Iowa Fishing Report 9-1-2011

Basshawk

Iowa Fishing Report Officer
Joined
Jun 16, 2010
Location
North Liberty, Iowa
#1
For immediate release: September 1, 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
Nelson Park Lake
Nelson Park has the invasive plant brittle naiad. Be sure to clean boat and trailer before you leave lake to avoid spreading this species to other water bodies. Fishing has been slow for all species.

Yellow Smoke Park Lake
Yellow Smoke has the invasive plant brittle naiad. Be sure to clean boat and trailer before you leave lake to avoid spreading this species to other water bodies. Water clarity is excellent.

Crawford Creek Impoundment
Crawford Creek has the invasive plant brittle naiad. Be sure to clean boat and trailer before you leave lake to avoid spreading this species to other water bodies. Channel Catfish - Excellent: Anglers are having good success with catfish. Turkey liver, Sonny's stink and blood bait.

Brushy Creek Lake
Fishing is decent right now. Bluegill - Fair: Some limits of bluegill are being caught in 14 feet of water around the submerged trees. Largemouth Bass - Good: Largemouth bass fishing has been very good. Crappie - Good: Try using minnows around the submerged trees. Walleye - Fair: Some walleye are being caught in 15 to 20 feet of water during midday. Anglers last weekend reported catching walleyes on spinners in 6 to 8 feet of water.

Storm Lake (including Little Storm Lake)
Boaters use caution. The hydraulic dredge is in operation at Storm Lake. Stay clear of dredge barge, booster pump barge, and pipeline. 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. Not a lot of anglers have been fishing Storm Lake lately.

North Twin Lake
Anglers are still catching a lot of yellow bass.

Swan Lake
Fishing has been slow. Some boat anglers have been catching crappie.

Black Hawk Lake
Anglers are allowed three walleye per day and all fish must be at least 15 inches. Fishing remains the same. Channel Catfish - Fair: Channel catfish have moved off shore and are lying along the dredge cuts in about 8 feet of water. Fish the deep edge of the drop-offs and use crawdads, cut bait, or gizzard shad guts.

Browns Lake
Browns Lake is open to boat traffic. Anglers are still catching channel catfish ranging 2 to 4 pounds each.

Snyder Bend Lake
Snyder Bend is still closed. It will likely remain closed until it loses connectivity to the Missouri River.

Great Western Park Lake
Great Western Park has the invasive plant brittle naiad. Be sure to clean boat and trailer before you leave lake to avoid spreading this species to other water bodies.

Southwood Conservation Area Pond (east)
Panfishing has been good with anglers catching nice sized bluegill and crappie. Anglers have been targeting deeper water and submerged structure. Some catfish are being caught on prepared baits and chicken liver.

Little Sioux River (Linn Grove to Correctionville)
Fishing has picked up. There have been many reports of anglers catching walleye below the Linn Grove Dam. Catfishing is excellent throughout the nonchannelized portion of the Little Sioux. Try fishing the outside bends in the deep holes to catch catfish, walleye, and the occasional drum. A split shot above a #6 circle hook baited with half a night crawler will catch most species.

North Raccoon River (above State Highway 175 Bridge near Auburn)
Anglers targeting walleye at the rock riffles on the public areas from Sac City south to Auburn have had some success with walleye. Try casting a Mepps spinner below the rock riffles.

Black Hawk District Farm Ponds
Bluegill and largemouth bass are still biting, but acting skittish. Try a rubber purple worm with white spots for largemouth and a small jig tipped with a piece of crawler for bluegill. Perch are hitting fast on Shucks jigger minnow set-up. Bullfrogs are aggressively biting on small flies drug across the surface of the water and vegetation.

Anglers are doing well for catfish in the Maple River, especially around the Halfway Bridge. Blood bait has been working well for the catfish. 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.

Eldred Sherwood Lake
Please be aware that this lake contains an invasive plant called brittle naiad. Please clean, drain, and dry your boat and equipment before going to another water body.

Clear Lake
Yellow bass are continuing to bite but anglers must keep moving to find fish. Lately anglers have been catching fish north of the island, on any of the rocky reefs, and in the dredged areas in the Little Lake anywhere from 5 to 13 feet. Walleye fishing is fair and most fish are caught using the same methods for yellow bass when out in a boat. A few walleye are being caught in the evenings from some of the docks, especially lighted docks using jigs with crawler.

Lake Cornelia
Anglers and homeowners have reported catching walleye in the evenings from shore using jigs with twisters or live bait.

Crystal Lake
Anglers have had good success catching many different species this past week. Largemouth bass 12 to 14 inches have been caught on plastics. Bluegills have also been biting with fish in a range of sizes with some being acceptable for cleaning. Walleye 15 to 18 inches and northern pike around 25 to 30 inches have also been caught on jigs with twisters or live bait. Sizes of fish in Crystal Lake are looking great after only 3 years since renovation.

Rice Lake
As the fall approaches typically the yellow perch on Rice move in towards shore and anglers can enjoy some decent catches of perch with a few walleye or crappie mixed in. Use jigs with small minnows or a piece of crawler.

Remember to clean, drain, and dry your boat and equipment to stop the spread of invasive species. For more fishing information in the north central area contact the Clear Lake Fish and Wildlife office at 641-357-3517.

Lake Pahoja
Bluegill - Good: Many bluegills have been reported in the last week. Try fishing with a small piece of night crawler under a bobber along weed lines and trees.

Dog Creek (Lake)
Bullhead - Good: Anglers have reported many large bullheads being caught in the past week on night crawler under a bobber.

Big Spirit Lake
There has been little fishing pressure in the past week. White Bass - Good: Bass fisherman have reported good catches of white bass. Bluegill - Good: Anglers are catching bluegill on the edge of weed lines with slip bobbers and a piece of worm. Some fish are being caught along the rocks at the grade on sunny days. Smallmouth Bass - Good: Anglers are still catching smallmouth while casting in the bulrushes and above the submerged vegetation. Largemouth Bass - Good: Many largemouth bass have been reported while using the same tactics as fishing for smallmouth. Yellow Perch - Fair: Anglers are reporting a limited number of yellow perch being caught. Action will improve in the coming weeks. Walleye - Fair: Walleye fishing has slowed down with no limits reported. Fishing is best along the weed beds and Stoney Point with leeches and crawlers during early morning hours for best action.

East Okoboji Lake
There has been little fishing pressure in the past week, especially at the spillway. Channel Catfish - Good: Try fishing along the spillway or along tree falls with cut bait or other smelly bait. White Bass - Good: Try fishing the spillway or along the edge of weed beds for best action with a minnow or piece of cut bait. Walleye - Good: Walleye have been reported along rocky points and wader fisherman at the spillway early in the morning and before sunset. Yellow Bass - Good: Yellow bass are being caught while fishing for white bass.

Little Spirit Lake
Bullhead - Good: Try fishing on the bottom with a night crawler near the outlet.

Silver Lake (****inson)
Channel Catfish - Good: Try fishing toward evening hours with a dead chub or stink bait. White Bass - Good: Watch for schooling fish chasing minnows and fish with minnow or minnow-like baits. Walleye - Fair: Wader fishing activity at night will continue to improve as water temperature drops.

West Okoboji Lake
Northern Pike - Good: Pike have been reported using the same tactics as fishing for largemouth bass. Bluegill - Good: For the best action fish docks and weed lines associated with deep water vertically jigging with a small piece of night crawler or small crawdad. Smallmouth Bass - Good: Smallmouth bass are being picked up using crankbaits along the weed lines. Largemouth Bass - Good: Fishing is good along deep weed lines associated with inside turns using traditional baits. Yellow Perch - Good: Some yellow perch are being picked up while fishing for bluegill

Lost Island Lake
Try fishing under the bridge for a mixed batch of species. Many fish have been sitting in the current under the bridge in the past week. Walleye - Fair: Walleye are still being caught near the rock point and rock pile. They are feeding on young yellow bass so try to mimic their forage.

Big Sioux River
Channel Catfish - Good: As water levels drop, fishing will continue to pick up for channel cats.

Little Sioux River (state line to Linn Grove)
Channel Catfish - Good: Channel catfish have been biting on night crawlers and chicken livers as the river has been going down.

For information on fishing in northwest Iowa, call the Spirit Lake hatchery at 712-336-1840.

NORTHEAST
Casey Lake (aka Hickory Hills Lake)
Largemouth bass and bluegill are both biting well fishing from the shoreline. Bluegill - Good: A piece of worm or wax worm on a small hook fished two feet under a small bobber has been good from the shore. Largemouth Bass - Good: Crawler under a bobber has been great for kids wanting to catch a fish. Crankbaits and plastics have been working well also fished from the shore.

Cedar River (Nashua to La Porte City)
Reports are that smallmouth bass and channel catfish have been biting well. Channel Catfish - Good: Cut baits and stink baits have been the bait of choice by most anglers. Smallmouth Bass - Good: Top water baits and spinner baits have been producing smallmouth bass especially during the early morning and late evening hours.

Shell Rock River (Greene to Shell Rock)
Reports are that smallmouth bass and channel catfish have been biting well. Channel Catfish - Good: Cut baits and stink baits have been the bait of choice by most anglers. Smallmouth Bass - Good: Top water baits and spinner baits have been producing smallmouth bass especially during the early morning and late evening hours.

Maquoketa River (above Monticello)
The river bumped up slightly in Delaware Co. from recent rains but should be good for the holiday weekend. Concentrate efforts for smallmouth bass and walleye above Delhi. Smallmouth Bass - Fair: Crankbaits have been working the best. Walleye - Fair: Crankbaits seem to be more productive than a jig and crawler during the tail end of August with the recent cooler temperatures.

Interior rivers are in good condition and should provide good angling opportunities over the Labor Day weekend. Smallmouth bass have been biting well on most of the interior rivers along with channel catfish and walleye. Largemouth bass fishing on area Black Hawk County lakes has been fair during early morning and late evening hours. Trout streams in the Manchester District are in excellent condition; call the Manchester District Office at 563-927-3276 for any additional information.

MISSISSIPPI RIVER
Mississippi River Pool 9
Great water clarity, fishing has been real good for a lot of species. Northern Pike - Good: Many pike with some being very large are being reported. Fish along the weed lines using large spinners or spoons. Channel Catfish - Excellent: Catfish are being caught in current area and near brush piles using chicken livers and stink bait. Bluegill - Excellent: Bluegills seem to be everywhere right now. Some report catching them on the wing dams, some are in the openings to backwater areas. Small jigs and plain old bobber fishing are being used extensively. Largemouth Bass - Excellent: Lots of 10 to 12-inch fish being caught, mostly on small spinners or jigs. Yellow Perch - Good: Perch are being caught by bluegill anglers, mostly as an incidental but in some cases anglers are catching a mess of perch. Walleye - Good: Fish reported being taken both off the wing dams and the openings to major sloughs. Many people using three-way rigs and small piece of crawler. Freshwater Drum - Excellent: Drum are being caught in large numbers in current areas by anglers using a sliding egg sinker and night crawlers.

Mississippi River Pool 10
Very clear water, lots of duckweed is growing in the backwater lakes. Northern Pike - Good: Some pike are being caught by mostly largemouth anglers along weedy shorelines. Channel Catfish - Excellent: Catfish are being caught in current area and near brush piles using chicken livers and stink bait. Bluegill - Excellent: Bluegills seem to be everywhere right now. Some report catching them on the wing dams, some are in the openings to backwater areas. Small jigs and plain old bobber fishing are being used extensively. Smallmouth Bass - Good: Smallies are biting along rock areas with current. Crank baits and spinners are working well. Fish tend to be on the small side but fun on ultra light rods. Largemouth Bass - Excellent: Numerous small largemouth bass are being reported in the tail waters, and throughout Harpers Slough. Walleye - Good: Some 14-inch type walleye are being taken off the wing dams now that water levels have stabilized. Freshwater Drum - Excellent: Drum are being caught in large numbers in current areas by anglers using a sliding egg sinker and night crawlers.

Mississippi River Pool 11
Water has cleared up in the past few weeks and angling is picking up nicely. Channel Catfish - Excellent: Catfish are being caught in current area and near brush piles using chicken livers and stink bait. Bluegill - Excellent: Bluegill and an occasional yellow perch are being caught in all habitats right now. Many of the larger bluegills appear to be on the wing dams, especially on the inside edge. Smallmouth Bass - Good: Some smallmouth bass are being taken off wing dams and rocky shorelines, mostly on small crank baits. Largemouth Bass - Excellent: Small bass are plentiful in the tail water and in the backwater sloughs such as Cassville Slough. Walleye - Fair: Some walleyes were being taken off the wing dams on three-way rigs but the bite seems to have slowed down. The walleye fishing is expected to be very good if water levels continue to be stable. Freshwater Drum - Excellent: Drum are being caught in large numbers in current areas by anglers using a sliding egg sinker and night crawlers. Put drum on ice after you catch them and they are very good eating.

Water temperature is around 75 degrees and water is generally clear. With fairly stable weather and water conditions fishing activity has begun to increase. Please take the time to clean boats of any aquatic vegetation as much vegetation is present at the boat ramps. Do not bring water milfoil and other invasive plant species back to your favorite fishing waters.

Mississippi River Pool 12
River stage in Dubuque is 9.1 feet is forecast to slowly drop to around 8.6 feet over the 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 - Fair: Channel catfish are being caught in the side channels and around wing dams on stink bait. Bluegill - Fair: Anglers are picking up bluegill in the backwaters and sloughs around snags. Crappie - Fair: Anglers are picking up crappie in the backwaters and sloughs around snags. Walleye - Fair: Walleye are biting on the wing dams. Three-way rigs, crankbaits, and jigs are producing. Freshwater Drum - Good: Drum are biting in areas of moderate current on crawlers or crayfish fished on the bottom.

Mississippi River Pool 13
River stage in Bellevue is 7 feet and is forecast to slowly drop to around 6.5 feet over the 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 - Fair: Catfish are being caught in the side channels and around wing dams on stink bait. Bluegill - Fair: Anglers are picking up bluegill in the side channels and backwaters around snags or other structure. Crappie - Fair: Anglers are picking up crappie in the side channels around snags or other structure. Walleye - Fair: Walleye are biting on the wing dams on three-way rigs, crankbaits, and jigs. Freshwater Drum - Fair: Drum are biting on crawlers fished on the bottom in areas of moderate to low current.

Mississippi River Pool 14
River stage at Lock and Dam 13 is 6.4 feet and is forecast to slowly drop to around 6 feet over the 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. Bluegill - Fair: Bluegill are being caught in the backwaters and sloughs around snags and other structure. Cattail Slough has been good in the last week. Crappie - Fair: Crappie are being caught in the backwaters and sloughs around snags and other structure. Cattail Slough has been good in the last week. Walleye - Fair: Walleye are biting on the wing dams 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 6.43 feet and falling. Channel Catfish - Good: Channel catfish are being caught on stink baits, shad guts, and shrimp fished around snag piles along the main channel or in side channels. Channel catfish are also being caught anchoring above wing dams. White Bass - Slow: White bass fishing has been slow in Sylvan Slough. Bluegill - Slow: Bluegill fishing has been slow in Sunset Marina and in the Andalusia Island complex. Many of the backwater areas in the Andalusia Island have been difficult to access. Crappie - Slow: Crappie fishing has been slow in Sunset Marina and in the Andalusia Island complex. Many of the backwater areas in the Andalusia Islands have been difficult to access with the lower water conditions. Sauger - Fair: Some saugers are being caught on three-way rigs with nightcrawlers on the upstream side of wing dams. Walleye - Fair: Some walleyes are being caught on the wing dams on jigs and plastics or on three-way rigs with half a crawler. Some walleyes are also being picked up trolling or casting crankbaits on the wing dams.

Mississippi River Pool 17
Tail water stage at Lock and Dam 16 is 5.14 feet and falling. Channel Catfish - Good: Channel catfish are being caught on stink baits and shad guts. Try fishing above snag piles along the main channel and side channels. Crappie - Fair: Crappies are being caught in Big Timber fishing around brush piles with minnows or jigs and soft plastics.

Mississippi River Pool 18
Tail water stage at Lock and Dam 17 is 5.93 feet and falling. Channel Catfish - Good: Channel catfish are being caught on stink baits and shad guts. Try fishing above snag piles along the main channel and side channels.

Mississippi River Pool 19
Tail water stage at Lock and Dam 18 is 3.00 feet and falling. Channel Catfish - Good: Channel catfish are being caught on cut shad, stink baits, and crawlers. Try fishing above snag piles along the main channel or side channels. Crappie - Fair: Some crappies are being caught in the backwaters. Try using jigs and minnows or small plastics around brush piles.

Pools 16-19: River level throughout the pools has been falling over the past week. Main channel water temperature is around 78 degrees and water clarity is fair. Remember to clean, drain, and dry your boat before going to another water body. For more fishing information on Pools 16-19 contact the Fairport Fish Hatchery at 563-263-5062.

SOUTHEAST
Lake Odessa
Wildlife has stopped the water levels and will maintain them at their present level. The inlet and outlet will be closed for a while as the FWS does some crossing work. The inlet and outlet will then be opened to allow water to flow through Odessa to keep oxygen levels up in the lake. Channel Catfish - Good: Catfishing is really picking up as the water recedes and brings more food into the deeper areas. Bluegill - Good: With a little work and knowledge of the lake anglers are catching some big bluegills. Work the deeper water of the Sand Run and Yankee Chute areas. Crappie - Good: There are some slab crappies being caught along the trees dropped into deeper water. Also try down in Burris ditch near the outlet. Slip bobbers and minnows are working well as are jigs tipped with minnows.

Lake Geode
Make sure to clean off your boat and trailer after fishing, Geode does have brittle naiad. Water temperature continues to cool into the mid 70s with the cool nights. Channel Catfish - Good: Catfishing remains good around the rocks along the dam face as well as the rip rap along the shore at the boat ramps. Chicken liver and stink baits remain the go to bait. Bluegill - Good: The bluegills are once again coming up around the weed beds in 4 to 6 feet of water. Work just over the tops and along the edges of the weed beds for some nice fish.

Lake Belva Deer
Fishing remains pretty steady. Channel Catfish - Excellent: Catfishing remained good during the evening hours. Chicken liver and cut bait are good things to try. Work the face of the dam as well as the area where the lake forks at the upper end of the lake. Bluegill - Excellent: Anglers are catching lots of bluegills off the underwater mounds at the upper end of the lake as well as the humps out in front of the beach. Largemouth Bass - Excellent: Bass fishing has also been very good along the rock shorelines and the cedar tree piles out in the lake in various places. Crappie - Excellent: Anglers are catching some nice crappies out in front of the beach. Slip bobbers and minnows are a good way to start.

Lake of the Hills
Channel Catfish - Good: Catfish in the 2 to 4 pound range are common. Liver and various stink baits are working the best. Nightcrawlers are also good bait to use as the water continues to cool. Bluegill - Good: The cooler weather has really made bluegills hungry; they are biting almost anywhere you can get the bait in the water. Largemouth Bass - Good: Work the shallow water around the sunken logs and stumps in the early morning and evening using top water. Fish the drop-offs during mid day with plastics.

Railroad Lake
Channel Catfish - Excellent: Fishing along the old creek channel with liver or stink baits should get you some nice eating size catfish. Bluegill - Good: Fish the north side around the stumps and logs or in the tree falls or by the recycling containers and you should catch some bluegills. Largemouth Bass - Good: Work the flooded timber and along the riprap late in the day or early in the morning.

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

Lake Macbride
Channel Catfish - Fair: Dip baits and crawlers have been producing some fish in the evenings. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Fish shallow structure early and late in the day for best results.

Diamond Lake
The lake is about two feet low and the water is very green with algae. Channel Catfish - Fair: Bluegill - Fair:

Otter Creek Lake
The fish cleaning station is no longer available due to storm damage. Channel Catfish - Fair: Evenings have been best. Bluegill - Fair: Most fish have been small. Yellow Bass - Good:

Coralville Reservoir
The water level on August 31 is 683.5 feet. Channel Catfish - Fair:

Iowa River (Marshalltown to Coralville Lake)
Channel Catfish - Good: Areas in Johnson County have been producing catfish on dip baits. Live bait has been producing well in deeper holes in Tama County. Water levels are low and boat access is limited. Flathead Catfish - Good: Live bait has also been producing flatheads in Tama County.

Iowa River (Coralville Lake to River Junction)
Outflow from the dam is 450 cubic feet per second (CFS) as of August 31. Flows will be cut to 300 CFS starting next week for repair on the stilling basin below the dam. Channel Catfish - Fair: Dip bait has been producing some fish. Walleye - Fair: A few fish are being caught below the dams in Iowa City.

Maquoketa (Hopkinton to Canton)
Reports are from the North Fork of the Maquoketa from Cascade to Dyersville. Channel Catfish - Good:

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

Red Haw Lake
Bluegill - Good: Anglers have been using small jigs tipped with a chunk of nightcrawler. Target areas with some submerged habitat or along the shorelines. Largemouth Bass - Good: Try areas around the fishing jetties with rubber worms or spinner baits. Top water lures can also be productive in the early mornings and the late evenings.

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 lake is now full.

Albia (lower)
Bluegill - Fair: Anglers have been catching some keeper bluegills using small jigs tipped with a chunk of nightcrawler. Try depths ranging from 4 to 8 feet. Largemouth Bass - Good: Try spinner baits along the shorelines. Try rubber worms fished along the dam and the areas of the lake with some rock.

Lake Sugema
Lake Sugema contains the invasive plant brittle naiad so make sure to inspect and clean your boat and trailer when leaving the lake. Bluegill - Fair: A small jig with a chunk of nightcrawler has been the most productive. Try areas with submerged habitat and along the shoreline in 4 to 8 feet of water. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Try top water baits in the early morning or late evening hours. Use spinner baits or crankbaits fished along the shorelines.

Rathbun Reservoir
The lake level is at 904.97 feet with 904.0 feet being normal pool. Water temperature has been in the upper 70s. Outlet Park was closed on August 22 for a river stabilization project and it could be closed up to 60 days. 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 water above 104 degrees or let them dry for at least 10 days, with 5 days in the sun. Crappie - Slow: A few crappies are still being caught off docks and close to shore. Look for areas with flooded woody structure and try using a jig and a minnow. Suspended crappies can be targeted by trolling small chrome colored crankbaits. Try areas with variations in depths like underwater islands and submerged points. Walleye - Fair: Some walleyes are being caught trolling chrome colored crankbaits. Nightcrawlers fished along drop-offs and underwater islands has also been producing a few fish. 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
Roberts Creek Lake
Crappie - Fair: Trolling small shad colored crankbaits is working well for picking up suspended crappie.

Big Creek Lake
Channel Catfish - Good: Good catches of channel cats are being caught on the upper end of the lake drifting cut bait. Cut creek chubs seem to be working best. White Bass - Good: White bass are the most aggressive bite right now. Troll shallow diving crankbaits on the upper half of the lake on the windblown side. Bluegill - Good: Bluegill are being caught drifting pieces of nightcrawler along the edge of the vegetation beds on the upper half of the lake and over the roadbeds and brush piles that are in 15 feet of water or less.

Hickory Grove Lake
Bluegill - Good: Bluegill can consistently be caught fishing live bait over pallet piles in 8 feet of water or less.

Red Rock Reservoir
Channel Catfish - Good: Anglers drifting cut bait are doing very well on good sized channel cats. White Bass - Fair: Look for schools of shad busting the surface then troll or cast lipless crankbaits or spoons in these areas. Try multiple colors to find their preference. Good starting colors are chrome or a blue/chrome combo. The Marina Point and west of the mile long bridge are good starting points.

Saylorville Reservoir
Channel Catfish - Excellent: Drifting cut creek chubs or dead shad north of the mile long bridge is producing some excellent catfishing. Expect some healthy 5 pound plus cats. White Bass - Good: The white bass bite continues to be fairly good. The best activity has been in the Sandpiper point area, Oak Grove area, and around the mile long bridge. Cast or troll spoons and shad colored crankbaits. Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) - Fair: Anglers trolling the Sandpiper area are also getting into some wipers. The best activity has been in the evenings.

Des Moines River (Stratford to Saylorville Lake)
Channel Catfish - Good: Boat navigation is challenging, but good numbers of channel cats are being caught on cut chubs, suckers, shad and stink baits.

The hot weather this week is keeping the white bass action good on the large reservoirs. Catfishing is excellent in the reservoirs and most lakes using cut bait. Rivers are getting low and difficult to navigate in a boat, but the catfishing is good using cut bait and stink baits. Bluegill and crappie are being caught by drifting or fishing over pallet and brush piles. For information on central Iowa lakes and rivers contact Ben Dodd or Andy Otting at 515-432-2823.

Greenfield Lake
Greenfield has one concrete boat ramp. Water clarity is good. Channel Catfish - Fair: Channel catfish are being caught around jetties using shrimp. Fish average two pounds. Bluegill - Slow: 7 to 8-inch bluegill can be caught drifting small jigs. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Largemouth bass are being caught casting around jetties and weed edges. Many fish are in the 12 to 15-inch range.

Nodaway Lake
Nodaway has one small boat ramp. Water temperature is in the high 70s. Channel Catfish - Fair: Catfish are being caught along the north shoreline and the dam with dip bait. Bluegill - Slow: Bluegill are being caught around brush piles with nightcrawlers. Crappie - Slow: Crappies can be caught trolling jigs around brush piles in 10 to 12 feet of water. Fish average 9 inches with a few 11-inch fish being caught. Evenings seem to be best.

Orient Lake
Orient Lake has one concrete boat ramp. Water temperature is around 80 degrees. Channel Catfish - Fair: Catfish are being caught on shrimp. Fish average 14 to 18 inches.

Cold Springs Lake
Cold Springs has one concrete boat ramp. Water temperature is 80 degrees. Channel Catfish - Fair: Channel catfish are being caught in less than 6 feet of water using cut bait. Fish average 2.5 pounds.

Lake Anita
Lake Anita has two concrete ramps. Water temperature is around 80 degrees. Bluegill - Slow: Bluegills up to 9 inches are being caught drifting and around brush piles. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Largemouth bass are being caught along the road beds and in brush piles. Bass are all sizes up to 20 inches. Crappie - Slow: The crappies being caught are around brush piles and underwater reefs. Late afternoon is the best bite. Fish average 9 inches.

Willow Lake
Willow has one concrete boat ramp and excellent water clarity. Channel Catfish - Fair: Channel catfish can be caught along the campground shoreline and around jetties using blood bait or liver. Bluegill - Fair: The best bluegill bite is early in the morning using nightcrawlers under a bobber. Fish average 8 inches. Largemouth Bass - Slow: Largemouth are being caught using Powerbait worms around sunken trees. Most fish are 12 to 14 inches.

Viking Lake
Viking Lake has four feet of water clarity. The lake has three concrete boat ramps. Channel Catfish - Fair: Catfishing has been fair in the evenings around the jetties using liver. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Anglers are catching largemouth bass in the sunken cedar trees using plastic baits. Casting spinner baits along weed edges has also produced fish up to 20 inches.

Lake Manawa
Manawa is full and has a slight algal bloom. Water temperature is 80 degrees. Channel Catfish - Fair: Channel catfish are being caught on the west and south side of the lake using shrimp or Sonny's dip bait. Fish up to 6 pounds have been reported.

Cold Springs District Farm Ponds
There are numerous farm ponds in southern Iowa that can provide a quality fishing trip. Remember to always get permission to fish private farm ponds. Aquatic vegetation is starting to come on. Small boats or bass buggies will aid in fishing small ponds this time of year. Channel Catfish - Fair: Channel catfish can be caught using a variety of prepared baits in the summer. Fish in 3 to 6 feet of water. Bluegill - Fair: Fish for bluegills around deeper structure and outside edges of vegetation. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Largemouth bass are aggressive now and can be caught casting around structure and along the shoreline. Early morning and late evenings are the best times to target largemouth.

Water temperatures are around 80 degrees on area lakes and interior rivers are again at fishable levels. Panfish are around deep structure and along vegetation edges. Catfishing has been good early morning and late afternoon. For more information on fishing call the district office in Lewis at 712-769-2587.

Little River Watershed Lake
The water level has been lowered 10 feet to allow preparation of a shoreline rip rap project. boat access is difficult. Fishing regulations have been relaxed in advance of a planned fish renovation later this fall. The project is expected to last until spring.

Green Valley Lake
The lake is still down to allow for completion of a sediment removal project. The project is nearing its final stages. The main boat ramp is operational and boat access is normal. All fish species have a lot of big fish. Channel Catfish - Good: A lot of mid-sized channel catfish are being caught from shore.

Twelve Mile Creek Lake
The water level is normal. Water clarity at the upper end is poor because of algae. The areas near the dam are good. Bullhead - Good: Some really big bullheads are being caught from the shallow bays during the morning and evening.

The water is still warm. Water levels are normal. Water clarity is normal at most lakes but some may be starting to turn green.