Fish survey data returns to Iowa DNR webpage

Iowa anglers can once again access fish survey data collected by Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) fisheries staff during electroshocking and netting surveys on lakes, rivers and streams.

Survey summaries from individual lakes and rivers, fish species lengths compared across lakes, and fish length and weight data can be viewed and downloaded from www.iowadnr.gov/Fishing/Fish-Survey-Data. Additional data and summaries will be available in the future.

The DNR also released its weekly report of fishing conditions across the state, including southeast Iowa, which follows:

Big Hollow Lake: Water temperatures are 60-61 degrees. Water clarity is fair after 3+ inches of rain last weekend. Black Crappie - Good: Work the shallow water in the bays on the north side where the water is a little warmer from the sun. Largemouth Bass - Work the shallows on the north side for the feeding bass on a nice sunny day. Males are moving in shallow to set up nesting territories. Bluegill - Fair: Few reports on bluegills; they should be moving in shallow, especially the males.

Iowa River (Columbus Junction to Mississippi River): The Iowa River has almost recovered from the water level jump caused by the last weekend’s rains. Water temperature is just under 60 degrees. Channel Catfish - Fair: Not a lot of fishing activity out on the river. With the forecast rains over the next week, fishing the mouths of the feeder streams would be a good place to start.

Lake Belva Deer: Water temperature on Monday (5/10) was 60 degrees. Water clarity is 9 feet with 1 inch of rain last weekend. The curly leaf pondweed is getting tall. Largemouth Bass - Good: Bass fishing is picking up with more fish (males) moving in to set up territories to build nests. Black Crappie - Good: Most crappies have moved back out to deeper (8-10 feet) water. They should come in shallow on a warmer day with some sun. Bluegill - Fair: Start looking at the spawning beds and in the holes in the weed beds for males to move in to set up territories.

Lake Darling: The water temperature was 59-60 degrees on Wednesday (5/12) morning. The water clarity in the lake is about 24 inches because of the heavy rains last weekend (2.5 inches). Largemouth Bass - Fair: Most females are hanging out in deeper water with the cool weather. Males are in shallower picking out spots to nest. Black Crappie - Good: Bigger crappies are hanging out in 6 to 8 feet of water over the rock piles. Lots of smaller fish and some of the males (9-10 inches) are in shallow. None are spawning yet. Bluegill - Good: Male bluegills are moving into the shallows to pick out spots to nest.

Lost Grove Lake: A forecast for lighter winds should allow anglers to get back out on the fish. Largemouth Bass - Good: Bass have moved in shallow to feed and set up territories for nesting. Work bays more open to the sun as the bass look for warmer water. Black Crappie - Good: Crappie fishing is picking up; need to warm the water up to trigger the spawn.

Skunk River (Rose Hill to Coppock): The Skunk River is still falling after last weekend's heavy rains. It’s about a foot higher than it was before the rains. Channel Catfish - Fair: Not a lot of boats out lately. Try nightcrawlers around the feeder streams like Honey Creek and Dutch Creek where some of the heavier rains hit.

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

Lake Sugema: Black Crappie - Slow: Use small jigs with live bait. Keep moving until you find active fish. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Try spinnerbaits and crankbaits fishing along the fishing jetties and other rocky shorelines.

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