Northeast

Mississippi River Pools 9 to 15: Water levels on the Mississippi River are projected to fall, but are subject to change depending on possible rains throughout the week. Clarity remains fair to good and water temperature is 69 degrees. On Tuesday, river stage was 6.57 feet at Guttenberg, and Bellevue was at 6.7 feet and steady. Several species have been biting recently and location is key. As a rule of thumb, if you have not caught a fish in 10 to 15 minutes move. Keep your eyes open for areas with actively feeding fish or places where fish tend to congregate such as wing dams, woody structure and rocky areas. Now is the time to come fish the river. Water levels and temperature has been stable making for great fishing.

Bluegill fishing is excellent in the spillways at Lock and Dams 9 and 10. Fish in the areas of slack water next to the dams with a small piece of worm on a small jig or hook and sinker. Bluegill will be spawning soon, so backwater fishing should also pick up. Float a worm under a bobber and keep moving to find active fish. Bluegill fishing has slowed some in Pools 12 to 15. Use a piece of night crawler fished under a bobber in the brush and along the rocks for bluegill.

Yellow perch are being caught off the brush piles near Harper's Ferry (Pool 10).

A few nice crappies are being caught on a worm fished under a bobber in Pools 9 to 11.

Fishing for freshwater drum is good to excellent in all locations in Pools 9 to 15 using a simple sliding sinker and a night crawler. Drum are found mostly in areas with current and you do not need a boat to catch them. Fish the tailwater areas and wing dams for drum.

Largemouth and smallmouth bass fishing is fair to good in Pools 9 to 15 using small spinners, crankbaits, jigs and soft plastics. Fish the shorelines (main channel borders and backwater lakes) and concentrate around wood, rock or vegetation.

Walleye fishing is very good in Pools 9 to 11 and picking up in Pools 12 to 15. Use night crawlers or leeches on a three-way rig trolled on the upstream face of the wing dams. Some fish are being caught using crankbaits as well. Try to keep your bait or lure in contact with rock as you work along the dam.

Anglers in Pools 9 and 10 are also reporting good northern pike fishing using spinners or jigs with twister tails.

Channel catfish are biting in Pools 9 to 15 as they are moving onto the rocks to spawn. The best baits for this type of fishing are night crawlers or leeches fished under a bobber floated over the rocks. A few flathead catfish are showing up in the creel as well. Try fishing in the tailwaters of the locks and dams and the log jams for this fun to catch fish. Use live bait for flatheads, like night crawlers, minnows or freshly cut baits.

Cedar River (Mitchell, Floyd and Chickasaw): Walleye and smallmouth bass fishing has slowed. Black crappies are biting on minnows fished under a bobber.

Cedar River (Bremer and Black Hawk): Walleye and smallmouth bass fishing is good when river condition is stable. Channel catfish are biting below the Waverly and Cedar Falls dams.

Maquoketa River (Delaware): Channel catfish are hitting on night crawlers or dead baits fished on the bottom. Walleye fishing is good on jigs tipped with a night crawler or crankbaits. Smallmouth bass are hitting crankbaits or jigs tipped with a night crawler or twister tail.

Shell Rock River (Butler and Bremer): Channel catfish fishing is good below dams and the mouths of creeks. Fish on the bottom using night crawlers or dead cut baits. Some anglers are catching catfish on jigs and twister tails.

Turkey River (Clayton): Water conditions are high and turbid. Fishing was slow over the weekend. Walleye and smallmouth bass fishing will improve as the river clears.

Upper Iowa River (Winneshiek and Allamakee): The river is a little cloudy, but still fishable. Fishing for smallmouth bass is good light-colored twister tails and floating crankbaits. A few walleye are being caught on slow-moving jigs fished near the bottom. Anglers are also catching northern pike.

Black Hawk County Lakes and Ponds: The water temperature has risen and crappie and bluegill fishing is good. Fish for crappies using minnows and/or jigs next to structure. Bluegills are hitting on a piece of night crawler suspended under a bobber near shore. Some anglers are catching largemouth bass using crankbaits.

Casey Lake in Hickory Hills Park (Tama): Fishing is good for bluegills. Fish off the jetties or the old beach using wax worms or a piece of night crawler suspended under a bobber. Also try artificial flies on fly rods for bluegills feeding at the surface.

Lake Delhi (Delaware): Channel catfish are good using dead baits or night crawlers fished on the bottom. Bluegill and crappie fishing has improved around boat docks and structure. Use a small piece of a night crawler or small jigs for bluegills. Fish a jig tipped with a minnow or a plain minnow under a slip bobber for hungry crappies. Walleyes are also biting.

Lake Hendricks (Howard): Crappie fishing has slowed. Anglers are catching 14 to 15-inch largemouth bass on crankbaits. Fishing is good for 7 to 8-inch bluegill using small surface flies or night crawlers.

Lake Meyer (Winneshiek): Crappie fishing has slowed. Fishing is very good for smaller bluegills on angle worms and crappie jigs fished next to structure. Largemouth bass are biting on night crawlers fished on the bottom. Bass are also biting on a variety of artificial lures.

Plainfield Lake (Bremer): Bluegills are biting on jigs tipped with a piece of night crawler or wax worm suspended under a bobber.

Silver Lake (Delaware): Fishing for bluegill and catfish is fair in Silver Lake, located in the town of Delhi. For bluegills, use a piece of night crawler or a wax worm fished under a bobber. Channel catfish are hitting night crawlers or dead cut baits fished on the bottom.

Volga Lake (Fayette): Largemouth bass fishing is picking up. Use slower-moving artificial lures worked along structure, especially in the mornings. Bluegill and crappie fishing is fair. The panfish are on the small side.

Trout Streams: Trout fishing is very good and water conditions are good to excellent. Iowa DNR personnel continue to work on stream access improvements as well as habitat improvements in the trout streams. If you have not checked out the new access for the Turkey River at the Big Spring Hatchery, it is well worth the trip. This area was previously difficult to fish due to the steep dike and density of the trees; however, recent access projects has made this location an easily accessible place to fish and enjoy the Turkey River. The Jensen Trail downstream from Echo Valley Park to Otter Creek offers anglers a scenic hiking trail through a truly beautiful area of the state. If you're looking for a place to stretch your legs and toss in a line, check out these trout fishing streams as well as many other out-of-the-way streams. Many trout stream stockings are announced and the dates of proposed stockings can be found on the Iowa DNR website at www.iowadnr.gov or by calling the trout stocking 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): Walleye fishing has been fair. Evening bite has been best with some good reports coming from dock and wader anglers. Most fish are 14-17 inches. Drifting with leeches in Anglers Bay has been productive. Largemouth bass fishing is good throwing spinner baits in Anglers Bay. Fish are also being caught at Buffalo Run using a variety of baits. Bullhead fishing is fair on the grade using night crawlers. Crappie fishing is good along the bulrushes in Anglers Bay, using small minnows under a bobber or small tube jigs. Fish up to 13 inches have been creeled.

West Okoboji Lake (Dickinson): Walleye fishing is good. Anglers have been working rock piles in Emerson, Millers and the North Bay using leeches. In the evening anglers have been trolling crankbaits. Bluegill fishing is good around main lake docks. Try using small hair jigs tipped with wax worms or garden worms. Largemouth bass fishing is excellent in the canals and shallow rock piles using soft plastics.

East Okoboji Lake (Dickinson): Walleye fishing is fair in the evening below the spillway. White bass fishing is good below the spillway casting jigs tipped with shiners or minnows. Bluegill fishing is good along the trestle. Crappie fishing is fair around wooden docks and submerged brush

Silver Lake (Dickinson): Walleye fishing is fair using leeches on snells during the day, and working leeches under a bobber at night.

Center Lake (Dickinson): Bluegill fishing is excellent along the west shore. Bullhead fishing is excellent using night crawlers.

Five Island Lake (Palo Alto): Walleye fishing is fair in the evening from shore.

Brushy Creek (Webster): Fishing is good. Many walleye have been caught using a slip bobber and a leech along the rock shoreline during the evening hours. Crappies can be caught on minnows or tube jigs. Some nice catfish and big bullheads have been caught on the northwest slit bridge area. Larger bluegills are fairly active by Taylor's Island.

Clear Lake (Cerro Gordo): Walleye fishing is excellent trolling crankbaits or live bait in deeper water. Remember Clear Lake has a 14-inch minimum length for walleye. Yellow bass fishing is fair. Some yellows are being caught in deeper water with live bait.

Beeds Lake (Franklin): Crappie fishing is good using small jigs and minnows. Fish size has been running 8 to 11 inches.

Briggs Woods (Hamilton): Channel catfish are hitting on the diversion dike using chicken liver. Bluegills are hitting small pieces of night crawler or jigs near shore and along the dam.

Upper and Lower Pine Lake (Hardin): Crappie fishing is good using minnows and small jigs around the downed trees and rocky shoreline areas.

Smith Lake (Kossuth): Largemouth bass fishing is excellent. Spinner baits and jerk baits are working the best. Remember Smith Lake has an 18-inch minimum length on bass. Channel catfish angling is good using chicken liver and dead chubs.

Lake Catherine (Winnebago): Bluegill fishing has been good using small jigs or night crawlers. Largemouth bass fishing is good using spinner baits and rubber worms.

Rice Lake (Winnebago and Worth): Bullhead fishing is excellent using night crawlers. Fish the windy shoreline for the best action.

Lake Cornelia (Wright): Bullhead fishing is excellent using night crawlers. Bullhead size has been running 9 to 11 inches.

Morse Lake (Wright): Bullheads are biting on night crawlers.

Storm Lake (Buena Vista): Walleye fishing is good to excellent trolling crankbaits. Remember Storm Lake has a 17 to 22-inch protected slot limit on walleyes. White bass fishing is excellent trolling crankbaits or throwing twisters from the jetties or shorelines into the wind. Catfish are excellent on a variety of baits.

Black Hawk Lake (Sac): Fishing is good to excellent for catfish on a variety of baits. A few walleyes are being caught but action is slow due to turbid water.

Swan Lake (Carroll): Fishing is excellent for 7 to 9 inch bluegills near shore. Use a small leadhead under a small bobber or a plain hook tipped with a piece of night crawler.

North Twin Lake (Calhoun): Fishing is excellent for 12-inch bullheads and is good for large bluegills next to shore.

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

 

Southwest

Farm Ponds: Bluegill, largemouth bass and channel catfish are biting well.

Nine Eagles (Decatur): Some nice-sized bluegill can be caught from the outside edges of the vegetation line. Several mid-sized largemouth bass have been caught near shore.

Icaria (Adams): Several mid-sized walleyes are being caught on jigs. Largemouth bass up to 16 inches can be caught near shoreline structure. Crappie fishing is good with several crappies 7 to 9 inches long being caught near shoreline structure. Some 7 to 8-inch bluegills can be caught near shore on night crawlers. The lake is full and running over. Water clarity is approximately 2 ½ feet at the dam.

Little River (Decatur): A few crappies are biting just off shore on jigs or minnows. Anglers have been catching some bluegill better than last week. Some walleye are starting to bite on night crawlers and leeches. Water clarity is approximately 3 feet at the dam.

Wilson (Taylor): Bluegill fishing is excellent on jigs or night crawlers. Some channel catfish are biting on stink baits or liver.

Windmill (Taylor): Several bluegills are being caught using jigs or night crawlers while fishing near the dam. Some channel catfish have been caught on liver.

Green Valley (Union): Some crappies are biting near shore in the evenings or just off shore during the day on minnows. Fishing is good for channel catfish on night crawlers, stink bait and liver off silt dikes or in shallow bays. Some bluegills are biting on night crawlers or wax worms. Several nice-sized largemouth bass have been caught near shore. Water clarity is approximately 3 feet at the dam.

Three Mile (Union): Several small wipers have been caught using minnows in deep water near points. Some nice bluegills are being caught on night crawlers or wax worms. The walleye are starting to bite on night crawlers and leeches over the mounds. Water clarity is about 4 feet at the dam.

Twelve Mile (Union): Walleyes are being caught, but most are 12 inches. Anglers are catching largemouth bass up to 17 inches with most between 11 and 13 inches. The lake is full and running over. Water clarity is about 4 feet at the dam.

Badger Creek (Madison): Some channel catfish can be caught in the warm shallow water. Bluegills are still biting well near the rocks of the jetties and in areas near shoreline access.

Criss Cove (Madison): Bluegills are biting on the coves.

Three Fires (Taylor): Crappie fishing is fair. Largemouth bass are easily caught and most are between 10 and 15 inches. Bluegill fishing is excellent with several 7 to 8-inch fish being caught. Some nice channel catfish can be caught on liver or stink baits. The lake is full and easily usable. The water has about 2 feet of clarity, but the fish are still being caught.

Grade Lake (Clarke): Anglers are catching some nice bluegills near shore and in the coves.

Fogle Lake (Ringgold): Some crappies are biting near shore at dusk and dawn. Several bluegills are being caught on night crawlers. The channel catfish are biting on stink baits.

Walnut Creek Marsh (Ringgold): Bluegills are biting well near shore.

West Osceola (Clarke): Largemouth bass fishing is good near shore and around the trees. Many small crappies can be caught from the dam or near the shoreline areas with trees. Some mid-sized bluegill can be caught on night crawlers.

Contact: Gary Sobotka (641) 464-3108 for information on the above area lakes.

Big Creek (Polk): Crappie fishing continues to be hot along shore and structure. Small jigs are working best. Lots of walleye are being caught in the evenings using jigs, night crawlers and leeches. Most are below the 15-inch minimum length limit.

Ahquabi (Warren): Largemouth bass and bluegills are being caught in all different sizes. Jigs and bait are working for bluegills and bass are being caught on various lures.

Easter (Polk): Lots of small bluegill and crappie are being caught throughout the lake, mostly on jigs. Some bass are picked up on spinners. Some decent walleyes are being caught on jigs and leeches with fish up to 20 inches. Catfishing continues to be fair around the lake, with stink bait, cut bait and night crawlers working best.

Hickory Grove (Story): Decent sized crappies and bluegills are biting throughout the lake. Small jigs and jig/bait combinations around structure are picking up fish. Crappies have been measuring up to 12 inches and bluegills up to 9 inches.

Red Rock (Marion): There is not much angler activity on the lake due to high water level. Fishing has been poor throughout the lake.

Saylorville Lake (Polk): Catfishing continues to be decent on the river below the lake. Cut bait and whole shad are working for catfish up to 5 pounds. Some white bass are still being caught below the dam as well. Crappie and bluegill fishing is fair around rocks and docks with jig and bait combinations. Also try fishing in deeper water.

Contact: Ben Dodd (515) 432-2823, Ext.108, for information on the above area lakes

Orient (Adair): Channel catfish are fair during the day on prepared baits with average size of 20 inches. Bluegills are moving into shore and can be caught on small jigs. Largemouth bass fishing is good using a slow retrieve and plastic worms.

Nodaway (Adair): Bluegill fishing is fair using small jigs tipped with night crawlers. Crappies are slow, but a few are being caught around brush piles with minnows. Channel catfish fishing is fair using liver.

Greenfield (Adair): Bluegill fishing is fair with fish moving to shore to spawn. Largemouth bass are being caught using plastic baits and spinner baits. Channel catfish fishing has been slow.

Mormon Trail (Adair): Bluegills are moving to shore in the area with pea gravel on south side of lake to spawn. Channel catfish is fair using liver around jetties and in the shallow bays.

Littlefield (Audubon): Crappie fishing has slowed, but a few are being caught drifting a jig and minnow. Bluegills are fair casting a small jig tipped with night a crawler. Channel catfish fishing has been good in shallow bays and corners of the dam using stink bait.

Anita (Cass): Anglers are catching 7 to 8-inch bluegill using jigs from shore. Channel catfish, 2 to 6 pounds, are being caught on night crawlers and liver. Largemouth bass fishing has been good for fish up to 18 inches. Crankbaits and jigs have been used around brush piles and rock piles.

DeSoto Bend (Harrison): A few walleyes have been caught drifting night crawlers around sunken trees. Crappie fishing is slow.

Manawa (Pottawattamie): Fishing for crappies is fair in the canals using minnows with bobber or small jigs. A few wipers are being caught. Channel catfish fishing is good drifting with cut bait.

Arrowhead (Pottawattamie): Fishing is good for 7 to 8-inch bluegills using jigs with night crawlers. Channel catfish fishing is good using liver and prepared bait around jetties close to shore.

Prairie Rose (Shelby): Fishing is fair for 7 to 8-inch crappies away from shore. Channel catfish is good fishing shallow bays with dead minnows and night crawlers. A few largemouth bass are being caught using a slow presentation.

Farm Ponds are good for largemouth bass, bluegills and channel catfish. Be sure to ask permission from the landowner first.

Contact: Bryan Hayes (712) 769-2587 for information on the above area lakes.

For more information on fishing in southwest Iowa, call the regional office in Lewis at 712-769-2587.

 

Southeast

Lake Odessa (Louis): The summer draw down has begun so look for the water levels to be dropping. Anglers are picking up some catfish. Also look for the bluegills to start nesting over the sand flats soon.

Lake Darling (Washington): A few crappies came back in last week to finish the spawn. Anglers are catching crappies, along the riprap and some bluegills along the shorelines. Catfish are biting on chicken liver and night crawlers.

Lake Geode (Henry): Bluegills can be caught in shallow water as the males are in building the nests. Look for the fish to be spooky as they are not tied to the nest protecting the eggs yet.

Lake Belva Deer (Keokuk): Catfishing has been good, with shrimp and stink baits working best. Bluegills are building nests but are very spooky because of the clear water.

Lake Rathbun (Appanoose): Crappies have been hitting on small jigs and minnows fished in shallow water around flooded vegetation or flooded timber. Walleyes have been biting on night crawlers being trolled or drifted over underwater islands and other drop-off areas. Channel catfish have been biting on worms and minnows.

Lake Sugema (Van Buren): Crappies and bluegills have been hitting on small jigs fished in shallow water. Largemouth bass have been hitting on a variety of artificial lures. Channel catfish have been biting on liver.

Lake Wapello (Davis): Largemouth bass have been hitting artificial presentations fished around areas with cedar trees and other underwater structure. Channel catfish have been hitting liver and night crawlers.

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

Skunk River (Washington and Henry): The river at Brighton has finally gone back into its banks. Anglers are picking up a few catfish on live bait. They are also still catching flatheads below the dam at Oakland Mills.

Lake Macbride (Johnson): Anglers were catching big numbers of crappies right along the bank as the last wave moved in to spawn. This action will be short lived, however. Bluegills should be very catchable as well in the shallows, although size will be marginal.

Cedar River (Linn): Anglers are catching white bass on white twisters. Channel catfish are hitting on stink bait and night crawlers. Anglers are catching flathead catfish on night crawlers, with larger fish are being caught on sunfish.

Union Grove (Tama): Bluegills and crappies are being caught in very shallow water on live bait and small jigs. Channel catfish are also being picked up towards evening on night crawlers.

Pleasant Creek (Linn): Largemouth bass are biting on about anything. Try crankbaits, plastic worms, or live bait for best results. Use small worms or jigs tipped with wax worms for spawning bluegills.

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