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 Sept. 4, 2025:

NORTHWEST

Black Hawk Lake
Water levels are several inches over the crest of the spillway. Water temperature are in the low 70s. Black Bullhead - Fair: Use nightcrawlers fished on or near bottom from shore.  Most bullheads are 10- to 12-inches. Black Crappie - Fair: Try fishing from the fish house in Town Bay and near the stone piers.  Most fish have been smaller but a few keepers are veing picked up. Bluegill - Slow: Look for keeper-size bluegill (7-inches) near the rock pile off Gunshot Hill, the rock piles in the east basin and along Ice House Point shoreline in 3-6 feet of water. Channel Catfish - Fair. Walleye - Slow:  A few fish have started to be picked up from shore.  With the water temperatures dropping, look for walleye action to increase as mid to late September typically produces a good walleye bite on this lake.  

Brushy Creek Lake
Water temperature is in the low 70s. Black Crappie - Fair: Find crappie near submerged structure in 5-10 feet of water along the shorelines. Bluegill - Fair:  Try fishing in deeper water vertical jigging around submerged trees.  Largemouth Bass - Fair: Try fishing along weedlines in 2-8 feet of water. 

North Twin Lake
Water levels are several inches over the crest of the spillway. Black Bullhead - Fair: Use a piece of crawler fished on the bottom near shore.  Most fish are 11-inches.  Walleye - Fair: Try trolling in 6-8 feet of water to find fish hanging out in deeper habitats. With the water temperatures decreasing, look for the walleye bite from shore to start picking up. Yellow Bass - Fair: Use a piece of crawler under a bobber near shore. Fish are up to 8-inches.

Storm Lake (incl Little Storm Lake)
Water temperature is around 70 degrees. Channel Catfish - Fair: Try crawlers or cut bait on the bottom fished from shore in 2-8 feet of water.  Walleye - Slow:  Find walleyes off shore: use crankbaits or a bottom bouncer rig near the dredge cuts. Expect shore fishing to pick up as water temperatures start dropping. White Bass - Fair.  Yellow Bass - Fair: Keepers are in the 9-inch range.

Water temperatures are in the low 70s in most area lakes. For more information, contact the Black Hawk District office at 712-657-2638.
 

Beeds Lake
Black Crappie - Slow: Drift fish small jigs or live bait in 8-12 feet of water. Channel Catfish - Fair: Try a nightcrawler fished on the bottom.

Clear Lake
Lake level is 3.2 inches over crest. Water temperature is in the low 70s.  Water clarity is around 15 inches. Walleye - Slow: Anglers are catching a few walleye during low light periods.  Use crankbaits and live bait rigs near vegetation.  White Bass - Fair:  Anglers are catching white bass while fishing for other species. They are schooled up; if you catch one, keep working that area. Yellow Bass - Fair:  Try small jigs tipped with crawlers or cut bait.  Most fish are around 7-inches; fish over 10-inches are also being caught.

Crystal Lake
Black Crappie - Fair: Drift fish or troll small jigs or live bait in 8-12 feet of water. Bluegill - Fair.  Northern Pike - Fair: Try fishing near the flowing water on the south side of the lake.

Winnebago River
River level is 6.5 feet.

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

Center Lake
Black Crappie - Good: Lots of fish are 7- to 9-inches; some sorting is neede.  Walleye - Fair: Most fish are on the smaller side.

East Okoboji Lake
Water temperature is in the low 70s. Anglers are catching many panfish species. The upper two basins of the lake have more vegetation; the bottom portion is relatively open of any vegetation.  Black Crappie - Fair.  Bluegill - Good: Anglers are catching bluegill on and off shore. Largemouth Bass - Good.  Yellow Bass - Good. Yellow Perch - Fair: Many fish have been observed; sorting will most likely be needed.

Ingham Lake
The lake is experiencing an algae bloom.  Walleye - Fair: Best bite is morning and afternoon.

Silver Lake (Dickinson)
The lake is experiencing an algae bloom.  Black Bullhead - Good: Catch quality-sized fish just off shore. Clouds of young bullheads can be seen throughout the lake; there was a large spawn this year.  Walleye - Fair: Bite is hit-or-miss.

Spirit Lake
Water temperature is in the lower 70s. The outlet spillway is currently flowing. The weedline is quite a way off shore. Black Crappie - Fair: Anglers are finding quality-size fish up to 14-inches. Anglers report some success around Templar Lagoon.  Bluegill - Fair. Walleye - Fair: Anglers are trolling the middle of the lake and off deep structure with jigs and live bait. Yellow Perch - Good: Sorting is needed; anglers are finding many acceptable-size fish.

West Okoboji Lake
Water temperature is in the low 70s. Black Crappie - Fair:  Bluegill - Good. Largemouth Bass - Good: Anglers are catching good size fish.

Area water temperatures are in the low 70s. Cool nights have steadily been bringing down water temperatures.  Water levels are a few inches over crest. Area bass and panfishing has been good. For current conditions, call 712-330-2542.

NORTHEAST

Cedar River (above Nashua)
Water levels remain above normal, but are stabilizing.  Water clarity good.  Use caution while boating. Hazards may have moved. Check water levels online. Channel Catfish - Good: Use dead chubs, stink bait and chicken liver fished on the bottom.  Smallmouth Bass - Good: Use crankbaits or jigs tipped with plastic tails in back eddies or off channel areas.  Walleye - Good: Walleye bite is improving with clearer water. Use spinnerbaits or jigs tipped with a minnow.

Decorah District Streams
Catchable trout stockings are weekly with streams announced once a month. Water clarity is excellent.  Approach streams slowing to avoid casting a shadow in the stream. Some streams lost much of their in-stream vegetative cover and deposit of new gravel with recent high water events.  Fishing these streams may be more challenging than normal; switch terminal tackle often.  Brook Trout - Slow:  Good hatches of dragonflies grasshoppers crickets and ants are occurring.  Sneak up on brookies for a better chance to catch one of these beauties. Brown Trout - Good: Use spinnerbaits near or around logs and undercut banks. Try streamers or a variety of terrestrial insect patterns on larger waterbodies. Rainbow Trout - Excellent:  Use spinnerbaits, hair jigs, or hooks tipped with a small piece of worm, bread or cheese floated through deeper holes. Freshly stocked fish are waiting to take your bait.

Lake Hendricks
Visibility is improving with cooling water.  Water temperature is in the 60s. Black Crappie - Fair: Cast spinnerbait near submersed structure.  Bluegill - Good: Find bluegills near vegetation beds.  Use a small red worm under a bobber.  Channel Catfish - Good: Find catfish in areas with stumps or other cavities. Use a worm or stink bait fished on the bottom. Largemouth Bass - Good: Try a hook with a plastic tail fished along the shoreline.

Lake Meyer
Water clarity is improving with cooler water temperatures.  Black Crappie - Fair: Find brush piles and other woody debris to fish around. Bluegill - Good: Use red worms on a hook under a bobber near brush.  Channel Catfish - Good: Anglers are finding nice-sized catfish along the face of the dam in the evening. Use a worm or stink bait on or near the bottom.  Largemouth Bass - Good: Try a spinner or crankbait near drop-offs or submerged logs or tree branches.

Turkey River (above Clermont)
Water levels are slowly falling to stable.  Good excellent water clarity.  Check water levels online. Smallmouth Bass - Good: Find bass near rocky habitats or log piles.  Use a jig tipped with a twistertail or ringworm.  Walleye - Good: Find walleye in deeper holes. Try minnows or spinnerbaits near evening hours.  

Upper Iowa River (above Decorah)
Water levels are stabilizing with excellent visibility. Water temperatures are cooling.  Check water levels online. Smallmouth Bass - Good: Try a jig tipped with a worm or twistertail near rocky outcroppings or ledges.  Walleye - Good: Find walleye in deeper holes or near log jams;  use spinner or crankbaits.

Volga Lake
Water clarity is improving with cooler temperatures.  Water temperatures is in the upper 60s.  Black Crappie - Fair: Find crappie around structure, docks, or woody debris along the shore. Bluegill - Fair: Use a small hook tipped with a piece of worm around structure. Channel Catfish - Good: Trophy catfish are abundant in this lake. Look for areas with woody debris, submerged trees, and rocky habitat. Use a worm or stink bait fished on the bottom and wait for a tug on your line.  Largemouth Bass - Fair: Try a jig tipped with a twister tail or shallow running crankbait along rocky shorelines.

Water levels on many area rivers and streams are above normal for this time of year, but are holding  stable.  Water clarity is good to excellent. Temperatures are cooling into the low 60s to 40s. Morning and evening bite is best this time of year, especially with clear water. For more information, contact the Chuck Gipp Decorah Fish Hatchery at 563-382-8324

Big Woods Lake
Anglers are catching bluegill and crappie. Black Crappie - Fair: Look for structure; use a live minnow under a slip bobber. Bluegill - Fair: Try a piece of nightcrawler under a slip bobber  from shore.

Cedar River (Nashua to La Porte City
Anglers are catching walleye, catfish, yellow bass and smallmouth bass.  Channel Catfish - Good: Use cut baits, stink baits and nightcrawlers. Smallmouth Bass - Fair: Cast crankbaits or jig and plastics tipped with or without half a nightcrawler.  Walleye - Good: Cast crankbaits or jig and plastics tipped with or without half a nightcrawler. Using a nightcrawler under a slip bobber and small split shot has been productive as well.

George Wyth Lake
Anglers are catching bluegill and crappie.  Black Crappie - Fair: Find structures; use a live minnow under a slip bobber.  Bluegill - Fair: Try a piece of night crawler under a slip bobber from shore.

Lake Delhi
Anglers are catching panfish and bass. Try fishing early mornings and evenings to avoid heavy boat traffic. Black Crappie - Fair: Find structure; use a live minnow under a slip bobber. Bluegill - Fair: Try a piece of nightcrawler under a slip bobber near structure along the shorelines.  Largemouth Bass - Good: Cast and retrieve topwater baits early morning or late evening.  Spinnerbaits and crankbait are productive as well.

Manchester District Streams
Trout streams are in excellent condition. 

Maquoketa River (above Monticello)
Anglers are catching smallmouth bass, channel catfish and walleye.  The river is in excellent condition and should provide good angling opportunities.  Channel Catfish - Use cutbaits, stinkbaits and nightcrawlers. Smallmouth Bass - Fair: Cast crankbaits or jig and plastics tipped with or without half a nightcrawler.  Walleye - Fair: Cast crankbaits or jig and plastics tipped with or without half a nightcrawler.

Maquoketa River (below Monticello)
Channel Catfish - Fair: Use cut baits, stink baits and nightcrawlers. Smallmouth Bass - Excellent:  Cast crankbaits or jig and plastics tipped with or without half a nightcrawler. Walleye - Fair: Cast crankbaits or jig and plastics tipped with or without half a nightcrawler.

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

Wapsi River (Tripoli to Troy Mills)
Anglers are catching walleye and smallmouth bass on the Wapsipinicon River as it continues to fall from recent rainfall events.  Smallmouth Bass - Good: Cast crankbaits or jig and plastics tipped with or without half a nightcrawler.  Walleye - Fair: Cast crankbaits or jig and plastics tipped with or without half a nightcrawler.

Most interior rivers are dropping in water levels and starting to clear, offering potential for good fishing.  A few area lakes are producing some bluegill and crappie.  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 8.9 feet at Lansing and is expected to fall slightly this week. Water temperature is 72 degrees in the channel. Water clarity is is somewhat stained with floating weeds.  Bluegill - Good: Look for bluegills in fallen trees in running sloughs and lower ends of backwaters.  Keep moving to find active fish.  Channel Catfish - Excellent: Try a weighted crawler off the bottom in current eddies.  Flathead Catfish - Good: Use large shiners or a small sunfish for bait in holes with sunken trees. Freshwater Drum - Good: Try a weighted nightcrawler on the bottom in areas with medium current. Largemouth Bass - Good: Throw plastics along the shorelines in the upper end of backwaters away from current.  Northern Pike - Good: Rising summer temperatures will send northern pike into cooler waters. Cast spoons or crankbaits at the mouth of tributary streams. Smallmouth Bass - Excellent: Smallmouth action has picked up. Use spinners off rock points along the main channel.  Walleye - Fair: Walleye fishing on the wing-dams should pick up with stable water levels. Try trolling a crawler on a three-way rig. White Bass - Excellent: Cast inline spinners along current breaks. Watch for minnows jumping out of the water to find schools of feeding white bass. 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 616.9 feet at Lynxville and is predicted to gradually fall this week. Water temperature is 75 degrees at the Lock and Dam.  Water clarity is stained with an abundance of floating weeds.  Bluegill - Good:  Look for bluegills in fallen trees in running sloughs and lower ends of backwaters.  Keep moving to find active fish.  Channel Catfish - Excellent: Try a weighted crawler off the bottom in current eddies.  Flathead Catfish - Good: Use large shiners or a small sunfish for bait in holes with sunken trees. Freshwater Drum - Good: Try a weighted nightcrawler on the bottom in areas with medium current.  Largemouth Bass - Fair: Throw plastics along the shorelines in the upper end of backwaters away from the current.  Northern Pike - Fair: Rising summer temperatures will send northern pike into cooler waters. Cast spoons or crankbaits at the mouth of tributary streams.  Smallmouth Bass - Excellent: Smallmouth action has picked up. Use spinners off rock points along the main channel.  Walleye - Fair: Walleye fishing on the wing-dams should pick up with stable water levels. Try trolling a crawler on a three-way rig. White Bass - Excellent: Cast inline spinners along current breaks. Watch for minnows jumping out of the water to find schools of feeding white bass. Yellow Perch - Slow: Use a crappie rig tipped with worms or a minnow in the current seams off shore.

Mississippi River Pool 11
Water level is 8.1 feet at Guttenberg and expected to gradually fall next week. Water temperature is in the mid-70s.  Water clarity has improved, but floating weeds can make fishing difficult.  Bluegill - Good: Look for bluegills in fallen trees in running sloughs and lower ends of backwaters.  Keep moving to find active fish.  Channel Catfish - Excellent: Try a weighted crawler or with dip baits off the bottom in current eddies.  Fathead Catfish - Good: Use large shiners or a small sunfish for bait in holes with sunken trees. Freshwater Drum - Good: Try a weighted nightcrawler on the bottom in areas with medium current. Largemouth Bass- Fair: Throw plastics along the shorelines in the upper end of backwaters away from current.  Northern Pike - Fair: Rising summer temperatures will send northern pike into cooler waters. Cast spoons or crankbaits at the mouth of tributary streams. Smallmouth Bass - Excellent:  Smallmouth action has picked up. Use spinners off rock points along the main channel.  Walleye - Fair: Walleye fishing on the wing-dams should pick up with stable water levels. Try trolling a crawler on a three-way rig. White Bass - Excellent: Cast inline spinners along current breaks. Watch for minnows jumping out of the water to find schools of feeding white bass. Yellow Perch - Fair: Use a crappie rig tipped with worms or a minnow in the current seams off shore. 

Upper Mississippi River water levels are stabilizing and expected to gradually recede. Water temperature is in the low 70's. Water clarity is stained with some floating weeds, which can make fishing difficult. Look for fish along main channel wing-dams and woody debris in running sloughs.

Mississippi River Pool 12
Water level is 7.6 feet at Dubuque Lock and Dam and 9.9 feet at the RR Bridge.  Levels are gradually receding.  Water clarity is improving, but lots of vegetation is floating. Water temperature is around 75 degrees. Black Crappie - Slow.  Channel Catfish - Excellent: Use dip baits in moderate current areas with hard bottoms.  Flathead Catfish - Good: Try bank pole fishing with a live bullhead in newly flooded water. Freshwater Drum - Excellent: Use egg sinker and worm rigs in moderate current areas. Largemouth Bass - Good: Use spinnerbaits and frog imitation lures in weed beds.  Find clearer water in vegetated areas.  Northern Pike - Good: Try gaudy spinners along weed edges; look for cleaner water. Smallmouth Bass - Fair: Get spinners or crankbaits as close to rock piles as possible in moderate current areas.  Flood debris has hampered fishing along rocky areas, but the pool is clearing.  White Bass - Good: Look for feeding schools of white bass in tailwaters and between wing-dams.

Mississippi River Pool 13
Water level is receding to 8.5 feet at Bellevue. Water is stained, but fishable. Water temperature is around 74 degrees.  Tributary streams like the Maquoketa River are still stained from recent rains.  Channel Catfish - Excellent:  Use dip baits in moderate current areas with hard bottoms. Lower pool stump fields can be excellent for channels.  Flathead Catfish - Fair: Use bank poles with live bait. Freshwater Drum - Good: Try an egg sinker and worm rig in moderate current areas.  Largemouth Bass - Good: Try spinnerbaits along the edges of weeds.  Find clear water within weed beds. Smallmouth Bass - Good: Use spinners and crankbaits along rock lines.  Floating vegetation is hindering throwing lures. Walleye - Fair: High water and floating vegetation is hampering wing-dam fishing. Try jigs in eddies or pockets near shore. White Bass - Good: White bass schools are chasing minnows along channel edges. 

Mississippi River Pool 14
Water level is receding to near 7.7 feet at Fulton, 12.2 feet at Camanche, and near 6.1 feet at LeClaire. Water temperature is near 75 degrees.  The Wapsi River is running somewhat turbid, but is clearing up.  Lots of floating vegetation is hampering some fishing.  Channel Catfish - Good: Try dip baits in moderate current areas with hard bottoms. Lower pool stump fields can be excellent for channels. Freshwater Drum - Good: Use egg sinker and nightcrawler rigs.  Largemouth Bass - Good: Try spinnerbaits or frog imitation lures along the edges of weeds.  Northern Pike - Fair: Use gaudy white spinners along the edges of weeds. Look for pike in clearer water pockets in vegetated areas. Smallmouth Bass - Good: Find abundant smallmouths along rock lines with moderate current; use small crankbaits or spinners.  Floating debris is playing havoc with anglers fishing along rock lines.  

Mississippi River Pool 15
Water level receding to near 10.1 feet. Water is stained. Water temperature is around 75 degrees.  Lots of floating vegetation is hampering fishing.   Channel Catfish - Good: Dip baits work best.  Move often if fish are not biting. Freshwater Drum - Good: Use an egg sinker rig with nightcrawlers.  Smallmouth Bass - Fair: Pool 15 is underrated as a smallmouth fishery. Try spinners or crankbaits along rock line with moderate to strong current.  Water needs to get cleaner for better fishing.

If you have angling questions for Pools 12 and 13 call Karen Osterkamp at 563-357-4408.  For Pools 14 and 15, please call Andy Fowler at 563-293-7157.

Mississippi River Pool 16
TTailwater stage is 8.26 feet at Lock and Dam 15 in Quad Cities and forecast to stay steady over the weekend .  Flood stage is 15 feet. Bluegill - No report: Look for bluegills in backwaters and side channels around brush piles.  Try pieces of worm under a bobber. Channel Catfish - No report: Look for channel catfish around brush piles and snags along the main channel and side channels. Use cut shad or stink bait fished upstream of snags.  Channel catfish can also be caught fishing the upstream side of wing-dams.  Walleye - No report: Try trolling or casting crankbaits on the upstream side of the wing-dams.  Trolling three-way rig with crawlers can catch fish as well.  White Bass - No report:  Try fishing around current seams.  Cast jigs and twister tails, in-line spinners, or small crankbaits at Sylvan Slough, below dams, along the river front below the Lock and Dam and any rocky point. White Crappie - No report:  Try jigs and minnows/plastics or minnows under a bobber in backwaters and side channels around brush piles. 

Mississippi River Pool 17
Tailwater stage is 6.68 feet at Lock and Dam 16 in Muscatine and forecast to stay steady over the weekend.  Flood stage is 15 feet.  Bluegill - No report: Look for bluegills in backwaters and side channels around brush piles. Use pieces of worm under bobber.  Channel Catfish - No report: Try around brush piles and snags along main and side channels. Use stink bait, cut shad, or nightcrawlers upstream of brush. Float leeches or crawlers under a bobber along rip-rap shorelines with current. Try fishing on the upstream side of the wing-dams.  Walleye - No report: Look for walleye on the wing-dams. Troll or cast crankbaits on upstream side of wing-dams or troll three-way rigs with crawlers.  White Bass - No report: Use jigs and twister tails, inline spinners, or small crankbaits around current seams.  Places to try are the outfalls by GPS, wing-dams, and rocky points.  White Crappie - No Report: Try jigs and minnows/plastics or minnows under a bobber in backwaters and side channels around brush piles. 

Mississippi River Pool 18
Tailwater stage is 8.27 feet at Lock and Dam 17 at New Boston and is falling.  Flood stage is 15 feet. The gates are back in the water at Lock and Dam. Bluegill - No report: Look for bluegills in backwaters and side channels.  Use pieces of worm under a bobber along brush piles.  Channel Catfish - No report: Try around brush piles and snags along main and side channels. Use stink bait, cut shad, or nightcrawlers upstream of brush. Float leeches or crawlers under a bobber along rip-rap shorelines with current. Try fishing on the upstream side of the wing-dams. Walleye - No Report: Look for walleye on the wing-dams; cast jigs and plastics. Cast or troll crankbaits on the upstream side of the wing-dam.  Walleye fishing may be difficult with high, muddy water conditions.  White Bass - No report: Cast crankbaits, inline spinners, or jigs and twister tails in areas with current around rocky points or water discharges.  White bass can also be caught at the outlet structure of Odessa.   White Crappie - No Report: Use minnows under a bobber or vertical jig with minnows or plastics around brush piles in backwaters and side channels.

Mississippi River Pool 19
Tailwater stage is 5.20 feet and falling at Lock and Dam 18 above Burlington.  Flood stage is 10 feet. River stage is 526.15 feet at Fort Madison; flood stage is 528.00 feet. Bluegill - No report: Look for bluegills in backwaters and side channels. Try pieces of worm under a bobber along brush piles.  Channel Catfish - No report: Try around brush piles and snags along main and side channels. Use stink bait, cut shad or nightcrawlers upstream of brush. Float leeches or crawlers under a bobber along rip-rap shorelines with current. Try fishing on the upstream side of the wing-dams. Walleye - No Report: Look for walleye on the wing-dams; cast jigs and plastics. Cast or troll crankbaits on the upstream side of the wing-dam. White Bass - No Report: Cast crankbaits, inline spinners, or jigs and twister tails in areas with current around rocky points or water discharges. White Crappie - No Report: Use minnows under a bobber or vertical jig with minnows or plastics around brush piles in backwaters and side channels 

River stages have been falling this past week.  Main channel water clarity is fair. Water temperature is around 74 degrees. If you have questions on fishing Pools 16-19, contact Fairport Fish Hatchery at 563-263-5062.

SOUTHEAST

Big Hollow Lake
Water temperature is 77 degrees.  Black Crappie - Good: Crappie fishing is picking up. Look for crappies in the trees in 6-8 feet of water; they are not ready to move in shallower. Largemouth Bass - Good: Bass are starting to get more active in shallow, especially around the islands and jetties where there are lots of little fish hiding in the rocks and weeds. Be careful or you might lose your crankbait to a feeding muskie.

Cedar River (Moscow to Columbus Junction)
River level near Conesville is dropping nearly a foot a day. Channel Catfish - Fair: Forget about  bank poles with the water dropping as fast as it is. Try cut bait or dip baits along the back edges of the rapidly appearing sandbars.

Iowa River (Columbus Junction to Mississippi River)
River level has been dropping steadily the last few days, roughly a foot every day or so. Channel Catfish - Good: Catfishing off the back edges of the sandbars that are just starting to poke out of the water is a good place to start.  Dip baits work best. Try a grass frog as bait along the front edge of a logjam.

Lake Belva Deer
Water temperature is75 degrees. Water clarity is 18 inches. The water is green in color. Bluegill - Good: Bluegill fishing continues to improve. Most bluegills are in deeper water (10-12 feet) amongst the flooded timber. Use slip bobbers and waxworms or try vertically jigging with waxworms. Largemouth Bass - Good: Bass fishing is starting to pick up with more fish moving in shallow. The further back into the trees you go the bigger the fish; good place to practice your flipping technique with jigs.

Lake Darling
Water temperature is 76 degrees. Water clarity is 12 inches; water color is green. Black Crappie - Good: Crappie fishing started to pick up over the holiday weekend over the deeper water habitat or trolling by it. Bluegill - Good: Bluegill fishing is hit-or-miss.  Most bluegill are still holding out over the deeper water habitat in 8-9 feet of water. You can do well if you find the right spot. Anglers are vertically jigging or using slip bobbers. Largemouth Bass - Good: Bass fishing is picking up with more bass moving into shallower water (4 to 5 feet deep) to hunt.  Try crankbaits at those depths that is also not too far from the deeper water.

Lake Geode
The water is green in color. Water temperature is 76 degrees. Water clarity is 14 inches. Black Crappie - Good: Crappies are getting pretty aggressive; they are holding out in the habitat right next to deeper water yet. Bluegill - Good: More bluegills are reaching 8 inches. Use a worm and bobber over the habitat in 7-8 feet of water. They should come in shallower as the water continues to cool down. Largemouth Bass - Good: Bass are getting more active with the cooling waters. They aren’t as aggressive as they were a couple of years ago.

Lost Grove Lake
Water temperature is 73 degrees. Water clarity is good at about 3.5 feet. Bluegill - Good: Bluegills are enjoying the cooler water temperatures. Look for them around the habitat in 4-5 feet of water trying to avoid the bass.  Worm and bobber work best in the thicker cover, less casting. Largemouth Bass - Good: Try running crankbaits down about 4 to 5 feet along the edges of the weed beds and along the outer edges of the submerged brush.

Skunk River (Coppock to Mississippi River)
River levels continues to drop fairly quickly. Lots of exposed mud along the banks from the high water. Channel Catfish - Good: With still plenty of water in the river for the boats, anglers have been able to get out on the river. Use stink baits on the back edges of the sand bars and around the leading edges of the brush piles.

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

Hawthorn Lake
Black Crappie - Fair. Use small jigs around structure and the jetties. Bluegill - Fair: Try small jigs along the shallows and in open areas in the vegetation.  Channel Catfish - Fair: Use chicken liver or nightcrawlers. 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: Try small jigs around the jetties and along the dam.  Bluegill - Good: Use small jigs along the shoreline.  Channel Catfish - Fair: Try cut bait or nightcrawlers.  Largemouth Bass - Fair: Target the area along the dam and around the jetties.

Lake Sugema
Black Crappie - Fair: Try jigs or jig/minnow combos. Keep moving until you find active fish. Bluegill - Fair: Use small jigs in the shallows.  Largemouth Bass - Good: Try spinnerbaits and plastics around the fishing jetties and along the face of the dam.

Lake Wapello
Black Crappie - Fair: Use jigs around submerged structure.  Bluegill - Fair: Find bluegills around structure in deeper water; use small jigs.  Channel Catfish - Fair: Try chicken liver or nightcrawlers.  Largemouth Bass - Fair: Use spinnerbaits and plastics around the cedar tree piles.

Rathbun Reservoir
The lake level is 905.53 msl; recreation pool is 904 msl. Lake Rathbun has zebra mussels; properly drain, clean and dry equipment before transporting to another waterbody. Black Crappie - Slow: Look for crappies away from shore around cedar tree piles. Channel Catfish - Fair: Try chicken liver or cut bait. Walleye - Fair: Use crankbaits or crawler harnesses in rock piles and the old river channel.  Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) - Good: Anglers are catching hybrids.  Cast crankbaits or try vertically jigging in rock piles and rock reefs.

Red Haw Lake
Black Crappie - Fair: Try small jigs along the shoreline and around the jetties.  Bluegill - Fair: Use small jigs around the shallows and on the edge of the lily pads.  Channel Catfish - Fair: Target rocky shorelines and fishing jetties using nightcrawlers.  Largemouth Bass - Good: Try spinners or plastics along shorelines and the edge of the lily pads.

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. Walleye - Fair: While the streams have good flow coming in at the upper end of the lake, try jigging nightcrawlers near the notches in the silt dams. Also try jigging or trolling live bait rigs or shad imitating crankbaits and plastics off humps around points and along the edges of aquatic vegetation in 5 to 15 feet of water. Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) - Fair: Catch wipers mostly in the lower half of the lake jigging shad imitating plastics spoons tipped with pieces of cut bait or casting topwater lures over the schools. Focus on shorelines or coves the wind is blowing into on windy days.  Early morning and evening bites are best.

Des Moines River (Stratford to Saylorville Lake)
Channel Catfish- Good: River conditions are good for catching channel catfish in and above tree falls using dip bait.

Red Rock Reservoir
Channel Catfish - Good: Drift cut baits on the upper end of the reservoir near and above the Mile Long Bridge.  White Bass - Fair: Try trolling lipless crankbaits, spoons, or blade baits along the wind-blown shorelines and points.

Saylorville Reservoir
White Bass - Good: Try trolling lipless crankbaits, spoons, and blade baits along wind-blown shorelines and sharp drop-offs like the Sandpiper Beach area.

For information on Central Iowa lakes and rivers contact Andy Otting at 515-204-5885 or Seth Fopma at 641-891-3795.

Greenfield Lake
Black Crappie - Fair: Try minnows fished around the jetties. Early morning bite is best.  Sorting will be needed.  Channel Catfish - Fair: Use cut bait around the jetties. Largemouth Bass - No report: Good largemouth bass population.

Lake Anita
Black Crappie - Fair: Early morning bite has been good, but lots of fish less than 9-inches.  Sorting is needed.  Bluegill - Good: Troll or drift small jigs tipped with a crawler.  Largemouth Bass - Fair.

Meadow Lake
Black Crappie - Fair: Good population of 10-inch black crappie. Bluegill - Fair: Catch 8-inch bluegill around the cedar tree piles. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Cast to the tree piles in the lake.

Prairie Rose Lake
Water clarity has improved.  Black Crappie - Slow: Anglers have caught a few large black crappie while trolling.  Bluegill - Fair: Cast nightcrawlers under a bobber around the rock piles east of the beach. Channel Catfish - Good: An angler reported catching large catfish east of the beach with worms.  Largemouth Bass - Good: Anglers are catching largemouth bass along the edges of weeds and around structure.

Viking Lake
Channel Catfish - Slow: Try stink bait around the jetties.  Largemouth Bass - Fair.

Water temperatures are in the low 70's. 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 main boat ramp.  Bluegill - Fair: Catch all sizes of bluegill with worms fished under a bobber near cedar tree brush piles.

Little River Watershed Lake
The dock is in at main boat ramp.  Largemouth Bass - Fair:  Catch largemouth bass up to 19-inches with finesse plastics near cedar tree brush piles or crankbaits along rocky shorelines.

Three Mile Lake
**Driving is prohibited on any service roads used to access the lakebed and the lakebed itself.**  Lake level is 6 feet below normal pool. Use extra caution as new potential boating hazards may be present with the low lake level.

Twelve Mile Creek Lake
The dock is in at the main boat ramp. Bluegill - Fair: Catch all sizes of bluegill with jigs tipped with live bait along rocky shoreline areas or shallow coves.

Water temperature is in the mid-70s in most Mount Ayr district lakes. For more information, call the Mount Ayr Fisheries office at 641-931-6031.