DNR releases fishing report for Southeast Iowa

Lake Macbride

The lake is about 12 inches low and water temperature is in the low 60s. Crappie ? slow: a few crappies are being caught over brush. Walleye ? slow: troll crankbaits for a few fish.

Central Park Lake

Largemouth bass ? good: pitch a green pumpkin soft plastic bait around cover. Many fish are right around the 14-15 inch size. Largemouth must be 15 inches to keep.

Pleasant Creek Lake

Remember, largemouth bass must be 18 inches to keep and muskellunge must be 40 inches to keep. Channel catfish ? fair: try stinkbait or livers off the jetties or dam. White bass ? fair: look for schools feeding on shad, especially at sunrise and sunset. Try white/silver jigs, spinners, spoons, crankbaits, or top-waters. Bluegill ? good: try small jigs tipped with wax worms in about 10 feet of water. Most fish have been six to eight inches.

Diamond Lake

No minnows are allowed here. The lake is about three feet low. Channel Catfish ? fair: Crappie ? fair.

Otter Creek Lake

Channel catfish ? fair. Yellow bass ? fair.

Union Grove Lake

Channel catfish ? good: stinkbait has been working well. Crappie ? good: try minnows or slow retrieving a soft plastic jig.

Coralville Reservoir

The lake level continues to slowly drop with the lack of rain. Channel catfish ? fair: some anglers are drifting/trolling shad or cut bait. Crappie ? excellent: fish are being caught on live bait as well as jigs. Brush tends to hold more fish but they are coming off rock banks/bluffs as well. Many fish are seven to nine inches but 10-12 inches are being caught as well.

Maquoketa (Hopkinton to Canton)

The Monticello area has been popular. Channel catfish ? fair: try crawlers in deeper holes. Walleye ? fair: jigs, crawlers or crankbaits have been producing some fish.

Hale Ponds

Bluegill ? good: seven to nine inch bluegills are being caught on small worms or jigs from some of the ponds in the Hale Wildlife Area.

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

Lake Wapello

Largemouth bass have been caught using spinnerbaits and plastic worms. Remember to slow your presentation down as the water cools off. Channel catfish have been biting on nightcrawlers off the end of the jetties.

Red Haw Lake

Bluegill ? fair: try areas with submerged structures. Largemouth bass ? good: anglers have been having some luck using rubber worms fished around the rock jetties and along the face of the dam. Remember to slow down your presentation as the water cools off.

Lake Sugema

Fishing has been a little slow. Use plastic worms or crawdad imitations for largemouth bass along the dam and the shoreline with rock. Look for crappies to be in eight to 12 feet of water near structures.

Rathbun Reservoir

Lake level is at 903.60 feet with 904.00 feet being normal pool. The surface water temperature is 63 degrees. Channel catfish ? fair: anglers should try trolling or drifting over rocky points. Nightcrawlers have been working the best. Crappie ? slow: anglers should try minnows fished over and around submerged structure in eight to 12 feet of water. Lake Rathbun contains zebra mussels so clean, drain, and dry boats before transporting them to another water body. Spray boats and trailers with high pressure hot water (above 104 degrees) or let them dry for at least 10 days (five days in the sun).

For other questions regarding fishing in south central Iowa call 641-647-2406.