DES MOINES - The following is the weekly report from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, on fishing trends in southeast Iowa lakes, ponds, and rivers.
Big Hollow Lake
Water temperatures are in the upper 70's. Had a total of little over three inches of rain on Tuesday and Wednesday. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Bass fishing was spotty this last weekend. The rains slowed it down some, but nice weather for the rest of the week should help it pick back up. Bluegill - Excellent: Bluegill fishing was good over the weekend with lots of nice fish out in 3 to 4 feet of water on the spawning beds. Rain the last couple of days has kept anglers off the lake.
Iowa River (Columbus Junction to Mississippi River)
The Iowa River is just below flood stage on Thursday (6/11) but, is forecast to move into minor flood stage in the next couple of days.
Lake Belva Deer
More than 4 inches of rain on Tuesday made the lake high and muddy. Largemouth Bass - No Report: Bass fishing had been good before all the rain; will need some time before it comes back. Bluegill - Slow: They should still be out at the edges of the weed beds. But in this lake when the water gets muddy they shut off. Channel Catfish - Slow: Concentrate efforts along the rocks as at these water temperatures the catfish are actively spawning.
Lake Darling
Water temperature is around 80 degrees. Heavy rains on Tuesday made the lake high and muddy. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Bass fishing had been good before the rain made the water muddy; it will take a while to clear it up. Bluegill - Fair: Warm water temperatures means the bluegills are moving on and off the beds quickly. It will be tough to find the active beds when you can't see them. Channel Catfish - Good: Work just out of the the weirs in the in-lake silt dams to catch nice catfish as they wait for the high water to wash food by them.
Lost Grove Lake
Water temperatures are in the mid to upper 70's. The aquatic vegetation is thick this year, but should start to die back some with the hot weather. Largemouth Bass - Good: Work the outer edge of the weed beds or use weedless top water baits like scum frogs or moss bosses to get them out of the pockets. Bluegill - Good: Bluegills are on nests; work the edges of the weed beds and any holes you can find in them.
Skunk River (Rose Hill to Coppock)
Lots of rain brought the Skunk River up to minor flooding levels with a fairly strong current.
For more information on the above lakes, call the Lake Darling Fisheries Office at 319-694-2430.
Central Park Lake
Largemouth Bass - Fair: Most fish are 12-13 inches. Bluegill - Fair: Most fish are smaller, up to 7 inches.
Coralville Reservoir
The lake level is 689.4 feet on 6/11 and is rising. It is predicted to crest around 692.2 feet. Water temperatures are in the mid-70's. Channel Catfish - Fair: Use cut bait in the channel or live bait along rock banks for spawning fish. White Crappie - Slow: Try minnows or jigs around brush piles or along steeper rock banks .
Diamond Lake
All facilities are open. Black Crappie - Fair: Most fish are 8-12 feet down in deeper water around brush or suspended in open water. Try small jigs for these 8-9 inch fish. Bluegill - Good: Use small jigs or worms in the shallows as they are spawning. Many fish are 7-8 inches. Channel Catfish -Good: Try stinkbait or crawlers. After rain events has been best.
Iowa Lake (Iowa Co.)
Water temperature is around 75 degrees. The shoreline is heavily vegetated with aquatic plants. Bluegill - Fair: Look for pockets in the weeds for bedding fish. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Try a weedless frog fished in weed lines or over the weeds. Black Crappie - Fair: Target weed lines or drift open water with jigs. Most fish are 9-11 inches. Channel Catfish - Fair: Fish are moving shallower to spawn.
Lake Macbride
Water temperatures are around 75 degrees. The 10 hp outboard maximum limit is in effect. Black Crappie - Slow: Fish are moving back out to summer areas over brush stumps or rock piles. Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) - Fair: Look for surface activity towards sunset; try plastics or topwater baits. Walleye - Fair: A lot of small fish are being caught with bigger ones mixed in. Troll crankbaits and live bait rigs in 7-13 feet of water. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Target shallow cover for post-spawn fish. Channel Catfish – Fair: Typical baits are working. Fish will start to move to shallow rock to spawn.
Otter Creek Lake
Docks are in; the bathroom at the ramp is open. The fish cleaning station is open. Bluegill – Good. Yellow Bass – Good.
Pleasant Creek Lake
Walleye - Slow: Use crawlers or plastics fished towards evening. Bluegill – Fair: Some fish are being seen moving shallower. Try small worms or jigs in warmer water areas. Black Crappie - Slow: Some fish are being caught on jigs or minnows in the brush or suspended in the mouths of bays. Keep moving until you find the right area. Fish up to 12 inches are reported. Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) - Slow: Target windblown areas. Channel Catfish - Fair: Try chicken livers and stink bait.
Union Grove Lake
Bathrooms and the fish cleaning station are open. Bluegill - Good:Target shallow bays and brush or pockets in the weeds. Catch fish up to 8 inches. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Most fish are smaller. Walleye - Slow: Some 12-14 inch fish are being caught on crankbaits. Channel Catfish - Slow: Use cut bait.
Wapsipinicon River (Troy Mills to Oxford Junction)
Bluegill - Fair: Fish are being caught in the backwaters, specifically at Pinicon Ridge.
For more information, contact the Lake Macbride Fisheries Station at 319-624-3615.
Corydon Reservoir
Bluegill - Good: Try small jigs along the shorelines and the outer edge of the weed line.
Hawthorn Lake
Largemouth Bass - Good: Try crankbaits or spinnerbaits fished along the rip-rapped shorelines. Black Crappie - Good: Use small jigs or jigs and minnows around submerged structure and shorelines.
Lake Miami
Largemouth Bass - Good: Use spinnerbaits along the shorelines. Bluegill - Fair: Try a bobber and worms in shallow areas. Black Crappie - Good: Use small jigs and twister tails along the shore.
Lake Sugema
Black Crappie - Good: Use minnows and jigs around the standing timber and shorelines. Bluegill - Fair: Try worms and a bobber around shorelines and vegetation.
Largemouth Bass - Good: Use spinnerbaits or crankbaits along rip-rapped shores and around structure.
Lake Wapello
Largemouth Bass - Fair: Try jigs and spinnerbaits around structure. Black Crappie - Fair: Use minnows and jigs along rocky shores. Bluegill - Good: Try a worm and bobber around structure and along shorelines.
Rathbun Reservoir
The current lake level is 906 msl. 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 waterbody. Black Crappie - Fair: Try small jigs and minnows. The lake level rising has affected the crappie spawn; try different depths until you find active fish. Walleye – Fair: Use jig and minnow or nightcrawlers along rock piles or the shoreline. Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) – Fair: Try crankbaits along the shoreline and rock piles.
Red Haw Lake
The docks are in. Largemouth Bass - Good: Use spinnerbaits or rubber worms along the shorelines and around structure. Bluegill - Fair: Try a chunk of nightcrawler around structure and around the weed line.
The district includes Appanoose, Davis, Lucas, Mahaska, Monroe, Wapello, Wayne 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 is 10.4 feet at Lock and Dam 18 and is starting to rise. Flood stage is 10 feet at Lock and Dam 18. Tailwater stage is forecast to reach 11 feet by the end of the weekend. The gates are out of the water at the dam. River stage is 15.49 feet at Burlington; flood stage is 15 feet. River stage is 528.29 feet at Fort Madison; flood stage is 528 feet. We have not received any fishing reports or ramp condition reports for this pool.
River stages had been falling this past week, but are forecast to start rising due to recent heavy rains. Some boat ramps will be underwater. Water clarity is poor. Main channel water temperature is around 74 degrees. Fishing has been slow with high and muddy water conditions. If you have questions on fishing Pools 16-19 contact the Fairport Fish Hatchery at 563-263-5062.
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