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Iowa DNR Nov. 21 Fishing Report

Posted

NORTHWEST

Clear Lake
Water level is 8.4 inches below crest. Water temperature is in the low 40s .All courtesy docks have been taken out for the season. Walleye - Fair: Try live bait and jigs.  Best bite is after sun set.  Yellow Bass - Slow: Anglers are catching a few yellow bass while targeting walleye. 

Crystal Lake
The courtesy docks have been removed for the season.  Black Crappie
- Fair: Drift fish or troll small jigs in the dredge cut. Bluegill - Slow: Use a jig tipped with a piece of crawler near shore. Walleye - Slow: Try fishing near vegetation edge and along the old roadbed.

Rice Lake
Any water west of the north boat ramp is a waterfowl refuge and is closed to all activity from Sept. 1st through the final day of the duck season. Signs across the lake mark this area. Bluegill
– Slow. Walleye - slow. Yellow Perch - Fair. Use a jig and a piece of crawler near vegetation.

Silver Lake (Worth)
The courtesy dock has been taken out for the season.  Bluegill
– Slow. Yellow Perch - slow: Try a jig head tipped with a piece of crawler.

Winnebago River
River level is 5.31 feet. Smallmouth Bass - No report. Try fishing in the deeper pools.  Walleye - Fair.  

For information on lakes and rivers in north central Iowa, contact Clear Lake Fish and Wildlife office at 641-357-3517.

 

 

East Okoboji Lake

Lake level is just below crest. The ramp/dock at upper gar can be used for the remainder of the open water season. Black Crappie - Good:  Bluegill - Good: Many bluegill seen; easily catchable around functional docks. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Bass are a ways off shore; you can find some around docks and structure. Yellow Perch - Good: Many perch seen; sorting most likely needed.

Ingham Lake
Walleye
- Fair: Morning and afternoon bite is best.  

Silver Lake (Dickinson)

Lake level is below crest.  The algae bloom is dying back as water cools. Walleye - Good: Bite hit-or-miss, but very good when bite is on.

Spirit Lake

Lake level is a few inches below crest. The ramp/dock at Templar can be used for the remainder of the season. Black Crappie - Good: Anglers are finding quality-size crappie up to 14-inches.  Bluegill - Good. Walleye - Good: Evening bite is best with leech and bobber from shore or crankbaits and slip bobbers by boat. Yellow Perch - Good: Sorting is needed; anglers are finding many of acceptable size.

West Okoboji Lake

Lake level is a few inches below crest.  Triboji dock is in.  Black Crappie - Fair: Bluegill - Good. Largemouth Bass - Good. Pumpkinseed - Good. 

Area buoys have been pulled for the season. The bite for most species has been good. Most fish have moved closer to shore as temperatures drop; catch has fallen off a bit for most species.  Most ramp docks have been pulled for the season. For current conditions, call the Spirit Lake District Office at 712-336-1840.

 

 

NORTHEAST

Cedar River (above Nashua)

Water level remain low to steady. Black Crappie - Good:  Find fish in backwater areas with woody debris. Use a minnow under a bobber.  Smallmouth Bass - Slow:  Use a hook tipped with a ringworm, twister tail, or nightcrawler. Walleye - Good: Use live baits.

Decorah District Streams
Trout stream stocking are done for the year. Staff would like to thank all our trout anglers and supporters for making this season fun and rewarding. Many trout streams flow through public areas where hunting is allowed. Brook Trout - Slow: Brook trout are in pre-spawn condition and more interested in spawning than feeding making catching more difficult.  Dabble a fly through the narrow unvegetated runs or find deeper pool above beaver dams. Brown Trout - Good: Avoid walking in clear gravel areas in faster moving water, these are are trout nests or redds.  Use flies imitating minnows or other small fish.  Rainbow Trout - Good: Catchable stocking is complete for the season, but plenty of fish remain in streams.  A small chunk of worm or cheese under a bobber fished through a deeper hole will turn a rainbow head. Cut the line on a deeply hooked fish if returning it to the water.

Lake Hendricks

Water clarity is good.  Few anglers are out. Slow your presentation with cooler water. Black Crappie - Fair: Try fishing near shoreline with live baits.  Bluegill – Fair: Use a small piece of worm or waxworm under a bobber. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Use a spinner or crankbait with a slow retrieve in cooler water. 

Lake Meyer

Water clarity is good.  Few anglers fishing this lake this week. Black Crappie - Slow: Use spinnerbaits or small jig with plastic tail in deeper water. Bluegill - Good: Find bluegills near shore. Use a small piece of worm under a bobber or small spinnerbait with a slow retrieve. Largemouth Bass - Slow: Use artificial lures with a slow retrieve in the evenings.

Turkey River (above Clermont)
Water levels remain low to steady. Smallmouth Bass - Fair: Find smallies in deeper holes or near rock ledges. Use a small jig or crankbait. Walleye - Fair: Try a jig tipped with twister tail or spinnerbait through deeper holes or near rock ledges.

Upper Iowa River (above Decorah)
Water levels remain low to steady. Smallmouth Bass - Fair: Find fish near drop-offs or rock ledges with a spinnerbait or crankbait. Walleye - Fair: Find deeper holes with a crankbait or jig tipped with enough weight to get your lure near bottom.

Volga Lake

Water clarity is good. Few anglers are out fishing with dropping temperatures and rainy weather. Black Crappie – Fair: Use live baits with a slow retrieve. Bluegill – Fair: Try tube jigs tipped with artificial attractant or a small piece of worm under a bobber off the jetties or along rocky shoreline in the morning, moving deeper in the evening. Largemouth Bass – Slow: Try crankbaits at fish drop-offs and around brush piles toward evening. 

This weeks rain did little to raise or  muddy area rivers and streams, but dampened angling efforts. Windy through the weekend with temperatures in the 40s to 20s at night. For more information, contact the Chuck Gipp Decorah Fish Hatchery at 563-382-8324.

 

 

Dalton Pond
The stop logs will be pulled on Dalton Pond Nov. 25th. Rainbow Trout - Fair: Try live bait or artificial lures or jigs.

Heritage Pond
Heritage Pond was stocked with catchable rainbow trout on Nov. 8. Rainbow Trout - Good: Try live bait or artificial lures or jigs. You need a valid fishing license and pay the trout fee to fish for or possess trout.

North Prairie Lake
North Prairie Lake was stocked with catchable rainbow trout on Nov. 8. Rainbow Trout - Good: Try live bait or artificial lures or jigs. You need a valid fishing license and pay the trout fee to fish for or possess trout.

Interior rivers remain at low levels; fishing has been slow. Trout streams remain in excellent condition and provide great angling opportunities for rainbow and brown trout. For more information, contact Manchester Hatchery at 563-927-3276.

 

 

MISSISSIPPI RIVER

Mississippi River Pool 9
Water level is 8.3 feet at Lansing and is predicted to remain stable next week. Water temperature is in mid-40s. Black Crappie - Good. Crappie are on the fall feed. Use a small jig tipped with a minnow in backwater fallen trees and stumps. Bluegill - Good: Use light tackle with a hooked tipped with a small piece of worm or waxworm. Largemouth Bass - Good: Cast crankbaits along woody debris near lower portions of backwaters. Sauger - Fair. Tailwater fishing may improve with colder water temperatures. Smallmouth Bass - Excellent: Smallmouth are biting in areas with moderate current. Cast spinners and crankbaits along the main channel rock shorelines. Walleye - Fair:  Fishing in the tailwaters may improve with colder water temperature. Yellow Perch - Fair: Look for perch at the lower ends of backwater near the openings.

Mississippi River Pool 10

Water level is 615 feet at Lynxville and is predicted to stabilize next week. Water temperature is in mid-40s. Avoid backing off the ramp during low water conditions. Black Crappie - Good. Crappie are on the fall feed. Use a small jig tipped with a minnow in backwater fallen trees and stumps. Bluegill - Good: Use light tackle with hooked tipped with a small piece of worm or waxworms. Largemouth Bass - Good: Cast crankbaits around woody debris near lower portions of backwaters. Sauger - Fair: Tailwater fishing may improve with colder water temperatures. Smallmouth Bass - Excellent: Smallmouth are biting in areas with moderate current. Cast spinners and crankbaits along main channel rock shorelines or spillway. Walleye - Fair: Fishing in the tailwaters may improve with colder water temperature.  Yellow Perch - Fair: Look for perch at the lower ends of backwaters near the openings.

Mississippi River Pool 11
Water level is up to 6 feet in the tailwaters and is expected rise to 7.3 feet at Guttenberg before stabilizing. Water temperature is in the mid-40s at the Lock & Dam. Black Crappie - Good: Crappie are on the fall feed. Use a small jig tipped with a minnow in backwater fallen trees and stumps. Bluegill - Good: Use light tackle with hooked tipped with a small piece of worm or waxworms. Largemouth Bass - Good: Cast crankbaits along woody debris near lower portions of backwaters. Sauger - Fair: Tailwater fishing may improve with colder water temperatures. Smallmouth Bass - Excellent: Fish are biting in areas with moderate current. Cast spinners and crankbaits along main channel rock shorelines. Walleye - Fair: Fishing in the tailwaters may improve with colder water temperature. Yellow Perch - Fair: Look for perch at the lower ends of backwaters near the openings.

Upper Mississippi River levels at Pools 9 -11 have risen, but are expected to stabilize over the  next week.  Water temperatures are in the 40s. With the cold weather forecast, fish should start moving into overwintering holes.

 

 

Mississippi River Pool 12
Water level is rising at 6.2 feet at Dubuque Lock and Dam and 8.7 feet at the RR bridge. Water is clear. Water temperature is around 48 degrees. Black Crappie - Excellent:  Hit brush piles with small jigs and minnows.  Bluegill - Good: Bluegills are starting to move to the brush piles and dead falls in deeper backwater habitats. Largemouth Bass - Excellent: Bass are stacked up along shoreline old weed lines and in large woody habitats. Northern Pike - Good: Pike fishing has picked up with the cooler temperature.  They will bite right up to ice-in conditions. Smallmouth Bass - Excellent: Try small crankbaits or spinners along rock lines. Walleye - Fair:  Walleye and sauger are reported by crappie anglers in brush piles as well. Try using  jig and minnow in the tailwaters.  White Bass - Excellent: White bass have been a consistent in the creel. Try flashy spinners in tailwater areas.  Yellow Perch - Fair: Starting to hear of some yellow perch being caught.  They seem to disappear for a while, but strong populations are present on the Mississippi River.

Mississippi River Pool 13
Water level is rising to near 6.2 feet at Bellevue. Water temperature is 48 degrees. Water is clear. Black Crappie - Good: Crappie are starting to show up in the creel; use minnows in brush piles in larger sloughs. Bluegill - Good: Try fishing woody habitats in deeper backwater areas. Channel Catfish - Good: Find catfish on mud flats with stink or cheese bait. Catfish often bite much later in the year than most people expect. Largemouth Bass - Excellent: Anglers are using jig baits along slough brush piles in side channel areas. Fish are concentrating on woody habitats. Northern Pike - Good: Pikes are biting while folks are bass fishing along channel edges.  Pike will aggressively bite right until ice in conditions..  Smallmouth Bass - Excellent: Try spinners or jigs around rock lines to catch abundant smallies. Fish areas with strong current. Walleye - Fair: Some angling is beginning to take place in tailwaters using jigs and minnows.   White Bass - Excellent: Try white jigs or small spinners in Bellevue tailwaters.  Yellow Perch - Good:  Starting to hear of some yellow perch being caught.  They seemed to have disappeared for a while, but strong populations are present on the Mississippi River.

Mississippi River Pool 14
The water level is rising to near 5.6 feet at Fulton, 9.6 feet at Camanche and 4.8 feet at LeClaire. Water is clear. Water temperature is around 50 degrees. Black Crappie - Good:  Use minnows in brush piles in larger sloughs. Bluegill - Excellent: Fish are starting to move to backwater habitats with woody debris. Largemouth Bass - Excellent: Fish are really concentrating on woody habitats in the backwaters. Use spinner and chatter baits. Northern Pike - Good: Pike bite well deep into the fall; white spinnerbaits work best. Smallmouth Bass - Excellent: Use spinners or jigs next to rock lines with strong current.  Walleye - Fair:  Tailwater angling is starting to fire up; most anglers are using a jig and minnow. White Bass - Good: Try flashy spinners or small white jigs along shorelines near the tailwater. 

Mississippi River Pool 15
The water level rising to near 6.0 feet at Rock Island. The water is clear. Water temperature is around 50 degrees. Freshwater Drum - No report: Worm rig with egg sinker fished along shore in moderate current will catch this consistent biter. Smallmouth Bass - Good: Try fishing along the many rock lines with moderate current to catch abundant smallmouth bass. Pool 15 can be an overlooked spot for smallmouth; fish along the abundant rock lines in moderate to fast current. Smallies live in rock areas with current.

Water levels are low. Boaters should use caution to avoid backing off end of ramps. Fall fishing can be great until ice-in. If you have angling questions, please call Bellevue Fisheries Management at 563-880-8781. 

 

 

Mississippi River Pool 16

Tailwater stage is 5.98 feet and has been rising this past week at Lock and Dam 15 in the Quad Cities. Tailwater stage is forecast to reach 7.40 by the middle of next week. Sauger - No Report: We have not received any reports of catching saugers below the Lock and Dam and in Sylvan Slough. Fishing should improve as water temperatures fall. Try vertical jigging with minnows or trolling three-way rigs with minnows. Walleye - No Report: Look for walleyes on wing-dams; cast or troll crankbaits. Walleyes can also be caught on jigs and nightcrawlers. With low water conditions, look for walleyes towards ends of wing-dams with current. Try vertical jigging with minnows or trolling three-way rigs and minnows.  Look for walleyes in Sylvan Slough and below the Lock and Dam. White Crappie - No Report: Look for crappies around brush piles and snags in the backwaters and side channels. Use minnows under a bobber or jigs and plastics.

Mississippi River Pool 17

Tailwater stage is 4.28 feet at Lock and Dam 16 in Muscatine and has been fairly steady this past week; forecast to start to rise over the weekend. Tailwater stage is forecast to reach 6.00 feet by the middle of next week. There has been some tailwater fishing for walleye and saugers below Lock and Dam 16 on days that haven't had strong winds.  Largemouth Bass - No Report: Try around logs in areas like Big Timber. Sauger - Fair:  We have not received any reports of catching saugers below the Lock and Dam. Fishing should improve as water temperatures fall. Try vertical jigging with minnows or trolling three-way rigs with minnows. Walleye - Fair: Look for walleyes on wing-dams or below the Lock and Dam; cast or troll crankbaits. Walleyes can also be caught on jigs and nightcrawlers. With low water conditions, look for walleyes towards ends of wing-dams where there is more current.  Try vertical jigging with minnows or trolling three-way rigs with minnows.  White Crappie - Fair: Look for crappies around brush piles and snags in backwaters and side channels. Use minnows under a bobber or jigs and plastics.

Mississippi River Pool 18

Tailwater stage is 4.22 feet at Lock and Dam 17 at New Boston. Tailwater stage is forecast to rise over the weekend.  Tailwater stage is forecast to reach 6.70 feet by the middle of next week.  Sauger - Slow: Reports from last week were fishing was flow below the Lock and Dam 17.  Try vertical jigging with minnows or trolling three-way rigs with minnows.  Walleye - No Report: Look for walleyes on wing-dams; cast or troll crankbaits. Walleyes can also be caught on jigs and nightcrawlers. With low water, look for walleyes towards ends of wing-dams where there is more current.  Look for walleyes below the Lock and Dam.  Try vertical jigging with minnow or trolling three-way rigs with minnows. White Crappie - No Report: Look for crappies around brush piles and snags in backwaters and side channels. Use minnows under a bobber or jigs and plastics.

Mississippi River Pool 19

Tailwater stage is 2.27 feet at Lock and Dam 18 above Burlington. Tailwater stage is forecast to reach 3.30 feet by the middle of next week.  Sauger - No Report: We have not received any reports of catching saugers below the Lock and Dam. Fishing should improve as water temperatures fall. Try vertical jigging with minnows or trolling three-way rigs with minnows. Walleye - No Report: Look for walleyes on wing-dams; cast or troll crankbaits. Walleyes can also be caught on jigs and nightcrawlers. With low water, look for walleyes towards ends of wing-dams with more current. Look for walleyes below the Lock and Dam. Try vertical jigging with minnows or trolling three-way rigs with minnow. White Crappie - No Report: Look for crappies around brush piles and snags in backwaters and side channels. Use minnows under a bobber or jigs and plastics.

Tailwater stages have been fairly steady this past week, but are forecast to start to rise over the weekend. Main channel temperature is around 49 degrees. Water clarity is fair. There has been some tailwater fishing for walleye and saugers on days anglers can get out when there isn't strong winds. If you have questions on fishing Pools 16-19, contact the Fairport Fish Hatchery at 563-263-5062.

 

 

SOUTHEAST

Discovery Park Pond
The fall trout release was Oct. 26th. You need a valid fishing license and pay the trout fee to fish for or possess trout. Rainbow Trout - Good: A lot of trout have already been taken home, but there is still more than a few to be caught.

Emma Young Pond
The fall trout stocking was Oct. 26. You need a valid fishing license and pay the trout fee to fish for or possess trout. Rainbow Trout - Good: Lots of trout have been caught and taken home, but there are more than a few left.  Use worms or power bait under a bobber fished near the habitat. 

Lake Belva Deer

Water temperature is in the mid to upper 40s. Weather has been keeping angling pressure low. Black Crappie - Slow: They are out deep for the rest of the year.  Look for them along the old creek channel running down through the flooded timber.  Bluegill - Slow: They have left the mid-depth habitat for deeper habitat along the old creek channel.

Lake Darling
Water temperature is 46 degrees. Whitecaps are stirring up the lake, a little on the muddy side right now.  Black Crappie - Fair: Fish either the big brush piles off the south side down by the dam or some of the other habitat in 10-14 feet of water.  Bluegill - Fair: A good place to start is the middle of the lake where ice anglers fish for them over the old cedar trees.

Lake Geode
Water temperature is holding between 48 and 50 degrees. Black Crappie - Fair: Find crappies in rock piles and other fish habitat in 8-10 feet of water. Bluegill - Slow: Look for them out in the fish habitat in 8 to 10 feet of water.

Lost Grove Lake
Water temperature is 54 and has been dropping. Water clarity is good. Gates at the boat ramp down at the dam for backcast bay are closed for the season.  Bluegill - Fair: They are out deep to stay; try vertical jigging around deeper trees in 18-26 feet of water.  Largemouth Bass - Fair: Bass are staying out deep for the winter. Very little fishing pressure due to the wind this week.

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

 

 

Cedar River (Cedar Rapids to Moscow)
Smallmouth Bass
- Fair: Try crankbaits in the rocks. Walleye - Fair: Use jigs or crankbaits in deeper pools and current seams. White Bass - Fair: Try fishing the current seams with moving baits.

Coralville Reservoir

Lake level is 686.9 feet. Water temperatures are in the upper 40s.  Black Crappie - Fair: Try bright jigs or minnows over rock bluffs or sunken brush. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Try artificials in rock banks or laydowns. White Crappie - Fair: Try minnows or bright jigs over rock bluffs or sunken brush. 

Lake Macbride

Any sized motor may be used at 5 mph or less. Water temperatures are around 50 degrees. Most docks have been removed. Permanent slips are located at Opie Ave ramp and Main ramp.  Year round docks can also be found at Main ramp and Anglers Point ramp. Black Crappie - Fair: Try jigs or minnows around brush in 5-15 feet of water. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Try fishing near shallow to mid-depth rock or laydowns. Muskellunge - Fair: Cast large rubber baits near cover.  Walleye - Fair: Try fishing windblown rocks.  Evening bite is best. Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) - Fair: Troll crankbaits for suspended fish during the day and target windblown banks towards evening.

Liberty Centre Pond
2000 Rainbow Trout were stocked on Oct. 25. You need a valid fishing license and pay the trout fee to fish for or possess trout. Rainbow Trout - Good: Small spinners and scented baits work best.

Pleasant Creek Lake
The fish cleaning station and modern bathrooms are closed for the season
. Walleye - Fair. Try fishing rocky areas preferably with wind towards evening and after dark.  

Prairie Park Fishery
2000 Rainbow Trout were stocked on Oct. 25. You need a valid fishing license and pay the trout fee to fish for or possess trout. Rainbow Trout - Good: Small spinners and scented baits work best.

Sand Lake
2000 Rainbow Trout were stocked on Oct. 18. You need a valid fishing license and pay the trout fee to fish for or possess trout. Rainbow Trout - Fair: Small spinners and scented baits work best.

Union Grove Lake
The west boat ramp dock has been removed for the year.  Bluegill - Fair.  Fish have moved offshore and are near the bottom.

Wapsipinicon River (Troy Mills to Oxford Junction)
Smallmouth Bass - 
Fair. Use crankbaits or soft plastics along rocky areas.  Walleye - Fair:  Try crankbaits or jigs in deeper pools.

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

 

 

Hawthorn Lake
Black Crappie -
Slow: Try jig and minnow combinations in brush piles. Bluegill - Slow: Use jigs around brush piles. Largemouth Bass - Slow: Use plastics or spinnerbaits around the fishing jetties and rip-rapped shorelines. 

Lake Keomah
Lake Keomah is drained for a lake restoration project. Please keep out of the lake bed. Dried silt appears solid, but is very soft. 

Lake Miami
Black Crappie
- Slow: Use jigs and minnows aound cedar tree brush piles. Bluegill - Slow: Try small jigs in brush piles and along shore. Largemouth Bass - Slow: Use plastics or spinnerbaits around brush piles and along rip-rapped shorelines.

Lake Sugema
Black Crappie
- Slow: Try jigs and minnows in standing timber and along rocky shorelines. Bluegill - Slow: Use small jigs around submerged brush piles and shoreline. Largemouth Bass - Slow: Try plastics or spinnerbaits along rip-rapped shorelines and around submerged structures.

Lake Wapello
Black Crappie
- Slow: Target cedar tree piles with small jigs. Bluegill - Slow: Try small jigs around brush piles. Largemouth Bass - Slow: Use plastics and crankbaits around  brush piles and rip-rapped shoreline.

Ottumwa Park Pond South (Trout Pond)
Trout were stocked on Oct. 24. Use small jigs tipped with a chunk of nightcrawler or in-line spinners. You need a valid fishing license and pay the trout fee to fish for or possess trout.

Rathbun Reservoir
The current lake level is 903.45 msl; recreation pool is 904 msl. Lake Rathbun has zebra mussels; properly drain, clean and dry equipment before transporting to another waterbody. Black Crappie - Slow: Try jigs around submerged cedar tree piles. Target brush piles in 15-20 feet of water. Walleye - Slow: Try trolling crankbaits or crawler harnesses around rock piles and old river channel. All walleye less than 15-inches must be immediately released unharmed. Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) - Slow: Use jigging spoons or crankbaits over rock piles and submerged islands. 

Red Haw Lake
Bluegill
- Slow: Try small jigs around shorelines and submerged structure near the campground shoreline. Largemouth Bass - Slow: Use plastics around fishing jetties and along face of the dam. Slow down your presentation.

Contact Rathbun Fish Hatchery at 641-647-2406 with questions about fishing south central Iowa.

 

 

SOUTHWEST

Ada Hayden Heritage Park Lake
Rainbow Trout
- Good: Trout were stocked on Oct. 31. Use spinners, spoons, minnows, wax worms or flies. You need a valid fishing license and pay the trout fee to fish for or possess trout.

Des Moines River (Saylorville to Red Rock)
Walleye
- Fair: Cast jigs tipped with live minnows, twister tails, or swim baits below Saylorville dam, city dams, and any deeper pool with slow current.

Des Moines River (Stratford to Saylorville Lake)
Walleye
- Fair: Cast jigs tipped with live minnows, twister tails, or swim baits into deeper pools on outside bends and above and below any rock bars deposited where small streams dump in.

Lake Petocka
Rainbow Trout
- Good: Trout were stocked at on Oct. 31. Cast spinners, spoons, blade baits, live minnows, wax worms, or floating flies. You need a valid fishing license and pay the trout fee to fish for or possess trout.

Terra Lake
Rainbow Trout
- Good: Trout were stocked on Oct. 28. Cast spinners, spoons, blade baits, live minnows, wax worms, or floating flies. You need a valid fishing license and pay the trout fee to fish for or possess trout.

Triumph Park West
Rainbow Trout
- Good: Trout were stocked on Oct. 28 in Triumph West and East. Cast spinners, spoons, blade baits, live minnows, wax worms, or floating flies. You need a valid fishing license and pay the trout fee to fish for or possess trout.

For information on Central Iowa lakes and rivers contact Ben Dodd at 641-891-3795 or Andy Otting at 515-204-5885.

 

Lake Anita
Water clarity is good. Black Crappie - No report: Try slow trolling. Sorting is needed for larger fish. Bluegill - No report: Slow troll small jigs to catch 8-inch bluegill. Tipping with a nightcrawler or Berkley helps. The north arm and around the beach is a good place to start. 

Meadow Lake
Black Crappie
- Fair: Find 9-inch black crappies in the cedar tree piles. Bluegill - No report: Anglers are catching bluegills around reefs. Fish average 8-inches.

Prairie Rose Lake
Black Crappie
- No report: Find submerged tree piles and vertical jig to catch 10- to 12-inch black crappie. Bluegill - No report: Anglers are catching a few fish slow trolling deep water. 

Viking Lake
Black Crappie -
No report:  Boat anglers can find black crappies in tree piles. Sorting is needed for larger fish. Bluegill - No report: Bluegill average 7.5-inches. 

There were very few fishing reports this week due to weather. For information on lakes in the Southwest District, call the Cold Springs office at 712-769-2587.

 

 

Little River Watershed Lake
The dock is in at the main boat ramp.

Three Mile Lake
Lake level is 11 feet below normal pool. Boat ramp lanes are out of the water at the main boat ramp.  

Twelve Mile Creek Lake
The dock is in at the main boat ramp. Yellow Perch - Fair: Catch yellow perch up to 11-inches with a jig tipped with live bait along creek channels.  

West Lake (Osceola)
Lake level increased with recent rains, but is still about 1 feet below normal. Boaters can use boat ramps at their own risk.

Water temperatures are in the upper 40s to low 50s in most Mount Ayr district lakes. For more information, call Mount Ayr Fisheries office at 641-464-3108.

 

 

Iowa News

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