02-16-2007, 04:14 PM
For current information on fishing conditions for your lake or area, contact the office in that district. Phone numbers are listed with each district report.
Northeast
Lake Meyer (Winneshiek): Fish are biting on any color jigs tipped with minnows or wax worms. Largemouth bass are hitting on minnows. Fish are scattered around the lake so keep moving around until you find them. There is about 8 inches minimum, of ice, but be careful around springs.
Lake Hendricks (Howard): Fish the bite early in the day. Fishing has been mediocre to slow. Ice thickness averages 14 inches over most the lake. Use caution around the aerator. Crappies, bluegill and a few bass and perch are being caught on jigs tipped with wax worms.
Trout streams are currently difficult to fish due to extreme low overnight temperatures. Streams may open up if we get warmer temperatures. Angling near spring heads is your best bet.
For information on fishing in northeast Iowa, call the regional office in Manchester at 563-927-3276.
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Northwest
Ice conditions are good throughout west central Iowa, with 10-to-15 inches the norm. Use caution around the aeration systems at Black Hawk Lake in the Town Bay area and at Swan Lake, in Carroll County.
Crawford Creek Lake (Ida): Fishing is fair to good for 8-inch plus bluegills and 9-inch crappies.
Swan Lake (Carroll): Fishing is fair for 7-1/2-inch bluegill.
Storm Lake (Buena Vista): Walleye fishing is fair using live minnows or jigging lures tipped with a minnow head. Don't forget that all walleye between 17-22 inches must be released immediately.
Brushy Creek Lake (Webster): Angers are catching some bluegills, crappies and yellow perch, but overall fishing is slow. The main lake has ice between 8 and 14 inches thick, but there have been no ice thickness reports from the dam area.
Clear Lake (Cerro Gordo): Anglers are catching a few yellow bass in the mud flats around the Island. Walleye fishing has been slow. Anglers fishing the sunrise and sunset periods report some walleye action. Fish seem to be scattered across the mud flats and not relating to any particular structure. Fishing in water depths of 10 feet or greater is the best for walleye.
Blue Pit - Lester Milligan Park (Cerro Gordo): The third stocking of 1,500 trout took place on Feb. 9. Small jigs and wax worms fished just below the ice work the best. Trout seem to be near shore in the early morning and evening hours. Don't forget the trout fee.
Indian Lake - Eldred Sherwood (Hancock): Bluegills are hitting small teardrop jigs tipped with wax worms. Bluegill size has been 6-to-8 inches.
For more information on fishing in northwest Iowa, call the regional office in Spirit Lake at 712-336-1840.
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Southwest
The ponds and lakes have around 12 inches of good ice.
Don Williams (Boone): Small crappies and bluegills are being caught on jigs tipped with wax worms.
Hickory Grove (Story): Medium-sized bluegills are being caught on wax worms and 7 to 9-inch crappies are being caught on minnows at dusk.
Banner Lakes at Summerset Park (Warren): The north lake is in the process of being renovated, so there are no fish in this lake. Trout should still be present and willing to bite in the south lake. Don't forget your trout stamp.
Big Creek (Polk): The best fishing has been at dusk. Small walleyes are hitting on jigs tipped with was worms. Channel cats are biting on minnows fished near the bottom.
Lost Lake (Polk): Small bluegill and crappies are still being caught on small jigs tipped with wax worms or maggots. A few walleyes are being caught in the deeper water, near the bottom, using wax worms. Stinger hooks can help catch those finicky fish.
Rock Creek (Jasper): Anglers are catching 8-to-9 inch bluegills and 9-to-11 inch crappies from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. on wax worms and minnows.
Lake Ahquabi and Hooper (Warren): Nice bluegills and redear sunfish are being caught with small jigs and wax worms.
Easter Lake (Polk): Small bluegills and crappies are being caught on jigs tipped with wax worms.
Contact: Ben Dodd (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.
Fogle (Ringgold): Ice conditions are good. Bluegills and a few crappies are being caught in deeper water near structure with wax worms and minnows.
Walnut Creek Marsh (Ringgold): Ice conditions are good. The marsh has some open water from the winter aeration system. A few nice bluegills are being caught with wax worms on the edge of the dike trench.
Wilson (Taylor): Ice conditions are good. Nice bluegills are being caught near the dam on wax worms.
Windmill (Taylor): Ice conditions are good. A few bluegills and crappies are being caught near the dam and at a brush pile straight out from the boat ramp. No large numbers of fish were reported, but the size of the fish being caught is making up for the numbers.
East Lake Lenox (Taylor): Ice conditions are good. Bluegills and a few small crappies are being caught in deep water next to the bottom with wax worms.
West Lake Lenox (Taylor): Ice conditions are good. Good numbers of bluegills are being caught in deep water with wax worms.
Three Fires (Taylor): Ice conditions are good. A few nice bluegills and crappies are being caught with wax worms and minnows. Best locations are near deep water structure or next to the drop in the channel.
Icaria (Adams): Ice conditions are good. A few nice bluegills and crappies are being caught with wax worms and minnows. Best locations are near deep water structure, next to the drop in the channel, and in the deep flats on the east end.
Green Valley (Union): Ice conditions are good. Few reports were given on Green Valley, but reports from those fishing Green Valley are that a few bluegills and crappies are being caught using wax worms and minnows in deeper water.
Three Mile (Union): Ice conditions are good. Good numbers of bluegills are being caught next to deep structure on wax worms. Crappies seem to be harder to find, but a few crappies are also being caught next to deep structure.
Little River (Decatur): Ice conditions are good. A few crappies and bluegills are being caught with wax worms and minnows.
Slip Bluff (Decatur): Ice conditions are good. Bluegills and a few crappies are being caught near brushy structure in deep water.
Contact: Gary Sobotka (641) 464-3108 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.
Orient (Adair): Fishing is good for 8-inch bluegill and 8-to-10 inch crappie.
Greenfield (Adair): Fishing is good for 8-inch bluegill. Teardrops tipped with a wax worm have been effective. A few crappies are being caught in evenings using minnows. Ice is 15 inches thick.
Mormon Trail (Adair): Fishing has been slow for bluegill and crappies. Ice is 15 inches thick.
Nodaway (Adair): Bluegills are fair using teardrops tipped with wax worms.
Meadow (Adair): A few crappies are being caught in the brush piles using minnows. Bluegills are fair using wax worms.
Littlefield (Audubon): No reports of fishing. Ice is 15 inches thick.
Anita (Cass): No report of fishing. Anita has a good population of 7-inch bluegill. Ice conditions are 15 inches.
Manawa (Pottawattamie): Ice is averaging 14 inches thick. A few wipers are being caught using large minnows on east side of the lake. Crappie fishing is fair on west side around Boy Scout Island. Try jigs tipped with small minnows.
DeSoto Bend (Harrison): Crappies fishing is good using jigs tipped with minnows around sunken brush piles on east side of lake.
Prairie Rose (Shelby): No reports of fishing at this time. Ice conditions are 15 inches.
Willow (Harrison): A few bluegills are being caught on teardrops tipped with wax worms.
Farm Ponds: Bluegill fishing has been good using wax worms. Crappies are fair using minnows in evenings. Ice conditions are good averaging 15 inches.
Contact: Bryan Hayes (712) 769-2587 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.
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Southeast
Mississippi River Pools 16 to 19: The majority of the boat ramps are iced in at this time. At the gauging station on Pool 16 (Lock and Dam 16 - Muscatine) the water temperature is 32 degrees and the river pool state is 11.61 feet and is expected to remain stable over the next several days. Anglers are reminded to use caution and check ice conditions regularly as they venture out. River ice can often be variable even in backwaters and is not as strong as ice on farm ponds and lakes. On Pool 16, the backwaters at Credit Island and Sunset Marina have been fair for panfish. Ice fishing at Big Timber (Pool 17) has been fair for bluegill and crappies - with some sorting for sizeable fish. Anglers are also picking up panfish in the deeper boat harbor areas
Lake Darling (Washington): Good ice conditions are present. Midwinter conditions have slowed down the bite. Subzero morning temperatures did not help anglers either. Crappies are still around the cedar trees in the middle of the lake. The trick is finding the right one.
Lake Belva Deer (Keokuk): Good ice conditions are present. Fishing has slowed. The early morning hours are your best chances for catching some big bluegills
Lake Geode (Henry): Good ice conditions are present. Fish along the area across from the beach parking lot and the drop off across from the lower boat ramp.
Lake Rathbun (Appanoose): Crappies have been hitting on minnows and jigging type baits. The most productive areas have been in the coves of Honey Creek and Buck Creek. Areas with submerged cedar trees or stumps have been the most productive.
Lake Wapello (Davis): Bluegills and crappies have been biting on small jigs tipped with a wax worm. The best areas have been around the submerged cedar trees and pallet structures.
Lake Sugema (Van Buren): Bluegills and crappies have been hitting on small jigs tipped with a wax worm or a minnow. Areas with underwater habitat have been the most productive.
Lake Miami (Monroe): Bluegills and crappies have been hitting on small jigs tipped with a wax worm. The most productive areas have been on the north end of the lake among the stumps.
Lake Macbride (Johnson): Once again, anglers are catching lots of small bluegills and some small crappies. A few anglers are finding nice crappies on occasion. Bluegills can be caught off rock or wood habitat, while the crappies seem to prefer the newer wooden structures.
Otter Creek (Tama): Smaller bluegills and yellow bass are biting. Fish will either be associated to structure or suspended in 12 to 14 feet of water.
Hannen Lake (Benton): Bluegills and crappies are being taken from the brush piles. Look for the crappies in deeper water, while the bluegills are in a bit more shallow. Remember, minnows are not allowed at this lake.
Rodgers Lake (Benton): Bluegills between 7 and 9 inches are being taken from deeper brush piles.
Diamond Lake (Poweshiek): Anglers are having success with crappies here. Look for them in the deeper brush, or suspended in deeper water. Dusk and evenings have been effective times. Remember, minnows are not allowed at this lake.
Kent Lake (Johnson): Bluegills have been caught in and around structure, with a crappie or a bass as a bonus.
For more information on fishing in southeast Iowa, call the regional office in Brighton at 319-694-2430.
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Northeast
Lake Meyer (Winneshiek): Fish are biting on any color jigs tipped with minnows or wax worms. Largemouth bass are hitting on minnows. Fish are scattered around the lake so keep moving around until you find them. There is about 8 inches minimum, of ice, but be careful around springs.
Lake Hendricks (Howard): Fish the bite early in the day. Fishing has been mediocre to slow. Ice thickness averages 14 inches over most the lake. Use caution around the aerator. Crappies, bluegill and a few bass and perch are being caught on jigs tipped with wax worms.
Trout streams are currently difficult to fish due to extreme low overnight temperatures. Streams may open up if we get warmer temperatures. Angling near spring heads is your best bet.
For information on fishing in northeast Iowa, call the regional office in Manchester at 563-927-3276.
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Northwest
Ice conditions are good throughout west central Iowa, with 10-to-15 inches the norm. Use caution around the aeration systems at Black Hawk Lake in the Town Bay area and at Swan Lake, in Carroll County.
Crawford Creek Lake (Ida): Fishing is fair to good for 8-inch plus bluegills and 9-inch crappies.
Swan Lake (Carroll): Fishing is fair for 7-1/2-inch bluegill.
Storm Lake (Buena Vista): Walleye fishing is fair using live minnows or jigging lures tipped with a minnow head. Don't forget that all walleye between 17-22 inches must be released immediately.
Brushy Creek Lake (Webster): Angers are catching some bluegills, crappies and yellow perch, but overall fishing is slow. The main lake has ice between 8 and 14 inches thick, but there have been no ice thickness reports from the dam area.
Clear Lake (Cerro Gordo): Anglers are catching a few yellow bass in the mud flats around the Island. Walleye fishing has been slow. Anglers fishing the sunrise and sunset periods report some walleye action. Fish seem to be scattered across the mud flats and not relating to any particular structure. Fishing in water depths of 10 feet or greater is the best for walleye.
Blue Pit - Lester Milligan Park (Cerro Gordo): The third stocking of 1,500 trout took place on Feb. 9. Small jigs and wax worms fished just below the ice work the best. Trout seem to be near shore in the early morning and evening hours. Don't forget the trout fee.
Indian Lake - Eldred Sherwood (Hancock): Bluegills are hitting small teardrop jigs tipped with wax worms. Bluegill size has been 6-to-8 inches.
For more information on fishing in northwest Iowa, call the regional office in Spirit Lake at 712-336-1840.
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Southwest
The ponds and lakes have around 12 inches of good ice.
Don Williams (Boone): Small crappies and bluegills are being caught on jigs tipped with wax worms.
Hickory Grove (Story): Medium-sized bluegills are being caught on wax worms and 7 to 9-inch crappies are being caught on minnows at dusk.
Banner Lakes at Summerset Park (Warren): The north lake is in the process of being renovated, so there are no fish in this lake. Trout should still be present and willing to bite in the south lake. Don't forget your trout stamp.
Big Creek (Polk): The best fishing has been at dusk. Small walleyes are hitting on jigs tipped with was worms. Channel cats are biting on minnows fished near the bottom.
Lost Lake (Polk): Small bluegill and crappies are still being caught on small jigs tipped with wax worms or maggots. A few walleyes are being caught in the deeper water, near the bottom, using wax worms. Stinger hooks can help catch those finicky fish.
Rock Creek (Jasper): Anglers are catching 8-to-9 inch bluegills and 9-to-11 inch crappies from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. on wax worms and minnows.
Lake Ahquabi and Hooper (Warren): Nice bluegills and redear sunfish are being caught with small jigs and wax worms.
Easter Lake (Polk): Small bluegills and crappies are being caught on jigs tipped with wax worms.
Contact: Ben Dodd (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.
Fogle (Ringgold): Ice conditions are good. Bluegills and a few crappies are being caught in deeper water near structure with wax worms and minnows.
Walnut Creek Marsh (Ringgold): Ice conditions are good. The marsh has some open water from the winter aeration system. A few nice bluegills are being caught with wax worms on the edge of the dike trench.
Wilson (Taylor): Ice conditions are good. Nice bluegills are being caught near the dam on wax worms.
Windmill (Taylor): Ice conditions are good. A few bluegills and crappies are being caught near the dam and at a brush pile straight out from the boat ramp. No large numbers of fish were reported, but the size of the fish being caught is making up for the numbers.
East Lake Lenox (Taylor): Ice conditions are good. Bluegills and a few small crappies are being caught in deep water next to the bottom with wax worms.
West Lake Lenox (Taylor): Ice conditions are good. Good numbers of bluegills are being caught in deep water with wax worms.
Three Fires (Taylor): Ice conditions are good. A few nice bluegills and crappies are being caught with wax worms and minnows. Best locations are near deep water structure or next to the drop in the channel.
Icaria (Adams): Ice conditions are good. A few nice bluegills and crappies are being caught with wax worms and minnows. Best locations are near deep water structure, next to the drop in the channel, and in the deep flats on the east end.
Green Valley (Union): Ice conditions are good. Few reports were given on Green Valley, but reports from those fishing Green Valley are that a few bluegills and crappies are being caught using wax worms and minnows in deeper water.
Three Mile (Union): Ice conditions are good. Good numbers of bluegills are being caught next to deep structure on wax worms. Crappies seem to be harder to find, but a few crappies are also being caught next to deep structure.
Little River (Decatur): Ice conditions are good. A few crappies and bluegills are being caught with wax worms and minnows.
Slip Bluff (Decatur): Ice conditions are good. Bluegills and a few crappies are being caught near brushy structure in deep water.
Contact: Gary Sobotka (641) 464-3108 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.
Orient (Adair): Fishing is good for 8-inch bluegill and 8-to-10 inch crappie.
Greenfield (Adair): Fishing is good for 8-inch bluegill. Teardrops tipped with a wax worm have been effective. A few crappies are being caught in evenings using minnows. Ice is 15 inches thick.
Mormon Trail (Adair): Fishing has been slow for bluegill and crappies. Ice is 15 inches thick.
Nodaway (Adair): Bluegills are fair using teardrops tipped with wax worms.
Meadow (Adair): A few crappies are being caught in the brush piles using minnows. Bluegills are fair using wax worms.
Littlefield (Audubon): No reports of fishing. Ice is 15 inches thick.
Anita (Cass): No report of fishing. Anita has a good population of 7-inch bluegill. Ice conditions are 15 inches.
Manawa (Pottawattamie): Ice is averaging 14 inches thick. A few wipers are being caught using large minnows on east side of the lake. Crappie fishing is fair on west side around Boy Scout Island. Try jigs tipped with small minnows.
DeSoto Bend (Harrison): Crappies fishing is good using jigs tipped with minnows around sunken brush piles on east side of lake.
Prairie Rose (Shelby): No reports of fishing at this time. Ice conditions are 15 inches.
Willow (Harrison): A few bluegills are being caught on teardrops tipped with wax worms.
Farm Ponds: Bluegill fishing has been good using wax worms. Crappies are fair using minnows in evenings. Ice conditions are good averaging 15 inches.
Contact: Bryan Hayes (712) 769-2587 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.
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Southeast
Mississippi River Pools 16 to 19: The majority of the boat ramps are iced in at this time. At the gauging station on Pool 16 (Lock and Dam 16 - Muscatine) the water temperature is 32 degrees and the river pool state is 11.61 feet and is expected to remain stable over the next several days. Anglers are reminded to use caution and check ice conditions regularly as they venture out. River ice can often be variable even in backwaters and is not as strong as ice on farm ponds and lakes. On Pool 16, the backwaters at Credit Island and Sunset Marina have been fair for panfish. Ice fishing at Big Timber (Pool 17) has been fair for bluegill and crappies - with some sorting for sizeable fish. Anglers are also picking up panfish in the deeper boat harbor areas
Lake Darling (Washington): Good ice conditions are present. Midwinter conditions have slowed down the bite. Subzero morning temperatures did not help anglers either. Crappies are still around the cedar trees in the middle of the lake. The trick is finding the right one.
Lake Belva Deer (Keokuk): Good ice conditions are present. Fishing has slowed. The early morning hours are your best chances for catching some big bluegills
Lake Geode (Henry): Good ice conditions are present. Fish along the area across from the beach parking lot and the drop off across from the lower boat ramp.
Lake Rathbun (Appanoose): Crappies have been hitting on minnows and jigging type baits. The most productive areas have been in the coves of Honey Creek and Buck Creek. Areas with submerged cedar trees or stumps have been the most productive.
Lake Wapello (Davis): Bluegills and crappies have been biting on small jigs tipped with a wax worm. The best areas have been around the submerged cedar trees and pallet structures.
Lake Sugema (Van Buren): Bluegills and crappies have been hitting on small jigs tipped with a wax worm or a minnow. Areas with underwater habitat have been the most productive.
Lake Miami (Monroe): Bluegills and crappies have been hitting on small jigs tipped with a wax worm. The most productive areas have been on the north end of the lake among the stumps.
Lake Macbride (Johnson): Once again, anglers are catching lots of small bluegills and some small crappies. A few anglers are finding nice crappies on occasion. Bluegills can be caught off rock or wood habitat, while the crappies seem to prefer the newer wooden structures.
Otter Creek (Tama): Smaller bluegills and yellow bass are biting. Fish will either be associated to structure or suspended in 12 to 14 feet of water.
Hannen Lake (Benton): Bluegills and crappies are being taken from the brush piles. Look for the crappies in deeper water, while the bluegills are in a bit more shallow. Remember, minnows are not allowed at this lake.
Rodgers Lake (Benton): Bluegills between 7 and 9 inches are being taken from deeper brush piles.
Diamond Lake (Poweshiek): Anglers are having success with crappies here. Look for them in the deeper brush, or suspended in deeper water. Dusk and evenings have been effective times. Remember, minnows are not allowed at this lake.
Kent Lake (Johnson): Bluegills have been caught in and around structure, with a crappie or a bass as a bonus.
For more information on fishing in southeast Iowa, call the regional office in Brighton at 319-694-2430.
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