Northeast

Mississippi River Pools 9 to 15: Water levels on the Mississippi River are rapidly falling after last week’s heavy rainfalls. Water levels on Monday were 10.7 feet at Lansing, 16.2 feet at Lynxville, Wis., 11.9 feet at Guttenberg, 12.56 feet in Dubuque, 12 feet at Bellevue, and 14.53 feet at Camanche. Water temperature is 72 degrees. Although most boat ramps are open, conditions are not entirely conducive to quality fishing. Due to the high water conditions, the water remains turbid and includes a large amount of floating debris from vegetation to woody materials due in part to tributary flooding. Fishing is very slow with the only fish being reported are species that can readily be taken on bait such as stink baits and night crawlers. These fish include bluegill, freshwater drum and channel catfish. If you have cabin fever from all the rain, try fishing slow eddy current areas away from strong currents. As the river clears, fishing will pick up. Walleye should be on the wing dams seeking protection from the brunt of the current. For example, if there is a series of four wing dams in a row, the third and fourth wing dams should hold the most walleyes. Crappie and bluegill can be found in the side channel and deeper backwater areas around structure.

Northeast Iowa Interior Rivers: Interior rivers in northeast Iowa are high due to considerable rains received over the last two weeks. Water conditions are turbid and beginning to fall in the upper stretches.

George Wyth and South Prairie Lake (Black Hawk): Channel catfish are biting on stink baits and dead chubs.

Brinker Lake (Black Hawk): Crappies are biting in the early morning and late evening hours. Fish a jig tipped with a twister tail or minnow in 6 to 10 feet of water over structure or close to the bottom.

Lake Delhi (Delaware): Channel catfishing is fair to good using chicken liver, stink baits, cut baits or worms fished on the bottom.

Lake Hendricks (Howard): Water clarity is improving with the lessening of the recent algae bloom. Channel catfishing is fair, but they can be caught using chicken liver, stink bait, cut bait, or worms fished on the bottom. Try fishing water 3 to 7-feet deep or less as deeper water is holding less oxygen. Fishing is fair for bluegills on wax worms or a piece of night crawler suspended under a bobber. Try using smaller gear when fishing mid-day to hook the finicky ones. There are reports of quality of largemouth bass being caught with a wide variety of artificial lures and live baits. Some anglers are trolling minnows in the deeper water to avoid the vegetation.

Lake Meyer (Winneshiek): Channel catfish are feeding in 2 to 5 feet of water in the south and west sides of the lake during the day. Use chicken liver under a bobber for best success. In the evenings, fish the east cove of the lake using chicken liver, dead chubs or stink baits. Avoid using night crawlers because the smaller bluegills will usually strip your hook before the catfish can get to it. Smaller crappie can be caught along the weed edges using crappie jigs. Try fishing in 8 to 10 feet of water on the west side next to the weed edge. The larger crappies are being caught by trolling in the deeper water. You will have few strikes, but larger fish using this method. Bluegill fishing is good on night crawlers or angle worms fished under a bobber near the weeds, with sorting of some smaller fish required. Largemouth bass fishing has slowed, but anglers are taking a few on spinner baits.

Volga Lake (Fayette): There is an excellent population of channel catfish in this lake, with a good number of them being in the trophy-size range. Try fishing in water that is 7 feet deep or less to avoid low-oxygen conditions. Largemouth bass fishing is good in the early morning and late evening hours. Use slower-moving artificial lures worked along structure. Bluegill fishing is good using wax worms or night crawlers on a very small hook suspended under a bobber.

Trout Streams: Trout fishing and stream conditions are mixed. With the recent heavy rains, many trout stockings were suspended due to high and turbid water. Rain and mud also make stream access difficult for the stocking trucks. The pond at the entrance of the Big Spring Hatchery is currently being stocked for anglers to use while the Turkey River is unfishable. The trout stocking hotline is updated as quickly as possible to inform anglers of changes with the stocking schedule. Call the trout stocking hotline at 563-927-5736 before you venture out to see if your favorite stream can be stocked.

For information on fishing in northeast Iowa, call the regional office in Manchester at 563-927-3276.

 

Northwest

Northwest

Spirit Lake (Dickinson): Fishing is good for 9 to 11 inch yellow perch in 12 to 16 feet of water over the rock piles and weed lines. Most fish are being caught on garden worms. Fishing is good for 7 to 9 inch bluegills along weed lines in 12-16 feet of water using small jigs tipped with garden worms.

West Okoboji (Dickinson): Bluegill fishing is good on deep rocks using garden worms in Smith’s Bay, Emerson Bay and the North Bay. A few yellow perch are being caught in the shallow weeds. Crappies are suspended in 25 to 30 feet of water and fishing is fair. Northern pike are good trolling crankbaits. Largemouth bass fishing is good around weed lines using live bait. Muskies are trolling the weed lines.

East Okoboji (Dickinson): Yellow bass fishing has slowed; a few fish are being caught near the spillway and on Jingles Point. A few 8 to 10-inch yellow perch are being caught on shallow rocks.

Little Spirit (Dickinson): Fishing is good for 9 to 11-inch crappies from shore on the south end of the lake using mini jigs. Special Note: Little Spirit has a 15 fish daily bag for crappies.

Storm Lake (Buena Vista): Fishing is good for channel catfish drifting with chicken liver or skinned chubs. Several limits have been taken using this method. A few walleyes have been caught, but fishing is slow.

Black Hawk Lake (Sac): Channel catfish fishing is good using cut baits, skinned chubs and chicken liver.

Brushy Creek (Webster): The lake water level is up but the docks are no longer under water. Some nice bass have been caught around the lakes rocky points.

Clear Lake (Cerro Gordo): Yellow bass are hitting live bait or cut bait around rock reefs and the deeper water between the Island and Dodge’s Point. Anglers are catching 7 to 8-inch yellow bass along with a few of the larger yellows. Walleye fishing is fair on the rock reefs using a jig and night crawler or trolling crankbaits around the reefs.

Beeds Lake (Franklin): Crappie fishing is fair using small crappie jigs trolled along the causeway. Sorting is required for the larger fish.

Lake Cornelia (Wright): Channel catfishing is good using chicken liver, stink bait, and dead chubs.

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

 

Southwest

Icaria (Adams): Anglers are catching channel catfish. Walleyes can be caught from the rock habitat.

Little River (Decatur): Fishing for channel catfish is fair using stink bait.

Wilson (Taylor): Channel catfish are biting on stink baits or liver.

Windmill (Taylor): Anglers are catching channel catfish on liver.

Green Valley (Union): Fishing is fair for channel catfish on stink bait or night crawlers in the bays. Largemouth bass can be caught from the stake beds or cedar trees.

Three Mile (Union): Bluegills can be caught from the flooded trees in 8 to 12 feet of water. A few walleyes can be caught from the mounds or the old road bed.

Three Fires (Taylor): Nice-sized channel catfish can be caught on stink baits. Largemouth bass fishing is good near structure. Bluegills can be caught from the flooded trees or edges of the fish mounds.

Twelve Mile (Union): Several walleye and largemouth bass are being caught from the mounds and steep rock shoreline areas. Some nice sized bluegill can be caught from the fish mounds.

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

Big Creek (Polk): Crappies are biting pretty good right now. Most fish are suspended in the main lake. Try drifting the main lake with small jigs 12 to 15 feet down. Largemouth bass are hitting plastics in the mornings and evenings.

Hickory Grove (Story): Largemouth bass are biting plastic worms around structure and crankbaits around rocks. Bluegills are biting on jigs and bait fished around brush.

Saylorville (Polk): No recent reports.

Saylorville Dam (Polk): Fishing has slowed down from the heavy rains. Fishing is still fair for catfish farther down from the outlet. Most anglers are using cut shad or liver. Look for breaks in the current.

Easter Lake (Polk): Fishing is pretty slow for walleye and largemouth bass. Catfish are still being caught on stink bait and liver.

Don Williams (Boone): Bluegill fishing is fair on small jigs fished around wood. Largemouth bass are biting on crankbaits during the day and plastics fishing around wood.

Rock Creek (Jasper): Largemouth bass are being caught in the mornings and evenings on top-water baits. Catfish are still being caught on cut bait and liver. A few crappies and bluegills are being caught on jigs around wood and drifting out in the main lake.

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. Bluegills are slow using small jigs and tipped with night crawlers. Largemouth bass is fair using a slow retrieve and plastic worms in the evenings.

Nodaway (Adair): Bluegills and crappies are slow, but a few are being caught around brush piles. Channel catfish are fair using liver in the evenings.

Greenfield (Adair): Bluegill fishing is fair with fish being caught around brush piles or drifting jigs tipped with night crawlers. Largemouth bass are being caught using plastic baits and spinner baits. Channel catfish fishing has been fair using liver.

Morman Trail (Adair): Bluegills are slow on south and west side of lake. Channel catfish is fair using liver around jetties and in the shallow bays in the evening. Largemouth bass can be caught on plastic baits.

Littlefield (Audubon): Crappie fishing is slow, but a few are being caught drifting a jig and minnow. Bluegills are slow casting a small jig tipped with night crawlers. Channel catfish 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, 2 to 6 pound size, are being caught on night crawlers and blood bait. Largemouth bass fishing has been fair for fish up to 18 inches. Crank baits and jigs have been used around brush piles and rock piles.

DeSoto Bend (Harrison): Crappie fishing is slow. Channel catfish is fair using dip baits with a red worm.

Manawa (Pottawattamie): Channel catfish is fair drifting cut bait or shrimp.

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

Prairie Rose (Shelby): Fishing is slow for crappies and bluegill drifting jigs tipped with minnows or night crawlers. Channel catfish is slow fishing shallow bays with liver. A few largemouth bass are being caught using crawdad-colored lures.

Willow (Harrison): Bluegill fishing is slow with a few fish being caught on jigs tipped with night crawlers. Fishing is fair for 12 to 14-inch largemouth bass on plastic worms and crankbaits.

Schaben (Harrison): Bluegills are fair using small jigs tipped with night crawlers. Largemouth bass are also being caught on night crawlers and plastic baits.

Middle Raccoon River (Guthrie): The “No Kill” stretch below Lenon Mills is fair for smallmouth bass using 1/32-ounce jigs tipped with a night crawler.

Farm Ponds are good for largemouth bass, bluegill 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 20: With recent heavy rains, many areas of the Mississippi River in Pools 16 to 20 have reached flood stage. The river has crested at Lock and Dam 15 tailwaters at 14.04 feet and is forecasted to slowly start falling by Tuesday. Lower pools are still expected to rise slightly over the next day and begin fall by late Tuesday or Wednesday. River stage at Muscatine is 15.54 feet. River stage at Lock and Dam 17 is 15.54 feet and is expected to crest at 15.8 feet by Tuesday. At Lock and Dam 18, river stage has reached 11 feet and is expected to crest at 11.4 feet on Tuesday. Water temperature has dropped to 74 degrees. With the high water levels fishing has slowed. Fish are moving out of high current areas to backwater areas and marinas. Some channel catfish are being caught in Pool 16 by Credit Island and in the Muscatine Marina on dip baits. There are also reports of white bass being caught around Credit Island by the dams in the slack water areas. Largemouth bass are also being caught in the backwater areas out of the current.

Lake Darling (Washington): Last week’s rain has turned the lake turbid, but not too bad. Catfishing is still fairly good either in the late evening or early morning.

Lake Geode (Henry): The road at Geode from the beach turn off by the campground all the way to the turn off at the dam on Hwy. J-20 will be closed starting Monday, Aug. 27, and going through Oct. 1 at the earliest and mid-October at the latest. Both boat ramps and the beach area will be closed off during this time. The only access points on the lake will be shore fishing from the dam/spillway areas, shelter 3 and shelter 4 on the south end of the lake.

Lake Belva Deer (Keokuk): Bluegill fishing is slow with a few anglers catching some early in the morning before sun up. Catfishing has been fairly good.

Lake Odessa (Louisa): Catfishing has been very good by the inlet structure as it is open to let water flow through to keep the water in Odessa in good condition.

Lake Rathbun (Appanoose): With the rain on Thursday and Friday, the lake has risen about 10 feet above conservation pool. Areas with water flowing into the lake should have channel catfish on the move and looking for food. Try stink bait or liver.

Lake Sugema (Van Buren): Largemouth bass have been hitting on top-water lures in the mornings and evenings. Bluegills have been biting on small jigs in about 8 feet of water. Channel catfish have been biting on stink bait and cut bait.

Lake Wapello (Davis): Largemouth bass have been hitting on top-water lures and crankbaits. Channel catfish can be caught using stink bait or night crawlers.

Lake Keomah (Mahaska): Largemouth bass have been hitting on spinner baits and rubber worms. Channel catfish can be caught using stink bait or cut bait.

Hannen Lake (Benton): Anglers continue to pick up some channel catfish on stink bait and chicken liver, while others are catching some bluegills on small worms. Work the brush piles for best results.

Diamond Lake (Poweshiek): Channel catfish are still being caught around the rocky jetties on a variety of smell baits.

Kent Lake (Johnson): Fish early and late with stink bait, night crawlers or liver for channel catfish. Some panfish are being taken around the brush on small worms or jigs.

Skunk River (Washington): Last week’s rains brought the river up to near flood stage, with some low areas flooding. The river is starting to recede slowly and is back into its banks.

Iowa River (Louisa): At Wapello, the river is still above flood stage with some minor flooding, and according to the National Weather Service, will maintain that level until sometime Saturday.

Cedar River (Louisa): The Cedar will most likely remain above flood stage near Conesville until sometime early Saturday.

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