Spirit Lake, Iowa — The Iowa Department of Natural Resources issues a weekly fishing report on Thursdays in an effort to provide the latest information heading into the weekend. The weekly fishing report is compiled from information gathered from local bait shops, angler creel surveys, and county and state parks staff. For more information contact the Spirit Lake fish Hatchery at 712-336-1840.
NORTHWEST
Beeds Lake
Black Crappie – Fair: Drift fish or troll with tube jig or a small minnow. Bluegill – Fair: Use a small piece of crawler under a bobber in 2 to 4 feet of water.
Clear Lake
Clear Lake is 7.5 inches above crest. Surface water temperature is 76 degrees. Walleye – Good: Try a slip bobber and leeches or crawlers fished near the edge of vegetation in 3 to 6 feet of water. Yellow Bass – Slow: Use a small jig tipped with a piece of crawler at the edge of vegetation. Channel Catfish – Good: Catfish are biting baits fished on the rock reefs and off the jetties. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Try a spinner or topwater bait in the open spots in the vegetation. Muskellunge – Fair.
Crystal Lake
Bluegill – Fair: Bluegill are biting. Use a small piece of crawler and a bobber in 2 to 3 feet of water. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Bass are biting spinners and plastic baits. Black Crappie – Fair: Drift or troll small tube jigs in the dredge cut.
Lake Smith
Largemouth Bass – Good: Largemouth bass are biting on a variety of baits. Bluegill – Good: Bluegill are biting. Use a small piece of crawler and a bobber in 2 to 3 feet of water.
Silver Lake (Worth)
Largemouth Bass – Fair: Largemouth bass are biting on plastic baits. Bluegill – Good: Use a small piece of crawler and a bobber in 2 to 3 feet of water.
East Okoboji Lake
Yellow Bass – Good: Good numbers of fish are being caught; cast mini-jigs or hair-jigs in the evening. Walleye – Good: Numbers of fish are being caught with traditional baits; good numbers of yellow bass are mixed in with the catch. Bluegill – Good: Anglers report an improving panfish bite of bluegill and crappie. Use small jigs tipped with waxworms in the weed lines.
Lake Pahoja
Bluegill – Good: Recent surveys show good numbers of large angler size fish in the lake.
Lost Island Lake
Walleye – Good: leye action has improved; reports of the best action in areas with flow. Yellow Bass – Good: Reports of yellow bass being caught. Use small lures such as a twister tail or hair jigs.
Silver Lake (Dickinson)
Walleye – Fair: Walleye action has slowed on the lake; persistence will be rewarded with nice fish caught.
Spirit Lake
Walleye – Good: Good walleye action continues; troll live bait. Yellow Perch – Good: Report of yellow perch action “picking up” on the lake.
West Okoboji Lake
Bluegill – Good: Wooden docks in deeper water and new aquatic growth will produce good numbers of angler acceptable sized fish.
