Iowa DNR area fishing report

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Big Hollow Lake Colder night time temperatures are cooling off the water. Water temperature is in the low 70's. Expect to find the fish in shallow pretty soon.Black Crappie -Fair:The crappie bite has picked up some. Try in the flooded timber and down about 8 feet.Largemouth Bass - Fair: Go shallow in the early morning and late evening; as the day gets warmer flow them out to deeper water.Bluegill –Fair: Try around the jetties and the deeper sides of the island where the bluegills still have access to deeper water.

Iowa River (Columbus Junction to Mississippi River) The Iowa fell just a few inches since last week. The water is still pretty shallow for outboard motors, but with the slow current a nice float trip down the river would be fun.Channel Catfish - Fair: Look for the deeper holes with brush piles; getting to them is the hard part.

Lake Belva Deer The lake is back to being a little murky; water clarity is about 36 inches. Water temperature is down to the upper 60's.Bluegill -Good:Bluegill fishing has picked back up. They are still out in the deeper 10- to 12-foot water, but with a few more cool nights expect to see them come in shallower.Channel Catfish -Excellent: Catfish are biting. Look for them in the upper end of the lake where the arm from the north connects to the main lake. Black Crappie - Good: Anglers are starting to catch crappies. They are still out in the 10-foot depth range vertical jigging or slip bobbers with minnows.

Lake Darling A couple of mid 40's degrees nights cooled off the water. Water temperature is down to 68 degrees. Once the fish acclimate to the cooler water, expect them to move in shallow.Largemouth Bass -Fair:Use soft plastics on the shallow edge of the drop-offs.Black Crappie -Fair:Most anglers were still catching them out in deeper water, but expect them to move in shallow very soon.

Lake Geode Water clarity is improving at 66 inches, but is still a little on the green side. Water temperature is in the lower 70's.Bluegill -Fair: Bluegills are starting to work the outer edges of the water willow beds close to deeper water.Black Crappie - Fair: Crappies are starting to move into the brush piles and tree falls in shallow water, but still near the deeper drop-offs.

Lake Odessa The water level is stable and cooling off with the cooler weather. The September teal season continues through the 10th (Sunday). Black Crappie - Fair: Look for crappies around the beaver lodges and around the fallen trees from Sand Run on down. Bluegill - Fair: Use bobbers and worms or small jigs tipped with wax worms around the beaver lodges and around the fallen trees from Sand Run on down.

Skunk River (Coppock to Mississippi River) The water level in the Skunk is holding pretty steady. Not much angler activity and no boat activity because of the shallow water conditions. It’s a good time to take a float trip.Channel Catfish –Fair:With the water cooling off, catfish should start to fatten up before they start migrating to their overwintering holes.

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

Mississippi River Pool 19 Tailwater stage is4.18 feet at Lock and Dam 18above Burlington.We have not received any fishing reports for this pool this week.Channel Catfish - No Report:Try dip baits, nightcrawlers, or cut shad in brush piles and snags along the main channel and side channels.White Crappie - No Report:Use jigs and minnows/plastics or minnows under a bobber crappies in brush piles in the backwaters and flowing side channels.

River stages have been fairly steady this past week. Water clarity has been fair and main channel water temperature is around 68 degrees.If you have questions on fishing Pools 16-19, contact the Fairport Fish Hatchery at 563-263-5062.

fishing, Pen City Current, southeast Iowa Department of Natural Resources

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