Fishing Report for Weekend of 11/4

Here is the Weekend fishing report from the DNR for this weekend (11/4)

Cedar River (above Nashua)
Cedar River water levels have stabilized with much improved clarity. Visit http://waterdata.usgs.gov/ia/nwis/rt for information on water levels. Walleye - Slow: With this cold snap, fish have actively been looking for prey fish. Use a jighead tipped with nightcrawler or minnow. Smallmouth Bass - Good: Anglers are using a variety of baits but jigs tipped with worms are working. Channel Catfish - Fair: A few anglers are using stink bait; try also a frog or cut bait. Northern Pike - Slow: Crankbaits are working; 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 fishing well. It is hunting season; be courteous to other recreational users. 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: Brown Trout are beginning their pre-spawn activities. Anglers should start to see small indentations in the stream bottom called redds; try not to step in these areas. 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 will begin soon. 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 fishing along the brushy edges for best luck. Walleye - Slow: Use live baits 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 were 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: Use light colored jigs and plastics.

Volga Lake
Water clarity is good. Try along the rocky shoreline in the afternoon and evenings.  Bluegill – Good. Largemouth Bass – Fair. Black Crappie – Fair.

Decorah area streams are in good condition. This weekend looks like an excellent opportunity to get out and enjoy the best of Iowa's natural resources. Temperature highs will be in the 60's during the day to low 40's at night with no rain in the forecast. For current fishing information, please call the Decorah Fish Hatchery at 563-382-8324.

Big Woods Lake
Anglers are reporting catches of crappie on Big Woods Lake. Black Crappie - Good: Float a crappie minnow under a slip bobber at various depths to locate fish.

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

Maquoketa River (above Monticello)
The Maquoketa River is in good condition. Walleye and smallmouth bass fishing has been good. Walleye - Good: Cast crankbaits or fish a jig/twister tipped with a minnow. Smallmouth Bass - Good: Cast crankbaits or fish a jig/twister tipped with a minnow.

Shell Rock River (Greene to Shell Rock)
The Shell Rock River is receding and is in good condition; walleye fishing has improved. Walleye - Good: Cast crankbaits or fish a jig twister tipped with a minnow. Smallmouth Bass - Good: Cast artificial crankbaits.

Wapsipinicon River (Tripoli to Troy Mills)
Anglers are catching walleye, smallmouth bass and northern pike on the Wapsipinicon River in Bremer and Buchanan Counties. Walleye - Good: Cast crankbaits or fish a jig tipped with a nightcrawler. Smallmouth Bass - Good: Cast crankbaits or fish a jig tipped with a nightcrawler. Northern Pike - Good: Cast spinner baits near woody structure for these elusive pike.

Interior river levels have been receding and are in good condition. The weekend forecast looks absolutely beautiful for fishing. Anglers are reporting good to excellent catches of walleye and smallmouth bass on the interior rivers. Recent surveys on the Wapsipinicon River in Buchanan County have found good numbers of quality size northern pike. Trout streams remain in excellent condition. For further information, call the N.E. District Office at 563-927-3276.