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 4-5 inches thick in front of the boat ramp. Ice conditions have deteriorated since last week; use caution. Bluegill – Fair: Some bluegill have been picked up near the east shoreline. Find fish in submerged structure.
Black Hawk Lake
As of Dec. 27, ice thickness near the boat ramp at Ice House Point was 4 inches of clear ice under 1 inch of cloudy ice. If you venture out, use extreme caution; these conditions can change fast. There are open water areas off Ice House Point, Gunshot Hill and in the east basin. Bluegill – Fair:Over the last several days, bluegills have been picked up from open water under the inlet bridge and through the ice in front of the Ice House Point boat ramp. Black Crappie – Fair: Crappie are being picked up from the open water under the inlet bridge. Yellow Perch – Fair. Walleye – Fair.
Black Hawk Pits
As of Dec. 27th, ice is around 3 inches off the boat ramp; ice fishing is not recommended.
Brushy Creek Lake
Ice conditions have deteriorated; ice fishing in most areas is not recommended.
Storm Lake (including Little Storm Lake)
Ice is variable with 5-6 inches in some areas and soft ice or open water in other areas. Some areas have deteriorated during the warmer temperatures and rains. Use caution if venturing out; where float coats, bring picks and check ice thickness often. Walleye – Fair: Use minnows and jigging spoons. Yellow Perch – Fair: Try waxworms and minnows.
Ice conditions in the Black Hawk District have deteriorated with the recent above normal temperatures and rains. Ice conditions range from unsafe to 5-6 inches on some lakes. Most lakes still have pockets of open water throughout; use extreme caution and check ice thickness often. For more information, contact the Black Hawk District office at 712-657-2638.
Clear Lake
Ice thickness is 8 to 11 inches. Use extreme caution on the accesses where water is flowing on the ice after the recent rain. Ice cleats are recommended. Yellow Bass – Fair: Use a small jig or jigging spoon tipped with several spikes. You have to be mobile to stay on fish. Yellow Perch – Fair: Lots of small fish are being caught. Black Crappie – Fair: Try a jigging spoon tipped with a minnow head in the early morning. Walleye – Fair: Best bite is early morning and evening.
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 – Fair: Use small jigs tipped with waxworms in the evening. Black Crappie – Slow: Try small jigs tipped with a minnow in the evening. Yellow Perch – Slow: Lots of small fish are being caught.
Rice Lake
Ice thickness is 10 to 11 inches.Yellow Perch – Slow: Best bite is early morning and evening. You have to stay mobile to find fish.
East Okoboji Lake
Some ice fishing activity observed on the south end of the lake.
Lost Island Lake
Ice conditions remain variable. Black Crappie – Good: Report of fish being caught from the lake.
Scharnberg Pond
Rainbow Trout – Good: Next trout stocking will be January 19, 2019 at noon.
Silver Lake (Dickinson)
Poor ice conditions continue on the east side of the lake.
Spirit Lake
Anglers are expanding the areas they are ice fishing on the main lake; ice conditions remain variable. Walleye – Good: Angler acceptable size fish are being caught; best action is 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. Bluegill – Good: Report of good numbers of fish being caught from the Anglers Bay area.
Trumbull Lake
Yellow Perch – Fair: Report of fish being caught from the lake; action is slow, but anglers will be pleased by the quality of the fish caught. Northern Pike – Fair: Report of fish being caught; use tip ups for the best action.
Upper Gar Lake
Limited ice condition continue; there are open water areas on the lake due to the flow.
Virgin Lake
Walleye – Good: Good opportunities to catch fish averaging 16 inches. Yellow Perch – Good: Fish averaging 8 inches are common.
West Okoboji Lake
Ice fishing activity observed at Emerson, Little Emerson and the north end of the lake. Ice conditions remain variable on the Iowa’s Great Lakes and area lakes. Majority of anglers continue to walk out at this time.
