Fishing Report for the Weekend of 11/18

If you plan on fishing this weekend, you better dress in layers because it's going to be COLD! With that said, here is your Iowa DNR Fishing Report for the weekend of 11/18.

Cedar River (above Nashua)
Cedar River water levels have stabilized with much improved clarity. Visithttp://waterdata.usgs.gov/ia/nwis/rt for information on water level. Walleye - Slow: Use a jighead tipped with nightcrawler or minnow. Smallmouth Bass - Good: Anglers are using a variety of baits but jigs tipped with worms work well. Channel Catfish - Fair: A few anglers are using stink bait but try a frog or cut bait. Northern Pike - Slow: Crankbaits are working but try using a dead chub fished under a bobber. Black Crappie - Slow: Use a jig tipped with a minnow in the off current areas or along brushy edges.

Decorah District Streams
Trout streams are in good condition and continue fishing well. Thank you to all our faithful anglers who took advantage of our catchable trout stocking program this year. It is hunting season; be courteous to other recreational users.  Spinnerbaits have been successful with rainbows and browns. There have been good hatches of small mayflies and caddis flies midday.  Brook Trout - Good: Use flies or lures that look like sculpins, dace or suckers. Brookies are spawning and really colored up well. Brown Trout - Good: Avoid stepping in the small indentations in the stream bottom called redds. Rainbow Trout - Good: Find rainbow trout hiding in the upper and lower ends of pools. Dance a meaty looking fly or lure in these areas and wait.

Lake Hendricks
A fishing jetty project is complete; anglers are asked to wait to fish from it. Fish when the sun is overhead and along the shoreline for best luck. Bluegill - Fair: Try a small jig tipped with a wax worm fished under a slip bobber about 2 feet off the bottom. Largemouth Bass – Fair. Black Crappie – Fair.

Lake Meyer
The lake is in good condition and anglers are catching fish. Look for fish in the shallow bays in the afternoons and evenings. Bluegill - Good: Tip a small jig with a wax worm then cast out and slowly reel in. Anglers are catching a variety of sizes. Largemouth Bass – Fair. Black Crappie – Fair.

Turkey River (above Clermont)
Water levels on the Turkey River have stabilized with improved clarity. Flows remain high so find fish in areas with little current.  Smallmouth Bass - Slow: Use rubber skirted jigs. Black Crappie - Slow: Try fishing along the brushy edges for best luck. Walleye - Slow: Use live baits in off channel areas.

Turkey River (below Clermont)
Water levels have stabilized and clarity is improving. Visit http://waterdata.usgs.gov/ia/nwis/rt for information on water levels.  Smallmouth Bass - Slow: Find fish along the rocky ledges out of the current. Use a jig tipped with a worm or plastic twister tail. Walleye - Slow: Fish should be in the deeper areas with little current. Run a shallow water crankbait around boulders.

Upper Iowa River (above Decorah)
Water levels have stabilized and clarity is about 5 feet. Flows are still up so fish in slack water areas. Visit http://waterdata.usgs.gov/ia/nwis/rt for information on water levels. Smallmouth Bass - Slow: A jig tipped with a nightcrawler may turn an eye. Look for fish in the off channel eddies and deeper pools. Walleye - Slow: Live baits should turn on a hungry walleye.

Upper Iowa River (below Decorah)
Water levels have stabilized and clarity is good. Water temperatures are in the mid 40's. Walleye - Slow: Anglers bank fishing and floating were having success using a jig tipped with a nightcrawler or light colored plastic twister tail. Smallmouth Bass - Good: Try a jig tipped with a nightcrawler. Sauger - Good: Anglers using light colored jigs and plastics are doing well fishing from shore.

Volga Lake
The docks have been removed for the winter. Water clarity is good. Fish along the rocky shoreline in the afternoon and evenings. Bluegill - Good: Use red worms or wax worms fished under a bobber from rocky shoreline. Largemouth Bass – Fair. Black Crappie – Fair.

Decorah area rivers and streams are in good condition. November weather is finally here. Be prepared for rain/snow Friday and into Saturday. Temperature highs will be in the low 40's during the day to low 30's and into the 20's at night. For current fishing information, please call the Decorah Fish Hatchery at 563-382-8324.

Cedar River (Nashua to La Porte City)
Reports on the Cedar River have been fair for walleye in Black Hawk County, good in Bremer County and good for smallmouth bass in both. Most smallmouth catches have been incidental while fishing for walleye. Walleye - Fair: Jig and twister tipped with a minnow is a deadly combination for walleye this time of year. Smallmouth Bass - Good: Jig and twister tipped with a minnow is a deadly combination for smallmouth bass this time of year.

Lake Delhi
Anglers were catching crappie on Lake Delhi as of last week, but it has slowed down. Black Crappie - Fair: Vertical jig various colored tube jigs within different depths to find fish.

Maquoketa River (above Monticello)
There have been fair to good reports of walleye being caught on the Maquoketa River in Delaware County. Walleye - Fair: Jig and twister tipped with a minnow is a deadly combination for walleye this time of year.

Shell Rock River (Greene to Shell Rock)
Much like the Cedar River, reports on the Shell Rock River have been fair for walleye and good for smallmouth bass. Most smallmouth catches have been incidental while fishing for walleye. Walleye - Fair: Jig and twister tipped with a minnow is a deadly combination for walleye this time of year.

Wapsipinicon River (Tripoli to Troy Mills)
The Wapsipinicon River is in the best condition it has been in months as far as clarity and water levels. Walleye and smallmouth bass fishing should be fair to good and reports for northern pike fishing have been good. Northern Pike - Good: Float a live chub under a bobber.

Reports are fair to good on the interior rivers for walleye, smallmouth bass and northern pike. Panfish reports have been very limited as we approach late fall and early winter water temperatures. Trout streams remain full of trout for anglers to get out and harvest. There have been good reports of brown and rainbow trout being caught within the Manchester District streams. For further information, call the N.E. District Office at 563-927-3276.