- Joined
- Jun 16, 2010
- Location
- North Liberty, Iowa
For immediate release: November 10, 2010
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
Brushy Creek Lake
Water clarity at Brushy Creek is excellent. Few anglers are out fishing. Bluegill - Slow: Fish around submerged trees with a small lure baited with a wax worm. Experiment with different depths. Largemouth Bass - Slow: Fish with plastics or night crawlers. Cast near submerged trees or weed beds. Muskellunge - Slow:
Bacon Creek Lake
Approximately 1,500 rainbow trout were stocked into Bacon Creek on November 10. Rainbow Trout - Excellent: Rainbow trout bite readily off the stocking truck. Try casting small spinners or rooster tails. Small live bait also works well. Iowa residents and nonresidents who are required to have a fishing license must pay the Trout Fee to fish for or possess trout. Exceptions: Iowa residents and nonresidents under 16 years old may possess trout without having paid the Trout Fee if they fish with a properly licensed adult who has paid the Trout Fee and together they limit their catch to the one person daily limit of five trout. Children under 16 may purchase a trout fee to have their own daily limit.
Storm Lake (including Little Storm Lake)
White Bass - Slow: Most of the white bass being caught are being picked up while walleye fishing. Walleye - Slow: Walleye fishing continues to be hit or miss. The bite seems to turn on for an hour or so at certain times of the morning and evening and then shuts off. Most anglers have been targeting the inlet to the lake and the east shoreline near the public boat ramp. Anglers have been using twisters and spinners and many are fishing at night. Boaters use caution: There is an ongoing dredging project at Storm Lake and boats should stay at least 100 feet away from the dredge pipe. The dredge pipe is marked with buoys. Daily bag limit at Storm Lake is three walleye: all 17 to 22-inch walleye must be immediately released, only one walleye over 22 inches may be kept.
North Twin Lake
Anglers are still doing well for yellow bass with a few nice walleye mixed in. Walleye - Slow: Some walleye have been caught while fishing for yellow bass. Yellow Bass - Good: Anglers have been catching yellow bass casting small bright colored jigs tipped with a small piece of bait. Try fishing the windward shore and fishing off the bulrushes at Featherstone Park. Keep moving around until you find the fish. Once they quite biting in an area, move until you find more.
Swan Lake
The number of anglers fishing at Swan Lake has dropped off quite a bit. The anglers that are out fishing are still doing okay for bluegill and crappie and are catching an occasional bass. Bluegill - Fair: Use a small jig and a wax worm around the fishing jetties, docks, and fish house. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Some anglers from boats are having better luck fishing out the deeper portion of the lake. Crappie - Fair: Use the same methods as you would for bluegill.
Black Hawk Lake
Bluegill - Good: Anglers are catching nice size bluegill from the stone piers in Town Bay. Use small jigs tipped with bait. Crappie - Fair: Some crappie are being caught from the stone piers. Yellow Perch - Slow: Some anglers have been catching yellow perch averaging 8 inches with a night crawler and a bobber. Walleye - Slow: Anglers are still catching a few walleye, but they are mostly sub-legal fish. The Ice House Point area has been reopened for public use. There is a newly constructed bike path that runs along the edge of the shoreline at Ice House Point. On Black Hawk Lake walleye must be at least 15 inches in length to keep and only three per day may be kept.
Little Sioux River (Correctionville to Missouri River)
Some nice catfish and walleye have been caught.
For more information on the lakes and rivers in this area contact Ben Wallace or Don Herrig at the Black Hawk Fish Management Office in Lake View at 712-657-2638.
Clear Lake
Fishing has slowed and not as many anglers are getting out. Yellow bass can still be caught on the warmer days, but with the current forecast, those days are numbered. Try fishing the rock reefs or the remaining emergent vegetation for best results. All the boat ramp docks on Clear Lake have been removed.
Rice Lake
A few yellow perch and crappie are still being caught from shore on the warmer days. Live bait fished under a bobber or while casting with a slow retrieve has been working the best.
Silver Lake (Worth)
Anglers are still catching a few yellow perch from shore on the warmer days. Live bait works best.
Open water angling pressure has been slowing down. All of the area boat ramp docks have been removed for winter. For more information on fishing contact the Clear Lake office at 641-357-3517.
NORTHEAST
Volga Lake
We have received no information regarding fishing on this water body this week.
Lake Hendricks
Not much fishing activity happening on the lake.
Lake Meyer
Angler activity has slowed. Water clarity is excellent.
Charles City Impoundment
Walleyes have been improving their bite. Most fish are being caught on jigs and crawlers. Pike have been being caught fishing for walleye. Northern Pike - Good: Anglers are catching pike while fishing for walleye using jig and minnows. Walleye - Fair: Anglers are catching a few fish on jigs and crawlers.
Upper Iowa River (above Decorah)
We have received no information regarding fishing on this water body this week.
Upper Iowa River (below Decorah)
Target walleye and smallmouth bass in overwintering holes. Fish have been aggressive. Anglers are using crankbaits while paddling over the deeper holes. Smallmouth Bass - Excellent: Anglers are having luck below the Lower Dam down river to 76 Bridge on white twisters. Walleye - Good: Anglers are reporting good bites on crankbaits.
Cedar River (above Nashua)
We have received no information regarding fishing on this water body this week.
Decorah District Streams
Even though streams are not being stocked, there are plenty of fish to be caught. Insect hatches are still occurring and water quality is excellent. Trout have been aggressive. An abundance of brown and brook trout redds are being seen in the stream bottoms.
River levels are looking good for this time of year and clarity is excellent. Trout streams are no longer being stocked with catchable fish but stream conditions are excellent. For more information about a specific stream or river, please call the Decorah Fish Hatchery at 563-382-8324.
SOUTHEAST
Lake Belva Deer
Bluegill - Slow: Bluegills are in 16 to 18 feet of water. Wax worms or fish worms are the best. Anglers are vertically jigging using ice fishing jigs. Most of the road construction is finished. The contractor is still doing some shoulder work. Expect some construction delays. Also most of the traffic signs are not up so use caution and common sense.
Lake of the Hills
Rainbow Trout - Excellent: Trout continue to hit on spinners, jigs, corn, power bait, and worms. They are around the habitat in about 4 to 5 feet of water. Channel Catfish - Fair: Catfishing has been steady. Try the shallow sun warmed bays with stink baits in the afternoons. Largemouth Bass - Good: Anglers are catching some nice bass while they are using spinners trying to catch trout.
Railroad Lake
Channel Catfish - Good: Catfishing remains good in Railroad Lake, producing good numbers of pan-sized fish. Fish cut bait or night crawlers around the stump fields along the North side. Dip baits are also catching some fish.
Wilson Lake
600 rainbow and brook trout were released last Saturday. Anglers must have a fishing license and a trout stamp (fee) to fish for the trout. Rainbow Trout - Excellent: The bait of choice for catching trout seems to vary every day. Berkley power grubs have been the best lately but a few days ago it was small colored spinners.
Environmental Discovery Park North Pond
600 rainbow and brook trout were released last Saturday at the main pond at Discovery Park in Muscatine. Rainbow Trout - Excellent: Anglers are catching trout using spinners and small spoons. The trout are out in 4 to 5 feet of water around any structure.
For more information on the above lakes call the Lake Darling Fisheries Office at 319-694-2430
Lake Macbride
Any sized motor may be used at no-wake speed. Water temperature is around 50 degrees. Crappie - Fair: Crappies are extremely hit or miss. Some anglers are catching limits while some are catching only a few. Fish brush and areas with warmer water. Walleye - Fair: A few walleyes are being picked up by trolling crankbaits. Most success has come from 9 to 11 feet of water.
Union Grove Lake
Bluegill - Fair: Use small jigs around brush. Crappie - Good: Anglers are catching fish by drifting jigs or minnows out in open water as well as by casting to shoreline structure. There is an abundance of 8 to 9-inch fish here.
Coralville Reservoir
The lake was predicted to crest at 685 feet on Nov. 9. Channel Catfish - Slow: Stink bait has been reported as working best. The upper end of the reservoir has been producing best. Crappie - Slow: A few nice fish are being caught on bright colored jigs in deeper brush piles.
Iowa River (Coralville Lake to River Junction)
Walleye - Slow: A few walleyes are being picked up on jigs and crankbaits below the dams. Flows coming out of the tube have been about 1,000 cubic feet per second. There is still road construction on the Coralville dam so access may be limited to the river below.
For more information, contact the Lake Macbride Fisheries Station at 319-624-3615.
Lake Wapello
The lake has refilled after last year's fish population renovation. Red ear and channel catfish were stocked last fall and largemouth bass and bluegill this spring.
Red Haw Lake
Bluegill - Fair: Use small jigs tipped with a chunk of night crawler. Try areas along the shoreline and around the aquatic vegetation. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Try plastic worms fished around submerged structure or around the rock jetties. As the water continues to cool, slow down your retrieve.
Hawthorn Lake (aka Barnes City Lake)
The lake renovation project has begun and the lake is being drained. The boat ramps are not usable as the lake is approximately 20 feet low. Shore fishing is still allowed.
Lake Keomah
Bluegill - Fair: Use a chunk of night crawler fished along the shoreline and around submerged structure. Along the fishing piers can also be a good spot. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Use rubber worms along the shoreline and around the jetties. Another spot to try is along the outside of the aquatic vegetation.
Albia (lower)
Bluegill - Fair: Use small jigs tipped with a chunk of night crawler. Try areas along the dam between the upper and lower reservoirs. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Use spinner baits fished along the shoreline and around areas with submerged structures. Rubber worms can also be productive this time of year. A boat ramp has been constructed on the lower reservoir.
Lake Sugema
Largemouth Bass - Fair: Use plastic worms and spinner baits. A jig n' pig combo should also be tried this time of year. Crappie - Slow: Try small jigs along submerged structure. Fish have been suspended in 8 to 12 feet of water. Walleye - Slow: Use jigs tipped with a minnow around the rocky shorelines. Walleyes have started to move shallow in the evenings.
Rathbun Reservoir
The current lake level is 906.18 feet with normal pool being 904 feet. The water temperature is ranging in the mid 50s. Boat ramps are open at Honey Creek State Park, Bridgeview, South Fork, Buck Creek, and Island View. Crappie - Slow: Fish are starting to move shallow so try areas with submerged trees or other structure. Rocky shorelines have also been producing some fish. Using small jigs has been productive. Walleye - Slow: Try using baits that mimic gizzard shad. Jig and minnows can also be good this time of year. Please be wary of tagged walleyes and if these fish are harvested please call the hatchery with the tag number. The phone number for the hatchery is 641-647-2406.
For additional fishing information in south central Iowa, call the Rathbun Fish Hatchery at 641-647-2406.