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Iowa Fishing Report
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Waterbody District Comments Date
Big Woods Lake Northeast The interior rivers should open up with the warm weather ahead for some good walleye fishing. Smaller lakes and ponds are now averaging 4"-5" of ice, use extreme caution. Trout streams remain in excellent condition. For further information contact the N.E. District Office @ 563-927-3276. 12/13 10:17
Big Woods Lake Northeast There have only been marginal reports of anglers catching bluegill on Big Woods Lake. 12/13 11:05
Big Woods Lake Northeast Bluegill - Fair: Try and locate structure using a jig tipped with a waxworm. 12/13 11:06
Casey Lake (aka Hickory Hills Lake) Northeast The interior rivers should open up with the warm weather ahead for some good walleye fishing. Smaller lakes and ponds are now averaging 4"-5" of ice, use extreme caution. Trout streams remain in excellent condition. For further information contact the N.E. District Office @ 563-927-3276. 12/13 10:17
Casey Lake (aka Hickory Hills Lake) Northeast Reports have been hit and miss for bluegill and crappie but the fish they are catching have been of quality size. 12/13 11:08
Casey Lake (aka Hickory Hills Lake) Northeast Bluegill - Fair: Try and locate structure near the dam or west of the dam using a jig tipped with a waxworm. Look for areas of angler activity to fish. 12/13 11:09
Casey Lake (aka Hickory Hills Lake) Northeast Black Crappie - Fair: Try and locate structure near the dam or west of the dam using a jig tipped with a waxworm or minnow. Fish one rod actively jigging and the other a dead stick with a bobber. 12/13 11:10
Cedar River (above Nashua) Northeast Temperatures in the upper 30's this weekend. Perfect weather for ice fishing. Use care on early ice as conditions can change rapidly. Ice depths highly variable. For more information, please contact the Decorah Fish Hatchery at 563-382-8324. 12/12 09:59
Cedar River (above Nashua) Northeast Check ice depths often especially where there is current. Flows remain elevated. Go with a buddy. Let someone know where you are going and when you will return. Backwaters have 4 inches ice. Anglers catching a variety of fish this week. 12/12 09:59
Cedar River (above Nashua) Northeast Black Crappie - Fair: Use small jig tipped with a waxworm or colored spike. 12/12 09:59
Cedar River (above Nashua) Northeast Yellow Perch - Slow: Catch perch up to 10 inches on waxworm. Bounce jig off the bottom for fun action. 12/12 09:59
Cedar River (above Nashua) Northeast Temperatures warming thru next week. Perfect weather for ice fishing. Use care on early ice as conditions can change rapidly. Ice depths highly variable. For more information, please contact the Decorah Fish Hatchery at 563-382-8324. 12/14 11:53
Cedar River (above Nashua) Northeast Check ice depths often especially where there is current. Flows remain elevated. Go with a buddy. Let someone know where you are going and when you will return. Backwaters have 4 inches ice. Anglers catching a variety of fish this week. 12/14 11:53
Cedar River (above Nashua) Northeast Black Crappie - Fair: Use small jig tipped with a waxworm or colored spike. 12/14 11:53
Cedar River (above Nashua) Northeast Yellow Perch - Slow: Catch perch up to 10 inches on waxworm. Bounce jig off the bottom for fun action. 12/14 11:53
Cedar River (Nashua to La Porte City) Northeast The interior rivers should open up with the warm weather ahead for some good walleye fishing. Smaller lakes and ponds are now averaging 4"-5" of ice, use extreme caution. Trout streams remain in excellent condition. For further information contact the N.E. District Office @ 563-927-3276. 12/13 10:17
Cedar River (Nashua to La Porte City) Northeast There have been reports of anglers catching walleye on the river where there are open areas of water. Most reports have come from Bremer County. 12/13 10:17
Cedar River (Nashua to La Porte City) Northeast Walleye - Fair: Anglers are catching walleye using lead heads and plastic baits tipped with or without a minnow. 12/13 10:17
Cedar River (Nashua to La Porte City) Northeast Smallmouth Bass - No Report: 12/13 10:17
Decorah District Streams Northeast Temperatures in the upper 30's this weekend. Perfect weather for ice fishing. Use care on early ice as conditions can change rapidly. Ice depths highly variable. For more information, please contact the Decorah Fish Hatchery at 563-382-8324. 12/12 09:59
Decorah District Streams Northeast 2019 Resident fishing licenses go on sale December 15. Iowa's trout season remains open all year long. Second shotgun deer season closes Sunday. Many trout streams run through wildlife management areas. Wear bright colors and make noise so hunters know you're not a deer. 12/12 09:59
Decorah District Streams Northeast Brook Trout - Good: Use nymphs, emerger, or aquatic bug patterns when hatches slow. Fish the calm area adjacent to a fast channel of water at the head of a pool. 12/12 09:59
Decorah District Streams Northeast Brown Trout - Good: Use larger flies or lures mimicking minnows for trout. 12/12 09:59
Decorah District Streams Northeast Rainbow Trout - Good: Fish near bottom if no hatches occurring. Use a weighted caddis, stonefly, or mayfly nymph. 12/12 09:59
Decorah District Streams Northeast Temperatures warming thru next week. Perfect weather for ice fishing. Use care on early ice as conditions can change rapidly. Ice depths highly variable. For more information, please contact the Decorah Fish Hatchery at 563-382-8324. 12/14 11:53
Decorah District Streams Northeast 2019 Resident fishing licenses go on sale December 15. Iowa's trout season remains open all year long. Second shotgun deer season closes Sunday. Many trout streams run through wildlife management areas. Wear bright colors and make noise so hunters know you're not a deer. 12/14 11:53
Decorah District Streams Northeast Brown Trout - Good: Use larger flies or lures mimicking minnows for trout. 12/14 11:53
Decorah District Streams Northeast Brook Trout - Good: Use nymphs, emerger, or aquatic bug patterns when hatches slow. Fish the calm area adjacent to a fast channel of water at the head of a pool. 12/14 11:53
Decorah District Streams Northeast Rainbow Trout - Good: Fish near bottom if no hatches occurring. Use a weighted caddis, stonefly, or mayfly nymph. 12/14 11:53
Lake Hendricks Northeast Temperatures in the upper 30's this weekend. Perfect weather for ice fishing. Use care on early ice as conditions can change rapidly. Ice depths highly variable. For more information, please contact the Decorah Fish Hatchery at 563-382-8324. 12/12 09:59
Lake Hendricks Northeast Bluegill - Fair: Early evening is best. For clear ice and water, be set-up, quiet, and ready early. Find fish near deeper water drop offs. Use small jigs tipped with waxworm or spike. 12/12 09:59
Lake Hendricks Northeast No motorized vehicles allowed on ice. Open water around the aerator. Keep away from the aerator. Use caution on ice. Ice depths average 7 inches. 12/12 09:59
Lake Hendricks Northeast Black Crappie - Slow: 12/12 04:43
Lake Hendricks Northeast Largemouth Bass - Slow: Anglers catching a few small bass. 12/12 04:44
Lake Hendricks Northeast Temperatures warming thru next week. Perfect weather for ice fishing. Use care on early ice as conditions can change rapidly. Ice depths highly variable. For more information, please contact the Decorah Fish Hatchery at 563-382-8324. 12/14 11:53
Lake Hendricks Northeast No motorized vehicles allowed on ice. Open water around the aerator. Keep away from the aerator. Use caution on ice. Ice depths average 7 inches. 12/14 11:53
Lake Hendricks Northeast Black Crappie - Slow: 12/14 11:53
Lake Hendricks Northeast Bluegill - Fair: Early evening is best. For clear ice and water, be set-up, quiet, and ready early. Find fish near deeper water drop offs. Use small jigs tipped with waxworm or spike. 12/14 11:53
Lake Hendricks Northeast Largemouth Bass - Slow: Anglers catching a few small bass. 12/14 11:53
Lake Meyer Northeast Temperatures in the upper 30's this weekend. Perfect weather for ice fishing. Use care on early ice as conditions can change rapidly. Ice depths highly variable. For more information, please contact the Decorah Fish Hatchery at 563-382-8324. 12/12 09:59
Lake Meyer Northeast Ice depths 5-6 inches. Check ice depths often especially near springs. Caution recommended. The bite slowed earlier in week with the recent weather change. 12/12 09:59
Lake Meyer Northeast Bluegill - Good: Early evening best. Fish brush piles in 12-15 ft. of water. Use small teardrop shaped jigs tipped with waxworm. 12/12 09:59
Lake Meyer Northeast Black Crappie - Slow: 12/12 09:59
Lake Meyer Northeast Temperatures warming thru next week. Perfect weather for ice fishing. Use care on early ice as conditions can change rapidly. Ice depths highly variable. For more information, please contact the Decorah Fish Hatchery at 563-382-8324. 12/14 11:53
Lake Meyer Northeast Ice depths 5-6 inches. Check ice depths often especially near springs. Caution recommended. The bite slowed earlier in week with the recent weather change. 12/14 11:53
Lake Meyer Northeast Black Crappie - Slow: 12/14 11:53
Lake Meyer Northeast Bluegill - Good: Early evening best. Fish brush piles in 12-15 ft. of water. Use small teardrop shaped jigs tipped with waxworm. 12/14 11:53
Maquoketa River (above Monticello) Northeast The interior rivers should open up with the warm weather ahead for some good walleye fishing. Smaller lakes and ponds are now averaging 4"-5" of ice, use extreme caution. Trout streams remain in excellent condition. For further information contact the N.E. District Office @ 563-927-3276. 12/13 10:17
Maquoketa River (above Monticello) Northeast Anglers have taken a few walleye on the Maquoketa River, primarily in Delaware County. 12/13 10:17
Maquoketa River (above Monticello) Northeast Walleye - Fair: Anglers are catching walleye using lead heads and plastic baits tipped with or without a minnow. 12/13 10:17
Martens Lake Northeast The interior rivers should open up with the warm weather ahead for some good walleye fishing. Smaller lakes and ponds are now averaging 4"-5" of ice, use extreme caution. Trout streams remain in excellent condition. For further information contact the N.E. District Office @ 563-927-3276. 12/13 10:17
Martens Lake Northeast Anglers are getting out on areas of Martens Lake where there is good ice. It is not possible as of today to access the lake from across the reservoir on the north side. There have been reports of only fair bluegill fishing taking place. 12/13 10:17
Martens Lake Northeast Bluegill - Fair: Tip an ice fishing jig with a waxworm fished at various depths in this shallow lake. 12/13 10:34
Mississippi River Pool 10 Northeast Upper Mississippi River levels have fallen this week. Warmer temperatures this weekend may cause ice conditions to deteriorate. Avoid ice in areas with current. Thickness is variable around 5 inches with little snow cover. 12/13 05:53
Mississippi River Pool 10 Northeast Bluegill - Good: Bluegill through the ice is picking up with a lot of sorting through smaller ones. 12/13 05:53
Mississippi River Pool 10 Northeast Northern Pike - Good: Some northerns being caught on tip-ups using shiners in backwater lakes and marina areas. 12/13 05:53
Mississippi River Pool 10 Northeast River level at Lynxville has dropped to 14.7 ft and expected remain stable this week. Ice thickness around 5 inches but warmer weather may cause unsafe conditions. Bussey Lake ice may not yet be safe from the boat ramp side. Anglers are walking in from the North end off island road. 12/13 05:53
Mississippi River Pool 10 Northeast Sauger - Slow: Jigging spoons or a hair jig with minnows is effective in the tailwaters of the Lock & Dam. 12/13 05:53
Mississippi River Pool 10 Northeast Walleye - Slow: Try vertical jigging with hair jigs tipped with a minnow below the Lock & Dam. 12/13 05:53
Mississippi River Pool 10 Northeast Yellow Perch - Good: A few perch are being caught through the ice in deeper cuts in backwater lakes. 12/13 05:53
Mississippi River Pool 11 Northeast Upper Mississippi River levels have fallen this week. Warmer temperatures this weekend may cause ice conditions to deteriorate. Avoid ice in areas with current. Thickness is variable around 5 inches with little snow cover. 12/13 05:53
Mississippi River Pool 11 Northeast Bluegill - Good: Bluegill through the ice is picking up with a lot of sorting through smaller ones. 12/13 05:53
Mississippi River Pool 11 Northeast Northern Pike - Good: Some northerns being caught on tip-ups using shiners in backwater lakes and marina areas. 12/13 05:53
Mississippi River Pool 11 Northeast River level at Guttenberg has fallen to 6.3 ft this week. Backwater ice thickness is variable averaging 5 inches. Avoid ice in areas with current. 12/13 05:53
Mississippi River Pool 11 Northeast Sauger - Slow: Jigging spoons or a hair jig with minnows is effective in the tailwaters of the Lock & Dam. 12/13 05:53
Mississippi River Pool 11 Northeast Walleye - Slow: Try vertical jigging with hair jigs tipped with a minnow below the Lock & Dam. 12/13 05:53
Mississippi River Pool 11 Northeast Yellow Perch - Good: A few perch are being caught through the ice in deeper cuts in backwater lakes. 12/13 05:53
Mississippi River Pool 12 Northeast Sauger - Good: Jig and minnow or three way rigs with minnows seem to be the most popular methods of catching walleye and sauger right now. The smaller sauger come into the tailwater later this fall. 12/13 08:49
Mississippi River Pool 12 Northeast Tailwaters are open to angling but ice flows are occurring. Ice fishing has started in many places but anglers wisely remain cautious about conditions. Water levels are now stable throughout the district. If you have fishing questions, please call the Bellevue Fisheries Station, 563-872-4976. 12/13 08:49
Mississippi River Pool 12 Northeast Water levels are stable at 6.0 feet at the Dubuque Lock and Dam and at 8.4 feet at the RR bridge. Water clarity is good and temperature is around 35 degrees. 12/13 08:49
Mississippi River Pool 12 Northeast Bluegill - Good: Some nice reports of panfish being caught but ice is just starting to be safe in only a few areas. 12/13 08:51
Mississippi River Pool 13 Northeast Tailwaters are open to angling but ice flows are occurring. Ice fishing has started in many places but anglers wisely remain cautious about conditions. Water levels are now stable throughout the district. If you have fishing questions, please call the Bellevue Fisheries Station, 563-872-4976. 12/13 08:49
Mississippi River Pool 13 Northeast Walleye - No Report: Three way rigs with minnows or a jig and minnow is the most popular methods to catch walleye and sauger this fall. Not a lot of tailwater fishing occured this week with ice flows occuring. 12/13 08:49
Mississippi River Pool 13 Northeast Water levels are stable at 6.5 feet at the Bellevue Lock and Dam. Water clarity is good and the water temperature is around 35 degrees. The north ramp at Sabula now open following bridge construction. 12/13 08:49
Mississippi River Pool 13 Northeast Bluegill - No Report: Ice thickness is varying greatly. Probably some spots are safe but not a lot of reports yet. 12/13 08:55
Mississippi River Pool 14 Northeast Tailwaters are open to angling but ice flows are occurring. Ice fishing has started in many places but anglers wisely remain cautious about conditions. Water levels are now stable throughout the district. If you have fishing questions, please call the Bellevue Fisheries Station, 563-872-4976. 12/13 08:49
Mississippi River Pool 14 Northeast Walleye - No Report: Jig and minnow or three way rigs with minnows are the most popular ways to catch walleye and sauger this fall. 12/13 08:49
Mississippi River Pool 14 Northeast Water levels are stable with 6.3 feet reported at Fulton Lock and Dam, 10.4 feet at Camanche and 5.2 feet at LeClaire. Water clarity is good and water temperature is around 36 degrees. 12/13 08:49
Mississippi River Pool 15 Northeast Tailwaters are open to angling but ice flows are occurring. Ice fishing has started in many places but anglers wisely remain cautious about conditions. Water levels are now stable throughout the district. If you have fishing questions, please call the Bellevue Fisheries Station, 563-872-4976. 12/13 08:49
Mississippi River Pool 15 Northeast Water level are stable and presently is 7.2 feet at Rock Island. Water clarity is good and the water temperature is around 36 degrees. 12/13 08:49
Mississippi River Pool 15 Northeast Walleye - No Report: 12/13 08:49
Mississippi River Pool 9 Northeast Upper Mississippi River levels have fallen this week. Warmer temperatures this weekend may cause ice conditions to deteriorate. Avoid ice in areas with current. Thickness is variable around 5 inches with little snow cover. 12/13 05:53
Mississippi River Pool 9 Northeast River level at Lansing is 8.1 ft and expected to remain stable this week. Backwater ice reports of 5-6 inches. 12/13 05:53
Mississippi River Pool 9 Northeast Walleye - Slow: Try vertical jigging with hair jigs tipped with a minnow below the Lock & Dam. 12/13 05:53
Mississippi River Pool 9 Northeast Sauger - Slow: Jigging spoons or a hair jig with minnows is effective in the tailwaters of the Lock & Dam. 12/13 05:53
Mississippi River Pool 9 Northeast Northern Pike - Good: Some northerns being caught on tip-ups using shiners in backwater lakes and marina areas. 12/13 05:53
Mississippi River Pool 9 Northeast Bluegill - Good: Bluegill through the ice is picking up with a lot of sorting through smaller ones. 12/13 05:53
Mississippi River Pool 9 Northeast Yellow Perch - Good: A few perch are being caught through the ice in deeper cuts in backwater lakes. 12/13 05:53
North Prairie Lake Northeast The interior rivers should open up with the warm weather ahead for some good walleye fishing. Smaller lakes and ponds are now averaging 4"-5" of ice, use extreme caution. Trout streams remain in excellent condition. For further information contact the N.E. District Office @ 563-927-3276. 12/13 10:17
North Prairie Lake Northeast Anglers have been hit and miss on the trout depending on the weather fronts on North Prairie Lake. 12/13 11:12
North Prairie Lake Northeast Rainbow Trout - Good: Try jigging jigs or little spoons vertically from top to near bottom for some good trout action. 12/13 11:13
Shell Rock River (Greene to Shell Rock) Northeast The interior rivers should open up with the warm weather ahead for some good walleye fishing. Smaller lakes and ponds are now averaging 4"-5" of ice, use extreme caution. Trout streams remain in excellent condition. For further information contact the N.E. District Office @ 563-927-3276. 12/13 10:17
Shell Rock River (Greene to Shell Rock) Northeast There have been no reports this past week on the Shell Rock River. 12/13 10:17
Shell Rock River (Greene to Shell Rock) Northeast Walleye - No Report: 12/13 10:17
Silver Lake (Delaware) Northeast The interior rivers should open up with the warm weather ahead for some good walleye fishing. Smaller lakes and ponds are now averaging 4"-5" of ice, use extreme caution. Trout streams remain in excellent condition. For further information contact the N.E. District Office @ 563-927-3276. 12/13 10:17
Silver Lake (Delaware) Northeast Anglers have been catching small bluegill on jigs and a few northern pike on tip-up rigs. Look for areas of angler activity for spots to begin fishing. 12/13 11:21
Silver Lake (Delaware) Northeast Bluegill - Fair: Use a jig tipped with a waxworm for best success. 12/13 11:22
Silver Lake (Delaware) Northeast Northern Pike - Fair: Try fishing a tip-up device tipped with a live shiner for some good pike action. 12/13 11:23
Volga Lake Northeast Temperatures in the upper 30's this weekend. Perfect weather for ice fishing. Use care on early ice as conditions can change rapidly. Ice depths highly variable. For more information, please contact the Decorah Fish Hatchery at 563-382-8324. 12/12 09:59
Volga Lake Northeast Anglers beginning to test the ice. Use care and check ice depths often. Most activity around dock up from parking lot. 12/12 09:59
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