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If fishing is your thing and cold weather isn't, this will probably be your last weekend to enjoy fishing without your moon boots and snow suit. The fish are still biting and with the help of our friends at the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, here is your Fishing Report for the weekend of 12/1/17. 

Cedar River (above Nashua)
Stable water levels and clear water reported for the Cedar River. Get out and play before the river freezes. Walleye - Fair: Fish activity has been spotty with smaller fish hitting. Use a jig tipped with a long piece of worm or minnow in deeper pools, eddies, and current breaks. Try also spinnerbaits with a slow retrieve. Northern Pike - Good: Use dead chubs fished under a bobber or spoons. Smallmouth Bass - Slow: A few smallies are picked up while angling for walleye.

Decorah District Streams
First shotgun deer season opens this weekend. Many streams run through wildlife management areas where hunting is allowed. Wear bright clothing and make noise when not stalking a trout. Walk carefully around freshly cleared areas in streams. These are trout nests or "redds". Brook Trout - Good: Vibrant colors abound on spawning fish. A variety of small mayflies are hatching mid-afternoon. Use a dry fly for insects hatching off the water surface. Use a nymph or scud dropper for subsurface critters. Brown Trout - Excellent: With cold temperatures in the forecast and spawning fish, it’s time to change strategies. Use patterns imitating small fish, eggs, and scuds. Small gnats, mayflies, caddisflies hatch on warmer afternoons. Rainbow Trout - Good: Drift a feathered spinner or a hook tipped with worm along an undercut bank. Always leave gates and fences as you find them.

Lake Hendricks
Few anglers have been out.

Lake Meyer
Water temperatures are near freezing. Fishable ice is coming soon. Few anglers are out.

Upper Iowa River (above Decorah)
The Upper Iowa River is in excellent condition. Most angling is from shore or below dams. Walleye - Fair: Find walleye in deeper holes. Use a jig tipped with a minnow, twister tail, or baits imitating larger minnows or suckers in eddies and current seams.

Upper Iowa River (below Decorah)
Water levels are stable and clarity is excellent. Walleye - Good: Find walleye in deeper holes. Use a jig tipped with a minnow, twister tail or baits imitating larger minnows or suckers in eddies and current seams.

Volga Lake
Duck season closes Sunday for the northern zone and hunters are on the water. First season shotgun deer opens Saturday.

Mostly sunny with temperatures ranging from the low 50's  to low 30's through the weekend. Skim ice is forming on small ponds and river edges in the mornings. Area streams and rivers are in excellent condition and fishing well. For current fishing information, please call the Decorah Fish Hatchery at 563-382-8324.

Cedar River (Nashua to La Porte City)
Good reports of anglers catching walleye, northern pike (particularly Bremer County) on the Cedar River. Target deeper pools or holes for walleye as they migrate to overwintering areas. Walleye - Good: Use jigs tipped with plastics tipped with a minnow. Northern Pike- Good: Cast white bucktail spinner baits. Smallmouth Bass - Fair: Use jig and plastics tipped with a minnow.

Harold Getty Lake
Black Crappie - Fair: Try a live minnow about four feet below a slip bobber. Anglers are having success.

Maquoketa River (above Monticello)
Few reports of anglers catching walleye this week on the Maquoketa River. Fishing has been hot for walleye on the Cedar River, so it should hold true on the Maquoketa River.  Target the deeper holes where walleye gather to overwinter. Walleye - Fair: Try jigs tipped with plastics with or without live bait.

Shell Rock River (Greene to Shell Rock)
Concentrate on the deeper holes where walleye gather to overwinter. Walleye - Good: Use jigs tipped with plastics and a live minnow. Smallmouth Bass - Fair: Try jigs tipped with plastics with or without live bait or spinnerbaits.

Wapsipinicon River (Tripoli to Troy Mills)
There have been no reports this week for the Wapsipinicon River. Fishing has been hot for walleye on the Cedar River, so it should hold true on the Wapsi River. Target the deeper holes where walleye gather to overwinter. Walleye - Good: Use jigs and plastics tipped with a minnow.

Interior river water levels remain excellent. River reports have been best for walleye, smallmouth bass and northern pike. The weather forecast for next week looks great for making ice, get your gear ready. Northeast Iowa trout streams remain in excellent condition and provide fantastic trout angling opportunities throughout the entire winter. Call the N.E. Iowa district office at 563-927-3276 for more information.

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