Southeast Iowa anglers are finding summer fishing patterns settling in as water temperatures climb into the mid to upper 70s across the region.
At Lake Darling near Brighton, bluegill fishing remains good, with anglers finding fish around shoreline brush piles and rock piles in about four feet of water. Black crappie are being caught over cedar tree structures in 10 to 14 feet of water using minnows under slip bobbers. Most largemouth bass have finished spawning and moved into deeper water around rock and brush piles.
At Lake Geode in Henry County, bluegills have shifted into deeper habitat in eight to ten feet of water. Fisheries biologists recommend vertical jigging with small jigs tipped with red worms or waxworms. Largemouth bass have largely completed their spawning cycle and moved away from nesting areas.
Lake Belva Deer near Sigourney continues to offer fair fishing opportunities. Bluegills are being found around deeper weed beds, while largemouth bass have mostly wrapped up spawning and moved into deeper water. Crappie fishing remains slow, with anglers having the best success trolling along the old creek channel and flooded timber.
On the Iowa River between Columbus Junction and the Mississippi River, channel catfish fishing is rated good. Anglers are finding success using minnows or green sunfish around brush piles now that river levels have stabilized near seasonal averages.
The Skunk River between Rose Hill and Coppock has returned to normal levels for this time of year. Channel catfish fishing is rated fair, with live bait, minnows, green sunfish, and nightcrawlers producing the best results. Fisheries staff say the bite could improve if forecasted rainfall materializes.
Further south, Lake Wapello in Davis County is reporting fair largemouth bass fishing around cedar tree piles, while bluegill fishing remains slow. At Lake Miami in Monroe County, both bluegill and bass fishing are rated fair, particularly around rock jetties and the dam.
At Rathbun Reservoir, anglers are finding fair success targeting walleye with crawler harnesses and crankbaits along rocky structure and the old river channel. White crappies are moving closer to shore in about eight feet of water, while channel catfish continue to provide fair action along rip-rapped shorelines.
For more information on fishing conditions in Southeast Iowa, contact the Lake Darling Fisheries Office at 319-694-2430.