In the latest Fishing Report from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, water temperatures in Washington County’s Lake Darling were in the mid-to-upper 70s last week. Five-to-six-inch Crappies are in the shallows along the rocks while nearly all of the bigger ones are still in deeper water. The Bluegill bite is fair, as they are staying out in the rock piles at a depth of five feet. Catfish conditions are good, as they are on the feed. Stink bait or chicken liver works well. Meanwhile, the Bass bite is slow, as bigger Bass are staying in deeper water until it cools down.

In Keokuk County, Lake Belva Deer remains pretty green, but the Bluegill bite is fair. A few were getting caught in the shallows after the rain last week. Some nice-sized catfish ten pounds and up have also been caught in the last two-to-three weeks. Work off the ends of the jetties, as well as around the fish cleaning stations. Similar to Lake Darling, the Bass bite remains slow, as bigger ones are still out in deeper water.

In the Iowa River from Columbus Junction to the Mississippi River, it’s difficult to find a boat ramp that you could launch from, but the Channel Catfish bite is good. Find a good walk-in spot near a big log, as there are not many places for them to hide.

Water levels are equally low in the Skunk River from Rose Hill to Coppock, so paddlers should expect double the normal float time. For Catfish, work the back edge of the sandbars directly up the river of the log jams during dawn and dusk. Cooler water should start bringing the catfish up to them as they look to feed on minnows.

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