Saturday Morning Fishing Report: Late September Fishing is Fair to Good

The area should be experiencing normal temperatures for this time of year over the weekend with highs near 70 both Saturday and Sunday. It may be a little breezy during this time with mostly sunny skies.

Black Hawk LakeWater levels are about 9 inches below the crest of the spillway. Black Crappie – Fair: Fish are 8- to 11-inches. Try along Ice House Point and around the fish house and stone piers in Town Bay. Bluegill – Slow: Find bluegills along shore near Ice House Point and the rock pile by Gunshot Hill. Fish are 6- to 7-inches. Largemouth Bass – Fair.

Browns LakeWater levels remain low; use caution when launching boats.

Brushy Creek LakeBlack Crappie – Fair: Find crappie near submerged woody structure in 5-10 feet of water. Use a small jig tipped with a crawler or small minnow. Bluegill – Fair: Drift jigs tipped with crawlers in 5-15 feet of water anywhere along weed lines or near submerged trees. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Try plastics and traditional bass lures along submerged woody structure and weed lines near shore.

Storm Lake (incl Little Storm Lake)All walleye between 19 and 25-inches must be immediately released unharmed at Storm Lake; no more than one walleye longer than 25-inches can be taken per day. Black Crappie – Fair. Channel Catfish – Fair: Storm Lake has a good population of 4-6 pound catfish.  Try cut bait, liver or crawlers fished on the bottom along shore. Walleye – Fair: Try trolling crankbaits using crawler harnesses and drifting leeches near the edges of the dredge cuts. Try along shore with live bait or crankbaits in mornings or evenings. Yellow Bass – Fair: Fish are 5- to 11-inches long.  Use a small piece of crawler fished under a bobber.

For more information, contact the Black Hawk District office at 712-657-2638.

Beeds LakeBlack Crappie – Fair: Troll or drift small crappie jigs along to north shore.

Clear Lake The lake is 3.2 inches below crest. Water temperature is in the low 70s. Water clarity is about 28 inches. Clear Lake has a protected slot on walleye. All walleye between 17 and 22 inches must be immediately released unharmed. No more than one walleye longer than 22 inches may be taken per day. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Try jigs and spinnerbaits near the vegetation edge. Muskellunge – Fair: September is an excellent time to target muskies. Cast baits near docks vegetation beds and reef areas. Walleye – Fair: Use jigs and live bait near vegetation or rock reefs. Walleye are scattered; look for active fish in multiple locations. Yellow Bass – Fair: Use small jigs tipped with crawler or minnows. Stay mobile and search for the schools of yellow bass. Yellow Perch – Slow

Rice Lake Any water west of the North boat ramp is a waterfowl refuge and is closed to all activity from Sept. 1st through the final day of the duck season. Largemouth Bass – Fair:  Yellow Perch – Slow:

Silver Lake (Worth)Bluegill – Good: Catch nice-sized bluegill with small jigs. Largemouth Bass – Good: Use spinnerbaits and jigs fished near vegetation. Yellow Perch – Good: Try small jigs tipped with a crawler or minnows.

For information on the lakes and rivers in north central Iowa, contact the Clear Lake Fish and Wildlife office at 641-357-3517.

East Okoboji Lake Lake temperature is in the low 70s. The water level is three inches below crest. There has been a fairly good crappie and bluegill and yellow perch bite recently. Bigger fish are out deeper in 12-17 feet of water; smaller fish are closer to shore. Trolling has been working fairly well. Black Crappie – Good: Best bite is in 10-15 feet of water along weed lines. Bluegill – Good: Try tube jigs, plastics or other small jigs. Live bait such as wax worms, wigglers and red worms work well. Muskellunge – Good:  Walleye – Fair: Try spinners, crankbaits and long and shallow shad raps in the main basins. Best bite is an hour before and after sunset. Yellow Bass – Good.

Lost Island Lake Fishing/trolling is getting more difficult as aquatic vegetation reaches the surface in many areas, but will begin to subside once water temperatures start to fall. Black Crappie – Fair. Walleye – Slow: Try trolling crankbaits or with lindy rigs off weed lines. Best bite is an hour before and after sunset. Yellow Perch – Fair.

Minnewashta Lake Bluegill and crappie fishing has been good; some sorting may be needed. Black Crappie – Good. Bluegill – Good.

Silver Lake (Dickinson) The late afternoon bite has been fair. Many anglers are targeting fish schools during the day. Many large schools of young of the year bullhead are swimming around the lake. Walleye – Fair: Try spinners, crankbaits and long and shallow shad raps.

Spirit Lake The lake is currently three inches below crest. The walleye season is currently open. The current water temperature is in the low 70s. The yellow perch and walleye bite has been fair to good lately. Most species are out in 15+ feet of water, but some yellow perch are being caught in shallower water. Black Bullhead – Fair: Try fishing the northern grade of Spirit Lake. Black Crappie – Fair: Use a tube jig and bobber. Bluegill – Fair: Try tube jigs, plastics or other small jigs. Live bait such as wax worms, wigglers and red worms work well. Muskellunge – Good: Walleye – Fair: Use spinners, crankbaits and long and shallow shad raps; try to find weed lines to troll or jig off of. Yellow Perch – Good: Many perch can be caught, you may need to sort for size.

West Okoboji Lake Water temperature is in the upper 60s. The water level is currently three inches below crest. Most fish are now out in 15+ feet of water, but have slowly been making their way shallower. Rocky points and areas with vegetation lines have seen the most success. Some panfish have been moving more shallow especially in the evening. Black Crappie – Good: Use crankbaits or shad raps. Bluegill – Good: Try tube jigs, plastics or other small jigs. Live bait such as wax worms, wigglers and red worms work well. Largemouth Bass – Good: Try weed lines and docks. Muskellunge – Good: Smallmouth Bass – Good: Try fishing off points with surface baits or jerk baits. Walleye – Fair: Try fishing off points by trolling crankbaits or with lindy rigs. Best bite is an hour before and after sunset. Some fish have been caught while trolling for crappie.

Most area lake temps are in the low 70s to upper 60s. The forecast is for cooler conditions. This should allow the bite to start picking up. Fishing from and around docks has been getting better. Start looking for bigger fish to get more active in shallower water. For current conditions, call the Spirit Lake District Office at 712-336-1840.

Cedar River (above Nashua)Water levels are stabilizing and low. Water clarity is good. Visit the USGS Water Dashboard for current water levels. Channel Catfish – Excellent: Try a hook loaded with a crawler, chub or chicken livers. Northern Pike – No Report: Find pike in shallow vegetated areas out of current. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Find smallies below the dams; use a hook tipped with a ringworm, twister tail or nightcrawler.  Walleye – Good: Try worms or minnows on a blade with enough weight to get your bait near the bottom. Yellow Perch – Good: Use a minnow or worm along the lake edges.

Decorah District StreamsWith the onset of fall and cooler temperatures, all stream stocking, announced and unannounced, continue as scheduled. Streams are in good condition. Use caution when crossing or fishing in faster current. Brook Trout – Good: Try fishing the weed lines and head end of riffles for actively feeding fish. Terrestrial insects are abundant. Brown Trout – Good: Dirty water favors brown trout anglers. Increasing terrestrial insect numbers such as crickets, beetles and grasshoppers washing into streams creates a feeding frenzy for brownies. Rainbow Trout – Good: Use small spinners or crankbaits. Try worms, cheese balls or trout nibbles under a bobber in slower moving water.

Lake Hendricks The green algae bloom is prevalent. Water temperature is in the 60s. The bite is improving as temperatures fall. Black Crappie – Fair: Slowly troll for crappie. Best bite is in the evening. Bluegill – Fair: Catch one of these beauties with a small piece of worm. Channel Catfish – Fair: Best time to catch a nice-size cat is at night using a nightcrawler fished on the bottom. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Find fish on the edges of vegetation; use weedless lures to minimize the frustration of casting into weeds.

Lake Meyer The green algae bloom is reducing clarity to about a foot. Shoreline vegetation diminished, improving shoreline angling. Water temperatures is in the 60s. Black Crappie – Fair: Find crappie suspended. Try trolling weed edges with a jig and twister tail. Bluegill – Fair: Find a cove or weed edge. Use an ice fishing jig tipped with a small piece of worm. Channel Catfish – Fair: Try a chunk of worm or squished minnow fished off the bottom near stumps or other woody debris. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Use crankbaits or a jig with plastic tail on weedless hooks along vegetation edges.

North Bear Creek Bridge replacement work is completed. Rainbow Trout – Excellent: Stocked weekly from April through October.

Turkey River (above Clermont) Water levels are stabilizing with good water clarity. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Find smallies near undercut banks or rock ledges; use a jig with a twister tail or crankbait. Walleye – Good: Find walleye in deeper pockets just out of flow.

Turkey River (below Clermont) Water levels are stabilizing with good water clarity. Current remains high. Visit the USGS Water Database for more information on water levels. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Try fishing the eddies and drop-offs. Walleye – Good: Find walleye in current breaks or eddies; use crankbaits or spinnerbaits.

Upper Iowa River (above Decorah)  Water levels are stabilizing. Water clarity is good. Give strainers such as tree limbs and log jams a wide berth. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Try fishing rocky ledges or along a current break. Walleye – Good.

Upper Iowa River (below Decorah) Water levels are stabilizing with good clarity. Current is swift. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Find deeper holes and eddies. Try fishing near the bottom. Walleye – Good: Use a jig tipped with a natural colored twister tail in the edges of eddies.

Volga LakeA green algae bloom is reducing clarity. Water temperature is in the 60s. Few anglers are out. Try slowly trolling around the lake to find suspended fish. Black Crappie – Fair: Use tube jigs tipped with crappie nibble off the jetties. Also try trolling around the lake to find suspended fish. Bluegill – Fair:  Anglers are finding gills off the jetties. Try tube jigs tipped with artificial attractants or a small piece of worm under a bobber. Channel Catfish – Good: Trophy-sized catfish are abundant in this lake. Use a dead chub or squished minnow fished off the bottom near woody debris. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Try fishing crankbaits in drop-offs and around brush piles and other attracting structures; use crankbaits toward evening.

Temperatures are in the 80s to 60s. Storms likely over the weekend. Flows remain elevated.  Rivers and streams are in good condition with good water clarity. For current fishing information, please call the Chuck Gipp Decorah Fish Hatchery at 563-382-8324.

Brinker Lake Reports of anglers catching a few walleye and crappie. Black Crappie – Fair: Find humps or drop-offs while fishing a crappie minnow under a slip bobber. Try jigging various colored tube jigs near these areas as well. Walleye – Fair: Find humps while casting and retrieving a jig tipped with a nightcrawler.

Casey Lake (aka Hickory Hills Lake)Anglers are catching a few channel catfish after dark. Bluegill fishing has picked up recently. Bluegill – Good: Try a piece of nightcrawler underneath a slip bobber. Channel Catfish – Excellent: Try fishing off the old beach area and to the west using stink baits, livers, leopard frogs or dead cut baits fished on the bottom. Best bite is after dark or early morning. Largemouth Bass – Good: Topwater baits or spinnerbaits work best.

Cedar River (Nashua to La Porte City)Water levels continue to drop on the Cedar River. Reports of anglers catching smallmouth bass, walleye and channel catfish. Channel Catfish – Fair: Try stink baits, chicken livers or dead cut baits fished above fallen tree snags. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Cast a jig with half a nightcrawler near current breaks, eddies and rocky shorelines. Walleye – Good: Cast a jig with half a nightcrawler near current breaks, eddies and rocky shorelines. Crankbaits work well.

George Wyth Lake Reports of anglers catching northern pike. Northern Pike – Fair: Try trolling crankbaits in 6 to 12 feet of water.

Maquoketa River (above Monticello)The Maquoketa River is in excellent condition. Reports of anglers catching smallmouth bass. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Cast a jig with half a nightcrawler near current breaks, eddies and rocky shorelines.

Shell Rock River (Greene to Shell Rock)Water levels continue to drop on the Shell Rock River. Reports of anglers catching pike, smallmouth bass, walleye and channel catfish. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Cast a jig with half a nightcrawler near current breaks, eddies and rocky shorelines. Walleye – Good:  Cast a jig with half a nightcrawler near current breaks, eddies and rocky shorelines. Walleye – Good: Cast a jig with half a nightcrawler near current breaks, eddies and rocky shorelines. Crankbaits work well this time of year.

Wapsipinicon River (Tripoli to Troy Mills)Water levels on the Wapsipinicon River continue to drop. Reports of anglers catching pike, smallmouth bass, walleye and channel catfish. Channel Catfish – Good: Try stink baits, chicken livers or dead cut baits fished above fallen tree snags. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Cast a jig with half a nightcrawler near current breaks, eddies and rocky shorelines. Walleye – Good: Cast a jig with half a nightcrawler near current breaks eddies and rocky shorelines. Crankbaits work well.

NE Iowa interior river levels are falling and in excellent condition. Reports of anglers catching walleye, smallmouth bass and channel catfish. Trout streams are in excellent condition across NE Iowa. Area Black Hawk County lakes have been slow for panfish and largemouth bass. Contact your local area bait shops for the most recent hot spots. For more information, contact the Manchester Hatchery at 563-927-3276.

Mississippi River Pool 9Water level is 7.8 feet at Lansing and is expected to remain steady this week. Water temperature is 70 degrees. Fishing is good, but floating weeds are a nuisance. Heytman’s Landing is closed due to replacing the railroad bridge. Black Crappie – Good: Expect the crappie bite to improve as we move into fall. Hair jigs work well. Bluegill – Good: Use light tackle tipped with piece of worm in areas away from current along the weed edges in backwaters. Channel Catfish – Excellent: Try cut bait or stink bait fished in deeper holes along current breaks of side channels. Flathead Catfish – Good: Try a shiner or small bluegill for bait to catch bigger catfish. Freshwater Drum – Excellent: Freshwater drum bite is coming on. Use a weighted crawler rig in the current anywhere from shore. Largemouth Bass – Good: Cast jigs or jerk baits in woody cover in the shallows of backwaters. Northern Pike – Fair: Cast crankbaits off vegetation lines or near the mouth of tributary streams. Smallmouth Bass – Excellent: Smallmouth are getting more active along main channel rock structure. Cast inline spinners or crankbaits along the faster current. Walleye – Good: Troll crankbaits off the wing-dams and side channels. White Bass – Fair: Watch for schools of white bass chasing minnows out of the water. Cast spinnerbaits or shad colored crankbaits for feeding white bass. Yellow Perch – Good: Use a jig tipped with a crawler.

Mississippi River Pool 10Water level is 612.6 feet at Lynxville. Water temperature is 72 degrees at Lynxville dam. Water clarity is good. Early fall fishing is picking up. Black Crappie – Fair: Expect the crappie bite to improve as we move into fall. Hair jigs work well. Bluegill – Excellent: Use light tackle tipped with piece of worm in areas away from current along the weed edges in backwaters. Channel Catfish – Good: Try cut bait or stink bait fished in deeper holes along current breaks of side channels. Flathead Catfish – Good:  Try a shiner or small bluegill for bait to catch bigger catfish. Freshwater Drum – Excellent: Freshwater drum bite is coming on. Use a weighted crawler rig in the current anywhere from shore. Largemouth Bass – Good: Cast jigs or jerk baits in woody cover in the shallows of backwaters. Northern Pike –  Fair: Cast crankbaits off vegetation lines or near the mouth of tributary streams. Smallmouth Bass – Excellent: Smallmouth are getting more active along main channel rock structure. Cast inline spinners or crankbaits along the faster current.  Walleye – Good: Troll crankbaits off the wing-dams and side channels. White Bass – Fair: Watch for schools of white bass chasing minnows out of the water. Cast spinnerbaits or shad colored crankbaits for feeding white bass. Yellow Perch – Good: Use a jig tipped with a crawler.

Mississippi River Pool 11Water level is at Guttenberg is low and stable around 4.5 feet. Water temperature is near 70 degrees. Fish are on the early fall feed. Black Crappie – Fair: Expect the crappie bite to improve as we move into fall. Hair jigs work well. Bluegill – Good: Use light tackle tipped with piece of worm in areas away from current along the weed edges in backwaters. Channel Catfish – Good: Try cut bait or stink bait fished in deeper holes along current breaks of side channels.  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 bullheads or green sunfish for bait. Freshwater Drum – Excellent: Freshwater drum bite is coming on. Use a weighted crawler rig in the current anywhere from shore. Largemouth Bass – Good: Cast jigs or crankbaits in woody cover in the shallows of backwaters. Northern Pike – Fair: Cast crankbaits off vegetation lines or near the mouth of tributary streams. Smallmouth Bass – Excellent: Smallmouth are getting more active along main channel rock structure. Cast inline spinners or crankbaits along the faster current.  Walleye –  Good: Troll crankbaits off the wing-dams and side channels. White Bass – Fair: Watch for schools of white bass chasing minnows out of the water. Cast spinnerbaits or shad colored crankbaits for feeding white bass. Yellow Perch – Good: Use a jig tipped with a crawler.

Upper Mississippi River levels have fallen and are predicted to remain stable, making for good fall fishing.  Boaters are advised to use caution to avoid backing off the end of ramps with the extreme low water levels. 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.

Mississippi River Pool 12 Water levels are 4.6 feet at the Lock and Dam and 7.4 feet at the RR bridge. Water levels are receding slightly. Water temperature is around 75 degrees. Lots of mixed bags of many species reported. Use caution to avoid backing a boat off the ends of short boat ramps with the low water levels. Black Crappie – Good: Black and white crappie are being caught on woody structures in larger side channel areas; most anglers are using small jigs or minnows. Bluegill – Excellent: Use a simple bobber and worm around rock lines and behind fallen trees. Channel Catfish – Excellent: Try stink baits in larger sloughs and mud flats. Flathead Catfish – Fair: Bankline fishing is winding down, but a few angler are still using lines baited with live fish such as carp or green sunfish. Freshwater Drum – Excellent: Drum are being taken in areas of moderate current with an egg sinker and worm rig. Keep fish on ice if you plan to eat them; they can be very good table fare. Largemouth Bass – Excellent: Bass of all sizes are being reported mostly from backwater areas on spinnerbaits and swimbaits. Find fish along weed lines. Northern Pike – Excellent: Some nice pike are being reported on spinnerbaits. Find fish along the newly established vegetation lines; use gaudy white spinnerbaits. Smallmouth Bass – Excellent: Use a spinnerbait or crankbait along rock lines with moderate current. Most smallies are small; use bigger crankbaits to catch bigger fish. Walleye – Good: With low water levels, try fishing crankbaits or worm rigs on the outer portion of wing-dams which have stronger currents. White Bass – Good: Use white spinners or jigs. Look for schools of white bass chasing minnows especially near sandy beach areas.

Mississippi River Pool 13 The water level at the Bellevue Lock is stable near 4.1 feet. The water temperature is around 75 degrees. Lots of mixed bags of many species reported. Use caution to avoid backing a boat off the ends of short boat ramps with the low water levels. Black Crappie – Good: Black and white crappie are being caught on woody structures in larger side channel areas; most anglers are using small jigs or minnows. Bluegill – Excellent: Try a simple bobber and worm rig along rock lines or near fallen trees in larger sloughs. Channel Catfish – Excellent: Stink bait works best. Flathead Catfish – Fair: Bankline fishing is winding down, but a few anglers are still using lines baited with live fish such as carp or green sunfish. Freshwater Drum – Excellent: Drum are being taken in areas of moderate current with a egg sinker and worm rig. Keep your fish on ice if plan to eat them; they can be very good table fare. Largemouth Bass – Excellent: The bass bite is hot. They are heavily feeding on minnows in side channels and rock lines. Northern Pike – Excellent: Use gaudy white spinners. Rainbow Trout – No Report: The Kids Trout Pond is unfishable due to excessive vegetation. The pond will be restocked with trout in later fall. Smallmouth Bass – Excellent: Try fishing very close to rock in stronger current areas. Lots of smaller fish which are still fun on light tackle. Walleye – Good: With low water levels, try fishing crankbaits or worm rigs on the outer portion of wing-dams which have stronger currents. White Bass – Good: White bass are feeding at the surface in various parts of Pool 13; use white jigs and small spinners in these feeding schools.

Mississippi River Pool 14 The water level at the Fulton Lock and Dam is receding to 4.3 feet, 9.6 feet at Camanche, and 4.0 feet at Le Claire. Water temperature is around 75 degrees in the main channel. Water clarity is good. Use caution to avoid backing a boat off the ends of short boat ramps with the low water levels. Bluegill – Excellent: Bluegills are on the bite throughout Pool 14; use a simple bobber and worm rig in 3 feet of water or less. Channel Catfish – Excellent: Try stink bait or cut shad in larger sloughs upstream of fallen trees. Flathead Catfish – Good: Bankline fishing is winding down, but a few anglers are still using lines baited with live fish such as carp or green sunfish. Freshwater Drum – Excellent: Drum are being taken in areas of moderate current with an egg sinker and worm rig. Keep your fish on ice if you plan to eat them; they can be very good table fare. Largemouth Bass – Excellent: Bass of all sizes are being reported out of most of the common highly fished backwater lakes in Pool 14 like Beaver Island, Rock Creek and Sunfish Lake. Longnose Gar – Excellent: Numerous large gars are biting in Pool 14. Northern Pike – Good: Some pike have been seen in mixed species bags, mostly by anglers bass fishing. Look for pike along weedy shorelines with gaudy white spinners. Smallmouth Bass – Excellent: Look for smallmouth bass along rock lines with stronger currents; try fishing in 1 to 2 feet of water next to the rock. Walleye – Good: With low water levels, try fishing crankbaits or worm rigs on the outer portion of wing-dams which have stronger currents. White Bass – Good: Good numbers of white bass mixed in with hybrid striped bass reported near the tailwater area. Use a white jig or small spinner.  White Crappie – Good: Black and white crappie angling continues to be good in and around brush piles. Use a small jig tipped with minnows.

Mississippi River Pool 15The water level is stable at 4.1 feet at Rock Island. The water temperature is near 77 degrees. Water clarity is good. Use caution to avoid backing a boat off the ends of short boat ramps with the low water levels. Channel Catfish – Excellent: Use stink baits in deeper side or edge channel habitats. Freshwater Drum – Excellent: Drum are being taken in areas of moderate current using an egg sinker and worm rig.  Keep your fish on ice if you plan to eat them; they can be very good table fare. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Pool 15 can be surprising good smallmouth fishing with lots of rock lines available; this a preferred habitat for smallmouth bass. Use small spinners or crankbaits near these rock habitats. White Bass – Good: Schools of white bass are feeding near the dam.  Use small white jigs or spinners.

Fishing conditions are excellent on the Mississippi River. Water levels are low and still receding throughout the district. The water temperature is in the 70s. Water clarity is good. Use caution when backing off boat ramps with the low river levels. Use the minimum amount of ramp to float your boat to avoid backing off the ends of short ramps. If you have angling questions, please call the Bellevue Fisheries Management Station at 563-880-8781.

Mississippi River Pool 16Tailwater stage is 5.08 feet at Lock and Dam 15 in the Quad Cities and has been fairly steady. Flood stage is 15 feet. Bluegill – Fair: Look for bluegills in the backwaters. Use pieces of worm under a bobber around brush piles in Sunset Marina and the Andalusia Islands. Channel Catfish – Fair: Try stink baits or chicken livers around brush piles and snags along the main channel and side channels in the Andalusia Island complex. Channel catfish can also be caught on the upstream side of wing-dams. Walleye – Fair: Look for walleye on the wing-dams. Cast or troll crankbaits or three-way rigs with nightcrawlers. Some walleyes are also being caught in Sylvan Slough on jigs and plastics. White Bass – Fair: Cast jigs and twister tails in Sunset Marina and Sylvan Slough. Some white bass can also be caught fishing from shore below the Lock and Dam. White Crappie – No Report: Look for crappies in the backwaters. Try jigs and minnows or minnows under a bobber around brush piles.

Mississippi River Pool 17Tailwater stage is 4.14 feet at Lock and Dam 16 in Muscatine and has been fairly steady. Flood stage is 15 feet.  Bluegill – Fair: Look for bluegills in the backwaters. Try pieces of worm under a bobber around brush piles at Big Timber and Cleveland Slough. Channel Catfish – Fair: Try stink bait or nightcrawlers around brush piles and snags along the main channel and side channels. Some channel catfish can also be caught fishing the upstream side of wing-dams. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Largemouth bass are being caught in Big Timber; use plastics around brush piles and logs. Walleye – Fair: Look for walleyes on the wing-dams. Cast or troll crankbaits or three-way rigs with nightcrawlers. White Crappie – Fair: Look for crappies in the backwaters around brush piles. Use jigs and minnows or minnows under a bobber in Big Timber or Cleveland Slough.

Mississippi River Pool 18Tailwater stage is 4.38 feet at Lock and Dam 17 and has been fairly steady the past couple days. Flood stage is 15 feet. Bluegill – No Report: Look for bluegills in the backwaters 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 stink bait or nightcrawlers. Channel catfish can also be caught fishing the upstream side of wing-dams. Walleye – No Report: Look for walleyes on the wing-dams. Cast or troll crankbaits or three-way rigs with crawlers. White Crappie – No Report: Look for crappies in the backwaters. Try jigs and minnows or minnows under a bobber around brush piles.

Mississippi River Pool 19Tailwater stage is 2.05 feet at Lock and Dam 18 above Burlington and has been fairly steady the past couple days. Flood stage is 10 feet. River stage at Fort Madison is 525.40 feet. Bluegill – No Report: Use pieces of worm under a bobber in the backwaters around brush piles. Channel Catfish – No Report: Try stink bait or nightcrawlers around snags and brush piles along the main channel and side channels. White Crappie – No Report: Use jigs and minnows or minnows under a bobber in the backwaters around brush piles.

Mississippi River Pools 16-19. Tailwater stages have been fairly steady the past couple days. Water clarity is fair. Main channel water temperature is around 74 degrees. If you have questions on fishing Pools 16-19, contact the Fairport Fish Hatchery at 563-263-5062.

Big Hollow LakeThe water temperature Monday morning was back up to 80 degrees. The rain storms over the weekend really pushed the duckweed back into the upper end of the lake and boat ramp bay. Bluegill – Fair: Fishing pressure was pretty minimal the first part of this week.  And the water will take a while to cool off.

Iowa River (Columbus Junction to Mississippi River)The rains really didn’t impact the river level enough to even notice. Channel Catfish – Fair: Look for the deep water that’s about the only place they could be at these water levels. Try night crawlers or grass (leopard) frogs as bait this time of year.

Lake Belva DeerReturn to hot weather increased the water temperature back up to 79-80 degrees on Tuesday (9/20). Black Crappie – Fair: Slow trolling for crappies from the beach to the dam continues to improve with the cooler weather. Bluegill – Fair: Bluegills on worm and slip bobber out in the flooded timber from 8-9 feet.

Lake DarlingThe water temperature on Tuesday at about noon was 81 degrees.  Water clarity is about three feet.  Some of the bays are still green. Black Crappie – Fair: Anglers continue to catch them by slow trolling and long lining twistertails at 5 to 6 feet across the middle of the lake over the cedar trees. Bluegill – Fair: Bluegill fishing slowed down with the return of hot weather. Cooler weather will take a while to cool the water back down.

Lost Grove LakeWater temperature back up around 75-76 degrees, and clarity is a little less green. The big change in air temperatures and weather will start to affect the lake and the fish. Bluegill – Fair: Bluegills should become more active as the water starts to cool down again. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Smaller bass are in shallow feeding on baby bluegills and green sunfish. With a little south wind chop on the water, bigger bass are also moving in shallow to feed.

Skunk River (Coppock to Mississippi River)The Skunk came up three or four inches after all the rain over the weekend. Channel Catfish – Fair: Find catfish in deeper holes; there isn’t any water elsewhere for them to hide in.

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

Coralville ReservoirChannel Catfish – Fair: Try slow trolling the channel with cut bait.

Diamond Lake Black Crappie – Fair: Most fish are 8- to 9-inches.  Bluegill – Fair.  Channel Catfish – Fair: Stink bait and chicken liver work best.

Hannen Lake Black Crappie – Slow.  Bluegill – Fair.  Largemouth Bass – Slow.

Kent Park Lake Largemouth Bass – Good.

Lake MacbrideAll motors may be used at no wake (5 mph) speed. Black Crappie – Slow. Bluegill – Fair. Channel Catfish – Fair. Largemouth Bass – Fair. Walleye – Slow.  Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) – Slow.

Pleasant Creek Lake Best bite is mornings and evenings. Black Crappie – Fair: Try fishing around sunken trees in 10-15 feet of water. Bluegill – Fair: Try fishing shallow structure. Most bluegill are smaller. Channel Catfish – Fair: Crawlers and stink bait work best. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Mostly smaller fish have been caught in shallow water.

Union Grove Lake Bluegill – Fair. Channel Catfish – Good: Evening bite is best. Try crawlers or stink bait around rocky shorelines. A few bigger bullheads have been picked up. Largemouth Bass – Fair.

For more information, contact the Lake Macbride Fisheries Station at 319-624-3615.

Hawthorn Lake Bluegill – Fair: Try small jigs tipped with a nightcrawler around submerged structure. Channel Catfish – Fair: Look for catfish around the jetties and along the dam or other areas with large rocks. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Use crankbaits and plastics around submerged structure and the jetties.

Lake Miami Bluegill – Fair: Use small jigs around the submerged cedar tree piles or drift for suspended bluegill. Channel Catfish – Fair: Use dead chubs around the jetties and shoreline. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Try spinnerbaits and crankbaits around the jetties and cedar tree piles.

Lake Sugema Black Crappie – Fair: Look for suspended crappies in 6-8 feet of water; drift or slow troll through these areas. Bluegill – Fair: Try small jigs around shorelines and the edge of vegetated areas. Channel Catfish – Fair: Use nightcrawlers around the fishing jetties. Largemouth Bass – Good: Try plastics or spinnerbaits around the rock jetties and along the face of the dam.

Lake Wapello Black Crappie – Fair: Drift or slow troll  in 6-8 feet of water using jigs. As the water cools off these fish will move into shallower water.  Bluegill – Fair: Use small jigs around the cedar tree piles and other underwater structures. Channel Catfish – Fair: Try nightcrawlers around the fishing jetties. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Use rubber worms or other plastics fished around the cedar tree piles.

Rathbun Reservoir The current lake level is 904.17 msl; recreation pool is 904 msl. Prairie Ridge boat ramp and campground closed on Sept. 15th. Lake Rathbun has zebra mussels, so make sure to properly drain, clean and dry equipment before transporting to another waterbody. Black Crappie – Fair: Try small crankbaits fished in deeper water for suspended crappies. Crappie will start to move into shallower areas as the water cools. Channel Catfish – Fair: Use dead chubs or liver. Walleye – Fair: Troll nightcrawler rigs or crankbaits over underwater rock piles. Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) – Fair: Try vertically jigging around rock piles or trolling crankbaits near the old river channel.

Red Haw Lake Red Haw State Park has partially reopened. Visitors can access the beach and north boat ramp area, but are asked to avoid the campground. Bluegill – Fair: Try small jigs along the shoreline. Channel Catfish – Fair: Use nightcrawlers around the dam and the rock jetties. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Try spinnerbaits around underwater structure near the rock jetties.

Contact the Rathbun Fish Hatchery at 641-647-2406 with questions about fishing in south central Iowa.

Big Creek Lake Black Crappie – Fair: Catch crappies in the evenings off rock jetties casting twister tail jigs or fishing live minnows under a float. Walleye – Fair: Catch walleye in the evenings from shore just before and after sunset; cast jigs with twister tails, swimbaits or live bait. Boat anglers can catch walleye jigging or trolling live bait rigs over humps, near points, and near creek channel drop-offs along flats.  A good starting area is out from the marina around to the beach. Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) – Good: Wipers are biting on crankbaits being trolled, topwater baits casted near shad schools busting the surface, and jigs tipped with live bait.

Des Moines River (Saylorville to Red Rock) Channel Catfish – Good: Catfishing on the river has been good for both channels and flatheads.  Anglers are catching fish on live bait and cut bait. White Bass – Good: Cast twister tails, swimbaits, spoons and in-line spinners below the dams in Des Moines. Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) – Good: Try twister tails, swimbaits or live minnows on jigs below the dams in Des Moines and below Red Rock.

Des Moines River (Stratford to Saylorville Lake) Channel Catfish – Good:  Try dip baits or cut bait just upstream and under log piles and fallen trees.

Red Rock ReservoirWhite Bass – Fair: Troll or cast shad imitating spoons, crankbaits and plastics.  Look for schools of small shad breaking the surface to find feeding white bass.

Saylorville Reservoir White Bass – Fair: Troll or cast shad imitating spoons, crankbaits and plastics. Look for schools of small shad breaking the surface to find feeding white bass. The Sandpiper Boat Ramp down to the marina cove is a good area to start.

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

Farm Creek Lake (a.k.a. Young’s Pond) Water clarity is good. Black Crappie – No Report:  Bluegill – Slow. Largemouth Bass – Good: Anglers are having success casting the vegetation edges to catch largemouth bass.

Lake AnitaFishing will improve as water temperatures cool. Black Crappie – Fair: Look for crappies drifting the roadbeds and around deep tree piles. Fish average 9 inches. Bluegill – Slow: Bluegills are being caught slow trolling and drifting. Tipping jigs with crawler or powerbait seems to help. Channel Catfish – Slow: Anglers report catching catfish off the jetties in the south arm using cut bait. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Lake Anita has a good bass population. Try casting the lily edges.

Mormon Trail Lake Water clarity is good. Bluegill – Slow. Channel Catfish – No Report:  Largemouth Bass – Good: Cast the shoreline with small crankbaits or spinnerbaits in the morning; transition to a slower presentation mid-day.

Nodaway Lake Anglers report catching bluegill. Black Crappie – Slow: Concentrate on deep tree piles to find crappies. Best bite is before 9 a.m. Bluegill – Fair: Anglers using nightcrawlers are catching 8-inch bluegill around tree piles. Channel Catfish – Slow: The bite has slowed but anglers are still catching a few 22 inch channel catfish on cutbait. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Anglers report catching good numbers of bass casting the shoreline.

Orient Lake Bluegill fishing has been good with good shoreline access. Black Crappie – No Report:  Bluegill – Fair: Cast small jigs or worm under a bobber to catch 8-inch bluegill. Fish will average 8 inches.

Prairie Rose LakeWater clarity is good; temperature will cool this week. Black Crappie – Slow: Look for 9.5-inch crappie around deep tree piles. Bluegill – Slow: Look for bluegills slow trolling or casting around structure; tipping jigs with crawler or powerbait helps. Fish will average 8.5-inches. Channel Catfish – Slow: Try cut bait close to shallow tree piles in the lake. Largemouth Bass – Good: There is a high percentage of 14- to 16-inch bass in Prairie Rose.

Viking LakeAll boat ramps are usable. Water clarity is good. Black Crappie – Slow: Crappies are being caught casting around the flooded terrestrial vegetation. Minnows and slip bobbers work well around tree piles. Bluegill – Slow: Anglers are slow trolling or fishing around tree piles to catch bluegill. Tipping jigs with small piece of crawler seems to help. Channel Catfish – Slow: Viking has a good channel catfish population. Fishing bait in 6 feet of water will get you out of the flooded terrestrial vegetation.  Largemouth Bass – Fair: Bass anglers are casting the shoreline and fishing tree piles to catch largemouth bass of all sizes.

For information on lakes in the Southwest District call the Cold Springs office at 712-769-2587.

Green Valley Lake Bluegill – Fair: Try using nightcrawlers fished along the fishing jetties or shallow coves for bluegills up to 8.5-inches.

Little River Watershed Lake The dock is in at main ramp. Bluegill – Fair: Try using nightcrawlers under a bobber fished in shallow coves for bluegills up to 8.5 inches. Largemouth Bass – Good: Try using finesse plastics fished near cedar tree brush piles or rocky shoreline areas for largemouth bass of all sizes.

Three Mile Lake Courtesy docks are in at the main ramp. Bluegill – Fair: Catch bluegill up to 8.5-inches with small jigs tipped with nightcrawlers fished in shallow coves. Walleye – Slow: Try trolling crankbaits along the roadbed or main lake points for walleye of all sizes.

Twelve Mile Creek Lake The dock is in at the main ramp. Black Crappie – Fair: Try using jigs tipped with a minnow fished near cedar tree brush piles or rockpiles for black crappie up to 11 inches. Bluegill – Fair: Try using small jigs tipped with a nightcrawler fished near brush piles or shallow coves for bluegill up to 8.5 inches. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Catch all sizes of largemouth bass with finesse plastics fished near rock piles.

Water temperature at most Mount Ayr district lakes is in the low to mid 70s. For more information, call the Mount Ayr Fisheries office at 641-464-3108.