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Iowa's Fishing Report

Sign up today for free weekly fishing information from Iowa’s fisheries experts. Learn the best hot spots and latest news about Iowa’s fishing opportunities from region to region. This weekly fishing forecast will be emailed directly to your inbox every Thursday!

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How to read our weekly Iowa fishing report

Our 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.




Fishing Podcasts

Each month, Jeff Kopaska of the Iowa DNR and Ross Peterson from KXnO Sports Fanatics get together to talk about fishing opportunities, seasons and events in Iowa and around the Midwest. They are often joined by other DNR staff and guest speakers.

The links below are the podcast recordings of their conversations, and can also be found on the iHeartRadio app.

January 2021 Fishing Report - Kevan Paul joins us to talk about ice fishing on Clear Lake

February 2021 Fishing Report -  fishing in community ponds, plus hybrid striped bass in Big Creek, and the hot yellow perch bite at Clear Lake

March 2021 Fishing Report - Corey Goldsworthy from the Minnesota DNR joins us to talk about the fishing options at Lake Superior, plus ice-out catfishing

April 2021 Fishing Report -  Jay Rudacille, Iowa DNR Warm and Coolwater Fish Culture Supervisor, joins us to talk about the annual spring walleye collection, production and stocking, plus spring community trout stockings and fun fishing stories

May 2021 Fishing Report - Hank Kohler joins us to talk about his upcoming paddling trip from central Minnesota down the Mississippi River to the Gulf of Mexico to make people aware of and seek donations for clean water projects

July 2021 Fishing Report - Fish Local Community Fishing Program and river catfishing tips, plus trout stream sampling

September 2021 Fishing Report - freshwater drum fishing on the Mississippi River, plus drift fishing for crappie and recap of Iowa State Fair aquarium and courtyard presentations

October 2021 Fishing Report - fall fishing tips, plus fall community trout stockings annouced again this year and upcoming trout angler survey

November 2021 Fishing Report - Andrew Downs, KXnO production director, joins us to talk about his family fishing trip to Cairns Lake in nortwestern Ontario, Canada; plus 2021 Iowa Trout Angler Survey invitations going out this week via email, fall community trout stockings and the fall trout spawn

December 2021 Fishing Report - Eric Brinkman, asssistant chief of aquatic conservation in Arkansas, joins us to talk about managing alligator gar in the Red River; plus the Iowa Urban Trout Challenge on urban/community trout locations through December 31, 2021.


January 2022 Fishing Report - Hank Kohler joins us to talk the One4Water trip down the Mississippi this summer; plus winter ice fishing adventures and reminders to renew your fishing license.

February 2022 Fishing Report - Zak Slagle from the Ohio DNR joins us to talk about walleye populations, fishing and surveys at Lake Erie; plus plans for the Midwest Fish & Wildlife Conference hosted by Iowa DNR is Des Moines mid-February

March 2022 Fishing Report - Ben Neely, Kansas fishery biologist joins us to talk about a recent research project to determine if live scope sonar technology leads to anglers catching more/bigger fish; plus spring community trout stockings

April 2022 Fishing Report - new state record smallmouth buffalo, plus tips for catching trout in community fishing ponds and annual walleye gillnetting efforts

June 2022 Fishing Report - fishing tips and hotspots, plus sturgeon sampling on the Cedar River, Free Fishing Weekend and Iowa Walleye Challenge

 

Iowa Fishing Report
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Waterbody District Comments Date
Casey Lake (aka Hickory Hills Lake) Northeast Anglers are catching bluegill, crappie and channel catfish in Casey Lake. 06/30 09:59
Casey Lake (aka Hickory Hills Lake) Northeast Black Crappie - Good: Fish a crappie minnow underneath a slip bobber along the edge of the weed beds off of the jetties. 06/30 09:59
Casey Lake (aka Hickory Hills Lake) Northeast Bluegill - Good: Fish a piece of crawler underneath a slip bobber along the edge of the weed beds off of the jetties. 06/30 09:59
Casey Lake (aka Hickory Hills Lake) Northeast Channel Catfish - Good: Fish off of the old beach area and to the west using stink baits, livers, leopard frogs or dead cut baits fished on the bottom. 06/30 09:59
Casey Lake (aka Hickory Hills Lake) Northeast Interior river levels are falling but remain high with the exception of the Maquoketa River in Delaware County. Trout streams are in excellent condition across NE Iowa. Area Black Hawk county lakes are producing catches of panfish. For more information contact your area local bait shops for the most recent up to date hot spots. 06/30 09:59
Cedar River (above Nashua) Northeast Temperatures range from 80's to upper 50's. Chance for thunderstorms Thursday afternoon into next week. Area river and stream conditions slowly stabilizing. Some waterbodies remain dirty. Use care when paddling with elevated flows. For more information, please contact the Chuck Gipp Decorah Fish Hatchery at 563-382-8324. 06/30 09:30
Cedar River (above Nashua) Northeast Channel Catfish - Excellent: A hook loaded with a crawler, chub, chicken livers, or stinkbait might be just the ticket for a hungry cat. 06/30 09:30
Cedar River (above Nashua) Northeast Largemouth Bass - Fair: Fish lake edges dawn and dusk using a spinnerbait or crankbait. 06/30 09:30
Cedar River (above Nashua) Northeast Northern Pike - No Report: Find pike in shallow vegetated areas out of current. 06/30 09:30
Cedar River (above Nashua) Northeast Smallmouth Bass - Fair: Smallies showing up below dams. Try using a hook tipped with a ringworm, twistertail, or nightcrawler. 06/30 09:30
Cedar River (above Nashua) Northeast Walleye - Fair: Use worms or minnows under a slip bobber with enough weight to get bait near bottom. 06/30 09:30
Cedar River (above Nashua) Northeast Water levels back down and stabilizing. Clarity improving. Fish eddies and current breaks. For current water level information, please visit the USGS Water Dashboard at https://dashboard.waterdata.usgs.gov/api/gwis/2.0/service/site?agencyCode=USGS&siteNumber=05457700&open=43909. 06/30 09:30
Cedar River (Nashua to La Porte City) Northeast Interior river levels are falling but remain high with the exception of the Maquoketa River in Delaware County. Trout streams are in excellent condition across NE Iowa. Area Black Hawk county lakes are producing catches of panfish. For more information contact your area local bait shops for the most recent up to date hot spots. 06/30 09:59
Cedar River (Nashua to La Porte City) Northeast Anglers are catching channel catfish on the river with the receding high water levels. 06/30 09:59
Cedar River (Nashua to La Porte City) Northeast Channel Catfish - Good: Try using stink baits, chicken livers or dead cut baits fished above fallen tree snags. 06/30 09:59
Decorah District Streams Northeast Temperatures range from 80's to upper 50's. Chance for thunderstorms Thursday afternoon into next week. Area river and stream conditions slowly stabilizing. Some waterbodies remain dirty. Use care when paddling with elevated flows. For more information, please contact the Chuck Gipp Decorah Fish Hatchery at 563-382-8324. 06/30 09:30
Decorah District Streams Northeast Brook Trout - Good: Numerous insect hatches on sunny afternoons. Use midge, caddis, mayfly, or scud patterns for hungry brookies. 06/30 09:30
Decorah District Streams Northeast Brown Trout - Excellent: It's a great time to fish for a brown trout when water is off color water. Fish near or around structure. Spinner or crank baits work well for this. Midge, gnat, and caddis fly hatches remain strong. 06/30 09:30
Decorah District Streams Northeast Wild parsnip is in peak bloom now. Protect yourself from this plant by keeping arms and legs covered. Sap from this plant can cause serious blisters. Some streams remain off color. Flows are up. Use care when crossing or fishing in faster current. 06/30 09:30
Decorah District Streams Northeast Rainbow Trout - Excellent: Freshly stocked Rainbow Trout are waiting for anglers. Use small spinner baits, hair jigs, or hooks tipped with a worm or minnow floating past structure or around large rocks. 06/30 09:30
George Wyth Lake Northeast Anglers are catching some northern pike and crappie on George Wyth Lake. Some sorting on the crappie as fish are running on the small side. 06/30 09:59
George Wyth Lake Northeast Black Crappie - Good: Try a crappie minnow under a slip bobber near structure for crappie. 06/30 09:59
George Wyth Lake Northeast Interior river levels are falling but remain high with the exception of the Maquoketa River in Delaware County. Trout streams are in excellent condition across NE Iowa. Area Black Hawk county lakes are producing catches of panfish. For more information contact your area local bait shops for the most recent up to date hot spots. 06/30 09:59
George Wyth Lake Northeast Northern Pike - Good: Try trolling crankbaits around the lake or casting spinnerbaits along the edges of willows on the west end of the lake. 06/30 09:59
Lake Hendricks Northeast Temperatures range from 80's to upper 50's. Chance for thunderstorms Thursday afternoon into next week. Area river and stream conditions slowly stabilizing. Some waterbodies remain dirty. Use care when paddling with elevated flows. For more information, please contact the Chuck Gipp Decorah Fish Hatchery at 563-382-8324. 06/30 09:30
Lake Hendricks Northeast Bluegill - Fair: Try using a small piece of worm to catch one of these beauties. 06/30 09:30
Lake Hendricks Northeast Water clarity remains good but aquatic vegetation a nuisance making fishing from shore difficult. 06/30 09:30
Lake Hendricks Northeast Black Crappie - Slow: Find crappie in 6 to 8 ft. of water. 06/30 09:30
Lake Hendricks Northeast Channel Catfish - Excellent: Best time to catch a nice size cat is at night using stinkbait. 06/30 09:30
Lake Hendricks Northeast Largemouth Bass - Fair: Anglers finding fish on edges of vegetation. Use weedless lures to minimize the frustration of casting into weeds. 06/30 09:30
Lake Meyer Northeast Temperatures range from 80's to upper 50's. Chance for thunderstorms Thursday afternoon into next week. Area river and stream conditions slowly stabilizing. Some waterbodies remain dirty. Use care when paddling with elevated flows. For more information, please contact the Chuck Gipp Decorah Fish Hatchery at 563-382-8324. 06/30 09:30
Lake Meyer Northeast Anglers finding hit and miss action. Lake is very weedy. Electric motors can have trouble getting through vegetation. 06/30 09:30
Lake Meyer Northeast Black Crappie - No Report: Crappie in about 6 to 8 ft. water around vertical structure. 06/30 09:30
Lake Meyer Northeast Bluegill - Fair: Find a cove or weed edge. Use an ice fishing jig tipped with a small piece of worm. 06/30 09:30
Lake Meyer Northeast Channel Catfish - Good: Use a chunk of worm or squished minnow fished off the bottom near stumps or other woody debris for best luck. 06/30 09:30
Lake Meyer Northeast Largemouth Bass - Fair: Try using crankbaits or a jig with plastic tail on weedless hooks. Fish vegetation edges. 06/30 09:30
Maquoketa River (above Monticello) Northeast Interior river levels are falling but remain high with the exception of the Maquoketa River in Delaware County. Trout streams are in excellent condition across NE Iowa. Area Black Hawk county lakes are producing catches of panfish. For more information contact your area local bait shops for the most recent up to date hot spots. 06/30 09:59
Maquoketa River (above Monticello) Northeast Smallmouth Bass - Good: Try casting crank baits, spinner baits or jigs near rocky shoreline areas. 06/30 09:59
Maquoketa River (above Monticello) Northeast The Maquoketa River is in good condition right now. Anglers have been catching smallmouth bass, walleye and channel catfish. 06/30 09:59
Maquoketa River (above Monticello) Northeast Channel Catfish - Fair: Use a piece of crawler on a jig or fished off of the bottom for catfish. 06/30 09:59
Maquoketa River (above Monticello) Northeast Walleye - Fair: Tip a jig with a plastic and half of a nightcrawler or cast crankbaits for walleye this time of year. 06/30 10:25
Mississippi River Pool 10 Northeast Upper Mississippi River levels will bump up slightly after recent rains this week. Water temperature is in the upper 70's. Walleye slot length limits now apply on the entire Iowa border of the Mississippi River. All walleyes less than 15 inches long and between 20-27 inches must be immediately released. One walleye over 27 inches may be kept. Walleye/sauger combined daily limit 6/possession 12. 06/30 07:35
Mississippi River Pool 10 Northeast Northern Pike - Excellent: Try casting crankbaits off vegetation lines or near mouth of triibutary streams. 06/30 07:35
Mississippi River Pool 10 Northeast Water level at Lynxville is 615.5 feet and is expected to rise slightly then level out. Water temperature is 79 degrees at Lynxville dam. Sny Magill and Nobles Island ramps are open. 06/30 07:35
Mississippi River Pool 10 Northeast Yellow Perch - Good: Perch have been biting on a jig tipped with crawler. 06/30 07:35
Mississippi River Pool 10 Northeast Black Crappie - Fair: Anglers are catching crappies in the flooded timber on crappie rigs with minnows. 06/30 07:35
Mississippi River Pool 10 Northeast Bluegill - Excellent: Fish areas away from current along the weed edges in backwaters using light tackle tipped with piece of worm. 06/30 07:35
Mississippi River Pool 10 Northeast Channel Catfish - Good: Try cut-bait or stink-bait fished in deeper holes along current breaks of side channels. 06/30 07:35
Mississippi River Pool 10 Northeast Flathead Catfish - Good: The flathead bite is picking up with the warmer temperatures. Try a shiner or small bluegill for bait. 06/30 07:35
Mississippi River Pool 10 Northeast Freshwater Drum - Excellent: Freshwater drum bite is coming on. Fish weighted crawler rig in the current anywhere from shore. 06/30 07:35
Mississippi River Pool 10 Northeast Largemouth Bass - Good: Cast jigs or jerkbaits in woody cover in the shallows of backwaters. 06/30 07:35
Mississippi River Pool 10 Northeast Sauger - Slow: Some reports of sauger coming in using a crawler drifted on the bottom in tailwater shorelines. 06/30 07:35
Mississippi River Pool 10 Northeast Smallmouth Bass - Excellent: Smallmouth are getting more active along main channel rock structure. Cast inline spinners or crankbaits along the faster current. 06/30 07:35
Mississippi River Pool 10 Northeast Walleye - Good: Trolling crankbaits has been effective for walleye off the wing-dams and side channels. 06/30 07:35
Mississippi River Pool 11 Northeast Upper Mississippi River levels will bump up slightly after recent rains this week. Water temperature is in the upper 70's. Walleye slot length limits now apply on the entire Iowa border of the Mississippi River. All walleyes less than 15 inches long and between 20-27 inches must be immediately released. One walleye over 27 inches may be kept. Walleye/sauger combined daily limit 6/possession 12. 06/30 07:35
Mississippi River Pool 11 Northeast Bluegill - Good: Fish areas away from current along the weed edges in backwaters using light tackle tipped with piece of worm. 06/30 07:35
Mississippi River Pool 11 Northeast Northern Pike - Excellent: Try casting crankbaits off vegetation lines or near mouth of triibutary streams. 06/30 07:35
Mississippi River Pool 11 Northeast Water level fell to 6.9 feet and expected to rise half a foot then level off next week. Water temperature is 70 at the Guttenberg dam. 06/30 07:35
Mississippi River Pool 11 Northeast Yellow Perch - Good: Perch have been biting on a jig tipped with crawler. 06/30 07:35
Mississippi River Pool 11 Northeast Sauger - Slow: Some reports of sauger coming in using a crawler drifted on the bottom in tailwater shorelines. 06/30 07:35
Mississippi River Pool 11 Northeast Walleye - Good: Trolling crankbaits has been effective for walleye off the wing-dams and side channels 06/30 07:35
Mississippi River Pool 11 Northeast Black Crappie - Fair: Anglers are catching crappies in the flooded timber on crappie rigs with minnows. 06/30 07:35
Mississippi River Pool 11 Northeast Channel Catfish - Good: Try cut-bait or stink-bait fished in deeper holes along current breaks of side channels. 06/30 07:35
Mississippi River Pool 11 Northeast Flathead Catfish - Good: The flathead bite is picking up with the warmer temperatures. Try a shiner or small bluegill for bait. 06/30 07:35
Mississippi River Pool 11 Northeast Freshwater Drum - Excellent: Freshwater drum bite is coming on. Fish weighted crawler rig in the current anywhere from shore. 06/30 07:35
Mississippi River Pool 11 Northeast Largemouth Bass - Good: Cast jigs or crankbaits in woody cover in the shallows of backwaters. 06/30 07:35
Mississippi River Pool 11 Northeast Smallmouth Bass - Excellent: Smallmouth are getting more active along main channel rock structure. Cast inline spinners or crankbaits along the faster current. 06/30 07:35
Mississippi River Pool 12 Northeast We have good river conditions entering the holiday weekend. The water temps are near 80 degrees throughout the district and water levels are stable. If you have angling questions, please call the Bellevue Fisheries Management at 563-880-8781. 06/28 09:22
Mississippi River Pool 12 Northeast Water levels are currently 7.1 feet at the Dubuque Lock and Dam and 9.5 feet at the RR bridge and clarity is good. Water levels are stable, and the temperature is around 80 degrees. Lots of mixed bags reported with many species contributing. 06/28 09:22
Mississippi River Pool 12 Northeast Yellow Perch - Good: Lots of yellow perch in the Mississippi River right now following several good reproduction events. Usually caught incidentally when panfishing but you can try to target them with minnow heads on a jig at times. 06/28 09:22
Mississippi River Pool 12 Northeast Bluegill - Good: Check various harbors in Dubuque out for bluegills using a worm and bobber. Fish in 3 feet or less of water. Bobber and worm rigs work the best. 06/28 09:22
Mississippi River Pool 12 Northeast Channel Catfish - Excellent: Channel cats have moved into their spawning areas which is often along rock lines. You can try to float a bobber or leaches with a simple along rocky areas. Those bright blue channel cats you catch are simply males channel catfish in spawning colors and not the Blue Catfish species. 06/28 09:22
Mississippi River Pool 12 Northeast Flathead Catfish - Good: Most anglers are using bandlines with live bullheads for bait. 06/28 09:22
Mississippi River Pool 12 Northeast Freshwater Drum - Excellent: Drum are being taken in areas of moderate current using an egg sinker and worm rig. Keep drum on ice if plan on eating them and they can be very good table fare. 06/28 09:22
Mississippi River Pool 12 Northeast Largemouth Bass - Excellent: Bass of all sizes are being reported mostly from backwater areas on spinner baits and swim baits. 06/28 09:22
Mississippi River Pool 12 Northeast Northern Pike - Good: Some nice pike are now being reported on spinner baits. Fish are located often along the newly established vegetation lines. Try gaudy white spinner baits for the best success. 06/28 09:22
Mississippi River Pool 12 Northeast Smallmouth Bass - Good: Fish along rock lines with moderate current using a spinner or crankbait. 06/28 09:22
Mississippi River Pool 12 Northeast Walleye - Good: The bite for walleye seems to have picked up with many anglers throwing crankbaits on wingdams. 06/28 09:22
Mississippi River Pool 12 Northeast White Bass - Good: Lots of small white bass are being caught on white spinners or jigs. 06/28 09:22
Mississippi River Pool 13 Northeast We have good river conditions entering the holiday weekend. The water temps are near 80 degrees throughout the district and water levels are stable. If you have angling questions, please call the Bellevue Fisheries Management at 563-880-8781. 06/28 09:22
Mississippi River Pool 13 Northeast Bluegill - Good: Try a simple bobber and worm in the Sabula area backwaters. 06/28 09:22
Mississippi River Pool 13 Northeast Channel Catfish - Excellent: Channel cats have moved into their spawning areas which is often along rock lines. You can try to float a bobber with a simple nightcrawler rigs along rocky areas. Those bright blue channel cats you catch are simply males channel catfish in spawning colors and not the Blue Catfish species. 06/28 09:22
Mississippi River Pool 13 Northeast Freshwater Drum - Excellent: Drum are being are taken in areas of moderate current using an egg sinker and worm rig. Keep drum on ice if plan on eating them and they can be very good table fare. 06/28 09:22
Mississippi River Pool 13 Northeast Largemouth Bass - Excellent: Really nice bass are being caught once again in the Spring Lake area but other places in the pool are producing bass of all sizes. Most anglers using spinner baits or swim baits. In the heavy vegetation anglers are using frog imitation lures. 06/28 09:22
Mississippi River Pool 13 Northeast Northern Pike - Good: Use gaudy white spinners for best action. 06/28 09:22
Mississippi River Pool 13 Northeast Rainbow Trout - No Report: The Kids Trout Pond is unfishable right now due to excessive vegetation. The pond will be restocked in later fall with trout. 06/28 09:22
Mississippi River Pool 13 Northeast Smallmouth Bass - Good: Fish spinners or crankbaits along rock lines. Some really nice three-pound type smallmouth have been reported this spring, but most are small but fun on light action poles. 06/28 09:22
Mississippi River Pool 13 Northeast The water level at the Bellevue Lock is stable and currently near 7.9 feet. The water temperature is around 80 degrees. Lots of mixed species' bags being reported. The water is completely off the DNR ramp at Bellevue, and the curtesy dock is now in place. 06/28 09:22
Mississippi River Pool 13 Northeast Walleye - Fair: Anglers are often targeting larger sloughs with crankbaits. 06/28 09:22
Mississippi River Pool 13 Northeast White Bass - Fair: Small white bass have been reported in the tailwater area with anglers using small white jigs or spinners. 06/28 09:22
Mississippi River Pool 13 Northeast Yellow Perch - Good: The bite has been good at times with most anglers using minnow heads for bait. 06/28 09:22
Mississippi River Pool 14 Northeast We have good river conditions entering the holiday weekend. The water temps are near 80 degrees throughout the district and water levels are stable. If you have angling questions, please call the Bellevue Fisheries Management at 563-880-8781. 06/28 09:22
Mississippi River Pool 14 Northeast The water level at the Fulton Lock and Dam is stable and is presently at 7.5 feet, Camanche is at 11.0 feet and Le Claire is at 6.2 feet. Water temperature is around 80 in the main channel and clarity is good. 06/28 09:22
Mississippi River Pool 14 Northeast Bluegill - Good: Bluegills are on the bite throughout Pool 14, use a simple bobber and worm rig in three foot of water or less. 06/28 09:22
Mississippi River Pool 14 Northeast Channel Catfish - Excellent: Channel cats have moved into their spawning areas which is often along rock lines. You can try to float a bobber with a simple nightcrawler rigs along rocky areas. Those bright blue channel cats you catch are simply males channel catfish in spawning colors and not the Blue Catfish species. 06/28 09:22
Mississippi River Pool 14 Northeast Freshwater Drum - Excellent: Lots of drum are taken in areas of moderate current using a egg sinker and worm rig. Keep fish on ice if plan on eating them and they can be very good table fare. 06/28 09:22
Mississippi River Pool 14 Northeast Largemouth Bass - Excellent: Bass of all sizes are being reported out of most of the common highly fished backwater lakes in Pool 14 such as Beaver Island, Rock Creek and Sunfish Lake. 06/28 09:22
Mississippi River Pool 14 Northeast Northern Pike - Good: Some pike have been seen in mixed species bags mostly by angler's bass fishing. Target pike along weedy shorelines with gaudy white spinners. 06/28 09:22
Mississippi River Pool 14 Northeast Smallmouth Bass - Good: Look for smallmouth bass along rock lines with stronger currents. You need to fish in 1 to 2 feet of water right next to the rock. 06/28 09:22
Mississippi River Pool 14 Northeast Walleye - Good: Some nice walleyes continue to be reported from sloughs and near shore wingdams. Most anglers are using crankbaits. 06/28 09:22
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