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Iowa Fishing Report
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Waterbody District Comments Date
Brinker Lake Northeast Interior river levels remain in good condition but may be a bit more turbid with the recent rainfall we've received. Lakes in and around Black Hawk county have been hit and miss although anglers are catching crappie on some of the area lakes. Trout streams vary in condition with the recent rainfall, anglers may want to call ahead on stream conditions. For further information contact the N.E. District Office at 563-927-3276. 09/12 10:44
Brinker Lake Northeast Anglers are still having fair to good success catching crappie in Brinker Lake. 09/12 10:44
Brinker Lake Northeast Black Crappie - Fair: Look for structure and fish a live minnow or jigs at various depths to locate suspended fish. 09/12 10:44
Casey Lake (aka Hickory Hills Lake) Northeast Interior river levels remain in good condition but may be a bit more turbid with the recent rainfall we've received. Lakes in and around Black Hawk county have been hit and miss although anglers are catching crappie on some of the area lakes. Trout streams vary in condition with the recent rainfall, anglers may want to call ahead on stream conditions. For further information contact the N.E. District Office at 563-927-3276. 09/12 10:44
Casey Lake (aka Hickory Hills Lake) Northeast Anglers have only been doing fair on channel catfish and bluegill in Casey Lake. 09/12 10:44
Casey Lake (aka Hickory Hills Lake) Northeast Bluegill - Fair: Locate structure or fish from jetties or off of dam to locate bluegill. Try casting and retrieving small jigs or using piece of night crawler under a bobber. 09/12 10:44
Casey Lake (aka Hickory Hills Lake) Northeast Channel Catfish - Fair: Anglers have had best success fishing after dark. Use stinkbaits or dead cutbaits for best success. 09/12 10:44
Cedar River (Nashua to La Porte City) Northeast Interior river levels remain in good condition but may be a bit more turbid with the recent rainfall we've received. Lakes in and around Black Hawk county have been hit and miss although anglers are catching crappie on some of the area lakes. Trout streams vary in condition with the recent rainfall, anglers may want to call ahead on stream conditions. For further information contact the N.E. District Office at 563-927-3276. 09/12 10:44
Cedar River (Nashua to La Porte City) Northeast Anglers have been doing only fair on the Cedar River catching walleye and channel catfish. 09/12 10:44
Cedar River (Nashua to La Porte City) Northeast Channel Catfish - Fair: Look for log jams or snags to locate channel catfish on the rivers. Chicken liver, stinkbaits and cutbaits are usually good baits. 09/12 10:44
Cedar River (Nashua to La Porte City) Northeast Walleye - Fair: Casting and retrieving a half a crawler on a jig or casting a crankbait for walleye is good this time of year. Look for woody structure or dropoffs of downstream sandbars to locate walleye. 09/12 10:44
Cedar River (Nashua to La Porte City) Northeast Smallmouth Bass - Good: Try casting a jig and plastic or spinnerbaits along rocky shorelines for some great smally action. 09/12 11:11
Lake Delhi Northeast Interior river levels remain in good condition but may be a bit more turbid with the recent rainfall we've received. Lakes in and around Black Hawk county have been hit and miss although anglers are catching crappie on some of the area lakes. Trout streams vary in condition with the recent rainfall, anglers may want to call ahead on stream conditions. For further information contact the N.E. District Office at 563-927-3276. 09/12 10:44
Lake Delhi Northeast Bluegill - Fair: Locate structure or fish from docks to locate bluegill. Try casting and retrieving small jigs or using piece of night crawler under a bobber 09/12 10:44
Lake Delhi Northeast Lake Delhi has been producing bluegill and largemouth bass, boat traffic should subside now after the holiday weekend. 09/12 10:44
Lake Delhi Northeast Largemouth Bass - Fair: Try casting and retrieving spinnerbaits, crankbaits or plastics targeting area docks and shorelines. 09/12 10:44
Maquoketa River (above Monticello) Northeast Interior river levels remain in good condition but may be a bit more turbid with the recent rainfall we've received. Lakes in and around Black Hawk county have been hit and miss although anglers are catching crappie on some of the area lakes. Trout streams vary in condition with the recent rainfall, anglers may want to call ahead on stream conditions. For further information contact the N.E. District Office at 563-927-3276. 09/12 10:44
Maquoketa River (above Monticello) Northeast There have been no reports for the Maquoketa River this past week. The river did rise and had become turbid with the recent rainfall events. 09/12 11:13
Shell Rock River (Greene to Shell Rock) Northeast Interior river levels remain in good condition but may be a bit more turbid with the recent rainfall we've received. Lakes in and around Black Hawk county have been hit and miss although anglers are catching crappie on some of the area lakes. Trout streams vary in condition with the recent rainfall, anglers may want to call ahead on stream conditions. For further information contact the N.E. District Office at 563-927-3276. 09/12 10:44
Shell Rock River (Greene to Shell Rock) Northeast there have been few reports from the Shell Rock River of walleye but the reports have been good. 09/12 10:44
Shell Rock River (Greene to Shell Rock) Northeast Walleye - Good: Casting and retrieving a half a crawler on a jig or casting a crankbait for walleye is good this time of year. Look for woody structure or dropoffs of downstream sandbars to locate walleye 09/12 10:44
Shell Rock River (Greene to Shell Rock) Northeast Channel Catfish - Fair: Look for log jams or snags to locate channel catfish on the rivers. Chicken liver, stinkbaits and cutbaits are usually good baits. 09/12 11:09
Shell Rock River (Greene to Shell Rock) Northeast Smallmouth Bass - Good: Try casting a jig and plastic or spinnerbaits along rocky shorelines for some great smally action. 09/12 11:10
Wapsi River (Tripoli to Troy Mills) Northeast Interior river levels remain in good condition but may be a bit more turbid with the recent rainfall we've received. Lakes in and around Black Hawk county have been hit and miss although anglers are catching crappie on some of the area lakes. Trout streams vary in condition with the recent rainfall, anglers may want to call ahead on stream conditions. For further information contact the N.E. District Office at 563-927-3276. 09/12 10:44
Wapsi River (Tripoli to Troy Mills) Northeast There have been no reports for the Wapsipinicon River this past week. 09/12 11:14
Black Hawk Lake Northwest For more information, contact the Black Hawk District office at 712-657-2638. 09/12 08:50
Black Hawk Lake Northwest Water temperature is around 70 degrees. 09/12 08:50
Black Hawk Lake Northwest Black Crappie - Fair: Crappie are being picked up from shore in Town Bay, from the fish house, and from the inlet bridge. 09/12 08:50
Black Hawk Lake Northwest Channel Catfish - Fair: Anglers are catching catfish from the East Shore near the outlet, off the inlet bridge, and from shore in Town Bay. Crawlers and cut bait fished on the bottom seems to be working the best. 09/12 08:50
Black Hawk Lake Northwest Largemouth Bass - Fair: Use traditional bass lures anywhere along shore. 09/12 08:50
Black Hawk Lake Northwest Walleye - Slow: Walleye action has been slow this last week, but look for the bite to pick up as water temperature starts to cool down. 09/12 08:50
Black Hawk Lake Northwest Yellow Perch - Fair: Catch perch from shore along Ice House Point, from the fish house in Town Bay, and the inlet bridge. Use crawlers or small minnows on a jig. 09/12 08:50
Brushy Creek Lake Northwest For more information, contact the Black Hawk District office at 712-657-2638. 09/12 08:50
Brushy Creek Lake Northwest Largemouth Bass - Fair: Fish along the edges of vegetation with traditional bass lures and topwater lures for the best action. 09/12 08:52
Brushy Creek Lake Northwest Bluegill - Fair: catch bluegill near structure using a small jig tipped with a piece of crawler. 09/12 08:58
Brushy Creek Lake Northwest Yellow Perch - Fair: Find perch along vegetation edges and structure in 5-10 feet of water. Use a small jig with minnow or crawler. 09/12 08:59
North Twin Lake Northwest For more information, contact the Black Hawk District office at 712-657-2638. 09/12 08:50
North Twin Lake Northwest Channel Catfish - Fair: Fish for channel catfish from shore using crawlers or cut bait fished on the bottom. 09/12 08:50
North Twin Lake Northwest Walleye - Fair: Fish for walleye next to vegetation near shore in 5-8 feet of water. 09/12 08:50
North Twin Lake Northwest Water temperature is around 70 degrees. 09/12 08:50
Storm Lake (incl Little Storm Lake) Northwest For more information, contact the Black Hawk District office at 712-657-2638. 09/12 08:50
Storm Lake (incl Little Storm Lake) Northwest Water temperature is around 70 degrees. 09/12 08:50
Storm Lake (incl Little Storm Lake) Northwest Channel Catfish - Fair: Fish crawlers or cut bait on the bottom from shore or rock piles near the islands. 09/12 08:50
Storm Lake (incl Little Storm Lake) Northwest Walleye - Fair: Pick walleye up in the dredge cuts both on the east and west side of the lake. As water begins to cool, look for shore fishing action along the east shore and near the inlet to pick up. 09/12 08:50
Storm Lake (incl Little Storm Lake) Northwest White Bass - Fair: Fish have been picked up with crawlers, crankbaits, and twisters. Fish from shore and near the inlet. 09/12 08:50
Big Hollow Lake Southeast For more information on the above lakes call the Lake Darling Fisheries Station at (319)694-2430 09/12 10:25
Big Hollow Lake Southeast Water temperature is in the mid 70's now. 09/12 10:33
Big Hollow Lake Southeast Bluegill - Fair: Anglers are picking up some nice bluegills in 6 to 8 foot of water out in the flooded timber. 09/12 10:34
Big Hollow Lake Southeast Largemouth Bass - Fair: Work the flooded timber with soft plastics out in 6 to 8 foot of water or up around the big brushpiles near the upper end of the lake to find some nice bass. 09/12 10:35
Hawthorn Lake Southeast The district includes Mahaska, Lucas, Wayne, Monroe, Appanoose, Wapello, Davis and Van Buren counties. For more information, contact the Rathbun fish hatchery at 641-647-2406. 09/12 07:31
Hawthorn Lake Southeast Bluegill - Fair: Try small jigs tipped with a waxworm. Sorting is required for larger fish. 09/12 07:31
Hawthorn Lake Southeast Channel Catfish - Fair: Try dead chubs or nightcrawlers in 4-8 feet of water. 09/12 07:31
Hawthorn Lake Southeast Largemouth Bass - Fair: Try rubber worms or spinnerbaits along the rock jetties and the face of the dam. Try topwater lures early and late in the day in the same locations. 09/12 07:31
Iowa River (Columbus Junction to Mississippi River) Southeast For more information on the above lakes call the Lake Darling Fisheries Station at (319)694-2430 09/12 10:25
Iowa River (Columbus Junction to Mississippi River) Southeast Channel Catfish - Good: The rains should flush some more food into the river make sure not to pass up any mouth of the feeder creeks. 09/12 10:25
Iowa River (Columbus Junction to Mississippi River) Southeast The heavy rains in the upper watershed are forecasted to make the water level at this end jump up a couple of feet by the middle of next week. 09/12 10:25
Lake Belva Deer Southeast For more information on the above lakes call the Lake Darling Fisheries Station at (319)694-2430 09/12 10:25
Lake Belva Deer Southeast Water temperature continues to hang around 75 degrees.. Still a little green but a good rain would take care of that. 09/12 10:25
Lake Belva Deer Southeast Bluegill - Good: Anglers are picking up more bluegills now but they remain out in the deeper 10 to 12 foot water. 09/12 10:25
Lake Belva Deer Southeast Channel Catfish - Fair: The catfish for the most part have moved into deeper water along the old creek channel is a good place to start. 09/12 10:25
Lake Belva Deer Southeast Largemouth Bass - Fair: Anglers are starting to pick up more bass in the shallow water with the cool weather. 09/12 10:25
Lake Darling Southeast For more information on the above lakes call the Lake Darling Fisheries Station at (319)694-2430 09/12 10:25
Lake Darling Southeast Black Crappie - Good: Catch rate is picking up a little now. Still work the deeper habitat as they haven't made that transition to shallow water just yet. 09/12 10:25
Lake Darling Southeast Bluegill - Fair: The bigger bluegills are still mostly in the deeper water (8-10 ft) around the rock piles and brush piles. A few of the smaller ones are in shallow. 09/12 10:25
Lake Darling Southeast Channel Catfish - Slow: If we get some rain Sunday (9/8) that ought to make them perk back up. 09/12 10:25
Lake Darling Southeast Largemouth Bass - Fair: Anglers are still picking up some bass in shallow but the catch rates have dropped a little again. 09/12 10:25
Lake Darling Southeast The recent rains have knocked the green color of the water back a little but it's still green. Water temperature 75. 09/12 10:25
Lake Miami Southeast The district includes Mahaska, Lucas, Wayne, Monroe, Appanoose, Wapello, Davis and Van Buren counties. For more information, contact the Rathbun fish hatchery at 641-647-2406. 09/12 07:31
Lake Miami Southeast Bluegill - Fair: Try small jigs tipped with a chunk of nightcrawler fished around the fishing jetties and rip-rapped shorelines. Drifting this time of year can also produce some fish. 09/12 07:31
Lake Miami Southeast Channel Catfish - Fair: Try nightcrawlers along the shorelines. 09/12 07:31
Lake Miami Southeast Largemouth Bass - Good: Try spinnerbaits or rubber worms around the fishing jetties and around the submerged cedar trees. 09/12 07:31
Lake Sugema Southeast The district includes Mahaska, Lucas, Wayne, Monroe, Appanoose, Wapello, Davis and Van Buren counties. For more information, contact the Rathbun fish hatchery at 641-647-2406. 09/12 07:31
Lake Sugema Southeast Black Crappie - Slow: Try jigs tipped with a minnow around the flooded timber and submerged structure. Drifting in open water areas can also produce some fish this time of year. 09/12 07:31
Lake Sugema Southeast Bluegill - Fair: Try small jigs tipped with a chunk of nightcrawler in the open areas of the aquatic vegetation. 09/12 07:31
Lake Sugema Southeast Largemouth Bass - Fair: Try rubber worms around openings in the vegetation or spinnerbaits around the jetties and rip-rapped shorelines. 09/12 07:31
Lake Wapello Southeast The district includes Mahaska, Lucas, Wayne, Monroe, Appanoose, Wapello, Davis and Van Buren counties. For more information, contact the Rathbun fish hatchery at 641-647-2406. 09/12 07:31
Lake Wapello Southeast Channel Catfish - Fair: Try cut bait or dead chubs along the shorelines. Don't fish too deep as most lakes have stratified. 09/12 07:31
Lake Wapello Southeast Black Crappie - Fair: Try drifting in open water areas for suspended crappie. 09/12 07:31
Lake Wapello Southeast Bluegill - Fair: Try small jigs along the shorelines and around the aquatic vegetation. 09/12 07:31
Lake Wapello Southeast Largemouth Bass - Fair: Target rock jetties and the submerged cedar trees using rubber worms or spinnerbaits. 09/12 07:31
Lost Grove Lake Southeast For more information on the above lakes call the Lake Darling Fisheries Station at (319)694-2430 09/12 10:25
Lost Grove Lake Southeast Black Crappie - Fair: Crappie fishing remains fair and anglers continue to pick up crappies out around edges of the flooded timber in 8 to 10 foot of water. Some anglers are finding them all the way down to 20 to 25 foot deep also. Vertical jigging or using slip bobber and minnow. 09/12 10:25
Lost Grove Lake Southeast Bluegill - Fair: The nicer bluegills remain out in deeper water. Smaller ones are in shallow. 09/12 10:25
Lost Grove Lake Southeast Largemouth Bass - Good: Bass fishing has picked back up. The bigger ones seem to be sticking to deeper water but the smaller ones have moved in shallow. 09/12 10:25
Mississippi River Pool 16 Southeast Mississippi River Pools 16-19. River stage has risen since last week. Tailwater stages have risen around 4-5 feet since last week due to heavy rains. Water clarity is poor and main channel water temperature is around 72 degrees. Fishing has been slow with the muddy water conditions. If you have questions on fishing Pools 16-19 contact the Fairport Fish Hatchery at 563-263-5062. 09/17 03:07
Mississippi River Pool 16 Southeast Tailwater stage at Lock and Dam 15 in the Quad Cities is 12.48 feet and has risen close to 5 feet since last week. Floodstage is 15 feet at Lock and Dam 15. River stage at Fairport is 13.03 feet and floodstage is 14 feet. River stage is forecasted to stay fairly steady through the weekend. Fishing has been slow due to the muddy water conditions. 09/17 03:13
Mississippi River Pool 17 Southeast Mississippi River Pools 16-19. River stage has risen since last week. Tailwater stages have risen around 4-5 feet since last week due to heavy rains. Water clarity is poor and main channel water temperature is around 72 degrees. Fishing has been slow with the muddy water conditions. If you have questions on fishing Pools 16-19 contact the Fairport Fish Hatchery at 563-263-5062. 09/17 03:07
Mississippi River Pool 17 Southeast Tailwater stage at Lock and Dam 16 in Muscatine is 11.81 feet and floodstage is 15 feet. River stage at Muscatine is 13.60 feet and floodstage is 16 feet. Tailwater stage has risen close to 5 feet since last week. Fishing has been slow due to the muddy water conditions. The ramp at Big Timber is closed due to high water. 09/17 03:16
Mississippi River Pool 18 Southeast Mississippi River Pools 16-19. River stage has risen since last week. Tailwater stages have risen around 4-5 feet since last week due to heavy rains. Water clarity is poor and main channel water temperature is around 72 degrees. Fishing has been slow with the muddy water conditions. If you have questions on fishing Pools 16-19 contact the Fairport Fish Hatchery at 563-263-5062. 09/17 03:07
Mississippi River Pool 18 Southeast Tailwater stage at Lock and Dam 17 at New Boston is 12.70 feet and has risen close to 6 feet since last week. Floodstage at Lock and Dam 17 is 15 feet. The ramps at Toolsboro are flooded over. Fishing has been slow due to the high and muddy water conditions. 09/17 03:21
Mississippi River Pool 19 Southeast Mississippi River Pools 16-19. River stage has risen since last week. Tailwater stages have risen around 4-5 feet since last week due to heavy rains. Water clarity is poor and main channel water temperature is around 72 degrees. Fishing has been slow with the muddy water conditions. If you have questions on fishing Pools 16-19 contact the Fairport Fish Hatchery at 563-263-5062. 09/17 03:07
Mississippi River Pool 19 Southeast Tailwater stage at Lock and Dam 18 is 8.63 feet and floodstage is 10 feet. River stage at Burlington is 13.57 feet and floodstage is 15 feet. River stage at Fort Madison is 527.01 feet and floodstage is 528 feet. We have not received any fishing report information for this pool. 09/17 03:23
Rathbun Reservoir Southeast The district includes Mahaska, Lucas, Wayne, Monroe, Appanoose, Wapello, Davis and Van Buren counties. For more information, contact the Rathbun fish hatchery at 641-647-2406. 09/12 07:31
Rathbun Reservoir Southeast Black Crappie - Slow: Try catching suspended crappies using small crankbaits. Sorting is needed for larger fish. 09/12 07:31
Rathbun Reservoir Southeast Channel Catfish - Good: Try cut bait or nightcrawlers along the shorelines or any place with some water flowing into the lake. 09/12 07:31
Rathbun Reservoir Southeast The current lake level is 905.16 msl with normal operating elevation being 904.0 msl. Lake Rathbun contains zebra mussels so make sure to properly drain, clean and dry equipment before transporting to another water body. 09/12 07:31
Rathbun Reservoir Southeast Walleye - Slow: Try trolling over submerged points or along rocky shorelines. Use baits that imitate gizzard shad or try bottom bouncers with a nightcrawler. 09/12 07:31
Rathbun Reservoir Southeast Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) - Fair: Anglers have been successful trolling crankbaits along rocky shorelines. Anglers have also been vertically jigging over rock piles with some success. 09/12 07:31
Red Haw Lake Southeast The district includes Mahaska, Lucas, Wayne, Monroe, Appanoose, Wapello, Davis and Van Buren counties. For more information, contact the Rathbun fish hatchery at 641-647-2406. 09/12 07:31
Red Haw Lake Southeast Bluegill - Fair: Try small jigs with a chunk of nightcrawler fished around the shorelines and the submerged structure. 09/12 07:31
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