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
Arrowhead Lake
Ice is around 5 inches thick in front of the boat ramp. Anglers are making their way out. Bluegill – Fair: Some bluegill have been picked up near the east shoreline. Find fish in submerged structure.
Black Hawk Lake
As of today, ice thickness near the boat ramp at Ice House Point was 5 inches. Most ice fishing activity has been in front of Gunshot Hill. There are areas of thin ice and open water off of Ice House Point near Town Bay and in the east basin. Use extreme caution and check ice depths often. Bluegill – Fair: Bluegills are being caught from open water under the inlet bridge out front of Gunshot Hill and from the fishing shelter off Ice House Point. Black Crappie – Fair: Crappie are being picked up from the open water under the inlet bridge. Yellow Perch – Fair: Catch perch under the inlet bridge and off the shoreline of Gunshot Hill.
Black Hawk Pits
Ice is around 5 inches thick off of the boat ramp. Bluegill – Fair: Use waxworms; sorting is needed. Yellow Perch – Fair: Try waxworms fished near the bottom.
Brushy Creek Lake
Anglers are beginning to make their way out. Most activity has been in the northeast arm, the far southeast area, and in front of the west boat ramp. The main lake just froze over a week ago, so is likely unsafe for travel. Bluegill – Fair: A few bluegill have been picked up through the ice in the northeast arm of the lake with waxworms.
Storm Lake (including Little Storm Lake)
Ice is variable from 5 to 8 inches in most areas. Use caution if venturing out and check ice thickness often. Walleye – Fair: A few walleye are being picked up through the ice.
Yellow Perch – Fair: Use waxworms and minnows.
Ice conditions in the Black Hawk District are variable, but anglers are starting to venture out. Some areas still have pockets of open water; use caution and check ice thickness often. For more information, contact the Black Hawk District office at 712-657-2638.
Beeds Lake
Ice thickness is 6 inches on the east end of the lake. The geese have a hole open on the west end of the lake.
Clear Lake
Ice thickness is 6 to 9 inches. Yellow Bass – Fair: Use a small jig tipped with several insect larvae. You b to be mobile to stay on fish. Yellow Perch – Good: Lots of small fish are being caught. Black Crappie – Fair: Try a jigging spoon tipped with a minnow head in the early morning. Walleye – Slow.
Crystal Lake
Ice thickness is 6 to 8 inches. Avoid the pressure ridge near the center of the lake and a hole kept open by waterfowl by the east fishing jetty. Bluegill – Good: Use small jigs tipped with waxworms in the evening. Black Crappie – Good: Try small jigs tipped with a minnow in the evening. Yellow Perch – Good: Lots of small fish are being caught.
Lake Cornelia
Ice thickness is 8 to 9 inches on the north end of the lake. The south end was open close to shore last weekend, but has since froze over. No fishing activity reported.
Lake Smith
Ice thickness is 7 to 9 inches. Bluegill – Fair: Use small ice jig tipped with insect larvae; best bite is early morning and evening.
Lower Pine Lake
Ice fishing is not recommended. There are still significant areas of open water on the west end of the lake.
Rice Lake
Ice thickness is 7 to 9 inches.Yellow Perch – Slow: Best bite is early morning and evening. You have to stay mobile to find fish.
Silver Lake (Worth)
Ice thickness is 7 to 9 inches.
Upper Pine Lake
Fishing not recommended. Ice thickness varies from 1 to 3.5 inches.
For information on the lakes and rivers in the north central area, contact the Clear Lake Fish and Wildlife office at 641-357-3517.
East Okoboji Lake
Lake is snow covered. The large open water area has skimmed over, but there is still open water areas. No ice fishing activity observed.
Lost Island Lake
Ice conditions are variable; foot traffic only. Open water areas has capped over, but there is extreme thin ice in these areas.
Scharnberg Pond
Rainbow Trout – Good: 1500 trout was stocked on Nov. 17th. You must have fishing license and trout stamp to fish for and/or possess trout.
Silver Lake (Dickinson)
Poor ice conditions continue; thin ice conditions on the east side of the lake.
Spirit Lake
Anglers are starting to ice fish the main basin; ice conditions remain variable. Foot traffic only is advised. Walleye – Good: Angler acceptable size fish are being caught; best action is during prime time – half hour before sunset to half hour after sunset. Yellow Perch – Good: Numbers of angler acceptable size fish are being caught; sorting is needed as numbers of small fish will also be in the catch.
Upper Gar Lake
Limited ice condition continue; there are open water areas on the lake due to the flow.
Virgin Lake
Ice conditions are variable on the lake; foot traffic only is advised. Walleye – Good: Good numbers of fish averaging 16 inches are being caught from the lake. Yellow Perch – Good: Fish averaging eight inches are being caught.
West Okoboji Lake
West Okoboji Lake has iced over; there are very thin ice conditions on the main lake. Limited ice fishing observed.
Area lakes continue to have scattered open water and are snow covered from last week’s storm. No activity on the lakes; ice fishing isn’t recommended. For more information throughout the week, contact the Spirit Lake Fish Hatchery at 712-336-1840.
