As water temperatures in southeast Iowa’s lakes and rivers start to drop, bite conditions are improving, according to the latest fishing report from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

Bluegill fishing has picked up in Washington County’s Lake Darling. Slow troll a small jig tipped with a wax worm out over the tops of the rock piles. The Channel Catfish bite is fair as well. As they are working the rock piles for crawdads, they are about a cast from the shore between the “point” and the campground boat ramp. The Bass bite remained slow.

In Keokuk County, the Black Crappie, Bluegill, and Bass bite are still slow, but anglers are continuing to find them around the trees in about 6-7 feet of water. The Channel Catfish bite is fair, so look for them along the face of the dam.

The Iowa River from Columbus Junction to the Mississippi River continues to drop, but the Channel Catfish can be found in the deeper pools around the brush piles and logjams. Most anglers have switched from live bait to cut and stink baits.

The best bite in southeast Iowa may be the Catfish in the Skunk River from Rose Hill to Coppock, which was reported as good this week. Try fishing the deeper water near the established log jams. Stink baits and nightcrawlers have been working well.

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