Iowa fishing report
May 29th, 2006 by Fishing admin
SOUTHEAST IOWA fishing report
Lake Rathbun (Appanoose): Crappies have been hitting on small jigs and small jigs tipped with a minnow. Walleyes have been biting on night crawlers being trolled along rock piles and drop-offs.
For more information on fishing in southeast Iowa, call the regional office in Brighton at (319) 694-2430.
NORTHEAST IOWA fishing report
Mississippi River Pools 9 to 15: The Mississippi River at Guttenberg has finally crested and river stage on Monday was 10.92 feet with a two foot fall expected by the weekend. Lansing was at 9.99 feet and Bellevue was 11.3 and falling. Main channel water temperature in Pool 10 has risen almost 10 degrees since last week and was at 60 degrees on Monday.
Bluegills are biting in Norwegian and Methodist Lakes in the Sny Magill complex (Pool 10) and in the tailwaters of Pools 9 to 11. Bluegills and crappies are biting along the shorelines in Sabula Lake (Pool 13). A few anglers are reporting walleye biting in Minnesota Slough (Pool 9). Other sloughs to try walleye fishing in are Wyalusing Slough (Pool 10) and Cassville Slough (Pools 10 and 11). Walleyes are biting on the wing dams in Pools 12 to 15. Smallmouth bass are being caught on crankbaits and in-line spinners in Pools 9 to 11 in areas with some current along rocky shorelines or wing dams. Northern pike are being caught in Blackhawk Park (Pool 9) and Norwegian and Methodist Lakes (Pool 10). Some largemouth bass are being caught in the backwater areas out of the current in Pools 9 to 11.
Big Woods, Brinker and South Prairie lakes (Black Hawk): Crappie fishing is good using a minnow under a bobber along the shoreline.
Lake Delhi (Delaware): Bluegill fishing is good on small jigs tipped with a piece of worm or wax worm under a bobber. Bluegills are now spawning on the rocks and woody structure. Anglers are also catching largemouth bass casting spinners and crankbaits along the shoreline. Channel catfish are biting on dead minnows and cut baits.
Lake Hendricks (Howard): Largemouth bass are biting close to shore. Crappie and bluegill fishing is picking up.
Lake Meyer (Winneshiek): Anglers fishing for crappie are reporting catching largemouth bass close to shore hitting jigs tipped with a minnow. Bluegill fishing has slowed as they are beginning to protect their nests.
Volga Lake (Fayette): Bluegill and crappie fishing has slowed.
Trout fishing excellent and stream conditions are good to excellent. Anglers may call the recorded trout stocking information hotline at (563) 927-5736.
For information on fishing in northeast Iowa, call the regional office in Manchester at (563) 927-3276.
NORTHWEST IOWA fishing report
Brushy Creek (Webster): Lots of small walleyes have been caught right off the dam using leeches. Bluegills are biting on a small worm set up. Smaller bass have been caught along the shoreline. Crappies of varying sizes have moved into shallow water and around submerged trees.
Storm Lake (Buena Vista): Anglers are catching some catfish on a variety of baits. Fishing is excellent for white bass casting or trolling crankbaits. Walleye fishing is good to excellent trolling crankbaits.
Clear Lake (Cerro Gordo): Walleye fishing has improved. Water temperature is in the low 60s. The yellow bass bite has been excellent in the afternoon.
Upper and Lower Pine lakes (Hardin): Crappies are hitting on both lakes. Fish the downed trees and rocky shorelines using small jigs and minnows.
Beeds Lake (Franklin): Crappies are being caught drift fishing in 10 to 14 feet of water, using small jigs suspended 4 to 8 feet off the bottom.
For more information on fishing in northwest Iowa, call (712) 336-1840.
SOUTHWEST IOWA fishing report
Big Creek (Polk): Crappie fishing has been fair to good using jigs and minnows with the better fishing offshore in deeper water. Anglers reported catching smaller walleyes with jigs and minnows. Bluegill fishing is fair to good with some nice-sized fish being caught.
Saylorville Lake (Polk): Crappie fishing has been good, particularly in the Marina area and below the out from Big Creek Lake. White bass/wipers are being caught below the outlet from Big Creek.
Red Rock (Marion): Crappie fishing has been good using jigs in the Whitebreast area.
For more information on general fishing in southwest Iowa, call (712) 769-2587.