Iowa DNR fishing report for late December

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources encourages the state's residents to stay safe when fishing this winter.

Some of the department's advice for successful fishing includes:

' Try a new fishing spot - if your regular fishing location is popular and busy, try out a new one that is not so crowded.

' 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.

The DNR has issued reports on the following rivers and bodies of water in Southeast Iowa as of Dec. 23:

Lake Belva Deer

Warm weather and strong winds took away a lot of the ice.

Lake Darling

After Monday's (Dec. 21) warm weather and strong wind, there is lots of open water for the geese to enjoy.

Lost Grove Lake

Open water and unsafe ice.

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

Central Park Lake

The lake is partially ice covered.

Coralville Reservoir

The lake has been drawn down to winter pool of 683.3 feet and is partially ice covered.

Diamond Lake

The lake is partially ice covered.

Iowa Lake (Iowa Co.)

Unsafe ice conditions.

Lake Macbride

The lake is partially ice covered.

Pleasant Creek Lake

The lake is partially ice covered.

Wapsipinicon River (Troy Mills to Oxford Junction)

The boat ramp at Pinicon Ridge is closed for the winter. The backwaters have unsafe ice.

There is no safe ice in the Lake Macbride District. Most bodies of water are only partially frozen and existing ice is unsafe. For more information, contact the Lake Macbride Fisheries Station at 319-624-3615.

Hawthorn Lake

Skim ice is starting to form. Target submerged habitat once the ice thickens up.

Lake Miami

Skim ice is forming on the cold nights. Be prepared to find the cedar tree piles for the best success once the ice is safe to fish on.

Lake Sugema

Once the ice is safe to fish on, target underwater structures for the best success.

Lake Wapello

Skim ice is forming along the shorelines and bays. The cedar tree piles will be the best place to target once the ice is safe to fish on.

Ottumwa Park Pond South (Trout Pond)

Skim ice is covering the pond, but is not thick enough to fish on. You need a valid fishing license and pay the trout fee to fish for or possess trout.

Rathbun Reservoir

The current lake level is 904.03 msl. Recreation pool is 904 msl. The lake is still open water with a little skim ice forming in the bays and along the shorelines. 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.

Red Haw Lake

Skim ice is forming on cold nights. Be prepared to find the submerged structure for the best success once the ice is safe to fish on.

Very few anglers have been out. Skim ice is forming on smaller water bodies and around the shorelines. 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.