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Iowa's Fishing Report

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How to read our weekly fishing report

Our weekly fishing report is broken down by counties or regions – Northwest, Northeast, Mississippi River, Southeast and Southwest.

You can check on 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 contain information on stream or river flow rate (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
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Waterbody District Comments Date
Casey Lake (aka Hickory Hills Lake) Northeast There have been no reports on the interior rivers as they are mostly frozen over. With the freezing cold temperatures last week ice conditions have improved on some areas, if ice fishing use extreme caution on lakes and ponds especially with the snow cover. Trout streams remain in excellent condition, for further information contact the N.E. District Office at 563-927-3276. 01/22 02:47
Casey Lake (aka Hickory Hills Lake) Northeast There have been few reports of anglers ice fishing Casey Lake. Best ice conditions on the lake appear to be near the dam area. 01/22 02:47
Casey Lake (aka Hickory Hills Lake) Northeast Black Crappie - Fair: Locate sunken fish structure near the dam. Fish an ice jig tipped with a waxworm just off of the bottom or using electronics to locate suspended fish which often tend to be crappie. Also try a deadstick rig tipped with a live minnow. 01/22 02:47
Casey Lake (aka Hickory Hills Lake) Northeast Bluegill - Fair: Locate sunken fish structure near the dam. Fish an ice jig tipped with a waxworm just off of the bottom, electronics are a bonus in locating fish. 01/22 02:47
Cedar River (above Nashua) Northeast Three to 5 inches snow fell Thursday with more possible. Use care on area rivers. Ice thickness varies on waterbodies with current. Area lakes have about 10 inches of ice with snow. For information, please call the Decorah Fish Hatchery at 563-382-8324. 01/23 10:10
Cedar River (above Nashua) Northeast Backwaters and slack water areas have about 8-10 inches of ice with 10 inches snow. Ice conditions may worsen with warmer temperatures. Use care when crossing areas with current. Check depths often. Anglers are finding fish. 01/23 10:10
Cedar River (above Nashua) Northeast Black Crappie - Fair: Find deeper water or off channel refuges out of current. Use waxworms or spikes for best luck. 01/23 10:10
Cedar River (above Nashua) Northeast Bluegill - Fair: Find deeper off-channel areas. Spikes or waxworms tipped on a small jig work well. 01/23 10:10
Cedar River (above Nashua) Northeast Walleye - Fair: Anglers fishing below dams are finding walleye. Use jigs tipped with a ringworm, minnow, or crawler. 01/23 10:10
Cedar River (above Nashua) Northeast Yellow Perch - Slow: Anglers are finding a few perch mixed in with the crappie. 01/23 10:10
Decorah District Streams Northeast Three to 5 inches snow fell Thursday with more possible. Use care on area rivers. Ice thickness varies on waterbodies with current. Area lakes have about 10 inches of ice with snow. For information, please call the Decorah Fish Hatchery at 563-382-8324. 01/23 10:10
Decorah District Streams Northeast Brook Trout - Good: Midges and small mayflies hatching on warmer, sunny days. Use flies imitating insects hatching. 01/23 10:10
Decorah District Streams Northeast Brown Trout - Good: Try a fly imitating small silvery fish. Feathered spinner baits work well when fished through pools. 01/23 10:10
Decorah District Streams Northeast Rainbow Trout - Good: Fish actively hitting surface early afternoon. Use an ultra light pole and reel for some fun action. Try a spinner in eddies and around structure. 01/23 10:10
Decorah District Streams Northeast Trout streams received 8-10 inches of snow. Parking lots in wildlife management areas are not plowed. Use care when parking on the roadside. Trout streams with good flows remain open even during winter. Please visit our website to find out when and where trout may be coming to a community near you. 01/23 10:10
George Wyth Lake Northeast There have been no reports on the interior rivers as they are mostly frozen over. With the freezing cold temperatures last week ice conditions have improved on some areas, if ice fishing use extreme caution on lakes and ponds especially with the snow cover. Trout streams remain in excellent condition, for further information contact the N.E. District Office at 563-927-3276. 01/22 02:47
George Wyth Lake Northeast There has been ice fishing activity on the lake and reports are 4" to 6" inches of good ice cover. Use extreme caution especially with the snow cover and upcoming winter snow storm. 01/22 02:47
George Wyth Lake Northeast Bluegill - Fair: Locate sunken fish structure and fish an ice jig tipped with a waxworm just off of the bottom. 01/22 02:47
George Wyth Lake Northeast Black Crappie - Fair: Locate sunken fish structure. Fish an ice jig tipped with a waxworm just off of the bottom or using electronics to locate suspended fish which often tend to be crappie. Also try a deadstick rig tipped with a live minnow. 01/22 02:47
Lake Hendricks Northeast Black Crappie - Fair: Anglers using a small jig tipped with a waxworm doing well. Fish are suspended off the bottom. Variety of sizes caught. 01/23 10:10
Lake Hendricks Northeast Bluegill - Fair: Gills are sitting closer to the bottom. Use a baited hook for best luck. Nine to eleven inch fish common. 01/23 10:10
Lake Hendricks Northeast Lake Hendricks has about 10 inches of ice with 8 to 10 inches of snow on top. Fish activity has slowed. Open water around aerator. Be careful around this area. No motorized vehicles allowed on ice. 01/23 10:10
Lake Hendricks Northeast Three to 5 inches snow fell Thursday with more possible. Use care on area rivers. Ice thickness varies on waterbodies with current. Area lakes have about 10 inches of ice with snow. For information, please call the Decorah Fish Hatchery at 563-382-8324. 01/23 10:10
Lake Meyer Northeast Black Crappie - Slow: Crappie suspended above brush piles. Baited hooks work best. 01/23 10:10
Lake Meyer Northeast Bluegill - Fair: Anglers marking alot of fish but few bites. Find gills around brush piles using a small jig tipped with a waxworm. Fish near bottom. 01/23 10:10
Lake Meyer Northeast Lake Meyer has 10-12 inches of ice with 8 to 10 inches of snow on top. Use care when going on ice especially around dam. Check depths often. Hit or miss action on panfish. Fish hanging in 10-12 ft. of water around brush piles. 01/23 10:10
Lake Meyer Northeast Three to 5 inches snow fell Thursday with more possible. Use care on area rivers. Ice thickness varies on waterbodies with current. Area lakes have about 10 inches of ice with snow. For information, please call the Decorah Fish Hatchery at 563-382-8324. 01/23 10:10
Mississippi River Pool 10 Northeast Water levels are fluctuating this week up to a foot higher. Gates are back down at the lock and dams. Colder weather will strengthen ice but heavy snow could insulate areas of thin ice so caution should be used near shorelines and areas with current. 01/23 11:50
Mississippi River Pool 10 Northeast Black Crappie - Slow: Few reports of crappie mixed with bluegills fished through the ice. 01/23 11:50
Mississippi River Pool 10 Northeast Bluegill - Good: Bluegill are biting on waxworms fished through the ice in backwater lakes. 01/23 11:50
Mississippi River Pool 10 Northeast River level at Lyxnville is 18.6 and expected to remain near this level. Ice is around 6-10 inches in protected areas. Predicted cold weather should strengthen ice but heavy snow could insulate areas so caution should be near shorelines and areas with current. Ice on Johnson Slough at Sny Magil is still not safe with thickness varying to less than 2 inches. 01/23 11:50
Mississippi River Pool 10 Northeast Sauger - Fair: Sauger have been biting on jigs tipped with a minnow in the tailwaters of the lock & dams. 01/23 11:50
Mississippi River Pool 10 Northeast Walleye - Fair: A lot of smaller fish being caught. Vertical jigging with twister-tails or trolling crankbaits has been successful in L&D tailwaters. 01/23 11:50
Mississippi River Pool 10 Northeast Yellow Perch - Fair: Some nice sized perch have been reported from Pool 10 backwaters. 01/23 11:50
Mississippi River Pool 11 Northeast Water levels are fluctuating this week up to a foot higher. Gates are back down at the lock and dams. Colder weather will strengthen ice but heavy snow could insulate areas of thin ice so caution should be used near shorelines and areas with current. 01/23 11:50
Mississippi River Pool 11 Northeast Black Crappie - Slow: Few reports of crappie mixed with bluegills fished through the ice. 01/23 11:50
Mississippi River Pool 11 Northeast River level at Guttenberg is 10.2 ft and expected to remain stable near this level. The DNR ramp has iced in and the city ramp may be iced in this weekend. Ice is around 6 inches in protected areas. Predicted cold weather should strengthen ice but heavy snow could insulate areas so caution should be near shorelines and areas with current. 01/23 11:50
Mississippi River Pool 11 Northeast Sauger - Fair: Sauger have been biting on jigs tipped with a minnow in the tailwaters of the lock & dams. 01/23 11:50
Mississippi River Pool 11 Northeast Walleye - Fair: A lot of smaller fish being caught. Vertical jigging with twister-tails or trolling crankbaits has been successful in L&D tailwaters. 01/23 11:50
Mississippi River Pool 11 Northeast Yellow Perch - Fair: Perch are biting in Sunfish and Mud Lake. Use caution and avoid the creek area at Mud Lake as ice is not safe. Fish in deeper cuts with some vegetation in backwater areas. 01/23 11:50
Mississippi River Pool 12 Northeast Tailwater ice flows were limited this week but it will take some work to launch in icy tailwater ramps. Water levels are rising throughout the district. Backwater ice fishing conditions are improving but use caution especially in snow covered sloughs. Reported backwater ice depths have ranged from 2 to 7 inches. If you have angling questions please call the Bellevue Fisheries Station at 563-872-4976. 01/23 10:27
Mississippi River Pool 12 Northeast The water level at the Dubuque Lock and Dam is at 8.5 feet and the level at the RR Bridge is 11.1. River levels at Dubuque are expected to rise. The water temperature is 32.5 degrees. Water clarity is good. The tailwater is fairly free of flowing ice but boat ramps are iced in. 01/23 10:27
Mississippi River Pool 12 Northeast Bluegill - Fair: Bluegills are abundant and but not aggressive for the most part. Successful anglers seem to be using light equipment, small jigs and rod tips able to detect minuscule hits. Lots of sorting going on but some nice sized gills can be found. 01/23 10:27
Mississippi River Pool 12 Northeast Sauger - No Report: So far this winter anglers have reported lots of smaller sauger with a few nice sized fish mixed in. 01/23 10:27
Mississippi River Pool 12 Northeast Yellow Perch - Fair: Anglers are catching a yellow perch or two when gill fishing. In early ice some exceptional yellow perch creels were seen. Now anglers seem to only be catching a few each outing. 01/23 11:00
Mississippi River Pool 12 Northeast Black Crappie - Fair: A few incidental crappies are being caught when ice angling for gills 01/23 11:15
Mississippi River Pool 13 Northeast Tailwater ice flows were limited this week but it will take some work to launch in icy tailwater ramps. Water levels are rising throughout the district. Backwater ice fishing conditions are improving but use caution especially in snow covered sloughs. Reported backwater ice depths have ranged from 2 to 7 inches. If you have angling questions please call the Bellevue Fisheries Station at 563-872-4976. 01/23 10:27
Mississippi River Pool 13 Northeast Bluegill - Fair: Bluegills are abundant and but not aggressive for the most part. Successful anglers seem to be using light equipment, small jigs and rod tips able to detect minuscule hits. Lots of sorting going on but some nice sized gills can be found. 01/23 10:27
Mississippi River Pool 13 Northeast Sauger - No Report: So far this winter anglers have reported lots of smaller sauger with a few nice sized fish mixed in. 01/23 10:27
Mississippi River Pool 13 Northeast The water level at the Bellevue Lock and Dam is at 10.1 feet and rising. The water temperature is 32.5 degrees and water clarity is good. The tailwaters is ice free but the Bellevue City ramp has ice chunks are floating around the ramp. Backwater ice fishing is improving but please use caution. Please note the popular ice fishing parking lot at Spring Lake in Illinois is closed this winter due to construction. 01/23 10:27
Mississippi River Pool 13 Northeast Yellow Perch - Fair: Anglers are catching a yellow perch or two when gill fishing. Some anglers targeted good numbers of yellow perch in early ice but now seem to only be catching a few each outing. 01/23 11:10
Mississippi River Pool 13 Northeast Black Crappie - Fair: A few incidental crappies are being caught when ice angling for gills 01/23 11:17
Mississippi River Pool 14 Northeast Tailwater ice flows were limited this week but it will take some work to launch in icy tailwater ramps. Water levels are rising throughout the district. Backwater ice fishing conditions are improving but use caution especially in snow covered sloughs. Reported backwater ice depths have ranged from 2 to 7 inches. If you have angling questions please call the Bellevue Fisheries Station at 563-872-4976. 01/23 10:27
Mississippi River Pool 14 Northeast The water level at the Fulton Lock and Dam is 6.9 feet, Camanche is at 10.8 feet and LeClaire is at 5.6 feet. Water temperature is around 32.5 degrees. River levels are expected to hold steady. The tailwater has been ice free but finding a boat open boat ramp may be difficult. 01/23 10:27
Mississippi River Pool 14 Northeast Bluegill - Fair: Bluegills are abundant and but not aggressive for the most part. Successful anglers seem to be using light equipment, small jigs and rod tips able to detect minuscule hits. Lots of sorting going on but some nice sized gills can be found. 01/23 10:27
Mississippi River Pool 14 Northeast Sauger - No Report: Early winter catches were decent with lots of smaller sauger reported along with some real nice walleye and sauger taken as well. 01/23 10:27
Mississippi River Pool 14 Northeast Black Crappie - Fair: A few incidental crappies are being caught when ice angling for gills. 01/23 11:21
Mississippi River Pool 15 Northeast Tailwater ice flows were limited this week but it will take some work to launch in icy tailwater ramps. Water levels are rising throughout the district. Backwater ice fishing conditions are improving but use caution especially in snow covered sloughs. Reported backwater ice depths have ranged from 2 to 7 inches. If you have angling questions please call the Bellevue Fisheries Station at 563-872-4976. 01/23 10:27
Mississippi River Pool 15 Northeast The water level at Rock Island is around 8.5 feet and now expected to rise. The water temperature is around 33 degrees and water clarity is good. 01/23 10:27
Mississippi River Pool 9 Northeast Black Crappie - Slow: Few reports of crappie mixed with bluegills fished through the ice. 01/23 11:50
Mississippi River Pool 9 Northeast River level at Lansing is 9.9 ft and expected to remain stable near this level. Ice is around 6-10 inches in protected areas. Predicted cold weather should strengthen ice but heavy snow could insulate areas so caution should be near shorelines and areas with current. 01/23 11:50
Mississippi River Pool 9 Northeast Water levels are fluctuating this week up to a foot higher. Gates are back down at the lock and dams. Colder weather will strengthen ice but heavy snow could insulate areas of thin ice so caution should be used near shorelines and areas with current. 01/23 11:50
Mississippi River Pool 9 Northeast Yellow Perch - Fair: Some nice sized perch have been reported from Pool 9 backwaters. 01/23 11:50
Mississippi River Pool 9 Northeast Bluegill - Good: Bluegill are biting on waxworms fished through the ice in backwater lakes. 01/23 11:50
Plainfield Northeast There have been no reports on the interior rivers as they are mostly frozen over. With the freezing cold temperatures last week ice conditions have improved on some areas, if ice fishing use extreme caution on lakes and ponds especially with the snow cover. Trout streams remain in excellent condition, for further information contact the N.E. District Office at 563-927-3276. 01/22 02:47
Plainfield Northeast Anglers are reporting only fair catches of panfish on Plainfield Lake this past week. 01/22 03:01
Plainfield Northeast Bluegill - Fair: Locate sunken fish structure. Fish an ice jig tipped with a waxworm just off of the bottom, electronics are a bonus in locating fish. 01/22 03:01
Plainfield Northeast Black Crappie - Fair: Locate sunken fish structure. Fish an ice jig tipped with a waxworm just off of the bottom or using electronics to locate suspended fish which often tend to be crappie. Also try a deadstick rig tipped with a live minnow 01/22 03:04
Turkey River (above Clermont) Northeast Three to 5 inches snow fell Thursday with more possible. Use care on area rivers. Ice thickness varies on waterbodies with current. Area lakes have about 10 inches of ice with snow. For information, please call the Decorah Fish Hatchery at 563-382-8324. 01/23 10:10
Turkey River (above Clermont) Northeast Backwaters and slack water areas are ice and snow covered. Public reminded no motorized vehicles allowed on Vernon Springs impoundment when covered with ice. Water is crystal clear. Check ice depths often especially where there is current. 01/23 10:10
Turkey River (above Clermont) Northeast Walleye - No Report: 01/23 10:10
Volga Lake Northeast Black Crappie - Fair: Use waxworms or spikes for best luck. Find brush or rock piles for crappie. 01/23 10:10
Volga Lake Northeast Eight to 9 inches ice with 10 inches of snow on Volga Lake. Use care when going on ice and check depths often. 01/23 10:10
Volga Lake Northeast Three to 5 inches snow fell Thursday with more possible. Use care on area rivers. Ice thickness varies on waterbodies with current. Area lakes have about 10 inches of ice with snow. For information, please call the Decorah Fish Hatchery at 563-382-8324. 01/23 10:10
Volga Lake Northeast Bluegill - Fair: Anglers using small bait on small hooks should find fish. Gills are small. 01/23 10:10
Arrowhead Lake Northwest Ice thickness in west central Iowa is anywhere from 5 to 15 inches. Some lakes have open seams and thinner areas that were open two weeks ago. Use caution, check thickness often, and avoid discolored ice. There is open water and thin ice in Town Bay of Black Hawk Lake from the aeration system. For more information, contact the Black Hawk District office at 712-657-2638. 01/23 11:13
Arrowhead Lake Northwest There was 6 inches of clear ice under 3 inches of cloudy Ice off the boat ramp on Jan 23. Conditions are variable, Check ice thickness often if you do venture out. Fish near structure with waxworms and minnows to target the larger bluegill and crappie that this lake commonly produces. 01/23 11:13
Bacon Creek Lake Northwest Ice thickness in west central Iowa is anywhere from 5 to 15 inches. Some lakes have open seams and thinner areas that were open two weeks ago. Use caution, check thickness often, and avoid discolored ice. There is open water and thin ice in Town Bay of Black Hawk Lake from the aeration system. For more information, contact the Black Hawk District office at 712-657-2638. 01/23 11:13
Bacon Creek Lake Northwest The DNR will stock rainbow trout at Bacon Creek Lake 1:30 PM Jan. 25th. You need a valid fishing license (age 16 and older) and pay the trout fee to fish for or possess trout. Use a piece of worm, small minnow, or power bait bite fished under a bobber. Put the bait on a small hook or small and shiny jig. 01/23 11:13
Black Hawk Lake Northwest Bluegill - Slow: Most anglers are fishing near the Ice House Point boat ramp and Gunshot Hill using waxworms. 01/23 11:13
Black Hawk Lake Northwest Ice thickness in west central Iowa is anywhere from 5 to 15 inches. Some lakes have open seams and thinner areas that were open two weeks ago. Use caution, check thickness often, and avoid discolored ice. There is open water and thin ice in Town Bay of Black Hawk Lake from the aeration system. For more information, contact the Black Hawk District office at 712-657-2638. 01/23 11:13
Black Hawk Lake Northwest There is 11 inches of ice off the Ice House Point boat ramp on Jan 23. This area of the lake currently has the thickest ice. There was 9 inches of ice off the 30 Acres boat ramp at the state campground on the SE part of the lake. Conditions are more variable in the east basin of the lake, there may still be thin and open areas - use caution. Snow cover varies from 0 to 15". The winter aeration system in Town Bay is in operation, expect open water and thin ice in Town Bay. 01/23 11:13
Black Hawk Lake Northwest Yellow Perch - Fair: Anglers are catching perch around Gunshot Hill and the Ice House Point boat ramp. Keeper size perch are ranging from 8 to 12 inches. Most are using wax worms and small minnows. 01/23 11:13
Black Hawk Pits Northwest Ice thickness in west central Iowa is anywhere from 5 to 15 inches. Some lakes have open seams and thinner areas that were open two weeks ago. Use caution, check thickness often, and avoid discolored ice. There is open water and thin ice in Town Bay of Black Hawk Lake from the aeration system. For more information, contact the Black Hawk District office at 712-657-2638. 01/23 11:13
Black Hawk Pits Northwest There was 5 inches of ice off the boat ramp on Jan 23. conditions are variable, use caution and check thickness often. There are several inches of water and slush on top of the ice. 01/23 11:46
Brushy Creek Lake Northwest Ice thickness in west central Iowa is anywhere from 5 to 15 inches. Some lakes have open seams and thinner areas that were open two weeks ago. Use caution, check thickness often, and avoid discolored ice. There is open water and thin ice in Town Bay of Black Hawk Lake from the aeration system. For more information, contact the Black Hawk District office at 712-657-2638. 01/23 11:13
Brushy Creek Lake Northwest Most fishing activity has been in the NE arm and around the island. Ice is variable, check thickness often. There are open areas in the middle of the lake and around shore near inflows. Expect thinner ice under bridges and anywhere with current. 01/23 11:24
Brushy Creek Lake Northwest Yellow Perch - Fair: Anglers have had luck with waxworms and small minnows. 01/23 11:25
Brushy Creek Lake Northwest Walleye - Fair: 01/23 11:25
Brushy Creek Lake Northwest Bluegill - Fair: Use a waxworm or small minnow on a jig fished near structure. Reports of 9 inch keepers. 01/23 11:25
Center Lake Northwest Ice thickness on area lakes is ranging from 10-18 inches. Large amounts of snow in the recent week have covered up seams and ridges making them less evident. It is suggested that you talk with locals or bait shops to get the latest information before heading out on the ice. Do not travel under bridges and other areas of flow as most of these areas have only recently frozen over. It is Winter Games weekend in the Iowa Great Lakes, so expect lots of people out on the ice. 01/23 08:25
Center Lake Northwest The aeration system has been started. Use caution on the west side of the lake north of the boat ramp. Signs have been put up around the aerator hole. Ice thickness is 12-14 inches 01/23 08:25
Clear Lake Northwest For information on the lakes and rivers in north central Iowa contact the Clear Lake Fish and Wildlife office at 641-357-3517. 01/23 08:30
Clear Lake Northwest Ice thickness is 10 to 12 inches. 01/23 08:30
Clear Lake Northwest Black Crappie - Slow: Fish a jig tipped with a wax worm on the edge of vegetation. 01/23 08:30
Clear Lake Northwest Bluegill - Slow: Fish a small jig tipped with a wax worm near the edge of vegetation. 01/23 08:30
Clear Lake Northwest Walleye - Fair: Fish a jigging spoon tipped with a minnow head near the edge of vegetation. The best bite is during low light periods. 01/23 08:30
Clear Lake Northwest Yellow Bass - Fair: Fish a small spoon tipped with cut bait or several wax worms. You are going to have to move around to find fish. 01/23 08:30
Clear Lake Northwest Yellow Perch - Good: Yellow perch are biting on a variety of baits.Use larger baits and change location to find bigger fish. 01/23 08:30
Clear Lake Northwest White Bass - Slow: 01/23 09:05
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