Big Hollow Lake
Water temperature is in the low 80s. Curly-leaf beds are starting to show signs of dying back. Black Crappie – Good: Take advantage of the curly-leaf pondweed beds while you can before they are gone for the rest of the summer. Try a minnow under a slip bobber along the outer edge of the beds. Bluegill – Fair: Most spawning beds are empty. Look for bluegills in the curly-leaf beds and out in the brush in 5-6 feet of water.
Deep Lakes
Water temperature is in the mid-70s. Water clarity at 12 feet. Lake Chester and the other Deep Lakes ponds stays cooler than most other area waters because of the water clarity and that most of its water comes up through the sand from the river. Bluegill – Good: Use a worm and bobber rig just over the tops of the pondweed beds; bluegills can come up out of the weeds to get it and still feel safe from the bass. Largemouth Bass – Good: A dark colored crankbait ran along the outer edge of the pondweed beds works well, if you can keep the fish from seeing you.
Iowa River (Columbus Junction to Mississippi River)
River level has come up about 6 inches since yesterday. Forecast to reach its peak about next Tuesday at about three feet higher than the current level. Channel Catfish – Fair: Switch back to minnows and nightcrawlers for bait, as well as a frog or two. The influx of rainwater will bring these foods into the river.
Lake Belva Deer
Water temperature is 81-82 degrees. Water clarity remains good at over 4 feet, but a green cast to the water is starting to develop. Black Crappie – Good: Standard summer pattern has developed. Try slow trolling a jig and minnow or small crankbait down 10 to 12 feet. Trolling speed of just over 1 mph works best. Bluegill – Good: Try vertically jigging a small jig tipped with waxworms or use a worm over the tops of the mounds at the upper end of the lake.
Lake Darling
Water temperature is 81 degrees. Water clarity decreased to 24 inches with heavy rain. Bottom of the thermocline is between 9 and 10 feet; not enough oxygen for fish below that depth. Black Crappie – Fair: Look for crappies in the brush piles by the high bank on the southside by the dam. Bluegill – Good: Most bluegill have moved out to the rock piles with the heat. Very little activity on the spawning beds during the last few days. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Best bite is the early morning hours and the last hours of daylight in the evening. Work the deeper brush piles in the middle of the day.
Lake Geode
Water temperature is in the low 80s. Water clarity remains good at about 4 feet. Black Crappie – Fair: Find crappies around the artificial habitat in 8 to 10 feet of water suspended a couple of feet above the bottom. Bluegill – Good: Still seeing some males attending the nests. Most have moved to 6-8 feet of water along the rock drop-offs and artificial habitat. Largemouth Bass – Good: Look for bass on rock piles and other habitat in 6-8 feet of water. Crankbaits ran just over top of these structures should get their attention.
Lake of the Hills
Water temperature is in the low 7’s. No minnows allowed. Bluegill – Excellent: Try worms under bobbers and small jigs around the shallow water habitat. Channel Catfish – Fair: Use nightcrawlers or stink bait on the rocky shorelines
Lost Grove Lake
Water temperature is in the upper 70s. Water remains fairly clear at about 5 feet. The curly-leaf is starting its annual summer dieback with the heat. Bluegill – Good: Still a few males on the spawning beds; most have retreated to 8-10 feet of water in the flooded trees. Largemouth Bass – Good: Best bite is early morning or the last couple of hours of daylight in the evening. Work spinnerbaits or crankbaits along the outer edges of the curly-leaf beds orr topwater baits over the top of the beds.
Railroad Lake
Water temperature is in the low 70’s. Water Clarity is good at about 4 feet. No minnows allowed. Black Crappie – Slow: Try jigs around the deeper trees and other artificial structure in deeper water. Bluegill – Excellent: Use a worm and bobber or small jigs around the shallower fish habitat and trees. Largemouth Bass – Excellent: Lots of bass are hitting on a variety of artificial baits and nightcrawlers around the shallow water habitat, as well as out around the trees in the middle.
Skunk River (Rose Hill to Coppock)
The North Skunk is holding steady above Sigourney, but the South Skunk by Oskaloosa is sending down a couple extra feet of water. Starting to see the effects of the rise. Channel Catfish – Good: Look for grass frogs in the wet grass to add to your supply of bait. Catfish love leopard frogs for breakfast.
Yenruogis Pond
Water is extremely clear; you can see 11 feet down on a cloudy day. Water temperature is 74 degrees. Bluegill – Good: Bluegills are still on the spawning beds. Use flyrods and poppers or ultralight rods and tiny jigs in this clear water. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Try topwater baits on the less noisy side. You can see the bass coming from a distance.
For more information on the above lakes and rivers call the Lake Darling Fisheries Office at 319-694-2430.