Iowa DNR News
Iowa TIP Program
Offers Reward for Swan Shooter
by Lowell Washburn
CRYSTAL LAKE--Officials with
the Iowa Turn-In-Poachers [TIP] program are currently offering a
$2,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of persons
who shot a wild trumpeter swan near Hancock County's Crystal
Lake.
According to DNR Wildlife
Technician, Dave Hoffman, the severely injured bird was
recovered about five miles southeast of Crystal Lake near the
intersection of 300th St. & Maple Ave.
"The swan had a broken wing as
well as several shotgun pellets in the body," said Hoffman.
"With those type of injuries I don't think the bird could have
traveled very far from where it was shot."
After receiving a report of the
injured swan, Hoffman quickly located and captured the huge
waterfowl. He immediately rushed the injured bird to the
Orphaned and Injured Wildlife, Inc., rehabilitation clinic
located at Spirit Lake. An x-ray examination revealed that in
addition to a broken wing, the swan had also suffered broken
ribs and had a total of 12 [BB sized] pellets remaining in the
body.
The injured trumpeter was
marked with a bright red, plastic ID collar -- number 5C2. When
spotted and reported by human observers, wildlife biologists use
the ID numbers to trace the life histories of individual swans.
In this case, however, Hoffman didn't need to consult a database
to see where this particular trumpeter had originated. He
already knew the bird well.
"This trumpeter is a female
that was hatched at West Bend in 2003," said Hoffman. "In April
of 2004, she became part of a group of five yearling swans that
were relocated and released to the wild as part of a public
dedication ceremony for the Union Hills Bird Conservation Area.
The swan had returned to Union Hills this spring, about three
weeks before she was shot. As a three-year-old, this bird could
potentially have produced eggs next spring."
The injured swan is still alive
but remains in critical condition. Anyone with information
regarding the shooting can report to the TIP hotline at
1-800/532-2002. If desired, callers may remain anonymous.
"The thing people need to
realize is that these swan shooters are not hunters," said
Hoffman. "They are poachers and vandals. The dollars that
hunters provide through the sale of hunting licenses and duck
stamps are restoring the wetlands that swans and other wildlife
need to survive. Whenever someone shoots a wild swan, they steal
from all of us."
Fishing Report for Iowa
Northeast
Mississippi River Pools 9 to
15: Water levels on the Mississippi River are approaching normal
summer levels. River stage in the tailwater of Lock 10 at
Guttenberg is 8.38 feet and is slowly dropping. River stage in
Lansing is 8.99 feet and is also expected to fall throughout the
week. Water temperature is 65 degrees at Guttenberg and
Bellevue. Walleye and sauger fishing is starting to pick up due
to warmer temperatures and anglers are catching fish in Black
Hawk Park (Pool 9), near Lynxville (Pool 10), and off the wing
dams in Pools 11 to 15. Try trolling crankbaits, willow cats (madtoms),
leeches or crawlers on a 3-way along the wing dams or in the
side sloughs. Fish in the shallow water areas (1 to 4 feet) just
before dark with jigs or crankbaits. Bluegill fishing is also
beginning to pick up in the backwater areas in Pools 9 to 15. As
the bluegill spawn begins, look for fish in shallow water next
to the bank. Anglers are catching bluegills using small jigs or
a piece of crawler fished under a bobber in 1 to 5 feet of
water. Bluegills are also being taken in the tailwater areas
just outside of the main current in shallow water. The float
near Genoa (Pool 9) and the tailwater area of Lock 10 have been
especially good for bluegill. Other hotspots for bluegill
include Norwegian and Methodist lakes and the mouth of Sny
Magill (all in Pool 10). The crappie spawn is coming to an end
in Pools 9 to 15, but anglers are still able to catch them in
backwater areas. Look for areas with little or no current and
suspend a night crawler, minnow or jig under a bobber in 1 to 7
feet of water next to woody debris. Crappie numbers and size are
excellent this year in Pools 9 and 10, with many large fish
observed by DNR personnel during spring netting. Freshwater drum
are biting on night crawlers fished in the tailwater areas, sand
flats off the main channel or the wing dams in Pools 10 and 11
and off the wing dams and tailwater areas in Pools 12 to 15.
White bass (striper) fishing is starting to pick up along rocky
shorelines and in the tailwater areas of Pools 9 to 15, with
fish being taken on twister tails, shad raps, beetle spins, jigs
and spinners fished in the current. Some of the best white bass
fishing has been reported in the tailwater area of Pool 9 using
small white or silver spinners thrown into the current for quick
action. Good catfishing has been reported in the tailwaters of
Dam 10 and off the rocks in Pools 12 to 15. Use leeches and
crawlers floated under a bobber. Also, try fishing night
crawlers, chicken liver or cut bait in the main channel border
or tailwater areas of Pools 9 to 15. Trotline fishing for
channel catfish is also good using minnows, blood baits or
crawlers in Pools 12 to 15. Catfishing should continue to
improve as the spawn picks up. Largemouth bass fishing is fair
to good in Pools 9 to 15 on a variety of traditional bass lures,
including soft plastics, crankbaits, spinner baits, top-water
lures and jig-and-pigs. Fish around woody structure, vegetation
and rocky shorelines in the backwaters and along the main
channel border in areas with little or no current. Try fishing
for smallmouth bass along any rocky shoreline in Pools 9 to 11
that has some flowing current nearby. Smallies are being taken
on black twister jigs and a variety of crankbaits.
Cedar River (Floyd): Channel
catfish are biting on night crawlers and cut-baits fished on the
bottom. Anglers are also catching walleye.
Cedar and Shell Rock rivers
(Bremer, Black Hawk and Butler): Clarity is improving as the
river recedes and some channel catfish are being caught.
Maquoketa River (Delaware and
Jones): Fishing for channel catfish is excellent using minnows
and night crawlers. Crappie fishing is good minnows and worms.
Fishing for walleye has slowed.
Shell Rock River (Floyd):
Channel catfish are biting on worms and chicken liver fished on
the bottom.
Wapsipinicon River (Buchanan):
Walleye and northern pike fishing is good in the early evening
hours.
Upper Iowa, Volga and Turkey
rivers: Clarity is improving and anglers are starting to catch
fish. Don't hesitate to fish these scenic rivers if you have the
opportunity.
Otter Creek (Black Hawk):
Crappie and bluegill fishing is good.
Lake Meyer (Winneshiek) and
Lake Hendricks (Howard): Bluegill and crappie fishing is good to
excellent.
Volga Lake (Fayette): Anglers
are catching big bluegills fishing in the shallows.
Lake Delhi (Delaware): Crappie
fishing is fair to good in shallow water next to rocks or woody
structure using minnows under a bobber or tube jigs. Channel
catfish are also biting on dead minnows fished on the bottom.
Alice Wyth, Big Woods, Brinker,
Fisher, George Wyth, and South Prairie lakes (Black Hawk):
Crappie and bluegill fishing is excellent on minnows, wax worms,
a piece of night crawler or small jigs.
Casey Lake (Tama): Fishing is
good for bluegills on small jigs or worms fished in the
shallows.
Sny Magill Creek, near
Garnavillo in Clayton County, offers miles of quality trout
stream for anglers to enjoy. Sny Magill is stocked twice per
week with catchable-size rainbow and brook trout. The stream
also has a significant population of catchable brown trout that
were stocked as fingerlings and allowed to grow up on the
stream. While there, check out the new, recently completed
stream habitat work and new angler access trail which begins in
the parking lot near the kiosk. Sny Magill is well marked with
signs to identify the area and you can use your Iowa Trout
Fishing Guide for exact directions to the stream or go to the
web site address and download a map to the area. Near the upper
end of the stream there is a kiosk with a map showing the
boundary of the entire public area and the stream section open
to angling. Students from MFL-MAR-MAC High School completed a
community service project by cleaning the Sny Magill area from
trash earlier this spring.
Yellow River (Allamakee): If
you want to try a trout fishing canoe trip, the Yellow River
offers the perfect opportunity. Not only will you experience
spectacular scenery, but fishing for brown trout can also be
'spectacular' with many 20-inch plus trout caught each year. The
best section for trout is from the Hwy. 51 bridge all the way to
the Ion bridge on County Rd X36. Again, consult your Iowa Trout
Fishing Guide for directions to the stream.
Trout fishing is excellent and
stream conditions are very good to excellent. For current trout
stocking information, contact the Iowa DNR at 563-927-5736 or go
on-line at www.iowadnr.com
and check the fisheries web pages to view the 2005 stocking
calendar.
For information on fishing in
northeast Iowa, call the regional office in Manchester at
563-927-3276.
Northwest
Spirit Lake (Dickinson):
Walleye fishing has been good. Anglers are catching an
assortment of sizes with 13-15 inches dominating the catch.
Drifting or trolling minnows during the day off of Buffalo Run
and the north end have produced fish. At night, anglers are
seeking rock points and areas of current throwing twisters and
shallow running crankbaits for fish. A few crappies have been
caught at Hales Slough and Buffalo Run.
Little Spirit Lake (Dickinson):
Monster sized bullheads are being caught on night crawlers.
West Okoboji Lake (Dickinson):
Anglers are starting to catch a few pan fish around docks on the
main lake. A small jig tipped with a small worm is working well.
Use light line for these finichy fish! Largemouth bass can be
found around docks or spawning areas. They are being caught on a
variety of soft plastic baits. Walleye are being caught mainly
at night. Try Pocahontas, Atwell, Pillsbury, Pikes and Omaha
points for some action. Twisters and numerous live bait rigs
have been working.
East Okoboji Lake (Dickinson):
Anglers are catching some walleyes drifting with leeches. The
narrows, Highway 9 bridge and along Jingles Point to the Henshaw
Bridge have been producing some fish.
Center Lake (Dickinson):
Anglers are picking up a few walleyes on the south end as well
as some panfish during the day. Drifting with leeches or
crawlers will catch a variety of fish on this lake.
Upper Gar (Dickinson): Anglers
are getting bluegill and crappie around docks. Sunny days have
been most productive.
Stolley's Pit (Clay): Catfish
is the main species in this pit. Try crawlers or stink bait on
the bottom. Look for shallow flats adjacent to deep water. Along
the west shore there are several areas as well as the peninsula
in the southeast corner. Catfish range anywhere from half a
pound all the way up to five pounds. Try along the riprap on the
east end for crappies. Small minnows under a light bobber can
trigger these fish.
Fairview Pond (Sioux):
Largemouth bass can be found around the south shore. Anglers are
using plastic worms to catch these fish. Crappie can be found
suspended around various trees in the lake. Minnows are the bait
of choice.
Willow Creek (Osceola):
Bluegill fishing is good for fish from 4 to 8 inches. A small
hook with a garden worm and small split shot has been very
productive. Bass fishing is excellent on soft plastics worked
slowly and a variety of jerk baits.
Storm Lake (Buena Vista):
Channel Catfish are good to excellent on live bait. Lots of fish
in the 2 to 5 pounds. Walleye are very good trolling shad raps.
Some keepers also caught casting twisters at the inlet area.
Remember the 15-inch minimum length limit and only one fish over
22 inches. White Bass are red-hot casting twisters or spinners
from shore or trolling shad raps. Fish range from 10 to15 inches
and lots of numbers.
Black Hawk Lake (Sac): Catfish
are good on a variety of baits. Bullheads are excellent all over
the lake using night crawlers. Most bullheads are 7 ˝ to
8-inches. Walleyes are good using leeches. Lots of fish under
the 15-inch limit but limits of legal fish have been taken.
Arrowhead Lake (Sac): Bluegill
fishing is good in shallow water. Small black lead head or a
small hook tipped with a piece of night crawler under a small
bobber.
Crawford Creek (Ida): Fishing
is good for medium to large bluegill.
Brushy Creek (Webster): Fishing
on the main lake remains slow. The lake water is more turbid
than usual. Most of the fish that have been caught are close to
the shoreline. Some nice bluegills have been caught using a
small hook and a piece of worm.
Clear Lake (Cerro Gordo):
Walleye fishing is fair. Trolling crankbaits in 3 to 7 feet of
water and jig and minnow fishing the rock reefs or the Ventura
Grade are producing the best. Yellow Bass fishing is fair. Fish
are on the shallow rocky shorelines around the Island and Dodges
Point. Use very small jigs for the best success. Bullheads are
hitting on crawlers fished on the bottom.
Beeds Lake (Franklin): Crappie
fishing is fair. Use small jigs and minnows drifting or trolling
in 10 to 15 feet of water. Fish are suspended at 4 to 8 feet
below the surface. Largemouth bass fishing is fair. Pitching
spinner baits along the shoreline is working the best.
Silver Lake (Worth): Bullhead
fishing is excellent. Quality sized fish are available in good
numbers. Fishing crawlers on the bottom provides the best
action.
Rice Lake (Winnebago): Bullhead
fishing is excellent. Quality sized fish are available in good
numbers. Fishing crawlers on the bottom provides the best
action.
Lower Pine Lake (Hardin):
Crappie fishing is good. Fish at the ends of the downed trees
around the island and shorelines. Largemouth bass fishing is
good. Work the downed trees with jigs or spinner baits.
Lake Cornelia (Wright):
Bullhead fishing is good off the jetty or any wind blow
shoreline. Use crawlers fished on the bottom. Walleye fishing is
fair trolling crankbaits.
For more information on fishing
in northwest Iowa, call the regional office in Spirit Lake at
712-336-1840.
Southwest
Green Valley (Union): Crappie
can still be caught in the mornings and evenings near structure
and deeper during the day. Fishing is good for catfish on liver
and blood baits. Some bluegill can still be caught from shore
with night crawlers. Fishing is also good for big 12 to 13-inch
bullheads on night crawlers.
Three Mile (Union): Some
walleye can be caught on leeches and night crawlers off the big
points. Crappies are biting in the shallow areas and over the
mounds during the mornings and evenings. Channel catfish caught
using blood bait or liver in the shallow bays.
Twelve Mile (Union): Channel
catfish can be caught on liver or blood baits at the upper end
and in shallow bays.
Fogle (Ringgold): Channel
catfish can be caught using liver in shallow water. Crappie can
be caught from the rocks in the morning and evenings.
Little River (Decatur):
Crappies, 9 to 10 inches, are being caught over the rocks. Some
bluegills are being caught in the shallows on crawlers. Channel
catfish can be caught from the shallow bays. Walleye fishing is
good using leeches in and around the big points.
Badger Creek (Madison): Some
bluegill and crappie can be caught from the rocks of the jetties
and off the rocked roadways using crawlers or light jigs.
Wilson (Taylor): Bluegills can
be caught from the bays on the south shore.
Windmill (Taylor): Bluegill and
crappies are being caught in the mornings and evenings.
West Lake Osceola (Clarke):
Bluegills can be caught with crawlers in the bays. Large numbers
of crappie can be caught from the dam. Largemouth bass fishing
is good.
Grade (Clarke): Fishing is good
for bluegills in the corners of the dam and the points of the
small bays and fishing is also good for medium size bass.
Viking (Montgomery): Crappie
fishing is fair. Crappies are in 6 to 8 feet of water around
structure. Use a small jig or minnow and bobber. Bluegills are
spawning; cast small jigs close to shore. Largemouth bass
fishing is also good using plastic baits with a slow retrieve.
Channel catfish are being caught using liver and stink bait.
Cold Springs (Cass): Channel
catfish are being caught using liver. Crappie fishing is good
around sunken trees. Bluegills are being caught off the spawning
beds.
Manawa (Pottawattamie): Channel
catfish are being caught using cut bait at Boy Scout Island.
Walleyes are being caught drifting night crawlers along rocky
shores in the evening. Largemouth bass fishing is fair using a
slow presentation with spinner baits and plastic worms.
Orient (Adair): Fishing is fair
for 7 to 8-inch crappies along the rocks. Channel catfish are
being caught using liver early in morning. Bluegill fishing is
excellent on the spawning beds.
Mormon Trail (Adair): A few
crappies are being caught. Bluegills are being caught off
spawning beds. Channel catfishing is excellent using liver.
Greenfield (Adair): A few
crappies are being caught around brush piles using minnows.
Bluegills are spawning and readily caught off beds using small
jigs. Largemouth bass fishing is excellent using spinner baits.
Littlefield (Audubon): Bluegill
fishing is fair using small jigs. Look for the spawning areas
near shore. Crappie fishing has slowed but some are still being
caught using minnows and bobbers. Most crappies are 10 inches in
length.
Prairie Rose (Shelby): Crappies
can still be caught along rocky shorelines. Bluegill fishing is
good around spawning structures. Channel catfish are being
caught in evening using dead minnows or liver. Largemouth bass
fishing has picked up using crankbaits and plastic worms.
Channel catfish fishing has picked up using liver.
DeSoto Bend (Harrison): Walleye
fishing is fair jigging minnows around brush piles and trolling
crankbaits in evening in 6 to 8 foot of water. Bluegills, 6 to 6
˝ inches, are being caught on spawning beds. Channel catfish are
being caught using liver.
Willow (Harrison): Bluegills
are being caught using worms. Crappie fishing is good using
small jigs on the corner of the dam. A few catfish are being
caught in shallow coves using liver.
Don Williams (Boone): Crappie
fishing is fair to good using minnows and jigs, but the fish are
starting to move into deeper water. Largemouth bass fishing has
been fair. Bluegill fishing has been slow to fair on worms.
Several anglers reported walleye from 18 to 20 inches long.
Hickory Grove (Story): Crappie
fishing has been good using crappie jigs and minnows. Bluegill
fishing is fair with worms and bobbers the best combination.
Largemouth bass fishing has been fair, with a few fish up to 19
inches.
Rock Creek (Jasper): Bluegill
fishing has been fair using worms. Crappie fishing has been fair
to good near and around structure using jigs and minnows.
Largemouth bass have been biting on top-water lures working
shorelines. Channel catfish fishing has been fair to good using
worms and/or chicken liver.
Big Creek (Polk): Bluegill
fishing has been fair to with worms. Crappie fishing has been
slow using jigs and minnows.
Easter (Polk): Crappie fishing
has been good on jigs for 6 to 8-inch fish. Bluegill fishing has
been good with some nice 8-inch fish reported. Channel catfish
fishing has been slow but starting to pick up. Largemouth bass
fishing has been good using plastic worms.
Saylorville (Polk): Crappie and
white bass fishing has been good to excellent at the outlet from
Big Creek Lake. Fish have been caught on a variety of lures with
reports of nice-sized fish of a variety of species caught.
Below Saylorville Dam (Polk):
Crappie fishing was good in the tailwater ponds at Saylorville.
White bass fishing has been good using jigs and/or minnows.
Des Moines River (Polk):
Crappie and white bass fishing has been fair to good in the Des
Moines River below Scott Street and Center Street dams.
Lake Red Rock (Marion): Crappie
fishing has been fair, with some nice sized fish caught using
jig and minnow combinations. Better fishing is in shallow,
warmer water, around the outlet from Roberts Creek and in the
Whitebreast area. Channel catfish fishing has been good in the
upper reaches of the reservoir off old roadbeds.
Below Lake Red Rock (Marion):
Anglers report white bass and crappie fishing has been fair to
good using jigs in the tailwater area.
Roberts Creek (Marion): Crappie
fishing has been good near the outlet using jig and minnow
combinations. Channel catfish fishing has been good near the
outlet.
Ahquabi (Warren): Crappie
fishing has been fair using jigs and minnows. Largemouth bass
fishing has been good using plastic worms and spinner lures,
although most have below the length limit. Bluegill and redear
fishing has been good with most fish taken on worms near the
shoreline.
Hooper (Warren): Crappie
fishing has been fair using jig and minnow combinations.
Largemouth bass fishing has been good using plastic worms and
spinner lures. Bluegill fishing has been fair to good.
For more information on fishing
in southwest Iowa, call the regional office in Lewis at
712-769-2587.
Southeast
Mississippi River Pools 16 to
19: Fishing on the Mississippi River Pools 16 to 19 continues to
be fair to good. The water level on Pool 16 (Muscatine) is 10.81
feet and is expected to drop gradually over the next several
days. The water temperature is 68 degrees. Anglers continue to
do well catching channel catfish on Pools 16 to 19 on various
baits. Worms and leeches have been best, with some success on
shrimp, shad guts and paste baits. Crappie, bluegill, and
largemouth bass fishing also continues to be good in backwaters
with accessible water depths. Try around Andulusia Island, Big
Timber, Lake Odessa, and Carthage Lake. Crappie anglers have had
success using minnows, jigs and slip bobber rigs. Bluegills are
also being caught in the backwaters and below the dams on jigs
and bobber rigs with worms and wax worms being the baits of
choice. Walleye and sauger fishing has been slow.
Lake Odessa (Louisa): Bluegill
fishing has been good. Look for males to be guarding the nests
on the shallow flats especially off the sandy points. Anglers
are also still catching catfish. Concentrate along the trees
going off into the deeper water. Live minnows or night crawlers
seem to be the best baits.
Lake Darling (Washington):
Monday morning water temperature was 69 degrees, and the water
remains clear. Bluegills are on the nests. Concentrate on the
shallow bays and shoreline area along the old creek channels
where the bottom is mostly sand and gravel. Bluegills are
averaging 7 to 8 inches this year.
Lake Geode (Henry): Bluegill
fishing slowed over the holiday weekend, most likely due to lots
of activity on and around the lake. Anglers are starting to
catch bass along the weed beds down by the spillway. The bridge
across the spillway is now open.
Lake Belva Deer (Keokuk):
Bluegill fishing continues to be excellent. Concentrate on the
shallow water area where they are spawning. Fish small jigs
tipped with wax worms or pieces of worm. Anglers are also
picking up a few crappies that have come to the shallows to
spawn.
Lake Rathbun (Appanoose):
Crappies have been biting in shallow water along rocky
shorelines. Bigger fish are being caught around brush piles in
10 to 15 feet of water. Channel catfish have been biting on
stink bait around the Bridgeview bridge. Walleyes have been
hitting on jig and minnow combinations along rocky points.
Lake Sugema (Van Buren):
Bluegills have been hitting on small jigs tipped with a chunk of
night crawler or wax worm. Largemouth bass have been hitting on
a variety of artificial presentations.
Lake Hawthorn (Mahaska):
Bluegills and crappies have been hitting along the shoreline on
tube jigs and also small jigs tipped with a night crawler or a
minnow.
Lake Wapello (Davis): Bluegills
have been biting on small jigs fished under a bobber. Largemouth
bass have been hitting on artificial lures. Sunrise and sunset
have been the most productive times. Channel catfish have been
biting on liver, worms and stink bait. Evening has been best for
the channel catfish bite.
Lake Macbride (Johnson):
Crappies are being caught in the shallow water brush piles,
using minnows under bobbers or jig and minnow combinations.
Large numbers of bluegills in the 5 to 8-inch range are in the
shallows and have been eager to bite.
Pleasant Creek (Linn): Anglers
are catching some 9 to 11-inch crappies that are in to spawn.
Bluegills are also being caught in the shallows while they are
spawning. Walleyes continue to be caught, using leeches.
Hannen Lake (Benton): Anglers
are catching 6 to 9-inch bluegills. Largemouth bass are being
caught regularly in the shallows.
Wapsipinicon River (Linn):
Smallmouth bass and channel catfish have been willing to bite.
Try live bait, jigs or minnow or crawfish imitations for bass
and dead shad, liver, or crawlers for catfish.
For more information on fishing
in southeast Iowa, call the regional office in Brighton at
319-694-2430.
