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 May 1, 2025:

NORTHWEST

Black Hawk Lake
Water levels are about 6 inches over the crest of the spillway. Water clarity is roughly 2 to 3 feet. Anglers are doing well from shore and boat.  Black Crappie - Fair: Anglers are starting to pick up crappies from shore.  Fishing along Ice House Point shoreline and in the marina have been productive. Walleye - Good: Anglers are picking up fish. Shore and boat fishing have been productive.  Use a leech, crawler, or minnow under a slip bobber near shore. Or bottom bouncer rig if fishing by boat.

Brushy Creek Lake
Black Crappie - Fair: Pick up crappie near shore in 2-8 feet of water near submerged structure. Walleye - Fair.

North Twin Lake
Water is roughly 6 inches below crest. Water clarity is 2 feet.

Storm Lake (incl Little Storm Lake)
Water temperatures are around 60 degrees. Anglers are catching crappie, walleye, and yellow bass in the marina.  Black Crappie - Slow: Try in the marina, around docks, or near the inlet. Walleye - Fair: Pick up fish from shore or by boat. Use a minnow, leach, or crawler fished near the bottom under a bobber from shore.  Or from boat use a bottom bouncer rig near the dredge cut. Yellow Bass - Fair: Anglers are catching bass in the marina. 

For more information, contact the Black Hawk District office at 712-657-2638.

Clear Lake
Water temperatures is in the upper 50s. Water level is 2.2 inches over crest. The fish cleaning station is open. Walleye - Good: Anglers wading and boat fishing are catching walleye. Try jigs, minnows, or slow retrieved crankbaits near vegetation.  Shore anglers should try near the canals and the jetties in the morning or after sunset. Yellow Bass – Slow: Fish will move shallow on warm afternoons.

Crystal Lake
Walleye - Slow.

Rice Lake
Bluegill - Slow.  Largemouth Bass- Good: Target woody habitat near the shore.  Yellow Perch - Slow: Try fishing near the cattail edges on warmer days.

Silver Lake (Worth)
The courtesy dock is in. Bluegill – Slow. Largemouth Bass - Good: Try slow retrieved plastic baits. Yellow Perch – Slow.

Winnebago River
Water level is 6.78 feet. Northern Pike - Fair: Use suckers, chubs, and jigs in slack current areas and where tributaries enter the river.

For additional information, contact Clear Lake Fisheries Office at 641-357-3517.

East Okoboji Lake
The Walleye season opens May 3rd. 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 Walleye season opens May 3rd.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
The Walleye season opens May 3rd. Black Crappie - Fair:  Bluegill - Fair. 

Area boat ramp courtesy docks are in place and useable. Fish cleaning stations are operational.  Water temperatures are around 60 degrees.  Most lakes are at crest level.  The walleye season on the IGL's opens May 3rd. For current conditions, call 712-330-2542.

NORTHEAST

Cedar River (above Nashua)
Water temperatures in the upper 50s. Water levels are slowly falling.  A slight bump may occur with rainfall.  Black Crappie - Fair: Action is picking up; use minnows. Channel Catfish - Excellent: Anglers using chicken liver fished on the bottom are finding good action in impoundments and off channel areas. Smallmouth Bass - Slow: 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 are up with recent rain. Caddisfly and midge hatches are common. Turkey season is in full swing.  Avoid wearing red, white, or blue; these colors look like a turkey head. Brook Trout - Slow: Good hatches of caddis and midges are occurring on warm sunny afternoons. 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
Fish activity is picking up as water warms.  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 - Fair. Find gills around pallet structures. Use a small hook tipped with worm under a bobber. Largemouth Bass -Fair: Try spinnerbaits along weed lines in about 6 feet of water. 

Lake Meyer
Fish activity is improving as water warms. Black Crappie - Slow.  Bluegill - Fair: Use a small jig tipped with a waxworm or red worms around the jetties. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Find bass along drop-offs or near woody structure near shore.

Turkey River (below Clermont)
Water temperatures is in the upper 50s. Water levels are slowly dropping to stable. Water clarity is fair. Walleye – Fair. White Sucker – Good:Try worms fished on the stream bottom. 

Upper Iowa River (above Decorah)
Water levels are slowly falling with off-color water. Water temperature is in the 50s. Smallmouth Bass - Slow. Walleye - Fair: Use a jig tipped with a minnow in slack water below dams. White Sucker - Fair: Sucker bite is variable. Use a worm on the stream bottom.

Volga Lake
Few anglers are out due to windy weather.  Black Crappie - Slow: Find crappie around woody structure. Use a flashy lure to attract attention. Bluegill - Slow: Find bluegills around structure near shore. Use small jigs tipped with waxworms or a small piece of nightcrawler.  Largemouth Bass - Fair: Try crankbaits or spinnerbaits in the drop-offs, downed trees, or rocky areas. 

Rain expected on Thursday into Friday. Rain amounts are variable. Temperatures are in the upper 60s to 40s. Turkey Hunting is in full swing until May 18.  For more information, contact the Chuck Gipp Decorah Fish Hatchery at 563-382-8324.

Cedar River (Nashua to La Porte City) 
Anglers are catching walleye and crappie.  Black Crappie- Fair: Drift a minnow under a slip bobber or cast and retrieve a crappie jig.  Channel Catfish - Fair: Use stink baits or chubs. 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. 

Heritage Pond
Heritage Pond was stocked last Saturday 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
Trout streams have been up and down due to recent rainfall events. Next week’s forecast calls for temperatures near 70 degrees; should be good aquatic insect hatches to provide great trout fishing.

Maquoketa River (above Monticello)
Anglers are catching walleye and smallmouth bass. River levels have fallen and 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 on the rise and murky. Anglers are catching smallmouth bass.

North Prairie Lake
North Prairie Lake was stocked last Saturday 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)
We have received no information regarding fishing on this water body this week.

Most interior river levels continue to fall after recent rainfall events. Anglers continue to catch a few walleye and crappie on the rivers. No reports for area lakes in and around Cedar Falls/Waterloo area.  Trout streams should be in good condition as the rain forecast has diminished through all of next week. For more information, contact Manchester Hatchery at 563-927-3276.

MISSISSIPPI RIVER

Mississippi River Pool 9
Water level has risen to 9.2 feet at Lansing and is expected to reach 9.4 feet and hold there before receding next week.  Water temperature is near 61 degrees. Channel Catfish - Good: Try a weighted crawler off the bottom in current eddies. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Throw plastics along the shorelines in the upper end of backwaters away from current.  Northern Pike - Excellent: 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 has risen to 619.5 feet at Lynxville and is expected to remain there next week. Fishing away from the current below the Lock and Dam or side channels has been good.  Water temperature is 61 degrees at the Lock and Dam. Channel Catfish - Good: Try a weighted crawler off the bottom in current eddies.  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 has risen to 11.6 feet at Guttenberg and is expected to fluctuate next week. Water temperature is near 60 degrees.  Channel Catfish - Good: Try a weighted crawler off the bottom in current eddies.   Largemouth Bass- Fair: Throw plastic along the shorelines in the upper end of backwaters away from current.  Northern Pike - Excellent: 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 - Good: 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 is rising again. During high water, find areas away from the current to fish.  Recent rain has muddied the water.  The bite is improving as fish become more active with warmer water temperatures. Water temperature is in the upper 50s

Mississippi River Pool 12
Water level is stable at 11.6 feet at Dubuque Lock and Dam and 13.7 feet at RR Bridge. The water is clear. Water temperature is around 61 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 - No report:  Starting to hear anglers getting some bluegills out of the newly flooded backwaters. Freshwater Drum - Good: Easily catch drum on an egg sinker and worm rigs.  Northern Pike - Fair: Pike fishing has been very good this winter and early spring.  It has slowed; should pick up again after water warms a bit.  Walleye - Slow: Most walleyes have spawned; usually bite starts to pick back up on wing dams in the next few weeks. Yellow Perch -Good: Try jig and worm rigs in the tailwater areas.

Mississippi River Pool 13
Water level is stable at near 12.6 feet at Bellevue. Water is clear. Water temperature is around 62 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. Brown Bullhead - Good: The lower pool access sites are good places to fish off the bank to catch brown bullhead and an occasional catfish. Bullheads are good early season biters. Channel Catfish- Good: Look for feeding catfish in flooded areas. Northern Pike - No report: Expect pike to start biting again soon; populations are very good in Pool 13.  Paddlefish - No Report: Paddlefish snagging season is closed.  Rainbow Trout - Excellent: The Kids' trout pond north of the DNR fisheries station is stocked with trout and should remain good fishing until April/May when it will weed over. Walleye - Slow: Most walleyes have spawned; usually bite starts to pick back up on wing dams in the next few weeks. Yellow Perch - Good: Try small jigs and worm rigs in the tailwaters.

Mississippi River Pool 14
Water level is stable at near 12.0 feet at Fulton, 14.2 feet at Camanche, and 8.5 feet at LeClaire. Water is clear. Water temperature is around 62 degrees. Bluegill - Fair: Fishing is picking up. Channel Catfish -Good: Seems early, but good channel catfishing is occurring using blood baits.  Northern Pike - Fair:  Anglers throwing spinnerbaits are catching pike. Paddlefish - No Report: Paddlefish snagging season is now closed.  Walleye - Slow: Most walleyes have spawned; usually bite starts to pick back up on wing dams in the next few weeks.

Mississippi River Pool 15
Water level is stable at near 12.1 feet at Rock Island. Water is clear. Water temperature is around 63 degrees.

Water temperatures is in the lower 60s throughout the district.  Levels are stabilizing. If you have angling questions, call Bellevue Fisheries Management at 563-880-8781. 

Mississippi River Pool 16
Tailwater stage is 12.05 feet at Lock and Dam 15 in the Quad Cities; forecast to stay fairly steady through the weekend then start to fall by next week. Flood stage is 15 feet.  Largemouth Bass - No report: Look for largemouth bass in the backwaters around woody structure. Walleye - No Report: Look for walleyes in Sylvan Slough. Use jigs and minnows or troll three-way rigs with minnows or crankbaits. Start looking for walleyes on the wing dams. Troll three-way rigs with crawlers or cast and troll crankbaits on the upstream side of the wing dams. White Bass - No report: Look for white bass in Sylvan Slough and around Arsenal and Power dam outflows. Cast jigs and twister tails or crankbaits.  White Crappie - No report: Look for crappies in the backwaters around brush piles as water temperatures start to warm. Try minnows under a bobber or jigs and minnows at Sunset Marina and the Andalusia Island complex.

Mississippi River Pool 17
Tailwater stage is 10.99 feet at Lock and Dam 16 in Muscatine and forecast to reach 11.4 feet over the weekend. The gates are out of the water at the Lock and Dam. Flood stage is 15 feet. Largemouth Bass - No Report: Look for largemouth bass around woody structure in the backwaters.  Places to try are Big Timber and Cleveland Slough.  Walleye - No Report: Look for walleye on the wing dams. Use jigs and minnows or troll three-way rigs with minnows or crankbaits. Casting crankbaits at the wing dams can produce fish. White Bass - No Report: Look for white bass around the outfalls around GPC. Cast jigs and plastic or crankbaits.  White Crappie - No Report: Look for crappies in the backwaters around brush piles as water temperatures start to warm. Try minnows under a bobber or jigs and minnows.

Mississippi River Pool 18
Tailwater stage is 12.82 feet at Lock and Dam 17 at New Boston and forecast to reach 13.0 feet over the weekend.  Flood stage is 15 feet.  The gates are out of the water at the Lock and Dam.  Walleye - No Report: Try vertical jigging with minnows or troll three-way rigs with minnows or crankbaits on the upstream  side of the wing dams.  Casting crankbaits at the wingdams can produce fish.  White Crappie - No Report: Look for crappies in the backwaters around brush piles as water temperatures start to warm. Try minnows under a bobber or jigs and minnows at the Huron Island complex.

Mississippi River Pool 19
Tailwater stage is 9.05 feet at Lock and Dam 18 above Burlington and is forecast to stay fairly steady over the weekend. Flood stage is 10 feet. The gates are out of the water at the Lock and Dam. Walleye - No Report: Look for walleye on the wing dams. Use jigs and minnows or troll three-way rigs with minnows or crankbaits. Casting crankbaits to the wingdams can produce fish. White Crappie - No Report: Look for crappies in the backwaters around brush piles as water temperatures start to warm. Try minnows under a bobber or jigs and minnows. 

River stage is forecast to crest over the weekend and start to fall by next week.  Main channel water temperature is around 61 degrees. Water clarity is fair to poor with recent rain.  If you have questions on fishing Pools 16-19, contact the Fairport Fish Hatchery at 563-263-5062.

SOUTHEAST

Big Hollow Lake
Water temperature was hitting mid-60s at the end of last week.  Now back down to the low 60s. Black Crappie - Fair: Crappies came in for a short time over the weekend; most have retreated back out into 6-8 feet of water. Bluegill - Fair: Bluegills have moved back out to 5-6 feet of water in the trees with the cooling water temperatures.  Channel Catfish - Fair: Start fishing the face of the dam and off the ends of the jetties with the rains. Switch to nightcrawlers for bait.

Lake Belva Deer
Water temperature is 60-61 degrees. Water is clear.  Black Crappie - Fair:  Some crappies moved in shallow at the end of last week;  they headed right back out to 8-10 feet of water as the weather cooled.  Bluegill - Fair:  Bluegills weren't fooled by last Friday's warm weather, they stayed right where they were in the trees in 6-8 feet of water.  Largemouth Bass - Good: The pre-spawn bass are on the hunt; get back deep into the trees to find the big bass.

Lake Darling
Water temperature is 61 degrees. Water clarity is about 3 feet. Black Crappie - Good  Immature 6- to 8-inch crappies are in shallow. The spawn does not seem to have started yet; shouldn't be too much longer. Bluegill - Fair: Bluegills are hanging out over the habitat in 6-8 feet of water.

Lake Geode
Water temperature is in the low 60s after a brief time in the mid-60s at the end of last week. Black Crappie - Good:  Find crappies suspended above rock piles or trees in about 6-8 feet of water. Try bobber and minnow or small jigs worked fairly slowly.  They came in shallow for a short time at the end of last week.  Bluegill - Fair:  Bluegills are hanging out in 6-8 feet of water around the cedar trees and fish habitat.  Use worm ad bobber or a small jig tipped with a piece of worm.  Largemouth Bass - Fair: Bass remain active.  Try fishing in shallower water habitat and trees in 4-6 feet of water where they are hunting green sunfish.

Lost Grove Lake
Water temperature is in the low 60s. Water is clear; curlyleaf pondweed is starting to hit the top of the water in the shallows.  Black Crappie - Good:  Some are starting to move into the shallows. Anglers are catching them on minnows.  Bluegill - Fair: Bluegills are hanging out in 6-8 feet of water.  Largemouth Bass - Good: Bass are starting to work their way into shallower water; males will start picking out territories in some of the warmer bays.  

Skunk River (Coppock to Mississippi)

Water temperature is in the upper 50's. Recent rains are keeping the river level up if not even a little rise. Channel Catfish - The current is still moving fairly fast.  With the cooler water, try fishing the slack water as the fish aren't going to want to spend the energy to fight the current when they are still pretty cold for a catfish.

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)
Fishing has slowed due to high water levels. Channel Catfish - Slow: Try fishing around brush piles and rocks. Sauger - Slow. Walleye - Slow.

Cedar River (La Porte City to Cedar Rapids)
Fishing has slowed with higher river levels. Channel Catfish - Slow:  Walleye - Slow:  White Bass - Slow: 

Coralville Reservoir
Channel Catfish - Slow. Largemouth Bass - Fair.  Spotted Bass - Fair.  White Crappie - Fair: Try fishing in brush piles or off the docks.

Diamond Lake
Black Crappie - Fair.

Hannen Lake
Black Crappie - Fair: Anglers are catching 8- to 11-inch crappie around brush piles. Bluegill - Fair: Anglers are catching mostly small bluegill 4- to 7-inches around brush piles. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Try fishing around brush piles.

Iowa Lake (Iowa Co.)
Water temperatures are in mid-60s. Black Crappie - Good: Crappies are moving shallower. Anglers are catching crappie in less than 8 feet of water.  Bluegill - Fair. Largemouth Bass - Fair.

Iowa River (Coralville Lake to River Junction)
Channel Catfish - Slow.  Spotted Bass - Slow.  White Bass - Slow. Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) - Slow.

Iowa River (Marshalltown to Coralville Lake)
Fishing has slowed with higher river levels. Channel Catfish -Slow.  Walleye - Slow: Anglers are catching a few walleye with soft plastics.

Lake Macbride
Bluegill - Fair: Find bluegill around brush piles and rock shorelines.  Largemouth Bass - Fair: Try jigs, spinnerbaits, or chatter baits in brush piles and rocky areas.  Muskellunge - Slow.  Spotted Bass - Fair: Use jigs, spinnerbaits, or chatter baits in brush piles and rocky areas.  Walleye- Slow. White Crappie - Fair: Find crappie around brush piles.  Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) - Slow: Wipers are suspended near brush piles.

Pleasant Creek Lake
Black Crappie - Fair: Anglers were catching crappie close to shore after dark. Crappie have moved back out to deeper water with the recent cool down. Bluegill - Fair: Fish were moving up to shore, but have pushed back out to deeper brush piles off shore. Largemouth Bass - Fair:  Walleye - Fair: Best bite is at night. Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) – Slow. 

Sand Lake 
2000 rainbow trout were stocked last week. 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)
Fishing has slowed after recent rains.  River levels are expected to be high for some time.  Black Crappie - Slow. Bluegill - Slow.  Channel Catfish - Slow. Northern Pike Slow. Smallmouth Bass - Slow. Walleye - Slow. White Sucker - Slow.

Fishing has slowed due to rain; should pick back up with stable and warming weather.  For more information, contact the Lake Macbride Fisheries Station at 319-624-3615.

Hawthorn Lake
Black Crappie - Slow.  Use small jigs around structure and the jetties.  Largemouth Bass - Fair: Largemouth bass should start to move into shallow water as temperatures warm.  Use plastics fished slowly.

Lake Keomah
Lake Keomah is drained for a lake restoration project. Please stay out of the lakebed.

Lake Miami
Black Crappie - Slow: Target jetties and along the dam. Channel Catfish - Slow: Try dead minnows on wind-blown shorelines.  Largemouth Bass -Fair: Look for bass to start to move into shallow water along the dam.

Lake Sugema
Bluegill - No report: Bluegill should start to move shallow as the water temperature increases.  Use small jigs. Channel Catfish - Slow: Try shad guts or dead chubs on wind-blown shorelines.

Lake Wapello
Black Crappie - Slow: Crappies should start to move in shallow as the water temperature increases. Use small jigs around structure. Channel Catfish - Slow: Try dead minnows on wind-blown shorelines. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Use spinnerbaits and plastics around the cedar tree piles.

Ottumwa Park Pond South (Trout Pond)
1500 trout were stocked in late March.  You need a valid fishing license and pay the trout fee to fish for or possess trout. Try in-line spinners, chunks of nightcrawlers or prepared trout baits.

Rathbun Reservoir
The current lake level is 904.24 msl; recreation pool is 904 msl. Water temperatures are in the mid-50s. Lake Rathbun has zebra mussels; properly drain, clean and dry equipment before transporting to another waterbody. Black Crappies - Slow: Water temperatures are still pretty cool for crappies to move shallow.  Some will start to move as water temperatures warm; most move in about the first two weeks of May.  Channel Catfish - Slow: Use shad guts or dead chubs on wind-blown shorelines. Walleye - Slow: Walleye broodstock collections have been completed for the season.  Target post spawn walleyes around rock piles in 8-12 feet of water.

Red Haw Lake
Bluegill - Slow: Bluegills should start to move shallow with warmer water temperatures.  Channel Catfish - Slow: Try dead minnows on the shorelines.  Largemouth Bass - Fair: Use 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
Black Crappie - Fair: Catch crappie beginning to move shallow near any rock or wood as well as fish staging just off shallow water on submerged brush piles. Cast small panfish plastics or a live minnow under bobber.  The peak of the spawn will likely be near the second and third week of May.  Walleye - Fair:  Jigg or troll live bait rigs off humps and around points at depths of 10 to 20 feet during the day and shallower in the evenings near sunset.

Boone District Farm Ponds
Community ponds are the quickest to warm up after ice out, creating a fair to good pre-spawn largemouth bass and crappie bite. Check the Fish Local page to find ponds with public access. Black Crappie – Fair: Catch early season crappie in the community ponds slowly retrieving small twister tails or swim baits.  If it exists in the pond target edges of cattail stands and any wood habitat.  Largemouth Bass - Good: Catch pre-spawn largemouth bass slowly retrieving plastics and shallow diving crankbaits.

Hickory Grove Lake
Black Crappie - Fair: Crappie fishing will pick up as they move shallow. Cast small plastics or live minnows under floats near any wood or rock habitat along and just off the shoreline.

Red Rock Reservoir
Black Crappie - Fair: Crappies are moving shallow. The first areas to check are any shorelines with rip-rap.  Cast small two inch or less plastics or live minnows under a float.

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

Greenfield Lake
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: Anglers are catching bluegills over the roadbed. 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
Starting Monday the 5th through the 14th, there will be semi-truck traffic at the south boat ramp to prepare for the alum treatment.  The ramp will be open to the public, but may cause delay in launching boats.  Black Crappie - Good: Anglers are catching black crappie around the rock piles and jetties.  Bluegill - Fair.  Largemouth Bass - Fair: Anglers are catching largemouth bass around the jetties.

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.  Channel Catfish - Fair: Use shad sides or cut bait on the windy shoreline. Largemouth Bass - Good: 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 fished along rocky shoreline area.

Little River Watershed Lake
The dock is in at main boat ramp. Black Crappie - Good: Use jigs fished near rocky shoreline areas or cedar tree brush piles to catch all sizes of crappies.

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: Catch crappies of all sizes with jigs near cedar tree brush piles.  Bluegill - Fair: Catch all sizes of bluegill with jigs fished near cedar tree brush piles.

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