| | | | | 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 at Lynxville is 619.3 feet and predicted to fall to near 618 this week. Water temperature is 83° at the lock & dam. The road at Sny Magill ramp and Harpers Ferry low water will open this week. High water ramp and Nobles Island remains open. |
| | | | | | Fish Name | Status | Comments | Channel Catfish | Good | Fish current eddies with a weighted crawler off the bottom for channel cats | Flathead Catfish | Good | Fish holes with sunken trees using large shiners or a small sunfish for bait | Freshwater Drum | Good | Fish a weighted night-crawler on the bottom for drum in areas with medium current. | Largemouth Bass | Fair | Throw plastics along the shorelines in upper end of backwaters away from the current. | Northern Pike | Fair | Rising summer temperatures will send northern pike into cooler waters. Cast spoons or crankbaits at the mouth of tributary streams. | Smallmouth Bass | Excellent | Smallmouth action has picked up. Fish spinners off rock points along main channel. | Walleye | Fair | Walleye fishing on the wind dams should be picking up with the stable water levels. Try trolling a crawler on a three-way rig. | White Bass | Fair | Inline spinners cast along current breaks can produce some nice white bass. Watch for minnows jumping out of the water to locate schools of feeding white bass. | Yellow Perch | Slow | Fish the current seams off shore using a crappie rig tipped with worms or a minnow. |
|
| | | | | | | | | NOTICE: The final day of RAGBRAI will bring thousands of bicyclists to Guttenberg on Saturday July 26th.
Plan ahead to avoid the congested south boat launch area.
Water level at Guttenberg tailwater is 10.7 feet and expected to recede a foot over the next week. Water temperature is 80° Guttenberg south ramps are open. Water is still slightly stained due to recent rain.
|
| | | | | | Fish Name | Status | Comments | Channel Catfish | Good | Fish current eddies with a weighted crawler off the bottom for channel cats | Flathead Catfish | Good | Fish holes with sunken trees using large shiners or a small sunfish for bait | Freshwater Drum | Good | Fish a weighted night-crawler on the bottom for drum in areas with medium current. | Largemouth Bass | Fair | Throw plastics along the shorelines in upper end of backwaters away from the current. | Northern Pike | Fair | Rising summer temperatures will send northern pike into cooler waters. Cast spoons or crankbaits at the mouth of tributary streams. | Smallmouth Bass | Excellent | Smallmouth action has picked up. Fish spinners off rock points along main channel. | Walleye | Fair | Walleye fishing on the wind dams should be picking up with the stable water levels. Try trolling a crawler on a three-way rig. | White Bass | Fair | Inline spinners cast along current breaks can produce some nice white bass. Watch for minnows jumping out of the water to locate schools of feeding white bass. | Yellow Perch | Fair | Fish the current seams off shore using a crappie rig tipped with worms or a minnow. |
|
| | | | | | | | | | Water level at Lansing is 9.8 feet and is expected to fall to 9 feet this week. Water temperature is 78° in the channel. New Albin Army road ramp and Heytman's Landing are open. |
| | | | | | Fish Name | Status | Comments | Channel Catfish | Good | Fish current eddies with a weighted crawler off the bottom for channel cats. | Flathead Catfish | Good | Fish holes with sunken trees using large shiners or a small sunfish for bait. | Freshwater Drum | Good | Fish a weighted night-crawler on the bottom for drum in areas with medium current. | Largemouth Bass | Good | Throw plastics along the shorelines in upper end of backwaters away from the current. | Northern Pike | Good | Rising summer temperatures will send northern pike into cooler waters. Cast spoons or crankbaits at the mouth of tributary streams. | Smallmouth Bass | Excellent | Smallmouth action has picked up. Fish spinners off rock points along main channel. | Walleye | Fair | Walleye fishing on the wind dams should be picking up with the stable water levels. Try trolling a crawler on a three-way rig. | White Bass | Fair | Inline spinners cast along current breaks can produce some nice white bass. Watch for minnows jumping out of the water to locate schools of feeding white bass. | Yellow Perch | Fair | Fish the current seams off shore using a crappie rig tipped with worms or a minnow. |
|
|
| | | | | NOTICE: The final day of RAGBRAI will bring thousands of bicyclists to Guttenberg on Saturday July 26th.
Plan ahead to avoid the congested south boat launch area.
Upper Mississippi River water levels are gradually receding this week. Water temperature is in the low 80's° Boaters should be aware ramps still have a lot of water and debris present. Water is still stained with some floating debris. Look for fish away from strong current such as backwaters, side channels or at mouth of tributari |
| | | | | | | | | | | | Water level at Dubuque Lock and Dam is receding and presently at 9.9 and level at RR Bridge is 12.0. Water is stained but fishable. Water temperature is in the low 80's. |
| | | | | | Fish Name | Status | Comments | Channel Catfish | Excellent | Use dip baits in moderate current. | Flathead Catfish | Good | Try bank pole fishing using a live bullhead in newly flooded water. | Freshwater Drum | Excellent | Use egg sinker and worm rigs. | Largemouth Bass | Good | Many folks are fishing the weed edges with spinner baits. Also some frog imitation lures are starting to work. | Northern Pike | Good | Use gaudy spinners along weed edges. | Smallmouth Bass | Good | Get spinners or crankbaits as close to rock piles as possible. Must fish in moderate current areas. | White Bass | Good | Look for feeding schools of white bass in the tailwaters and in between wingdams. |
|
| | | | | | | | | | Water level at Bellevue is receding and presently at 11.1 feet. Water is stained. Water temperature is around 81 degrees. The DNR ramp in Bellevue is very close to being launchable for boats again. |
| | | | | | Fish Name | Status | Comments | Channel Catfish | Excellent | Use dip baits in moderate current areas. Do not need to fish deep water, 3 to 6 feet is best. | Flathead Catfish | Good | Use bank poles with live bait. | Freshwater Drum | Excellent | Try fishing in moderate current using Egg sinker and worm rigs. | Largemouth Bass | Good | Fish spinner baits along weed edges. | Smallmouth Bass | Good | Use spinners and crankbaits along rock lines. | White Bass | Excellent | White bass schools have been seen chasing minnows along the channel edges. |
|
| | | | | | | | | | Water level is receding and near 10.7 at Fulton, 13.4 at Camanche and LeClaire is near 8.0 feet. Water temperature is near 82 degrees. |
| | | | | | Fish Name | Status | Comments | Channel Catfish | Good | Try dip baits in moderate current areas. Above tree falls or snags if often a great place to lure abundant channel catfish out to your bait. | Freshwater Drum | Excellent | Try using egg sinker and nightcrawler rigs. | Largemouth Bass | Good | Fish the weed edges with spinnerbaits or frog imitation lures.
| Northern Pike | Good | Use gaudy white spinners along weed edges. | Smallmouth Bass | Good | Smallmouths can be found in abundance along rock lines with moderate current. Use small crankbaits or spinners. | White Bass | Good | Use small spinners or jigs to catch feeding white bass in the tailwaters or in-between winddams in sandy areas. |
|
| | | | | | | | | | Water level is near 11.3 feet and receding, Water is stained and temperature is around 83 degrees. |
| | | | | | Fish Name | Status | Comments | Channel Catfish | Excellent | Dip baits work the best this time of year. Move often if fish are not biting. | Freshwater Drum | Excellent | Try using an egg sinker rig with nightcrawlers for bait. | Smallmouth Bass | Good | Pool 15 is underrated as a smallmouth fishery. Fish along rock line with moderate to strong current using spinners or crankbaits. |
|
|
| | | | | | Water levels continue to recede. The temperature is in the lower to mid 80's throughout the district and water is generally clear or slightly stained. 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 is 11.44 feet and falling. River stage is forecasted to continue falling over the weekend. With the highwater conditions there is some debris and floating vegetation that could make fishing difficult. Flood stage is 15 feet. |
| | | | | | Fish Name | Status | Comments | Bluegill | No Report | Look for bluegills up shallow in the backwaters. Try fishing along brush piles with pieces of worm under a bobber. | Channel Catfish | Fair | Fish for channel catfish around brush piles and snags along the main channel and side channels. Fish upstream of the brush with stinkbait, cut shad, or nightcrawlers. Channel catfish can also be caught floating leeches or crawlers under a bobber along riprap shorelines with current. | Walleye | No Report | Look for walleyes on the wingdams. Try casting or trolling crankbaits on the upstream side of the wingdam. Fish can also be caught casting jigs and plastics to the wingdams. Fishing may be tough with the dirtier water conditions due to recent rains. Fishing could be difficult with the floating grass in the water. | White Bass | No Report | Fish for white bass in areas with current around rocky points or water discharges. Cast crankbaits, inline spinners, or jigs and twister tails. Try fishing for white bass in Sylvan Slough. | White Crappie | No Report | Fish for crappies around brush piles in the backwaters and side channels. Fish with minnows under a bobber or vertical jig with minnows or plastics. |
|
| | | | | | | | | | Tailwater stage at Lock and Dam 16 in Muscatine is 10.74 feet and forecasted to begin falling over the weekend. Flood stage is 15 feet. |
| | | | | | Fish Name | Status | Comments | Bluegill | No Report | Look for bluegills up shallow in the backwaters. Try fishing along brush piles with pieces of worm under a bobber. Backwaters to try are Big Timber and Cleveland Slough. | Channel Catfish | Fair | Fish for channel catfish around brush piles and snags along the main channel and side channels. Fish upstream of the brush with stinkbait, cut shad, or nightcrawlers. Channel catfish can also be caught floating leeches or crawlers under a bobber along riprap shorelines with current. | Walleye | No Report | Look for walleyes on the wingdams. Try casting or trolling crankbaits on the upstream side of the wingdam. Fish can also be caught casting jigs and plastics to the wingdams. Fishing may be tough with the dirtier water conditions due to recent rains. | White Bass | Fair | Fish for white bass in areas with current around rocky points or water discharges. Try fishing along the Muscatine Riverfront along the riprap and areas with current breaks. Cast crankbaits, inline spinners, or jigs and twister tails. | White Crappie | No Report | Fish for crappies around brush piles in the backwaters and side channels. Fish with minnows under a bobber or vertical jig with minnows or plastics. |
|
| | | | | | | | | | Tailwater stage at Lock and Dam 17 at New Boston is 12.80 feet and falling. Flood stage is 15 feet. The gates are out of the water at the Lock and Dam. |
| | | | | | Fish Name | Status | Comments | Bluegill | No Report | Look for bluegills up shallow in the backwaters. Try fishing along brush piles with pieces of worm under a bobber. Try fishing in the Huron Island complex. | Channel Catfish | Fair | Fish for channel catfish around brush piles and snags along the main channel and side channels. Fish upstream of the brush with stinkbait, cut shad, or nightcrawlers. Channel catfish can also be caught floating leeches or crawlers under a bobber along riprap shorelines with current. | Walleye | No Report | Look for walleyes on the wingdams. Try casting or trolling crankbaits on the upstream side of the wingdam. Fish can also be caught casting jigs and plastics to the wingdams. Fishing may be tough with the dirtier water conditions due to recent rains. | White Bass | No Report | Fish for white bass in areas with current around rocky points or water discharges. Cast crankbaits, inline spinners, or jigs and twister tails. | White Crappie | No Report | Fish for crappies around brush piles in the backwaters and side channels. Fish with minnows under a bobber or vertical jig with minnows or plastics. Try fishing in the Huron Island complex. |
|
| | | | | | | | | | Tailwater stage at Lock and Dam 18 above Burlington is 9.57 feet and falling. Flood stage is 10 feet. The gates are out of the water at the lock and dam. River stage at Fort Madison is 527.56 feet and flood stage is 528.0 feet. |
| | | | | | Fish Name | Status | Comments | Bluegill | No Report | Look for bluegills up shallow in the backwaters. Try fishing along brush piles with pieces of worm under a bobber. | Channel Catfish | No Report | Fish for channel catfish around brush piles and snags along the main channel and side channels. Fish upstream of the brush with stinkbait, cut shad, or nightcrawlers. Channel catfish can also be caught floating leeches or crawlers under a bobber along riprap shorelines with current. | Walleye | No Report | Look for walleyes on the wingdams. Try casting or trolling crankbaits on the upstream side of the wingdam. Fish can also be caught casting jigs and plastics to the wingdams. Fishing may be tough with the dirtier water conditions due to recent rains. | White Bass | No Report | Fish for white bass in areas with current around rocky points or water discharges. Cast crankbaits, inline spinners, or jigs and twister tails. | White Crappie | No Report | Fish for crappies around brush piles in the backwaters and side channels. Fish with minnows under a bobber or vertical jig with minnows or plastics. |
|
|
| | | | | | Mississippi River Pools 16-19: Tailwater stages are falling. The main channel water clarity is poor and water temperature is 82-83 degrees. With the high water conditions there is some debris and floating vegetation that could make fishing difficult. If you have questions on fishing Pools 16-19 contact the Fairport Fish Hatchery at 563-263-5062. |
|
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Anglers have been doing fair on both crappie and largemouth bass on Big Woods Lake. |
| | | | | | Fish Name | Status | Comments | Black Crappie | Fair | Look for structure using electronics and use only jigs with or without a minnow. Some sorting may be necessary. | Largemouth Bass | Fair | Focus on mornings and evenings casting and retrieving artificial crankbaits, spinner baits or top water lures. |
|
| | | | | | | | | | There have been reports of anglers catching panfish on George Wyth Lake. |
| | | | | | Fish Name | Status | Comments | Black Crappie | Fair | Locate structure with electronics and try jigging colored tube jigs or a minnow under a slip bobber. |
|
|
| | | | | | Interior rivers continue to drop providing increased angling opportunities. Anglers in and around Black Hawk County are focused on the lakes now with the Cedar River being up and muddy. Fishing overall has been slow due to the recent rainfall events, mid July heat and summer blues. Contact your local area bait shops for additional information. |
| | | | | | | | Cedar River (above Nashua) |
| | | | Water levels stabilizing and clearing after last weeks rain. For more information on water levels, see website at https://water.noaa.gov/gauges/CCYI4. |
| | | | | | Fish Name | Status | Comments | Channel Catfish | Good | Find catfish in off-channel areas with a large amount of woody debris. | Walleye | Fair | The bite will improve as water clears. Find walleye in off-channel areas. Try tossing a crank or spinner bait in front of a brush pile to see if anyone is home. |
|
| | | | | | | | | | All stream stockings announced once a month minimum. Trout streams are in good condition. Long pants or waders protect legs from irritating yellow parsnip and nettles. No see-ums and mosquitoes aggressive. |
| | | | | | Fish Name | Status | Comments | Brook Trout | Fair | Good hatches of a variety of gnats, mayflies, caddis flies, and midges occurring. | Brown Trout | Good | Fish near or around logs or undercut banks. Spinner baits work well. Also try using streamers on larger waterbodies for some exciting action. | Rainbow Trout | Excellent | Use spinner baits, 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. |
|
| | | | | | | | | | Water clarity about 4.5 feet with a green tint from algae bloom. Water temperature low 80's. |
| | | | | | Fish Name | Status | Comments | Black Crappie | Fair | Find crappie in about 5 to 6 feet water. Cast around vegetation or woody habitat for luck. | Bluegill | Fair | Use a small piece of worm on a hook under a bobber near woody or rocky habitat. Use a flyrod tipped with garden hackle for some topwater fun. | Channel Catfish | Good | Catfish cruising in 5 to 6 feet of water near stumps or other structure. Use a hook tipped with a worm or stinkbait. | Largemouth Bass | Fair | Bass activity hit or miss this week. Find fish early morning or evening hanging at edges of weed beds. |
|
| | | | | | | | | | Water clarity good. Water temperatures in 80's. |
| | | | | | Fish Name | Status | Comments | Bluegill | Slow | Use a small jig tipped with a worm fished shallow. | Channel Catfish | Good | Use a worm or hook tipped with stink bait fished on bottom in an area with little vegetation. | Largemouth Bass | Fair | Use a jig tipped with a paddle tail slowly troll along outside edge of vegetation. |
|
| | | | | | Turkey River (above Clermont) |
| | | | Water levels stabilizing and clarity improving. Use care when floating after high water. New snags and strainers could be around the next bend. |
| | | | | | Fish Name | Status | Comments | Walleye | Fair | The bite will improve as water levels stabilize and clear. Try using a flashy lure for luck. |
|
| | | | | | Upper Iowa River (above Decorah) |
| | | | Water levels stabilized with improving clarity. Clarity on the lower reaches still muddy. |
| | | | | | Fish Name | Status | Comments | Walleye | Slow | A lure with flash may spark interest. Look for fish in off-channel areas or around woody habitat. |
|
| | | | | | | | | | Water visibility good to about 2ft. Green algae bloom prevalent. Water temperature low 80's. |
| | | | | | Fish Name | Status | Comments | Bluegill | Good | Find gills along rocky shoreline down to about 6ft. Use a small piece of worm under a bobber. | Channel Catfish | Good | Find trophy catfish near stumps or other woody structure. Use stinkbait or worm for luck. | Largemouth Bass | Fair | Find bass near woody structure or near drop-offs. |
|
|
| | | | | | Temperatures 80's to 60's with a chance of thunderstorms through the weekend. Area water levels continue to stabilize and clear. For more information, please contact the Chuck Gipp Decorah Fish Hatchery at 563-382-8324. |
|
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | The crappie bite has been good recently, but with some sorting needed. |
| | | | | | Fish Name | Status | Comments | Black Crappie | Good | |
|
| | | | | | | | | | Temps are in the low 80s. Anglers have been very successful catching many panfish species lately. The Curlyleaf Pondweed has completely died back for the year, leaving much of the lake completely open. |
| | | | | | Fish Name | Status | Comments | Black Crappie | Good | | Bluegill | Good | Anglers have continued to have good luck on and off shore. | Largemouth Bass | Good | | Yellow Bass | Good | | Yellow Perch | Fair | Many fish have been observed, but sorting will most likely be needed. |
|
| | | | | | | | | | The lake currently has a weed line around the outside perimeter of the lake that can easily be fished by boat. |
| | | | | | Fish Name | Status | Comments | Walleye | Fair | Anglers have had some success in the morning and afternoon. |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Fish Name | Status | Comments | Black Bullhead | Good | Many quality sized fish can be caught just off shore. | Walleye | Fair | The bite has been hit or miss. |
|
| | | | | | | | | | Water temperatures are in the low 80s. The current weed line is currently deeper off shore. The Marble Beach fish cleaning station is fully operational. |
| | | | | | Fish Name | Status | Comments | Black Crappie | Fair | Anglers have been finding fish of quality size up to 14". Anglers have reported some success around Templar Lagoon. | Bluegill | Fair | | Walleye | Fair | | Yellow Perch | Good | Sorting is needed, but anglers have been finding many of acceptable size. |
|
| | | | | | | | | | Temps are in the upper 70s. |
| | | | | | Fish Name | Status | Comments | Black Crappie | Fair | | Bluegill | Good | |
|
|
| | | | | | Area water temperatures are in the upper 70s to mid 80s. Most fish species have finished spawning and have moved off beds towards deeper waters. Most lakes are above crest level. Panfishing has continued to be very good even with the higher temps. For the most up to date information, call 712-330-2542 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | The Lake is 2.8 inches over crest. Water temperature is in the upper 70's. Water clarity is around 35 inches. |
| | | | | | Fish Name | Status | Comments | Largemouth Bass | Fair | | Walleye | Fair | Try jigs and live bait or near vegetation. | Yellow Bass | Fair | Use small jigs near vegetation. Best bite is early morning. |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Fish Name | Status | Comments | Black Crappie | Slow | Drift fish or troll tube jigs near the dredge cut. | Bluegill | Good | Fish a piece of crawler under a bobber near shore. | Largemouth Bass | Fair | |
|
| | | | | | | | | | Water temperature is in the upper 70's. Water clarity is around 10 inches. |
| | | | | | Fish Name | Status | Comments | Bluegill | Fair | Try small jigs or a piece of crawler under a bobber near vegetation. | Largemouth Bass | Good | Use jigs and spinnerbaits near shoreline habitat and rush beds. | Yellow Perch | Slow | Try small jigs with a piece of crawler. Sorting is needed for larger fish. |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Fish Name | Status | Comments | Bluegill | Fair | Fish small jigs or a piece of crawler under a bobber in open areas near vegetation. | Largemouth Bass | Good | Fish weedless baits near vegetation and woody habitat. | Yellow Perch | Slow | Use a small jig in 4-5 feet of water. Perch are scattered; try different locations to find them. |
|
| | | | | | | | | | River level is 6.61 feet. |
| | | | | | Fish Name | Status | Comments | Walleye | No Report | |
|
|
| | | | | | For additional information, contact Clear Lake Fisheries Office at 641-357-3517 |
|
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Water temperature up around 88 degrees. Mostly early morning and late evening bite as normal for this lake. |
| | | | | | Fish Name | Status | Comments | Black Crappie | Fair | Have moved off to the flooded timber and down to 7 to 8 feet deep. Vertically jigging in the trees or drift trolling along the outer edge of the trees. | Bluegill | Fair | Bluegills are down about 6 feet and in the "brushier" flooded timber where they can hide from the bass easier. |
|
| | | | | | Cedar River (Moscow to Columbus Junction) |
| | | | The Cedar is at the "bank full stage" and is slowly starting to drop. |
|
| | | | | | Iowa River (Columbus Junction to Mississippi River) |
| | | | The Iowa is at the minor flood stage in the area around Wapello. Forecasted to drop back down to within its bank sometime late Saturday. |
|
| | | | | | | | | | Water temperature is 87-88 degrees during the afternoon. Water is green from planktonic algae, water clarity at 21 inches. |
| | | | | | Fish Name | Status | Comments | Black Crappie | Fair | Standard summer pattern at Belva Deer continues. Slow trolling a jig and minnow or small crankbait down 10 to 12 feet. Trolling speed just over a mile per hour. Most of the fish are caught before 10 am and after 6 pm. | Bluegill | Fair | vertically jigging a a small jig tipped with waxworms or fish worm over the tops of the mounds at the upper end of the lake. | Largemouth Bass | Fair | The bass like the timber along the old creek channel this time of year and if you can find your way up there when the water is flowing out of the upper marsh in the plunge pool below it. |
|
| | | | | | | | | | Water temperature is holding around 86. degrees. Planktonic algae bloom continues. Water clarity at 18 inches because of it. |
| | | | | | Fish Name | Status | Comments | Black Crappie | Fair | Target habitat in water 7-8 feet deep. At the upper end of the lake move to a little shallower water and hit the brushpiles in 5 to 6 feet of water. They are trying to stay cool. | Bluegill | Fair | With the continued hot weather work the deeper water rock piles in 8 to 10 feet of water. Continue to find some bluegills in shallower (5-6 ft) around the brush piles across the lake from the main boat ramp also. | Channel Catfish | Fair | Just before daylight fishing chicken liver around the point where the bank drops into deeper water quickly. Feeding early before returning to deeper water to beat the heat. |
|
| | | | | | | | | | Water temperature at 86 at lower end 89 at upper end. Water green with a clarity of about 2 feet. Bottom of the thermocline at 12 feet. Fish staying at 6-10 feet. |
| | | | | | Fish Name | Status | Comments | Black Crappie | Fair | The crappies remain out around the artificial habitat in 8 to 10 feet of water suspended a couple of feet above the bottom. | Bluegill | Fair | The bluegills are out just a little deeper. Look in 8 to 9 feet of water out from the rocky shoreline. | Channel Catfish | Fair | Most of the catfish are only a couple of years old and are in the 12-13 inch range. but there are some bigger ones that have moved into the lake from the area ponds. They seem to like the area along the old work road down from the in-lake silt dam | Largemouth Bass | Fair | The bass continue to hold out on the rock piles and other habitat in 6-8 foot of water. |
|
| | | | | | | | | | Water temperature has moved into the mid to upper 80's. |
| | | | | | Fish Name | Status | Comments | Bluegill | Fair | Look for them to be out the 8-10 foot of water in the flooded trees. Slow trolling jigs or vertical jigging next to the habitat. | Largemouth Bass | Fair | Very early morning hours you can find some of the bass in shallow feeding on YOY bluegills and green sunfish. Once the sun gets up they retreat to cooler deeper waters. |
|
| | | | | | Skunk River (Rose Hill to Coppock) |
| | | | About a foot below being bank full. |
|
|
| | | | | | For more information on the above lakes and rivers call the Lake Darling Fisheries Station at (319) 694-2430. |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Fish Name | Status | Comments | Black Crappie | Fair | Fish are suspended out from shore. | Bluegill | Fair | Use small soft plastics on jig head. | Largemouth Bass | Fair | Fish soft plastics or topwater lures. |
|
| | | | | | Cedar River (Cedar Rapids to Moscow) |
| | | | | | | | | Fish Name | Status | Comments | Channel Catfish | Good | Fish brush piles and rock areas. | Flathead Catfish | Fair | Fish brush piles and rock areas. |
|
| | | | | | Cedar River (La Porte City to Cedar Rapids) |
| | | | | | | | | Fish Name | Status | Comments | Channel Catfish | Good | Fish brush piles and rock areas. | Flathead Catfish | Fair | Fish brush piles and rock areas. |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Fish Name | Status | Comments | Largemouth Bass | Fair | Fish soft plastics and top water near weed edges and brush piles. |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Fish Name | Status | Comments | Channel Catfish | Good | Fish near rock areas. | Flathead Catfish | Slow | Fish brush piles and rock edges | Largemouth Bass | Fair | Fish tapering rock banks with crank baits. | Spotted bass | Fair | Fish tapering rock banks with crank baits. | Walleye | No Report | | White Crappie | Fair | Fish brush piles or rock wall areas for suspended fish. |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Fish Name | Status | Comments | Yellow Perch | Fair | Use worms below a bobber on the deeper water drop offs on the north shoreline. |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Fish Name | Status | Comments | Black Crappie | Slow | Fish are suspended out from shore. | Bluegill | Fair | Few fish caught on twister tail from shore. | Largemouth Bass | Good | Use soft plastics or topwater around weed edges |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Fish Name | Status | Comments | Black Crappie | Slow | Look for fish suspended in lake basin. | Bluegill | Fair | Mostly 4"-7" fish getting caught around brush piles. | Channel Catfish | Fair | Fish areas with rock or brush piles | Largemouth Bass | Fair | Use soft plastics or top water lures around brush piles and weed edges |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Fish Name | Status | Comments | Bluegill | Fair | Fish have been in 10-12 FOW off brush piles and weed edges. | Channel Catfish | Good | Anglers are using stink bait or cut bait. | Largemouth Bass | Fair | Fish weed edges with soft plastics or topwater lures | White Crappie | Fair | Look for fish around brush piles or suspended in lake basin |
|
| | | | | | Iowa River (Coralville Lake to River Junction) |
| | | | | | | | | Fish Name | Status | Comments | Channel Catfish | Good | Fish brush piles and rock areas. | Flathead Catfish | Fair | Fish brush piles and rock areas. | Smallmouth Bass | Fair | Fish rock shorelines and current seams. | Spotted bass | Fair | Fish rock shorelines and creek mouths. |
|
| | | | | | Iowa River (Marshalltown to Coralville Lake) |
| | | | | | | | | Fish Name | Status | Comments | Channel Catfish | Good | Fish brush piles and rock areas. | Flathead Catfish | Fair | Fish brush piles and rock areas. |
|
| | | | | | | | | | The seasonal 10 horse motor restriction is now in effect. |
| | | | | | Fish Name | Status | Comments | Black Crappie | Fair | look for suspended fish near weed lines or in basins. | Channel Catfish | Fair | Fish rock areas or brush piles | Flathead Catfish | Fair | Fish rock areas or brush piles. | Largemouth Bass | Fair | Fish weed edges, brush piles or rock edges with stumps. | Spotted bass | Fair | Fish weed edges, brush piles or rock edges with stumps. | Walleye | Slow | Trolling has been most effective. | White Crappie | Fair | Fish around brush piles or look for fish suspended in lake basin. | Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) | Slow | Look for scattered suspended fish around wind blown points or schools of shad. |
|
| | | | | | Wapsi River (Troy Mills to Oxford Junction) |
| | | | | | | | | Fish Name | Status | Comments | Channel Catfish | Good | Fish brush piles and rock areas. | Flathead Catfish | Fair | Fish brush piles and rock areas. | Smallmouth Bass | Fair | Fish rock shorelines and current seams. | Walleye | Fair | Fish rock shorelines and current seams. |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Fish Name | Status | Comments | Black Bullhead | Fair | Use worms below a small bobber. |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Fish Name | Status | Comments | Black Bullhead | Fair | Use worms below a small bobber. | Bluegill | Slow | Fish around rock shoreline | Largemouth Bass | Fair | Use soft plastics or topwater around weed edges. |
|
|
| | | | | | For more information contact the Lake MacBride Fish Station at (319) 624-3615 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Fish Name | Status | Comments | Black Crappie | Fair | Try small jigs around structure and the jetties. | Bluegill | Fair | Try small jigs along the shallows and in open areas in the vegetation. | Largemouth Bass | Good | Use plastics around the jetties and along the face of the dam. |
|
| | | | | | | | | | Lake Keomah is drained for a lake restoration project. Please stay out of the lakebed. |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Fish Name | Status | Comments | Black Crappie | Fair | Target jetties and along the dam with small jigs. | Bluegill | Good | Try small jigs along the shoreline. | Largemouth Bass | Fair | Target the area along the dam and around the jetties. |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Fish Name | Status | Comments | Black Crappie | Fair | Try jigs or jig/minnow combos. Keep moving until finding active fish. | Bluegill | Fair | Use small jigs in the shallows. | Largemouth Bass | Good | Try spinnerbaits and plastics around the fishing jetties and along the face of the dam. |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Fish Name | Status | Comments | Black Crappie | Fair | Use jigs around submerged structure. | Bluegill | Fair | Bluegills are on the beds and moving shallow. Use small jigs in these areas. | Channel Catfish | Fair | Try chicken liver or nightcrawlers. | Largemouth Bass | Fair | Try spinnerbaits and plastics fished around the cedar tree piles. |
|
| | | | | | | | | | The current lake level is 904.94 msl; recreation pool is 904 msl. Lake Rathbun has zebra mussels so properly drain, clean and dry equipment before transporting to another waterbody. |
| | | | | | Fish Name | Status | Comments | Black Crappie | Slow | Look for crappies away from shore around cedar tree piles. | Channel Catfish | Fair | Try chicken liver or cut bait. | Walleye | Fair | Target rock piles and the old river channel with crankbaits or crawler harnesses. | Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) | Good | Hybrids are being caught. Look for rock piles and rock reefs. Try casting crankbaits or vertically jigging. |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Fish Name | Status | Comments | Black Crappie | Fair | Try small jigs along the shoreline and around the jetties. | Bluegill | Fair | Try small jigs around the shallows and on the edge of the lily pads. | Largemouth Bass | Good | Target shorelines and the edge of the lily pads with spinners or plastics. |
|
|
| | | | | | Contact the Rathbun Fish Hatchery at 641-647-2406 with questions about fishing in south central Iowa. |
|
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Anglers may notice orange and white buoys in the NW arm of the lake. These buoys are are marking equipment on the bottom of the lake used in an ongoing fishery research project. Please do not disturb them. |
| | | | | | Fish Name | Status | Comments | Walleye | Fair | Catch walleye jigging or trolling live bait rigs or shad imitating crank baits and plastics off humps, around points and along the edges of aquatic vegetation at depths of 5 to 15 feet. | Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) | Fair | Catch Wipers mostly in the lower half of the lake jigging shad imitating plastics or casting top water lures over the schools. On windy days, focus on shorelines or coves the wind is blowing into. |
|
| | | | | | Des Moines River (Stratford to Saylorville Lake) |
| | | | | | | | | Fish Name | Status | Comments | Channel Catfish | Good | Catch channel catfish using cut baits and stink baits ahead of wood debris. |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Fish Name | Status | Comments | Black Crappie | Fair | Catch suspended crappies drifting or trolling jigs 3 to 6 feet deep. | Bluegill | Fair | Catch bluegills fishing small pieces of night crawlers near the edge of the aquatic vegetation, or using slip bobbers fishing pieces of crawler 3 to 6 feet deep over habitat piles in 15 feet of water or less. |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Fish Name | Status | Comments | Channel Catfish | Good | Catch channel catfish drifting cut baits on the upper end of the reservoir near and above the Mile Long Bridge. | White Bass | Fair | Catch white bass trolling lipless crankbaits, spoons or blade baits along the windblown shorelines and points. |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Fish Name | Status | Comments | White Bass | Good | Catch White Bass trolling lipless cranks baits, spoons and blade baits. Target wind blown shorelines and sharp drop-offs like the Sandpiper Beach area. |
|
|
| | | | | | For information on Central Iowa lakes and rivers contact Andy Otting at 515-204-5885 or Seth Fopma at 641-891-3795. |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Fish Name | Status | Comments | Black Crappie | No Report | | Bluegill | Fair | Cast night crawlers under a bobber to catch 8 inch bluegill. | Largemouth Bass | Good | Anglers report catching all sizes of bass casting the weed edges. |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Fish Name | Status | Comments | Black Crappie | Good | Fish around the jetties with minnows for best success. Early morning has been the best bite. Sorting will be necessary. | Channel Catfish | Fair | Anglers report cut bait has been working well around the jetties. | Largemouth Bass | No Report | Greenfield has a good largemouth bass population. |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Fish Name | Status | Comments | Black Crappie | Slow | | Bluegill | Good | Troll or drift small jigs tipped with crawler for best success. | Channel Catfish | Good | Fish the jetties in the south arm of the lake to catch channel catfish. | Largemouth Bass | Fair | |
|
| | | | | | | | | | Water clarity is 3 feet at Meadow. |
| | | | | | Fish Name | Status | Comments | Black Crappie | No Report | Meadow has a good population of 10 inch black crappie. | Bluegill | No Report | Meadow has 8 inch bluegill. | Channel Catfish | No Report | | Largemouth Bass | Slow | Cast to the tree piles in the lake. |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Fish Name | Status | Comments | Black Crappie | Slow | A few large black crappie have been caught trolling. | Bluegill | Good | Anglers report bluegill are spawning again on the reefs. | Channel Catfish | No Report | | Largemouth Bass | Fair | Largemouth bass are being caught along weed edges and around structure. |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Fish Name | Status | Comments | Black Crappie | No Report | | Largemouth Bass | Fair | |
|
|
| | | | | | For information on lakes in the Cold Springs District call (712) 769-2587 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | Dock is in at main boat ramp. |
| | | | | | Fish Name | Status | Comments | Channel Catfish | Fair | Try using nightcrawlers or cutbait fished along rocky shoreline areas for Channel Catfish of all sizes. |
|
| | | | | | | | | | Dock is in at main boat ramp. |
| | | | | | Fish Name | Status | Comments | Channel Catfish | Fair | Try using nightcrawlers or cutbait fished along rocky shoreline areas for Channel Catfish of all sizes. |
|
| | | | | | | | | | **Driving is prohibited on any service roads used to access the lakebed and the lakebed itself.** Lake level is currently approximately 6 feet below normal pool. Use extra caution as new potential boating hazards may be present with the lake level still low. |
|
| | | | | | | | | | Dock is in at main boat ramp. |
| | | | | | Fish Name | Status | Comments | Bluegill | Slow | Try using jigs tipped with livebait fished along creek channels in the flooded timber for Bluegill of all sizes. | Channel Catfish | Fair | Try using cutbait fished along creek channels in the flooded timber for Channel Catfish of all sizes. |
|
|
| | | | | | Water temperature in most Mount Ayr district lakes is in the low to mid 80's. For more information, please contact the Mount Ayr Fisheries office at 641-931-6031. |
|
|
|
|
|
| |