Iowa DNR fishing report

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources has published the following report to educate anglers in the area about how the fish are biting in their neck of the woods.

Lake Belva Deer

Water temperature should stay in the low 50's for the next day or two. Water clarity is about 6 feet. Bluegill - Slow: Bluegills are out deep, 10-15 feet down in the trees, and look to stay 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 is 50 degrees. Water clarity is about 3 feet. Strong winds are not helping the fishing. Largemouth Bass - Slow: Today is a good day to look for bass in shallow one last time, but strong winds are going to make it tough. Bluegill - Slow: Bluegills are staying out in deeper water. The bite will be light on small jigs tipped with bait; think ice fishing. Black Crappie - Slow: Lots of crappies are being marked in 12-14 feet of water. The bite is almost like ice fishing, very timid and light; use small jigs tipped with just a little live bait and work slow.

Lost Grove Lake

The winds are not helping boats to get around the lake. Water remains very clear. Most fish have gone deep and are getting ready for winter. Largemouth Bass - Slow: Bass are out in 8-12 feet of water around the flooded trees. 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.

Rathbun Reservoir

The current lake level is 903.21 msl. Recreation pool is 904 msl. Lake Rathbun has zebra mussels, so make sure to properly drain, clean, and dry equipment before transporting to another waterbody. The Corps of Engineers have pulled their boat docks and their campgrounds and ramps are closed. State owned ramps are still open. Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) – Slow: Try jigging spoons around underwater structure in 12-16 feet of water. Walleye - Slow: Use jig and minnow combinations around rock piles, submerged points and areas with depth changes.

Most lakes in the district have water temperatures in the high 40's. 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.