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
On Jan. 31st there was 11 inches of ice near the boat ramp.
Bacon Creek Lake
An update will be posted on the DNR website when a reschedule date for the trout stocking is set.
Black Hawk Lake
The winter aeration system in Town Bay will start operation on Monday, Feb; 4th; beware of open water and thin ice in Town Bay. On Jan. 31st there was 16 inches of ice off the boat ramp of Ice House Point. Be aware of thin ice or open water near Ice House Point, Denison Beach area, and in the east basin near the outlet. Conditions are improving, but they are still extremely variable throughout the lake. Check ice thickness often. Bluegill – Fair: Bluegills have been picked up through the ice in between the boat ramp of Ice House Point and Gunshot Hill with a small jig tipped with waxworm. Black Crappie – Fair: Use a small jig tipped with waxworm near the Ice House Point boat ramp. . Yellow Perch – Fair: A few perch are being picked up in between the Ice House Point boat ramp and Gunshot Hill with jigs tipped with waxworm.
Black Hawk Pits
On Jan. 31st there was 12 inches of ice near the boat ramp. Ice is variable; check thickness often when venturing out. Bluegill – Fair: Use waxworms fished near the bottom.
Brushy Creek Lake
Anglers are fishing mostly near the north boat ramp and in the northeast arm of the lake. All other ice is variable. Look out for thin ice near the beach and in the main lake. Be cautious of thin areas that recently froze over. Ice conditions are improving; check ice thickness often. Bluegill – Fair: Try waxworms fished on a small jig in the northeast arm of the lake. Black Crappie – Fair.
Moorland Pond
The trout stocking and family fishing event at Moorland Pond has been rescheduled for Feb. 9 at 11:30 a.m.
North Twin Lake
Anglers have been out, but ice thickness is variable. Look out for thin ice in areas that have recently frozen over. Be aware of thin ice along the southeast shore and mid-lake by Featherstone Park. Black Crappie – Fair: Anglers have picked up some crappie in the southwest part of the lake.
Storm Lake (including Little Storm Lake)
Ice conditions on Storm Lake are improving, but are still variable. Most areas of the lake have up to 15-18 inches of ice and have seen lots of fishing activity. Avoid ice along pressure seams, in the middle of the lake near the big island, and any other off colored ice in areas that were recently open water. Use caution and check ice thickness often. Walleye – Fair: Use minnows and jigging spoons during low light conditions. Yellow Perch – Fair: Try waxworms in 4-6 feet of water in mornings or evenings.
Ice conditions have improved in the Black Hawk district, ice thickness is still variable across lakes and ponds. Use caution and check ice thickness often. For more information, contact the Black Hawk District office at 712-657-2638.
Clear Lake
Ice depths are 10 to 18 inches. The lake aeration systems are currently not being operated. Yellow Bass – Fair: Use small spoons with insect larvae. You have to keep moving to stay on fish. Walleye – Fair: Anglers are picking up a few walleye around sunset. Jigging spoons tipped with minnows work best. The minimum size limit on Clear Lake is 14 inches.
Crystal Lake
Black Crappie – Slow: Anglers are getting a few crappie after sunset.
Rice Lake
Bluegill – Slow: Use small jigs tipped with insect larvae. Yellow Perch – Slow: Try small jigging spoons or small minnows. Angling success has been slow, but there are good numbers of yellow perch in Rice Lake.
Ice conditions in north-central Iowa are good. Most lakes have between 10 and 18 inches of ice. 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
Yellow Bass – Good: Anglers are catching large yellow bass from the basin. Move often to stay on the school of active fish.
Five Island Lake
Yellow Bass – Good: Some activity reported on the lake; you need to search to find active fish.
Lake Pahoja
Bluegill – Recent surveys show good numbers of angler acceptable size bluegill in the lake with large fish over 8 inches not uncommon.
Lost Island Lake
Yellow Perch – Good: Report of fish being caught from the lake with “bonus mixed bag” of bluegill and crappie in the catch. Yellow Bass – Good: Yellow bass activity has picked up with good numbers of fish “on the bite.”
Scharnberg Pond
The trout stocking and family fishing event is this Saturday, Feb. 2 at noon.
Silver Lake (Dickinson)
Open water and thin ice conditions on the east side of the lake.
Spirit Lake
Walleye – Good: Angler acceptable size fish are being caught; best action is half hour before sunset to half hour after sunset. Yellow Perch – Good: Good numbers of angler acceptable size fish continue to be caught from the basin in 18 – 20 feet of water; sorting is needed as numbers of small fish will also be in the catch.
Trumbull Lake
Yellow Perch – Fair: Yellow perch continue to be harvested from the lake; anglers are very pleased with the quality of the fish caught.
Virgin Lake
Walleye – Good: Good opportunities to catch fish averaging 16 inches. Yellow Perch – Good: Fish averaging 8 inches are common.
West Okoboji Lake
Bluegill – Good: Action has slowed; persistent anglers will catch good numbers of bluegills from the lake. Yellow Perch – Good: Anglers report catching fish in 18 feet of water in Smiths Bay.
For more information throughout the week, contact the Spirit Lake Fish Hatchery at 712-336-1840.
