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Iowa Fishing Report
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Waterbody District Comments Date
Alice Wyth Lake Northeast Black Crappie - Fair: Fish a jig tipped with a waxworm or crappie minnow. Look for suspended fish or near the bottom. 02/21 08:36
Alice Wyth Lake Northeast Bluegill - Fair: Try fishing a jig tipped with a waxworm just off of the bottom for a good bluegill bite. 02/21 08:36
Alice Wyth Lake Northeast The wintry weather has continued and the upcoming weekend forecast looks wet and cold. Trout streams are in excellent condition, for further information contact the N.E. District Office at 563-927-3276. 02/21 08:36
Alice Wyth Lake Northeast There have been a few reports of anglers catching bluegill and crappie on Alice Wyth Lake. Some sorting may be required. 02/21 08:36
Decorah District Streams Northeast Continued cold and active weather patterns are slowing angling activities. Weekend forecast again calls for melting snow and rain resulting in muddy water. Please contact the Decorah Fish Hatchery for more information at 563.382.8324. 02/21 07:17
Decorah District Streams Northeast Brook Trout - Fair: If you are matching the right insect hatch, switch pattern. Midges hatching now. Use grey or dark colors. 02/21 07:17
Decorah District Streams Northeast Brown Trout - Fair: Melt water cooled and muddied streams. Find springs and fish this area. Water will be warmer. 02/21 07:17
Decorah District Streams Northeast Ice and packed snow on roads make travel slow. Road shoulders hard to see. Use care traveling the back country. Think spring. The 2019 stocking calendar is now available on-line. 02/21 07:17
Decorah District Streams Northeast Rainbow Trout - Fair: Fish areas trout are seeking food and protection. Move a fly along a current break. 02/21 07:17
Lake Hendricks Northeast Continued cold and active weather patterns are slowing angling activities. Weekend forecast again calls for melting snow and rain resulting in muddy water. Please contact the Decorah Fish Hatchery for more information at 563.382.8324. 02/21 07:17
Lake Hendricks Northeast Open water around aerator. Use caution in this area. No motorized vehicles allowed on this waterbody. About a foot of snow on 12 inches of ice. Few anglers out. 02/21 07:17
Lake Hendricks Northeast Bluegill - Slow: 02/21 07:17
Lake Meyer Northeast Continued cold and active weather patterns are slowing angling activities. Weekend forecast again calls for melting snow and rain resulting in muddy water. Please contact the Decorah Fish Hatchery for more information at 563.382.8324. 02/21 07:17
Lake Meyer Northeast Rain and snow melt will muddy water. Ice depth 10 inches under 8-12 inches of snow. Few anglers out this week. 02/21 07:17
Lake Meyer Northeast Bluegill - Slow: 02/21 07:17
Lake Meyer Northeast Largemouth Bass - Slow: 02/21 07:17
Mississippi River Pool 10 Northeast Upper Mississippi River levels are stable. Heavy snow cover is insulating the ice. Ice depths range from 10-14 inches. Ice may deteriorate with rain expected over the weekend. 02/21 07:33
Mississippi River Pool 10 Northeast Black Crappie - Fair: The crappie bite has picked up this week. Try glow jigs tipped with minnows from mid morning to early afternoon. 02/21 07:33
Mississippi River Pool 10 Northeast Bluegill - Slow: Bluegill bite has slowed but still decent sized fish being caught. 02/21 07:33
Mississippi River Pool 10 Northeast Northern Pike - Fair: Some northerns being caught on tip-ups using shiners in backwater lakes and marina areas. 02/21 07:33
Mississippi River Pool 10 Northeast River level is 16 ft at Lynxville and stable. Heavy snow cover is insulating the ice. Rains over the weekend may cause unsafe ice in areas of current and shorelines. 02/21 07:33
Mississippi River Pool 10 Northeast Yellow Perch - Fair: Perch are biting on chartreuse jigs tipped with small minnow. 02/21 07:33
Mississippi River Pool 10 Northeast Largemouth Bass - Fair: Bass are biting in the deeper backwater cuts. Try fishing with larger active minnows. 02/21 08:50
Mississippi River Pool 11 Northeast Upper Mississippi River levels are stable. Heavy snow cover is insulating the ice. Ice depths range from 10-14 inches. Ice may deteriorate with rain expected over the weekend. 02/21 07:33
Mississippi River Pool 11 Northeast Northern Pike - Fair: Some northerns being caught on tip-ups using shiners in backwater lakes and marina areas. 02/21 07:33
Mississippi River Pool 11 Northeast River level is 7.7 ft at Guttenberg. Ramps are frozen over at the dam. The bite is slow but some nice perch biting in Zollicoffer at Mud Lake near Dubuque. Avoid the creek area walking in as ice may be thin. 02/21 07:33
Mississippi River Pool 11 Northeast Black Crappie - Fair: The crappie bite has picked up this week. Try glow jigs tipped with minnows from mid morning to early afternoon. 02/21 07:33
Mississippi River Pool 11 Northeast Bluegill - Slow: Bluegill bite has slowed but still decent sized fish being caught. 02/21 07:33
Mississippi River Pool 11 Northeast Yellow Perch - Fair: Perch are biting on chartreuse jigs tipped with small minnow. 02/21 07:33
Mississippi River Pool 11 Northeast Largemouth Bass - Fair: Bass are biting in the deeper backwater cuts. Try fishing with larger active minnows. 02/21 08:51
Mississippi River Pool 12 Northeast The tailwaters are iced in at the ramps. Ice fishing conditions are variable but decent ice can be found in places. Even with the extreme cold temps some thin ice is still reported in some backwaters. Water levels are now dropping throughout the district. If you have fishing questions, please call the Bellevue Fisheries Station, 563-872-4976. 02/18 01:41
Mississippi River Pool 12 Northeast Water levels are at 7.3 feet at the Dubuque Lock and Dam and 9.7 feet at the RR bridge. This down from last week and expected to remain stable. Water clarity is good and temperature is 33 degrees. 02/18 01:41
Mississippi River Pool 12 Northeast Black Crappie - Fair: Some crappies are being caught on waxworms. 02/18 01:41
Mississippi River Pool 12 Northeast Bluegill - Good: Use small jigs with waxworms. 02/18 01:41
Mississippi River Pool 12 Northeast Yellow Perch - Fair: Yellow perch are being caught mixed in with bluegills and crappies. 02/18 01:41
Mississippi River Pool 13 Northeast The tailwaters are iced in at the ramps. Ice fishing conditions are variable but decent ice can be found in places. Even with the extreme cold temps some thin ice is still reported in some backwaters. Water levels are now dropping throughout the district. If you have fishing questions, please call the Bellevue Fisheries Station, 563-872-4976. 02/18 01:41
Mississippi River Pool 13 Northeast Water levels are at 8.9 feet at the Bellevue Lock and Dam. Water clarity is good and the water temperature is 33 degrees. The tailwater is iced in. At Sabula the north ramp and parking area is open following bridge construction. 02/18 01:41
Mississippi River Pool 13 Northeast Sauger - No Report: Use a three way rig with minnows or a jig and minnow to catch walleye and sauger this winter. 02/18 01:41
Mississippi River Pool 13 Northeast White Bass - Fair: Small white bass are reported at Sabula and Browns Lakes. 02/18 01:41
Mississippi River Pool 13 Northeast Yellow Perch - Fair: Yellow perch fishing is expected to pick up yet this winter. 02/18 01:41
Mississippi River Pool 14 Northeast The tailwaters are iced in at the ramps. Ice fishing conditions are variable but decent ice can be found in places. Even with the extreme cold temps some thin ice is still reported in some backwaters. Water levels are now dropping throughout the district. If you have fishing questions, please call the Bellevue Fisheries Station, 563-872-4976. 02/18 01:41
Mississippi River Pool 14 Northeast Bluegill - No Report: No report from Pool 14 yet although decent ice is reported in places. 02/18 01:41
Mississippi River Pool 14 Northeast Sauger - No Report: Use a jig and minnow or three way rigs with minnows to catch walleye and sauger this fall. Poor weather conditions have limited fishing activity. 02/18 01:41
Mississippi River Pool 14 Northeast Water levels are at 6.9 feet at Fulton Lock and Dam, 10.2 feet at Camanche and 5.2 feet at LeClaire. Expect levels to recede. Water clarity is good and water temperature is around 33 degrees. 02/18 01:41
Mississippi River Pool 15 Northeast The tailwaters are iced in at the ramps. Ice fishing conditions are variable but decent ice can be found in places. Even with the extreme cold temps some thin ice is still reported in some backwaters. Water levels are now dropping throughout the district. If you have fishing questions, please call the Bellevue Fisheries Station, 563-872-4976. 02/18 01:41
Mississippi River Pool 15 Northeast The water level are at 11.1 feet and are excepted to drop. Water clarity is good and the water temperature is around 33 degrees. No fishing has been reported to us in Pool 15. 02/18 01:41
Mississippi River Pool 15 Northeast Walleye - No Report: 02/18 01:41
Mississippi River Pool 9 Northeast Bluegill - Slow: Bluegill bite has slowed but still decent sized fish still being caught. 02/21 07:33
Mississippi River Pool 9 Northeast Largemouth Bass - Fair: Bass are biting in the deeper backwater cuts. Try fishing with larger active minnows. 02/21 07:33
Mississippi River Pool 9 Northeast Northern Pike - Fair: Some northerns being caught on tip-ups using shiners in backwater lakes and marina areas. 02/21 07:33
Mississippi River Pool 9 Northeast River level is 8.1 ft at Lansing. Avoid ice on shoreline edges and areas of current. Fish deep cuts above the Lansing bridge or in Shore Slough. 02/21 07:33
Mississippi River Pool 9 Northeast Upper Mississippi River levels are stable. Heavy snow cover is insulating the ice. Ice depths range from 10-14 inches. Ice may deteriorate with rain expected over the weekend. 02/21 07:33
Mississippi River Pool 9 Northeast Yellow Perch - Fair: Perch are biting on chartreuse jigs tipped with small minnow. 02/21 07:33
Mississippi River Pool 9 Northeast Black Crappie - Fair: Crappie are biting on glow jigs tipped with minnows from mid morning to early afternoon. 02/21 07:33
Silver Lake (Delaware) Northeast The wintry weather has continued and the upcoming weekend forecast looks wet and cold. Trout streams are in excellent condition, for further information contact the N.E. District Office at 563-927-3276. 02/21 08:36
Silver Lake (Delaware) Northeast There has been activity on Silver Lake. Anglers have been catching some bluegill and northern pike. 02/21 08:42
Silver Lake (Delaware) Northeast Bluegill - Fair: Try fishing a jig tipped with a waxworm just off of the bottom for a good bluegill bite. 02/21 08:43
Silver Lake (Delaware) Northeast Northern Pike - Fair: Anglers have had success using tip-up rigs with a live shiner for bait. 02/21 08:45
Volga Lake Northeast Continued cold and active weather patterns are slowing angling activities. Weekend forecast again calls for melting snow and rain resulting in muddy water. Please contact the Decorah Fish Hatchery for more information at 563.382.8324. 02/21 07:17
Volga Lake Northeast Freeze thaw cycles causing variable ice conditions around edges. Use caution getting on ice. Snow melt and rain will muddy water. Few anglers out. 02/21 07:17
Volga Lake Northeast Yellow Perch - Slow: Catch a few perch using a small jig tipped with a spike or waxworm. 02/21 07:17
Volga Lake Northeast Bluegill - Slow: 02/21 07:17
Arrowhead Lake Northwest Most reports in the Black Hawk district are anywhere from 10 to 18 inches of ice. Geese are still keeping areas open on some lakes. Check ice thickness frequently. For more information, contact the Black Hawk District office at 712-657-2638. 02/21 11:36
Arrowhead Lake Northwest Bluegill - Slow: Fish near submerged structure on the east side, use a small jig tipped with a waxworm fished in 10-15 feet of water. 02/21 11:36
Arrowhead Lake Northwest There is around 10 inches of ice near the boat ramp. 02/21 11:36
Bacon Creek Lake Northwest Most reports in the Black Hawk district are anywhere from 10 to 18 inches of ice. Geese are still keeping areas open on some lakes. Check ice thickness frequently. For more information, contact the Black Hawk District office at 712-657-2638. 02/21 11:36
Bacon Creek Lake Northwest The DNR stocked rainbow trout at Bacon Creek Lake on Feb 16th. 02/21 11:36
Beeds Lake Northwest For information on the lakes and rivers in north central Iowa contact the Clear Lake Fish and Wildlife office at 641-357-3517. 02/21 08:33
Beeds Lake Northwest Due to the excessive snowfall amounts the Beeds Lake campground road will be closed until snow melt. 02/21 08:36
Black Hawk Lake Northwest Black Crappie - Fair: Crappie are being picked near the Ice House Point boat ramp. Use a small jig tipped with waxworm. 02/21 11:36
Black Hawk Lake Northwest Bluegill - Fair: Anglers have had luck fishing the rock pile out front of Gunshot Hill, use a small jig tipped with waxworm. 02/21 11:36
Black Hawk Lake Northwest Most reports in the Black Hawk district are anywhere from 10 to 18 inches of ice. Geese are still keeping areas open on some lakes. Check ice thickness frequently. For more information, contact the Black Hawk District office at 712-657-2638. 02/21 11:36
Black Hawk Lake Northwest The winter aeration system in Town Bay is in operation - beware of open water and thin ice in Town Bay. There is around 14 inches of ice off the boat ramp of Ice House Point. Be aware of thin ice or open water north of Ice House Point, along the Denison Beach area, and in the east basin near the outlet. Conditions are improving but they are still variable throughout the lake. Check ice thickness often. 02/21 11:36
Black Hawk Pits Northwest Most reports in the Black Hawk district are anywhere from 10 to 18 inches of ice. Geese are still keeping areas open on some lakes. Check ice thickness frequently. For more information, contact the Black Hawk District office at 712-657-2638. 02/21 11:36
Black Hawk Pits Northwest There is around 11 inches of ice near the boat ramp. 02/21 11:36
Black Hawk Pits Northwest Bluegill - Fair: Anglers are picking up bluegill using waxworms fished near the bottom. 02/21 11:36
Brushy Creek Lake Northwest Most reports in the Black Hawk district are anywhere from 10 to 18 inches of ice. Geese are still keeping areas open on some lakes. Check ice thickness frequently. For more information, contact the Black Hawk District office at 712-657-2638. 02/21 11:36
Brushy Creek Lake Northwest Anglers are fishing mostly near the north boat ramp, in the NE arm of the lake, and near the southeast boat ramp near the big island. Look out for thin ice near the beach and in the main lake. Ice conditions are improving; as anglers make there way out they are reminded to check thickness often. 02/21 11:36
Brushy Creek Lake Northwest Black Crappie - Fair: Anglers are picking up a few crappie using a minnow and spoon in about 20-30 feet of water near submerged structure. Wax worms and spikes on a small jig have also been productive. 02/21 11:36
Brushy Creek Lake Northwest Bluegill - Fair: Anglers have picked up some bluegill in the NE arm of the lake using waxworms fished on a small jig. 02/21 11:36
Brushy Creek Lake Northwest Yellow Perch - Slow: Anglers have been picking up a few yellow perch while fishing for crappie. 02/21 11:36
Clear Lake Northwest For information on the lakes and rivers in north central Iowa contact the Clear Lake Fish and Wildlife office at 641-357-3517. 02/21 08:33
Clear Lake Northwest There is several inches of snow on the ice. 02/21 08:41
Clear Lake Northwest Black Crappie - Slow: The best bite is early morning fishing with a jigging spoon tipped with a minnow head. 02/21 08:46
Clear Lake Northwest Walleye - Slow: Dead stick a minnow early morning or evening. The best spot is near the island. 02/21 08:49
Clear Lake Northwest Yellow Bass - Fair: Start shallow using a small jig or jigging spoon tipped with several spikes or a wax worm. You have to keep moving to stay on fish. The best spots have been near the Baptist camp. 02/21 08:51
Clear Lake Northwest Yellow Perch - Good: Lots of small fish are being caught. A reminder to anglers that if you’re not going to utilize the fish you catch to please release them. 02/21 08:51
East Okoboji Lake Northwest Bluegill - Good: Numbers of fish are being caught from the south end of the lake, sorting is required. 02/18 09:40
East Okoboji Lake Northwest Yellow Bass - Fair: Anglers are catching large yellow bass from the basin. Mobility is required to stay on the school of active fish. 02/18 09:40
Five Island Lake Northwest Walleye - Fair: Report of fish being caught during the evening hours, use traditional baits. 02/18 09:40
Five Island Lake Northwest Yellow Bass - Good: Activity reported on the lake, anglers will need to search to find active fish. 02/18 09:40
Lake Pahoja Northwest Bluegill - Good: Recent surveys reflect good numbers of angler acceptable size bluegill in the lake with large fish over 8.0 inches not uncommon. 02/18 09:40
Lost Island Lake Northwest Yellow Bass - Fair: Yellow bass activity has slowed but with persistence good numbers of fish will be caught. 02/18 09:40
Lost Island Lake Northwest Black Crappie - Good: Yellow bass anglers report crappie mixed in the catch. 02/18 09:50
Minnewashta Lake Northwest Black Crappie - Good: Anglers report catching good numbers of angler acceptable size fish and larger, fish early and late day for the best action. 02/18 09:42
Moorland Pond Northwest Most reports in the Black Hawk district are anywhere from 10 to 18 inches of ice. Geese are still keeping areas open on some lakes. Check ice thickness frequently. For more information, contact the Black Hawk District office at 712-657-2638. 02/21 11:36
Moorland Pond Northwest The DNR stocked rainbow trout on Feb 9. 02/21 11:36
Rice Lake Northwest For information on the lakes and rivers in north central Iowa contact the Clear Lake Fish and Wildlife office at 641-357-3517. 02/21 08:33
Rice Lake Northwest Ice thickness is 18 to 20 inches. 02/21 08:54
Silver Lake (Worth) Northwest For information on the lakes and rivers in north central Iowa contact the Clear Lake Fish and Wildlife office at 641-357-3517. 02/21 08:33
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