Northeast

Mississippi River Pools 9 to 15: Water levels on the Mississippi River on Monday were 5.7 feet at Guttenberg, 7.8 feet at Dubuque and Bellevue was at 5.4 feet and steadily dropping. Water temperature was 80 degrees. Lower water levels have contributed to good fishing on the river.

Bluegills are biting on worms in the pockets below the dams in Pools 9 to 13 and in the slack waters next to structure. With the warmer water conditions, bluegill fishing is picking up near Harpers Ferry (Pool 10) and many nice bluegills have been caught by shore anglers fishing next to the boat ramp in downtown Bellevue (Pool 13). When fishing the backwater areas, concentrate around snags and areas with rock riprapped shorelines or other habitat and watch for spawning bluegills.

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

Largemouth and smallmouth bass fishing is good to excellent in Pools 9 to 15 on a variety of lures including small spinners, crankbaits, jigs, and soft plastics. Both species are feeding heavily along rocky areas with current. Try backwater sloughs along the snags for hungry largemouth as they move off their spawning beds. The key to bass fishing is to find habitat and structure. Rip rapped banks, snags and logs along the shoreline or a combination of these structures is even better. Areas with good to excellent bass angling opportunities include below the dam and at the spillway in Pool 10, the rock bank in Guttenberg (Pool 11) and the riprap below the dams in Dubuque (Pool 12) and Bellevue (Pool 13).

Walleye fishing is very good in Pools 9 to 15 along the wing dams and sauger fishing has improved. Try fishing crankbaits or three-way rigs with night crawlers or leeches in Pools 9 to 11. Three-way rigs tipped with a leech have been more successful than night crawlers for anglers fishing in Pool 13. Troll crankbaits along the front of the wing dams or cast on top and fish down the face of the dam.

Fishing is good to excellent for channel catfish in Pools 9 to 15 as they continue to move onto the rocks to spawn. Fish worms, cut bait or stink baits by drifting the bait under a bobber through the rocks and rip rapped areas.

Northern pike fishing is very good near the spillways at Lock and Dams 9 and 10. Pike are feeding heavy in areas with coldwater springs.

Cedar River (Mitchell, Floyd and Chickasaw): Water levels have gone down and fishing has improved. Smallmouth bass are biting on 3-inch twister tails and tube jigs in a variety of colors. Channel catfish are hitting night crawlers, chicken liver and chubs.

Cedar and Shell Rock Rivers (Butler, Bremer and Black Hawk): Walleye and smallmouth bass fishing is good to excellent on night crawlers, leeches and crankbaits. Channel catfish are biting on leeches fished below the dams and in shallow, riffle areas.

Maquoketa River (Delaware): Channel catfish action is good along shoreline structure and outside bends. Also try fishing rip rapped areas near current for catfish by floating a night crawler or dead minnow. Walleye fishing is fair on crankbaits or jigs tipped with a night crawler. Smallmouth bass fishing is good using either crankbaits or a jig tipped with a night crawler.

Turkey River (Clayton): Smallmouth bass are biting on minnows and artificial lures fished early in the morning. Rock bass are being caught on night crawlers fished next to rock boulders and riprap. Some walleye are hitting crankbaits fished in the deeper pools-the key is to use something that can reach the bottom of the pool and worked slowly.

Upper Iowa River (Winneshiek and Allamakee): Fishing for smallmouth bass is fair using jigs in a variety of colors. Northern pike fishing is excellent along the mouth of the river using crankbaits.

Wapsipinicon River (Buchanan): Channel catfish are good using leeches floated below the dams.

Black Hawk County Lakes and Ponds: Largemouth bass and bluegill fishing is good near shore using night crawlers fished under a bobber or small jigs. Some crappie are still being caught in Big Woods and Brinker Lakes, but fish the deeper water (8 to 12 feet) for crappies. Bluegills are biting well in South Prairie Lake.

Lake Delhi (Delaware): Bluegill and crappie fishing is fair using small jigs, night crawlers and minnows fished around boat docks and structure.

Lake Hendricks (Howard): Channel catfish are spawning near rip-rapped shores. Largemouth bass fishing is good using plastic worms worked near structure. Fishing is good for bluegills on wax worms or a piece of night crawler suspended under a bobber, or with artificial flies.

Lake Meyer (Winneshiek): Channel catfish are biting night crawlers and chicken liver fished along the west side of the lake. Catfish are spawning next to the larger logs and riprap in the lake. Larger bluegills can be caught along the weed edges in 8 to 10 feet of water using a night crawler suspended under a bobber. Crappies are being caught on small jigs floated under a bobber near snags in 7 to 10 feet of water. Nice-sized largemouth bass are biting on top-water lures and weed-less lures.

Volga Lake (Fayette): Fishing is picking up for channel catfish. Largemouth bass fishing is picking up in the early morning and late evening hours. Use slower-moving artificial lures worked along structure. Bluegill fishing is good using wax worms under a bobber.

Trout fishing and stream conditions are good to excellent. 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 good for 14 to 17-inch fish drifting with leeches and night crawlers in 18 to 20 feet of water. Fish are also being caught jigging weed lines. Buffalo Run, Big Stoney and Angler's Bay have produced. Largemouth bass fishing is good around docks throwing plastic worms. A few yellow perch are being caught while fishing for walleyes.

West Okoboji Lake (Dickinson): Walleye fishing is good along weed lines. Look for areas with vegetation and rocks in 10 to 20 feet of water. Leeches and night crawlers have been effective. Casting plastics on point has been effective in the evenings. Gull Point, Pillsbury Point and Fort Dodge Point have been good. Northern pike fishing is excellent trolling or casting crankbaits in Millers and Emerson Bay. Bluegill fishing is good around weed lines and rock piles using small leeches and garden worms. White bass fishing is good in Brown's Bay and Smiths Bay. Smallmouth bass fishing is fair around Gull Point, Pillsbury Point, and Fort Dodge Point. Muskie fishing has been good around the emerging weed lines.

East Okoboji Lake (Dickinson): Bullhead fishing is fair at the north end using night crawlers.

Lake Pahoja (Lyon): Fishing is good for 6 to 7-inch bluegill around submerged brush using small worms and wax worms.

Five Island Lake (Palo Alto): Walleye fishing is good at night.

Little Sioux River (Clay): Channel catfish fishing is good using cut bait.

Storm Lake (Buena Vista): Walleye fishing very good trolling shad raps. White bass are good to excellent casting fire tiger twisters or trolling crankbaits. Catfish are excellent on a variety of baits, especially around the rocky shorelines.

Black Hawk Lake (Sac): Fishing is good to excellent for catfish on a variety of baits.

Brushy Creek (Webster): Smaller crappies have been caught on a small jig tipped with a wax worm. Nice bluegills are biting on worms. Try catfish fishing at the northwest silt bridge. A few nice walleyes were caught this week on leeches.

Clear Lake (Cerro Gordo): Walleye fishing is fair to good trolling crankbaits or drifting live bait in deeper water. Remember Clear Lake has a 14-inch minimum length and a daily bag limit of 3 walleyes. Yellow bass fishing is fair. Channel catfish are starting to hit on chicken liver and stink bait.

Beeds Lake (Franklin): Fishing is good for 8 to 11-inch crappies using small jigs and minnows. Largemouth bass fishing is good in the early morning casting the shoreline with spinner baits.

Upper and Lower Pine Lake (Hardin): Crappie fishing is good using minnows and small jigs. Drifting or trolling for suspended fish in the Upper Lake is the best technique. Catfish are hitting in the creek between the upper and lower lake.

Smith Lake (Kossuth): Largemouth bass fishing is good. 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, stink baits or dead chubs.

Lake Catherine (Winnebago): Bluegill fishing has been good using small jigs or night crawlers.

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

Lake Cornelia (Wright): Fishing is excellent for 9 to 11-inch bullheads using night crawlers.

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 all biting well.

Nine Eagles (Decatur): Some nice bluegill can be caught from the outside edge of the vegetation. Several mid-sized largemouth bass have been caught near shore. Channel catfish are starting to bite near the rock.

Icaria (Adams): Several mid-sized walleyes are being caught on jigs or jigs and minnows. Several largemouth bass up to 16 inches can be caught near shoreline structure. Crappie fishing is good with several 7 to 9-inch fish being caught near from the fish mounds. Some 7 to 8-inch bluegill can be caught from the fish mounds on night crawlers. The lake is full and running over. Water clarity is approximately 3 ½ feet at the dam.

Little River (Decatur): Some walleyes are biting on night crawlers and leeches. Channel catfish are starting to bite in the rocks. Water clarity is approximately 4 feet at the dam.

Wilson (Taylor): Largemouth bass fishing is good using spinners around structure. Bluegill fishing is good on jigs or night crawlers. Some channel catfish are biting on stink baits or liver.

Windmill (Taylor): Several bluegills are being caught near the dam using jigs or night crawlers. Channel catfish have been caught on liver. Largemouth bass are being caught using spinners.

Green Valley (Union): Fishing is good for channel catfish on night crawlers, stink bait or liver off silt dikes or in shallow bays. Anglers are catching nice-sized largemouth bass near shore. Water clarity is about 4 feet at the dam.

Three Mile (Union): Some nice bluegills are being caught on night crawlers or wax worms. Walleyes are starting to bite on night crawlers and leeches over the mounds. Some muskies have been caught near cover. Largemouth bass fishing is excellent near shoreline cover. Water clarity is about 4 feet at the dam.

Twelve Mile (Union): Walleyes are being caught, but most are 12-inches. Anglers are picking up largemouth bass up to 17 inches, with most between 11 and 13 inches. The lake is full and running over. Water clarity is about 5 feet at the dam.

Badger Creek (Madison): Channel catfish can be caught from the riprap areas.

Criss Cove (Madison): Bluegills are biting in the coves. Channel catfish can be caught from the riprap.

Three Fires (Taylor): Crappie fishing is fair. Largemouth bass are easily caught and most are between 10 and 15 inches. Bluegill fishing is excellent for 7 to 8-inch fish. Nice-sized channel catfish can be caught on liver or stink baits. The lake is full and easily usable. The water has about 2 1/2 feet of clarity.

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

Fogle Lake (Ringgold): Crappies are biting near shore at dusk and dawn. Several bluegills are being caught on night crawlers. Largemouth bass are biting well near shoreline cover. Channel catfish are biting on stink baits.

Walnut Creek Marsh (Ringgold): Bluegills are biting well near the south shore or the edge of the lotus bed.

West Osceola (Clarke): Largemouth bass fishing is good near shore and around the trees.

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

Big Creek (Polk): Fishing is still pretty good for a variety of species. Crappies are still biting on small jigs, however the bite is starting to taper off. Decent-sized largemouth bass are being caught along the shore on artificial lures. Bluegills are biting on a small piece of night crawler fished around the shore and structure. Walleyes are good on night crawlers, leeches and minnows. More and more legal-sized walleyes are starting to be caught. Catfishing is excellent on the windy shore. The fish are up shallow and biting on night crawlers, liver and cut baits.

Hickory Grove (Story): Largemouth bass, crappie and bluegill are all being caught consistently. Try artificial lures for the largemouth around structure. Small jigs tipped with bait for crappies and bluegills. There have been many reports of good-sized bluegills up to 9 inches are being caught.

Saylorville Dam (Polk): A few white bass along with a few wipers are being caught on jigs. Walleye fishing has been picking up with most fish being caught on jigs tipped with bait.

Ahquabi (Warren): Largemouth bass are biting on artificial lures and bluegills on worms under a bobber. Overall fishing is slow.

Banner Pits (Warren): Lots of bullheads are being caught on a chunk of night crawler fished on the bottom or suspended just off the bottom.

Easter Lake (Polk): Fishing has really slowed down. Small bluegills are biting on jigs and bait below a bobber. A few walleyes are being caught on live bait. Catfishing is still fair on stink bait or liver.

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 an average size 20 inches. Bluegills are fair and can be caught on small jigs and tipped with night crawlers. Largemouth bass fishing is fair 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 good using liver.

Greenfield (Adair): Bluegill fishing is fair with a few still being caught close to shore on jigs. Largemouth bass are being caught using plastic baits and spinner baits. Channel catfish fishing has been slow using liver.

Mormon Trail (Adair): Bluegills are fair on south side of lake in pea gravel. Channel catfish fishing 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 crawlers. Channel catfish fishing has been fair 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 and around the jetties. Channel catfish from 2 to 6 pounds are being caught on night crawlers and blood bait. Largemouth bass fishing has been fair for fish up to 18 inches using crankbaits and jigs 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. Channel catfish fishing is good on outside bend close to shore in the rocks. Dip baits with a red worm have been producing fish in the 2 to 4-pound range.

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

Arrowhead (Pottawattamie): Bluegills are good using jigs with night crawlers. Fish are 7 to 8 inches. Channel catfish are good using liver and prepared bait close to shore around jetties.

Prairie Rose (Shelby): Crappies moved away from shore and fishing is slow. Channel catfish is good fishing shallow bays with liver. Bluegills are good with spawning fish close to shore. Small jigs tipped with night crawlers work well. A few largemouth bass are being caught using crawdad-colored lures.

Willow (Harrison): Bluegill fishing is fair using jigs tipped with night crawlers close to shore.

Schaben (Harrison): Bluegills are fair with spawning fish close to shore. Night crawlers and bobbers on small jigs tipped with night crawlers works best. Largemouth bass are also being caught on night crawlers and plastic baits.

Farm Ponds: 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

Mississippi River Pools 16 to 19: Water levels in all pools are below flood stage. Water temperature at Muscatine is 82 degrees. Water level at Muscatine is 4.38 feet and steady. White bass fishing has been fair below the dams using jigs and twister tails. Crappies and bluegill are biting on the wing dams as well as at West Lake Park. Catfishing is good on leeches along rocks; also try shrimp or stink bait.

Lake Darling (Washington): Water temperature was 84 degrees. Catfishing is very good in the early morning and late evening. The morning bite seems to drop off around 8 a.m. Male channel catfish are around the rocks looking for spawning sites. Chicken liver seems to be working the best.

Lake Geode (Henry): Bluegill fishing is good on worm and bobber along the weed lines in 6 to 8 feet of water. Catfishing is also good using stink bait.

Lake Belva Deer (Keokuk): Catfishing has been very good using stink baits. The big redear are still on the nests in shallow water. Small jigs tipped with live bait are the way to go.

Lake Rathbun (Appanoose): Walleyes have been hitting on night crawlers being drifted or trolled across drop-offs, underwater islands, and other rocky shelves or ledges. Channel catfish have been biting on night crawlers on rocky shorelines.

Lake Sugema (Van Buren): Bluegills and crappies have been hitting small jigs tipped with a minnow or a wax worm. Try along the weed lines and around areas with rocky shorelines. Largemouth bass have been hitting on crankbaits and other artificial presentations.

Lake Wapello (Davis): Bluegills have been hitting small jigs tipped with a night crawler or a wax worm. The best presentation has been suspending the jig in 8 to 10 feet of water. Largemouth bass have been hitting artificial lures fished around the weed line and downed trees. Channel catfish have been biting on night crawlers and liver.

Lake Miami (Monroe): Crappies have been hitting on small jigs tipped with a minnow being drifted along the deeper areas of the lake. Channel catfish have been biting on stink bait.

Lake Macbride (Johnson): Trolling shad colored crankbaits is producing a few walleyes, wipers and white bass. The walleyes tend to be on the reefs, while the others are in more open water.

Coralville Reservoir (Johnson): Channel catfish are moving up in the rocks to spawn and can be caught on a variety of live baits. Most fish are in the 2 to 5 pound range with an occasional big one.

Pleasant Creek (Linn): Largemouth bass are biting on crankbaits, plastic worms, or live baits. Bluegills can still be caught on wax worms, but are out in 8 to 10 feet of water. A few walleyes are being caught by trolling Lindy rigs. White bass are actively feeding on the surface toward evening and can be caught on small crankbaits, spinners, and jigs.

Diamond Lake (Poweshiek): Channel catfish are spawning and are aggressive. Fish around shallow rocks and use night crawlers for best results. Bluegills and crappies are in the deeper brush now and can be caught on small jigs or wax worms.

Skunk River (Washington and Henry): The river has remained fairly stable over the last week with some anglers finally able to run some bank poles and are picking up some nice flatheads. Catfishing is also fairly good using cut bait and the usual variety of stink baits.

Cedar River (Linn): Channel catfish are active and are being taken on stink bait. White bass can also be caught below the dams on bright twisters or large minnows.

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