Weekly Fishing Report

Learn the best hot spots and latest news about Iowa’s fishing opportunities from region to region. 

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How to Read Our Weekly Iowa Fishing Report

DNR’s weekly fishing report is broken down by counties or regions – northwest, northeast, Mississippi river, southeast and southwest. You can check the activity of your favorite lake or stretch of river within each region, including which species are being caught, a rating of the bite (slow, fair, good or excellent), as well as a hot bait or lure pattern.

Fishing reports may include information on stream or river flows (and if it is rising or dropping), ice conditions, depths that fish are biting (watch for trends if this changes), or safety issues like if the water suddenly becomes shallow in spots.

Iowa Fishing Report for Sept. 18, 2025:

Northwest

Black Hawk Lake
Water levels are several inches over the crest of the spillway. Water temperature are in the low 70s. Black Bullhead - Fair: Use nightcrawlers fished on or near bottom from shore.  Most bullheads are 10- to 12-inches. Black Crappie - Fair: Try fishing from the fish house in Town Bay and near the stone piers.  Most fish have been smaller but a few keepers are being picked up. Bluegill - Slow: Look for keeper-size bluegill (7-inches) near the rock pile off Gunshot Hill, the rock piles in the east basin and along Ice House Point shoreline in 3-6 feet of water. Channel Catfish - Fair. Walleye - Slow:  Anglers are catching walleye from shore. Expect walleye action to increase as water temperatures drop; mid to late September typically produces a good walleye bite on this lake.  

Brushy Creek Lake
Surface water temperature is in the low 70s. Black Crappie - Fair: Find crappie near submerged structure in 5-10 feet of water along the shorelines. Bluegill - Fair:  Try fishing in deeper water vertical jigging around submerged trees.  Largemouth Bass - Fair: Try fishing along weedlines in 2-8 feet of water. 

North Twin Lake
Water levels are near crest level at the spillway. Black Bullhead - Good: Use a piece of crawler fished on the bottom near shore.  Most fish are 11-inches.  Walleye - Fair: Try trolling in 6-8 feet of water to find fish hanging out in deeper habitats. Expect the walleye bite from shore to pick up as water temperatures decrease at the end of the month. Yellow Bass - Fair: Use a piece of crawler on a small hook or jig fished under a bobber near shore. Fish are up to 8-inches.

Storm Lake (incl Little Storm Lake)
Water temperature is around 70 degrees. Channel Catfish - Fair: Try crawlers or cut bait on the bottom fished from shore in 2-8 feet of water.  Walleye - Slow:  Find walleyes off shore: use crankbaits or a bottom bouncer rig near the dredge cuts. Expect shore fishing to pick up as water temperatures start to drop. White Bass - Fair.  Yellow Bass - Fair: Keepers are in the 9-inch range.

Swan Lake
Water levels are at crest. Water clarity is between 1 and 2 feet. Black Crappie - Fair: Anglers are catching decent numbers of crappie.  Try fishing in and around the fish house to catch 9.5-inch crappie. Bluegill - Slow: Anglers are catching 7.5- to 8-inch crappie with some up to 8.5-inches.

Water temperatures are around 70 degrees in most area lakes. For more information, contact the Black Hawk District office at 712-657-2638.
 

Clear Lake
Lake level is 1.5 inches over crest. Water temperature is in the low 70s. Water clarity is around 25 inches. Walleye - Slow: Anglers are catching a few walleye during low light periods.  Use crankbaits and live bait rigs near vegetation.  White Bass - Fair:  Anglers are catching white bass while fishing for other species. Bass are schooled up; if you catch one, keep working that area. Yellow Bass - Fair:  Try small jigs tipped with with a piece of crawler or cut bait.  Most fish are around 7-inches; fish over 10-inches are also being caught.

Crystal Lake
Black Crappie - Fair: Drift fish or troll small jigs or live bait in 8-12 feet of water. Bluegill - Fair.  Northern Pike - Fair: Try fishing near the flowing water on the south side of the lake.

Rice Lake
Any water west of the north boat ramp is a waterfowl refuge and is closed to all activities from September 1st through the final day of the duck season. Signs across the lake mark this area.  Yellow Perch - Slow.

Silver Lake (Worth)
Bluegill - Fair. Yellow Perch - Slow.

Winnebago River
River level is 5.6 feet.  Water temperature is in the mid-60s. 

 For additional information, contact Clear Lake Fisheries Office at 641-357-3517.

Center Lake
Black Crappie - Good: Lots of fish are 7- to 9-inches; some sorting is needed.  Walleye - Fair: Most fish are on the smaller side.

East Okoboji Lake
Water temperature is in the low 70s. Anglers are catching many panfish species. The upper two basins of the lake have more vegetation; the bottom portion is relatively open of any vegetation.  Black Crappie - Fair.  Bluegill - Good: Anglers are catching bluegill on and off shore. Largemouth Bass - Good.  Yellow Bass - Good. Yellow Perch - Fair: Many fish have been observed; sorting will most likely be needed.

Ingham Lake
Walleye - Fair: Best bite is morning and afternoon.

Silver Lake (Dickinson)
The lake has started to clear up after a long algae bloom.  Black Bullhead - Good: Catch quality-sized fish just off shore. Walleye - Fair: Bite is hit-or-miss.

Spirit Lake
Water temperature is in the lower 70s. The outlet spillway is currently flowing. Black Crappie - Fair: Anglers are finding quality-size fish up to 14-inches. Bluegill - Fair. Muskellunge - Good.  Walleye - Fair: Anglers are on a deeper daytime bite; jigs and live bait work best. Yellow Perch - Good: Sorting is needed; anglers are finding many acceptable-size fish.

West Okoboji Lake
Water temperature is in the low 70s. Black Crappie - Fair:  Bluegill - Good. Largemouth Bass - Good: Anglers are catching good size fish.

Area water temperatures are in the low 70s. Water levels are just above crest.  Area fishing has begun to pick up for many different species.  Fish have started to move in shallower as the weedline dies back.  Docks and hoists have started to be pulled from the lake. For current conditions, call 712-330-2542.

Northeast

Cedar River (above Nashua)
Water levels are stabilizing.  Water clarity is good.  Use caution while boating; hazards may have moved. Check water levels online. Black Crappie  - Good: Find crappie near woody structures in backwater areas.  Channel Catfish - Good: Use dead chubs, stink bait and chicken liver fished on the bottom.  Smallmouth Bass - Excellent: Use crankbaits or jigs tipped with plastic tails in back eddies or off channel areas.  Walleye - Good: Walleye bite is improving with clearer water. Use spinnerbaits or jigs tipped with a minnow.

Decorah District Streams
Catchable trout stockings are weekly with streams announced once a month. Water clarity is excellent.  Approach streams slowing to avoid casting a shadow in the stream. Some streams lost much of their in-stream vegetative cover and deposit of new gravel with recent high water events.  Fishing these streams may be more challenging than normal; switch terminal tackle often.  Brook Trout - Slow:  Good hatches of dragonflies, grasshoppers, crickets and ants.  Sneak up on brookies for a better chance to catch one of these beauties. Brown Trout - Good: Use spinnerbaits near or around logs and undercut banks. Try streamers or a variety of terrestrial insect patterns on larger waterbodies. Rainbow Trout - Excellent:  Use spinnerbaits, hair jigs, or hooks tipped with a small piece of worm, bread or cheese floated through deeper holes. Freshly stocked fish are waiting to take your bait.

Lake Hendricks
Visibility is improving with cooling water.  Water temperature is in the 60s. Black Crappie - Fair: Bite is improving.  Cast spinnerbait near submersed structure.  Bluegill - Good: Find bluegills near vegetation beds.  Use a small red worm under a bobber.  Channel Catfish - Good: Find catfish in areas with stumps or other cavities. Use a worm or stink bait fished on the bottom. Largemouth Bass - Good: Try a hook with a plastic tail fished along the shoreline.

Lake Meyer
Water clarity is improving with cooler water temperatures.  Black Crappie - Fair: Find brush piles and other woody debris to fish around. Bluegill - Good: Use red worms on a hook under a bobber near brush.  Channel Catfish - Good: Anglers are finding nice-sized catfish along the face of the dam in the evening. Use a worm or stink bait on or near the bottom.  Largemouth Bass - Good: Try a spinner or crankbait near drop-offs or submerged logs or tree branches.

Turkey River (above Clermont)
Water levels are stable. Good to excellent water clarity.  Check water levels online.  Smallmouth Bass - Excellent: Find bass near rocky habitats or log piles.  Use a jig tipped with a twistertail or ringworm.  Walleye - Good: Find walleye in deeper holes. Try minnows or spinnerbaits near evening hours.  

Upper Iowa River (above Decorah)
Water levels are stabilizing with excellent visibility. Water temperatures are cooling. Check water levels online.  Smallmouth Bass - Excellent: Try a jig tipped with a worm or twistertail near rocky outcroppings or ledges.  Walleye - Good: Find walleye in deeper holes or near log jams; use spinner or crankbaits.

Volga Lake
Water clarity is improving with cooler temperatures. Water temperature is in the upper 60s.  Black Crappie - Fair: Find crappie around structure, docks, or woody debris along the shore. Bluegill - Fair: Use a small hook tipped with a piece of worm around structure. Channel Catfish - Good: Trophy catfish are abundant in this lake. Look for areas with woody debris, submerged trees, and rocky habitat. Use a worm or stink bait fished on the bottom and wait for a tug on your line.  Largemouth Bass - Fair: Try a jig tipped with a twister tail or shallow running crankbait along rocky shorelines.

Stormy weather forecast for the weekend as temperatures cool into the 70s to 60s.  Water levels on many area rivers and streams are normal to above normal for this time of year, but are holding stable.  Water clarity is good to excellent. Morning and evening bite is best, especially with clear water. For more information, contact the Chuck Gipp Decorah Fish Hatchery at 563-382-8324.
 

Big Woods Lake
Anglers are catching bluegill and crappie. Black Crappie - Fair: Look for structure; use a live minnow under a slip bobber. Bluegill - Fair: Try a piece of nightcrawler under a slip bobber  from shore.

Cedar River (Nashua to La Porte City
Anglers are catching walleye, catfish, yellow bass and smallmouth bass.  Channel Catfish - Good: Use cut baits, stink baits and nightcrawlers. Flathead Catfish - Fair: Cast a heavy sinker and hook with a live bluegill, bullhead, or sucker above fallen tree snags.  Smallmouth Bass - Good: Cast crankbaits or jig and plastics tipped with or without half a nightcrawler.  Walleye - Good: Cast crankbaits or jig and plastics tipped with or without half a nightcrawler. Use a nightcrawler under a slip bobber and small split shot.

George Wyth Lake
Anglers are catching bluegill and crappie.  Black Crappie - Fair: Look for structures; use a live minnow under a slip bobber.  Bluegill - Fair: Try a piece of nightcrawler under a slip bobber from shore.

Lake Delhi
Anglers are catching bass. Try fishing early mornings and evenings to avoid heavy boat traffic. Largemouth Bass - Good: Cast and retrieve topwater baits early morning or late evening. Spinnerbaits and crankbait are productive.  Smallmouth Bass  - Good: Cast and retrieve topwater baits early morning or late evening. Spinnerbaits and crankbait are productive.

Manchester District Streams
Trout streams are in excellent condition. 

Maquoketa River (above Monticello)
Anglers are catching smallmouth bass, channel catfish, and walleye.  The river is in excellent condition and should provide good angling opportunities.  Channel Catfish - Good: Use cut baits, stink baits and nightcrawlers. Smallmouth Bass - Fair: Cast crankbaits or jig and plastics tipped with or without half a nightcrawler.  Walleye - Fair: Cast crankbaits or jig and plastics tipped with or without half a nightcrawler.

Maquoketa River (below Monticello)
Anglers are catching walleye, catfish, and smallmouth bass on the lower Maquoketa River.  A recent electrofishing survey above Pictured Rocks revealed an abundant population of 16-to 20-inch channel catfish. Channel Catfish - Good: Use cut baits, stink baits and nightcrawlers. Smallmouth Bass - Excellent:  Cast crankbaits or jig and plastics tipped with or without half a nightcrawler. Walleye - Fair: Cast crankbaits or jig and plastics tipped with or without half a nightcrawler.

Shell Rock River (Greene to Shell Rock)
Anglers are catching walleye and smallmouth bass.  Smallmouth Bass - Good: Cast crankbaits or jigs and plastics tipped with or without half a nightcrawler.  Walleye - Good: Cast crankbaits or jig and plastics tipped with or without half a nightcrawler. Using a nightcrawler under a slip bobber and small split shot has been productive.

Wapsi River (Tripoli to Troy Mills)
Anglers are catching  walleye and smallmouth bass on the Wapsipinicon River as it continues to fall from recent rainfall events.  Smallmouth Bass - Good: Cast crankbaits or jig and plastics tipped with or without half a nightcrawler.  Walleye - Good: Cast crankbaits or jig and plastics tipped with or without half a nightcrawler. 

Most interior rivers are providing good angling opportunities.  A few area lakes are producing some bluegill and crappie.  Trout streams are in excellent condition.  For more information, contact Manchester Hatchery at 563-927-3276.

Mississippi River

Mississippi River Pool 9
Water level is 8.0 feet at Lansing and stable. Water temperature is 73 degrees in the channel. Water clarity is good with not as many floating weeds. Target the edge of backwater weed beds as fish move out of the current in the fall. Black Crappie - Slow: Use a minnow on a crappie rig in the tree-piles in the sloughs.  Expect the bite to pick up when water temperatures fall again.  Bluegill - Good: Look for bluegills in fallen trees in running sloughs and lower ends of backwaters.  Keep moving to find active fish.  Channel Catfish - Good: Try a weighted crawler off the bottom in current eddies.  Flathead Catfish - Good: Use large shiners or a small sunfish for bait in holes with sunken trees. Freshwater Drum - Good: Try a weighted nightcrawler on the bottom in areas with medium current. Largemouth Bass - Good: Throw plastics along the shorelines in the upper end of backwaters away from current.  Northern Pike - Good: Rising summer temperatures will send northern pike into cooler waters. Cast spoons or crankbaits at the mouth of tributary streams. Smallmouth Bass - Excellent: Smallmouth action has picked up. Use spinners off rock points along the main channel.  Walleye - Fair: Walleye fishing on the wing-dams should pick up with stable water levels. Try trolling a crankbait or crawler on a three-way rig. White Bass - Fair: Cast inline spinners along current breaks. Watch for minnows jumping out of the water to find schools of feeding white bass. Yellow Perch - Good: Look for perch on the edge of weed beds. Catch larger perch with a minnow fished just off the bottom.

Mississippi River Pool 10
Water level is 614.3 feet at Lynxville and is predicted to gradually fall. Water temperature is 76 degrees at the Lock and Dam.  Weeds have cleared up; water clarity is good. Black Crappie - Slow: Use a minnow on a crappie rig in the tree-piles in the sloughs.  Expect the bite to pick up when water temperatures fall again.  Bluegill - Good:  Look for bluegills in fallen trees in running sloughs and lower ends of backwaters.  Keep moving to find active fish.  Channel Catfish - Excellent: Try a weighted crawler off the bottom in current eddies.  Flathead Catfish - Good: Use large shiners or a small sunfish for bait in holes with sunken trees. Freshwater Drum - Good: Try a weighted nightcrawler on the bottom in areas with medium current.  Largemouth Bass - Fair: Throw plastics along the shorelines in the upper end of backwaters away from the current.  Northern Pike - Fair: Rising summer temperatures will send northern pike into cooler waters. Cast spoons or crankbaits at the mouth of tributary streams.  Smallmouth Bass - Excellent: Smallmouth action has picked up. Use spinners off rock points along the main channel.  Walleye - Fair: Walleye fishing on the wing-dams should pick up with stable water levels. Try trolling a crankbait or a crawler on a three-way rig.  White Bass - Excellent: Cast inline spinners along current breaks. Watch for minnows jumping out of the water to find schools of feeding white bass. Yellow Perch - Good: Look for perch on the edge of weed beds. Catch larger perch with a minnow fished just off the bottom.

Mississippi River Pool 11
Water level is 5.9 feet at Guttenberg and expected to continue a slow fall. Water temperature is in the mid-70s.  Water clarity has improved.  Bluegill - Good: Look for bluegills in fallen trees in running sloughs and lower ends of backwaters.  Keep moving to find active fish.  Channel Catfish - Excellent: Try a weighted crawler or with dip baits off the bottom in current eddies.  Fathead Catfish - Good: Use large shiners or a small sunfish for bait in holes with sunken trees. Freshwater Drum - Good: Try a weighted nightcrawler on the bottom in areas with medium current. Largemouth Bass- Fair: Throw plastics along the shorelines in the upper end of backwaters away from current.  Northern Pike - Fair: Rising summer temperatures will send northern pike into cooler waters. Cast spoons or crankbaits at the mouth of tributary streams. Smallmouth Bass - Excellent:  Smallmouth action has picked up. Use spinners off rock points along the main channel.  Walleye - Fair: Walleye fishing on the wing-dams should pick up with stable water levels. Try trolling a crankbait or a crawler on a three-way rig. White Bass - Excellent: Cast inline spinners along current breaks. Watch for minnows jumping out of the water to find schools of feeding white bass. Yellow Perch - Good: Look for perch on the edge of weed beds. Catch larger perch with a minnow fished just off the bottom.

Upper Mississippi River water levels remain fairly stable and are expected to gradually recede next week. Water temperature has risen back into the mid to upper 70s.  Expect fish to feed more heavily to prepare for winter as temperatures fall.  Water clarity is improving with stable water levels.  Floating weeds are not as prevalent.  Look for fish along main channel wing-dams and woody debris in running sloughs.

Mississippi River Pool 12
Water level is 5.8 feet at Dubuque Lock and Dam and 8.2 feet at the RR Bridge.  Levels are gradually receding.  Water clarity is improving.  Water temperature is around 74 degrees. Black Crappie - Slow: Use a minnow on a crappie rig in the tree-piles in the sloughs.  Expect the bite to pick up when water temperatures fall again.  Channel Catfish - Excellent: Use dip baits in moderate current areas with hard bottoms.  Flathead Catfish - Good: Try bank pole fishing with a live bullhead in newly flooded water. Freshwater Drum - Excellent: Use egg sinker and worm rigs in moderate current areas. Largemouth Bass - Good: Try spinnerbaits and frog imitation lures in weed beds.  Find clearer water in vegetated areas.  Northern Pike - Good: Try gaudy spinners along weed edges; look for cleaner water. Smallmouth Bass - Fair: Get spinners or crankbaits as close to rock piles as possible in moderate current areas.  Flood debris has hampered fishing along rocky areas; the pool is clearing.  White Bass - Good: Look for feeding schools of white bass in tailwaters and between wing-dams.  Yellow Perch - Good: Look for perch on the edge of weed beds. Catch larger perch with a minnow fished just off the bottom.

Mississippi River Pool 13
Water level is receding to 6.2 feet at Bellevue. Water clarity is improving.  Water temperature is around 74 degrees. Look for fish to be along current breaks. Black Crappie - Slow: Use a minnow on a crappie rig in the tree-piles in the sloughs.  Expect the bite to pick up when water temperatures fall again.  Channel Catfish - Excellent:  Use dip baits in moderate current areas with hard bottoms. Lower pool stump fields can be excellent for channels.  Flathead Catfish - Fair: Use bank poles with live bait. Freshwater Drum - Good: Try an egg sinker and worm rig in moderate current areas.  Largemouth Bass - Good: Try spinnerbaits along the edges of weeds.  Find clear water within weed beds. Smallmouth Bass - Good: Use spinners and crankbaits along rock lines.  Floating vegetation is hindering throwing lures. Walleye - Fair: Wing-dam fishing is improving but have been hampered by floating vegetation. Try jigs in eddies or pockets near shore. White Bass - Good: White bass schools are chasing minnows along channel edges. Yellow Perch - Good: Look for perch on the edge of weed beds. Catch larger perch with a minnow fished just off the bottom.

Mississippi River Pool 14
Tailwater stage is 5.80 feet at Lock and Dam 13 and falling.  Flood stage is 16 feet. Water temperature is around 75 degrees  Bluegill - Fair: Look for bluegills in the backwaters and side channels around brush piles. Use pieces of worm under a bobber. Channel Catfish - Fair: Try fishing on the upstream side of brush piles and snags along the main channel and side channels and on the wing-dams. Use stink bait, crawlers or cut bait upstream of structure.  Largemouth Bass - No report: Use spinnerbaits or frog imitation lures along the edges of weeds.  Smallmouth Bass - No report: Find smallmouths along rock lines with some current; use small crankbaits or spinners.  Walleye - Fair: Look for walleyes on the wing-dams.  Try fishing with three-way rigs with crawlers. Cast or troll crankbaits on the wing-dams.  White Bass - No Report: Try small spinners or jigs and twister tails in the tailwaters or in between wing-dams.  Rocky points with current can hold white bass.

Mississippi River Pool 15
Tailwater stage is 5.01 feet at Lock and Dam 14 and falling.  Tailwater stage is forecast to fall over the weekend.  Flood stage is 11 feet. Main channel water temperature is around 76 degrees.  Channel Catfish - No Report: Try stink baits, nightcrawlers, or cut bait along rocky structure. Freshwater Drum - No Report: Use an egg sinker rig with nightcrawlers.  Smallmouth Bass - No Report: Try spinners or crankbaits along rock line with current.  

If you have angling questions for Pools 12 and 13 call Karen Osterkamp at 563-357-4408.  For Pools 14 and 15, please call Andy Fowler at 563-293-7157.

Mississippi River Pool 16
Tailwater stage is 6.12 feet at Lock and Dam 15 in Quad Cities and forecast to fall throughout the weekend .  Flood stage is 15 feet. Bluegill - No report: Look for bluegills in backwaters and side channels around brush piles.  Try pieces of worm under a bobber. Channel Catfish - No report: Look for channel catfish around brush piles and snags along the main channel and side channels. Use cut shad or stink bait fished upstream of snags.  Channel catfish can also be caught fishing the upstream side of wing-dams.  Walleye - No report: Try trolling or casting crankbaits on the upstream side of the wing-dams or trolling three-way rig with crawlers.  White Bass - No report:  Try fishing around current seams.  Cast jigs and twister tails, in-line spinners, or small crankbaits at Sylvan Slough, below dams, along the river front below the Lock and Dam, and any rocky point. White Crappie - No report:  Try jigs and minnows/plastics or minnows under a bobber in backwaters and side channels around brush piles. 

Mississippi River Pool 17
Tailwater stage is 4.68 feet at Lock and Dam 16 in Muscatine and forecast to stay fairly steady over the weekend.  Flood stage is 15 feet.  Bluegill - No report: Look for bluegills in backwaters and side channels around brush piles. Use pieces of worm under bobber.  Channel Catfish - No report: Try around brush piles and snags along main and side channels. Use stink bait, cut shad, or nightcrawler upstream of the brush piles. Float leeches or crawlers under a bobber along rip-rap shorelines with current. Try fishing on the upstream side of the wing-dams.  Walleye - No report: Look for walleye on the wing-dams. Troll or cast crankbaits on upstream side of wing-dams or troll three-way rigs with crawlers.  White Bass - No report: Use jigs and twister tails, inline spinners, or small crankbaits around current seams.  Places to try are the outfalls by GPS, wing-dams, and rocky points.  White Crappie - No Report: Try jigs and minnows/plastics or minnows under a bobber in backwaters and side channels around brush piles. 

Mississippi River Pool 18
Tailwater stage is 5.30 feet at Lock and Dam 17 at New Boston and falling.  Flood stage is 15 feet. Bluegill - No report: Look for bluegills in backwaters and side channels.  Use pieces of worm under a bobber along brush piles.  Channel Catfish - No report: Try around brush piles and snags along main and side channels. Use stink bait, cut shad, or nightcrawlers upstream of brush piles. Float leeches or crawlers under a bobber along rip-rap shorelines with current. Try fishing on the upstream side of the wing-dams. Walleye - No Report: Look for walleye on the wing-dams; cast jigs and plastics. Cast or troll crankbaits on the upstream side of the wing-dam.  White Bass - Fair: Cast crankbaits, inline spinners, or jigs and twister tails in areas with current around rocky points or water discharges.  White bass can also be caught at the outlet structure of Odessa.   White Crappie - No Report: Try minnows under a bobber or vertical jigs with minnows or plastic around brush piles in backwaters and side channels.

Mississippi River Pool 19
Tailwater stage is 2.59 feet and falling at Lock and Dam 18 above Burlington.  Flood stage is 10 feet. River stage is 525.49 feet at Fort Madison; flood stage is 528.00 feet. Bluegill - No report: Look for bluegills in backwaters and side channels. Try pieces of worm under a bobber along brush piles.  Channel Catfish - No report: Try around brush piles and snags along main and side channels. Use stink bait, cut shad or nightcrawlers upstream of brush. Float leeches or crawlers under a bobber along rip-rap shorelines with current. Try fishing on the upstream side of the wing-dams. Walleye - No Report: Look for walleye on the wing-dams; cast jigs and plastics. Cast or troll crankbaits on the upstream side of the wing-dam. White Bass - No Report: Cast crankbaits, inline spinners, or jigs and twister tails in areas with current around rocky points or water discharges. White Crappie - No Report: Use minnows under a bobber or vertical jig with minnows or plastics around brush piles in backwaters and side channels.

River stages have been falling this past week and forecast to fall over the weekend.  Main channel water clarity is fair. Water temperature is around 75-76 degrees. If you have questions on fishing Pools 16-19, contact Fairport Fish Hatchery at 563-263-5062.

Southeast

Big Hollow Lake
Water temperature is near 80 degrees in the afternoons.  Black Crappie - Fair: Look for crappies in 7-9 feet of water; they are not moving much. Angler are catching a few crappie first thing in the morning along the edges of the thicker flooded brush and cedar trees. Largemouth Bass - Good: Smaller (10- to 12-inch) bass ignored the heat and stayed in shallower. Bigger bass headed back out into deeper water.

Cedar River (Moscow to Columbus Junction)
River level dropped about six inches.  Channel Catfish - Good: The hot weather didn’t affect the catfishing on the lower Cedar.

Iowa River (Columbus Junction to Mississippi River)
River level dropped about another foot.  More shallow water areas will obstruct boating, but still doable. Channel Catfish - Good: Use cut bait or dead shad behind the logjams or right next to the leading edge logjams where it is easy for them to find.

Lake Belva Deer
Water temperature earlier this week was 80 degrees at the surface during the afternoon hours;  in the mid to upper 70's most of the time. Bluegill - Good: Despite the heat, some bluegills stayed in shallower water; most remained in deeper water (10-12 feet) amongst the flooded timber.  Use slip bobbers and waxworms or try vertically jigging with waxworms. Largemouth Bass - Good: Smaller (10- to 12-inch) bass stayed in shallower water. The big bass come in early in the morning before the sun hit the water.

Lake Darling
Water temperature was 76 degrees (9/18) after being as high as 80 degrees earlier in the week.  Still some planktonic algae on the surface, but the water is more clear than green in color. Black Crappie - Fair: Find crappies out over the deeper habitat. Bluegill - Fair: Most bluegills are holding out over the deeper habitat; some are staying in shallow despite the hot weather. Try worm and bobber off the ends of the jetties or steeper shoreline. Channel Catfish - Good: Catfishing picked up a little this week. Use stink bait or chicken liver along the rocks, especially around the main boat ramp area and around the point and crappie cove. Largemouth Bass - Fair: A good number of the 10- 12-inch bass stayed in shallow despite the heat; most bigger bass stayed in deeper water to avoid the heat. Try running crankbaits down 7-9 feet passed the habitat.

Lake Geode
The water is green in color. Water temperature is 78-80 degrees. Water clarity is 20 inches. Black Crappie - Fair:  Find crappie in the habitat in 8-10 feet of water.  Try vertically jigging right over the habitat. Bluegill - Good: More bluegills are 8-inches. Try worm and bobber over the habitat in 7-8 feet of water. As the days get shorter they will move in shallower despite the continued hot weather. Largemouth Bass - Good: Look for bass over the edge of the deep water drop-offs;  many are in deeper water.

Lost Grove Lake
Water temperature is in the mid-70s. Water clarity is about 4 feet.  Eurasian watermilfoil has returned to the lake; properly drain, clean and dry equipment before transporting to another waterbody. Bluegill - Good: Most bluegills headed out to a little deeper water (6 to 7 feet) around the flooded brush, just a foot or two deeper. Largemouth Bass - Good: Despite the heat, bass fishing remained good later in the evening or first thing in  the morning. Try running crankbaits down about 4 to 5 feet along the edges of the weed beds and along the outer edges of the submerged brush.

Skunk River (Coppock to Mississippi River)
Sand and gravel bars started to show up about 3 days ago; access will be restricted to shallow water boats and canoes until it starts raining again. Channel Catfish - Fair: A little less flow has slowed the bite.  Use stink baits and cut bait just off the back edges of the sand bars and around the leading edges of the brush piles.

For more information on the above lakes and rivers call the Lake Darling Fisheries Office at 319-694-2430.

Cedar River (Cedar Rapids to Moscow)
Channel Catfish - Fair: Try fishing around brush piles.  Flathead Catfish - Fair: Try fishing around brush piles.  Sauger - Slow: Try fishing sand bars with gravel patches.  Walleye - Slow: Try fishing rock shorelines.

Cedar River (La Porte City to Cedar Rapids)
Channel Catfish - Fair: Use cut bait in brush piles. Flathead Catfish - Slow: Try live bait in brush piles.  Walleye - Fair: Try fishing rock shorelines and brush piles.

Coralville Reservoir 
Black Crappie -Slow: Use minnows in brush piles. Channel Catfish - Fair: Try rattle rigs and cut bait.  White Crappie - Fair: Try fishing around boat docks and rock shorelines.  Spotted Bass - Fair: Try fishing around boat docks and rock shorelines.  White Crappie - Slow: Use minnows in brush piles.

Goose Pond
Largemouth Bass - Good.

Hannen Lake
Black Crappie -Slow.  Bluegill - Good: Mostly 5- to 7-inch fish.  Largemouth Bass - Good.

Iowa Lake (Iowa Co.)
Largemouth Bass - Good.

Iowa River (Coralville Lake to River Junction)
Smallmouth Bass - Fair: Try fishing along rocky shorelines. Spotted bass - Fair: Try fishing along rock shorelines. White Bass - Fair: Try fishing along rock shorelines.  Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) - Fair: Try fishing along rock shorelines.

Iowa River (Marshalltown to Coralville Lake)
Channel Catfish - Fair: Use cut bait in brush piles. Flathead Catfish - Fair: Try live bait in brush piles.  Walleye - Slow: Try fishing along rock shorelines.

Kent Park Lake
Largemouth Bass - Good.

Lake Macbride
Black Crappie - Fair: Use minnows in brush piles in 8-12 feet of water . Channel Catfish -Slow: Try green sunfish along the rock jetties.  Flathead Catfish - Slow: Try green sunfish along the rock jetties.  Largemouth Bass - Fair: Try fishing in brush piles and green vegetation.  Spotted Bass - Fair: Try fishing along brush and rock piles.  White Crappie - Fair: Use minnows in brush piles in 8-12 feet of water.  Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) - Fair: Use electronics to find fish suspended around points and brush piles with gizzard shad.

Pleasant Creek Lake
Bluegill - Slow: Try fishing around brush piles.  Walleye - Fair: Try fishing at night around brush and rock piles.

Rodgers Park Lake
Largemouth Bass - Fair. Redear Sunfish - Good.

Wapsi River (Troy Mills to Oxford Junction)
Smallmouth Bass - Fair: Try fishing along rock shorelines.  Walleye - Fair: Try fishing around rock shorelines and brush piles.

For more information, contact the Lake Macbride Fisheries Station at 319-624-3615.

Hawthorn Lake
Black Crappie - Fair. Use small jigs around structure and the jetties. Bluegill - Fair: Try small jigs in open areas in the vegetation.  Channel Catfish - Fair: Use chicken liver or nightcrawlers. Largemouth Bass - Good: Try plastics around the jetties and along the face of the dam.

Lake Keomah
Lake Keomah is drained for a lake restoration project. Please stay out of the lakebed.

Lake Miami
Black Crappie - Fair: Try small jigs around the jetties and along the dam.  Bluegill - Fair: Use small jigs along the cedar tree piles.  Channel Catfish - Fair: Try cut bait or nightcrawlers.  Largemouth Bass - Fair: Target the area along the dam and around the jetties.

Lake Sugema
Black Crappie - Fair: Try jigs or jig/minnow combos. Look for suspended fish in 8-10 feet of water.  The crappie should start to move shallow as the water cools. Bluegill - Fair: Use small jigs in the flooded timber around open pockets in the vegetation.  Largemouth Bass - Good: Try spinnerbaits and plastics around the fishing jetties and along the face of the dam.

Lake Wapello
Black Crappie - Fair: Use jigs around submerged structure or target suspended fish in 8-10 feet of water.  Bluegill - Fair: Find bluegills around structure in deeper water; use small jigs.  Channel Catfish - Fair: Try chicken liver or nightcrawlers.  Largemouth Bass - Fair: Use spinnerbaits and plastics around the cedar tree piles.

Rathbun Reservoir
The lake level is 905.23 msl; recreation pool is 904 msl. Water temperature is 75 degrees.  Lake Rathbun has zebra mussels; properly drain, clean and dry equipment before transporting to another waterbody. Black Crappie - Slow: Look for crappies away from shore around cedar tree piles. Channel Catfish - Fair: Try chicken liver or cut bait. Walleye - Fair: Use crankbaits that mimic gizzard shad in rock piles and the old river channel.  Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) - Fair: Anglers are catching hybrids.  Cast crankbaits or try vertically jigging in rock piles and rock reefs.

Red Haw Lake
Black Crappie - Fair: Try small jigs along the shoreline and around the jetties.  Bluegill - Fair: Use small jigs around the shallows and on the edge of the lily pads.  Channel Catfish - Fair: Try nightcrawlers along rocky shorelines and fishing jetties.  Largemouth Bass - Good: Try spinners or plastics along shorelines and the edge of the lily pads.

Contact the Rathbun Fish Hatchery at 641-647-2406 with questions about fishing in south central Iowa. 

Southwest

Big Creek Lake
Anglers may notice orange and white buoys in the northwest arm of the lake. These buoys are marking equipment on the bottom of the lake used in an ongoing fishery research project.  Please do not disturb them.  Bluegill - Good: Bluegills are providing a good bite drifting 1/8 ounce jigs or lighter tipped with crawler near the bottom in 5-8 feet of water. Walleye - Fair: While the streams have good flow coming in at the upper end of the lake, try jigging nightcrawlers near the notches in the silt dams. Also try jigging or trolling live bait rigs or shad imitating crankbaits and plastics off humps around points and along the edges of aquatic vegetation in 5 to 15 feet of water. Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) - Fair: Catch wipers mostly in the lower half of the lake jigging shad imitating plastics spoons tipped with pieces of cut bait or casting top water lures over the schools. Focus on shorelines or coves the wind is blowing into on windy days.  Early morning and evening bites are best.

Des Moines River (Stratford to Saylorville Lake)
Channel Catfish- Good: Use dead gizzard shad or cutbait.

Red Rock Reservoir
Black Crappie - Fair: Drift or troll small swimbaits, twistertails and tube jigs. Check the Army Corps of Engineers Lake Red Rock homepage for a map of new habitat added this summer to attract crappies.  Channel Catfish - Good: Drift cut baits on the upper end of the reservoir near and above the Mile Long Bridge.  White Bass - Good: Try trolling lipless crankbaits, spoons, or blade baits along the wind-blown shorelines and points.

Saylorville Reservoir
White Bass - Good: Try trolling lipless crankbaits, spoons, and blade baits along wind-blown shorelines and sharp drop-offs like the Sandpiper Beach area.

For information on Central Iowa lakes and rivers contact Andy Otting at 515-204-5885 or Seth Fopma at 641-891-3795.

Greenfield Lake
Black Crappie - Fair: Try minnows fished around the jetties. Early morning bite is best.  Sorting is needed.  Channel Catfish - Slow: Use cut bait around the jetties. Largemouth Bass - Good: Greenfield has a good largemouth bass population. Anglers report catching good numbers of sub-legal fish.

Lake Anita
Black Crappie - Fair: Early morning bite has been good; lots of fish less than 9-inches.  Sorting is needed.  Bluegill - Good: Troll or drift small jigs tipped with a crawler.  Largemouth Bass - Fair.

Meadow Lake
Black Crappie - Fair: Good population of 10-inch black crappie. Bluegill - Fair: Catch 8-inch bluegill around the cedar tree piles. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Cast to the tree piles in the lake.

Prairie Rose Lake
Water clarity has improved.  Black Crappie - Slow: Anglers have caught a few Black Crappie - Slow: Anglers are catching a few large black crappie while trolling.  Bluegill - Fair: Cast nightcrawlers under a bobber around the rock piles east of the beach. Channel Catfish - No Report: Prairie Rose has a good population of channel catfish.  Largemouth Bass - Good: Anglers are catching largemouth bass along the edges of weeds and around structure.

Viking Lake
Channel Catfish - Slow: Use stink bait around the jetties.  Largemouth Bass - Good: Try fishing in shallow tree piles.

Water temperatures are in the mid-70s. For information on lakes in the Southwest District, call the Cold Springs office at 712-769-2587.

Green Valley Lake
The dock is in at main boat ramp.  Bluegill - Fair: Catch all sizes of bluegill with worms fished under a bobber near cedar tree brush piles.

Little River Watershed Lake
The dock is in at main boat ramp.  Largemouth Bass - Fair:  Catch largemouth bass up to 19-inches with finesse plastics near cedar tree brush piles or crankbaits along rocky shorelines.

Three Mile Lake
**Driving is prohibited on any service roads used to access the lakebed and the lakebed itself.**  Lake level is 7 feet below normal pool. Use extra caution as new potential boating hazards may be present with the low lake level.

Twelve Mile Creek Lake
The dock is in at the main boat ramp. Bluegill - Fair: Catch all sizes of bluegill with jigs tipped with live bait along rocky shoreline areas or shallow coves.

Water temperature is in the mid to upper 70s in most Mount Ayr district lakes. For more information, call the Mount Ayr Fisheries office at 641-931-6031.