Des Moines River Fishing Reports

[Rick]

Have fun checking all the info below and let's swap info. We'd hope to hear from you too.

Iowa Fishing reports - Click here for even more SW Iowa info

The Saylorville and Red Rock tailwaters are still producing some walleyes using small jigs tipped with minnows or night crawlers. There are also some white bass being caught in both tailwaters, and a few wipers being caught in the Saylorville tailwater. Channel catfish are biting using dead shad or night crawlers fished on the bottom.

[Rick]

Polk and Marion Counties: Fishing at the Saylorville and Red Rock tailwaters has been slow, but is still producing a few walleyes using small jigs tipped with minnows or night crawlers. There are also some white bass being caught in both tailwaters, and a few wipers being caught in the Saylorville tailwater. Channel catfish are biting using dead shad or night crawlers fished on the bottom.

[Rick]

Des Moines River (Stratford to Saylorville Lake)

We have received no information regarding fishing on this water body this week. Channel Catfish - Fair: Channel catfish are being caught using cut bait or night crawlers. Flathead Catfish - Fair: Flathead catfish are moving and some nice sized fish have been caught below the Fraser dam.

Des Moines River (Saylorville to Red Rock): No Report

Des Moines River below Red Rock. White Bass - Good: Good numbers of white bass are being caught using jigs with live bait, small spinners, or casting spoons. Crappie - Good: Crappies are being caught below the spillway using minnows. Walleye - Fair: Walleyes are being caught using jig tipped with minnows or night crawlers.

[stam34]

how long is the stretch of river from stratford to saylorville does that stretch hold decent numbers of flatheads ?

[KansasBoy13]

Anyone been out below Red Rock lately? Wondering how the bite is going. Moving to Pella within next week and just curious how everyone is doing? Thanks.

[Rick]

Des Moines River (Stratford to Saylorville Lake)

Channel Catfish - Fair: Channel catfish are being caught using cut bait, liver, or night crawlers fished near any wood cover. Freshwater Drum - Excellent: Catching drum is no problem right now using night crawlers fished on the bottom.

Des Moines River (Saylorville to Red Rock)

Channel Catfish - Good: Channel catfish biting on small live sunfish, cut bait, liver, or night crawlers. Fish near any logjam, eddy, or riprap. White Bass - Good: White bass are being caught below the Saylorville spillway on jigs, spoons, or minnows. Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) - Fair: A few wipers have been caught below the Saylorville spillway using large jigs tipped with minnows.

[stam34]

Rick how is flathead fishing in the stratford stretch ?

[Rick]

I was hoping you'd tell me

[Joe]

White Bass - Good: Anglers are having success fishing for white bass below the Saylorville spillway. White bass have been off and on below the Red Rock spillway, but anglers are catching some every day. Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) - Good: Anglers fishing for white bass below the Red Rock spillway are having good success catching some 6 to 8 pounds and larger wipers.

[Joe]

Des Moines River (Saylorville to Red Rock)

White Bass - Good: Anglers are having success fishing for white bass below the Saylorville spillway. White bass have been off and on below the Red Rock spillway, but anglers are catching some every day. Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) - Good: Good sized wipers are still being caught below the Red Rock dam in the swift water.

[Joe]

Channel Catfish - Good: With the Des Moines River finally at good fishing levels there are good numbers of channel catfish being caught using fresh cut baits and stink baits.

[Joe]

Channel Catfish - Good: The Des Moines river is remaining at a good fishing level. There are good numbers of channel catfish being caught using crawfish, fresh cut baits and stink baits. After sunset and early mornings has been best.

[Joe]

White Bass - Good: White bass below the Saylorville spillway are hitting on jig and twisters, spoons, and lipless crankbaits. Walleye - Fair: The walleye bite remains slow to fair. Anglers fishing at Cottonwood with jigs tipped with minnows or twisters are catching a few walleye. Jig and crawler is also catching some walleye, but expect to catch numerous drum. A few walleye are also being caught with the same methods below the Scott Street dam.

[gloomiseye]

Got out below Saylorville tonight. We couldn't find any eyes willing to bite, but we did hear that a few people are picking them up. We did catch 4 sheephead and a carp lol, just felt good to get out and feel the fight of some open water fish.

[gloomiseye]

Des Moines River (Saylorville to Red Rock). Walleye-fair. Anglers have been having some good days below

the Red Rock spillway fishing for walleye. They are

throwing jigs with twisters and jigs with minnows.

[gloomiseye]

Des Moines River (Stratford to Saylorville Lake) Anglers are beginning to target walleye below the

Saylorville spillway. Success has not been as good

as it has been below the Red Rock spillway, but

some walleye are being caught. Bounce a jig

tipped with a minnow through the current seams.

Des Moines River (Saylorville to Red Rock)Anglers continue to catch occasional walleyes

below the Red Rock spillway. They are throwing

jigs with twisters or jigs with minnows.

[gloomiseye]

Anglers below the Saylorville spillway are averaging

around 1 walleye per outing. The fish have been

good size. The bite should become better when it

begins to warm up again. Bounce a jig tipped with

a minnow, or ring worm like soft plastics through

the current seams. Anglers continue to catch occasional walleyes

below the Red Rock spillway. They are throwing

jigs with twisters or jigs with minnows.

We have good flow right now, hope to try and get out the boat this weekend and see if we can find some eyes. Did try for some smallies on the skunk today but they didnt seem willing to bite.

[hamrej23]

Its weird but I fish the des moines way up in windom mn.

[gloomiseye]

Hows the fishing up there? Is the river pretty small?

[hamrej23]

Fishing's good. Yeah its really not that big. Of course froze now.

[gloomiseye]

Got out below Red Rock yesterday. Bite was slow for us, only snagged some carp. Did see a nice 20 or so incher caught near us. It sounds like the bite is decent though if you find the right pod. Did hear of a potential state record walleye caught somewhere on the Des Moines recently, ill post more info when I hear it.

[gloomiseye]

Bite is sloooow right now. Fished all day yesterday below saylorville in the boat and only managed to snag a drum and lost a huge carp. There was 10 other boats there too, but I didnt see them or the bank fishermen pick up anything.

[gloomiseye]

Sounds like the River bite is pretty good right now, a lot of keepers being caught with fish to 5-6 lbs pretty common. Man I hate school lol.

[gloomiseye]

Well got out on the river again today and it was slow again for us. Figures the water has been clear all week with a lot of fish being caught then today its dirty as heck. We only snagged some carp, I did snag a big buffalo. Oh well still fun to get out.

[gloomiseye]

Swung over to the river for a few hours today before the storms rolled in, only managed to catch a big carp and a nice smally both on crawlers.