| More seasonal temperatures by Friday cooling to low 70's to 40's and breezy. Turkey Hunting is in full swing until May 18. For more information, please contact the Chuck Gipp Decorah Fish Hatchery at 563-382-8324. |
| Water temperatures 70's to upper 60's and clear. |
| Black Crappie - Fair: Try angling higher in water column late afternoon. Fish over rocky humps with a jig tipped with a plastic tail. |
| Bluegill - Good: Anglers finding gills around pallet structures. Try using a small hook tipped with worm under a bobber for luck. |
| Largemouth Bass - Good: Fish along weed line in about 6 ft. of water. Spinner baits work well. |
The extension of rock reefs in the north arm in 2020 provide additional places for fish to hang around. Bluegills, mostly 6- to 8-inches, are common with some exceeding 8-inches. The Largemouth Bass population is balanced, with fish up to 18-inches. Channel Catfish will be stocked this year. Fish from 9- to 25-inches are ready to be caught. Nice numbers of Black Crappie are available. See more at http://co.howard.ia.us/offices/conservation/lakehendricks.htm.(2022)
In nearly all cases, Iowa fish are safe to eat. Cleaning and/or preparing the meal causes most of the problems regarding taste or color of fish. Like all living creatures, fish are susceptible to diseases, parasites, and other naturally occurring conditions in the water. If you suspect your fish is affected by any of these conditions, do not eat it. Consider eating smaller and younger fish which usually have lower levels of contaminants than larger ones. Most contaminants accumulate in larger, older fish. For additional information, check out our resources for eating and cooking Iowa caught fish.
To learn more about fish tissue monitoring, visit our Fish Tissue Monitoring page .