| | | | | The Iowa Department of Natural Resources issues a weekly fishing report on Thursdays in an effort to provide the latest information heading into the weekend. The weekly fishing report is compiled from information gathered from local bait shops, angler creel surveys, and county and state parks staff. For current information, contact the district fisheries office at the phone number listed at the end of each district report. |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Water level in the tailwaters at Lynxville is stable at 614.4 feet. Ice is forming at the boat ramp ice flows are collecting below the dam so and tailwater fishing access may be limited. Avoid ice at the ramp in Bussey Lake, Guttenberg as it is unsafe. Ice anglers are entering on the island road and reporting around 7 inches of ice. At Sny Magill there is still thin ice in the middle of Johnson Slough and crossing is not recommended until ice thickens. |
| | | | | | Fish Name | Status | Comments | Black Crappie | Good | Nice sized crappie being caught. Try using small minnows for larger fish. | Bluegill | Excellent | Good sized bluegills being caught in the early bite | Largemouth Bass | Good | Anglers catching some nice bass fishing waxworms for panfish. | Northern Pike | Fair | Early tip up fishing has been good at times | Sauger | Good | Sauger fishing in the tailwaters has been good recently but access may be limited by ice | Walleye | Good | Walleye fishing in the tailwaters has been good recently but access may be limited by ice. | Yellow Perch | Excellent | Yellow perch fishing has been very good in the backwaters. Try using minnows for bigger fish. |
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| | | | | | | | | | Water level the tailwaters in Guttenberg is 6 ft. and expected to be stable. Ice is around 6-7 inches in protected backwaters. Ice is forming at the boat ramps in Guttenberg and ice flows are collecting below the dam so tailwater fishing access may be limited. Avoid ice in areas with any current yet. Avoid the mouth of the creek at Mud Lake. |
| | | | | | Fish Name | Status | Comments | Black Crappie | Fair | Nice sized crappie being caught. Try using small minnows for larger fish. | Bluegill | Good | Good sized bluegills being caught in the early bite | Largemouth Bass | Fair | Anglers catching some nice bass fishing waxworms for panfish. | Northern Pike | Fair | Early tip up fishing has been good at times | Sauger | Good | Walleye fishing in the tailwaters has been good recently but access may be limited by ice | Walleye | Slow | Walleye fishing in the tailwaters has been good recently but access may be limited by ice. | Yellow Perch | Good | Some good reports of perch catches at Mud and Sunfish Lakes |
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| | | | | | | | | | Water level at Lansing is 8.3 feet and predicted to remain stable next week. Ice is 6 + inches in Shore Slough and Lansing Village Creek. |
| | | | | | Fish Name | Status | Comments | Black Crappie | Good | Nice sized crappie being caught. Try using small minnows for larger fish. | Bluegill | Excellent | Good sized bluegills being caught in the early bite. | Largemouth Bass | Good | Anglers catching some nice bass fishing waxworms for panfish. | Northern Pike | Good | Early tip up fishing has been good at times. | Yellow Perch | Excellent | Yellow perch fishing has been very good in the backwaters. Try usng minnows for bigger fish. |
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| | | | | | Ice fishing on backwaters is in full swing on the Upper Mississippi River Pool 9-11. Freezing temps have ice building in backwater lakes. There is now 2-3 inches of snow cover over the ice. Warmer temperatures over the holiday weekend may weaken the ice. Avoid areas with current. Anglers should use a spud bar to test the ice prior to venturing onto the ice. |
| | | | | | | | | | | | Water level at Dubuque Lock and Dam is stable at 5.6 feet and the RR Bridge is at 8.2 feet. Water is clear with the temperature is around 34 degrees in main channel. |
| | | | | | Fish Name | Status | Comments | Bluegill | No Report | Some ice fishing is occurring but ice fishing conditions has been variable. Please take care and review safe ice conditions. | Northern Pike | Good | Lots of small pike have been caught in the river and pike should be available for tip up fishing if we get quality ice. | Walleye | Slow | Some walleye and sauger are being taken in the tailwaters mostly on a jig and minnow. |
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| | | | | | | | | | Water level at Bellevue is steady and presently is near 5.9 feet. Water is clear with the temperature near 34 degrees in main channel. Bellevue City ramp has remained open but the DNR ramp has mostly been frozen in. Some ice flow have occurred periodically. |
| | | | | | Fish Name | Status | Comments | Bluegill | No Report | Some ice fishing conditions exist but please review ice safety as ice depth is variable. | Walleye | Fair | Most angling is taking place in the tailwaters with folks using jigs and minnows. | Yellow Perch | Good | Starting to hear of some yellow perch being caught. They seemed to have disappeared for awhile but strong populations are present on the Mississippi River. |
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| | | | | | | | | | Water level at Fulton is stable and presently near 5.1 feet, 9.8 feet at Camanche and 4.7 feet at LeClaire. Water is clear with the temperature around 34 degrees. Icing is an issue at the boat ramps. |
| | | | | | Fish Name | Status | Comments | Walleye | Fair | Most tailwater anglers are using some sort of minnow rig, |
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| | | | | | | | | | Water level is receding at Rock Island near 5.3 feet. Water is clear and temperature is around 34 degrees. |
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| | | | | | Conditions on the river have been constantly changing. Some ice fishing is occurring but people must take care must be taken. If you have angling questions, please call Bellevue Fisheries Management at 563-880-8781. |
| | | | | | | | | | | | Tailwater stage at Lock and Dam 15 in the Quad Cities has risen to 5.45 feet and forecasted to stay fairly steady over the weekend. As of Dec. 19th, the Marquette St. boat ramp was free of ice. Ramp conditions may change. Unsafe ice conditions. Credit Island has areas of open water. |
| | | | | | Fish Name | Status | Comments | Sauger | Fair | Some fish are being caught below the dam. Its been a hit or miss bite with mostly smaller fish being caught. Try vertical jigging with minnows or trolling three-way rigs with minnows. | Walleye | Fair | Look for walleyes in Sylvan Slough and below the Lock and Dam. Try vertical jigging with minnows or trolling three-way rigs and minnows. Its been mostly smaller fish being caught. |
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| | | | | | | | | | Tailwater stage at Lock and Dam 16 at Muscatine has risen to 4.21 feet and forecasted to stay fairly steady. As of Dec 19th, the boat ramp in Muscatine was free of ice and there is a boat dock in the water. There has been some boats out walleye and sauger fishing. Unsafe ice conditions. |
| | | | | | Fish Name | Status | Comments | Sauger | No Report | Try fishing for saugers below the dam with jigs and minnows or trolling three-way rigs with minnows. | Walleye | No Report | Try fishing for walleyes below the dam with jigs and minnows or trolling three-way rigs with minnows. |
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| | | | | | | | | | Tailwater stage at Lock and Dam 17 at New Boston is 4.54 feet and has risen close to 2 feet since last weekend. Tailwater stage is forecasted to stay fairly steady. We have not received any ice condition reports for this pool. |
| | | | | | Fish Name | Status | Comments | Sauger | Fair | Tailwater fishing for saugers is being reported as hit or miss. Try fishing with jigs and minnows or trolling three-way rigs with minnows. | Walleye | Fair | Tailwater fishing for walleyes is being reported as hit or miss. Try fishing with jigs and minnows or trolling three-way rigs with minnows. |
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| | | | | | | | | | Tailwater stage at Lock and Dam 18 above Burlington is 2.08 feet and has risen close to 1.5 feet since last weekend. There hasn't been much for walleye and sauger fishing below the dam yet. We have not received any ice condition reports for this pool. |
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| | | | | | Mississippi River Pools 16-19: Tailwater stages have risen since this past weekend but are forecasted to stay fairly steady. Main channel water temperature is around 33 degrees and water clarity is fair. There has been some tailwater fishing but ramp conditions may change. Unsafe ice conditions. If you have questions on fishing Pools 16-19 contact the Fairport Fish Hatchery at 563-263-5062. |
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| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | A good trout stream will stay open during cold weather. Avoid walking on cleared gravel areas in faster moving water. These are brook and brown trout nests or redds. Many trout streams flow through public areas where hunting occurs. Wear plenty of orange so hunters can see you. |
| | | | | | Fish Name | Status | Comments | Brook Trout | Good | Be stealthy approaching streams. Clarity excellent. Find fish in deeper pools above beaver dams. | Brown Trout | Good | Anglers may have to be more stealthy when approaching streams due to clear water. Flip a fly along the edge of vegetation. Try using flies inmitating minnows or other small fish. | Rainbow Trout | Good | Try a small chunk of worm or cheese under a bobber fished through a deeper hole. |
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| | | | | | | | | | The lake has 8-9 inches of ice. Water clarity is good. Please avoid the area around the aerator. |
| | | | | | Fish Name | Status | Comments | Black Crappie | Good | Angles finding fish 6-8 inches using small jigs with wax worms or small plastics. | Bluegill | Good | Anglers finding fish 6-8 inches using small jigs with wax worms or small plastics. |
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| | | | | | | | | | Water clarity excellent with inches of ice. |
| | | | | | Fish Name | Status | Comments | Black Crappie | Good | Anglers finding fish using small jigs with wax worms in 12-15 feet of water around brush piles. | Bluegill | Good | Anglers finding success using small jigs with wax worms in 12-15 feet of water around brush piles. |
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| | | | | | | | | | Water clarity good with 5 inches of ice. Use caution and check ice depths often when going onto the ice. |
| | | | | | Fish Name | Status | Comments | Black Crappie | Good | Use a small jig tipped with wax worms around brush piles. | Bluegill | Good | Use wax worms on a small jig around brush piles. |
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| | | | | | Most area rivers are low with ice along edges or on pools. Majority of lakes and ponds covered with 5-9 inches of ice. Snow forecast for Friday. Temperatures rising through weekend with upper 30's for highs and teen's for lows. Second shotgun deer season continues through Sunday, December 22. For more information, please call the Chuck Gipp Decorah Fish Hatchery at 563-382-8324. |
| | | | | | | | | | | | There have been reports of anglers catching panfish on George Wyth Lake. Reported ice conditions are around five inches. |
| | | | | | Fish Name | Status | Comments | Black Crappie | Fair | | Bluegill | Fair | |
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| | | | | | | | | | Trout streams are in excellent condition. Temperatures are predicted in the mid to upper forties for Christmas week providing for some good insect hatches. |
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| | | | | | Interior rivers remain at low levels and are pretty well iced over at this point. As of this morning there have no reports of ice fishing in the Cedar Falls/Waterloo area. Trout streams remain in excellent condition and provide great angling opportunities for both rainbow and brown trout. For further information contact your local bait shops for additional information. |
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| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | The main part of the lake has open water.
On Dec. 19, Ice thickness off of Ice House Point boat ramp was around 4-5 inches. This is the best ice on the lake - other areas are much thinner or open water. There are large open areas in the main basins. There are open water fishing opportunities at the fish house in Town Bay - the area underneath the structure is kept ice free with a water agitator. |
| | | | | | Fish Name | Status | Comments | Black Crappie | Fair | Use a waxworm or small minnow. | Walleye | Fair | Early ice anglers have had good luck using wigglers and small minnows. Ice is variable, some areas are open water, so check conditions often as you walk around. Most have been fishing around Ice House Pt boat ramp and near the Gunshot hill area. |
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| | | | | | | | | | Only the bays have frozen over with thin ice. Unsafe ice conditions. |
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| | | | | | | | | | A few anglers have been making their way out. The lake is mostly ice covered. Thickness is anywhere from 1 to 7 inches. There are some open water areas so conditions are still really variable. The best ice is in areas near shore. Recently open areas may have just frozen over with thin ice, so check thickness often as you move around. |
| | | | | | Fish Name | Status | Comments | Yellow Bass | Fair | |
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| | | | | | Most area lakes are covered in ice ranging anywhere from 1 to 7 inches thick. Conditions are variable with pockets of open water in the bigger lakes. Check ice often if going out. For more information, contact the Black Hawk District office at 712-657-2638. |
| | | | | | | | | | | | You need a valid fishing license and pay the trout fee to fish for or possess trout. |
| | | | | | Fish Name | Status | Comments | Rainbow Trout | Fair | |
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| | | | | | | | | | Ice thickness is 6 to 8 inches. |
| | | | | | Fish Name | Status | Comments | Black Crappie | Good | Fish near the rushes on the north shore. | Bluegill | Good | Fish a small jig tipped with bait near vegetation. | Walleye | Slow | | Yellow Bass | Fair | Fish a jig tipped with bait in 2 to 3 feet of water. | Yellow Perch | Fair | Most of the perch being caught are 4 to 6 inches. |
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| | | | | | | | | | Ice thickness is 5 to 7 inches. |
| | | | | | Fish Name | Status | Comments | Black Crappie | Slow | Fish a small jig tipped with bait. |
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| | | | | | | | | | Ice thickness is highly variable. There are several aeras of open water. If you do venture out check ice condition as you go. |
| | | | | | Fish Name | Status | Comments | Yellow Perch | Slow | Fish a jig tipped with bait near vegetation. |
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| | | | | | | | | | Ice thickness is 6 to 7 inches near shore. |
| | | | | | Fish Name | Status | Comments | Bluegill | Slow | | Yellow Perch | Slow | Fish a jig tipped with bait in 2 to 3 feet of water. |
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| | | | | | Clear Lake, Crystal Lake, Rice Lake and Silver Lake have aeration systems running. Avoid any open water areas and be cautious of waterfowl holes on these lakes. Check ice thickness often as you go. For information on the lakes and rivers in north central Iowa, contact the Clear Lake Fish and Wildlife office at 641-357-3517. |
| | | | | | | | | | | | The lake fully ice covered with around 8 inches of ice in most areas. There was a large open hole on the lower basin straight out from Bridges Bay as well as an open area on the northern most basin that have frozen over only more recently. |
| | | | | | Fish Name | Status | Comments | Black Crappie | Good | | Bluegill | Good | Many fish have been observed and easily catchable around functional docks. | Largemouth Bass | Fair | Fish are currently a little ways off shore, but some can still be found around docks and other structure. | Yellow Perch | Good | Many fish have been observed, but sorting will most likely be needed. |
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| | | | | | | | | | The lake is fully ice covered with around 8 inches of ice. |
| | | | | | Fish Name | Status | Comments | Walleye | Fair | Anglers have had some success in the morning and afternoon. |
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| | | | | | | | | | The lake is fully ice covered with around 8.5 inches of ice. |
| | | | | | Fish Name | Status | Comments | Walleye | Good | The bite has been hit or miss, but has been very good when the bite is on. |
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| | | | | | | | | | The lake is fully iced over. Some locations have up to 8 inches of ice, but there are areas that are thinner on the main basin that froze more recently. Templar lagoon and out from Hales Slough boat ramp have the best ice. |
| | | | | | Fish Name | Status | Comments | Black Crappie | Good | Anglers have been finding fish of quality size up to 14". | Bluegill | Good | | Walleye | Good | The night shore bite has been good. Evening has been best with leach and bobber from shore or crank baits and slip bobbers by boat. | Yellow Perch | Good | Sorting is needed, but anglers have been finding many of acceptable size. |
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| | | | | | | | | | A few of the bays now have fishable ice, but the main basin has only frozen over more recently. |
| | | | | | Fish Name | Status | Comments | Black Crappie | Fair | | Bluegill | Good | |
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| | | | | | Most lakes are now completely frozen over and have good access at ramp locations. Most area lakes have 7 or more inches of ice, but many of the larger lakes have holes that have frozen over more recently. Recent snows have covered some of these recently frozen areas making it difficult to differentiate. Check ice often when going out. |
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| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Skim Ice to a little thicker and with the trees sticking out of the water..... Very UNSAFE. |
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| | | | | | | | | | UNSAFE ICE. Has skimmed over but what is there was chewed up by the freezing rain. |
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| | | | | | | | | | UNSAFE ICE. Lake did get a chance to refreeze but the freezing rain make what did form very weak. One inch thick honeycomb ice. Some areas of surface water. Unknown if open water or not. |
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| | | | | | | | | | Still finding liquid water on top of the ice. The ice which wasn't a couple if inches thick at best really got chewed up by the rain. |
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| | | | | | | | | | Skim Ice and open patches. UNSAFE. |
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| | | | | | | | | | Skim Ice to maybe just over an inch in areas, some of water next to the shore is thicker but looks honeycombed with the sleet/rain. UNSAFE. |
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| | | | | | Skunk River (Rose Hill to Coppock) |
| | | | The Skunk froze back over in chunks but along the edge is very thin to open water. |
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| | | | | | For more information on the above lakes call the Lake Darling Fisheries Office at (319) 694-2430. |
| | | | | | | | | | | | 5-7" of ice were reported early in the week. Caution should still be used if venturing out. |
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| | | | | | | | | | The lake had skimmed over with ice but the channel is now ripping open again. |
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| | | | | | | | | Most of the lake is skimmed over with ice but there are some open areas as well.
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| | | | | | | | | | The lake is skimmed over with ice. |
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| | | | | | | | | | Some of the lake is being kept open by geese. |
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| | | | | | | | | | Most of the lake is iced over except in the middle where the geese are keeping it open. The ponds are all skimmed over as well. |
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| | | | | | | | | | Most of the lake skimmed over but there is still open water on the main lake. Some parts East of the causeway has had up to 5" but weather conditions have been poor for ice. Ice fishing is still not recommended. |
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| | | | | | | | | | The lake is still 5 feet low from the renovation project. |
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| | | | | | | | | Most of the lake skimmed over but there are some open areas as well.
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| | | | | | | | | | Ice is reported as 4-5" but caution should be used as ice may not be uniform across the lake. |
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| | | | | | | | | | Some areas have 4-6" while there is open water near the west boat ramp yet. An aeration system will be running at the south end of the lake eventually. |
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| | | | | | There is very little safe ice south of Highway 30 at this time. For more information, contact the Lake Macbride Fisheries Station at 319-624-3615. |
| | | | | | | | | | | | The lake is skimmed over with ice. Unsafe ice conditions. |
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| | | | | | | | | | Lake Keomah is drained for a lake restoration project. Please keep out of the lakebed. Conditions of dried silt give the appearance of solid ground when in fact the soils are very soft. |
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| | | | | | | | | | The lake is skimmed over with thin ice. Unsafe ice conditions. |
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| | | | | | | | | | The lake is skimmed over in the bays while the main area of the lake remains open due to goose activity. Unsafe ice conditions. |
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| | | | | | | | | | The lake is skimmed over with ice. Unsafe ice conditions. |
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| | | | | | | | | | The current lake level is 903.08 msl; recreation pool is 904 msl. Lake Rathbun has zebra mussels so properly drain, clean and dry equipment before transporting to another waterbody. The coves and bays have skim ice and the majority of the main lake is open water. Water temperature is 33 degrees. Unsafe ice conditions. |
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| | | | | | | | | | The lake is skimmed over with ice. Unsafe ice conditions. |
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| | | | | | Contact the Rathbun Fish Hatchery at 641-647-2406 with questions about fishing in south central Iowa. Skim ice is forming along the lake edges and coves. Ice is not thick enough to support anglers. |
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| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | As of December 18 Big Creek Lake had thin ice and large areas of open water. |
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| | | | | | | | | | As of December 18 Don Williams Lake was completely ice covered with ice less than 3 inches thick. |
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| | | | | | | | | | On December 18 Lake Petocka was mostly covered in thin ice. |
| | | | | | Fish Name | Status | Comments | Rainbow Trout | Fair | When ice fishing conditions become good, catch trout with jigging spoons or panfish jigs tipped with waxworms. |
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| | | | | | | | | | On December 18 Terra Lake was covered in thin ice. |
| | | | | | Fish Name | Status | Comments | Rainbow Trout | Slow | When ice fishing conditions become good, catch trout with jigging spoons or panfish jigs tipped with waxworms. |
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| | | | | | | | | | On December 18 Triumph Ponds were covered with thin ice. |
| | | | | | Fish Name | Status | Comments | Rainbow Trout | Good | When ice fishing conditions become good, catch trout with jigging spoons or panfish jigs tipped with waxworms. |
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| | | | | | As of December 18, larger lakes in Central Iowa range from open water areas to thin ice. Ponds in Central Iowa were mostly covered in thin ice. Anglers beginning to ice fish on ponds should check ice thickness frequently. More fishing reports will be added as ice fishing activity increases. For information on Central Iowa lakes and rivers contact Ben Dodd at 641-891-3795 or Andy Otting at 515-204-5885. |
| | | | | | | | | | | | Lake is mostly ice covered. Large areas of open water around the beach as of 12/17. |
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| | | | | | | | | | Lake level is currently 11 feet below normal pool. Boat ramp lanes are out of the water at the main boat ramp. Lake is mostly ice covered with pockets of open water on the southern end of the lake. |
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| | | | | | Most Mount Ayr district lakes are mostly covered with ice with pockets of open water. Ice is not thick enough for fishing. Most docks have been removed from lakes for the winter. For more information, please contact the Mount Ayr Fisheries office at 641-931-6031. |
| | | | | | | | | | | | Lake Anita has always been a good ice fishing destination. The panfish population looks good heading into winter. |
| | | | | | Fish Name | Status | Comments | Black Crappie | No Report | | Bluegill | No Report | | Channel Catfish | No Report | | Largemouth Bass | No Report | |
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| | | | | | | | | | Littlefield showed a good panfish population in 2024. Black crappies will average 9 with an occasional 12 inch fish. Sorting will be necessary for 8 inch bluegill. |
| | | | | | Fish Name | Status | Comments | Black Crappie | No Report | | Bluegill | No Report | | Channel Catfish | No Report | | Largemouth Bass | No Report | |
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| | | | | | | | | | Meadow Lake will be a good ice fishing destination this winter. The bluegills will average 8 inches and there is a good population of 9 inch black crappies. Find a deep cedar tree pile for best success. |
| | | | | | Fish Name | Status | Comments | Black Crappie | No Report | | Bluegill | No Report | | Channel Catfish | No Report | | Largemouth Bass | No Report | |
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| | | | | | | | | | Prairie Rose has provided excellent ice fishing since the renovation. This winter will be no exception with large bluegill and a decent crappie population. |
| | | | | | Fish Name | Status | Comments | Black Crappie | No Report | | Bluegill | No Report | | Channel Catfish | No Report | | Largemouth Bass | No Report | |
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| | | | | | | | | | Viking Lake will offer good crappie fishing this winter. The bluegills will average 7.5 inches. |
| | | | | | Fish Name | Status | Comments | Black Crappie | No Report | | Bluegill | No Report | | Channel Catfish | No Report | | Largemouth Bass | No Report | |
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| | | | | | As of 12/18 there are no lakes safe for ice fishing in the southwest district. This is a good time to prepare ice fishing tackle for the season ahead. For information on lakes in the Cold Springs District call (712) 769-2587 |
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