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
Storm Lake (including Little Storm Lake)
Boaters should use caution around the dredge barge, booster pump barge, and pipeline. Walleye regulations for Storm Lake are three fish per day, all fish between 17 and 22 inches must be released and only one over 22 inches may be kept. Walleye – Fair: Anglers are having success in the shallower areas near east shore. Channel Catfish – Fair: Anglers are catching catfish near shore. White Bass – Fair: White bass are being caught on shad, crawlers, and crankbaits.
Clear Lake
Yellow Bass – Good: Anglers have been having action near the Baptist Camp area and the MacIntosh swim beach fishing with cut bait. The rock humps by the State Dock area on the north shore have been producing yellows and an occasional walleye. Yellows seem to want a slow moving bait rather than a still bait. Walleye – Fair: A few walleyes are being caught while slow drifting for yellows bass. Yellow Perch – Fair: Some perch have been caught near the south Ventura jetty.
Big Spirit Lake
Walleye – Fair: Evening bite from shore is producing walleyes, but it has slowed the past week. Jigs tipped with minnows work best.
East Okoboji Lake
Walleye – Fair: Fishing near the bridges in late evening/night with jigs tipped with plastic or minnows has been producing walleyes above and below the slot. Casting crankbaits has also been producing fish. Yellow Bass – Good: Large numbers of yellow bass are being caught near East Okoboji beach near the boat docks. Fish vary in size. Throw soft plastic shad for them. Anglers fishing under the Highway 9 bridge and the narrows are also catching numbers of yellows using small jigs tipped with soft plastics.
Silver Lake (Dickinson)
Walleye – Fair: A few walleye have been picked up on the north side of the lake. Use jigs tipped with minnows or soft plastics.
West Okoboji Lake
Bluegill – Fair: Anglers have been catching decent numbers of fish in Smiths and Haywards bay along the weed line. Pilkie style lures tipped with Belgium worms or maggots seems to work the best.
