DNR releases Southeast Iowa's weekly fishing report

Lake Odessa

The water temperature is cooling down with the cooler nights. Bluegill - Good: With a little work and knowledge of the lake anglers are catching some big bluegills. Work the deeper water of the sand run and Yankee chute areas. Crappie - Good: There are some slab crappies being caught along the trees dropped into deeper water. Also try down in Burris ditch near the outlet. Slip bobbers and minnows are working well as are jigs tipped with minnows.

Lake Geode

Make sure to clean off your boat and trailer after fishing, Geode does have brittle naiad. Water temperature has cooled down to 79 degrees. Channel Catfish - Good: Catfishing remains good around the rocks along the dam face as well as the rip rap along the shore at the boat ramps. Chicken liver and stink baits remain the go-to baits. Bluegill - Good: With the cooler weather the bluegill fishing has improved. Look for them to be in shallow in the morning and late evening and move back out to the ledges for the middle of the day.

Lake Belva Deer

The water temperature has cooled down to the upper 70s. Channel Catfish - Good: Catfishing remained good during the evening hours. Chicken liver and cut bait are good things to try. Bluegill - Good: The bluegills have for the most part moved out to deeper water. look for them to be around the trees in the old creek channel. Crappie - Good: Anglers are catching some nice crappies out in front of the beach. Slip bobbers and minnows are a good way to start.

Pollmiller Park Lake

Bluegill - Fair: Anglers are finding the bigger bluegills in the deeper water. Largemouth Bass - Good: nightcrawler or soft plastics have produced some nice fish although most are less than 15 inches.

Lake of the Hills

Angler numbers have increased with the cooler weather. Channel Catfish - Good: Catfish in the two- to four-pound range are common. Liver and various stink baits are working the best. Bluegill - Good: Once you find the right depth (they're out deep) and the habitat, you can do well. Largemouth Bass - Good: Last week's hot weather had been making the bass go deeper earlier. The recent cool weather should be bringing them up shallow for longer in the morning and evening.

Railroad Lake

Channel Catfish - Good: Fishing along the old creek channel with liver or stink baits should get you some nice eating size catfish. Bluegill - Good: Fish the north side around the stumps and logs or in the tree falls or by the recycling containers and you should catch some bluegills. Largemouth Bass - Good: Work the flooded timber and along the riprap late in the day or early in the morning.

Wilson Lake

The water is very clear and the lake is a little low with the dry weather. Rainbow Trout - Slow: An occasional trout is still being caught. Park staff is seeing a few feeding near the surface just before dark. Bluegill - Fair: Anglers are picking up a few bluegills around the cedar tree piles in deeper water.

Skunk River (Rose Hill to Coppock)

The river is getting low enough that even the small john boats are having problems. Channel Catfish - Fair: The anglers who know the deeper water are still catching some nice catfish.

Skunk River (Coppock to Mississippi River)

The river continues to drop. The level is low enough that only the small john boats are not having problems navigating. Channel Catfish - Good: Catfishing has been good. Try a few freshly caught grass frogs as bait or stink baits.

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

Kent Park Lake

Channel Catfish - Fair: Try chicken liver or dip bait for best results. Evenings have been the best time. Bluegill - Fair: Largemouth Bass - Fair:

Lake Macbride

The 10 hp maximum motor restriction is in effect. The invasive plant brittle naiad is here so make sure to inspect and clean your boat/trailer when leaving the lake. Channel Catfish - Fair: Try crawlers, stink bait, or cut bait in eight to 12 feet of water. Evenings have been best. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Try a variety of lures around shallow rock or wood. Some fish have been caught on deeper rock/points using crankbaits. Early and late in the day are best.

Pleasant Creek Lake

Remember, there is an 18-inch minimum on largemouth bass here. The invasive plant brittle naiad is here, so make sure to inspect and clean your boat/trailer when leaving the lake. Channel Catfish - Excellent: Try fishing off the dam or jetties with stink bait or crawlers. After dark has been prime time. White Bass - Fair: Try jigs, spinners, small spoons, or small crankbaits. Many fish have been small, but nice-sized fish are available. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Try crankbaits, soft plastics, or crawlers. Walleye - Fair: Most fish have been small but they are being caught on live bait rigs and crankbaits. Target depths around 15 feet.

Otter Creek Lake

The fish cleaning station was destroyed in the storms and is no longer available. Bluegill - Fair: Largemouth Bass - Fair: Yellow Bass - Good:

Union Grove Lake

Channel Catfish - Good.

Coralville Reservoir

The lake elevation on August 18 is at normal summer pool of 683.3 feet. Channel Catfish - Fair: Try crawlers or cut bait in areas with some flow.

Iowa River (Marshalltown to Coralville Lake)

Channel Catfish - Good: Chicken liver and stink bait have been producing well.

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

Red Haw Lake

Bluegill - Good: Anglers have had some luck using small jigs tipped with a chunk of nightcrawler along the shoreline. Largemouth Bass - Good: Anglers have been having some success using rubber worms and spinner baits. Target areas along the dam and the rock jetties.

Hawthorn Lake (aka Barnes City Lake)

The lake was drained for a lake renovation last year but work is now complete. New fish habitat areas have been built along with some new jetties. The lake is now full.

Albia (lower)

Channel Catfish - Fair: Try prepared baits along the shorelines and areas with some rock. Evenings should be the best times. Bluegill - Fair: Anglers have been catching some keeper bluegills using small jigs tipped with a chunk of nightcrawler within 10 feet of the shoreline. Largemouth Bass - Good: Try plastic worms fished along the shoreline and spinner baits along the dam and other rocky areas.

Lake Miami

Channel Catfish - Fair: Anglers have been having some success in the evenings using dead chubs or stink bait. Try areas along the east shoreline. Largemouth Bass - Slow: Try rubber worms or crankbaits fished along the face of the dam or along the west side among the stumps. Crappie - Slow: Try drifting minnows in the main lake area.

Lake Sugema

Lake Sugema contains the invasive plant brittle naiad so make sure to inspect and clean your boat and trailer when leaving the lake. Bluegill - Fair: Try using small jigs tipped with a piece of nightcrawler along the shoreline and areas of the lake with standing timber. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Try using top water baits fished in the early morning or late evening hours. Fish areas with rip-rapped shorelines with a jig n' pig combo or a rubber worm.

Rathbun Reservoir

The lake level is at 905.59 feet with 904.0 feet being normal pool. Water temperature has been in the upper 70s. Outlet Park will be closed starting Aug.22, for a river stabilization project and could be closed up to 60 days. Don't forget Lake Rathbun contains zebra mussels so make sure to clean, drain, and dry boats before transporting 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 sun). Crappie - Slow: A few crappies are still being caught off docks and close to shore using a jig and a minnow. Look for areas with flooded woody structure. Suspended crappies can be targeted using small chrome colored crankbaits. Walleye - Fair: Walleye fishing has started to pick up a little. Anglers have had some success trolling chrome colored crankbaits or vertically jigging blade baits. They are also using nightcrawlers being drifted or trolled. Tagged walleyes should be reported at 641-647-2406.

For further fishing reports in south central Iowa call the Rathbun fish hatchery at 641-647-2406.