This Week’s Iowa DNR Northwest Iowa Fishing Report

Northwest Iowa — Here is this week’s Northwest Iowa Fishing Report from the Iowa Department of Natural resources………………

East Okoboji Lake
Ice thickness is around 10+ inches in most areas. Black Crappie – Good: Try small jigs tipped with a minnow or tube jig and bobber. Bluegill – Good: Use tube jigs, plastics, or other small jigs. Northern Pike – Good: Tip-ups are working well. Yellow Perch – Fair: Minnows work well; some sorting may be needed.

Ingham Lake
Use caution; there is an open hole in the lake with the aerator in use.

Lost Island Lake
Ice thickness is around 9+ inches in most places. Black Crappie – Good. Walleye – Good.

Minnewashta Lake
Ice thickness is 10.5+ inches. Black Crappie – Excellent.  Bluegill – Good.

Silver Lake (Dickinson)
Ice thickness is around 9 inches. Use caution; the lake aerator is in use. This creates an open hole on the east side of the lake.  Walleye – Good: Best bite is at dusk.

Spirit Lake
The lake is entirely iced over with 10+ inches in most places. The best ice is on the south end and Anglers Bay. The north end and Buffalo run are heaved up making access dangerous. Marble beach access is heaved up at the boat ramp, but a path is clear just north of it.  Walleye – Good: Best bite is around dusk. Yellow Perch – Good: Use small jigs tipped with a minnow. Sorting may be needed.

West Okoboji Lake
Most bays have safe ice for small machines. The bluegill bite in Little Emerson Bay has been very good. Ice thickness is about 8.5 inches at Emerson Bay and about 12 inches at Haywards Bay. Black Crappie – Fair: Try small jigs tipped with a minnow. Bluegill – Good: Use tube jigs, plastics, or other small jigs. Yellow Perch – Fair: Try small jigs tipped with a minnow. Sorting may be needed.

Most lakes have 9+ inches of ice. Larger lakes may have holes that have more recently iced over; use caution when going out, especially if using an ATV or vehicle. Recent weather is slowly melting the surface snow, making most areas wet/slushy; reading ice conditions is more difficult. Check ice thickness often and bring a friend. For current conditions, call the Spirit Lake District Office at 712-336-1840.