Southeast Iowa fishing report

The Iowa Fishing report is a weekly release of the Iowa DNR, based on reports from fishers across the state. Below are the reports up to Nov. 2 in Southeast Iowa.

Emma Young Pond

Rainbow Trout — Excellent: 1000 rainbow trout were stocked on Oct. 21. Fairly easy access around this little 2-acre pond. Trout don't mind the colder water as much as other fish. You need a valid fishing license and pay the trout fee to fish for or possess trout.

Lake Belva Deer

Water temperature is in the mid-40s. Very little angler activity. Black Crappie — Slow: Look for crappie in 14-16 feet of water along the edges of the old creek channel in the trees. Use small jigs and vertical jig; move until you find a school. Largemouth Bass — Slow: Bass are in their deep water haunts. Try slow fishing a jig or soft plastic.

Lake Darling

Water temperature was 46 degrees on Nov. 1. Black Crappie — Slow: A boat is needed. Pretend you are ice fishing without the ice; deep water habitat with ice fishing jigs. Bluegill — Fair: Bluegills are in the deep water toward the middle of the lake. Try ice fishing jigs tipped with a waxworm. Largemouth Bass — Slow: Bass are in their overwintering habitat.

Lake of the Hills

Lake of the Hills was stocked with 2,000 rainbow trout on Oct. 21. Water temperature has dropped into the low 40s. A little ice around the edges of the lake earlier this week. Bluegill — Fair: Bluegills moved to the deeper part of the lake with the cold weather. Catch 6- to 7-inch fish. Rainbow Trout — Good: Brave the colder temperatures and you could still catch trout. They like it cold, but warmer weather this weekend might make it a little nicer to fish. You need a valid fishing license and pay the trout fee to fish for or possess trout.

Lost Grove Lake

Water temperature has dropped into the low to mid-40s. Some ice is forming in the mornings on some of the area ponds. Lost Grove Lake has Eurasian Watermilfoil; be sure to clean all vegetation off your boat and trailer before leaving the boat ramp area. Bluegill — Fair: Find bluegill along the edges of the flooded trees in deeper water where they hang out during ice fishing season. Largemouth Bass — Slow: Bass moved to their deeper water homes amongst the trees. Cold water temperatures requires you to slow down your presentation.

Marr Park Pond

Warmer weather the next few days should make better fishing conditions. Trout don't mind the colder water temperatures. Bluegill — Fair: Bluegills moved to deeper water where they will spend the winter. Rainbow Trout — Good: Trout aren't affected by the colder water temperatures that arrived this week. Try small jigs or bobbers and baits; power bait, waxworms or red worms work best. You need a valid fishing license and pay the trout fee to fish for or possess trout.

Pollmiller Park Lake

Water temperature dropped into the upper 40s. Water clarity remains at a little over 10 feet. Bluegill — Fair: Bluegills moved to their deeper water habitat.

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

Coralville Reservoir

The lake level is 682.5 feet. Black Crappie — Good: Try bright jigs or minnows over brush or along rock bluffs. Most fish are 9- to 11-inches.

Diamond Lake

Black Crappie — Fair: Best bite is mornings and evenings. Most fish are 8- to 9-inches. Channel Catfish — Good: Many 2-4 pound fish were caught this week.

Grundy County Lake

Bluegill — Fair: Nice-sized fish are being reported; use small worms.

Hannen Lake

Black Crappie — Fair: 8- to 10-inch fish are starting to be picked up with the cooling weather.

Iowa Lake (Iowa Co.)

Black Crappie — Fair: Look for suspended fish over deeper water. Minnows work best. Bluegill — Fair: Try worms under bobbers near the shoreline. Some bigger fish are out deeper. Channel Catfish — Good: Evening bite is best; use stink bait and worms. Largemouth Bass — Fair: Try squarebill crankbaits and plastics.

Kent Park Lake

Largemouth Bass — Fair: Try fishing on top of or along the weeds; most fish are 12- to 15-inches.

Lake Macbride

The 10 hp maximum is off; any size motor may be operated at 5 mph. Water temperatures are in the low 50s. Black Crappie — Fair: Use minnows over brush piles. Largemouth Bass — Fair: Try fishing around the rock, wood or weeds. Walleye — Slow: Troll crankbaits in 7-15 feet of water or cast to windblown rock banks. Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) — Fair: There is some surface activity at sunset; look for suspended fish or windblown banks during the day.

Pleasant Creek Lake

Water temperatures are in the low 50s. The modern bathroom and fish cleaning station has been closed for the season. Black Crappie — Fair: Try fishing minnows over brush piles. Bluegill — Fair: Try fishing shallower water. Lots of smaller fish with bigger fish mixed in. Walleye — Fair: Use jigs or live bait along rock in 10-20 feet of water.

Wapsipinicon River (Troy Mills to Oxford Junction)

Smallmouth Bass — Fair: Try jigs or crawlers in the deeper holes with the low water. Walleye — Good: Use jigs or crawlers in the deeper holes with the low water.

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

Corydon Reservoir

Corydon Reservoir is closed for a park renovation. The campground and boat ramp are also closed.

Hawthorn Lake

Bluegill — Slow: Use small jigs around the fishing jetties and along the face of the dam. Largemouth Bass — Slow: Try jigs and plastics along riprapped shorelines.

Lake Miami

Black Crappie — Slow: Try small jigs and minnows in the flooded timber. Bluegill — Slow: Use small jigs tipped with a chunk of night crawler around the cedar tree piles and along shore. Largemouth Bass — Slow: Try spinnerbaits or crankbaits along structure and near shore.

Lake Sugema

Black Crappie — Slow: Try jigs around submerged structure. Keep moving until you find active fish. Bluegill — Slow: Use small jigs in small pockets in the vegetation and along its outer edges. Try areas around the rock jetties. Largemouth Bass — Fair: Use spinnerbaits or jigs along riprapped shorelines and around the rock jetties.

Lake Wapello

Black Crappie — Slow: Drift minnows in deeper water to catch suspended crappies. These fish should move shallow as the temperature drops. Bluegill — Slow: Try small jigs around structure and along shore. Largemouth Bass — Fair: Use crankbaits or rubber worms in the cedar tree piles.

Ottumwa Park Pond South (Trout Pond)

Rainbow trout were stocked on Oct. 26. Try small spinners or a chunk of night crawler. You need a valid fishing license and pay the trout fee to fish for or possess trout.

Rathbun Reservoir

The current lake level is 902.81 msl; recreation pool is 904 msl. Prairie Ridge boat ramp and campground are closed for the season. Bridgeview campground is closed, but the boat ramp is open. Island View dedication site boat ramp and Island View West ramp are closed. Lake Rathbun has zebra mussels so make sure to properly drain, clean and dry equipment before transporting to another water body. Black Crappie — Slow: Try trolling small crankbaits to catch suspended crappie. Some crappies are still around docks; use jig and minnow combinations. Channel Catfish — Slow: Use dead chubs or night crawlers in areas with windblown shorelines. Walleye — Slow: Anglers are catching walleyes trolling shad mimicking crankbaits. Target areas with rock piles or depth variations. There is a 15-inch minimum length limit on walleye at Lake Rathbun. All walleyes measuring less than 15-inches must be immediately released unharmed. Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) — Slow: Anglers are catching hybrid striped bass trolling or vertically jigging over rock piles.

Red Haw Lake

Park visitors are asked to avoid the campground area due to the continued storm damage cleanup. Bluegill — Slow: Target submerged habitat and the shorelines using small jigs. Channel Catfish — Slow: Use dead chubs around the rock jetties and along the dam. Largemouth Bass — Slow: Try plastics along the rock jetties and the dam.

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