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Iowa Fishing Report
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Information for fishing reports is gathered by a number of
ways including angler contact, state agencies and bait and tackle
dealers.
Reports from Iowa Anglers
Here is a list of Iowa Counties
December 10, 2009
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources issues a weekly fishing report on Thursdays in an effort to provide the latest information heading into the weekend. The weekly fishing report is compiled from information gathered from local bait shops, angler creel surveys, and county and state parks staff. For current information, contact the district fisheries office at the phone number listed at the end of each district report.
NORTHWEST
Rice Lake
Ice conditions vary; use caution if heading out on the lake and drill test holes. Crappie - Fair: Early ice should provide fair action for crappie.
Silver Lake (Worth)
Ice thickness is 4 inches near the access. The aeration system is running, so use caution and drill test holes if heading out on the lake. Northern Pike - Fair: Northern pike in the 24 to 30-inch range will provide some additional action while fishing for perch. Yellow Perch - Good: Early ice angling should provide good perch action. Use minnows and small ice jigs fished near the bottom.
Area lakes iced over on Dec. 5. Ice thickness varies from 1 to 4 inches. The snow will insulate the ice and thickness will vary for some time. Anglers are encouraged to use extreme caution with the current ice conditions. Drill test holes often if venturing out on the ice!
Big Spirit Lake
Ice depth at Marble Beach Boat ramp 4 inches, the Grade 7 inches and at the Hales Slough boat ramp ice is 5.5 inches. Bluegill - Good: Use small ice jigs tipped with wax worms or plastics at the Grade or north end of Anglers Bay . Yellow Perch - Fair: Use small ice jigs tipped with plastics or wax worms at the Grade.
East Okoboji Lake
Ice depth at the Highway 9 boat ramp is 6 inches and no fishing activity has been reported.
Minnewashta Lake
Ice depth at the south boat ramp is 5.5 inches and no fishing activity has been reported.
West Okoboji Lake
Ice depth at the Emerson Bay boat ramp is 3.5 inches, Millers Bay is open, Little Millers, Smiths, and North bays are ice covered. No fishing activity has been reported.
Upper Gar Lake
Ice depth at the boat ramp is 6.5 inches. Bluegill - Fair: Use small ice jigs tipped with live bait or plastics. Crappie - Slow: A few fish are being caught while targeting perch and bluegills. Yellow Perch - Fair: Use small ice jigs tipped with a wax worm.
Center Lake
Several open water holes are scattered throughout the lake. Ice thickness at the west shore boat ramp was ~1.5"
Little Sioux River (state line to Linn Grove)
Walleye - Good: Fish deep holes below riffles or bridges with a white twister tail or jig baited with half a night crawler.
West Fork Des Moines (state line to Emmetsburg)
Walleye - Good: Fish deep holes with a twister tail or jig baited with half a night crawler.
The ice depths given for each lake are for that location and not representative of the whole lake. Caution should always be taken when going out onto the ice. For more information on ice conditions and fishing for the lakes and rivers in the Spirit lake area call (712) 336-1840.
NORTHEAST
Volga Lake
No report.
Lake Hendricks
No report.
Lake Meyer
No report.
Upper Iowa River (above Decorah)
No report. Walleye - No Report:
Upper Iowa River (below Decorah)
No report. Walleye - No Report:
Turkey River (below Clermont)
No report. Walleye - No Report:
Cedar River (above Nashua )
No report. Northern Pike - No Report: Smallmouth Bass - No Report: Walleye - No Report:
Decorah District Streams
Area trout streams are in good condition and if you can get to them, you should have great fishing. The water is extremely clear so sneaking up on those fish is the key. Even though stocking has finished for the year, there are plenty of fish in the streams.
Much of the area in northeast Iowa received 12 inches of snow and people are still digging out. This amount of snow on top of the ice could weaken it or delay ice formation. Use caution. For information on stream conditions, call the Decorah Fish Hatchery at 563-382-8324.
MISSISSIPPI RIVER
Mississippi River Pool 9
Lansing water level is 7.8 feet and slowly dropping. The boat ramp should still be free from ice. Three-way rigs with a minnow bouncing off the bottom have been the set up of choice for sauger and walleye.
Mississippi River Pool 10
Lynxville water level is 12.8 feet and slowly dropping. The boat ramp should still be free from ice. Three-way rigs with a minnow bouncing off the bottom have been the set up of choice for sauger and walleye.
Mississippi River Pool 11
Guttenberg water level is 4.5 feet and slowly dropping. The boat ramps in town are still free from ice. Anglers are catching a lot of medium-sized sauger with a few nice walleye mixed in. Three-way rigs with a minnow bouncing off the bottom have been the set up of choice. Sauger - Excellent:
Most boat ramps are still ice-free. Call Guttenberg fisheries station for current conditions at (563) 252-1156. Water clarity is excellent.
Mississippi River Pool 16
Pool 16: Tail water stage is 6.01 feet. Ice conditions are unsafe for ice fishing. Bluegill - Slow: Ice conditions in the backwaters are unsafe for ice fishing. Crappie - Slow: Ice conditions in the backwaters are unsafe for ice fishing. Sauger - Slow: Sauger fishing has been slow in the tail waters. Walleye - Slow: Walleye fishing has been slow.
Mississippi River Pool 17
Pool 17: Tail water stage is 4.47 feet. Ice conditions are unsafe for ice fishing. Bluegill - Slow: Ice conditions in the backwaters are unsafe for ice fishing. Crappie - Slow: Ice conditions in the backwaters are unsafe for ice fishing. Sauger - Slow: Fishing for saugers in the tail waters has been slow. Walleye - Slow: Walleye fishing has been slow.
Mississippi River Pool 18
Pool 18: Tail water stage is 5.91 feet. Ice conditions in the backwaters are unsafe for ice fishing. Bluegill - Slow: Ice conditions in the backwaters are unsafe for ice fishing. Crappie - Slow: Ice conditions in the backwaters are unsafe for ice fishing. Sauger - Slow: Fishing for saugers in the tail waters has been slow. Walleye - Slow: Walleye fishing has been slow.
Mississippi River Pool 19
Pool 19: Tail water stage is 3.56 feet. Ice conditions in the backwaters are unsafe for ice fishing. Bluegill - Slow: Ice conditions in the backwaters are unsafe for ice fishing. Crappie - Slow: Ice conditions in the backwaters are unsafe for ice fishing. Sauger - Slow: Sauger fishing in the tail waters has been slow. Walleye - Slow: Walleye fishing has been slow.
Mississippi River Pools 16-20: Rivers levels have been fairly steady over the past week. Main channel water temperature is around 32 degrees. Backwaters are freezing up but ice conditions are unsafe for fishing. For more information on fishing pools 16-20 contact the Fairport Fish Hatchery at 563-263-5062.
SOUTHEAST
Lake Macbride
There will be another riprap project on the lake this winter. The outlet valve was opened Tuesday, November 17. As of today (December 10) the lake is down about 8 feet. The lake will be lowered 8-10 feet in total to allow for equipment access to shorelines and islands.
Coralville Reservoir
As of Dec. 10, the lake level is 693 feet and is projected to fall about one foot per day. This will make for poor ice conditions until it stabilizes.
Ice is starting to form, but not safe yet. For more information contact the Lake Macbride Fisheries Station at 319-624-3615.
Lake Wapello
The lake was drained this summer but has been renovated and is being allowed to refill.
Lake Keomah
The ice is starting to form but it is not thick enough to support anglers.
Lake Miami
The lake is starting to freeze over but there is not enough ice for anglers.
Lake Sugema
The lake is starting to freeze over but there is not enough ice for anglers.
Rathbun Reservoir
The lake is starting to freeze over in the bays and coves. There is not enough ice to support anglers.
For additional fishing information in south central Iowa call the Rathbun Fish Hatchery at 641-647-2406.
SOUTHWEST
Lake Icaria
Skim ice has formed over most of the lake. Waterfowl is keeping several areas open. Ice is too thin to support a person.
Green Valley Lake
The lake has been lowered for a sediment removal project this winter. The lake is expected to be refilled in April 2010.
Summit Lake
The lake has been lowered for allow for shoreline rock to be placed this winter. The lake is expected to be refilled in April 2010.
Three Mile Lake
Some areas of skim ice have formed in the back of the shallow bays. Waterfowl is keeping some areas open. Others have just recently frozen.
Twelve Mile Creek Lake
Skim ice has formed over most of the lake. Ice is too thin in most areas to support a person on foot.
Skim ice has formed on small water bodies. Open water areas can be seen on larger water bodies. Ice is not yet thick enough to walk on.
State Reports
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