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 May 15, 2025:

NORTHWEST

Black Hawk Lake
Water levels are about 6 inches over the crest of the spillway. Water temperature is in the low 70s. Water clarity is roughly 2 to 3 feet. Anglers are doing well from shore and boat.  Black Crappie - Fair: Anglers are catching crappie.  Fishing along Ice House Point shoreline and in the marina have been productive. Bluegill - Fair: Anglers are picking up some keeper-size bluegill while fishing near shore for crappies. Walleye - Good: Anglers are picking up fish. Shore and boat fishing have been productive.  Throw a fwister near shore during late evening right before sunset. Also use a leech, crawler, or minnow under a slip bobber near shore. Or bottom bouncer rig if fishing by boat.  Yellow Perch -Slow.

Brushy Creek Lake
Black Crappie - Fair: Pick up crappie near shore in 2-8 feet of water near submerged structure.  Bluegill - Fair: Use small jig tipped with a piece of crawler fished under a bobber near shore.

North Twin Lake
Water is roughly 6 inches below crest.  Walleye - Fair: Anglers are catching walleye from shore and docks during the evening. Throw a twister or use a crawler or minnow under a slip bobber.

Storm Lake (incl Little Storm Lake)
Water temperatures are in the upper 60s. Channel Catfish - Fair: Anglers are catching catfish from shore with crawlers or cut bait on the bottom.  Walleye - Fair: Anglers are catching walleye. Best bite is late evening.  Pick up fish from shore or by boat. Throw a twister or fish a crawler or minnow under a slip bobber from shore.  If fishing by boat, use crankbaits or a bottom bouncer rig fished near the dredge cut. White Bass - Fair.

Water temperatures are near 70 degrees in most of the district.  The panfish bite from shore in area lakes have been productive. For more information, contact the Black Hawk District office at 712-657-2638.

Clear Lake
Water temperatures is in the low 70s. Water level is 1.3 inches over crest. Water clarity is about 60 inches. Black Crappie - Fair:  Target the rush beds on the north shore.  Walleye - Good: Try jigs, minnows or slow retrieved crankbaits near vegetation.  Best bite is early morning and after sunset. Yellow Bass – Good: Use small jigs near rocky habitat.  Best bite is early morning.

Crystal Lake
Black Crappie -Good: Crappies are moving shallow.  Target near the old roadbed and woody habitat near shore.  Bluegill - Fair.  Walleye - Slow.

Rice Lake
Bluegill - Fair.  Largemouth Bass- Good: Target woody habitat near the shore.  Yellow Perch - Good: Try fishing near the vegetation edge.s.

Silver Lake (Worth)
Bluegill –Good: Try a piece of crawler under a bobber near shore. Largemouth Bass - Good: Try slow retrieved plastic baits. Yellow Perch – Fair.

Winnebago River
Water level is 5.52 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 temperatures are in the upper 60s.  Black Crappie - Fair:  Bluegill - Fair. Largemouth Bass - Fair:  Yellow Perch - Fair: Many fish have been observed; sorting will most likely be needed.

Ingham Lake
Walleye - Fair: Morning and afternoon bite is best.

Silver Lake (Dickinson)
Walleye - Fair: The bite is hit-or-miss.

Spirit Lake
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.  Yellow Perch - Fair: Sorting is needed; anglers are finding many of acceptable size.

West Okoboji Lake
Water temperatures are in the  low 60s. Black Crappie - Fair:  Bluegill - Fair. 

Water temperatures are in the 60s and have been rising quickly.  Most lakes are at crest level.  The walleye season on the IGL's now open.  Panfishing has been very good close to shore as fish are moving in shallow as water temperatures increase.  For current conditions, call 712-330-2542.

NORTHEAST

Cedar River (above Nashua)
Water temperatures are in the upper 60s. Water levels continue to drop.  Black Crappie - Fair: Action is picking up; use minnows. Channel Catfish - Good: Anglers using chicken liver fished on the bottom are finding good action in impoundments and off channel areas. Smallmouth Bass - Fair: Action remains variable. Use a jig tipped with plastic tail or crankbait fished through a deeper hole out of current. Walleye - Good: Find walleye in deeper holes and out of current using minnows or worms.

Decorah District Streams
Catchable trout stockings are weekly with streams announced once a month. Trout streams are in excellent condition. Flows remain elevated.  Gnats and mosquitoes are common. Caddisfly and mayfly hatches are becoming more numerous especially on warm sunny days. Turkey season is in full swing.  Avoid wearing red, white, or blue; these colors look like a turkey head. Brook Trout - Fair: A variety of insect hatches are occurring. Use care not to alarm fish when approaching streams with clear water. Brown Trout - Good: Try fishing near or around undercut banks. Spinnerbaits work well, especially in windy conditions. Use streamers on larger waterbodies for exciting action.  Brown trout prefer slightly off-color water.  Rainbow Trout - Excellent: Use spinnerbaits, hair jigs, or hooks tipped with a small piece of worm, dough ball, or cheese floated through deeper water. Use bait if you plan to keep your catch.

Lake Hendricks
Water temperature is in the 70s to upper 60s. Water is clear.  Black Crappie - Fair: Try angling higher in the water column in the late afternoon. Try a jig tipped with a plastic tail over rocky humps.  Bluegill - Good. Find gills around pallet structures. Use a small hook tipped with worm under a bobber. Largemouth Bass -Good: Try spinnerbaits along weed lines in about 6 feet of water. 

Lake Meyer
Water temperatures are in the upper 60s to low 70s.  Fish are on spawning beds.  Black Crappie - Good.  Find fish in shallow water.  Use a jig tipped with nightcrawlers or spinnerbaits.  Bluegill - Good: Use a small jig tipped with a waxworm or red worms around the jetties. Largemouth Bass - Good: Find bass in shallow to spawn or near woody structure near shore.

Turkey River (below Clermont)
Water temperatures is in the upper 60s. Water levels continue to fall. Water clarity is excellent. Walleye – Fair. Try a jig tipped with a minnow or spinnerbait just off the channel out of current.  White Sucker – Fair: Use worms fished on the stream bottom. 

Upper Iowa River (above Decorah)
Water temperature is in the upper 60s. Water levels continue to fall. Water clarity is excellent. Smallmouth Bass - Fair. Walleye - Good: Use a jig tipped with a minnow in slack water below the dams. White Sucker - Good: Try a worm on the stream bottom.

Volga Lake
Water temperatures is in the upper 60s.  Black Crappie - Fair: Find crappie around woody structure. Use a flashy lure to attract attention. Bluegill - Good: Find bluegills around structure near shore. Use small jigs tipped with waxworms or a small piece of nightcrawler.  Largemouth Bass - Good: Try crankbaits or spinnerbaits near shore around downed trees or rocky areas.

More seasonal temperatures by Friday, cooling to low 70s to 40s and breezy. Turkey Hunting is in full swing until May 18.  For more information, contact the Chuck Gipp Decorah Fish Hatchery at 563-382-8324.

Brinker Lake
Anglers are catching crappie on the shallower west end. Black Crappie - Fair: Drift a minnow under a slip bobber or cast and retrieve crappie jigs.

Cedar River (Nashua to La Porte City) 
Anglers are catching walleye, smallmouth bass, channel catfish and crappie.  Black Crappie- Good: Drift a minnow under a slip bobber or cast and retrieve a crappie jig.  Channel Catfish - Excellent: Use dead cutbaits.  Smallmouth Bass - Good: Cast and retrieve spinnerbaits or a jig tipped with half a nightcrawler.  Walleye - Fair: Use a jig head with plastics with or without a live minnow. Look for the deeper pools, current breaks, and tail ends of riffles. 

George Wyth Lake
Anglers are catching crappie. Black Crappie - Good: Locate structure; drift a minnow under a slip bobber or cast and retrieve crappie jigs.

Heritage Pond
Heritage Pond is stocked with catchable rainbow trout. You need a valid fishing license and pay the trout fee to fish for or possess trout. Rainbow Trout - Good: Cast and retrieve flashy jigs or little spinners or floating baits underneath a slip bobber.

Lake Delhi
The lake should be clearing up. Water temperatures are nearing the crappie spawn.  Avoid mid-afternoons and weekends due to heavy boat traffic. Black Crappie - Fair: Try a live minnow under a slip bobber or cast various colored tube or hair jigs near structure.

Manchester District Streams
Next week’s forecast calls for temperatures near 80 degrees; should be good aquatic insect hatches to provide great trout fishing.  Brown Trout - Good: Try matching the hatches with dry flies.

Maquoketa River (above Monticello)
Anglers are catching walleye and smallmouth bass. River levels have fallen. The water has cleared considerably.  Smallmouth Bass - Fair: Try a jig head with plastics with or without a live minnow or cast and retrieve crankbaits or spinnerbaits. Walleye - Fair: Use a jig head with plastics with or without a live minnow. Look for the deeper pools, current breaks, and tail ends of riffles. 

Maquoketa River (below Monticello)
River levels are falling. Good water clarity in Jones and Jackson counties.  Anglers are catching smallmouth bass, walleye, and channel catfish.  Smallmouth Bass - Good: Cast and retrieve spinnerbaits or a jig tipped with half a nightcrawler.  Walleye - Good: Try a jig head with plastics with or without a live minnow.  Look for the deeper pool current breaks and tail ends of riffles.

North Prairie Lake
North Prairie Lake is stocked with catchable rainbow trout. You need a valid fishing license and pay the trout fee to fish for or possess trout.  Rainbow Trout - Good: Cast and retrieve flashy jigs or little spinners or floating baits underneath a slip bobber.

Shell Rock River (Greene to Shell Rock)
We have received no information regarding fishing on this water body this week.

Wapsi River (Tripoli to Troy Mills)
Good reports on the Wapsipinicon River this past week.  With increased water temperatures, channel catfish and walleye are good target species.  Channel Catfish - Good: Use dead cut baits.  Walleye - Good: Try a jig head with plastics with or without a live minnow.  Look for the deeper pools, current breaks, and tail ends of riffle.

Most interior river levels continue to fall. Anglers continue to catch a few walleye, smallmouth bass, and crappie on the rivers.Good to excellent reports on area lakes of anglers catching crappie as the lakes begin to warm in and around the Cedar Falls/Waterloo area.  Crappie are in the spawning mode.  Trout streams are in excellent condition. For more information, contact Manchester Hatchery at 563-927-3276.

MISSISSIPPI RIVER

Mississippi River Pool 9
Water level is 8 feet at Lansing and is expected to remain stable.  Water temperature is near 72 degrees. Black Crappie - Fair: Use small tube jigs or minnow fished in fallen trees in backwaters and side channels.  Channel Catfish - Good: Try a weighted crawler off the bottom in current eddies.  Flathead Catfish - Fair: Reports of some flatheads biting as they are feeding pre-spawn. Try large shiners or a small bluegill for bait. Largemouth Bass - Good: Throw plastics along the shorelines in the upper end of backwaters away from current.  Northern Pike - Good: Pike are on the feed after the spawn.  Try larger flashy spinnerbaits in the shallows and weedy shorelines. Sauger - Slow:  Use a hair jig tipped with a minnow out of the current near Lock and Dam tailwaters. Anglers are picking up sauger downriver on closing dams.  Expect the bite to pick up again post-spawn.  Smallmouth Bass - Good: Use spinners along the rocks on shorelines with current. Walleye- Slow: Use a hair jig tipped with minnow out of the current near Lock and Dam tailwaters. Anglers are picking up walleye downriver on closing dams.  Expect the bite to pick up again post-spawn. 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 615.6 feet at Lynxville and is expected to level out near 614 feet next week. Fishing away from the current below the Lock and Dam or side channels has been good.  Water temperature is 72 degrees at the Lock and Dam.  The road at Sny Magill ramp has reopened.  Black Crappie -Fair: Use small tube jigs or minnows fished in fallen trees in backwaters and side channels.  Channel Catfish - Good: Try a weighted crawler off the bottom in current eddies.  Flathead Catfish - Fair: Reports of some flatheads biting as they are feeding pre-spawn.  Try large shiners or a small bluegill for bait.  Largemouth Bass - Fair: Throw plastics along the shorelines in the upper end of backwaters away from the current.  Northern Pike - Good: Pike are on the feed after the spawn. Try larger flashy spinnerbaits in the shallows and weedy shorelines.  Sauger - Slow: Use a hair jig tipped with a minnow out of the current near Lock and Dam tailwaters. Smallmouth Bass - Good: Use spinners along the rocks on shorelines with current. Walleye - Slow: Use a hair jig tipped with minnow out of the current near Lock and Dam tailwaters. Anglers are picking up walleye downriver on closing dams. Expect the bite to pick up again post-spawn. Yellow Perch - Good: Use a crappie rig tipped with worms or a minnow in the current seams off shore.

Mississippi River Pool 11
Water level is 7.7 feet at Guttenberg and is expected to recede to 6 feet. Water temperature is near 71 degrees.  Black Crappie - Fair: Use small tube jigs or minnows fished in fallen trees in backwaters and side channels.  Channel Catfish - Good: Try a weighted crawler off the bottom in current eddies.  Fathead Catfish - Fair: Reports of some flatheads biting as they are feeding pre-spawn.  Try large shiners or a small bluegill for bait.  Largemouth Bass- Fair: Throw plastic along the shorelines in the upper end of backwaters away from current.  Northern Pike - Fair: Pike are on the feed after the spawn. Try larger flashy spinnerbaits in the shallows and weedy shorelines. Sauger - No report: Use a hair jig tipped with a minnow out of the current near Lock and Dam tailwaters. Anglers are picking up sauger downriver on closing dams. Expect the bite to pick up again post-spawn.  Smallmouth Bass - Good:  Use spinners along the rocks on shorelines with current.  Walleye - No report: Use a hair jig tipped with minnow out of the current near Lock and Dam tailwaters. Anglers are picking up walleye downriver on closing dams. Expect the bite to pick up again post-spawn.  Yellow Perch - Fair: Use a crappie rig tipped with worms or a minnow in the current seams off shore.  Perch are biting off shore at Mud Lake park near Dubuque.

Upper Mississippi River water levels continue a gradual fall.  During high water, find areas away from the current to fish.  Water clarity is improving. Water temperature is in the 70s.  The bite is improving as fish become more active with warmer water temperatures. 

Mississippi River Pool 12
Water level is receding to 7.4 feet at Dubuque Lock and Dam and 9.7 feet at RR Bridge. The water is clear. Water temperature is around 67 degrees in the main channel.  The main boat ramp at Spruce Creek park is still under construction. Black Crappie - Fair:  It takes a bit of fishing in brush piles, but anglers can catch a few crappie on minnow rigs. Bluegill - Fair:  Reports of anglers catching bluegills out of the newly flooded backwaters. Channel Catfish -Excellent: Use blood bait or live worms in moderate current areas in 6 feet or less of water.  Freshwater Drum - Excellent: Easily catch drum on an egg sinker and worm rigs.  Largemouth Bass - Fair: Bass are starting to get active; it's been slower angling so far this year.  Northern Pike - Good: Pike fishing was good early spring. An increase in the pike bite was noticeable the past few weeks.  Walleye - Fair: Smaller walleye and sauger are along the rock lines.  Use small spinners and jigs to pick up both walleye and sauger.  Yellow Perch - Good: Try jig and worm rigs in the tailwater areas.

Mississippi River Pool 13
Water level is receding to near 8.2 feet at Bellevue. Water is clear. Water temperature is around 67 degrees in the main channel. Bluegill - Fair: Bluegills are starting to be reported in flooded backwaters. Bowfin - Good: Bowfin are good early season biters.  Try backwater area like the Green Island Wildlife area for early season fun. Channel Catfish- Excellent: Look for feeding catfish in flooded areas. Use blood baits in areas near the bank.  Freshwater Drum - Good: Egg sinker and worm in moderate current areas works best.  Largemouth Bass - Fair: Bass fishing started slow, but is picking up.   Northern Pike - Fair: More pike are being reported every week; use gaudy lures. Rainbow Trout - Fair: Several trout are left in the the Kids' trout pond near the Bellevue Fishing Station. It is starting to weed over and soon it will be nearly unfishable. Walleye - Fair: Pick up small walleyes and sauger along the rock line, especially in the evening hours. Yellow Perch - Good: Try small jigs and worm rigs in the tailwaters.

Mississippi River Pool 14
Water level is receding to near 7.6 feet at Fulton, 11.2 feet at Camanche, and 5.9 feet at LeClaire. Water is clear. Water temperature is around 68 degrees. Black Crappie - Fair: Some crappie have been caught out of backwater brush piles.  Bluegill - Fair: Bluegill bite is picking up. Channel Catfish -Good: Seems early, but good channel catfishing is occurring using blood baits. Freshwater Drum - Excellent: Use an egg sinker and worm rig in moderate current areas.  Largemouth Bass - Good: Bass bite is starting to pick up as bass are in the middle of spawning.   Northern Pike - Fair:  Anglers throwing spinnerbaits are catching pike.  Walleye - Fair: Smaller walleyes and sauger are hugging along the rocky bank lines. Small crankbaits and spinners work best.

Mississippi River Pool 15
Water level is receding to near 7.8 feet at Rock Island. Water is clear. Water temperature is around 68 degrees.

Water temperatures is in the upper 60s throughout the district. River levels are receding. If you have angling questions, call Bellevue Fisheries Management at 563-880-8781. 

Mississippi River Pool 16
Tailwater stage is 7.84 feet at Lock and Dam 15 in the Quad Cities and falling. Flood stage is 15 feet.  Bluegill - No report: Try pieces of worm under a bobber in the backwaters around brush piles and downed trees at Sunset marina or the Andalusia Island complex.  Channel Catfish - No report: Look for channel catfish around brush piles and snags along the main channel and side channels. Use cut bait, nightcrawlers, or stink bait fished upstream of structure.  Walleye - Fair: Anglers are catching walleye on the wing-dams around Credit Island and downstream of the 280 bridge. Cast crankbaits or jigs with plastic or nightcrawlers on the upstream side of the wing-dams or troll crankbaits. White Bass - No report: Look for white bass in Sylvan Slough below the Arsenal or rocky points.. Cast jigs and twister tails or inline spinners. White Crappie - No report: Look for crappies in the backwaters around brush piles . Float minnows under a bobber or vertical jig minnows around downed trees.

Mississippi River Pool 17
Tailwater stage is 6.4 feet at Lock and Dam 16 in Muscatine and falling. The gates are back in at the dam. Flood stage is 15 feet.  Bluegill - No report: Look for bluegills to start to move up shallow to spawn in the backwaters. Use pieces of worm under a bobber fished around brush piles and downed trees at Big Timber and Cleveland Slough.  Channel Catfish - No report: Try around brush piles and snags along the main channel and side channels or on the wing-dams.  Use cut bait, a nightcrawler or stink bait fished upstream of the structure.  Walleye - No Report: Look for walleye on the wing-dams. Cast crankbaits or jigs with plastic or nightcrawlers on the upstream side of the wing-dams or troll crankbaits. White Bass - No Report: Look for white bass around the outfalls around GPC GPC or rocky points with current. Cast jigs and twisters, inline spinnerbaits, or small crankbaits.  White Crappie - No Report: Look for crappies in the backwaters around brush piles and snags. Float minnows under a bobber or vertical jig with minnows around downed trees.

Mississippi River Pool 18
Tailwater stage is 7.71 feet at Lock and Dam 17 at New Boston and falling.  Flood stage is 15 feet.  The gates are back in the water at the Lock and Dam.  Bluegill - No report: Look for bluegills to move up shallow to spawn around brush piles and downed trees in the backwaters.  Use pieces of worm under a bobber.  Channel Catfish - No report: Try around brush piles and snags along the main channel and side channels.  Use slip sinkers with cut bait, nightcrawlers, or stink bait on the bottom fished upstream of snags or wing-dams.  Walleye - No Report: Look  for walleyes on the wing-dams.  Cast crankbaits or jigs with plastic or nightcrawlers on the upstream side of the wing-dams or troll crankbaits. White Bass - No report: Cast jigs and plastics, inline spinnerbaits, or small crankbaits around the outlet of Lake Odessa or rocky points with current.  White Crappie - No Report: Look for crappies in the backwaters around brush piles and downed trees. Float minnows under a bobber or vertical jig with minnows around woody structure.

Mississippi River Pool 19
Tailwater stage is 4.87 feet at Lock and Dam 18 above Burlington and falling. Flood stage is 10 feet.   Bluegill - No report: Bluegills will be moving up shallow to spawn soon.  Try a piece of worm under a bobber. around brush piles and downed trees in the backwaters.  Channel Catfish - No report: Look for channel catfish around brush piles or snags along the main channel and side channels.or on the wing-dams. Try fishing on the bottom with slip sinkers using cut bait, nightcrawlers, or stink bait.  Walleye - No Report: Look  for walleyes on the wing-dams.  Cast crankbaits or jigs with plastic or nightcrawlers on the upstream side of the wing-dams or troll crankbaits. White Crappie - No Report: Look for crappies in the backwaters around brush piles and downed trees.  Float minnows under a bobber or vertical jig with minnows. 

Tailwater stages have been falling this past week. Water clarity is still fair to poor.  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 70 degrees early in the morning and warming into the mid-70s by afternoon.  Duckweed still isn't too bad yet.  Bluegill - Good: Scout the shallows along the northside to findi spawning areas. Get the males to bite with small jigs tipped with a little live bait or just a worm and a bobber.  Channel Catfish - Good:  Try cut bait or nightcrawlers along the face of the dam.  Largemouth Bass - Good: Nesting is starting to wrap up; bass fry are emerging and will soon be leaving the nest along with dad.

Iowa River (Columbus Junction to Mississippi River)
River level is 3/4 bank full.  Water temperature is in the mid to upper 60's. Try nightcrawlers or cut bait in the back edges of the sandbars. Use minnows or green sunfish around the log jams.

Lake Belva Deer
Water temperature is 70 degrees. The curlyleaf beds are getting thick.  Black Crappie - Good:  Anglers are catching crappie along the edges of the curlyleaf.  Bluegill - Good:  Fishing is good, especially if you find the spawning beds.  Don't pass up the edges of the curlyleaf beds and any holes in them that you can get your bait into.  Channel Catfish - Good:  Look for catfish along the face of the dam when they are getting ready to spawn. Use cut bait,  nightcrawlers, or chicken liver.   Largemouth Bass - Good: The males are starting to move off the nests as the spawn starts to wrap up. You can still find some guarding the nest back into the trees.

Lake Darling
Water temperature is 74 degrees. Water clarity is very clear with over 6 feet of clarity.   Black Crappie - Good: Find crappies in shallow (a few feet out from shore) with water temperatures at 70+ degrees. Most crappie have retreated out over the rock piles in 6-8 feet of water; others are back out to their summer haunts in 10-12 feet of water. Bluegill - Good: Bluegills are on the beds. Find smaller bluegill in tight to shore and bigger ones nestingn 3-4 feet of water.  Channel Catfish - Fair: As the water warms, expect catfish to move the crevices in the rip-rap and around the culvert piles to prepare for their spawn. Use crawdads or minnows.  Largemouth Bass - Good: With the warm water temperatures, the bass spawn happened fast this year.The fry and the males are already leaving many of the nests; bigger females are out in deep water recovering from their efforts.

Lake Geode
Water temperature is near 70 degrees most days. Black Crappie - Good: Find 10- to 11- inch crappies; they have been spawning for the last few days.  Work the fallen trees and other near shore habitat.  Bluegill - Good:  Find males building nests in shallow bays.  Largemouth Bass - Good: The males are in shallow building nests; a few females are also in shallow.

Lake of the Hills
Water temperature is 69-70 degrees. Water clarity is 5+ feet.   Black Crappie - Slow: Just finished the initial stocking of black crappies; expect the crappie bite to pick up by this fall. Bluegill - Good: Try a worm and bobber close to shore; several spawning areas to choose from. Channel Catfish - Fair: Use nightcrawlers and stink bait along shore below Lambachs dam and by the spillways and parallel along the highway. Largemouth Bass - Good: Try nightcrawlers or soft plastics around the habitat in front of the fishing pier or around the trees and artificial habitat near shore.

Lost Grove Lake
Water is fairly clear at 6 feet+.  The curlyleaf is really coming in.  Black Crappie - Good:  Most crappies have moved out to deeper water and are suspended at 12-16 feet down. Try a jig and minnow.  Bluegill - Good: Use a worm and bobber or a small jig tipped with a worm "drift-trolled" to find them then switch to a small bobber and worm in 3 to 4 feet of water to catch bigger bluegills and redears.  Largemouth Bass - Good: Looking for the bigger bass?  Get way back into the trees or look for a piece of habitat that most anglers look right passed. Older bass are looking for places where people don't bother them.  

Railroad Lake
Water is very clear; a little algae around the edges. Black Crappie - Slow: Try small jigs around the trees and other habitat out away from shore. The spring spawn has wrapped. Bluegill - Good: Use nightcrawlers under bobbers or tip the hook of a small jig fished near shore Channel Catfish - Fair: Try nightcrawlers and stink baits. If there is a little wind, work the shoreline that it is blowing into. Largemouth Bass - Good: Use worm and bobber or cast with a nightcrawler rig.  Cast soft plastics around the brush piles closer to shore where the males are guarding nests.

Skunk River (Coppock to Mississippi)
River level is about 1/2 bank full. Try cutbait or minnows at the tail edge and back eddies of the rock riffs.

For more information on the above lakes and rivers call the Lake Darling Fisheries Office at 319-694-2430.

Cedar River (Cedar Rapids to Moscow)
Channel Catfish - Good. Flathead Catfish - Slow. Sauger - Slow: Try fishing sand bars early mornings. Walleye - Slow: Try fishing sand bars early mornings.

Cedar River (La Porte City to Cedar Rapids)
Channel Catfish -Good.  Flathead Catfish - Slow.  

Central Park Lake
Water temperature is in the low 70's. Many species of fish have started to spawn. Black Crappie – Fair.  Bluegill – Good. Largemouth Bass – Good.  Redear Sunfish – Good.

Coralville Reservoir
Channel Catfish - Good. Largemouth Bass - Fair.  Spotted Bass - Fair.  White Crappie - Good: Try fishing in brush piles or rock areas.

Diamond Lake
fish are 7- to 9-inches.  Largemouth Bass - Fair: Try fishing around brush piles.  White Crappie - Good: Try fishing around brush piles and rock shorelines. Most fish are 7- 9-inches.

Hannen Lake
Black Crappie - Good: Anglers are catching 8- to 11-inch crappie around brush piles. Bluegill - Good: Anglers are catching mostly 4- to 7-inche bluegills around brush piles. Largemouth Bass - Good: Try fishing around brush piles.

Iowa Lake (Iowa Co.)
Water is very clear, so fish spook easily.  Use lighter line and hooks to catch more fish. Black Crappie - Excellent: Use pink/white or green/white jigs on inside or outside edges of weed beds.  Bluegill - Excellent: Try nightcrawlers below a bobber.  Channel Catfish - Fair: Anglers are catching catfish. Largemouth Bass - Good.

Iowa River (Coralville Lake to River Junction)
Channel Catfish - Good.  Flathead Catfish - Slow.  Northern Pike -Slow.  Sauger - Slow.  Spotted Bass - Slow.  White Bass - Slow. Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) - Fair.

Iowa River (Marshalltown to Coralville Lake)
Channel Catfish - Good.  Walleye - Slow: Anglers are catching walleye with soft plastics.  White Bass - Fair. 

Lake Macbride
Bluegill - Fair.  Largemouth Bass - Good: Try fishing around brush piles.  Muskellunge - Fair.  Spotted Bass - Good.  Walleye- Fair. White Crappie - Good: Try fishing around brush piles and rock areas.  Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) - Fair.

Pleasant Creek Lake
Black Crappie - Good.  Bluegill - Good. Largemouth Bass -Good.  Muskellunge - Fair.  Walleye - Fair: Best bite is at night. Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) – Fair. 

Sand Lake 
Largemouth Bass - Fair: Try fishing in brush piles and rock areas. Rainbow Trout – Fair. You need a valid fishing license and pay the trout fee to fish for or possess trout.  

Wapsipinicon River (Troy Mills to Oxford Junction)
Black Crappie - Good. Bluegill - Fair.  Channel Catfish - Good. Northern Pike Slow. Smallmouth Bass - Fair. Walleye - Fair. 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.  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: Target jetties and along the dam.  Bluegill - Fair: Bluegills will move shallow as they spawn.  Use small jigs along the shorelines.  Largemouth Bass -Fair: Look for bass to start to move into shallow water along the dam.

Lake Sugema
Bluegill - Fair: Use small jigs in the shallows and around underwater habitat.  Largemouth Bass - Fair: Try spinnerbaits and plastics around the fishing jetties and along the face of the dam.

Lake Wapello
Black Crappie - Good: Use small jigs around structure and the shorelines.  Bluegill - Fair: Bluegills are on the beds and moving shallow.  Use small jigs in these areas.  Largemouth Bass - Fair: Use spinnerbaits and plastics around the cedar tree piles.

Rathbun Reservoir
The current lake level is 904.26 msl; recreation pool is 904 msl. Lake Rathbun has zebra mussels; properly drain, clean and dry equipment before transporting to another waterbody.  Black Crappies - Good: Crappies have started to move shallow and are biting along the shorelines.  Try small jigs or jigs under a slip bobber.  Walleye - Slow: Target post spawn walleyes around rock piles in 8-12 feet of water.  Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) - Fair: Anglers are catching hybrids.  Look for rock piles and rock reefs.  Cast crankbaits or try vertically jigging.

Red Haw Lake
Bluegill - Fair: Try small jigs around the shallows and any structure close to shore.  Largemouth Bass - Fair: Try spinners or plastics along shorelines.

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.  Black Crappie - Good: Catch crappie near any rock or wood; fish are staging just off shallow water on submerged brush piles. Cast and slowly retrieve small panfish plastics or use live minnows under bobbers.  The peak of the spawn is occurring.  Walleye - Fair:  Jig or troll live bait rigs off humps and around points in 10 to 20 feet of water during the day and shallower in the evenings near sunset.

Hickory Grove Lake
Black Crappie - Fair: Find crappies in shallow water. Cast small plastics or live minnows under floats near any wood or rock habitat along and just off the shoreline.  Bluegill - Good: Bluegills have moved shallow for spawning. Use worms or very small plastics under a bobber near shore in 2 to 5 feet of water

Red Rock Reservoir
Black Crappie - Good: Crappies are in shallow water with the peak of the spawn occurring. Cast small two inch or less plastics or live minnows under a float along shorelines with rip-rap.

Roberts Creek Lake
Black Crappie - Good: Cast plastics or minnows under a bobber in shallow water near any wood or rock structure to catch crappies still spawning.  Drift or troll small twister tails or swim baits at depths of 3 to 6 feet in the lower half of the lake to catch post-spawn crappie.

For information on Central Iowa lakes and rivers contact Andy Otting at 515-204-5885.

Greenfield Lake
Black Crappie - No Report: Look for spawning crappie along the dam. Channel Catfish - Fair. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Greenfield has a good largemouth bass population.

Lake Anita
The crappie bite has picked up. Black Crappie - Good: Sorting is needed for 9-inch fish.  Bluegill - Fair: Find bluegills close to historical spawning sites. Largemouth Bass - Fair.

Littlefield Lake
Black Crappie - Fair: Littlefield has a good population of 9-inch black crappie.  Look for spawning fish along the dam.

Mormon Trail Lake
Black Crappie - Good: Cast along the dam and around the jetties to find 9-inch black crappie.  Largemouth Bass - Fair: Mormon Trail has a good largemouth bass population with a good percent of fish over 15-inches.

Prairie Rose Lake
The water is extremely clear after the alum treatment. Black Crappie - Fair: Bite has slowed.  Look for spawning crappie around the rock piles, reefs, and jetties.  Bluegill - Good: Bluegills are starting to move up to spawn.  Largemouth Bass - Fair: Anglers are catching largemouth bass casting the shoreline.

Viking Lake
Water clarity is good. Black Crappie - Good: Cast small jigs 2 feet under a bobber in the pontoon arm of the lake. Sorting is needed for 9-inch fish. Bluegill - Fair: Bluegill average 7.5-inches. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Anglers are having good luck casting the shoreline.

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 the main boat ramp. Black Crappie - Fair: Catch crappies up to 9- inches with jigs or minnows fished along rocky shoreline areas or shallow brush piles.

Little River Watershed Lake
The dock is in at main boat ramp. Black Crappie - Fair: Use jigs or minnows along rocky shores or shallow brush piles to catch all sizes of crappies.  Bluegill - Fair: Try jigs near brush piles to catch all sizes of bluegill. Walleye - Fair:  Catch walleye up to 18-inches with crankbaits fished along the weedline.

Three Mile Lake
**Driving is prohibited on any service roads used to access the lakebed and the lakebed itself.**  Lake level is 10 feet below normal pool. Boat ramp lanes are out of the water at the main boat ramp. 

Twelve Mile Creek Lake
The dock is in at the main boat ramp. Black Crappie - Fair: Use jigs or minnows along rocky shores or shallow brush piles to catch all sizes of crappies  Bluegill - Fair: Use jigs near rock reefs to catch all sizes of bluegill.

Water temperature is in the low to mid to upper 60s in most district lakes. For more information, call Mount Ayr Fisheries office at 641-931-6031.