Iowa Fishing Report 5/8/08!

From the Iowa DNR Website!

Northeast

Mississippi River 9 to 15: River levels are dropping and clarity has greatly improved, especially in Pools 9 and 10. River levels on Tuesday were as follows: Lansing 12.17 feet and Guttenberg 13.6 feet. Water temperature has increased to around 51 degrees. Fishing has improved on the Mississippi River. The boat ramp at Sny Magill is closed, and the ramp at the DNR fisheries office at Guttenberg will close for maintenance May 12 through May 16. The Guttenberg City Ramp is currently closed. Anglers are encouraged to all ahead to see if any of these boat ramps have reopened. The Guttenberg city number is 563-252-1161 and the DNR fisheries office number is 563-252-1156. Water levels are still high, but are dropping in Pools 12 to 15. River levels on Thursday were as follows: Dubuque 16.44 feet, Bellevue 14.69 feet and Camanche 16.92 feet. Water temperature is approaching 60 degrees. Bluegills are biting in Pools 9 to 15 on a split shot and garden worm. Good areas for bluegill fishing include the mouth of Village Creek and the Lansing Power Plant fishing access in Pool 9, below the Lynxville Dam and near Harper's Ferry in Pool 10, below the Guttenberg Dam in Pool 11, and below the Bellevue Dam in Pool 13. Anglers are catching good numbers of largemouth bass in these same areas using jigs and panfish gear. Anglers are also catching some smallmouth bass using jigs and twister tails in Pools 9 to 13. Freshwater drum are being caught below the Guttenberg dam in Pool 11 and in Pools 12 to 15. Use worms or jigs with a sinker for these nice-sized fish. Flatheads are beginning to bite in Pool 11. Fish jigs tipped with a minnow in areas with current for best success. A few sauger are being caught using jigs tipped with a minnow in the tailwaters below Guttenberg in Pool 11. Anglers are still bow fishing in flooded areas along the river and the improved water clarity has aided this unique sport. A regular fishing license is all that is needed, and carp, bowfin, buffalo and other listed rough fish are legal quarry. A good spot to try bow fishing is Army Road near Lansing in Pool 9. In Pool 10, Frenchtown Lake/Buck Creek Bottoms just north of Guttenberg is another area to bow fish for rough fish. In Pool 11, try the Turkey River bottoms just south of Guttenberg. Have a plan for the rough fish you catch. It is unacceptable to throw the carcasses on the bank to rot. Try lining up a fish smoker, if you don't have one, and enjoy the bounty of your spring harvest. White bass are being caught in the tailwaters of Pools 12 to 15 on a white twister tail on a jig or a white, silver, or shad colored crankbait or small spinner bait. Rainfall continues to hamper fishing activity on rivers in northeast Iowa including the Cedar River (Bremer and Black Hawk), West Fork Cedar River (Butler and Black Hawk), Maquoketa River (Delaware, Jones and Jackson), and Wapsipinicon River (Buchanan). Anglers may want to try fishing for channel catfish with the rivers on the rise. Look for fishing to improve on rivers if rainfall ceases or slows for four to five days. Fishing had been improving on the Cedar River with anglers catching walleye, smallmouth bass, channel catfish and northern pike. Of these rivers, the Maquoketa River will improve quickly, followed by the West Fork Cedar River, Cedar River and finally the Wapsipinicon River. Some walleyes are being caught on jigs and crankbaits fished in areas off the main channel in the Cedar and Maquoketa rivers.

Turkey River (Fayette and Clayton) and Upper Iowa River (Winneshiek and Allamakee): Flows are high, but the rivers are very fishable. Nice smallmouth bass (15 to 17 inches) are being caught on big spinners and crankbaits. Good numbers of walleyes are biting on crankbaits as well. White suckers and redhorse are being caught on night crawlers fished on the bottom.

Cedar River (Mitchell, Floyd and Chickasaw): The upper parts of the river are still turbid, but clearing. Anglers are having some success using jigs tipped with a night crawler for 12 to 17-inch walleyes, and a little more success using minnow-tipped jigs. While the walleye fishing has picked up, northern pike fishing has slowed.

Wapsipinicon River (Buchanan): Fishing is good for largemouth and smallmouth bass below the Littleton Dam. Crappie and rock bass are also biting well.

Big Woods Lake (Black Hawk): Fishing is fair for crappie. Use 1/64 to 1/32 ounce jigs fished slowly for best success, or try small minnows fished on a slip bobber rig.

Casey Lake (Tama): Fishing is fair for bluegills with small baits, and sinking flies provide the best action.

Heritage Pond (Dubuque): The DNR stocked 10 to 12-inch rainbow trout on May 2. These fish should be available through much of June. A trout fee is required to fish for and possess trout.

Hendricks Lake (Howard): Largemouth bass fishing has been fair using a variety of lures. With warming water temperature, crappies will be moving in shallow to spawn. Look for crappies staging around shallow structure using small jigs or minnows.

Volga Lake (Fayette): Try catching channel catfish in the shallow coves in this lake when the wind is blowing into the coves. Catfish feed on dead fish pushed into these areas. Try using cut bait fished on the bottom.

Lake Meyer (Winneshiek): A few smaller largemouth bass have been biting on soft plastics or spinners worked along the shore. Anglers are also picking up some crappies with small twister tails, minnows or tube jigs fished along the various brush piles in deeper water. They should start to move to shallow piles if the water warms. Some sorting of crappies may be necessary, but they are larger than last year.

Sweet Marsh and Ave. Saints Lake (Bremer): Largemouth bass fishing has been good using plugs and crankbaits.

Trout stream conditions are excellent with good flow and clear water. Conditions should continue barring heavy rain. Anglers are encouraged to call the trout stocking recording at 563-927-5736 if they have a question about whether their favorite stream has been stocked. Stocking calendars can be printed off the DNR's website by going to www.iowadnr.gov and following the menus through to the fish and fishing pages.

For information on fishing in northeast Iowa, call the regional office in Manchester at 563-927-3276.



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Northwest

Spirit Lake (Dickinson): Casting crankbaits at night from shore or slip bobber fishing with leeches at night is producing walleyes. Crappies have begun moving to the North Grade, with fish up to 13 inches being caught. Use a bobber and a minnow or a small jig. The spawn is approaching so target transition areas between the main lake and spawning beds. Largemouth bass are moving to the Grade and Buffalo Run. Anglers are catching large bullheads at the Grade on night crawlers. Yellow perch are biting at Buffalo Run, but some sorting is required for larger fish.

East Okoboji Lake (Dickinson): For white bass, fish wind blown shorelines with white jigs. Anglers targeting walleyes should fish at night, working narrow profiled crankbaits close to shore.

West Okoboji Lake (Dickinson): Anglers catching keeper-sized walleyes are fishing with leeches under a slip bobber or trolling at night with crankbaits. The Triboji area is producing 8-inch bluegills using small jigs tipped with bait.

Silver Lake (Dickinson): Anglers are catching walleyes casting jigs or crankbaits from shore at night, or drift fishing with leeches in the evening.

Black Hawk Lake (Sac): Fishing is good for 7 to 9-inch bullheads near the inlet bridge. A few yellow bass are being caught on the windy side of the lake near the rocks.

Storm Lake (Buena Vista): Fishing is good to excellent for white bass on twisters or spinners, and fair to good for walleye on twisters. Don't forget the 17 to 22-inch slot on walleye in Storm Lake. All walleye in that range must be returned unharmed to the lake. Some nice crappies are being caught on live minnows under a bobber in the marina. Catfish have been good on the inlet jetty on a variety of baits.

Clear Lake (Cerro Gordo): Walleye fishing has been good on the reefs, rocky shorelines and trolling the north shoreline. Jig and minnow combinations are working around the reefs and trolling crankbaits is the best technique along the north shore. Yellow bass fishing is good around the reefs, the island, and the east shoreline. Small jigs, minnows, and cut bait work the best for the yellow bass. A few white bass are being caught while walleye and yellow bass fishing.

Little Wall Lake (Hamilton): Channel catfish are being caught on the north jetty using minnows and cut bait fished on or near the bottom.

Lake Cornelia (Wright): Bullhead fishing is excellent for 8 to 10-inch fish using night crawlers on the bottom.

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

Southwest

Fogle Lake (Ringgold): A few bluegills and crappies are being caught in 6 to 10 feet of water near structure. Crappies are starting to move into shallow water. Largemouth bass fishing has picked up with several being caught from near-shore structure. Some channel catfish are biting in the upper end and the shallows.

Lake of Three Fires (Taylor): Lots of nice bluegills are being caught over and around the tree piles. Crappies can be caught using minnows or white jigs just off shore near the tree piles or along the fish mounds. Largemouth bass can be caught from the structure. Some channel catfish can be caught in the bays.

Icaria (Adams): Walleye fishing activity has picked up a lot. Several walleyes can be caught from shore in the lower portions of the lake using white spinners or jigs. Several have been caught from the rocks off the dam. A few channel catfish have been picked up at the upper end and from the shallow bays. Crappies and bluegills are just off shore in 6 to 12 feet of water. Water clarity is good and at least 4 feet near the dam.

Three Mile Lake (Union): Water temperature is 59 degrees. More crappies have been caught near shore or from the edge of the old road bed. Some bluegills are starting to bite on night crawlers. Walleyes have been caught by trolling the big points in the lower portion of the lake from the dam. Crankbaits and jigs with white twister tails have been the best. Some channel catfish have been biting in the upper end and the windward bays. Water clarity is good and at least 5 feet near the dam.

Twelve Mile Lake (Union): Nice bluegills are being caught near the trees. Walleyes have been picked up on the old road beds, fish mounds and from the dam. The maximum size is 21 inches and white or yellow twister tails seem to work best. Some 13-inch largemouth bass have been caught from the near-shore structure. Water clarity is at least 5 feet near the dam.

Green Valley (Union): Channel catfish have been caught from the shallow bays. Some bluegills have been caught from the deeper areas just off shore. A few crappies have been caught from 4 to 8 feet of water just off shore.

Wilson Lake (Taylor): Some crappies have been caught from the deeper areas near the dam. Largemouth bass have been caught from the dam.

Little River (Decatur): Some walleyes have been picked up from the dam and deeper points near the dam. A few bluegills and crappies have been caught just off shore. Water clarity is about 14 inches.

Nine Eagles (Decatur): Bluegills have been caught on night crawlers just off the points. Crappies have been picked up from the deeper areas just off the dam.

Slip Bluff (Decatur): Several nice bluegills and a few good crappies have been caught from the dam and shallow bays.

Binder Lake (Adams): A bunch of chunky bluegills have been caught from the dam or bays near the dam.

Badger Creek (Madison): The bluegill and crappie fishing has been busy along the rocks of the jetties and the road.

Contact at Gary Sobotka (641) 464-3108 for information on the above area lakes.

Don Williams (Boone): Crappies are biting on jigs and minnows fished near structure.

Big Creek (Polk): Crappie bite is turning on. Fish are being caught off the fishing jetties and in shallow water. Walleyes are biting white and pink jigs tipped with a minnow fished in 20 to 25 feet of water.

Saylorville Lake (Polk): Crappie and white bass are being caught below the Big Creek spillway.

Fort Des Moines Lake (Polk): Crappie and bass are biting on minnows.

Des Moines River (Polk): Below Saylorville Dam, the white bass and wiper bite is pretty steady on small white twister tails.

Banner Lake (Warren): Trout are still being caught on spoons, spinners and tube jigs.

Rock Creek (Jasper): The catfish bite has slowed but a few fish are still being caught on cut bait and stink bait. The crappie bite has increased using jigs and minnows.

Hickory Grove (Story): Crappies and bluegill are in shallow water and fishing has increased.

Ada Hayden (Story): Panfish are biting around brush and in shallow water. Be aware the bass spawning zone is now closed.

Lake Ahquabi (Warren): Crappies and bluegill have been biting on small jigs off the fishing piers. Bass are biting on twister tails and spinners.

Contact at Ben Dodd (515) 432-2823, Ext.108, for information on the above area lakes

Anderson Area (Montgomery): Fishing is good for 8 to 10-inch crappies in the north pond along dam using small jigs and minnows.

Hacklebarney (Montgomery): Fishing is slow but a few crappies are being caught in deeper water around structure.

Lake Manawa (Pottawattamie): Crappies are being caught consistently on tube jigs or minnows. Try the north shore and/or the canals for the best crappie fishing.

Willow Lake (Harrison): Bluegill fishing is fair for 8-inch fish.

Orient (Adair): Fishing is good for 8-inch crappies using small jigs in the shallows along the shorelines.

Greenfield (Adair): Crappies are close to shore spawning. Fish with small jigs or float a minnow under a bobber close to shore along the dam and jetties.

Farm Ponds: Anglers are catching bass and crappies at some of the local ponds. Be sure to ask landowner for permission before fishing.

Prairie Rose: (Shelby): Anglers are catching 7-inch crappies next to shore in the rocks, as well as some channel catfish from shore.

Lake Anita (Cass): Fishing is fair for 7 to 8-inch crappies in shallow bays and around jetties. Bluegills are also being caught using small jigs and worms.

Contact Bryan Hayes at (712) 769-2587 for information on the above area lakes.

For more information on general fishing in southwest Iowa, call the regional office in Lewis at 712-769-2587.



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Southeast

Mississippi River Pools 16 to 20: The Mississippi River Pools 16 to 20 remain above flood stage but are steadily falling. Many boat ramps are still inaccessible due to high water. Water clarity has improved but it is still a little muddy. Water temperature is around 59 degrees.

In Pool 16, river stage at Lock and Dam 15 is 16.09 feet and falling. The Marquette St. boat ramp in Davenport is still closed due to high water and the ramp at the Fairport Recreational Area is also under water. Some channel catfish are being caught by shore anglers using shad guts. White bass are also being caught by shore anglers below the Lock and Dam in Davenport. For the white bass, try casting small jigs with twister tails or in-line spinners.

In Pool 17, river stage at Lock and Dam 16 is 16.39 feet and falling. The boat ramps in Muscatine and Big Timber are still closed due to high water. Fishing has been slow due to high water. In Pool 18, the river stage at Lock and Dam 17 is 18.05 feet and falling. The Toolesboro landing is still closed due to high water. Channel catfish are being caught on shad guts. In Pool 19, river stage at Lock and Dam 18 is 13.88 feet and falling. No fishing report. In Pool 20, river stage at Lock and Dam 19 is 17.44 feet and falling. No fishing report.

Lake Odessa (Louisa): Odessa is flooded. All boat ramps and the Toolesboro road are closed.

Lake Darling (Washington): Water temperature remains in the 50s. Most fish, including crappies, remain in deep water. If the warm weather continues, look for crappies to move in soon.

Lake Belva Deer (Keokuk): Anglers continue to catch catfish off the jetties. They are also catching some bluegills on the warm days in about five feet of water. Crappies are still out deep.

Lake Geode (Henry): Anglers are catching some bass along the dam and off the rocks and are starting to catch a few crappies.

Lake Rathbun (Appanoose): Crappies have started biting on small jigs fished around the flooded timber around the South Fork area of the lake. Channel catfish have been biting on night crawlers. Water temperature is 56 degrees.

Lake Sugema (Van Buren): Bluegills have been hitting on jigs tipped with a chunk of night crawler. Walleyes have been biting on jig and minnow combinations fished along the dam and other areas of the lake with rocky shorelines.

Lake Wapello (Davis): The lake is currently 6 feet low. The boat ramps are still useable for small boats only. Largemouth bass have been hitting on a variety of artificial lures fished along shoreline structure.

Lake Keomah (Mahaska): Largemouth bass have been hitting crankbaits and spinner baits. Bluegills have been biting on small jigs. Anglers are also catching bullheads on night crawlers.

Coralville Reservoir (Johnson): Anglers are catching a few walleyes/saugeyes below the Macbride spillway and on a few of the flooded roadbeds. Most are using a jig and white twister or a small crankbait.

Diamond Lake (Poweshiek): Channel catfish were being caught in the northeast end of the lake on night crawlers.

Pleasant Creek (Linn): Some largemouth bass are being taken on crankbaits and other artificial lures. The dam seems to be producing the best.

Skunk River (Keokuk and Washington): The river has returned below bank full, but heavy rains in the upper part of the North and South Skunk rivers should bring it right back up.

Iowa River (Louisa): The Iowa River is finally returning to its banks although it looks to be at flood stage at Wapello a little longer.

Cedar River (Muscatine and Louisa): The Cedar is finally back to its banks.

For more information on fishing in southeast Iowa, call the regional office in Brighton at 319-694-2430.

The river here in Muscatine has come up a foot overnight, sounds like the whole state had a hurricane. :x

Chopper wrote:

The river here in Muscatine has come up a foot overnight, sounds like the whole state had a hurricane. :x

I was going to hit the river tonight for the first time since the flood. Now that the water is back up it will prolly be another week or so before I go. :bang_head:

Chopper wrote:

The river here in Muscatine has come up a foot overnight, sounds like the whole state had a hurricane. :x

1.85 inches of rain here at the house and some random junk blew in from the neighbors