Big Hollow Lake
Water Temperature is holding right at around 60 degrees. Black Crappie – Fair: Crappie still holding at 6-7 feet of water in the flooded timber. Slowly work small jigs floated under a small bobber. Bluegill – Fair: The bluegills are starting to work the shallower water as the water continues to warm the insects are getting more active around the flooded timber in 2-3 foot of water. Channel Catfish – Fair: Start fishing the face of the dam and off the ends of the jetties with the heavy rains. I would recommend switching to nightcrawlers for bait.
Channel Catfish—Slow. White Crappie – Fair: Fish brush piles or docks
Cedar River (Cedar Rapids to Moscow)
Channel Catfish–Slow: Fish around brush piles and rocks. Sauger–Slow Walleye–Slow
Lake Belva Deer
Water temperature is 59-60 degrees. Black Crappie – Fair: Crappies have moved in around the trees in 6-7 feet of water and are suspended at about 4-5 feet down Bluegill – Fair: Anglers are catching a few bluegills while fishing for the crappies using small jigs
Lake Darling
Water temperature is 60 degrees. The lake level and clarity are returning to normal after last Easter’s two inches of rain. Still a little muddy. Black Crappie – Fair: Expect the crappie fishing to pick back up as the water clears. They seem to be holding over the rock piles just like last week. Bluegill – Fair: Anglers are picking up bluegills with small jigs while crappie fishing.
Lake Geode
Water temperature is in the low 60s. Black Crappie – Good: Find crappies suspended above rock piles or trees in about 6-8 feet of water. Slowly work a Bobber and minnow or small jig. Not seeing much action in shallower just yet. Largemouth Bass – Fair: The bass continues to get a little more active with the warmer temperatures and are moving into the shallower water habitat might be time to throw a few crankbaits at them.
Lost Grove Lake
Water temperatures earlier this week was 54-55 degrees. Water remains fairly clear and you can see some of the curlyleaf pondweed starting to come up. Black Crappie – Fair: When the wind allows it anglers have been working the flooded timber in 4-6 foot of water and picking up some crappies. Channel Catfish – Fair: The place to try for them would be along the face of the dam using cutbait when the winds aren’t blowing 20-30 mph.
Skunk River (Coppock to Mississippi)
Water temperature is running in the upper 50’s. All the rain on Easter has put the water level at about 2/3 full. There is a lot of woody debris floating down the river. Channel Catfish – Fair: The catfish are getting spread out and more actively feeding. Cutbait or night crawlers in the slack water areas should find you a few to take home.
For more information on the above lakes and rivers call the Lake Darling Fisheries Office at 319-694-2430.