NORTHWEST

Black Hawk Lake
Water temperatures are in the upper 50s. Anglers are picking up fish in Town Bay, along shore near Ice House Point, the inlet bridge, and near the outlet. Black Crappie – Fair: Anglers are picking up crappie along the Ice House Point shoreline, from the fish house in Town Bay, and in the marina with small jigs. Channel Catfish – Fair. Walleye – Fair: Anglers are picking up walleye along shore and from boats. Use leeches under a bobber or throw twisters and crankbaits near Ice House Point, the inlet bridge, and the outlet. Use leeches under a bobber or throw twisters and crankbaits. Yellow Perch – Fair.

Brushy Creek Lake
Black Crappie – Fair: Try a jig and minnow in 5-10 feet of water near shore and woody structure. Largemouth Bass – Fair.  Walleye – Fair: Bite is hit-or-miss; a few fish have been in the mid to upper 20 inch range.

North Twin Lake
Water levels remain low; use caution when loading boats at the ramps. Black Crappie – Fair: Use a small jig or a minnow and jig under a bobber along the shore and docks.

Storm Lake (incl Little Storm Lake)
All walleye between 19 and 25-inches must be immediately released unharmed at Storm Lake; and no more than one walleye longer than 25-inches can be taken per day. Black Crappie – Fair: Bite is slow to fair; try a jig or a jig and minnow under a bobber in the marina. Walleye – Slow: Use live bait and twisters from shore in the evenings. As water temperatures, try the edges of the dredge cuts with crawler harnesses or crankbaits. Yellow Bass – Fair: Most fish are 5- to 7-inches.Yellow Perch – Slow.

Water temperatures are in the low 60s in most area lakes.  For more information, contact the Black Hawk District office at 712-657-2638.

Clear Lake
Water temperature is in the low 60s. Lake level is 1.2 inch above crest. Water clarity is 5 feet. 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 – Good: Anglers are catching crappies around the rush beds and from the jetties. Best bite is in the morning. Channel Catfish – Fair: Use a piece of cut bait fished on the bottom from the wind-swept shore. Largemouth Bass – Fair. Walleye – Good: Anglers are having success fishing a jig and minnow near vegetation or trolling crankbaits in 8 to10 feet of water. Yellow Bass – Fair: Try a small jig near vegetation and around the island.

Crystal Lake
Water temperature is in the low 60s. Black Crappie – Fair: Use a minnow or jig near woody habitat.

Rice Lake
Water temperature is in the low 60s.Largemouth Bass – Fair. Walleye – Fair: Best bite is after sunset. Yellow Perch – Slow.

Silver Lake (Worth)
Water temperature is in the low 60s.Largemouth Bass – Good. Yellow Perch – Slow.

Winnebago River
Water level is 5.9 feet. Northern Pike – Slow. Walleye – Fair: Use a jig head and minnow along current breaks.

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 in the lower 60s. The walleye season is open. Black Crappie – Fair. Bluegill – Fair. Walleye – Good. Yellow Perch – Fair: Sorting will be needed.

Ingham Lake
Walleye – Fair.

Lost Island Lake
Water temps are in the lower 50s. Check out the Iowa Walleye Challenge being held May 1 – June 30 for prizes given to anglers catching the most walleye. Black Crappie – Good. Walleye – Good.

Minnewashta Lake
Black Crappie – Fair.  Bluegill – Fair.

Silver Lake (Dickinson)
Courtesy docks are in place. Check out the Iowa Walleye Challenge being held May 1 – June 30 for prizes given to anglers catching the most walleye. Walleye – Fair.

Spirit Lake
The water temperature is in the low 60s. All boat ramp docks are in place. The walleye season is open. Black Bullhead – Good. Black Crappie – Fair: Many nice-sized fish have been seen lately. Bluegill – Good.  Walleye – Good: Leaches and minnows work well. Yellow Perch – Fair: Use small jigs tipped with a minnow. Sorting may be needed.

West Okoboji Lake
Water temperatures are in the upper 50s. All docks are in place. The walleye season is open. Check out the Iowa Walleye Challenge being held May 1 – June 30 for prizes given to anglers catching the most walleye. Black Crappie – Fair: Try small jigs tipped with a minnow. Bluegill – Fair. Walleye – Good: Leaches and minnows work well. Yellow Perch – Fair: Sorting may be needed.

Courtesy docks are in for the season.  Water temperatures are in the upper 50s and low 60s.Most area water levels are a few inches over crest. Most fish are still out in deeper water, but should start to make their way shallower as water temperatures increase.. Check out the Iowa Walleye Challenge that runs 5/1 – 6/30 for statewide prizes for anglers. For current conditions, call the Spirit Lake District Office at 712-336-1840.

NORTHEAST

Cedar River (above Nashua)
Water clarity is excellent. Water temperatures are on the rise with warmer weather.  Channel Catfish – Good: Try a dead chub or stink baits fished in slack water areas. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Try fishing eddies and current breaks. Walleye – Good: Use a jig tipped with a minnow or worm below dams. Try using a 3-way with just enough weight to keep the weight on the bottom.

Decorah District Streams
Area streams are in good condition. All stocked streams are announced at least once a month. Stocking continues at traditional rates, weekly or bimonthly. When on private property open to fishing, fishing is the only activity allowed. Fourth season turkey hunting runs through May 14th. Do not wear red, white, or blue clothing at this time, especially when fishing on public ground. Brook Trout – Fair: Good hatches of a variety of gnats mayflies, caddis flies, and midges occurring. Brown Trout – Good: Try fishing near or around logs or undercut banks. Spinnerbaits work well. Try using streamers on larger waterbodies. Rainbow Trout – Excellent: Use spinnerbaits, hair jigs or hooks tipped with a small piece of worm, bread, or cheese floating through deeper holes. Freshly stocked fish are waiting to take your bait.

Lake Hendricks
Water clarity is improving. Water temperature is in the mid-60s. Fish are starting to move shallow to spawn. Black Crappie – Good: Crappie action is picking up as water warms. Bluegill – Fair: Anglers fishing near shore are finding gills. Use a small chunk of worm fished under a bobber. Largemouth Bass – Good: Bass are starting to spawn in shallow water.

Lake Meyer
Water clarity is about 3 feet. Water temperature is in the low 60s. Black Crappie – Good: Crappie are starting to bite. Use a small jig near shore edges. Bluegill – Fair. Largemouth Bass – Excellent: Try a spinnerbait fished in 3-4 feet of water.

Turkey River (below Clermont)
Excellent water clarity. Water temperatures in the upper 50s. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Use a jig with a twister tail fished in the eddies and off channel areas. Walleye – Good: Early morning or late evening bite is best. Try fishing the deeper holes with a crank or spinnerbait. White Sucker – Excellent: Try fishing the deeper holes with a worm fished near bottom.

Upper Iowa River (above Decorah)
Water temperatures are in the mid-60s. Excellent water clarity. Use caution during early season paddling. Log jams and other strainers may have moved. Hypothermia is still a threat with cooler water temperatures. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Try fishing near undercut banks and current breaks. A flashy jig works well. Fly anglers using streamers are picking up some action. Walleye – Good: Angling for walleye is picking up below dams. Use a jig tipped with a plastic tail or crankbait.

Upper Iowa River (below Decorah)
Water levels are slowly falling with good clarity. Water temperatures are nearing the 50s. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Find smallmouth near undercut banks and current breaks. Walleye – Good: Use a hook tipped with a minnow or plastic tail fished in an eddy or off a current break.

Volga Lake
Water temperatures is in the mid-60s. Fish activity is improving, especially near shore rocky areas. Black Crappie – Good: Try fishing along the rocky edges in deeper water. Bluegill – Fair. Channel Catfish – Good: Trophy catfish are plentiful in this lake. Use a large crawler fished under a bobber in the evening. Largemouth Bass – Good: Find bass in the shallow bays; use a crank or spinnerbait.

Rivers and streams are in excellent condition. Weekend temperatures in the mid-70s during the day to 50s overnight. Breezy with a change of storms every day.  For current fishing information, please call the Chuck Gipp Decorah Fish Hatchery at 563-382-8324.

Brinker Lake
Anglers are catching crappie as they stage for the upcoming spawn. Black Crappie – Excellent: Cast lighter jigs tipped with plastics.

Casey Lake (aka Hickory Hills Lake)
Anglers are catching crappie as they stage for the upcoming spawn. Black Crappie – Excellent: Cast lighter jigs tipped with plastics.

Cedar River (Nashua to La Porte City)
Anglers are catching walleye, smallmouth bass, and channel catfish. Channel Catfish – Good: Use cut baits off of the bottom. Smallmouth Bass – Fair: Try plastics with a jig or cast and retrieve spinnerbaits. Walleye – Good: Use plastics with a jig.

George Wyth Lake
Anglers are catching crappie as they stage for the upcoming spawn. Black Crappie – Excellent: Cast lighter jigs tipped with plastics.

Lake Delhi
Anglers are catching crappie; some sorting may be needed. Avoid weekends and evenings due to heavy boat traffic. Black Crappie – Good: Cast lighter jigs tipped with plastics near structure or docks.

Maquoketa River (above Monticello)
Anglers are catching walleye and smallmouth bass. Smallmouth Bass – Fair: Try plastics with a jig or cast and retrieve spinnerbaits. Walleye – Good: Use plastics with a jig.

Shell Rock River (Greene to Shell Rock)
Anglers are catching walleye and smallmouth bass. Smallmouth Bass – Fair: Try plastics with a jig or cast and retrieve spinnerbaits. Walleye – Good: Use plastics with a jig.

Wapsipinicon River (Tripoli to Troy Mills)
Anglers are catching walleye and smallmouth bass. Smallmouth Bass – Fair: Try plastics with a jig or cast and retrieve spinnerbaits. Walleye – Good: Use plastics with a jig.

Interior rivers are in good condition. Anglers are catching walleye, smallmouth bass, and channel catfish. Lakes in and around Cedar Falls/Waterloo are hot for crappie as they stage for the upcoming spawn. Trout streams are in excellent condition. Contact your local bait shop for the most recent angling opportunities. For more information, contact the Manchester Hatchery at 563-927-3276.

MISSISSIPPI RIVER

Mississippi River Pool 9
Water level is 13.5 feet at Lansing  and is expected to drop to 11 feet over the next week. New Albin Army Road and Heytman’s Landing are closed due to water over the road. Lansing Village Creek is inaccessible for larger boats under the railroad bridge. Some lower profile boats are able to clear the R.R. bridge. Fish are biting; look for areas away from the heavy current. Water temperature is near 61 degrees. Bluegill – Good: Try a garden worm under a bobber along shore with less current like marina areas or backwaters. A lot of sorting with nicer sizes being caught.  Channel Catfish – Fair: Try a crawler or cut-bait in the current seams as water temperature rises this week. Flathead Catfish – Fair: Some flatheads are being caught on live bluegill or shiners. Freshwater Drum – Good: Drum are actively feeding. Try a weighted crawler in moderate current from shore. Shorthead Redhorse – Good: Redhorse are running; they are fun to catch. Drop a weighted crawler into the current breaks. Walleye – Slow: 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 10
Water level is near 623.8 feet at Lynxville and is expected to fall below 621 feet this week. Ramps at Bussey Lake, Sny Magill, Noble’s Island are under water and closed. The high water ramp at Harpers Ferry is accessible. The bite is picking up with warmer water temperatures. Water temperature is 62 degrees at the dam. Bluegill – Good: Try a garden worm under a bobber along shore with less current like marina areas or backwaters.  A lot of sorting with some nicer sizes being caught.  Channel Catfish – Fair: Try a crawler or cut bait in the current seams as water temperature rises this week. Flathead Catfish – Fair: Some flatheads are being caught on live bluegill or shiners. Freshwater Drum – Good: Drum are actively feeding. Use a weighted crawler in moderate current from shore. Shorthead Redhorse – Good: Redhorse are running; they are fun to catch from shore. Drop a weighted crawler into the current breaks. Walleye – Slow: 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 11
Water level is 14.9 feet at Guttenberg and is predicted to fall to 12 feet over the next week. Guttenberg city ramp, the DNR ramp, Turkey River, and Finleys are under water and closed.Gates are out of the water at the dam. The bite is picking up with the warmer water. Water temperature is in the mid-50s. Bluegill – Good: Try a garden worm under a bobber along shore with less current like marina areas or backwaters. A lot of sorting with some nicer sizes being caught. Channel Catfish – Fair: Try a crawler or cut bait in the current seams as water temperature rises this week. Flathead Catfish – Fair: Some flatheads are being caught on live bluegill or shiners. Freshwater Drum – Good: Drum are actively feeding. Try a weighted crawler from shore. Shorthead Redhorse – Fair: Redhorse are running; they are fun to catch from shore. Drop a weighted crawler into the current breaks. Walleye – Slow: 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.

Upper Mississippi River water levels are slowly receding. Most boat ramps are still flooded and full of mud/debris. Fishing is picking up as water temperatures rise into the upper 50s to 60s.

Mississippi River Pool 12
The water level is dropping to near 16.3 feet at Lock and Dam 11 and around 18.0 feet at the RR bridge. Water temperature is around 57 degrees; the water is stained. It will take some time to clean up parks and ramps after the flood recedes. Bluegill – No Report: Bluegills will follow along the shorelines, even in flooded water. Channel Catfish – No Report: Expect the channel catfish bite to be good soon as they feed heavily in flooded waters. Walleye – Good: Some nice catches of walleye have been recorded feeding on minnows near shore. White Bass – Good: You can still find fish in flooded conditions; most fish will be along the shorelines. Try minnows or small spinners to catch white bass feeding in these locations. Yellow Perch – No Report: Lots of smaller yellow perch are in the system; this is a good indicator for yellow perch fishing this upcoming year. It is still possible to catch yellow perch along hard shoreline banks, even during flooding conditions.

Mississippi River Pool 13
The water level at Lock and Dam 12 at Bellevue is dropping to near 16.6 feet. Water clarity is stained. Water temperature is around 57 degrees. Most boat ramps are flooded out. Water levels are still in action to minor flood stage, but should drop out of that stage early next week. It will take some time to clean up boat ramps and parks after the flood. Bluegill – No Report: Bluegills will follow along the shorelines, even in flooded water. Channel Catfish – Good: Try to catch channel catfish in places like Middle Sabula Lake, which should not be affected by flood conditions. Fishing in flood waters should yield abundant channel cats. Paddlefish – No Report: Paddlefish season is closed. Flooding conditions are optimal for successful paddlefish spawns; hopefully this flood will create another strong year class. Rainbow Trout – No Report: Water has receded off the kids fishing pond, but trout probably left the pond during the flood. The area around the pond is very muddy with lots of trash floated in. Shorthead Redhorse – Excellent: Redhorse are running up the tributary rivers like the Maquoketa; they will make some fun action on an egg sinker worm rig. Yellow Perch – No Report: Smaller yellow perch are in the system; this is a good indicator for yellow perch fishing this upcoming year.

Mississippi River Pool 14
The water level at Fulton is receding at near 17.2 feet, 18.6 feet at Camanche, and near 12.2 feet at LeClaire. Water temperature is 58 degrees. Water levels are still in moderate flood stage, but may fall out of that stage by next week. It will take some time to clean up parks and ramps after floods recede. Bluegill – No Report: Many good reports on all panfish species in Pool 14 over the winter season. Hope this translates into a good open water season. Channel Catfish – No Report: Expect channel catfish fishing to be good over the next few weeks. Paddlefish – No Report: Paddlefish season is closed. Flooding conditions are optimal for successful paddlefish spawns; hopefully this flood will create another strong year class. Shorthead Redhorse – Good: Redhorse will soon start to bite and will run up rivers like the Wapsipinicon. They can provide good early season fishing action.

Mississippi River Pool 15
The water level at Rock Island is dropping to near 17.8 feet. Water clarity is stained. Water temperature is 57 degrees. Water level is still in major/moderate flood stage, but should fall out of that stage by next week.

The river is receding throughout the district. The recent snow melt flood was ranked the 3rd highest in this stretch of the river. The Mississippi River is still in minor to moderate flood stage, but is expected to continue to recede. It will take some time to clean up all the debris and mud off the parking lots and boat ramps. If you have angling questions, please call Bellevue Fisheries Management at 563-880-8781.

SOUTHEAST

Big Hollow Lake
The water temperature was 65 degrees at the beach on May 9. Water clarity is about 7 feet. The duckweed isn’t much of a problem yet. Black Crappie – Good: Not seeing any spawners yet; shouldn’t be long now. Most are caught in 6-8 feet of water. Bluegill – Good: Work the brush piles in 3 to 4 feet of water using small jigs or bobber and worm. Largemouth Bass – Good: Bass are moving into shallow water in the afternoons, and back to deeper water in the early morning and evenings. Work soft plastics slowly along the bottom in 3-4 feet of water during the afternoon.

Lake Belva Deer
Water temperatures is 61 degrees. Water clarity at about 8 feet. The curly leaf pondweed beds are growing. Black Crappie – Good: Crappies are hung up in deeper water 8-10 feet in the flooded timber. They could move into the shallow water soon. Bluegill – Good: Bluegill bite continues to improve; they are in shallower than the crappies, but haven’t see any on the beds yet. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Bass, especially males, are moving in to shallow water. Look for some males on the nest.

Lake Darling
The water temperature was 63 degrees on May 10. Water clarity is 5-6 feet. Black Crappie – Good: The water temperature is right for the spawn, but crappies remain out in 9 to 10 feet of water.  Only males have been in shallower. Bluegill – Good: Look for them around the rock piles and tree falls in 5-7 feet of water; use worm and bobber.  Largemouth Bass – Fair: Males are starting to stake out territories and build nests.

Lake Geode
Water temperature is 658 degrees. Water clarity is 6 feet. Black Crappie – Good: Look for crappies to be both in shallow and out in 8-10 f88t of water. They are busy trying to repopulated the lake. Bluegill – Good: Try worm and bobber fished in 3 to 4 feet of water. Might be a good time to head up to the new mounds up across from the beach to find bluegills Largemouth Bass – Good: Most are still under the legal size limit, but they are fun to catch.

Lost Grove Lake
Water temperature is 60-61 degrees. Water clarity is about 7 feet. The weed beds are growing pretty fast. Black Crappie – Fair: Anglers are picking up a few crappies in shallow, but most are still out a little deeper. That may change quickly as it is spawning time. Bluegill – Good: Look for bluegill in the flooded brush in 3 to 4 feet of water. Worm and bobber is hard to beat, but a small jig tipped with a waxworm works nearly as well. Largemouth Bass – Good: Look for males to be in the shallow water setting up nesting territories. Females will be out a little deeper.

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

Coralville Reservoir
The lake level is 683.5 feet. Water temperature is in the upper 50s. Black Crappie – Fair: Try bright jigs or minnows in brush piles or some rock banks near spawning coves. Channel Catfish – Fair: Use cut bait in the channel or on wind-blown flats.

Diamond Lake
All facilities are open. Black Crappie – Good: Target the jetty areas and shorelines with brush. Most fish are 8- to 9-inches. Bluegill – Fair. Channel Catfish – Fair: Some fish have been caught in the shallows and inlet areas. White Crappie – Slow: A few bigger white crappies have been caught.