Fishing report: Water levels approach normal

Water levels is improving as levels return to normal. Use caution when on water; watch for submerged hazards.

Visit the National Water Prediction Service webpage for more information.

Channel Catfish — good: Try worms or chubs fished on the bottom in calm water or the edge of current.

Decorah District streams

Flows are high at most locations. Use care when wading streams with elevated flows.

Stream clarity is highly variable depending on the watershed. All streams were stocked last week.

Gnats and no-see-ums are out in force. Wild parsnip is blooming. Don't touch this plant; it can cause painful blisters.

Brook Trout — slow: Brook trout take more persuasion to bite in off-color water. Sneak up on brook trout for a better chance to catch one of these beauties. Good hatches of gnats, mayflies, caddisflies, and midges.

Brown Trout — good: Try fishing near or around logs or undercut banks. Spinnerbaits work well. Also try streamers on larger waterbodies. Brown trout like cloudy water.

Rainbow Trout — good: Use spinnerbaits, hair jigs, or hooks tipped with a small piece of worm, bread or cheese floated through deeper holes.

Lake Hendricks

Water clarity is about two feet. Water temperature is in the 80s.

Black Crappie — slow: Try small jigs tipped with a minnow in deeper water.

Bluegill — slow: Bluegills are in shallow; use a small piece of worm or waxworm.

Channel catfish — good: Try a nightcrawler or squashed minnow on a hook near the bottom.

Largemouth Bass — good: Use topwater lures along the edge of vegetation.

Lake Meyer

The lake is experiencing an algae bloom with about two feet visibility. Water temperatures in the 80s.

Black Crappie — slow: Use spinnerbaits or a jig tipped with a minnow fished deeper.

Bluegill — Fair: Try small hooks tipped with a waxworm or a small piece of worm under a bobber.

Channel Catfish — good: Try a nightcrawler on a hook fished at the bottom.

Largemouth bass — good: Use a spinnerbait along the edge of vegetation. Reports of anglers catching quite a few small bass.

North Bear Creek

Stream improvements are taking place on upper North Bear just downstream of 380th St. and soon between 128th Ave. and 380th St.

Rainbow Trout — slow: There are many other great locations to find fish below this area. Stocking continues below this area weekly.

Turkey River (above Clermont)

Water clarity is improving as levels stabilize. Use caution when on the water. Visit the National Water Prediction Service webpage for more information.

Turkey River (below Clermont)

Water clarity is improving as levels return to normal. Use caution when on the water. Visit the National Water Prediction Service webpage for more information.

Smallmouth bass — slow: Find smallies in deeper holes or near rock ledges.

Walleye — slow: Use crankbaits or jigs tipped with plastics in off channel areas.

Upper Iowa River (above Decorah)

Water level is stabilizing. Water clarity is poor. Use caution when on the water.

Upper Iowa River (below Decorah)

Water level is stabilizing. Water clarity is poor. Use caution as snags and debris move through the system.

Volga Lake

Water clarity is good. Water temperature is in the 80s.

Black crappie — slow: Find crappies in deeper water or near drop-offs; use a jig tipped with a minnow.

Bluegill — fair: Try a small piece of worm on a hook under a bobber near brush or rocky areas.

Channel catfish — good: Use a squished minnow or worm fished on the bottom. Largemouth bass — good: Use spinners or crankbaits along jetties or drop-offs.

Volga River

Water levels are high, but are stabilizing. Water clarity is improving. Visit the National Water Prediction Service webpage for more information.

Yellow River

Water levels on the rise after a localized downpour. Water clarity is poor. Use caution as snags and debris move through the system.

Brown trout — slow: Find trout below or just off riffles. A spinner or shallow running crankbait should interest a hungry mouth.

Water levels vary depending on rainfall amounts on area rivers and streams. Many are falling or stabilizing baring more rain. For more information, contact the Chuck Gipp Decorah Fish Hatchery at 563-382-8324.

Big Woods Lake

Black Crappie — good: Concentrate your efforts near structure. Locate structure with electronics on the north side of the lake near the floating dock as recent habitat structures were placed. Try a minnow under a slip bobber in 6 to 10 feet of water.

Cedar River (Nashua to La Porte City)

Anglers may have best success targeting channel catfish with the high and turbid river conditions.

Channel catfish — fair: Try stink baits or dead cut baits.

Lake Delhi

Anglers are catching crappie. Avoid weekends due to heavy boating activity. Morning and evening bites are best.

Black crappie — good: Try a minnow under a slip bobber in 6 to 10 feet of water along the shoreline near woody structure.

Interior rivers are higher than normal this time of year, but should provide angling opportunities, especially for catfish. Area lakes within Cedar Falls/Waterloo area should provide good bass and panfish angling.

Trout streams are and should remain in excellent condition with the dry extended forecast. Check with your area bait shops for the most recent and up to date fishing reports. For more information, contact the Manchester Hatchery at 563-927-3276