So, you want to catch a fish for Christmas. Here are the latest fishing reports from the Iowa DNR for Northeast Iowa.
Check ice depths often, especially where there is current. Flows remain high. Go with a buddy. Let someone know where you are going and when you will return. Backwaters have 4 inches of ice. Anglers are catching a variety of fish. Black Crappie – Fair: Use a small jig tipped with a waxworm or colored spike. Yellow Perch – Slow: Catch perch up to 10 inches on a waxworm. Bounce a jig off the bottom for fun action.
Decorah District Streams
Iowa’s trout season stays open all year long. Brown Trout – Good: Use larger flies or lures mimicking minnows. Rainbow Trout – Good: Fish near the bottom if no hatches are occurring. Use a weighted caddis stonefly or mayfly nymph. Brook Trout – Good: Try nymphs, emerger or aquatic bug patterns when hatches slow. Fish the calm area next to to a fast channel of water at the head of a pool.
Lake Hendricks
No motorized vehicles allowed on ice. Ice depths average 7 inches. Use caution on ice. Open water around the aerator; keep away from the aerator. Bluegill – Fair: Early evening is best. For clear ice and water be set-up quiet and ready early. Use small jigs tipped with waxworm or spike near deeper water drop offs. Black Crappie – Slow. Largemouth Bass – Slow: Anglers are catching a few small bass.
Lake Meyer
Ice is 5 to 6 inches. Check ice depths often, especially near springs. Caution recommended. The bite slowed earlier in week with the recent weather change. Bluegill – Good: Early evening is best. Use small teardrop shaped jigs tipped with waxworm in brush piles in 12-15 feet of water. Black Crappie – Slow.
Ice fishing not recommended. An angler fell through the ice Dec.13. Edges are thin. Warmer weather this next week will weaken ice. Most activity is around the dock up from parking lot. Bluegill – Fair: Fish the brush piles.
Temperatures are warming through next week. Use care on early ice as conditions can change fast. Ice depths are highly variable. For current fishing information, please call the Decorah Fish Hatchery at 563-382-8324.
Cedar River (Nashua to La Porte City
Reports of anglers catching walleye on the river; most reports are from Bremer County. Walleye – Good: Anglers are catching walleye using lead heads and plastic baits tipped with or without a minnow.
Maquoketa River (above Monticello)
Anglers have taken a few walleye on the Maquoketa River, mainly in Delaware County. Walleye – Fair: Anglers are catching walleye using lead heads and plastic baits tipped with or without a minnow.
Shell Rock River (Greene to Shell Rock)
No reports this past week on the Shell Rock River, but walleye angling should be favorable.
Wapsipinicon River (Tripoli to Troy Mills)
No reports this past week on the Wapsipinicon River, but walleye angling should be favorable.
The interior rivers are open and ice free. Walleye fishing reports have been good to excellent on the Cedar River. Ice conditions are deteriorating fast with the recent warm weather; ice fishing is not recommended. Trout streams remain in excellent condition. Call the N.E. Iowa district office at 563-927-3276 for more information.
NORTH CEDAR REPORTS 