Northeast

Mississippi River Pools 9 to 15: Water levels on the Mississippi River are approaching normal summer levels. River stage at Guttenberg (Pool 10) is 8.5 feet and is stable, while the tailwater at Bellevue (Pool 13) is at 9 feet and on a slight rise. Water temperature is 60 degrees in Guttenberg and 62 degrees at Bellevue. Walleye and sauger fishing has been slow due to cooler weather temperatures in Pools 9 to 15, but a few fish are being caught. Angers are catching fish in Black Hawk Park (Pool 9), near Lynxville (Pool 10), and off the wing dams in Pools 12 to 15. Try trolling crankbaits, willow cats (madtoms), night crawlers or leeches along the wing dams or in the side sloughs. Fish in the shallow water areas (1 to 4 feet) just before dark with jigs or crankbaits. Bluegill fishing is also beginning to pick up in Pools 9 to 15 in the tailwater areas just outside of the main current in shallow water. The float near Genoa (Pool 9) has been good for bluegill as well as the backwater areas in Pool 10, tailwater of Lock 10, and the tailwater areas, backwaters and flooded vegetation in Pools 12 to 15. A piece of night crawler fished near the bottom in 1 to 5 feet of water has been effective for bluegill anglers. Crappie fishing remains slow with only a few anglers reporting success in Pools 9 to 15. As water temperature rises, look for crappies to congregate around woody debris with little or no current and suspend a night crawler, minnow or jig under a bobber in 1 to 7 feet of water. Crappie numbers and size are excellent this year in Pools 9 and 10, with many large fish observed by DNR personnel during spring netting. Anglers in Brown's Lake (Pool 13) and Middle Sabula Lake (next to the town of Sabula) are reporting good fishing for crappies, bluegills and largemouth bass. Freshwater drum are biting on night crawlers fished in the tailwater areas, sand flats off the main channel or the wing dams in Pools 10 and 11 and off the wing dams and tailwater areas in Pools 12 to 15. White bass fishing is starting to pick up in the tailwater areas of Pools 9 to 11, with fish being taken on jigs and spinners fished in the current. Try fishing for smallmouth bass along any rocky shoreline that has some current in Pools 9 to 11. Smallmouth are being taken on black twister jigs and a variety of crankbaits. Some good catfishing has been reported in the tailwaters of Dam 10 and more, good reports are expected. The bite has been slow for channel catfish in Pools 12 to 15; however, a few have been caught in the main channel border and side chutes with current using leeches and night crawlers floated under a bobber close to shore. Also, try fishing chicken liver or cut bait in the main channel border or tailwater areas of Pools 9 to 15. Largemouth bass fishing is improving in Pools 9 to 15 on a variety of traditional bass lures including soft plastics, crankbaits, spinner baits, top-water lures and jig-and-pigs fished around woody structure, vegetation or rocky shorelines in the backwaters and along the main channel border in areas with little or no current. Some anglers are bow and spear fishing for carp in the shallows in Pools 12 to 15.

Lake Meyer (Winneshiek): Largemouth bass, bluegill and crappie fishing is excellent.

Cedar River (Black Hawk): Catfish are biting on night crawlers and cut-baits fished on the bottom.

Maquoketa River (Delaware and Jones): Walleye fishing is fair on live and artificial baits. Northern pike fishing is good using chubs and/or artificial lures.

Lake Delhi (Delaware): Crappie fishing is fair to good in the shallow water next to rocks or woody structure using minnows under a bobber, or tube jigs. Channel catfish are also biting on dead minnows fished on the bottom. Northern pike fishing is good trolling chubs.

Big Woods Lake (Black Hawk): Crappie fishing has slowed this past weekend due to colder temperatures, but should pick up as the weather improves.

Brinker and Fisher lakes (Black Hawk): Bluegill fishing is good. A few crappies are also being caught in Brinker Lake.

Casey Lake (Tama): Fishing is good for bluegills using small jigs in the shallows.

Northwest

Spirit Lake (Dickinson): Walleye fishing is fair. The best catch is in the evening from Buffalo Run, Reeds Run and Big Stoney Point, using live bait, mainly minnows. Wader fishing is slowing as the water temperature increases and the aquatic vegetation grows. Crappie fishing is fair. A few fish are being caught from the bulrushes. Bullhead fishing is slow with a few monsters caught from the North Grade. The North Grade has been good for a variety of species with water flowing in. For anglers who just want action and don't care what they catch, the North Grade is the best place for find the action.

West Okoboji Lake (Dickinson): Fish Turtle Lake and Triboji for bluegills on wax worms or small earthworms. The bluegills are running a little smaller at Triboji. Largemouth bass are being caught in the canals. Use small twisting crankbaits or spinner baits. Fishing should improve as the water warms. Anglers are catching walleyes in 12 to 16 feet of water trolling crankbaits. Walleyes are also being caught at night near the Hwy. 71 bridge.

East Okoboji Lake (Dickinson): White bass fishing is good using small white twisters and spinners in the spillway and the mouth of the spillway. A few bluegills are being caught in the trestle area on wax worms or small garden worms.

Center Lake (Dickinson): Panfish are still biting. Look for areas of sand as the fish are getting ready to spawn.

Upper Gar (Dickinson): Panfishing is good. The aquatic vegetation is coming up fast. Look for pockets in the vegetation for bluegills and crappies. Largemouth bass are being caught on spinner baits.

Minnewashta (Dickinson): Anglers are catching a few walleyes by the bridge using live bait under a slip bobber, or a twister. Panfish are biting around the docks on mini jigs.

Fairview Pond (Sioux): Largemouth bass can be caught on plastic worms around the south shore. Crappies are suspended around various tree piles and are hitting minnows.

Lake Pahoja (Lyon): There is an excellent population of channel catfish from 1 to 15 pounds. Use stink bait for 1 to 2 pound fish, and crawdads or chicken liver for larger fish. Fish near the points because fish attracting structure is in the area. Crappies will be starting to spawn soon. Fish the rocky areas or the brush piles. Look for bluegills in the shallow flats, including the south dock by the dam, and around the two coves south of Lake View campground.

Storm Lake (Buena Vista): Channel catfish are good on live bait. Walleye are fair to good trolling crankbaits and drifting live bait.

Black Hawk Lake (Sac): Yellow bass fishing is good along wind blown rocky shorelines. The spawn is just about over. Bullhead fishing is excellent all over the lake for 7 to 9-inch fish on night crawlers. Walleye fishing is fair to good using lead heads tipped with a leech under a slip bobber, and crankbaits.

Brushy Creek (Webster): The inconsistent weather is constantly changing the fishing on this lake. The lake water is stained in appearance. The good news is most of the fish that have been caught have been close to shore, including some nice bluegills.

Clear Lake (Cerro Gordo): Walleye fishing is fair trolling crankbaits in 3 to 7 feet of water or using a jig and minnow on the rock reefs or the Ventura Grade. Yellow bass fishing is excellent on the shallow rocky shorelines. Use small jigs - 1/16 ounce or smaller - for best success. Bullheads are hitting on night crawlers fishing on the bottom.

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

Silver Lake (Worth): Anglers are catching yellow perch, and some northern pike, off the fishing jetty using small minnows. Bullhead fishing is excellent using night crawlers on the bottom.

Rice Lake (Winnebago): Bullhead fishing is excellent for quality sized fish using a night crawler on the bottom.

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

 

Southwest

Green Valley (Union): Crappies can still be caught over spawning areas but are moving to deeper water. Fishing is good for catfish on liver and blood baits. Some largemouth bass are being caught. Some bluegill can still be caught from shore with night crawlers. Fishing is good for 12 to 13-inch bullheads on night crawlers.

Three Mile (Union): Some walleye can be caught on leeches and night crawlers near the dam, over the rock piles and off the big points. Crappies are biting in the shallow areas and over the mounds. Channel catfish caught using blood bait or liver in the shallow bays. Largemouth bass can be caught along 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 using leeches and night crawlers up around the big points.

Walnut Creek Marsh (Ringgold): Bluegill fishing is fair to good using night crawlers and small jigs along the south dike.

Fogle Lake (Ringgold): Channel catfish can be caught using liver in shallow water. Crappie and largemouth bass can be caught from the rocks. Bluegill can be caught anywhere near shore or over the rocks around the corners of the dam.

Little River (Decatur): The 9 to 10-inch crappies are easy to catch over the rocks and from the spawning areas. Some bluegills are being caught in the shallows on night crawlers. Channel catfish can be caught from the shallow bays. Walleye fishing is good using leeches in and around the big points.

Slip Bluff (Decatur): Some bluegill and crappie can be caught along shore and in the shallow cover.

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

Wilson (Taylor): Bluegills can be caught in the bays on the south shore.

Windmill Lake (Taylor): Bluegill and crappie fishing is good in the corners of the dam and in the shallows.

West Lake Osceola (Clarke): Bluegills can be caught with night crawlers in the bays. Large numbers of crappie can be caught from the dam and in spawning areas. Largemouth bass fishing is good.

Grade Lake (Clarke): Fishing is good for bluegills in the corners of the dam and the points of the small bays. Fishing is also good for medium size bass.

Viking (Montgomery): Crappie fishing is fair in 6 to 8 feet of water around structure. Use a small jig or minnow, and a bobber. Bluegills are beginning to spawn; cast small jigs close to shore. Largemouth bass fishing is also good using plastic baits with a slow retrieve. Channel catfish are being caught using liver and stink bait.

Cold Springs (Cass): Channel catfish are being caught using liver. Crappie fishing is good around sunken trees. Bluegills are being caught off spawning beds.

Manawa (Pottawattamie): Channel catfish are being caught using cut bait. Walleyes are being caught along rocky shore in evening drifting night crawlers. Largemouth bass fishing is fair using a slow presentation with spinner baits and plastic worms.

Orient (Adair): Fishing is fair for 7 to 8-inch crappies along the rocks. Channel catfish are being caught using liver early in the morning.

Mormon Trail (Adair): Anglers are catching a few crappies and catfish. Bluegills are being caught off spawning beds.

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. Largemouth bass fishing has picked up using crankbaits and plastic worms. Channel catfish fishing has picked up using liver.

DeSoto Bend (Harrison): Walleye fishing is fair jigging minnows around brush piles. Bluegills, 6 to 6 ½-inches, are being caught on spawning beds. Channel catfish are being caught using liver.

Willow Lake (Harrison): Bluegills are being caught using worms. Crappie fishing is good using small jigs on corner of dam. A few catfish are being caught in shallow coves using liver.

Don Williams (Boone): Crappie fishing is excellent on minnows and jigs. Largemouth bass fishing has been good. Bluegill fishing has been slow on worms. Several anglers reported walleye from 18 to 20 inches long.

Hickory Grove (Story): Crappie fishing has been good using crappie jigs and minnows. Bluegill fishing is fair 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. Bullheads and channel catfish fishing have been fair using worms and/or chicken liver.

Big Creek (Polk): Bluegill fishing has been fair to good with worms. Crappie fishing has been fair, with some good catches of nice sized crappie using jigs and minnows.

Easter Lake (Polk): Crappie fishing has been good using jigs. Most fish are 6 to 8 inches. Bluegill fishing has been fair to good with some nice 8-inch fish reported. Channel catfish fishing has been slow but starting to pick up. Largemouth bass fishing has been good using plastic worms.

Saylorville Lake (Polk): Crappie and white bass fishing has been good to excellent at the outlet from Big Creek Lake. Fish have been caught on a variety of lures with reports of nice-sized fish of a variety of species caught.

Below Saylorville Dam (Polk): Crappie fishing was good in the tailwater ponds at Saylorville. White bass fishing has been good using jigs and/or minnows.

Des Moines River (Polk): Crappie and white bass fishing has been fair to good in the Des Moines River below Scott Street and Center Street dams.

Lake Red Rock (Marion): Crappie fishing has been fair, with some nice fish caught using jig and a minnow combination and jigs alone. Fish the shallow, warmer water, and around the outlet from Roberts Creek. Channel catfish fishing has been good to excellent in the upper reaches of the reservoir off the old roadbeds.

Roberts Creek (Marion): Crappie fishing has been good near the outlet using a jig and a minnow combination. Channel catfish fishing has been good near the outlet.

Lake Ahquabi (Warren): Crappie fishing has been fair using jigs and minnows. Largemouth bass fishing has been good using plastic worms and spinner lures, although most have been below the length limit. Bluegill and redear fishing is fair on worms.

Hooper Lake (Warren): Crappie fishing has been fair using a jig and a minnow combination. Largemouth bass fishing has been good using plastic worms and spinner lures.

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 good. At the gauging station on Pool 16 (near Muscatine) the water temperature is 66 degrees and the river pool stage is 11.30 feet and is expected to rise gradually over the next several days. Anglers continue to do well catching channel catfish using leeches and worms. Crappie fishing continues to be good in the backwaters on minnows, jigs and slip bobbers. Bluegill fishing has also been good on worms and small jigs and bobber rigs. Anglers are also picking up a few largemouth bass. Try fishing for crappies, bluegills and bass in any of the deeper accessible backwaters (Andalusia Slough in Pool 16, Big Timber in Pool 17, Lake Odessa in Pool 17, Huron Island in Pool 18 and Carthage Lake in Pool 19). Freshwater drum fishing has been good. Walleye and sauger fishing has been slow.

Lake Odessa (Louisa): Crappie fishing is still hit or miss, depending on the weather. Crappie anglers have been catching lots of nice catfish on their jig and minnows rigs. There are also some nice messes of bluegills being caught as the males are coming in the shallows.

Lake Darling (Washington): Water temperature is in the middle to upper 60s. Finally the bigger crappies started to spawn this weekend. Sorting through the smaller ones is required until the peak arrives and the big ones move in. Fish the shallow bays with twister tail jigs fished slowly for the best chance at a mess of keeper size crappies. The male bluegills are also in the shallows picking out territories. Some nice 7 to 8-inch bluegills should be caught this year.

Lake Geode (Henry): Bluegill fishing is good to excellent. Look for them to be picking out territories in the shallow bays. Clear water means light tackle and small bobbers that barely float with the weight of the bait. Water temps are in the upper 60s. The bridge across the spillway is now open.

Lake Belva Deer (Keokuk): Bluegill fishing has been excellent for the most part, but bad weather has led to some slow days. Anglers are starting to pick up a few nice crappies. Crappies and bluegills are in shallow water. Water temperature was 64 on Friday.

Lake Rathbun (Appanoose): Crappies have been biting on tube jigs and minnows in shallow water areas and in water up to 20 feet deep. A few walleyes are being caught on jigs and minnows. Channel catfish have been biting on night crawlers around the Bridgeview bridge embankments.

Lake Hawthorn (Mahaska): Crappies and bluegills have been biting on tube jigs and minnows. Crappies are being caught along the rocky shorelines and the bluegills have been hitting on the flats as they move into shallow water.

Lake Wapello (Davis): Crappies have been hitting on small tube jigs around the shorelines. Bluegills have been biting on small jigs fished around structure. Largemouth bass have been hitting on a variety of artificial lures fished around the different types of submerged structures around the lake.

Lake Keomah (Mahaska): Channel catfish have been biting on night crawlers and liver. Largemouth bass have been hitting on spinner baits.

Lake Macbride (Johnson): Crappies are being caught in shallow brush piles using minnows under bobbers or a jig and minnow combination. Large numbers of 5 to 8-inch bluegills are in the shallows and are usually eager to bite.

Pleasant Creek (Linn): Some anglers are having success with 9 to 11-inch spawning crappies. Bluegills are also being caught in the shallows while preparing to spawn.

Hannen Lake (Benton): Anglers are catching 6 to 9-inch bluegills. Largemouth bass are being caught regularly in the shallows.

Diamond Lake (Poweshiek): A few crappies are still being caught. They are moving shallow, but are not yet to the bank. Bluegills have moved shallow and are biting.

Kent Park (Johnson): Some bluegills continue to be caught and have moved a little more shallow than last week. Anglers are also catching a few channel catfish and largemouth bass.

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

Lake Iowa (Iowa): Bluegills are being targeted in the shallows using wax worms. Crappies are also being caught on occasion as their spawn is wrapping up.

Skunk River (Keokuk and Washington): Catfishing has been slow as the river level is quickly dropping.

Iowa River (Louisa): The river remains high and muddy as more water is let out of the reservoir to lower levels below flood stage above the Coralville Reservoir.

English River (Keokuk and Washington): Water levels are back to more normal levels. Catfishing has been slow during the drop in water but should improve as the river stabilizes.

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