Southeast Iowa Fishing Reports

[Rick]

Lake Geode

The lake is clearing but it’s still a little turbid. Water temperature is in the low 80's. Best fishing is at first light and last light. Bluegill - Fair: Look for the bluegills to be on the outer edges of the weed beds and along the ledges going to deep water.

 

Lake Belva Deer

Bluegill - Good: With warm weather look for the bluegills to be out in 10 to 12 feet of water. You might find them in a little shallower just as the sun gets up but then they will head deep.

 

Lake Darling

Water temperature is around 84 degrees. Bluegill - Fair: Bluegills and most other fish are about 7 to 8 feet down around the willow bats and other flooded habitat.

 

Lost Grove Lake

The lake filled up to going over the spillway last week. Lost Grove Lake has an 18 inch minimum size limit for bass. Bluegill - Slow: Bluegill fishing has picked up a little but is still slow. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Look for bass near the causeway where the upper end of the lake comes through the culvert.

 

Skunk River (Coppock to Mississippi River)

The river is down to the level it normally is at during spring. Channel Catfish - Good: Anglers are doing well using cut bait and stink baits. There are a lot of grass frogs hopping around; catch a few of them for bait.

 

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

 

Lake Macbride

There is a 10 horsepower maximum in effect for boats on the lake. Walleye - Fair: Trolling crankbaits has been producing some fish. Channel Catfish – Fair.

 

Pleasant Creek Lake

Channel Catfish – Slow. White Bass – Slow. Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) – Slow.

 

Diamond Lake

Remember, no minnows are allowed here. Bluegill – Good. Channel Catfish – Good. Crappie - Fair: Fish deeper brush or drift the basin for suspended fish.

 

Otter Creek Lake

Yellow Bass - Fair: Fish spinners along shorelines. Bluegill - Fair: Fish worms or jigs around brush piles near the jetties.

 

Union Grove Lake

The lake has been drained for the renovation project.

 

Coralville Reservoir

As of July 23, the lake level is 689 feet (normal summer pool is 683.4 feet). It is falling about a foot a day and is predicted to reach normal pool on the 29th.

 

Iowa River (Marshalltown to Coralville Lake)

Flathead Catfish - Fair: Anglers are having luck on 5-15 pound fish caught on bullheads.

 

Wapsi River (Troy Mills to Oxford Junction)

Walleye - Fair: Crankbaits were reported as working. Smallmouth Bass - Fair: Crankbaits have also been working for smallmouth. Northern Pike – Fair. Largemouth Bass – Fair.

 

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

 

Lake Wapello

Largemouth Bass - Good: Top water lures can be productive this time of year when fished in the mornings and evenings. Look for areas where the cedar trees are sticking out the water for the best action. Bluegill - Fair: Anglers are catching bluegill along the shorelines. Tip small jigs with a chunk of night crawler. Channel Catfish - Fair: Try liver or night crawlers fished in about 8 feet of water.

 

Red Haw Lake

Bluegill - Fair: Use small jigs or a chunk of night crawler fished under a bobber. Largemouth Bass - Good: Try areas along the shoreline with structure. Fishing jetties and along the dam are also good areas. Use rubber worms or crankbaits in these areas. Channel Catfish - Good: Anglers are catching catfish using night crawlers and cut bait.

 

Hawthorn Lake (aka Barnes City Lake)

Hawthorn Lake has a slot length limit for largemouth bass and all 12 to 16 inch bass must be immediately released. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Concentrate on areas with rock. Use spinner baits or crankbaits along these areas. Rubber worms should also be good this time of year. Bluegill - Fair: Use small jigs or chunks of night crawler fished under a bobber. Some sorting may be required for larger fish. Black Bullhead - Fair: Recent surveys show good numbers of 9-11 inch bullheads. Try night crawlers fished on the bottom in about 6 feet of water.

 

Lake Keomah

Lake Keomah State Park is undergoing a road construction project so access to the park is limited. The boat ramps are still accessible by using the entrance to the north and east of the park.

 

Lake Miami

Lake Miami is now full. New jetties and cedar tree piles were installed during a lake renovation project. Anglers have reported catching largemouth bass and a few bluegills. Channel catfish have been stocked.

 

Lake Sugema

Lake Sugema has a 12-18 inch protected slot length limit for largemouth bass. Anglers are encouraged to harvest largemouth bass less than 12 inches in length to improve overall largemouth bass growth. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Top water lures should be tried in the early mornings and the evenings. Crankbaits can also be productive this time of year when fished along the jetties and along rocky shorelines. Walleye - Slow: Fish jig and minnow combos along the face of the dam. Try different depths until you find active fish. Bluegill - Fair: Use small jigs fished along the shoreline and underwater structure in 2-6 feet of water. Also try a chunk of night crawler fished about 12 inches below a bobber. Channel Catfish - Good: Anglers are catching catfish using crawdads and liver.

 

Rathbun Reservoir

The current lake level is 917.91 feet. The water temperature is 80 degrees. Lake Rathbun contains zebra mussels so make sure to properly drain, clean, and dry boats before transporting to another water body. Spray boats and trailers with high pressure hot water (above 104 degrees) or let them dry for at least 10 days (5 days in the sun).  Crappie - Fair: Anglers are having some luck fishing around docks using minnows. Sorting may be required for larger fish. Channel Catfish - Fair: Try areas where water is flowing into the lake. Use cut bait or chicken liver. Walleye - Slow: Drifting or trolling live bait along submerged points and rock piles can be good this time of year. Crankbaits should also be tried in the same areas. Use a crankbait that mimics a gizzard shad.

 

Take your trash with you so your favorite fishing spot is clean and litter free. Contact the Rathbun Fish Hatchery at 641-647-2406 with questions regarding angling in south central Iowa.

[Rick]

SOUTHEAST Iowa fishing reports

 

Lake Geode

The water has cleared and the temperature remains in the low 80's. Best fishing is at first light and last light. The thermocline has set up at 5 to 7 feet. Fishing any deeper than that won't do you any good; not enough oxygen below that. Bluegill - Fair: Look for bluegills on the outer edges of the weed beds and along the ledges going to deep water.

 

Lake Belva Deer

The thermocline is between 10 and 12 feet, fish any lower than that and you are wasting your time. Surface water temp remains near 83 degrees. Water clarity is 36 inches. Bluegill - Fair: Anglers are picking up some bluegills down about 8 to 10 feet deep.

 

Lake Darling

Water temperature continues to be in the low 80's degrees. But the cooler nights have started to cool the water down. Bluegill - Fair: Bluegills and most of the rest of the fish are about 7 to 8 feet down around the willow bats and other flooded habitat.

 

Lost Grove Lake

Lost Grove Lake has an 18 inch minimum size limit for bass. Bluegill - Slow: Bluegill fishing has picked up a little bit but is still pretty slow. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Look for bass to be near the causeway where the upper end of the lake comes through the culvert. Most of the bigger bass that are being caught are still above the causeway. Channel Catfish - Good: Anglers are picking up a good number of 12-14 inch catfish using night crawlers.

 

Big Hollow Lake

The duckweed has come back after the rains had flushed at least part of it out. Most of the fish are being caught in 5 to 6 feet of water where the thermocline is at. Bluegill - Good: Work your way around the algae and duckweed and you can find some pretty nice fish. Largemouth Bass - Good: Try at last light with some top water baits. Don’t be too surprised if you catch a small musky or two.

 

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

 

Lake Wapello

Largemouth Bass - Good: Top water lures can be productive this time of year when fished in the mornings and evenings. Look for areas where the cedar trees are sticking out the water for the best action. Bluegill - Fair: Anglers have been catching bluegill along the shorelines. Use a small jig tipped with a chunk of night crawler. Channel Catfish - Fair: Try liver or night crawlers fished in about 8 feet of water.

 

Red Haw Lake

Bluegill - Fair: Use small jigs or a chunk of night crawler fished under a bobber. Largemouth Bass - Good: Fishing jetties and along the dam are good areas to try using a rubber worm or a crankbait. Channel Catfish - Fair: Try using night crawlers and cut bait around the fishing jetties.

 

Hawthorn Lake (aka Barnes City Lake)

Hawthorn Lake has a slot length limit for largemouth bass and all 12 to 16-inch bass must be immediately released. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Concentrate on areas with rock and try spinner baits or crankbaits. Bluegill - Fair: Try small jigs or chunks of night crawler fished under a bobber. Some sorting may be required for larger fish. Black Bullhead - Fair: Recent surveys show good numbers of 9-11 inch bullheads. Try night crawlers fished on the bottom in about 6 feet of water.

 

Lake Keomah

Lake Keomah State Park is undergoing a road construction project so access to the park is limited. The boat ramps are still accessible by using the entrance to the north and east of the park.

 

Lake Miami

Lake Miami is full. New jetties and cedar tree piles were installed during a lake renovation project. Anglers have reported catching largemouth bass and a few bluegills. Channel catfish have also already been stocked.

 

Lake Sugema

Lake Sugema has a 12-18 inch protected slot length limit for largemouth bass. Anglers are encouraged to harvest largemouth bass less than 12 inches in length to improve overall largemouth bass growth. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Top water lures should be tried in the early mornings and evenings. Crankbaits can also be productive when fished along the jetties and along rocky shorelines. Walleye - Slow: Try jig and minnow combos along the face of the dam. Bluegill - Fair: Use small jigs fished along the shoreline in 2-6 feet of water. Also try a chunk of night crawler fished about 12 inches below a bobber. Channel Catfish - Good: Anglers have been catching catfish using crawdads and liver.

 

Rathbun Reservoir

The current lake level is 920.91. The water temperature is 78 degrees. Lake Rathbun contains zebra mussels so make sure to properly drain, clean, and dry boats before transporting to another water body. Spray boats and trailers with high pressure hot water (above 104 degrees) or let them dry for at least 10 days (5 days in the sun).  Crappie - Fair: Anglers have had some success trolling crankbaits and catching suspended crappies. Channel Catfish - Fair: Use cut bait or chicken liver in areas where water is flowing into the lake. Walleye - Slow: Anglers should try drifting or trolling live bait along submerged points and rock piles. Crankbaits should also be tried in the same areas. Use a crankbait that mimics a gizzard shad.

Take your trash with you so your favorite fishing spot is clean and litter free. Contact the Rathbun Fish Hatchery at 641-647-2406 with questions regarding angling in south central Iowa.