Iowa Fishing Report 12-30-2010

Basshawk

Iowa Fishing Report Officer
Joined
Jun 16, 2010
Location
North Liberty, Iowa
#1


For immediate release: December 30, 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
Yellow Smoke Park Lake
The most recent report is from two weeks ago. Yellow Smoke has about 7 inches of good, clear ice. Use caution when near the handicapped accessible dock because slush pockets have formed near it. The water is extremely clear. Bluegill - Good: The few anglers that are fishing are doing well for bluegill. The bite turns on at 4:30 PM. Bluegills as large as 10 1/8 inch are being caught. Try fishing in 20 feet of water in the submerged trees. Use very light line and tackle. Largemouth Bass - Fair: A number of 15 to 16-inch bass are being caught while bluegill fishing.

Crawford Creek Impoundment
There is about 9 to 10 inches of ice on Crawford Creek. The fish have been real finicky with anglers getting a lot of light bites. The best fishing has been in the early mornings.

Brushy Creek Lake
Ice conditions have improved at Brushy Creek. However, the ice on the main lake by the swim beach and by the dam is unsafe. Water clarity is good. Bluegill - Fair: Bluegills have been biting on wax worms. Crappie - Fair: Small crappies and the occasional big one are biting on small minnows and wax worms. Yellow Perch - Fair: Yellow perch have been biting on wax worms. Walleye - Slow: A few walleye have been caught on minnows.

Bacon Creek Lake
Approximately 1,500 rainbow trout were stocked into Bacon Creek on November 10. The next stocking is scheduled for January 8, between 1:30 and 2 p.m. DNR staff will be on hand until 4 p.m. with ice fishing gear for people to use. There will be approximately 100 tagged trout. Prizes donated by local businesses will be available to the first dozen tagged trout caught. Iowa residents and nonresidents who are required to have a fishing license must pay the trout fee to fish for or possess trout. Rainbow Trout - Excellent: Anglers should expect great rainbow trout fishing on January 8. Trout bite readily off the stocking truck.

Storm Lake (including Little Storm Lake)
A truck went through the ice last weekend. White Bass - Good: Large white bass are being caught by anglers targeting walleye. There is fast action for the white bass when schools move through and then it slows down until another big school comes by. Crappie - Fair: Some nice sized crappie are being caught around the inlet area. Yellow Perch - Slow: Anglers pick up yellow perch on occasion when fishing walleye. Not a lot of perch get caught, but the ones that do are 9 to 11 inches. Walleye - Fair: The walleye fishing has been spotty. Anglers have been targeting the inlet and Frank Starr Park. A live minnow fished right off the bottom has been working well, or try using a super duper and a minnow head. Evenings and mornings have been the best. Daily bag limit at Storm Lake is 3 walleye: all 17 to 22-inch walleye must be immediately released, only one walleye over 22 inches may be kept. Ice thickness is extremely variable.

Swan Lake
Ice at Swan Lake is anywhere from 8 to 10 inches thick. The aeration system has been turned on so there is open water and weak ice around the fish house, the fish cleaning station, and east of the fish house. A few small bluegills and crappie have been caught, but there has not been a lot of fishing.

Black Hawk Lake
There is about 13 inches of good, clear ice on Black Hawk Lake. The winter aeration system has been started and there is now open water and weak ice in the Town Bay area. Yellow Perch - Slow: An occasional 8-inch perch is caught while walleye fishing. Walleye - Good: Walleye fishing has been pretty fast, but very few are keepers. Target the old dredge cuts, rock piles off of Shotgun Hill and Crescent Park, and the deep hole near 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.

Browns Lake
Bluegill and crappie have been spotty with the best fishing happening in the evening. Ice is 9 to 10 inches thick.

Snyder Bend Lake
Little to no fishing activity. Snyder Bend refuge opens January 1. Still some open water in areas. Snyder Bend has warm water flowing into it from a nearby power plant and waterfowl are keeping the water open in other areas. Use caution on Snyder Bend.

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.

Lake Smith
Ice thickness is 9 to 12 inches. Bluegills are biting in the late afternoon on wax worms.

Clear Lake
Ice thickness is 9 to 13 inches. Yellow bass fishing is fair, try using a small jig tipped with a spike or piece of cut bait. Walleye fishing is slow.

Lake Cornelia
Ice thickness is 10 to 12 inches. Yellow perch are biting on small jigs tipped with wax worms.

Little Wall Lake
Ice thickness is 8 to 10 inches. Bluegills and crappies are biting on wax worms.

Rice Lake
Ice thickness is 6 to 13 inches. A few yellow perch and crappies are being caught.

Silver Lake (Worth)
Ice thickness is 8 to 12 inches.

For more information on fishing in the area lakes and rivers, call the Clear Lake fisheries office at 641-357-3517.

Lake Pahoja
Crappie - Fair: Fish around brush piles with small jigs tipped with wax worms. Yellow Perch - Slow: Fish near brush piles with wax worms. Reports say that most perch being caught are small.

Big Spirit Lake
Yellow Perch - Fair: Fish are being caught on the main lake using small ice jigs tipped with wigglers near Marble Beach, Buffalo Run, and between Big Stoney and Cottonwood points. Walleye - Good: Fish rock bars or weed lines at sunrise or sunset with jigging lures tipped with a minnow head and dead sticking with a minnow on a small hook below a split shot.

East Okoboji Lake
Walleye - Fair: Use jigging lures tipped with a minnow near Parks Marina.

West Okoboji Lake
Northern Pike - Fair: Use tip ups with large baitfish or jig using large jigging lures. Bluegill - Good: Fish in the bays with small ice jigs tipped with wax worms/wigglers or plastics. Yellow Perch - Fair: Fish the outside edges of weed beds in about 12 feet of water with plastics or live bait near Pocahontas and Eagle points. Walleye - Slow: A few fish are being caught along drop-offs with perch colored jigging lures.

Five Island Lake
Walleye - Slow: A few fish have been reported fishing at sunset with jigging lures tipped with a whole minnow or just a minnow head.

Elk Lake
Yellow Perch - Fair: Use small jigging lures tipped with a minnow.

Tuttle Lake
Northern Pike - Fair: Pike are being caught while fishing for perch. Yellow Perch - Fair: Use small minnows on jigs. Fish in the 9 to 10-inch range are being reported while fishing in 3 to 4 feet of water.

Silver Lake (Palo Alto)
Yellow Perch - Fair: Use small minnows or small ice jigs tipped with wax worms.

Virgin Lake
Yellow Perch - Fair: Use small jigging lures tipped with a small minnow.

Scharnberg Pond
On December 18, Scharnberg Park 5 miles west of Spencer on Highway B24, received the first of two trout stocking this winter. Refer to the Iowa Fishing Regulations Booklet or the Iowa DNR website for trout stamp requirements. Rainbow Trout - Good: Trout anglers at other lakes in Iowa have reported great success using jigging spoons tipped with wax worms or synthetic trout baits.

Ice conditions are variable on area lakes. Extreme caution should be used when ever going out onto the ice. For more fishing information on the Spirit Lake area call 712-336-1840.

NORTHEAST
Silver Lake (Delaware)
We have received no information regarding fishing on this water body this week.

Casey Lake (aka Hickory Hills Lake)
Casey Lake is ready for ice-fishing and has received some light pressure. Anglers have been catching bluegill and yellow perch. Bluegill - Good: Try small ice jigs tipped with a wax worm off of the bottom around structure from the middle of the lake and east towards the dam. Yellow Perch - Fair: Concentrate fishing around structure, best times for perch have been during early morning or late evening hours.

Big Woods Lake
We have received no information regarding fishing on this water body this week.

Brinker Lake
We have received no information regarding fishing on this water body this week.

George Wyth Lake
We have received no information regarding fishing on this water body this week.

Avenue of the Saints Pond
Avenue of Saints Lake is ready for ice-fishing and has received some light pressure. Anglers have been catching bluegill, crappie and some occasional channel catfish. Angling has been most productive during the early morning and late evening hours. Bluegill - Good: Try numerous small ice fishing jigs and a variety of colors tipped with a wax worm. Crappie - Fair: Try locating cover and fishing various depths with minnow or wax worm under a bobber.

Sweet Marsh Reservoir
We have received no information regarding fishing on this water body this week.

Plainfield
We have received no information regarding fishing on this water body this week.

Ice thickness is 5 to 8 inches on most area lakes in northeast Iowa. Ice fishing appears to have slowed a bit over the last week. Trout streams remain in excellent condition and hold good numbers of trout throughout the winter months. For further information contact the district office in Manchester at 563-927-3276.

MISSISSIPPI RIVER
Mississippi River Pool 9
Ice depth generally 8 to 10 inches but caution should be used in areas that have current or are insulated by deep snow. Northern Pike - No Report: Several anglers reported seeing folks using tip ups for northern pike but we have received no reports on the success rate. Bluegill - Good: Good catches in Minnesota Slough and Indian Lake by New Albin, and Shore Slough by Lansing. Yellow Perch - Fair: A few nice perch reported from Shore Slough and Minnesota Slough.

Mississippi River Pool 10
Ice depth generally 8 to 10 inches but caution should be used in areas that have current or are insulated by deep snow. In the Sny Magill area near Effigy Mounds Park it is safe to cross over into Norwegian Lake but is still unsafe to walk to Methodist Lake. Northern Pike - Fair: Some smaller northern pike were being caught on tip-ups using larger shiners as bait. Bluegill - Good: Good catches of bluegills reported near Ambrough Slough by Prairie Du Chien and in the Sny Magill area decent catches reported in Ice Lake and Sandbar Slough. Bussey Lake has slowed a bit but still is cranking out some bluegills. Pressure at Bussey Lake has been heavy. Crappie - Fair: A few nice crappies in Bussey but fishing has slowed. A few nice crappies in Sandbar Slough. Yellow Perch - Fair: Some nice perch reported from sloughs in the Prairie Du Chien area and a few in Bussey Lake. Sauger - Slow: The tail waters still have a lot of current due to the high water going into the winter. This has made fishing for sauger difficult as they do not appear to be in their normal winter locations.

Mississippi River Pool 11
Ice depth generally 8 to 10 inches but caution should be used in areas that have current or are insulated by deep snow. The Guttenberg city boat ramp is not currently blocked with ice and anglers can back a boat in but it may be tricky. Bluegill - Good: Decent catches in the marina at Mud Lake and in Zollicoffers in lower Pool 11are being reported but it is often “hit or miss.” The bite at times has been a day bite with late afternoon producing the most fish. Some fish are being reported in Sunfish Lake on the Wisconsin side as well. Crappie - Slow: A few nice crappies in Zollicoffers Lake by Dubuque and Swift Slough by Guttenberg. Yellow Perch - Fair: A few nice perch are being caught in Mud Lake, Zollicoffers Lake and Sunfish Lake. Try letting the lure settle all the way to the bottom for a bit to entice perch to bite. Sauger - Fair: Anglers can access the tail waters of lock and dam 10 through the city ramp in Guttenberg. Winter water levels are very high and current is stronger than many winter anglers are accustomed to. The DNR fish hatchery ramp is completely covered with ice. Walleye - Slow: Although anglers can access the tail waters of lock and dam 10 through the city ramp in Guttenberg, fishing reports have been slow.

Generally good ice conditions but avoid flowing sloughs and large snow covered areas as snow insulates the ice preventing complete freezing. Ice thickness in many areas is 8 to 10 inches, but caution should be used as heavy snows insulate the ice and some thawing may make unsafe ice conditions in areas that have current.

Mississippi River Pool 16
Tail water stage at Lock and Dam 15 is 6.97 feet. The Marquette St. boat ramp is currently being reported as open as of Dec. 30. Ramp conditions could change. Ice anglers should use caution when out on the ice especially with warm temperatures and rain in the forecast. Bluegill - Fair: There are reports of some bluegills being caught through the ice on wax worms in Sunset Marina. The bite has been the best early in the morning and right before dark. Crappie - Slow: Crappie fishing in Sunset Marina has slowed down. Sauger - Slow: Sauger fishing below the dam and in Sylvan Slough has been slow.

Mississippi River Pool 17
Tail water stage at Lock and Dam 16 is 5.71 feet. As of Dec. 30, the furthest upstream boat ramp in Muscatine is open for launching boats. There are reports of 6 to 7 inches of ice in Big Timber. There is warm weather and rain in the forecast that could result in some unsafe ice conditions in Big Timber. Ice conditions could be more variable out in the main part of Big Timber so anglers should use caution. Anglers not familiar with Big Timber should stay off the ice. Bluegill - Fair: Anglers are catching some bluegills in the backwaters on small jigs and wax worms. Crappie - Fair: Crappies are being caught in the backwaters on small ice jigs/waxies and on minnows. Sauger - No Report: We have received no information on tail water fishing for saugers.

Mississippi River Pool 18
Tail water stage at Lock and Dam 17 is 7.51 feet. As of Dec. 30, the Toolesboro ramp is being reported as open. Ramp conditions could change. No ice fishing information for this pool has been received. Bluegill - No Report: Crappie - No Report: Sauger - Fair: Saugers are being caught in the tail waters on jigs and minnows or on jigs and plastics. Walleye - Fair: Some walleyes are being picked up in the tail waters on jigs and minnows.

Mississippi River Pool 19
Tail water stage at Lock and Dam 18 is 4.63 feet. No fishing information was received for this pool.

Pools 16-19: Anglers should use caution when ice fishing in the backwaters due to warm temperatures and rain in the forecast. Ice conditions may become unsafe over the next few days due to standing water, runoff, and possible rising river levels. There have been some reports of tail water fishing for walleye and saugers. For more fishing information on Pools 16-19 contact the Fairport Fish Hatchery at 563-263-5062.

SOUTHEAST
Lake Belva Deer
Ice conditions are good. The warm weather should melt the snow off the ice and replace it with slush and water. The water under the ice should remain clear as long as we don't get too much rain. Bluegill - Good: Anglers are concentrated in the area around the campground boat ramp. Fishing has been the best in the early morning hours as usual.

Lake of the Hills
Ice conditions remain good. Stay away from the boathouse where the aerator is keeping the water open and around the boat dock. Rainbow Trout - Good: Anglers are picking up more than a few trout when they are fishing for panfish. Bluegill - Good: Most anglers are working the stumps and brush piles out in the deeper water. Crappie - Good: Anglers are catching them around the brush piles.

Crawford Pond
Ice is about 8 inches thick. The expected snow melt and rain may make the water cloudy. Be prepared to switch to a dark color ice fishing jig to give the contrast so the fish can see it. Bluegill - Fair: The fish are getting finicky lately. Probably because of the constant weather changes. As far as jig choice; it's go small or go home.

Wilson Lake
Ice is about 6 inches thick. Rainbow Trout - Good: Anglers are still catching some good numbers of the trout we released back in November. Look for them around the brush piles the county has been adding over the last couple of years for fish habitat. Bluegill - Good: Anglers have been catching some nice bluegills through the ice. Target the fish habitat in the north arm of the lake 8 to 12 feet of water.

Lake Darling District Farm Ponds
Most of the smaller ponds now have about 8 inches of ice. Bluegill - Good: Try out around the habitat in the deeper water and fish close to the bottom.

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

Red Haw Lake
Ice depths have been reported to be around 5 inches. Use caution when venturing out because there have been some variation in ice thickness. The geese had been keeping an area open by the dam and the beach so avoid that area. Bluegill - Fair: Use teardrop jigs tipped with a wax worm.

Hawthorn Lake (aka Barnes City Lake)
The lake has been drained for a lake renovation. Work has begun around the lake.

Lake Sugema
Use caution when venturing out onto the ice. The standing timber can impede the formation of good ice. Bluegill - Slow: Use small jigs tipped with a wax worm. Try fishing within a foot of the lake bottom.

Rathbun Reservoir
The lake level is at 902.26 feet with 904.0 feet being normal pool. The main lake has frozen over. Ice thickness reports are as follows: Island View Dedication site boat ramp-6 inches, Glenwood ramp-7.5 inches, and Atwell's Landing-8.5 inches. Use caution because ice thickness has been variable. Crappie - Slow: Use teardrops jigs tipped with a wax worm or a minnow. Find areas with submerged structure and fish over them.

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

SOUTHWEST
Jacob Krumm Nature Preserver Lake (west)
Bluegill - Fair: The past weekend anglers were catching good numbers of keeper bluegills. The bite has become lighter this week, but fish are still being caught. There is a good amount of habitat in this small lake, keep moving to find active fish.

Rock Creek Lake
Bluegill - Good: Both bluegill and crappie are being caught in good numbers fishing with wax worms in 8 to 12 feet of water. Morning and late afternoon have been the best times.

Big Creek Lake
Bluegill - Good: Anglers are still catching fish in Lost Lake, but it is not an any time of day bite. The best time seems to be early morning and late afternoon. The sunken brush piles in the lower half of the lake are also producing some gills. Waxies are the preferred bait. Crappie - Slow: Crappie fishing remains fairly slow. The fish that are being caught are coming from the roadbed and the 30 to 35 feet deep creek channel running between the east ramp and Ensign shelter. Almost all crappies are caught after sunset. Use glowing tackle with wax worms, small live minnows, or just minnow heads. Walleye - Fair: Crappie anglers are picking up many walleyes with most being short. Check LEGAL sized walleye for tags near the tail. If one is caught, follow the instructions on the signs near the boat ramps to collect a cash reward.

Hickory Grove Lake
Bluegill - Good: Fishing is staying consistent. They are being caught over sunken habitat in depths of 10 feet or greater. There is plenty of good habitat to search for in the coves, out from many of the points, and southeast of the island. Crappie - Good: Crappie are being caught. For better success stay out the hour or two past sunset. They are coming off some of the same habitat as the bluegills. However, better crappie success is coming from more main lake habitat than back in the coves. Glow jigs with wax worms or minnows are working.

Lake Ahquabi
Bluegill - Fair: Anglers are picking up some 8-inch bluegill with wax worms. The most productive areas are the large sunken cedars in 16 to 20 feet out from the steep, west bank across from the beach area.

Ankeny Lake (DMACC)
Rainbow Trout - Good: Good catches of rainbow trout are being caught by tipping ice jigs or jigging spoons with a couple wax worms. Bluegill - Good: Decent sized bluegills are being pulled through the ice. Concentrate on the south central portion of the lake.

Ada Hayden Heritage Park Lake
Rainbow Trout - Good: Most of the rainbow trout stocked in November remain to be caught through the ice. They seem to be traveling in schools around the perimeter. Try staying in the 5 to 10 feet contour interval. They can be caught on most ice fishing jigs or jigging spoons tipped with wax worms. They are confined to the north pit.

Banner Lake (south)
Rainbow Trout - Good: Good numbers of rainbow trout are left to be caught through the ice. Anglers are catching them using normal ice fishing jigs or jigging spoons tipped with wax worms.

Ice fishing conditions are good. The temporary warm spell should not significantly impact ice conditions. Just use caution or avoid areas where melt runoff is coming in. For questions on central Iowa lakes and rivers contact Ben Dodd or Andy Otting at 515-432-2823.

Greenfield Lake
Greenfield Lake has a quality panfish fishery and is a popular ice fishing lake. There is still waterfowl activity around the dam. Bluegill - Fair: A few 7 to 8-inch bluegills are being caught in 20 feet of water using wax worms.

Lake Anita
Lake Anita was reported to have 9 inches of ice. Anita's bluegills have experienced good growth over the past year and are providing an excellent ice fishery. Bluegill - Fair: Bluegills are being caught on jigs tipped with wax worms in 18 to 20 feet of water. Fish your jig close to the bottom. Bluegills are averaging 8 inches with fish up to 9.5 inches being caught.

Willow Lake
Willow lake has 7 to 9 inches of good ice and extremely good water clarity. Bluegill - Good: Anglers are catching bluegills with wax worms in 20 feet of water. Bluegills are 7 to 8 inches.

Lake Manawa
Manawa has variable ice thickness due to waterfowl. Drill holes often as you venture out. Most of the ice fishing has taken place around Boy Scout Island and the new and old beach. Crappie - Fair: Crappies are being caught with minnows and wax worms. Most fish are 8 to 10 inches.

Cold Springs District Farm Ponds
Numerous farm ponds in southern Iowa provide a good opportunity for a quality ice fishing trip. Remember to always get permission before fishing private ponds. Bluegill - Good: Bluegills are being caught using tear drops tipped with wax worms. Crappie - Fair: Crappies are being caught using minnows on larger ponds that support crappie populations. Later in the afternoon has been the best time to target crappies.

Ice conditions are good with 7 to 9 inches on most water bodies in southwest Iowa. Be aware of waterfowl activity as some lakes still hold large numbers of geese. For information on fishing or ice conditions call the district office at 712-769-2587.

Lake Icaria
Some ice fishing is occurring in the mid-lake coves. Bluegills and crappies are the best possibilities.

Green Valley Lake
The lake level has been lowered 12 feet for completion of a sediment removal project. Completion is expected by mid-February. The lake has been restocked and the bluegills are big.

Three Mile Lake
Ice is thicker in the coves but the recent warm temperatures have put a lot of water on the ice. Use caution in all places.

Twelve Mile Creek Lake
Ice is thicker in the shaded coves. Some water is on the ice near-shore. The bluegills are the most popular.

Walnut Creek Marsh
The ice is usually 4 to 6 inches thick. The aeration system has the water opened up in the southwest corner.

Thursday's warm weather melted all the snow. The run-off has slightly raised some lake levels and put a lot of water on the ice near shore. Use caution when venturing out on the ice. Some areas may be too thin. Colder temperatures this weekend will re-freeze most areas.