DNR releases fishing report for Southeast Iowa

Lake Geode

Water temperature remains in the lower 50s. The back and forth weather pattern is changing the bite from day to day. Crappie ? slow: the crappies are in about eight feet of water around the cedar tree piles. Work the ledges on the north side of the lake.

Lake Belva Deer

Cooler fall weather has dropped the water temperature to around 53 degrees. Crappie ? fair: on warmer days, anglers are still picking up some crappies out in front of the beach.

Lake of the Hills

The fall trout release was Oct. 20 by the boat ramp (gate 1). Rainbow trout ? excellent: the rainbows have settled down from last weekend. Look for them around the corners of the lake and around the stumps and logs out in about four feet of water. Bluegill ? good: bluegill fishing remains good along the stumps and logs along north shore between the boat ramp and beach. Trout anglers were catching good numbers of bluegills while fishing for trout. Crappie ? fair: the lures you use for trout will also be bringing in some crappies.

Railroad Lake

The use of live minnows is not permitted in this Lake. Channel catfish ? good: catfish continue to be caught on chicken liver and worms. Work the old creek channel on the west side of the lake.

Wilson Lake

The fall trout release at Wilson Lake will be Nov. 3 at 1 p.m. Bluegill ? good: Look to the brush piles to find the bluegills. The water is clear enough that you can see most of the fish habitat from shore.

Environmental Discovery Park North Pond

The fall trout release at Discovery Park pond in Muscatine will be Nov. 3 at 10 a.m.

Skunk River (Coppock to Mississippi River)

The recent rains have bumped up the water levels in the Skunk a little bit, hopefully allowing the fish to reach their over-wintering holes.

Big Hollow Lake

Water temperature is dropping into the low 50s. Crappie ? fair: crappies can be caught out in about six to eight feet of water in the trees around the old creek channel. On sunny days, a good spot to try is around the islands at the lower end of the lake when the sun warms up the rock.

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

Lake Macbride

Water temperature is in the mid 50s. Crappie ? fair: try fishing the ends of lay downs with jigs or minnows. Walleye ? fair: try fishing windblown areas toward dark with crankbaits. Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) ? fair: keep moving looking for schools of shad and active fish towards dark.

Diamond Lake

Bluegill ? fair: try small jigs or worms off the jetties and around brush. Some fish are eight to nine inches. Crappie ? good: try fishing small tube jigs off and around the jetties early and late in the days. Most fish are eight to nine inches.

Union Grove Lake

Crappie ? fair: try fishing around brush or drifting open water with jigs or minnows.

Coralville Reservoir

The current lake level is 683 feet. Water temperature is in the mid 50s. White bass ? fair: run and gun rocky shores looking for active fish. Crappie ? fair: try fishing brush piles in the bays or steep rock walls on the main lake.

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

Lake Wapello

Fishing has slowed. Try night crawlers for channel catfish off the end of the jetties. For largemouth bass try rubber worms or jig n pig combos fished relatively slow.

Red Haw Lake

Try small jigs along the shoreline for bluegills. Largemouth bass have been hitting on spinnerbaits along the rock jetties.

Lake Sugema

Fishing activity has slowed down. Try minnows for crappies. Slow down your presentation as the water cools down for largemouth bass.

Rathbun Reservoir

The lake level is 903.48 feet with 904 feet being normal. The surface water temperature is 57 degrees. Fishing has been slow. Some anglers have been catching crappies along the boat docks in the marinas. Try crankbaits for walleyes around submerged rock piles. Don't forget Lake Rathbun contains zebra mussels so make sure to clean, drain, and dry boats before transporting to another water body.

For questions regarding fishing in south central Iowa, call the Rathbun Fish Hatchery at 641-647-2406.