This weekly fishing report is compiled from information gathered from local bait shops, angler creel surveys and county and state parks staff.
This weekly fishing report is compiled from information gathered from local bait shops, angler creel surveys and county and state parks staff. You can check the activity of your favorite lake or stretch of river within each district, including which species are being caught, a rating of the bite (slow, fair, good or excellent), as well as a hot bait or lure pattern.
The following is for Northeast Iowa waters.
Decorah District Streams
Take time to enjoy and keep cool on one of Iowa’s many trout streams. Trout stream stocking continue to be unannounced, but streams are stocked regularly with lots of fish. Wild Parsnip is in full bloom; use care around this plant, it can cause skin to blister. Brook Trout – Good: Eleven streams have naturally reproducing populations with public access; learn more on our Trout Fishing webpage. Brown Trout – Good: Streams are full of brown trout; a wide variety of terrestrial insects are hatching. Try flies imitating grasshoppers, crickets, and ants. Rainbow Trout – Good: A small number of trout streams are not stocked in July and August due to marginal water temperatures. This is an annual occurrence. To check which ones, please visit the trout fishing website. Rainbows are easy to catch on a hook tipped with a worm, cheese, or bread fished under a bobber. They will also come to a variety of flies.
Lake Hendricks
The lake remains pea green. Try fishing in the upper water column. Bluegill – Good: Find fish from shore using a small hook tipped with a small piece of worm. Channel Catfish – Good: Catch nice catfish near shore at night with cut or stink baits. Your pole might disappear into the lake if you forget to hang on to your pole if a big one hits. Largemouth Bass – Good: Find bass suspended around rocky structures.
Lake Meyer
Water clarity remains excellent with an abundance of submersed aquatic vegetation making shore fishing difficult. Best access to fish is by watercraft. Evening bite is best. Bluegill – Fair: Try trolling or fish lure or bait just above vegetation. Largemouth Bass – Good: All size bass are taking a jig tipped with twister tail running over top of aquatic plants. Channel Catfish – Fair: Find fish in woody structure. Use cut bait, worms, or stink bait.
Turkey River (above Clermont)
Water levels are at summer time lows. Walleye – Fair: Find walleye in pools around brush piles; use a jig and twister tail. Smallmouth Bass – Fair: Find smallies in rocky pools and rocky seams.
Upper Iowa River (below Decorah)
Water levels are low. Paddlers should use caution around log jams and narrow sections in the river. Water is off-color. Walleye – Slow: Shore and paddle anglers are finding fish. Deeper holes and off-channel eddies hold fish. Try a jig and night crawler. White Sucker – Good: Suckers are providing fun action for anglers. Use a jig or hook tipped with a worm. Smallmouth Bass – Excellent: Find fish along rock ledges and eddies; use spinnerbaits or jigs tipped with plastics.
Volga Lake
The green algae bloom continues on Volga Lake. Channel Catfish – Excellent: This is an excellent time of year and place to catch a trophy catfish. Find fish in late evening cruising the shallows. Use cut or stink baits for best luck. Bluegill – Fair: Find gills near shore in the evening. Use a small jig and twister tail or small piece of worm. Black Crappie- Fair: Crappies are moving near shore in the evening to feed. Use a jig tipped with a twister tail.
Chance of thunderstorms or rain possible through the weekend. High temperatures in the mid-80s to upper 60s. Area rivers and streams remain low. For current fishing information, please call the Chuck Gipp Decorah Fish Hatchery at 563-382-8324.
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