By the Iowa DNR

> Cedar River (above Nashua)
> Water levels are stabilizing with excellent water clarity. Flows remain high. Backwaters are starting to freeze. Ice fishing is not recommended. Walleye – Good: Find walleye in pockets and deeper water. Fish are taking a variety of bright colored lures or jigs tipped with worms or minnows. Smallmouth Bass -Slow: Use a slow presentation with a small spinnerbait. Northern Pike – Fair: Pike are aggressively taking lures tipped with minnows.

> Decorah District Streams
> Iowa’s trout season stays open all year long; many catchable size trout stay in the streams to challenge even the best anglers. Fish a trout stream in winter for an experience to excite all your senses. A good trout stream does not freeze in the winter. Water temperatures stay between 40-45 degrees. Brown Trout – Good: Watch the stream bottom for cleared areas in gravel (trout nests or redds). Avoid stepping in the nests. Use larger flies or lures mimicking minnows. Rainbow Trout – Good: Fish near bottom if no hatches are occurring.Use a weighted caddis stonefly or mayfly nymph. Brook Trout – Good: Brook Trout spawn is here; brook trout build nests in the stream bottom. Good insect hatches occur on warm sunny afternoons. Try nymphs, emerger or topwater patterns.

> Lake Hendricks
> Lake Hendricks is covered with a thin layer of ice. Ice fishing is not recommended.

> Lake Meyer
> The entire lake is covered by a very thin layer of ice. Ice fishing is not recommended.

Volga Lake
> Ice is starting to form. Rain could melt or weaken the ice. Ice fishing is not recommended.

> Snow/rain is in the forecast for Friday. Ice is forming on lakes, ponds and slack water areas. Ice fishing will start soon, but is not recommended now. Most ice is not thick enough to hold anglers. For current fishing information, please call the Decorah Fish Hatchery at 563-382-8324.
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> Cedar River (Nashua to La Porte City
> Reports of anglers catching walleye and smallmouth bass on the Cedar River in Black Hawk and Bremer Counties. Walleye – Good: Anglers are doing well with jigs and plastics. Water temperatures have fallen quickly; look for deeper holes as walleye move into over wintering areas. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Try jig and plastics or crankbaits. Northern Pike – Fair: Cast and retrieve spoons or crankbaits.

> Heritage Pond
> Heritage Pond was stocked with trout Nov. 9. Rainbow Trout – Good: Cast and retrieve lighter jigs or flies.

> Manchester District Streams
> Spring Branch Creek has been busy with angling activity as many trout escaped with the recent flooding event.

Maquoketa River (above Monticello)
> The Maquoketa River is in good condition as water levels continue to fall, but flows remain swift. Walleye – No Report: Water temperatures have fallen quickly; look for deeper holes as walleye move into over wintering areas. Smallmouth Bass – No Report: Try jig and plastics or crankbaits. Rainbow Trout – No Report: With recent flooding at the fish hatchery, many trout moved to the Maquoketa River.

Shell Rock River (Greene to Shell Rock)
Reports of anglers catching walleye and smallmouth bass on the Shell Rock River in Bremer and Butler Counties. Walleye – Good: Anglers are doing well with jigs and plastics. Water temperatures have fallen quickly; look for deeper holes as walleye move into over wintering areas. Anglers are still having luck fishing the shallower water. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Anglers are doing well with jigs and plastics.

Reports of anglers fishing the interior rivers and doing very well on walleye and smallmouth bass. Smaller lakes and ponds are now starting to ice over. Trout streams are in excellent condition for the upcoming weekend. Call the N.E. Iowa district office at 563-927-3276 for more information.