This Week’s Northwest Iowa Fishing Report From The Iowa DNR

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 17+ inches in most areas. The walleye season is closed. 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 are working well; some sorting may be needed.

Ingham Lake
There is a large hole open on the lake but there is still 15+ inches of ice. Walleye – Fair:

Lost Island Lake
Ice thickness is around 16 inches in most places. Black Crappie – Good. Walleye – Good.

Minnewashta Lake
Ice thickness is around 17 inches. Bluegill and crappie fishing has been good. Black Crappie – Good.  Bluegill – Good.

Silver Lake (Dickinson)
Ice thickness is around 17+ inches, but conditions around the shorelines are thinner. 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 16+ inches in most places. The best ice is on the south end and Anglers Bay. Most accesses are clear of heaves and snow. The walleye season is closed. Black Crappie -Good. Yellow Perch – Good: Use small jigs tipped with a minnow. Sorting may be needed.

West Okoboji Lake
West Okoboji is relatively free of any major heaves or hazards. The bluegill bite in Little Emerson Bay and out from Triboji has been slower; fish have been finicky. The walleye season is closed. Black Crappie – Fair: Try small jigs tipped with a minnow. Bluegill – Fair: 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 16 inches of ice, but shorelines and accesses have thinner ice due to runoff. Vehicle use is more limited in certain areas. The walleye season on the Iowa Great Lakes is closed until May 6th. Permanent and non-permanent ice shacks must be removed from the ice when not occupied.  For current conditions, call the Spirit Lake District Office at 712-336-1840.