Northeast

Mississippi River Pools 9 to 15: River stage was 9 feet at Guttenberg on Tuesday and falling, but water levels are forecasted to level out by Wednesday. The gates at Lock and Dam 10 are in and water temperature is 57 degrees. Many species of fish are beginning to bite with the warmer water temperatures. Many anglers are catching nice-sized bluegill at the new DNR boat ramp in Guttenberg (Pool 11) and also along the emergency spillway on the Wisconsin side. Bluegill and crappie fishing is fair to good in Pools 12 to 15, and the bite will improve as the water temperatures rise. Nice size freshwater drum have bit consistently this spring. Simple rigs with worms and sliding egg sinkers have been the most effective. Drum are being caught in the tailwaters at Lynxville (Pool 10) and Guttenberg (Pool 11), but can also be found in many other places with moderate current in Pools 9 to 11. A few flathead catfish are being caught using chubs in the tailwater areas (Pools 9 to 11) and channel catfish are fair to good using stink bait, cut bait, chicken liver and night crawlers. Pool 10 anglers are reporting catching bluegill and crappie below Lock and Dam 9. Walleye and sauger spawning is over and fish have moved out of the tailwater areas and can be found at their normal summer haunts. Walleye are beginning to bite off the ends of wing dams in Pools 9 to 14. Largemouth bass are beginning to bite on plastic spinner baits fished in the backwater areas of Pools 12 to 15. White bass are being caught in areas of current where the bait fish are concentrating in Pools 12 to 15.

Upper Iowa (Winneshiek and Allamakee) and Turkey (Clayton) rivers: Sucker fishing was good to excellent before the weekend rains. Fishing will improve as water conditions stabilize.

Big Woods Lake (Black Hawk): Crappie fishing is good dragging a 1/32-ounce twister tail through 5 to 15 feet of water. Crappie length is about 8 to 9 inches.

South Prairie Lake (Black Hawk): Anglers are catching a few crappies on minnows. This lake has excellent shore access for anglers.

Lake Delhi (Delaware): Fishing for channel catfish is good using cut baits or night crawlers. The best fishing can be found in the upper half of the lake in or near the flow from the Maquoketa River.

Silver Lake (Delaware): Seven-inch bluegills are hitting jigs tipped with a wax worm suspended three feet below a bobber.

Meyer Lake (Winneshiek) and Lake Hendricks (Howard): Largemouth bass fishing is fair to good using plastic worms fished near woody structure or rocks. Crappie and bluegill fishing is still slow in these lakes.

Sweet Marsh Lake (Bremer): Crappie fishing is fair to good in the canal and along the rocky shorelines by the dike.

Volga Lake (Fayette): A few crappies are biting on small minnows fished near the dam. Bluegill fishing is fair using wax worms fished off the rocks along the dam.

Northwest

Walleye season opens at 12 a.m., May 6 on East and West Okoboji lakes, and on Spirit Lake. Muskellunge season remains closed until May 21 on the same lakes.

Spirit Lake (Dickinson): A few crappies are being caught around Buffalo Run and Templar Park from shore using small tube and hair jigs. Anglers are catching bullheads and largemouth bass at the North Grade.

West Okoboji Lake (Dickinson): Bluegills are being caught in the canals, Triboji and the Harbor with a piece of garden worm. Crappies are being caught around the entrances to the canals and the Harbor with little tube jigs. Anglers are catching largemouth bass in the canals and around brush using soft plastic lures. Smallmouth bass are being caught off the deer rocks using drop shot rigs and vertical jigging.

East Okoboji Lake (Dickinson): Anglers are catching white bass in the spillway. A reminder to anglers - snagging is illegal around bridge areas and below the spillway. Try white minnow imitating baits or small inline spinners.

Lake Minnewashta (Dickinson): Anglers are catching walleyes in the evening throwing jigs. Remember the 14-inch minimum length limit.

Center Lake (Dickinson): Walleye fishing is good on the south end of the lake. Anglers are catching crappies and bluegills around brush along with a few white bass.

Silver Lake (Dickinson): Walleye fishing is fair in the eveing using minnows. Anglers are catching mostly small fish.

Pleasant Lake (Dickinson): Anglers are catching some 10-inch yellow perch.

Ingham Lake (Emmet): Anglers are catching 9 to 11-inch crappies, and 2 to 5 pound channel catfish around submerged brush.

West Fork Des Moines River (Emmet): Some nice walleyes are being caught using jigs around creek inlets.

Willow Creek (Osceola): There is a good population of 3 to 5-pound channel catfish in the lake. Fish around the submerged brush and along the dam.

Five Island Lake (Palo Alto): Anglers are catching channel catfish on cut bait. Walleyes between 12 and 20 inches are being caught in the evening.

Lost Island Lake (Clay and Palo Alto): Black crappies are being caught around the riprap.

Lake Pahoja (Lyon): Small crappies are being caught from the pier using small jigs.

Brushy Creek (Webster): Anglers are catching bass along the shoreline and in areas with structure. Walleye fishing has increased, with the early morning being the best time to fish. The recent rain and warmer weather should bring the panfish to the shoreline and bays.

Black Hawk Lake (Sac): A few walleyes are being caught on leeches and jig heads in the dredge cuts. Fishing is good for 8 to 9-inch bullheads.

North Twin Lake (Calhoun): Fishing is good for yellow bass, crappies and bluegills.

Yellow Smoke Lake (Crawford): Bluegill and crappie fishing is fair to good. Boat anglers and those fishing form the pier have had good luck.

Nelson Park (Crawford): Fishing is good for 8-inch and larger bluegills using jigs and wax worms from the dam.

Badger Lake (Webster): Fishing is good for 8 to 10-inch crappies using small jigs under a little bobber.

Clear Lake (Cerro Gordo): Walleye fishing is fair near the shallow rocky shorelines and the reefs. Fish these areas in the mornings and evening for the best action. Jigs and minnows are producing the best, but some fish are being taken while trolling crankbaits. Yellow bass fishing has been fair to good. Fish near the island, Dodge's Point, the outlet area, Farmer's beach and the north shore. Use small jigs, minnows and cut bait for the best yellow action. Bullhead fishing is fair at the Ventura Grade Access using night crawlers on the bottom.

Rice Lake (Winnebago): Bullhead fishing is good using night crawlers on the bottom.

Crystal Lake (Hancock): Bullhead fishing is good. Fish the shorelines in the evening for the best action. Angers are catching channel catfish on night crawlers, dead chubs and chicken liver.

Lake Cornelia (Wright): Yellow perch and crappies are biting on minnows fished along the north shoreline.

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

 

Southwest

Don Williams (Boone): Fishing is good for crappies using jigs and minnows in 10 to 15 feet of water over structure. Bluegill fishing has been good using night crawlers. Channel catfish are being caught using chicken livers.

Hickory Grove (Story): Crappie fishing has been fair using worms and bobbers in deeper water. Bluegill fishing has been slow with worms. Largemouth bass fishing is picking up, particularly around the rockier areas.

Big Creek (Polk): Crappie fishing has been slow to fair using jigs and minnows with the better areas near the dam and in the east arm of the lake. Anglers reported catching smaller walleye with jigs and minnows, with some nicer size fish mixed in.

Easter Lake (Polk): Fishing is good for 8 to 9-inch crappies using jigs and minnows suspended in 8 to 10 feet of water. Bluegill fishing is fair. Several walleye have been reported, with some longer than 15 inches. Largemouth bass fishing is fair along the rocky areas. Channel catfish fishing has been good with night crawlers.

Saylorville Lake (Polk): Crappie fishing has improved, particularly in the Sandpiper area and below the outlet from Big Creek Lake. Some reports of white bass/wipers being caught below the outlet from Big Creek.

Below Saylorville Dam (Polk): White bass/wiper and walleye fishing has been good using jigs and/or minnows. Channel catfish fishing has been good in the river and in the tailwater ponds on minnows and night crawlers. Crappie fishing has been good in the tailwater ponds with jigs and minnows.

Below Scott Street Dam: (Polk): Anglers are catching 8 to 12-inch white bass on twisters.

Rock Creek (Jasper): Crappie fishing is good on jigs and minnows. Bluegill fishing has been good using night crawlers fishing from 3 to 5 feet deep from shore and from boats. Channel catfish, from 10 to 15 pounds, are being caught on cut bait and chicken liver.

Below Lake Red Rock (Marion): Fishing is fair for white bass and walleye using jigs in the tailwater area. Channel catfish fishing has picked up with some nice fish caught on cut baits and liver.

Lake Ahquabi (Warren): Crappie fishing has picked up, with most anglers using jigs and minnows. Bluegill fishing has been fair with most activity around the fishing house. Largemouth bass fishing has been good, although most of the fish catch are below the legal length limit.

Hooper Lake (Warren): Crappie fishing is fair with jigs and minnows. Bluegill fishing is fair using small jigs. Largemouth bass fishing is best along the rocky dam area with crankbaits.

Farm Ponds: Fishing is good for bluegill in 3 to 5 feet of water on night crawlers. Crappie and largemouth bass fishing is good.

Green Valley (Union): Channel catfish are biting on night crawlers and dead minnows. Several crappies can be caught over and around cover or from the stake beds on jigs and minnows. Some bluegill can be caught using jigs and night crawlers in 6 to 8 feet of water near cover.

Three Mile (Union): Channel catfish fishing is good using night crawlers and stink baits. Bluegill and crappie can be caught in 6 to 10 feet of water over cover with jigs, night crawlers or minnows. Some walleyes are being caught on jigs while crappie fishing.

Icaria (Adams): Channel catfish up to 2 ½ pounds can be caught with night crawlers.

Binder Reservoir (Adams): Anglers are catching channel catfish up to 2 ½ pounds.

Little River (Decatur): Several nice crappies can be caught from shore in the rocks or near cover on minnows or jigs. Some walleye are being caught by trolling the points with night crawlers or with jigs while crappie fishing.

Slip Bluff (Decatur): Some bluegills can be caught from the brush piles and the corners of the dam on night crawlers.

Wilson Lake (Taylor): Crappies can be caught from the dam.

Windmill Lake (Taylor): Bluegills are biting in the corners of the dam and from the coves.

West Osceola (Clarke): Large numbers of 8-inch crappies can be caught from the dam area and the backs of the coves in 6 feet of water. The lake is 40 inches low. Use caution when using the east main ramp.

Grade Lake (Clarke): Crappies can be caught in 6 to 8 feet of water or from the dam.

Badger Creek (Madison): Crappie 7 to 9 inches can be caught from shore near rock using jigs.

West Lenox (Taylor): Crappies can be caught from shore in 5 to 8 feet of water using small jigs or night crawlers

Orient (Adair): Fishing is good for 2 to 3 pound channel catfish and for 1 to 2 pound bullheads on night crawlers. A few crappies are being caught along the shoreline.

Greenfield (Adair): Crappie fishing has slowed with cooler weather. A few bluegills can be caught using jigs tipped with night crawlers.

Nodaway (Adair): Crappie fishing is slow using jigs and minnows. Channel catfish are being caught on night crawlers in shallow areas. Greenfield and Nodaway have low water levels. The best fishing from shore would be off the dam.

Meadow (Adair): A few crappies are being caught along shoreline using minnows. Largemouth bass are being caught around brush piles

Littlefield (Audubon): Crappie fishing is fair using minnows on the east bay under the road. A few channel catfish are being caught using night crawlers.

Anita (Cass): The lake is still 5 feet low and has limited shoreline access. The lake contains a good fish population and fishing should be good.

Manawa (Pottawattamie): Wiper fishing is fair on night crawlers fished on the bottom. Walleye fishing has slowed. Crappie fishing is starting to pick up in the lagoon area. Largemouth bass are being picked up on the west side of lake.

Prairie Rose (Shelby): Crappies are starting to move in to shore. A few are being caught using jigs and minnows. Channel catfish fishing is slow but a few are being caught on rocky points. Use a slow retrieve.

Willow (Harrison): Crappie fishing is fair using minnows and a bobber in 8 to 10 feet of water. A few 7 to 8-inch bluegills are being caught.

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: The water temperatures at Lock and Dam 16 (Muscatine) is 59 degrees and the river pool stage for Pool 16 is 10.43 feet. Fishing has slowed due to a drop in water levels; further declines in water levels are expected over the next several days. Fishing has slowed for walleye and sauger. Anglers report catching a few fish below the Arsenal Dam and Sylvan Slough area on upper Pool 16. Most of the fish caught are reported as below the length limit. Try using jigs tipped with minnows and crankbaits for walleye and sauger. Fishing for channel catfish continues to be good in the backwaters and the mouths of tributary rivers and streams on shad guts and night crawlers. White bass fishing continues to be good on jigs, spinners and minnows. Crappie and bluegill fishing continues to be good in the backwaters; try Sunset Marina and Andalusia, both in Pool 16, Big Timber area and Huron Island, both in Pool 17 and Lake Odessa in Pools 17/18. These backwaters are also producing channel catfish.

Lake Odessa (Louisa): Crappies are in the shallow water around the trees lying in the water. Yellow or chartreuse tube jigs would be good selections as lures.

Lake Darling (Washington): Male crappies moved into the shallow water the middle of last week. Sizes were 7 to 9 inches. The bigger females should be moving in shortly. The recent rains have not affected the water clarity and the lake remains relatively clear.

Lake Geode (Henry): Bluegills are biting in the shallow water of the upper end and the bays. Look for crappies to be in and around the cedar tree piles in the bays and along the face of the dam.

Lake Belva Deer (Keokuk): Bluegill fishing remains excellent in shallow water, although the cold front at the end of the week moved them out. Recent rains should keep the catfish up at the marsh outlet as the marsh continues to run into the lake. Anglers have also been catching crappies around the trees and along the riprap. Most of the crappies are 9 to 10 inches with a few larger.

Lake Rathbun (Appanoose): Crappies have been hitting on minnows fished around brush piles in 10 to 15 feet of water. Crappies are also hitting small jigs fished around the shorelines.

Lake Sugema (Van Buren): Crappies and bluegills have been hitting small jigs. Walleyes have been hitting on jigs tipped with a minnow. Rocky shorelines have been the most productive areas for the walleyes.

Lake Miami (Monroe): Crappies and bluegills have been hitting on small jigs fished around the face of the dam and among the tree stumps.

Lake Keomah (Mahaska): Bluegills and crappies have been hitting on small jigs tipped with a minnow. Largemouth bass have been hitting on a variety of artificial baits, including spinner baits and crankbaits.

Coralville Reservoir (Johnson): Channel catfish continue to be caught by experienced anglers. Try the shallows in the upper end of the lake but beware of the shallow water areas. Try shad or bluegills for best results.

Diamond Lake (Poweshiek): Crappies are still in the shallows and are willing to bite. Bluegills have started moving a little shallower in preparation to spawn. Try jigs and wax worms for species.

Hannen Lake (Benton): Bluegills and crappies remain deep but are being caught in the brush. Try jigs tipped with wax worms for best results. (Remember, no minnows allowed).

Rodgers Lake (Benton): Bluegills are being caught in deeper water around the brush on worms or wax worms. Largemouth bass are being caught in shallow to mid-depths on artificial lures.

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