Spirit Lake, Iowa — The Iowa Department of Natural Resources issues a weekly fishing reporton 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
There is around 12 inches of ice near the boat ramp. Bluegill – Slow: Use a small jig tipped with a waxworm fished in 10-15 feet of water near submerged structure on the east side.
Bacon Creek Lake
The DNR stocked rainbow trout at Bacon Creek Lake on Feb. 16th.
Black Hawk Lake
The winter aeration system in Town Bay is in operation; beware of open water and thin ice in Town Bay. There is around 16 inches of ice off the boat ramp of Ice House Point. Be aware of thin ice or open water near Ice House Point, along the Denison Beach area, and in the east basin near the outlet. Check ice thickness often. Bluegill – Fair: Use a small jig tipped with waxworm in the rock pile out front of Gunshot Hill and off of Cottonwood Point. Black Crappie – Fair: Use a small jig tipped with waxworm near the Ice House Point boat ramp. Channel Catfish – Fair: Try minnows near the bottom on the rock piles near Gunshot Hill and Cottonwood Point.
Black Hawk Pits
There is around 11 inches of ice near the boat ramp. Bluegill – Fair: Use waxworms fished near the bottom.
Brushy Creek Lake
Anglers are fishing mostly near the north boat ramp, in the northeast arm of the lake, and near the southeast boat ramp near the big island. 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: Use a minnow and spoon in about 20-30 feet of water near submerged structure. Try also waxworms and spikes on a small jig. Yellow Perch – Slow: Anglers are picking up a few yellow perch while fishing for crappie.
Moorland Pond
The DNR stocked rainbow trout on Feb 9.
Storm Lake (including Little Storm Lake)
Most areas of the lake have 16-18 inches of ice. Avoid ice along pressure seams and near the big island. There is 6-8 inches of snow on the ice in most areas. Check ice thickness often. Walleye – Fair: Use minnows and jigging spoons in the dredge cuts on the east side of the lake in about 10-14 feet of water. Low light conditions are best. White Bass – Fair: Anglers are picking up some white bass in the east end of the lake and deeper dredged areas while fishing for walleye.
Most ice in the Black Hawk district is 10 to 18 inches with about 6-8 inches of snow. Geese are still keeping areas open on some lakes. Check ice thickness often. For more information, contact the Black Hawk District office at 712-657-2638.
Beeds Lake
Due to the excessive snowfall, the Beeds Lake campground road will be closed until snow melt.
Clear Lake
The ice has several inches of snow on it. Yellow Bass – Fair: Start shallow with a small jig or jigging spoon tipped with several spikes or a waxworm near the Baptist camp. You have to keep moving to stay on fish. Yellow Perch – Good: Lots of small fish are being caught. If you’re not going to use the fish you catch, please release them. Black Crappie – Slow: Use jigging spoons tipped with a minnow head in the early morning. Walleye – Slow: Dead stick a minnow early morning or evening near the island.
Rice Lake
Ice thickness is 18 to 20 inches.
Silver Lake (Worth)
Ice thickness is 18 to 20 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
Yellow Bass – Fair: Anglers are catching large yellow bass from the basin. Move often to stay on the school of active fish. Bluegill – Good: Numbers of fish are being caught from the south end of the lake; sorting is needed.
Five Island Lake
Yellow Bass – Good: Some activity reported on the lake; you need to search to find active fish. Walleye – Fair: Report of fish being caught during the evening hours with traditional baits.
Lake Pahoja
Bluegill – Good: 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 Bass – Fair: Yellow bass activity has slowed, but persistent anglers can catch good numbers of fish. Black Crappie – Good: Yellow bass anglers report crappie mixed in the catch.
Minnewashta Lake
Black Crappie – Good: Anglers report catching good numbers of angler acceptable size fish and larger fish early and late day.
Spirit Lake
Yellow Perch – Good: Good numbers of angler acceptable size fish continue to be caught from the basin in 18 – 20 feet of water; the bite improves through the day. Sorting is needed with numbers of small fish also in the catch.
Trumbull Lake
Yellow Perch – Good: 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; best action is half hour before sunset to half hour after sunset. Yellow Perch – Good: Fish averaging 8 inches are common.
West Okoboji Lake
Bluegill – Good: Persistent anglers will catch good numbers of large bluegills from the lake. Yellow Bass – Good: Anglers report catching fish from Smiths Bay in 18 – 24 feet of water; move often to catch numbers.
For more information throughout the week, contact the Spirit Lake Fish Hatchery at 712-336-1840.
