Northeast

Mississippi River Pools 9 to 15: After a short rise in water levels on the Mississippi River last week, the river is dropping again to low summer levels. Extreme caution is needed when navigating at these very low water levels. Wing dams and stumps are often just below the surface and can quickly damage boats and motors, as well as cause injuries to passengers. Water clarity is good and main channel water temperature is in the upper 70s to low 80s. River stages are 12.0 feet at Lynxville, Wis., 3.7 feet at Guttenberg and 3.4 feet at Bellevue. Fishing continues to slow with the heat, and anglers are exploring different areas to find fish. Fishing has been best where there is current (wing dam tips have been good as well as flowing side channels). Structure is also important so anglers are encouraged to head for areas with wood or rock.

Bluegills are biting off the rocks in Pool 9. Try fishing the middle and outer edges of the wing dams to find the bigger bluegills. Bluegill fishing is good by the spillway areas near Harpers Ferry (Pool 10) and Guttenberg (Pool 11). Most anglers are using a piece of night crawler floated under a bobber.

Anglers are catching crappies along woody structure in Minnesota Slough (Pool 9) and by the spillway area above Harper's Ferry (Pool 10).

White bass fishing continues to be good during the early morning and late evening hours in the upper areas of Pools 9 to 15. Look for schools of white bass feeding on minnows near the wing dams. If you see areas where minnows are continuously being chased, try to maintain some distance from the melee to avoid spooking the white bass. Any lure that has some flash, such as a white or silver spoon or spinner bait, will work. Make long casts into the areas where the minnows have been breaking the water.

Freshwater drum (sheephead) fishing is good in Pools 11 to 15. These fish are being caught in areas with good current such as the tailwaters and wing dams. Drum are biting on night crawlers fished on the bottom. If you plant to clean drum, store the freshly caught fish on ice until you fillet them. This will keep the meat firm. In addition, cut out the red meat from the rest of the fillet. If you take these two simple steps, drum are excellent to eat.

Largemouth bass fishing has been good in Pools 9 to 11 using a variety of baits and lures including shad and crawdad imitating crankbaits, spinner baits and soft plastics. Focus on areas with rock riprap or woody structure or fish the wing dams. You might also try using weedless lures where there is a lot of vegetation.

Smallmouth bass are being caught in Pools 9 to 11. For some exciting smallmouth bass action, try using top-water baits on wing dams in the evening-shortly before dark. Smallmouth are found in swift current areas with rock. These areas are generally associated with main channel habitats including bank stabilization rock, day markers or wing dams.

Fishing has been good to excellent for channel catfish on stink baits fished in the deep holes off the tips of the wing dams in Pools 9-15. Channel catfish can also be caught along rocky shorelines floating a night crawler under a bobber directly on top of the wing dams. Anglers on Pool 9 are catching channel cats in the openings of sloughs near the main channel. Try fishing the sandy areas near these openings, starting shallow and working deeper. Channel catfish are also biting well in the tailwaters of Lock and Dam 12 drifting worms or cut bait on the bottom with three-way rigs.

Cedar River (Black Hawk): Channel catfish are hitting cut baits and stink baits fished in the riffle areas below the dams. Walleye fishing is fair on jigs tipped with night crawlers fished close to the bottom below the dams.

Cedar River (Mitchell and Floyd): Walleye and smallmouth bass fishing is good on night crawlers fished in deeper pools and log jams.

Maquoketa River (Delaware): Fishing is excellent for channel catfish using chicken liver, cut baits or night crawlers in deeper water around brush piles and outside bends. Walleye fishing is good on jigs tipped with a minnow. Many of these fish are smaller, but an occasional 16 to 18-inch walleye is not uncommon. Smallmouth bass fishing is fair using spinners or jigs tipped with a twister tail or a night crawler.

Shell Rock River (Bremer and Butler): Anglers are catching some walleyes on a variety of baits including crankbaits, jigs with twister tails or night crawlers fished along the bottom.

Turkey River (Fayette and Clayton): Smallmouth bass and walleye fishing is good on crawdad-colored crankbaits.

Upper Iowa River (Howard and Winneshiek): Smallmouth bass fishing is excellent on crankbaits and jigs. Fish the deeper pools and shaded areas during the heat of the day.

Backbone Lake (Delaware): Largemouth bass fishing is good on plastic worms fished in the early morning and late evening hours. Many nice-sized fish are being caught.

Brinker Lake (Black Hawk): Crappie fishing is fair on jigs tipped with a minnow. Fish are in 8 to 10 feet of water and close to structure.

Lake Hendricks (Howard): Fishing has slowed with the warmer water temperature. Channel catfish are biting on chicken liver fished during the evening hours.

Lake Meyer (Winneshiek): Largemouth bass fishing is good on dark-colored jigs and crankbaits. Channel catfish are biting on chicken liver. A few crappies are being taken on minnows fishing deeper water next to sunken brush piles.

Saint's Lake (Bremer): Largemouth bass fishing is good using top-water lures early or late in the day. Bluegill fishing is fair. Fish 8 to 10 feet deep using angle worms suspended under a bobber for the best success.

Volga Lake (Fayette): Bluegill fishing is good on a piece of night crawler fished next to brush piles. Channel catfish are hitting chicken liver fished in the evening hours.

Northwest

Spirit Lake (Dickinson): Walleyes are being caught at the North Grade using leeches under a bobber. A few are still being caught on the main lake. A few largemouth bass are biting on leeches suspended under a slip bobber at the North Grade. Largemouth bass are also biting at Buffalo Run on spinner baits. Bullhead fishing at the North Grade has been good using night crawlers on the bottom. Smallmouth bass can be caught around the docks using soft plastic baits.

West Okoboji Lake (Dickinson): Walleye are biting at the trestle on jigs tipped with live bait. White bass have been biting at the trestle using small white twisters during the day. Some nice sized smallmouth bass are being caught on deep rock piles in Miller's and Hayward's bays using crawdads. Bluegills are being caught off the weed lines in Miller's, Hayward's and Echo bays using worms. A few yellow perch are being caught off the bar in Emerson Bay.

East Okoboji Lake (Dickinson): Freshwater drum, channel catfish and bullheads are biting at the north end of the lake using chicken liver. White bass are being caught around the bridges on hair jigs and plastic jigs.

West Fork Des Moines River (Emmet): Channel catfish are good on night crawlers, frogs and crawdads.

Brushy Creek (Webster): Bluegills of a nice size can be caught, but some sorting should be expected. Try for bass around submerged trees in 20 feet of water. Rain in the area may improve the fishing this week.

Black Hawk Lake (Sac): There is good fishing for catfish on stink bait, crawdads, liver and leeches.

Storm Lake (Buena Vista): Fishing is good to excellent for channel catfish, especially from shore on a variety of baits.

Crawford Creek (Ida): Due to extremely low water levels in the lake, the boat ramp has been closed.

Clear Lake (Cerro Gordo): Walleye fishing has been fair. Fish are being caught trolling crankbaits in 10 to 12 feet of water in the main basin and around the reefs. Remember Clear Lake has a 14-inch minimum length limit. Yellow bass fishing has been good in the deeper water north of the island, the artificial weed beds and the deeper rock reefs. Drift or vertical jig with minnows and small jigs for the best yellow bass action.

Beeds Lake (Franklin): Crappies are being caught trolling small jigs in 6 to 10 feet of water.

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

Lake Smith (Kossuth): Channel catfish are hitting on chicken liver in the evenings.

Lake Cornelia (Wright): Channel catfish are good using chicken liver and night crawlers. Fish for catfish in the evenings, on the north shoreline for the best action. Bullheads are hitting on night crawlers fished on the bottom. Walleye are being caught trolling crankbaits.

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

 

Southwest

Don Williams (Boone): Bluegill fishing has been slow using night crawlers. Channel catfish are being caught on chicken liver.

Hickory Grove (Story): Bluegill fishing has been fair to good with worms. Channel catfish fishing is fair to good using night crawlers and other traditional baits.

Big Creek (Polk): Bluegill fishing has been good using jigs or worms/hooks with the better areas in deeper water off shore. Channel catfish fishing has been good to excellent. Anglers reported catching some nicer crappie with jigs in about 30 feet of water.

Easter Lake (Polk): Bluegill fishing is slow using night crawlers and bobbers. Channel catfish fishing has been good at night with night crawlers, chicken livers and chubs.

Saylorville Lake (Polk): White bass fishing has been good to excellent with jigs and spinners and catfish fishing has been good using a variety of baits.

Below Saylorville Dam (Polk): White bass/wiper fishing has been fair using jigs and/or minnows. Channel catfish fishing has been excellent with some good-sized fish being caught.

Rock Creek (Jasper): Crappies are slow on jigs and minnows in the deeper water. Channel catfish fishing is fair with chicken livers.

Red Rock (Marion): White bass fishing has been good. Channel catfish fishing has been good to excellent using cut baits and liver.

Below Lake Red Rock (Marion): 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): Crappie fishing has been slow using jigs/minnows in deeper water. Channel catfish fishing has been good to excellent using a variety of baits.

Lake Ahquabi (Warren): Bluegill fishing has been slow to fair using worms and night crawlers. Channel catfish fishing has been fair to good with night crawlers and other baits. Anglers also report catching some largemouth bass and crappie with jigs.

Hooper Lake (Warren): Bluegill fishing has been slow to fair with worms. Channel catfish fishing has been good with night crawlers and chicken liver.

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.

Icaria (Adams): Channel catfish and bullheads are biting on night crawlers and liver fished off the jetties and in the bays.

Binder (Adams): Channel catfish are biting on night crawlers and liver. Largemouth bass up to 16 inches are being caught on spinner baits and shallow crankbaits.

Criss Cove (Clarke): Channel catfish can be found in 4 to 5 feet of water.

Badger Creek (Madison): Largemouth bass can be found in brush piles.

Green Valley (Union): Channel catfish are biting on night crawlers, liver, and prepared bait. Largemouth bass can be caught from the cover in 5 to 8 feet of water. Bluegill can be caught from the flooded cedar trees on night crawlers. Crappies are being caught in 10 to 12 feet of water and in brush piles on minnows.

Three Mile (Union): Channel catfish fishing is fair using night crawlers or liver. The largemouth bass fishing is good around the woody cover in 8 to 10 feet of water. Some walleye are being picked up off the sides of the rock mounds on crankbaits. Crappies are suspended at about 10 feet over the brush piles. Bluegills are being caught in the backs of coves and in brush piles on night crawlers and wax worms.

Windmill (Taylor): Bluegills are being caught using bobbers with night crawlers.

Wilson (Taylor): Bluegills are being caught using bobbers with night crawlers.

Lake of Three Fires (Taylor): Fishing is good for 15 to 17-inch largemouth bass using spinner baits around brush piles. Crappies in the 9-inch range are being caught in 3 to 5 feet of water around brush piles.

Little River (Decatur): A big channel catfish can be caught once in a while on liver or bluegill sides.

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): Fishing is fair for 2 to 3-pound channel catfish using night crawlers, liver and prepared baits in the evenings. Bluegills are slow using night crawlers with a bobber, and small jigs.

Greenfield (Adair): Bluegills are slow using jigs tipped with night crawlers fishing structure and drift fishing. Fish in the 7 to 8-inch range are common. Channel catfish are good using liver and prepared bait.

Nodaway (Adair): Channel catfish are good on liver and prepared baits in shallow areas.

Meadow (Adair): Bluegills are slow using night crawlers around sunken trees. Crappies are slow around sunken trees using minnows.

Morman Trail (Adair): Fishing is slow for bluegills on rocked shoreline along south side of lake. Channel catfish fishing is good using liver and prepared baits.

Littlefield (Audubon): Anglers are catching a few bluegills by drifting night crawlers, but overall fishing is slow. Crappie fishing is slow drifting minnows. A few channel catfish are being caught using liver or cut bait.

Anita (Cass): The lake is still 5 feet 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): Fishing for wipers is fair with a few being caught on east shore by outlet tube using white twister tails. 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.

DeSoto Bend (Harrison): Crappie fishing is slow using jigs and minnows around deep structure. Channel catfish is good in shallow areas using night crawlers or blood bait. Carp are being caught mostly on dough balls.

Prairie Rose (Shelby): Crappies are fair drift fishing jigs tipped with a minnow. Channel catfish fishing is fair on liver or prepared baits along rocky shorelines. Bluegills have slowed, but a few are being caught drifting jigs tipped with night crawlers.

Willow (Harrison): Crappie fishing is slow. A few are being caught using minnow and bobber in 8 to 10 feet of water. Channel catfishing is slow; a few are being caught on prepared baits.

Farm Ponds: Fishing is fair 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 to 19: The water temperature at Lock and Dam 16 (Muscatine) is 80 degrees and the river pool stage for Pool 16 is 11.39 feet. Water levels are expected to drop over the next several days.

Fishing has been slow to fair on Pools 16 to 19 of the Mississippi River. Walleye anglers continue to pick up a few fish off the wing dams. On Pool 16 try near Credit Island and the mouth of the Rock River. Try fishing walleyes around the wing dams and rock piles with jigs tipped with night crawlers, leeches or minnows, or trolling crankbaits. Anglers reported catching some flathead catfish while trolling for walleyes. Flathead catfish are biting on green sunfish. Channel catfishing has been fair on Pools 16 to 19 with worms and shrimp being the best baits. Largemouth bass fishing has been fair to slow in accessible backwaters and off the main river channel on artificial baits and live bait rigs. Anglers are also picking up a few smallmouth bass below Lock and Dam 19 amongst rock structures.

Lake Darling (Washington): Cooler weather last week brought the fish back to shallow water. Look for the catfish to be in 5 to 6 feet of water. They seem to prefer chicken liver.

Lake Geode (Henry): Water temperature in the low 80s have brought the bluegills and redears back in along the edges of the weed beds in 5 to 6 feet of water. The best time to fish remains early morning or late evening.

Lake Belva Deer (Keokuk): The bluegills are beginning to bite again. Fish in the trees in 10 to 12 feet of water. Anglers are also picking up some nice crappies as the schools work the face of the dam.

Lake Sugema (Van Buren): Largemouth bass have been hitting on a variety of artificial lures. Crappies and bluegills have been hitting on small jigs fished around structure. Channel catfish have been biting on cut bait.

Lake Wapello (Davis): Bluegills have been hitting on small jigs tipped with a wax worm fished around structure in 12 to 16 feet of water. Largemouth bass have been hitting on a variety of artificial lures fished around fallen trees and other structure.

Lake Miami (Monroe): Crappies have been hitting on small jigs fished in the standing timber. Channel catfish have been biting on liver and night crawlers.

Lake Rathbun (Appanoose): Walleyes have been hitting on night crawler rigs or crankbaits being slowly trolled around underwater islands and rock reefs. Crappies have been hitting on small jigs fished around brush piles in 20 feet of water. Channel catfish have been biting on stink baits.

Lake Macbride (Johnson): Some largemouth and spotted bass can be caught around the shallow cover or deeper structure. Bluegills are also plentiful and are biting on worms around rocks, wood or docks.

Pleasant Creek (Linn): Largemouth bass are being caught around the dam and rock jetties. Plastic worms and live baits (bluegills/crawdads) have been working best. Remember the 18-inch length limit. A few nice channel catfish are being caught on night crawlers as well.

Hannen Lake (Benton): Channel catfish are biting on stink bait around brush piles in deeper water.

Otter Creek (Tama): Typical summer fishing means channel catfish can be caught here in the evening hours on a variety of smelly baits.

Rodgers Lake (Benton): Fishing has been slow but channel catfish are being caught all around the lake. Try night crawlers, liver or stink bait for best results.

Diamond Lake (Poweshiek): Channel catfishing is somewhat productive on stink baits. Some bluegills are being picked up using small worms in deeper water.

Cedar River (Linn): The river is producing channel catfish on shad, chubs and crawdads. White bass are being taken on small twisters.

Iowa River (Louisa): Catfishing has been fair to good using a variety of baits. The low flows in the river mean that the fish are staying in the deeper holes. Concentrate around the habitat in those holes.

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