In the latest Fishing Report from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, water temperatures are in the upper 50s or low 60s in a majority of southeast Iowa’s lakes and ponds.

In Washington County, the water in Lake Darling remains high and muddy from the recent rainfall. Nonetheless, the bluegill and channel catfish bites are both fair. Bluegills have mostly retreated back to the rock piles in 6-8 feet of water, while catfish are near the silt dams. Use night crawlers or minnows when testing the catfish bite. Black crappie conditions are slow, as they have not yet started spawning.

Keokuk County’s Lake Belva Deer is seeing fair conditions as well. Black crappies are in the trees in 10-12 feet of water. Bluegills, meanwhile, can be found feeding in the shallow water when the sun is out and warm. They will typically head back to deeper water the rest of the time.

The black crappies in Henry County’s Lake Geode seem to be holding out in deeper water and may be waiting for calmer weather to start spawning. Still, the bite conditions are fair for crappies as well as bluegills. Much like the crappies, most bluegills are hanging out in the habitat in 8-10 feet of water.

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