Fishing Report for Weekend of 8/12

Here is your NE Iowa Fishing Report from the Iowa DNR for the Weekend of 8/12.

Cedar River (above Nashua)
Cedar River water levels continue to fall and clarity is improving. Use caution when boating as submersed logs and other debris may not be visible. Walleye – Slow. Channel Catfish - Good: Anglers fishing in current breaks and eddies are finding catfish. Use chicken livers and stink baits. ,Northern Pike – Slow.

Decorah District Streams
Trout streams are fishable, but flows are up. A few of our streams are not stocked in August as these streams tend to get too warm for cold water fish. Refer to our calendar and map to find out which ones. Brown Trout - Good: A nice variety of insects have been hatching in the late afternoon. Use a #18 blue wing olive or #14 or #16 caddis fly imitation. Strong midge hatches have also been occurring. Brook Trout - Good: For stained water, use a streamer or minnow imitation. Terrestrial bugs are beginning to show up on streams. Ants, grasshoppers and crickets should start to turn heads. Rainbow Trout - Good: Spin fishers should try spinners or worms.

Lake Hendricks
The green algae bloom continues on the lake, but anglers are still catching fish. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Anglers fishing from a boat or canoe are having luck using topwater plastics over the vegetation and reeling to deeper water. Bluegill - Slow: Fishing from shore is difficult due to aquatic beds. Find fish in deeper water using a hook tipped with small piece of worm. Channel Catfish - Good: Try chicken livers or night crawlers fished off the bottom.

Lake Meyer
Spotty catches of fish continue to plague anglers on Lake Meyer. Bluegill - Slow: Gills are in shallow dense vegetation and difficult to catch. Largemouth Bass - Slow: Use a jig tipped with a variety of soft topwater plastics. Start along the weed edges and fish deeper. Channel Catfish - Fair: Catfish are taking a big worm, night crawlers, or stink bait fished off the bottom under a bobber.

Upper Iowa River (above Decorah)
Water temperatures are in the mid 70's. Water levels have stabilized and clarity is slowly improving. Smallmouth Bass - Slow: Run a spinner bait along undercut banks and overhanging rock ledges. Try also mouths of spring fed tributaries.

Upper Iowa River (below Decorah)
Water levels have stabilized and clarity is improving. Use care when paddling; logs, rocks, and other debris may not be visible until it's too late to maneuver. Smallmouth Bass - Slow: Try small crankbaits or spinner baits in eddies and tributary mouths. Walleye – Slow.

Volga Lake
Volga Lake has a green algae bloom. Anglers drifting over rock or brush piles will find fish. Largemouth Bass – Fair. Black Crappie – Fair. Bluegill – Slow. Channel Catfish - Good: Use stink baits, chicken liver and crawlers. Volga Lake has a very nice population of catfish awaiting the patient angler.
Casey Lake (aka Hickory Hills Lake)
Reports have been good for angling on Casey Lake for bluegill, largemouth bass and channel catfish. Quality size bluegills have been caught with some approaching 9 inches. Bluegill - Good: Try just below the surface in 1-3 feet of water near structure. Largemouth Bass - Good: Cast crankbaits near the dam and off jetties. Channel Catfish - Good: Use stink baits, cut baits or chicken livers.

Cedar River (Nashua to La Porte City)
The Cedar River is currently falling. Angling for walleye, smallmouth bass and channel catfish should be productive by the upcoming weekend. Channel Catfish - Fair: Use stink baits, cut baits or chicken livers. Flathead Catfish - Fair: Try fishing with a bluegill or bullhead on the bottom near structure or in deeper holes. Walleye - Good: Use a jig tipped with a crawler or cast crankbaits. Smallmouth Bass - Good: Cast crankbaits near rocky shorelines.

Maquoketa River (above Monticello)
The Maquoketa River is in excellent angling condition for the upcoming weekend. Anglers are catching walleye on a consistent basis. Walleye - Good: A jig tipped with a crawler is a deadly combination this time of year. Look for current breaks and woody structure. Smallmouth Bass - Fair: Try a jig & crawler, crankbaits or spinner baits fished near rocky habitat. Channel Catfish - Fair: Use chicken livers or stink baits near the upstream end of logjams.

Shell Rock River (Greene to Shell Rock)
The Shell Rock River is falling. Angling for walleye, smallmouth bass and channel catfish should be productive by the upcoming weekend. Channel Catfish - Fair: Use stink baits, cut baits or chicken livers. Walleye - Good: Try a jig tipped with a crawler or cast crankbaits. Smallmouth Bass - Good: Cast crankbaits near rocky shorelines.

Wapsipinicon River (Tripoli to Troy Mills)
The Wapsipinicon River is currently at 5.40 feet and falling. The river remains a bit stained due to higher turbidity or algal bloom. Channel Catfish - Fair: Use stink baits, cut baits or chicken livers. Smallmouth Bass - Fair: Cast crankbaits near rocky shorelines. Walleye - Fair: Try a jig tipped with a crawler or cast crankbaits.

The interior rivers are in good condition, especially for the upcoming weekend. Weather today is calling for a fair amount of rainfall which may cause a rise in river levels. Panfish reports have been slow as we are in the mid-summer lulls other than Casey Lake which remains good. Trout streams are in excellent condition.