How to Read Our Weekly Iowa Fishing Report
DNR’s weekly fishing report is broken down by counties or regions – northwest, northeast, Mississippi river, southeast and southwest. This is the combined North Iowa report. To read the full report including the other regions, visit the DNR’s Weekly Fishing Report at https://www.iowadnr.gov/weekly-fishing-report.
You can check the activity of your favorite lake or stretch of river within each region, including which species are being caught, a rating of the bite (slow, fair, good or excellent), as well as a hot bait or lure pattern.
Fishing reports may include information on stream or river flows (and if it is rising or dropping), ice conditions, depths that fish are biting (watch for trends if this changes), or safety issues like if the water suddenly becomes shallow in spots.
North Iowa Fishing Report for May 1, 2025:
NORTHWEST
Black Hawk Lake
Water levels are about 6 inches over the crest of the spillway. Water clarity is roughly 2 to 3 feet. Anglers are doing well from shore and boat. Black Crappie – Fair: Anglers are starting to pick up crappies from shore. Fishing along Ice House Point shoreline and in the marina have been productive. Walleye – Good: Anglers are picking up fish. Shore and boat fishing have been productive. Use a leech, crawler, or minnow under a slip bobber near shore. Or bottom bouncer rig if fishing by boat.
Brushy Creek Lake
Black Crappie – Fair: Pick up crappie near shore in 2-8 feet of water near submerged structure. Walleye – Fair.
North Twin Lake
Water is roughly 6 inches below crest. Water clarity is 2 feet.
Storm Lake (incl Little Storm Lake)
Water temperatures are around 60 degrees. Anglers are catching crappie, walleye, and yellow bass in the marina. Black Crappie – Slow: Try in the marina, around docks, or near the inlet. Walleye – Fair: Pick up fish from shore or by boat. Use a minnow, leach, or crawler fished near the bottom under a bobber from shore. Or from boat use a bottom bouncer rig near the dredge cut. Yellow Bass – Fair: Anglers are catching bass in the marina.
For more information, contact the Black Hawk District office at 712-657-2638.
Clear Lake
Water temperatures is in the upper 50s. Water level is 2.2 inches over crest. The fish cleaning station is open. Walleye – Good: Anglers wading and boat fishing are catching walleye. Try jigs, minnows, or slow retrieved crankbaits near vegetation. Shore anglers should try near the canals and the jetties in the morning or after sunset. Yellow Bass – Slow: Fish will move shallow on warm afternoons.
Crystal Lake
Walleye – Slow.
Rice Lake
Bluegill – Slow. Largemouth Bass- Good: Target woody habitat near the shore. Yellow Perch – Slow: Try fishing near the cattail edges on warmer days.
Silver Lake (Worth)
The courtesy dock is in. Bluegill – Slow. Largemouth Bass – Good: Try slow retrieved plastic baits. Yellow Perch – Slow.
Winnebago River
Water level is 6.78 feet. Northern Pike – Fair: Use suckers, chubs, and jigs in slack current areas and where tributaries enter the river.
For additional information, contact Clear Lake Fisheries Office at 641-357-3517.
East Okoboji Lake
The Walleye season opens May 3rd. Black Crappie – Fair: Bluegill – Fair. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Yellow Perch – Fair: Many fish have been observed; sorting will most likely be needed.
Ingham Lake
Walleye – Fair: Morning and afternoon bite is best.
Silver Lake (Dickinson)
Walleye – Fair: The bite is hit-or-miss.
Spirit Lake
The Walleye season opens May 3rd.The Marble Beach fish cleaning station is fully operational. Black Crappie – Fair: Anglers are finding quality-size fish up to 14-inches. Anglers report some success around Templar Lagoon. Bluegill – Fair. Yellow Perch – Fair: Sorting is needed; anglers are finding many of acceptable size.
West Okoboji Lake
The Walleye season opens May 3rd. Black Crappie – Fair: Bluegill – Fair.
Area boat ramp courtesy docks are in place and useable. Fish cleaning stations are operational. Water temperatures are around 60 degrees. Most lakes are at crest level. The walleye season on the IGL’s opens May 3rd. For current conditions, call 712-330-2542.
NORTHEAST
Cedar River (above Nashua)
Water temperatures in the upper 50s. Water levels are slowly falling. A slight bump may occur with rainfall. Black Crappie – Fair: Action is picking up; use minnows. Channel Catfish – Excellent: Anglers using chicken liver fished on the bottom are finding good action in impoundments and off channel areas. Smallmouth Bass – Slow: Action remains variable. Use a jig tipped with plastic tail or crankbait fished through a deeper hole out of current. Walleye – Good: Find walleye in deeper holes and out of current using minnows or worms.
Decorah District Streams
Catchable trout stockings are weekly with streams announced once a month. Trout streams are in excellent condition. Flows are up with recent rain. Caddisfly and midge hatches are common. Turkey season is in full swing. Avoid wearing red, white, or blue; these colors look like a turkey head. Brook Trout – Slow: Good hatches of caddis and midges are occurring on warm sunny afternoons. Use care not to alarm fish when approaching streams with clear water. Brown Trout – Good: Try fishing near or around undercut banks. Spinnerbaits work well, especially in windy conditions. Use streamers on larger waterbodies for exciting action. Brown trout prefer slightly off-color water. Rainbow Trout – Excellent: Use spinnerbaits, hair jigs, or hooks tipped with a small piece of worm, dough ball, or cheese floated through deeper water. Use bait if you plan to keep your catch.
Lake Hendricks
Fish activity is picking up as water warms. Black Crappie – Fair: Try angling higher in the water column in the late afternoon. Try a jig tipped with a plastic tail over rocky humps. Bluegill – Fair. Find gills around pallet structures. Use a small hook tipped with worm under a bobber. Largemouth Bass -Fair: Try spinnerbaits along weed lines in about 6 feet of water.
Lake Meyer
Fish activity is improving as water warms. Black Crappie – Slow. Bluegill – Fair: Use a small jig tipped with a waxworm or red worms around the jetties. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Find bass along drop-offs or near woody structure near shore.
Turkey River (below Clermont)
Water temperatures is in the upper 50s. Water levels are slowly dropping to stable. Water clarity is fair. Walleye – Fair. White Sucker – Good:Try worms fished on the stream bottom.
Upper Iowa River (above Decorah)
Water levels are slowly falling with off-color water. Water temperature is in the 50s. Smallmouth Bass – Slow. Walleye – Fair: Use a jig tipped with a minnow in slack water below dams. White Sucker – Fair: Sucker bite is variable. Use a worm on the stream bottom.
Volga Lake
Few anglers are out due to windy weather. Black Crappie – Slow: Find crappie around woody structure. Use a flashy lure to attract attention. Bluegill – Slow: Find bluegills around structure near shore. Use small jigs tipped with waxworms or a small piece of nightcrawler. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Try crankbaits or spinnerbaits in the drop-offs, downed trees, or rocky areas.
Rain expected on Thursday into Friday. Rain amounts are variable. Temperatures are in the upper 60s to 40s. Turkey Hunting is in full swing until May 18. For more information, contact the Chuck Gipp Decorah Fish Hatchery at 563-382-8324.
Cedar River (Nashua to La Porte City)
Anglers are catching walleye and crappie. Black Crappie– Fair: Drift a minnow under a slip bobber or cast and retrieve a crappie jig. Channel Catfish – Fair: Use stink baits or chubs. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Cast and retrieve spinnerbaits or a jig tipped with half a nightcrawler. Walleye – Fair: Use a jig head with plastics with or without a live minnow. Look for the deeper pools, current breaks, and tail ends of riffles.
Heritage Pond
Heritage Pond was stocked last Saturday with catchable rainbow trout. You need a valid fishing license and pay the trout fee to fish for or possess trout. Rainbow Trout – Good: Cast and retrieve flashy jigs or little spinners or floating baits underneath a slip bobber.
Lake Delhi
The lake should be clearing up. Water temperatures are nearing the crappie spawn. Avoid mid-afternoons and weekends due to heavy boat traffic. Black Crappie – Fair: Try a live minnow under a slip bobber or cast various colored tube or hair jigs near structure.
Manchester District Streams
Trout streams have been up and down due to recent rainfall events. Next week’s forecast calls for temperatures near 70 degrees; should be good aquatic insect hatches to provide great trout fishing.
Maquoketa River (above Monticello)
Anglers are catching walleye and smallmouth bass. River levels have fallen and the water has cleared considerably. Smallmouth Bass – Fair: Try a jig head with plastics with or without a live minnow or cast and retrieve crankbaits or spinnerbaits. Walleye – Fair: Use a jig head with plastics with or without a live minnow. Look for the deeper pools, current breaks, and tail ends of riffles.
Maquoketa River (below Monticello)
River levels are on the rise and murky. Anglers are catching smallmouth bass.
North Prairie Lake
North Prairie Lake was stocked last Saturday with catchable rainbow trout. You need a valid fishing license and pay the trout fee to fish for or possess trout. Rainbow Trout – Good: Cast and retrieve flashy jigs or little spinners or floating baits underneath a slip bobber.
Shell Rock River (Greene to Shell Rock)
We have received no information regarding fishing on this water body this week.
Wapsi River (Tripoli to Troy Mills)
We have received no information regarding fishing on this water body this week.
Most interior river levels continue to fall after recent rainfall events. Anglers continue to catch a few walleye and crappie on the rivers. No reports for area lakes in and around Cedar Falls/Waterloo area. Trout streams should be in good condition as the rain forecast has diminished through all of next week. For more information, contact Manchester Hatchery at 563-927-3276.
