Iowa DNR Fishing report for week ending June 13, 2019

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Big Hollow Lake
Water level has returned to close to normal, but the water remains fairly muddy. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Anglers are picking up a few bass in 5 to 6 feet of water around the flooded timber. Bluegill - Good: Anglers had been picking up pretty good numbers of bluegills before last week’s heavy rains; a few nice dry days of weather should bring that fishing back. Black Crappie - Fair: Look for the crappies out in the trees and brush piles in 6 to 7 feet of water.

Iowa River (Columbus Junction to Mississippi River)
The water level on the Iowa River is falling, but remains above minor flood stage and will be a few more days.

Lake Belva Deer
The water level is close to normal again and is clearing up. Some decent weather this weekend would help clear it up. Black Crappie - Fair: Find crappies in 10-12 feet of water; you have to work for them. Largemouth Bass - Fair: A decent percentage of bass have spawned and moved off the beds.

Lake Darling 
The boat docks are back to being above water and the lake has returned to a more normal level. The water remains fairly muddy. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Find bass in the post-spawn hideout around the thicker cover in 3-5 feet of water. Bluegill - Fair: The muddy water is slowing down the bite, but bluegills are on the beds as well as some having already finished.

Lost Grove Lake
The lake level is falling, but it will still be a while before it gets back to normal. Water remains cloudy. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Anglers continue to catch bass; work them out along the edges of the weed beds and around the trees and brush piles in 4-6 feet of water. Black Crappie - Slow: Look for crappies out around the deeper habitat. Bluegill - Fair: Some bluegills are spawning, despite the cooler water temperatures.

Skunk River (Rose Hill to Coppock)
The Skunk River is finally back within its banks, but only by a foot or so. Canoeing or kayaking is not recommended.

For more information on the above lake, call the Lake Darling Fisheries Office at 319-694-2430.

Coralville Reservoir 
The lake level as of June 6 is 704 feet (normal summer pool is 683 feet) and is predicted to start slowly falling. Mehaffey Bridge is the only ramp open.

Diamond Lake 
Channel Catfish - Good: Stink bait works best. Black Crappie - Fair: Try deeper brush or drift the basin for suspended fish with jigs. Bluegill - Fair: Try worms or small jigs in deeper brush.

Hannen Lake 
Bluegill - Fair: Bluegills are spawning. Nice sized fish can be caught in the shallows. Largemouth Bass – Fair. Black Crappie - Slow: Look for suspended fish around deeper brush. Numbers are low, but size is good. 

Lake Macbride 
Only outboards 10 hp or less may be operated on the lake. Water temperatures are in the low 70's. Walleye - Slow: Troll crankbaits or live bait rigs in 7-12 feet of water. Black Crappie - Slow: Try minnows or jigs in deeper brush piles or stumps. Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) - Fair: Cast crankbaits or swimbaits along windblown rock or rock breaks. Topwaters can work early and late in the day. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Fish around shallow wood or rock. Channel Catfish - Fair: Try stink bait or cut bait towards evening.

Pleasant Creek Lake 
Walleye - Fair: Evenings are best. Bluegill - Good: Use small jigs or worms in shallow pockets. Black Crappie – Slow. Muskellunge – Fair.

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

Hawthorn Lake
Largemouth Bass - Fair: Try rubber worms or spinnerbaits around the rock jetties and along the dam. Channel Catfish - Fair: Try dead chubs or nightcrawlers. Bluegill - Fair: Use small jigs tipped with a waxworm. Sorting is needed for larger fish.

Lake Miami
Black Crappie - Fair: Try jigs tipped with a minnow around the submerged trees. Bluegill - Fair: Try small jigs around the rock jetties and shorelines. Tip your jig with a chunk of nightcrawler. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Use rubber worms or spinnerbaits around the fishing jetties and along the face of the dam. 

Lake Sugema
Water levels are very high. The boat docks and fishing jetties are underwater. The lake is about 4 feet above normal pool. Largemouth Bass - Good: Try spinnerbaits or crankbaits around rock jetties and along the dam. Black Crappie - Fair: Use jigs tipped with a minnow around the flooded timber and submerged structure. Keep moving until you find active fish. Bluegill - Fair: Try small jigs tipped with a waxworm or chunk of nightcrawler around the shoreline.

Lake Wapello
Water levels are variable with the recent rains. Bluegill - Fair: Try small jigs along the shorelines. Channel Catfish - Fair: Use cut bait or dead chubs. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Try rubber worms or spinnerbaits around rock jetties and submerged cedar trees. 

Rathbun Reservoir
The current lake level is 917.30 msl. Normal operating elevation is 904.0 msl. The water temperature is in the upper 60's. The lake's water level has risen about 1 feet in the last week. Lake Rathbun has zebra mussels, so make sure to properly drain, clean, and dry equipment before transporting to another water body. Channel Catfish - Fair: Try cut bait or shad sides in areas with flowing water. Black Crappie - Fair: Crappie fishing has slowed with the cooler weather and recent rain. Try jigs and minnows along rocky shores and around structure. Sorting is needed for larger fish. Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) - Good: Anglers have been successful trolling crankbaits along rocky shores. Walleye - Fair: Try trolling over submerged points or along rocky shores.

Red Haw Lake
Water levels are variable with the recent rains. Channel Catfish - Fair: Use cut bait or dead chubs. Bluegill - Fair: Try small jigs fished around the shores and submerged structure. Tip your jig with a waxworm. Largemouth Bass - Good: Try rubber worms or spinnerbaits around brush piles and other submerged structure.

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.

Department of Natural Resources, fishing, lakes, Pen City Current, ponds, southeast iowa

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