Weekly Fishing Report

Learn the best hot spots and latest news about Iowa’s fishing opportunities from region to region. This weekly fishing forecast can be emailed directly to your inbox every Thursday, sign up today for this fishing information from Iowa’s fisheries experts. 

How to Read Our Weekly Iowa Fishing Report
DNR’s weekly fishing report is broken down by counties or regions – northwest, northeast, Mississippi river, southeast and southwest. 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.

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.

Iowa Fishing Report for March 13, 2025:

NORTHWEST

Arrowhead Lake
The lake is ice free.

Black Hawk Lake
Shore fishing has been productive. Anglers are catching crappie and walleye. The cold weather will likely slow down the bite temporarily. Black Crappie - Fair: Use a waxworm, small minnow or jigs. Fishing along shore has been productive, especially around Ice House Point and the inlet bridge area. Walleye - Fair: Anglers are catching walleye from shore in 1 to 5 feet of water. Morning and evening bite is best. Anglers have had luck using twisters in Town Bay fishing from shore and from the floating dock and stone piers. Ice House Point shoreline and the inlet bridge area have been productive as well. The recent cool weather will likely slow down the bite.

Black Hawk Pits
The lake is ice free.

Brushy Creek Lake
The courtesy dock on the west ramp is in place.

Storm Lake (incl Little Storm Lake)
Anglers have had some luck in the marina. The recent cool snap will likely slow down the bite temporarily. Black Crappie - Fair: Anglers have picked up some fish in the marina. Walleye - Slow.  Yellow Perch - Fair: Anglers have picked up some fish in the marina.

Swan Lake
Anglers are doing well from the fish house. Water levels are 1 to 2 feet low. Water clarity is roughly 2 feet. Black Crappie - Good: Anglers have had good luck fishing from the fish house.  Some sorting is needed; keepers are around 9-inches. Bluegill - Fair: Try fishing from the fish house and along shore.

Shorefishing has been productive, but has likely slowed down temporarily after the recent cold weather. For more information, contact the Black Hawk District office at 712-657-2638.

Clear Lake
Water level is about 7 inches below crest. Water temperature is in the upper 30s.  Walleye - Fair: Use plastics and live bait from the jetties. Best bite is after sunset. Yellow Bass – Slow.

Rice Lake
Yellow Perch – Slow.

Winnebago River
River level is 5.48 feet. Northern Pike - Fair: Suckers, chubs and slow retrieved jigs work well for early season pike. Walleye - Slow.

Area lakes are ice free.  For additional information contact Clear Lake Fisheries Office at 641-357-3517

East Okoboji Lake
A few anglers have already launched boats. Courtesy docks at the Upper Gar boat ramp can be used. The walleye season is closed. Black Crappie - Fair:  Bluegill - Fair. Largemouth Bass - Fair:  Yellow Perch - Fair: Many fish have been observed; sorting will most likely be needed.

Ingham Lake
The lake is ice free. Walleye - Fair: Morning and afternoon bite is best.

Silver Lake (Dickinson)
The lake is ice free.  Walleye - Fair: The bite has been hit-or-miss.

Spirit Lake
The courtesy dock can be used at the Templar boat ramp. The walleye season is closed. Black Crappie - Fair: Anglers are finding quality-size fish up to 14-inches. Bluegill - Fair.  Yellow Perch - Good: Sorting is needed; anglers are finding many of acceptable size.

West Okoboji Lake
The walleye season is closed. Black Crappie - Fair:  Bluegill - Fair. 

Most area lakes are completely ice free, allowing for anglers to fish by boat. Only a few permanent courtesy docks are in and useable. The walleye season on the IGL's is closed until May 3rd. For current conditions, call 712-330-2542.

NORTHEAST

Cedar River (above Nashua)
Water temperatures are cold with last bits of ice slowly melting. Fish activity is slow. Walleye - Slow: Walleye fishing is starting to improve.  Use a jig tipped with a minnow or plastic tail.

Decorah District Streams
Clarity on most streams is good. Stream flows are up with recent rain.  Rain over the weekend may cause stream clarity to decline.  Brook Trout - Slow: Use a midge minnow or leach pattern for fish looking to get more bang for their effort. Midge hatches on sunny afternoons. Brown Trout - Good: Brown trout activity improves when water gets cloudy. Float a line past an undercut bank or current seam.  Rainbow Trout - Good: Hatchery holdovers remain in the streams. Use small spinnerbaits or hair jigs floated past undercut bank or through a deep hole.

Lake Hendricks
Lake is ice free. Water temperatures are in the 40s.

Lake Meyer
Open water fishing soon. Water temperatures are cold with current weather patterns.

Volga Lake
Cold water temperatures are slowing fish activity.

Wild spring weather continues through the weekend. Windy, precipitation possible with temperatures in the 40s for highs with lows in the 20s. For more information, contact the Chuck Gipp Decorah Fish Hatchery at 563-382-8324.

Cedar River (Nashua to La Porte City)
Anglers are catching walleye. Northern pike fishing should pick up in backwater areas in preparation for the upcoming spawn. Northern Pike - No report: Float a live chub/shiner under a bobber or cast and retrieve flashy spoons in backwater areas. Walleye - Fair: Use a jig head with plastics with or without a live minnow. Look for the deeper pools current breaks and tail ends of riffles.

Manchester District Streams
Trout streams are in excellent condition. Next week’s forecast calls for temperatures near the 60s; should be good aquatic insect hatches taking place providing for some great trout fishing.

Maquoketa River (above Monticello)
We have received no fishing information this week. Walleye - No Report: Use a jig head with plastics with or without a live minnow. Look for the deeper pools current breaks and tail ends of riffles.

Shell Rock River (Greene to Shell Rock)
We have received no fishing information this week. Northern Pike - No Report: Float a live chub/shiner under a bobber or cast and retrieve flashy spoons in backwater areas. Walleye - No Report: Use a jig head with plastics with or without a live minnow. Look for the deeper pools current breaks and tail ends of riffles.

Wapsi River (Tripoli to Troy Mills)
We have received no fishing information this week. Northern Pike - No Report: Float a live chuck/shiner under a bobber or caste and retrieve flashing spoons in backwater areas. Walleye - Fair: Use a jig head with plastics with or without a live minnow. Look for the deeper pools current breaks and tail ends of riffles.

Interior river levels have stabilized with the recent weather. Reports of anglers catching a few walleye. Northern pike fishing should pick up as they are the earliest to spawn.  For more information, contact Manchester Hatchery at 563-927-3276.

MISSISSIPPI RIVER

Mississippi River Pool 9
Water level is stable at 8.2 feet at Lansing. Any remaining backwater ice is unsafe for fishing.  Water temperature is near 42.  Northern Pike - Fair: Pre-spawn pike are biting.  Sauger - Fair:  Use a hair jig tipped with a minnow in the tailwaters of the Lock and Dam.  Walleye- Good: Try a hair jig tipped with a minnow in the tailwaters of the Lock and Dam.  Yellow Perch - Good: Perch fishing is good where you can access the lower ends of the backwaters.

Mississippi River Pool 10
Water level is stable at 16 feet at Lynville. Lynxville boat ramp is open for tailwater fishing; main channel is ice free. Water temperature is near 41 degrees.  Northern Pike - Fair: Pre-spawn pike are biting.  Sauger - Good.Use a hair jig tipped with a minnow in the tailwaters of the Lock and Dam.  Walleye - Good: Tailwater fishing for walleye is starting to pick up.  Yellow Perch - Good: Lake winter perch bite has begun.

Mississippi River Pool 11
Water level is 7.9 feet at Guttenberg and is expected to gradually recede over the next week. Water temperature is 41 degrees.  Any remaining backwater ice is unsafe for fishing.  Guttenberg boat ramps are open for tailwater fishing; main channel is ice free.  Northern Pike - Fair: Pre-spawn northern are biting. Sauger - Fair: Use a hair jig tipped with a minnow in the tailwaters of the Lock and Dam. Walleye - Good: Tailwater fishing for walleye has been slow, but is improving with the rising water temperature. Yellow Perch - Fair: Perch fishing should pick up in the tailwaters.

Ice is completely gone out of backwaters.  Recent rains and snow melt have the Upper Mississippi River ramps open for fishing. Tailwater fishing at the Lock and Dam is starting to pick up.  Water temperature is warming into the 40s.

Mississippi River Pool 12
Water level at Dubuque Lock and Dam is steady at 7.1 feet and 9.6 feet at the RR Bridge. Water is stained. Water temperature is around 47 degrees in the main channel. Black Crappie - No report:  Rumors of anglers targeting crappies in the same location where they were ice fishing, but no confirmed report.  Bluegill - No report: Bluegill populations are strong; no reports of anglers fishing for them since ice out. Some backwaters still have remnant ice in them.  Northern Pike - Good: Pike fishing remains good; new catches have been reported from the Olearys area in upper Pool 12.  Walleye - Good: Small walleyes and a few nice saugers are being caught on jigs and minnow rigs.

Mississippi River Pool 13
Water level is steady at 7.7 feet at Bellevue. Water is clear. Water temperature is near 48 degrees in the main channel. Bluegill - No report:  Lots of bluegills were caught during the ice fishing season; expect a good open water fishing season. Brown Bullhead - Good: The lower pool access sites are good places to fish off the bank to catch brown bullhead and an occasional catfish. Bullheads are good early season biters. Northern Pike - No report: Pike spawning season is upon us.  Pike are one of the earliest of spawners on the Mississippi; they can be difficult to catch when they lay eggs.  Paddlefish - Good: Lots of small paddlefish were caught with a few very nice paddlefish reported.  Please review the rules for paddlefish snagging.  Heavy paddlefish angling pressure is being seen at Bellevue.  Rainbow Trout - Good: The Kids' trout pond north of the DNR fisheries station is stocked with trout and should remain good fishing until  April/May when it will weed over. Walleye - Good: Most anglers are using a jig and minnow rig.  Lots of small walleye are being reported along with a fish approaching 10 pounds.  Yellow Perch - No report: Some could be caught in the tailwaters as it is common this time of year. No reports yet.

Mississippi River Pool 14
Water level is steady at near 6.8 feet at Fulton, 10.5 feet at Camanche, and 5.7 feet at LeClaire. Water is clear. Water temperature is around 48 degrees. Bluegill - No report: It was a good ice fishing season this year;  hopefully that translates to a good open water season.  Channel Catfish -Good: Seems early, but good channel catfishing is occurring by anglers using blood baits.  Northern Pike - No Report: Pike will be spawning in Pool 14 in the next few weeks. Paddlefish - Good: Paddlefish season on the Mississippi River is March 1 through April 15. Snagging is only allowed within 500 yards of navigation dams and their spillways.  Please review the rules for paddlefish snagging.  Walleye - Fair: Hit-or-miss bite.

Mississippi River Pool 15
Water level is steady at near 7.9 feet at Rock Island. Water is clear. Water temperature is around 49 degrees.

Tailwater ramps are open throughout the district.  If you have angling questions, call Bellevue Fisheries Management at 563-880-8781. 
 

SOUTHEAST

Big Hollow Lake
Water temperatures are fluctuating, but staying mostly in the mid-40s. A few boats have been out on the warmer days.  Channel Catfish - Fair: Try cut bait floated under a bobber just over top of the rip-rap on a warm afternoon when the waves are hitting the face of the dam.

Discovery Park Pond
The spring trout release will be at noon on Friday, March 21. You need a valid fishing license and pay the trout fee to fish for or possess trout.

Emma Young Pond
The spring trout release will be at 10:00AM on Friday, March 21. You need a valid fishing license and pay the trout fee to fish for or possess trout.

Lake Belva Deer
Water temperature is in the low 40s.

Lake Darling
Surface water temperature is in the low to mid-40s. Watch for ice on the boat ramps early morning. The boat docks are not in yet.  

Lake Geode
Water temperature at the surface is in the mid-40s.  The docks are not in; won't be in for a little while yet. Black Crappie - Slow: On the warmest of days try along the shallow water ledges that run parallel to the deeper water habitat where crappies spent the winter.

Lost Grove Lake
Watch for ice on the boat ramps from the waves. The gate on the road going to the boat ramp at the dam is still locked. Docks will not be in for a little while longer.

Vista Park Pond
Vista Park Pond in Kalona (South Town) will be stocked with trout on Friday, March 21 at 10:00AM as part of the Community Trout Stocking Program. You need a valid fishing license and pay the trout fee to fish for or possess trout.

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

Cedar River (Cedar Rapids to Moscow)
Channel Catfish - Slow: Use cut bait. Walleye - Slow: Try fishing jigs in current seams; few fish caught. White Bass - Slow: Try fishing current seams and eddies; few fish caught.

Cedar River (La Porte City to Cedar Rapids)
Channel Catfish - Slow: Use cut bait; few fish caught. Walleye - Slow: Try fishing jigs; few fish caught.

Central Park Lake
Largemouth Bass - Slow: Shore anglers have caught a few bass.

Coralville Reservoir
Black Crappie - Fair: Reports of a few fish around brush piles and docks.  Channel Catfish - Fair: Try cut bait on bottom or below a bobber along wind-blown shorelines or neck down areas at bridges.

Diamond Lake
The fish cleaning station will be opened in April when the water is turned on for the park.

Iowa Lake (Iowa Co.)
Black Crappie - Fair: Anglers are catching a few crappie around brush piles. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Anglers are catching a few bass around brush in the afternoon.

Iowa River (Coralville Lake to River Junction)
Channel Catfish - Slow: Few fish caught. Walleye- Slow: Few fish caught.

Iowa River (Marshalltown to Coralville Lake)
Walleye - Slow: Use jigs; few fish caught.

Lake Macbride
Black Crappie - Slow: Anglers are catching a few crappie around brush piles in 8-12 feet of water.  Bluegill - Slow: Anglers are catching a few bluegill around brush piles in 8-12 feet of water.  Channel Catfish - Slow: Anglers are catching a few channel cats on cut bait in the upper arms of lake.  Muskellunge - Slow: Slow: Anglers are catching a few muskie near green aquatic vegetation.

Liberty Centre Pond
2000 rainbow trout will be stocked this morning. You need a valid fishing license and pay the trout fee to fish for or possess trout.

Pleasant Creek Lake
All docks are in. Largemouth Bass - Slow: Anglers are catching a few bass near brush.  Muskellunge - Slow: Anglers are catching a few muskie near brush piles.

Prairie Park Fishery
2000 rainbow trout will be stocked on Saturday, March 22nd at 10:00AM.  You need a valid fishing license and pay the trout fee to fish for or possess trout.

Wapsipinicon River (Troy Mills to Oxford Junction)
The boat ramp at Pinicon Ridge Park is open. Black Crappie - Slow: Anglers are catching a few crappie around brush piles. Channel Catfish - Slow: Anglers are catching a few catfish.  Northern Pike - Slow: Walleye anglers are catching a few pike. Walleye - Slow: Anglers are catching a few walleye.

Water temperatures have been in the mid-40s on area lakes. For more information, contact the Lake Macbride Fisheries Station at 319-624-3615.

Hawthorn Lake
Channel Catfish -Slow: Try shad guts or dead minnows on wind-blown shorelines.

Lake Keomah
Lake Keomah is drained for a lake restoration project. Please stay out of the lakebed.

Lake Miami
Channel Catfish - Slow: Try dead minnows on wind-blown shorelines .

Lake Sugema
Channel Catfish - Slow: Use shad guts or dead chubs on wind-blown shorelines.

Lake Wapello
Channel Catfish No report: Try dead minnows on wind-blown shorelines.

Ottumwa Park Pond South (Trout Pond)
Trout are scheduled to be stocked on Saturday, March 22nd at 11 AM. You need a valid fishing license and pay the trout fee to fish for or possess trout. Try in-line spinners, chunks of nightcrawlers or prepared trout baits.

Rathbun Reservoir
The current lake level is 903.58 msl; recreation pool is 904 msl.  Lake Rathbun has zebra mussels; properly drain, clean and dry equipment before transporting to another waterbody.Water temperatures are in the low 40s.  Channel Catfish - Slow: Use shad guts on wind-blown shorelines.

Red Haw Lake
Channel Catfish - Slow: Try dead minnows on the shorelines.

Contact the Rathbun Fish Hatchery at 641-647-2406 with questions about fishing in south central Iowa. 

SOUTHWEST

Boone District Farm Ponds
Community ponds are the quickest to warm up after ice out, creating a fair to good pre-spawn largemouth bass and crappie bite. Check the Fish Local page to find ponds with public access. Black Crappie – Fair: Slowly retrieve small twister tails or swim baits.  If it exists in the pond, target edges of cattail stands and any wood habitat. Largemouth Bass - Good: Slowly retrieve plastics and shallow diving crankbaits.

Des Moines River (Saylorville to Red Rock)
Walleye - Slow: Cast jigs with twister tails, swimbaits or live minnows below the Saylorville Spillway and Des Moines dams.
 

Ponds and lakes in Central Iowa are open water. For information on Central Iowa lakes and rivers contact Andy Otting at 515-204-5885.

Greenfield Lake
Greenfield Lake is a good early season catfish destination. Channel Catfish - No Report: Ust shad sides or cutbait along wind-blown shorelines. Greenfield has a good channel catfish population.

Lake Anita
Lake Anita will provide good fishing this spring.  The lake has good bass, bluegill and crappie populations. Black Crappie - Fair: Anglers report catching black crappie around deep tree piles last week. There is a big year class of 9-inch fish in the lake. 

Black Crappie - Good: Catch 8-inch black crappie in 25 feet of water.

Prairie Rose Lake
Prairie Rose will again be a good fishing destination this season. The lake has an excellent largemouth bass population, large bluegills and black crappies.

For information on lakes in the Southwest District, call the Cold Springs office at 712-769-2587.

Lake Icaria
Channel Catfish - Fair: Try cut bait along wind-blown shorelines to catch all sizes of channel catfish.

Three Mile Lake
**Driving is prohibited on any service roads used to access the lakebed and the lakebed itself.**  Lake level is 11 feet below normal pool. Boat ramp lanes are out of the water at the main boat ramp. 

Lakes in the Mount Ayr district are 100% ice free. Water temperature is in the low 40s. For more information, call Mount Ayr Fisheries office at 641-931-6031