From the DNR: Southwest Iowa fishing report

After a week of long, hard rain, fishing is back to normal in many places in Southwest Iowa. Viking Lake has good visibility. The warm temperatures we experienced last weekend will move the crappies closer to the shoreline.Here is the report from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources:Don Williams LakeBlack Crappie - Good: Crappies can be found in high numbers in Don Williams this spring. Their sizes are not large yet, but with selection a decent bag can be caught. Most fish are not tight to shore spawning yet. Slowly troll or drift 1/8 ounce jigs with small white or chartreuse twister tails out from shore in 15-20 feet of water. Crappies are suspended from 5 to 10 feet down. As the water temperature climbs into the mid to upper 60s, crappie will be more catchable near the shore with minnows under a bobber. Beaver LakeBlack Crappie - Fair: Crappies are not shallow yet at Beaver Lake. They are being caught with minnows under a bobber in the submerged trees northwest of the boat ramp. Fish in 3 to 6 feet deep water. Rock Creek LakeBlack Crappie - Good: Crappie fishing is good. Anglers fishing in 2 to 6 feet of water with jigs tipped with live minnows or minnows under a bobber are doing well. The jetties around the southeast boat ramp are good areas for shore anglers to target first. Another good area during the crappie spawn is along the face of the dam, especially the western half. Hickory Black Crappie - Fair: A fair to good pre-spawn crappie bite has been going at Hickory Grove. Some crappies are still being caught along the shore at the tubes on the upper end of the lake. Better catches will start to come from the wood habitat, especially in the bays. Cast bright colored chartreuse panfish jigs or live minnows under a bobber close to treefalls and alongside the shoreline shrubbery that hangs out into the water. Lake AhquabiBlack Crappie - Fair: Crappie are beginning to be caught shallow. They are being found in open pockets in the vegetation around the rock jetties, along the west shoreline and along the dam. Cast minnows under a bobber into these open pockets.Red Rock Reservoir 
Black Crappie - Fair: A good crappie bite was starting at Red Rock, but rising water levels will cause anglers to search out the fish again. Start by fishing minnows near any flooded rock, willows or shoreline vegetation in bays off the main lake and Whitebreast arm. The spawn is not near peak yet, so drifting or trolling minnows and panfish jigs in these bays may help locate fish. Crappie fishing will be the best bite in Central Iowa lakes through mid-May. The return of warm weather should move crappies from pre-spawn closer to shore for the spawn. For information on Central Iowa lakes and rivers, contact Andy Otting or Ben Dodd at 515-432-2823. Greenfield LakeGreenfield Lake is a good spot to try early spring catfishing and crappie fishing. Black Crappie - Fair: Crappies are moving close to shore along the dam and around jetties. Fish will average 9 inches. Channel Catfish - Slow: Greenfield is a good lake for early spring catfishing. Cast shad sides or cut bait around jetties to catch fish averaging 2 pounds. Meadow LakeMeadow Lake has a good bluegill and crappie population and is a good spot for early spring fishing. White Crappie - Slow: Meadow has a small population of large white crappie. Try around the jetties and underwater reefs to catch fish up to 14 inches. Black Crappie - Fair: Fish surveys indicate a large year class of black crappie in Meadow. They will average 8.5 inches. Concentrate on rocky shorelines and underwater reefs for spawning fish. Bluegill - Fair: Bluegills are being caught around the underwater reefs. Fish will average 8.5 inches. Mormon Trail LakeThere is a big year class of 9 inch black crappies in Mormon Trail Lake that is expected to provide some good spring fishing. Black Crappie - Good: Anglers reported catching crappies around the jetties and along the dam. Bluegill - Slow: A few 8 inch bluegills are being caught. Littlefield LakeLittlefield is a good spot for early spring catfishing action. Crappies will move close to shore to spawn soon. Channel Catfish - Fair: Anglers are catching catfish in the upper ends of the lake where water warms first. Use cut bait or shad sides. Black Crappie - Fair: A few crappies are being caught with minnows. Fish will average 10 inches. Lake AnitaAnglers are beginning to catch crappies and bluegills in the east arm of the lake. Forecasted warm temperatures will move crappies in to spawn this weekend. Black Crappie - Good: Fish in the pontoon area of the lake with jigs and minnows 2 feet under a bobber. Sorting is necessary for 10 inch fish. Bluegill - Fair: Cast small jigs tipped with power bait to catch bluegills up to 9.5 inches. Viking LakeViking Lake water clarity is surprisingly good after last week’s flooding rains. Warm weather over the weekend should move crappies close to shore. Channel Catfish - No Report: Cast shad sides around structure to catch early spring catfish. Fish will average 2 pounds. Black Crappie - Fair: The crappie bite should pick up this week behind the pontoons and in the campground arm. Prairie Rose LakePrairie Rose water clarity is good. Bluegills are being caught around brush piles and jetties. Bluegill - Fair: Quality size bluegills can be caught around brush piles and jetties. Bluegill - Fair: Quality size bluegills can be caught around brush piles and jetties.DeSoto Bend at DeSoto National Wildlife RefugeAnglers report catching walleye and crappie at Desoto Bend. White Crappie - Fair: A few crappies are being caught around rocky shorelines with minnow. Fish are 10 inches. Walleye - Fair: Anglers report catching walleye slow trolling minnows in 5 feet of water on sand bars. Lake ManawaAnglers are catching crappies in the canals on the north side of the lake on warm sunny days. Sorting is necessary for larger fish. A few catfish are being caught on the south side of the lake. White Crappie - Fair: Cast jigs or minnows under a bobber on warm sunny days to catch crappies in the canals. Fish will range in size up to 12 inches. Walleye - Fair: Walleyes can be caught drifting crawlers or slow trolling crankbaits on the south side of the lake. Channel Catfish - Slow: Anglers are catching catfish with cut bait. Anderson Area Pond 1Anglers have reported good catches of crappie along the dam. Water clarity at Anderson was affected by heavy rain last week. Black Crappie - Fair: Cast jigs 2 feet under a bobber along the dam or in the upper end by the parking area to catch crappie averaging 10 inches. Cold Springs District Farm PondsSome ponds in the southwest district are still turbid from last week’s heavy rains. Always get permission before fishing private ponds. Black Crappie - Good: Anglers reported large catches of crappies using jigs and minnows under a bobber. Bluegill - Fair: Cast tear drops or very small jigs with wax worms or power bait under a slip bobber to find spring bluegills. Channel Catfish - Fair: Cast shad sides or cut bait in the upper ends of ponds for best success. Largemouth Bass - Good: Largemouth bass are hitting a variety of lures and soft plastics. Water clarity is good after last week’s heavy rains. Concentrate close to rocky shorelines for spawning crappies this week in the southwest district. For more information, call the Cold Springs District Office at 712-769-2587Lake IcariaBlack Crappie - Fair: Crappies up to 10 inches have been caught with jigs or minnows fished near shallow rocky areas or cedar tree brush piles. Little River Watershed LakeWalleye - Good: Walleye up to 20 inches have been caught on minnows and twister tail jigs fished along the dam in the evening or leeches under a bobber along weed lines. Black Crappie - Fair: Crappies up to 10 inches have been caught with jigs and minnows fished along rocky areas in the campground cove. Bluegill - Fair: Bluegills up to 8.5 inches have been caught with night crawlers under a bobber fished along the weed line. Green Valley LakeLargemouth Bass - Fair: Largemouth bass up to 19 inches have been caught using crankbaits fished near cedar tree brush piles. Bluegill - Fair: Bluegill up to 8.5 inches have been caught using night crawlers fished near cedar tree brush piles. Three Mile LakeBlack Crappie - Slow: Crappies up to 9 inches have been caught using jigs tipped with wax worms fished near shallow flooded timber in coves. Walleye - Slow: A few walleyes have been caught using leeches or earthworms fished along the roadbed.Twelve Mile Creek LakeBluegill - Fair: Bluegills up to 10 inches have been caught with earthworms fished near shallow flooded timber in coves. Black Crappie - Fair: Crappies up to 12 inches have been caught using jigs tipped with a wax worm or earthworms fished near cedar tree brush piles. Yellow Perch - Fair: Yellow perch up to 12 inches have been caught with earthworms fished near shallow flooded timber in coves. Water temperature in Mount Ayr district lakes is approximately 60 degrees. For more information, please contact the Mount Ayr Fisheries office at 641-464-3108. Missouri River (Sioux City to Little Sioux)Channel Catfish - Fair: Use cut bait or crawlers fished on the bottom. Common Carp - Fair: Use crawlers fished on the bottom. Missouri River (Little Sioux to Council Bluffs)Channel Catfish - Fair: Try cut bait or crawlers fished on the bottom. Missouri River (Council Bluffs to Missouri State Line)No Report The Missouri River at Decatur, Nebraska is at 22.92 ft. /37,800cfs./ 56 degrees Fahrenheit. The Missouri is up 1.65 feet from last week and is on a slow fall. The weather has improved but the Missouri River is a little high, so not many anglers have been getting out.