Black Hawk Lake
Courtesy docks are in at Ice House Point boat ramp and the state campground boat ramp. Water temperature is in the upper 40s. Black Crappie – Fair: Anglers are picking up crappie from the fish house in Town Bay, in the marina and along Ice House Point shoreline. Bluegill – Fair: Find bluegill in the marina and near the inlet bridge. Walleye – Fair: Pick up walleye along the north shore of Town Bay and the south shore of Town Bay near Ice House Point. Most are being caught on twisters and crawlers. Expect walleye fishing along the east shore of the lake and near the outlet to improve if water temperatures continue to increase. Yellow Perch – Fair: Some perch are being picked up in Town Bay on minnows and crawlers.
Brushy Creek Lake
Courtesy docks are in on the north, east, and south ramps. Black Crappie – Fair: With recent above normal temperatures, look for crappie in bays and shallower areas that warm up faster than deeper areas of the lake. Yellow Perch – Fair.
Storm Lake (incl Little Storm Lake)
Water clarity is good. Water temperature in the marina is in the upper 40s. Main lake temperatures are in the mid-40s. Black Crappie – Fair: Pick up crappie in the marina and along shore. Walleye – Fair: A few walleye have been picked up in the marina over the last week. White Bass – Fair. Yellow Bass – Fair. Yellow Perch – Fair: Anglers have picked up some perch in the marina.
Water temperatures are in the mid to upper 40s. For more information, contact the Black Hawk District office at 712-657-2638.
Clear Lake
Water temperature is in the mid-40s. Water level is 13.9 inches below crest. The courtesy dock is in at the Ritz ramp. A temporary courtesy dock is in at McIntosh until the new docks are installed. All walleye between 17 and 22 inches must be immediately released unharmed. No more than one walleye longer than 22-inches may be taken per day. Black Crappie – Slow. Channel Catfish – Slow: It’s a good time to target catfish. Try a dead chub or cut bait from the wind-swept shore. Walleye – Slow: Anglers are having some success wader fishing and fishing off the jetties. Best bite is after sunset. Yellow Perch – Fair: Try a small jig in the rushes.
Crystal Lake
Black Crappie – Slow. Walleye – Slow.
Rice Lake
Yellow Perch – Slow.
Silver Lake (Worth)
Yellow Perch – Slow.
Winnebago River
Water level is 4.57 feet. Northern Pike – Slow. Walleye – Fair: Try a jig head tipped with a minnow along current breaks.
For information on the lakes and rivers in north central Iowa, contact the Clear Lake Fish and Wildlife office at 641-357-3517.
Hawthorn Lake
Try cut bait for channel catfish in areas with the wind blowing in.
Lake Miami
Target channel catfish on the wind-blown shorelines using cut bait.
Lake Sugema
Try cut bait for channel catfish along the wind-blown shorelines.
Lake Wapello
Use cut bait to catch catfish on the wind-blown shorelines.
Ottumwa Park Pond South (Trout Pond)
Trout will be stocked on Saturday, March 23rd at 11 AM. You need a valid fishing license and pay the trout fee to fish for or possess trout.
Rathbun Reservoir
The current lake level is 902.79 msl; recreation pool is 904 msl. Surface water temperature is 44 degrees. The Dedication Site boat ramp has reopened; use caution as the lake is still below recreation pool. Docks have not been installed; very little fishing activity. Lake Rathbun has zebra mussels so make sure to properly drain, clean and dry equipment before transporting to another waterbody. Channel Catfish – Fair: Try cut bait on the wind-blown shorelines. Walleye – No Report: All walleye less than 15” must be immediately released unharmed.

Red Haw Lake
Channel catfish will move into wind-blown shorelines; use cut bait in those areas.

Contact the Rathbun Fish Hatchery at 641-647-2406 with questions about fishing in south central Iowa.

SOUTHWEST
Ada Hayden Heritage Park Lake
Rainbow Trout – Good: Use ice fishing panfish jigs tipped with waxworms under a float or cast small plastics, spoons, spinners and blade baits. Trout tend to swim close to shore in depths out to 10 feet. You need a valid fishing license and pay the trout fee to fish for or possess trout.

Big Creek Lake
All docks are in. Walleye – Slow: Cast jigs with plastics or live minnows near rocky shorelines and jetties in the evenings.

Des Moines River (Saylorville to Red Rock)
Walleye – Fair: Good river conditions have created an early season opportunity. Cast jigs with twister tails, swim baits or live minnows below the dams and in the deeper pools with slow water.

Des Moines River (Stratford to Saylorville Lake)
Walleye – Fair: Early ice out combined with good river conditions have created an early season opportunity. Cast jigs with twister tails, swim baits or live minnows in the deeper pools with slow water.

Lake Petocka
Rainbow Trout – Fair: Use ice fishing panfish jigs tipped with waxworms under a float or cast small plastics, spoons, spinners and blade baits. You need a valid fishing license and pay the trout fee to fish for or possess trout.

Terra Lake
Rainbow Trout – Fair: Try ice fishing panfish jigs tipped with waxworms under a float or cast small plastics, spoons, spinners and blade baits. You need a valid fishing license and pay the trout fee to fish for or possess trout.

Triumph Park West
Rainbow Trout – Fair: Use ice fishing panfish jigs tipped with waxworms under a float or cast small plastics, spoons, spinners and blade baits. You need a valid fishing license and pay the trout fee to fish for or possess trout.

For information on Central Iowa lakes and rivers contact Ben Dodd at 641-891-3795 or Andy Otting at 515-204-5885.

Cold Springs District Farm Ponds
Water temperatures in farm ponds warm sooner than larger lakes. Ponds are an excellent fishing destination after ice out. Remember to get permission to fish private farm ponds. Black Crappie – Fair: Target crappie on a wind-blown shoreline on warm days. Bluegill – Slow: A small piece of crawler under a bobber works well. Channel Catfish – Good: Early spring is a good time to target channel catfish. Try shad sides or cut bait for best success this time of year. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Some of Iowa’s best bass fishing occurs in farm ponds.

Greenfield Lake
Black Crappie – Slow: Greenfield has a good population of 10-inch black crappies. Channel Catfish – Fair: Target channel catfish in the upper end of the lake where water temperature is warmest.

Lake Anita
Black Crappie – Slow: Black crappie will move into the upper end of the pontoon arm on warm sunny days. Cast a small jig under a bobber. Bluegill – No Report: In early spring, boat anglers should target bluegills around deep tree piles and along the roadbed in the lake. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Anglers report catching largemouth bass with a slow presentation around deep structure.

Orient Lake
Orient Lake is a good spring destination for channel catfish. Channel Catfish – Slow: Try shad sides or cut bait on the windy side of the lake.

Prairie Rose Lake
Black Crappie – Slow: Black crappies will move close to the shore on warm sunny days. Bluegill – Slow: Target bluegills around their winter habitat.

Viking Lake
Black Crappie – Slow: Black crappie will move shallow in the campground area of the lake this time of year. Bluegill – Slow. Channel Catfish – Fair: Anglers report catching 2-pound channel catfish using shad sides. Largemouth Bass – No Report: Viking Lake has a good largemouth bass population. Some of the best fishing of the year can be early spring.

For information on lakes in the Southwest District, call the Cold Springs office at 712-769-2587.

Green Valley Lake
Docks are in at the boat ramps.

Lake Icaria
Channel Catfish – Fair: Try cut bait along wind-blown shorelines to catch channel catfish of all sizes.

Little River Watershed Lake
The dock is in at the main boat ramp.

Three Mile Lake
Lake level is 8 feet below normal pool.

Twelve Mile Creek Lake
Docks are in at the main boat ramp. Black Crappie – Fair: Try jigs tipped with a minnow fished along the creek channel in the flooded timber to catch crappie of all sizes.

West Lake (Osceola)
Boat ramps remain closed due to low water conditions.

Mount Ayr district lakes are ice-free. Water temperatures are in the upper 40s. For more information, call the Mount Ayr Fisheries office at 641-464-3108.