This weekend will be a bit warmer than normal and may give you more opportunities to get the line in the water. Here is the Iowa DNR Fishing Report for the weekend of 2/10.

Cedar River (above Nashua)

Use extreme caution when going on river ice; check ice depths often. Ice depths can change fast. Water level fluctuations are causing air pockets and open water.

Decorah District Streams
Urban catchable trout stocking is in full swing. Check our webpage for dates and locations. Streams are in good condition but flows remain elevated. Gravel road conditions are improving. Snow depths vary but with this recent cold, snow is hard and crusty. Anglers should start to see insects hatching on warmer sunny afternoons. 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 were hitting wet flies. Rainbow Trout - Good: Black fly midge or hares ear wet flies are attracting bows 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
Ice depths are 8-10 inches. All parking lots are open. No motorized vehicles are allowed on the ice. The aerator is on so be careful. There is open water around it. Bluegill - Slow: Anglers are catching bluegills with small brightly colored jigs tipped with a spike but it’s slow going. Largemouth Bass - Slow: Use a small spinner tipped with a wax worm or minnow head. Black Crappie - Slow: Try small brightly colored jig tipped with a wax worm suspended in the water column.

Lake Meyer
Lake Meyer currently has 12 inches of ice. Water clarity is improving. Fish activity has been variable. Anglers need to move around to find fish. Early bite is best. Bluegill - Slow: Use a jig tipped with wax worm or red or white spike. Largemouth Bass - Slow: Anglers are seeing fish on cameras; a few have taken a jig tipped with wax worms. Black Crappie - Slow: Crappies are sitting higher off the bottom and are being more finicky.

Turkey River (above Clermont)
Use extreme caution when going out on Vernon Spring impoundment. There are areas of open water; ice depths change fast especially with increased flows. Check ice depths often. Black Crappie - Slow: Use a jig tipped with a wax worm around downed trees and submerged logs out of the current. Walleye - Slow: Find walleye in the deeper holes around current breaks.

Volga Lake
Volga Lake is reporting 8 inches of ice; watch for thin spots. Check ice depths often; you may need to use a spud bar. Ice is getting a bit poky with freeze thaw cycles. Fish activity has been best around early to mid-morning. Bluegill - Slow: Use small brightly colored jigs tipped with a wax worm along the dam and universal access dock. Black Crappie - Slow: Find crappies suspended in deeper water late season.

Weather patterns continue to fluctuate, but temperatures should warm by the weekend with a chance of snow. Use extreme caution when going out on the ice. Check ice depths often especially where there is current or springs. For current fishing information, please call the Decorah Fish Hatchery at 563-382-8324.

Cedar River (Nashua to La Porte City)
There have been reports of anglers catching northern pike on some Cedar River backwater areas. Use extreme caution when venturing onto river ice. Northern Pike - Fair: Vertical jig with or set some tip-ups with a live shiner for some great pike tip-up action.

Ice fishing reports and success has decreased over the past week. Ice conditions vary on Black Hawk County lakes, but most have 6 to 10 inches of ice. Interior rivers are opening up as weather improves; conditions for the upcoming weekend looks great. Area trout streams are in excellent condition, contact the N.E. District Office at 563-927-3276 for more information.