Fishing Report for the Weekend of 3/31/17

Spring has sprung and with the slightly warmer weather, some water holes have opened up and fishing is starting to pick up. Having issues finding that spot and figuring out what bait to use? The Iowa DNR Fishing Report to the rescue.  Here is the report for the weekend of 3/31/17

Cedar River (above Nashua)
Flows remain high for this time of year. Rainfall amounts may cause the river to rise. Visit the USGS Current Water Data website for more information. Walleye - Excellent: Try a jig tipped with a minnow or nightcrawler below dams in the pockets. Channel Catfish - Excellent: Shore anglers using dead chubs fished or crawlers under a bobber will find success. Smallmouth Bass - Fair: Catch good numbers of 9 to 12 inch smallies with an occasional fish over 18 inches.

Decorah District Streams
Catchable trout stockings start April 3; check the trout stream stocking calendar for the proposed schedule. Streams are in good condition, but flows remain high. Catch nice trout with jigs tipped with twister tails or feathered spinner baits. Brook Trout - Fair: Use flies or lures that look like sculpins, dace or suckers. Brown Trout - Good: Off color water from run-off turns the browns on. Try critters imitating small caddis fly larvae or gnats hatching off the water. Rainbow Trout - Fair: Try in the head end of riffles. Slowly pull a black bead head fly with a light colored scud or midge dropper through the upper and lower ends of pools for trout in deeper water.

Lake Hendricks
Few anglers have been out. Stay off jetties until further notice; County Conservation Board staff are establishing grassed walkways. Channel Catfish - Fair: Use a dead fish on a hook in shallower water along windblown rocky shorelines. Black Crappie – Slow.

Lake Meyer
No one has been out on the lake. Channel Catfish - Slow: Try a dead chub or some other minnow along a rocky windblown shoreline.

Turkey River (above Clermont)
Water levels are falling, but flows remain up. Water clarity is improving.  Smallmouth Bass - Fair: Try a jig tipped with a minnow around a current break.

Upper Iowa River (above Decorah)
Predicted rainfall may raise water levels. Visit the USGS Current Water Data website for more information. Walleye - Fair: Try a blade bait or bigger crankbait near coldwater tributaries. Brown Trout - Fair: Use spinnerbaits near the mouths of coldwater tributaries.

Upper Iowa River (below Decorah)
Predicted rainfall amounts may cause levels to rise. Catch a nice trout near cold water tributaries. The sucker bite is just starting. Walleye - Good: Use jigs tipped with twister tails or nightcrawlers. Yellow Perch - Good: Good shore angling on the lower end of the Upper Iowa. Perch 10-inches are common. Smallmouth Bass – Fair.

Wapsipinicon River (state line to Tripoli)
Popular areas to fish are around North Washington, Frederika and Independence. Northern Pike - Fair: Use spoons or jigs tipped with a twister tail.

Volga Lake
Few anglers have been out this week. Channel Catfish - Slow: Use dead minnows or other dead fish along windblown shores to attract a cruising cat.

Temperatures will be in the mid to low 50's. Rain is in the forecast. You must get a landowner's permission to fish private property, even if it can be accessed through public property. For current fishing information, please call the Decorah Fish Hatchery at 563-382-8324.

Cedar River (Nashua to La Porte City)
Walleye - Good: Use jig and minnow combinations in eddies or slack water areas off of main flow. Smallmouth Bass - Good: Try jig and minnow combinations in rip-rap or rocky shoreline areas. Many anglers will catch smallmouth while angling for walleye.

Shell Rock River (Greene to Shell Rock)
Walleye - Good: Try jig and minnow combinations in eddies or slack water areas off of main flow. Smallmouth Bass - Good: Use jig and minnow combinations in rip-rap or rocky shoreline areas. Many anglers will catch smallmouth while angling for walleye.

Wapsipinicon River (Tripoli to Troy Mills)
Northern pike fishing has been good on the Upper Wapsipinicon River in Bremer County. Walleye and smallmouth bass should be biting well in Buchanan County. Walleye - Fair: Use jig and minnow combinations in eddies or slack water areas off of main flow. Northern Pike - Good: Cast bucktail spinner baits or float a live shiner or chub under a bobber for some great pike action. Smallmouth Bass - Fair: Try jig and minnow combinations in rip-rap or rocky shoreline areas. Many anglers will catch smallmouth while angling for walleye.

Angling reports remain good for both walleye and smallmouth bass on the interior rivers.  Area trout streams are in excellent condition, contact the N.E. District Office at 563-927-3276 for more information.