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: Walleye are still biting fairly well for this time of year; successful anglers are trolling crankbaits in the dredge cuts and also in the shallower areas near east shore. Shad-colored crankbaits have been productive. Channel Catfish – Fair: Anglers are catching catfish using dip baits, cut bait, and chicken liver fishing from boat and shore. White Bass – Good: Use shad, crawlers, and crankbaits. Anglers fishing from shore using shad are having the best luck.
Clear Lake
Walleye – Good: Anglers are picking up a few walleyes when targeting yellow bass. Some walleyes are being caught while trolling the main lake basin. Muskellunge – Good. Yellow Bass – Good: Billy’s reef, Billy’s reef, Fisherman’s reef, the State Dock Area, and the little lake have been producing good numbers of 8.5 to 9 inch yellow bass. Docks from the city park dock to the outlet have been doing ok on yellows. Most anglers are using a light lead head tipped with worms or cut bait. Channel Catfish – Good: Anglers have had good luck drifting along the weed edges on the little lake. Boat fishing near the outlet on the east end has been catching a few; also anglers near Ventura grade have been catching a few. Crappie – Good: Some luck on Billy’s Reef and the rock reef by State Dock area.
Lake Pahoja
Bluegill – Good: Bluegills are schooled up off the jetties. Bluegills are very large with many 7-8 inch fish. Fish a worm and bobber. Largemouth Bass – Good: Throwing spinner baits or soft plastics for the aggressive males will produce bites.
Big Spirit Lake
Largemouth Bass – Good: Fish are being caught under boat hoists around the lake using jigs, wacky worms, or spinner baits. Fish the inside and outside edge of weed lines with Texas rigs, drop shots, swimbaits, or crankbaits in 8-9 feet of water. Smallmouths are hitting top-water along the west shore in the evening. Yellow Perch – Fair: Perch bite has slowed with only a few anglers coming in with more than 20 fish. More fish are starting to reach the 10 inch mark. Successful anglers are using blue and silver pilkies. Fish the north and south ends of the lake.
East Okoboji Lake
Yellow Bass – Good: Large numbers of yellow bass are being caught near East Okoboji beach near the boat docks. Fish vary from small to a few larger 8-9 inch fish. Throw soft plastic shad for them. Anglers fishing under the Highway 9 bridge are catching fair numbers of yellows using small plastic minnows. Walleye – Good: Anglers fishing the south end are reporting a hot bite for walleye. Drift minnows along the bottom before dark. Larger walleye are being caught in 10-12 feet of water.
Silver Lake (Dickinson)
Walleye – Good: A new walleye bite is going at Silver Lake. Anglers are catching many smaller 15-18 inch fish.
West Okoboji Lake
Largemouth Bass – Good: Fish jigs, crankbaits, or Texas rigs under boat hoists, near weed lines, and on the drop offs. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Smallmouth have moved off beds and are headed towards the rocky drop offs. Fish the rock points that shoot out into the main basin of West Lake, Pillsbury, Fort Dodge, or Gull Point. Use jerk baits, football jigs, or swimbaits. Yellow Bass – Good: In Smiths bay just north of the amusement park anglers are reporting a high catch rate of large yellow bass. Anglers using orange twister tails or plain hook with worm and split shot are catching yellows on every cast.
