NORTHWEST

Black Hawk Lake
Water levels are 10 inches below the crest of the spillway. Panfish have moved to deeper habitat. Try fishing the dredge cuts and the rock piles. Black Crappie – Fair: Try fishing over the rock piles and from boat in 2-6 feet of water. Bluegill – Fair: Pick up 7- to 8-inch bluegill near rock piles and isolated timber near shore. Try floating a bobber with live bait or a jig tipped with a minnow or plastic. Channel Catfish – Fair. Largemouth Bass – Good: Try a plastic or crankbait near shallow rock piles and outcroppings. Walleye – Slow: Try fishing offshore near rock piles and dredge cuts.

Brushy Creek Lake
Black Crappie – Fair: Fish have moved to deeper habitat. Look for suspended fish near isolated brush and rock piles in 5-15 feet of water. Bluegill – Fair: Try fishing around open patches of vegetation along shore in 3-8 feet of water. Largemouth Bass – Good: Use a plastic or crankbait in 6-10 feet of water or isolated vegetation along shore. Walleye – Fair: Try a jig tipped with a minnow/plastic or crankbaits near isolated rock and brush piles in deeper water. Target fish near dusk, dawn or during cold fronts. Yellow Perch – Fair: Look for perch near isolated vegetation and shallow brush piles.

North Twin Lake
Water levels are about 2 feet below the crest of the spillway; use caution when launching boats at the ramps. Black Crappie – Fair: Crappie are off shore. Try fishing in 3-6 feet of water near rock or structure. Channel Catfish – Fair: This lake has a good population of catchable-sized fish. Catfish are spawning; find them near shore by rocky structure.  Use cut bait or crankbaits. Walleye – Fair: Try fishing off shore; boat anglers are 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. Channel Catfish – Good: There is a good population of 3-6 pound catfish. Try cut bait, dip baits or crankbaits near shallow rocks. Walleye – Fair: Try fishing the dredge cuts with crankbaits and crawler harnesses. Yellow Bass – Good: Most fish are in 5- to 7-inches. Yellow Perch – Slow.

Swan Lake
Bluegill – Fair: Look for lots of 7-inch bluegill in clearings in the vegetation near shore. Try floating a bobber or use a small jig tipped with live bait or a plastic. Largemouth Bass – Fair.

For more information, contact the Black Hawk District office at 712-657-2638.

Beeds Lake
Black Crappie – Slow.  Bluegill – Good: Try a small piece of crawler under a bobber in 2 to 3 feet of water.

Clear Lake
Water temperature is in the upper 70s. Lake level is 1.9 inches below crest. Water clarity is 3 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. Channel Catfish – Good: Try cut bait or crawlers near rocky areas or vegetation. Largemouth Bass – Good. Walleye – Fair: Anglers are having success fishing a jig or live bait near vegetation. Best bite is early morning and after sunset.  Yellow Bass – Fair: Try a small jig near the edge of vegetation. Best bite is near sundown.

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

Silver Lake (Worth)
Bluegill – Fair: Try a small piece of crawler under a bobber in 2 to 3 feet of water.  With the clear water, you may have to cast further to avoid spooking the fish. Largemouth Bass – Good: Use topwater baits. Yellow Perch – Slow.

Winnebago River
Water level is 4.98 feet.

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 70s. Black Crappie – Fair. Bluegill – Fair: Bluegill have moved deeper; spawning has finished. Use a small hook and piece of worm. Walleye – Fair. Yellow Perch – Fair: Sorting will be needed.

Ingham Lake
Walleye – Fair: Anglers have been successful morning and evening.

Lost Island Lake
Water temperatures are in the upper70s. Black Crappie – Good. Walleye – Good: Try trolling with spinners over weeds.

Minnewashta Lake
Black Crappie – Fair.  Bluegill – Fair. Pumpkinseed – Good.

Silver Lake (Dickinson)
The lake is currently experiencing a large algae bloom. Black Bullhead – Good. Walleye – Fair: Try trolling with spinners over or off weed lines.

Spirit Lake
Water temperatures are in the upper 70s. You may have to move out deeper to find the edge of weed lines. 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: Bluegill are still on beds near shore. Try a small hook with a small piece of worm. Walleye – Fair: Leeches and minnows work well. Anglers have been successful with slip bobbers off points and pulling spinners over vegetation. Yellow Perch – Fair.

West Okoboji Lake
Water temperatures are in the mid-70s. Black Crappie – Fair: Try small jigs tipped with a minnow. Bluegill – Good: Bluegill are are moving off beds to deeper water post-spawn. Pumpkinseed – Good. Walleye – Fair: Leeches and minnows work well. Yellow Perch – Fair: Sorting may be needed.

Water temperatures are in the middle to upper 70s. Water temperatures have been slow to increase with recent storms. Most area water levels are a few inches over crest. The fish bite is moving out to deeper water. Finding weed lines and rock points to fish off has given anglers the most success. Many lakes are starting to experience algae blooms as water temperatures increase. For current conditions, call the Spirit Lake District Office at 712-336-1840.

NORTHEAST

Cedar River (above Nashua)
Water levels are stable, but low. Use caution accessing some boat ramps. Best  bite is early morning or late evening. Channel Catfish – Good: Try a dead chub or stink baits fished in slack water areas. Smallmouth Bass – Slow: Try fishing eddies and current breaks. Walleye – Slow: Use a jig tipped with a minnow or worm below dams. Try using a 3-way with enough weight to keep it on the bottom.

Decorah District Streams
Area streams are in good condition, but are low. Yellow wild parsnip is blooming. Wash your skin immediately if you come in contact with this plant. Its sap is light sensitive and will cause painful blisters. Brook Trout – Fair: Good hatches of a variety of gnats, mayflies, caddis flies, and midges. Brown Trout – Good: Try flies imitating terrestrial bugs like grasshoppers, ants, and beetles. Rainbow Trout – Excellent: A few streams get too warm to stock rainbow trout during the heat of the summer, specifically July and August. This is an annual occurrence; plenty of fish remain in the streams. Stocking the other streams continues as scheduled.

Lake Hendricks
Water clarity is good. Water temperatures cooled some with recent rain. Temperatures are in the mid-70s. Black Crappie – Slow: Find crappie suspended in deeper water. Try trolling across the lake. Bluegill – Slow: Anglers fishing near shore are finding gills. Use a small chunk of worm fished under a bobber. Channel Catfish – Good: Find catfish in about 6 to 8 feet of water near stumps or other woody debris. Largemouth Bass – Good: Try a spinnerbait fished along vegetation edges.

Lake Meyer
Water clarity is about 3 feet. Black Crappie – Slow: Crappie are suspended in deeper water. Try fishing deeper with a small jig. Bluegill – Fair: Use a small piece of worm under a bobber. Channel Catfish – Good: Find catfish cruising in 6-8 feet water near stumps or other woody debris early morning or late afternoon. Use a dead chub, cheese bait, or worm fished near the lake bed. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Try a spinnerbait fished in 3-4 feet of water.

Turkey River (below Clermont)
Water clarity is good to excellent. Water levels are low. Smallmouth Bass – Slow: Use a jig with a twister tail in the eddies and off channel areas. Walleye – Slow: Early morning or late evening bite is best. Try fishing the deeper holes with a crank or spinnerbait.

Upper Iowa River (above Decorah)
A construction project at Lidtke Park to repair the boat ramp and improve shoreline angler access will begin after July 4. Water clarity is good to excellent. Water levels are low. Smallmouth Bass – Fair: Try fishing near undercut banks and current breaks. A flashy jig works well. Fly anglers using streamers are picking up some action. Walleye – Fair: Walleye fishing is picking up below the dams. Use a jig tipped with a plastic tail or crankbait.

Volga Lake
Lake temperatures are warm. Find fish near shore in the early morning. Black Crappie – Good: Troll the deeper open areas of the lake. Crappies are out deep. 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: Use a crank or spinnerbait.

Area interior rivers and streams are low. Recent rainfall didn’t bump rivers up much. Clarity is good on most area rivers and streams. Temperatures in the upper 80s during the day to 60s overnight. Possibility of scattered thunderstorms through the weekend. For current fishing information, please call the Chuck Gipp Decorah Fish Hatchery at 563-382-8324.

Casey Lake (aka Hickory Hills Lake)
Anglers are having success on panfish. Black Crappie – Good: Find structure using electronics and jig colored tube jigs at various depths to locate fish. Bluegill – Good: Use a small jig with a piece of crawler under a slip bobber at various depths to find fish.

Cedar River (Nashua to La Porte City)
Anglers are catching walleye, smallmouth bass and channel catfish on the river. Channel Catfish – Good: Use crawlers stink baits, or chicken livers. Smallmouth Bass – Fair: Try a jig with a twister and half of a crawler or cast crankbaits. Walleye – Fair: Use a jig with a twister and half of a crawler or cast crankbaits.

George Wyth Lake
Anglers have been successful trolling for northern pike and walleye. Northern Pike – Good: Troll in 8-10 feet of water with crankbaits. Walleye – Good: Troll in 8-10 foot of water using crankbaits.

Shell Rock River (Greene to Shell Rock)
Anglers are catching walleye, smallmouth bass and channel catfish. Channel Catfish – Good: Use crawlers, stink baits and chicken livers. Smallmouth Bass – Fair: Try a jig with a twister and half of a crawler or cast crankbaits. Walleye – Fair: Use a jig with a twister and half of a crawler or cast crankbaits.

Wapsipinicon River (Tripoli to Troy Mills)
Anglers are catching walleye, smallmouth bass, and channel catfish. Channel Catfish – Good: Use crawlers, stink baits and chicken livers. Smallmouth Bass – Fair: Try a jig with a twister and half of a crawler or cast crankbaits. Walleye – Fair: Use a jig with a twister and half of a crawler or cast crankbaits.

Interior river levels remain low, but are providing catches of walleye, smallmouth bass and channel catfish. Anglers are targeting area lakes in and around Black Hawk county for largemouth bass. Trout streams remain in excellent condition across N.E. Iowa. For more information, contact the Manchester Hatchery at 563-927-3276.

MISSISSIPPI RIVER

Mississippi River Pool 9
Water level is 7.8 feet at Lansing and is expected to remain stable. Water temperature is near 76 degrees. Black Crappie – Fair: Use artificial jigs or a crappie minnow along the fallen trees in 6-8 feet of water. Bluegill – Excellent: Bluegill have moved into sloughs and main channel areas; larger sizes are being caught.  Float a garden worm under a bobber along the shoreline. Channel Catfish – Good: Use crawlers and stink bait in deeper holes off main channel structure. Flathead Catfish – Good: Try crawlers, live bluegill, or shiners. Freshwater Drum – Excellent: Drum are actively feeding. Try a weighted crawler in moderate current from shore. Use a deep dive crankbait or crayfish to catch large drum. Largemouth Bass – Good: Try fishing the edge of weed beds in backwater and side channel areas. Northern Pike – Good: Cast flashy spoons and crankbaits near the mouths of streams during hot summer days.  Smallmouth Bass – Good: Cast a spinner or crankbaits in current along the rocky shorelines. Walleye – Good: Try a 3-way rig on the wing-dams with a whole crawler or use crankbaits or twister tail jigs off the rocks from shore. 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. Yellow Perch – Good: Use a light jig or crawler in weeded areas with slight current.

Mississippi River Pool 10
Water level is 612.6 feet at Lynxville and is expected to fall slightly then level off this week. Water temperature is 80 degrees at the Lynxville dam. Use caution at Sny Magill due to low water. There is a scour hole below the concrete ramp and a rock mound behind the scour. Damage to boat props and trailers is possible. There are several snags at the mouth of Sny Magill creek to avoid. Black Crappie – Fair: Use artificial jigs or a crappie minnow along the fallen trees in 6-8 feet of water. Bluegill – Excellent: Bluegill have moved into sloughs and main channel areas; larger sizes are being caught. Float a garden worm under a bobber along the shoreline. Channel Catfish – Good: Try crawlers and stink bait in deeper holes off main channel structure. 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. Use a deep dive crankbait or crayfish to catch large drum. Largemouth Bass – Good: Try fishing the edge of weed beds in backwater and side channel areas. Northern Pike – Good: Cast flashy spoons and crankbaits near the mouths of streams during hot summer days. Shorthead Redhorse – Good: Redhorse are fun to catch from shore. Drop a weighted crawler into the current breaks and around submerged trees. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Cast a spinner or crankbaits in current along the rocky shorelines. Walleye – Fair: Try a 3-way rig on the wing dams with a whole crawler or use crankbaits or twister tail jigs off the rocks from shore. 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. Yellow Perch – Fair: Use a light jig or crawler in weeded areas away with slight current.

Mississippi River Pool 11
Water level is 4.3 feet at Guttenberg and is expected to fall to 4 feet and level off. Use caution at the Guttenberg city ramp which drops off in low water. Water temperature is in the high 70s. Black Crappie – Fair: Use artificial jigs or a crappie minnow along the fallen trees in 6-8 feet of water. Bluegill – Good: Bluegill have moved into sloughs and main channel areas; larger sizes are being caught. Float a garden worm under a bobber along the shoreline. Channel Catfish – Good: Try crawlers and stink bait in deeper holes off main channel structure. Flathead Catfish – Fair: Some flatheads are being caught on live bluegill or shiners. Freshwater Drum – Excellent: Drum are actively feeding. Try a weighted crawler in moderate current from shore. Use a deep dive crankbait or crayfish to catch large drum. Largemouth Bass – Good: Try fishing the edge of weed beds in backwater and side channel areas. Northern Pike – Fair: Cast flashy spoons and crankbaits near the mouths of streams during hot summer days. Shorthead Redhorse – Fair: Redhorse are biting; they are fun to catch from shore. Drop a weighted crawler into the current breaks. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Cast a spinner or crankbaits in current along the rocky shorelines. Walleye – Good: Try a 3-way rig on the wing dams with a whole crawler or use crankbaits or twister tail jigs off the rocks from shore. 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. Yellow Perch – Fair: Use a light jig or crawler in weeded areas with slight current.

Upper Mississippi River water levels have fallen to low levels. Boaters should use caution to avoid backing off the end of ramps. Water temperatures are in the upper 70s to 80 degrees.Water clarity is diminished after recent rains. Fish are using the thick weed-beds along shore this time of year. Low water has fish concentrated, making for good fishing.

Mississippi River Pool 12
The water level has stabilized to 4.9 feet at Lock and Dam 11 and 7.5 feet at the RR bridge. Water temperature is around 79 degrees; water clarity is good. Bluegill – Good: Anglers pitching small jigs with worms are catching gills off the wing dams. Gills are moving around a bit; keep moving if they do not bite right away.  Channel Catfish – Fair: Try cut bait or stink bait in the current seams. Flathead Catfish – Good: Use live green sunfish or bullheads or gigging spoons in tailwater areas. Downriver many anglers will fish above big log jams in moderate current areas. Freshwater Drum – Excellent: A simple egg sinker with a worm rig works best to catch abundant drum. Largemouth Bass – Excellent: Bass are on the feed. Try plastic baits along shoreline weed beds during low water. Hit shady spots when the sun is bright. Northern Pike – Good: Try flashy white spinner baits. Nice-sized pike are being caught this year. Be prepared with long nose pliers and wire jaw spreaders to safely get these toothy fish off your hooks. Pike can be encountered in all habitat types. Smallmouth Bass – Excellent: Cast inline spinners or crankbaits just off rock points to catch smallmouth feeding in the rocks. Walleye – Good: Walleyes and sauger are being picked up on wing dams. Some sauger are being picked up off rock piles. Most anglers are pulling or throwing crankbaits at higher speeds to start the bite. White Bass – Fair: Try minnows or small spinners in tailwater areas to catch abundant white bass. They have been seen blowing up minnows in tailwater areas.

Mississippi River Pool 13
The water level at Lock and Dam 13 at Bellevue is stable at near 4.2 feet. Water clarity is good. Water temperature is around 79 degrees. The Iowa DNR ramp is back open; minor maintenance may occur again in the near future. Bluegill – Good: Use worms along rock lines to catch abundant bluegills. Channel Catfish – Fair: Try stick bait or worms along rock piles. In the lower parts of the pool, try to concentrate in the stump fields or along the weed lines. Flathead Catfish – Good: Anglers are using live bullheads or bluegills to catch flathead catfish in tailwater areas. Jigging spoons are also effective. Freshwater Drum – Excellent: A simple egg sinker with a worm rig works best to catch abundant drum. Largemouth Bass – Excellent: Lots of bass are biting in the marina areas and backwater lakes. Some fish are moving out onto the vegetation lines; use plastic baits. Northern Pike – Good:  Use flashy white spinnerbaits. Nice-sized pike are being caught this year. Be prepared with long nose pliers and wire jaw spreaders to safely get these toothy fish off your hooks. Pike can be encountered in all habitat types. Rainbow Trout – No Report: The kids fishing pond is unfishable as the vegetation has taken hold. The pond will be restocked this fall with trout when vegetation clears. Smallmouth Bass – Excellent: Cast inline spinners just off rock points to catch smallmouth feeding on minnows. Walleye – Good: Some walleyes are being picked up on wing dams; catch has been sporadic White Bass – Good: White bass are biting in the tailwater areas and can be seen feeding on minnows.

Mississippi River Pool 14
The water level at Fulton is stable at near 4.7 feet, 9.4 feet at Camanche, and near 4.4 feet at LeClaire. Levels are predicted to be stable all week. Water temperature is around 80 degrees. Bluegill – Good: Use worms rigs and a simple bobber along rock lines. Channel Catfish – Good: Try cut bait or stink bait in the current seams or along rock lines. The bite has slowed a bit; keep moving if you are not catching fish. Lots of anglers use stink bait; expect bites within 20 minutes or move to other spots. Catfish can be extremely clumped up; you can catch many when you find them. Freshwater Drum – Excellent: A simple egg sinker with a worm rig works best to catch abundant drum. Need areas with moderate current flow; many areas around boat ramps can be good places to target drum. Largemouth Bass – Excellent: Bass fishing is good along boat ramp areas and newly exposed flooded vegetation lines. Try soft plastics along vegetation lines and brush piles. Northern Pike – Good: Use flashy white spinnerbaits. Nice-sized pike are being caught this year. Be prepared with long nose pliers and wire jaw spreaders to safely get these toothy fish off your hooks. Pike can be encountered in all habitat types. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Cast inline spinners just off rock points to catch smallmouth feeding in the rocks. Walleye – Good: Lots of trolling being done in side channel areas using crankbaits. White Bass – Good: Try small spinners in the tailwater to catch abundant white bass and occasional hybrid white bass.

Mississippi River Pool 15 
The water level at Rock Island is stable at near 4.7 feet. Water clarity is improving. Water temperature is 81 degrees. Channel Catfish – Good: Try stink bait around log jams or rock lines. Freshwater Drum – Excellent: Use an egg sinker and worm rig to catch abundant drum. Keep your fish on ice after catching; they make excellent table fare. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Try throwing spinners along the rock lines in Pool 15.  Lots of rock is available; need somewhat strong current to hold smallmouth bass. White Bass – No Report: Try throwing small spinners in the tailwater areas to  catch feeding white bass.

The river water levels continue to be stable. Water temperatures are in the upper 70s to low 80s. Good fishing is occurring throughout the district; it’s a perfect time to get on the water. If you have angling questions, please call Bellevue Fisheries Management at 563-880-8781.

Mississippi River Pool 16
Tailwater stage is 4.50 feet at Lock and Dam 15 in Davenport and has been falling slightly the past couple days. Flood stage is 15 feet at Lock and Dam 15. River stage is 10.30 feet at Fairport; flood stage is 14 feet. Bluegill – Slow: Bluegill fishing has slowed with the low water conditions. Channel Catfish – Good: Look for channel catfish around brush piles and snags along the main channel. Use dip baits, shad guts, or nightcrawlers. Look for channel catfish around shorelines with rip-rap and current. Try floating leeches or nightcrawlers under a bobber along the rocks. Walleye – Fair: Reports of walleyes being caught around current breaks along the main channel; use crankbaits. Also look for walleyes on the wing dams. Try fishing with crankbaits or three-way rigs with crawlers. With the low water conditions, look for fish on the outer ends of wing dams. White Bass – Good: Look for white bass in Sylvan Slough around the outfalls of the dams. Try jigs and twister tails or in-line spinners.

Mississippi River Pool 17
Tailwater stage is 3.40 feet at Lock and Dam 16 in Muscatine and has been falling slightly the past few days. Flood stage is 15 feet. River stage is 5.37 feet at Muscatine; flood stage is 16 feet. Bluegill – Slow: Fishing for bluegills has slowed down in the backwaters. Try a piece of worm under a bobber around brush at Big Timber, Cleveland Slough. and Eagle Fill. Channel Catfish – Good: Look for channel catfish around brush piles in the side channels and main channel. Use dip baits, cut shad, or nightcrawlers. Also look for channel catfish along shorelines with rip-rap and current. Try floating leeches or nightcrawlers under a bobber along the rocks. Walleye – Fair: Look for walleyes around current breaks. Cast jigs with plastics or crankbaits. Look for walleyes on the wing dams. Try fishing the wing dams with three-way rigs and crawlers or casting crankbaits. With the low water conditions, fish the outer end of the wing dams. White Bass – No Report: Look for white bass around current breaks or down by GPC. Cast jigs and plastics or crankbaits.

Mississippi River Pool 18
Tailwater stage is 3.37 feet at Lock and Dam 17 at New Boston and has been falling slightly. Flood stage is 15 feet. The Toolsboro access is open. Bluegill – No Report: Look for bluegills in the backwaters. Try pieces of worm under a bobber around brush piles at the Huron Island complex. Channel Catfish – Good: Look for channel catfish around brush piles and snags in side channels and along the main channel. Use dip baits, cut shad, or nightcrawlers. Look for channel catfish on shorelines with rip-rap and current. Try floating leeches or nightcrawlers under a bobber along the rocks. Walleye – No Report: Look for walleyes on the wing dams. Cast crankbaits or troll three-way rigs with nightcrawlers. With the low water conditions, look for walleyes on the outer ends of the wing dams. White Bass – Slow: White bass fishing has slowed at the outlet of Lake Odessa. Cast crankbaits or jigs and plastics.

Mississippi River Pool 19
Tailwater stage is 1.50 feet at Lock and Dam 18 above Burlington. Flood stage is 10 feet. River stage is 8.00 feet at Burlington; flood stage is 15 feet. River stage is 525.54 feet at Fort Madison; flood stage is 528.0 feet. We have not received much for fishing reports for this pool this week. Bluegill – No Report: Look for bluegills in the backwaters. Try pieces of worm under a bobber around brush piles. Channel Catfish – No Report: Look for channel catfish around brush piles and snags along the main channel and side channels. Use dip baits, cut shad, or nightcrawlers. Look for channel catfish around rip-rap shorelines with current. Try floating leeches or nightcrawlers under a bobber along the rocks.

River stages have fallen slightly the past few days. Main channel water temperature is around 79-80 degrees. Water clarity has been good. There has been some heavy rain that may impact water clarity. 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 is in the low 80s. Black Crappie – Slow: Crappies remain in 6-8 feet of water in the flooded timber. Vertical jigging works best. Bluegill – Slow: Look for bluegill in 6-7 feet of water in the flooded brush and trees. Worm and bobber work best in the dense cover. Channel Catfish – Good: Look for males along the face of the dam near the bottom of the riprap. Minnows or green sunfish work well this time of year.  Largemouth Bass – Fair: Find bass around the drop-offs to deeper water; this steep sided lake has more than a few of those.

Iowa River (Columbus Junction to Mississippi River)
Water levels dropped more this week; lots of sandbars are now above water,  navigation will be pretty difficult. Channel Catfish – Good: Water temperatures are around 84 degrees. It’s time to break out the stink baits and cut bait. Use the slow current to carry the smell to the catfish fish just above the bigger log jams or just off the backside of the sandbars where the current is rolling off the shallow sand into deeper water.

Lake Belva Deer
Water temperatures is 80-81 degrees. Water clarity is about 8 feet. The water has a green cast. Black Crappie – Fair: Try fishing in the early morning; expect to be off the water by 10 a.m. Start trolling in 8-10 feet of water just outside the flooded trees out from the beach and on down towards the dam. Don’t go fast, 1-1.5 mph is about right; just drift. Bluegill – Fair: Try vertically jigging around the trees to a depth of about 10 feet.  Drift quietly from spot to spot; use a 1/64 oz jig tipped with a waxworm. Look back in the bays on the south side to find some on the beds. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Bass are working back in the trees during the early morning. Try casting back in there with some topwater baits and have some fun.

Lake Darling
The water temperature is between 80-82 degrees. Water clarity is about 2 feet. The water has a green cast. The thermocline bottoms out at 9 feet.  Black Crappie – Slow: Crappies are suspended out in the middle at 6-7.5 feet deep.  Try slow trolling. Bluegill – Fair: Look back in the shaded bays around the tree falls to find bluegills on the nest; 2-3 feet deep. Channel Catfish – Fair: Fair: Switch to chicken liver or stink bait. Toss it upwind of the riprap shorelines  to catch nice-sized catfish. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Early in the mornings bass are hunting up in the rock piles in 6-8 feet of water.

Lake Geode
Water temperature is around 82-83 degrees. Water clarity is good with just a little green tint. Black Crappie – Fair: Crappies are out in deeper water for the summer. Slow troll in 8 to 10 feet of water along the drop-offs  Bluegill – Fair: Work the rock piles and flats out in 9-10 feet of water. You might find some spawning beds active yet since  bluegills are still in new lake mode. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Bass are out at the drop-offs; they have slid down the slope a little to cooler water to avoid the heat.

Lost Grove Lake
Lost Grove was treated for Eurasian Watermilfoil on June 29. Clean all vegetation from your boat and trailer before leaving the boat ramp area. Black Crappie – Slow: Crappies are out along the edge of the flooded timber in 8 to 10 feet of water.