Northeast

Mississippi River Pools 9 to 15: Water levels on the Mississippi River continue to fall and river stage is 6.9 feet at Guttenberg, 7.52 feet at Bellevue and dropping. Water levels should stabilize during the coming week. Water temperatures have climbed back into the lower 60s. Fishing conditions continue to improve on the Mississippi and some great fishing can be expected during the coming weeks. Walleye fishing on the wing dams in Pools 9 to 11 is very good trolling crankbaits or three-ways with floating jigs tipped with night crawlers or minnows. Walleye fishing along the rocky shorelines or wing dams in Pools 12 to 15 is fair using leeches, night crawlers or minnows on three-ways or jigs. Sauger fishing is fair in Pool 9 in Minnesota Slough and other running sloughs. Bluegill fishing is very good right now in the tailwaters of Lock and Dams 10 to 15 fishing a piece of night crawler off the bottom. Anglers are catching more bluegill around structure in the backwaters and near the main channel border. Bluegill fishing has been good near the Nobel Island area (Pool 10). Largemouth bass fishing has picked up in the past week in Pools 9 to 15 on crankbaits, spinner baits, top-water lures and jig-and-pigs fished around woody structure and rocky shorelines. Smallmouth bass are being taken on crankbaits thrown next to fallen trees in Pools 9 to 11. Freshwater drum fishing is very good in Pools 9 to 11 and fair in Pools 12 to 15 fishing night crawlers in the tailwaters and wing dams. Channel catfish are biting in Pools 12 to 15 on night crawlers and cheese baits along the main channel border, main chute borders and side chutes. Channel catfish can be found in water anywhere from 2 to 15 feet deep. Crappie fishing is fair in 3 to 8 feet of water in the backwater areas of Pools 12 to 15 using minnows or jigs straight lining or fishing with a bobber next to brush or submerged vegetation. Middle Sabula Lake (Pool 13) is very good for white bass, largemouth bass and crappies. Anglers are reminded that

Middle Sabula Lake is considered an inland lake and, as such, anglers must possess either an Iowa resident or nonresident fishing license to fish this area.

Cedar River (Mitchell and Floyd): Walleye fishing is good using light-colored jigs or minnows. Walleye fishing is slower on this stretch of the river in Bremer and Black Hawk counties; however, anglers are catching channel catfish fishing cut baits in these areas.

Maquoketa River (Delaware and Jones): Smallmouth bass fishing is good in the deeper pools using either jig and night crawler or jig and minnow combination. Fishing is fair for walleye.

Shell Rock River (Bremer and Butler): Anglers are catching a few walleyes on jigs tipped with a night crawler. Fishing is good for channel catfish using cut baits.

Upper Iowa River (Winneshiek): Walleye and smallmouth bass fishing is good using dark colored jigs.

Lake Meyer (Winneshiek): Crappie fishing is good using small jigs or minnows fished near sunken trees.

Lake Hendricks (Howard): Crappie fishing is good on small, light-colored jigs or minnows fished under a bobber next to structure.

Big Woods Lake (Black Hawk) has produced some of the better crappie fishing in the area this spring. Use a minnow under a bobber on warm afternoons for the best results.

Brinker and George Wyth Lakes (Black Hawk) are good for yellow bass using minnows under a bobber.

Casey Lake (Tama) is good for bluegills on small jigs fished in the shallows.

Northwest

Spirit Lake (Dickinson): Crappie fishing was fair last week at the North Grade and Templar Park using small tube jigs and minnows. Largemouth bass fishing has picked up using jerk-baits and spinner-baits. Walleye fishing was sporadic for the opener. Anglers fishing at night from boats or docks did well. Daytime fishing was poor. All sizes were being caught at night using twisters, leeches or minnows on slip bobbers and trolling crankbaits. Best fishing was 2 to 10-feet of water at night and 12 to 18 feet of water during the day. Another option is to fish where water is entering the lake - North Grade, Hales Slough, Buffalo Run and Templar Park.

West Okoboji Lake (Dickinson): Bluegill fishing was fair in the Emerson Bay canals, Miller's Bay canals and Lazy Lagoon using wax worms and small earthworms. Largemouth bass fishing is fair using small twisting crankbaits or spinner-baits around docks and in the canals. Walleye fishing was good for the opener.

East Okoboji Lake (Dickinson): White bass fishing has been fair at the north end of the lake, but is improving. Small spinners or floating crankbaits has worked well. Walleye fishing was good with many small fish caught, and a few really nice sized fish mixed in. Anglers trolled spinners and crankbaits and drifted with live bait.

Minnewashta (Dickinson): Anglers are catching a few walleyes and white bass using twisters and crankbaits by the bridge in the evening.

Silver Lake (Dickinson): Walleye fishing is fair using twisters and shallow running crankbaits, or using minnows or night crawlers on a floating jig head or live bait harness. Work the presentation slowly. Most shore activity has been on the west side and Trappers Bay. Boat activity is concentrated around the island. Fishing has been best in the late evening.

Lost Island Lake (Clay and Palo Alto): Walleye fishing is fair. Fish the east shore in the park or the southwest bridge.

Five Island (Palo Alto): Walleye fishing is good on the east side from the trestle to the outlet. Anglers are catching 15 to 20-inch fish.

Storm Lake (Buena Vista): Walleye fishing is good, but spotty. Trolling crankbaits on the north shore is working best. Anglers are reminded there is a 15-inch minimum length limit at Storm, and only one fish longer than 22 inches is allowed per day. Channel catfish fishing is good on a variety of bait.

Black Hawk Lake (Sac): Channel catfish fishing is very good on windy days using cut bait or shad entrails. Yellow bass fishing is red hot with almost a fish caught on each cast. This won't last long, as the spawn will be over soon. Fish into the wind near rocks with a small leadheads. Wind is a must. Fishing is excellent for 7-1/2 to 9-inch bullheads, especially near the inlet bridge.

Brushy Creek (Webster): Fishing has improved with the warmer weather and the best fishing is at dusk. A few nice walleyes have been caught using slip bobbers and leeches, minnows or night crawlers. Bass and bluegills are moving to shallow water. A few muskellunge have been caught within the last week.

Clear Lake (Cerro Gordo): Walleye fishing is fair. Trolling crankbaits in 3 to 7 feet of water or using a jig and minnow over the rock reefs is working best. Yellow bass fishing is excellent. Fish are moving in the shallow rocky shorelines to spawn. Use small jigs - 1/16-ounce or smaller, for the best success. Bullheads are fair using night crawlers in the west end.

Beeds Lake (Franklin): Crappie fishing is good using small jigs and minnows along the causeway and jetties.

Rice Lake (Winnebago and Worth): Yellow perch are hitting small jigs and minnows. Sorting is required, but 8 to 10-inch perch are available.

Silver Lake (Worth): Yellow perch are hitting off the jetty. Use small minnows for the best action. Bullhead fishing is excellent using night crawlers on the bottom. Northern pike fishing is fair. Pike are being caught while perch fishing.

For more information on fishing in northwest Iowa, call the regional office in Spirit Lake at 712-336-1840.

 

Southwest

Green Valley (Union): Good numbers of large crappie are being caught over the rocks and shallow spawning areas.

Three Mile (Union): Some walleye can be caught on crankbaits near the dam and over the rock piles. Crappies are starting to bite in the shallow areas and over the mounds. Channel catfish caught using blood bait or liver in the shallow bays and the upper end of the lake. Largemouth bass can be caught along the shore or in the shallow cover.

Twelve Mile (Union): Channel catfish can be caught on liver or blood baits at the upper end and in shallow bays. Big walleye are being picked up around the big points.

Walnut Creek Marsh (Ringgold): Bluegill and crappie can be caught along the south dike using night crawlers and small jigs.

Fogle Lake (Ringgold): Channel catfish can be caught in shallow water. Crappie and largemouth bass can be caught from the rocks. Some bluegill can be caught from the rocks or in the shallow spawning areas.

Little River (Decatur): Some medium sized crappie can be caught over the rocks and from the spawning areas. Some bluegills are being caught in the shallows on crawlers. Channel catfish can be caught from the upper end and shallow bays. Walleye fishing is good off the dam and around the points.

Badger Creek (Madison): Some bluegill and crappie can be caught from the rocks of the jetties and off the rocked roadways using night crawlers or light jigs.

Wilson (Taylor): Some crappie can be caught from the dam using light jigs.

Windmill Lake (Taylor): Bluegill fishing is good in the corners of the dam and in the shallow spawning areas.

West Lake Osceola (Clarke): Bluegills and crappie are starting in the shallow spawning areas.

Grade Lake (Clarke): Some nice bluegills are being caught from the corners of the dam and the point of the small bays.

Viking (Montgomery): Crappie fishing is excellent. Crappies are close to shore spawning. Use a small jig, casting close to shore. Bluegills are being caught using small jigs tipped with night crawlers. Largemouth bass fishing is also good using plastic baits with a slow retrieve.

Cold Springs (Cass): Crappie and bluegill fishing has picked up with warming water temperatures. Cast small jigs around rocks on shore in 2 to 5 feet of water.

Manawa (Pottawattamie): Largemouth bass fishing is fair using a slow presentation with spinner baits and plastic worms. Crappies are being caught on west end of lake using small jigs.

Orient (Adair): Fishing is fair for 7 to 8-inch crappies along the rocks.

Mormon Trail (Adair): A few crappies and catfish are being caught.

Greenfield (Adair): A few crappies are being caught around brush piles using minnows. Bass and a few bluegills are also being caught.

Prairie Rose (Shelby): Warm temperatures have improved fishing success. Crappies and bluegills are being caught near shore. Use small jigs tipped with night crawlers.

DeSoto Bend (Harrison): A few walleyes are still being caught jigging minnows around brush piles. Crappies are just beginning to spawn. Cast small jigs near shore.

Willow Lake (Harrison): A few crappies are being caught in the brush piles. Bluegills are being caught using worms.

Don Williams (Boone): Crappie fishing is good using minnows and jigs. Largemouth bass fishing has been good. Bluegill fishing has been fair on worms.

Hickory Grove (Story): Crappie fishing has been good using crappie jigs with minnows. Bluegill fishing is good on worms and bobbers. Largemouth bass fishing has been fair, with a few fish up to 19 inches.

Rock Creek (Jasper): Bluegill fishing has been fair using worms. Crappie fishing has been fair to good using jigs and minnows. Largemouth bass and saugeye fishing has been good using soft bodied lures near the shore. Bullhead and channel catfish fishing has been fair using worms and/or chicken liver.

Big Creek (Polk): Bluegill fishing has been good to excellent with traditional gear. Crappie fishing has been fair, with some good catches reported using jigs and minnows. Walleye fishing has been fair with spinner baits and bottom rigs.

Easter Lake (Polk): Crappie fishing has been good to excellent using jigs with most fish in the 6 to 8-inch size range. Largemouth bass fishing has been good using plastic worms. Some walleye have been caught.

Below Saylorville Dam (Polk): Crappie fishing was good to excellent in the tail waters of Saylorville. Walleye and white bass fishing has been good to excellent using jigs and/or minnows.

Lake Red Rock (Marion): Crappie fishing has been fair, with some nice sized fish caught using jig and minnow combinations, and jigs alone. The better areas are areas with shallow, warm water, and around the outlet from Roberts Creek. White bass fishing has been spotty. The outlet area from Roberts Creek is a good area.

Below Lake Red Rock (Marion): Walleye fishing is slow to fair in the tail water using jigs. White bass fishing has been fair using jigs/minnows and crappie fishing is fair.

Roberts Creek (Marion): Crappie fishing has been fair near the outlet using jig and minnow combinations.

Lake Ahquabi (Warren): Crappie fishing has been good to excellent using jigs and minnows. Largemouth bass fishing has been good using plastic worms and spinner lures, and on hooks and worms. Bluegill and redear fishing is fair on worms. Try around the fishing jetties and off the fish house on the south side of the lake.

For more information on fishing in southwest Iowa, call the regional office in Lewis at 712-769-2587.

 

Southeast

Mississippi River Pools 16 to 19: Fishing on the Mississippi River Pools (16 to 19) has been fair. Water temperature at Muscatine (Pool 16) is 64 degrees and the river pool stage is 11.41 feet and is expected to drop gradually over the next several days. In Pool 16 to 19, anglers have been doing well catching channel catfish on various baits - worms, stink bait, leaf worms, shad guts and crushed minnows. Crappie and bluegill fishing has been picking up in backwater areas, such as Big Timber and Odessa, on small minnows, wax worms, worms and on jigs. Walleye and sauger fishing has improved in the tail waters and throughout the river. Try using crankbaits or jigs tipped with minnows or leeches. Largemouth bass fishing has been good in the backwaters and particularly good in Pool 19. Bass are being caught on artificials and worms.

Lake Odessa (Louisa): Fishing has slowed since last week's cold snap.

Lake Darling (Washington): Anglers were catching a few smaller, pre-spawn crappies this weekend. Water clarity is good for Lake Darling. A couple more warm days and the crappies will be spawning.

Lake Geode (Henry): Anglers were catching some nice crappies over the weekend as well as a few bluegills. The bridge over the spillway is still closed for rebuilding.

Lake Belva Deer (Keokuk): Fishing has been slow. Anglers are starting to catch a few 7 to 8-inch crappies, but not in any numbers. Bluegill fishing has been slow; look for them in the deeper water around the trees.

Lake Rathbun (Appanoose): Crappie fishing has improved. Anglers have been using small jigs and minnows. Crappies continue to move into shallower water as the water temperature increases. Channel catfish have been hitting on night crawlers and stink bait.

Lake Sugema (Van Buren): Crappies have been biting on small jigs and minnows. Anglers having the best luck have been fishing in 5 to 10 feet of water. Largemouth bass have been hitting on crankbaits and spinner baits.

Lake Hawthorn (Mahaska): Crappies have been hitting on small jigs and minnows. Largemouth bass have been hitting on a variety of artificial lures. The most productive areas have been along the riprapped shorelines.

Lake Wapello (Davis): Bluegills have been hitting on small jigs fished around shallow water structure. Largemouth bass have been hitting on artificial lures fished around the submerged cedar trees and pallet structures.

Lake Macbride (Johnson): Anglers are catching crappies in the shallow water brush piles using minnows under bobbers, or using a jig and minnow combination.

Coralville Reservoir (Johnson): Channel catfish are biting on dead shad. Look for them on the rocky areas.

Pleasant Creek (Linn): Anglers are catching a few walleyes trolling live bait rigs or crankbaits on the rocks.

Hannen Lake (Benton): Bluegills in the 6 to 9-inch range are being caught. The best fishing is in 4 to 5 feet of water.

Diamond Lake (Poweshiek): A few crappies are being caught. The fish are moving shallow, but are not yet to the bank. Look for suspended fish and try small jigs for best results.

Kent Park (Johnson): Crappies and bluegills continue to be caught in shallow water: more shallow than last week. Use small baits suspended off the bottom. Anglers are also catching a few channel catfish and largemouth bass.

Union Grove (Tama): A few crappies, most 7 to 9 inches, are being caught. Try the shallow brush for best results.

For more information on fishing in southeast Iowa, call the regional office in Brighton at 319-694-2430.