Fishing Reports

Iowa's Fishing Report

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Iowa Fishing Report

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Waterbody	District	Comments	Date
Casey Lake (aka Hickory Hills Lake)	Northeast	Bluegill - Excellent: Try fishing a piece of worm under a bobber. Cast out and retrieve slowly over bluegill spawning beds for some great action!	05/24 09:15
Casey Lake (aka Hickory Hills Lake)	Northeast	Fishing reports have been good on most interior rivers and area lakes for most all gamefish. Trout stream stockings continue and streams remain in excellent condition. For further information contact the N.E. District Office @ 563-927-3276.	05/24 09:15
Casey Lake (aka Hickory Hills Lake)	Northeast	Largemouth Bass - Good: Try topwater spinner baits or sinking plastic baits for some good bass action.	05/24 09:15
Casey Lake (aka Hickory Hills Lake)	Northeast	There have been good to excellent reports of anglers catching largemouth bass and bluegill on Casey Lake.	05/24 09:15
Cedar River (above Nashua)	Northeast	Area rivers and streams continue improving baring heavy rain. Summer is coming early to northeast Iowa. Temperatures upper 80s for highs to mid 60's for lows and very humid. Rain potential present daily. For local fishing information, please call the Decorah Fish Hatchery at 563-382-8324.	05/23 06:51
Cedar River (above Nashua)	Northeast	Black Crappie - Fair: Crappie keying into shallow rocky shorelines. Use small jigs tipped with twister tail or minnow.	05/23 06:51
Cedar River (above Nashua)	Northeast	Bluegill - Fair:	05/23 06:51
Cedar River (above Nashua)	Northeast	Channel Catfish - Good: Catch catfish in the impoundments using dead chubs fished on bottom.	05/23 06:51
Cedar River (above Nashua)	Northeast	Smallmouth Bass - Good: Find fish near brush piles. Use a variety of jigs or spinners.	05/23 06:51
Cedar River (above Nashua)	Northeast	Walleye - Good: Bite improves toward evening. Use a jig tipped with a crawler, minnow, or twister tail.	05/23 06:51
Cedar River (above Nashua)	Northeast	Water levels continue falling and clarity improving. Baring more rain, water levels should stabilize. Water temperatures mid 60's. For current water level information, visit the USGS Current Water Data website at https://waterdata.usgs.gov/ia/nwis/rt.	05/23 06:51
Cedar River (Nashua to La Porte City)	Northeast	Fishing reports have been good on most interior rivers and area lakes for most all gamefish. Trout stream stockings continue and streams remain in excellent condition. For further information contact the N.E. District Office @ 563-927-3276.	05/24 09:15
Cedar River (Nashua to La Porte City)	Northeast	Channel Catfish - Fair: Try dead cutbaits or stinkbait fished on the bottom for some good catfish action!	05/24 09:15
Cedar River (Nashua to La Porte City)	Northeast	There have been a few reports of anglers catching some catfish on the Cedar River but the river remains high yet.	05/24 09:15
Decorah District Streams	Northeast	Area rivers and streams continue improving baring heavy rain. Summer is coming early to northeast Iowa. Temperatures upper 80s for highs to mid 60's for lows and very humid. Rain potential present daily. For local fishing information, please call the Decorah Fish Hatchery at 563-382-8324.	05/23 06:51
Decorah District Streams	Northeast	Brook Trout - Good: A variety of insects are hatching. Match the hatch but use care not to spook a feeding fish.	05/23 06:51
Decorah District Streams	Northeast	Brown Trout - Good: Blue wing olive, midge, and stonefly hatches occurring. Some exceptional lately. Use blue wing olive, hendrickson, gnat, or beadhead nymph patterns and watch the water boil.	05/23 06:51
Decorah District Streams	Northeast	Rainbow Trout - Excellent: A piece of worm or small cheese chunk on a hook under a bobber work in the deeper holes or floated past an undercut bank. A variety of small spinnerbaits also work.	05/23 06:51
Decorah District Streams	Northeast	Trout streams are in good condition but flows remain elevated. Family friendly locations abound. A light spinning rod/reel combo is a perfect set up for beginning trout anglers. Catchable trout are stocked weekly as weather and water conditions permit. Listen to the trout stocking hotline for daily plants at 563-927-5736.	05/23 06:51
Lake Hendricks	Northeast	Area rivers and streams continue improving baring heavy rain. Summer is coming early to northeast Iowa. Temperatures upper 80s for highs to mid 60's for lows and very humid. Rain potential present daily. For local fishing information, please call the Decorah Fish Hatchery at 563-382-8324.	05/23 06:51
Lake Hendricks	Northeast	Black Crappie - Good: Use small jigs in shallow areas for best luck.	05/23 06:51
Lake Hendricks	Northeast	Excellent shoreline access available to anglers. Aquatic vegetation is relatively low now.	05/23 06:51
Lake Hendricks	Northeast	Bluegill - Fair: Fish along the shoreline using a small jig tipped with small piece of worm.	05/23 06:51
Lake Hendricks	Northeast	Channel Catfish - Fair: Fish along a windblown shoreline using a worm or smashed minnow for a hungry cat.	05/23 06:51
Lake Hendricks	Northeast	Largemouth Bass - Good: Fish along edges of vegetation for a cruising bass.	05/23 06:51
Lake Meyer	Northeast	Area rivers and streams continue improving baring heavy rain. Summer is coming early to northeast Iowa. Temperatures upper 80s for highs to mid 60's for lows and very humid. Rain potential present daily. For local fishing information, please call the Decorah Fish Hatchery at 563-382-8324.	05/23 06:51
Lake Meyer	Northeast	Perfect time to enjoy being on the water with family. Lake is currently fishing well.	05/23 06:51
Lake Meyer	Northeast	Bluegill - Excellent: Use a hook tipped with a worm in shallow water.	05/23 06:51
Lake Meyer	Northeast	Black Crappie - Excellent: Use a hook tipped with a worm or small spinner bait along a rocky shoreline.	05/23 06:51
Lake Meyer	Northeast	Largemouth Bass - Fair: Jigs tipped with a variety of plastics or a jerk bait catch bass. Fish shallow bays for best luck.	05/23 06:51
Lake Meyer	Northeast	Northern Pike - Fair: Fish along the shallow weedy bays using a nightcrawler for pike.	05/23 06:51
Maquoketa River (above Monticello)	Northeast	Fishing reports have been good on most interior rivers and area lakes for most all gamefish. Trout stream stockings continue and streams remain in excellent condition. For further information contact the N.E. District Office @ 563-927-3276.	05/24 09:15
Maquoketa River (above Monticello)	Northeast	Channel Catfish - Fair: Try fishing with some cutbait, night crawler or stinkbait on the bottom for an opportunity at some channel catfish.	05/24 09:15
Maquoketa River (above Monticello)	Northeast	Smallmouth Bass - Good: Try casting and retrieving a jig with plastics tipped with a minnow.	05/24 09:15
Maquoketa River (above Monticello)	Northeast	There have been reports of anglers catching walleye, smallmouth bass and channel catfish.	05/24 09:15
Maquoketa River (above Monticello)	Northeast	Walleye - Fair: Try casting and retrieving a jig with plastics tipped with a minnow.	05/24 09:15
Mississippi River Pool 10	Northeast	The Upper Mississippi River levels are on a steady decline this week. Warmer water temps in the upper 60's have many species of fish active. Use caution at ramps to avoid remaining mud and flood debris.	05/24 09:12
Mississippi River Pool 10	Northeast	Northern Pike - Fair: Northern are feeding along main channel borders. Cast spinners or a minnow along edges of debris piles.	05/24 09:12
Mississippi River Pool 10	Northeast	River level at Lynxville has fallen to 19.3 ft with a steady fall to 17 expected next week. Gates remain raised at the Lock and Dam. Water temp is 66.	05/24 09:12
Mississippi River Pool 10	Northeast	Sauger - Fair: Try a lightweight jig tipped with minnow fished on the bottom along main channel edges and wingdams.	05/24 09:12
Mississippi River Pool 10	Northeast	Walleye - Slow: Expect walleye to settle in on the closing dams and wingdams as the river falls and stabilizes in the next week or two.	05/24 09:12
Mississippi River Pool 10	Northeast	Yellow Perch - Fair: Still a few perch biting along the rocky shorelines and tailwater areas	05/24 09:12
Mississippi River Pool 10	Northeast	Bluegill - Good: Panfish bite is picking up this week. Fish a small piece of garden worm on small tackle under a bobber.	05/24 09:12
Mississippi River Pool 10	Northeast	Channel Catfish - Good: Channel catfish bite has been good using a crawler fished on the bottom.	05/24 09:12
Mississippi River Pool 10	Northeast	Common Carp - Good: Carp are on the move with the high water. To hook into a big one, try fishing the warm shallow backwaters where carp are staging for the spawn.	05/24 09:12
Mississippi River Pool 10	Northeast	Flathead Catfish - Fair: Expect the flatheads to be on the feed as they are entering spawning period. Fish deeper holes using a large shiner or sunfish for bait.	05/24 09:12
Mississippi River Pool 10	Northeast	Largemouth Bass - Fair: Largemouth are biting on topwaters and crankbaits in warm shallow bays and marina areas out of the current.	05/24 09:12
Mississippi River Pool 10	Northeast	Smallmouth Bass - Fair: Warm water temps and slowly receding flood waters will have smallmouth working the rocky shorelines. Toss inline spinners along rock points.	05/24 09:12
Mississippi River Pool 10	Northeast	White Bass - Fair: Cast flashy spinners or crankbaits along the rocks in main channel current for some big white bass.	05/24 09:31
Mississippi River Pool 10	Northeast	Black Crappie - Fair: Fish small jigs or a plain hook tipped with a crappie minnow along the trees in backwater lakes	05/24 09:36
Mississippi River Pool 11	Northeast	The Upper Mississippi River levels are on a steady decline this week. Warmer water temps in the upper 60's have many species of fish active. Use caution at ramps to avoid remaining mud and flood debris.	05/24 09:12
Mississippi River Pool 11	Northeast	River level at Guttenberg has receded several feet this week at 10.9 ft with predictions to reach 9 ft late next week. The gates remain up at the Lock and Dam. Water temperature is 61°F at the dam.	05/24 09:12
Mississippi River Pool 11	Northeast	Sauger - Fair: Try a lightweight jig tipped with minnow fished on the bottom along main channel edges and wingdams.	05/24 09:12
Mississippi River Pool 11	Northeast	Walleye - No Report: Expect walleye to settle in on the closing dams and wingdams as the river falls and stabilizes in the next week or two.	05/24 09:12
Mississippi River Pool 11	Northeast	Yellow Perch - Fair: Still a few perch biting along the rocky shorelines and tailwater areas	05/24 09:12
Mississippi River Pool 11	Northeast	Flathead Catfish - Fair: Expect the flatheads to be on the feed as they are entering spawning period. Fish deeper holes using a large shiner or sunfish for bait.	05/24 09:12
Mississippi River Pool 11	Northeast	Northern Pike - Fair: Northern are feeding along main channel borders. Cast spinners or a minnow along edges of debris piles.	05/24 09:12
Mississippi River Pool 11	Northeast	Channel Catfish - Good: Channel catfish bite has been good using a crawler fished on the bottom.	05/24 09:12
Mississippi River Pool 11	Northeast	Common Carp - Good: Carp are on the move with the high water. Try fishing the warm shallow backwaters where carp are staging for the spawn.	05/24 09:12
Mississippi River Pool 11	Northeast	Largemouth Bass - Fair: Largemouth are biting on topwaters and crankbaits in warm shallow bays and marina areas out of the current.	05/24 09:12
Mississippi River Pool 11	Northeast	Smallmouth Bass - Fair: Warm water temps and slowly receding flood waters will have smallmouth working the rocky shorelines. Toss inline spinners along rock points.	05/24 09:12
Mississippi River Pool 11	Northeast	White Bass - Fair: Cast flashy spinners or crankbaits along the rocks in main channel current for some big white bass.	05/24 09:32
Mississippi River Pool 11	Northeast	Black Crappie - Good: Fish small jigs or a plain hook tipped with a crappie minnow along the trees in backwater lakes.	05/24 09:35
Mississippi River Pool 12	Northeast	River levels are dropping fast and most places are out of flood stages. Water temperatures are in the mid 60's. Many boat ramps are unusable at the present time or will have flood debris on them. If you have any angling questions please call the Bellevue Fisheries Station 563-872-4976.	05/21 09:36
Mississippi River Pool 12	Northeast	Water levels are at 11.3 feet at the Dubuque Lock and 13.5 feet at the RR bridge. The flooding is over and the river is dropping fast. The channel water temperature is around 64 degrees.	05/21 09:36
Mississippi River Pool 12	Northeast	White Bass - Fair: Some white bass are again biting on spinners.	05/21 09:36
Mississippi River Pool 12	Northeast	Bluegill - Fair: Some bluegills were being reported being caught on worms in near shore flooded areas.	05/21 09:36
Mississippi River Pool 12	Northeast	Common Carp - Fair: Conditions for bowfishing carp in shallow flooded areas look good. You can find carp and other rough fish thrashing about on hot sunny days.	05/21 09:36
Mississippi River Pool 12	Northeast	Flathead Catfish - Fair: Both channel cat and flatheads like flooded water. Fish worms in shallow water near shore along freshly flooded banks.	05/21 09:36
Mississippi River Pool 12	Northeast	Smallmouth Bass - Good: Fishing for smallies along rock current lines is getting to be real productive.	05/23 02:18
Mississippi River Pool 13	Northeast	River levels are dropping fast and most places are out of flood stages. Water temperatures are in the mid 60's. Many boat ramps are unusable at the present time or will have flood debris on them. If you have any angling questions please call the Bellevue Fisheries Station 563-872-4976.	05/21 09:36
Mississippi River Pool 13	Northeast	Common Carp - Excellent: Conditions for bowfishing carp in shallow flooded areas are perfect. You can find carp and other rough fish thrashing about on hot sunny days in places like Green Island and Middle Sabula Lakes. Please do not leave you fish on the bank but take them with you!	05/21 09:36
Mississippi River Pool 13	Northeast	Largemouth Bass - Excellent: Anglers are after large bass in the big flooded expanses of some of Pool 13's largest backwater complexes such as Spring Lake and Brown's Lake. Some bass are being caught out of Middle Sabula Lake and Green Island.	05/21 09:36
Mississippi River Pool 13	Northeast	Water level at Bellevue is at 12.7 feet and dropping fast. Bellevue is presently out of flood action stage. The Bellevue City ramp is available for use but the DNR ramp is being cleaned but may have debris on it. The channel water temperature is around 65 degrees.	05/21 09:36
Mississippi River Pool 13	Northeast	Channel Catfish - Fair: Anglers will begin to target channel cats along rock lines soon as they begin to spawn.	05/23 02:23
Mississippi River Pool 14	Northeast	River levels are dropping fast and most places are out of flood stages. Water temperatures are in the mid 60's. Many boat ramps are unusable at the present time or will have flood debris on them. If you have any angling questions please call the Bellevue Fisheries Station 563-872-4976.	05/21 09:36
Mississippi River Pool 14	Northeast	Common Carp - No Report: Conditions for bowfishing carp in shallow flooded areas look good. You can find carp and other rough fish thrashing about on hot sunny days.	05/21 09:36
Mississippi River Pool 14	Northeast	Largemouth Bass - No Report: Flooding made access to bass fishing difficult last week but fishing for bass should really pick up the next few weeks.	05/21 09:36
Mississippi River Pool 14	Northeast	Water levels are at 12.6 feet near Fulton, 15.0 feet at Camanche and LeClaire is at 8.9 feet. Levels are dropping fast. The water temperature is around 67 degrees. Some ramps may still have debris on them.	05/21 09:36
Mississippi River Pool 14	Northeast	Channel Catfish - No Report: Fish worms near the shore as catfish feed along newly flooded shorelines.	05/21 09:36
Mississippi River Pool 15	Northeast	River levels are dropping fast and most places are out of flood stages. Water temperatures are in the mid 60's. Many boat ramps are unusable at the present time or will have flood debris on them. If you have any angling questions please call the Bellevue Fisheries Station 563-872-4976.	05/21 09:36
Mississippi River Pool 15	Northeast	Water levels are presently are moving out of flood action stage at 13.0 feet at Rock Island. Water levels are dropping fast. The water temperature is near 67 degrees. Some boat ramps will still have debris on them from the recent flood.	05/21 09:36
Mississippi River Pool 9	Northeast	River level at Lansing is 9.4 Water temp is near 66°F. New Albin ramp road is expected to reopen this week. Notice: The Lansing Village Creek ramp and parking lot will be closed for construction beginning July 5th. (For further updates call the Guttenberg Fisheries Management office at 563-252-1156)	05/24 09:12
Mississippi River Pool 9	Northeast	The Upper Mississippi River levels are on a steady decline this week. Warmer water temps in the upper 60's have many species of fish active. Use caution at ramps to avoid remaining mud and flood debris.	05/24 09:12
Mississippi River Pool 9	Northeast	Channel Catfish - Good: Channel catfish bite has been good using a crawler fished on the bottom.	05/24 09:12
Mississippi River Pool 9	Northeast	Common Carp - Good: Carp are on the move with the high water. To hook into a big one, try fishing the warm shallow backwaters where carp are staging for the spawn.	05/24 09:12
Mississippi River Pool 9	Northeast	Flathead Catfish - Fair: Expect the flatheads to be on the feed as they are entering spawning period. Fish deeper holes using a large shiner or sunfish for bait.	05/24 09:12
Mississippi River Pool 9	Northeast	Northern Pike - Fair: Northern are feeding along main channel borders. Cast spinners or a minnow along edges of debris piles.	05/24 09:12
Mississippi River Pool 9	Northeast	Sauger - Fair: Try a lightweight jig tipped with minnow fished on the bottom along main channel edges and wingdams.	05/24 09:12
Mississippi River Pool 9	Northeast	Walleye - Fair: Expect walleye to settle in on the closing dams and wingdams as the river falls and stabilizes in the next week or two.	05/24 09:12
Mississippi River Pool 9	Northeast	Yellow Perch - Fair: Still a few perch biting along the rocky shorelines and tailwater areas.	05/24 09:12
Mississippi River Pool 9	Northeast	Largemouth Bass - Fair: Largemouth are biting on topwaters and crankbaits in warm shallow bays and marina areas out of the current.	05/24 09:12
Mississippi River Pool 9	Northeast	Smallmouth Bass - Fair: Warm water temps and slowly receding flood waters will have smallmouth working the rocky shorelines. Toss inline spinners along rock points.	05/24 09:12
Mississippi River Pool 9	Northeast	White Bass - Fair: Cast flashy spinners or crankbaits along the rocks in main channel current for some big white bass.	05/24 09:32
Mississippi River Pool 9	Northeast	Black Crappie - Fair: Fish small jigs or a plain hook tipped with a crappie minnow along the trees in backwater lakes.	05/24 09:36
Shell Rock River (Greene to Shell Rock)	Northeast	Fishing reports have been good on most interior rivers and area lakes for most all gamefish. Trout stream stockings continue and streams remain in excellent condition. For further information contact the N.E. District Office @ 563-927-3276.	05/24 09:15
Shell Rock River (Greene to Shell Rock)	Northeast	There are no fishing reports for this week.	05/24 09:15
South Prairie Lake	Northeast	Anglers are catching both bluegill and crappie in South Prairie Lake.	05/24 09:15
South Prairie Lake	Northeast	Black Crappie - Fair: Try casting colored tube jigs or fishing a minnow under a slip bobber three to six feet down near vegetation.	05/24 09:15
South Prairie Lake	Northeast	Bluegill - Fair: Try fishing a piece of worm under a slip bobber near vegetation.	05/24 09:15

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