Fishing Report

For the Week of October 20. From the Iowa DNR

Clear Lake


Water temperature is around 57 degrees. The fish cleaning station at McIntosh is closed for the season. The bathrooms at Lynne Lorenson and the Ventura jetties are also closed.

Boat ramps at McIntosh and Lynne Lorenson will be coming out soon. Anglers without a boat can still find some good wading opportunities in early October for yellow bass and walleyes. Try the MacIntosh swim beach, off the North Shore on the edge of the rushes or off Farmer’s Beach.

Yellow Bass – Excellent: Action has been good to excellent at Hy-Vee reef, State Reef, the sandy shoreline near the Ventian Village mouth, McIntosh swim beach, the hump on the little lake out from McInstosh swim beach and the inlet from the Ventura Marsh. Tip a small jig with a minnow or a piece of cut bait and bump it along the bottom.

Walleye – Fair: Some walleyes are being caught near the Ventura grade. Use jigs and a minnow or cut bait in many of the same areas that yellow bass are biting. Boat anglers may find walleyes near the Hy-Vee reef, the edge of the North Shore Reed bed, the island or Dodges point.

Black Crappie – Fair: Anglers have caught some in the Baptist camp area out near 10 contour.

Muskellunge – Good: Musky fishing has been decent; October is usually a good month for musky fishing.

Yellow Perch – Good: Yellow perch are hitting by the grade on 1/16 ounce black leadheads with a piece of cut bait.

Cedar River (above Nashua)


Cedar River water levels have stabilized. Clarity is good and fishable.

Walleye – Good: With this cold snap, fish have actively been looking for prey fish. Use a jighead tipped with nightcrawler or minnow.

Smallmouth Bass – Excellent: Smallies are being caught while fishing for walleye.

Channel Catfish – Fair: A few anglers are using stinkbait; try a frog or cut bait for good results.

Northern Pike – Fair: Crankbaits are working; try also a dead chub fished under a bobber.

Black Crappie – Fair: Use a jig tipped with a minnow in the off current areas or along brushy edges.
Turkey River (above Clermont)


The Turkey River is in excellent condition. Canoe accesses faired pretty well with the flooding that occurred the end of August and September.

Smallmouth Bass – Excellent: Use rubber skirted jigs.

Black Crappie – Fair: Try fishing along the brushy edges.

Cedar River (Nashua to La Porte City)


The Cedar River is producing catches of walleye and smallmouth bass now that the river has receded from recent flooding. Backwater areas with structure are producing some crappie as well.

Walleye – Good: Cast crankbaits or fish a jig twister tipped with a minnow.

Smallmouth Bass – Good: Cast crankbaits or fish a jig tipped with a nightcrawler.

Black Crappie – Good: Try fishing a crappie minnow under a slip bobber near structure or cast and retrieve tube jigs.
Shell Rock River (Greene to Shell Rock)


The Shell Rock River is producing some catches of walleye after the recent high water levels.

Walleye – Good: Cast crankbaits or fish a jig twister tipped with a minnow.

Smallmouth Bass – Good: Cast artificial crankbaits.