Prolonged heavy rains in Guthrie County over the last couple weeks has created difficulty for anglers at local rivers and streams.

Fall is typically a good time to catch fish in rivers and streams as they become more active as the temperature drops, according to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. But higher river and stream banks have been of concern to Guthrie County Conservation Director Joe Hanner, “The rivers are very high and very muddy. The south Raccoon River is probably not going to be fishable for several days because of the water turbidity. The middle Raccoon River is even off colored and very, very high. But if anybody’s wanting to fish [in] rivers I would probably focus on the middle Raccoon River because it will clean up a little bit quicker there.”

Anglers will have the best chance of catching smallmouth bass, walleyes and crappies, according to Hanner. As drier weather conditions are predicted with sunshine and high temperatures approaching 60 degrees in the coming week, Hanner hopes the rivers will stabilize and conditions will resemble a “truer picture” of October for those wanting to venture outdoors.