Northeast Iowa Fishing Forecast for 2005

What could Thoreau have really meant with this quote? Perhaps it is simply enjoying the babbling sounds of crystal-clear water flowing over a rock and gravel riffle of a spring-fed coldwater trout stream or just taking in the grandeur of the mighty Mississippi River with its tremendous diversity of quiet backwaters, gently flowing side channels and bustling main channel. Or the fun of exploring the myriad of interior rivers and streams where just around the bend you are in a world all to your very own. Or leisurely relaxing on an artificial lake or impoundment where you can enjoy the serenity of quiet water from either the shore or a boat.

Where else than in Northeast Iowa can you choose from such a diversity of fishing waters with such beautiful surroundings? While I certainly agree with Thoreau that you do not have to catch fish to have a successful fishing trip, I do believe that catching fish is like icing on the cake. And I do like icing.

Just in case you too like icing, the Northeast Iowa fisheries biologists have compiled the accompanying lists of waters where populations are very good and you should have good angling success for the more popular fish species. In addition, the following paragraphs identify additional opportunities for a few other species that are sometimes overlooked by most anglers.

Very early in the spring, just after ice-out, is a prime time for sauger fishing on the Mississippi River. This close cousin of the walleye congregates in late March and early April and often again in late fall in the tailwater areas immediately below the navigation dams. The tailwaters of Dams 9 (near Harpers Ferry), 10 (at Guttenberg), 11 (at Dubuque), and 12 (at Bellevue) are prime sauger hot spots.

Sauger fishing was very good last fall, the best that has occurred in many years. There are no size limit restrictions on saugers, however, there are on walleye so check the specific regulations for the specific tailwater you are fishing because they vary at different locations. The daily bag limit for sauger and walleye combined is six. Also, the tailwater areas at Dams 11, 12, and 13 (Clinton) are closed to all fishing from Dec. 1 through March 15. Like walleyes, saugers are absolutely excellent on the dinner table.

Also early in the spring is the annual spawning run of suckers and redhorses on several interior rivers. Action normally begins in late March and continues on through April. The three species most commonly caught are the white sucker (also commonly called black sucker), shorthead redhorse, and golden redhorse. The Upper Iowa, Yellow, Turkey, Volga, Maquoketa, and Wapsipinicon Rivers are the prime sucker streams. The tackle is simple: a long-shanked hook baited with worms or nightcrawlers and just enough weight to hold it on the bottom. And the action is often fast and furious. Sucker meat is delicious, but very bony, so most anglers either pickle them (tastes like pickled herring) or grind the meat and deep-fry as thin patties. Either way, you’re in for a real treat.

Another species that provides a lot of angling enjoyment for Mississippi River anglers is the freshwater drum, also known as sheepshead. This fish is so plentiful that it also supports a substantial commercial fishery. The serious action begins in June and continues right on through the warm summer months. Drum love current, so look for them along the borders of the main channel, side channels, and especially near wing dams. They love nightcrawlers and crayfish tails. Try a live crayfish for a better chance of catching a really big one (and they do get really big!). Hang on to you rod as drum can hit really hard, and then they will test the drag system on your reel. Their fillets are boneless, however the best eating is from those up to two pounds. On larger fillets, trim off any reddish meat. Many people can’t taste the difference between drum and walleye on their dinner plate.

Another species that is a blast to catch is the white bass, also known as stripers. These speedsters love to hit a wide variety of lures and they’ll also test your line, knots, and equipment. Look for stripers primarily on the Mississippi River, however Lake Delhi also supports a good striper population. Stripers like a combination of current and rock, which makes the Mississippi’s wing-dams a favored haunt. Baitfish jumping out of the water and seagulls actively diving and feeding on the surface are good indicators that a school of white bass is actively feeding just below. Approach the area of activity quickly and use about any lure that resembles an injured baitfish.

Now, it is up to you to get out and enjoy these beautiful water resources and the icing on the cake!

Top 10 Waters for Smallmouth Bass

Cedar River (Bremer) - Abundant smallmouth bass below Waverly.

Cedar River (Floyd and Mitchell) - Good populations throughout both counties; catch-and-release from Halverson Park to the dam at Otranto.

Little Turkey River (Winneshiek) - Secluded stream best fished by canoe; excellent numbers.

Maquoketa River (catch-and-release area, Delaware) - Classic rock habitat; 12 to 14-inch fish common; larger fish in good numbers.

Maquoketa River (Jones) - Scenic Pictured Rocks area holds abundant numbers.

Mississippi River (Pools 9, 10, 11) - Populations continue to climb; plenty of 10 to 13-inchers with fish up to four pounds.

Turkey River (Clayton, Fayette, Winneshiek, and Howard) - Smallmouths throughout, but best populations are in Fayette and Winneshiek.

Upper Iowa River (Allamakee, Winneshiek, and Howard) - Float the upstream areas in Howard County during higher flows in the spring; catch-and-release area from Decorah down to Upper Dam.

Volga River (Fayette) - Small stream suitable for wader fishing; public access at Volga River Recreation Area.

Wapsipinicon River (Buchanan) - A lot of fish in the 10 to 13-inch range.

Top 10 Waters for Channel Catfish

Cedar River (Bremer) - 2004 survey sampled excellent numbers of channel cats.

Cedar (Floyd and Mitchell) - Abundant from Mitchell dam downstream; a quality population with large fish present.

Big Woods Lake (Black Hawk) - Big fish, lots of them; connection with Cedar River keeps this population strong.

Casey Lake (Tama) - Local favorite; good shoreline access; all sizes available.

Lake Delhi (Delaware) - Good numbers and sizes available; early mornings and late evenings are best.

Lake Meyer (Winneshiek) - Good population of 14 to 18-inch catfish.

Mississippi River (Pools 9-15) - Excellent year-class in 2001 provided good catches of 12 to 14-inchers during 2004; they’ll be 14 to 17-inches in 2005 and provide excellent fishing.

Turkey River (Clayton) - Channels and flatheads from Elkader dam to the Mississippi River.

Volga Lake (Fayette) - Excellent population of all sizes; fish the rip-rap along the dam in mid-summer.

Wapsipinicon River (Buchanan) - A rising river turns on the bite; two to three pound fish available.

Top 10 Waters for Trout

Coldwater Creek (Winneshiek) - Increased brown trout population due to natural reproduction; stocked weekly with rainbows and brooks.

Ensign Hollow (Clayton) - Habitat project in 2004 will improve angling in this catch-and-release-only stream.

Fountain Springs (Delaware) - Stocked twice weekly with rainbows; primitive camping available along this scenic stream.

Glovers Creek (Fayette) - Nestled in a very scenic valley; stocked with rainbow and brook trout weekly from April through October.

Little Paint Creek (Allamakee) - Located in Yellow River Forest; stocked with rainbows and brooks; wild brown and brook trout also available.

North Bear Creek (Winneshiek) - Major habitat project in 2004; excellent wild brown trout population; stocked weekly with rainbows and brookies.

Richmond Springs (Delaware) - Stocking of rainbows during the week and on Saturdays makes this a popular place for family fishing.

Spring Branch (Delaware) - Strong population of browns over 12 inches; lots of insect hatches.

Swiss Valley (Dubuque) - Stocked spring and fall with catchable trout; new fish habitat work in the park above the nature center will hold more fish.

Turtle Creek (Mitchell) - Western-most trout stream in Iowa; stocked with rainbows and brooks; fingerling browns stocked annually.

Top Six Waters for Bluegills

Casey Lake (Tama) - A consistent producer of eight-inch bluegills.

Lake Hendricks (Howard) - Lots of fish up to eight inches; thick vegetation can limit shore fishing in the summer.

Lake Meyer (Winneshiek) - Very large population of ‘gills up to 7.5 inches; face of dam and submerged brush piles on the south shore are good areas.

Mississippi River (Pools 9-14) - Mild winters and good vegetation have benefited the bluegills; expect good stringers of six to seven-inch fish.

Plainfield Lake (Bremer) - First stocked in 2001, bluegills are now seven and eight-inchers.

South Prairie Lake (Black Hawk) - South edge of Cedar Falls; seven-inch fish; good shoreline fishing in May and June.

Top Six Waters for Largemouth Bass

George Wyth Lake (Black Hawk) - What this population lacks in numbers it makes up for in size - 18 and 19-inchers in fairly good numbers.

Lake Hendricks (Howard) - High numbers of medium size bass.

Lake Meyer (Winneshiek) - Good quality population with all sizes present.

Mitchell Lake (Black Hawk) - New boat ramp provides access to some quality largemouths; new contour map available.

Mississippi River (Pools 9-14) - Populations are excellent; a very consistent fishery with huge numbers of fish present.

Martens Lake (Bremer) - These bass grow large and fast in this shallow water lake; fish the structure along the dike; Eurasion milfoil present so remove all vegetation from boat and trailer before leaving.

Top Five Waters for Crappies

Lake Delhi (Delaware) - A consistent producer of eight to ten-inch crappies.

Lake Meyer (Winneshiek) - Excellent numbers of eight to ten-inch fish; often suspended off the deeper side of habitat features.

Martens Lake (Bremer) - Provides abundant eight to nine-inch black crappies; white crappies fewer but much larger.

Mississippi River (Pools 9-14) - 2004 saw some huge crappies (2.5 pounds!) caught; expect increased numbers but most seven to ten inches.

Volga Lake (Fayette) - Fish the dam rip-rap in spring for eight to nine-inch fish; work the large submerged brush piles in summer.

Top Six Waters for Walleyes

Cedar River (Black Hawk) - Good fishing below the dam in Waterloo in fall and early winter.

Cedar River (Bremer) - Annual surveys indicate good survival of stocked fingerlings in recent years; abundant numbers of 15-inchers available.

Cedar River (Floyd and Mitchell) - Populations steadily increasing due to annual fingerling stockings; good numbers of 14 to 18-inch walleyes.

Maquoketa River (Jones) - Best to access these walleyes by canoe; good numbers of 15 to 18-inch fish.

Mississippi River (Pools 9-15) - Outlook is excellent with fish from the very strong 2001 year class exceeding 20 inches, and the strong 2003 year class in the 15 to 17-inch range. Sauger reproduction in 2001 and 2003 was above average and will provide good angling for this close cousin of the walleye.

Turkey River (Howard, Winneshiek and Fayette) - Populations steadily increasing; good numbers of 14 to 18-inch walleyes.

Top Two Waters for Northern Pike

Mississippi River (Pools 9-11) - Robust populations, but can be hard to locate; work the back-waters right after ice-out; in the hot summer they seek springs or coldwater tributaries and loaf near these cooler waters.

Turkey River (Howard) - Annual fingerling plants are producing a quality population. Some lunkers are caught annually.