NORTHWEST

Black Hawk Lake
Water temperatures are around 80 degrees. Water levels are about 4 inches above the spillway. Water clarity is about 1-2 feet. Black Crappie – Fair: Pick up crappie around the fish house in Town Bay and along Ice House Point shoreline. Crappie are up to 10- to 12-inches. Bluegill – Fair: Bluegill fishing from shore is productive; bluegill are on beds.  Catch keeper-sized bluegill from shore with nightcrawlers. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Pick up bass along shore with a variety of bass baits. Walleye – Slow: Walleye action has slowed; try the rock piles in the east basin and the shoreline along Ice Hoise Point.

Brushy Creek Lake
Black Crappie – Fair: Find crappie near submerged structure in 5-10 feet of water. Fish are 5-inches up to 13-inches. Bluegill – Good: Pick up bluegill near shore with a piece of crawler under a bobber. Fish are on beds. Largemouth Bass – Good: Pick up bass along shore near weed lines with traditional bass baits. Walleye – Fair: Pick up walleye in 5-10 feet of water near rock and woody structure Yellow Perch – Slow.

Crawford Creek Impoundment
Water temperatures are in the upper 70s. Bluegill – Fair: Bluegills are guarding nests along shore; use a small jig with a piece of crawler under a bobber. Channel Catfish – Fair: Find catfish tight to shore near rocky structure. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Find bass along shore near weed lines; can be picked up with a variety of traditional bass baits.

North Twin Lake
Water levels are about 1 foot below the crest of the spillway. Courtesy docks are installed. Black Bullhead – Good: Try a nightcrawler on the bottom from shore on windy shorelines.  Bullheads are 10- to 11-inches.

Storm Lake (incl Little Storm Lake)
Water temperatures are in the upper 70s. Black Crappie – Slow. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Find bass close to shore near rocky structure and overhanging trees. Walleye – Fair: Pick up walleye off shore near the dredge cuts; Use crawler harness and crankbaits. White Bass – Fair. Yellow Bass – Fair.

Water temperatures are around 80 degrees in many area lakes. Bluegills can be seen on nests in many area lakes. For more information, contact the Black Hawk District office at 712-657-2638

Beeds Lake
Black Crappie – Good: Try a small jig or minnow off the causeway or drift fish the north shore. Bluegill – Fair.

Clear Lake
Water level is 1 inch over crest. Water temperature is in the low 70s. Water clarity is 34 inches. The fish cleaning station at the McIntosh access is open. Black Crappie – Slow. Channel Catfish – Fair: Try crawlers or cut bait from the wind-swept shore or spots or rocky areas. Largemouth Bass – Good: Try fishing near the edge of vegetation. Walleye – Fair: Anglers continue to catch walleye near shallow rocky habitat and vegetation with jigs and live bait.  Evening bite is best. Yellow Bass – Slow: Best bite is early morning.

Crystal Lake
Black Crappie– Fair: Drift fish small jigs or live bait near the dredge cut. Bluegill – Good: Use a piece of crawler under a bobber in 2 to 3 feet of water. Largemouth Bass – Good. Walleye – Slow.

Lower Pine Lake
Bluegill – Good: Try a piece of crawler under a bobber near shore. Largemouth Bass – Good: Find bass close to shore near woody habitat.

Rice Lake
Bluegill – Fair: Bluegills are on beds near shore. Largemouth Bass – Good: Try fishing the edge of vegetation and near woody habitat. Walleye – Slow.

Silver Lake (Worth)
Bluegill – Good: Try a piece of crawler under a bobber in 2 to 3 feet of water.  Largemouth Bass – Good: Bass are biting on a variety of baits.

Winnebago River
River level is 6.42 feet. Smallmouth Bass – Fair.

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 level is 1.4 feet above crest. The walleye season is open. Black Crappie – Good:  Bluegill – Good: Lots of bluegill have been observed in shallower waters; many fish are on beds. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Bass are a little ways off shore; you can still find some around docks and other structure. Yellow Perch – Good: Many perch have been observed; sorting will most likely be needed.

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

Silver Lake (Dickinson)
Lake level is 8 inches over crest. Walleye – Good: Bite has been hit-or-miss, but has been very good when the bite is on.

Spirit Lake
Lake level is 1 foot over crest. The walleye season is open. Large amounts of curly-leaf pondweed have died off for the season; it’s piling up on shores due to higher winds. Black Crappie – Good: Anglers are finding quality-size crappie; they are biting on almost anything. Bluegill – Fair. Walleye – Good: Anglers are catching quality-sized walleye. Evening bite is best with leech and bobber from shore or crankbaits and slip bobbers by boat. Yellow Perch – Good: Sorting may be needed.

West Okoboji Lake
Lake level is 1.5 feet above crest. The walleye season is open. Black Crappie – Fair: Bluegill – Good. Pumpkinseed – Good. Walleye – Fair. Yellow Perch – Fair: Sorting may be needed.

Expect water temperatures to increase rapidly in the next week; temperatures in the 80s-90s forecast. Area water temperatures are in the low 70s. Water levels are well above crest and have flooded some lower level areas. For current conditions, call the Spirit Lake District Office at 712-336-1840.

NORTHEAST

Cedar River (above Nashua)
Water levels are stabilizing, but are up about 2.5 feet with good clarity. Visit the National Water Prediction Service webpage for more information. Channel Catfish – Good: Try worms or chubs fished on the bottom in calm water or the edge of current. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Find bass in slack water areas. Use a spinner or crankbait. Walleye – Good: Find walleye in off channel areas or eddies. Use minnows or jigs tipped with plastics.

Decorah District Streams
Water levels are slightly elevated at most locations. Stream clarity is highly variable depending on where rain fell, but most are clear. Use caution when wading streams with elevated flows. All streams were stocked this week. Gnats and no-see-ums are out in force. Wild parsnip is starting to bloom. Don’t touch this plant; it can cause painful blisters. Brook Trout – Slow: Brook trout take more persuasion to bite in off-color water. Sneak up on brook trout for a better chance to catch one of these beauties. Good hatches of gnats, mayflies, caddis flies, and midges. Brown Trout – Good: Try fishing near or around logs or undercut banks. Spinnerbaits work well. Also try streamers on larger waterbodies. Brown trout like cloudy water. Rainbow Trout – Excellent: Use spinnerbaits, hair jigs, or hooks tipped with a small piece of worm, bread, or cheese floated through deeper holes.

Lake Hendricks
Water clarity is about 4-5 feet. Water temperature is in the 70s.Black Crappie – Fair: Try small jigs under a bobber from shore near woody debris.  Bluegill – Good: Bluegills are in shallow; use a small piece of worm or waxworm. Channel Catfish – Good: Try a nightcrawler or squashed minnow on a hook near the bottom. Largemouth Bass – Good: Use spinnerbaits or crankbaits along the edge of vegetation.

Lake Meyer
Water is stained with about 2 feet visibility. Water temperature is in the 70s. Black Crappie – Slow: Use spinnerbaits or a jig tipped with a minnow near structure. Bluegill – Slow: Try small hooks tipped with a waxworm or a small piece of worm under a bobber. Channel Catfish – Good: Try a nightcrawler on a hook fished at the bottom. Largemouth Bass – Slow: Use a spinnerbait fished along the edge of vegetation. Reports of anglers catching quite a few small bass.

Turkey River (above Clermont)
Water levels up about 1.5 feet, but are stable with good clarity. Use caution when on the water. Visit the National Water Prediction Service webpage for more information. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Find bass in eddies or slack water areas. Try a jig tipped with a plastic tail. Walleye – Good: Evening bite is best.

Turkey River (below Clermont)
Water levels are stable with improved clarity. Use caution when on the water. Visit the National Water Prediction Service webpage for more information. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Find smallies in deeper holes or near rock ledges. Walleye – Good: Use crankbaits or jigs tipped with plastics in off channel areas.

Upper Iowa River (above Decorah)
Water levels are stable with improved clarity. Use caution when on the water. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Find smallmouth in eddies or near rock ledges; use spinnerbaits. Walleye – Good: Find walleye in deeper holes and off channel areas. Afternoon bite is best.

Upper Iowa River (below Decorah)
Water levels are stable. Water clarity has improved greatly. Use caution as snags and debris move through the system. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Try spinners near rock ledges or snags. Walleye – Good: Use spinners or crankbaits near rock ledges, eddies, or deeper holes. Evening bite is best.

Volga Lake
Water clarity is improving. Water temperature is in the 70s. Black Crappie – Slow. Bluegill – Fair. Channel Catfish – Good: Use a squished minnow or worm fished on bottom. Largemouth Bass – Good: Use spinners or crankbaits along jetties or drop-offs.

Volga River
Water levels are stabilizing, but remain about a foot high. Water clarity is good. Visit the National Water Prediction Service webpage for more information. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Find bass in deeper holes or off channel areas. Use a spinner or crankbait.

Yellow River
Water levels are stabilizing with improved water clarity. Use caution as snags and debris move through the system. Brown Trout – Good: Find trout below or just off riffles. A spinner or shallow running crankbait should interest a hungry mouth.

Area rivers and streams are high due to recent rainfall events. Hot and humid weekend temperatures with chance of storms daily. For more information, contact the Chuck Gipp Decorah Fish Hatchery at 563-382-8324.

Big Woods Lake
Anglers are catching bluegill and crappie. Black Crappie – Good: Try a minnow under a slip bobber near structure. Bluegill – Excellent: Use a piece of nightcrawler under a slip bobber off shore; bluegills are spawning and on are beds.

Brinker Lake
Anglers are catching bluegill and crappie. Black Crappie – Good: Try a minnow under a slip bobber near structure. Bluegill – Good: Use a piece of nightcrawler under a slip bobber off shore; bluegills are spawning and on are beds.

Cedar River (Nashua to La Porte City)
Anglers are catching channel catfish with the rise and fall of river levels. Channel Catfish – Good: Try stink baits, dead cut baits, and chubs. Walleye – Fair: Anglers are now picking up a few walleye again; best baits are leeches and crawlers.

George Wyth Lake
Anglers are catching crappie and bluegill; some sorting may be needed. Black Crappie – Fair: Try a minnow under a slip bobber near structure or lily pads on the west end of the lake. Bluegill – Fair: Use a piece of nightcrawler under a slip bobber off shore; bluegills are spawning and on are beds. Largemouth Bass – Good: Try artificial baits early morning or later evening.

Shell Rock River (Greene to Shell Rock)
Anglers are catching channel catfish with the rise and fall of river levels. Channel Catfish – Good: Use stink baits, dead cut baits, and chubs.

South Prairie Lake
Anglers are catching crappie and bluegill. Black Crappie – Good: Try a minnow under a slip bobber near structure. Bluegill – Excellent: Use a piece of nightcrawler under a slip bobber off shore; bluegills are spawning and on are beds.

Wapsipinicon River (Tripoli to Troy Mills)
Anglers are catching channel catfish with the rise and fall of river levels. Channel Catfish – Good: Use stink baits, dead cut baits, and chubs.

Interior rivers are falling with the recent rainfall events, but are providing opportunities for good channel catfish angling. Anglers are starting to pick up a few walleye again on the interior rivers. Lakes within the Cedar Falls/Waterloo area are providing good panfish angling. Trout streams remain in excellent condition. For more information, contact the Manchester Hatchery at 563-927-3276.

MISSISSIPPI RIVER

Mississippi River Pool 9
Water level is 12 feet at Lansing and is predicted to reach 13 feet next week. Water clarity is cloudy. Water temperature is 70 degrees. Army Road at New Albin is closed due to high water. Black Crappie – Good: Try light tackle in the flooded timber as the river rises. Anglers are having luck using minnows. Bluegill – Good: Bluegill have moved off spawning beds into deeper water. Use light tackle on weed beds. Channel Catfish – Good: Anglers are catching a few channel cats on crawlers. Flathead Catfish – Good: Look for flathead to start feeding as they gear up for the summer spawn. Freshwater Drum – Good: Try a piece of crawler off the bottom along main channel and side channel current.  Largemouth Bass – Good: Cast frog baits along weed edges in upper portions of the backwaters. Northern Pike – Good: Try fishing the shallows along weed beds in backwater lakes. Shore Slough at Lansing has been good fishing for northern pike. Sauger – Fair: Sauger are biting on a minnow rig fished just off the bottom. Smallmouth Bass – Excellent: Smallmouth are biting in areas with moderate current. Cast spinners and crankbaits along the main channel rock shorelines. Walleye – Slow: Tailwater fishing has tapered off. Use jigs tipped with a minnow or crawlers on three-way rigs along channel or closing dams. White Bass – Good: Throw inline spinners along current breaks. Watch for schools of minnows jumping as white bass are feeding. Yellow Perch – Fair: Perch are biting on live minnows and crawlers along weed lines in about 6 feet of water.

Mississippi River Pool 10
Water level is 622.3 feet at Lynxville and is predicted to reach 623.2 feet next week. Water temperature is 73 degrees at the Lock & Dam in Lynxville. The boat ramp at Sny Magill is closed due to high water. Water is over the road at Nobles Landing. Black Crappie – Good: Try fishing the flooded timber as the river rises. Anglers are having good luck on minnows around submerged structure. Bluegill – Fair: Bluegill have moved off spawning beds into deeper water. Use light tackle on weed beds. Channel Catfish – Good: Anglers are catching a few channel cats on crawlers. Flathead Catfish – Good: Expect flathead to start feeding as they gear up for the summer spawn. Freshwater Drum – Good: Try a piece of crawler off the bottom along the main channel and side channel current. Largemouth Bass – Good: Cast frog baits along weed edges in upper portions of the backwaters. Northern Pike – Fair: Try fishing the shallows along weed beds in backwater lakes. Sauger – Fair: Sauger are biting on a minnow rig fished just off the bottom. Smallmouth Bass – Excellent: Smallmouth are biting in areas with moderate current. Cast spinners and crankbaits along the main channel rock shorelines or at the spillway. Walleye – Slow: Tailwater fishing has tapered off. Use jigs tipped with a minnow or crawlers on three-way rigs along side channel or closing dams. White Bass – Good: Throw inline spinners along current breaks. Watch for schools of minnows jumping as white bass are feeding. Yellow Perch – Fair: Perch are biting on live minnows and crawlers along weed lines in about 6 feet of water.

Mississippi River Pool 11
Water level at Guttenberg has risen to 13 feet in the tailwaters and is expected to reach 13.2 feet next week. Water clarity is diminished. Water temperature is 69 degrees. Tailwater fishing at the Lock & Dam is not recommended with increased turbulence due to the lock gates being up. Black Crappie – Good: Try light tackle in the flooded timber as the river rises. Anglers are having luck using minnows. Bluegill – Fair: Bluegill have moved off spawning beds into deeper water. Use light tackle on weed beds. Channel Catfish – Good: Anglers are catching a few channel cats on crawlers or cut bait. Flathead Catfish – Good: Expect flathead to start feeding as they gear up for the summer spawn. Use live bluegill or shiners in the tailwater. Freshwater Drum – Good: Try a piece of crawler off the bottom along the main channel and side channel current. Largemouth Bass – Good: Cast frog baits along weed edges in upper portions of the backwaters. Northern Pike – Good: Try fishing the shallows along weed beds in backwater lakes. Sauger – Fair: Sauger are biting on a minnow rig fished just off the bottom. Smallmouth Bass – Excellent: Smallmouth are biting in areas with moderate current. Cast spinners and crankbaits along the main channel rock shorelines. Walleye – Slow: Tailwater fishing has tapered off. Try jigs tipped with a minnow or crawlers on three-way rigs along side channel or closing dams. White Bass – Good: Throw inline spinners along current breaks. Watch for schools of minnows jumping as white bass are feeding. Yellow Perch – Fair: Perch are biting on live minnows and crawlers along weed lines in about 6 feet of water.

Upper Mississippi River levels are predicted to level off later next week, and gradually decline. Water temperature is in the mid-70s. Fishing along rocks is starting to pick up as water levels slowly drop.

Mississippi River Pool 12
Water level is 13.2 feet at Dubuque Lock and Dam and 15.3 feet at the RR bridge. Water levels are rising and are stained. Water temperature is near 71 degrees. Some ramps like at Massey Station are experiencing minor flooding issues. Black Crappie – Good: Some nice black crappie are being reported on minnow rigs in brush piles. Channel Catfish – Good: Channel catfish like flood waters and will move along the banks to feed; use stink baits. Flathead Catfish – Good: Anglers are starting to use trot lines where they can find non-flooded banks. Largemouth Bass – Good: Bass are often stacked up along cleaner water edges. Most anglers are using crankbaits or spinning baits to catch abundant bass. Walleye – Fair: Many anglers are targeting smaller flowing sloughs with crankbaits. White Bass – Good: White bass have been a consistent in the creel even with the dirty water. Try some flashy spinners in the tailwater areas.

Mississippi River Pool 13
The water level is rising to near 13.6 feet at Bellevue. Water temperature is 72 degrees. The water is stained. The Iowa DNR ramp at Bellevue has water on it; it is difficult to launch a boat. Black Crappie – Good: Try small minnows in brush piles; move often. Brown Bullhead – Good: Anglers using egg sinker and worm rigs in the lower pool above Clinton are catching good numbers of this unique bullhead. Channel Catfish – Good: Use stink bait in flooded water. Freshwater Drum – Excellent: Drum are a consistent biter in moderate current areas; use an egg sinker worm rig. Rainbow Trout – Slow: The kids trout pond by the DNR station is mostly overgrown with vegetation, but especially on windy days some pockets may exist and a few trout many still be caught. Time is limited to catch fish in the pond. Walleye – Fair: A couple good walleye reports by anglers using bright colored crankbaits. Use rattles to allow the fish to find the bait in stained waters. White Bass – Good: Try white jigs or small spinners in the Bellevue tailwaters.

Mississippi River Pool 14
The water level is steady at near 12.7 feet at Fulton, 14.9 feet at Camanche and 8.9 feet at LeClair. Water is stained. Water temperature is 72 degrees. Black Crappie – Good: Use small minnows in brush piles.  Move often if you are not catching fish. Channel Catfish – Good: Try stink bait in newly flooded waters of moderate current. Freshwater Drum – Good: Worm rig with egg sinker fished along shore in moderate current will catch this consistent biter. White Bass – No Report: Some white bass were hitting on spinners in the tailwater areas. Dirty water is making it more difficult to find fish.

Mississippi River Pool 15 
The water level is steady at near 13.0 feet at Rock Island. The water is dirty. Water temperature is around 72 degrees. Water levels are at “action” flood stage. Freshwater Drum – Good: Worm rig with egg sinker fished along shore in moderate current will catch this consistent biter.

The river is rising slowly after recent rains. The water is stained to dirty in most parts of the district as waters now approach action flood stage. Many boat ramps and courtesy docks are starting to experience flooding issues. If you have angling questions, please call Bellevue Fisheries Management at 563-880-8781.

Mississippi River Pool 16
Tailwater stage is 12.95 feet at Lock and Dam 15 in the Quad Cities and is rising. Tailwater stage is forecast to reach 13.9 feet by June 18. Flood stage is 15 feet. Fishing is being reported as slow. The boat ramps at Clark’s Ferry and Shady Creek are closed due to high water. Bluegill – No Report: Look for bluegills up shallow as well. Try pieces of worm under a bobber along brush piles in the backwaters. Channel Catfish – No Report: Look for channel catfish around snags and flooded timber. Use nightcrawlers or stink bait. Largemouth Bass – No Report: Look for bass up shallow in the backwaters around brush piles in Sunset Marina and the Andalusia Island complex. Walleye – Slow: Walleye fishing has been slow with the high and muddy water conditions. Look for walleyes on the wing-dams. Cast jigs and plastics or troll three-way rigs with crawlers. White Crappie – No Report: Look for crappies to move up shallow. Try jigs and minnows or minnows under a bobber in brush piles at Sunset Marina and the Andalusia Island complex.

Mississippi River Pool 17
Tailwater stage is 12.18 feet at Lock and Dam 16 in Muscatine and has been rising. Tailwater stage is forecast to start to reach 13.3 feet by June 18. Flood stage is 15 feet. The gates are out of the water at Lock and Dam 16. The ramps at Kilpeck and Big Timber are closed due to highwater. Fishing is being reported as slow. Bluegill – No Report: Look for bluegills to start to move shallow around brush piles in the backwaters. Try pieces of worm under a bobber. Channel Catfish – No Report: Look for channel catfish around snags and flooded timber; use nightcrawlers or stink bait. Largemouth Bass – Slow: Largemouth bass fishing in Big Timber is being reported as slow. Look for bass to move up shallow around brush and logs as water temperatures rise. Walleye – Slow: Look for walleyes on the wing-dams. Cast jigs and plastics or troll crankbaits or three-way rigs with crawlers. White Crappie – No Report: Look for crappies around brush piles in the backwaters. Try minnows under a bobber or jigs and minnows.

Mississippi River Pool 18
Tailwater stage is 13.45 feet at Lock and Dam 17 at New Boston and is rising. Tailwater stage is forecast to reach 14.4 feet by June 18. Flood stage is 15 feet. The gates are out of the water at the Lock and Dam. River stage is 12.91 feet at Keithsburg; flood stage is 14 feet. The Toolsboro ramp is closed due to high water. The Hawkeye Dolbee ramp and parking area will be under water. Bluegill – No Report: Look for bluegills to move shallow in the backwaters. Try pieces of worm under a bobber around brush piles. Channel Catfish – No Report: Look for channel catfish around snags and flooded timber; use nightcrawlers or stink bait. Largemouth Bass – No Report: Look for bass to move up shallow around brush and logs as water temperatures rise; try fishing at Huron Island.  White Crappie – No Report: Look for crappies up shallow in the backwaters. Try jigs and minnows or minnows under a bobber in brush piles at the Huron Island complex.

Mississippi River Pool 19
Tailwater stage is 9.9 feet at Lock and Dam 18 above Burlington and is forecast to reach 10.0 feet by June 17. Flood stage is 10 feet at Lock and Dam 18. The gates are out of the water at the dam. River stage is 14.82 feet at Burlington; flood stage is 15 feet. River stage is 527.59 feet at Fort Madison; flood stage is 528.0 feet. Tama Beach and Sullivan Slough boat ramps will be inaccessible due to highwater. Bluegill – No Report: Look for bluegills to start to move shallow in the backwaters. Try pieces of worm under a bobber around brush piles. Channel Catfish – No Report: Look for channel catfish around snags and flooded timber; use nightcrawlers or stink bait. Largemouth Bass – No Report: Look for bass up shallow in the backwaters around brush piles and logs. White Crappie – No Report: Look for crappies in the backwaters. Try jigs and minnows or minnows under a bobber in brush piles.

River stage is forecast to rise over the weekend. Water clarity is poor. Main channel water temperature is around 73 degrees. Fishing is being reported as slow. Some boat ramps are inaccessible due to high water. If you have questions on fishing Pools 16-19 contact the Fairport Fish Hatchery at 563-263-5062.