As water temperatures rise to the 50s and 60s in a majority of lakes and ponds, opportunities for anglers in Southeast Iowa continue to grow as well.

Water clarity in Washington County’s Lake Darling remained around 3 feet. Anglers are starting to catch Bluegills in shallow water, while Largemouth Bass fishing is fair. Working soft plastics slowly along the rock and brush piles could draw out some less-timid fish.

In Keokuk County, Lake Belva Deer saw twice the water clarity as Lake Darling, but equally fair Largemouth Bass fishing. They should get back to feeding once they get used to warmer water temperatures.

Trout fishing is good in Discovery Park Pond in Muscatine County, with some left from the spring release a few weeks ago. Anglers using small jigs or worms and bobbers to catch Trout are also catching Bluegills and smaller Bass.

Rainbow Trout fishing remains good in Jefferson County Park and Wilson Lake in Lee County as well. In Jefferson County Park, work the flooded stumps by the foot bridge, and try the cedar trees and brush piles near the shore in Wilson Lake.

In Des Moines County, both Black Crappie and Largemouth Bass fishing are fair, with anglers catching some bass in 3-4 feet of water as it warms up.

Lost Grove Lake in Scott County is seeing fair conditions for Channel Catfish and Largemouth Bass. For Catfish, try cut bait or nightcrawlers on the bottom near rocky shorelines. Anglers are starting to pick up a few bass working the rocks along the north shore with slow retrieved crankbait, or jigs bouncing off the underwater rocks.

For more information on the above lakes and ponds, call the Lake Darling Fisheries Office at 319-694-2430.