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The weather is warming up and the waters are too, which means fishing will pick up soon. If you plan on going out this weekend, here is the Iowa DNR's weekly fishing report for the weekend of 3/24/17.

Cedar River (above Nashua)
Water levels are falling and clarity is excellent. 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 - Good: Try a jig tipped with a minnow or nightcrawler below the dams in the pockets. Channel Catfish - Excellent: Shore anglers using dead chubs or crawlers under a bobber will find success. Smallmouth Bass - Fair: Catch good numbers of 9 to 12 inch smallies and occasionally a fish over 18 inches.

Decorah District Streams
The 2017 Catchable Trout Stocking Calendar is out - catchable trout stockings start April 3. Streams are in good condition, but flows remain high. Catch nice trout using jigs tipped with twister tails or feathered spinnerbaits. 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: Fish for rainbow trout in the head end of riffles. Try slowly pulling 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. Channel Catfish - Fair: Use a dead fish on a hook in shallower water on windblown shorelines.

Lake Meyer
No one has been out on the lake. Channel Catfish - Slow: Try a dead chub or some other minnow on 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)
Water levels are falling and clarity is improving. Predicted rainfall may raise water levels and muddy the water. Visit the USGS Current Water Data website for more information. Walleye - Fair: Use a blade bait or bigger crankbait near coldwater tributaries. Brown Trout - Fair: Try spinnerbaits near the mouths of coldwater tributaries.

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

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

Rain is forecast for the weekend. Temperatures will be in the mid 40's to low 50's. Anglers 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 fishing for walleye. Northern Pike - Fair: Cast bucktail spinner baits or float a live shiner or chub under a bobber.

Shell Rock River (Greene to Shell Rock)
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 fishing 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. Smallmouth Bass - Fair: Try jig and minnow combinations in rip-rap or rocky shoreline areas. Many anglers will catch smallmouth while fishing for walleye.

Angling reports have improved for 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.

(Source: Iowa DNR)

Iowa DNR
Iowa DNR
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