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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.

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

July 2022 Fishing Report - summer catfish fishing, plus results of Iowa Walleye Challenge, great fishing at Clear Lake and Iowa State Fair aquarium updates

August 2022 Fishing Report - live from the Iowa State Fair; stop by the aquarim in the DNR building to see fish from across Iowa; plus local fishing information 

September 2022 Fishing Report - new community fishing ponds, fishing sampling and fishing tournaments 

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

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.

Iowa Fishing Report
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Waterbody District Comments Date
Cedar River (above Nashua) Northeast Temperatures range from upper 60's to lower 40's. Rivers and streams in good condition and clarity. Many are low creating difficulties for boat access. For more information, please contact the Chuck Gipp Decorah Fish Hatchery at 563-382-8324. 09/29 09:22
Cedar River (above Nashua) Northeast Water levels very low limiting some boat accesses. 09/29 09:51
Cedar River (above Nashua) Northeast Smallmouth Bass - Good: Smallies taking artificial lures or a lure tipped with a minnow. 09/29 09:52
Cedar River (above Nashua) Northeast Walleye - Good: Walleyes taking jig tipped with a minnow or worm. 09/29 09:53
Cedar River (above Nashua) Northeast Channel Catfish - Slow: Dead chubs fished on river bottom works well for a hungry catfish. 09/29 09:54
Decorah District Streams Northeast Temperatures range from upper 60's to lower 40's. Rivers and streams in good condition and clarity. Many are low creating difficulties for boat access. For more information, please contact the Chuck Gipp Decorah Fish Hatchery at 563-382-8324. 09/29 09:22
Decorah District Streams Northeast Beginning this Saturday, October 1, all stream stockings are unannounced. Streams continue to be stocked through the end of the month. Streams in good condition. Hunting seasons in full swing. Be visible to hunters. Anglers fishing for trout using any kind of light weight rods and reels with spinner baits or a hook tipped with a small piece of crawler, cheese, or dough can be just as successful as fly anglers. 09/29 10:04
Decorah District Streams Northeast Brook Trout - Good: Hoppers, beetles, or anything else buggy work well this time of year. Please pick up trash. 09/29 10:26
Decorah District Streams Northeast Brown Trout - Good: Use hair jigs, spinner baits, or small shallow water crankbaits for aggressive fish. Thank a landowner for allowing stream access on private land. 09/29 10:27
Decorah District Streams Northeast Rainbow Trout - Excellent: Fish along grassed edges, undercut banks, pools, and around boulders. 09/29 10:27
Lake Hendricks Northeast Temperatures range from upper 60's to lower 40's. Rivers and streams in good condition and clarity. Many are low creating difficulties for boat access. For more information, please contact the Chuck Gipp Decorah Fish Hatchery at 563-382-8324. 09/29 09:22
Lake Hendricks Northeast Algae bloom continues on Lake Hendricks. Clarity is less than a foot. Water temperatures low 60's. 09/29 09:28
Lake Hendricks Northeast Bluegill - Good: Find gills along rocky shorelines. Use a small piece of worm fished under a bobber near shore. 09/29 09:29
Lake Hendricks Northeast Largemouth Bass - Fair: Use plastics and topwater lures for best luck fished near shore. 09/29 09:30
Lake Hendricks Northeast Black Crappie - Good: Use a small minnow or lure in deeper water. 09/29 09:31
Lake Meyer Northeast Temperatures range from upper 60's to lower 40's. Rivers and streams in good condition and clarity. Many are low creating difficulties for boat access. For more information, please contact the Chuck Gipp Decorah Fish Hatchery at 563-382-8324. 09/29 09:22
Lake Meyer Northeast Clarity less than 2 feet with water temperatures in the low 60's. Water has a brownish tint. 09/29 09:32
Lake Meyer Northeast Bluegill - Good: Find bluegills along rocky shorelines in water less than 5 ft. Use a small jig tipped with a small piece of worm. 09/29 09:34
Lake Meyer Northeast Largemouth Bass - Fair: Bass in shallow water. Use topwater lures or a jig tipped with a plastic tail. 09/29 09:35
Lake Meyer Northeast Black Crappie - Slow: Find crappie suspended in 10-13 ft. water. Use a jig tipped with a minnow. 09/29 09:36
Mississippi River Pool 10 Northeast Upper Mississippi River levels are low and predicted to remain stable, making for good fall fishing. Water temps have dropped into the 60's. Boaters are advised to use caution to not back off end of ramps. 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. 09/29 11:54
Mississippi River Pool 10 Northeast Black Crappie - Fair: Expect the crappie bite to improve as we move into fall. Hair jigs have been effective this week. 09/29 11:54
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. 09/29 11:54
Mississippi River Pool 10 Northeast Channel Catfish - Good: Try cut-bait or stink-bait fished in deeper holes along current breaks of side channels. 09/29 11:54
Mississippi River Pool 10 Northeast Flathead Catfish - Good: Try a shiner or small bluegill for bait for the bigger ones. 09/29 11:54
Mississippi River Pool 10 Northeast Freshwater Drum - Excellent: Freshwater drum bite is coming on. Fish weighted crawler rig in the current anywhere from shore. 09/29 11:54
Mississippi River Pool 10 Northeast Largemouth Bass - Good: Cast jigs or jerkbaits in woody cover in the shallows of backwaters. 09/29 11:54
Mississippi River Pool 10 Northeast Northern Pike - Fair: Try casting crankbaits off vegetation lines or near mouth of triibutary streams. 09/29 11:54
Mississippi River Pool 10 Northeast Sauger - No Report: 09/29 11:54
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. 09/29 11:54
Mississippi River Pool 10 Northeast Walleye - Good: Trolling crankbaits has been effective for walleye off the wing-dams and side channels. 09/29 11:54
Mississippi River Pool 10 Northeast Water level at Lynxville is stable at 612.9 feet. Water temperature is 64 degrees at Lynxville dam. Water clarity is good. Early fall fishing has been picking up. 09/29 11:54
Mississippi River Pool 10 Northeast White Bass - Fair: Watch for schools of white bass chasing minnows out of the water. Cast for feeding white bass using spinnerbaits or shad colored crankbaits. 09/29 11:54
Mississippi River Pool 10 Northeast Yellow Perch - Good: Perch have been biting on a jig tipped with crawler. 09/29 11:54
Mississippi River Pool 11 Northeast Upper Mississippi River levels are low and predicted to remain stable, making for good fall fishing. Water temps have dropped into the 60's. Boaters are advised to use caution to not back off end of ramps. 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. 09/29 11:54
Mississippi River Pool 11 Northeast Black Crappie - Fair: Expect the crappie bite to improve as we move into fall. Hair jigs have been effective this week. 09/29 11:54
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. 09/29 11:54
Mississippi River Pool 11 Northeast Channel Catfish - Good: Try cut-bait or stink-bait fished in deeper holes along current breaks of side channels. 09/29 11:54
Mississippi River Pool 11 Northeast Flathead Catfish - Good: The flathead bite has been good with the warmer temperatures. Try a shiner or small bluegill for bait. Lots of bank pole fishing with anglers using live fish such as bullheads or green sunfish for bait. 09/29 11:54
Mississippi River Pool 11 Northeast Freshwater Drum - Excellent: Freshwater drum bite is coming on. Fish weighted crawler rig in the current anywhere from shore. 09/29 11:54
Mississippi River Pool 11 Northeast Largemouth Bass - Good: Cast jigs or crankbaits in woody cover in the shallows of backwaters. 09/29 11:54
Mississippi River Pool 11 Northeast Northern Pike - Fair: Try casting crankbaits off vegetation lines or near mouth of triibutary streams. 09/29 11:54
Mississippi River Pool 11 Northeast Sauger - No Report: 09/29 11:54
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. 09/29 11:54
Mississippi River Pool 11 Northeast Walleye - Good: Trolling crankbaits has been effective for walleye off the wing-dams and side channels 09/29 11:54
Mississippi River Pool 11 Northeast Water level at Guttenberg is low and stabilized around 4.5 feet. Water temperature is near 61 degrees. Fish are on the early fall feed. 09/29 11:54
Mississippi River Pool 11 Northeast White Bass - Fair: Watch for schools of white bass chasing minnows out of the water. Cast for feeding white bass using spinnerbaits or shad colored crankbaits. 09/29 11:54
Mississippi River Pool 11 Northeast Yellow Perch - Good: Perch have been biting on a jig tipped with crawler. 09/29 11:54
Mississippi River Pool 12 Northeast Fishing conditions remain excellent on the Mississippi River. Water levels are low and still receding throughout the district and water temps are in the mid 70's and the clarity is good. Please be mindful that the river is low so be careful when backing off boat ramps. Use the minimum amount of ramp to float boat as it is easy to back off the ends of short ramps. If you have angling questions, please call the Bellevue Fisheries Management at 563-880-8781 09/23 10:46
Mississippi River Pool 12 Northeast Water levels are currently at 4.8 feet at the Dubuque Lock and Dam and 7.4 feet at the RR bridge. Water levels are receding slightly, and the temperature is around 72 degrees. All season long, mixed bags reported with many species contributing. In this low water be careful not to back a boat off the ends of short boat ramps. 09/23 10:46
Mississippi River Pool 12 Northeast Bluegill - Excellent: Fish around rock lines and behind fallen trees using a simple bobber and worm. 09/23 10:46
Mississippi River Pool 12 Northeast Channel Catfish - Excellent: Use stink baits in larger sloughs and mud flats. 09/23 10:46
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. 09/23 10:46
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. Fish are often found along weed lines. 09/23 10:46
Mississippi River Pool 12 Northeast Northern Pike - Excellent: Some nice pike are now being reported on spinner baits. Fish are located often along the established vegetation lines. Try gaudy white spinner baits for the best success. 09/23 10:46
Mississippi River Pool 12 Northeast Black Crappie - Good: Both Black and White Crappie are being caught on woody structures in larger side channel areas with most anglers using small jigs or minnows. 09/23 10:46
Mississippi River Pool 12 Northeast Flathead Catfish - Fair: Bankline fishing is winding down but a few folks are still using lines baited with live fish such as carp or green sunfish. 09/23 10:46
Mississippi River Pool 12 Northeast Smallmouth Bass - Excellent: Fish along rock lines with moderate current using a spinner or crankbait. Most of the smallies are small but bigger fish can be caught on bigger crankbaits. 09/23 10:46
Mississippi River Pool 12 Northeast Walleye - Good: In this lower water try fishing crankbaits or worm rigs on the outer portion of wingdams which have stronger currents. 09/23 10:46
Mississippi River Pool 12 Northeast White Bass - Good: White bass are being caught on white spinners or jigs. Look for schools of white bass chasing minnows especially near sandy beach areas. 09/23 10:46
Mississippi River Pool 12 Northeast Fishing conditions remain excellent on the Mississippi River. Water levels are low and stable throughout the district and water temps are in the mid 60's and the clarity is good. Please be mindful that the river is low so be careful when backing off boat ramps. Use the minimum amount of ramp to float boat as it is easy to back off the ends of short ramps. If you have angling questions, please call the Bellevue Fisheries Management at 563-880-8781 09/29 11:30
Mississippi River Pool 12 Northeast River conditions are low. Be careful not to back off the ends of the boat ramps. 09/29 11:50
Mississippi River Pool 13 Northeast Fishing conditions remain excellent on the Mississippi River. Water levels are low and still receding throughout the district and water temps are in the mid 70's and the clarity is good. Please be mindful that the river is low so be careful when backing off boat ramps. Use the minimum amount of ramp to float boat as it is easy to back off the ends of short ramps. If you have angling questions, please call the Bellevue Fisheries Management at 563-880-8781 09/23 10:46
Mississippi River Pool 13 Northeast Bluegill - Excellent: Try a simple bobber and worm rigs along rock lines or near fallen trees in larger sloughs. 09/23 10:46
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. 09/23 10:46
Mississippi River Pool 13 Northeast Northern Pike - Excellent: Use gaudy white spinners for best action. 09/23 10:46
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. 09/23 10:46
Mississippi River Pool 13 Northeast The water level at the Bellevue Lock is currently near 4.1 feet and stable. The water temperature is around 73 degrees. All year we have lots of mixed species' bags being reported. In this low water be careful not to back a boat off the ends of short boat ramps and ruin your trailer. 09/23 10:46
Mississippi River Pool 13 Northeast Walleye - Good: In this lower water try fishing crankbaits or worm rigs on the outer portion of wingdams which have stronger currents. 09/23 10:46
Mississippi River Pool 13 Northeast White Bass - Good: White bass have been seen feeding at the surface in various parts of Pool 13. Try to use white jigs and small spinners in these feeding schools. 09/23 10:46
Mississippi River Pool 13 Northeast Black Crappie - Good: Both Black and White Crappie are being caught on woody structures in larger side channel areas with most anglers using small jigs or minnows. 09/23 10:46
Mississippi River Pool 13 Northeast Channel Catfish - Excellent: Stink baits seem to be working best for cats. 09/23 10:46
Mississippi River Pool 13 Northeast Flathead Catfish - Fair: Bankline fishing is winding down but a few folks are still using lines baited with live fish such as carp or green sunfish. 09/23 10:46
Mississippi River Pool 13 Northeast Largemouth Bass - Excellent: The Bass bite is very hot right now. They are heavily feeding on minnows in side channels and rock lines. 09/23 10:46
Mississippi River Pool 13 Northeast Smallmouth Bass - Excellent: Fish very close to rock in stronger current areas. Lots of smaller fish which are still fun on light tackle. 09/23 10:46
Mississippi River Pool 13 Northeast Fishing conditions remain excellent on the Mississippi River. Water levels are low and stable throughout the district and water temps are in the mid 60's and the clarity is good. Please be mindful that the river is low so be careful when backing off boat ramps. Use the minimum amount of ramp to float boat as it is easy to back off the ends of short ramps. If you have angling questions, please call the Bellevue Fisheries Management at 563-880-8781 09/29 11:30
Mississippi River Pool 13 Northeast River conditions are low. Be careful not to back off the ends of the boat ramps. Water clarity is excellent. 09/29 11:32
Mississippi River Pool 13 Northeast Black Crappie - Good: Fish larger sloughs in the brush piles using small jigs and minnows. 09/29 11:33
Mississippi River Pool 13 Northeast Largemouth Bass - Good: Bass fishing will heat up this fall as they begin to feed heavily on shad. 09/29 11:34
Mississippi River Pool 13 Northeast Walleye - Good: Crankbaits on wingdams have produced some nice walleyes lately. 09/29 11:34
Mississippi River Pool 13 Northeast Freshwater Drum - Excellent: A simple worm rig fished on the bottom in moderate current areas will produce plenty of drum. 09/29 11:35
Mississippi River Pool 13 Northeast Bluegill - Good: Fish along rock lines with floating bobber and worms. 09/29 11:37
Mississippi River Pool 13 Northeast Channel Catfish - Good: Most channel cats are being caught on worm rigs but some folks are still using stink baits, 09/29 11:37
Mississippi River Pool 14 Northeast Fishing conditions remain excellent on the Mississippi River. Water levels are low and still receding throughout the district and water temps are in the mid 70's and the clarity is good. Please be mindful that the river is low so be careful when backing off boat ramps. Use the minimum amount of ramp to float boat as it is easy to back off the ends of short ramps. If you have angling questions, please call the Bellevue Fisheries Management at 563-880-8781 09/23 10:46
Mississippi River Pool 14 Northeast Bluegill - Excellent: Bluegills are on the bite throughout Pool 14, use a simple bobber and worm rig in three foot of water or less. 09/23 10:46
Mississippi River Pool 14 Northeast Channel Catfish - Excellent: Fish in larger sloughs upstream of fallen trees. Use stink baits or cut shad. 09/23 10:46
Mississippi River Pool 14 Northeast Freshwater Drum - Excellent: Drum are taken in areas of moderate current using an egg sinker and worm rig. Keep fish on ice if plan on eating them and they can be very good table fare. 09/23 10:46
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. 09/23 10:46
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. 09/23 10:46
Mississippi River Pool 14 Northeast The water level at the Fulton Lock and Dam is receding and is presently at 4.3 feet, Camanche is at 9.2 feet and Le Claire is at 4.3 feet. Water temperature is around 74 in the main channel and clarity is good. In this low water be careful not to back a boat off the ends of short boat ramps. It is very easy to ruin your boat trailer. 09/23 10:46
Mississippi River Pool 14 Northeast Walleye - Good: In this lower water try fishing crankbaits or worm rigs on the outer portion of wingdams which have stronger currents. 09/23 10:46
Mississippi River Pool 14 Northeast White Bass - Good: White bass mixed in with Hybrid striped bass are being reported in good numbers near the tailwater area. Use white jig or small spinner. 09/23 10:46
Mississippi River Pool 14 Northeast White Crappie - Good: Both Black and White crappie angling continues to be good in around brush piles. Small jig tipped with minnows are often the bait of choice. 09/23 10:46
Mississippi River Pool 14 Northeast Flathead Catfish - Good: Bankline fishing is winding down but a few folks are still using lines baited with live fish such as carp or green sunfish. 09/23 10:46
Mississippi River Pool 14 Northeast Longnose Gar - Excellent: Wanna try to fish for something different numerous large gars are being reported biting in Pool 14. 09/23 10:46
Mississippi River Pool 14 Northeast Smallmouth Bass - Excellent: 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. 09/23 10:46
Mississippi River Pool 14 Northeast Fishing conditions remain excellent on the Mississippi River. Water levels are low and stable throughout the district and water temps are in the mid 60's and the clarity is good. Please be mindful that the river is low so be careful when backing off boat ramps. Use the minimum amount of ramp to float boat as it is easy to back off the ends of short ramps. If you have angling questions, please call the Bellevue Fisheries Management at 563-880-8781 09/29 11:30
Mississippi River Pool 14 Northeast River conditions are low. Be careful not to back off the ends of the boat ramps. 09/29 11:41
Mississippi River Pool 14 Northeast Walleye - Good: Use crankbaits on wingdams. 09/29 11:41
Mississippi River Pool 14 Northeast Smallmouth Bass - Good: Fish rock lines with crankbaits and spinners. Must be in moderate current areas for the best success. 09/29 11:42
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