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
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. Anglers fishing under the Highway 9 bridge are catching fair numbers of yellows using small plastic minnows. Yellow Perch – Fair: Smaller yellow perch are being caught while anglers are fishing for yellow bass. Pulling similar baits near the bottom will force more perch into your bucket. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Fish near the inlet to upper gar along the rocks. Anglers are seeing bass bedding up in the upper gar then swimming into East Okoboji. Walleye – Fair: Parks Marina and Lone Tree Point are reporting a hot bite for walleye. Anglers are drifting minnows along the bottom before dark. Larger walleye are being caught in 10-12 feet of water.
West Okoboji Lake
Largemouth Bass – Good: Largemouth bass are schooled in the warm water of the canals and harbors as they enter their pre-spawn. Many male bass are already on beds while females are still out swimming the depths. Males are being caught on trick worms, wacky rigs, and drop shots. Females are enjoying jigs and deep diving cranks. Bluegill – Good: The canals are loaded with bluegills. Large and small fish are being caught in good numbers. Crappie – Fair: The trestle is still being reported to be a good bite. The canals are starting to fill with larger crappies. Smallmouth Bass – Slow: Smallmouth are being caught along the southeast banks of West near Pillsbury Point and Fort Dodge. Fish the drop offs with dropshots and huskyjerks. Northern Pike – Good: Little Emerson and little millers are filled with northerns. Throw anything and catch a few. Walleye – Slow: Good numbers of walleyes swimming near shore after dark at Pikes Point, Manhattan, Fort Dodge, Pillsbury, and Gull Point. Anglers are catching fish but not in good numbers. Water clarity and temperatures are keeping fish from biting.
Big Spirit Lake
Largemouth Bass – Fair: Small bass are in trickles. Larger bass are still out deep. Males are staging on beds. Many bedded bass are along the north shore near Trickle Slough. Walleye – Fair: Few above the slot walleye are being caught but many in the 10-14inch range are being caught at Marble and Templar on the rock bars. Anglers are catching more non-slot walleye at the north grade using worms and small hair jigs. Fishing the channel where the old foot bridge once was is proving to be a good spot for those with waders. Bullhead – Excellent: The north grade is keeping anglers busy with bullheads. Anglers being creeled have reported catching many bullheads over a pound. Anglers are using a worm weighted to the bottom. Yellow Perch – Fair: The fishing pier at the grade is producing more 6-8 inch perch for anglers willing to sort through bullheads and bluegill. Use jig heads and wax worms.
Center Lake
Bluegill – Fair: 6-8 inch bluegill are being caught in low numbers along the north bank. Anglers are using small lipstick jigs tipped with a night crawler.
Lake Pahoja
Bluegill – Excellent: Bluegills are schooled up off the jetties. Bluegills are very large with many 7-8 inches. Fish a worm and bobber. Largemouth Bass – Good: Largemouth are beginning to bed in the shallows along the south banks. Throwing spinner baits or soft plastics for the aggressive males will produce bites.
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 picking up a lot of 12 to 13 inch and 17 to 19 inch walleye. Try trolling shad colored crankbaits in 7 to 9 feet of water. Channel Catfish – Fair: Use traditional catfish baits. A few are also being picked up while walleye fishing.
Little Sioux River (Linn Grove to Correctionville)
As of Thursday, discharge around Linn Grove is 1050 cfs (48th percentile) and around Correctionville is 1830 cfs (71st percentile).
Five Island Lake
Walleye – Fair: Anglers fishing just north of Town Bay are catching 14-17 inch walleye. Anglers using bottom bouncers are stumbling upon numbers of walleyes as they approach the shallows.
Lost Island Lake
Yellow Bass – Good: Yellows are biting in 8 feet of water on soft plastic shad. Anglers are getting their fill this week.
