Northeast Iowa Fishing Reports

[Rick]

NORTHEAST IOWA FISHING REPORTS

Cedar River (above Nashua)
Repairs to the Nashua dam continue as water levels and flows drop. Water levels are falling with good water clarity. Use caution; underwater hazards may have moved. Go to the USGS Current Conditions website for more information on water levels. Channel Catfish - Good: Use chicken liver and stinkbaits or dead chub fished on the bottom out of current. Walleye - Good: Try a jig tipped with a bright plastic tail for quick action. Smallmouth Bass - Good: Use a jig tipped with natural colored twister tails and crank or spinnerbaits.

Decorah District Streams
Wild parsnip has seeded out. Avoid touching this plant; it's sap causes painful blisters. All trout stream stockings are unannounced due to COVID-19 precautions. A small number of trout streams are not stocked in July and August due to marginal water temperatures; this is an annual occurrence. To check which ones, please visit our trout fishing website. Rainbow Trout - Excellent:Try a worm or cheese bait floated through a pool under a bobber. Use an ultra-light pole and reel for fun action. Try small crappie or bluegill jigs. Brown Trout - Good: Hoppers, beetles and bugs are plentiful. Use flies imitating terrestrial insects fished along grassed edges. Use hair jigs or spinners for aggressive fish. Brook Trout - Good: Please respect private property open to angling; pick up trash and be considerate. Bead-headed midges and pheasant tail nymphs work well.

Lake Hendricks
A severe green algal bloom continues to limit visibility. Early morning and evening bite are best. Bluegill - Fair: Try a small piece of worm on a hook under a bobber. Find fish along rocky shoreline in deeper water. Channel Catfish - Good: With warmer water temperatures, try cheese or stinkbaits. A fat juicy worm will also work. Largemouth Bass - Good: Use topwater lures or weedless hooks fished along weed edges. 

Lake Meyer
Water clarity is excellent. Filamentous algae mats are covering vegetation in shallow water. Fish early morning and evening when shadows aren't cast on the water. Bluegill - Fair: Try a small piece of worm fished under a bobber along a rocky shore. Largemouth Bass - Good: Use a jig tipped with a twister tail or worm fished along vegetated edges. Also try using a topwater lure. Channel Catfish - Good: Try chicken liver or nightcrawlers fished on the bottom :near stumps or other structure.

Turkey River (above Clermont)
Water levels are falling with improved clarity. Go to the USGS Current Conditions website for more information on water levels. Smallmouth Bass - Good: Try a jig tipped with a ringworm or twister tail fished along a current break or rock ledge. Walleye - Good: Find walleye in deeper holes around brush piles. Toss a jig tipped with a twister tail near a brush pile. 

Upper Iowa River (above Decorah)
Water levels are falling with improved clarity. Current remains strong. Water hazards may have moved. Walleye - Good: Flip a jig with twister tail along a brush pile or rock ledge. Smallmouth Bass - Good: Toss a small crankbait along a current break or rock ledge.

Upper Iowa River (below Decorah)
Water levels are falling with  excellent clarity. Walleye - Good: Find walleye along current breaks or around log jams. Smallmouth Bass - Good: Use a jig tipped with brightly colored plastics or a crankbait imitating crawdads. Channel Catfish - Good: Bank anglers using nightcrawlers fished on the bottom are catching catfish.

Volga Lake
Best bite is early morning or just before dark. A green algae bloom is causing poor water clarity. Bluegill - Fair: Use a small hook tipped with waxworm or small piece of nightcrawler fished around brush piles and rocky shores. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Use a jig tipped with a ringworm or twister tail. Channel Catfish - Good: Try a nightcrawler, cheese bait or chicken livers fished on the bottom. Best catfishing lake around. 

Area rivers and streams water levels continue to fall. Flows remain high. Water clarity is excellent. Expect a pleasant weekend with low humidity and temperatures in the 80's for highs and 60's for lows. Pop-up thunderstorms are possible. For current fishing information, please call the Chuck Gipp Decorah Fish Hatchery at 563-382-8324.

Casey Lake (aka Hickory Hills Lake)
Anglers are catching largemouth bass, bluegill, crappie and channel catfish. Some sorting may be needed on bluegill; crappie and catfish angling is best early morning or late evening. Largemouth Bass - Good: Cast crankbaits, spinnerbaits, topwater and plastics. Black Crappie - Good: Cast and retrieve colored tube jigs. Bluegill - Good: Try a small piece of worm under a bobber with a small split shot sinker and small hook. Channel Catfish - Good: Cast dead cut baits, chicken livers or stinkbait on the bottom of the lake; early morning or later evening bite is best.

Cedar River (Nashua to La Porte City)
Channel Catfish - Good: Cast dead cut baits, chicken livers or stinkbait on the bottom of the river; early morning or later evening bite is best.

George Wyth Lake
Good reports of largemouth bass being caught. Newly placed habitat in and around the floating pier may provide success. Largemouth Bass - Good: Cast crankbaits, spinnerbaits, topwater and plastics. Bluegill - Fair: Use a small piece of worm under a bobber with a small split shot sinker and small hook.

Maquoketa River (above Monticello)
Anglers are catching walleye and smallmouth bass on the Maquoketa River. Smallmouth Bass - Fair: Cast spinnerbaits or crankbaits. Walleye - Fair: Cast crankbaits or fish a half of a crawler on a jig and plastic rig.

Shell Rock River (Greene to Shell Rock)
We received no information about fishing on this waterbody this week.

South Prairie Lake
Channel Catfish - Good: Early morning and late evening bite is best. Try shrimp, stinkbait, or chicken livers fished on the bottom.

Wapsipinicon River (Tripoli to Troy Mills)
We received no information about fishing on this waterbody this week. Smallmouth Bass - Fair: Cast spinnerbaits or crankbaits. Walleye - Fair: Cast crankbaits or fish a half of a crawler on a jig and plastic rig. Northern Pike - Good: Cast spoons, spinnerbaits, or crankbaits. 

Interior rivers continue to drop and are providing some catches of smallmouth bass, walleye, northern pike and channel catfish. Lakes in and around Cedar Falls/Waterloo area are providing some catches of largemouth bass. Trout streams remain in excellent condition. All three trout hatcheries remain closed. Call the Manchester Hatchery at 563-927-3276 for more information.

 

MISSISSIPPI RIVER FISHING REPORTS NE

Mississippi River Pool 9
River level is 9.17 feet at Lansing and is expected to rise over the weekend to 9.5 feet and then stabilize. Water temperature is in the low 80's. New Albin Army road is open. Hwy 82, Lansing Bridge has reopened. Use caution at ramps during low water. Lansing Village Creek is shallow near the creek mouth. Heytman's Landing is accessible with shallow drive boats only. Walleye - Good: Walleyes are biting on crankbaits on wing dams and channel border structure. Northern Pike - Good: Try in areas of colder streams and springs entering the Mississippi River. Yellow Perch - Fair: Use a small piece of crawler fished just off the bottom near shorelines with slight current. Black Crappie - Good: Crappies are in about 10 feet of water. Use a minnow under a bobber in areas with less current in backwaters or side channels. Largemouth Bass - Good: Cast plastics or blade baits along edges of vegetation beds in backwater lakes. Smallmouth Bass - Excellent: Try spinnerbaits fished in rock piles at the tip of the islands on main channel borders. Shovelnose sturgeon - Fair: Some shovelnose are being picked up with a crawler fished off the bottom in main channel areas. Flathead Catfish - Fair: Flathead bite has slowed, but some are being caught on shiners or a small bluegill for bait. Channel Catfish - Excellent: Try nightcrawlers or cut bait fished off the bottom in deeper side channel areas. Bluegill - Good: Bluegills are spawning. Use light tackle tipped with small piece of worm along the shorelines. Freshwater Drum - Excellent: Use a crawler fished on the bottom along current breaks.

Mississippi River Pool 10
River level is 617 feet at Lynxville and is expected to rise a foot over the weekend to 618.1 feet and then stabilize. Water temperature is in the low 80's. Sny Magill access is open. Walleye - Good: Walleyes are biting on crankbaits on wing dams and channel border structure. Northern Pike - Excellent: Try in areas of colder streams and springs entering the Mississippi River. Yellow Perch - Excellent: Use a small piece of crawler fished just off the bottom near shorelines with slight current. Black Crappie - Good: Crappies are in 8-10 feet of water. Use a minnow under a bobber in areas near current breaks in backwaters and side channels. Largemouth Bass - Good: Cast plastics or blade baits along edges of vegetation beds in backwater lakes. Smallmouth Bass - Good: Try spinnerbaits fished in rock piles at the tip of the islands on main channel borders. Shovelnose sturgeon - Good: Some shovelnose are being picked up using a crawler fished off the bottom in main channel areas. Flathead Catfish - Fair: Flathead bite has slowed, but some are still being caught on shiners or a small bluegill for bait. Channel Catfish - Excellent: Try nightcrawlers or cut bait fished off the bottom in deeper side channel areas.  Bluegill - Excellent: Bluegills are spawning. Use light tackle tipped with small piece of worm along the shorelines. Freshwater Drum - Excellent: Try a crawler fished on the bottom along current breaks.

Mississippi River Pool 11
River level is 8.9 feet at Guttenberg and is expected to rise a foot over the weekend to 9.8 feet and then stabilize. Water temperature is in the low 80's. Walleye - Good: Walleyes are biting on crankbaits on wing dams and channel border structure. Northern Pike - Excellent: Try in areas of colder streams and springs entering the Mississippi River. Yellow Perch - Fair: Use a small piece of crawler fished just off the bottom near shorelines with slight current. Black Crappie - Good: Crappies are in about 10 feet of water. Use a minnow under a bobber in areas with less current in backwaters and side channels. Largemouth Bass - Good: Cast plastics or blade baits along edges of vegetation beds in backwater lakes. Smallmouth Bass - Excellent: Try spinnerbaits fished in rock piles at the tip of the islands on main channel borders. Shovelnose sturgeon - Fair: Some shovelnose are being picked up with a crawler fished off the bottom in main channel areas. Flathead Catfish - Fair: Flathead bite has slowed, but some are still being caught on shiners or a small bluegill for bait. Channel Catfish - Excellent: Try nightcrawlers or cut bait fished off the bottom in deeper side channel areas. Bluegill - Good: Bluegills are spawning. Use light tackle tipped with small piece of worm along the shorelines. Freshwater Drum - Excellent: Try a crawler fished on the bottom along current breaks.

Upper Mississippi River levels are expected to rise slightly over the weekend and then stabilize. Water clarity is good. Walleye slot length limits now apply on the entire Mississippi River. All walleyes less than 15 inches long and between 20-27 inches long must be released immediately. Only one walleye greater than 27 inches can be kept. Combined walleye/sauger daily harvest limit of 6 and possession of 12.

 

Mississippi River Pool 12
Water levels are expected to recede slowly. The water level is near 7.2 feet at the Lock and Dam and 10.2 feet at the RR bridge.The water temperature is around 80 degrees. The water clarity is good. Northern Pike - Good: Flashy spinners in eddy areas or along weed lines will take this toothy predator. Bluegill - Slow: Bluegills are still being reported in shallow backwater areas near brush piles. Channel Catfish - Excellent: Lots of anglers are using prepared stinkbaits. Try floating worms along rock lines.  Freshwater Drum - Excellent: Freshwater drum are easy to catch on an egg sinker and worm rig. Fish in moderate current. Largemouth Bass - Good: Lots of bass are being taken off lily pad areas on spinnerbaits or frog imitation lures. Smallmouth Bass - Good: Some smallies have moved in along the rock piles; use flashy spoons or crankbaits. Walleye – Slow. White Bass - Good: Many white bass are being caught in the Dubuque tailwater on white jigs.

Mississippi River Pool 13
Water level is near 8.2 feet at the Bellevue Lock and Dam. The water temperature is 80 degrees. The water clarity is good. Channel Catfish - Excellent: Catfish have moved along rock lines and brush piles in moderate current. Most anglers are using prepared stinkbaits. Freshwater Drum - Excellent: Freshwater drum are easy to catch on a sinker and worm rig. Fish in moderate current. Northern Pike - Good: Try flashy spinners fished along old weed edges and rock shorelines. Largemouth Bass - Excellent: Bass are being taken off lily pad areas on spinnerbaits or frog imitation lures. Some are also being caught off the rocks in the tailwater. Bluegill - Fair: Try fishing around brush piles in larger sloughs with reduced current. Flathead Catfish - Good: Use live fish for bait. Lots of trot lines are being set; make sure you follow trot lines rules, especially having a tag with your name and address attached to the lines. White Bass - Fair: Some white bass are being reported in the tailwater; use flashy small spinners.

Mississippi River Pool 14
The water level is near 7.5 feet at the Fulton Lock and Dam, 11 feet at Camanche and 6 feet at LeClaire. Water temperature is 80 degrees. Water clarity is good. Channel Catfish - Excellent: Anglers are using prepared stinkbaits along rock lines. Freshwater Drum - Excellent: Freshwater drum are easy to catch on a worm sinker and worm rig. Fish in moderate current. Largemouth Bass - Good: Lots of bass are being taken off lily pad areas on spinnerbaits or frog imitation lures. Some are being taken off of exposed rock piles. Northern Pike - Good: Use flashy spinners along backwater shorelines or in the tailwaters for this aggressive fish. Flathead Catfish - Excellent: Try live fish for bait. Lots of trot lines are being set; make sure you follow trot lines rules, especially having a tag with your name and address attached to the lines. Bluegill - Fair: Find bluegills near the mouths of large backwater areas, usually around brush piles. Smallmouth Bass - Good: Try spinners or crankbaits along rip-rap areas.

Mississippi River Pool 15
Water level is around 8.6 feet at Rock Island and is receding. The water temperature is 80 degrees; water clarity is good. Freshwater Drum - Excellent: Freshwater drum are easy to catch on a worm sinker and worm rig. Fish in moderate current. Channel Catfish - Excellent: Channel cats are readily biting on cut bait and prepared baits. Flathead Catfish - Excellent: Try live bait around brush piles or in the tailwater area. Smallmouth Bass - Fair: Fish the rocky habitats along the channel edge. White Bass - Fair: A few white bass are starting to show up in the creel on white jigs or small spinners.

Water level is expected to slowly recede. Water temperature is near 80 degrees. If you have any fishing questions, please contact the Bellevue Fisheries Station 563-880-8781

[Rick]

NORTHEAST IOWA  FISHING REPORTS

Cedar River (above Nashua)
Repairs to the Nashua dam continue as water levels and flows drop. Water levels are falling with good water clarity. Use caution; underwater hazards may have moved. Go to the USGS Current Conditions website for more information on water levels. Channel Catfish - Good: Use chicken liver and stinkbaits or dead chub fished on the bottom in slow water. Walleye - Good: Try a jig tipped with a bright plastic tail for quick action. Smallmouth Bass - Good: Use a jig tipped with natural colored twister tails or nightcrawler in the brush piles. Black Crappie - Fair: Find crappie in brush piles or around woody structure. Use a minnow under a bobber. 

Decorah District Streams
All trout stream stockings are unannounced due to COVID-19 precautions. A small number of trout streams are not stocked in July and August due to marginal water temperatures; this is an annual occurrence. To check which ones, please visit our trout fishing website. Rainbow Trout - Excellent:Try a worm or cheese bait floated through a pool under a bobber. Use an ultra-light pole and reel for fun action. Try small crappie or bluegill jigs. Brown Trout - Good: Hoppers, beetles and bugs are plentiful. Use flies imitating terrestrial insects fished along grassed edges. Use hair jigs or spinners for aggressive fish. Brook Trout - Good: Please respect private property open to angling; pick up trash and be considerate. Bead-headed midges and pheasant tail nymphs work well.

Lake Hendricks
A green algal bloom continues to limit visibility. Early morning and evening bite are best. Bluegill - Fair: Try a small piece of worm on a small hook under a bobber. Find fish along rocky shoreline in deeper water. Channel Catfish - Good: With warmer water temperatures, try cheese or stinkbaits. A fat juicy worm will also work. Best bite is late evening. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Use topwater lures or weedless hooks fished along weed edges. 

Lake Meyer
Water clarity is excellent at 7 feet. Filamentous algae mats are covering vegetation in shallow water. Fish early morning and evening when shadows aren't cast on the water. Bluegill - Fair: Try a small piece of worm fished under a bobber along a rocky shore. Largemouth Bass - Good: Use a jig tipped with a twister tail or worm fished along vegetated edges. Also try using a topwater lure. Channel Catfish - Good: Try chicken liver or nightcrawlers fished on the bottom :near stumps or other structure.

Turkey River (above Clermont)
Water levels are falling. You might have to walk through some riffles. Clarity is excellent. Go to the USGS Current Conditions website for more information on water levels. Smallmouth Bass - Good: Try a jig tipped with a ringworm or twister tail fished along a current break or rock ledge. Walleye - Good: Find walleye in deeper holes around brush piles. Toss a jig tipped with a twister tail near a brush pile. 

Upper Iowa River (above Decorah)
Water levels are falling with excellent clarity. Water hazards may have moved and sandbars are appearing. Walleye - Good: Flip a jig with twister tail along a brush pile or deeper pool. Smallmouth Bass - Slow: Toss a small crankbait along a current break or rock ledge.

Upper Iowa River (below Decorah)
Water levels are falling with excellent clarity. Sand and gravel bars are appearing. You might have to walk in a few places. Walleye - Good: Find walleye in deeper pools or around log jams. Try a jig with natural colored plastics. Smallmouth Bass - Fair: Use a jig tipped with brightly colored plastics or a crankbait imitating crawdads fished in current breaks and deeper holes. Channel Catfish - Good: Anglers using nightcrawlers fished on the bottom towards dark in slower water are catching catfish.

Volga Lake
Best bite is early morning or just before dark. A green algae bloom is causing poor water clarity. Bluegill - Fair: Use a small hook tipped with waxworm or small piece of nightcrawler fished around brush piles and rocky shores. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Use a jig tipped with a ringworm or twister tail. Channel Catfish - Good: Try a nightcrawler, cheese bait or chicken livers fished on the bottom. Best catfishing lake around. 

Area rivers and streams water levels continue to fall. Water clarity is excellent. Expect a hot humid weekend with temperatures in the upper 80's for highs and 60's for lows. Pop-up thunderstorms are possible. For current fishing information, please call the Chuck Gipp Decorah Fish Hatchery at 563-382-8324.

Casey Lake (aka Hickory Hills Lake)
Largemouth Bass - Good: Cast crankbaits and topwater artificial baits. Bluegill - Excellent: Try a piece of nightcrawler under a bobber. Channel Catfish - Excellent: Try stinkbaits or leopard frogs fished on the bottom of the lake.

Cedar River (Nashua to La Porte City)
Reports for walleye has been good in Bremer County. Channel Catfish - Good: Try fishing above fallen tree snags with stinkbaits or fresh chicken livers. Walleye - Good: Cast crankbaits or a jig tipped with a nightcrawler.

Shell Rock River (Greene to Shell Rock)
Walleye - No Report: Cast crankbaits or a jig tipped with a nightcrawler. Smallmouth Bass - No Report: Cast crankbaits or a jig tipped with a nightcrawler.

Wapsipinicon River (Tripoli to Troy Mills)
Reports of channel catfish being caught on the Wapsipinicon River. Channel Catfish - Good: Try fishing above fallen tree snags with stinkbaits or fresh chicken livers.

Interior rivers continue to drop and are providing excellent angling opportunities. Lakes in and around Cedar Falls/Waterloo area have been good for largemouth bass. Trout streams remain in excellent condition. All three trout hatcheries remain closed. Call the Manchester Hatchery at 563-927-3276 for more information.

 

MISSISSIPPI RIVER  FISHING REPORTS

Mississippi River Pool 16
Tailwater stage is 9.46 feet at Lock and Dam 15 in the Quad Cities and has risen close to a foot since last week. Tailwater stage is forecast to start falling over the weekend.   Channel Catfish - Good: Use chicken livers or dip baits around brush piles and snags along the main channel and side channels. White Crappie - No Report: Look for crappies in the backwaters. Try jigs and plastics or minnows fished in Sunset Marina or Andalusia Island Complex. Bluegill - No Report: Try pieces of worm under a bobber in Sunset Marina or Andalusia Island Complex. Walleye - Fair: Look for walleyes on the wingdams or Sylvan Slough. Try trolling crankbaits or three-way rigs with pieces of crawler. White Bass - Fair: Some white bass are being caught in Sylvan Slough. Cast jigs and twister tails or crankbaits. 

Mississippi River Pool 17
Tailwater stage is 8.06 feet at Lock and Dam 16 in Muscatine and has been rising the past few days. Tailwater stage is forecast to start falling over the weekend. The ramp at Big Timber is open. The Kilpeck Landing is also open. Channel Catfish - No Report: Use chicken livers or dip baits around brush piles and snags in the main channel and side channels. White Bass -Good: Look for white bass by the dam or by GPC. Cast jigs and twister tails or crankbaits. Bluegill - No Report: Look for bluegills in the backwaters. Try pieces of worm under a bobber fished around brush piles in Big Timber or Cleveland Slough. Walleye - No Report: Look for walleyes on the wing dams. Try trolling crankbaits or pulling three-way rigs with crawlers.

Mississippi River Pool 18
Tailwater stage is 9.12 feet at Lock and Dam 17 at New Boston and has been rising the past few days. Tailwater stage is forecast to start falling over the weekend. The Toolsboro ramp is open. Channel Catfish - No Report: Use or chicken livers or dip baits around brush piles and snags in the main channel and side channels. White Bass - Fair: Cast crankbaits in Belle Pocket. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Some largemouth bass are being caught in Boston Bay. 

Mississippi River Pool 19
Tailwater stage is 5.60 feet at Lock and Dam 18 has been been rising the past few days. Tailwater stage is forecast to start falling over the weekend. River stage is 11.08 feet at Burlington.  River stage is 526.46 feet at Ft. Madison. We have not received any fishing report information for this pool this week.

River stages have been rising the past few days, but are forecast to start falling over the weekend. Main channel water temperature is around 77 degrees. Water clarity is fair. If you have questions on fishing Pools 16-19 contact the Fairport Fish Hatchery at 563-263-5062.

[Rick]

NORTHEAST IOWA FISHING REPORTS

Cedar River (above Nashua)
Repairs to the Nashua dam continue as water levels and flows drop. Water levels are falling with good water clarity. Use caution; underwater hazards may have moved. Go to the USGS Current Conditions website for more information on water levels. Channel Catfish - Good: Use dead chubs, stinkbaits and worms fished near bottom near dusk in woody debris or stumps. Walleye - Good: Fish are active in the evening. Try near current breaks and in log jams. Be prepared to run your lure near bottom of pools. Smallmouth Bass - Good: Use a jig tipped with natural colored twister tails or ringworm in current breaks or rock ledges and gravel bars. Black Crappie - Fair: Try minnows fished under a bobber near downed trees and slow water or pool areas.

Decorah District Streams
All trout stream stockings are unannounced due to COVID-19 precautions. A small number of trout streams are not stocked in August due to marginal water temperatures; this is an annual occurrence. To check which ones, please visit our trout fishing website. Rainbow Trout - Excellent: Hoppers, beetles and anything that looks buggy will work this time of year. Try along grassed edges, undercut banks and around boulders. Use hair jigs or spinners for aggressive fish. Brown Trout - Excellent: There have been excellent evening mayfly hatches. A keen eye and a fly box filled with a variety of sizes and colors will help match a hatch. Brook Trout - Good: Please respect private property open to angling; pick up trash and be considerate. Use a variety of small terrestrial flies such as crickets, grasshoppers and ants.

Lake Hendricks
Water clarity remains fair and very green. Water temperatures in the mid to upper 70's. Bluegill - Fair: Shore anglers will find fish around the jetties or along the weed lines. Use a small piece of worm under a bobber. Channel Catfish - Good: Try a worm or stinkbait fished near the bottom around woody structure in the evening. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Use topwater lures fished along weed edges. 

Lake Meyer
Water clarity is good. Early morning and evening bite is best. An excellent lake to use a paddle board or kayak to fish the nooks and crannies. Bluegill - Fair: Good: Use a small hook tipped with a small piece of worm under a bobber from shore. Fly anglers should try a small cricket with a jerky movement on the waters surface along a weed edge. Largemouth Bass - Good: Use a topwater lure in the evening when fish are actively feeding. Also try a jig tipped with a plastic worm. Channel Catfish - Good: Try stinkbait or worms fished on the bottom around woody structure near dusk.

Turkey River (below Clermont)
Water levels are getting down to summer lows. Walleye - Good: Use a jig tipped with natural colored plastics or crankbait in deeper holes and log jams. Fish deeper for walleye holding near the bottom. Smallmouth Bass - Fair: Try a variety of brightly colored lures in eddies or along rocky ledges.

Upper Iowa River (above Decorah)
Water levels are falling with excellent clarity. Sand and gravel bars are appearing. You might have to walk in a few places. Walleye - Good.

Upper Iowa River (below Decorah)
Water levels are falling with excellent clarity. Sand and gravel bars are appearing; take advantage of these spots to fish the eddies or deeper areas. Walleye - Good. Smallmouth Bass - Fair.

Volga Lake
A green algae bloom is causing poor water clarity. Blooms should clear as water cools. Bluegill - Fair: Use a small hook tipped with a piece of worm. Wait for the bobber to go under the water, then give the line a quick jerk to set the hook. Keep the rod tip up to put tension on the line while reeling in the fish. Largemouth Bass - Good: Slowly troll a lure over fish attracting structure and get ready to set the hook. Try crankbaits or a jig with a twister tail. Channel Catfish - Excellent: Use worms or stinkbait fished near dusk. Find a good stump or woody structure to toss bait and wait; patience is key for this fish.

Water levels on area rivers are low. Clarity is good on most. Thunderstorms are possible Friday into Saturday morning. Temperatures are in the 70's. For current fishing information, please call the Chuck Gipp Decorah Fish Hatchery at 563-382-8324.

 

Big Woods Lake
A few reports of anglers catching crappie in Big Woods Lake. Black Crappie - Fair: Try vertical jigging or casting colored tube jigs around structure or drifting a minnow under a slip bobber.

Casey Lake (aka Hickory Hills Lake)
Largemouth Bass - Good: Try crankbaits and topwater artificial baits. Bluegill - Good: Cast a piece of nightcrawler under a bobber. Channel Catfish - Good: Try stinkbaits or leopard frogs fished on the bottom of the lake.

Cedar River (Nashua to La Porte City)
Reports for walleye has been good in Bremer County. Channel Catfish - Good: Try stinkbaits or fresh chicken livers fished above fallen tree snags. Walleye - Good: Cast crankbaits or a jig tipped with a nightcrawler.

Shell Rock River (Greene to Shell Rock)
Walleye - No Report: Cast crankbaits or a jig tipped with a nightcrawler. Smallmouth Bass - No Report: Cast crankbaits or a jig tipped with a nightcrawler.

Wapsipinicon River (Tripoli to Troy Mills)
Reports of channel catfish being caught on the Wapsipinicon River. Channel Catfish - Good: Try stinkbaits or fresh chicken livers fished above fallen tree snags.

Interior rivers continue to drop and are providing excellent angling opportunities. Lakes in and around Cedar Falls/Waterloo area have been good for largemouth bass. Trout streams are in excellent condition. All fish hatcheries remain closed. Call the Manchester Hatchery at 563-927-3276 for more information.

 

MISSISSIPPI RIVER FISHING REPORTS - NORTH

Mississippi River Pool 9
Pool level is 8.8 feet at Lansing and remains stable. Water temperature is 77 degrees. Walleye - Good: Walleyes are feeding on the wing dams; drift crawlers or crankbaits. Largemouth Bass - Good: Largemouth are hanging out along weed beds and along channel borders. Smallmouth Bass - Excellent: Try crankbaits fished on rock tips of islands in the main channel. Flathead Catfish - Good: Smaller flatheads are biting on worms fished in the deeper tailwaters of dams. Channel Catfish - Excellent: Try prepared stinkbait and worms fished in current along rock shorelines. Freshwater Drum - Excellent: Drum are biting on worms sunk to the bottom in areas of current.

Mississippi River Pool 10
Pool 10 at Lynxville is stable near 616 feet. Water clarity is good. Water temperature is near 79 degrees. Walleye - Good: Walleye are feeding on the wing dams; drift crawlers or crankbaits. Largemouth Bass - Good: Largemouth are hanging out along weed beds and along channel borders.  Flathead Catfish - Good: Smaller flatheads are biting on worms fished in the deeper tailwaters of dams. Channel Catfish - Excellent: Try prepared stinkbait and worms fished in current along rock shorelines. Smallmouth Buffalo - Excellent: Use crankbaits fished on rock tips of islands in the main channel. Freshwater Drum - Excellent: Drum are biting on worms sunk to the bottom in areas of current.

Mississippi River Pool 11
Pool 11 is 7.5 feet and is predicted to remain stable. Water temperature is in the mid-70's. Water clarity is good. Walleye - Good: Walleyes are feeding on the wing dams; drift crawlers or crankbaits. Largemouth Bass - Good: Largemouth are hanging out along weed beds and along channel borders. Smallmouth Bass - Excellent: Try crankbaits fished on rock tips of islands in the main channel. Flathead Catfish - Good: Smaller flatheads are biting on worms fished in the deeper tailwaters of dams. Channel Catfish - Excellent: Try prepared stinkbait and worms fished in current along rock shorelines. Freshwater Drum - Excellent: Drum are biting on worms sunk to the bottom in areas of current.

Upper Mississippi River levels remain stable. Water clarity is good. Walleye slot length limits now apply on the entire Mississippi River. All walleyes less than 15 inches long and between 20-27 inches long must be released immediately. Only one walleye greater than 27 inches can be kept. Combined walleye/sauger daily harvest limit of 6 and possession of 12.

 

Mississippi River Pool 12
Water levels are expected to remain steady this week. The water level is 6.9 feet at the Lock and Dam and 9.2 feet at the RR bridge. The water temperature is around 79 degrees. The water clarity is excellent. Northern Pike - Good: Flashy spinners in eddy areas or along weed lines will take this toothy predator. Bluegill - Fair: A few bluegills reported in shallow backwater areas near brush piles. Expect them to move along the channel edges in low water. Channel Catfish - Excellent: Lots of channel catfish are being caught on prepared stink baits. Try floating worms along rock lines.  Freshwater Drum - Excellent: Freshwater drum are easy to catch on an egg sinker and worm rig. Fish in moderate current. Largemouth Bass - Excellent: Bass are being taken off lily pad areas on spinnerbaits or frog imitation lures. Smallmouth Bass - Excellent: Find smallmouth bass along rock piles with strong current; use flashy spoons or crankbaits. Walleye – Fair: Floating grass is hampering walleye fishing; wing dam fishing could be good in the next few weeks if the water remains low. White Bass - Fair: Some white bass are being caught in the Dubuque tailwater on white jigs. Look for feeding schools elsewhere. Black Crappie - Good: Crappie are being taken out of brush piles and marina areas on small jigs and minnows. Flathead Catfish - Excellent: Smaller flatheads are being taken on worms in deeper holes and in the tailwater.

Mississippi River Pool 13
The water level is 7.3 feet at the Bellevue Lock and Dam. The water temperature is 79 degrees. The water clarity is good. Channel Catfish - Excellent: Catfish are along rock lines and brush piles in moderate current. Most anglers are using prepared stinkbaits. Freshwater Drum - Excellent: Freshwater drum are easy to catch on a sinker and worm rig. Fish in moderate current. Northern Pike - Good: Try flashy spinners fished along old weed edges and rock shorelines. Largemouth Bass - Excellent: Bass are being taken off lily pad areas on spinnerbaits or frog imitation lures. Some are also being caught off the rocks in the tailwater. Bluegill - Fair: Try fishing around brush piles in larger sloughs with reduced current. Flathead Catfish - Excellent: Use live fish for bait. Lots of trot lines are being set; make sure you follow trot lines rules, especially having a tag with your name and address attached to the lines. Smaller flatheads are being taken in deep holes or in the tailwater on worms. White Bass - Fair: White bass are being reported in the tailwater; use flashy small spinners. Walleye - Slow: Walleye fishing remains slow, but many feel it should pick up soon with this low water.

Mississippi River Pool 14
The water level is 6.7 feet at the Fulton Lock and Dam, 10.5 feet at Camanche and 5.5 feet at LeClaire. Water temperature is 79 degrees. Water clarity is good. Channel Catfish - Excellent: Anglers are using prepared stinkbaits along rock lines. Freshwater Drum - Excellent: Freshwater drum are easy to catch on a worm sinker and worm rig. Fish in moderate current. Largemouth Bass - Good: Bass are being taken off lily pad areas on spinnerbaits or frog imitation lures. Some are being taken off of exposed rock piles. Northern Pike - Good: Use flashy spinners along backwater shorelines or in the tailwaters for this aggressive fish. Flathead Catfish - Excellent: Try live fish for bait. Lots of trot lines are being set; make sure you follow trot lines rules, especially having a tag with your name and address attached to the lines. Bluegill - Fair: Find bluegills near the mouths of large backwater areas, usually around brush piles. As water levels get low look for bluegills along the channel edges. Smallmouth Bass - Good: Try spinners or crankbaits along rip-rap areas. White Bass - No Report: Expect white bass to be hitting in the tailwaters and elsewhere. Look for feeding schools of fish; use flashy small spinners. Walleye - Fair: Floating grass is hampering walleye fishing; wing dam fishing could be good in the next few weeks if the water remains low.

Mississippi River Pool 15
Water level is around 7 feet at Rock Island and is receding. The water temperature is 79 degrees; water clarity is good. Freshwater Drum - Excellent: Freshwater drum are easy to catch on a worm sinker and worm rig. Fish in moderate current. Channel Catfish - Excellent: Channel cats are readily biting on cut bait and prepared baits. Flathead Catfish - Excellent: Try live bait around brush piles or in the tailwater area. Smallmouth Bass - Fair: Fish the rocky habitats along the channel edge. 

Water level is expected to hold somewhat steady. Water temperature is near 79 degrees. If you have any fishing questions, please contact the Bellevue Fisheries Station 563-880-8781.