Iowa DNR reports few fishermen out

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources compiles a weekly fishing report 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.

This is the report for bodies of water in Southeast Iowa:

Lake Belva Deer

Unsafe ice conditions. Thin ice covered by snow with a thick crust.

Lake Darling

Unsafe ice conditions. Ice was about an inch thick around the edges and less towards the middle on Dec. 29. Now covered with 4 inches of snow + thick crust on snow.

Lost Grove Lake

Unsafe ice conditions. A little over an inch thick before 10 inches of snow fell.

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

Central Park Lake

The east end of the lake has 4-5 inches of ice; the west end has 3 inches or less. Use caution if venturing out; check ice thickness often.

Coralville Reservoir

The lake is at winter pool of 683.3 feet and is frozen over with unsafe ice.

Diamond Lake

Unsafe ice conditions. The lake has about 2 inches of ice under the snow.

Iowa Lake (Iowa Co.)

Unsafe ice conditions. Most of the lake has 2-3 inches of ice.

Lake Macbride

Unsafe ice conditions. The lake has 1-3 inches of ice; there is open water off the beach and Anglers Point.

Otter Creek Lake

Unsafe ice conditions. The lake is frozen over.

Pleasant Creek Lake

Unsafe ice conditions. The lake is ice covered. The protected areas of the west end may have a little better ice.

Union Grove Lake

No ice depths are known; use extreme caution if checking ice conditions.

Wapsipinicon River (Troy Mills to Oxford Junction)

Ice thickness is 2-3 inches on the Pinicon Ridge backwaters. A few anglers have been out. Some bluegills and crappies were caught; sorting is needed.

A lot of unsafe ice is hidden under the snow. Use extreme caution if venturing out. For 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 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 904.09 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.