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AREA WEATHER

Saturday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 74. Southwest wind 9 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Saturday Night

Mostly clear, with a low around 53. South southwest wind 6 to 8 mph.

Sunday

Sunny, with a high near 79. Southwest wind 8 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph.

Sunday Night

Mostly clear, with a low around 53.

Monday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 77.

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NORTHWEST

Water temperature is around 55 degrees. Water clarity is around 12 inches. Black Crappie – Fair: Pick up crappie in and around the fish house in Town Bay, along Ice House Point shoreline, and near the inlet bridge. Crappie are up to 10- to 12-inches. Morning bite is best. Bluegill – Slow: Use a small hair or tube jig tipped with a small piece of bait. Find them near shore areas and under docks as water cools. Bluegill numbers are not high, but large individuals are here. Walleye – Good: The walleye bite is picking up. Walleye have moved in close to shore. Try fishing along Ice House Point, the east shore near the outlet, and Shotgun Hill in the morning and evening.

Water temperatures are in the upper 50s. Water clarity is about 2 feet. Black Crappie – Slow: Find crappie in 5-10 feet of water. Bluegill – Slow: Find bluegill near submerged structure in 3-10 feet of water. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Look for largemouth bass along shore. Target fish near shore and along foot bridge in evening. Walleye – Slow: Pick up walleye in on rock piles. Also look near shore and along the foot bridges in the evening. Yellow Perch – Fair. Anglers are catching decent numbers of yellow perch when they find schools; some sorting is needed as many of them are small.

Water levels are at crest. Bluegill – Fair: Recent fishery surveys show a good population and size structure of bluegill with many 8.5 to 9.5 inches. Try drifting/slow trolling or target some of the submerged structure in the lake.

Water levels are at least one foot below crest. Channel Catfish – Slow: Try fishing from shore in 2-6 feet of water along rocky structure and the wooded shores in Muddy Bay. A recent survey showed good numbers of 16-inches to 24-inches fish (~1 to 3 pounds). Walleye – Slow. Find walleyes around docks and boat lifts. Cast around those structures; move often to find actively feeding fish.

Storm Lake (incl Little Storm Lake)

Water level are near crest. Largemouth Bass – Slow. Storm Lake has a bass population, but the only place really targeting them is the marina. Walleye – Slow: Pick up walleyes while trolling; most are small (10-inches or less). The Chautauqua Jetty and Frank Starr Park attract a lot of walleyes in the evenings. If there is flow coming through the inlet, it is also worth fishing there.

Water temperatures are in the mid-50s in most area lakes. For more information, contact the Black Hawk District office at 712-657-2638.

Black Crappie – Fair: Drift fish or troll small jigs along the north shore. Bluegill – Fair.

Water level is 11 inches below crest. Water temperature is in the low 50s. Water clarity is about 23 inches. The fish cleaning station is closed for the season. Black Crappie – Fair. Use electronics to find fish. Walleye – Fair: Anglers are catching walleye with live bait and jigs. Find fish in 3 to 8 feet of water. Try rock reefs areas and near the edge of vegetation. Anglers fishing docks after sunset are having some success. White Bass – Slow. Yellow Bass – Slow: Anglers are catching a few yellow bass while targeting walleye. Live bait below slip bobbers or drifting works best.

Black Crappie– Fair: Drift fish or troll small jigs in the dredge cut. Bluegill – Good: Use a jig tipped with a piece of crawler near shore. Walleye – Slow: Try fishing near vegetation edge and along the old roadbed.

Any water west of the north boat ramp is a waterfowl refuge and is closed to all activity from Sept. 1st through the final day of the duck season. Signs across the lake mark this area. Bluegill – Slow. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Try fishing woody habitat. Morning bite is best. Walleye – slow.

Silver Lake (Worth)

Bluegill – Fair: Try a piece of crawler under a bobber near the edge of vegetation. Yellow Perch – slow.

River level is 4.54 feet. Smallmouth Bass – Fair.

For information on lakes and rivers in north central Iowa, contact Clear Lake Fish and Wildlife office at 641-357-3517.

Lake level is just below crest. Black Crappie – Good: Bluegill – Good: Many bluegill seen; easily catchable around functional docks. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Bass are a little ways off shore; you can still find some around docks and other structure. Yellow Perch – Good: Many perch seen; sorting most likely needed.

Walleye – Fair: Morning and afternoon bite is best.

Silver Lake (Dickinson)

Lake level is below crest. The lake is experiencing a large algae bloom. Walleye – Good: Bite hit-or-miss, but very good when bite is on.

Black Crappie – Good: Anglers are finding quality-size crappie; biting on almost anything. Bluegill – Good. Walleye – Good: Evening bite is best with leech and bobber from shore or crankbaits and slip bobbers by boat. Yellow Perch – Good: Sorting is needed; anglers are finding many of acceptable size.

Lake level is below crest. Black Crappie – Fair: Bluegill – Good. Largemouth Bass – Good. Pumpkinseed – Good.

Water temperatures are in the upper 50s to low 60s. Most area buoys have been pulled for the season. The bite for most species has been good. Most fish are moving in closer to shore as temperatures drop. Weedlines have been slowly fading back. Most public docks can be fished from. For current conditions, call the Spirit Lake District Office at 712-336-1840.

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NORTHEAST

Cedar River (above Nashua)

Mitchell dam will undergo a rehabilitation project on the powerhouse intake structure requiring the impoundment to be lowered. Desired levels will be maintained during the work. After completion, water levels will be allowed to return. Users should prepare for limited access due to lowered water levels. The river below the dam will not be dewatered. Smallmouth Bass – Fair: Find smallies in deeper pools and off channel rocky areas. Use crankbaits or spinnerbaits. Walleye – Good: Find walleye in deeper water and back eddies. Try jigs tipped with a minnow or twister tails.

Decorah District Streams

All stream stockings continue through the end of October. Starting October 1, all trout stream stockings are not announced. Take time to enjoy the fall weather and fish a new stream. A variety of hunting seasons are open; many streams pass through public areas open to hunting. Brook Trout – Fair: Brook trout are getting ready to spawn. Trout clear gravel on stream bottoms to make trout nests or redds Dabble a fly through the narrow unvegetated runs or find deeper pool above beaver dams. Brown Trout – Fair: Brown trout are getting ready to spawn. Cleared gravel areas are showing up in areas with faster moving water. These are trout nests or redds. Avoid walking in these spots. Anglers need to be more stealthy when approaching steams due to clear water. Rainbow Trout – Good: A small chunk of worm or cheese under a bobber fished through a deeper hole will turn a rainbow head. Cut the line on a deeply hooked fish if returning it to the water.

Water clarity is improving. Water temperature is in the upper 50s. Black Crappie – Fair: Try fishing near woody structure along shoreline with a small spinnerbait or crankbait. Bluegill – Fair: Bluegills are in shallow water in the evening; use a jig tipped with a small piece of worm under a bobber. Largemouth Bass – Good: Toss a lure along the edge of vegetation to draw out a bass. Use a shallow running lure in the evening.

Water clarity is improving as temperatures fall. Water temperatures in the upper 50s. Black Crappie – Fair: Use spinnerbaits or crankbaits near overhanging trees or near logs in water. Bluegill – Fair: Find bluegills near rocky shoreline. Use a small jig tipped with small piece of worm under a bobber. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Try along the edge of vegetation. Use a shallow running crankbait in open water in the evenings.

Improvements between 128th Ave. and 380th Street are occurring. Please avoid this area.

Stream stocking continues at lower sections. Rainbow Trout – Good: Thanks for staying out of this area until improvements are completed. There are many other great locations to find fish downstream of this area.

Turkey River (above Clermont)

Excellent water clarity. Smallmouth Bass – Fair: Find smallies in deeper holes or near rock ledges. Use a small jig or crankbait. Walleye – Good: Try a jig tipped with twister tail or spinnerbait through deeper holes or rock ledges.

Upper Iowa River (above Decorah)

Excellent water clarity. Smallmouth Bass – Fair: Find fish near drop-offs eddies and rock ledges with a spinnerbait or crankbait. Walleye – Good: Find deeper holes with a crankbait or jig tipped with enough weight to get toward bottom.

Water clarity is improving as water temperature drops. Black Crappie – Fair: Find crappies around woody structures along shoreline; use a minnow under a bobber or a small spinnerbait. Bluegill – Fair: Try a small jig with a small piece of worm under a bobber along rocky shoreline. Channel Catfish – Slow: Trophy catfish abound in this lake. Use a squished minnow or worm fished close to the bottom near woody debris. Largemouth Bass – Good: Try crankbaits along rocky shoreline or along drop offs in the evening.

Water levels on most area rivers and streams are steady for this time of year. Weekend temperatures in the 70s to 40s at night. For more information, contact the Chuck Gipp Decorah Fish Hatchery at 563-382-8324.

Anglers are catching crappie. Black Crappie – Good: Use electronics to find and drift a live minnow under a bobber or artificial jigs over structure in 6 to 8 feet of water.

Cedar River (Nashua to La Porte City)

Anglers are catching channel catfish, smallmouth bass, and walleye. Black Crappie – Good: Find brush piles or rip-rap along shorelines with a crappie minnow under a slip bobber or vertical jigging various colored tube jigs. Channel Catfish – Fair: Try chubs fished on the river bottom below snags or other structure. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Use lead head jigs with twister tails. Walleye – Fair: Cast and retrieve lead head jigs tipped with a nightcrawler.

Anglers are catching crappie and bluegill. Black Crappie – Good: Use electronics to find and drift a live minnow under a bobber or artificial jigs over structure in 6 to 8 feet of water.

Manchester District Streams

Rainbow trout stockings are on schedule. Brown trout fishing is fair, especially in the evenings. Brown Trout – Fair: Use crankbaits, jigs, spinners, dry flies, or nymphs. Rainbow Trout – Good: Try jigs, spinners, crankbaits, or live bait.

Maquoketa River (above Monticello)

Anglers are catching smallmouth bass and walleye in Delaware County. Smallmouth Bass – Fair: Use live or artificial tackle. Walleye – Fair: Cast and retrieve lead head jigs tipped with a nightcrawler.

Shell Rock River (Greene to Shell Rock)

No fishing information this week.

Wapsipinicon River (Tripoli to Troy Mills)

Anglers are catching walleye, northern pike, channel catfish, and smallmouth bass. Channel Catfish – Good: Try dead cut baits, stink baits, and chicken livers above woody snags. Northern Pike – Good: Cast and retrieve artificial crankbaits or spoons near woody structure. Smallmouth Bass – Fair: Try lead head jigs with twister tails. Walleye – Good: Use crankbaits off of the edge of sandbar drop-offs.

Interior rivers are at usual levels this time of year and are providing fair to good walleye, smallmouth bass, northern pike, crappie and channel catfish angling. Lakes in and around Cedar Falls are producing catches of panfish. Trout streams remain in excellent condition. For more information, contact Manchester Hatchery at 563-927-3276.

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MISSISSIPPI RIVER

Mississippi River Pool 9

Water level is near 7.8 feet at Lansing and is predicted to remain stable next week. Water temperature is 55 degrees. Boaters should use caution in low water to avoid backing off the end of the ramp at New Albin. Bluegill – Good: Use light tackle with hooked tipped with a small piece of worm. Channel Catfish – Good: Anglers are catching channel cats on crawlers and stink bait. Flathead Catfish – Good: Use live bluegill or shiners in tailwaters of Lock & Dams and large tree snags in deeper sloughs. Freshwater Drum – Excellent: Try a piece of crawler off the bottom along main channel and side channel current. Largemouth Bass – Good: Cast frog baits along weed edges in upper portions of backwaters. Northern Pike – Fair: Try fishing the shallows along weed beds in backwater lakes. Sauger – Fair. Sauger have started moving up to the tailwaters of the dams with colder water temperature. Smallmouth Bass – Excellent: Smallmouth are biting in areas with moderate current. Cast spinners and crankbaits along the main channel rock shorelines. Walleye – Fair: Troll crankbaits on three-way rigs along deep side channel borders and wing-dams. Expect walleye to start moving up to the tailwaters of the dams with colder water temperature. White Bass – Good: Throw inline spinners along current breaks. Watch for schools of minnows jumping as white bass are feeding. Yellow Perch – Fair: Jig for perch in the vegetation off the edge of cuts in 6-8 feet of water.

Mississippi River Pool 10

Water level is 612.3 feet at Lynxville and is predicted to remain stable next week. Water temperature is 56 degrees. Boat ramps at Noble’s Island, Marquette, McGregor, Bussey Lake, and Sny Magill are open. Avoid backing off the ramp during low water conditions. Bluegill – Good: Use light tackle with hooked tipped with a small piece of worm. Channel Catfish – Good: Anglers are catching a few channel cats on crawlers. Freshwater Drum – Good: Try a piece of crawler off the bottom along the main channel and side channel current. Largemouth Bass – Good: Cast frog baits along weed edges in upper portions of the backwaters. Northern Pike – Fair: Try fishing the shallows along weed beds in backwater lakes. Sauger – Fair: Sauger have started moving up to the tailwaters of the sams with colder water temperature. Smallmouth Bass – Excellent: Smallmouth are biting in areas with moderate current. Cast spinners and crankbaits along the main channel rock shorelines or at the spillway. Walleye – Fair: Troll crankbaits on three-way rigs along deep side channel borders and wing-dams. Expect walleye to start moving up to the tailwaters of the dams with colder water temperature. White Bass – Good: Throw inline spinners along current breaks. Watch for schools of minnows jumping as white bass are feeding. Yellow Perch – Fair: Jig for perch in the vegetation off edge of cuts in 6-8 feet of water.

Mississippi River Pool 11

Water level is 4.1 feet at Guttenberg in the tailwaters and is expected to remain there next week. Water temperature is 50 degrees at the Lock & Dam. Guttenberg City Ramp, the furthest south lane has a scour hole at end of ramp. Avoid backing trailers in too far when the water levels are extremely low. Bluegill – Excellent: Bluegill have moved off spawning beds into deeper water. Use light tackle on flooded shorelines and weed beds. Channel Catfish – Good: Anglers are catching a few channel cats on crawlers. Flathead Catfish – Good: Use live bluegill or shiners in the tailwaters of the Lock & Dams and large tree snags in deeper sloughs. Freshwater Drum – Good: Try a piece of crawler off the bottom along the main channel and side channel current. Largemouth Bass – Good: Cast frog baits along weed edges in upper portions of the backwaters. Northern Pike – Fair: Fish the shallows along weed beds in backwater lakes. Sauger – Fair: Sauger have started moving up to the tailwaters of the dams with colder water temperature. Smallmouth Bass – Excellent: Smallmouth are biting in areas with moderate current. Cast spinners and crankbaits along the main channel rock shorelines. Walleye – Fair: Troll crankbaits on three-way rigs along deep side channel borders and wing-dams. Expect walleye to start moving up to the tailwaters of the dams with colder water temperature. White Bass – Good: Throw inline spinners along current breaks. Watch for schools of minnows jumping as white bass are feeding. Yellow Perch – Fair: Jig for perch in the vegetation off edge of cuts in 6-8 feet of water.

Upper Mississippi River levels at Pools 9 -11 have fallen slightly and remain extremely low. Boaters should use caution to avoid backing off the end of ramps. Water temperatures are in the mid-50s. Water clarity is good.

Mississippi River Pool 12

Water level is stable at 4.7 feet at Dubuque Lock and Dam and 7.3 feet at the RR bridge. Water is clear. Water temperature is around 55 degrees. Black Crappie – Good: Crappie are starting to show up in the creel; use minnows in brush piles in the larger sloughs. Bluegill – Good: Bluegills can be difficult to find in low water; concentrate your efforts along deeper rocky banks or tree falls. Channel Catfish – Excellent: The bite remains good; most anglers are using stink bait. Freshwater Drum – Excellent: Use big crayfish to catch big drum. Try a simple egg sinker worm rig in areas of moderate current. Largemouth Bass – Excellent: Bass are stacked up along shoreline weed edges. Northern Pike – Fair: Lots of small young of the year pike have been reported lately. This bodes well for the future of pike fishing. Smallmouth Bass – Excellent: Try small crankbaits or spinners along rock lines. Walleye – Good: Many anglers are targeting smaller flowing sloughs with crankbaits. White Bass – Good: White bass have been a consistent in the creel. Try flashy spinners in tailwater areas.

Mississippi River Pool 13

The water level is stable and and very low near 3.9 feet at Bellevue. Water temperature is 56 degrees. The water is clear. Black Crappie – Good: Crappie are starting to show up in the creel; use minnows in brush piles in the larger sloughs. Bluegill – Excellent: Some sorting may be needed to find nicer bluegill; many are being caught with worm rigs along the main channel shoreline. Channel Catfish – Excellent: The bite remains good; most anglers are using stink bait. Flathead Catfish- Fair: Some nice flathead catfish are still being caught occasionally in the tailwaters. Freshwater Drum – Excellent: Drum are a consistent biter in moderate current areas; use an egg sinker and worm rig. Largemouth Bass – Excellent: Find weedlines away from the main channel. Anglers are using gaudy spinnerbaits or frog imitation lures. Anglers are also using jig baits along slough brush piles in side channel areas. Fish are really concentrating on woody habitats. Northern Pike – Good: Pikes are biting while folks are bass fishing along channel edges. Smallmouth Bass – Excellent: Try spinners or jigs around rock lines to catch abundant smallies. You need to be in areas with strong current. Walleye – Good: Use crankbaits on the wing-dams. Some tailwater fishing has begun. White Bass – Excellent: Try white jigs or small spinners in the Bellevue tailwaters.

Mississippi River Pool 14

The water level is stable at 4.4 feet at Fulton, 9.2 feet at Camanche and 4.2 feet at LeClaire. The water is clear. Water temperature is around 56 degrees. Black Crappie – Good: Crappie are starting to show up in the creel; use minnows in brush piles in the larger sloughs. Bluegill – Excellent: Some sorting may be needed to find nicer bluegill; many are being caught with worm rigs along the main channel shoreline. Channel Catfish – Excellent: Try stink baits in moderate current in 2-8 feet of water. Move often if you do not find fish. Floating nightcrawlers along rock lines can produce some nice channel cats. Freshwater Drum – Excellent: Worm rig with egg sinker fished along shore in moderate current will catch this consistent biter. Largemouth Bass – Excellent: Frog lures and spinnerbaits work best. Northern Pike – Good: Pike have returned to the creel with anglers mainly using flashy spinner baits. White is preferred. Smallmouth Bass – Excellent: Use spinners or jigs next to rock lines with strong current. White Bass – Excellent: Try flashy spinners or small white jigs along shorelines near the tailwater.

Mississippi River Pool 15

The water level is stable at near 4.3 feet at Rock Island. The water is clear. Water temperature is around 57 degrees. Channel Catfish – Excellent: Try stink bait rigs near shore to catch abundant catfish. It is getting late in the channel catfish season but many are still being caught. Move often if not catching these fish. Freshwater Drum – Excellent: Worm rig with egg sinker fished along shore in moderate current will catch this consistent biter. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Try fishing along the many rock lines with moderate current to catch abundant smallmouth bass. Pool 15 can be an overlooked spot for smallmouth; you need be along the abundant rock lines in moderate to fast current. Smallies live in rock areas with current.

Water levels are low. Boaters should use caution to avoid backing off end of ramps. Fall fishing can be great on the River right until ice in. If you have angling questions, please call Bellevue Fisheries Management at 563-880-8781.

Mississippi River Pool 16

Tailwater stage has risen slightly the past week to 4.31 feet at Lock and Dam 15 in the Quad Cities. Channel Catfish – No Report: Look for channel catfish around brush piles and snags along the main channel and side channels. Try cut shad or dip baits. Channel catfish can also be caught fishing the wing-dams. With lower water conditions, look for catfish toward the ends of the wing-dams where there is more flow. Sauger – No Report: We have not received any reports of catching saugers below the Lock and Dam and in Sylvan Slough. Fishing should improve as water temperatures fall. Walleye – No Report: Look for walleyes on the wing-dams; cast or troll crankbaits. Walleyes can also be caught on jigs and nightcrawlers. With the low water conditions, look for walleyes towards the ends of the wing-dams where there is more current. White Crappie – No Report: Look for crappies around brush piles and snags in the backwaters and side channels. Use minnows under a bobber or jigs and plastics.

Mississippi River Pool 17

Tailwater stage has risen slightly to 3.57 feet at Lock and Dam 16 in Muscatine. Channel Catfish – No Report: Look for channel catfish around brush piles and snags along the main channel and side channels. Try cut shad or dip baits. Channel catfish can also be caught fishing the wing-dams. With lower water conditions, look for catfish toward the ends of the wing-dams where there is more flow. Largemouth Bass – No Report: Try around logs in areas like Big Timber. Sauger – No Report: Fishing should improve as water temperatures fall. Walleye – No Report: Look for walleyes on the wing-dams; cast or troll crankbaits. Walleyes can also be caught on jigs and nightcrawlers. With the low water conditions, look for walleyes towards the ends of the wing-dams where there is more current. White Crappie – No Report: Look for crappies around brush piles and snags in the backwaters and side channels. Use minnows under a bobber or jigs and plastics.

Mississippi River Pool 18

Tailwater stage has risen slightly to 3.19 feet at Lock and Dam 17 at New Boston. Channel Catfish – No Report: Look for channel catfish around brush piles and snags along the main channel and side channels. Try cut shad or dip baits. Channel catfish can also be caught fishing the wing-dams. With lower water conditions, look for catfish toward the ends of the wing-dams where there is more flow. Sauger – No Report: We have not received any reports of catching saugers below the Lock and Dam. Fishing should improve as water temperatures fall. Walleye – No Report: Look for walleyes on the wing-dams; cast or troll crankbaits. Walleyes can also be caught on jigs and nightcrawlers. With the low water conditions, look for walleyes towards the ends of the wing-dams where there is more current. White Crappie – No Report: Look for crappies around brush piles and snags in the backwaters and side channels. Use minnows under a bobber or jigs and plastics.

Mississippi River Pool 19

Tailwater stage is 1.17 feet and has been fairly steady at Lock and Dam 18 above Burlington. Channel Catfish – No Report: Look for channel catfish around brush piles and snags along the main channel and side channels. Try cut shad or dip baits. Channel catfish can also be caught fishing the wing-dams. With lower water conditions, look for catfish toward the ends of the wing-dams where there is more flow. Sauger – No Report: We have not received any reports of catching saugers below the Lock and Dam. Fishing should improve as water temperatures fall. Walleye – No Report: Look for walleyes on the wing-dams; cast or troll crankbaits. Walleyes can also be caught on jigs and nightcrawlers. With the low water conditions, look for walleyes towards the ends of the wing-dams where there is more current. White Crappie – No Report: Look for crappies around brush piles and snags in the backwaters and side channels. Use minnows under a bobber or jigs and plastics.

Tailwater stages have been rising slightly this past week. River conditions are low. Main channel water temperature is around 59 degrees. Water clarity is fair. If you have questions on fishing Pools 16-19, contact the Fairport Fish Hatchery at 563-263-5062.

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SOUTHEAST

Water temperature is in the low 60s. Black Crappie – Fair: Most crappies are in deeper 6-8 feet of water. They don’t want to leave it. Bluegill – Good: Continue to fish in 4-6 feet of water.

The fall trout release is Oct. 26 at noon. Rainbow Trout – Good: Trout fishing will pick up after we get the trout off the hatchery truck.

The fall trout release is Oct. 26 at 10 am. Rainbow Trout – Good: Trout fishing will pick up after we get the trout off the hatchery truck.

Industrial Park Pond

This pond in Fairfield is a new location for the Community Trout Stocking Program. The trout release is Oct. 26 at 11 am.

Water temperature is 60-62 degrees. Black Crappie – Fair: Most crappies are out in 10-14 feet of water. Try drifting or slow trolling small jigs to find them. Bluegill – Fair: They are not really moving into shallower water, but mostly in 4-6 feet of water. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Bass bite improved a little bit this week as they move into shallower water.

Water temperature is 60 degrees. While still green, water clarity is improving to close to 2.5 feet. Black Crappie – Fair: While the water temperature indicates that they should be working in shallower, they continue to stay out in deeper water. Bluegill – Fair: A decent number of bluegills on the rock piles in 5-6 feet of water are of decent size. Most in much shallower are small. Channel Catfish – Fair: Find the culvert piles and you should be able to find the catfish. Chicken liver or cut bait works well this time of year.

Water temperature is in the lower 60s. Water clarity is about 3 feet. Black Crappie – Fair: Crappies around the rock piles along the old haul road are getting more aggressive. The ones in deeper water don’t seem to be in any rush to join them. Bluegill – Fair: Bluegills are holding out at that 4-6 feet of water. They don’t seem to be moving any shallower. Largemouth Bass – Fair. Bass are starting to work in shallower to hunt little bluegills and green sunfish in around the tree falls in the lake. Many more are still out in about 6 feet of water.

Water temperature is dropping into the 50s at night, but getting back up around 60 during the day. Bluegill – Fair: Some are coming into the 4-6 foot of wawter around the habitat there but most remain out in deeper water. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Find them in the flooded brush out in 4-6 feet of water; that’s where the little bluegills are.

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

Black Crappie – Fair: Try jig and minnow combinations in brush piles. Bluegill – Fair: Use jigs along the shoreline and open areas in the vegetation. Tip the jigs with a chunk of nightcrawler. Largemouth Bass – Good: Use plastics around the fishing jetties and rip-rapped shorelines.

Lake Keomah is drained for a lake restoration project. Please keep out of the lake bed. Conditions of dried silt give the appearance of solid ground, but the soils are very soft.

Black Crappie

– Fair: Use jigs and minnows along cedar tree brush piles or drift over the brush piles. Bluegill – Fair: Try small jigs in the brush piles and along the shore. Largemouth Bass – Good: Use plastics around brush piles and along rip-rapped shorelines.

Black Crappie

– Fair: Try jigs and minnows in the standing timber. Bluegill – Fair: Use small jigs around submerged brush piles and the shoreline. Largemouth Bass – Good: Try plastics or spinnerbaits along rip-rapped shorelines and around submerged structures.

Black Crappie – Fair: Drift jig and minnows in deeper water; try different depths until you find active fish. These fish should move shallower around cedar tree piles as the water cools. Bluegill – Fair: Try small jigs around brush piles. Largemouth Bass – Good: Use plastics and crankbaits around the brush piles and rip-rapped shoreline.

The current lake level is 903.41 msl; recreation pool is 904 msl. Lake Rathbun has zebra mussels; properly drain, clean and dry equipment before transporting to another waterbody. Black Crappie – Fair: Try jigs around submerged cedar tree piles. Target brush piles in 15-20 feet of water. Trolling for suspended crappies can also be effective. As the water cools, try around docks and shallow brush piles. Walleye – Fair: Try trolling crankbaits or crawler harnesses around rock piles and the old river channel. All walleye less than 15-inches must be immediately released unharmed. Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) – Fair: Use jigging spoons or crankbaits over rock piles and submerged islands.

Bluegill – Fair: Try small jigs around the shorelines and submerged structure near the campground shoreline. Channel Catfish – Fair: Use nightcrawlers along the fishing jetties or the face of the dam. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Try plastics around the fishing jetties and along the face of the dam.

Contact the Rathbun Fish Hatchery at 641-647-2406 with questions about fishing in south central Iowa.

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SOUTHWEST

Des Moines River (Saylorville to Red Rock)

Walleye

– Fair: Cast jigs tipped with live minnows, twister tails or swim baits below Saylorville dam, the city dams, and any deeper pool with some slow current.

Black Crappie – Good: Drift or troll light jigs with minnows or twister tails from the main boat ramp area to about three quarters up the lake. Crappie are suspended in 2-6 feet of water away from shore.

Black Crappies – Good: Try slowly trolling small twister tail or swim baits in 3-6 feet of water in the upper two thirds of the lake. Bluegill – Fair: Drift live bait over habitat in 15 feet of water or less.

Black Crappie – Slow: The fall crappie bite has been slow so far but water temperature are dropping now which may trigger a window of good crappie fishing mid to late October. Drift or troll small plastic or jigs tipped with minnow in bays and arms off the main lake and Whitebreast arm.

For information on Central Iowa lakes and rivers contact Ben Dodd at 641-891-3795 or Andy Otting at 515-204-5885.

Black Crappie – Good. Anglers are catching some 10-inch crappies around the jetties. Channel Catfish – No Report: Greenfield has a good population of channel catfish. Largemouth Bass – Fair.

Water clarity is good. Black Crappie – Fair: Black crappie are being caught slow trolling. Sorting is needed for larger fish. Bluegill – Good: Slow troll small jigs to catch 8-inch bluegill. Tipping with a nightcrawler or Berkley helps. The north arm and around the beach is a good place to start. Largemouth Bass – Fair.

Black Crappie – Good: Find 9-inch black crappies in the cedar tree piles. Bluegill – Good: Anglers are catching bluegills around the reefs. Fish average 8-inches.

Water clarity is poor. Black Crappie – No report: Find submerged tree piles and vertical jig to catch 10- to 12-inch black crappie. Bluegill – Slow: Anglers are catching a few fish slow trolling deep water areas.

Black Crappie – No report: Boat anglers can find black crappies in tree piles. Sorting is needed for larger fish. Bluegill – Fair: Bluegill average 7.5-inches. Largemouth Bass – Fair.

For information on lakes in the Southwest District, call the Cold Springs office at 712-769-2587.

Docks are in at boat ramps. Bluegill – Slow: Catch bluegill up to 7.5-inches with jigs tipped with live bait in shallow coves.

The dock is in at the main boat ramp. Black Crappie – Slow. Try jigs tipped with live bait fished near rock fields or creek channels to catch all sizes of crappie. Bluegill – Slow. Catch bluegill up to 8.5 inches with jigs tipped with live bait fished in 8-10 feet of water. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Use finesse plastics near cedar tree brush piles to catch all sizes of largemouth bass.

Lake level is 11 feet below normal pool. Boat ramp lanes are out of the water at the main boat ramp.

The dock is in at the main boat ramp. Bluegill – Slow: Catch bluegill up to 8.5-inches with jigs tipped with live bait fished in shallow coves.

West Lake (Osceola)

Lake level increased with recent rains, but still is about 1 feet below normal. Boaters can use the boat ramps at their own risk.

Water temperatures are in the low 60s in most Mount Ayr district lakes. For more information, call Mount Ayr Fisheries office at 641-464-3108.

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