walleyes can also be caught trolling three-way rigs with minnows on the wing-dams. White Crappie – No Report: Look for crappies in the backwaters. Use jigs and minnows or minnows under a bobber around brush piles in Big Timber or Cleveland Slough.
Mississippi River Pool 18
Tailwater stage is 5.38 feet at Lock and Dam 17 above New Boston and is forecast to fall over the weekend. Tailwater fishing for walleyes and saugers has been slow. Sauger – Slow: Look for saugers below the Lock and Dam. Try vertical jigging with minnows or trolling three-way rigs with minnows. Walleye – Slow: Look for walleyes below the Lock and Dam. Try vertical jigging with minnows or trolling three-way rigs with minnows. Some walleyes can also be caught trolling three-way rigs with minnows on the wing-dams. White Crappie – No Report: Look for crappies in the backwaters. Try jigs and minnows or minnows under a bobber around brush piles in the Huron Island complex.
Mississippi River Pool 19
Tailwater stage is 2.86 feet at Lock and Dam 18 above Burlington and is forecast to fall over the weekend. We have not received any fishing reports for this pool this week. Sauger – No Report: Look for saugers below the Lock and Dam. Try vertical jigging with minnows or trolling three-way rigs with minnows. Walleye – No Report: Look for walleyes below the Lock and Dam. Try vertical jigging with minnows or trolling three-way rigs with minnows. Some walleyes can also be caught on the wing-dams. White Crappie – No Report: Use jigs and minnows or minnows under a bobber around brush piles in the backwaters.
Tailwater stages have risen some this past week, but are forecast to start falling by the weekend. Main channel water temperature is around 42 degrees. Tailwater fishing for walleye and sauger has been slow. If you have questions on fishing Pools 16-19, contact the Fairport Fish Hatchery at 563-263-5062.
SOUTHEAST
Discovery Park Pond
Still plenty of trout left to be caught. You need a valid fishing license and pay the trout fee to fish for or possess trout. Rainbow Trout: Good – Use worms or powerbait under a bobber or they are still hitting spinners; cold water doesn’t bother trout as much as it does other fish.
East Lake Park Pond
Still plenty of trout left to be caught. You need a valid fishing license and pay the trout fee to fish for or possess trout. Rainbow Trout: Good – It took them a little while to get use to their new home. With the more turbid water, use something with a little flash to get their attention.
Lake Belva Deer
Very little fishing activity the last few days with the snow and strong winds. Bluegill – No Report: If you get the boat back out one last time, try out from the south ramp along the old creek channel; use the same lures and techniques as you would ice fishing.
Lake Darling
The courtesy docks at the campground ramp have been put into winter storage; the pumps have been pulled off the fish cleaning stations. Black Crappie – No Report: Cold weather has kept most anglers off the lake. Find crappies out at their winter homes in the middle of the lake in the cedars and culvert piles. Treat it like ice fishing from a boat.
Lost Grove Lake
With the return of more normal air temperatures, the water temperature dropped back down into the 40s. Bluegill – Fair: Bigger bluegills are in 6-7 feet of water around the flooded brush. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Still picking up 10- to 12-inch bass in 4-5 feet of water around the rock piles and trees; most have headed out to deeper water along the old creek channel.
Skunk River (Coppock to Mississippi River)
Last week’s rain brought the river up a little, but its already gone back down. Channel Catfish – No Report: Catfish are in their overwintering holes, probably already starting their winter slumber.
Wilson Lake
It will be a good while before this lake freezes over. It’s a good place to do a little fishing this weekend. Rainbow trout: Good – Trout are still pretty active after the fall trout release. You can see the cedar trees and brush piles where they are hiding. You need a valid fishing license and pay the trout fee to fish for or possess trout.
For more information on the above lakes and rivers call the Lake Darling Fisheries Office at 319- 694-2430.
Lake Macbride
Water temperature is in the mid-40s. Any size motor may be operated at no wake (5 mph) speed. The boat docks have been removed. There are permanent slips at main ramp and Opie ramp; a plastic dock will remain at main ramp. Black Crappie – Slow. Bluegill – Fair. Muskellunge – Fair. Walleye – Slow.
Liberty Centre Pond
2000 rainbow trout were stocked recently. You need a valid fishing license and pay the trout fee to fish for or possess trout. Rainbow Trout – Fair.
Pleasant Creek Lake
The main ramp docks will remain until ice-up; the other docks have been pulled. All water facilities are closed. Bluegill – Fair: Try fishing the shallow structure. Walleye – Fair: A few walleye are being caught after dark.
Prairie Park Fishery
2000 rainbow trout were stocked recently. You need a valid fishing license and pay the trout fee to fish for or possess trout. Rainbow Trout – Good.
Sand Lake
2000 rainbow trout were stocked recently. You need a valid fishing license and pay the trout fee to fish for or possess trout. Rainbow Trout – Good.
