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 August 21, 2025:

NORTHWEST

Black Hawk Lake
Water levels are 6 inches over the crest of the spillway. Water temperature are around 80 degrees. Black Bullhead - Good: Anglers have had good success targeting bullheads from shore using nightcrawlers fished on or near bottom.  Must bullheads are 10- to 12-inches. Black Crappie - Fair: Try fishing in and around the fish house, Ice House Point shoreline, or the rock piles. Bluegill - Fair: 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: Look for walleye along the dredge cuts near Denison Beach and in the east basin. The rock piles in the east basin also hold fish this time of year.

Brushy Creek Lake
Water temperature is in the mid-70s. Water clarity is 2-3 feet. Black Crappie - Fair: Find crappie near submerged structure in 5-10 feet of water along the shorelines.  Bluegill - Good:  Anglers are catching harvestable size fish.  Try vertical jigging around submerged trees in deeper water.  Largemouth Bass - Fair: Try fishing along weedlines in 2-8 feet of water.

North Twin Lake
Water levels are several inches over the crest of the spillway. Black Bullhead - Fair: 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. Yellow Bass - Fair: Use a piece of crawler under a bobber near shore. Fish are up to 8-inches.

Storm Lake (incl Little Storm Lake)
Water temperature is in the upper 70s. Channel Catfish - Fair: Try crawlers or cut bait on the bottom fished from shore in 2-8 feet of water.  Walleye - Slow:  Look for walleyes off shore: use crankbaits or a bottom bouncer rig near the dredge cuts. White Bass - Fair.  Yellow Bass - Fair: Keepers are in the 9-inch range.

Water temperatures are around 80 degrees in most area lakes. For more information, contact the Black Hawk District office at 712-657-2638.

Beeds Lake
Black Crappie - Fair: Drift fish small jigs in 7-12 feet of water. Catch suspended crappie in the top 6 feet of the water column.

Clear Lake
Lake level is 6 inches over crest. Water temperature is in the upper 70s.  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.  They are schooled up; if you catch one, keep working that area. Yellow Bass - Fair:  Try small jigs tipped with crawlers or cut bait.  Most fish are around 7-inches; fish over 10-inches are also being caught.

Crystal Lake
Black Crappie - Fair: Drift fish small jigs or live bait in 8-12 feet of water.

Rivers and streams in the Clear Lake District are high and turbid. Fishing will be difficult on these rivers until the water recedes and water clarity improves. For additional information, contact Clear Lake Fisheries Office at 641-357-3517.

Center Lake
Black Crappie - Good: Some sorting is needed.

East Okoboji Lake
Water temperature is in the low 80s. Anglers have been very successful 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 - Good.  Bluegill - Good: Anglers are catching bluegill on and off shore. Largemouth Bass - Good.  Yellow Bass - Fair. Yellow Perch - Fair: Many fish have been observed; sorting will most likely be needed.

Ingham Lake
The lake is experiencing an algae bloom.  Walleye - Fair: Best bite is morning and afternoon.

Silver Lake (Dickinson)
Black Bullhead - Good: Catch quality-sized fish just off shore.  Clouds of young of the year bullhead can be seen throughout the lake; there was a large spawn this year.  Walleye - Fair: Bite is hit-or-miss.

Spirit Lake
Water temperature is in the upper 70s. The outlet spillway is flowing. The weed line is quite a way off shore. Black Crappie - Fair: Anglers are finding quality-size fish up to 14-inches. Anglers report some success around Templar Lagoon.  Bluegill - Fair. Walleye - Fair. Yellow Perch - Good: Sorting is needed; anglers are finding many acceptable-size fish.

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

Area water temperatures are in the low 80s to upper 70s. Water levels are a few inches over crest. Current lake levels are above crest. Area bass and panfishing has been good. For current conditions, call 712-330-2542.

NORTHEAST

Cedar River (above Nashua)
Water levels crested and are slowly falling.  A large amount of debris is moving through the system. Minimal water clarity.  Water temperatures in the mid-70s.  Many boat accesses are unusable.Check water levels online. Channel Catfish - Good: Use dead chubs, stink bait and chicken liver fished on the bottom.  

Decorah District Streams
Decorah stream stockings were delayed this week due to rain events and dirty hatchery water. Catchable trout stockings are weekly with streams announced once a month. Many streams levels remain elevated.  Streams with better watershed will clear quickly.  Wear long pants or waders to protect your legs from potential painful yellow parsnip blisters and nettles. Flies, gnats, and mosquitoes are aggressive. Brook Trout - Slow:  Good insect hatches are occurring. A variety of terrestrial bugs are falling or landing in water. Use flies imitating ants, crickets, or midges. Brown Trout - Good: Off-color water is a prime time to catch brown trout. Spinnerbaits work well. Try streamers or a variety of terrestrial insect patterns on larger waterbodies. Rainbow Trout - Slow:  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
Lake levels elevated are from rain events; minimal visibility.  Water temperatures are in the mid-70s.  Channel Catfish - Good: Find catfish in areas with stumps or other cavities. Use a worm or stink bait fished on the bottom. Largemouth Bass -Slow: Try a hook with a plastic tail fished along shoreline.

Lake levels are elevated from rain events.  Water clarity is poor.  Water temperature is in the mid-70s. Fish activity is slow. 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.

Turkey River (above Clermont)
Water levels crested and are slowly falling.  Poor clarity with very fast current. Water activities are not advised.  Check water levels online.

Upper Iowa River (above Decorah)
Water levels crested and are falling.  Very fast current with poor visibility.  Water activities are not advised.  Water temperature is in the 70s. Check water levels online. 

Volga Lake
A green algae bloom is limiting visibility.  Water temperatures is in the mid-70s.  Black Crappie - Slow: Find crappie around structure, docks, or woody debris along the shore. Bluegill - Slow: 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 - Slow: Try a jig tipped with a twister tail or shallow running crankbait along rocky shorelines.

The majority of area rivers and streams have crested.  Most remain muddy with very high flows.  Chances of rain Friday night.  Temperatures in the 70s to 50s. Morning and evening bite is best this time of year, 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 night crawler under a slip bobber  from shore.

Cedar River (Nashua to La Porte City
The Cedar River is expected to crest today.

George Wyth Lake
George Wyth State Park is closed due to high water levels from the Cedar River.

Manchester District Streams
Trout streams are in excellent condition. 

Maquoketa River (above Monticello)
We received no information about fishing on this water body this week.

Shell Rock River (Greene to Shell Rock)
We received no information about fishing on this water body this week.

Wapsi River (Tripoli to Troy Mills)
No reports on the Wapsipinicon River; it continues to rise from recent rainfall events.

Most interior rivers, with the exception of the Maquoketa river, are high and holding steady.  A few lakes are producing some bluegill and crappie.  For more information, contact Manchester Hatchery at 563-927-3276.

MISSISSIPPI RIVER

Mississippi River Pool 9
Water level is 9.8 feet at Lansing and is expected to stabilize then fall slightly this week. Water temperature is 80 degrees in the channel. Water clarity is stained with floating weeds and debris.  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 - 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 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 - Fair: Use a crappie rig tipped with worms or a minnow in the current seams off shore.

Mississippi River Pool 10
Water level is 618.3 feet at Lynxville and is predicted to gradually fall this week. Water temperature is 80 degrees at the Lock and Dam.  Water clarity is stained with some floating weeds and debris.  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 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 - Slow: Use a crappie rig tipped with worms or a minnow in the current seams off shore.

Mississippi River Pool 11
Water level is 8.4 feet at Guttenberg and is expected to gradually fall next week. Water temperature is in the low 80s.  Water clarity has improved, but floating weeds can make fishing difficult. Channel Catfish - Excellent: Try a weighted crawler 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 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 - Fair: Use a crappie rig tipped with worms or a minnow in the current seams off shore. 

Upper Mississippi River water levels are stable and expected to fall slightly. Water temperature is in the low 80s. Water clarity has improved, but floating weeds can make fishing difficult. During hot weather, fish seek areas with current; look along main channel wing-dams and at the mouth of tributaries.

Mississippi River Pool 12
Water level is rising to near 9.1 feet at Dubuque Lock and Dam and 11.3 feet at the RR Bridge. Water is stained and vegetation is floating. Water temperature around 77 degrees. Black Crappie - Slow.  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: Use spinnerbaits and frog imitation lures in weed beds.  Find clearer water in vegetated areas.  Northern Pike - Good: Try gaudy spinners along weed edges. Try to find cleaner water to fish. 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, but the pool is clearing.  White Bass - Good: Look for feeding schools of white bass in tailwaters and between wing-dams.

Mississippi River Pool 13
Water level is rising to near 10 feet at Bellevue. Water is stained, but fishable. Water temperature is around 77 degrees.  Tributary streams like the Maquoketa River are still stained from recent rains.  Channel Catfish - Excellent:  Use dip baits in moderate current areas with hard bottoms. Lower pool stump fields can be excellent for channels.  Flathead Catfish - Good: 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 - Fair: Use spinners and crankbaits along rock lines.  Floating vegetation is hindering throwing lures. Walleye - Fair: Wing-dam fishing has been hampered by high water and floating vegetation.  Try jigs in eddies or pockets near shore. White Bass - Good: White bass schools are chasing minnows along channel edges. 

Mississippi River Pool 14
Water level is rising to near 9.3 feet at Fulton, 12.2 feet at Camanche, and near 9.9 feet at LeClaire. Water temperature is near 78 degrees.  The Wapsi River is running somewhat turbid and greatly influencing water clarity on Pool 14.  Lots of floating vegetation is hampering some fishing.  Channel Catfish - Excellent: Try dip baits in moderate current areas.  Above tree falls or snags is often a great place to lure abundant channel catfish out to your bait. Freshwater Drum - Good: Use egg sinker and nightcrawler rigs.  Largemouth Bass - Good: Try spinnerbaits or frog imitation lures along the edges of weeds.  Northern Pike - Fair: Use gaudy white spinners along edges of weeds. Look for pike in clearer water pockets in vegetated areas. Smallmouth Bass - Good: Find abundant smallmouths along rock lines with moderate current; use small crankbaits or spinners.  Floating debris is playing havoc with anglers fishing along rock lines.  White Bass - Good: Use small spinners or jigs to catch feeding white bass in tailwaters or in-between wing-dams in sandy areas.  River may need to clear up a bit before great fishing returns.

Mississippi River Pool 15
Water level rising to near 9.9 feet. Water is stained. Water temperature is around 78 degrees.  Lots of floating vegetation is hampering fishing.   Channel Catfish - Good: Dip baits work best.  Move often if fish are not biting. Freshwater Drum - Good: Use an egg sinker rig with nightcrawlers for bait.  Smallmouth Bass - Fair: Pool 15 is underrated as a smallmouth fishery. Try spinners or crankbaits along rock line with moderate to strong current.  Water needs to get cleaner for better fishing.

Water levels are rising. Water temperature is in the upper 70s throughout the district.  Water clarity is stained; lots of floating vegetation reported.  If you  have angling questions, please call Bellevue Fisheries Management at 563-880-8781. 

Mississippi River Pool 16
Tailwater stage is 9.93 feet and rising at Lock and Dam 15 in Quad Cities.  Tailwater stage is forecast to reach 10.8 feet over 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 main channel and side channels. Use cut shad or stink bait fished upstream of brush.  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.  Trolling three-way rig with crawlers can catch fish as well.  Fishing may be difficult with high, muddy water.  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 8.52 feet at Lock and Dam 16 in Muscatine and forecast to reach 10.2 feet 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 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 crankbaits on upstream side of wing-dams or troll three-way rigs with crawlers on wingdam.  Walleye fishing may be difficult with high, muddy water conditions. White Bass - No report: Use jigs and twister tails, inline spinners, or small crankbaits around current seams.  Places to try are outfalls by GPS, wingdams, 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 10.03 feet at Lock and Dam 17 at New Boston and forecast to reach 12.4 feet by early next week.  Flood stage is 15 feet. The gates are still out of water at Lock and Dam.  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. 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.  Walleye fishing may be difficult with high, muddy water conditions.  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.

Mississippi River Pool 19
Tailwater stage is 6.72 feet and rising at Lock and Dam 18 above Burlington. Tailwater stage is forecast to reach 8.4 by early next week.  Flood stage is 10 feet. River stage is 526.50 feet at Fort Madison; flood stage is 528.0 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: 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.  Walleye fishing may be difficult with high, muddy water conditions.  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 are rising due to recent heavy rains. Tailwater stages are forecast to rise a couple feet over the weekend.  Main channel water clarity is poor. Water temperature is around 82 degrees. If you have questions on fishing Pools 16-19, contact Fairport Fish Hatchery at 563-263-5062.

SOUTHEAST

Big Hollow Lake
The water temperature is in the low to mid-80s.  Most fish are in or near deeper water. Black Crappie - Fair: Find crappie in 7 to 8 feet of water in the flooded timber. Try vertically jigging in the trees or drift trolling along the outer edge of the trees. Bluegill - Fair: Bluegills remain in their summer holding pattern of down about 6 feet in the flooded timber. Largemouth Bass - Good: Bass are getting tired of waiting for Fall and have started to be more active. They are not ready to leave the deeper water behind; just feeding in a little shallower nearby.

Cedar River (Moscow to Columbus Junction)
River level is about two feet below bank full.

Iowa River (Columbus Junction to Mississippi River)
River level is a foot or so below bank full.

Lake Belva Deer
Water temperature is 81-82 degrees. Water clarity is about two feet with a green tint. Bluegill - Good: Bluegill fishing is starting to pick up; look for bluegill in 9-10 feet of water in the trees.  Cast slip bobbers or try vertically jigging. Largemouth Bass - Good: Bass are starting to become more active throughout the lake.  Early morning (pre 10am) or late evening (post 6 pm) bite is best. Use topwater bates after the sun gets off the water; cast crankbaits or pitch jigs into the timber when the sun is still hitting the water.

Lake Darling
Water temperature is 83 degrees. Water clarity is slowly improving to 15 inches. Bluegill - Good: Bluegill fishing is starting to improve. Look for bluegill in 6-8 feet of water around some of the deeper rock piles.  On cloudy days, some have been found around the rock piles in shallower water. Largemouth Bass - Good: Largemouth bass are starting to become more active with the cooler weather.  Try topwater baits before the sun gets high enough to really hit the water. After that run crankbaits at a depth of 4-5 feet along the edges of the drop-off.  Bass are not travelling very far away from deeper water yet.

Lake Geode
Water temperature is in the low to mid-80s. The water remains a very green color; water clarity is slowly improving to about 1 1/2 feet. Black Crappie - Fair: Find crappies around the artificial habitat in 8 to 10 feet of water suspended a couple of feet above the bottom. Bluegill - Fair: Most bluegills are still hanging out in 8-10 feet of water along the steeper banks. Largemouth Bass - Good: Bass fishing is starting to pick up; more fish are venturing into shallower water to feed.  Look for bass close to deeper water; more are moving up in the water column to feed. Try running crankbaits in about 5-6 feet of water along the drop-offs.

Lost Grove Lake
are waiting for cooler water temperatures. Find bluegill in 8-10 feet of water in the flooded trees. Try slow trolling jigs or vertical jigging next to the habitat. Largemouth Bass - Good: Bass are starting to stay in a little shallower water longer, especially if its cloudy with a little chop on the water. Try running crankbaits down to 4 to 5 feet below the surface.

Skunk River (Rose Hill to Coppock)
River level has dropped several feet since last week; still well over half bank full. Use caution if going out on the river; you won't be able to see all those new snags the high water brought in. through the muddy water.

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

Broadmoor Pond
Black Crappie - Fair: Find crappie suspended out from shore.  Bluegill - Fair: Try small soft plastics on a jig head. Channel Catfish - Fair: Use stink bait along shorelines.  Largemouth Bass - Good: Use soft plastics and topwater lures early mornings.

Cedar River (Cedar Rapids to Moscow)
No reports this week due to high water. Channel Catfish - No Report: Try fishing in creek mouths, brush piles or rock areas. Flathead Catfish - No Report: Try fishing in creek mouths, brush piles or rock areas.

Cedar River (La Porte City to Cedar Rapids)
No reports this week due to high water. Channel Catfish - No Report: Try fishing in creek mouths, brush piles or rock areas. Flathead Catfish - No Report: Try fishing in creek mouths, brush piles or rock areas.

Central Park Lake
Bluegill - Fair: Try fishing near brush piles. Channel Catfish - Good: Use stink bait near the fishing jetties. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Use topwater lures and soft plastics during early mornings.

Coralville Reservoir 
Black Crappie - Fair: Use electronics to find suspended schools around brush piles and rock walls.  Channel Catfish - Good: Try trolling with rattle rigs and cut bait in the back of coves along flooded edges of willows.  Flathead Catfish - Fair: Try fishing near brush piles and rock edges. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Use topwater lures around rocks and trees along shoreline during early mornings. Spotted bass - Slow: Try topwater lures and soft plastics during early mornings. White Crappie - Fair: Use electronics to catch suspended fish in brush piles or rock wall areas.

Goose Pond
Black Crappie - Slow: Fish are suspended out from shore.  Bluegill - Fair: Anglers are catching bluegill on twister tails from shore.  Channel Catfish - Fair: Use stink bait along shorelines.  Largemouth Bass - Good: Use topwater lures and soft plastics during early mornings.

Green Castle Lake
Bluegill - Slow: Try fishing in 6-8 feet of water just off shore.  Channel Catfish - Good: Use stink bait along shorelines, brush piles or rock.  Largemouth Bass - Good: Use topwater lures or soft plastics in early mornings. Redear Sunfish - Slow: Try fishing in 6-8 feet of water just off shore.

Grundy County Lake
Black Crappie - Fair: Find suspended near weed clumps. Channel Catfish - Good: Use stink bait near the fish jetties Largemouth Bass - Fair: Try topwater lures or soft plastics in early morning. Redear Sunfish - Slow: Anglers are catching some fish.

Hannen Lake
catching mostly 4- to 7-inch bluegills around brush piles.  Channel Catfish - Good: Use stink bait along shorelines brush piles or rocks Largemouth Bass - Fair: Try soft plastics and topwater lures in early mornings.

Iowa Lake (Iowa Co.)
Bluegill - Good: Try fishing near points along the main lake or in front of  the spillway. Channel Catfish - Excellent: Use stink bait, cut bait or nightcrawlers near the spillway. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Try fishing deeper weed edges in mornings or evenings. Use topwater lures on the upper half of lake.  White Crappie - Good: Try fishing near points along the main lake or in front of the spillway.

Iowa River (Coralville Lake to River Junction)
Channel Catfish - No Report: Try fishing creek mouths, brush piles, or rock areas. Flathead Catfish - No Report: Try fishing creek mouths, brush piles, or rock areas. Smallmouth Bass - No Report: Try fishing along rocky shorelines and current seams. Spotted bass - No Report: Try fishing along rocky shorelines and creek mouths.  White Bass - Slow: Anglers are catching some fish in current seams during the early morning.  Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) - Slow: Anglers are catching some fish in current seams during the early morning.

Iowa River (Marshalltown to Coralville Lake)
No reports this week due to high water. Channel Catfish - No Report: Try fishing in creek mouths, brush piles or rock areas. Flathead Catfish - No Report: Try fishing in brush piles and rock areas

Kent Park Lake
Black Crappie - Slow: Find crappie suspended in the lake basin out from the dam. Channel Catfish - Good: Try stink bait along the shorelines, brush piles or rocks. Largemouth Bass - Good: Use topwater lures and soft plastics during early mornings.

Lake Macbride
The seasonal 10 horse motor restriction is in effect.  Black Crappie - Fair: Use electronics to find schools suspended in the lake basin. Channel Catfish - Good: Use stink bait or green sunfish along edges of rock fishing jetties.  Flathead Catfish - Fair: Try cut bait or live bait along the rock jetties.  Largemouth Bass - Fair: Use topwater lures and soft plastics during early mornings.  Spotted Bass - Fair: Try topwater lures and soft plastics during early mornings.  White Crappie - Fair: Use electronics to find schools of suspended fish in the lake basin. Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) - Slow: Look for scattered suspended fish around wind-blown points or schools of shad.

Wapsi River (Troy Mills to Oxford Junction)
No reports this week due to high water. Channel Catfish - No Report: Try fishing in creek mouths, brush piles or rock areas. Flathead Catfish - No Report: Try fishing in creek mouths, brush piles or rock areas. Smallmouth Bass - No Report: Try fishing along rocky shorelines and current seams. Walleye - No Report: Try fishing along rocky shorelines and current seams.

Whispering Meadows
Black Bullhead - Fair: Use worms below a small bobber.

Williamsburg Pond (West End Pond)
Black Bullhead - Slow: Use worms below a small bobber.  Bluegill - Slow: Try fishing around rocky shorelines. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Use topwater lures and soft plastics during early mornings. 

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 along the shallows and 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 - Good: Use small jigs along the shoreline.  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. Keep moving until you find active fish. Bluegill - Fair: Use small jigs in the shallows.  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.  Bluegill - Fair: Bluegills are out around structure in deeper water.  Use small jigs in these areas.  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 909.02 msl; recreation pool is 904 msl. Be cautious of floating debris; lake level has risen with the recent rains. 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 or crawler harnesses in rock piles and the old river channel.  Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) - Good: 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: Use nightcrawlers along the shoreline and around the 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. 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 topwater lures over the schools. Focus on shorelines or coves the wind is blowing into on windy days.  Early morning and evenings are the best times.

Red Rock Reservoir
Channel Catfish - Good: Drift cut baits on the upper end of the reservoir near and above the Mile Long Bridge.  White Bass - Fair: 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.

Farm Creek Lake (a.k.a. Young's Pond)
Bluegill - Fair: Catch 8-inch bluegills with nightcrawlers under a bobber.  Largemouth Bass - Fair: Anglers are catching all sizes of bass along the edges of weeds.

Greenfield Lake
Black Crappie - Fair: Try minnows fished around the jetties. Early morning bite is best.  Sorting will be needed.  Channel Catfish - Fair: Use cut bait around the jetties. Largemouth Bass - No report: Good largemouth bass population.

Lake Anita
Black Crappie - Fair: Early morning bite has been good, but lots of fish under 9-inches.  Sorting is needed.  Bluegill - Good: Troll or drift small jigs tipped with a crawler. Channel Catfish - No report: Try cut bait fished from the jetties in the south arm of the lake. Largemouth Bass - Fair.

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

Prairie Rose Lake
Black Crappie - Slow: Anglers have caught a few large black crappie while trolling.  Bluegill - Fair: Try slow trolling with small jigs.  Largemouth Bass - Good: Anglers are catching largemouth bass along the edges of weeds and around structure.

Viking Lake
Channel Catfish - Slow: Try stink bait around the jetties.  Largemouth Bass - Fair.

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. Bluegill - Fair: Catch all sizes of bluegill  wity jigs tipped with live bait fished near edges of fish mounds or rock piles.  Channel Catfish - Slow: Catch all sizes of catfish with nightcrawlers or cut bait along the creek channel in the flooded timber.

Three Mile Lake
**Driving is prohibited on any service roads used to access the lakebed and the lakebed itself.**  Lake level is 6 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 - Slow: Catch all sizes of bluegill with jigs tipped with live bait along rocky shoreline areas. Channel Catfish - Slow: Catch all sizes of catfish with cut bait along creek channels in the flooded timber.

Water temperature is in the upper 70s to low 80s. For more information, call Mount Ayr Fisheries office at 641-931-6031.