Fishing Report for the Weekend of 1/6

It's going to be a chilly weekend, but fish need to eat still and that means you can catch them. Here is the Iowa DNR Fishing Report for the weekend of 1/6.

Cedar River (above Nashua)
A few anglers have braved the backwaters and the impoundments. Use extreme caution when going on river ice. There is no such thing as safe ice. Eight to twelve inches of ice have been reported in the backwaters.  Bluegill - Fair: Use a small jig tipped with a spike or wax worm. Black Crappie - Fair: Find crappies around submersed trees or logs. They are taking small jigs tipped with a minnow head. Walleye - Fair: Anglers are catching walleye below the Nashua dam.

Decorah District Streams
Urban catchable trout stockings are in full swing. Check our webpage for dates and locations. Trout streams are running crystal clear and continue to fish well. Parking lots are not plowed in the winter; use care when parking on the side of the road. It is very pretty along the trout streams this time of year.  Brook Trout - Good: Use flies or lures that look like sculpins, dace or suckers. Brown Trout - Good: Anglers have had success using a nymph rig with a scud dropper, but most fish are hitting wet flies. Rainbow Trout - Good: Use black fly midge or hares ear wet flies fished in the riffles. Slowly pull a black bead head fly with a yellow scud dropper through the upper and lower ends of pools for trout in deeper water.

Lake Hendricks
All parking lots are now open. No motorized vehicles are allowed on the ice. The aerator is on so be careful; there is open water around it. Ice depths are 8-10 inches. Bluegill - Fair: Use small brightly colored jigs tipped with a spike. Largemouth Bass - Slow: Try a small spinner tipped with a wax worm. Black Crappie - Fair: Use a small brightly colored jig tipped with a wax worm near the bottom.

Lake Meyer
Lake Meyer has 8 to 10 inches of ice. Water clarity is excellent at over 20 feet. Fishing activity has been variable depending on weather fronts. Bluegill - Fair: Use a jig tipped with wax worm or red or white spike. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Anglers report seeing fish on cameras; a few have been taken with a jig tipped with wax worms. Black Crappie - Fair: Crappies are being more finicky, but a few have been caught.

Turkey River (above Clermont)
Use extreme caution when going out on Vernon Spring impoundment; check ice depths often. Ice depths vary greatly in areas with current. Black Crappie - Fair: Find crappie around downed trees and submerged logs out of the current. Use a jig tipped with a wax worm. Walleye - Slow: Find walleye in the deeper holes around current breaks.

Volga Lake
Volga Lake is reporting 8 inches of ice.  Bluegill - Fair: Use small brightly colored jigs tipped with a wax worm. Find fish are along the dam and universal access dock. Black Crappie - Fair: Find crappies around brush piles early season.

It's going to be windy and cold through the weekend with temperatures not much over single digits. Continue to use extreme caution when going out on the ice. Check depths often, especially where there is current or springs. For current fishing information, please call the Decorah Fish Hatchery at 563-382-8324.

Big Woods Lake
Anglers are still having success catching bluegill and crappie in Big Woods Lake. Bluegill – Fair. Black Crappie – Fair.

Brinker Lake
Anglers are still having success catching bluegill and crappie in Brinker Lake. Bluegill – Fair. Black Crappie – Fair.

Casey Lake (aka Hickory Hills Lake)
Anglers continue to have good success catching bluegill in Casey Lake. Bluegill – Good.

George Wyth Lake
Anglers continue to catch primarily bluegill in George Wyth Lake. Bluegill – Fair.

Manchester District Streams
Trout streams are in excellent condition and are open. With air temperatures at or near freezing, it is a great time for winter trout fishing. Expect to catch rainbow trout stocked late in the fall, as well as post-spawn brown trout in most streams. Use streamers, spinners and crankbaits. Fish can be skittish this time of year, so avoid walking in the stream and approach fishing spots from downstream. Rainbow Trout – Good. Brown Trout – Good.

Martens Lake
There are still reports of anglers catching bluegill in Martens Lake (a.k.a. Sweet Marsh), but some sorting may be needed. Bluegill – Fair.

South Prairie Lake
Anglers continue to have success catching crappie in South Prairie Lake. Black Crappie – Fair.

Most anglers are having success catching bluegill and crappie on most area Black Hawk County Lakes. Ice conditions remain good with the recent onset of arctic air, but always use extreme caution. Rivers and streams are generally in good condition, but are high for this time of year. Trout streams remain excellent, for further information call the N.E. District Office at 563-927-3276.