NORTHWEST

Black Hawk Lake
Water temperatures are in the low 70s. Anglers are picking up fish in Town Bay, along shore near Ice House Point, the inlet bridge, and near the outlet. Black Crappie – Fair: Much of the crappie action has moved off shore. Some are still being picked up from shore. Some sorting is needed. Try fishing along Ice House point shoreline and from boat in 2-6 feet of water. Channel Catfish – Fair. Muskellunge – Fair. Walleye – Fair: Most fish being caught are 12- to 18-inches. Fish are being picked up along shore and from boat. Yellow Perch – Fair.

Brushy Creek Lake
Surface water temperatures are in the upper 60s. Black Crappie – Fair: Fishing for crappie in the shallows has been productive. Try a small jig under a bobber or a minnow under a bobber near shore in 2-6 feet of water along weed lines. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Try fishing along the weed lines in 2-6 feet of water. . Muskellunge – Fair. Walleye – Fair.

North Twin Lake
Water temperatures are around 70 degrees. 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. Walleye – Fair: Boat anglers have had luck using planer boards and crankbaits.

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: Try a jig or a jig and minnow under a bobber along docks, rocky shorelines and in the marina. Walleye – Slow: Use live bait and twisters from shore in the evenings. 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.

Swan Lake
Water temperatures are around 70 degrees. Black Crappie – Fair: Most crappies have moved off shore; a few are still being picked up. Bluegill – Good: Anglers have had luck with bluegill from shore.  Most fish are 7-inches.

Water temperatures are around 70 degrees in most area lakes.  For more information, contact the Black Hawk District office at 712-657-2638.

Clear Lake
Water temperature is in the upper 60s. Lake level is 2.2 inches above crest. Water clarity is 6 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. Common Carp – No Report: Carp are spawning. 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. White Bass – Fair. Yellow Bass – Good: Try a small jig near vegetation and around the island. Best bite is early morning.

Crystal Lake
Black Crappie – Fair: Use a minnow or jig near woody habitat. Bluegill – Fair.

Rice Lake
Largemouth Bass – Fair. Walleye – Fair: Best bite is after sunset. Yellow Perch – Slow.

Silver Lake (Worth)
Bluegill – Fair: Try a small piece of crawler under a bobber in 3 to 4 feet of water. Largemouth Bass – Good. Yellow Perch – Slow.

Winnebago River
Water level is 6.2 feet. Northern Pike – Slow. Walleye – Slow: 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 upper 60s. Black Crappie – Fair. Bluegill – Fair: Use a small hook and piece of worm. Walleye – Good. Yellow Perch – Fair: Sorting will be needed.

Ingham Lake
Walleye – Fair.

Lost Island Lake
Water temperatures are in the lower 60s. 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 mid-60s. Black Bullhead – Good: Anglers have been very successful fishing the north grade. Black Crappie – Fair: Many nice-sized fish have been seen lately. Bluegill – Good: Try a small hook and a small piece of worm. Walleye – Good: Leaches and minnows work well. Yellow Perch – Fair.

West Okoboji Lake
Water temperatures are in the mid-60s. 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 middle to low 60s. Most area water levels are a few inches over crest. The fish bite has been very good across most areas.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)
Flows remain elevated; water levels are stable. Water temperatures are in the mid-60s. 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 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. Brook Trout – Fair: Good hatches of a variety of gnats, mayflies, caddis flies, and midges. 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 the water warms. Bluegill – Good: 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 mid-60s. Black Crappie – Good: Crappie are starting to bite. Use a small jig near shore edges. Bluegill – Fair: Try a small piece of worm under a bobber. Largemouth Bass – Excellent: Try a spinnerbait fished in 3-4 feet of water. Bass are on spawning beds and are aggressive.

Turkey River (below Clermont)
Water clarity is good to excellent. Levels are stabilizing. Water temperatures is in the mid-60s. 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 – Good: Try fishing the deeper holes with a worm fished near bottom.

Upper Iowa River (above Decorah)
Water temperatures are in the mid-60s. Water clarity is good to excellent. Water levels are stabilizing. 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 the dams. Use a jig tipped with a plastic tail or crankbait.

Volga Lake
Water temperature 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.

Area interior rivers and streams are back down to seasonal levels and are stable. Clarity is good to excellent on most area rivers and streams. A great spring weekend for angling with temperatures in the upper 70s during the day to 40s overnight. For current fishing information, please call the Chuck Gipp Decorah Fish Hatchery at 563-382-8324.

Big Woods Lake|
Anglers are catching crappie and bluegill. Concentrate your efforts near the north shore around structure. Black Crappie – Good: Cast lighter jigs tipped with plastics or try a minnow under a slip bobber. Bluegill – Good: Cast lighter jigs over spawning beds or small piece of crawler under a slip bobber near structure.

Brinker Lake
Anglers are catching crappie and bluegill. Black Crappie – Good:  Cast lighter jigs tipped with plastics or try a minnow under a slip bobber.

Casey Lake (aka Hickory Hills Lake)
Anglers are catching crappie and bluegill. Black Crappie – Excellent: Cast lighter jigs tipped with plastics or try a minnow under a slip bobber. Bluegill – Excellent: Cast lighter jigs over spawning beds or small piece of crawler under a slip bobber. Largemouth Bass – Good: Use topwater artificial lures or spinnerbaits.

Cedar River (Nashua to La Porte City)
The Cedar River has fallen and is providing catches of smallmouth bass, walleye, and channel catfish. Channel Catfish – Good: Use dead chubs or cut baits fished on the bottom. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Try fishing plastics with a jig or cast and retrieve spinnerbaits. Walleye – Good: Try fishing plastics with a jig.

George Wyth Lake
Anglers are catching crappie. Black Crappie – Excellent: Cast lighter jigs tipped with plastics.

Lake Delhi
Anglers are catching crappie and bluegill; 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. Bluegill – Good: Cast lighter jigs over spawning beds or a small piece of crawler under a slip bobber.

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

Shell Rock River (Greene to Shell Rock)
The Shell Rock River has fallen and should provide catches of walleye, smallmouth bass, and channel catfish. Channel Catfish – Fair: Use dead chubs or cut baits fished on the bottom. Smallmouth Bass – Fair: Try fishing plastics with a jig or cast and retrieve spinnerbaits. Walleye – Fair: Use plastics with a jig.

Wapsipinicon River (Tripoli to Troy Mills)
The Wapsipinicon River is falling and should produce catches of smallmouth bass, walleye, and channel catfish. Channel Catfish – Fair: Use dead chubs or cut baits fished on the bottom. Smallmouth Bass – Fair: Try fishing plastics with a jig or cast and retrieve spinnerbaits. Walleye – Fair: Use plastics with a jig.

Interior water levels have fallen and are providing catches of smallmouth bass, walleye, and channel catfish. Check the USGS website for the most recent river levels. Lakes in and around Cedar Falls/Waterloo have been hot for crappie, bluegill, and largemouth bass during the spring 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 11.7 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 open. Multiple species of fish are biting; look for areas away from the heavy current. Water temperature is near 68 degrees. Black Crappie – Fair: Use a light jig or a minnow rig fished along the flooded trees. 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: Use 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 621.4 feet at Lynxville and is expected to fall to near 620 feet this week. The ramp at Bussey Lake is open. Sny Magill road is still 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 70 degrees at the dam. Black Crappie – Fair: Use a light jig or a minnow rig fished along the flooded trees. 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 12.2 feet at Guttenberg and is predicted to fall to 11 feet over the next week. Guttenberg city ramp and the DNR ramp are open. Turkey River Landing is still closed. Finley’s and Mud Lake are open. The bite is picking up with the warmer water. Water temperature is in the upper 60s. Black Crappie – Fair: Use a light jig or a minnow rig fished along the flooded trees. 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 expected to recede nearly a foot next week. Many boat ramps are still flooded and full of mud/debris. Call ahead for local conditions. Fishing is picking up as water temperatures rise into the upper 60s.

Mississippi River Pool 12
The water level is dropping to near 12 feet at Lock and Dam 11 and around 14 feet at the RR bridge. Water temperature is around 66 degrees; the water is stained. Places like Massey Ramp are launchable, but will take some time to clean up the park. Bluegill – No Report: Bluegills will be on their nests soon; this could be problematic with declining water levels. Channel Catfish – No Report: Expect the channel catfish bite to be good soon as they feed heavily in flooded waters. Freshwater Drum – Good: A simple egg sinker with a worm rig is the best way to catch abundant drum. Largemouth Bass – Excellent: Lots of bass are biting in the marina areas. Shovelnose sturgeon – Good: Use a heavy weight and a gob of worms for bait. Most angling is in the tailwater in moderately strong currents. 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 15 feet. Water clarity is decent. Water temperature is around 67 degrees. Some boat ramps are still flooded out. Water levels have dropped out of all flood stages, but remain very high. It will take some time to clean up boat ramps and parks after the flood. Bluegill – No Report: Bluegills will start to spawn soon. Hopefully the water will stabilize when the nests get built. 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. Flathead Catfish – Fair: Anglers are starting to use live bullheads or bluegills to catch flathead catfish in the tailwater areas. Freshwater Drum – Good: A simple egg sinker with a worm rig is the best way to catch abundant drum. 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: The area around the pond is mostly fishable, but vegetation is starting to move in. Trout probably left the pond, but other species may have moved in after the flood. 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 to near 12.5 feet, 14.7 feet at Camanche, and near 9 feet at LeClaire. Water temperature is 68 degrees. It will take some time to clean up parks and ramps after floods recede. Bluegill – No Report: Bluegills will start to spawn soon. Hopefully the water will stabilize when the nests get built. Channel Catfish – No Report: Expect channel catfish fishing to be good over the next few weeks. Freshwater Drum – Good: A simple egg sinker with a worm rig is the best way to catch abundant drum. Largemouth Bass – Good: Starting to catch bass along the shorelines in retreating flood waters. 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 12.8 feet. Water clarity is stained. Water temperature is 68 degrees. Water has just receded out of action flood stage.

The river is receding throughout the district; all the district is out of flood stage. The recent snow melt flood was ranked the 3rd highest in this stretch of the river. 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.

Mississippi River Pool 16
Tailwater stage is 12.50 feet at Lock and Dam 15 in Davenport and is falling steadily. . Flood stage is 15 feet at Lock and Dam 15. River stage is 12.99 feet at Fairport; flood stage is 14 feet. The Marquette St. ramp in Davenport is open, but the docks are not in yet. The ramps at the Fairport Recreational area are open and the docks are in. We have not received much for fishing reports from this pool.

Mississippi River Pool 17
Tailwater stage is 11.72 feet at Lock and Dam 16 in Muscatine and is falling. Flood stage is 15 feet. River stage is 13.42 feet at Muscatine; flood stage is 16 feet. The ramps at Muscatine are open. The Kilpeck landing and Big Timber boat ramps are still closed. We have not received much for fishing reports for this pool. The gates are still out at the Lock and Dam.

Mississippi River Pool 18
Tailwater stage is 13.08 feet at Lock and Dam 17 at New Boston and is falling. Flood stage is 15 feet. The gates are out of the water at the Lock and Dam. Toolsboro is closed due to high water. The Hawkeye Dolbee access has water over the parking lot. Fishing has been slow due to the high water conditions.

Mississippi River Pool 19
Tailwater stage is 9.60 feet at Lock and Dam 18 and is falling. Flood stage is 10 feet. The gates are out of the water at the Lock and Dam. River stage is 14.63 feet at Burlington; flood stage is 15 feet. River stage is 527.61 feet at Fort Madison; flood stage is 528.0 feet. Some boat ramps are still closed due to high water conditions. Fishing has been slow due to the high water conditions.

River stages are below flood stage and are forecast to keep falling. Main channel water temperature is around 70 degrees. Water clarity has been fair. Some boat ramps are still closed due to high water. We have not received much for fishing reports due to the high water conditions. If you have questions on fishing Pools 16-19, contact the Fairport Fish Hatchery at 563-263-5062.

SOUTHEAST

Big Hollow Lake
The water temperature was 76 degrees earlier this week. Water clarity is about 7 feet. Duckweed isn’t too bad yet. Filamentous algae is getting started back in the trees. Black Crappie – Good: Crappie fishing is picking up in 6-8 feet of water.  They are starting to go back on the feed after the spawn. Bluegill – Good: Work the brush piles in 3 to 4 feet of water using small jigs or bobber and worm. Largemouth Bass – Good: Males are on the nests. Try soft plastics tossed back up into the flooded timber near shore over their nests.