Fishing Report for Weekend of 10/7

Cedar River (above Nashua)
Cedar River water levels have stabilized but flows remain elevated. Use caution when going on water after flooding as the streambed and banks may have changed. Clarity is good and fishable. Visit http://waterdata.usgs.gov/ia/nwis/rt for information on water levels. Walleye - Good: Use a jig tipped with a minnow. Smallmouth Bass - Excellent: Try a crayfish crankbait or flashy spinner bait.

Decorah District Streams
Trout streams are fishable and the fish are hungry. Many roads and parking lots sustained some damage with the high waters. All catchable stockings are unannounced through October. All streams continue to be stocked. There have been nice hatches of small mayflies and caddis flies midday. Bring lots of bug spray as mosquito hatches are incredible.  Brown Trout - Good: Anglers may start to see more color on trout; the kype on male becomes more pronounced as brown trout spawning seasons gets closer. Brook Trout - Good: Watch the stream bottom as brookies begin to build their nests or redds in the stream bottom. Rainbow Trout – Good.

Lake Hendricks
More anglers have been out this week. Fish are becoming more aggressive as water begins to cool down. Fish mid-day for best luck. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Use jigs tipped with a variety of soft plastics. Bluegill - Good: Find bluegills near shore and in vegetation edges.

Lake Meyer
The lake is in excellent condition and anglers are catching fish. Find the habitat and you'll find fish. Bluegill - Good: Use a hook tipped with a small piece of worm under a bobber. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Bass can be found cruising the weed edges. Try a jig tipped with a long plastic tail. Black Crappie - Good: Be ready for a light bite. Use a small hook tipped with a minnow.

Rudd Lake
Anglers have excellent shore and boat access. Channel Catfish - Good: Use a nightcrawler fished on the bottom just out past shoreline vegetation. Bluegill - Fair: Try along the rockier shoreline.

Upper Iowa River (above Decorah)
Water levels have stabilized and clarity is good. Use caution if floating as hazards are present. Many access points and campgrounds were affected by the high water. Please call local city or county conservation board offices for more information. Smallmouth Bass - Good: Smallies are hitting crankbaits and spinner baits. Focus efforts on seams and back eddies. Walleye - Good: Use a jig tipped with a minnow or a variety of plastic tails.

Upper Iowa River (below Decorah)
Water levels have stabilized and clarity is good. Use caution when floating in elevated flows; snags and submersed logs may have moved. Continually read the river and be prepared to adjust your track. Smallmouth Bass – Good. Walleye – Fair.

Volga Lake
Anglers drifting over rock or brush piles will find fish. Shoreline access is excellent with many submerged cedar trees within casting distance. Black Crappie - Good: Use small jigs with flat tailed plastic body. Bluegill - Good: Fish will be in shallow with cooling water temperatures. Channel Catfish - Slow: Try chicken liver or crawlers. Volga Lake has a very nice population of catfish awaiting the patient angler.

Stream conditions continue to improve. Water levels have stabilized and clarity is excellent. A good possibility of severe weather Thursday evening could impact some streams, but they should clear by the weekend. Now is the time to be in Northeast Iowa. Mother Nature's color show is turning on. For current fishing information, please call the Decorah Fish Hatchery at563-382-8324.

Big Woods Lake
Anglers are catching largemouth bass and crappie. Black Crappie - Fair: Float a crappie minnow under a slip bobber at various depths to locate fish. Largemouth Bass - Good: Cast jigs and artificial crankbaits.

Casey Lake (aka Hickory Hills Lake)
Anglers are catching largemouth bass, bluegill and channel catfish. Channel Catfish - Good: Try fishing from the beach and west. Use stink bait, night crawlers, cut baits or chicken livers fished on the bottom of the lake. Numerous 3-10 pound cats have been taken recently. Bluegill - Fair: Try fishing a piece of worm or nightcrawler a couple feet under the surface with a bobber or small 1/16 ounce hair jigs. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Cast crankbaits, spinner baits or top water baits.

Cedar River (Nashua to La Porte City)
The Cedar River has been producing catches of both walleye and smallmouth bass now that the river has receded from recent flooding. Walleye - Good: Cast crankbaits or fishing a jig tipped with a nightcrawler. Smallmouth Bass - Good: Cast crankbaits or fish a jig tipped with a nightcrawler.

Maquoketa River (above Monticello)
The Maquoketa River continues to fall from recent flooding and is in good condition. Walleye - Slow: Cast crankbaits or fish a jig tipped with a nightcrawler. Smallmouth Bass - Slow: Cast crankbaits or fish a jig tipped with a nightcrawler.

Shell Rock River (Greene to Shell Rock)
The Shell Rock River is producing some catches of walleye after the recent high water levels. Walleye – Slow. Smallmouth Bass - Slow: Casting artificial crankbaits has been good for smallmouth bass.

Silver Lake (Delaware)
Anglers are reporting catches of bluegill, largemouth bass and northern pike. Bluegill - Good: Try fishing a piece of worm or nightcrawler a couple feet under the surface with a bobber or small 1/16 ounce hair jigs. Bluegills here tend to run on the small side. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Cast crankbaits, spinner baits or top water baits. Northern Pike - Fair: Troll or cast spoons along weed edges.

Wapsipinicon River (Tripoli to Troy Mills)
There are no reports on the Wapsipinicon River this past week due to high river levels. Walleye - Slow: Cast crankbaits or fish a jig tipped with a nightcrawler. Smallmouth Bass - Slow: Cast crankbaits or fish a jig tipped with a nightcrawler. Channel Catfish - Slow: Try stink baits, cut baits and chicken livers in areas of snags and fallen trees.

Interior river levels continue to fall and are beginning to clear up. Anglers are reporting catches of walleye and smallmouth bass once again on the interior rivers. Trout streams remain in excellent in the Manchester District. For further information, call the N.E. District Office at563-927-3276.