Summer Fishing in IOWA

This article first appeared in The Iowa Sportsman Magazine

Iowa may be one of the best states in the Midwest to fish this time of year.  The water is warming, most all spawning activity is complete, and the rivers are flowing.  No matter what part of the state you live in, you have a river nearby that is waiting for you.  Smallmouth and largemouth bass are really feeding up this time of year and can provide fantastic topwater action.  These species of fish will hit a variety of topwater baits this time of year.  Some favorites amongst bass anglers include; buzzbaits, poppers, walking baits and frogs.  If your river system is large enough, you may have some backwater areas that are starting to provide nice weed patches for fish to hide and feed in.  Not only are these high percentage areas for bass and topwater baits, but are also great for bluegills.  I have never seen a bluegill that could resist a small worm floating under a bobber.  If you live in areas where smaller rivers rule your terrain then it is time to get your topwater baits ready for some smallmouth bass.  Smallmouth love to hang out in current areas and sandbars.  Smallmouth bass will smash a topwater water bait all throughout the day.  Of course, early morning and later in the evening is better for any type of fishing right now, especially topwater baits.  Rocky shorelines provide an ample amount of food for the smallmouth and they will be fooled by small walking baits and popper style baits.  The same goes for catching smallmouth bass on or near sandbars.  

If river fishing isn't for you, or you don’t have a good way to access rivers in your area, then some crappie fishing in a nearby lake is something to focus on.  As the lake temperatures start to warm, crappies will start to align with shaded areas and deeper structures.  Crappies really like shaded shorelines this time of year and boat docks too.  Each provides some cooler water and gives them an advantage in stalking their prey.  Crappies are best known for hitting artificial baits.  They love jigheads and a colorful plastic trailer.  One-eighth ounce jighead or lighter is best for these fish.  My two favorite colors of baits for crappie plastics are; pink and white and a black and chartreuse combination.  Once you figure out the right weight of lure to get it at the depth the crappies are holding, you will have a fantastic time catching these fish.  Mix up the jig head weights and colors until you find the perfect combination for the depth of water you are fishing.  

Another great fish to target in our lakes are bluegills.  Bluegills can usually be seen in large numbers throughout the state at any given lake.  These fish are quite energetic for their size and are very fun to catch on light tackle.  As mentioned earlier, a small worm and bobber is hard to beat when chasing bluegills, however if you are in a boat searching for them you may want to give a drop-shot a try.  When bluegills are relating to the bottom of the lake, there is no better technique to catch them then the drop-shot.  This rig has a bell sinker on the bottom of your line with your hook and bait ties approximately six inches above the sinker.  This allows you to pull the worm or drift with it along the bottom while keeping your hook and bait just off the bottom, bluegills love this presentation.  Typically the bite is a nice little thump on your rod, so it is great to use with kids as well.  The month of June is a great time to explore new areas, the fish are biting and you may find a great new place to fish for years to come.

As you can see, Iowa has a lot to offer right now when it comes to fishing.  The heart-pounding topwater bass strikes, bluegills slowly taking your bobber, or crappies picking up your jig, there is always something biting in June right here in Iowa.