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
Black Hawk Lake
Water temperature is around 60 degrees. The outdoor walkway on the fish house structure in Town Bay is open to anglers; the indoor portion of the structure remains closed. Yellow Perch – Fair: Anglers are picking up some perch in Town Bay. Sorting is needed, but keepers are 8-10 inches.Black Crappie – Good: Shore fishing has been productive. Fish anywhere from shore with rock and structure. Use a small jig tipped with crawler or small minnow fished under a bobber along shore in Town Bay, Ice House Point from the inlet bridge and from the floating pier and fish house in Town Bay. Largemouth Bass – Fair. Walleye – Fair: Walleye fishing from shore has been hit or miss. Use twisters, crankbaits and leeches or crawlers fished under a bobber.
Brushy Creek Lake
Black Crappie – Fair: Use a small piece of crawler or minnow on a jig fished under a bobber near shore in 5-10 feet of water by rocks or woody structure. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Anglers are picking up a few on spinner baits and plastics in areas near submerged structure. Yellow Perch – Fair: Try crawlers on a small jig in 5-10 feet of water. Some is sorting needed. Walleye – Fair.
North Twin Lake
Water temperature is around 60 degrees with around 5 feet of water clarity. Black Crappie – Fair: Fish anywhere with structure near shore or downed trees near the shoreline. Yellow Bass – Fair: Yellow bass have moved in close to shore. Use a small jig tipped with a piece of crawler or waxworm fished under a small bobber in 3-6 feet of water near shore. If fishing from boat, you may need to move around to stay on top of fish. Yellow bass are 6-10 inches long.
Storm Lake (including Little Storm Lake)
Water clarity has increased. Anglers have had good luck from shore and in the main lake. Storm Lake has a daily limit of 3 walleye and all 17- to 22-inch walleye must be released; and no more than one walleye longer than 22 inches may be taken per day. Black Crappie – Fair: Use crawlers and minnows on a small jig fished near shore in the marina near the inlet and along the north and east shore of the main lake. Walleye – Good: The bite in the main lake has picked up. If fishing from shore, use a twister, crankbait or a leech or crawler fished under a bobber. Boat anglers have had good luck trolling crankbaits in the dredge cuts. Yellow Perch – Fair: Pick up perch along shore in the marina and north and east shores. White Bass – Fair: The bite has been hit or miss. Anglers are picking up white bass from shore and in the main like while trolling. Use twisters, crawlers or crankbaits in the marina, near the inlet and north and east shores in the main lake.
Water temperatures are around 60 degrees in the Black Hawk District. For more information, contact the Black Hawk District office at 712-657-2638.
Beeds Lake
The panfish bite is picking up. Bluegill – Good. Black Crappie – Good. Yellow Bass – Fair.
Clear Lake
The water temperature is in the low sixties. The bite will continue to improve as the water warms. Walleye – Fair: Anglers are catching a few walleyes drift fishing a jig and crawler near vegetation. Also try slip bobber fishing a leech on the rock reefs and along the vegetation edge. The trolling bite is starting to pick up. Yellow Bass – Slow: Yellow bass a starting to move up shallow. The best bite is early morning. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Bass are biting on jigs fished near the edge of vegetation. Yellow Perch – Fair. Channel Catfish – Fair: Try a piece of cut bait fished on the bottom near areas where water is coming into the lake.
Crystal Lake
Black Crappie – Good: Use small white plastics in 7-9 feet of water. Largemouth Bass – Good. Northern Pike – Slow.
Lake Cornelia
Yellow Bass – Good: Yellow bass are on the rocky areas. Walleye – Fair: Try jerk bait fished along the shoreline. Bluegill – Good.
Lake Smith
Anglers are catching bluegills and crappies along the shoreline. Recent rains have reduced water clarity. Bluegill – Good. Black Crappie – Good.
Lower Pine Lake
Popular fishing areas become crowded in the afternoon and evening; fish in the morning to avoid crowds. Bluegill – Good: Shore anglers are catching good numbers of 4 to 7 inch fish. Black Crappie – Good. Largemouth Bass – Good. Channel Catfish – Fair: Try chicken liver or cut bait fished on the bottom near the spillway.
Silver Lake (Worth)
Largemouth Bass – Good. Bluegill – Slow.
Upper Pine Lake
Popular fishing areas become crowded in the afternoon and evening; fish in the morning to avoid crowds. The fish cleaning station is unavailable. Bluegill – Good: Shore anglers are catching good numbers of 4 to 7 inch fish. Largemouth Bass – Good. Black Crappie – Good.
For information on the lakes and rivers in north central Iowa, contact the Clear Lake Fish and Wildlife office at 641-357-3517.
East Okoboji Lake
The Walleye Season is open. The water temperature is 55 degrees. There has been a fair panfish bite in many of the bays and harbors, in and around boat hoists and docks. Bluegill – Good: Large schools have been found gathering around hoists and docks. Black Crappie – Good. Yellow Perch – Fair.
Lake Pahoja
Bluegill – Fair. Black Crappie – Fair. Largemouth Bass – Good.
Lost Island Lake
Yellow Perch – Fair. Walleye – Fair.
Silver Lake (Dickinson)
Walleye – Good.
Spirit Lake
The Walleye Season is open. The water temperature is 56 degrees. Bluegill – Good: Large schools have been found gathering around hoists and docks. Walleye – Fair: Evenings have had fairly good bites. Black Bullhead – Fair: Anglers have been successful at the north grade.
Trumbull Lake
Yellow Perch – Fair: Size quality is outstanding with some sorting. Use jigs and minnows or wigglers in the main lake.
West Okoboji Lake
The Walleye Season is open. The water temperature is 55 degrees. A good spring bass bite has been observed in canal areas, as well a good panfish bite in various harbors and around docks and hoists. Bluegill – Good: Large schools have been found gathering around hoists and docks. Black Crappie – Good. Smallmouth Bass – Fair. Largemouth Bass – Fair:
The Walleye season is open on Spirit Lake, East Okoboji Lake and West Okoboji Lake. All local boat ramps are in and open for use. Iowa Great Lake water temperatures range from 55 to 60 degrees. The bite should continue to pick up as water temperatures rise. This week’s extended forecast is temperatures ranging from the upper 60’s to 70’s. For current conditions, call the Spirit Lake District Office at 712-336-1840.
