08/13/2026
🎣 Thursday Fishing Update! It’s Fishing Report Thursday, and the latest Iowa DNR updates are in. Whether you’re planning a quick evening cast or gearing up for a weekend on the water,Outdoors & More has the gear and local know how to help you make the most of it.
We even sold some boat muffs this week......... if you think we don't have an item, stop in and call to check, we might surprise you!
Shop local, stay prepared, and enjoy the great Iowa outdoors.
Fishing reports look to be all over the spectrum from poor to excellent, we have lures for all types of fishing and equipment to got along with........................... Dont' forget we even have a local artisian, Curtis Miller's, beautiful hand painted lures!!!!
Northeast Iowa DNR Fishing Report 08/13/2026
Pool 12, Mississippi River (Dubuque)
• Water Temperature (°F): 77.0
• Ramp Condition: Useable
Water level is around 5.1 feet at the Dubuque tailwater and is holding steady. Water temperatures have cooled since last week; the bite has improved for several species. Call your local DNR Fisheries office or local bait shops for the latest information.
Black Crappie - Fair: Use a small jig and plastic combination or a live minnow rig in side channel areas with woody structure.
Bluegill - Good: Try a piece of nightcrawler under a bobber or a small jig in areas with woody structure along the edges of side channels. Some anglers are catching bluegill along main channel borders.
Channel Catfish - Excellent: Use a nightcrawler or dip baits in areas with woody structure or shoreline riprap. Anglers are catching fish off the wing-dams.
Freshwater Drum - Excellent: Drum are an excellent target for shore anglers. Use a simple egg sinker and nightcrawler rig in areas with moderate current.
Largemouth Bass - Good: Use smaller spinnerbaits along vegetation edges in backwater areas, or try pitching a jig into woody structure.
Northern Pike - Good: Try large and flashy spinners in areas with cooler water temperatures or cold water inputs.
Smallmouth Bass - Good: Throw in-line spinners in rocky areas with some current/current breaks.
Guttenberg Management District
• Contact Person: Karen Osterkamp - 563-252-1156
Upper Mississippi water levels are expected to remain low and stable. Boaters should use caution due to low water conditions. Water temperatures remain in the 80's. Fish are seeking deeper water with wood or rock structure. Wing-dams along the main channel border are productive. Last updated on 08/13/2026
Pool 09, Mississippi River (Allamakee)
• Water Temperature (°F): 78.0
• Ramp Condition: Useable
River level is 8.1 feet at Lansing and is expected to remain stable over the next week. New Albin Army Road ramp improvements are complete and has reopened. **Reminder: Crews are working on the Blackhawk Bridge at Lansing. Boaters should use caution in the construction zone. Please slow down for everyone's safety.
Bluegill - Good: High water temperatures will move fish off shore into deeper water. Try a small piece of crawler mid-depth in areas with moderate current.
Channel Catfish - Excellent: Use dip baits or a nightcrawler around riprap and wood structure in the main channels and side sloughs.
Freshwater Drum - Good: Use a weighted rig with crawlers in swifter current.
Largemouth Bass - Excellent: Try a topwater crankbait or frog baits along weedlines of side channels or lower ends of backwater openings.
Smallmouth Bass - Excellent: Cast spinnerbaits along rocked main channel shorelines and points of islands with moderate current.
Pool 10, Mississippi River (Clayton)
• Water Temperature (°F): 85.0
• Ramp Condition: Useable
Water level dropped to 612.4 feet at the Lynxville dam and is expected to remain stable this week. Water clarity is good. Look for fish in areas with deeper water with moderate current.
Bluegill - Slow: High water temperatures have moved fish off shore into deeper water. Use a small piece of crawler mid-depth in areas with moderate current,.
Channel Catfish - Excellent: Use dip baits or a nightcrawler around riprap and wood structure in the main channels and side sloughs.
Freshwater Drum - Good: Try a weighted rig with crawlers in swifter current.
Largemouth Bass - Excellent: Try a topwater crankbait or frog baits along weedlines of side channels or lower ends of backwater openings.
Smallmouth Bass - Excellent: Cast spinnerbaits along rocked main channel shorelines and points of islands with moderate current.
Pool 11, Mississippi River (Clayton)
• Water Temperature (°F): 83.0
• Ramp Condition: Useable
Water levels have fallen several feet at Guttenberg Lock & Dam 10 tailwaters and is leveling off at 4.5 feet. Water clarity is slightly stained, but is improving. Boaters should use caution in low water conditions. Look for fish in deeper water with moderate current.
Bluegill - Slow: High water temperatures have moved fish off shore into deeper water. Use a small piece of crawler mid-depth in areas with moderate current.
Channel Catfish - Excellent: Use dip baits or a nightcrawler around riprap and wood structure in the main channels and side sloughs.
Freshwater Drum - Good: Try a weighted rig with crawlers in swifter current.
Largemouth Bass - Excellent: Try a topwater crankbait or frog baits along weedlines of side channels or lower ends of backwater openings.
Smallmouth Bass - Excellent: Cast spinnerbaits along rocked main channel shorelines and points of islands with moderate current.
________________________________________
Northeast
Decorah Management District
• Contact Person: Caleb Schnitzler - 563-382-8324
Chance of rain for the area this weekend. Temperatures in the low 80s to overnight lows in the 60s. Most area rivers and streams crested with improving clarity. Stocking on marginal trout streams during July and August is temporarily paused due to rising water temperatures. Trout already in these waters are well-acclimated to the seasonal warmth. Visit a local lake or pond for a family fishing outing. Last updated on 08/13/2026
Allamakee County Trout Streams (Allamakee)
• Ramp Condition: Not applicable
Trout streams are in good condition. Wild or yellow parsnip is drying up; continue to use caution around this plant. If the plant's sap comes in contact with your skin and is exposed to sunlight, it can cause severe burns.
Brook Trout - Slow: Brook Trout water generally consists of dense beds of aquatic vegetation, cobble-gravel substrate, and narrow channels making them difficult to fish. Use a reach cast to lay the line across the current to get a few extra seconds of drift. A large variety of terrestrial insects are hatching with the warmer weather. Matching the hatch is vital to success.
Brown Trout - Good: Brown trout love off-color water and are less picky under these conditions. Good hatches of mayflies, caddis, midges, and scuds are occurring. Terrestrial insects are turning on. Grasshoppers, ants, and crickets are a good bet.
Rainbow Trout - Excellent: Freshly stocked rainbows hungry for a hook tipped with a small piece of worm, cheese, or dough ball will fill a limit quickly. For anglers interested in catch and release, use flies imitating crickets, midges, scuds, mayflies, or caddis flies.
Cedar River (above Nashua) (Floyd)
• Ramp Condition: Useable
Water levels are stabilizing and clearing. Water temperature is in the 70s. Use caution after high water; snags and submerged debris may have moved. For more information, visit https://water.noaa.gov/gauges/05457700.
Black Crappie - Fair: Find crappie near snags in backwater areas. Try a small spinner or crankbait.
Channel Catfish - Excellent: Use worms, dead chubs or minnows under a bobber near the bottom.
Rock Bass - Fair: Use a jig tipped with a nightcrawler or a plastic, fished in the middle of the water column.
Smallmouth Bass - Fair: Find smallmouth along rocky shorelines or limestone ledges. Try a variety of lures.
Walleye - Good: Use a jig with a live minnow or nightcrawler in a deeper pool near the stream bottom. Try fishing sunrise and sunset on clear days.
Clayton County Trout Streams (Clayton)
• Ramp Condition: Not applicable
Trout streams are in good condition. Wild or yellow parsnip is drying up; continue to use caution around this plant. If the plant's sap comes in contact with your skin and is exposed to sunlight, it can cause severe burns.
Brook Trout - Slow: Brook Trout water generally consists of dense beds of aquatic vegetation, cobble-gravel substrate, and narrow channels making them difficult to fish. Use a reach cast to lay the line across the current to get a few extra seconds of drift. A large variety of terrestrial insects are hatching with the warmer weather. Matching the hatch is vital to success.
Brown Trout - Good: Brown trout love off-color water and are less picky under these conditions. Good hatches of mayflies, caddis, midges, and scuds are occurring. Terrestrial insects are turning on. Grasshoppers, ants, and crickets are a good bet.
Rainbow Trout - Excellent: Freshly stocked rainbows hungry for a hook tipped with a small piece of worm, cheese, or dough ball will fill a limit quickly. For anglers interested in catch and release, use flies imitating crickets, midges, scuds, mayflies, or caddis flies.
Fayette County Trout Streams (Fayette)
• Ramp Condition: Not applicable
Trout streams are in good condition. Wild or yellow parsnip is drying up; continue to use caution around this plant. If the plant's sap comes in contact with your skin and is exposed to sunlight, it can cause severe burns.
Brown Trout - Good: Brown trout love off-color water and are less picky under these conditions. Good hatches of mayflies, caddis, midges, and scuds are occurring. Terrestrial insects are turning on. Grasshoppers, ants, and crickets are a good bet.
Rainbow Trout - Excellent: Freshly stocked rainbows hungry for a hook tipped with a small piece of worm, cheese, or dough ball will fill a limit quickly. For anglers interested in catch and release, use flies imitating crickets, midges, scuds, mayflies, or caddis flies.
Lake Hendricks (Howard)
• Ramp Condition: Useable
Water clarity is improving. Weeds are up. Water temperature is in the 70s.
Black Crappie - Fair: Find crappie along weedlines. Try trolling a small spinner or small jigs tipped with a plastic or minnow.
Bluegill - Fair: Continue to use small jigs tipped with a waxworm, spike, or very small piece of a nightcrawler along weedlines.
Channel Catfish - Good: Use worms, dead chubs or minnows, or stink bait under a bobber near the bottom.
Largemouth Bass - Fair: Toss a topwater lure along the edge of a plant bed or rocky shoreline. Keep tension on the line to prevent losing your lure.
Lake Meyer (Winneshiek)
• Ramp Condition: Useable
Water clarity is improving. Water temperature is in the 70s.
Black Crappie - Slow: Find crappie along weedlines. Try trolling a small spinner or crankbait.
Bluegill - Fair: Continue to use small jigs tipped with a waxworm, spike, or very small piece of a nightcrawler along weedlines.
Channel Catfish - Good: Use worms, dead chubs or minnows, or stink bait under a bobber near the bottom.
Largemouth Bass - Fair: Toss a topwater lure along the edge of a plant bed or rocky shoreline. Keep tension on the line to prevent lure loss.
Northern Pike - Slow: Pike hang in weedy areas stalking prey. Target weedlines with a spoon or hair jig to tease this feisty fish.
Mitchell County Trout Streams (Mitchell)
• Ramp Condition: Not applicable
Trout streams are in good condition. Wild or yellow parsnip is drying up; continue to use caution around this plant. If the plant's sap comes in contact with your skin and is exposed to sunlight, it can cause severe burns.
Brown Trout - Good: Brown trout love off-color water and are less picky under these conditions. Good hatches of mayflies, caddis, midges, and scuds are occurring. Terrestrial insects are turning on. Grasshoppers, ants, and crickets are a good bet.
Rainbow Trout - Excellent: Freshly stocked rainbows hungry for a hook tipped with a small piece of worm, cheese, or dough ball will fill a limit quickly. For anglers interested in catch and release, use flies imitating crickets, midges, scuds, mayflies, or caddis flies.
Turkey River (above Clermont) (Fayette)
• Ramp Condition: Useable
Water levels are stabilizing and clearing. Water temperature is in the 70s. Use caution after high water; snags and submerged debris may have moved. For more information, visit https://waterdata.usgs.gov/monitoring-location/USGS-05411850.
Smallmouth Bass - Fair: Find smallmouth behind rock riffles, rocky shorelines, and limestone ledges. A variety of lures are working; topwater and jigs are producing fish.
Walleye - Fair: Use a jig with a live minnow or nightcrawler in a deeper pool near the stream bottom. Try fishing sunrise and sunset on clear days.
Upper Iowa River (above Decorah) (Winneshiek)
• Ramp Condition: Useable
Water levels are stabilizing and clearing. Water temperature is in the 70s. Use caution after high water; snags and submerged debris may have moved. For more information, visit https://waterdata.usgs.gov/monitoring-location/USGS-05387500.
Smallmouth Bass - Fair: Find smallmouth along rocky shorelines or limestone ledges. A variety of lures are working. Upper and lower dams are producing fish.
Walleye - Fair: Use a jig tipped with a nightcrawler or ringworms in a deeper pool near the stream bottom. Try fishing sunrise and sunset on clear days.
Upper Iowa River (below Decorah) (Allamakee)
• Ramp Condition: Not applicable
Water levels are stabilizing and clearing. Water temperature is in the 70s. Use caution after high water; snags and submerged debris may have moved.
Channel Catfish - Good: Use dead chubs or nightcrawlers fished near the bottom.
Golden Redhorse - Fair: Use a nightcrawler fished on the bottom or under a bobber.
Smallmouth Bass - Fair: Catch smallmouth with jigs or topwater lures near limestone ledges and rock riffles.
Volga Lake (Fayette)
• Ramp Condition: Useable
Water clarity is limited and off-color. Water temperature is in the low 80s. Try fishing over structure. Fish are suspended.
Black Crappie - Fair: Try minnows under a bobber or plastics near and around structure.
Bluegill - Good: Use small jigs tipped with a waxworm, spike, or a very small piece of a nightcrawler along rocky shorelines or around submerged structure.
Channel Catfish - Good: Use worms, dead chubs, minnows, or stink bait under a bobber near the bottom. Trophy catfish abound in this waterbody.
Largemouth Bass - Fair: Toss a crank or spinner bait along the edge of a rocky shoreline or steep depth contour. Keep tension on your line to prevent losing your lure.
Winneshiek County Trout Streams (Winneshiek)
• Ramp Condition: Not applicable
Trout streams are in good condition. Wild or yellow parsnip is drying up; continue to use caution around this plant. If the plant's sap comes in contact with your skin and is exposed to sunlight, it can cause severe burns.
Brook Trout - Slow: Brook Trout water generally consists of dense beds of aquatic vegetation, cobble-gravel substrate, and narrow channels making them difficult to fish. Use a reach cast to lay the line across the current to get a few extra seconds of drift. A large variety of terrestrial insects are hatching with the warmer weather. Matching the hatch is vital to success.
Brown Trout - Good: Brown trout love off-color water and are less picky under these conditions. Good hatches of mayflies, caddis, midges, and scuds are occurring. Terrestrial insects are turning on. Grasshoppers, ants, and crickets are a good bet.
Rainbow Trout - Excellent: Freshly stocked rainbows hungry for a hook tipped with a small piece of worm, cheese, or dough ball will fill a limit quickly. For anglers interested in catch and release, use flies imitating crickets, midges, scuds, mayflies, or caddis flies.
