Northeast

Mississippi River Pools 9 to 15: Due to high water conditions, fishing on the upper pools of the Mississippi River has been slow. River level at Lock and Dam 10 is 13 feet and is not expected to drop until later next week. Water temperature is 45 degrees. Water has flooded many of the islands making it difficult to find fish. Anyone planning to boat on the river should be aware that the high water has made many boat ramps difficult to use. The city ramp in Guttenberg is not recommended for use this weekend. Boaters in the Guttenberg area can access the river at the DNR ramp by the lock and dam, but parking is limited. Boaters are reminded to be extremely cautious of floating debris as several large trees have been seen floating down the river.

A few sauger and walleyes are being caught in the pocket of the Wisconsin side of Lock and Dam 10 and in Pool 12, but the catch will drop off if the river continues to rise. A few yellow perch and sauger have been caught at the DNR boat ramp in Guttenberg.

Cedar River (Mitchell, Floyd, and Chickasaw): Fishing was great before the river came up. As soon as the river settles down and clears, walleye fishing will again be hot on jigs tipped with live bait and fished in the deeper holes.

Cedar and Shell Rock rivers (Butler, Bremer and Black Hawk): The rivers are high and cloudy. Walleye and smallmouth bass fishing should improve as river levels recede. For walleyes, use jigs tipped with soft plastics, either twister tails or ringworms, and fished with or without a minnow below the dams in the urban areas or near the mouths of feeder creeks in rural areas. Anglers targeting smallmouth bass are having success using jig and minnow combinations and crankbaits. Fish the rocky shorelines with structure or below the dams for smallmouth bass. The rain this week may slow the bite, but angling conditions should improve when the rivers stabilize.

Maquoketa (Delaware) and Wapsipinicon rivers (Buchanan): Anglers were beginning to catch a few walleyes; however, recent rain events have slowed the bite. Look for walleye fishing to pick up once the river conditions stabilize and the water returns to more normal levels.

Turkey River (Fayette and Clayton) and Upper Iowa River (Winneshiek and Allamakee): Water conditions have improved, but water levels are still high. Once the rains diminish, the white sucker run will begin. With the higher water levels, use a night crawler with a heavy slip sinker to adjust in the current.

Heritage Pond (Dubuque): Rainbow trout will be stocked on April 19. Plan to bring the kids and enjoy a spring weekend next to the water with the chance of having a tasty trout supper.

Hendricks Lake (Howard) and Volga Lake (Fayette): Just after ice-out can be a good time to catch channel catfish in these two northeast Iowa lakes. Only a few anglers have been chasing cats, but many anglers know that when the wind is blowing towards a shallow cove, channel catfish will be there gorging on dead fish that didn't make it through the winter. The wind helps to concentrate both the food source and the channel catfish themselves.

Lake Meyer (Winneshiek): A few smaller largemouth bass have been biting on artificial lures worked with a slow retrieve. Anglers are also picking up some crappies with small twister tails or tube jigs fished along the various brush piles.

North Prairie Lake (Black Hawk): Fishing is excellent for rainbow trout. North Prairie received the last plant of trout on April 5.

Sweet Marsh (Bremer): Crappie fishing is fair from shore near the boat ramp in the canal leading to the lake.

Trout fishing is good to excellent in northeast Iowa. Mayflies and caddis flies are hatching off in good numbers. Blue-winged olive mayflies have been reported in great numbers at French Creek. Don't let the rain deter you from trout fishing as coldwater streams are the first to clear after a hard rain. Remember, fishing when the water is slightly off-color is a great time to catch those wily brown trout. Anglers are encouraged to call the trout stocking recording at 563-927-5736 if they have a question about whether their favorite stream has been stocked. The stocking calendars can be printed off the DNR's website by going to www.iowadnr.gov and following the menus through the fish and fishing pages.

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

 

Northwest

The ice went out on East Okoboji on April 15 and on West Okoboji on April 16. Spirit Lake is still under ice.

Clear Lake (Cerro Gordo): The water temperature is in the middle 40s. Walleye fishing is good on the reefs and rocky shorelines. Yellow bass and catfish are hitting in the west end of the lake. Anglers are fishing the inlet at the Ventura Grade. A slow presentation, using a jig and minnow, will provide the best action for walleye and yellow bass.

Little Wall Lake (Hamilton): Crappies are hitting on the north end of the lake. Anglers using small jigs or minnows below a bobber are doing the best. A year class of 5 to 7-inch crappies is abundant, so sorting will be required for the larger fish. Channel catfish are being caught on the north end using minnows and cut bait fished on or near the bottom.

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

 

Southwest

Big Creek (Polk): Water is warming and the fishing is picking up. Crappies are starting to bit on the brush piles and walleyes have been biting on floating crankbaits, jigs and minnows fished after dark.

Fort Des Moines Lake (Polk): Crappie, bluegill and bass have started biting.

Des Moines River (Polk): Walleyes are biting below the dams, but the water influx has made it hard look for clear water. Catfish have been biting on cut shad and entrails. White bass and wipers have started to bite.

Banner Lake (Warren): Trout are still being caught but it fishing is more difficult. The best bet is spoons, and jigs with bait. Rainbow trout will be stocked for a kids fishing clinic on April 26.

Rock Creek (Jasper): Catfish have been biting on cut bait north of the F17 causeway.

Hickory Grove (Story): Crappies have begun to bite at the tubes on the east end of the lake on jigs and minnows.

Lake Ahquabi (Warren): Largemouth bass have begun to bite on spinner baits worked slowly.

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

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

 

Southeast

Mississippi River Pools 16 to 20: River stages for Pools 16 to 20 are currently high and there is some debris and logs floating in the channel so use caution when boating. The river is forecasted to crest over the weekend, but that could change with predicted rain in the next few days. Water temperature is around 49 degrees.

In Pool 16, river stage at Lock and Dam 15 is 14.36 feet and is predicted to reach 14.9 feet by Saturday. Earlier this week, water levels were almost to the top of the Marquette St. boat ramp and the docks have been removed. A few white bass are being caught up in Sylvan Slough.

In Pool 17, river stage at Lock and Dam 16 is 14.45 feet and is expected to reach 14.9 feet by this weekend. There have been some reports of channel catfish being caught on shad. A few crappies are also being caught in Muscatine Slough. In Pool 18, river stage at Lock and Dam 17 is 16.22 feet and is forecasted to reach 16.6 feet by this weekend. The Toolesboro boat landing is closed due to high water. Fishing is slow.

In Pool 19, river stage at Lock and Dam 18 is 11.9 feet and is expected to reach 12.2 feet by this weekend. Fishing is slow due to high water. In Pool 20, river stage at Lock and Dam 19 is 15.42 feet and is expected to reach 15.7 feet by the weekend. Fishing is slow due to high water.

Lake Darling (Washington): Water temperature has remained in the low 40s.

Lake Belva Deer (Keokuk): Water temperature was 44 degrees. A few anglers have been catching some bass in the upper end. Look for bass around rip rap on the top of the mounds.

Lake Geode (Henry): Anglers are picking up a few bass. Whatever you like to use, fish it slow.

Lake Rathbun (Appanoose): Channel catfish have been biting on shad guts and night crawlers. Look for areas where there is water flowing into the lake. Crappies have been hitting on jigs and minnows fished in 10 to 20 feet of water around brush piles.

Lake Sugema (Van Buren): Largemouth bass have been hitting on a variety of artificial lures. Walleyes have been biting on minnows fished along rocky areas of shoreline and along the dam. Some walleyes are also being caught trolling.

Lake Wapello (Davis): The lake is four feet below normal due to repair work on the dam. Some anglers have been catfishing using night crawlers, and bass fishing using a variety of artificial lures.

Lake Keomah (Mahaska): Largemouth bass have been hitting on a variety of artificial lures fished around downed tree branches and other underwater structure.

Skunk River (Keokuk and Washington): Look for the river to continue dropping for the next few days for catfishing to pick up after the water level stabilizes.

Iowa River (Louisa): The Iowa River is forecasted to be bank full or higher until early next week.

Cedar River (Muscatine and Louisa): The Cedar is forecast to be right around flood stage until early next week.

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