After fishing nonstop for 3 days, I thought I'd help some others out on what's going on:

Brushy creek: Black crappie are shallow and spawning. Temperature in cove's is 63 degrees. Fish are in 1-4' of water. Bass are shallow and spawning. Mostly males protecting the nest.

Rathbun: Bridgeview: Water temp is 55-57 so full spawn is not on. Crappie caught from 2-6 feet, most at about 4 feet. Crappie bit well on orange head, white twister tail, road runner jig tipped with a minnow. Bass hit this too. BASS are spawning and easy to catch in the backs of coves in about 3 feet of water on the North, Northwest side of the cove/inlet. Wind direction is a key factor.

Big Creek: water clarity was excellent as of last Thursday. see 12' down. Many fish, not many biters. Crappie are spawning, blacks especially. Water temp was 62-65 in the lost lake area and 60 in the main lake.

It's a great time to get out! I have to finish with some comments on Brushy creek. this is the first time I've been there and what a fishery. If only it was 45 minutes closer to Ankeny. It's everything a bass and crappie guy could ever want!