Iowa Fishing Reports
03-16-2008
www.iowadnr.gov
February 12, 2008
Ice fishing reports are issued every other week while quality ice conditions exist.
For current information on ice fishing conditions for your lake or area, contact the office
in that district. Phone numbers are listed with each district report.
Northeast
Mississippi River Pools 9 to 15: Ice conditions remain solid with 18 to 24 inches
of ice in most areas. The DNR ramp in Guttenberg remains iced in and, due to the ice
pack, open water fishing for walleye is not recommended at this time. Anglers can call
the DNR Guttenberg office for ice conditions if the weather improves. In Pool 10, Bussey
Lake has been slow to good in the late morning and afternoon for bluegills. Anglers have
had mixed results in the Sny Magill area with slow to good fishing for bluegills and some
nice crappies at the lower ends of backwaters next to Wyalusing Slough. Near Harpers
Ferry, Joyce Lake is slow to good fishing with a mixed bag of bluegill and crappie. In
Pool 11, some nice yellow perch are still being caught Sunfish Lake, although the bite
has slowed.
In Pools 12 and 13, crappie and bluegill fishing has been fair to poor depending
on the day. The best times have been the first and last hours of the day. Thick ice and
heavy snow has caused dissolved oxygen to deplete in many of the shallow backwaters.
As oxygen levels in a backwater drop, fish move towards the mouth or entrance where
oxygen levels are generally higher. Brown’s Lake/Lanesville Slough area has been
producing some fish and has good oxygen levels. Other areas to try are Tippy, Fishtrap,
and Grass Lake (Kehough Slough) in Pool 12 and lower Sabula Lake in Pool 13.
Sweet Marsh, aka Marten’s Lake (Bremer): Crappies are biting jigs tipped with a
wax worm or minnow.
Fish have been caught in George Wyth Lake, Big Woods Lake, South Prairie
Lake, Meyer Lake and Casey Lake, all in Black Hawk County.
Brinker Lake (Black Hawk): Fishing has been good for crappie, bluegill and
channel catfish with the most action in the early morning and before sundown. Channel
catfish have been caught suspended so try jigging well off of the bottom.
Avenue of the Saints Lake (Bremer): Fishing is good for crappies and bluegills.
The fish are abundant, but are on the small side.
Lake Delhi (Delaware): Bluegills and crappies are good. Delhi has a consistent
bite when other lakes are slow.
Lake Meyer (Winneshiek): Fishing has slowed but the best time to fish continues
to be early morning and late afternoon.
Hendricks Lake (Howard): Fishing has slowed quite a bit. The best chance here
seems to be early morning.
Volga Lake (Fayette): Fishing has been slow.
Trout streams are open, accessible and fishable.
For information on fishing in northeast Iowa, call the regional office in
Manchester at 563-927-3276.
Southeast
Mississippi River Pools 16 to 20: Tailwater stage in Pool 16 is at 6.13 feet and is
forecasted to stay fairly stable over the next week. As of last week, walleyes and saugers
were being caught below Lock and Dam 15 and in deeper holes of the main channel.
Most anglers are using jigs tipped with larger minnows and some night crawlers are being
used. With colder temperatures this week the Marquette Ramp in Davenport may freeze
in again. There were some reports of crappies being caught through the ice along the
Harbor Road and up by Rock Creek (Pool 15) on wax worms.
In Pool 17, tailwater stage is at 4.63 feet and is forecasted to fall slowly over the
next week. Currently, the boat ramp in Muscatine is frozen in and the ramp and parking
area remain unplowed. Ice fishing for crappies and bluegills is fair in the backwaters.
In Pool 18, tailwater stage has fallen close to a foot over the weekend to 6.02 feet.
River stage is forecasted to keep falling slowly over the next week. This past weekend,
the Toolesboro ramp was open, but colder temperatures may change that. Anglers were
catching some walleyes and sauger below the dam on jig/minnow combinations and on
night crawlers. Anglers should find out a head of time if the boat ramp is accessible
before planning a fishing trip.
In Pool 19, tailwater stage has fallen to 3.55 feet and is expected to stay fairly
stable throughout the week. No fishing report. In Pool 20, tailwater stage is at 4.53 feet.
Tailwater stage is fluctuating daily due to dam releases. No fishing report.
Lake Darling (Washington): Very little ice fishing activity on the lake last week.
There is about 8 inches of hard snow on top of eight inches of ice. Anglers had been
picking up some nice crappies and bluegills out around the cedar trees in the idle of the
lake before last week’s snow storm.
Lake Belva Deer (Keokuk): There is more than a foot of snow on the ice and a
few anglers back out last Friday. Crappies were being caught a couple of feet off the
bottom in water anywhere from 11 to 25 feet deep.
Lake Rathbun (Appanoose): Crappie fishing has picked up a little with anglers
having some success in Buck Creek and Honey Creek. Most crappies being caught are
around some type of underwater structure and are hitting on jigs tipped with a wax worm
or a minnow.
Lake Sugema (Van Buren): Crappies and bluegills have been hitting on jigs
tipped with wax worms. Try a variety of depths. There is some open water in the main
lake area so use caution.
Lake Wapello (Davis): Bluegills have been biting on small jigs tipped with a wax
worm or a minnow. Fish any underwater structure for the best success.
Lake Keomah (Mahaska): Bluegills have been hitting on small jigs tipped with a
wax worm. Try a variety of depths and look for areas with some underwater habitat.
Lake Macbride (Johnson): Bluegills are always plentiful here, however, they
lack in size. They are around almost any type of structure and can be caught on small
jigs/wax worms. Crappies have been fairly willing to bite as well. Fish over deeper
brush or rock with small jigs or spoons tipped with wax worms. Be prepared to sort
through 8 to 9-inch crappies while looking for the larger fish.
Diamond Lake (Poweshiek): Bluegills are biting here on jigs/wax worms fished
over brush or pallet structures. The deeper structures may produce some crappies as well,
especially towards dark. Remember, no minnows allowed here.
Kent Park Lake (Johnson): Bluegills are being caught in and around the deep
brush early and late in the day.
Union Grove Lake (Tama): Anglers are catching good numbers of average sized
bluegills on jigs/wax worms fishing around the deeper brush. A few crappies are also
being taken, especially at dawn/dusk. There is an aerator in use at the dam end of the
lake so use caution in that area.
For more information on fishing in southeast Iowa, call the regional office in
Brighton at 319-694-2430.
Southwest
Big Creek (Polk): Crappies are being caught fishing small jigs tipped with a
minnow or wax worm in 30 feet of water and the best bite is from dusk on. Bluegills up
to 9 inches are being caught fishing over the cedar tree piles or other structure on small
jigs tipped with a wax worm. A few walleyes are being caught fishing with a minnows.
Hickory Grove (Story): Bluegills up to 8 inches are being caught fishing near
structure using small jigs tipped with a wax worm.
Don Williams (Story): Bluegills are being caught fishing near structure during
the day using small jigs tipped with a wax worm. Crappies up to 13 inches are being
caught fishing around dusk.
Ahquabi (Warren): Bluegills up to 10 inches and a few Redears are being caught
fish structure during the day.
Rock Creek (Jasper): Crappies are being caught fishing structure at dusk.
Bluegills are being caught fish during the day using small jigs tipped with a wax worm.
CONTACT: Ben Dodd (515) 432-2823, Ext.108, for information on the
ABOVE area lakes.
Fogle Lake (Ringgold): Ice conditions are good. A few bluegills and crappies are
being caught in deeper water near structure with wax worms and minnows Midday
seems to be better for bluegill with mornings and evenings a little better for crappie.
Lake of Three Fires (Taylor): Ice conditions are good. Several nice bluegills are
being caught with wax worms over the tree pile 100 yards north of the center of the dam.
Crappies can be caught using minnows suspended near the tree piles or along the old
creek channel.
Icaria (Adams): Ice conditions are good. A few nice bluegills and crappies are
being caught with wax worms and minnows. Some walleye activity has centered on the
old road bed that crosses the main arm.
Three Mile Lake (Union): Ice conditions are good. Good numbers of bluegills
are being caught next to deep structure on wax worms. Crappies seem to be harder to
find, but a few crappies are also being caught next to deep structure. Some perch have
been caught near the pump house point.
Twelve Mile Lake (Union): Ice conditions are good. Nice sized bluegills are
being caught with wax worms on the 15 to 18 foot flats or from the sides of the old road
beds. Some walleye have been picked up on the old road beds.
Farm ponds have had variable reports.
CONTACT: Gary Sobotka (641)464-3108 for information on the ABOVE
area lakes.
Ice conditions have been reported as good with area lakes having 12 to 15 inches.
Nodaway Lake (Adair): Anglers reported bluegill fishing was fair with fish
averaging 7 inches. A few crappies are being caught using minnows in the afternoon.
Mormon Trail (Adair): Bluegills and crappies are slow with a few being caught
around sunken cedar trees.
Greenfield Lake (Adair): Bluegill and crappie have been slow. Try small jigs
tipped with wax worms or minnows around deep structure.
Meadow Lake (Adair): Bluegills are fair around deep structure. Crappies are
slow.
Anita (Cass): Bluegills have been fair with 7 to 8-inch fish being reported.
Manawa (Pottawattamie): Fishing is good for 9 to 12-inch crappies on jigs and
minnows. A few walleyes are being caught on larger minnows on the south side of the
lake. Manawa has 8 to 11 inches of ice.
Willow Lake (Harrison): Bluegills are slow for 8-inch fish using wax worms.
Anderson Area (Montgomery): Bluegills are slow with reports of 8-inch fish
being caught on teardrops tipped with a wax worm. Crappies have been fair on the north
pond using minnows.
Southwest Iowa Farm Ponds: The best fishing reports have been from privately
owned small ponds for bluegill and in the larger ponds, crappie, using teardrops tipped
with wax worm. Ice thickness is 15 inches.
CONTACT: Bryan Hayes (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.
Northwest
Walleye season closes on West Okoboji, East Okoboji and Spirit lakes in Dickinson
County beginning Feb. 15. It will re-open on May 2.
Spirit Lake (Dickinson): Walleye fishing has been good out from the Foot Bridge
in 10 to 15 feet of water using jigging minnow style baits and minnows. Bluegills are fair
on the Grade and in Trickles Slough. Anglers are catching a few crappies are being
caught in Trickles Slough
West Okoboji Lake (Dickinson): Bluegill fishing is fair off Pocahontas Point,
Millers Bay and the North Bay using wax worms. A few yellow perch are being caught in
Emerson Bay. Walleye fishing is sporadic the North Bay, Smith’s Bay, Millers Bay and
Emerson Bay have all produced fish in the last week 15-25 feet of water has been the
most productive.
Tuttle Lake (Emmett): Walleye fishing is fair on the north end using minnows.
Crawford Creek (Ida): Bluegill and crappie fishing is fair. Early morning and
late afternoon is the best times.
Storm Lake (Buena Vista): Fishing is fair for walleyes on live minnows under a
bobber.
Brushy Creek (Webster): Some nice crappies have been caught throughout the
lake; most have been caught on a small jig and minnow. Bluegills are right off bottom.
Try a small tear drop with a wax worm.
Clear Lake (Cerro Gordo): Ice depths are running 24 to 27 inches. Walleye
fishing has been fair, with the best action at the sunrise and sunset periods fishing in the
central portion of the lake between the Island and Dodge’s Point and over to the north
shore. Minnows and jigging spoons are the best techniques. Remember Clear Lake has a
14-inch minimum length on walleye with only one of the fish over 22 inches and a daily
limit of three. Many walleyes below the 14-inch minimum are being caught. Yellow
bass are hitting especially at the sunrise and sunset periods on small jigging spoons tipped
with minnow heads. The Island area is the best spot for yellow bass.
Blue Pit –Lester Milligan Park (Cerro Gordo): Trout were stocked for the third
time into big Blue on Jan. 24, and good numbers of fish are available. Small jigging
spoons tipped with wax worms or the prepared trout baits are working the best.
Beeds Lake (Franklin): Crappies and bluegills are hitting, but sorting is required
for acceptable size fish. Small ice jigs tipped with minnows or wax worms work the best.
For more information on fishing in northwest Iowa, call the regional office in
Spirit Lake at 712-336-1840.
11-16-2007
Northeast
Mississippi River 9 to 15: Water levels remain high to begin the week and were 9.3 feet at Lansing, 17.5 feet at Lynxville, Wis., 9.0 feet at Guttenberg, 10.78 at Dubuque, 9.39 feet at Bellevue, and 12.41 feet at Camanche. Water clarity is fair in the three upper pools, but remains turbid in the lower pools. Temperature is 58 degrees. River levels are forecast to rise slightly or remain stable over the coming week.
Walleye fishing is good in Pools 9 to 11 and fair in the tailwaters of Pools 12 and 13. Use jigs and minnows or three-way rigs. Some sauger are also being caught.
White bass fishing is good in the tailwaters in Pools 9 to 11 on spinner baits.
Crappie fishing is fair to good in Pools 9 to 15 using small minnows. Try Minnesota Slough in Pool 9, Harpers Slough in Pool 10, and Cassville Slough in Pool 11. In Pools 12 to 15, crappies and bluegills have moved into the side channels and sloughs near the backwaters. Small jigs were working well on both species. Due to low visibility, slow down the presentation to catch more fish.
Largemouth bass have moved into the side channels and sloughs in Pools 12 to 15. Keep your presentation slow in the turbid water.
Anglers are catching smallmouth bass in Pools 12 to 15 using shad or crayfish-imitating crankbaits along the rocks in the main channel, side channels and wing dams for smallies.
Cedar River (Mitchell, Floyd and Chickasaw): Water conditions were high, but improving. Smallmouth bass fishing is fair, but should continue to improve throughout the river. Look for rocky shorelines for best fishing success. Try fishing for walleyes in the deeper pools using crankbaits or jigs tipped with a minnow.
Cedar River (Bremer and Black Hawk), Wapsipinicon (Buchanan) and Maquoketa (Delaware) rivers: Rivers are still high following heavy rains from the previous two weeks. Conditions are beginning to improve with some reports of walleye being caught in slack water areas protected from the faster main flows. Fish are beginning to move to over-wintering areas, so focus on deep-water out of the main current. Fish these areas with slower presentations like a jig tipped with a minnow or Lindy-rig.
Turkey River (Clayton): Water levels are high, but falling. Without additional rain, the smallmouth bass fishing will improve throughout the river. Try using a variety of lures and live baits for smallmouth bass. Walleye can be caught in the deeper pools with slow-moving artificial lures.
Upper Iowa River (Winneshiek and Allamakee): Water levels are high, but should continue to fall with the absence of rain. Smallmouth bass fishing has slowed with the high water, but should improve. Try fishing crankbaits and twister tails in the pool and riffle areas. Walleye fishing has slowed. Walleyes were biting on crankbaits, shadraps and white twister tails in the deeper pools before the high water hit. Try tipping lead heads tipped with a night crawler fished slowly on the bottom of deep holes.
Yellow River (Allamakee): Water levels are a little high, but clarity is good. Smallmouth bass and trout fishing is good and should continue to pick up. Try using twister tails in a variety of colors.
Black Hawk County Area Lakes: Fishing is fair to good for largemouth bass using live baits or slow-working artificial baits. Bluegill and crappie fishing is slow.
Lake Hendricks (Howard): Largemouth fishing is fair to good with a variety of artificial lures fished along the shoreline. Channel catfish fishing has slowed, but a few are still being caught on night crawlers fished on the bottom. Bluegill fishing is fair. Try using smaller gear when fishing mid-day to hook the finicky ones. Crappie fishing has slowed; try using jigs tipped with a minnow for best success.
Lake Meyer (Winneshiek): Some of the 7 to 9-inch crappies are moving into the brush piles on the south and east sides of the lake and are being caught with small jigs or minnows fished 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 angle worms. Some larger bluegills are being caught while fishing for crappie using jigs. Largemouth bass fishing is fair using spinner baits working the shoreline. The bite has slowed for channel catfish, but a few are still being caught in the afternoon in the east cove of the lake.
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. 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.
Trout fishing and stream conditions have improved greatly over the past few days; however, due to severe washouts on the county roads, Fountain Springs and Twin Bridges in Delaware County will not be stocked again until next spring. Bailey's Ford also received substantial damage due to flooding; however, it is now fishable and is being stocked weekly. The remaining trout streams have cleared up and are in good condition. Weekly stockings on the trout streams continue through the month of October and most will be stocked, unannounced, one time in November. Fall is a beautiful time of the year to fish the coldwater streams of northeast Iowa. To see which streams are being stocked weekly, call the hatchery hotline at 563-927-5736.
For information on fishing in northeast Iowa, call the regional office in Manchester at 563-927-3276.
Northwest
Spirit Lake (Dickinson): Bluegill fishing has been good at the North Grade and Buffalo Run using small plastics jigs and wax worms, and around Hales Slough from a boat. Yellow perch fishing is good around weed lines on the south shoreline and at Hales Slough using small jigs.
West Okoboji (Dickinson): Muskie fishing is fair to good casting large muskie lures. Smallmouth bass fishing is good on shallow rocks using jigs and plastics. Anglers are catching yellow perch fishing the weed beds in Smith's Bay, the North Bay and Emerson Bay. Bluegill fishing is good in many areas of the lake small jigs tipped with garden worms. To find bluegills, find standing vegetation.
East Okoboji (Dickinson): Walleye fishing continues to improve casting jigs near bridges. White bass fishing is good near bridge areas in the evening.
Little Spirit (Dickinson): Fishing is good for panfish on the south end of the lake.
Five Island (Palo Alto): Anglers are catching channel catfish in the evening. Fishing for panfish is good around the railroad bridge.
North Twin Lake (Calhoun): Yellow bass fishing is fair on night crawlers. Fishing is fair for bluegill and crappie.
Black Hawk Lake (Sac): Fishing is good for 7-inch bluegills off the west stone pier. Some crappies are being caught using jigs off the floating dock in Town Bay and other docks around the lake. A few catfish are still being caught on various baits.
Storm Lake (Buena Vista): Fishing is fair for catfish, especially near rocky shoreline at night. A few walleyes are being caught on twisters. Fishing is fair for white bass.
Brushy Creek (Webster): Bluegill fishing is good using a small hook and bait right off the bottom in 8 to 15 feet of water. Bass can be caught throughout the lake. A few crappies have been caught on minnows.
Yellow Smoke (Crawford): Anglers are catching a few nice crappies from the fishing pier on the south side of the lake, using minnows.
Clear Lake (Cerro Gordo): Yellow bass are hitting live bait or cut bait. The Baptist Camp, artificial weed beds, deep water around the Island, and shorelines with wave action are producing the best catches. Yellows in the 7 to 9-inch range are being caught, along with a few of the larger ones. Walleye fishing is good around the rock reefs and rush beds using a jig and night crawler, cut bait, and trolling crankbaits.
For more information on fishing in northwest Iowa, call the regional office in Spirit Lake at 712-336-1840.
Southwest
Icaria (Adams): Anglers are catching mid sized walleye on crankbaits.
Three Mile (Union): A few walleye can be caught off the big points on crankbaits. Crappies can be caught from the flooded trees in the coves on jigs or minnows.
Twelve Mile (Union): Mid-sized walleye can be caught on crankbaits in 6 to 12 feet of water.
Contact Gary Sobotka at (641) 464-3108 for information on the above area lakes.
Big Creek (Polk): Crappies are still providing action on small jigs or minnows fished near structure or trees in the Lost Lake area. Bass fishing is pretty good fishing spinner baits.
Saylorville Lake (Polk): Lots of channel cats are being caught on worms or shad below the Big Creek spillway.
Ahquabi (Warren): Bluegills are biting using small jigs or a piece of worm. Bass are being caught fishing spinner baits.
Easter Lake (Polk): Anglers are catching 8 to 9-inch crappies on jigs or minnows. Channel catfish are still biting on night crawlers. A few walleyes are being picked up.
Don Williams (Boone): Crappies and bluegill fishing is fair right now. Jigs and minnows have been working the best. Channel catfish are biting cut bait around rocks. Bass fishing is fair using spinner baits and crankbaits.
Rock Creek (Jasper): Bluegills and crappies are biting on small jigs with some fish up to 9 inches. Channel catfish are biting night crawlers and cut bait.
Robert's Creek (Marion): Big crappies have been consistently caught with jigs and minnow fished near structure.
Banner Lake (Warren): Trout were stocked on Oct. 18 and are biting a variety of baits.
Contact Ben Dodd at (515) 432-2823, Ext.108, for information on the above area lakes
Orient (Adair): Channel catfish fishing is fair during the day on prepared baits and liver. Bluegills are fair using small jigs tipped with night crawlers. Largemouth bass fishing is fair using a slow retrieve and plastic worms in the evenings.
Nodaway (Adair): Bluegill and crappie are slow, but a few are being caught around brush piles. Channel catfish is fair using liver in the evenings.
Greenfield (Adair): Bluegill fishing is fair around brush piles or drifting jigs tipped with night crawlers. Largemouth bass fishing has slowed; try using plastic baits around sunken trees. Channel catfish fishing has been fair using liver.
Morman Trail (Adair): Bluegills are slow. Try vertical jigging small jigs tipped with worms around sunken trees. Channel catfish is fair using liver around jetties and in the shallow bays in the evening. Largemouth bass can be caught on plastic baits.
Littlefield (Audubon): Crappie fishing is slow, but a few are being caught drifting a jig and minnow. Bluegills are slow casting a small jig tipped with night crawlers. Channel catfish has been fair in shallow bays and corners of the dam using stink bait.
Anita (Cass): Anglers are catching 7 to 8-inch bluegills using jigs from shore and around edges of vegetation. Channel catfish, from 2 to 6 pounds, are being caught on night crawlers and blood bait. Largemouth bass fishing has been fair for fish up to 20 inches. Crankbaits and jigs have been used around brush piles and rock piles.
DeSoto Bend (Harrison): Crappie fishing is slow. Channel catfish is fair using dip baits with a red worm.
Manawa (Pottawattamie): Channel catfish is fair drifting cut bait or shrimp. A few wipers are being caught on the east side of lake throwing twister tails.
Arrowhead (Pottawattamie): Bluegills are slow using jigs with night crawlers. The fish are 7 to 8 inches. Channel catfish are fair using liver and prepared bait close to shore around jetties. Small crappies are being caught from shore using jigs.
Prairie Rose (Shelby): Fishing is slow for crappies and bluegills drifting jigs tipped with minnows or night crawlers. Channel catfish is slow fishing shallow bays with liver. A few largemouth bass are being caught using crawdad-colored lures.
Willow (Harrison): Bluegill fishing is slow with a few fish being caught on jigs tipped with night crawlers. Fishing has been fair for 12 to 14-inch largemouth bass on plastic worms and crankbaits.
Schaben (Harrison): Bluegills are fair using small jigs tipped with night crawlers. Largemouth bass are also being caught on night crawlers and plastic baits.
Middle Raccoon River (Guthrie): No Report.
Farm Ponds are good for largemouth bass, bluegill and channel catfish. Be sure to ask permission from the landowner first.
Contact Bryan Hayes at (712) 769-2587 for information on the above area lakes.
For more information on fishing in southwest Iowa, call the regional office in Lewis at 712-769-2587.
Southeast
Mississippi River Pools 16 to 20: With recent rains the Mississippi River in Pools 16 to 20 has risen nearly a foot over the weekend. Water temperature throughout the pools is around 59 degrees. With the rise in river stage and muddier water, fishing has slowed a bit.
Pool 16: Current river stage at Lock and Dam 15 is 9.75 feet and is forecasted to stay steady over the next week. A few walleyes are being caught on wing dams around the I-280 Bridge using three-way rigs with minnows or on crankbaits. A few walleyes are also being caught in Sylvan Slough. Catfish are being caught on shad guts and night crawlers around the mouth of the Rock River and in the Sunset Marina area. White bass are being caught in Sylvan Slough, on the ends of wing dams, and in the Sunset Marina.
Pool 17: Current river stage at Lock and Dam 16 is 8.88 feet and is expected to slowly fall over the next week. Crappies are being caught in the Big Timber backwater complex using minnows. Bluegills are also being caught in the Big Timber area using wax worms and pieces of night crawler. White bass are being caught up by the dam and off the tips of wing dams.
Pool 18: Current river stage at Lock and Dam 17 is 11.5 feet and is forecasted to slowly fall over the next week. Crappies are being caught in the Huron Island backwater using minnows. Bluegills are also being caught in the backwaters using wax worms. Channel catfish are being caught on shad guts and night crawlers. White bass are being caught in the tailwaters of Lock and Dam 17.
Pool 19: Current river stage at Lock and Dam 18 is 7.86 feet and is expected to start falling slowly over the next week. Crappies are being caught in the backwaters on minnows. A few channel catfish are being caught on shad guts and night crawlers.
Pool 20: River stage at Lock and Dam 19 is 11.06 feet. Channel catfish are being caught along the sides of the main channel on stink baits, shad guts and night crawlers. A few largemouth bass are being caught on spinner baits. White bass are being caught in the tailwaters along the rocky shorelines.
Lake Darling (Washington): Crappies are starting to move shallow for the fall feeding frenzy. Catfishing picked up with the rain last Wednesday but the creek is just about back to normal. It might be worth a try if it rains again.
Lake Geode (Henry): The road at Geode from the beach turn off by the campground all the way to the turn off at the dam on Hwy. J-20 remains closed as construction has fallen behind schedule. Both boat ramps and the beach remain closed. The only access points on the lake will be shore fishing from the dam/spillway areas, shelter 3 and shelter 4 on the south end of the lake. It may be the first of November before it will be done.
Lake Belva Deer (Keokuk): Bluegill fishing slowed this last week. Anglers are still catching some catfish.
Lake Odessa (Louisa): Anglers were catching some nice stringers of crappies in the Horseshoe Bend and Burris Ditch areas. Look for crappies around the tree falls and beaver lodges.
Lake Rathbun (Appanoose): White bass have been hitting on crankbaits trolled along rocky shorelines and the flooded areas of vegetation. Crappies have been hitting on minnows fished around structure in 8 to 12 feet of water.
Lake Sugema (Van Buren): Crappies and bluegills have been hitting on small jigs. Some anglers have had success using night crawlers in the evenings for walleyes.
Lake Wapello (Davis): Crappies and bluegills have been biting on small jigs fished around structure. Largemouth bass have been hitting on a variety of artificial presentations.
Lake Macbride (Johnson): Anglers fishing from boats and from shore are doing well on crappies. Fishing from shore, try off the rock jetties, handicap pier or around any brush. Boat anglers can try these areas, as well as around the islands and some deeper brush. Either live bait or artificial lures will work right now.
Skunk River (Washington and Henry): The river is bank full. Look for the river to start to recede at Brighton by Thursday.
Iowa River (Louisa): The river is bank full and looks to remain close to full through this week.
For more information on fishing in southeast Iowa, call the regional office in Brighton at 319-694-2430