Fishing Conditions from the Iowa DNR

Grab a pole and enjoy these lazy days of summer

Decorah District StreamsArea streams are in good condition, but are low. Yellow wild parsnip is blooming. Wash your skin immediately if you come in contact with this plant. Its sap is light sensitive and will cause painful blisters. When on private property open to fishing, fishing is the only activity allowed. Brook Trout – Fair: Good hatches of a variety of gnats, mayflies, caddis flies, and midges. Brown Trout – Good: Try fishing near or around logs or undercut banks. Spinnerbaits work well. Try using streamers on larger waterbodies. Rainbow Trout – Excellent: Use spinnerbaits, hair jigs, or hooks tipped with a small piece of worm, bread, or cheese floating through deeper holes. Freshly stocked fish are waiting to take your bait.

Lake Hendricks Water clarity is good. Black Crappie – Good: Find crappie suspended in deeper water. Try trolling across the lake. Bluegill – Good: Anglers fishing near shore are finding gills. Use a small chunk of worm fished under a bobber. Largemouth Bass – Good: Try a spinnerbait fished along vegetation edges.

Lake MeyerWater clarity is about 3 feet. Black Crappie – Good: Crappie are suspended in deeper water. Try fishing deeper with a small jig. Bluegill – Fair: Use a small piece of worm under a bobber. Largemouth Bass – Excellent: Try a spinnerbait fished in 3-4 feet of water.

Turkey River (below Clermont)Water clarity is good to excellent. Water levels are low. Smallmouth Bass – Slow: Use a jig with a twister tail fished in the eddies and off channel areas. Walleye – Slow: Early morning or late evening bite is best. Try fishing the deeper holes with a crank or spinnerbait.

Upper Iowa River (above Decorah)A construction project at Lidtke Park to repair the boat ramp and improve shoreline angler access will begin after July 4. Water clarity is good to excellent. Water levels are low. Smallmouth Bass – Fair: Try fishing near undercut banks and current breaks. A flashy jig works well. Fly anglers using streamers are picking up some action. Walleye – Fair: Walleye fishing is picking up below the dams. Use a jig tipped with a plastic tail or crankbait.

Volga LakeLake temperatures are warm. Find fish near shore in the early morning. Black Crappie – Good: Troll the deeper open areas of the lake. Crappies are out deep. Bluegill – Fair. Channel Catfish – Good: Trophy catfish are plentiful in this lake. Use a large crawler fished under a bobber in the evening. Largemouth Bass– Good: Use a crank or spinnerbait.

Area interior rivers and streams are low. Clarity is good to excellent on most area rivers and streams. Temperatures in the upper 70s during the day to 50s overnight. Possibility of spotty showers through the weekend. For current fishing information, please call the Chuck Gipp Decorah Fish Hatchery at 563-382-8324.