The DNR sends out a Fishing Report Weekly. To subscribe send a blank email to: join-fishiowa@lists.ia.gov – I have taken the information and cut it down a bit to my most common used fisheries.
Saylorville Reservoir
Channel Catfish – Good: Catfishing is good in the mornings and late evenings fishing in 1 to 5 feet of water with minnows, cut bait, or shrimp. White Bass – Good: Good catches of white bass are coming from below the Big Creek spillway and off Sandpiper using jigs, spoons, or minnows under a bobber. Boat anglers trolling crankbaits are also doing well. Walleye – Fair: Some decent walleye from 16 to 19 inches have been caught by throwing crankbaits near Sandpiper. Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) – Fair: There are some wipers being caught on crankbaits off of Sandpiper.
Des Moines River (Saylorville to Red Rock)
Channel Catfish – Good: Channel catfish biting on small live sunfish, cut bait, liver, or night crawlers. Fish near any logjam, eddy, or riprap. White Bass – Good: White bass are being caught below the Saylorville spillway on jigs, spoons, or minnows. Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) – Fair: A few wipers have been caught below the Saylorville spillway using large jigs tipped with minnows.
Big Creek Lake
Channel Catfish – Fair: Large catfish are being caught in deeper water using leeches. Bluegill – Excellent: Bluegill bite is good using small pieces of crawler under a bobber or small tube jigs fished near sunken brush piles or drifting near the mouths of the bays. Largemouth Bass – Good: Bass are hitting good on crankbaits, spinnerbaits, and plastic worms. The most success is on the north end. Crappie – Fair: Crappies can be caught drifting mid lake out from the Williams Drive boat ramps using small jigs. Pink and white combinations work well.
Des Moines River ( Stratford to Saylorville Lake )
Channel Catfish – Fair: Channel catfish are being caught using cut bait, liver, or night crawlers fished near any wood cover. Freshwater Drum – Excellent: Catching drum is no problem right now using night crawlers fished on the bottom.
Des Moines River (Saylorville to Red Rock)
Channel Catfish – Good: Channel catfish biting on small live sunfish, cut bait, liver, or night crawlers. Fish near any logjam, eddy, or riprap. White Bass – Good: White bass are being caught below the Saylorville spillway on jigs, spoons, or minnows. Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) – Fair: A few wipers have been caught below the Saylorville spillway using large jigs tipped with minnows.
Big Spirit Lake
Weed beds have expanded quickly and can be seen almost to the surface. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Use twister tails or a slip bobber and leech along rock bars that connect with weed lines. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Use soft plastics or live bait around weed beds or at Buffalo Run. Yellow Perch – Good: Drift fish while using bottom bouncers or anchor and vertical jig with small jigging spoons tipped with worms in 20-22 foot of water. Walleye – Good: Drift fish with Lindy rigs, vertical jig with leeches, or slip bobber fish around weed beds. Fish are also being caught trolling with crankbaits along weed lines. Muskellunge – Fair: Fish are being caught while trolling with large crankbaits or inline spinners.
East Okoboji Lake
Channel Catfish – Fair: Use stink bait or chubs around the bridges or off the docks. Yellow Bass – Excellent: Drift fish along boat docks with jigging spoons tipped with worms or slip bobber fish from docks.
Clear Lake
Yellow bass fishing is slow, try drift fishing the reefs with live bait. Channel Catfish – Good: A few catfish are being caught with night crawlers or cut bait fished on the bottom at the Ventura grade and McIntosh State Park shoreline. Walleye – Fair: Walleyes (mostly sub-legal) are being caught off the jetty using minnows. Yellow Bass – Fair, try drift fishing the reefs with live bait until you find the fish.
Storm Lake (including Little Storm Lake )
Fishing has been good. A little spotty after weather fronts moved through. Remember that Storm Lake has a 17-22 inch slot length limit. All walleye in that range must be immediately released. Channel Catfish – Excellent: As lake warms the catfishing has improved. They are biting on a variety of baits from shore and in the rocks. White Bass – Good: White bass are being caught at Frank Starr Park and off the rocks on the big island by throwing twisters and crankbaits. Anglers have also started to catch whites off the north shore west of Chautauqua jetty. Walleye – Good: Anglers are still catching fish while trolling slowly with Shad Raps. Good colors are: hot steele, clown, purple haze and perch. People have been having good luck drifting with live bait using 1/8 ounce jig heads around Frank Starr, south of big island and the college island.
Brushy Creek Lake
Water clarity is still good. Nice bluegill, crappie and a few walleye are being caught. Please clean your fish at the floating fish cleaning platform at the west ramp. Channel Catfish – Good: Catfish are hitting on stink bait and night crawlers along the shore line. Bluegill – Good: Bluegill can be found under trees and in the weeds. Use a small worm on a plain hook in 4 to 10 feet. Crappie – Good: Crappies are in the trees; try a small jig or minnow rig and fish in 10 to 14 feet of water. Walleye – Good: Walleye have been hitting on leeches.
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