Iowa Fishing Reports - 10/2/2008

Northeast

Mississippi River Pools 9 to 15: Fishing is slowly picking up on the Mississippi River in Pools 9 to 15 with the drop in water temperature. Water levels at Lynxville are 12.3 feet, Guttenberg 4.0 feet, Dubuque 7.12 feet, Bellevue 4.11 feet, and Camanche 9.02 feet. The river is forecast to remain stable over the next week. Water temperature is in the mid 60s. As the temperature continues to drop, a fall feeding binge will begin for many fish species.

Walleye and sauger fishing is picking up in the tailwaters near Lock and Dams 9 (Lynxville), 10 (Guttenberg), 11 (Dubuque), and 12 (Bellevue). In Pool 9, anglers are reporting good catches of walleye in Minnesota Slough. Now is a good time of the year to troll crankbaits along the wing dams and running sloughs near Harpers Ferry (Pool 10) for larger walleyes. Try using a three-way rig tipped with either a floater or leach in Pools 12 to 15 along the front edge of the wing dams or the upper dams when they are in series. Sauger fishing should really pick up as water temperature drops into the 50s.

Fishing is very good for channel catfish using worms fished on the bottom in Pools 9 through 11.

Smallmouth and largemouth bass fishing is good casting crankbaits along rocks with current in Pools 9 through 11.

Bluegill fishing is excellent near Harpers Ferry (Pool 10) near fallen trees. Bluegill fishing is fair in Pools 12 through 15 on night crawlers fished on the bottom in the snags along the side channel and around wing dams with little flow.

Crappie fishing is picking up in Pools 9 through 15 along snags in the side channels and running sloughs. Fishing should pick up as water temperature continues to decline. Try using small jigs or minnows on a bare hook for crappies or tie your boat up to the snag and vertically jig a small jig and minnow.

Freshwater drum (sheepshead) fishing is good in Pools 9 through 15 using night crawlers on the bottom. Drum can be found at nearly any shoreline location adjacent to the channel. Use a sliding egg sinker with night crawler or crayfish for bait. Large crayfish often produce larger drum.

Northern pike are hitting crankbaits in Minnesota Slough (Pool 9) and Harpers Ferry (Pool 10).

Cedar River (Mitchell, Floyd and Chickasaw): The river is still off color due to a diatom bloom but as water temperature drops, water clarity will improve. This bloom should not scare the angler away as the fish are still there waiting for whatever lure you want to throw their way. Try fishing for walleyes in the deeper pools using jigs tipped with long piece of night crawler. Channel catfishing has slowed a bit.

Shell Rock River (Floyd and Bremer): River conditions are very good and anglers are having good success. Fishing is excellent for channel catfish on night crawlers, live minnows and chicken liver. Walleye fishing is good casting crankbaits or jigs tipped with a night crawler or minnow near current breaks or runs below the riffles in 3 to 4 feet of water. Also try casting jigs tipped with a night crawler onto the sandbars and let them drop into deeper holes with current.

Cedar River (Bremer, Black Hawk), Maquoketa River (Delaware, Jones), Shell Rock River (Butler), and Wapsipinicon River (Buchanan, Black Hawk): Fishing is currently good for channel catfish, smallmouth bass and walleye. Now is a great time to fish as water levels are favorable in all area rivers, water temperature is dropping, and water clarity is excellent. Fish activity is high during this time of year as fish feed in preparation for winter and the spring spawn. As water temperature cools, use more live bait presentations, such as a jig-and-night crawler, and slow-down retrieval speeds.

Turkey River (Clayton): Try using a variety of lures and live bait for smallmouth bass. Walleye can be caught in the deeper pools with slow moving artificial lures.

Upper Iowa River (Winneshiek and Allamakee): Anglers have been picking up larger smallmouth bass above Decorah. Try fishing twister tails and crankbaits in the pools and in the riffles. Walleye are biting on crankbaits, Shad Raps and white twister tails in the deeper pools. Also try tipping lead head with night crawler fished slowly on bottom of deep holes.

Yellow River (Allamakee): Water clarity is excellent. Smallmouth bass and trout fishing are good and should be picking up. Try using twister tails in a variety of colors.

Avenue of the Saints Lake and Plainfield Lake (Bremer County): Fishing is good for largemouth bass and bluegills; try crankbaits and plastics for largemouth and use small night crawlers or red worms for bluegill.

Casey Lake (Tama): Fishing is good for bluegills using flies and wax worms. Bass fishing is fair.

Lake Delhi (Delaware): Fishing is fair to good for bluegill using live bait. Bass fishing is good around structure using crankbaits and plastics.

Lake Hendricks (Howard): Largemouth bass fishing is good with a variety of artificial lures fished along shore. Channel catfish are actively looking for food in shallow area. Try using night crawlers or chicken liver fished on the bottom. Bluegill fishing is fair. Try using smaller gear when fishing midday to hook the finicky ones. Larger crappies are being caught by slowly trolling at 4 to 5 feet deep with a minnow.

Lake Meyer (Winneshiek): Good numbers of 7 to 9-inch crappies are moving in on the brush piles on the south and east sides of the lake. They are being caught with small jigs or minnows under a bobber. Try throwing the rig a few feet past the snags and reeling in toward them. This works really well if the wind is blowing into the snags. Bluegill fishing is good for medium sized fish on night crawlers or angleworms. Some larger bluegills are being caught while fishing for crappie with jigs. Largemouth bass fishing is fair using spinner baits working the shoreline. Channel catfish fishing has slowed, but a few nice sized ones are still being caught.

Volga Lake (Fayette): Largemouth bass fishing is good in the early morning and late evening hours. Use slower-moving artificial lures worked along structure. Bluegill fishing is fair using wax worms or night crawlers on a very small hook under a bobber near structure. Crappies are being caught while slowly drifting or trolling in deeper, open water using a slip bobber. Catfishing has slowed, but there is an excellent population of channel catfish in this lake. A good number of them are in the trophy-sized range.

Northeast Iowa Trout Streams: GO!!! Area streams are in excellent condition, fishing pressure is moderate while fishing continues to be outstanding, and fall colors are adding a splash of colors to northeast Iowa. Stream stockings are no longer announced, but do not let this bog you down. There are plenty of fish out there and the leaves are really beginning to put on a show.

Anglers are reminded to help the DNR monitor the health of our streams and rivers by reporting fish kills immediately by calling 515-281-8694. This hotline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Only with your help can we continue to protect and enhance the aquatic communities in our public waters.

For information on fishing in northeast Iowa, call the regional office in Manchester at 563-927-3276.
Northwest

Spirit Lake (Dickinson): Walleyes are being caught drifting the weed lines with spinner rigs tipped with worms or casting along weed lines with crankbaits or jerk baits, and by fishing from shore at the North Grade with a minnow and jig at sunrise or sunset. Fish weed lines with jerk baits or tube jigs for smallmouth bass. Bluegills are biting around boat docks on ice jigs tipped with worms or wax worms or at the North Grade. Vertically jig or drift with small jigging spoons or micro jigs tipped with worms across the main lake basin for yellow perch. Work tube jigs or other soft plastics around boat docks for largemouth bass.

East Okoboji Lake (Dickinson): White bass are biting at bridges and boat docks on a slip bobber and minnow. For yellow bass, drift to find active fish then anchor and vertically jig with jigging spoons tipped with worms, or fish around docks with a bobber and minnow. Channel catfish are biting on cut bait, liver and stink bait around the bridges. Fish around boat docks with ice jigs tipped with worms for bluegills.

West Okoboji Lake (Dickinson): Largemouth bass are being caught around the docks and weed lines with soft plastics and jerk baits. Smallmouth bass are being picked up around the points with soft plastics or jerk baits, or on surface lures late in the evening. Troll with crankbaits along the weed lines and rock piles in Brown’s, Emerson and Miller’s bays, or drift with bottom bouncers and live bait for walleyes. Yellow perch are biting at the rock piles and weed lines around points and bays on small jigging spoons tipped with live bait. Troll or cast along weed edges in Miller’s, North, Smith’s and Emerson bays for northern pike. Cast or troll along the weed lines and rock piles in Emerson, Millers, North and Smith Bay with crankbaits and spinners for muskies.

Minnewashta (Dickinson): Fish around boat docks with small ice jigs tipped with live bait for bluegills, yellow bass and some crappies.

Upper Gar (Dickinson): Use ice jigs tipped with live bait around boat docks for bluegills, yellow bass and crappies.

West Fork of the Des Moines River: Fish a jig and minnow around riffles and holes for walleyes.

Yellow Smoke Lake (Crawford): Fishing is good for bluegill and crappie around flooded timber on small ice jigs tipped with night crawlers.

North Twin Lake (Calhoun): Fishing is fair to good for yellow bass on jigs tipped with cut bait.

Brushy Creek (Webster): Bluegills are in 10 to 15 feet of water and can be caught on a piece of worm on a small hook fished just off the bottom. A few crappies have been caught on minnows around trees located near shore. Bass have been more active. Water clarity is fair.

Clear Lake (Cerro Gordo): Walleye fishing continues to be slow. A few fish are being caught in the west end of the lake. Yellow bass fishing is good around drifting cut bait or a piece of night crawler in 8 to 14 feet of water by the artificial weed beds, from the island to the north shore and by the Baptist Camp. White bass are sill biting around the island and from any sandy areas in the morning and late evening. A few muskies are being caught trolling baits near the weed edge.

For more information on fishing in northwest Iowa, call the regional office in Spirit Lake at 712-336-1840.
Southwest

Fogle Lake (Ringgold): A few crappies are biting in the evenings.

Lake of Three Fires (Taylor): Several mid-sized largemouth bass can be caught from structure or the edges of the lotus beds in 3 to 6 feet of water. Channel catfish can be caught using cut baits in less than 6 feet of water, from the shoreline. Several nice bluegills have been caught on night crawlers near shore. Water clarity is at least 4 feet.

Icaria (Adams): A few channel catfish are being caught using cut bait. Largemouth bass are biting on crankbaits and spinners. Bullheads are biting well on night crawlers.

Three Mile Lake (Union): Largemouth bass are being caught near structure. A few crappies are caught suspended over the dirt mounds. Wipers and walleyes have picked up over the rock areas.

Twelve Mile Lake (Union): Several mid-sized largemouth bass are being caught from the flooded timber. Bullheads are biting well on night crawlers anywhere in the lake. Some crappies and several bluegills biting are rear rocks.

Green Valley (Union): The water level is drained down to 12 feet and the fishery was renovated. Fish will be restocked by early October. Boating access is possible using the main ramp but not encouraged. Extreme care must be used during launching and loading.

Local Rivers and Streams: Anglers have been catching an abundance of catfish in these areas.

Contact Gary Sobotka at (641) 464-3108 for information on the above area lakes.

Don Williams (Boone): A few crappies and bluegills are being caught on jigs tipped with minnows.

Big Creek (Polk): Crappie fishing is still reported as slow with a few fish being caught. Catfish can still be caught on chicken liver, shrimp or stink bait.

Red Rock (Marion): White bass bite has slowed.

Rock Creek (Jasper): Crappie fishing is reported as good using small jigs tipped with wax worms.

Saylorville Lake (Polk): White bass fishing is still fair out in the main lake trolling or jigging. Good numbers of catfish are being caught using cut bait and fishing on flats in around 15 feet of water.

Hickory Grove (Story): Fishing has been slow with smaller catches of Bluegill and Crappie. A few Catfish are still being caught on cut bait and stink bait. .

Lake Ahquabi and Hooper (Warren): Bluegill and crappie bite is slow. A few catfish are still being caught.

Skunk River (Story): Smallmouth fishing is still very good with some nice fish up to 17 inches being caught using crawfish imitations or small inline spinners.

Banner Pits (Warren): South Banner is being drawn down to a normal level. Shoreline access will improve.

Contact Ben Dodd at (515) 432-2823, Ext.108, for information on the above area lakes.

Viking Lake (Montgomery): Anglers are catching 16 to 19-inch channel catfish on stink baits or chicken liver.

Lake Manawa (Pottawattamie): Catfish are fair to good using crawdads and shrimp. Crappies are being caught on the northeast part of lake around boat docks. Fishing for wipers is good on east side of lake. Walleyes are picking up using large minnows.

Willow Lake (Harrison): Channel catfish has been fair using liver.

Meadow Lake (Adair): Meadow is open to fishing, however the lake has been lowered 8 feet and the boat ramp is not usable. Habitat improvements are scheduled for this fall and winter.

Orient (Adair): Catfish is fair using liver.

Greenfield (Adair): Bluegills are fair drifting small jigs and around jetties. A few catfish are being caught on liver.

Mormon Trail (Adair): Fishing for channel catfish has been good in the evenings using liver and cut bait.

Lake Anita (Cass): Crappie fishing is good for 8 to 9-inch fish drifting a small white jig or anchored near structure. Schools of crappie have scattered around the lake and when anglers find the schools, they are able to catch quite a few. Largemouth Bass fishing has been good using plastic baits around rock reefs and along the road bed during the day.

Arrowhead Lake (Pottawattamie): Largemouth bass are being caught using plastic baits around structure. Channel catfish is fair using liver.

Prairie Rose Lake (Shelby): Channel catfish is fair using liver and stink bait.

Middle Raccoon River (Guthrie): A few bluegills and crappies are being caught below the Lennon Mills Dam. Conditions are favorable for fishing the catch and release stretch for smallmouth bass from Lennon Mills Dam to Redfield.

Contact Bryan Hayes at (712) 769-2587 for information on the above area lakes.

For more information on general fishing in southwest Iowa, call the regional office in Lewis at 712-769-2587.
Southeast

Mississippi River Pools 16 to 20: In Pool 16, river stage at Lock and Dam 15 is 4.46 feet with water temperature around 68 degrees. Channel catfish are being caught on shad and dip baits. Crappies are being caught in the Andalusia Island complex fishing brush piles with minnows and tube jigs. Walleye fishing has been slow but some fish are being caught on the wing dams around Credit Island. A few white bass are being caught in Sylvan Slough. In Pool 17, river stage at Lock and Dam 16 is 3.76 feet with water temperature around 66 degrees. Channel catfish are being caught on dip baits and night crawlers. Crappies are being caught on jigs and minnows fishing the brush piles in Big Timber. Some crappies are also being caught in the Muscatine Harbor. Walleye fishing has been slow. White bass fishing has been slow.

In Pool 18, river stage at Lock and Dam 17 is 4.46 feet. Channel catfish are being caught fishing shad along the main channel. Crappies are being caught in Huron Island fishing the brush piles with minnows and tube jigs. In Pool 19, river stage at Lock and Dam 18 is 1.79 feet. Channel catfish are being caught on shad and night crawlers. Some crappies are being caught in the backwaters on minnows. In Pool 20, river stage at Lock and Dam 19 is 3.05 feet. Tailwater stages are changing daily due to dam releases. Channel catfish are being caught on shad and night crawlers.

Lake Odessa (Louisa): Anglers are catching nice crappies and bluegills around the trees and beaver lodges in the Horseshoe Bend and Sand Run areas. Yes, this is the same as last week’s report but the fish are on their fall migration and they are looking for something to eat.

Lake Darling (Washington): The channel and flathead catfish fishing has been fair to good with the arrival of the cooler weather. They are looking to fatten up for the winter. Cut bait and chicken liver for the channels and green sunfish for the flatheads.

Lake Belva Deer (Keokuk): Fishing is good right now. Anglers are catching good numbers of the big bluegills in 10 feet of water along the weed beds and other habitat at that depth. Anglers are also taking a lot of catfish as those fish start to fatten up for winter.

Lake Geode (Henry): The fish are still trying to settle down after the lake came up from those heavy rains a couple of weeks ago. The redears are coming in shallow as well as a few crappies.

Lake Rathbun (Appanoose): The lake is about 14 feet above normal pool and three boat ramps remain open; Bridgeview, Honey Creek, and Buck Creek marina high water ramp. Crappies have been hitting on minnows fished around the shoreline in flooded vegetation. Walleyes have been hitting on crankbaits being trolled along rocky drop-offs and underwater islands.

Lake Sugema (Van Buren): Crappies have been hitting on small jigs and minnows. Bluegills have been biting on small jigs fished around a variety of underwater structure.

Lake Wapello (Davis): The lake has been drained for renovation.

Lake Miami (Monroe): Crappies have been hitting on small jigs and on minnows. Try drifting along deeper water. Use small jigs fished along shore for bluegills and an occasional crappie.

Lake Macbride (Johnson): Fishing has been hit or miss here. Crappies can be found in some of the brush piles and some are still roaming open water. A few walleyes, channel catfish, and largemouth bass are also being picked up. Remember, any size motor may be used at no wake speed during this time of the year.

Union Grove (Tama): Bluegill fishing around shallow structure has been good. A few crappies will also be found on the shallow brush, but boat anglers are also picking crappies up by drifting the main lake.

Skunk River (Washington and Henry): The river has fallen back to what it was before the big rains. Anglers in the Brighton area are catching nice numbers of catfish. Anglers are also catching good numbers of flatheads as these big fish are staring to move to their over wintering holes as the water temps drop.

Iowa River (Louisa): The river was almost back to its normal level but it has started to go back up. The rise is forecasted to be short lived and the river level should start to drop very soon. Look for the fishing for flatheads to start picking up as they start on their fall feeding frenzy.

For more information on fishing in southeast Iowa, call the regional office in Brighton at 319-694-2430.

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Iowa Fishing Report - 6/5/2008

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources will be releasing the weekly fishing report on Thursdays in an effort to provide the latest information heading into the weekend. The weekly fishing report is compiled from information gathered from local bait shops, angler creel surveys, and county and state parks staff.

For current information, contact the district fisheries office. Phone numbers are listed with each district report.

NOTE: The Iowa Department of Natural Resources has closed George Wyth State Park until at least June 12 because of high water and flooding conditions in and around the park. With the park’s closing, the DNR had to cancel the family fishing event scheduled for June 7.
Northeast

Mississippi River 9 to 15: River levels are on the rise. On Thursday, Lansing was at 9.4 feet, Lynxville 18.3 feet, Guttenberg 9.9 feet, Dubuque 10.8 feet, Bellevue was 9.5 feet, and Camanche was 12.6 feet. Water temperature is in the upper 60s. Rains have made much of the Mississippi quite turbid, but if you plan a fishing trip, increased water clarity may be found above the Turkey River in Pool 11 and above the Wisconsin River in Pool 10 and other major tributaries downriver. Pools 9 and 10 should maintain decent water clarity unless they receive heavy rainfall locally. Good clarity is important when fishing sight-feeding predatory fish such as bass and crappies.

Walleye fishing is very good right now on the wing dams in Pools 9 to 11 and is fair along the wing dams in Pools 12 and 13 above the mouth of the Maquoketa River. Most people use crankbaits or three-way rigs with a floating jig head and tipped with a leech or worm along the front of the wing dams. Try to keep your bait or lure in contact with rock as you work along the dam. As the water level rises, try spending more time near shore on the wing dams as the current will be less.

A few nice crappies are being caught in the backwaters and sloughs in Pools 9 and 10. Float a worm under a bobber and keep moving to find actively feeding fish.

Bluegills are biting in Pools 9 to 11 on a split shot and garden worm. The spillways at Lock and Dams 9 and 10 are hot spots. Use a piece of worm on a small jig or a hook and sinker fished in the slack water next to the dams.

Largemouth and smallmouth bass fishing remains very good in Pools 9, 10 and in upper 11.

Channel catfish are biting on worms fished on the bottom in Pools 9 to 15 in the sloughs next to woody cover or around wing dams. Catfish will begin spawning soon, so anglers should target rocky areas with current, such as Ackerman’s cut in Pool 11 or any rip rapped shoreline. Try floating a minnow or worm and bobber along the rocks for spawning catfish.

Freshwater drum fishing remains excellent in Pools 9 to 15. Use worms on the bottom or jigs with a sinker for these nice-sized fish. As the water rises, fish in the eddy areas near shore.

Northern pike fishing is good in Pools 9 and 10 on spinners or white jigs with twister tails. Many limits are being reported of quality-sized fish.

Yellow perch fishing has been good in Pool 10 near Harpers Ferry along the brush piles and in Mud Lake in lower Pool 11.

Fishing conditions are difficult in many northeast Iowa rivers due to high flows and turbid water conditions.

Cedar River (Mitchell, Floyd and Chickasaw): Locally heavy rains near Charles City and throughout the area have water levels high and muddy.

Cedar River (Bremer and Black Hawk) and Shell Rock River (Butler and Bremer): Channel catfish have been biting very well on dead cut baits and night crawlers. Target the flooded backwater inlets and tributary streams. Some walleyes are also being caught.

Maquoketa River (Delaware): A few walleye are biting on jigs tipped with a night crawler. Fish for channel catfish in any newly flooded areas outside of the main river flows.

Turkey River (Fayette and Clayton): Fishing has slowed due to the rising water and muddy conditions.

Upper Iowa River (Winneshiek and Allamakee): Fishing has slowed due to rising water and muddy conditions. Anglers may want to target fish at the mouths of the trout streams entering the Upper Iowa River as they may clear faster than the main river.

Wapsipinicon River (Buchanan): Water levels are expected to rise again after recent rains. Fish for channel catfish in areas that provide refuge from the main river, such as backwater inlets and tributary stream confluences.

Big Woods Lake and other Black Hawk ponds: Bluegill, crappie and largemouth bass fishing is fair to good when the weather cooperates.

Casey Lake (Tama): Fishing is excellent for quality-sized bluegills when using flies, red worms and small jigs. Keep the lure in shallow water near the spawning beds. Catfishing is fair during the evening hours using fresh or live baits on the bottom. Largemouth bass fishing for smaller-sized bass has been good near shoreline structure.

Hendricks Lake (Howard): Prior to this week’s rains, clarity was extremely good at more than 12 feet. Bluegills can be caught on nests using dark or natural colored jigs, such as brown, pumpkinseed or watermelon. Largemouth bass fishing is good and some have been seen on nests. Anglers have been picking up bass of varying sizes. Channel catfish angling is starting to pick up, with some larger fish being caught on night crawlers or dead minnows fished on the bottom.

Lake Delhi (Delaware): Fishing has been fair for crappies and channel catfish near shoreline habitats during periods when the Maquoketa River is not at flood stage.

Lake Meyer (Winneshiek): The bigger largemouth bass have been starting to bite on soft plastics or spinners worked along shore. Look to catch crappies staging around shallow structure and in new rock and cedar trees placed along the new jetty and use small white, yellow or silver jigs or minnows. Crappies are 6 to 9 inches with the majority of them at 8 inches. Anglers fishing on the bottom near the dam have been bagging larger crappies. Bluegill fishing has heated up, with 5 to 7-inch fish being readily caught. Channel catfishing is slow due to cooler water temperature.

Plainfield Lake (Bremer): Bluegill fishing is good. Use flies, red worms and small jigs in the shallows.

South Prairie Lake (Black Hawk): Fishing is good for bluegills and fair for crappies. Try using small jigs, worms and flies for bluegills. Slip bobber rigs tipped with a minnow or small jig are currently a good option for catching crappies.

Volga Lake (Fayette): Largemouth bass action has been picking up along the dam for 12-inch fish. Use crankbaits, spinners or plastic tube jigs along rocky shorelines. Try catching channel catfish in the shallow coves when the wind is blowing into the coves. Catfish feed on dead fish pushed into these areas. Also, try using cut baits on the bottom.

Trout stream fishing and conditions have been difficult due to frequent rains. Streams with smaller watersheds should clear quickly. Fish for brown trout when the water starts to go off color. Anglers are encouraged to call the trout stocking recording at 563-927-5736 if they have a question about whether their favorite stream has been stocked. Stocking calendars can be printed off the DNR’s website by going to www.iowadnr.gov and following the menus through to the fish and fishing pages. Anglers are reminded that many of our trout streams are located on private property. Remember to respect private property and assist the landowners by picking up your trash and other trash you see along the streams. Vehicle trespass is never allowed on private property, nor can you hunt on private property without the landowners consent-including mushroom hunting! A few inconsiderate people can put a halt to the privilege of fishing these properties by the general public. Due in part to trespass complaints, recent changes to trout stocking include the closure of the upper portion of Silver Creek and lower Brush Creek to public fishing. Lower Brush Creek is also closed due to bridge repair.

For information on fishing in northeast Iowa, call the regional office in Manchester at 563-927-3276.

 

Northwest

Spirit Lake (Dickinson): For walleyes, drift a leech in Anglers Bay or slip bobber fish with leeches out from boat docks at sunset. Crappies have begun spawning and are near visible cover around the North Grade or Trickles Slough. Pitch to bulrushes for spawning largemouth bass in Trickles Slough. Large bullheads are being caught at the North Grade with night crawlers. For smallmouth bass, target rock areas out from the shorelines at Cottonwood Point, Miniwakan, Bakers Point or Reeds Run with tube or hair jigs. Anglers are catching 4 to 6 pound northern pike at Trickles Slough.

East Okoboji (Dickinson): White bass are biting a jig and shiner at the bridges, mouth of spillway, or wind blown shorelines. Throw twister tails or shiners at Hinshaw’s Bridge for walleyes. Use a small tube or hair jigs in the evening at the bridges for yellow bass. Bluegills are hitting at the trestle area on small tube jigs or small worms. Anglers are catching channel catfish at the north end of the lake with night crawlers. Bullheads are being caught at the spillway with night crawlers.

West Okoboji (Dickinson): Target spawning largemouth bass in Triboji, Little Emerson, Little Miller’s Bay, and the canals. Fish canals for spawning crappies. Fish main lake or Triboji around boat docks for bluegills. Anglers are catching walleyes trolling spinner rigs with live bait or crankbaits at night. Troll crankbaits on main lake for northern pike.

Silver Lake (Dickinson): Anglers are catching walleyes trolling crankbaits at night or cast jig and minnow from shoreline at night.

Center Lake (Dickinson): Fish the south end of lake for bullheads.

Lake Pahoja (Lyon): Anglers are catching 6 to 8-inch bluegills from the spawning beds near shore. Fish along rip rap banks with a minnow for crappies.

Tuttle Lake (Emmet): Anglers are catching walleyes trolling crankbaits along drop-offs for fish up to 27 inches.

Black Hawk Lake (Sac): Fishing is fair to good for channel catfish on night crawlers and good for bullheads on night crawlers. Lake level is high due to the rains.

Storm Lake (Buena Vista): Walleye fishing is good drifting live bait or trolling crankbaits. White bass are fair to good trolling crankbaits or casting twisters from shore. Catfish have been good on live bait.

Crawford Creek Lake (Ida): Fishing is good for bluegill and an occasional crappie. Bluegills are very close to shore in the spawning areas.

Clear Lake (Cerro Gordo): Walleye fishing has been good in a variety of locations using live bait rigs drifted or trolled or crankbaits trolled in the 8 to 12 feet of water. Anchoring on the rock reefs and using a jig and night crawler or minnow is also producing good catches of walleye. Yellow bass fishing is good around the reefs, the island, and the east shoreline. Yellow bass are spawning and the fish get finicky during the spawn, so smaller jigs and baits are working better. A few white bass are being caught while walleye and yellow bass fishing. Channel catfish are hitting the prepared baits and dead chubs.

Little Wall Lake (Hamilton): Channel catfish are hitting chicken liver and stink bait. Crappie fishing is good for smaller fish. A year class of 6 to 8-inch crappies is abundant in the lake.

Crystal Lake (Hancock): Channel catfish are hitting from shore and the jetties. Chicken liver and chubs are working the best.

Rice Lake (Worth): Bullhead fishing is excellent. Crappies are being caught near inflow areas and downed trees.

Silver Lake (Worth): Yellow perch are being caught from the jetties on small minnows.

Lake Cornelia (Wright): Bullhead fishing is excellent for 8 to 10-inch fish. Bullheads are hitting on night crawlers on the bottom.

For more information on fishing in northwest Iowa, call the regional office in Spirit Lake at 712-336-1840.

 

Southwest

Fogle Lake (Ringgold): Bluegills are starting to move to shallow water. Some crappies are biting near shore in the evenings or from the nearby shallow flooded timber. Largemouth bass fishing is good with several being caught from the near-shore structure. Some channel catfish are biting in the upper end and in the shallows on stink bait.

Lake of Three Fires (Taylor): Lots of nice bluegills are being caught near shore from the spawning areas. Some crappies can still be caught using minnows or white jigs near shore or along the fish mounds. Largemouth bass can be caught from structure near shore. Channel catfish can be caught in the bays.

Icaria (Adams): Walleye fishing is good for small and mid-sized fish. Several walleye can be caught from shore in the lower portions of the lake using white spinners or jigs. Several have been caught from the rocks off the dam. A few channel catfish have been picked up from the shallow bays. Crappies are just off shore in 6 to 12 feet of water during the day but move to the fish mounds and rocky shoreline areas during the evening. Bluegills are starting to move into the spawning areas. Water level is up slightly and clarity is fair, at least 2 feet near the dam. Several largemouth bass have been caught from the near shore structure and tree piles.

Three Mile Lake (Union): Water temperature is around 70 degrees. Some crappies have been caught near shore or nearby flooded timber areas during the morning and evening hours. Most are 9 to 10 inches but there are several reports of larger fish. Bluegills are starting to bite near shore off spawning areas on night crawlers. Walleyes have been caught by trolling the big points or casting crankbaits in the timber. Some channel catfish have been biting on stink bait. Largemouth bass have been very aggressive near shore and around the shallow trees and structure. Several wipers up to 21 inches long have been caught near rocky shoreline areas in the evenings. Water clarity is good and at least 7 feet near the dam.

Twelve Mile Lake (Union): Nice bluegills are being caught from the spawning areas. Some small and mid-sized walleye have been picked up on the old road beds, fish mounds and from the dam using white or yellow twister tails. The maximum size is 21 inches. Many small to mid-sized largemouth bass have been caught from the near-shore structure. Water clarity is at least 8 feet near the dam. Several species have been caught while trolling or casting over the rock riprap fields at the east corner of the dam or the one just southeast of the west ramp.

Green Valley (Union): Several