Rathbun/coralville/mississippi/red rock

Anyone been out lately? Glad to see a few people still on the site. Been on the road working any reports helpful.

Also, any members in the eastern iowa area I would like to get a good information flow for rathbun coralville mississippi river red rock and other small eastern iowa lakes going. We know lots of people view the post and it's a shame we don't use the commucation to our benefit as Illinois and Missouri does.

For crappie info post info and help experienced and beginners out. Tight lines to all and pass it on.

Did ok on Macbride Friday. Close to the banks in the brush, jig 2ft under a bobber was what they wanted. Water temp was pushing 59 at the end of the day with the warm wind. Meant to get out and try again Saturday but didn't make it. Haven't been out on Coralville much yet. It should be going good soon too.

Thanks hombre great report. On the road for work this week but may try coralville Friday or Saturday if possible.

Will report back, and let's keep the info flowing to help out experienced and new fisherman in eastern iowa!

Fished Red Rock 4 days ago, water was still cold and murky. Warmest I found was 52 degrees but most was 50. Lots of debris out on the main lake. Im sure the water temp has warmed up the last few days. Anybody fishing the tournament on Red Rock this Saturday? 7am-3pm out of the Elk Rock boat ramp. Have to be registered by 630am. Im sure saying this will come back to haunt me but the weather for Saturday looks great so far!

What tournament?

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Tried to post it once, it freaked out and did it 3 times. Tried to fix it but evidently can't figure it out. Sorry! Anyway....there's the info. Weather is still looking great

Was at Rathbun last Sat and sun. Did not do real well. Better sat than sun but still a week or so off I think. No real structure to fish showing. So need to be able to locate or fish rocks unless the lake comes up a couple foot.

What part of the lake? I fished Honey Creek last fall and couldn't find any brush on my electronics either.

I was at Seguma the 14th of this month. Water temp averaged 62 to 65 degrees. Caught short males shallow but we managed to keep 30 crappie from 9 to 11 inches, and only 2 11 inchers. bigger fish were mostly females in 12 to 15 foot of water . Never caught a bluegill over 6".

Great reports. Will be heading to coralville late this week and rathbun next weekend. Did get a chance on a cedar river backwater had temps eighth around 70 but very slow bites and all males.

Heading to Rathbun after the holiday. Should be there the 5th,6th and 7th.

Fished coralville today sat 27. Water temp topped out about 66 degrees before leaving at 3pm. Caught many females with eggs both black and white crappie. A lot of small males 6 to 8 inches. Most fish in 7 to 18 ft of water. Very tight to submerged rock humps and large underwater laydowns near or just out of the river channel. Almost no fish caught back into the coves. A lot of fish but sorting required did get one 15"@ 1.73 with eggs and another 12 inch with eggs. Most 9 to 10. Sonar is a must have here as virtually no visible structure and patience for the pleasure boaters.

Will also be attempting rathbun on 55th for a few days.

Thanks for the report hammann! I haven't had much luck lately. In fact, now I am having problems with my boat motor. Hope I can get it fixed soon!

I fished Rathbun last weekend water temps 63 in morning up to 68 in the afternoon. As usual a lot of small fish did catch few nice males shallow but also caught some males 10' deep in 14 to 16 feet of water. The only nice females i found were in the mouth of a cove 1 afternoon 16 to 18 feet of water but they were only couple feet deep caught 6 pretty quick thought i was on to them and about that quick it was over and couldn't find them again. Good luck guys

Rathbun 6/4. Lots of dinks, quite a few "take a 2nd look" at them, kept 12 nice ones. Had 1 on top that would push 2# but couldn't get her in the boat. 80 + water above the bridges and dirty.

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Pics from rathbun Saturday and Sunday. Fished main lake from dam to crappie cove. Temps from 73 to 80. Unlimited amount of short fish can be caught. All keepers were caught on horizontal large trees from 2 to 6 fow but very near Creek channels or access from deep water drop offs. Mostly 10 to 12 inch fish largest around 13.5. Mix of male and female eggs becoming very soft. All came from mostly 3 spots. Kept 37 and 44.

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Originally Posted by hammann_13

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Pics from rathbun Saturday and Sunday. Fished main lake from dam to crappie cove. Temps from 73 to 80. Unlimited amount of short fish can be caught. All keepers were caught on horizontal large trees from 2 to 6 fow but very near Creek channels or access from deep water drop offs. Mostly 10 to 12 inch fish largest around 13.5. Mix of male and female eggs becoming very soft. All came from mostly 3 spots. Kept 37 and 44.

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Nicely done!

Yes them are good numbers for that lake, also look to be decent size keepers. Not the 7 to 8 inchers you so often see cleaned down there.

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Mississippi River pool 17 6/24. Backwaters 6 to 12 F.ow. aggressive bite rite off the bottom in trees. Many females with large hard egg sacks. Water bank full in backwaters.

Good job young man.

Great job hammann! I fish pool 18 quite often and right below lock dam 17.
I went to lake sugema this morning and caught a nice 16 1/2 walleye and some small crappies. I have found the small crappies are easy to catch in Sugema. Have been going to lake Geode lately before they drain it and have pulled some nice crappie from there lately.

Good luck to all.

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Originally Posted by lileasy

Great job hammann! I fish pool 18 quite often and right below lock dam 17.
I went to lake sugema this morning and caught a nice 16 1/2 walleye and some small crappies. I have found the small crappies are easy to catch in Sugema. Have been going to lake Geode lately before they drain it and have pulled some nice crappie from there lately.

Good luck to all.

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Do you know when as in date they plan to start draining it ? Thanks Lee

As I understand they are going to start draining Geode on July 10. I heard it is not supposed to take long to drain once it begins.

I fished pool 18 in backwaters today. Caught a few crappie and a ton of small bluegill. Was a beautiful day on the water.

Fished pool 17 Sunday. 3 fat 11" crappie, 2 bluegill, 4 LM, and a nice SM (my 1st). Tube jigs. 1st time out with new boat.