CLEAR LAKE – This weekly fishing report is compiled from information gathered from local bait shops, angler creel surveys and county and state parks staff. For current information, contact the district fisheries office at the phone number listed at the end of each district report.
NORTHWEST
Beeds Lake
Black Crappie – Fair: Drift fish or troll with a tube jig or small minnow. Yellow Bass – Fair: Drift fish or troll with a small jig.
Clear Lake
Surface water temperature is 72 degrees. Walleye – Fair: Troll crankbaits in 6 to 10 feet of water. Channel Catfish – Fair: Use cut bait or crawlers fished after sunset. Black Crappie – Slow: Drift a jig and minnow over deeper submerged vegetation. Yellow Bass – Fair: Drift or troll a small jig tipped with cut bait or a minnow in 6 to 10 feet of water until you find the fish.
Crystal Lake
Black Crappie – Fair: Drift or troll small tube jigs in the dredge cut.
For information on the lakes and rivers in the north central area, contact the Clear Lake Fish and Wildlife office at 641-357-3517.
East Okoboji Lake
Yellow Bass – Good: Excellent bite continues with good numbers of fish being caught. Cast mini-jigs or hair-jigs or use small baits tipped with wigglers. Walleye – Good: Numbers of fish are being caught with traditional baits; good numbers of yellow bass are mixed in with the catch. Bluegill – Good: The bite has fluctuated with the changing weather, but persistence will be rewarded with good numbers caught.
Lake Pahoja
Bluegill – Good: Recent surveys show good numbers of large angler size fish in the lake.
Lost Island Lake
Walleye – Good: Walleye action has improved; reports of the best action in areas with flow. Yellow Bass – Good: Reports of yellow bass being caught with black crappie and yellow perch up to 10 inches mixed in the catch. Use small lures such as a twister tail or hair jigs. Channel Catfish – Good: Anglers report catching large channel catfish after dark. Bluegill – Good: Recent surveys show numbers of fish about 7 inches in the lake. Black Crappie – Good: Recent surveys show numbers of angler acceptable size fish up to 10 inches in the lake.
Spirit Lake
Walleye – Fair: The walleye bite has slowed, but persistence will be rewarded with good catches of fish. Yellow Perch – Good: Good numbers of angler acceptable size yellow perch are being caught shallow; start on the outside line of the weed beds. Bluegill – Good: Reports of bluegill, crappie and yellow perch being caught in the Illinois Pondweed in 8 – 10 feet of water. Use a slip bobber and jigs to fish fast and find active fish.
Trumbull Lake
Yellow Perch – Fair: Anglers fishing from a boat or kayak report some perch action from the lake.
Tuttle Lake
Walleye – Fair: Use crankbaits in the basin.
West Fork Des Moines (state line to Emmetsburg)
Channel Catfish – Good: Reports of fish being caught from the river. Use traditional baits for the best “pole bending” action. Walleye – Good: Report of walleye action picking up on the river.
West Okoboji Lake
Bluegill – Good: Rock piles in deeper water with stands of aquatic growth will produce good numbers of angler acceptable sized fish.
For more information throughout the week, contact the Spirit Lake Fish Hatchery at 712-336-1840.
NORTHEAST
Cedar River (above Nashua)
Water levels have stabilized and are near summer levels. Visit the USGS Current Water Data website for current water level information. Walleye – Good: Use a jig tipped with a twister tail or minnow in deeper water or a spinnerbait in slack water pockets. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Fish midday on overcast days or dawn and dusk. A variety of baits are working.
Decorah District Streams
Due to marginal stream temperatures, some streams are not stocked during August. Listen to the trout stocking hotline (563-927-5736) for daily information. Brook Trout – Good: A variety of aquatic and terrestrial insects, like ants and beetles, are more numerous. Use care not to spook a feeding fish. Brown Trout – Good: Hendrickson caddis and cranefly hatches are occurring. Crickets are common along streams now. Use hendrickson gnat or beadhead nymph patterns. Pale yellow, black, brown, and grey colors work best. Rainbow Trout – Good: Try a piece of worm or small cheese chunk on a hook under a bobber in the deeper holes or floated past an undercut bank. A variety of small spinnerbaits also work.
Lake Hendricks
Planktonic green algae bloom continues on the lake. Water temperatures are in the low 80’s. Black Crappie – Fair: Slowly reel a minnow on a hook over structure. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Try near submersed rocky habitat or depth contours in the early morning. Channel Catfish – Good: Use a large nightcrawler fished off the bottom near woody structure. Bluegill – Fair: Activity should pick up with cooler temperatures. Try a small jig tipped with small piece of worm off rocky shoreline or near submersed logs.
Lake Meyer
Water temperatures are in the mid 70’s; excellent water clarity. Bluegill – Good: Use a hook tipped with a small piece of worm or cricket under a bobber near weed edges. Channel Catfish – Fair: Try stink bait or cut baits fished just off the bottom in the evening. Largemouth Bass – Good: Use topwater baits along weed edges on overcast days and late evenings.
Osborne Pond
Osborne Pond is currently being renovated. The dam was breached in July and a water retention basin installed. Material will be removed over the winter and new habitat installed in spring. After repairs to the dam are made, it will be allowed to fill. The pond will then be restocked with bluegill, channel catfish, and largemouth bass.
Turkey River (above Clermont)
The Turkey continues to be hit or miss. Water temperatures are in the low 70’s. Smallmouth Bass – Fair: Use crawfish imitators or spinners in slack water areas off riffles. Walleye – Fair: Try minnows or lures imitating minnows in deep water drop offs.
Upper Iowa River (above Decorah)
Water levels have stabilized with good clarity. Visit the USGS Current Water Data website for more information. Walleye – Good: Catch varies. Try natural colored jigs and twister tails or a spinnerbait. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Use crankbaits near rocky ledges undercut banks and current breaks.
Upper Iowa River (below Decorah)
Water clarity is good and levels are relatively stable. Walleye – Fair: Cast a jig and twister tail into deep water drop offs and eddies. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Cast a crankbait or spinner near a rock ledge or into a current break.
Volga Lake
The algae bloom continues, but should clear with cooling temperatures. Black Crappie – Slow: Slowly retrieve a lure over structure at dawn and dusk. Largemouth Bass – Good: Use topwater lures over structure or run a jig tipped with a twister tail along a rocky shoreline. Channel Catfish – Excellent: Use stink bait worms or cut baits fished off the bottom in the evening near woody structure. Bluegill – Fair: Use a small jig tipped with a small piece of worm along rocky shoreline.
Greater chance for thunderstorms Friday as higher temperatures and humidity return. Temperatures for the weekend will be in the mid 80’s. Area rivers and streams are at seasonal levels. Trout streams are in good condition. For current fishing information, please call the Decorah Fish Hatchery at 563-382-8324.
Casey Lake (aka Hickory Hills Lake)
Casey Lake is in good condition with clear water. Vegetation remains abundant around edges, but it is starting to die back. Catfish, bluegill, crappie and bass are biting well. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Best bite is mornings and evenings. Bluegill – Good: Try fishing various depths with a piece of crawler under a bobber near the edge of weeds or structure. Channel Catfish – Good: Catfish are biting on a variety of baits. Best bite is early morning and late evening. Catfish size has been excellent. Black Crappie – Fair: Jig tube jigs or fish a minnow under a bobber near structure in the lake towards the dam area.
Cedar River (Nashua to La Porte City)
The Cedar River continues to improve. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Cast artificial baits along rocky shorelines. Walleye – Good: A jig tipped with a half crawler and twister tail is a deadly combination this time of year. Channel Catfish – Excellent: Use stink baits in the top or upstream end of log jams. Flathead Catfish – Fair: Fish the larger snags with live bait.
Maquoketa River (above Monticello)
The Maquoketa River is in excellent condition. Smallmouth bass and walleye fishing should be good throughout Delaware and Jones counties.
Martens Lake
Expect to fish through and around vegetation. Adjust tactics as needed, including heavy baits or topwater options. Reports of some quality size bass being caught. Largemouth Bass – Good: Use weedless artificial lures with the dense vegetation. Try also topwater frog imitation baits.
Shell Rock River (Greene to Shell Rock)
Walleye – Good: A jig tipped with a half crawler and twister tail is a deadly combination this time of year. Northern Pike – Fair: Float a live chub or shiner under a bobber or cast larger artificial spoons or lures. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Cast crankbaits along and near rock shorelines.
Wapsipinicon River (Tripoli to Troy Mills)
The Wapsipinicon River continues to fall in Buchanan County; conditions have vastly improved. Reports of anglers doing well on northern pike on the Upper Wapsipinicon in Bremer County. Northern Pike – Good: Cast large bucktail spinners.
Some interior rivers received little rainfall, but some more than others. The Cedar and Shell Rock in Butler County remain in good condition and anglers are doing well. The Wapsipinicon and Maquoketa Rivers remain a bit high and muddy. Trout streams remain in excellent condition. Call the N.E. Iowa district office at 563-927-3276 for more information.
MISSISSIPPI RIVER
Mississippi River Pool 9
River level is 8.5 feet at Lansing and is expected to remain steady. Water temperature is near 75 degrees. The Lansing Village Creek ramp is closed through October. For more updates, call the Guttenberg Fisheries Management office at 563-252-1156. Walleye – Good: Water levels are at a good level to find walleyes on wing dams. Use a 3-way rig with a floating jig and a worm. Yellow Perch – Fair: Perch bite has been spotty, but some nicer ones are being caught with live minnow rigs. Northern Pike – Good: This time of year pike are attracted to cooler water coming in from springs and tributaries. Channel Catfish – Good: Try cut bait or stink bait in the main and side channel borders. Largemouth Bass – Good: With lower water levels, bass will be pulling out to wing dams and structure along the main channel. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Find smallmouth along shorelines in slight current off rocky points. White Bass – Fair: Cast flashy spinners or crankbaits along the rocks in main channel current for big white bass. Bluegill – Excellent: Use light tackle tipped with small piece of worm under a bobber in 4-6 feet of water. Freshwater Drum – Excellent: Freshwater drum are actively biting in areas of current. Drop a heavily weighted worm rig into the current for some big fish action. Black Crappie – Good: Try tube jigs or minnow under a bobber in submersed trees in the backwater sloughs.
Mississippi River Pool 10
River level is 13.5 feet at Lynxville and is expected to remain fairly steady. Water temperature is 77 degrees at the Lock and Dam 9. Walleye- Fair: Water levels are at a good level to find walleyes on wing dams. Use a 3-way rig with a floating jig and a worm. Yellow Perch – Fair: Perch bite has been spotty, but some nicer ones are being caught with live minnow rigs. Northern Pike -Good: This time of year pike are attracted to cooler water coming in from springs and tributaries. Channel Catfish – Good: Try cut bait or stink bait in the main and side channel borders. Bluegill – Good: Panfish bite is picking up this week. Try a small piece of garden worm on small tackle under a bobber. Common Carp – Good: Carp are on the move with the high water. To hook into a big one, try fishing the warm shallow backwaters where carp are staging for the spawn. Largemouth Bass – Good: With lower water levels, bass will be pulling out to wing dams and structure along the main channel. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Find smallmouth along shorelines in slight current off rocky points. White Bass – Fair: Cast flashy spinners or crankbaits along the rocks in the main channel current for big white bass. Bluegill – Excellent: Use light tackle tipped with small piece of worm under a bobber in 4-6 feet of water. Freshwater Drum – Excellent: Freshwater drum are actively biting in areas of current. Drop a heavily weighted worm rig into the current for some big fish action. Black Crappie – Good: Try tube jigs or minnow under a bobber in submersed trees in the backwater sloughs.
Mississippi River Pool 11
River level is 5.3 feet at Guttenberg and is expected to remain steady. Water temperature is 72 degrees at Lock and Dam 10. Walleye – Fair: Water levels are at a good level to find walleyes on wing dams. Use a 3-way rig with a floating jig and a worm. Yellow Perch – Fair: Perch bite has been spotty, but some nicer ones are being caught with live minnow rigs. Northern Pike – Excellent: This time of year, pike are attracted to cooler water coming in from springs and tributaries. Channel Catfish – Good: Try cut bait or stink bait in the main and side channel borders. Largemouth Bass – Good: With lower water levels, bass will be pulling out to wing dams and structure along the main channel. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Find smallmouth along shorelines in slight current off rocky points. White Bass – Fair: Cast flashy spinners or crankbaits along the rocks in main channel current for big white bass. Bluegill – Excellent: Use light tackle tipped with small piece of worm under a bobber in 4-6 feet of water. Freshwater Drum – Excellent: Freshwater drum are actively biting in areas of current. Drop a heavily weighted worm rig into the current for some big fish action. Black Crappie – Good: Try tube jigs or minnow under a bobber in submersed trees in the backwater sloughs.
Upper Mississippi River levels are low with good water clarity. Now is the time to get out fishing. Boaters should use caution with the lower water with wing dams and sandbars now near the surface. Water temperatures are in the mid 70’s.
Mississippi River Pool 12
Water levels will drop to around 5.5 feet at the Dubuque Lock and Dam and at 8.0 feet at the RR bridge. Expect water levels to drop slowly this upcoming week. Water clarity is good. The water temperature is around 82 degrees. Channel Catfish – Excellent:Try stink bait or worms near shore. Freshwater Drum – Excellent: Most anglers use a simple egg sinker and worm rig. Drum will be hanging out relatively near shore in moderate current areas. Largemouth Bass – Excellent: Largemouth bass are being caught along flooded weed lines and in weedy backwater using lures like scum frogs. White Bass – Good: Look for schools of white bass feeding on the surface in the morning and evenings. Bluegill – Excellent: Try along the vegetation lines in 4 to 6 feet of water. Flathead Catfish – Good: Current areas along rocks are starting to again produce some nice eating sized flathead catfish. Walleye – Good: Use crankbaits on the wing dams. White Crappie – Good: Try small minnows in newly exposed brush piles along major side channels or deeper backwater areas. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Use spinners or crankbaits along rocky areas with strong current.
Mississippi River Pool 13
Water level will drop to around 5.6 at the Bellevue Lock and Dam. Expect water levels to recede this upcoming week. Water clarity is good. The water temperature is around 83 degrees. The north ramp at Sabula is not in use this year due to bridge construction. Channel Catfish – Excellent: Try stink bait or worms near shore. Move often if you are not finding catfish. Freshwater Drum – Excellent: The drum bite is on. Fish worms with an egg sinker in moderate current areas. Fish near the shorelines if possible. Largemouth Bass – Excellent: Most are feeding along the edge of weed lines. Use a bright colored spinner that imitates minnows. Try also frog imitation lures in the weedy backwaters. White Bass – Good: Look for feeding schools of white bass in the morning and evenings. Small spinners and white jigs work best. Bluegill – Good: Bluegills have returned to the creel. Try fishing along vegetation lines in 4 to 6 feet of water. Flathead Catfish – Good: Try live bait in high current areas or above large brush piles. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Focus on rock lines and piles with strong current. Spinner jigs and crankbaits work best. White Crappie – Good: Some nice crappies were reported coming out of deeper backwater areas along newly exposed brush piles.
Mississippi River Pool 14
Water levels are predicted to drop to 5.5 feet at Fulton Lock and Dam, 9.8 feet at Camanche and 4.8 feet at the LeClaire. Expect water levels to drop this upcoming week. Water clarity is good. The water temperature is around 82 degrees. Channel Catfish – Excellent: Try stink bait or worms near shore or along brush piles. Freshwater Drum – Excellent: Use a simple egg sinker/worm rig in moderate current areas. Largemouth Bass – Excellent: Bright colored spinners fished along flooded shorelines are picking up some bass. White Bass – Good: Some schools of white bass have been seen in the tailwater area. Use bright jigs or flashy lures. Smallmouth Bass – Fair: Focus on rock lines and rock piles with strong current. Flathead Catfish – Good: Some flatheads are hitting crankbaits and jigs along rocky areas. Anglers are using live baits on trot lines with some success. Bluegill – Good: Lower ends of Rock Creek and Catfish Slough have produced some nice bluegills; mainly using worms and bobbers. White Crappie – No Report: Try newly exposed brush piles with small minnows and jigs.
Mississippi River Pool 15
Water levels are 6.3 feet at Rock Island. Expect water to stay stable or drop all week. Water clarity continues to improve. The water temperature is around 82 degrees. Channel Catfish – Excellent: Try stink bait or worms near shore. Freshwater Drum – Excellent: Use an egg sinker and worm rig fished near shore in moderate current areas. Flathead Catfish – Good: Use live bait above large dead falls. Some may also be caught in the tailwater in large eddies. Smallmouth Bass – Fair: Try spinners jigs and crankbaits in rock lines and piles with strong current.
Water levels bumped up slightly with recent rains, but now are falling again. Levels are below what anglers have seen in a few years. Be careful boating as many underwater hazards are now exposed.If you have any angling questions, please contact the Bellevue Fisheries Station 563-872-4976.
SOUTHEAST
Des Moines River (Ottumwa to Farmington)
Channel Catfish – Fair: Use chicken liver or night crawlers around log jams and slack water areas.
Lake Keomah
Bluegill – Fair: Use small jigs tipped with live bait near shoreline and around the fishing jetties. Black Crappie – Fair: Use a jig and minnow around deep structure. Channel Catfish – Fair: Use stink bait or chicken liver in 4-8 feet of water. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Try spinnerbaits or crankbaits around the fishing jetties and along the dam. Switch to rubber worms and deeper structure as the day heats up.
Lake Miami
Largemouth Bass – Fair: Try topwater lures in the early mornings and evenings then switch to rubber worms or crankbaits during the hotter parts of the day. Target the cedar tree piles and the fishing jetties. Bluegill – Fair: Use jigs tipped with live bait along the rip-rapped shorelines, the jetties and around the cedar tree piles.
Lake Sugema
The south boat ramp off of Highway 2 is closed due to a parking lot construction project. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Use topwater lures in the early mornings and evenings. As the day progresses, target deeper structure using rubber worms or deep diving crankbaits. Black Crappie – Slow: Use tube jigs or jigs tipped with a minnow in deeper water structure. Bluegill – Fair: Try live bait tipped on a small jig around the shorelines and fishing jetties.
Lake Wapello
Channel Catfish – Fair: Use chicken liver or stink bait around areas with rip-rapped shorelines or rock piles. Don’t fish too deep as the lake will stratify; target 6-8 feet of water. Largemouth Bass – Good: Use rubber worms or crawdad imitating crankbaits around deep structure. Try also topwater lures around the cedar tree piles in the morning. Bluegill – Fair: Try small jigs tipped with a chunk of night crawler around aquatic vegetation or near the fishing jetties. White Crappie – Slow: Use jigs tipped with a minnow around deeper structure and the outer edge of the weed line.
Rathbun Reservoir
The current lake level is 904.45 msl. Normal operating elevation is 904.0 msl. Lake Rathbun has zebra mussels, so make sure to properly drain, clean, and dry equipment before transporting to another water body. Channel Catfish – Good: Use stink bait or chicken liver. White Crappie – Fair: Try minnows around deeper structure. Trolling small crankbaits can also catch suspended crappies. Best bite is early in the day. Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) – Fair: Troll crankbaits or night crawler rigs along rocky shorelines and around rock piles. Try also vertical jigging in the same areas. Walleye – Fair: Use night crawler rigs or troll crankbaits around rock piles and submerged points. Leeches can also be productive this time of year.
Red Haw Lake
Largemouth Bass – Good: Cast the shorelines in the early part of the day and then fish deeper structure as the day warms up. Use rubber worms or crankbaits. Black Crappie – Fair: Try tube jigs along the shorelines. Bluegill – Fair: Use small jigs tipped with live bait around the shorelines and fishing jetties. Channel Catfish – Fair: Try night crawlers or chicken liver around the fishing jetties and the outer edge of the lily pads.
The district includes Mahaska, Lucas, Wayne, Monroe, Appanoose, Wapello, Davis and Van Buren counties. Contact the Rathbun Fish Hatchery at 641-647-2406 with questions about fishing in south central Iowa.
SOUTHWEST
Big Creek Lake
Walleye – Fair: Troll shallow diving shad imitating crankbaits or spinner rigs with night crawlers with little weight to fish 3 to 10 feet deep. The northern half of the lake is best during the summer; start from the beach up to the marina boat ramp. Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) – Fair: Troll and cast crankbaits, spoons or in-line spinners in the main lake. Look for schools of fish busting shad on the surface.
Des Moines River (Stratford to Saylorville Lake)
Channel Catfish – Good: The channel catfishing is very good in the Des Moines River using stink baits. Water levels are good again for boats.
Red Rock Reservoir
White Bass – Fair: Anglers are reporting better white bass fishing than what has been happening so far this summer. Look for feeding activity on the surface and troll these areas with shallow diving shad imitating crankbaits or spoons. Fishing below the dam has also been fair to good for a mix of white bass and hybrid striped bass.
Rock Creek Lake
White Crappie – Good: Drift or slowly troll jigs or minnows in the lower half of the lake in the mornings to just after noon.
Saylorville Reservoir
White Bass – Fair: A summer white bass bite has finally picked up. Look for schools of small gizzard shad breaking the surface and cast or troll shad imitating crankbaits or spoons in these areas. With the lake still being a little higher than normal, try the edges of flooded willows and vegetation.
For more information on Central Iowa lakes and rivers, call Ben Dodd at 641-891-3795 or Andy Otting at 515-204-5885.
Cold Springs District Farm Ponds
Again water clarity may be bad in ponds after heavy rains earlier this week. Always get permission to fish privately-owned ponds. Bluegill – Slow: Anglers report slow fishing in ponds after heavy rains this week. Try fishing 4 feet below the surface for suspended fish in the summer. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Largemouth bass are very active and can be caught with a variety of lures and plugs. Fish shallow early and late and go deeper during the middle of the day. Channel Catfish – Good: Try cut bait or commercial stink baits along weed edges and around structure. Black Crappie – Slow: Find crappies suspended and around structure.
Farm Creek Lake
Farm Creek has a good fish population with quality sized panfish. Water quality is good. Black Crappie – Fair: Fish the creek channel for black crappie up to 12 inches. Bluegill – Fair: Drift or slow troll along the creek channel for bluegills up to 9.5 inches. Largemouth Bass – No Report: There is a good population of 13 to 15 inch bass in the lake.
Lake Anita
Heavy rains have slowed fishing a bit this week. Water temperatures are below 80 degrees. Bluegill – Fair: Drift small jigs tipped with crawler for bluegills up to 9 inches. Black Crappie – Fair: The early morning crappie bite is good. Slow troll small jigs tipped with power bait to catch 9 to 11 inch fish. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Throw spinners along the vegetation and plastics around deep structure during the day
Lake Manawa
Lake Manawa is a good destination for summer catfishing. Channel Catfish – Good: Use shrimp and bubble gum bait on the west shore. Fish in the 2 to 5 pound range were reported.
Prairie Rose Lake
Prairie Rose will offer good panfishing. The lake has quality sized bluegills and acceptable size crappies. The lake has a significant algae bloom. Bluegill – Slow: Bluegills are in a summer pattern. Look for fish around underwater reefs and drift/troll open water areas. Bluegills in Prairie Rose are 8 to 9.5 inches. Largemouth Bass – Fair: There is a large population of 12 inch bass in the lake that offers fun catch and release fishing.
Viking Lake
Catfishing has been good. A few crappies are being caught in the deep brush piles. Channel Catfish – Fair: Cast cut bait or liver around brush piles for catfish up to 10 pounds. Early morning bite is best. Black Crappie – Fair: Crappies are being caught in the deeper tree piles. Sorting is needed for larger fish. Largemouth Bass – Slow: Jig plastics in deeper brush piles during the day and cast shallow structure early morning for largemouth bass of all sizes.
Water temperatures have cooled this week into the upper 70’s. Anglers are still finding panfish in open water and around deep structure. Catfishing has been good around the district. For more information, contact the Cold Springs office at 712-769-2587.
Green Valley Lake
Largemouth Bass – Good: Catch largemouth bass up to 18 inches with crankbaits and larger plastic lures. Bluegill – Fair: Catch bluegill up to 8 inches with night crawlers and small plastic lures closer to shore throughout the lake. Black Crappie -Fair: Find crappies up to 9 inches near vegetation and areas with sunken structures.
Lake Icaria
Channel Catfish – Good: Channel catfish of all sizes have been caught using night crawlers or cut bait fished along rocky shoreline areas and cedar tree brush piles. Bluegill – Fair: Catch bluegill up to 8 inches with worms fished along the fish mounds or fishing jetties.
Little River Watershed Lake
Largemouth Bass – Slow: Catch largemouth bass up to 18 inches using crankbaits or
finesse plastics fished near cedar tree brush piles or rock reefs. Bluegill – Slow: Catch bluegills up to 9 inches with worms fished along cedar tree brush piles. Channel Catfish – Slow: Catch channel catfish up to 10 pounds with night crawlers or cut bait fished along rocky shoreline areas.
Three Mile Lake
The main boat ramp is currently under repair and construction has been coordinated to allow boat access to the lake. Fishing activity has been limited.
Twelve Mile Creek Lake
Largemouth Bass – Fair: Largemouth bass of all sizes have been caught with crankbaits or finesse plastics fished along cedar tree brush piles. Bluegill – Good: Catch bluegill up to 8 inches with worms fished near cedar tree brush piles or shallow bays. Walleye – Good: Catch walleyes of all sizes using crankbaits and spinners fished in 10 feet of water. Black Crappie – Good: Catch crappie up to 9 inches with jigs or minnows fished along weedl ines or the flooded timber.
Water temperature in most district lakes is in the lower 80’s to upper 70’s. The district includes Page, Taylor, Adams, Union, Ringgold, Decatur, Clarke and Madison counties. For more information, please call the Mount Ayr Fisheries office at 641-464-3108.
MISSOURI RIVER
Missouri River (Sioux City to Little Sioux)
Channel Catfish – Good: During high water levels, try below flooded wing dams and close to the bank or slower flooded areas from shore. Smaller tributaries should also be good, where channel catfish will find refuge from faster currents. Use worms, cut bait, or dip baits. Freshwater Drum – Fair: Try using live bait rigs or jigs tipped with worms along the bank and around tributary stream or rivers where they join the Missouri River. Blue Catfish – Good: Anglers report catching a few blue catfish on rod and reel and trotlines. Use live bait or fresh cut bait with live bait rigs along wing dam tips or in or close to the main channel of the Missouri River. Flathead Catfish – Good: Flathead catfish are being caught on trotlines and rod and reel using live baits (chubs, bullheads, green sunfish). Fish below wing dam tip, near rock structures, logs and along the bank with deeper water nearby.
Missouri River (Little Sioux to Council Bluffs)
Channel Catfish – Good: During high water levels, try below flooded wing dams and close to the bank or slower flooded areas from shore. Smaller tributaries should also be good, where channel catfish will find refuge from faster currents. Use worms, cut bait, or dip baits. Freshwater Drum – Fair: Try using live bait rigs or jigs tipped with worms along the bank and around tributary stream or rivers where they join the Missouri River. Blue Catfish – Good: Anglers report catching blue catfish on rod and reel and trotlines. Use live bait or fresh cut bait along wing dam tips or in or close to the main channel of the Missouri River. Flathead Catfish – Fair: Flathead catfish are being caught on trotlines and rod and reel using live baits (chubs, bullheads, green sunfish). Fish below wing dam tip, near rock structures, logs and along the bank with deeper water nearby.
Missouri River (Council Bluffs to Missouri State Line)
Channel Catfish – Good: During high water levels, try below flooded wing dams and close to the bank or slower flooded areas from shore. Smaller tributaries should also be good, where channel catfish will find refuge from faster currents. Use worms, cut bait, or dip baits. Freshwater Drum – Fair: Try using live bait rigs or jigs tipped with worms along the bank and around tributary stream or rivers where they join the Missouri River. Blue Catfish – Good: Anglers are catching a few blue catfish on rod and reel and trotlines with fresh cut bait or live bait. Try by the wing dam tips, close to or in the main channel of the Missouri River for your best chance at getting bigger blue catfish. Flathead Catfish – Fair: Flathead catfish are being caught on trotlines and rod and reel using live baits (chubs, bullheads, green sunfish). Fish below wing dam tip, near rock structures, logs and along the bank with deeper water nearby.
The Missouri River at Decatur, Nebraska is at 27.89 ft. /60,400 cfs./74 degrees Fahrenheit. Missouri River water temperatures are down 6 degree from last week and water levels are down 0.48 feet. Water levels are up due to recent rains in the Missouri River watershed and release of water from reservoirs. Anglers and boaters are advised to use caution going on the Missouri River. Fishing has been good to fair.
