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Cedar River (above Nashua) About 8-10 inches of ice with the edges starting to become weak so use caution. Warmer weather is bringing more people out over the last week and they are having success! Black Crappie - Fair: Use a small jig tipped with a minnow in backwater areas with no current. Bluegill - Fair: Try a small jig tipped with a waxworm under a bobber a few inches off the bottom. Northern Pike - Good: Use a spoon or flashing jig in an off-channel area. Tip-ups have been producing as well in the surrounding ponds.
Decorah District Streams The 2025 Catchable trout stocking calendar is now available. Catchable stocking season begins April 1st. Start planning your getaway to beautiful northeast Iowa. Brook Trout - Slow: Use a midge minnow or leach pattern for fish looking to get more bang for their effort. Sneak up on these fish to not spook them especially in crystal clear water. Brown Trout - Good: Fish around an undercut bank or similar structure. Fishing a cloudy day with off color water creates a perfect mix for catching this trout. Rainbow Trout - Good: Hatchery holdovers remain in the streams. Use small spinner baits or hair jigs floated past structure.
Lake Hendricks Ice thickness is about 12 inches. Avoid area around the aerator. More anglers out with the warming weather. Always use caution on the ice. Black Crappie - Fair: A small jig tipped with minnow or waxworm fished near the bottom works. Bluegill - Fair: Use a small jig tipped with a spike or waxworm about a foot off the bottom near brush piles.
Lake Meyer Ice thickness is about 16 inches. Ice depth changing with warmer weather. Black Crappie - Slow: Fishing near the brush piles will bring you the most success. Bluegill - Fair: Try jigs tipped with waxworms about a foot off the bottom near brush piles.
Volga Lake Ice thickness is 9-10 inches. Fishing picking up with warmer weather. Black Crappie - Fair: Bluegill - Fair:
Most area rivers remain low and mostly ice covered. The majority of lakes and ponds still have 10-12 inches of Ice. Ice conditions are changing rapidly with warmer temperatures. A partly cloudy weekend with highs in upper 40s and teens for lows. Above freezing weather is sticking around. For more information, contact the Chuck Gipp Decorah Fish Hatchery at 563-382-8324.
Big Woods Lake
There have been reports of anglers taking a few crappies out of Big Woods Lake this past week. Black Crappie - Fair: Use electronics to locate structure and suspended fish in deep water for best success.
Brinker Lake There have been reports of anglers taking a few crappies out of Brinker Lake this past week. Black Crappie - Fair: Use electronics to locate structure and suspended fish in deep water for best success.
Cedar River (Nashua to La Porte City) There have been a few reports on the Cedar River this past week. A 12-pound walleye was checked in a few weeks ago at an area bait shop. Walleye - Fair: Try fishing a jig head with or without plastics and tipped with a live minnow. Look for the deeper pools current breaks and tail ends of riffles for some walleye action.
George Wyth Lake There have been fair reports of anglers catching bluegill and crappie on George Wyth Lake, some sorting may be necessary. Be careful of ice as geese have been keeping an area open on the lake. Black Crappie - Fair: Try locating structure and use an ice jig tipped with a minnow or waxworm look for suspended fish near the structure using electronics. Bluegill - Fair: Try locating structure and use an ice jig tipped with a waxworm off of the bottom.
Manchester District Streams Trout streams are in excellent condition. Next week's forecast calls for temperatures to be in the 40s which may trigger some hatches to occur.
South Prairie Lake There have been a few reports of anglers catching a few quality-sized bluegills out of South Prairie Lake. Bluegill - Fair: Try locating structure and use an ice jig tipped with a waxworm off of the bottom.
Next week's forecast calls for temperatures in the 40s with a bit of rain early in the week. Interior rivers are losing ice and should provide for some walleye angling. As of this morning there have been a few reports of anglers catching some panfish in the Cedar Falls/Waterloo area. Ice conditions remain around the 6-8 inches of good ice on most area lakes, as always use extreme caution. For more information, contact your local area bait and tackle shop.
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