Iowa DNR fishing report

This weekly fishing report from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources is compiled from information gathered from local bait shops, angler creel surveys and county and state parks staff. You can check the activity of your favorite lake or stretch of river within each district, 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.

Lake Belva Deer

Water temperature is in the low 40's. Water is fairly clear. Bluegill - Slow: Bluegills are out deep, 10-15 feet down in the trees, and look to be staying there. Black Crappie - Slow: Most crappies have moved out to deeper water. Try vertically jigging or drift or troll small jigs. Largemouth Bass - Slow: Work slowly around in the flooded timber in 10 to 15 feet of water using soft plastics or jigs.

Lake Darling

Water temperature on Monday, Nov. 2 was 43 degrees. Tuesday afternoon saw a high of 46 degrees. Largemouth Bass - Slow: Bass have moved to deeper water. You might still find a few in shallow on a sunny day in the afternoon Bluegill - Slow: Bluegills are out in 10-14 feet of water around the habitat. The ones biting are hitting awfully light. Black Crappie - Slow: Lots of crappies are being marked in 12-14 feet of water. The bite is very timid and light; use small jigs tipped with just a little live bait and work slow.

Lost Grove Lake

Water temperatures is 45-46 degrees. Water is nice and clear. Most everybody in a boat is out in deeper water. Largemouth Bass - Slow: Bass fishing has slowed; most have moved out to a little deeper water (6 to 10 feet). Bluegill - Slow: Bluegills are out deep. Work the habitat in 12-16 feet of water. Successful anglers are vertical jigging small jigs tipped with a little live bait.

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

Lake Sugema

Black Crappie - Slow: Drift jigs tipped with a minnow in 6-10 feet of water for suspended crappies. Use jigs around submerged structure and the standing timber. Largemouth Bass - Slow: Try soft plastics along the rip-rapped areas and the deeper structure.