Fishing Report For Saylorville Lake, IA

Current Report: Good To Very Good

Catching a bunch of crappie that average around a pound, is what is drawing crappie enthusiasts to this fertile crappie factory. Crappie fishing with minnows or crappie jigs is catching them all over the lake, especially in areas around, and nearby, the fish habitat planted by the Central Iowa Anglers and the Army Corps of Engineers.

WINTER. The current water temperature is in the low 30's, and the lake is freezing over. Crappie have migrated to deeper holding areas, mostly off shore. When ice fishing, they are caught using a very slow presentation, in 10 to 18 feet of water. Most are caught around creek channel mouths, submerged timber, deep brush piles, and main-lake structure. Good reports typically come from anglers fishing cover along the Des Moines River channel. When they suspend in open water, they often relate to some cover, or structure change, directly below them. During warming trends, especially warm afternoons, they are drawn into 8 to 12 feet of water to feed. Light tackle, with 4 lb to 8 lb line, is a popular choice.

SPRING. In early Spring, crappie begin staging in 5 to 10 feet of water, just outside spawning bays and shallow flats. Spring is prime time to be on the water, as both black crappie and white crappie have moved shallow to spawn. At that time, they are typically caught in 3 to 8 feet of water. Vegetation, brush and wood are where most anglers catch crappie using small crappie jigs or live minnows. After the spawn, crappie typically move outside the spawning area and hold on cover close by, in slightly deeper water. Once they move deep, anglers report success using fish finders and forward facing sonar to locate schools of crappie, which tend to stack vertically around cover.

SUMMER. Water temperatures get quite warm, and crappie fishing is usually pretty good. They feed in 8 to 10 feet of water early and late in the day, until the hot Summer sun causes them to retreat to depths of 10 to 15 feet. Also, a few have embedded in the shade of slightly shallower vegetation. This is a good time to focus around brush piles, standing timber, deep lay downs, bridge pilings and deeper docks. Anglers are also locating schools of crappie hanging over deep structure and around creek channel edges, using fish-finder electronics.

FALL. As Fall begins warming the shallows, baitfish, move into shallow flats, coves and bays, which draws crappie into these areas. They will be feeding heavily in preparation for the cold Winter, in 8 to 12 feet of water. Minnows, hair jigs, and crappie jigs, are good options during this feeding marathon. Late Fall which turns the shallows cold, starts pushing crappie deeper, toward winter holding areas. Small flutter spoons, fished in 10 to 12 feet of water, are a good option during this transition. Good results typically come around points, creek channels, and brush piles.

Current Report: Good

Thanks to an abundant food source of gizzard shad, minnows and shiners, white bass are thriving here.

WINTER. Winter fishing techniques for white bass, is a continuation of Fall patterns, except slightly deeper, around 10 to 25 feet. Currently, they are somewhat inactive as ice fishing season sets in. However, they can still be caught on spoons, jigs, and live minnows, using a slower presentation. They often concentrate in the main lake basin, around drop offs, points and humps.

SPRING. The Spring run, when white bass move into the river sections of the lake, inflowing creeks, or along windy points where they stay for several weeks. to spawn. This makes it easier to locate schools in 4 to 12 feet of water. Live minnows on a bobber, underspins, small swimbaits and small crankbaits all work for white bass in the shallows. Some proven spawning areas include protected, shallow flats and points in the mouths of smaller inlets. White bass start their spawn run once the water temperature reaches the mid 50's. Early Spring is a prime time to fill the livewells with some fat white bass. Spinnerbaits, curly-tail jigs, underspins, small crankbaits, small jerkbaits, and most any lure that resembles baitfish, will catch these feeding whites. As the water temperatures continues warming, they move out of spawning areas, into slightly deeper water. Look for them following schools baitfish in 10 to 20 feet deep. Also, watch for feeding frenzies when they chase schools of bait to the surface, and the fishing can be spectacular.

SUMMER. Summer finds white bass congregating in the main lake area, following and feeding on baitfish. They tend to stay in 5 to 20 feet of water, moving up and down the water column with the baitfish. Often they will chase baitfish very shallow, for short periods. They are being caught on slow-rolled spinnerbaits, curly-tail jigs, underspins, spoons, blade baits and small crankbaits, depending on the depth of the baitfish. Middle of the lake channel edges, points and flats hold all bait and white bass in the warmest months. Popular areas include wind-blown points, flats and channel edges around the marina cove to Sandpiper Boat Ramp.

FALL. Early Fall finds white bass chasing baitfish into shallow coves and bays, into 6 to 15 feet of water. Spoons, jigs, underspins and minnows are catching good numbers of whites. Later, once the shallows cool considerably from chilly Fall temperatures, schools of white bass and baitfish, move deeper. They will relate to most any structure, which includes drops, humps, timber, and creek channels. Trolling small crankbaits and spoons, or casting spoons and swimbaits, will catching them feeding on schools of baitfish.

Current Report: Good

Fish in the 3 lb to 6 lb class are being caught relatively often, but the typical fish are 1 1/4 pounds to 2 pounds. The bass here relate to rocky areas and creek channels.

WINTER. The cold of Winter has isolated largemouth around deeper structure, flats, points and creek channels. The lake is currently freezing over, and bass tend to hold close to the bottom, or suspending from 15 to 30 feet deep, occasionally shallower on warm, sunny days. Often, some of the larger bass will isolate away from schools in 5 or so feet deeper water. Here they hold, feeding less frequently, awaiting warmer water to return in Spring. Slow presentations with drop shots, jigs, finesse worms, or lipless crankbaits are often the key to getting bites, just before, during and after, ice fishing.

SPRING. Once water temperatures rise into the low 60's, largemouth will move from deep wintering holes, to shallower water near spawning areas. Anglers report good topwater action from mid Spring through Summer, especially early in the morning, and on cloudy days. Vibrating jigs, crankbaits, jerkbaits and spinnerbaits typically get bites just away from the shoreline. At this time they are feeding aggressively in about 8 to 15 feet of water, and preparing for the spawn. Once water warms into the mid to high 60's, they will move into 2 to 8 feet of water, and create nests, then lay their eggs. Immediately afterwards, females move to deeper water and males remain to guard the eggs, and then the fry. After a couple weeks, the males also move to slightly deeper water, around 10 to 15 feet deep. Deep-diving crankbaits, vibrating jigs, drop shots, plastic worms, jigs, spoons, and swimbaits catch bass during this period.

SUMMER. Water temperatures will warm considerably in Summer. Bass will feed shallow, early and late in the day, where they are typically caught in 8 to 10 feet of water, on topwater lures, square-bill crankbaits, spinnerbaits and a variety of other lures. During Summer, keep an eye on the thermocline to determine the maximum depth to fish, as there is very little oxygen below the thermocline. Largemouth bass here feed on shad, herring, small sunfish and crawfish. Later in Summer, during the hotter parts of the day, they are typically caught on points, channel edges, and ledges 15 to 25 feet deep. Wacky-rigged stick worms always catch finicky bass when the bite is slow. Some of the best reports typically come from anglers fishing rip rap around Cherry Glen and Lake View.

FALL. When Fall arrives, bass here will follow schools of baitfish into coves and shallow bays where crankbaits, swimbaits, and slow-rolled spinnerbaits have been successful in prior years. In early Fall, anglers typically have success in 4 to 15 feet of water, around points and shallow flats leading to deeper water. As deeper water cools, bait and bass move out to ledges, channel edges, points and humps. Here flutter spoons are often the ideal bait in 15 feet of water, or deeper. Some of the larger bass will seclude themselves away from the school, often in slightly deeper water.