Southeast Iowa fishing report - Iowa DNR

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The following is this week's fishing report for southeast Iowa from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources

Environmental Discovery Park North Pond Pick a nice warm day and go trout fishing; still plenty of trout left from the stocking late last month.Rainbow Trout - Good:Try power bait under a bobber or a small jig or spinner worked through the shallow water.

Lake Darling Water temperature isin the low 40's. The water is very clear, you can see the bottom in 6 feet of water.The docks have been removed for the winter.

Lake Geode The lake is drained. Fun to go out and hike around looking at the lake bottom. Be careful, some of the mud is still very soft and deep.Use extreme caution and don't try to walk across the lake bottom.

Lake of the Hills 2000 trout were stocked last month, still plenty of them left in the lake.Rainbow Trout - Good:Work the shallow water from shore; trout won’t be out very deep. Fish in 3 to 4 feet of water and some of the brush piles in 6 to 7 feet of water.

Wilson Lake Still plenty of trout left from last month.Rainbow Trout -Good:Work the shallow brush piles and culvert piles.

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

Coralville Reservoir The lake level asis 686.4', which is fall pool.Black Crappie - Fair: Use bright jigs tipped with minnows over brush or along rock bluffs. White Crappie - Fair: Try bright jigs tipped with minnows over brush or along rock bluffs.

Lake Macbride All sized motors may be operated at no-wake speed. Water temperatures this week were in thelow 40's.The fish cleaning station is shut down and dockshave been removed.Walleye -Fair:Try jigging in 15- to 25-feet of waterduring the day, andfish windblown rocky banks towards evening.There are a lot of 13- to 15-inch fish with some larger ones mixed in.Black Crappie -Fair:Use jigs and minnows over deeper brush (15-20 feet)to catch10- to 12-inch crappie.

Pleasant Creek Lake The lake is still 10 feet low from the restoration project. The main ramp is still useable, but very shallow. Four wheel drive vehicles are strongly recommended. Water temperatures are in the low 40's. The fish cleaning station is closed. Walleye - Fair: Try jigging on the dam and over the roadbeds. Most fish are 13- to 16-inches.Muskellunge - Fair: Some fish are still being caught on rubber baits.

Prairie Park Fishery 2000 trout were stocked here Nov. 17. You must have a fishing license and trout stamp to fish for or possess trout.Rainbow Trout - Good: Small spinners/jigs and worms work best.

Sand Lake You must have a fishing license and trout stamp to fish for or possess trout.Rainbow Trout - Fair:Worms work best.

Terry Trueblood Lake 2000 trout were stocked here Nov. 17.You must have a fishing license and trout stamp to fish for or possess trout.Rainbow Trout - Fair: Small spinners/jigs and worms work best.

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

Lake Miami Water temperatures are dropping; few anglers have been out.Bluegill - Fair: Use small jigstipped with live baitaroundbrush piles.Try also drifting small jigs in the lower end of the lake.Largemouth Bass - Fair: Use rubber worms and crankbaits around the fishing jetties and brush piles.Target structure along therip-rappedshorelines.

Lake Sugema Few anglers have been out with the colder temperatures.Black Crappie -Slow:Try jigstipped with live baitin the flooded timberor shallow areas with structure.Sorting is needed for larger fish.Walleye - Slow:Usenightcrawlersora minnowfished undera bobber alongareas with rip-rapped shorelines. Bluegill -Slow: Use a small jig tipped with live bait around structurealong the shorelines. Sorting is needed for larger fish.Largemouth Bass -Slow: Try spinnerbaits along the shorelines and around the jetties. Use a rubber worm orjig n pig comboamong thevegetated areasand around deep structure.

Lake Wapello Few anglers have been out with the cooler temperatures.Largemouth Bass -Slow:Try spinnerbaits orjig n pig combosaround thebrush piles.Black Crappie -Slow: Use jigs tipped with live bait around submerged structure.Sorting may be needed for larger fish.Black Bullhead - Slow: Try nightcrawlers fished on the lake bottom in about 6 feet of water.

Ottumwa Park Pond South Trout were stocked onOct. 27th.Use small tube jigs, small twister tails, in-line spinners, casting spoons and live bait under a bobber.

Rathbun Reservoir The current lake level is903.40msl.The water temperature is 43 degrees.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.All docks and the fish cleaning stations have been removed for the year. The ramps at the Rathbun marina are closed for the season.White Crappie -Slow:Use jigs or jigs tipped with live bait along the rip-rapped shorelines.Channel Catfish -Slow:Use nightcrawlers or cut bait.Walleye -Slow:Troll crankbaitsthat mimic shadin areas witha variation indepths.Try also trolling nightcrawler rigs.Some fish will start to move shallow with the cooler temperatures.

Red Haw Lake Water temperatures are dropping and fishing pressure has dropped with few anglers out.Bluegill -Slow:Use small jigs tipped with achunk of nightcrawleraround structure.Largemouth Bass -Slow: Try rubber wormsorspinnerbaitsin areas with rip rap or other types of structure.Try shallow areas as the water continues to cool downand slow down the presentation.Channel Catfish -Slow: Usenightcrawlersor chicken liver around the fishing jetties.

Surface water temperatures in the Rathbun district lakes are in the low 40's. 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.

Mississippi River Pool 19 Tailwater stage is3.38feet at Lock and Dam 18.We have not received any fishing report information for this pool this week.White Crappie - No Report:Use jigs and minnows or minnows under a bobberin backwaters around brush piles.Sauger -No Report:Vertical jig with minnows or pull three-way rigs with minnows or stick baits.

Tailwater stages have been slowly falling this past week. Main channel water temperature is around40-41degrees and water clarity has been fair. There has been some tailwater fishing for walleyes and saugers.If you have questions on fishing Pools 16-19, contact the Fairport Fish Hatchery at 563-263-5062.

Des Moines County, DNR, fishing report, fort madison, Henry County, iowa, lee county, Mississippi River, Pen City Current, southeast iowa, Wapello County

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