All field stations and fish hatcheries remain closed at this time, for further information contact the N.E. September 2020 Fishing Report - Shane Akin joins us to talk about musky fishing on the Iowa Great Lakes; plus local fishing information, river fishing tips and stocking channel catfish in community fishing ponds and lakes across Iowa, October 2020 Fishing Report - Dr. Scott Bonar, professor of natural resources at the University of Arizona, joins us to discuss how climate change is affecting fish and their habitats across the United States and the world; plus fall fish stockings and hot spots for fall fishing, November 2020 Fishing Report -  Robbie Weber, former ISU grad student, joins us to talk about musky and walleye at Big Creek and Brushy Creek; plus community trout stockings and fall river fishing, December 2020 Fishing Report - Keith Meals, Mississippi fisheries biologist, joins us to talk about crappie managment and fishing in the big four flood control reservoirs; plus getting ready for ice fishing, January 2019 Fishing Report - Jeff Kopaska reports on his fishing trip to Clear Lake, Scott Grummer joins to talk ice fishing opportunities in north central Iowa, February 2019 Fishing Report - Ice fishing opportunities across Iowa, April 2019 Fishing Report - big fish/internet legends from Davenport, how to best handle the fish you are keeping to eat, May 2019 Fishing Report - River monsters (lake sturgeon) below Red Rock, walleyes at Big Creek and Brushy Creek, June 2019 Fishing Report - Free fishing weekend, fish stories from 100 year olds, fish local information, DNR fishing atlas, July 2019 Fishing Report - Pond fishing info, urban fishing opportunities, August 2019 Fishing Report - Summer family fishing trips, how to fish the thermocline, September 2019 Fishing Report - Upcoming Professional Musky Tournament Trail event at Okoboji, with Corey Montgomery, October 2019 Fishing Report - National Musky Tournament and Taneycomo Trout, November 2019 Fishing Report - Pheasant opener, fall sampling at Big Creek and Brushy Creek (big muskies and walleyes), trout stocking and more, December 2019 Fishing Report - Ben Schneider joins us to talk about hunting for reindeer on a remote Alaskan island, January 2018 Fishing Report - Ice fishing safety, ice fishing tips, February 2018 Fishing Report - Lots of ice fishing, Lake Miami by Albia, Littlefield Lake, DNR Fishing atlas, new ponds in Altoona, Fishermen’s Swap Meet, March 2018 Fishing Report - Community fishing atlas, getting ready for open water, April 2018 Fishing Report - Local fishing in Des Moines, trout stocking, May 2018 Fishing Report - Post-sampling information about Big Creek and Brushy Creek, big muskies, community fishing program, Fort Des Moines pond, walleye opener at Okoboji, June 2018 Fishing Report - Free Fishing Weekend, fishing at Prairie Rose and Big Creek, more great spots to fish, July 2018 Fishing Report - What to do with all the high water, how do we fish these conditions, August 2018 Fishing Report - Mick Klemesrud talks about the August Roadside Survey, pheasant hunting, fishing downtown Des Moines, statewide hot spots, fishing for hot weather bluegills, September 2018 Fishing Report - Why there are slot limits, grass carp stocking and fishing, October 2018 Fishing Report - Trout stocking in Iowa, hunting seasons with Mick Klemesrud, November 2018 Fishing Report - Ice fishing outlook for the Iowa Great Lakes with Mike Hawkins, December 2018 Fishing Report - "50 fish" goals from Scott Gritters, November 2017 Fishing Report- How to catch fish when the water cools down, Big Creek and Brushy Creek report, prep for winter ice fishing, December 2017 Fishing Report - Ice fishing information, fishing Christmas gifts. Sauger - Slow: Vertical jigging with jigs in tailwaters of lock and dam has been effective. Bluegill - Fair: Use a waxworm on a small jig fished in 3-6 feet of water. Jody Gifford, Patch Staff. 2021 licenses available now. Ice thickness in district lakes and ponds is between 9-14 inches with the occasional seam or thin ice in the main basins. There have been reports of anglers catching bluegill on South Prairie Lake. Here are a few of there favorites so far this summer. Fish a live chub or shiner just off of the bottom for some great pike action. If you're looking to fish in the general area be sure to check out Hot Spots tab to see where the fish are biting. Bluegill - Fair: Best bite on overcast days. Bluegill - Fair: Use a waxworm or spike on a small jig under a bobber. Early morning and evening bite has been better for panfish with some sorting required. Bluegill - Fair: Ice anglers are catching bluegill in shallow backwaters using jigs tipped waxworms. I have a wide variety of baits and I can paint anything you want. Doug knows every rock reef, sandbar and weed bed in Spirit Lake, West & East Okoboji and the other small connected lakes of the area. Iowa summers mean long days, warm nights, barbecues, bonfires, and one of our favorite pastimes: fishing. Feeding is said to be less vigorous. Black Crappie - Fair: Try fishing with a jig tipped with a minnow around sunken structure. Yellow Perch - Fair: Fish the SW portion of the lake in the areas between Provost Point, Denison Beach, and Ice House Point. Many fish are in spawning mode. Ensure you have a successful day on the water! Lakes in and around the Cedar Falls/Waterloo area are producing catches of both bluegill and crappie but has only mediocre. District Office at 563-927-3276. Use caution and avoid the creek area. Combined walleye/sauger daily limit 6. Backwaters have 6-10 inches ice. Check depths often. Mississippi River Pool 14 The water level is 10.4 feet at the Fulton Lock … The water temperature his near 33 degrees and water clarity is good. Check Patch's weekly central Iowa fishing report for June 29-July 1. For the most part, ice conditions are decent but never assume good ice anywhere. Tagged walleyes are released before the tournament. Because sun and moon will change during the years, months and days the bite times for each day will vary. Experience Iowa's natural beauty and all the fun our state parks offer. Bite has been hit or miss. Posted Thu, Sep 27, 2012 at 9:04 pm CT. Use the Places to Fish & Boat Map (map provided by Take Me Fishing™) to see photos of catches made and bait used by anglers near you.You can also filter by species to see what’s being caught in real time. 02/11 09:23: Alice Wyth Lake: Northeast: Northern Pike - Fair: Fish using tip-up devices or rigs under the ice using a live shiner or chub for some great pike action. Minnow, worm, midge, and caddis flies work well this time of year. Use care when walking to your favorite ice fishing hole. All area Manchester trout streams are in excellent condition and hold vast populations of brown trout. Black Crappie - Slow: Crappie bite is best in shallow backwaters fishing just below the ice surface. Check out our Hot Spots to learn where the fish are being caught in this area. The Iowa Great Lakes offer fantastic fishing opportunities on a series of lakes. Black Crappie - Fair: Nice size crappie found in deeper holes out of current. Support conservation in Iowa by buying a natural resource plate for your vehicle. Crappie bite is best in shallow backwaters fishing just below the ice surface. Anglers have been catching a few panfish on Plainfield Lake, catching fewer but fish of quality size being caught. There have been reports of anglers catching panfish and northern pike on George Wyth Lake. Walleye - Slow: Use live bait for success. Places to Fish and Boat Map. Here are 9 of the best fishing spots in Iowa that will pretty much guarantee a good catch. Find out where the fish are biting, the best places to go and what baits and lures to use to catch big fish today. Check out our Fishing Times charts to determine when the fish will be most active. Use a jig/waxworm around the jetties and shallow brush. Each month, Jeff Kopaska of the Iowa DNR and Ross Peterson from KXnO Sports Fanatics get together to talk about fishing opportunities, seasons and events in Iowa and around the Midwest. There have been reports of anglers catching bluegill on North Prairie Lake. Please be cautious when angling in this lake. Lucky anglers who catch a tagged fish can win significant prizes. Access for boats may be difficult on some sections of river given lower stream and river flow. Black Crappie - Fair: Minnows work best for crappie. According to our calculations, today Feb 16, 2021 For the most part, ice conditions are decent but never assume good ice anywhere. All fish hatcheries remain closed. The links below are the podcast recordings of their conversations, and can also be found on the iHeartRadio app. Diamond Lake, Poweshiek County – catch lots of 7- to 10-inch crappie; excellent access with 11 jetties. If you love fishing, look no further than Lansing, IA. But when the fish got closer, they saw the tell-tale glow. Rainbow Trout - Good: Get tackle in front of fish and imitate prey movements. Ice thickness is around eight inches or more over most of lake. Brook Trout - Good: Fish pool edges and heads using flies imitating prey drifting down. 02/11 09:25: Casey Lake (aka Hickory Hills Lake) Northeast Anglers should use caution on snow covered ice and areas having current. Tailwater fishing is still accessible by both boat ramps in Guttenberg. 4 Kayak fishing for big brow trout in a river mouth 7 love to fish 1 Kenai Salmon in September 3 Change Location in settings 12 What the heck is an elephant fish?? If you're looking to fish in the general area be sure to check out Hot Spots tab to see where the fish are biting. weather, tides, sunrise, etc are favorable those times could be just as good as the major times. Bluegill - Fair: Ice anglers are catching bluegill in shallow backwaters using jigs tipped with mousies. Any questions let me know. Luckily for you, we have a list for that. p: 515-725-8200 Iowa DNR Customer Service Where in Iowa Are the Fish Biting this Weekend? Heavy snow cover has made access to ice fishing difficult. Ice is thinner in the inlet bridge bay. Iowa's trout season remains open all year. The water level at Rock Island is receding at 6.9 feet. Ice depths on area Lakes are greater than 10 inches with 8 plus inches of snow. like The water level at the Bellevue Lock and Dam is holding steady at 6.1 feet. the Ice in the east basin may have thinner areas. Some reports of largemouth biting on … Water temperature is around 33 degrees and the water clarity is good. Check out those days when they happen during sunrise or sunset for an extra boost. You can check the activity of your favorite lake or stretch of river within each region, including which species are being caught, a rating of the bite (slow, fair, good or excellent), as well as a hot bait or lure pattern. Best fishing times are indicated by the four solunar periods of high feeding activity. The first major solunar feeding period starts at 03:07 am. Ice depths 10 inches with 8 inches snow. Ice anglers have been catching panfish at Mud Lake and Zollicoffers. Anglers have been catching both bluegill and crappie on Casey Lake. There have been good reports of anglers catching crappie on Alice Wyth Lake located in George Wyth State Park. Northern Pike - Fair: Fish using tip-up devices or rigs under the ice using a live shiner or chub for some great pike action. Fishing reports may include information on stream or river flows (and if it is rising or dropping), ice conditions, depths that fish are biting (watch for trends if this changes), or safety issues like if the water suddenly becomes shallow in spots. Mon - Fri, 8:00am - 4:30pm CST (KMAland) -- Southwest Iowa has several fishing hot spots this summer. Find local fishing reports on the following websites to keep you up-to-date on local fishing information. Northern Pike - Slow: Pike are biting on tip-ups baited with a minnow or shiners in shallow backwater lakes. Anglers should use caution on snow covered ice in areas having current. The two major solunar periods last for two hours or more and normally produce best results. Ice is covered with snow. Submit Online Inquiry Lake has about 8-10 inches of ice capped with 4 inches of snow. Support conservation in Iowa by buying a natural resource plate for your vehicle. Make your online reservation for state park cabins, camping sites, shelters and lodges. All walleyes less than 15 inches long and between 20-27 inches must be immediately released. The big, flood-control reservoir on the Des Moines River, about 40 miles southeast of Des Moines, consistently floods during the crappie spawn to provide excellent spawning and nursery habitat. The water temperature is around 33 degrees and the water clarity is good. Bluegill - Fair: Fish just off of the bottom with an ice jig tipped with a waxworm. “Late May and early June is a great time to take kids fishing,” said Joe Larscheid, chief of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Bureau. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Concentrate effort along rock reefs or brush piles. Most ice fishing pressure is around the Sabula backwaters. More than 2,000 anglers entered last spring's walleye tournament. Fishing Report SystemThis system allows you to view the current full fishing report, updated in real time! Most Pool 13 ice fishing is taking place near the Sabula area backwaters. Most angling activity has been near the Ice House Point boat ramp and near the Gunshot Hill shoreline. Channel catfish Chris Scholl caught this channel catfish through the ice on Clear Lake in north central Iowa in March a couple of years. The water levels at the Fulton Lock and Dam is holding steady and currently at 5.5 feet, Camanche is at 9.7 feet and Leclaire is at 4.6 feet. The Iowa DNR says the catfish are biting "in every stream of any size, all lakes and many Iowa farm ponds." For more information, please call the Chuck Gipp Decorah Fish Hatchery at 563-382-8324. moon Black Crappie - Fair: Try fishing a dead stick with a minnow on one rod and jigging an ice jig tipped with a waxworm or spike. Open water around the aerator. No motorized vehicles allowed on the ice. Since weather, tide, and other conditions affect species behavior, knowing the best times to fish is essential. 05:48 pm The Iowa Guide service is on the water fishing Okoboji or Spirit Lake nearly everyday insuring your group the hottest bite in area. Due to extreme cold very little ice fishing was noted this week. The second minor solunar feeding period starts at 09:54 pm. Black Crappie - Fair: Try fishing a dead stick with a minnow on one rod and jigging an ice jig tipped with a waxworm or spike. Consistent catches during the rest of … Lynxville water level week is at 14.9 feet. Bluegill - Fair: The winter doldrums have hit for ice fishing and most anglers only report poor to fair catch rates. Avoid ice near the bridge. Many streams maintain excellent populations of Brown Trout and stocked catchable size Rainbow Trout. Lansing water level is 8.1 feet. Use caution when going on ice. The first weekend of May is the annual walleye opener at the Iowa Great Lakes. Use small jig tipped with waxworm or spike. Due to extreme cold very little ice fishing was noted this week. By Dan Anderson. Fishing conditions are excellent on eastern Iowa streams, lakes and rivers after a period of moderate temperatures and dry weather. Largemouth Bass - Slow: Some reports of largemouth biting on tip-ups baited with minnows in backwaters. Ice depth varies in areas with current. No lake in Iowa has more potential for producing 14-inch crappies than Red Rock Lake, and no lake has more probability of breaking anglers’ hearts than Red Rock Lake. Fish deeper water. Search the report by location, specific fish, conditions or by water body. Most activity is occurring on the north end of the marsh as anglers cross the reservoir for access. Bluegill - Fair: The winter doldrums have hit for ice fishing and most anglers only report poor to fair catch rates. January 2021 Fishing Report - Kevan Paul joins us to talk about ice fishing on Clear Lake, February 20201 Fishing Report -  fishing in community ponds, plus hybrid striped bass in Big Creek, and the hot yellow perch bite at Clear Lake, January 2020 Fishing Report - Great Lakes Salmon, February 2020 Fishing Report - Andy Fales joins us to talk about Boundary Waters fishing, plus local fishing information, March 2020 Fishing Report - Local fishing, plus a conversation with Ben Wallace about Brushy Creek, Storm Lake and Black Hawk Lake, April 2020 Fishing Report - Coronavirus Impacts on Iowa fishing, Minnesota panfish regulations, The Mighty Mississippi River - Kirk Hansen talks about habitat restoration projects on the Mississippi River, May 2020 Fishing Report - Dr. Mark Pegg, Fisheries Ecologist, shares his channel catfish radio telementry research on the Red River of the North; crappie and bluegill fishing hot spots and tips, June 2020 Fishing Report - Clear Lake fishing trip; fishing in community ponds; where to catch Master Angler size fish, July 2020 Fishing Report - Chad Dolan joins us to talk about the science of electrofishing and turtle studies; plus local fishing information. The crappie bite on area lakes in the Cedar Falls/Waterloo area are good to excellent. Please use extreme caution as there have also been reports of thin ice on areas of the lake with the recent warmer weather. Many flow through wildlife management areas. There is open water in Town Bay from the winter aeration system. Sorting is needed with some fish up to 8". Reply. Due to extreme cold very little ice fishing was noted this week. Anglers are using wax worms and tungsten jigs. Crappies and bluegills are biting in small ponds and lakes across Iowa. Black Crappie - Good: Crappie bite is best in shallow backwaters fishing just below the ice surface. If you have angling questions please call the Bellevue Fisheries Station at 563-880-8781. Water temperature in the main channel is near freezing and water level is stable throughout the district. Use waxworms or live minnows on a small jig. If you're looking to fish in the general area be sure to check out Hot Spots tab to see where the fish are biting. Northern Pike - Good: Anglers are catching some quality northern pike on tip-up rigs. Check out our Hot Spots to learn where the fish are being caught in this area. Check out our Fishing Times charts to determine when the fish will be most active. Brown Trout - Good: Use tackle imitating forage fish and fish the edge of a weed bed or large rock. Iowa's natural resources plates include the state bird and flower, pheasant, eagle, buck and a Brook trout. The water level is expected to hold steady this week. Electronics are very helpful in locating suspended crappie. With the Toe Biter, the name is pretty self explanatory. Ice thickness is 13 inches in front of the Ice House Point boat ramp. Best Times to Fish. North Dakota Fishing Reports. All that, including links to your local fish and wildlife websites, records for a location, photos, videos, GPS coordinates for where the fish can be found, and much more. Where in Iowa Are the Fish Biting this Weekend? The bite not only continued through the winter but into the spring and summer of 2009, leaving ice-anglers wondering what they'll find beneath Big Spirit's ice this winter. Yellow Perch - Fair: Look for perch hanging above vegetation from 4 to 12 feet of water with jig and a minnow. They are often joined by other DNR staff and guest speakers. Contact Information by County, How to read our weekly Iowa fishing report. Anglers are also catching a few pike on tip-up rigs. Check Patch's weekly central Iowa fishing report for June 29-July 1. This giant water beetle can deliver a painful bite and pinch to its prey, or anything that threatens it. You need a valid fishing license and pay the trout fee to fish for or possess trout. Use care when parking along road if a parking area isn't plowed. Keep lure 1 to 2 ft. off bottom. Black Crappie - Fair: Use wax worms and small live minnows. Bluegill - Fair: Ice anglers are catching bluegill in shallow backwaters using jigs tipped with mousies. Anglers are catching panfish on Martens Lake. It takes sorting with a mix of 5-6, 7-8, 9-10 inch fish along with a few in the 11-12 inch range. Yellow Perch - Slow: Look for perch hanging above vegetation from 4 to 12 feet of water with jig and a minnow. The Fishing Report: Where in Iowa Are the Fish Biting? Spring panfish fishing is a great opportunity to introduce beginners of all ages to fishing. Don't forget to purchase a 2021 trout fee and license. One walleye over 27 inches may be kept. Iowa Fishing Reports Minnesota Fishing Reports Wisconsin Fishing Reports Forums-Hot Tips-Secrets ... fished a bunch of smaller lakes in the area for crappies for the past week and the bite has been as hot as first ice bite. Anglers should use caution on snow covered ice in areas that may have current.