Fishing Report for Weekend of 11/11

Take advantage of the warm November weather and head out fishing with the family. We'll help with the Iowa DNR Fishing Report for the weekend of 11/11.

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 levels. 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. 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: Anglers are finding crappie in the off current areas or along brushy edges using a jig tipped with a minnow.

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. Spinner baits have been successful on 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 or suckers in flood ravaged streams where there is no aquatic vegetation. 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, but anglers are asked to wait to fish from it for a while yet.  Fish when the sun is overhead and along the shoreline for best luck. Bluegill - Fair: Use 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.  Smallmouth Bass - Slow: Anglers using rubber skirted jigs may find fish. Black Crappie - Slow: Try along the brushy edges for best luck. Walleye - Slow: Anglers using live baits may have best luck. Try fishing 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 good. The stream is looking fishy. 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. Walleye - Slow: Anglers bank fishing and floating are 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
Water clarity is good.  Try along the rocky shoreline in the afternoon and evenings. Bluegill – Fair. Largemouth Bass – Fair. Black Crappie – Fair.

Decorah area streams are in good condition.  It's another amazing weekend to get out and enjoy the best of Iowa's natural resources. Temperature highs will be in the 50's during the day to upper 30's at night with no rain in the forecast.  For current fishing information, please call the Decorah Fish Hatchery at 563-382-8324.