From Dept. of Natural Resources: Fishing report for Southeast Iowa

Lake Odessa

The Toolesboro road remains open. All the ramps are now open and cleared off for anglers to use. The water level will continue to fall as there is still some water up in the trees. The river ramp is also open. Bluegill - Fair: 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 - Fair: There are some slab crappies being caught along the trees dropped into deeper water. Also try down in Burris ditch near the outlet.

Lake Belva Deer

The water temperature is up to the low 80s. The thermocline is at 6 to 8 feet deep. Channel Catfish - Good: Catfishing remained good during the evening hours. Chicken liver and cut bait are good things to try. Bluegill - Fair: 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.

Lake of the Hills

Look for the fishing to be best just ahead of a storm front. Channel Catfish - Good: Catfish from 2 to 4 pounds are common. Liver and various stink baits are working the best. Bluegill - Good: Once you find the right depth, and they're out deep, and the habitat, you can do well. Largemouth Bass - Good: Fish the early mornings or late evenings around the stump field and sunken logs using top water lures.

Railroad Lake

Channel Catfish - Excellent: 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.

Skunk River (Coppock to Mississippi River)

The river continues to drop. Water temperature during the day is around 86 degrees. The river is getting low enough that boating is getting a little harder. Channel Catfish - Good: Catfishing has been good. Try a few freshly caught grass frogs as bait.

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

Lake Macbride

The 10 hp maximum motor restriction is in effect. The invasive plant brittle naiad is found here, so make sure to inspect and clean your boat/trailer when leaving the lake. Largemouth Bass - Good: 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 - Slow: Try fishing along the dam or other rocky areas with stink bait, liver, or crawlers. White Bass - Good: 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 - Good: Most fish have been small but they are being caught on live bait rigs and crankbaits. Target depths around 15 feet.

Coralville Reservoir

The current lake elevation on August 4 is normal summer pool of 683.3 feet. Channel Catfish - Fair: Try crawlers or cut bait in areas with some flow.

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

Red Haw Lake

Bluegill - Good: Anglers have been having success using small jigs tipped with a chunk of nightcrawler along the shoreline. Largemouth Bass - Good: Try areas around the jetties and along the shoreline using rubber worms and spinner baits.

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)

Bluegill - Fair: Use small jigs tipped with a chunk of nightcrawler within 10 feet of the shoreline. Don't forget to try around the buoys marking the fish habitat that was put in several years ago. 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. Try areas along the east shoreline. Largemouth Bass - Slow: Try spinner baits fished along the face of the dam or along the west side among the stumps.

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: Use small jigs tipped with a piece of nightcrawler around shoreline structure or standing timber areas. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Top water baits fished in the early morning or late evening hours can be productive this time of year. Fish areas with rip-rapped shorelines with a jig n' pig combo or a rubber worm.

Rathbun Reservoir

The lake level is at 909.51 feet with 904.0 feet being normal pool. Water temperature has been in the mid 80s. 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 (5 days in sun). Channel Catfish - Fair: Use dead chubs fished in areas with the wind blowing into the bays and coves. 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 vegetation. Suspended crappies can be targeted using small chrome colored crankbaits. Walleye - Fair: With the higher lake levels the walleye are spread out so try new areas. Some anglers have had some success in shallow areas using chrome colored crankbaits or blade baits. Nightcrawlers being drifted or trolled is also a good technique this time of year. 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