Post by Whiskers on Jul 13, 2006 11:29:39 GMT -6
July 13, 2006
Northeast
Mississippi River 9 to 15: Water levels on the Mississippi River are at low summer levels and projected to remain low. Care should be taken when navigating over wing dams and shallow areas as many logs and stumps are being exposed or are just under the surface. The entrances to many backwaters and sloughs are getting too shallow to boat. Water clarity is excellent and main channel water temperature has risen to the middle 80s. River stages are 7.8 feet at Lansing, 12.55 feet at Lynxville (Wis.), 6.0 feet at Guttenberg, 4.4 feet in Dubuque, and 3.8 feet at Bellevue. Fishing continues to be outstanding.
Bluegills are biting in Pools 9 to 15 in areas with current, such as wing dams and daylight markers. The pocket areas near the dams at Lynxville (Lock and Dam 9) and Guttenberg (Lock and Dam 10) has been outstanding spots to fish for bluegill. In addition, the wing dam areas near the shore have been excellent producers. Bluegills are being caught on a piece of night crawler floated under a bobber.
White bass are schooled up now and action can be very fast in Pools 9 to 15. Watch for schools feeding on minnows. If you see areas where minnows are continuously being chased, try to maintain some distance away from the melee to avoid spooking the white bass. Any lure that has some flash, such as a spoon or spinner bait, will work. Anglers are also reporting success using white jigs, spinners or shad-colored crankbaits. Make long casts into the areas where the minnows have been breaking the water. The hottest spots for white bass currently are near the exposed rocky wing dams close to Lock and Dams 9 and 10 and the pocket below Lock and Dam 12 near Bellevue.
Freshwater drum (sheephead) fishing is good to excellent in Pools 9 to 15. These fish are being caught in current areas such as the tailwaters and along the main channel. Drum can be caught using a sliding egg sinker and a hook baited with worms or crayfish. If you plant to clean drum, store the freshly caught fish on ice until you fillet them. This will keep the meat firm. In addition, cut out the red meat from the rest of the fillet. If you take these two simple steps, drum are an excellent fish to eat.
Walleye fishing has been fair to good in Pools 9 to 15. Anchor above the wing dams and cast crankbaits or jigs over the top of the dam and work it back to the boat. Anglers should also try trolling crankbaits near the closing dams for actively feeding walleye. Some anglers are having better luck fishing during the late evening hours using three-ways with floaters or spinners tipped with a night crawler or leech.
Largemouth bass fishing has been good to excellent throughout Pools 9 to 15 using a variety of baits and lures including shad and crawfish imitating crankbaits, spinner baits and soft plastics. Focus on areas with structure-look for areas with rock, wood or vegetation or try to find spots with a combination of these. You might also try spinner baits thrown along the weed edges for hungry bass. Many backwater lakes are very shallow and bass have moved out to the deeper sloughs and along the main channel border areas.
Smallmouth bass are being caught in very good numbers in Pools 9 to 11. Smallmouth are found in swift current areas with rock. These areas are generally associated with main channel habitats including bank stabilization rock, day markers or wing dam. Spinners and crankbaits are the lure of choice for this feisty fish, but crankbaits seem to catch the larger fish.
Fishing has been good for channel catfish on night crawlers and stink baits fished along the upper sides of snags in deeper water in Pools 9 to 15. Channel catfish can also be caught along rocky shorelines floating a night crawler under a bobber.
Many other fish species are being caught and will continue to provide excellent fishing locally. These fish include crappies, yellow bass, yellow perch, rock bass, northern pike and flathead catfish. All these species are predaceous fish eaters and will hit on a variety of jigs and spinners.
Cedar River (Black Hawk): Channel catfish are hitting chicken liver and leeches fished in the riffle areas.
Maquoketa River (Delaware): Fishing is good for channel catfish using chicken liver fished in deeper water around brush piles and outside bends.
Shell Rock River (Bremer and Butler): Anglers are catching walleyes on jigs tipped with a night crawler and on crayfish-colored crankbaits.
Turkey (Howard, Fayette and Clayton), Upper Iowa (Winneshiek and Allamakee) and Volga (Fayette and Clayton) Rivers: Water clarity is excellent and smallmouth bass fishing is fair to good using jigs and crankbaits.
Wapsipinicon River (Buchanan): Fishing is good for smallmouth bass and walleye on jigs and crankbaits. Water clarity is very good and flows are good, but low at this time.
Lake Hendricks (Howard): Largemouth bass and bluegill fishing is fair. Fishing for channel catfish is good on night crawlers and chicken liver.
Lake Meyer (Winneshiek): Bluegill fishing is good on angle worms or a piece of night crawler fished under a bobber. Channel catfish are being caught on chicken liver fished along the rocky shorelines. A few largemouth bass are being caught on spinner baits.
Volga Lake (Fayette): Largemouth bass and bluegill fishing is fair. Fishing for channel catfish is good on night crawlers, cut baits and chicken liver fished next to rocky structure.
Trout fishing excellent and stream conditions are good to excellent. As we slide into the heat of summer, trout fishing is often better during the early morning or late evening hours. Stocking information for specific streams can be found on the web by going through the DNR web site at www.iowadnr.com or directly to www.iowadnr.com/fish/news/stockrep/groupstock.pdf. Anglers may also call the recorded trout stocking information hotline at 563-927-5736.
For information on fishing in northeast Iowa, call the regional office in Manchester at 563-927-3276.
Northwest
Spirit Lake (Dickinson): Walleyes are being caught at the North Grade with a slip bobber and a leech. Anglers are catching legal walleyes mostly 14 to 16 inch fish drifting or trolling the basin with spinner rigs tipped with leeches, and jigs tipped with leeches. Largemouth bass can be caught at Buffalo Run along with a few bluegills.
West Okoboji Lake (Dickinson): Walleye are being caught along the weed lines using jig and leech combinations. Largemouth bass are being caught using a jig and worm combination around weed lines. Smallmouth bass have been biting various jig and plastic presentations around rock points. Bluegills are being caught using a jig and worm combination around weed lines.
East Okoboji Lake (Dickinson): White bass can be caught along the trestle using minnows and white twisters. Anglers are catching panfish along the weeds and docks using small jigs tipped with live bait. Channel catfish are being caught on the north end using cut bait or stink bait.
Silver Lake (Dickinson): Walleye have been good while trolling crankbaits. Anglers have also been picking up a few white bass.
Willow Creek (Osceola): Largemouth bass can be caught using top-water baits in the evenings. Bluegills and pumpkinseeds can be caught along the weeds using worms or a small piece of night crawler under a bobber.
West Fork Des Moines River (Emmet-Palo Alto): Channel catfish are being caught on night crawlers fishing around holes and snags.
Lake Pahoja (Lyon): Anglers are catching 6 to 7-inch crappies and bluegills on wax worms and tube jigs. Channel catfish are being caught in the mornings and evenings.
Rock River (Lyon): Anglers are catching catfish on stink bait.
Big Sioux River (Plymouth): Try catching channel catfish using stink bait or night crawlers.
Missouri River (Woodbury): Anglers are catching channel catfish on stink bait or night crawlers.
Brushy Creek (Webster): Some nice catfish have been caught in the evenings during the past week. There are some nice bluegills being caught around the trees on wax worms or a piece of worm. Bass are starting to move into deeper water or to the heavy weeds.
Black Hawk Lake (Sac): Fishing is fair for walleyes trolling crankbaits. Don't forget the 15-inch minimum length limit. Fishing is excellent for catfish on night crawlers, stink bait, chicken liver and crayfish. Lots of fish from 1 to 3 pounds. Fish on windy side of the lake or drift in the main basin.
Storm Lake (Buena Vista): Walleyes are still being caught trolling crankbaits in the main basin. Some anglers are catching their limit. Remember there is a 15-inch minimum length limit with only one walleye over 22 inches in Storm Lake. Channel catfish are being caught on crankbaits while fishing for walleye, but many more have been caught on night crawlers, leeches and stink bait. White bass are being caught on crankbaits while fishing for walleyes.
Crawford Creek (Ida): Fishing is good to excellent for 7-1/2 to 8-inch bluegill drifting small leadheads tipped with a piece of night crawler or wax worm. An occasional crappie will also be caught using this method.
Clear Lake (Cerro Gordo): Walleye fishing has been good. Fish are being caught trolling crankbaits or using live bait around the reefs. Anglers are reminded that Clear Lake has a 14-inch minimum length limit on walleye. White bass are being caught while fishing for walleye. Bullhead fishing is fair at the Ventura Grade and Ventura Access. Fish night crawlers on the bottom for the bullheads. Channel catfish are hitting on night crawlers, stink bait and chicken liver in the mornings and evenings.
Rice Lake (Winnebago): Bullhead fishing is good using night crawlers on the bottom.
Beeds Lake (Franklin): Largemouth bass are being caught throwing spinner baits and plastics along the shorelines. Bluegill fishing is good using wax worms. Fish are on beds near shore. Crappies are being caught trolling small jigs in 6 to 10 feet of water.
Crystal Lake (Hancock): Anglers are catching good numbers of bullheads on night crawlers. Channel catfish are hitting on chicken liver and prepared stink bait.
East Fork Des Moines River (Kossuth): Channel catfish are excellent using cut bait and worms near the snags.
Lake Cornelia (Wright): Channel catfish are excellent using chicken liver and night crawlers. Fish the catfish in the evenings, on the north shoreline for the best action. Bullheads are hitting night crawlers fished on the bottom.
For more information on fishing in northwest Iowa, call the regional office in Spirit Lake at 712-336-1840.
Southwest
Don Williams (Boone): Bluegill fishing has been good using night crawlers. Channel catfish are being caught using chicken liver. Largemouth bass fishing has been good with fish with fish over 15 inches.
Hickory Grove (Story): Bluegill fishing has been good with worms. Channel catfish are being caught using night crawlers and other traditional baits. Largemouth bass fishing has been good, particularly around the rockier areas.
Big Creek (Polk): Bluegill fishing has been good using jigs or worms on hooks with better fishing in deeper water offshore. Anglers are catching smaller walleye on jigs and minnows. Largemouth bass fishing has been fair to good, although the majority of the fish caught are sub-legal. Channel catfish fishing has been fair to good.
Easter Lake (Polk): Bluegill fishing is good using night crawlers and bobbers. Largemouth bass fishing is fair along the rocky areas. Channel catfish fishing has been good with night crawlers and chubs.
Saylorville Lake (Polk): Crappie fishing has slowed although a few fish are still being caught. White bass fishing is starting to pick up with jigs and spinners and catfish fishing has been fair.
Below Saylorville Dam (Polk): White bass/wiper fishing has been fair using jigs and/or minnows. Channel catfish fishing has been fair to good.
Rock Creek (Jasper): Crappies are good on jigs and minnows in deeper water, with some anglers picking up an occasional 2 to 3-pound walleye. Channel catfish fishing is good to excellent with chicken liver. Largemouth bass fishing has been good with top-water spinner baits.
Red Rock (Marion): White bass fishing has been good. Channel catfish fishing has been fair using cut baits and liver.
Below Lake Red Rock (Marion): White bass fishing has been excellent with jigs in the tailwater area. Channel catfish fishing has been fair using cut baits and liver.
Roberts Creek (Marion): Crappie fishing has been good using jigs/minnows in deeper water. Largemouth bass fishing has been fair with spinners. Channel catfish fishing has fair using a variety of baits.
Lake Ahquabi (Warren): Bluegill and redear sunfish fishing has been fair. Largemouth bass fishing has been good, although most of the fish caught are below the legal length limit. Channel catfish fishing has been good.
Hooper Lake (Warren): Largemouth bass fishing is best along the rocky dam area with crankbaits. Channel catfish fishing has been fair.
Contact: Dick McWilliams (515) 432-2823, Ext.108, for information on the above area lakes. For more information on general fishing in southwest Iowa, call the SW Regional Office in Lewis at 712-769-2587.
Green Valley (Union): Some bluegills can be caught from the structure using jigs and night crawlers. Bullheads are biting on night crawlers. Channel catfish are biting on night crawlers or liver.
Three Mile (Union): Channel catfish fishing is good in the flooded timber using night crawlers or liver. Some walleye are being caught on leeches and night crawlers from the mounds and steep drop-offs. Some crappie can be caught from the mid-lake coves.
Icaria (Adams): Fishing is good on small to mid sized fish of all species. Channel catfish up to 3 pounds can be caught with night crawlers or liver. The bullheads are biting well on night crawlers.
Binder Reservoir (Adams): Channel catfish up to 3 pounds can be caught on night crawlers or liver.
Little River (Decatur): The channel catfish are biting on night crawlers and liver.
Three Fires (Taylor): Several 2-pound channel catfish are being caught using night crawlers or liver. The mid-sized bluegills are biting well.
Contact: Gary Sobotka (641) 464-3108 for information on the above area lakes. For more information on general fishing in southwest Iowa, call the SW Regional Office in Lewis at 712-769-2587.
Orient (Adair): Fishing is fair for 2 to 3-pound channel catfish. Crappies are slow along the shoreline using minnows with a bobber. Bluegills are fair using night crawlers with bobber and small jigs.
Greenfield (Adair): Bluegills are fair using jigs tipped with night crawlers fishing structure and drift fishing. Fish in the 7 to 8-inch range are common. Channel catfish are fair using liver.
Nodaway (Adair): Crappie fishing is slow using jigs and minnows. Channel catfish are being caught on liver in shallow areas. Greenfield and Nodaway have low water levels. Shore anglers best fishing would be off the dam.
Meadow (Adair): Largemouth bass are being caught around brush piles. Bluegills are fair using night crawlers around sunken trees. Crappies are slow around sunken trees using minnows.
Morman Trail (Adair): Fishing is slow for bluegills on rocked shoreline along the south side of the lake. Channel catfish is fair using liver and night crawlers.
Littlefield (Audubon): Anglers are catching a few bluegills by drifting night crawlers, but overall, the action is slow. Crappie fishing is slow drifting minnows. A few channel catfish are being caught using liver or cut bait.
Anita (Cass): The lake is still 5 feet low and has limited shoreline access. The south boat ramp can be used with a small (14 foot) boat. The lake contains a good fish population and fishing should be good. Fishing for 12 to 15-inch largemouth bass has been good.
Manawa (Pottawattamie): Largemouth bass fishing is fair using plastic baits with a slow retrieve in canals and around Boy Scout Island. Fishing for wipers is slow with a few being caught on east shore by outlet tube using white twister tails. Walleyes are slow drifting night crawlers and leeches close to rock shorelines. Channel catfish fishing is fair with shrimp or cut bait close to shore around rocks. Fish in the 2 to 8-pound range are common. Bluegill fishing is fair using night crawlers or wax worms under a bobber in canals and around the boat docks.
DeSoto Bend (Harrison): Crappie fishing is fair using jigs and minnows around sunken trees. Channel catfish is fair in shallow areas using night crawlers, cut bait or shad. Freshwater drum are being caught on east shoreline using night crawlers on the bottom. A few walleyes are being caught drifting live bait rigs with night crawlers. Carp are being caught mostly on dough balls.
Prairie Rose (Shelby): Crappies are fair along rocky shorelines using jigs. Channel catfish fishing is good on liver and prepared baits along rocky shorelines. Largemouth bass, from 3 to 5 pounds, are being caught on rocky points using plastics. Bluegills have slowed, but a few are being caught drifting jigs tipped with night crawlers.
Willow (Harrison): Crappie fishing is slow. A few are being caught using minnow and bobber in 8 to 10 feet of water. Bluegills being caught are 7 to 8 inches. A few channel catfish are being caught using cut bait in shallow coves.
Farm Ponds: Fishing is fair for bluegills, using jigs tipped with night crawlers. Largemouth bass fishing is also good.
Contact: Chris Larson (712) 769-2587 for information on the above area lakes. For more information on general fishing in southwest Iowa, call the SW Regional Office in Lewis at 712-769-2587.
Southeast
Mississippi River Pools 16 to 19: The water temperature at Lock and Dam 16 (Muscatine) is 81 degrees and the river pool stage for Pool 16 is 11.33 feet. Water levels are expected to remain stable over the next several days.
Walleye fishing has been fair on Pool 16 to 19. Try fishing for walleye around the wing dams and rock piles with jigs tipped with leeches or minnows, and crankbaits. Channel catfishing continues to be good on Pools 16 to 19 using worms, leeches, crushed minnows, dip baits, shrimp and dead shad. Channel catfish can be found around drift piles, in the backwaters, and the mouths of tributary rivers and streams. Flathead catfishing has been fair in the deeper holes throughout the Mississippi River, in the tail water areas and below the emergency spillways of the navigation dams. Fishing for both channel and flathead catfish has been best in the evening, night, and early morning. Fishing continues to be fair for largemouth bass in accessible backwaters on artificial baits and live bait rigs. Bluegill fishing has been fair in the backwaters and below the emergency spillways. Try the backwaters of Credit Island and Sunset Marina, in Pool 16, Big Timber Area, in Pool 17, Huron Island, Pool 18, and Lake Odessa, Pools 17/18 for bluegill and bass. These backwaters will also produce good numbers of channel catfish.
Lake Darling (Washington): Water temperature is in the upper 70s and the low 80s. Catfishing is picking up as the spawn draws to a close. Try chicken liver along the riprap and along the rock jetties.
Lake Geode (Henry): Anglers are still catching a few bluegills along the deeper weed lines. Fishing has started to slow as the dog days have set in
Lake Belva Deer (Keokuk): Catfishing has been good using chicken liver. Bluegill fishing has slowed.
Lake Sugema (Van Buren): Largemouth bass have been hitting on a variety of artificial lures. Bluegills and crappies have been biting on small jigs tipped with a wax worm or a chunk of night crawler.
Lake Wapello (Davis): Largemouth bass have been hitting on a variety of artificial lures along the weed line and among the lily pads. Bluegills have been hitting small jigs tipped with a night crawler drifted or trolled in deeper water.
Lake Keomah (Mahaska): Largemouth bass have been hitting on crankbaits and spinner baits. Channel catfish have been biting on liver and night crawlers.
Lake Miami (Monroe): Channel catfish have been hitting on liver. Largemouth bass have been hitting on rubber worms fished in the standing timber.
Lake Macbride (Johnson): Some largemouth and spotted bass can be caught around the shallow cover or deeper structure. Anglers are picking up a few wipers by trolling shad colored crankbaits.
Pleasant Creek (Linn): Largemouth bass are being caught around the dam and rock jetties. Plastic worms and live baits (bluegills/crayfish) have been working best. Remember the 18-inch size limit. Bluegills suspended in the water column are being picked up on night crawlers. A few nice channel catfish are being caught on night crawlers.
Kent Lake (Johnson): Bluegills can be picked up on small worms. Try around structure or suspended off the bottom. Channel catfish are also being picked up on night crawlers and stink bait, with evening being the best time to fish.
Hannen Lake (Benton): Channel catfish are biting here on stink bait. Rocky areas should produce best, especially towards dark. Smaller largemouth bass are consistently being caught on a number of different lures.
Otter Creek (Tama): Anglers looking for lots of action should come here to fish for yellow bass. These scrappy, tasty fish are marginal in size but numbers will make up for it. Channel catfish are also picking up and can be caught on night crawlers and liver.
For more information on fishing in southeast Iowa, call the regional office in Brighton at 319-694-2430.
from the Kansas Angler
Northeast
Mississippi River 9 to 15: Water levels on the Mississippi River are at low summer levels and projected to remain low. Care should be taken when navigating over wing dams and shallow areas as many logs and stumps are being exposed or are just under the surface. The entrances to many backwaters and sloughs are getting too shallow to boat. Water clarity is excellent and main channel water temperature has risen to the middle 80s. River stages are 7.8 feet at Lansing, 12.55 feet at Lynxville (Wis.), 6.0 feet at Guttenberg, 4.4 feet in Dubuque, and 3.8 feet at Bellevue. Fishing continues to be outstanding.
Bluegills are biting in Pools 9 to 15 in areas with current, such as wing dams and daylight markers. The pocket areas near the dams at Lynxville (Lock and Dam 9) and Guttenberg (Lock and Dam 10) has been outstanding spots to fish for bluegill. In addition, the wing dam areas near the shore have been excellent producers. Bluegills are being caught on a piece of night crawler floated under a bobber.
White bass are schooled up now and action can be very fast in Pools 9 to 15. Watch for schools feeding on minnows. If you see areas where minnows are continuously being chased, try to maintain some distance away from the melee to avoid spooking the white bass. Any lure that has some flash, such as a spoon or spinner bait, will work. Anglers are also reporting success using white jigs, spinners or shad-colored crankbaits. Make long casts into the areas where the minnows have been breaking the water. The hottest spots for white bass currently are near the exposed rocky wing dams close to Lock and Dams 9 and 10 and the pocket below Lock and Dam 12 near Bellevue.
Freshwater drum (sheephead) fishing is good to excellent in Pools 9 to 15. These fish are being caught in current areas such as the tailwaters and along the main channel. Drum can be caught using a sliding egg sinker and a hook baited with worms or crayfish. If you plant to clean drum, store the freshly caught fish on ice until you fillet them. This will keep the meat firm. In addition, cut out the red meat from the rest of the fillet. If you take these two simple steps, drum are an excellent fish to eat.
Walleye fishing has been fair to good in Pools 9 to 15. Anchor above the wing dams and cast crankbaits or jigs over the top of the dam and work it back to the boat. Anglers should also try trolling crankbaits near the closing dams for actively feeding walleye. Some anglers are having better luck fishing during the late evening hours using three-ways with floaters or spinners tipped with a night crawler or leech.
Largemouth bass fishing has been good to excellent throughout Pools 9 to 15 using a variety of baits and lures including shad and crawfish imitating crankbaits, spinner baits and soft plastics. Focus on areas with structure-look for areas with rock, wood or vegetation or try to find spots with a combination of these. You might also try spinner baits thrown along the weed edges for hungry bass. Many backwater lakes are very shallow and bass have moved out to the deeper sloughs and along the main channel border areas.
Smallmouth bass are being caught in very good numbers in Pools 9 to 11. Smallmouth are found in swift current areas with rock. These areas are generally associated with main channel habitats including bank stabilization rock, day markers or wing dam. Spinners and crankbaits are the lure of choice for this feisty fish, but crankbaits seem to catch the larger fish.
Fishing has been good for channel catfish on night crawlers and stink baits fished along the upper sides of snags in deeper water in Pools 9 to 15. Channel catfish can also be caught along rocky shorelines floating a night crawler under a bobber.
Many other fish species are being caught and will continue to provide excellent fishing locally. These fish include crappies, yellow bass, yellow perch, rock bass, northern pike and flathead catfish. All these species are predaceous fish eaters and will hit on a variety of jigs and spinners.
Cedar River (Black Hawk): Channel catfish are hitting chicken liver and leeches fished in the riffle areas.
Maquoketa River (Delaware): Fishing is good for channel catfish using chicken liver fished in deeper water around brush piles and outside bends.
Shell Rock River (Bremer and Butler): Anglers are catching walleyes on jigs tipped with a night crawler and on crayfish-colored crankbaits.
Turkey (Howard, Fayette and Clayton), Upper Iowa (Winneshiek and Allamakee) and Volga (Fayette and Clayton) Rivers: Water clarity is excellent and smallmouth bass fishing is fair to good using jigs and crankbaits.
Wapsipinicon River (Buchanan): Fishing is good for smallmouth bass and walleye on jigs and crankbaits. Water clarity is very good and flows are good, but low at this time.
Lake Hendricks (Howard): Largemouth bass and bluegill fishing is fair. Fishing for channel catfish is good on night crawlers and chicken liver.
Lake Meyer (Winneshiek): Bluegill fishing is good on angle worms or a piece of night crawler fished under a bobber. Channel catfish are being caught on chicken liver fished along the rocky shorelines. A few largemouth bass are being caught on spinner baits.
Volga Lake (Fayette): Largemouth bass and bluegill fishing is fair. Fishing for channel catfish is good on night crawlers, cut baits and chicken liver fished next to rocky structure.
Trout fishing excellent and stream conditions are good to excellent. As we slide into the heat of summer, trout fishing is often better during the early morning or late evening hours. Stocking information for specific streams can be found on the web by going through the DNR web site at www.iowadnr.com or directly to www.iowadnr.com/fish/news/stockrep/groupstock.pdf. Anglers may also call the recorded trout stocking information hotline at 563-927-5736.
For information on fishing in northeast Iowa, call the regional office in Manchester at 563-927-3276.
Northwest
Spirit Lake (Dickinson): Walleyes are being caught at the North Grade with a slip bobber and a leech. Anglers are catching legal walleyes mostly 14 to 16 inch fish drifting or trolling the basin with spinner rigs tipped with leeches, and jigs tipped with leeches. Largemouth bass can be caught at Buffalo Run along with a few bluegills.
West Okoboji Lake (Dickinson): Walleye are being caught along the weed lines using jig and leech combinations. Largemouth bass are being caught using a jig and worm combination around weed lines. Smallmouth bass have been biting various jig and plastic presentations around rock points. Bluegills are being caught using a jig and worm combination around weed lines.
East Okoboji Lake (Dickinson): White bass can be caught along the trestle using minnows and white twisters. Anglers are catching panfish along the weeds and docks using small jigs tipped with live bait. Channel catfish are being caught on the north end using cut bait or stink bait.
Silver Lake (Dickinson): Walleye have been good while trolling crankbaits. Anglers have also been picking up a few white bass.
Willow Creek (Osceola): Largemouth bass can be caught using top-water baits in the evenings. Bluegills and pumpkinseeds can be caught along the weeds using worms or a small piece of night crawler under a bobber.
West Fork Des Moines River (Emmet-Palo Alto): Channel catfish are being caught on night crawlers fishing around holes and snags.
Lake Pahoja (Lyon): Anglers are catching 6 to 7-inch crappies and bluegills on wax worms and tube jigs. Channel catfish are being caught in the mornings and evenings.
Rock River (Lyon): Anglers are catching catfish on stink bait.
Big Sioux River (Plymouth): Try catching channel catfish using stink bait or night crawlers.
Missouri River (Woodbury): Anglers are catching channel catfish on stink bait or night crawlers.
Brushy Creek (Webster): Some nice catfish have been caught in the evenings during the past week. There are some nice bluegills being caught around the trees on wax worms or a piece of worm. Bass are starting to move into deeper water or to the heavy weeds.
Black Hawk Lake (Sac): Fishing is fair for walleyes trolling crankbaits. Don't forget the 15-inch minimum length limit. Fishing is excellent for catfish on night crawlers, stink bait, chicken liver and crayfish. Lots of fish from 1 to 3 pounds. Fish on windy side of the lake or drift in the main basin.
Storm Lake (Buena Vista): Walleyes are still being caught trolling crankbaits in the main basin. Some anglers are catching their limit. Remember there is a 15-inch minimum length limit with only one walleye over 22 inches in Storm Lake. Channel catfish are being caught on crankbaits while fishing for walleye, but many more have been caught on night crawlers, leeches and stink bait. White bass are being caught on crankbaits while fishing for walleyes.
Crawford Creek (Ida): Fishing is good to excellent for 7-1/2 to 8-inch bluegill drifting small leadheads tipped with a piece of night crawler or wax worm. An occasional crappie will also be caught using this method.
Clear Lake (Cerro Gordo): Walleye fishing has been good. Fish are being caught trolling crankbaits or using live bait around the reefs. Anglers are reminded that Clear Lake has a 14-inch minimum length limit on walleye. White bass are being caught while fishing for walleye. Bullhead fishing is fair at the Ventura Grade and Ventura Access. Fish night crawlers on the bottom for the bullheads. Channel catfish are hitting on night crawlers, stink bait and chicken liver in the mornings and evenings.
Rice Lake (Winnebago): Bullhead fishing is good using night crawlers on the bottom.
Beeds Lake (Franklin): Largemouth bass are being caught throwing spinner baits and plastics along the shorelines. Bluegill fishing is good using wax worms. Fish are on beds near shore. Crappies are being caught trolling small jigs in 6 to 10 feet of water.
Crystal Lake (Hancock): Anglers are catching good numbers of bullheads on night crawlers. Channel catfish are hitting on chicken liver and prepared stink bait.
East Fork Des Moines River (Kossuth): Channel catfish are excellent using cut bait and worms near the snags.
Lake Cornelia (Wright): Channel catfish are excellent using chicken liver and night crawlers. Fish the catfish in the evenings, on the north shoreline for the best action. Bullheads are hitting night crawlers fished on the bottom.
For more information on fishing in northwest Iowa, call the regional office in Spirit Lake at 712-336-1840.
Southwest
Don Williams (Boone): Bluegill fishing has been good using night crawlers. Channel catfish are being caught using chicken liver. Largemouth bass fishing has been good with fish with fish over 15 inches.
Hickory Grove (Story): Bluegill fishing has been good with worms. Channel catfish are being caught using night crawlers and other traditional baits. Largemouth bass fishing has been good, particularly around the rockier areas.
Big Creek (Polk): Bluegill fishing has been good using jigs or worms on hooks with better fishing in deeper water offshore. Anglers are catching smaller walleye on jigs and minnows. Largemouth bass fishing has been fair to good, although the majority of the fish caught are sub-legal. Channel catfish fishing has been fair to good.
Easter Lake (Polk): Bluegill fishing is good using night crawlers and bobbers. Largemouth bass fishing is fair along the rocky areas. Channel catfish fishing has been good with night crawlers and chubs.
Saylorville Lake (Polk): Crappie fishing has slowed although a few fish are still being caught. White bass fishing is starting to pick up with jigs and spinners and catfish fishing has been fair.
Below Saylorville Dam (Polk): White bass/wiper fishing has been fair using jigs and/or minnows. Channel catfish fishing has been fair to good.
Rock Creek (Jasper): Crappies are good on jigs and minnows in deeper water, with some anglers picking up an occasional 2 to 3-pound walleye. Channel catfish fishing is good to excellent with chicken liver. Largemouth bass fishing has been good with top-water spinner baits.
Red Rock (Marion): White bass fishing has been good. Channel catfish fishing has been fair using cut baits and liver.
Below Lake Red Rock (Marion): White bass fishing has been excellent with jigs in the tailwater area. Channel catfish fishing has been fair using cut baits and liver.
Roberts Creek (Marion): Crappie fishing has been good using jigs/minnows in deeper water. Largemouth bass fishing has been fair with spinners. Channel catfish fishing has fair using a variety of baits.
Lake Ahquabi (Warren): Bluegill and redear sunfish fishing has been fair. Largemouth bass fishing has been good, although most of the fish caught are below the legal length limit. Channel catfish fishing has been good.
Hooper Lake (Warren): Largemouth bass fishing is best along the rocky dam area with crankbaits. Channel catfish fishing has been fair.
Contact: Dick McWilliams (515) 432-2823, Ext.108, for information on the above area lakes. For more information on general fishing in southwest Iowa, call the SW Regional Office in Lewis at 712-769-2587.
Green Valley (Union): Some bluegills can be caught from the structure using jigs and night crawlers. Bullheads are biting on night crawlers. Channel catfish are biting on night crawlers or liver.
Three Mile (Union): Channel catfish fishing is good in the flooded timber using night crawlers or liver. Some walleye are being caught on leeches and night crawlers from the mounds and steep drop-offs. Some crappie can be caught from the mid-lake coves.
Icaria (Adams): Fishing is good on small to mid sized fish of all species. Channel catfish up to 3 pounds can be caught with night crawlers or liver. The bullheads are biting well on night crawlers.
Binder Reservoir (Adams): Channel catfish up to 3 pounds can be caught on night crawlers or liver.
Little River (Decatur): The channel catfish are biting on night crawlers and liver.
Three Fires (Taylor): Several 2-pound channel catfish are being caught using night crawlers or liver. The mid-sized bluegills are biting well.
Contact: Gary Sobotka (641) 464-3108 for information on the above area lakes. For more information on general fishing in southwest Iowa, call the SW Regional Office in Lewis at 712-769-2587.
Orient (Adair): Fishing is fair for 2 to 3-pound channel catfish. Crappies are slow along the shoreline using minnows with a bobber. Bluegills are fair using night crawlers with bobber and small jigs.
Greenfield (Adair): Bluegills are fair using jigs tipped with night crawlers fishing structure and drift fishing. Fish in the 7 to 8-inch range are common. Channel catfish are fair using liver.
Nodaway (Adair): Crappie fishing is slow using jigs and minnows. Channel catfish are being caught on liver in shallow areas. Greenfield and Nodaway have low water levels. Shore anglers best fishing would be off the dam.
Meadow (Adair): Largemouth bass are being caught around brush piles. Bluegills are fair using night crawlers around sunken trees. Crappies are slow around sunken trees using minnows.
Morman Trail (Adair): Fishing is slow for bluegills on rocked shoreline along the south side of the lake. Channel catfish is fair using liver and night crawlers.
Littlefield (Audubon): Anglers are catching a few bluegills by drifting night crawlers, but overall, the action is slow. Crappie fishing is slow drifting minnows. A few channel catfish are being caught using liver or cut bait.
Anita (Cass): The lake is still 5 feet low and has limited shoreline access. The south boat ramp can be used with a small (14 foot) boat. The lake contains a good fish population and fishing should be good. Fishing for 12 to 15-inch largemouth bass has been good.
Manawa (Pottawattamie): Largemouth bass fishing is fair using plastic baits with a slow retrieve in canals and around Boy Scout Island. Fishing for wipers is slow with a few being caught on east shore by outlet tube using white twister tails. Walleyes are slow drifting night crawlers and leeches close to rock shorelines. Channel catfish fishing is fair with shrimp or cut bait close to shore around rocks. Fish in the 2 to 8-pound range are common. Bluegill fishing is fair using night crawlers or wax worms under a bobber in canals and around the boat docks.
DeSoto Bend (Harrison): Crappie fishing is fair using jigs and minnows around sunken trees. Channel catfish is fair in shallow areas using night crawlers, cut bait or shad. Freshwater drum are being caught on east shoreline using night crawlers on the bottom. A few walleyes are being caught drifting live bait rigs with night crawlers. Carp are being caught mostly on dough balls.
Prairie Rose (Shelby): Crappies are fair along rocky shorelines using jigs. Channel catfish fishing is good on liver and prepared baits along rocky shorelines. Largemouth bass, from 3 to 5 pounds, are being caught on rocky points using plastics. Bluegills have slowed, but a few are being caught drifting jigs tipped with night crawlers.
Willow (Harrison): Crappie fishing is slow. A few are being caught using minnow and bobber in 8 to 10 feet of water. Bluegills being caught are 7 to 8 inches. A few channel catfish are being caught using cut bait in shallow coves.
Farm Ponds: Fishing is fair for bluegills, using jigs tipped with night crawlers. Largemouth bass fishing is also good.
Contact: Chris Larson (712) 769-2587 for information on the above area lakes. For more information on general fishing in southwest Iowa, call the SW Regional Office in Lewis at 712-769-2587.
Southeast
Mississippi River Pools 16 to 19: The water temperature at Lock and Dam 16 (Muscatine) is 81 degrees and the river pool stage for Pool 16 is 11.33 feet. Water levels are expected to remain stable over the next several days.
Walleye fishing has been fair on Pool 16 to 19. Try fishing for walleye around the wing dams and rock piles with jigs tipped with leeches or minnows, and crankbaits. Channel catfishing continues to be good on Pools 16 to 19 using worms, leeches, crushed minnows, dip baits, shrimp and dead shad. Channel catfish can be found around drift piles, in the backwaters, and the mouths of tributary rivers and streams. Flathead catfishing has been fair in the deeper holes throughout the Mississippi River, in the tail water areas and below the emergency spillways of the navigation dams. Fishing for both channel and flathead catfish has been best in the evening, night, and early morning. Fishing continues to be fair for largemouth bass in accessible backwaters on artificial baits and live bait rigs. Bluegill fishing has been fair in the backwaters and below the emergency spillways. Try the backwaters of Credit Island and Sunset Marina, in Pool 16, Big Timber Area, in Pool 17, Huron Island, Pool 18, and Lake Odessa, Pools 17/18 for bluegill and bass. These backwaters will also produce good numbers of channel catfish.
Lake Darling (Washington): Water temperature is in the upper 70s and the low 80s. Catfishing is picking up as the spawn draws to a close. Try chicken liver along the riprap and along the rock jetties.
Lake Geode (Henry): Anglers are still catching a few bluegills along the deeper weed lines. Fishing has started to slow as the dog days have set in
Lake Belva Deer (Keokuk): Catfishing has been good using chicken liver. Bluegill fishing has slowed.
Lake Sugema (Van Buren): Largemouth bass have been hitting on a variety of artificial lures. Bluegills and crappies have been biting on small jigs tipped with a wax worm or a chunk of night crawler.
Lake Wapello (Davis): Largemouth bass have been hitting on a variety of artificial lures along the weed line and among the lily pads. Bluegills have been hitting small jigs tipped with a night crawler drifted or trolled in deeper water.
Lake Keomah (Mahaska): Largemouth bass have been hitting on crankbaits and spinner baits. Channel catfish have been biting on liver and night crawlers.
Lake Miami (Monroe): Channel catfish have been hitting on liver. Largemouth bass have been hitting on rubber worms fished in the standing timber.
Lake Macbride (Johnson): Some largemouth and spotted bass can be caught around the shallow cover or deeper structure. Anglers are picking up a few wipers by trolling shad colored crankbaits.
Pleasant Creek (Linn): Largemouth bass are being caught around the dam and rock jetties. Plastic worms and live baits (bluegills/crayfish) have been working best. Remember the 18-inch size limit. Bluegills suspended in the water column are being picked up on night crawlers. A few nice channel catfish are being caught on night crawlers.
Kent Lake (Johnson): Bluegills can be picked up on small worms. Try around structure or suspended off the bottom. Channel catfish are also being picked up on night crawlers and stink bait, with evening being the best time to fish.
Hannen Lake (Benton): Channel catfish are biting here on stink bait. Rocky areas should produce best, especially towards dark. Smaller largemouth bass are consistently being caught on a number of different lures.
Otter Creek (Tama): Anglers looking for lots of action should come here to fish for yellow bass. These scrappy, tasty fish are marginal in size but numbers will make up for it. Channel catfish are also picking up and can be caught on night crawlers and liver.
For more information on fishing in southeast Iowa, call the regional office in Brighton at 319-694-2430.
from the Kansas Angler