April showers bring May flowers. They also, apparently, created better fishing too. To prove that theory, here is the Iowa DNR Fishing Report for the weekend of 4/7/17. Good Luck!

Cedar River (above Nashua)
Flows remain high, but water levels are falling after this week’s gentle rain shower. Visit the USGS Current Water Data website for more information. Walleye - Excellent: Try a jig tipped with a minnow or nightcrawler below dams in the pockets. Channel Catfish - Excellent: Shore anglers using dead chubs fished or crawlers under a bobber will find success. Smallmouth Bass - Fair: Catch good numbers of 9- to 12-inch smallies with an occasional fish over 18-inches.

Decorah District Streams
All trout streams have been stocked with catchable trout; check the proposed stocking schedule. Streams are in good condition, but flows remain high. Catch nice trout using jigs tipped with twister tails or feathered spinnerbaits. Use a nightcrawler to catch a freshly stocked fish. Brook Trout - Fair: Use flies or lures that look like sculpins, dace or suckers. Brown Trout - Good: Off color water from run-off turns the browns on. Try critters imitating small caddis fly larvae or gnats hatching off the water. Rainbow Trout - Excellent: Fish rainbow trout in the head end of riffles. Slowly pull a black bead head fly with a light colored scud or midge dropper through the upper and lower ends of pools for trout in deeper water.

Lake Hendricks
Few anglers have been out. Stay off the jetties until further notice. County Conservation Board Staff are establishing grassed walkways. Channel Catfish - Fair: Use a dead fish on a hook in shallower water on windblown rocky shorelines. Black Crappie – Slow.

Lake Meyer
New cedar tree clusters were placed in the lake last week; many are within casting distance of the shoreline. Bluegill - Fair: Use a small jig tipped with a waxworm under a bobber near edges of fish attracting structures. Channel Catfish - Slow: Try a dead chub or some other minnow along a rocky windblown shoreline.

Turkey River (above Clermont)
Water levels are falling, but flows remain up. Water clarity is improving.  Smallmouth Bass - Fair: Try a jig tipped with a minnow around a current break. White Sucker - Good: Suckers are starting to bite more consistently. Use a hook tipped with a nightcrawler fished off the bottom.

Upper Iowa River (above Decorah)
Water levels have stabilized after this week’s rain. Visit the USGS Current Water Data website for more information. Walleye - Fair: Try a blade bait or bigger crankbait near coldwater tributaries. Brown Trout - Fair: Use spinnerbaits near the mouths of coldwater tributaries. White Sucker – Fair.

Upper Iowa River (below Decorah)
Water levels are stable and clarity is improving. Catch a nice trout near cold water tributaries. The sucker bite is just starting. Walleye - Good: Use jigs tipped with twister tails or nightcrawlers. Smallmouth Bass – Fair. White Sucker - Fair: Try a hook tipped with a nightcrawler fished on the bottom.

Volga Lake
Few anglers have been out this week.  Bluegill - Slow: Use small jigs tipped with a waxworm along a sunny shoreline. Channel Catfish - Fair: Use dead minnows or other dead fish along windblown shores to attract a cruising cat.

Wapsipinicon River (state line to Tripoli)
Popular areas to fish are around North Washington, Frederika, and Independence. Northern Pike - Fair: Use spoons or jigs tipped with a twister tail.

A beautiful weekend is in store for Northeast Iowa. Temperatures will be in the upper 60's to low 70's. Rain is forecast for Sunday evening. Grab a fishing pole and take advantage of the many angling opportunities available. Anglers must get a landowner's permission to fish private property, even if it can be accessed through public property. For current fishing information, please call the Decorah Fish Hatchery at 563-382-8324.


Cedar River (Nashua to La Porte City)
Reports are good for both walleye and smallmouth bass and fair for northern pike on the Cedar River. Walleye - Good: Use jig and minnow combinations in eddies or slack water areas off of main flow. Smallmouth Bass - Good: Try jig and minnow combinations in rip-rap or rocky shoreline areas. Many anglers will catch smallmouth while fishing for walleye.

Shell Rock River (Greene to Shell Rock)
Walleye - Good: Use jig and minnow combinations in eddies or slack water areas off of main flow. Smallmouth Bass - Good: Try jig and minnow combinations in rip-rap or rocky shoreline areas. Many anglers will catch smallmouth while fishing for walleye.

Wapsipinicon River (Tripoli to Troy Mills)
Northern pike fishing has been good on the Upper Wapsipinicon River in Bremer County. Walleye and smallmouth bass should be biting in Buchanan County. Walleye - Fair: Use jig and minnow combinations in eddies or slack water areas off of main flow. Northern Pike - Good: Cast bucktail spinner baits or float a live shiner or chub under a bobber. Smallmouth Bass - Fair: Try jig and minnow combinations in rip-rap or rocky shoreline areas. Many anglers will catch smallmouth while fishing for walleye.

Angling reports remain good for walleye and smallmouth bass on the interior rivers; rivers are rising with the recent rainfall. Area trout streams are in excellent condition, contact the N.E. District Office at 563-927-3276 for more information.

More From 97.7 KCRR