DNR Fishing Report for New London area

Sites selected to report are within a one-hour drive from New London. Information is taken from the DNR Iowa Fishing Report. Several fishing sites did not report to the DNR this week. The water has fallen enough, there is a fishing report from the Iowa River at Columbus Junction.

Lake Geode 16 min (10 mi): Water temperature has dropped to 76-78 degrees. Bluegill — Fair: Bluegills are moving into shallower water with the cooler temperature. Bigger bluegills will take more convincing before they leave the deeper habitat. Channel Catfish — Fair: Try to work the flat up along the north shore down lake of the beach. Catfish like the area when water is cooling down.

Big Hollow Lake 21 minutes (18 mi): No Fishing Report published.

Cedar River (Moscow to Columbus Junction): No Fishing Report published.

Iowa River (Columbus Junction to Mississippi River): 40 min (30 mi): The Iowa River has dropped about a foot more in level and is holding steady. Channel Catfish — Good: Try minnows and night crawlers along the back drop-offs on the sandbars and just behind the back edges of the brush piles, not too far out from the bank.

Lake Darling 46 min (40 mi): Water temperature is down to 76 degrees. Water remains cloudy but less green. Bluegill — Fair: Smaller bluegills are becoming more active, but the bigger ones are still keeping to the deeper water in 10-12 feet. Channel Catfish — Fair: The cooler water temperature are getting the water in upper layer mixing good oxygen down to 12 feet.

River stage is below flood stage for Pools 16-19. River level is forecast to rise some over the weekend with recent heavy rain. Water clarity is fair. Main channel water temperature is around 76 degrees. If you have questions on fishing Pools 16-19, contact the Fairport Fish Hatchery at 563-263-5062.

Mississippi River Pool 18 33 min (30 mi): Tailwater stage is 9.0 feet at Lock and Dam 17 at New Boston. Flood stage is 15 feet. The Toolsboro ramp is open. We have not received much for fishing reports for this pool this week. Black Crappie — No Report: Look for crappies around brush in the backwaters and side channels. Try minnows under a bobber or jigs and plastics. Bluegill — No Report: Look for bluegills around brush piles in the backwaters. Use pieces of worms under a bobber. Channel Catfish — No Report: Look for channel catfish around brush piles and snags along the main channel and side channels. Try cut shad, stink bait or night crawlers upstream of the snags. White Bass — Good: Look for white bass at the outlet of Lake Odessa. Cast crankbaits, jigs, and twister tails or in-line spinners.

Mississippi River Pool 19: Tailwater stage is 5.6 feet at Lock and Dam 18 above Burlington. Flood stage is 10 feet at Lock and Dam 18. We have not received much for fishing reports for this pool this week. Bluegill — No Report: Look for bluegills around brush piles in the backwaters. Try pieces of worm under a bobber. Channel Catfish — No Report: Look for channel catfish around brush piles and snags along the main channel and side channels. Use cut shad, stink bait or night crawlers upstream of the snag.