Weekly Fishing Report

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

Sign up for the Weekly Fishing Report

This weekly fishing forecast can be emailed directly to your inbox every Thursday, sign up today for fishing information from Iowa’s fisheries experts. 

Sign up for the Weekly Fishing Report

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 July 17, 2025:

NORTHWEST

Black Hawk Lake
Water levels are 6 inches over the crest of the spillway. Water temperature is in the low 80s.  Black Crappie - Fair: Try fishing in and around the fish house, Ice House Point shoreline, or the rock piles. Bluegill - Fair: Anglers are picking up keeper-size bluegill (7-inches) near the rock pile off Gunshot Hill and the rock piles in the east basin. 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  Yellow Perch -Slow.

Brushy Creek Lake
Water temperature is in the upper 70s. Black Crappie - Fair: Find crappie near submerged structure in 5-10 feet of water along the shorelines.  Bluegill - Fair: Bluegill have moved off nests; find fish in deeper water near submerged trees. Try fishing in 10 feet of water along weedlines and standing trees. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Try fishing along weedlines in 2-8 feet of water.  Walleye - Fair.

North Twin Lake
Water levels are several inches over the crest of the spillway. Water clarity is about 2 feet.  Water temperature is in the low 80s. Black Bullhead - Good: Use a piece of crawler fished on the bottom near shore.  Most fish are 11-inches.  Walleye - Fair: Try trolling in 6-8 feet of water to find fish hanging out in deeper habitats.  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 around 80 degrees. Water clarity is about 2 feet.  Channel Catfish - Fair: Try crawlers or cut bait on the bottom fished from shore.  Walleye - Fair:  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 low 80s in most area lakes. For more information, contact the Black Hawk District office at 712-657-2638.
 

Clear Lake
Lake level is 2.8 inches over crest.  Water temperature is in the upper 70s. Water clarity is around 35 inches.  Largemouth Bass - Fair.  Walleye - Fair: Try live bait and jigs near vegetation. Yellow Bass - Fair:  Use small jigs near vegetation.  Best bite is early morning.

Crystal Lake
Black Crappie - Slow: Drift fish or troll tube jigs near the dredge cut. Bluegill -Good: Use a piece of crawler under a bobber near shore. Largemouth Bass - Fair.

Rice Lake
Water temperature is in the upper 70s.  Water clarity is around 10 inches. Bluegill - Fair: Try small jigs or a piece of crawler under a bobber near vegetation. Largemouth Bass - Good: Use jigs and spinnerbaits near shoreline habitat and rush beds. Yellow Perch - Slow: Try small jigs with a piece of crawler. Sorting is needed for larger fish.

Silver Lake (Worth)
Bluegill – Fair: Try small jigs or a piece of crawler under a bobber near near vegetation.  Largemouth Bass- Good: Try fishing weedless baits near vegetation and woody habitat.  Yellow Perch – Slow: Use a small jig in 4-5 feet of water. Perch are scattered; try different locations to find them.

Winnebago River
River level is 6.61 feet.

For additional information, contact Clear Lake Fisheries Office at 641-357-3517.lear 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 curly-leaf pondweed has completely died back for the year, leaving much of the lake completely open.  Black Crappie - Good.  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 currently has a weedline around the outside perimeter that can easily be fished by boat.  Walleye - Fair: Best bite is morning and afternoon.

Silver Lake (Dickinson)
Black Bullhead - Good: Catch quality-sized fish just off shore.  Walleye - Fair: Bite is hit-or-miss.

Spirit Lake
Water temperature is in the low 80s. The current weedline is deeper off shore. The Marble Beach fish cleaning station is fully operational.  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. 

Area water temperatures are in the upper 70s to mid-80s. Most fish species have finished spawning and moved off beds towards deeper waters. Most lakes are above crest level. Panfishing continues to be very good, even with the higher temperatures. For current conditions, call 712-330-2542.

NORTHEAST

Cedar River (above Nashua)
Water levels are stabilizing and clearing after last week’s rain. Check water levels online. Channel Catfish - Good: Find catfish in off-channel areas with a large amount of woody debris. Walleye - Fair: The bite will improve as water clears.  Find walleye in off-channel areas.  Try tossing a crankbait or spinnerbait in front of a brush pile. 

Decorah District Streams
Catchable trout stockings are weekly with streams announced once a month. Trout streams are in good condition. Wear long pants or waders to protect your legs from irritating yellow parsnip and nettles. No see-ums and mosquitoes are aggressive. Brook Trout - Fair:  Good hatches of variety of gnats, mayflies, caddis flies, and midges occurring. Brown Trout - Good: Good: Spinnerbait work well near or around logs or undercut banks. Use streamers on larger waterbodies.  Rainbow Trout - Excellent:  Use spinnerbaits, hair jigs or hooks tipped with a small piece of worm, bread or cheese floating through deeper holes. Freshly stocked fish are waiting to take your bait.

Lake Hendricks
Water clarity is about 4.5 feet with a green tint from an algae bloom.  Water temperature is in the low 80s.  Black Crappie - Fair: Find crappie in about 5-6 feet of water.  Cast around vegetation or woody habitat.  Bluegill - Fair. Use a small hook tipped with a worm under a bobber near woody or rocky habitat.  Use a flyrod tipped with garden hackle for some topwater fun.  Channel Catfish - Good: Catfish are cruising in 5-6 feet of water near stumps or other structure.  Use a hook tipped with a worm or stink bait. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Bite is hit-or-miss. Find fish early morning or evening at the edges of weed beds.

Lake Meyer
Water clarity is good.  Water temperature is in the 80s.  Bluegill - Slow: Use a small jig tipped with a worm fished shallow.  Channel Catfish - Good: Try a worm or hook tipped with stink bait fished on bottom in an area with little vegetation.  Largemouth Bass - Fair: Slowly troll a jig tipped with a paddle tail along the outside edge of vegetation.

Turkey River (above Clermont)
Water levels are stabilizing. Water clarity is improving.  Use caution when floating after high water; new snags and strainers could be around the next bend. Walleye - Fair. The bite will improve as water levels stabilize and clear. Try using a flashy lure.

Upper Iowa River (above Decorah)
Water levels are stable. Water clarity is improving. Clarity on the lower reaches are still muddy. Walleye - Slow: A lure with flash may spark interest.  Look for fish in off-channel areas or around woody habitat. 

Volga Lake
Water visibility is good to about 2 feet.  A green algae bloom is prevalent. Water temperature is in the low 80s.  Bluegill - Good: Find bluegills along rocky shoreline down to about 6 feet.  Use a small piece of worm under a bobber.  Channel Catfish - Good: Find trophy catfish near stumps or other woody structure; use stinkbait or worm.  Largemouth Bass - Fair: Find bass near woody structure or near drop-offs.

Temperatures in the 80s to 60s with a chance of thunderstorms through the weekend.  Area water levels continue to stabilize and clear. For more information, contact the Chuck Gipp Decorah Fish Hatchery at 563-382-8324.

Big Woods Lake
Anglers are catching crappie and largemouth bass. Black Crappie - Fair: Look for structure using electronics; use jigs with or without a minnow. Sorting may be needed. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Cast and retrieve artificial crankbaits, spinnerbaits or topwater lures in the mornings and evenings.

George Wyth Lake
Anglers are catching panfish. Black Crappie – Fair: Look for structure using electronics; try jigging colored tube jigs or a minnow under a slip bobber.

Interior river levels continue to drop, providing increased angling opportunities. Anglers in and around Black Hawk County are focused on lakes with high and muddy water levels on the Cedar River. Fishing has been slow due to the recent rainfall events, mid-July heat and summer blues.  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 fall to 9 feet this week. Water temperature is 78 degrees in the channel. New Albin Army road ramp and Heytman's Landing are open.   Channel Catfish - Good: Try a weighted crawler off the bottom in current eddies.  Flathead Catfish - Good: Use large shiners or a small sunfish for bait in holes with sunken trees. Freshwater Drum - Good: Try a weighted nightcrawler on the bottom in areas with medium current. Largemouth Bass - Good: Throw plastics along the shorelines in the upper end of backwaters away from current.  Northern Pike - Good: Rising summer temperatures will send northern pike into cooler waters. Cast spoons or crankbaits at the mouth of tributary streams. Smallmouth Bass - Excellent: Smallmouth action has picked up. Use spinners off rock points along the main channel.  Walleye - Fair: Walleye fishing on the wing-dams should pick up with stable water levels. Try trolling a crawler on a three-way rig. White Bass - Fair: Cast inline spinners along current breaks. Watch for minnows jumping out of the water to find schools of feeding white bass. Yellow Perch - Fair: Use a crappie rig tipped with worms or a minnow in the current seams off shore.

Mississippi River Pool 10
Water level is 619.3 feet at Lynxville and is predicted to fall to near 618 this week. Water temperature is 83 degrees at the Lock and Dam.  The road at Sny Magill ramp and Harpers Ferry low water will open this week.  High water ramp and Nobles Island remains open. Channel Catfish - Good: Try a weighted crawler off the bottom in current eddies.  Flathead Catfish - Good: Use large shiners or a small sunfish for bait in holes with sunken trees. Freshwater Drum - Good: Try a weighted nightcrawler on the bottom in areas with medium current.  Largemouth Bass - 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 - Fair: 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
Notice: The final day of RAGBRAI will bring thousands of bicyclists to Guttenberg on Saturday July 26th.  Plan ahead to avoid the congested south boat launch area.  Water level is 10.7 feet at Guttenberg and is expected to recede a foot over the next week. Water temperature is 80 degrees. Guttenberg south ramps are open. Water is still slightly stained due to recent rain. Channel Catfish - Good: 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 along the rocks on shorelines with current.  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 - Fair: 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. 

Notice: The final day of RAGBRAI will bring thousands of bicyclists to Guttenberg on Saturday July 26th.  Plan ahead to avoid the congested south boat launch area.  Upper Mississippi River water levels are gradually receding this week. Water temperature is in the low 80s. Boat ramps still have a lot of water and debris on them. The water is still stained with some floating debris. Look for fish away from strong current such as backwaters, side channels or at the mouth of tributaries.

Mississippi River Pool 12
Water level is receding to 9.9 feet at Dubuque Lock and Dam and 12.0 feet at the RR Bridge. The water is stained, but fishable. Water temperature is in the low 80s. Channel Catfish - Excellent: Use dip baits in moderate current. Flathead Catfish - Good: Try bank pole fishing with a live bullhead in newly flooded water. Freshwater Drum - Excellent: Use egg sinker and worm rigs. Largemouth Bass - Good: Many anglers are working the weed edges with spinnerbaits.  Some frog imitation lures are starting to work. Northern Pike - Good: Try gaudy spinners along the weed edges.  Smallmouth Bass - Good: Get spinners or crankbaits as close to rock piles as possible in moderate current areas.  White Bass - Good: Look for feeding schools of white bass in the tailwaters and in between wing-dams.

Mississippi River Pool 13
Water level is receding to 11.1 feet at Bellevue. The water is stained. Water temperature is around 81 degrees.  The DNR ramp in Bellevue is very close to being launchable for boats again.  Channel Catfish - Excellent: Use dip baits in 3-6 feet of water in moderate current areas. Flathead Catfish - Good: Use bank poles with live bait. Freshwater Drum - Excellent: Use an egg sinker and worm rig in moderate current areas.  Largemouth Bass - Good: Try spinnerbaits along the weed edges. Smallmouth Bass - Good: Use spinners and crankbaits along rock lines. White Bass - Excellent: White bass schools are chasing minnows along the channel edges. 

Mississippi River Pool 14
Water level is receding to near 10.7 feet at Fulton, 13.4 feet at Camanche, and 8.0 feet at LeClaire. Water temperature is near 82 degrees. Channel Catfish - Good: 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 - Excellent: Use egg sinker and nightcrawler rigs.  Largemouth Bass - Good: Try spinnerbaits or frog imitation lures along the edges of weeds.  Northern Pike - Good: Use gaudy white spinners along the edges of weeds. Smallmouth Bass - Good: Find abundant smallmouths along rock lines with moderate current; use small crankbaits or spinners.  White Bass - Good: Use small spinners or jigs to catch feeding white bass in the tailwaters or in-between winddams in sandy areas.

Mississippi River Pool 15
Water level is near 11.3 feet and is receding. The water is stained. Water temperature is around 83 degrees. Channel Catfish - Excellent: Dip baits work best.  Move often if fish are not biting. Freshwater Drum - Excellent: Use an egg sinker rig with nightcrawlers for bait.  Smallmouth Bass - Good: Pool 15 is underrated as a smallmouth fishery. Try spinners or crankbaits along the rock line with moderate to strong current.

Water levels continue to recede.  Water temperature is in the lower to mid-80s throughout the district. The water is generally clear or slightly stained. If you have angling questions, call Bellevue Fisheries Management at 563-880-8781. 
 

Mississippi River Pool 16
Tailwater stage is falling to11.44 feet at Lock and Dam 15 in the Quad Cities. River stage is forecast to continue to fall over the weekend. Debris and floating vegetation from the highwater conditions could make fishing difficult. Flood stage is 15 feet. Bluegill - No report: Look for bluegills up shallow in the backwaters.  Try pieces of worm under a bobber along brush piles. Channel Catfish - Fair: Look for channel catfish around brush piles and snags along the main channel and side channels. Use cut shad, nightcrawlers, or stink bait fished upstream of the brush. Float leeches or crawlers under a bobber along rip-rap shorelines with current.  Walleye - No report: Look for walleye on the wing-dams. Cast crankbaits or jigs and plastics on the upstream side of the wing-dams or troll crankbaits. Fishing may be difficult with the dirtier water conditions due to recent rain and floating grass in the water. White Bass - No report: Cast crankbaits, inline spinners, or jigs and twister tails in areas with current around rocky points or water discharges in Sylvan Slough. White Crappie - No report:  Use minnows under a bobber or vertical jig with minnows or plastics around brush piles in the backwaters and side channels.

Mississippi River Pool 17
Tailwater stage is 10.74 feet at Lock and Dam 16 in Muscatine and forecast to start to fall over the weekend. Flood stage is 15 feet. Bluegill - No report: Look for bluegills up shallow in the backwaters. Use pieces of worm under a bobber fished along brush piles at Big Timber and Cleveland Slough. Channel Catfish - Fair: Try around brush piles and snags along the main channel and side channels. Use stink bait, cut shad, or nightcrawlers upstream of the brush. Float leeches or crawlers under a bobber along rip-rap shorelines with current.  Walleye - No report: Look for walleye on the wing-dams. Cast crankbaits or jigs and plastics on the upstream side of the wing-dams or troll crankbaits. Fishing may be difficult with the dirtier water conditions due to recent rain. White Bass - Fair: Cast crankbaits, inline spinners, or jigs and twister tails in areas with current around rocky points or water discharges along the Muscatine Riverfront along the ripr-rap and areas with current breaks.  White Crappie - No Report: Use minnows under a bobber or vertical jig with minnows or plastics around brush piles in the backwaters and side channels.

Mississippi River Pool 18
Tailwater stage is falling to 12.80 feet at Lock and Dam 17 at New Boston. Flood stage is 15 feet. The gates are out of the water at the Lock and Dam. Bluegill - No report: Look for bluegills up shallow in the backwaters.  Use pieces of worm under a bobber along brush piles in the Huron Island complex.  Channel Catfish - Fair: Try around brush piles and snags along the main channel and side channels. Use stink bait, cut shad or nightcrawlers upstream of the brush. Float leeches or crawlers under a bobber along rip-rap shorelines with current. Walleye - No Report: Look for walleyes on the wing-dams. Cast crankbaits or jigs and plastics on the upstream side of the wing-dams or troll crankbaits. Fishing may be difficult with dirtier water conditions due to recent rains. 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 the backwaters and side channels in the Huron Island complex.

Mississippi River Pool 19
Tailwater stage is falling to 9.57 feet at Lock and Dam 18 above Burlington. Flood stage is 10 feet. The gates are out of the water at the Lock and Dam. River stage is 527.56 feet at Fort Madison; flood stage is 528.0 feet. Bluegill - No report: Look for bluegills up shallow in the backwaters. Try pieces of worm under a bobber along brush piles.  Channel Catfish - No report: Try around brush piles and snags along the main channel and side channels. Use stink bait, cut shad or nightcrawlers upstream of the brush. Float leeches or crawlers under a bobber along rip-rap shorelines with current. Walleye - No Report: Look for walleyes on the wing-dams.  Cast crankbaits or jigs and plastics on the upstream side of the wing-dams or troll crankbaits. Fishing may be difficult with dirtier water condition due to recent rains.  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 the backwaters and side channels 

Tailwater stages are falling. The main channel water clarity is poor. Water temperature is 82-83 degrees. Some debris and floating vegetation from the high water conditions could make fishing difficult. If you have questions on fishing Pools 16-19, contact the Fairport Fish Hatchery at 563-263-5062.

SOUTHEAST

Big Hollow Lake
Water temperature is around 88 degrees. Mostly early morning and late evening bite as normal for this lake.  Black Crappie - Fair: Crappie moved to the flooded timber and down to 7 to 8 feet deep. Try vertically jigging in the trees or drift trolling along the outer edge of the trees. Bluegill – Fair: Find bluegills in about 6 feet of water and in the "brushier" flooded timber where they can hide from the bass easier.

Cedar River (Moscow to Columbus Junction)
River level is bank full and is slowly starting to drop.

Iowa River (Columbus Junction to Mississippi River)
RIver level is at the minor flood state in the area around Wapello; forecast to drop back down to within its bank sometime late Saturday.

Lake Belva Deer
Water temperature is 87-88 degrees in the afternoon. Water is green from the planktonic algae. Water clarity is 21 inches.  Black Crappie - Fair: Standard summer pattern continues. Try slow trolling a jig and minnow or small crankbait down 10 to 12 feet.  Trolling speed of just over 1 mile per hour works best. Anglers are catching most fish before 10 am and after 6 pm. Bluegill - Fair: Try vertically jigging a small jig tipped with waxworms or cast a worm over the tops of the mounds at the upper end of the lake. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Find bass in the timber along the old creek channel this time of year when the water is flowing out of the upper marsh in the plunge pool below it. 

Lake Darling
Water temperature is around 86 degrees. The planktonic algae bloom continues; water clarity is 18 inches. Black Crappie - Fair: Target habitat in 7-8 feet of water.  Move to a little shallower water at the upper end of the lake and hit the brush piles in 5-6 feet of water.  Crappie are trying to stay cool. Bluegill - Fair: Work the deeper water rock piles in 8 to 10 feet of water. Find bluegills in shallow (5-6 feet) around the brush piles across the lake from the main boat ramp. Channel Catfish - Fair: Try chicken liver around the point where the bank drops into deeper water quickly just before daylight. Catfish are feeding early before returning to deeper water to beat the heat. 

Lake Geode
ermocline is at 12 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: Bluegills are out just a little deeper in 8-9 feet of water out from the rocky shoreline.  Channel Catfish - Fair: Most catfish are only a couple years old and are 12- to 13-inches. Some bigger catfish have moved into the lake from the area ponds; look for them in the area along the old work road down from the in-lake silt dam.  Largemouth Bass - Fair: Find bass on rock piles and other habitat in 6-8 feet of water.

Lost Grove Lake
Water temperature is in the mid to upper 80s.  Bluegill - Fair: 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 - Fair: Find bass in shallow feeding on young bluegill and green sunfish in early morning hours. They retreat to cooler deeper waters once the sun comes up.

Skunk River (Rose Hill to Coppock)
River level is about a foot below bank full.

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. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Use soft plastics or topwater lures.

Cedar River (Cedar Rapids to Moscow)
Channel Catfish - Good: Try fishing in brush piles and rock areas. Flathead Catfish - Fair: Try fishing in brush piles and rock areas.

Cedar River (La Porte City to Cedar Rapids)
Channel Catfish - Good: Try fishing in brush piles and rock areas. Flathead Catfish - Fair: Try fishing in brush piles and rock areas.

Central Park Lake
Largemouth Bass – Fair: Try soft plastics and topwater lures near weed edges and brush piles.

Coralville Reservoir
Channel Catfish - Good: Try fishing near rock areas.  Flathead Catfish - Slow: Try fishing near brush piles and rock edges. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Use crankbaits in tapering rock banks. Spotted bass - Fair: Use crankbaits in tapering rock banks. White Crappie - Fair: Catch suspended fish in brush piles or rock wall areas.

Gateway Park South
Yellow Perch - Fair: Use worms below a bobber on the deeper water drop offs on the north shore.

Goose Pond
Black Crappie - Slow: Find crappie suspended out from shore. Bluegill - Fair: Anglers are catching a few fish on a twister tail from shore.  Largemouth Bass - Good: Use soft plastics or topwater lures around weed edges.

Hannen Lake
Black Crappie - Slow:  Find crappie suspended in the lake basin. Bluegill - Fair: Anglers are catching mostly 4- to 7-inch bluegills around brush piles.  Channel Catfish - Fair: Try fishing in areas with rock or brush piles.  Largemouth Bass - Fair: Use soft plastics or topwater lures around brush piles and weed edges.

Iowa Lake (Iowa Co.)
Bluegill - Fair: Find bluegill in 10-12 feet of water off brush piles and weed edges. Channel Catfish - Good: Anglers are using stink bait or cut bait. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Use topwater lures or soft plastics in weed edges.  White Crappie - Fair: Look for crappie around brush piles or suspended in the lake basin.

Iowa River (Coralville Lake to River Junction)
Channel Catfish - Good: Try fishing in brush piles and rock areas. Flathead Catfish - Fair: Try fishing in brush piles and rock areas. Smallmouth Bass - Fair: Try fishing along rocky shorelines and current seams. Spotted bass - Fair: Try fishing along rocky shorelines and creek mouths.

Iowa River (Marshalltown to Coralville Lake)
Channel Catfish - Good: Try fishing in brush piles and rock areas. Flathead Catfish - Fair: Try fishing in brush piles and rock areas.

Lake Macbride
The seasonal 10 horse motor restriction is in effect. Black Crappie- Fair: Look for suspended fish near weed lines or in basins. Channel Catfish -Fair: Try fishing in rock areas or brush piles.  Flathead Catfish - Fair: Try fishing in rock areas or brush piles.  Largemouth Bass - Fair: Try fishing along weed edges, brush piles or rock edges with stumps. Spotted Bass - Fair: Try fishing along weed edges, brush piles or rock edges with stumps.  Walleye- Slow: Trolling works best. White Crappie - Fair: Try fishing around brush piles or look for fish suspended 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 - Good: Try fishing in brush piles and rock areas. Flathead Catfish - Fair: Try fishing in brush piles and rock areas. Smallmouth Bass - Fair: Try fishing along rocky shorelines and current seams. Walleye - Fair: 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 - Fair: Use worms below a small bobber.  Bluegill -Slow: Try fishing around rocky shorelines. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Use soft plastics or topwater lures around weed edges.

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. Largemouth Bass - Good: Use 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.  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 on beds and moving shallow; 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 current lake level is 904.94 msl; recreation pool is 904 msl. 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.  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: Jig or troll 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 or casting topwater lures over the schools. Focus on shorelines or coves the wind is blowing into on windy days.

Des Moines River (Stratford to Saylorville Lake)
Channel Catfish - Good: Try cut baits and stink baits ahead of wood debris.

Hickory Grove Lake
Black Crappie - Fair:  Drift or troll jigs 3-6 feet deep to catch suspended crappies.  Bluegill - Fair: Try small pieces of nightcrawlers near the edge of the aquatic vegetation or use slip bobbers with pieces of a crawler 3 to 6 feet deep over habitat piles in 15 feet of water or less.

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 windblown 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 - Good: Anglers are catching all sizes of bass along the weed edges.

Greenfield Lake
Black Crappie - Good: 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 - Slow.  Bluegill - Good: Troll or drift small jigs tipped with a crawler. Channel Catfish - Good: Try fishing from the jetties in the south arm of the lake. Largemouth Bass - Fair.

Meadow Lake
Water clarity is 3 feet. Black Crappie - No Report: Good population of 10-inch black crappie. Bluegill - No Report: Catch 8-inch bluegill. Largemouth Bass - Slow: Cast to the tree piles in the lake.

Prairie Rose Lake
Black Crappie - Slow: Try trolling.  Bluegill - Good: Anglers report bluegills are spawning again on the reefs.  Largemouth Bass - Fair: Anglers are catching largemouth bass along weed edges and around structure.

Viking Lake
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.  Channel Catfish - Fair: Catch all sizes of catfish with nightcrawlers or cut bait along rocky shoreline areas.

Little River Watershed Lake
The dock is in at main boat ramp. Channel Catfish - Fair: Catch all sizes of catfish with nightcrawlers or cut bait along rocky shoreline areas.

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: Try jigs tipped with live bait along creek channels in the flooded timber to catch all sizes of bluegill. Channel Catfish - Fair: Catch all sizes of catfish with cutbait along creek channels in the flooded timber.

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