DNR Fishing report for Southeast Iowa

The water temperature is 83 degrees. Thermocline is bottoming out at 6 feet. The duckweed is thinner than usual this summer; there are fairly large areas of "open" water. Water clarity is 30 inches. Black Crappie - Slow: Crappies remain in 6 feet of water in the flooded timber. Vertical jigging works best. Slip bobber and minnows are also picking up a few fish. Bluegill - Slow: Look for bluegill in 6-7 feet of water in the flooded brush and trees. Worm and bobber work best in the dense cover. Channel Catfish - Fair: Look for catfish along the face of the dam and in the old creek channel, especially out from the boat ramp bay where the old bridge was. Largemouth Bass - Slow: Find bass around the drop-offs to deeper water; this steep sided lake has more than a few of those. Look for them down at about 6 feet, no deeper. Work the "shaded" bays and shores first.

Iowa River (Columbus Junction to Mississippi River)

The extra water from the Cedar River last week is gone. You can see the sandy bottom of the river above the highway bridge at Columbus Junction nearly all the way across now. Channel Catfish - Fair: Water temperatures are 83-84 degrees. It's time to break out the stink baits and cut bait. Use the slow current to carry the smell to the catfish; try fishing just above the bigger log jams or just off the backside of the sandbars. Find the deeper water and you will find the fish.

Lake Belva Deer

The green color (Phytoplankton) has set in this last week. Water temperatures is 83-84 degrees. Water clarity is a couple of feet. Thermocline is at 5 to 7 feet. Black Crappie - Slow: A few anglers early in the morning are still picking up a few in about 6 to 7 feet along the trees out from the beach. They are moving a little shallower as the summer wears on and the deeper water runs out of oxygen. Bluegill - Slow: Try vertically jigging around the trees to a depth of about 6-7 feet. Drift quietly from spot to spot; use a 1/64 oz jig tipped with a waxworm. Look back in the bays on the south side to find some on the beds. Channel Catfish - Fair: Along the face of the dam is always a good place to catch nice catfish. Don't forget to try the "Old Pond". Largemouth Bass - Slow: Bass are trying to stay cool; look for them in about 6-7 feet of water out in the trees. Try soft plastic or weedless jigs early in the morning.

Lake Darling

Water temperature is 82-83 degrees. Water clarity is about 2 feet. Water remains a definite green color. The thermocline bottoms out at 9 feet; don't fish below that. Most fish are hanging out at between 6.5 and 7.5 feet. Bluegill - Slow: Try slow trolling out over tops of the rock piles. Channel Catfish - Fair: Use chicken liver just off the where the rip-rap ends underwater. Catfish like to cruise along this edge looking for food. It also keeps them in 6-7 feet of water. Largemouth Bass - Slow: Bass are hunting up in the rock piles in 6-8 feet of water early in the mornings.

Lake Geode

The water temperature was hitting 86 degrees on July 24. Water has turned really green with a transparency of only a couple of feet now. The bottom of the thermocline is holding out at 9 feet. Black Crappie - Slow: Crappies are out in deeper water for the summer. Try slow trolling in 8 to 10 feet of water along the drop-offs. Bluegill - Slow: Work the rock piles and flats in 8-9 feet of water; they are trying to stay cool. Largemouth Bass - Slow: Bass are out at the drop-offs; they have slid down the slope a little to cooler water to avoid the heat. They have decent oxygen at about 8-9 feet of water. Best bite is early or just as the sun goes down.

Skunk River (Rose Hill to Coppock)

The water level in the Skunk really dropped this week. Water temperature in this stretch is about 83 degrees; the water was at 86 degrees below Oakland Mills. Channel Catfish - Fair: With the drop in water levels, find the deeper water and the fish will be there. Try fishing during the cooler parts of the day.

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

Coralville Reservoir

Channel Catfish - Fair: Try slow trolling cut bait in the channel.

Iowa Lake (Iowa Co.)

Black Crappie - Fair: Use minnows fished 4-8 down over deeper water. Some sorting is required; 8-inch and 10-inch fish are being caught. Bluegill - Fair: Some fish are still shallow; others are suspended over deeper water. Channel Catfish - Fair: Try stink bait or liver. Largemouth Bass - Good: Try fishing around remaining weeds or laydowns. Most fish are 1-2 pounds.

Kent Park Lake

Largemouth Bass - Fair: Try fishing the outside weedline with plastics

For more information, contact the Lake Macbride Fisheries Station at 319-624-3615.

Lake Sugema

Black Crappie - Fair: Try small jigs around structure and along the shorelines. Bluegill - Fair: Use small jigs fished in small pockets in the vegetation and along its outer edges. Largemouth Bass - Good: Use spinnerbaits or jigs along rip-rapped shorelines and around the rock jetties. Try topwater lures early and late in the day.

Contact the Rathbun Fish Hatchery at 641-647-2406 with questions about fishing in south central Iowa.