Iowa DNR experts offer fishing information

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources offers free weekly fishing information from Iowa?s fisheries experts on the website www.iowadnr.gov/Fishing/FishingReports.aspx.

Highlights from the current report state the east Greater Ottumwa Central Park pond was stocked with trout Oct. 31, and anglers are advised to try small spinner or prepared trout baits.

Lake Belva Deer, 5 miles northeast of Sigourney, has had very little angler activity mainly because of the recent weather. Bluegill fishing is fair, with fish caught first thing in the mornings out in 8-10 feet of water. Crappie fishing also is fair. A few crappies are still being caught, but they seem to have moved back out into deeper water.

At Lake Sugema, 3 miles southwest of Keosauqua, suggestions are to use a slip bobber and a minnow for crappies at different depths and different spots; casting small jigs tipped with a minnow also could be productive. For largemouth bass, try rubber lizards or crawdad imitations; concentrate on areas with rip-rapped shorelines.

At Wilson Lake, 4 miles east of Donnellson, work the brush piles and culvert to pick up some bluegills; the bite should pick up as the weather settles down. The fall trout stocking was set for Saturday afternoon. Of the 1,000 trout released around the lake, 200 were tagged for prizes.

Anyone with questions about fishing in southeast Iowa can call the Rathbun Fish Hatchery at 641-647-2406.