Northeast

Mississippi River Pools 9 to 15: Water levels in Pools 9 to 11 have risen slightly but are expected to fall back and stabilize at low levels once again. Pools 12 to 15 are on a rise with a crest expected in Bellevue on Wednesday. River stages are as follows: Pool 9, Lynxville - 12.8 feet, Pool 11, Guttenberg - 4.27 feet, Pool 12, Dubuque - 7.38, and Pool 13, Bellevue - 3.96 feet. Water temperature has dropped to 60 degrees. Fishing has been picking up as the water temperature has cooled and the fish are putting on the feed bag heading into fall.

Walleye fishing on the wing dams is still slow, but some nice fish are being caught. Walleye appear to be on the move. Try trolling crankbaits in running sloughs such as Minnesota Slough (Pool 9) or jigging the outer edges of wing dams with blade baits or jigging spoons. Some walleye and sauger have moved into the tailwater areas of Lock and Dams 9 and 10. Anglers are reporting a mixed bag with smaller sauger and a few walleye. Anglers in Pools 12 to 15 are also picking up a few walleye and sauger along the wing dams using crankbaits or three-way rigs tipped with a night crawler or leech. It won't be too long and the saugers should start moving towards the tailwaters too. Look for walleye and sauger fishing to improve quickly over the next few weeks.

Fishing continues to be good for channel catfish on cut baits and night crawlers in Pools 9 to 15. Some anglers on Pool 9 are still having luck with stink baits. Look for catfish on the lower ends of sloughs near wood or along the main channel in rocky areas.

Colder water temperature has started the bluegill and crappie bite in Pools 9 to 15. The spillway areas of Lock and Dams 9 and 10 have been consistent producers for bluegills recently. Other good locations for hungry bluegills include the backwater areas and side channels with structure.

Some nice crappies are being caught in Pools 9 to 15. Try the lower end of sloughs in Pool 9 or fish along woody structure in the backwater and side channels in any of the pools. Crappies are suspended in 4 to 6 feet of water so adjust your bait until you can locate actively feeding fish.

White bass are biting minnow and shad imitation baits fished around the wing dams and tailwater areas of Pools 12 to 15.

Cedar River (Floyd and Mitchell): Smallmouth bass fishing is good on dark colored jigs or spinner baits. Walleye fishing is good on night crawlers fished on the bottom below the dams.

Cedar (Bremer and Black Hawk) and Shell Rock (Butler) rivers: Smallmouth bass are hitting crankbaits and jigs. A few walleye are being caught fishing night crawlers or jigs tipped with night crawlers. Concentrate on areas with rock or rip rapped shorelines.

Maquoketa River (Delaware): Smallmouth bass fishing is good using crawdad-colored crankbaits or jigs fished along the rocky areas. The catch-and-release area below the Delhi Dam has the best habitat and the highest density of smallmouth bass.

Turkey River (Fayette): Smallmouth bass fishing is good using night crawlers, worms or dark colored jigs.

Upper Iowa River (Howard, Winneshiek and Allamakee): Smallmouth bass fishing is excellent on dark colored jigs or live bait. Walleye fishing is good on dark colored jigs.

Big Woods and Brinker lakes (Black Hawk): Fishing is good to excellent for 8 to 9-inch crappie casting jigs tipped with a minnow. Crappies are being caught in 8 to 10 feet of water; however, some are also found 20 feet down.

Trout stream conditions are good to excellent and fishing for trout at this time of year is excellent. This is the last week for announced stream stockings; however, many of your favorite streams will continue to be stocked, unannounced, on a weekly basis. You can't beat trout fishing in northeast Iowa in the fall. The colors alone will make any trip worthwhile.

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 on night crawlers around rock piles on the north end and Buffalo Run. Anglers are starting to catch walleyes from shore in the evening. Walleyes are also being caught on the North Grade throwing twisters. A few yellow perch are being caught on waxies in Anglers Bay and the weed lines.

West Okoboji Lake (Dickinson): Walleye fishing is picking up. Anglers are catching some casting around the points in the evening. Smallmouth bass and white bass are also being caught around the points.

East Okoboji Lake (Dickinson): Anglers are catching a few walleyes around Camp Foster.

Little Spirit Lake (Dickinson): Anglers are catching a few crappies on jigs on the south end of the lake.

West Fork Des Moines River (Emmet): Walleye fishing is excellent in the deeper holes throwing twisters.

Brushy Creek (Webster): Fishing on the lake remains slow. Bluegills remain the most catchable fish on the lake.

Black Hawk Lake (Sac): Channel catfish are fair on stink bait. Crappies are fair to good off the west stone pier and handicapped dock on a jig under a small bobber.

Clear Lake (Cerro Gordo): Walleye fishing continues to be 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 fair. The deeper water north of the island, the artificial weed beds and the deeper rock reefs are producing best. Yellow bass are being caught anchored and vertical jigging with minnows and night crawlers.

Beeds Lake (Franklin): Crappies are being caught from the jetties and docks on the south side of the lake. Small jigs and minnows are being used to catch 8 ½ to 10-inch crappie.

Morse Lake (Wright): Some yellow perch are being caught using small minnows and night crawlers. Sorting is required to get the larger fish.

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

 

Southwest

Don Williams (Boone): Crappie fishing is excellent with jigs and minnows. Largemouth bass fishing has been good using jigs. Some nice walleyes have been caught.

Hickory Grove (Story): Bluegill fishing has been good with worms. Crappie fishing has been good using jigs and minnows. Largemouth bass fishing has been fair to good. 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 the better areas offshore in deeper water. Channel catfish fishing has been good with anglers catching some nicer crappies with jigs.

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. Crappie fishing has been fair.

Saylorville Lake (Polk): White bass/wiper and crappie fishing has been fair with jigs and minnows. Catfish fishing has been slow 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.

Rock Creek (Jasper): Crappie fishing has been good on jigs and minnows. Channel catfish fishing is fair with chicken liver. Bluegill fishing is fair with some nice fish reported.

Red Rock (Marion): White bass fishing has been fair, with the best fishing in the marina and Whitebreast areas. 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 tail-water 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 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 jetties and in bays.

Binder (Adams): Channel catfish are biting on night crawlers and liver.

Green Valley (Union): Channel catfish are biting on night crawlers, liver and prepared bait. Bluegill can be caught from the flooded cedar trees or stake beds on night crawlers.

Three Mile (Union): Channel catfish fishing is fair using night crawlers or liver. The crappies are suspended in about 10 feet of water over the brush piles.

Grade (Clarke): The small and medium-sized largemouth bass are easily caught from the weed edges.

Windmill (Taylor): Some nice crappie can be caught in 6 feet of water.

Walnut Creek Marsh (Ringgold): Bluegill, largemouth bass and crappie can be caught from the weed 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 SW Regional Office in Lewis at 712-769-2587.

Orient (Adair): Fishing has slowed for 2 to 3-pound channel catfish using night crawlers, liver or 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 fair using liver and prepared bait.

Nodaway (Adair): Channel catfish are fair on liver and prepared baits in shallow areas. A few bluegills are being caught using night crawlers and a bobber.

Meadow (Adair): Bluegills are fair using night crawlers over sunken trees and along the dam. Crappies are slow around sunken trees using minnows. Channel catfish is fair 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 picked up and are being caught on twister tails and shad colored crankbaits along east shoreline and around the swimming beach. Walleyes are fair trolling crankbaits along west shore. Channel catfish has slowed. Some are being caught at night with shrimp or cut bait.

DeSoto Bend (Harrison): Crappie fishing is slow using jigs and minnows around deep structure. Channel catfish 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 using jigs tipped with a minnow. Channel catfish fishing is slow on liver and 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 in west arm of lake using liver. A few bluegills are being caught on night crawlers with a bobber.

Farm Ponds: Fishing is good for bluegills using jigs tipped with night crawlers. Largemouth bass fishing is also good. Channel catfishing is also 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 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 64 degrees and the river pool stage for Pool 16 is 11.20 feet. Water levels are expected to rise and then stabilize over the next several days.

Fishing has been fair on Pools 16 to 19. Walleye and sauger fishing continues to be fair off the wing dams. On Pool 16, try near the Riverfront area at Davenport, on the wing dams around Credit Island, and the mouth of the Rock River using jigs tipped with crawlers, leeches, or minnows, or trolling crankbaits. Channel catfishing has been fair on Pools 16 to 19 and good at the entrance tubes at Lake Odessa (Pools 17/18) on night crawlers, minnows, and other various baits. Crappie and bluegill fishing has been fair in the backwaters try Sunset Marina in Pool 16, Andalusia in Pool 16, Big Timber Area in Pool 17, Huron Island, in Pool 18, and Lake Odessa Pools 17/18. Anglers are also picking up largemouth bass in these backwaters.

Lake Darling (Washington): The lake turned over for the fall late last week. Cool weather should bring the crappies and bluegills in shallow.

Lake Geode (Henry): Last week, bluegill fishing was good but anglers still needed to concentrate their efforts in 12 to 15 feet of water. Worms under slip bobbers seem to be the technique of choice.

Lake Belva Deer (Keokuk): Bluegill fishing is remains good in 10 to 12 feet of water. Catfishing is also very good right now especially around the fish cleaning stations where all those bluegills are being cleaned.

Lake Odessa (Louisa): Bluegill fishing is starting to pick up after the long hot summer as the fish respond to the falling water temperature and start to fatten up for the fall. Water levels are rising as the lake is brought slowly up to the fall level.

Lake Rathbun (Appanoose): Walleyes have been hitting on crankbaits trolled around rocky points and underwater rock reefs. Crappies have been biting on minnows and small jigs fished around structure in 15 to 20 feet of water. White bass have been hitting on white twister tails and also crankbaits resembling gizzard shad.

Lake Sugema (Van Buren): Largemouth bass have been hitting on a variety of artificial lures. As the water cools, slow your presentation for the best luck. Crappies and bluegills have been hitting on small jigs and wax worms.

Lake Wapello (Davis): Largemouth bass have been hitting on a variety of artificial presentations. The best areas have been around the fallen trees that are scattered around the lake. A few crappies are biting on jigs and minnows fished around the piles of cedar trees that had been placed in the lake.

Lake Miami (Monroe): Bluegills and crappies have been hitting on small jigs tipped with a minnow or a chunk of night crawler. Largemouth bass have been hitting on a variety of lures fished around the flooded timber areas of the lake.

Pleasant Creek (Linn): Some channel catfish are being caught on chicken liver and shad guts.

Lake Macbride (Johnson): Some largemouth bass are being caught on a more regular basis now as the fish are beginning to move shallow. Bluegills are also plentiful and are biting on worms around rocks, wood or docks.

Diamond Lake (Poweshiek): Channel catfishing is fair on stink bait. Boaters have been picking up good numbers of crappies by drifting the main lake, and are catching some around brush. Some bluegills are also being picked up in deeper water on small worms.

Kent Park (Johnson): Channel catfish are still being taken on stink bait and night crawlers. Bluegills are being caught on small worms.

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