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 well 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 water level is 30 inches below crest. Use caution when launching and boating near shore.  Crappie - Fair: Anglers are picking up crappies using minnows and a jig fished in the deeper waters of the little lake.  Yellow Bass - Good: Yellow bass are biting on crawlers, cut bait, and minnows. Drifting and vertical jigging in 4-10 feet of water off the island, the rock reefs, and in the little lake is working well. The fish are schooled so move around until you find active fish.  Shore anglers are catching yellow bass in 2-5 feet of water using cut bait, minnows, and crawlers.  Shore anglers fishing with cut bait in mornings and evenings from the island and off shore east of McIntosh Woods Point are doing the best.

Big Creek Lake
The east, west, marina and Williams Drive boat ramps are usable, but boaters should use caution.  The water starts near the ends of the ramps.  There is gravel past the end of the concrete.   Bluegill - Good: Good size bluegills are being caught fishing over sunken brush piles using small pieces of live bait.  Crappie - Fair: Anglers are picking up some crappie fishing minnows or tube jigs tipped with wax worms over brush piles.

Red Rock Reservoir
Crappie - Good: Good fall crappie fishing can be found near the docks in the marina.  Crappies are also congregated in bays in the Whitebreast arm at depths of 4 to 8 feet as well as the south overlook boat ramp bay.  Drift minnows and panfish jigs or troll small crankbaits.

Lake Anita
Bluegill - Slow: Bluegills are being caught drifting small jigs 6-8 feet down. Tipping the jig with worms or Powerbait seems to help. Can also be caught around brush piles.  Largemouth Bass - Fair: Anglers are catching bass early in the mornings and late afternoons. As the temperatures rise the fish go deeper. Many of the fish caught are in the 14 to 19 inch range.   Crappie - Slow: Anglers are having success jigging around cedar tree piles in the evenings using minnows.

Rathbun Reservoir
Lake level is at 903.40 feet with 904.00 feet being normal pool.  The surface water temperature is 58 degrees.    Fishing has been slow.  Trolling crankbaits for walleyes around submerged rocky areas has been the most effective.  Don't forget Lake Rathbun contains zebra mussels so make sure to clean, drain, and dry boats before transporting them to another water body.  Spray boats and trailers with high pressure hot water (above 104 degrees) or let them dry for at least 10 days (5 days in the sun).