DNR Fishing Report - week ending Oct. 17, 2018

The following is the weekly fishing report for southeast Iowa from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources for the week ending Oct. 17, 2018.

Big Hollow Lake The rain has kept most away.Black Crappie -Fair:Picking up a few crappies out from shore around the flooded timber in 6 to 8 feet of water.Bluegill -Fair:Starting to pick up some decent bluegills around the rip-rap around the jetties and islands and the old road bed.Muskellunge - Fair: Anglers are catching a few muskies; some are getting over the 40 inch size.

Environmental Discovery Park North Pond The fall trout release will be Oct. 27th at 10 am; 1000 trout will be released with 100 trout tagged for prizes.Rainbow Trout - Excellent: Two weeks to go until the release

Iowa River (Columbus Junction to Mississippi River) A couple feet above Major Flood Stage; NOAA is forecasting to stay above Major Flood Level until sometime mid-next week.

Lake Belva Deer Lots of extra water in the lake; was about 1 foot above normal level on Tuesday. Water clarity is suffering due to all the rain. Water temperature is 66 degrees.Black Crappie-No Report:Weather is too unstable to forecast what the crappies are going to do.Largemouth Bass -Slow: Picking up a few bass in the more shallow water along the rocks and gravel bottom areas.

Lake Darling 7+ inches of rain since last Friday. Water clarity is down to 8 inches. Water temperature is 67 degrees. Lake was about 1.5 feet higher than normal midweek.Channel Catfish-Good:Try fishing in the back eddies behind the in-lake silt dams. Honey Creek above the lake is really moving right now.

Lake of the Hills The fall trout releaseof 2000 troutis scheduled for Oct. 20th at 10:30 am; there will be 200 tagged trout for prizes.

Skunk River (Coppock to Mississippi River)
Well above flood stage.

Wilson Lake The fall trout release is scheduled for Oct. 27th at noon; 1000 trout released with 200 tagged for prizes.

Mississippi River Pool 19 Tailwater stage is15.96feet at Lock and Dam 18above Burlingtonand isforecastto reach 17.1 feet by Sunday.Flood stage is 10 feet. River level at Burlington is20.38feetand isforecast toreach 21.2 feet by Sunday. Flood stageat Burlington is 15 feet.River level at Fort Madison is 531.17 feet and flood stageis 528 feet.

Recent heavy rains has the river above flood stage and is forecast to rise through the weekend. Main channel water temperature is around 60 degrees and water clarity is poor. Fishing has been slow due to the high water. Most boat ramps are under water due to the flooding conditionsIf you have questions on fishing Pools 16-19, contact the Fairport Fish Hatchery at 563-263-5062.

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