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)
Storm Lake is ice free. Look for early spring temperatures to bring on the bite. More reports will be posted as open water fishing ramps up. Right after ice out is a good time to target channel catfish from shore. Use cut bait or shad guts fished off the bottom to capitalize on the abundant channel catfish population.
Big Spirit Lake
Ice conditions: 8-12 inches of ice, but ice is deteriorating rapidly. Use caution while on the ice. Yellow Perch – Fair: Anglers are picking up a few perch once they find them. Bakers Point and north of the pump house in 20 feet of water has been producing. Try small silver spoons or gold tear drops tipped with maggots or wax worms.
Center Lake
Ice conditions: 8-10 inches of ice, but ice is deteriorating rapidly. There is a large pocket of open water on the western shore. Use caution while on the ice. Fishing activity was minimal the past week.
East Okoboji Lake
Ice condition: 8-12 inches of ice, but ice is deteriorating rapidly. Use caution while on the ice. Yellow Bass – Good: Some nice yellow bass have been caught out in front of Parks Marina in the main lake basin. Tungsten jigs tipped with wax worms or maggots work well. Keep moving to find active schools of fish. Yellow Perch – Fair: Anglers have been picking up some nice perch on Peppermint Point and in front of Parks Marina. Pilkie style lures or tungsten jigs tipped with maggots or wax worms work well. Gold or black are the hot colors.
Minnewashta Lake
Ice conditions: 8-12 inches of ice. Use caution while on the ice. Areas near the bridges have opened up. Fishing activity has been minimal.
Silver Lake (Dickinson)
The eastern shoreline is all open. No reports from the previous week.
West Okoboji Lake
Ice conditions: 8-12 inches of ice, but ice is deteriorating rapidly. Use caution while on the ice. Bluegill – Fair: The southwestern shoreline in Millers bay has been producing nice bluegills in 8-10 feet of water. Look for standing vegetation. A few bluegills have been picked up in Emerson bay as well. Gold tear drops or small tungsten jigs tipped with wax worms work well.
Ingham Lake
Ice conditions: 8-10 inches of ice, but ice is deteriorating rapidly. No reports from the last week.
Five Island Lake
Ice conditions: 12-13 inches of ice, but conditions varied. Use caution while on the ice. The aeration system is in use. Yellow Bass – Good: Anglers are catching numbers of yellow bass. Keep moving until you find active fish. Tungsten jigs tipped with wax worms or maggots have been producing well.
Lost Island Lake
Ice condition: 8-12 inches of ice. Ice is deteriorating rapidly. Use caution while on the ice. Yellow Bass – Fair: The bite has slowed the past week, but anglers are still finding some nice yellows. Keep moving until you find the schools of fish. Small tungsten jigs tipped with wax worms work well. Early morning and evenings are the best bites.
Upper Gar Lake
The entire lake is ice free. No reports from the last week.
Silver Lake (Palo Alto)
Ice Conditions: 8-10 inches of ice. Ice is deteriorating rapidly. Use caution while on the ice. No reports from the past week.
Some open water near shorelines and bridges. Most of the ice is starting to honeycomb. Walleye season is closed on Big Spirit, West and East lakes.
