Sports : Fishing Report from the Iowa DNR

Iowa River (Columbus Junction to Mississippi River)

Recent rains are forecast to keep the river levels stable until middle of next week before falling again.

Channel catfish, good. Try cut bait in the back ends of the sandbars or stink baits behind brush piles.

Big Hollow Lake

Water temperature is 73 degrees.

Black crappie, fair. Find crappie on the edge of the flooded timber on the south side of the lake in nine or 10 feet of water up a foot or so off the bottom.

Bluegill, fair. Some are starting to sneak back onto the spawning beds; many are still out in six to seven feet of water. Use a worm and slip bobber to clear the water so you can vertically jig over top of them.

Largemouth bass, fair. Bass have recovered from the spawn. The bigger the bass, the farther they are back in the trees.

Lake Belva Deer

Water temperature is 72 degrees. Water clarity is seven feet.

Black crappie, fair. Try slow drifting or vertically jigging over the habitat and in about 12 to 16 feet of water.

Bluegill, fair. Find bluegills out in deeper water 10 to 14 feet down in the trees. They might come back in to continue the spawn as the water continues to warm.

Lake Darling

Water temperature is 71 degrees. Water clarity is good at 50 to 60 inches. The water has a green tint; it's starting to clear again.

Black crappie, fair. Look for crappies down by the dam in brush piles in deep water out from the high rip-rap bank or on the rock pile field on the ends of the dam.

Bluegill, fair. Bluegill fishing slowed; most bedding areas are vacant. They may start to come in as the water warms into the 70s. Anglers are catching most in six to eight feet of water.

Lake Geode

Water temperature is 73 degrees. Water clarity is six feet.

Black crappie, good. Find crappies in the habitat in eight to 19 feet of water; try vertically jigging.

Bluegill, fair. Bluegills are starting to return to the spawning beds after a brief break. Use a worm and bobber or a small jig tipped with a waxworm.

Largemouth bass, good. Bass are looking for young bluegills and crappies to feed on.

Lost Grove Lake

Water temperature is 68-70 degrees. Curly-leaf is still in good health; it hasn't started the summer die back yet.

Bluegill, fair. Bluegill fishing has slowed. They should start to move back on to the beds as the water warms back up.

Largemouth bass, fair. Bass are cruising the shallows feeding on the young bluegills; use crank baits or top water baits.

Railroad Lake

Minnows can't be used as bait.

Black crappie, slow. Work the brush piles in the middle of the lake; use small jigs.

Bluegill, excellent. Try worm and bobber and small jigs fished a few yards out from shore.

Channel catfish, slow. Catfishing has slowed with falling water temperatures.

Largemouth bass, good. Use nightcrawlers rigs and assorted artificial baits.

Skunk River (Rose Hill to Coppock)

River levels were slowly dropping; forecast to start to rise again with recent rainfall.

Channel catfish, good. Catfishing with stink baits and cut baits had started to slow, but should pick up with the rising water. It's time to try night crawlers again.

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

Iowa Lake (Iowa Co.)

Black Crappie - Slow: Fish have moved offshore; try for suspended fish over brush piles. Bluegill - Slow: Some bluegills are still close to shore while others have moved off shore. Channel Catfish - Fair: Anglers are catching catfish. Largemouth Bass - Slow: Some bass are close to shore; most have moved to outside weedlines and brush piles.

Cedar River (Cedar Rapids to Moscow)

Channel catfish, good. Use dip bait around brush piles and rocks.

Flathead catfish, fair. Anglers are catching a catfish on live bait such as green sunfish and bullheads around brush piles and rocks.

Cedar River (La Porte City to Cedar Rapids)

Channel catfish, good. Use dip bait near brush piles and rocks.

Flathead catfish, slow.

Smallmouth bass, fair.

Walleye, fair.

Central Park Lake

Black crappie, slow.

Bluegill, good.

Channel Catfish, good.

Largemouth bass, good.

Redear sunfish, good.

Coralville Reservoir

Channel catfish, good.

Flathead catfish, slow.

Largemouth bass, fair.

Spotted bass, fair.

Walleye, fair.

White crappie, fair. Try fishing in brush piles or rock areas.

Diamond Lake

Black crappie, slow.

Largemouth bass, fair. Try fishing around brush piles.

White crappie, slow.

Hannen Lake

Black crappie, slow.

Bluegill, good. Anglers are catching mostly 4- to 7-inch bluegills around brush piles.

Largemouth bass, good. Try fishing around brush piles.

Iowa River (Coralville Lake to River Junction)

Channel catfish, good. Use stink bait or cut bait near brush piles and rock with current seams.

Flathead catfish, fair. Try live bait near brush piles and rock.

Sauger, slow.

Smallmouth bass, slow.

Spotted bass, slow. Use crank baits or lead head with fluke.

Walleye, fair.

White bass, fair.

Wiper (hybrid striped bass), fair.

Iowa River (Marshalltown to Coralville Lake)

Channel catfish, good. Use stink bait or cut bait near brush piles and rocks.

Flathead catfish, fair. Try live bait near brush piles and rocks.

Lake Macbride

The seasonal 10-horse motor restriction is in effect.

Bluegill, fair.

Channel catfish, fair.

Flathead catfish, slow.

Largemouth bass, good. Try fishing around brush piles.

Muskellunge, fair. Troll or cast along edges of vegetation.

Spotted bass, good.

Walleye, good. Trolling works best.

White crappie, slow.

Wiper (hybrid striped bass), fair.

Pleasant Creek Lake

Black crappie, slow.

Bluegill, fair.

Channel catfish, fair.

Largemouth bass, fair.

Muskellunge, fair.

Walleye, good. Best bite is at night.

Wiper (hybrid striped bass), fair.

Wapsipinicon River (Troy Mills to Oxford Junction)

Black crappie, slow.

Bluegill, fair.

Channel catfish, good. Use cut bait or dip bait.

Flathead catfish, fair.

Largemouth bass, fair.

Rock bass, fair.

Smallmouth bass, fair.

Walleye, good.

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