Iowa Fishing Report 04-07-11

Basshawk

Iowa Fishing Report Officer
Joined
Jun 16, 2010
Location
North Liberty, Iowa
#1
For immediate release: April 7, 2011

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources issues a 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 at the phone number listed at the end of each district report.

NORTHWEST
Clear Lake
The water temperature at Clear Lake has been in the middle 40s this week. Walleye and musky cruise the shallows towards sundown looking for food and to start their spawning. Yellow bass, white bass, and perch move into the shallows around the cattail beds and rocky shorelines also looking for food. Shore and wader fishing season is upon us, try using a jig with live bait or plastic tail with a slow retrieve.

For more fishing information contact the Clear Lake station at 641-357-3517.

Big Spirit Lake
Crappie - Good: Fish inlets from other lakes and sloughs with a small jig and twister.

East Okoboji Lake
Bluegill - Good: Good catches of bluegill have been reported near the bridge between East and West Okoboji on ice fishing jigs and wax worms or wigglers

Little Sioux River (state line to Linn Grove)
Northern Pike - Good: Some pike have been caught in the backwater areas of the river. Walleye - Good: Walleye fishing has picked up as the river has gone down. Try fishing with a jig and minnow with slow presentation off the bottom.

West Fork Des Moines (state line to Emmetsburg)
Walleye - Good: Fish backwater areas as this river is still high with a jig and white twister or minnow.

Most area lakes are completely open from ice at this time. As of Wednesday afternoon, Big Spirit and West Okoboji were about 25-50 percent covered. Area rivers are starting to come down, while fishing is starting to pick up. Remember that walleye season is closed on Big Spirit, East Okoboji, and West Okoboji until May 7.

NORTHEAST
Volga Lake
Few anglers have been out. An in-lake habitat project will occur Wednesday, weather permitting.

Lake Hendricks
A few anglers have been out, but not much action.

Lake Meyer
Not many anglers have been out. Anglers should be aware that an in-lake habitat project will occur Monday.

Upper Iowa River (above Decorah)
Water levels are falling but still a bit high. Water clarity is excellent.

Upper Iowa River (below Decorah)
Anglers are waiting for the suckers to start running.

Wapsi River (state line to Tripoli)
Anglers are starting to fish for suckers but the bite is slow. Sucker - Slow: Try using a hook tipped with a night crawler bounced on the river bottom.

Cedar River (above Nashua)
Anglers fishing below the dams in Charles City and Nashua are seeing some nice returns of walleye and northerns. Northern Pike - Excellent: Many anglers are catching pike while fishing for walleye. Best bet for a pike is using live chubs. Channel Catfish - Good: Catfish are hitting dead chubs above the dam in Nashua. Walleye - Good: Anglers are having the best luck using jig tipped with a minnow or assorted plastics.

Decorah District Streams
Blue Wing Olive and Dark Hendrickson mayflies have been hatching heavily on northeast Iowa streams. For the morning Blue Wing hatches, try a #16 Blue Wing Quill or a #16 Adams. For the afternoon Hendrickson hatches, try a #12 or #14 Brown Adams. #12 or #14 Pheasant Tails and Gold-Ribbed Hare's Ears are good for nymphing the Hendrickson hatch. For the spin fisher, try using dark jigs. For stocking information, please call 563-927-5736.

The last of our lakes are now completely ice-free and ready for open water angling. Rivers are coming down and are fishable. Trout streams are in excellent condition. Catchable trout stocking season has started. For more information, contact the Decorah Fish Hatchery at 563-382-8324.

George Wyth Lake
Anglers are catching some crappie in the shallow water bay areas. Crappie - Fair: Crappie minnows under a bobber fished in the shallow water areas in the bays has been most productive.

Cedar River (Nashua to La Porte City)
There have been good reports of pike and walleye being caught on the Cedar River in Bremer and Black Hawk counties. Walleye can be found near the low head dams and off of current break areas. Northern Pike - Fair: Try floating a chub under a bobber or casting and slowly retrieving spoons or spinner baits. Walleye - Good: A jig tipped with a large minnow has been the best combination for walleye right now.

Shell Rock River (Greene to Shell Rock)
The Shell Rock River has had some reports of walleye being caught. Angling below low head dams can be productive this time of year. Walleye - Good: A jig tipped with a large minnow has been the best combination for walleye right now.

Wapsi River (Tripoli to Troy Mills)
There have been good reports of walleye and northern pike being caught on the Wapsipinicon River in Buchanan and Bremer counties. Angling below low head dams can be productive this time of year. Northern Pike - Good: Casting spinner baits has been most productive for pike right now on the upper end of the Wapsi River. Walleye - Good: A jig tipped with a large minnow has been the best combination for walleye right now.

Manchester District Streams
Trout streams are in excellent condition.

The interior rivers have been offering good fishing reports for walleye, northern pike and some occasional smallmouth bass. River conditions are excellent but rain is in the forecast the coming week. Trout stocking season has begun and streams in the Manchester District remain in excellent condition. Heritage Pond in Dubuque will be stocked with trout this coming Saturday on April 9th. For further information contact the Manchester District Office at 563-927-3276.

MISSISSIPPI RIVER
Mississippi River Pool 9
River level at Lansing is 14.2 feet and expected to rise to 15.3 feet by next week. The road to the New Albin ramp is under water. Boaters should still be able to access the river at Lansing. Yellow Perch - Fair: A few anglers getting out are report some yellow perch at the bottom end of DeSoto bay in out of the current areas. Walleye - Fair: High water is making it difficult to find fish but a few nice walleye can be caught in Minnesota Slough by those able to get out.

Mississippi River Pool 10
Tail water stage at Lynxville is 24.5 feet and predicted to rise 25.6 feet by next week. Sny Magill, Marquette and McGregor, and Bussey Lake ramps are closed due to flooding. Boaters will still be able to access the river at the Harpers Ferry high water ramp. Yellow Perch - Good: Some nice yellow perch are being taken in the tail water on a three way rig tipped with a small minnow. Sauger - Fair: Although some nice catches of sauger have been reported over the last week, high water is making it more difficult to find fish. Walleye - Fair: Some nice walleyes have been caught but high water is making it more difficult to find fish.

Mississippi River Pool 11
Guttenberg tail water stage is 15.4 feet and expected to rise to 16.7 feet by next week. The Guttenberg City ramp is closed due to flooding. The DNR ramp will provide access but higher water will make this more difficult. Parking is limited and you may have to park trailers on side streets by the DNR office. Yellow Perch - Good: Many 10 to 13-inch yellow perch are being caught on three-way rigs tipped with a small minnow. Sauger - Fair: Some saugers are being caught in the tail water on jigs and minnows or three-way rigs, but high water is making it difficult to find fish. Walleye - Good: Some nice walleyes have been reported, but high water can make it difficult to find fish. A few real nice walleyes are being caught and many anglers are practicing voluntary catch and release of these soon to be spawning fish.

River levels are at or near flood stage for most of the Upper Mississippi and expected to rise another 1.5 feet by next week. Water temperature is 44 degrees. Due to high water many boat ramps are inaccessible. Boaters should be cautious of floating debris.

Mississippi River Pool 12
River stage in Dubuque is 18 feet and is forecast to rise to 19 feet by this time next week. Flood stage is 17 feet and moderate flood stage is 18 feet. Water clarity is fair and water temperatures are in the low 40s. The ramps in Dubuque and East Dubuque are still usable. The campground and ramp at Massey Marina Park is underwater. The campground at Spruce Creek Park is closed, but the boat ramp is still open. Sauger - Fair: A few saugers are still being caught in the tail waters. Walleye - Fair: A few walleye are being caught in the tail waters, along catfish creek, and with the high water in some of the marinas.

Mississippi River Pool 13
River stage in Bellevue is 16.2 feet and is forecast to rise to 17 feet by this time next week. Flood stage is 17 feet. Water clarity is fair and water temperatures are in the low 40s. The ramps at Mill Creek and Pleasant Creek Parks are underwater at this time. Bluegill - Slow: Bluegill fishing has been slow so far in Middle and South Sabula lakes. Fishing should improve as water temperature rises. Sauger - Fair: A few saugers are still being caught in the tail waters in the Illinois pocket and along the Iowa shoreline. Walleye - Fair: A few walleye are still being caught in the tail waters in the Illinois pocket and along the Iowa shoreline.

Mississippi River Pool 14
River stage in Bellevue is 17.64 feet and is forecast to rise to 18.3 feet by this time next week. Flood stage is 17 feet. Water clarity is poor and water temperature is in the low 40s. The high water has closed many ramps or made those that are still open difficult to launch from. The high water and currents have made fishing difficult. With the high water, the sand pits downstream of Albany should have cleaner water and better fishing.

For fishing information in Pool 12-15 of the Mississippi River contact the Bellevue Fish Management and Research Station at 563-872-4976

Mississippi River Pool 16
A few fish are being caught from the banks in Sunset Marina on the Illinois side. River level at the tail water is 16.26 feet with flood stage at 15.0 feet. All of the gates are open at the dam. The river level is predicted to rise over the next few days depending on precipitation. Northern Pike - Slow: A few northerns are reported to be caught in Sunset Marina. Channel Catfish - Slow: A few catfish are being caught in Sunset Marina using worms in the newly flooded area. Bluegill - Slow: A few bluegills are being caught in Sunset Marina

Mississippi River Pool 17
The tail water level is 15.73 feet with flood stage at 15.0 feet. All of the gates are out of the water at Lock and Dam 16. The boat ramp in Muscatine was still usable, but all the other ramps in the pool are closed. There were no fish reported caught.

Mississippi River Pool 18
The river level is 16.69 feet at the tail water at 17 feet and predicted to rise. Flood stage is 15.0 feet and all of the gates are out of the water. No fish were reported to be caught.

Mississippi River Pool 19
River level is 12.1 feet at the tail water and flood stage is 10.0 feet. The pool level is currently listed as steady but this could change with predictions of rain in the coming week. No fish were reported being caught

All of the gates are now open at all locks and dams in the lower river except for Lock and Dam 19. Pools 16 through 19 are all in flood stage and predicted to remain that way for at least a week. Rain in the forecast for the next few days will only increase the flood levels. Most of the boat ramps in the area are closed, however a few of the high water ramps are still available. Caution should be used while navigating on the river as most of the island are now covered by water and there is a consider

SOUTHEAST
Hawthorn Lake (aka Barnes City Lake)
The lake has been drained for a lake renovation and work is almost complete. New fish habitat areas have been built along with some new jetties. The gate has been closed and the lake is now starting to fill back up.

Lake Sugema
The lake now has open water with all the ice melting. Fishing has been slow. Walleye - Slow: As the water temperature starts to rise, try jig and minnow combos along the dam or any other riprapped shoreline.

Ottumwa Lagoon
A trout stocking event was held March 19. Trout were stocked so try using spinners, worms, or other trout bait.

Rathbun Reservoir
The lake level is at 903.29 feet with 904.0 feet being normal pool. Water temperature has been in the upper 30s to the low 40s. Fishing has been slow with the cool water temperature. Warmer water will help improve fishing. Anglers are reminded that walleyes have been tagged in Lake Rathbun and if tagged fish are caught please take the time to look under the jaw of the walleye to check for a tag. Please call the Rathbun Fish Hatchery at 641-647-2406 with any tag information.

For further fishing reports in south central Iowa, call the Rathbun fish hatchery at 641-647-2406

SOUTHWEST
Banner Lake (south)
Rainbow Trout - Good: The spring stocking of rainbow trout occurred on April 2 and trout fishing should be good to excellent for the next several weeks. Cast small jigs and in-line spinners. Wax worms, small earth worms, and small minnows under a bobber also work well.

Des Moines River (Stratford to Saylorville Lake)
Walleye - Good: Warmer temperatures have helped the walleye bite below Saylorville. Anglers putting in some time are coming away with several decent walleye. Bounce a jig tipped with a minnow, white or chartreuse twister tail, or ring worm like soft plastics through the slack water. Chartreuse twisters have been out fishing the rest. Further upstream near Boone and Fraser the river is beginning to fall, but still high enough to make fishing the dams difficult.

Des Moines River (Saylorville to Red Rock)
White Bass - Good: Anglers targeting walleye below Red Rock have also been catching some decent numbers of white bass. Walleye - Fair: The walleye bite below Red Rock has improved over last week. They can be caught throwing jigs with twisters or jigs with minnows. Anglers fishing the Center and Scott Street dams in Des Moines are also catching some walleye throwing jigs with chartreuse or white twisters.

The return of warmer temperatures improved fishing over last week. Anglers are again catching good walleyes in the rivers below dams. Bluegills and crappie are starting to bite more aggressively on the faster warming farm ponds. For questions on central Iowa lakes and rivers contact Ben Dodd or Andy Otting at 515-432-2823.

Greenfield Lake
Greenfield has a good panfish and largemouth bass populations. Crappie - Good: Crappies are hitting along the dam using small jigs. Sorting is necessary for larger fish.

Lake Anita
Crappies are biting in the north arm around the pontoons. Crappie - Fair: Crappies up to 10 inches are being caught on jigs under a bobber.

Lake Manawa
Crappies are hitting in the canals and around docks. Walleyes are spawning now and are close to shore. Try casting twister tails on sandy shorelines to catch spawning walleye. Crappie - Good: Crappies up to 12 inches are on jigs and minnows in the canals and around docks.

Cold Springs District Farm Ponds
Farm ponds typically warm quickly and can provide good early season fishing. Larger ponds with crappie populations are good now as crappies are close to shore preparing to spawn. Remember to always get permission to fish private farm ponds. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Largemouth are being caught next to shore on sunny days casting small spinner baits using a slow retrieve. Crappie - Good: Cast small jigs alone dam for best success.

The crappie bite has picked up with warmer temperatures. For more information on fishing call the Southwest District Office at 712-769-2587.

Green Valley
Catfish fishing is good on shad and liver.

Twelve Mile
Catfish fishing is good. Big bullheads are being caught at upper end on night crawlers. Walleye are fair and are being caught on dam with jigs and/or minnows.

Lake Icaria
Walleyes are fair and are being caught on the south shore.

Farm Ponds/Smaller Lakes
Crappie fishing is good.

Water temperature is in the 50s. Most species are biting better than last week, although some areas may still be a challenge.