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 28, 2025:

NORTHWEST

Black Hawk Lake
Water levels are 4 inches over the crest of the spillway. Water temperature are mid-70s. Black Bullhead - Fair: Use nightcrawlers fished on or near bottom from shore.  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. 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 low 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 in the mid-70s in most area lakes. For more information, contact the Black Hawk District office at 712-657-2638.

Beeds Lake
Black Crappie - Slow: Drift fish small jigs or live bait in 8-12 feet of water. Channel Catfish - Fair: Try a nightcrawler fished on the bottom.

Clear Lake
Lake level is 4.3 inches over crest. Water temperature is in the low 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 or troll small jigs or live bait in 8-12 feet of water. Bluegill - Fair.

Winnebago River
River level is 7.4 feet.

 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 mid-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
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 bullheads 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 lower 70s. The outlet spillway is currently flowing. The weedline 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: Anglers are trolling the middle of the lake and off deep structure with jigs and live bait. 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 upper to low 70s. Cool nights have steadily been bringing down water temperatures.  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 are slowly falling.  A large amount of debris is moving through the system; improved water clarity.  Water temperature in the mid-70s.  Use caution while boating.  Hazards may have moved.  Check water levels online. Channel Catfish - Good: Use dead chubs, stink bait and chicken liver fished on the bottom.  

Decorah District Streams
Many streams levels remain elevated with improved clarity. Catchable trout stockings are weekly with streams announced once a month. Wear long pants or waders to protect your legs from potential painful yellow parsnip blisters and nettles.  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.  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
Lake levels elevated are from rain events.  Visibility is improving.  Water temperature is in the mid-70s. Black Crappie - Slow.  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 the shoreline.

Lake Meyer
Lake levels are elevated from rain events. Water clarity is slowly improving.  Water temperature is in the mid-70s. Fish activity is picking up. Bluegill - Slow: 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 - Slow: Try a spinner or crankbait near drop-offs or submerged logs or tree branches.

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

Upper Iowa River (above Decorah)
Water levels remain elevate with fast current.  Visibility is improving.  Water activities are not advised.  Water temperatures 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.

Many area rivers and streams are above normal for this time of the year and most remain muddy.  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 nightcrawler under a slip bobber  from shore.

Cedar River (Nashua to La Porte City
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.

Lake Delhi
Anglers are catching panfish and bass. Try fishing early mornings and evenings to avoid heavy boat traffic. Black Crappie - Fair: Find structure; use a live minnow under a slip bobber. Bluegill - Fair: Try a piece of nightcrawler under a slip bobber near structure along the shorelines.

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.

Maquoketa River (below Monticello)
Anglers are catching walleye, catfish and smallmouth bass on the lower Maquoketa  River. 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 - Good: Cast crankbaits or jig and plastics tipped with or without half a nightcrawler.

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)
Anglers are catching walleye on the Wapsipinicon River as it continues to fall from recent rainfall events.  Walleye - Fair: Cast crankbaits or jig and plastics tipped with or without half a nightcrawler.

Most interior rivers are dropping in water levels and starting to clear, offering potential for good holiday weekend angling.  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 8.8 feet at Lansing and is expected to stabilize then fall slightly this week. Water temperature is 72 degrees in the channel. Water clarity is improved 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 617.4 feet at Lynxville and is predicted to gradually fall this week. Water temperature is 76 degrees at the Lock and Dam.  Water clarity is good with an abundance of floating weeds.  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 8.7 feet at Guttenberg and expected to gradually fall next week. Water temperature is in the mid-70s.  Water clarity has improved, but floating weeds can make fishing difficult.  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.  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 expected to stabilize then slowly recede.  Water temperature is 75 degrees. Water clarity is good; floating weeds can make fishing difficult. Look for fish along main channel wing-dams and along woody debris in running sloughs.

Mississippi River Pool 12
Water level is 8.4 feet at Dubuque Lock and Dam and 10.6 feet at the RR Bridge.  Levels are gradually receding.  Water clarity is improving, but lots of vegetation is floating. Water temperature is around 75 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; 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, 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 receding to near 9.7 feet at Bellevue. Water is stained, but fishable. Water temperature is around 74 degrees.  Tributary streams like the Maquoketa River are still stained from recent rains, but are clearing up.  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: High water and floating vegetation is hampering wing-dam fishing. 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 receding to near 9.3 feet at Fulton, 12.3 feet at Camanche, and near 7.1 feet at LeClaire. Water temperature is near 75 degrees.  The Wapsi River is running somewhat turbid, but is clearing up.  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.  Walleye - Fair: Fishing for walleye is slow.  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 receding to near 10.1 feet. Water is stained. Water temperature is around 75 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.  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 receding. Water temperature is in the lower 70s throughout the district.  Water clarity is generally stained; lots of floating vegetation reported. If you have angling questions 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 9.64 feet and falling at Lock and Dam 15 in Quad Cities.  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.  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 8.56 feet at Lock and Dam 16 in Muscatine and is falling.  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. Troll or cast crankbaits on upstream side of wing-dams or troll three-way rigs with crawlers.  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 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 10.94 feet at Lock and Dam 17 at New Boston and is falling.  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 7.60 feet and falling at Lock and Dam 18 above Burlington.  Flood stage is 10 feet. River stage is 526.50 feet at Fort Madison; flood stage is 526.83 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.  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 still high, but have started to fall.  Main channel water clarity is poor to fair. Water temperature is around 74 degrees. If you have questions on fishing Pools 16-19, contact Fairport Fish Hatchery at 563-263-5062.

SOUTHEAST

Cedar River (Cedar Rapids to Moscow)
Channel Catfish - Fair: Use cut bait in brush piles.  Flathead Catfish - Fair: Try live bait in brush piles.

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

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 or use stink around brush piles.  White Crappie - Fair: Use electronics to catch suspended fish in brush piles or rock wall areas.

Iowa River (Coralville Lake to River Junction)
Channel Catfish - Fair: Use cut bait in brush piles. Flathead Catfish - Fair: Try live bait in brush piles. Smallmouth Bass - Fair: Try fishing along rocky shorelines and current seams. Spotted bass - Fair: Use soft plastics in current seams.  White Bass - Fair: Try soft plastics in current seams.   Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) - Fair: Use soft plastics in current seams.

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

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 -Fair: Use stink bait, cut 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 soft plastics around green vegetation.  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)
Channel Catfish - Fair: Use cut bait in brush piles. Flathead Catfish - Fair: Try live bait in brush piles. Smallmouth Bass - Fair:  Use soft plastics along rocky shorelines and current seams. Walleye - Fair: Try soft plastics along rocky shorelines and current seams.

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: 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 907.27 msl; recreation pool is 904 msl. Be cautious of floating debris.  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 evening bites are best.

Des Moines River (Stratford to Saylorville Lake)
Channel Catfish- Good: Try dip bait in and above tree falls and log piles.

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.

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 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 large black crappie while trolling.  Bluegill - Fair: Cast nightcrawlers under a bobber around the rock piles east of the beach. Channel Catfish - Good: An angler reported catching large catfish east of the beach with worms.  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 with jigs tipped with live bait fished near edges of fish mounds or rock piles.

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.

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