Northeast

Mississippi River - Water levels on the Mississippi River are reaching normal summer levels and projected to remain steady or drop slightly during the next week. River stages are as follows: 8.05 feet at Lansing, 5.98 feet at Guttenberg and 6.5 feet at Bellevue. Main channel water temperature in Pool 10 dropped to 68F on Monday and was in the low 70s in Bellevue after the cool weekend; however, temperatures should rise quickly throughout the week. Despite the drop in water temperature, fish continue to be caught.

Bluegills are still being caught off their spawning beds in the backwater areas in Pools 9-15. Bluegills are being caught on a piece of crawler floated under a bobber in the shallow areas along the shoreline or a small jig fished onto the spawning bed. Areas like Black Hawk Park (Pool 9 ), Bussey Lake and the Sny Magill complex (Pool 10), and Swift Slough (Pool 11) are good backwater areas to try. Many of the bluegills being caught in Blackhawk Park and Bussey Lake are being caught by anglers fishing from shore. In addition to the backwater areas, bluegills are still being caught in the tailwater areas of the lock and dams by fishing on the bottom with a piece of crawler in shallow, slack water areas.

Freshwater drum (sheephead) fishing is excellent in Pools 9-15. These fish are being caught in the tailwater areas and along the main channel by fishing a crawler on the bottom.

Walleye fishing is fair to good in Pools 9-11 and excellent in Pools 12-15. Anchor above the wing dams and cast crank baits or jigs over the top of the dam and work it back to the boat. Three-ways with floaters or spinners tipped with half of a night crawler or a leach also are effective.

Largemouth bass fishing has been good throughout Pools 12-15 using a variety of baits and lures including shad and crawfish imitating crank baits, spinner baits, and soft plastics. Focus on areas with rip rapped shorelines or woody structure in the backwater areas. You might also try spinner baits thrown along the weed edges for hungry bass.

Reports are coming in of nice rock bass being caught in Zollicoffer's Slough (Pool 11).

Fishing has picked up for channel catfish on night crawlers and stink baits fished along the upper sides of snags in deeper water in Pools 9-15. Channel catfish can also be caught along rocky shorelines floating a night crawler under a bobber. Walleye anglers are also catching catfish next to the wing dams.

Smallmouth bass are being caught along rocky shorelines with current and associated along wing dams in Pools 12-15.

Northern pike are being caught in Bussey Lake (Pool 10) casting spinner baits along the weed edges.

Cedar River (Floyd and Mitchell counties) - Smallmouth bass and walleye fishing is good on dark colored jigs or crank baits. Channel catfish are hitting a glob of worms on a hook or cut baits.

Cedar River (Black Hawk County) and Shell Rock (Bremer and Black Hawk counties) - Channel catfishing is good on leeches under a bobber drifted through riffles and shallow areas below the dams.

Maquoketa River (Delaware) - Good for channel catfish.

Upper Iowa River (Winneshiek and Allamakee counties) - Smallmouth bass fishing is good on crawfish-colored crank baits and black jigs.

Wapsipinicon River (Buchanan) - Channel catfish are biting on cut baits and night crawlers. Bluegill fishing is fair to good on a piece of crawler fished under a bobber.

Big Woods and Brinker Lakes (Black Hawk County) - Bluegill and crappie fishing is good on worms and small jigs under a bobber. Fish close to structure for best results.

Casey Lake (Tama County) - Bluegill fishing is good fishing a small jig tipped with a piece of night crawler under a bobber. Fish close to structure. Largemouth bass are good on small crank baits.

George Wyth Lake (Black Hawk County) - Channel catfish are biting on minnows fished in the shallow water around snags. Largemouth bass are hitting spinner baits.

Lake Delhi (Delaware County) - Channel catfish are biting on dead minnows, crawlers and cut baits.

Lake Hendricks (Howard County) - Largemouth bass and bluegills are hitting night crawlers fished close to the bottom under a bobber. Fishing for channel catfish is excellent next to rocky structure.

Lake Meyer (Winneshiek County) - Bluegill fishing is excellent on a piece of night crawler fished under a bobber or small jigs fished in the warmer water close to shore. Largemouth bass are hitting plastics and spinner baits. Crappie fishing is fair on minnows fished in the deeper water next to structure.

Volga Lake (Fayette County) - Bluegills are good using a bit of crawler under a bobber fished near the shore. Channel catfish are fair, but will improve as water temperatures rise. Crappie fishing is fair and fish have moved into deeper water.

Trout fishing is excellent and stream conditions are good to excellent. Stocking information for specific streams can be found on the web by going through the DNR web site at www.iowadnr.com or directly to http://www.iowadnr.com/fish/news/stockrep/groupstock.pdf. Anglers may also call the recorded trout stocking information hotline at 563-927-5736.

For information on fishing in northeast Iowa, call the regional office in Manchester at 563-927-3276.

 

Northwest

Spirit Lake (Dickinson County) - Walleyes are biting in the evening trolling crankbaits near the east shoreline over submerged weed beds in 8 to 12 feet of water. Anchoring over reefs with slip bobbers has also produced nice walleyes. Smallmouth bass are being caught on the north side of the lake near the footbridge using leeches. Other rocky structure in the lake has produced some nice smallmouth bass too. Largemouth bass can be caught using minnows and small jigs at Buffalo Run. A few bluegills and yellow perch are being caught at Hale's Slough using small jigs. The perch are between 9 and 11 inches. Black crappies can be caught using minnows and small jigs at Buffalo Run.

West Lake Okoboji (Dickinson County) - Freshwater drum are being caught in the shallow water with small grubs and tube baits. Anglers have been catching largemouth bass in the harbor using shallow crankbaits and plastic worms. Largemouth bass can also be caught fishing around docks. Suspending a leech under a bobber or casting slow sinking plastics work well. Smallmouth bass are biting on the south end of the lake around Emerson Bay and Pocahontas Point. Try anchoring or drifting in 10- to 13-feet of water with leeches for best results. Bluegills are being caught around docks, along with an occasional perch. Emerging weed lines have also produced quality bluegills. Emerson and Miller's Bay are top producers.

East Lake Okoboji (Dickinson County) - Walleyes are being caught on the south end of the lake drifting leeches. Walleye are also being caught in and below the spillway. Jigs with white twisters work well. White bass can be caught using minnows suspended under a bobber from Stoney Point up to the north end. Bluegills can be found around docks. Channel catfish are being caught on the north end using cutbait.

Little Spirit Lake (Dickinson County) - Crappies are being caught around the brush on the south end using minnows under bobbers. Most fish are in the 9- to 12-inch range. Bluegills and largemouth bass are also being caught in the shallows around submerged brush. Huge bullheads are being caught at Little Spirit using night crawlers.

Silver Lake (Dickinson County) - Walleye have been caught from shore with night crawlers. Large bullheads are being caught from shore with night crawlers. Anglers are catching catfish on cutbait near submerged brush during the evening. Walleye anglers are also picking up a few white bass, bullhead and freshwater.

Willow Creek (Osceola County) - Largemouth bass can be caught fishing whole night crawlers on a single hook, allowing the bait to slowly fall to the bottom. Bluegills and pumpkinseeds (4 to 8 inches) can be caught with small jigs tipped with a piece of night crawler and a bobber. Good numbers of angler-acceptable size channel catfish are available using traditional baits.

Five Island Lake (Palo Alto County) - The walleye bite has been fair to good. Sorting is required to find bigger fish. Good opportunities exist for channel catfish using traditional catfish baits.

Silver Lake (Palo Alto County) - Big bullheads are being caught using crawlers. A few yellow perch and crappies are being caught.

West Fork Des Moines River (Emmet and Palo Alto counties) - Catfishing has been excellent. Fish ranging from 2 to 4 pounds have been caught using night crawlers and cutbait.

Lake Pahoja (Lyon County) - Crappie fishing is good using minnows from shore. Most fish are 7 to 8 inches. Bluegill fishing is good from shore using small worms. Fish range anywhere from 5 to 8 inches.

Big Sioux River (Lyon County) - Anglers are catching catfish and carp below Klondike Dam. Try using stinkbaits and crawlers for action, and chicken livers and cutbait for bigger fish.

Brushy Creek (Webster County) - The past week's cooler weather did slow down the catching of fish. Warmer weather should be a plus this week for fishing. Lots of small walleyes are being caught, along with many nice bluegills.

Black Hawk Lake (Sac County) - Fishing is good to excellent for catfish on bait shrimp, chubs and night crawlers. Nice size bullheads can still be caught on night crawlers.

Storm Lake (Buena Vista County) - Channel catfish fishing is good on leeches or night crawlers, especially on the rocky shorelines. White bass are being caught on crankbaits while fishing for walleye. Fishing is fair to good for walleye trolling crankbaits or drifting with leeches or crawlers. Remember there is a 15-inch minimum length limit with only one fish over 22 inches.

Crawford Creek (Ida County) - Fishing is good for 7-to 8-inch bluegills drifting a small leadhead tipped with a wax worm or piece of crawler. Don't go below the 15 feet as the lake has stratified and no fish will be below that depth.

Clear Lake (Cerro Gordo County) - Walleye fishing has been good. Most of the fish are being caught trolling crankbaits. Some anglers are drifting live bait for walleye. Remember, Clear Lake has a 14-inch minimum length limit. White Bass are being caught while trolling for walleye. Bullhead fishing is good at the Ventura Grade and Ventura Access. Fish night crawlers on the bottom for the bullheads. Channel Catfish are hitting on crawlers and chicken livers in the mornings and evenings.

Rice Lake (Winnebago County) - Bullhead fishing is good. Use night crawlers fished on the bottom.

Beeds Lake (Franklin County) - Largemouth bass are being caught throwing spinner baits and plastics along the shorelines. Bluegill fishing is good using waxworms. Fish are on beds near shore.

Crystal Lake (Hancock County) - Anglers are catching good numbers of bullheads on crawlers. Catfish are hitting on chicken livers and prepared stinkbait.

East Fork Des Moines River (Kossuth County) - Channel catfish fishing is excellent using cut bait and worms near the snags.

Lake Smith (Kossuth County) - Channel catfish are hitting on chicken livers in the evenings.

Lake Cornelia (Wright County) - Channel catfish fishing is excellent using chicken livers and night crawlers. Fish the catfish in the evenings, on the north shoreline for the best action. Bullheads are hitting on crawlers fished on the bottom. Some walleyes are being caught trolling crankbaits. Largemouth bass fishing is good using spinnerbaits and crankbaits.

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

 

Southwest

Don Williams (Boone County) - Fishing is good for crappies on minnows. Bluegill fishing has been good using night crawlers. Walleye fishing has been good with leeches with fish in the 14 to 16-inch range. Channel catfish are being caught using chicken livers. Largemouth bass fishing has been good with fish over 15 inches.

Hickory Grove (Story County) - Crappie fishing has been good with worms and minnows. Bluegill fishing has been good with worms. Largemouth bass fishing has been good, particularly around the rockier areas.

Big Creek (Polk County) - Crappie fishing has been good using jigs/minnows with the better areas off-shore in deeper water. Anglers reported catching smaller walleye with jigs and minnows. Bluegill fishing has been good using worms/hooks with some nice-sized fish being caught. Channel catfish fishing is good.

Easter Lake (Polk County) - Fishing is good for crappies using jigs/minnows. Bluegill fishing is good using night crawlers and bobbers. Largemouth bass fishing is fair along the rocky areas. Channel catfish fishing has been good with night crawlers.

Saylorville Lake (Polk County) - Crappie fishing has been good, particularly in the Marina area. The shallower water coves have also produced some nice crappie fishing.

Below Saylorville Dam (Polk County) - Walleye fishing has been good in the river using twister tails, leeches, minnows and jigs. White bass/wiper fishing has been fair using jigs and/or minnows.

Below Scott Street Dam - (Polk County) - White bass fishing has been good.

Rock Creek (Jasper County) - Crappies are good on jigs and minnows in the deeper water. Bluegill fishing has been good using night crawlers fishing from 3 to 5 feet deep from shore and from boats. Channel catfish fishing is good with cut bait and chicken livers.

Red Rock (Marion County) - Crappie and white bass fishing has been good in the Whitebreast area and along the dam. Channel catfish fishing has been fair using cut baits and liver.

Below Lake Red Rock (Marion County) - White bass fishing has been excellent with jigs in the tailwater area. Channel catfish fishing has been fair using cut baits and liver.

Roberts Creek (Marion County) - Crappie fishing has been good using jigs/minnows. Bluegill fishing has been fair.

Lake Ahquabi (Warren County) - Bluegill and redear sunfish fishing has been good, with some nice sized fish reported in the harvest. Largemouth bass fishing has been good, although most of the fish caught are below the legal length limit. Channel catfish fishing has been fair with worms or stink baits.

Hooper Lake (Warren County) - Bluegill fishing has been good with small jigs and night crawlers. Largemouth bass fishing is best along the rocky dam area with crank baits. Channel catfish fishing has been fair with worms or stink baits

Contact: Dick McWilliams (515)432-2823, Ext.108, for information on the above area lakes. For more information on general fishing in southwest Iowa, call the SW Regional Office in Lewis at 712-769-2587.

Green Valley (Union County) - Some crappies can be caught from the stake beds on jigs and minnows. Some bluegill can be caught using jigs and crawlers in the shallow spawning areas near cover. Bullheads are biting on crawlers. Channel catfish are biting on crawlers or liver.

Three Mile (Union County) - Channel catfish fishing is good using crawlers or liver. Walleye are being caught on leeches and crawlers from the mounds and steep drop-offs. Largemouth bass fishing around the flooded trees is good.

Icaria (Adams County) - Fishing is good on small to mid-sized fish of all species. Channel catfish up to 2 ½ pounds can be caught with crawlers. Small walleye are biting well on night crawlers. Bullheads can be caught on night crawlers.

Binder Reservoir (Adams County) - Channel catfish up to 2 ½ pounds can be caught on night crawlers. Some 10 to 14-inch largemouth bass can be caught near structure.

Little River (Decatur County) - Some walleye are being caught by trolling the points with night crawlers or leeches. The channel catfish are biting on night crawlers and liver.

Wilson Lake (Taylor County) - Some nice bluegills are being caught near shore on night crawlers.

Fogle Lake (Ringgold County) - Nice bluegill can be caught from the flooded cover on night crawlers.

Three Fires (Taylor County) - Several 2-pound channel catfish are being caught using night crawlers or liver.

Contact: Gary Sobotka (641) 464-3108 for information on the above area lakes. For more information on general fishing in southwest Iowa, call the SW Regional Office in Lewis at 712-769-2587.

Orient (Adair County) - Fishing is fair for 2 to 3 pound channel catfish. Crappie fishing is slow along the shoreline using minnows with a bobber. Bluegills are good using night crawlers with bobber and small jigs.

Greenfield (Adair County) - Bluegills are excellent using jigs tipped with night crawlers fishing spawning beds. Fish in the 7 to 8 inch range are common. Channel catfish are also good using cut bait and night crawlers.

Nodaway (Adair County) - Crappie fishing is fair using jigs and minnows. Channel catfish are being caught on night crawlers in shallow areas. Greenfield and Nodaway have low water levels. Shore anglers best fishing would be off the dam.

Meadow (Adair County) - Largemouth bass are being caught around brush piles. Bluegills are good using jigs on spawning beds. Crappies are fair around sunken trees using minnows.

Morman Trail (Adair County) - Fishing is good for bluegills on rocked shoreline along south side of lake. Channel catfish is good using dead minnows, liver and night crawlers.

Littlefield (Audubon County) - Bluegill fishing is good using jigs on spawning beds. Crappie fishing is fair drifting minnows. A few channel catfish are being caught using night crawlers.

Anita (Cass County) - The lake is still 5 foot low and has limited shoreline access. The south boat ramp can be used with a small (14-foot) boat. The lake contains a good fish population and fishing should be good. Fishing for 12- to 15-inch largemouth bass has been good.

Manawa (Pottawattamie County) - Fishing for wipers is slow with a few being caught on east shore by outlet tube using white twister tails. Walleye fishing is fair drifting night crawlers and leeches close to rock shorelines. Channel catfish fishing is good with shrimp or cut bait close to shore around rocks. Fish in the 2 to 8-pound range are common. Bluegill fishing is fair using night crawlers or wax worms on a bobber in canals and around the boat docks.

DeSoto Bend (Harrison County) - Crappie fishing is slow using jigs and minnows along rocky shorelines. Channel catfish is good in shallow areas using night crawlers or dead minnows. Freshwater drum are being caught on east shoreline using night crawlers on the bottom.

Prairie Rose (Shelby County) - Crappie fishing is good along rocky shorelines using jigs. Channel catfish fishing is good on liver and prepared baits in shallow bays. Largemouth bass, from 3 to 5 pounds, are being caught on rocky points using night crawlers. Bluegills have slowed, but a few are being caught drifting jigs tipped with night crawlers.

Willow (Harrison County) - Crappie fishing is slow. A few are being caught using minnow and bobber in 8 to 10 feet of water. Bluegills are being caught in the 7 to 8 inch range. A few channel catfish are being caught using cut bait in shallow coves.

Farm Ponds - Fishing is good for bluegills, using jigs tipped with night crawlers. Largemouth bass fishing is also good.

Contact: Chris Larson (712)769-2587 for information on the above area lakes. For more information on general fishing in southwest Iowa, call the SW Regional Office in Lewis at 712-769-2587.

 

Southeast

Mississippi River, Pools 16-19 - The water temperature at Lock and Dam 16 (Muscatine) and the river pool stage for Pool 16 is currently unavailable from the Army Corps of Engineers website. Water temperatures on Pool 16 have been in the upper 70's until the latest cool front last weekend. Pool state should rise slightly with recent rains.

Walleye fishing continues to be fair on the wing dams on Pools 16 - 19 on crank baits and live bait rigs. Anglers continue to catch walleye off the wing dams in upper Pool 16. White bass fishing continues to be good in the tailwater and spillway areas below the navigation dams, below the Arsenal Dam, in Sylvan Slough, Credit Island area, and the mouth of tributary rivers and streams on jigs, spinners, and minnows. Channel catfish are spawning and males especially can be found close to the river bank. Try fishing channel catfish in the backwaters and the mouths of tributary rivers and streams on various baits - shad guts, cut shad, crawlers, and shrimp. Catfishing continues to be best in the tributary rivers such as the Iowa and Rock River. Flathead catfish are being caught in the deeper holes throughout the Mississippi River, in the tailwater areas and below the emergency spillways of the navigation dams. Fishing for both channel and flathead catfish has been best in the evening, night and early morning. Fishing has been good for largemouth bass in accessible backwaters on artificial baits and live bait rigs. Bluegill fishing has been good in the backwaters and below the emergency spillways *.try Sunset Marina in Pool 16, Andalusia in Pool 16, Big Timber area in Pool 17, Huron Island Pool 17 and Lake Odessa Pools 17/18. Try for crappies around fallen trees and stumps in the backwaters around Huron Island. These backwaters are also producing good numbers of channel catfish. Anglers continue catching a fair number of freshwater drum in the tailwater areas and below the emergency spillways of the navigation dams on crawlers and crayfish.

Lake Odessa (Louisa County) - The bluegills are finishing up nesting and are moving out to their summer areas. The summer drawdown continues so be aware of that as you are out boating. Catfishing has been fair to good on chicken liver and minnows.

Lake Darling (Washington County) - Water temps are in the upper 70s and the low 80s. Look for catfish nesting around the riprap. The flatheads are nesting in the culverts and culvert piles in the lake so try in those areas for a chance to hook into a big fish. The bluegills and bass are finishing up their spawning activities with a few bluegills still to be found on the beds.

Lake Geode (Henry County) - Bluegills are moving off the nest and are moving out to the edge of the weed lines in 8 feet of water. Anglers are still catching nice fish just out deeper. Try trolling for crappies along the old creek channel at the upper end of the lake by the beach.

Lake Belva Deer (Keokuk County) - The bluegills and redears have finished their spawning activities and have headed for deeper water. Small jigs tipped with worm or wax worms in 10 to 12 feet of water are your best bet to catch them.

Lake Rathbun (Appanoose County) - Crappies have been hitting on small jigs tipped with a minnow. Walleyes have been biting on night crawlers drifted along underwater islands and rocky points. Channel catfish have been biting on cutbait.

Lake Sugema (Van Buren County) - Largemouth bass have been hitting on a variety of artificial presentations. Bluegills and crappies have been hitting on small jigs.

Lake Wapello (Davis County) - Bluegills have been hitting small jigs tipped with a waxworm. Channel catfish have been hitting on liver. Largemouth bass have been hitting on a variety of artificial presentations. Buzzbaits have been productive in the morning hours.

Lake Keomah (Mahaska County) - Crappies have been hitting on small jigs fished around the fishing jetties. Bluegills have been biting on small jigs tipped with a chunk of night crawler. Largemouth bass have been hitting on spinnerbaits fished around the fishing jetties.

Lake Macbride (Johnson County) - Bluegills are piled into the shallows and can be caught on small worms.

Diamond Lake (Poweshiek County) - Bluegills and redears are still being caught but the spawn is tapering off. The channel catfish are starting to bite now along the shallow riprap and this should continue to improve. Largemouth bass are feeding on a variety of artificials as well.

Hannen Lake (Benton County) - Use small jigs and/or worms in the shallows for spawning bluegills. Some largemouth bass are also being caught on artificials. Channel catfish are now becoming more aggressive and moving shallower for the spawn.

Pleasant Creek (Linn County) - Largemouth bass are being caught around the dam and rock jetties. Plastic worms and crankbaits have been working best. Remember the 18 inch size limit. White bass have also been biting on crankbaits and on topwaters, especially towards evening.

Otter Creek (Tama County) - Anglers looking for action and tasty fish should come here for yellow bass. The size is marginal (6-8") with an occasional larger fish, but numbers will add up for plenty of meat for a couple of meals. Channel catfish are also being caught in shallower water around rocks and structure.

Kent Lake (Johnson County) - Bluegills and largemouth bass are being caught. Try small worms in the shallows for the 'gills and plastics or crankbaits around the wood and rocks for the bass. Channel catfish are also starting to bite, with best results early and late.

Coralville Reservoir (Johnson County) - Channel catfish are spawning now and are quite aggressive. Use live bait around the rock banks for best results. White bass can also be caught on jigs and small crankbaits. These can also be found around the rock bluffs and down at the Reservoir dam.

County Conservation Board Ponds -- Don't overlook these smaller bodies of water for some nice sized bluegills. Jigs tipped with worms or a fly rod and popper fished over the nests will catch a nice batch of male bluegills.

Skunk River (Washington Co.) - The river level has stabilized to some degree. Water temperatures in the low 80's are warm enough for the flatheads and channel catfish to nest. The number of bank lines is steadily increasing as anglers start trying for the big flatheads. Look to the high cut banks and brush piles to hold the fish. Also look for mulberry trees to fish under as their fruit is beginning to ripen and catfish like to feed on the fruit as it falls into the water.

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