To the delight of anglers across southeast Iowa, the latest Fishing Report from the Department of Natural Resources includes bite conditions in the area for the first time in 2024.

The water temperature in Washington County’s Lake Darling is in the upper 30s. While some boats have been reported on the lake, there has been very little fishing pressure. The black crappie bite is slow, but when the lake is calm, you can pick some up in the middle of the lake, hanging around the cedar trees. Ice fishing jigs tipped with minnows are recommended.

Winds are limiting the angler pressure at Lake Belva Deer in Keokuk County. With similar water temperatures to Lake Darling, the black crappie bite is also slow. Anglers are finding some out from the beach when the wind allows for slow drifting with ice fishing jigs. The channel catfish bite, meanwhile, is fair. Anglers are catching them along the face of the dam using cut bait.

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