Lake Darling Management District
- Contact Person: Vance Polton – 319-694-2430
For more information on these lakes and ponds, call the Lake Darling Fisheries at 319-694-2430. Last updated on 03/04/2026
Jefferson Co. Park New Pond (Jefferson)
- Ice Condition: None
- Ramp Condition: Not applicable
The spring trout release will be at 10 am on March 19. You need a valid fishing license and pay the trout fee to fish for or possess trout.
- Rainbow Trout – Excellent: The spring trout release will be at 10 am on Thursday, March 19. You need a valid fishing license and pay the trout fee to fish for or possess trout.
- Ice Condition: None
- Ramp Condition: Useable
There was some skim ice on the upper end of the lake and some of the bays with the fluctuating air temperatures and the return of snow on the ground. Weather forecast is for 80 degree air temperatures by Saturday (3/21); expect the water temperatures to make a quick return to the upper 40s, maybe even low 50s.
- Ice Condition: None
- Ramp Condition: Useable
The spring trout release will be at 10 am on March 19. You need a valid fishing license and pay the trout fee to fish for or possess trout. Minnows are not allowed to be used for bait at Lake of the Hills.
- Rainbow Trout – Excellent: The spring trout release will be on March 19 at 10 am. You need a valid fishing license and pay the trout fee to fish for or possess trout.
- Ice Condition: None
- Ramp Condition: Useable
The spring trout release will be on March 19 at noon (12pm). You need a valid fishing license and pay the trout fee to fish for or possess trout.
Rainbow Trout – Excellent: The spring trout release will be at noon on March 19. You need a valid fishing license and pay the trout fee to fish for or possess trout.
Macbride Management District
- Contact Person: D. J. Vogeler or Chris Mack – 319-624-3615
Many lakes and ponds refroze with recent cold weather and are re-opening; be aware of any remaining ice if venturing out in a boat. Last updated on 03/19/2026
Cedar River (Cedar Rapids to Moscow) (Cedar)
- Ice Condition: None
- Ramp Condition: Useable
- Sauger – Fair
Walleye – Fair
White Bass – Slow
Cedar River (La Porte City to Cedar Rapids) (Linn)
- Ice Condition: None
- Ramp Condition: Useable
- Walleye – Fair
Coralville Reservoir (Johnson)
- Ice Condition: None
- Ramp Condition: Useable
The lake refroze earlier in the week, but is opening back up. Be aware of any remaining sheets of ice if going out in a boat.
- Channel Catfish – Fair: Use gizzard shad near the bridges or wind-blown shorelines where the warmest water is.
- Ice Condition: None
- Ramp Condition: Useable
No fishing activity reported this week; bluegill and crappie bite should pick up with the better weather coming in the next couple of days.
Iowa River (Coralville Lake to River Junction) (Johnson)
- Ice Condition: None
- Ramp Condition: Useable
- Channel Catfish – Fair
- Sauger – Slow
- Saugeye – Slow
- Walleye – Fair
- White Bass – Fair
- Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) – Slow
- Ice Condition: None
- Ramp Condition: Useable
- Walleye – Slow: Try fishing in rock areas at sunset.
- White Crappie – Slow: Try fishing around brush piles or rock areas.
- Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) – Slow
- Ice Condition: None
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Docks are in.
- Walleye – Fair: Try fishing in rock areas after sunset.
Wapsipinicon River (Troy Mills to Oxford Junction) (Jones)
- Ice Condition: None
- Ramp Condition: Useable
- Northern Pike – Slow: Walleye anglers are catching a few pike.
- Walleye – Fair
Rathbun Management District
- Contact Person: Rathbun Fish Hatchery personnel – 641-647-2406
The lakes are ice-free. Water temperatures are in the upper 30s to low 40s. Last updated on 03/12/2026
- Ice Condition: None
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Target channel catfish first thing in the spring.
- Ice Condition: None
- Ramp Condition: Closed
Lake Keomah is drained for a lake restoration project. Please stay out of the lakebed.
- Ice Condition: None
- Ramp Condition: Useable
The lake is ice-free. Target channel catfish on wind-blown shorelines.
- Ice Condition: None
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Channel catfish are usually the first fish to start biting in the spring.
- Ice Condition: None
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Channel catfish are usually the first fish to catch in the spring.
Ottumwa Park Pond South (Trout Pond) (Wapello)
- Ice Condition: None
- Ramp Condition: Not applicable
2000 rainbow trout will be stocked on Saturday, March 21. Try small spinners or a small jig under a bobber. You need a valid fishing license and pay the trout fee to fish for or possess trout.
- Ice Condition: None
- Water Temperature (°F): 41.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
The lake is ice-free. Lake level is 904.56 msl; recreation pool is 904 msl. Boat ramps are open; campgrounds are still closed. No docks are installed. Lake Rathbun contains zebra mussels; clean, drain and dry your boat before going to another water body.
Ice-out channel catfish are biting across Iowa
Channel catfish move close to shore and are eager to bite in many lakes and large reservoirs across Iowa just after the ice is gone. The bite starts sooner in southern Iowa impoundments since they lose ice before northern Iowa lakes.