The Fishing Report: Where in Iowa are the Fish Biting?

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources issues a weekly fishing report on Thursdays. The weekly fishing report is compiled from information gathered from local bait shops, angler creel surveys, and county and state parks staff.

The DNR reminds those boating to be cautious of the low weather because of the recent drought.

Saylorville Reservoir
White Bass - Good: Boat and wading anglers have been doing good on white bass trolling and casting crankbaits and spoons from the Sandpiper beach area to the marina point. Crappie - Fair: Some good size white crappie are being picked up near the docks in the marina fishing minnows under a bobber or jigging tube jigs.

Clear Lake
The courtesy docks at the boat ramps have been removed for the winter. Walleye - Slow: A few walleyes are being picked up with minnows and cut bait. Try drifting and vertical jigging. Yellow Bass - Fair: Yellow bass are biting on minnows and cut bait fished in the little lake area.

Big Creek Lake
The East, West, Marina and Williams Drive boat ramps are usable, but boaters should use caution. The water starts at the ends of the ramps. There is gravel past the end of the concrete. It may be difficult to pull boats out with two-wheel drive vehicles. Crappie - Fair: A few crappies along with decent bluegills are being caught fishing minnows or tube jigs tipped with waxworms over deeper brushpiles.

Red Rock Reservoir
Crappie - Good: Anglers fishing the docks and dredged areas of the marina bay are catching good numbers of nice sized crappies using tube jigs tipped with minnows or wax worms.

Lake Anita
Bluegill - Slow: Bluegills are being caught around brush piles. Tipping the jig with worms or Powerbait seems to help. Crappie - Slow: Anglers are having success jigging around cedar tree piles using minnows.

Rathbun Reservoir
The lake level is 903.37 feet with 904 being normal. The surface water temperature is 47. Fishing has been slow. Some anglers have been catching crappies along the boat docks in the marinas. Don't forget Lake Rathbun contains zebra mussels so make sure to clean, drain and dry boats before transporting to another water body.