04-07-2010, 11:12 AM
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources issues a weekly fishing report on Thursdays in an effort to provide the latest information heading into the weekend. The weekly fishing report is compiled from information gathered from local bait shops, angler creel surveys, and county and state parks staff. For current information, contact the district fisheries office at the phone number listed at the end of each district report.
Southeast
Mississippi River Pools 16 - 20: Water temperature for pools 16 to 20 of the Mississippi River is around 71 degrees. In Pool 16, river stage at Lock and Dam 15 is 4.29 feet. Channel catfish are biting on stink bait, shad and night crawlers. A few walleyes are being picked up on the wing dams trolling crankbaits. In Pool 17, river stage at Lock and Dam 16 is 3.15 feet. Channel catfish fishing has been good on stink bait, shad and night crawlers. Crappies are being caught on jigs and minnows fished around brush piles in the backwaters. Some walleyes are being picked up rolling crankbaits on the wing dams. In Pool 18, river stage at Lock and Dam 17 is 3.91 feet. Channel catfish are being caught on stink bait, shad and night crawlers. Crappies are being caught on minnows fished around brush piles in the backwaters. In Pool 19, river stage at Lock and Dam 18 is 1.68 feet. Channel catfish are biting on stink bait, shad and night crawlers. Bass are being caught in the lotus fields. In Pool 20, river stage at Lock and Dam 19 is 3.8 feet. Channel catfish fishing has been good on stink bait, shad and night crawlers.
Lake Odessa (Louisa): Catfish fishing remains very good. The cooler weather should be bringing the bluegills up from the deeper water to the edge of the weed beds in 6 to 8 feet of water.
Lake Darling (Washington): In preparation for draining the lake at the end of October, the DNR will allow promiscuous fishing at Lake Darling beginning Sept. 12. Anglers with a valid fishing license may harvest all sizes and unlimited quantities of any fish species from Lake Darling. Any number of fishing poles or jugs will be allowed, but anglers must remain in sight of these lines at all times and follow all other fishing regulations and area rules. Trot lines will be allowed (name and address must be attached); however, lines may not be set across the entire water body. Nets, dynamite, poison, electric shocking devices, or any stupefying substances will not be allowed. It is illegal to sell fish or stock captured fish into public waters, but sport fish can be stocked in private lakes and ponds. It is important that anglers never transport and release common carp, or for that matter, any other nuisance fish species into any aquatic system.
Lake Belva Deer (Keokuk): Anglers are starting to catch bluegills in 8 to 10 feet of water. Small jigs tipped with wax worms or fish worms work the best.
Lake Geode (Henry): Fishing pressure remains low. The cool weather should be bringing the bluegills up from the deeper water to the edge of the weed beds in 6 to 8 feet of water.
Lake Rathbun (Appanoose): The lake is still 15 feet above normal pool and there are three boat ramps currently open: Bridgeview, Honey Creek, and Buck Creek marina high water ramp. Anglers have been catching some crappies on jig and minnow combinations fishing in the trees along the flooded shoreline. Anglers have been catching walleyes trolling crankbaits along rocky drop-offs. White bass have been hitting on crankbaits and jigging spoons
Lake Sugema (Van Buren): Anglers are catching largemouth bass on crankbaits and soft plastic rigs around the flooded timber and shoreline structure. Bluegills have been biting on small jigs tipped with a night crawler fished under a bobber. Try different depths until you find the fish. Crappies have been biting on minnows or small tube jigs.
Lake Wapello (Davis): The lake has been completely drained.
Lake Miami (Monroe): Crappies have been hitting on small jigs tipped with a minnow. Channel catfish have been biting on chicken liver with early mornings being the best time.
Lake Macbride (Johnson): Top-water fishing is still good here. Largemouth bass are in and around almost any kind of structure, especially wood and rock. Kentucky spotted bass are on rocky shores. White bass can be hit or miss in open water - watch for schools feeding on young shad. Some channel catfish are being picked up towards evening in shallow water on various baits.
Pleasant Creek (Linn): Fishing has been fairly slow. Largemouth can be picked up on plastic worms and crankbaits, while channel catfish are biting on chicken liver and stink bait. White bass are feeding on schools of shad on the surface around sunrise and sunset. Throw top-waters or shallow running baits to the schools for the best action.
Hannen Lake (Benton): The water is starting to clear up. Fishing has been hit or miss, with good days producing bluegills on worms or jigs, and channel catfish on night crawlers or liver.
Kent Park Lake (Johnson): Channel catfish are still biting fairly well on Sonny's stink bait or chicken liver early in the morning or late in the evening. Some largemouth bass are also being picked up on artificial lures or night crawlers, as well as some bluegills on small jigs or worms.
Skunk River (Washington and Henry): The water level seems to be stable right now and higher than normal for this time of year. You can still boat to many areas which is very rare for late summer.
For more information on fishing in southeast Iowa, call the regional office in Brighton at 319-694-2430.
Southwest
Fogle Lake (Ringgold): Largemouth bass fishing is fair for midsized fish near the flooded timber.
Lake of Three Fires (Taylor): A few crappies can be caught from shore near rocky areas. Several largemouth bass can be caught from structure or the edges of the lotus beds in 3 to 6 feet of water. Channel catfish can be caught from the shoreline in less than 6 feet of water using cut baits.
Icaria (Adams): A few channel catfish are being caught using cut bullheads. Largemouth bass are biting on crankbaits and spinners. Bullheads are biting well on night crawlers. Some crappies will bite near the rocks.
Three Mile Lake (Union): Largemouth bass are being caught near structure. A few crappies are caught suspended shallow or near the rock structure. Channel catfish have been picked up using cut baits.
Twelve Mile Lake (Union): Several mid-sized largemouth bass are being caught from the flooded timber in 4 to 10 feet of water using crankbaits or spinners. Bullheads are biting well on night crawlers anywhere in the lake. Crappies and bluegills are rear rocks in 6 feet of water or less.
Green Valley (Union): The water level is drained down to 12 feet and the fishery was renovated. Fish will be restocked by early October. Boating access is possible using the main ramp but not encouraged. Extreme care must be used during launching and loading.
Contact Gary Sobotka at (641) 464-3108 for information on the above area lakes.
Don Williams (Boone): Some suspended crappies are still being caught drifting jigs or minnows out in the main lake. Catfish are still being caught on chicken liver, cut bait or stink bait.
Big Creek (Polk): Water is starting to clear up. Crappie fishing is still slow with a few fish being caught. Boat anglers have been coming in with mixed bags of crappies and white bass. Bluegills are biting in the Lost Lake portion of Big Creek. Fishermen targeting walleyes have had a little success with Lindy rig style setups. Catfish can still be caught on chicken liver, shrimp or stink bait.
Raccoon River (Dallas): Channel catfish are being caught on cut bait or stink bait. Some flatheads are being caught fishing live green sunfish or bullheads.
Red Rock (Marion): Water is clearing up. Good numbers of white bass are being caught by boat anglers.
Saylorville Lake (Polk): Some white bass are being caught below the Big Creek spillway. Better catches for white bass are coming from out in the main lake trolling or jigging minnows. Catfish are biting drifting cut bait or shad.
Hickory Grove (Story): Bluegill fishing is good using small pieces of night crawler or a small jig fished 8 to 10 feet down in the deeper portions of the lake. A few crappies are being caught trolling or drifting jigs. Catfish are biting on cut bait and stink bait.
Lake Ahquabi and Hooper (Warren): Bluegill and crappie bite is starting to pick up. Crappies are mainly being caught in the evenings, with some sorting required for nicer fish. Bass and catfish are still being caught.
Des Moines River (Polk and Boone): Limits of catfish are being caught on stink baits. As the water cools walleye fishing will pick up using 1/16 to 1/8 ounce jig and half night crawler.
Contact Ben Dodd at (515) 432-2823, Ext.108, for information on the above area lakes
Viking Lake (Montgomery): Anglers are catching 16 to 19-inch channel catfish on stink bait or chicken liver.
Lake Manawa (Pottawattamie): Catfish fishing is fair to good using crawdads and shrimp. A few crappies have been caught on northeast part of lake around boat docks. Fishing for wipers is fair.
Willow Lake (Harrison): Channel catfish fishing has been fair using liver. A few bluegills are being caught over the deep brush piles.
Meadow Lake (Adair): Meadow is open to fishing, however the lake has been lowered 8 feet and the boat ramp is not usable. Habitat improvements are scheduled for this fall and winter.
Orient (Adair): Catfish fishing is fair using liver.
Greenfield (Adair): Bass fishing is fair using plastic baits around cedar tree piles. Bluegills are fair drifting small jigs and around jetties. A few catfish are being caught on liver.
Mormon Trail (Adair): Fishing for channel catfish has been good in the evenings using liver and cut bait.
Lake Anita (Cass): Crappie fishing is fair for 8 to 9-inch fish drifting a small white jig or anchored near structure. Schools of crappies have scattered around the lake and when anglers find a school, they are able to catch quite a few. Largemouth bass fishing has been good using plastic baits around rock reefs and along the road bed during the day.
Arrowhead Lake (Pottawattamie): Largemouth bass are being caught using plastic baits around structure. Channel catfish is fair using liver.
Prairie Rose Lake (Shelby): Channel catfish is fair using liver and stink bait.
Middle Raccoon (Guthrie): A few bluegills and crappies are being caught below the Lennon Mills Dam. Conditions are favorable for fishing the catch and release stretch for smallmouth bass from Lennon Mills Dam to Redfield.
Contact Bryan Hayes at (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.
Northwest
Spirit Lake (Dickinson): Walleyes are being caught by trolling the weed lines, rock reefs and deep flats with crankbaits, or drift bottom bouncers with worms. Fish from shore at sunset at the footbridge with jigs or try the North Grade using slip bobbers and live bait. For smallmouth bass, fish the rock reefs and weed lines around Big Stoney, Little Stoney, Reeds Run, Cottonwood points or at the footbridge using crankbaits, jerk baits or tube jigs. Use worms at weed lines and rock piles or around boat docks for bluegills. For yellow perch, drift fish with bottom bouncers or anchor and vertically jig with small jigging spoons tipped with worms across the main lake or drop shot live bait in the weed beds. Anglers are catching largemouth bass fishing along the weed lines or boat docks with soft plastics.
East Okoboji Lake (Dickinson): Look for white bass feeding at the surface early or late in the day and cast to schools with shallow running crankbaits or use a jig and minnow around the bridges. Drift to find active yellow bass, then anchor and vertical jig with jigging spoons tipped with worms. Use cut bait, liver or stink bait around the bridges for channel catfish.
West Okoboji Lake (Dickinson): Work the docks or weed lines with soft plastics or jerk baits for largemouth bass. Fish the deep rock reefs in Miller's Bay, and Pocahontas, Fort Dodge, Pillsbury and Gull points with soft plastics or crawdads for smallmouth bass. Bluegills are being caught from the drop off between Fort Dodge and Pillsbury points, and from the weed lines in the bays using a split shot and live bait. For walleyes, troll crankbaits along the weed lines in Brown's, Emerson, and Miller's bays or drift with bottom bouncers and live bait. Fish the rock piles and weed lines around points and bays with small jigging spoons tipped with live bait for yellow perch. Troll or cast along weed edges in Miller's and Emerson bays for northern pike. Cast or troll along the weed lines and rock piles in Emerson, Miller's, North and Smith's bays with crankbaits and spinners for muskies.
Minnewashta (Dickinson): Fish around boat docks with wigglers on mini jigs for bluegills and with small worms for yellow perch.
West Fork Des Moines River: Fish upstream side of brush piles with cut bait for channel catfish. For walleyes, work the riffles and holes with a jig and minnow.
Little Sioux River: Fish upstream side of brush piles with cut bait for channel catfish. For walleyes, work the riffles and holes with a jig and minnow.
Brushy Creek (Webster): Water clarity increases weekly with the cooler water temperature. Large bluegills remain close to the lake bottom. A few crappies and walleye have been caught on small minnows. Small bass can be caught along the edge of the weed lines.
Storm Lake (Buena Vista): Fishing is fair to good for white bass on the north shore using spinners or twisters and good for channel catfish on shrimp or cut chubs.
Black Hawk Lake (Sac): Fishing is good for channel catfish on a variety of baits.
North Twin Lake (Calhoun): Fishing is good for 7 to 8-inch yellow bass on small hair jigs tipped with cut bait.
Yellow Smoke Lake (Crawford): Fishing is good for bluegills.
Clear Lake (Cerro Gordo): A few small walleyes are being caught but fishing continues to be slow. Yellow bass fishing has been good drifting cut bait or a night crawler from the island to the north shore. White bass fishing has been good around the island and any sandy areas in the morning or late evening.
Little Wall Lake (Hamilton): Channel catfish are biting on shrimp and stink bait.
Briggs Woods (Hamilton): Fishing has been fair around the brush piles for small bluegills, and for crappies up to 10 inches. Some largemouth bass and channel catfish are also being caught.
Indian Lake (Hancock): A few bluegills are being caught; some sorting is required to get bigger fish. Catfish are biting on night crawlers in the evening.
Crystal Lake (Hancock): Catfish are still biting on night crawlers and chicken liver.
For more information on fishing in northwest Iowa, call the regional office in Spirit Lake at 712-336-1840.
Northeast
Mississippi River Pools 9 to 15: Fishing has slowed as the water levels remained low on the Mississippi River. On Thursday, water levels were as follows: Dubuque 7.37 feet, Bellevue 4.45 feet, and Camanche 9.29 feet. Water levels are stable and temperature is in the upper 60s. Be careful when boating on the Mississippi as a lot of new snags have appeared after the spring floods. In addition, many wing dams that boaters have been easily crossing for most of the year are now near the water surface. Whenever traveling the Mississippi River by boat, try to stay in the main channel as much as possible.
Walleye fishing is fair along the wing dams from Pools 12 through 15. Use a three-way rig tipped with either a leech or night crawler fished along the front edge of the wing dams. Some folks are also using a three-way rig with a floating crankbait and report catching larger walleyes.
Fishing is good for channel catfish around the wing dams and side channels with rocky shorelines and riprap. Channel catfish also may be found near fallen snags and the holes behind the wing dams in Pools 9 through 15. Catfish can also move into the shallow water using the weed line as an overhead cove. Use stink bait or night crawlers and fish off the bottom in the side channels and around the wing dams for catfish. Good catfishing areas in the upper pools include: Minnesota Slough and Winneshiek Slough (Pool 9), Harpers Slough and Stateline Slough (Pool 10), and Cassville Slough and Hurricane Slough (Pool 11). Channel catfish are plentiful in the Mississippi River and now is the time to fish for them.
Anglers fishing in Pools 9 through 11 are having fair success fishing for smallmouth and largemouth bass. Look for areas with moderate current and structure, such as wood or rocks. Bass also concentrate along rocky shorelines with drop-offs. Bass hotspots include Minnesota Slough near New Albin (Pool 9), Harpers Slough in Harpers Ferry (Pool 10), and the tailwater areas below the locks and dams in Guttenberg, Dubuque and Bellevue. In other parts of the pools, try fishing spinner baits along the weedy edges of the main channel.
Bluegill fishing is fair to good in Pools 9 through 15 on wax worms or garden worms suspended under a bobber and fished along rip rapped shorelines or near woody structure adjacent to the channel and side channels. Keep moving until you find good pockets of bluegills. As water recedes, try fishing some eddy current areas near shore wing dam areas. A split shot and a piece of night crawler is ideal to use in these areas. Better bluegill fishing can be found on the wing dams in the Harpers Ferry area (Pool 10) and some movement is being made back to the adjacent backwaters.
Crappie fishing is still hit or miss, with most fishing occurring in deeper slough areas using crappie rigs and slow trolling around the snags and woody cover in the backwater areas and side channels. The backwater areas around New Albin (Pool 9), Harpers Ferry (Pool 10), and Guttenberg (Pool 11) are good places to fish for crappies as well as Minnesota Slough (Pool 9) and Cassville Slough (Pool 11). Some reports are coming in about crappies being taken off wing dams which is unusual, but they may be associating with this structure during low water. As fall approaches, crappie fishing should pick up as they begin to concentrate in the deeper sloughs.
Freshwater drum (sheepshead) fishing is good to excellent in Pools 9 through 15 using night crawlers on the bottom. Drum can be found at nearly any shoreline location adjacent to the channel. Use a sliding egg sinker with night crawler or crayfish for bait. Large crayfish often produce larger drum.
Cedar River (Mitchell, Floyd and Chickasaw): Smallmouth bass fishing is fair using dark colored twister tails.
Shell Rock River (Floyd and Bremer): Fishing is excellent for channel catfish on night crawlers, live minnows and chicken liver. Walleye fishing is good casting crankbaits or jigs tipped with a night crawler or minnow near current breaks or runs below the riffles in 3 to 4 feet of water. Also try casting jigs tipped with a night crawler onto the sandbars and let them drop into deeper holes with current.
Cedar (Bremer and Black Hawk) and Shell Rock rivers (Butler): Fishing is fair for channel catfish on stink bait, dead minnows and chicken liver. Smallmouth bass are biting on crankbaits and tube jigs. Walleye fishing is good on crankbaits and jigs tipped with a night crawler. Walleye can be found around woody structure and current breaks. Northern pike fishing has picked up using chubs and spinner baits. Crappies are biting in the Cedar River both above and below the Waverly Dam and in Waterloo. Fish a minnow under a bobber or cast jigs for crappies.
Maquoketa River (Delaware and Jones): Walleye and smallmouth bass are biting on crankbaits or jigs tipped with a night crawler or minnow in the upper stretches of the river. Cast next to woody structure or into current breaks in or near deeper pools. Fishing is good for channel catfish in the deeper pools using stink bait or chicken liver. Fishing below the Lake Delhi Dam is excellent for smallmouth bass using artificial or live baits. Channel catfish and walleye are also biting below the Lake Delhi Dam. Use a minnow suspended under a bobber for crappie. Walleye are hitting jigs tipped with a minnow or night crawler and channel catfish are biting on stink bait, night crawlers and chicken liver.
Turkey River (Clayton): Smallmouth bass fishing is fair using night crawlers, twister tails and shad raps fished on the edge of current breaks.
Upper Iowa River (Winneshiek and Allamakee): Smallmouth bass fishing is good on jigs and crankbaits. Walleye fishing is good using jigs tipped with a night crawler or crankbaits.
Wapsipinicon River (Black Hawk and Buchanan): Channel catfish are biting on stink baits, crawlers and chicken livers fished on the bottom near tree snags and in the deeper pools. Smallmouth bass fishing is good on artificial baits and jigs tipped with a night crawler. A few walleye can be caught on crankbaits and jigs tipped with a night crawler or minnow. Cast near the current breaks or runs below the riffles in 3 to 4 feet of water. On the upper portion of the Wapsipinicon River in Bremer County, northern pike fishing is very good using chubs fished under a bobber and/or casting chartreuse or white and silver spinner baits.
Casey Lake (Tama): Fishing is excellent for channel catfish in the early morning and late evening hours. Keep the bait on the bottom for hungry catfish. Largemouth bass fishing is also excellent casting crankbaits or spinner baits off of jetties and along the dam. Fishing is fair for crappies using light-colored jigs or minnows fished around the dam or suspended near the submerged trees in the middle of the lake.
Lake Delhi (Delaware): Some crappies are being caught off of structure using minnows under a slip bobber or by casting jigs. Fishing is good for channel catfish on stink bait, dead minnows and night crawlers fished in the deeper pools later in the evening. Walleyes are biting well in areas with gravel substrate. Cast or troll larger minnows and/or crankbaits for walleyes.
Lake Hendricks (Howard): Fishing is slow for bluegills and crappies. For bluegills, try using wax worms or a piece of night crawler suspended under a bobber. Try using smaller gear when fishing midday to hook the finicky ones. Some crappies are also being caught around structure using small jigs.
Lake Meyer (Winneshiek): Crappie and bluegill fishing is slow. A few largemouth bass are being caught with top-water lures in the low-light hours. Try using plastic weed less worms during other hours of the day. Catfishing has slowed, but a few can still be caught using chicken liver or dead chubs in the mornings and evenings.
Volga Lake (Fayette): Fishing is fair for channel catfish using night crawlers or chicken liver on the bottom in the shallow bays. Use slower-moving artificial lures worked around structure for largemouth bass. Bluegill fishing has slowed using night crawlers under a bobber.
Northeast Iowa Trout Streams: Water conditions and fishing are excellent on a number of streams. A lot of big browns are being caught right now using live bait hooked naturally with little or no weight.
For information on fishing in northeast Iowa, call the regional office in Manchester at 563-927-3276.
Southeast
Mississippi River Pools 16 - 20: Water temperature for pools 16 to 20 of the Mississippi River is around 71 degrees. In Pool 16, river stage at Lock and Dam 15 is 4.29 feet. Channel catfish are biting on stink bait, shad and night crawlers. A few walleyes are being picked up on the wing dams trolling crankbaits. In Pool 17, river stage at Lock and Dam 16 is 3.15 feet. Channel catfish fishing has been good on stink bait, shad and night crawlers. Crappies are being caught on jigs and minnows fished around brush piles in the backwaters. Some walleyes are being picked up rolling crankbaits on the wing dams. In Pool 18, river stage at Lock and Dam 17 is 3.91 feet. Channel catfish are being caught on stink bait, shad and night crawlers. Crappies are being caught on minnows fished around brush piles in the backwaters. In Pool 19, river stage at Lock and Dam 18 is 1.68 feet. Channel catfish are biting on stink bait, shad and night crawlers. Bass are being caught in the lotus fields. In Pool 20, river stage at Lock and Dam 19 is 3.8 feet. Channel catfish fishing has been good on stink bait, shad and night crawlers.
Lake Odessa (Louisa): Catfish fishing remains very good. The cooler weather should be bringing the bluegills up from the deeper water to the edge of the weed beds in 6 to 8 feet of water.
Lake Darling (Washington): In preparation for draining the lake at the end of October, the DNR will allow promiscuous fishing at Lake Darling beginning Sept. 12. Anglers with a valid fishing license may harvest all sizes and unlimited quantities of any fish species from Lake Darling. Any number of fishing poles or jugs will be allowed, but anglers must remain in sight of these lines at all times and follow all other fishing regulations and area rules. Trot lines will be allowed (name and address must be attached); however, lines may not be set across the entire water body. Nets, dynamite, poison, electric shocking devices, or any stupefying substances will not be allowed. It is illegal to sell fish or stock captured fish into public waters, but sport fish can be stocked in private lakes and ponds. It is important that anglers never transport and release common carp, or for that matter, any other nuisance fish species into any aquatic system.
Lake Belva Deer (Keokuk): Anglers are starting to catch bluegills in 8 to 10 feet of water. Small jigs tipped with wax worms or fish worms work the best.
Lake Geode (Henry): Fishing pressure remains low. The cool weather should be bringing the bluegills up from the deeper water to the edge of the weed beds in 6 to 8 feet of water.
Lake Rathbun (Appanoose): The lake is still 15 feet above normal pool and there are three boat ramps currently open: Bridgeview, Honey Creek, and Buck Creek marina high water ramp. Anglers have been catching some crappies on jig and minnow combinations fishing in the trees along the flooded shoreline. Anglers have been catching walleyes trolling crankbaits along rocky drop-offs. White bass have been hitting on crankbaits and jigging spoons
Lake Sugema (Van Buren): Anglers are catching largemouth bass on crankbaits and soft plastic rigs around the flooded timber and shoreline structure. Bluegills have been biting on small jigs tipped with a night crawler fished under a bobber. Try different depths until you find the fish. Crappies have been biting on minnows or small tube jigs.
Lake Wapello (Davis): The lake has been completely drained.
Lake Miami (Monroe): Crappies have been hitting on small jigs tipped with a minnow. Channel catfish have been biting on chicken liver with early mornings being the best time.
Lake Macbride (Johnson): Top-water fishing is still good here. Largemouth bass are in and around almost any kind of structure, especially wood and rock. Kentucky spotted bass are on rocky shores. White bass can be hit or miss in open water - watch for schools feeding on young shad. Some channel catfish are being picked up towards evening in shallow water on various baits.
Pleasant Creek (Linn): Fishing has been fairly slow. Largemouth can be picked up on plastic worms and crankbaits, while channel catfish are biting on chicken liver and stink bait. White bass are feeding on schools of shad on the surface around sunrise and sunset. Throw top-waters or shallow running baits to the schools for the best action.
Hannen Lake (Benton): The water is starting to clear up. Fishing has been hit or miss, with good days producing bluegills on worms or jigs, and channel catfish on night crawlers or liver.
Kent Park Lake (Johnson): Channel catfish are still biting fairly well on Sonny's stink bait or chicken liver early in the morning or late in the evening. Some largemouth bass are also being picked up on artificial lures or night crawlers, as well as some bluegills on small jigs or worms.
Skunk River (Washington and Henry): The water level seems to be stable right now and higher than normal for this time of year. You can still boat to many areas which is very rare for late summer.
For more information on fishing in southeast Iowa, call the regional office in Brighton at 319-694-2430.
Southwest
Fogle Lake (Ringgold): Largemouth bass fishing is fair for midsized fish near the flooded timber.
Lake of Three Fires (Taylor): A few crappies can be caught from shore near rocky areas. Several largemouth bass can be caught from structure or the edges of the lotus beds in 3 to 6 feet of water. Channel catfish can be caught from the shoreline in less than 6 feet of water using cut baits.
Icaria (Adams): A few channel catfish are being caught using cut bullheads. Largemouth bass are biting on crankbaits and spinners. Bullheads are biting well on night crawlers. Some crappies will bite near the rocks.
Three Mile Lake (Union): Largemouth bass are being caught near structure. A few crappies are caught suspended shallow or near the rock structure. Channel catfish have been picked up using cut baits.
Twelve Mile Lake (Union): Several mid-sized largemouth bass are being caught from the flooded timber in 4 to 10 feet of water using crankbaits or spinners. Bullheads are biting well on night crawlers anywhere in the lake. Crappies and bluegills are rear rocks in 6 feet of water or less.
Green Valley (Union): The water level is drained down to 12 feet and the fishery was renovated. Fish will be restocked by early October. Boating access is possible using the main ramp but not encouraged. Extreme care must be used during launching and loading.
Contact Gary Sobotka at (641) 464-3108 for information on the above area lakes.
Don Williams (Boone): Some suspended crappies are still being caught drifting jigs or minnows out in the main lake. Catfish are still being caught on chicken liver, cut bait or stink bait.
Big Creek (Polk): Water is starting to clear up. Crappie fishing is still slow with a few fish being caught. Boat anglers have been coming in with mixed bags of crappies and white bass. Bluegills are biting in the Lost Lake portion of Big Creek. Fishermen targeting walleyes have had a little success with Lindy rig style setups. Catfish can still be caught on chicken liver, shrimp or stink bait.
Raccoon River (Dallas): Channel catfish are being caught on cut bait or stink bait. Some flatheads are being caught fishing live green sunfish or bullheads.
Red Rock (Marion): Water is clearing up. Good numbers of white bass are being caught by boat anglers.
Saylorville Lake (Polk): Some white bass are being caught below the Big Creek spillway. Better catches for white bass are coming from out in the main lake trolling or jigging minnows. Catfish are biting drifting cut bait or shad.
Hickory Grove (Story): Bluegill fishing is good using small pieces of night crawler or a small jig fished 8 to 10 feet down in the deeper portions of the lake. A few crappies are being caught trolling or drifting jigs. Catfish are biting on cut bait and stink bait.
Lake Ahquabi and Hooper (Warren): Bluegill and crappie bite is starting to pick up. Crappies are mainly being caught in the evenings, with some sorting required for nicer fish. Bass and catfish are still being caught.
Des Moines River (Polk and Boone): Limits of catfish are being caught on stink baits. As the water cools walleye fishing will pick up using 1/16 to 1/8 ounce jig and half night crawler.
Contact Ben Dodd at (515) 432-2823, Ext.108, for information on the above area lakes
Viking Lake (Montgomery): Anglers are catching 16 to 19-inch channel catfish on stink bait or chicken liver.
Lake Manawa (Pottawattamie): Catfish fishing is fair to good using crawdads and shrimp. A few crappies have been caught on northeast part of lake around boat docks. Fishing for wipers is fair.
Willow Lake (Harrison): Channel catfish fishing has been fair using liver. A few bluegills are being caught over the deep brush piles.
Meadow Lake (Adair): Meadow is open to fishing, however the lake has been lowered 8 feet and the boat ramp is not usable. Habitat improvements are scheduled for this fall and winter.
Orient (Adair): Catfish fishing is fair using liver.
Greenfield (Adair): Bass fishing is fair using plastic baits around cedar tree piles. Bluegills are fair drifting small jigs and around jetties. A few catfish are being caught on liver.
Mormon Trail (Adair): Fishing for channel catfish has been good in the evenings using liver and cut bait.
Lake Anita (Cass): Crappie fishing is fair for 8 to 9-inch fish drifting a small white jig or anchored near structure. Schools of crappies have scattered around the lake and when anglers find a school, they are able to catch quite a few. Largemouth bass fishing has been good using plastic baits around rock reefs and along the road bed during the day.
Arrowhead Lake (Pottawattamie): Largemouth bass are being caught using plastic baits around structure. Channel catfish is fair using liver.
Prairie Rose Lake (Shelby): Channel catfish is fair using liver and stink bait.
Middle Raccoon (Guthrie): A few bluegills and crappies are being caught below the Lennon Mills Dam. Conditions are favorable for fishing the catch and release stretch for smallmouth bass from Lennon Mills Dam to Redfield.
Contact Bryan Hayes at (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.
Northwest
Spirit Lake (Dickinson): Walleyes are being caught by trolling the weed lines, rock reefs and deep flats with crankbaits, or drift bottom bouncers with worms. Fish from shore at sunset at the footbridge with jigs or try the North Grade using slip bobbers and live bait. For smallmouth bass, fish the rock reefs and weed lines around Big Stoney, Little Stoney, Reeds Run, Cottonwood points or at the footbridge using crankbaits, jerk baits or tube jigs. Use worms at weed lines and rock piles or around boat docks for bluegills. For yellow perch, drift fish with bottom bouncers or anchor and vertically jig with small jigging spoons tipped with worms across the main lake or drop shot live bait in the weed beds. Anglers are catching largemouth bass fishing along the weed lines or boat docks with soft plastics.
East Okoboji Lake (Dickinson): Look for white bass feeding at the surface early or late in the day and cast to schools with shallow running crankbaits or use a jig and minnow around the bridges. Drift to find active yellow bass, then anchor and vertical jig with jigging spoons tipped with worms. Use cut bait, liver or stink bait around the bridges for channel catfish.
West Okoboji Lake (Dickinson): Work the docks or weed lines with soft plastics or jerk baits for largemouth bass. Fish the deep rock reefs in Miller's Bay, and Pocahontas, Fort Dodge, Pillsbury and Gull points with soft plastics or crawdads for smallmouth bass. Bluegills are being caught from the drop off between Fort Dodge and Pillsbury points, and from the weed lines in the bays using a split shot and live bait. For walleyes, troll crankbaits along the weed lines in Brown's, Emerson, and Miller's bays or drift with bottom bouncers and live bait. Fish the rock piles and weed lines around points and bays with small jigging spoons tipped with live bait for yellow perch. Troll or cast along weed edges in Miller's and Emerson bays for northern pike. Cast or troll along the weed lines and rock piles in Emerson, Miller's, North and Smith's bays with crankbaits and spinners for muskies.
Minnewashta (Dickinson): Fish around boat docks with wigglers on mini jigs for bluegills and with small worms for yellow perch.
West Fork Des Moines River: Fish upstream side of brush piles with cut bait for channel catfish. For walleyes, work the riffles and holes with a jig and minnow.
Little Sioux River: Fish upstream side of brush piles with cut bait for channel catfish. For walleyes, work the riffles and holes with a jig and minnow.
Brushy Creek (Webster): Water clarity increases weekly with the cooler water temperature. Large bluegills remain close to the lake bottom. A few crappies and walleye have been caught on small minnows. Small bass can be caught along the edge of the weed lines.
Storm Lake (Buena Vista): Fishing is fair to good for white bass on the north shore using spinners or twisters and good for channel catfish on shrimp or cut chubs.
Black Hawk Lake (Sac): Fishing is good for channel catfish on a variety of baits.
North Twin Lake (Calhoun): Fishing is good for 7 to 8-inch yellow bass on small hair jigs tipped with cut bait.
Yellow Smoke Lake (Crawford): Fishing is good for bluegills.
Clear Lake (Cerro Gordo): A few small walleyes are being caught but fishing continues to be slow. Yellow bass fishing has been good drifting cut bait or a night crawler from the island to the north shore. White bass fishing has been good around the island and any sandy areas in the morning or late evening.
Little Wall Lake (Hamilton): Channel catfish are biting on shrimp and stink bait.
Briggs Woods (Hamilton): Fishing has been fair around the brush piles for small bluegills, and for crappies up to 10 inches. Some largemouth bass and channel catfish are also being caught.
Indian Lake (Hancock): A few bluegills are being caught; some sorting is required to get bigger fish. Catfish are biting on night crawlers in the evening.
Crystal Lake (Hancock): Catfish are still biting on night crawlers and chicken liver.
For more information on fishing in northwest Iowa, call the regional office in Spirit Lake at 712-336-1840.
Northeast
Mississippi River Pools 9 to 15: Fishing has slowed as the water levels remained low on the Mississippi River. On Thursday, water levels were as follows: Dubuque 7.37 feet, Bellevue 4.45 feet, and Camanche 9.29 feet. Water levels are stable and temperature is in the upper 60s. Be careful when boating on the Mississippi as a lot of new snags have appeared after the spring floods. In addition, many wing dams that boaters have been easily crossing for most of the year are now near the water surface. Whenever traveling the Mississippi River by boat, try to stay in the main channel as much as possible.
Walleye fishing is fair along the wing dams from Pools 12 through 15. Use a three-way rig tipped with either a leech or night crawler fished along the front edge of the wing dams. Some folks are also using a three-way rig with a floating crankbait and report catching larger walleyes.
Fishing is good for channel catfish around the wing dams and side channels with rocky shorelines and riprap. Channel catfish also may be found near fallen snags and the holes behind the wing dams in Pools 9 through 15. Catfish can also move into the shallow water using the weed line as an overhead cove. Use stink bait or night crawlers and fish off the bottom in the side channels and around the wing dams for catfish. Good catfishing areas in the upper pools include: Minnesota Slough and Winneshiek Slough (Pool 9), Harpers Slough and Stateline Slough (Pool 10), and Cassville Slough and Hurricane Slough (Pool 11). Channel catfish are plentiful in the Mississippi River and now is the time to fish for them.
Anglers fishing in Pools 9 through 11 are having fair success fishing for smallmouth and largemouth bass. Look for areas with moderate current and structure, such as wood or rocks. Bass also concentrate along rocky shorelines with drop-offs. Bass hotspots include Minnesota Slough near New Albin (Pool 9), Harpers Slough in Harpers Ferry (Pool 10), and the tailwater areas below the locks and dams in Guttenberg, Dubuque and Bellevue. In other parts of the pools, try fishing spinner baits along the weedy edges of the main channel.
Bluegill fishing is fair to good in Pools 9 through 15 on wax worms or garden worms suspended under a bobber and fished along rip rapped shorelines or near woody structure adjacent to the channel and side channels. Keep moving until you find good pockets of bluegills. As water recedes, try fishing some eddy current areas near shore wing dam areas. A split shot and a piece of night crawler is ideal to use in these areas. Better bluegill fishing can be found on the wing dams in the Harpers Ferry area (Pool 10) and some movement is being made back to the adjacent backwaters.
Crappie fishing is still hit or miss, with most fishing occurring in deeper slough areas using crappie rigs and slow trolling around the snags and woody cover in the backwater areas and side channels. The backwater areas around New Albin (Pool 9), Harpers Ferry (Pool 10), and Guttenberg (Pool 11) are good places to fish for crappies as well as Minnesota Slough (Pool 9) and Cassville Slough (Pool 11). Some reports are coming in about crappies being taken off wing dams which is unusual, but they may be associating with this structure during low water. As fall approaches, crappie fishing should pick up as they begin to concentrate in the deeper sloughs.
Freshwater drum (sheepshead) fishing is good to excellent in Pools 9 through 15 using night crawlers on the bottom. Drum can be found at nearly any shoreline location adjacent to the channel. Use a sliding egg sinker with night crawler or crayfish for bait. Large crayfish often produce larger drum.
Cedar River (Mitchell, Floyd and Chickasaw): Smallmouth bass fishing is fair using dark colored twister tails.
Shell Rock River (Floyd and Bremer): Fishing is excellent for channel catfish on night crawlers, live minnows and chicken liver. Walleye fishing is good casting crankbaits or jigs tipped with a night crawler or minnow near current breaks or runs below the riffles in 3 to 4 feet of water. Also try casting jigs tipped with a night crawler onto the sandbars and let them drop into deeper holes with current.
Cedar (Bremer and Black Hawk) and Shell Rock rivers (Butler): Fishing is fair for channel catfish on stink bait, dead minnows and chicken liver. Smallmouth bass are biting on crankbaits and tube jigs. Walleye fishing is good on crankbaits and jigs tipped with a night crawler. Walleye can be found around woody structure and current breaks. Northern pike fishing has picked up using chubs and spinner baits. Crappies are biting in the Cedar River both above and below the Waverly Dam and in Waterloo. Fish a minnow under a bobber or cast jigs for crappies.
Maquoketa River (Delaware and Jones): Walleye and smallmouth bass are biting on crankbaits or jigs tipped with a night crawler or minnow in the upper stretches of the river. Cast next to woody structure or into current breaks in or near deeper pools. Fishing is good for channel catfish in the deeper pools using stink bait or chicken liver. Fishing below the Lake Delhi Dam is excellent for smallmouth bass using artificial or live baits. Channel catfish and walleye are also biting below the Lake Delhi Dam. Use a minnow suspended under a bobber for crappie. Walleye are hitting jigs tipped with a minnow or night crawler and channel catfish are biting on stink bait, night crawlers and chicken liver.
Turkey River (Clayton): Smallmouth bass fishing is fair using night crawlers, twister tails and shad raps fished on the edge of current breaks.
Upper Iowa River (Winneshiek and Allamakee): Smallmouth bass fishing is good on jigs and crankbaits. Walleye fishing is good using jigs tipped with a night crawler or crankbaits.
Wapsipinicon River (Black Hawk and Buchanan): Channel catfish are biting on stink baits, crawlers and chicken livers fished on the bottom near tree snags and in the deeper pools. Smallmouth bass fishing is good on artificial baits and jigs tipped with a night crawler. A few walleye can be caught on crankbaits and jigs tipped with a night crawler or minnow. Cast near the current breaks or runs below the riffles in 3 to 4 feet of water. On the upper portion of the Wapsipinicon River in Bremer County, northern pike fishing is very good using chubs fished under a bobber and/or casting chartreuse or white and silver spinner baits.
Casey Lake (Tama): Fishing is excellent for channel catfish in the early morning and late evening hours. Keep the bait on the bottom for hungry catfish. Largemouth bass fishing is also excellent casting crankbaits or spinner baits off of jetties and along the dam. Fishing is fair for crappies using light-colored jigs or minnows fished around the dam or suspended near the submerged trees in the middle of the lake.
Lake Delhi (Delaware): Some crappies are being caught off of structure using minnows under a slip bobber or by casting jigs. Fishing is good for channel catfish on stink bait, dead minnows and night crawlers fished in the deeper pools later in the evening. Walleyes are biting well in areas with gravel substrate. Cast or troll larger minnows and/or crankbaits for walleyes.
Lake Hendricks (Howard): Fishing is slow for bluegills and crappies. For bluegills, try using wax worms or a piece of night crawler suspended under a bobber. Try using smaller gear when fishing midday to hook the finicky ones. Some crappies are also being caught around structure using small jigs.
Lake Meyer (Winneshiek): Crappie and bluegill fishing is slow. A few largemouth bass are being caught with top-water lures in the low-light hours. Try using plastic weed less worms during other hours of the day. Catfishing has slowed, but a few can still be caught using chicken liver or dead chubs in the mornings and evenings.
Volga Lake (Fayette): Fishing is fair for channel catfish using night crawlers or chicken liver on the bottom in the shallow bays. Use slower-moving artificial lures worked around structure for largemouth bass. Bluegill fishing has slowed using night crawlers under a bobber.
Northeast Iowa Trout Streams: Water conditions and fishing are excellent on a number of streams. A lot of big browns are being caught right now using live bait hooked naturally with little or no weight.
For information on fishing in northeast Iowa, call the regional office in Manchester at 563-927-3276.