Northeast

Mississippi River Pools 9 to 15: Water levels have risen with a peak expected on Wednesday in Bellevue. Water temperature has dropped to 77 degrees and clarity is good. With the rise in water levels and the lowering of the temperature in the main channel, fishing will pick up. River stage on Monday morning was 5 feet at Bellevue.

Walleye fishing is fair to good in Pools 9 to 15. They are starting to move back into the wing dam and tailwater areas. Look for walleye fishing to improve as water temperatures cool further this fall.

White bass fishing continues to be good during the early morning and late even hours in the upper areas of Pools 9 to 15. Watch for schools of white bass feeding on minnows near wing dams. If you see areas where minnows or shad are continuously being chased, try to maintain some distance away 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 9 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 plan 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 and discard. If you take these two simple steps, drum are excellent to eat.

Largemouth bass fishing has been fair to good in Pools 9 to 15 using a variety of baits and lures including shad and crawfish imitating crankbaits, spinner-baits and soft plastics. Focus on areas with structure and some current-look for 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 15. 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, cut baits and night crawlers fished in the deep holes off the tips of the wing dams in Pools 9 to 15. 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 or leeches fished close to the bottom below the dams.

Cedar River (Mitchell and Floyd): Walleye and smallmouth bass fishing is fair on night crawlers or crankbaits fished in deeper pools and near log jams during the day. In the morning or evening, try fishing along rocky structure and below the riffles.

Maquoketa River (Delaware): Smallmouth bass fishing is good in the catch-and-release area using minnows or a variety of artificial lures.

Turkey River (Fayette and Clayton): Smallmouth bass and walleye fishing is good using night crawlers or a jig fished in the deeper pools. Trout fishing is excellent near the in-stream boulders by the Big Spring Rearing Station. Fishing is excellent for channel catfish on night crawlers and grubs.

Upper Iowa River (Howard and Winneshiek): Water conditions were turbid from last week's rain, but fishing should pick up later in the week.

Wapsipinicon River (Buchanan): Channel catfish are hitting cut baits. Anglers are also picking up a few smallmouth bass on crankbaits.

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.

Big Woods, George Wyth and South Prairie Lakes (Black Hawk): Largemouth bass fishing is fair on surface baits and spinners.

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 crankbaits fished in the early morning or evening hours. Bluegills are biting on worms fished next to structure.

Volga Lake (Fayette): Largemouth bass fishing is good using worms or plastic baits. Bluegill fishing is fair to good using worms fished off the face of the dam. Channel catfish are hitting night crawlers.

Trout fishing excellent and stream conditions are good to excellent. September is the last month for announced stream stockings. 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): Walleyes are being caught at the North Grade using leeches under a bobber. A few are still being caught on the main lake using leeches. A few largemouth bass are biting on leeches suspended under a slip bobber at the North Grade. They are also biting at Buffalo Run on spinner-baits. Bluegills are biting on leeches suspended under a slip bobber at the North Grade.

West Okoboji Lake (Dickinson): Walleyes 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 smallmouth bass are being caught on the deep rock piles. Bluegills are being caught off the weed lines in Miller's, Hayward's and Smith's bays using worms.

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 fishing is good on night crawlers, frogs and crawdads.

Brushy Creek (Webster): Some nice-sized crappies have been caught on small minnows using a slip bobber rig. Bluegills are right around the trees suspended in 10 to 20 feet of water. Bass remain deep.

Black Hawk Lake (Sac): Fishing is good for catfish on cut bait, stink bait, night crawlers and leeches under docks and on rock piles.

Arrowhead Lake (Sac): Fishing is good for medium sized bluegills.

Storm Lake (Buena Vista): Fishing is good for channel catfish on live chubs, night crawlers and leeches.

Crawford Creek (Ida): The boat ramp is open. Fishing is good for 8-inch bluegills.

Clear Lake (Cerro Gordo): Walleye fishing has been fair. Fish are being caught trolling crankbaits and using live bait. Remember Clear Lake has a 14-inch minimum length limit. Yellow bass fishing has been good. The deeper water north of the island, the artificial weed beds and the deeper rock reefs are producing the best. 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 12 feet of water.

East Fork Des Moines River (Kossuth): Channel catfish are 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 or night crawlers. Fish the catfish in the evenings, on the north shoreline for the best action. Bullheads are hitting 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 fair using night crawlers in shallow water. Crappie fishing is fair with jigs and minnows. Channel catfish fishing is good using night crawlers or chicken liver.

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

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

Easter Lake (Polk): Bluegill fishing is fair using night crawlers and bobbers. Channel catfish fishing has been good at night with night crawlers, chicken liver and chubs. Largemouth bass fishing has been slow to fair, although most fish are below the legal size.

Saylorville Lake (Polk): White bass/wiper fishing has been good to excellent with jigs and spinners. 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 good with some good-sized fish being caught.

Rock Creek (Jasper): Crappies are fair to good on jigs and minnows in the deeper water. Channel catfish fishing is fair with chicken liver. Bluegill fishing is slow to fair with some nice fish reported.

Red Rock (Marion): White bass fishing has been fair, with the best fishing in the marina and in Whitebreast. Channel catfish fishing has been fair using cut baits and liver.

Below Lake Red Rock (Marion): White bass fishing has been fair 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 and minnows in deeper water. Channel catfish fishing has been good to excellent using a variety of baits.

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

Hooper Lake (Warren): Bluegill fishing has been fair to good 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 off fishing jetties and in 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.

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 cover in 5 to 8 feet of water. Bluegills 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. Largemouth bass fishing is good around the woody cover in 8 to 10 feet of water. Crappies are suspended at about 10 feet over the brush piles. Bluegills are being caught in the back of the coves and in brush piles on night crawlers and wax worms.

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

Lake of Three Fires (Taylor): Largemouth bass can be caught from flooded trees on spinners. Some nice bluegills are biting on night crawlers around flooded trees. Channel catfish up to 3 pounds can be caught near shore in the mornings and evenings on liver or small bluegill sides.

West Osceola (Clarke): Fishing for all species has been fair but recent rains have filled the lake to within 1 foot of full.

Walnut Creek Marsh (Ringgold): Bluegill and crappie can be caught from the weed line edges and lotus beds.

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

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

Greenfield (Adair): Bluegills are fair 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 fair using night crawlers on sunken trees. Crappies are slow around sunken trees using minnows. Catfish is good using prepared baits around structure.

Morman Trail (Adair): Fishing is fair 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 has improved. Use twister tails and shad colored crankbaits along east shoreline and around swimming beach. Walleyes are fair trolling crankbaits along west shore. Channel catfish fishing is good using stink bait by beach and west shoreline.

DeSoto Bend (Harrison): Crappie fishing is slow using jigs and minnows around deep structure. Channel catfish fishing is fair 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 using liver or prepared baits along rocky shorelines. Bluegills have slowed, but a few are being caught drifting jigs tipped with night crawlers.

Willow (Harrison): Fishing for channel catfish is fair using liver in west arm of lake.

Farm Ponds: Fishing is good for bluegills using jigs tipped with night crawlers. Largemouth bass fishing is good. Channel catfishing is fair using night crawlers in the evenings.

Contact: Chris Larson (712) 769-2587 for information on the above area lakes. For more information on general fishing in southwest Iowa, call the southwest 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 82 degrees and the river pool stage for Pool 16 is 11.42 feet. Water levels are expected to rise slightly over the next several days.

Fishing continues to be slow to fair on Pools 16 to 19. Walleye fishing has been slow. Anglers continue to pick up a few walleyes 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 are catching a few flathead catfish using green sunfish or larger chubs for bait. Channel catfishing has been good on Pools 16 to 19 with boat anglers having the best success on dip baits and chicken liver immediately after dark. Largemouth bass fishing has been fair to slow in accessible backwaters and off the main river channel on artificial baits and live bait rigs.

Lake Sugema (Van Buren): Largemouth bass have been hitting on a variety of presentations. Crappies have been hitting small jigs tipped with a minnow or night crawler. Bluegills have been biting on small jigs tipped with a night crawler.

Lake Wapello (Davis): Largemouth bass have been hitting on top-water lures during the evening hours. Channel catfish have been biting on stink bait.

Lake Keomah (Mahaska): Largemouth bass have been hitting on a variety of artificial lures, such as spinner-baits and top waters. Channel catfish have been biting on night crawlers and stink bait.

Lake Rathbun (Appanoose): Walleyes are hitting on crankbaits being trolled along rocky points and underwater islands. White bass have been hitting on chrome colored crankbaits and white twister tails.

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