Greg Keefer.

OCTOBER
Smallmouth Bass,
Turkey River
Fall fishing for river smallies is a thrill. It’s not cold enough to shut things down, and the bass are trying to put on weight before winter sets in.

There are several year-classes available in the Turkey River with some nice fish available for the taking. Bass can be several pounds, but smaller fish are the norm. Cast small in-line spinners with light line along rocks, wood and other cover. Cast upstream and then bring the bait back to you on the current for the most natural approach. These fish can be skittish.

Decent numbers of fish can be found south of Cresco in Howard County in the Vernon Springs Park area to the Howard-Winneshiek county line. Once the river crosses into Winneshiek County the bottom becomes sandy and the number of bass drops off. The river changes back to a gravel bottom between Fort Atkinson and Elgin and bass numbers are much better. The bottom becomes sandy once again up until the low-head dam at Elkader, and that’s where the action picks up again.

Contact the Decorah fish management office, (563) 382-8324, for more information.

NOVEMBER
Walleyes,
Black Hawk Lake
Many walleye anglers hang up the fishing pole long before the weather cools down in the late fall. What they don’t know is that walleyes will keep right on feeding heavily when the water temperatures dip down into the 40s.

Walleyes prefer larger baits in the fall. Among the reasons are that young-of-year prey fish are larger, female walleyes are producing most of their eggs and the fish are bulking up for the winter.

On warm, sunny days, the walleyes will move up into the warmer water near the top of the water column. Try larger baits like Reef Runners and Rapalas in less than 10 feet of water.

The fish will measure up to 22 inches, and there are a lot of them. Black Hawk walleyes have one of the fastest growth rates in the state.

Black Hawk Lake covers 987 acres. The lake is located on the east edge of Lake View in Sac County. For additional information contact the Black Hawk fish management station at (712) 657-2638.

DECEMBER
Bluegills,
Belva Deer Lake
Belva Deer Lake is relatively new on the ice-fishing scene and is a gangbuster place to go. The lake covers 264 acres in southeastern Iowa near Sigourney and is loaded with bluegills.

The lake is going through the boom phase that new impoundments experience. The water still has plenty of flooded structure and is fertile enough to support a healthy food chain, all of which benefits the ‘gills. Fish in the 7- to 9-inch range are common and some 10-inchers have been taken.

Crappies and redear sunfish are also making a good showing, and there’s no reason for anglers not to catch a few. These fish will be right in along with the bluegills and can be taken on small minnows. Larval baits typically are better for the bluegills.

The lake bottom includes a lot of old roadways, standing trees, earth mounds and trenches to enhance fish habitat in the western section of the lake. Depths average 12 feet with a maximum of 34 feet.

Access is from the Keokuk County Conservation Board’s eight miles of shoreline. Contact the Lake Darling fish management station for more information at (319) 694-2430.

Find more about Iowa fishing and hunting at: IowaGameandfish.com