May 29 Iowa Fishing Report

For lake locations, maps and other information, go towww.iowadnr.gov/Fishing/FishingReports.aspx

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.

SOUTHEAST

Lake Odessa

Still flooded but starting to come down slowly.

Lake Belva Deer

Fishing is still hit or miss. Bluegill - Fair: The cold weather has affected these guys too.  Largemouth Bass - Fair:  Pick one of the few nice sunny days and hit the warmer bays and the upper end of the lake. Crappie - Fair: The change in the weather has driven the crappies out to 7-8 feet of water.

Pollmiller Park Lake

Bluegill - Good: They are moving into the shallows to spawn.  Largemouth Bass - Good: Bass anglers are catching them on a variety of soft plastics.

Lake of the Hills

Remember, Lake of the Hills is the only lake in West Lake Park where minnows are allowed as live bait. Rainbow Trout - Slow: Trout fishing is starting to taper off.  Some may be found around where Lambach Lake dumps into the lake and the rocky areas around there.  Largemouth Bass - Fair: Bass fishing continues to improve.  Work shallow structure in the warmer bays.  Crappie - Good: Crappie fishing is picking up with the warmer temperatures work the rocky areas of the shoreline.

Railroad Lake

The use of live minnows as bait is not allowed. Bluegill - Fair: Bluegill fishing along the north side on the flat is picking up. Warmer weather would keep them there when we get it.  Largemouth Bass - Fair: Anglers are catching some bass off the old creek channel and along the rocks. Crappie - Fair: Crappie fishing is starting to pick up. Work the flooded timber areas as well as the flat on the North side around the logs and stumps.

Skunk River (Rose Hill to Coppock)

The water level is about half bank full. Not too bad considering the rainy weather. Boat  access up and down through this section is pretty good. Channel Catfish - Fair: Catfishing has been pretty good during our last stretch of warm weather but I sure that it has dropped off with this batch of cold weather. Not many anglers out the last few days.  Flathead Catfish - Fair: Bank poles are catching them off and on but the bite is starting to get steadier.

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

Hannen Lake

Remember, no minnows are allowed here. Water clarity is excellent. Bluegill - Good: Bluegills are moving to the shallows, unfortunately size has been small. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Fish shallow rock or along wood with soft plastics.  Crappie - Fair: Numbers are down but size is good with average fish being around 11-12 inches. There should be some fish shallow and some suspended in the lake basin.

Iowa Lake

The water is very clear. Channel Catfish - Fair:   Bluegill - Good: The bluegills are very tight to the bank. Fish around any piece of wood near the shoreline.  Largemouth Bass - Fair: Try casting reaction baits in the clear water. Some bass are beginning look for places to spawn.  Crappie - Fair: Some fish are being caught shallow and some are being caught drifting the main lake basin.

Kent Park Lake

Bluegill - Good: Good numbers of fish are being caught around rock and wood. Crappie - Fair: Look for spawning fish around shallow wood and rock.

Lake Macbride

Water temps have hit 70 degrees. The lake is beginning to green-up a bit from algae.  Bluegill - Good: Fish around shallow rock. Unfortunately size is poor.   Crappie - Slow: Seems like morning has been. The best reports are coming from the south arm.  Walleye - Slow: Early and late in the day have been best. During these low light conditions they can be caught shallower along rock. During the day, troll crankbaits or spinner rigs in 8-13 feet of water.

Central Park Lake

Channel Catfish - Fair:   Bluegill - Good: Bluegills are moving to the shallows to spawn. Try small jigs or worms around shallow pockets or wood.  Largemouth Bass - Good: Look for bass to be moving to the shallows to spawn. Soft plastic baits have been working best.

Pleasant Creek Lake

Remember, largemouth bass have to be 18 inches and muskies have to be 40 inches to keep.  White Bass - Fair: White bass are along the banks spawning now. Try small spinners, jigs, or crankbaits.  Bluegill - Fair: Fish in shallow pockets around wood or rock. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Fish around rock or shallow lay downs with soft plastics for spawning bass.

Diamond Lake

Remember, no minnows are allowed here. Channel Catfish - Good: Chicken livers and stink bait are doing well for catfish.  Bluegill - Good: Fish with small jigs or worms around shallow brush or rock. Crappie - Fair: Most of the crappies have spawned and are returning to deeper water. Try around submerged brush piles or drift the basin for suspended crappies.

Otter Creek Lake

Bluegill - Good: Try small jigs or worms around shallow rock or wood as well as around the sunken brush piles. Most fish are 6-8 inches. Crappie - Slow: Fish around submerged brush piles with a small jig or minnow. Most fish are around eight inches. Yellow Bass - Good: Throw a small jig or spinner to shallow rock or sand. Most fish are 7-9 inches

Union Grove Lake

Channel Catfish - Slow:   Bluegill - Good: Fish around any shallow rock or wood. The upper end tends to be better.  Crappie - Good: Fish in shallow pockets for spawners and off the ends of lay downs and in the basin for those that are done spawning. The lower end tends to be better.  Yellow Bass - Slow: Yellow bass should be up in shallow rock or sand in attempts to spawn. Throw small twisters or spinners.

Coralville Reservoir

The lake level is at normal summer pool of 683.4 feet. Channel Catfish - Fair: Some fish are being caught drifting cut bait in the main channel and some are being caught on live bait along rock banks. Crappie - Fair: Some nice 10-14-inch fish are being caught in shallow water on jigs. Some post spawn fish are being caught around submerged brush as well.

Sand Lake

Sand Lake is located on the east side of Marshalltown. Rainbow Trout - Fair: Some trout are being caught but catches are inconsistent.  Crappie - Good: Fish with minnows under bobbers along the shorelines for fish up to 11 inches.

Iowa River (Coralville Lake to River Junction)

Outflow from the Coralville Reservoir are about 1,600 CFS on May 28, and is predicted to slowly drop over the next week.  Channel Catfish - Fair:   Walleye - Fair:

Cedar River (La Porte City to Cedar Rapids)

Channel Catfish - Good: Cut bait and stink bait has been working well.

Cedar River (Cedar Rapids to Moscow)

Below the dams in Cedar Rapids was good last weekend.  Channel Catfish - Excellent: Small bluegills, shad guts, stink bait and crawlers have all been working. Walleye - Fair:

Wapsi River (Troy Mills to Oxford Junction)

Smallmouth Bass - Good:

Prairie Park Fishery

Remember, you must have a fishing license and a trout stamp to fish for and/or possess trout.  Rainbow Trout - Fair: Live bait, spinners and small jigs are producing some trout that were stocked this spring. Crappie - Good: Most anglers are doing well on minnows along the brush in the water.

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

Red Haw Lake

Bluegill - Good: Use jigs tipped with a chunk of nightcrawler along the shorelines.    Largemouth Bass - Good: Use spinnerbaits along the shorelines and around the rocky areas along the jetties and the dam. Crappie - Fair: Use plastic jigs or minnows fished under a bobber. Target areas with brush piles or other submerged structure.

Albia (lower)

Bluegill - Good: Anglers have had luck along the shorelines using nightcrawlers and small jigs. Boat anglers have also had luck using similar baits around areas with submerged structure.

Lake Miami

Lake Miami is currently undergoing a fisheries renovation and is 6-8 feet below normal.  The fish population was removed last fall and fingerlings have been stocked.  The boat ramps are difficult to use and angler acceptable sized fish are not available.

Lake Sugema

Bluegill - Fair: Use small jigs tipped with a chunk of nightcrawler along the shoreline.  Largemouth Bass - Good: Target shorelines with submerged structure or rock.  Use crawdad imitation baits or spinnerbaits.  Crappie - Fair: Use a slip bobber and a minnow around brush piles or dead trees.  Crappie started moving shallow with the warmer temperatures so start in about 4-6 feet of water and move toward shore until finding active fish.

Rathbun Reservoir

The current lake level is 906.60.  The water temperature is 64 degrees. Crappie - Fair: Crappies are moving to shallow water to spawn. Target areas with brush or other submerged structure in 2-6 feet of water. Try minnows under a slip bobber or casting tube jigs. Jig and minnows casted around structure can also be effective. Walleye - Fair: Anglers have started to catch a few walleyes.  Use jigs and minnows along submerged points and rock piles. Don't forget Lake Rathbun contains zebra mussels so make sure to clean, drain, and dry equipment before transporting to another water body.

Remember to take your trash with you so your favorite fishing spot is free from litter. Contact the Rathbun Fish Hatchery at 641-647-2406 with questions regarding angling in south central Iowa.