Fishing report for southeast Iowa

The way we interact with others may be a little different right now with Iowa's current State of Emergency. The Iowa DNR has made adjustments to protect the health and safety of state employees, the public, and our angling community.

But that doesn't mean you can't go fishing. Stay safe when fishing this spring with these tips:

' Try a new fishing spot - if your regular fishing location is popular and busy, try out a new one where less people are fishing.

' Once you find your spot, keep at least 6 feet of distance between you and other groups.

' Stick with your immediate family, but keep groups to fewer than 10 people.

' Bring lures from home instead of buying bait to minimize your interaction with other people.

' Bring hand sanitizer and wash your hands often.

SOUTHEAST IOWA

Big Hollow Lake

Water temperatures were near 60 over the weekend. Cooled down a little this week with the return of cooler weather, back into the mid 50's. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Bass fishing continues to be fairly decent. Use crankbaits. Black Crappie - No Report: With warmer water temperatures, crappies should move into 6-8 feet of water to pre-stage for the spawn soon. Bluegill - Fair: Anglers are starting to pick up some bluegills in shallow using bobber and worms.

Lake Belva Deer

Water temperature is 56 degree. Water clarity is, as always, very good. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Bass fishing remains pretty steady.Work the upper end of the lake out in the open along the shorelines on the north side. Black Crappie - No Report: Crappies here are not in a rush to move in shallow.

Lake Darling

Water temperature was 58 degrees on Wednesday morning (April 29). Water clarity is good at about 5 feet. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Bass fishing seems to be fairly steady. Fish along the fallen trees or rocks in shallow to catch some nice fish. Black Crappie - Fair: Crappies moved into 4-6 feet of water over the rock piles during the weekend. Not fast and furious action, but definitely worth a try.

Lost Grove Lake

Water temperature is in the mid-50's. Water clarity is about five feet. Nice conditions when the wind isn't blowing you off the lake. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Bass fishing continues to be the best on the lake. Picked up a little after the warm weather at the end of last week. Bluegill - Fair: Anglers are starting to pick up some nice fish in the shallows using bobber and worms.

Skunk River (Coppock to Mississippi River)

The Skunk River is about half bank full. Current is still moving fairly fast. Channel Catfish - Fair: Use cut bait or nightcrawlers in the slack water.

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

Cedar River (Cedar Rapids to Moscow)

Shovelnose sturgeon - Fair: Try crawlers along sandbars. Channel Catfish - Fair: Use crawlers or cut bait in front of logjams or on sandbars.

Central Park Pond

Bluegill - Fair: Most fish are around 7 inches. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Most fish are 12-13 inches.

Central Park Lake

Water temperature is around 57 degrees. Target weed lines and rock structures that have warmer water. The boat dock is in, but restrooms and other facilities are closed. Bluegill – Slow. Largemouth Bass - Slow: Most fish are 12-13 inches.

Coralville Reservoir

The lake is at spring pool of 679.3 feet. Boating above Lake Macbride ramp is not recommended at spring pool. The ramp at Macbride is very shallow. Channel Catfish - Fair: Use cut bait around the 380/965 bridges. Shallow windblown bays can also be good. White Crappie - Slow: Try minnows or bright colored jigs around brush piles.

Diamond Lake

The dock/kayak launch are in, but the bathrooms are closed. Black Crappie - Good: A good number of fish have been caught off the jetties. Try small jigs tipped with worms or waxworms fished under a bobber. Most fish are 8-9 inches. Bluegill - Fair: Try small jigs or worms around brush. Many fish are 7-8 inches.

Iowa Lake (Iowa Co.)

The boat dock is in, but buildings and restrooms are closed. Water temperatures are in the upper 50's. Black Crappie – Fair: Shore anglers are catching some fish in 3-6 of water with jigs or bobber/worm. Keep moving until you find an active school. Some crappies remain out deep. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Some nice sized fish have been caught this week.

Lake Macbride

Water temperatures are in the upper 50's. Water clarity is very high. The docks are in; the fish cleaning stations are open. Bathrooms and other facilities are closed due to COVID concerns. Black Crappie - Good: The bite picked up this week. Fish are moving to shallower brush and rock. Try minnows under a bobber or cast small plastics. Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) - Slow: Fish windblown flats and banks where shad may be found. Walleye - Fair: Some fish are being caught shallow towards evening while others are in 7-13 feet of water. Try jigs, live bait, jerkbaits and crankbaits. Muskellunge - Slow: Some fish are being picked up along rock on jerkbaits. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Fish are moving shallower. A variety of artificial lures will work.

Liberty Centre Pond

2000 trout were stocked in this North Liberty Pond. You need a valid fishing license and pay the trout fee to fish for or possess trout. Rainbow Trout - Fair: Try small jigs, spinners, spoons, scented baits or worms.

Otter Creek Lake

The park is open and the boat ramp dock is in; restrooms, fishing cleaning station, nature center, and camping area gates are closed. Anglers have been out, but no fishing reports are available.

Pleasant Creek Lake

The docks are in; the fish cleaning station and bathrooms are closed.Best bite is in the afternoons and evenings when water temperatures are highest. Walleye - Fair: Try three-way rigs during the day and jigs or crankbaits towards evening fished along the dam. Muskellunge - Slow: There have been quite a few anglers, but reports are limited. Jerkbaits work best. Bluegill – Slow. Largemouth Bass - Slow: Look for fish along shallow vegetation.

Prairie Park Fishery

2000 trout were stocked here. You need a valid fishing license and pay the trout fee to fish for or possess trout. Rainbow Trout - Fair: Try small jigs, spinners, spoons, scented baits or worms.

Sand Lake

2000 trout were stocked here. You need a valid fishing license and pay the trout fee to fish for or possess trout. Rainbow Trout – Fair. Black Crappie – Fair.

Union Grove Lake

The boat docks are in, but the park facilities are closed due to COVID-19. Largemouth Bass - Slow: Size is still small here. Bluegill - Slow: Catch bluegill up to 8 inches.

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

Lake Miami

Anglers are catching some largemouth bass along the shore.

Lake Sugema

Use nightcrawlers to catch catfish. Anglers are also catching crappies with minnows and jigs.

Lake Wapello

Catch catfish with nightcrawlers or cut bait. Target largemouth bass around structure.

Ottumwa Park Pond South (Trout Pond)

2000 trout were stocked here. You need a valid fishing license and pay the trout fee to fish for or possess trout. Try small jigs, in-line spinners, spoons, or worms.

Rathbun Reservoir

The current lake level is 904.28 msl. Normal operating elevation is 904.0 msl. Lake Rathbun has zebra mussels, so make sure to properly drain, clean, and dry equipment before transporting to another water body. Most docks will not be in until mid-May. Water temperature is in the mid to lower 50's. Channel Catfish - Good: Use nightcrawlers on windblown shores. Black Crappie - Slow: Crappie fishing remains slow. The water temperature is in the low 50's.

Red Haw Lake

Anglers are catching largemouth bass along the shore. The docks are in.

The district includes Appanoose, Davis, Lucas, Mahaska, Monroe, Wapello, Wayne and Van Buren counties. Contact the Rathbun Fish Hatchery at 641-647-2406 with questions about fishing in south central Iowa.