Big Woods Lake

Interior water levels have fallen and are providing catches of smallmouth bass, walleye and channel catfish. Check the USGS website (https://waterdata.usgs.gov/ia/nwis/rt) for most recent river levels. Lakes in and around Cedar Falls/Waterloo have been hot for crappie, bluegill and largemouth bass during the spring spawn. Trout streams are in excellent condition, for further information contact your local bait shop for most recent reports.

Anglers have been catching crappie and bluegill during this spring spawn, concentrate efforts near the north shore around structure.

Black Crappie - Good: Cast lighter jigs tipped with plastics for some great action or fishing a minnow under a slip bobber.

Bluegill - Good: Cast lighter jigs over spawning beds or small piece of crawler under a slip bobber near structure.

Source: Iowa DNR

Anglers are catching crappie and bluegill in Big Woods Lake.

The interior rivers have bumped up with the recent rainfall events. Trout streams are in excellent condition. Anglers have been catching some walleye, smallmouth bass, channel catfish and northern pike on the interior rivers. Black Hawk county area lakes are winding down for crappie but are targeting bluegill with the upcoming spawn. For further information contact your local area bait shops for the most recent hot spots.

Black Crappie - Fair: The lake is up but concentrate efforts in the shallows near structure with a crappie minnow under a slip bobber or casting colored tube jigs.

Largemouth Bass - Fair: Try casting spinnerbaits, crankbaits or top water baits for some good largemouth bass action.

Bluegill - Fair: Fish the shallow water areas off of the jetties or cove areas with a piece of worm or crawler under a slip bobber.

Source: Iowa DNR

Anglers are catching crappie now with the crappie spawn now under way.

Black Crappie - Fair: The lake is up but concentrate efforts in the shallows near structure with a crappie minnow under a slip bobber or casting colored tube jigs.

Largemouth Bass - Fair: Try casting spinnerbaits, crankbaits or top water baits for some good largemouth bass action.

The interior rivers and cold water trout streams are in excellent condition. Anglers have been catching some walleye, smallmouth bass and channel catfish on the interior rivers. Black Hawk county area lakes are winding down for crappie but are targeting bluegill with the upcoming spawn. For further information contact your local area bait shops for the most recent hot spots.

Source: Iowa DNR

Anglers are catching crappie now with the crappie spawn now under way.

Black Crappie - Fair: The lake is up but concentrate efforts in the shallows near structure with a crappie minnow under a slip bobber or casting colored tube jigs.

The interior rivers and cold water trout streams are now in excellent condition. Anglers have been catching some walleye, smallmouth bass and channel catfish on the interior rivers. Black Hawk county area lakes are winding down for crappie with the recent spawn. For further information contact your local area bait shops for the most recent hot spots.

Largemouth Bass - Fair: Try casting spinnerbaits, crankbaits or top water baits for some good largemouth bass action.

Source: Iowa DNR

Anglers are catching crappie now with the crappie spawn now under way.

Black Crappie - Fair: The lake is up but concentrate efforts in the shallows near structure with a crappie minnow under a slip bobber or casting colored tube jigs.

The interior rivers and cold water trout streams are now in excellent condition. Anglers have been catching some walleye on the interior rivers. Black Hawk county area lakes have been good for crappie with the recent spawn. For further information contact your local area bait shops for the most recent hot spots.

Source: Iowa DNR

The interior rivers remain above normal summer flows, fishing has been hit & miss on most species because of this. Area lakes are producing some crappie. Crappie are now spawning in the shallows of most lakes. Manchester District area trout streams are in excellent condition. For further information contact your local area bait shops for the most recent hot spots.

Anglers are catching crappie now with the crappie spawn now under way.

Black Crappie - Fair: The lake is up but concentrate efforts in the shallows near structure with a crappie minnow under a slip bobber or casting colored tube jigs.

Source: Iowa DNR