Bass fishing has brighter outlook in latest reports

Posted

The following is the weekly Iowa Department of Natural Resources weekly fishing report for the week ending Wednesday, July 31, 2019 for southeast Iowa.

Iowa River (Columbus Junction to Mississippi River)
The Iowa River is rising slowly due to some heavy rains upstream on both the Iowa and Cedarn rivers; the rise will only be by a few inches.Channel Catfish- Fair: Try stink bait or grass frogs this time of year.Flathead Catfish- Fair: Flatheads are mostly done spawning and are starting to get back on the feed.

Lake Belva Deer
Water temperatures remain in the low 80's. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Look for bass around the mounds in the deeper water at the upper end and around the rip-rap at the lower end of the lake. Early morning or late evening is best. Bluegill - Fair: Bluegills are out deep. Start out in 10 to 12 feet of water early in the morning. Channel Catfish - Fair: Most catfish have moved into deeper water; start along the old creek channel. 

Lake Darling 
The water has cooled off a bit, but still remains in the low 80's. Angler numbers are starting to rebound with the cooler weather. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Bass are out around the rock piles and brush piles in 6-10 feet of water coming in shallower early in the morning before it gets hot. Bluegill - Fair: Most bluegills have moved off into deeper water (8-10 feet) around the rock piles and brush piles. Channel Catfish - Fair: Catfish have wrapped up the spawn. Try drift fishing with cut bait along the old creek channel in the lake. Black Crappie - Fair: Slow drift or troll over the habitat in 10 to 12 feet of water. Early morning or late evening is best.

Lost Grove Lake
Water temperature is holding in the low 80's. Starting to see more anglers with the nicer weather. Largemouth Bass - Good: 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 using soft plastics. Black Crappie - Good: Anglers continue to pick up crappies out around edges of the flooded timber in 8 to 10 feet of water. Try vertical jigging or using a slip bobber and minnow. Bluegill - Fair: The hot weather has put a quick end to the spawn. Look for the bluegills around the deeper habitat now. Channel Catfish - Fair: The spawn is mostly over. Start working the areas below the flow under the causeway and along the creek channel.

Skunk River (Coppock to Mississippi River)
There is a little bump in the river level moving through due to some heavy rains upstream, but it won't last long. Channel Catfish - Fair: Some decent catfish have been working the flats around the sandbars at night. This is also the time of the year to collect a few grass frogs for bait.

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

Mississippi River Pool 19
Tailwater stage is 9.11 feet at Lock and Dam 18 above Burlington and forecast to reach 9.7 feet by Tuesday. Flood stage is 10 feet at Lock and Dam 18. River stage is 14.16 feet at Burlington and forecast to reach 14.6 feet by Tuesday. Flood stage at Burlington is 15 feet. We have not received any fishing report information for this pool this week.

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

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here