Iowa Fishing Report 6-23-2011

Basshawk

Iowa Fishing Report Officer
Joined
Jun 16, 2010
Location
North Liberty, Iowa
#1
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
Nelson Park Lake
Anglers are catching catfish next to the cages.

Yellow Smoke Park Lake
Water clarity is excellent. Panfish have slowed, but bass fishing has picked up. Bluegill - Slow: The bluegill fishing has been slow, but the ones that are caught are big. Try using a small piece of night crawler around the brush piles. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Sub legal bass are being caught close to shore. Try a slow sinking rubber worm for bass. Minimum legal length for bass is 15 inches.

Crawford Creek Impoundment
Channel catfish are being caught from boats and from the east shore using chicken livers. Bluegill and crappie are biting on the west side of the dam and along the northwest shore on pieces of night crawler. Some reports of anglers catching bass.

Brushy Creek Lake
Water clarity is reduced as algae is coming on. Fishing for bluegill, bass, and crappie is good and some nice walleyes have been caught. Water temperature is in the low 70s.

Bacon Creek Lake
Crappie fishing is good with some bass and a few trout being caught.

Storm Lake (including Little Storm Lake)
Anglers are allowed three walleye per day, all fish between 17 and 22 inches must be released; only one of the three fish can be over 22 inches. Boaters should use caution on Storm Lake. The hydraulic dredge is in operation in the east basin of the lake. There is a pipeline running from the dredge to the shoreline and may rise to the surface at times. Water temperature is in the high 60s. Channel Catfish - Good: Channel catfishing is good from shore and boat. Use the usual baits like stink bait, shrimp, cut bait, and minnows. Walleye - Fair: Boat anglers have been doing the best for walleye. Most anglers are drifting or trolling bottom bouncers with a crawler harness or a leech around the dredge cuts. The Mustad Slow Death hooks have been very popular with anglers. Trolling small shad colored crankbaits has been working well.

Black Hawk Lake
Water clarity is around two feet. Anglers are allowed three walleye per day and all fish must be at least 15 inches. Bullhead - Good: A lot of nice sized bullhead are being caught. Try fishing Ice House Point with a slip bobber and a piece of night crawler. Channel Catfish - Good: A lot of nice catfish are still being caught. Anglers can expect to pick up a few catfish while walleye fishing with leeches. Live minnows under a slip bobber have been catching some large channel cats. Gizzard shad guts have been catching a lot of 2 to 3 pound catfish. Walleye - Slow: Cast crankbaits around points and rocky areas.

Browns Lake
Brown's Lake is closed to boat traffic. Campground is still open and fishing from shore is allowed.

Snyder Bend Lake
Snyder Bend is closed to boat traffic.

Black Hawk District Farm Ponds
Bluegill, crappie, and bass are hitting on very small white grubs with a swirl tail. Bass are also hitting on top-water poppers and frogs. When fishing bass, use heavy enough line to so you can pull through the vegetation if you get caught up.

Water temperature is in the mid 70s at most of the lakes. For more information on lakes and rivers in this area contact Ben Wallace or Don Herrig at the Black Hawk District Office in Lake View at 712-657-2638.

Beeds Lake
Channel catfish have been biting on cut bait. Bluegill are still being caught using a jig and crawler casting from shore or the jetties. Largemouth bass are being caught on a variety of spinner baits.

Eldred Sherwood Lake
Some largemouth bass are being caught on spinner baits or plastic worms. Anglers are still catching panfish around the spawning beds on a crawler fished under a bobber. Be aware that this lake contains brittle naiad. Please clean, drain, and dry your boat and equipment before going to another water body.

Lower Pine Lake
Bluegill are still being caught near shore using a jig and crawler or wax worms. For largemouth bass, fish near the downed trees along the shoreline with a variety of plastic baits or spinners.

Upper Pine Lake
Bluegill are still being caught from shore using a jig and crawler or wax worms. For largemouth bass, fish near the downed trees along the shoreline with a variety of plastic baits.

Lake Smith
Largemouth bass are biting on a variety of spinners and plastic baits. Channel catfish have been biting on chicken liver and stink bait. Bluegill are on beds and anglers are catching them with jigs and crawlers.

Lake Catherine
Anglers are catching bluegill on a small jig with a crawler. Largemouth bass are being caught on plastic worms or spinner baits.

Clear Lake
Anglers are still having some success fishing in the early morning for walleye jigging on the rock piles with leeches or crawlers. Walleye are also being caught while trolling with crankbaits or spinners with crawlers. Yellow bass fishing has slowed but a few are still being caught with jig and minnows or crawlers. Channel catfish are being caught using stink bait or crawlers, especially in the evenings.

Lake Cornelia
Boat anglers are still catching walleye trolling with crankbaits or drifting with jig and minnows or crawlers. White bass are being caught on spinner baits. Channel catfish are biting on cut bait fished on the bottom.

Little Wall Lake
Anglers are catching crappie on jigs tipped with crawlers or small minnows. Largemouth bass are biting on spinner baits or plugs. Channel catfish are also being caught fished with cut bait.

Crystal Lake
The bluegill are biting on crawlers and minnows fishing from shore. Largemouth bass are really active and can provide a great opportunity for kids to catch a fish. Try using plastic bait, spinners, or just a jig and crawler fishing from shore.

Rice Lake
Bullheads are being caught from shore using crawlers, fish are averaging 12 inches.

Morse Lake
Bullhead fishing has been good from shore with crawlers fished on the bottom.

Bluebill Lake
Anglers have been catching yellow perch and bluegill along the weed edge with a jig and crawler fished off the bottom. A few channel catfish have also been caught this way. Largemouth bass are also being caught on jig and minnow or plastic worm.

Interstate Park Lake
Anglers are still catching bluegill on a jig with crawler or minnow casting from shore.

Kuennen's Pit W.A. (south)
Bluegill are being caught fishing from shore using small jigs with a crawler. Channel catfish can be caught using stink bait or chicken liver.

Iowa River (Iowa Falls to Marshalltown)
Anglers are catching walleye, smallmouth bass, and a few pike on the river from Iowa Falls to Eldora using a jig with crawler.

Remember that Clear Lake contains zebra mussels. Please clean, drain, and dry your boat and equipment before going to another water body. For more fishing information in north central Iowa contact the Clear Lake Fish and Wildlife station at 641-357-3517.

Lake Pahoja
Bluegill - Good: Anglers are catching bluegill on spawning beds in shallow water with small jigs tipped with a wax worm or plastic tail. Crappie - Fair: Crappies are starting to move to deeper water with the warm water.

Big Spirit Lake
Northern Pike - Good: Anglers casting into the bulrushes in Angler's Bay are catching good numbers of northern pike. Bluegill - Good: Try fishing along Jackson Point and Trickles Slough as fish are on their spawning beds. Smallmouth Bass - Good: Try casting live bait on Big Stoney and Cottonwood points. Some fish are being caught in the bulrushes also. Anglers are also catching a lot of smallmouth fishing with slip bobbers and a leech. Walleye - Good: Walleye fishing has been good to excellent in the past week. Try fishing early morning and late afternoon along rock points. During the day fish are being caught in 18-20 feet of water around the lake. Muskellunge - Fair: Anglers are reporting a few muskies being caught and many followers. A few northern pike have been caught while fishing for muskies.

East Okoboji Lake
Channel Catfish - Good: Now is the time to fish along shore with cut bait or night crawlers for channel catfish as they are protecting their nests. White Bass - Good: Anglers fishing near the Spirit Lake spillway are catching a few white bass. On warmer days, some fish are starting to feed in schools so watch for them breaking the water and use a minnow or imitation minnow to get them to bite. Walleye - Good: Anglers are catching walleye along the west shoreline by Parks Marina in the late afternoon.

Little Spirit Lake
Little Spirit has received little fishing pressure in the past week. Bullhead - Good: Anglers are reporting catches of large bullhead near the outlet of Little Spirit Lake. Yellow Perch - Fair: Some decent sized perch have been caught fishing at the outlet using a small jig with plastic tails. Freshwater Drum - Good: Drum have been caught while fishing for bullhead and perch

Silver Lake (****inson)
Bullhead - Good: Anglers are reporting catches of bullhead at inlet areas of the lake. Walleye - Slow: Walleye fishing has is slow with a few small fish being caught.

West Okoboji Lake
Northern Pike - Good: Try fishing weed lines in the bays. Bluegill - Good: Try fishing along docks in shallow bays with a small jig and piece of worm or wax worm. Walleye - Good: Dock fisherman and anglers fishing rocky points have had success this past week.

Five Island Lake
Bluegill - Good: Bluegill are being caught in the same areas as crappies. Largemouth Bass - Good: Try fishing along rock piles and tree falls along the shorelines. Crappie - Good: Try fishing with a small jig tipped with a twister along brush piles in deeper water.

Lost Island Lake
Crappie - Good: Try fishing by the bridge between the little lake and the main lake along the rocks. Walleye - Good: Anglers have reported good catches of walleye near the rock pile. Yellow Bass - Fair: Some fish are being caught by the bridge while fishing for crappie.

Little Sioux River (state line to Linn Grove)
With recent rainfalls, the river is going up quickly. Once the river stabilizes, try fishing backwater areas for channel catfish and walleye.

Fishing on area lakes has remained steady with all the rain in the past week. Area rivers are out of their banks and are very turbid so fishing is slow. Bluegill are now on their spawning beds on area lakes, so look for the beds and you should catch good numbers of bluegill. For more information, contact the Spirit Lake Hatchery at 712-336-1840.

NORTHEAST
Volga Lake
Fish moved off beds and are in deeper water. Bluegill - Fair: A few larger gills are being caught along with a lot of small ones. Largemouth Bass - Fair: A lot of small ones are being caught using a worm under a bobber. Crappie - Slow: Crappies are in deeper water. Key in on the brush piles.

Lake Hendricks
The main access to the park is now open. Bluegill - Fair: Bluegill have moved off beds and can be found in deeper water along weed edges. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Bass are post spawn and moving off beds, but there are still a few near shore.

Lake Meyer
Northern Pike - Slow: A few 20-24 inch northerns are being caught while fishing for other species. Channel Catfish - Fair: Catfish are starting to bite. Bluegill - Good: Try fishing along weed lines using a worm under a bobber. Lots of small ones are biting. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Largemouth are biting on soft plastics fished along weed edges. In evenings, try using top-water jigs. Crappie - Slow: Crappies are out in deeper water and can be caught using minnows.

Upper Iowa River (above Decorah)
Water levels have not come up a lot but clarity is poor. Smallmouth Bass - Slow: Walleye - Slow:

Upper Iowa River (below Decorah)
Water clarity has decreased due to recent rains. Smallmouth Bass - Slow: Anglers have been having luck using Rebel craws and Rapalas. Walleye - Slow: Walleye were being caught drifting crawlers.

Cedar River (above Nashua)
Water levels have really gone up and the water is muddy. Northern Pike - Slow: Channel Catfish - Slow: Cats are biting on a variety of baits, chicken livers, crawlers and chubs. Crawlers can be fished off the bottom or floated under a bobber. Smallmouth Bass - Slow: Anglers are having best luck around Charles City area using jigs tipped with minnow. Walleye - Slow:

Decorah District Streams
As of last weekend, most northeast Iowa streams were still running clear, though a number of them are now off-color due to recent heavy rains. #18 Blue Wing Olives have been the dominant hatch, but there are still a few March Browns, Large Sulphurs, Small Sulphurs and caddisflies on the water. Trout have been taken on #14 Foam Beetles. Larger trout are working the quieter water and glides near the banks and will take a March Brown pattern. For stocking information, call 563-927-5736.

Recent rains have really muddied up the rivers. Trout streams with better land management and water quality will clear faster. For more information, contact the Decorah Fish Hatchery at 563-382-8324.

Casey Lake (aka Hickory Hills Lake)
Channel catfish are biting very well off the jetties and west end of the lake. Largemouth bass and bluegill have been hitting good as well. There is an 18-inch minimum size limit on largemouth bass. Please check boat trailers for any presence of brittle naiad when leaving the boat ramp. Channel Catfish - Excellent: Stink baits have been very productive during early morning hours or late evening. Bluegill - Good: Try small jigs under a bobber or small worm on a hook fished over spawning beds. Largemouth Bass - Good: Crankbaits have been excellent for largemouth bass.

Big Woods Lake
Bluegill and crappie are being caught near the shallow water bays and off the jetties. Bluegill - Good: Try a small hook or small jig with a piece of nightcrawler fished under a bobber. Crappie - Fair: Try a crappie minnow under a bobber or casting colored tube jigs.

Brinker Lake
Bluegill and crappie are being caught near the shallow water bays. Bluegill - Fair: Try a small hook or small jig with a piece of nightcrawler fished under a bobber. Crappie - Fair: Try a crappie minnow under a bobber or casting colored tube jigs.

George Wyth Lake
Bluegill and crappie are being caught near the shallow water bay areas, off the jetties and the floating dock. Bluegill - Fair: Try a small hook or small jig with a piece of nightcrawler fished under a bobber. Crappie - Fair: Try a crappie minnow under a bobber or casting colored tube jigs.

Cedar River (Nashua to La Porte City)
River levels are currently rising. In Black Hawk and Bremer counties channel catfish angling has remained good. Some reports of occasional smallmouth bass and walleye being caught. Channel Catfish - Excellent: Most anything; cut baits, nightcrawlers, chicken livers fished on the bottom in most areas of the river has been productive. Smallmouth Bass - Fair: Jigs tipped with a twister and nightcrawler slowly retrieved off of the bottom works well. Walleye - Fair: Crankbaits or jig and crawler is good this time of year.

Shell Rock River (Greene to Shell Rock)
Channel catfish are biting well with an occasional walleye and smallmouth bass being reported. Channel Catfish - Good: Dead cut baits or nightcrawlers fished on the bottom in most areas of the river has been productive. Smallmouth Bass - Fair: Jigs tipped with a twister and nightcrawler slowly retrieved off of the bottom works well. Walleye - Fair: Jig and twister tipped with a crawler or casting crankbaits work very well this time of year.

Wapsipinicon River (Tripoli to Troy Mills)
The Wapsi is on the rise in Buchanan County. Channel catfish are an anglers best bet with current conditions. Channel Catfish - Good: Nightcrawlers or dead cut baits fished on the bottom has been good. Smallmouth Bass - Fair: Jig tipped with a nightcrawler or crankbaits are very productive for smallmouth bass this time of year. Walleye - Fair: Try a jig tipped with half a nightcrawler or casting crankbaits.

Maquoketa River (above Monticello)
The Maquoketa River is currently falling and beginning to clear up. Catfish would be an anglers best bet with the current conditions. Channel Catfish - Fair: Try nightcrawlers, dead cut baits or stink baits fished on the bottom.

Manchester District Streams
Trout streams remain in good condition but evening rains are being forecast. Call the Manchester District Office for stream conditions or any additional information at 563-927-3276.

Interior rivers are currently on the rise or holding steady. Channel catfish have been biting fairly well on most of the interior rivers. Anglers are still catching some crappie and bluegill on area Black Hawk and Bremer County lakes. Trout streams in the Manchester District are in good condition. For any additional information contact the Manchester District Office at 563-927-3276.

MISSISSIPPI RIVER

Mississippi River Pool 9
River level at Lansing is 9.7 feet and expected to rise two feet next week. Village Creek and Heytman's ramps should remain open but Army Road ramp at New Albin will probably close again due to rising water levels. Channel Catfish - Good: Channel cats are still spawning and are biting on bait floated along rocky areas with current. Rising water levels can be good for catfish. Bluegill - Slow: Seems like the bite for bluegills has slowed some and they may get to be hard to find again when river rises. Smallmouth Bass - Good: Fish along exposed rock shorelines with current. Small spinners and jigs are working well for concentrated fish. Largemouth Bass - Good: Lots of small largemouths are being caught although turbidity is starting to be an issue. Some aquatic vegetation has started sprouting to the surface and some anglers are pitching ring worms and other plastics into the vegetation. Yellow Perch - Fair: Really good numbers of yellow perch are in the river this year and usually being caught by those fishing for drum and bluegills. Walleye - Fair: A few walleye being caught near wing dams and the bottoms of running sloughs. Very few limits are reported but a few nice fish are still being caught mostly using three-way rigs on the wing dams. Freshwater Drum - Excellent: Drum are biting well using an egg sinker and worms near shoreline areas.

Mississippi River Pool 10
River levels are still high at Lynxville at 18.8 feet and expected rise over next week. Boat ramps at Harpers Ferry, McGregor, Marquette, Bussey Lake and Noble's Island are open. Sny Magill may be open but expect mud and debris on ramp due to recent flooding and this ramp may need to close again due the rising water level. Channel Catfish - Good: Small channel catfish are being reported in the Lynxville tail water and some larger fish are being taken above the dam at Guttenberg. White Bass - No Report: This is usually the time of year that white bass start to really bite. Some white bass can be seen working the minnows to the surface but very few were reported being caught. Bluegill - Fair: Bluegills are being taken in the tail water but in places outside the heavy current areas. Some of bluegills previously reported in Bussey Lake that bite seemed to have slowed. Smallmouth Bass - Good: Fish along exposed rock shoreline with current. Try getting out over the weekend before water rises too much and water gets turbid. Largemouth Bass - Good: Bass fishing was going well especially around Harpers Ferry but murky water will hamper the bite. Yellow Perch - Fair: Some nice perch have been caught in the Harpers Ferry area. They are a pleasant surprise as they often are caught by bluegill or drum anglers. Walleye - Fair: A few walleyes being caught near wing dams and bottoms of running sloughs. Some eyes are also coming out of Harpers Slough by folks using worm rigs. Freshwater Drum - Excellent: Drum are being taken all over the river, with most anglers using an egg sinker and nightcrawlers for bait.

Mississippi River Pool 11
River level at Guttenberg is 10.2 feet and will rise two feet during the week. The Guttenberg city ramp is open. The DNR ramp is open but parking is limited so boaters may have to park on nearby side streets. Please use the city ramp if at all possible. Downstream, the Turkey River ramp is very muddy and may need to be closed again due to rising water levels. Channel Catfish - Good: Channel cats are spawning along rocky shorelines; float your bait along these rocks to trigger a bite. Bluegill - Fair: Pockets of nice bluegills were being found in the tail waters but that bite has waned a bit. Most anglers using worms for bait. Smallmouth Bass - Fair: Fish exposed rock shoreline with current. Largemouth Bass - Good: Bass are hitting pretty well in the upper part of the pool along shorelines. They tend to be on the small side and remember they need to be 14 inches to keep. Walleye - Fair: A few walleye being caught near wing dams and the bottoms of running sloughs. They tend to be just under the legal size of 15 inches. Freshwater Drum - Excellent: Drum are biting well on worm fished on the bottom. Drum are one of the fish that continue to bite well in rising and muddy waters.

River levels on the Upper Mississippi remain high and unfortunately the water will rise a couple feet this week. This will re-flood many acres that have recently dried up and may cause the water to quickly get murky. Water temperature is around 70 degrees. Please remember to drain all your live wells and remove all plant material from your boat when leaving the Mississippi River. Do not be the person who introduces zebra mussels or water milfoil into your local favorite lake or river.

Mississippi River Pool 12
River stage at Dubuque is 11.71 feet and is forecast to rise to 14.6 feet by this time next week. Water clarity is fair and water temperature is in the mid 70s. Be aware that the Mississippi River is infested with zebra mussels, Eurasian watermilfoil, curly-leaf pondweed, and brittle naiad. Please clean, drain, and dry your boat and equipment before transporting to another water body. Channel Catfish - Good: Cats are biting on cut bait around snags in the side channels. As the water was warmed, stink baits have also been producing. Bluegill - Fair: Bluegill are biting on small jigs and crawlers in the backwaters in shallow water. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Bass are being caught in the backwaters and marinas around structure on soft plastics and crankbaits. Crappie - Fair: Anglers are catching a few crappies on minnows or jigs in the backwaters in shallow water. Walleye - Fair: A few walleye are being caught on the sand flat at steamboat on leeches and crawlers. Freshwater Drum - Good: Drum are biting on crawlers fished on the bottom around wing dams and in side channels in areas of moderate current.

Mississippi River Pool 13
River stage at Bellevue is 10.64 feet and is forecast to rise to 12.6 feet by this time next week. Water clarity is fair. Water temperature is in the mid 70s. Be aware that the Mississippi River is infested with zebra mussels, Eurasian watermilfoil, curly-leaf pondweed, and brittle naiad. Please clean, drain, and dry your boat and equipment before transporting to another water body. Channel Catfish - Good: Catfish biting on cut baits, crawlers, and stink bait in the side channels around structure. Bluegill - Fair: Anglers are catching bluegill in the backwaters on crawlers or small jigs under a bobber. Largemouth Bass - Fair: The bass bite has been good in Spring Lake and Browns Lake. Crappie - Fair: Anglers are catching a few crappies in backwater lakes on minnows and small jigs under a bobber. Walleye - Fair: Walleye are starting to bite on the wing dams. Three way rigs and crankbaits are producing. Freshwater Drum - Good: Drum are biting good on crawlers fished on the bottom.

Mississippi River Pool 14
River stage at Camanche is 12.72 feet and is forecast to rise to 14.2 feet by this time next week. Water clarity is fair but has diminished with recent rains. Water temperature is in the mid 70s. Be aware that the Mississippi River is infested with zebra mussels, Eurasian watermilfoil, curly-leaf pondweed, and brittle naiad. Please clean, drain, and dry your boat and equipment before transporting to another water body. Channel Catfish - Good: Channel cats are biting along rip rap shorelines on leeches drifted under bobbers. Walleye - Fair: Walleye are biting in the tail waters and on the wing dams or along mussel beds and rocky shorelines on three-way rigs, crankbaits, and jigs.

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
Tail water stage at Lock and Dam 15 is 10.06 feet and is forecast to rise over the weekend. Water clarity is poor due to recent rains. Channel Catfish - Good: Channel catfish are being caught on nightcrawlers and stink bait. Try fishing above snag piles along the main channel or side sloughs. White Bass - Slow: White bass fishing in Sylvan Slough has been slow. Bluegill - Fair: Some bluegills are being caught fishing in the backwaters of the Andalusia Islands. Crappie - Fair: Some crappies are being caught fishing the backwaters and sloughs around the Andalusia Islands. Walleye - Fair: Some walleyes are being caught trolling crankbaits from the mouth of the Rock River up to Sunset Marina.

Mississippi River Pool 17
Tail water stage at Lock and Dam 16 is 9.33 feet and is forecast to rise over the weekend. We have received no fishing information for this pool this week. Channel Catfish - No Report: White Bass - No Report: Bluegill - No Report: Crappie - No Report: Walleye - No Report:

Mississippi River Pool 18
Tail water stage at Lock and Dam 17 is 11.81 feet. Many of the boat ramps are still closed due to high water. Toolesboro Access is still closed. We have received no fishing information for this pool this week. Channel Catfish - No Report: Bluegill - No Report: Crappie - No Report: Walleye - No Report:

Mississippi River Pool 19
River stage for Pool 19 has fallen below flood stage. Tail water stage at Lock and Dam 18 is 8.98 feet. Flood stage is 10 feet. Fishing has been tough due to the high water conditions and water clarity is poor. Channel Catfish - Good: Channel catfish are being caught on nightcrawlers, stink baits, and chicken livers. Bluegill - No Report: Crappie - No Report: Walleye - No Report:

Pools 16-19: Some boat ramps are still closed due to high water. Main channel water temperature is around 75 degrees and water clarity is poor. There is some debris floating in the river so boaters should use caution. For more fishing information on Pools 16-19 contact the Fairport Fish Hatchery at 563-263-5062.

SOUTHEAST
Lake Odessa
All the ramps remain underwater and the Toolesboro road also remains closed. They have been able to open the outlet to let water out now.

Lake Geode
Geode had four inches of rain last week so the lake, while now clearing up, is still pretty dirty. Bluegill - Good: Bluegill fishing before the lake got muddy again, anglers were catching some nice bluegills.

Lake of the Hills
Channel Catfish - Good: Some nice catfish are being caught on chicken liver. Bluegill - Good: Bluegills are coming in shallow with a few starting to build nests. The bigger fish are coming in now. Largemouth Bass - Good: Look for the bass to be nesting around the stump fields and around the sunken logs. Top-water lures are doing well early and late. Fish deeper with plastic worms along the drop-offs during mid-day.

Railroad Lake
Channel Catfish - Excellent: Catfishing is very good. With the rains, target the area around the pipe where Bluegrass enters the lake. Bluegill - Excellent: They are in shallow everywhere and are biting.

Skunk River (Rose Hill to Coppock)
Flooded

Iowa River (Columbus Junction to Mississippi River)
The Iowa at Wapello is forecast to be around or above flood stage for the next several days.

Big Hollow Lake
Because of massive amounts of rain the lake is very muddy and about two feet above normal pool. Very little fishing activity now. Before the rains, fishing had been excellent.

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

Iowa Lake
A good number of large redear sunfish were seen during the fish survey on June 16. Most fish were 5-10 feet off the bank on flats in preparation to spawn. Channel Catfish - Fair: Catfish are moving to the banks to spawn. Fish around rock or wood. Bluegill - Fair: Some fish are still shallow and some have moved out off the bank. Anglers have been catching them out to 12 feet of water.

Kent Park Lake
Channel Catfish - Good: Try crawlers or stink bait for best results. After a rain event or towards evening have been the most productive times. Bluegill - Fair: Try a small jig or worm along the dam or brush piles.

Lake Macbride
The 10 hp maximum motor restriction is in effect. The water has become murky with the rain and warmer temperature. Channel Catfish - Fair: Look for spawning fish in the shallows, especially around rock. Try sunfish or crawlers for best results. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Mornings have been best. Try a variety of lures around shallow rock or wood. Some fish have been caught on deeper rock/points using crankbaits.

Central Park Lake
Channel Catfish - Fair: Catfishing has started picking up. Try stink bait or crawlers for best results. Bluegill - Fair: Bluegills are biting best just before dark, but fishing has slowed recently. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Bass fishing has been hit and miss. Target structure and the dam with jigs or crankbaits.

Pleasant Creek Lake
Remember, there is an 18-inch minimum on largemouth bass here. Channel Catfish - Good: Try fishing along the dam or other rocky areas with stink bait, liver, or crawlers. White Bass - Fair: Try jigs, spinners, or small crankbaits. Many fish have been small, but nice sized fish are available. Walleye - Good: Most fish have been small but they are being caught on live bait rigs and crankbaits in about 15 feet of water.

Diamond Lake
The city treated the lake for algae so the water should start clearing up a bit. Remember, no minnows are allowed here. Channel Catfish - Good: Use stink bait or crawlers for best results. Evening tends to be the most productive time. Bluegill - Fair: Fish around brush with a small jig or worm. Crappie - Fair: Fish around deeper brush or open water with a jig. Most fish are around 8 inches.

Otter Creek Lake
Channel Catfish - Good: Lots of catfish have moved in shallow to spawn try crawlers or stink bait for best results. Bluegill - Fair: Nice sized bluegills can be found around shallow wood and overhanging trees. Yellow Bass - Good: Most fish are being caught away from the bank now. Windblown banks will have fish in a bit shallower. Try small jigs or spinners.

Union Grove Lake
Channel Catfish - Good: Stink bait and livers have been producing well. Bluegill - Good: Fish around brush with a small jig or worm. Largemouth Bass - Good: Fish around lay-downs with spinner baits, crankbaits, or plastics. Top waters have been effective early and late in the day. Crappie - Fair: Most catches have come from boats drifting in open water.

Coralville Reservoir
The current lake elevation is 692.6 feet and is predicted to remain at this level for a few days, and then begin to drop. This could be affected by any heavy rain events. Channel Catfish - Fair: A few fish are still being caught along the rocks on live bait. Some fish are also being caught a bit deeper on cut bait. White Bass - Fair: Anglers are picking up a few white bass using jigs along the rocks as well.

Iowa River (Coralville Lake to River Junction)
Flows coming out of the Coralville Reservoir are at 6,000 cubic feet per second and will remain at this output for the foreseeable future. Channel Catfish - Good: Flathead Catfish - Fair: White Bass - Fair: Walleye - Fair:

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

Red Haw Lake
Channel Catfish - Fair: The catfish are spawning so use dead chubs fished around the rock jetties. Bluegill - Fair: Use small jigs fished along shoreline structure and around submerged structure in 6-10 feet of water. Try adding a chunk of nightcrawler if the fish are finicky. Largemouth Bass - Good: Use spinner baits or crankbaits along the shoreline structure.

Hawthorn Lake (aka Barnes City Lake)
The lake was drained for a lake renovation last year but work is now complete. New fish habitat areas have been built along with some new jetties. The gate has been closed and the lake is now about 3/4 full. The boat ramps are still not usable.

Albia (lower)
Bluegill - Fair: Use small jigs tipped with a chunk of nightcrawler. Largemouth Bass - Good: Try spinner baits or plastic worms fished along shoreline structure.

Lake Miami
Channel Catfish - Fair: Anglers have been having some success in the evenings using cut bait or dead chubs. Try areas along the dam or other areas with rocks.

Lake Sugema
Bluegill - Fair: Use small jigs around shoreline structure. Some sorting will be necessary for larger fish. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Use a jig n' pig combo or try spinner baits. Fish areas with submerged structure.

Rathbun Reservoir
The lake level is at 912.35 feet with 904.0 feet being normal pool. Water temperature has been in the mid 70s. Don't forget Lake Rathbun contains zebra mussels so make sure to clean, drain, and dry boats before transporting to another water body. Spray boats and trailers with high pressure hot water (above 104 degrees F) or let them dry for at least 10 days (5 days in sun). Channel Catfish - Fair: Use dead chubs around areas with large rocks such as Bridgeview or along the dam. Crappie - Fair: Use small jigs or minnows. Start in 6-8 feet of water and then move shallow. Areas along the shore with overhanging trees or vegetation are good places to start. Walleye - Fair: Anglers have been catching walleyes on underwater islands pulling nightcrawler rigs. Another option would be baits that mimic small shad like chrome colored crankbaits or blade baits. Tagged walleyes should be reported at 641-647-2406.

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

SOUTHWEST
Beaver Lake
Bluegill - Good: Bluegill are still being caught shallow. Some good size bluegill are also being caught on crawlers or small tube jigs near the flooded trees in the upper end of the lake.

Rock Creek Lake
Crappie - Fair: Crappie are being caught drifting minnows or small tube jigs. Some white crappie are still being caught on the rocks on the dam face.

Big Creek Lake
Bluegill - Excellent: The bluegill spawn is nearing the end. Bluegill are still being caught on shallow shorelines throughout the lake, especially in the East and West arms at the upper end. Big Creek currently has some excellent bluegill with many fish from 8 to 10 inches. Crappie - Fair: Crappie have moved off into deeper water. They are being caught suspended by drifting, especially over the roadbeds, and on the sunken brush piles. Walleye - Fair: Occasional walleye over 15 inches are being with live bait setups. Almost all are being caught on the upper half of the lake.

Hickory Grove Lake
Bluegill - Excellent: The bluegill spawn at Hickory Grove is wrapping up. Some bluegill can still be caught on beds shallow, but the better fishing is moving to the pallet and brush piles in 8 to 12 feet of water. The bluegill are good size with some going over 9 inches. Crappie - Fair: Some crappie are being caught on the pallet and brush piles in 8 to 12 feet of water, and also by drifting small jigs mid lake.

Lake Ahquabi
Bluegill - Good: Decent bluegill and large redear sunfish are being caught with crawlers fished in any open pockets of vegetation.

Red Rock Reservoir
White Bass - Fair: White bass are being caught by trolling lipless crankbaits and spoons.

Des Moines River (Stratford to Saylorville Lake)
Channel Catfish - Excellent: High water levels have catfish active and feeding. Best baits will be large nightcrawlers or cut bait. Flathead Catfish - Good: Anglers bank poling for flatheads are doing well. Good numbers of large flathead move from Saylorville up river to spawn now into July. White Bass - Good: Anglers continue to catch good numbers of white bass and an occasional wiper below the Saylorville Reservoir.

Des Moines River (Saylorville to Red Rock)
White Bass - Fair: The white bass bite is fair below the Red Rock spillway casting jigs or drifting minnows under a bobber. Walleye - Good: Anglers trolling or casting crankbaits below the Red Rock spillway are catching some decent size and numbers of walleye.

Fishing remains similar to last week. Some bluegill can still be caught shallow spawning, but most have moved off beds and are now being caught suspended or near structure in 6 to 10 feet of water. Rivers are running even higher, but some excellent catfishing for both channel and flathead catfish is occurring. Use extra caution in the higher flows and faster currents. For information on central Iowa lakes and rivers contact Ben Dodd or Andy Otting at 515-432-2823.