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 temperatures are in the mid 60’s. Bluegill – Fair: Use crawlers fished under a bobber. Most action has been in Town Bay off the stone piers, the floating dock, and the fish house. Yellow Perch – Fair: Anglers are picking up perch from shore along Ice House Point and the fish house in Town Bay using minnows fished under a bobber. Some have had luck fishing from the inlet bridge. Walleye – Good: Use a slip bobber with a minnow or leech on a lead head jig along the Ice House Point shore, the east end near the outlet north shore, and around the marina. Anglers have also had luck casting black and white twisters. Black Crappie – Fair: Anglers are picking up crappie from shore and the fish house in Town Bay using live minnows fished under a bobber. Target areas with wood or rock cover along shore.
Black Hawk Pits
Black Crappie – Fair: Use a live minnow under a bobber near wood and rock cover along shore. Bluegill – Fair.
Brushy Creek Lake
Black Crappie – Fair: Try a live minnow under a bobber along shore near wood and rock cover. Bluegill – Fair: Use crawlers and small minnows fished under a bobber in 5-10 feet of water near shore and submerged structure. Yellow Perch – Fair.
North Twin Lake
Walleye – Fair: Use leeches or minnows fished under a slip bobber. Anglers have had luck fishing the south shore.
Storm Lake (including Little Storm Lake)
Black Crappie – Fair: Try a live minnow under a bobber in areas around docks and along shallow rocky shores. Anglers have picked up crappie in the marina and near the inlet. White Bass – Fair: Use leeches, crawlers and twisters. Walleye – Good: Walleye fishing has been productive this last week. Use leeches and minnows fished under a slip bobber or cast twisters or crankbaits in the north shore, east shore, the marina, Casino point and near the outlet. Channel Catfish – Fair: Try cut bait, stink bait, minnows or leeches fished near the bottom.
Water temperatures are in the low to mid 60’s. For more information, contact the Black Hawk District office at 712-657-2638.
Beeds Lake
Bluegill and crappie fishing is starting to pick up. Bluegill – Fair. Black Crappie – Fair.
Clear Lake
The water temperature is in the low 60’s. Walleye – Fair: Anglers are having success slip bobber fishing the rock reefs with jigs and a minnow or leech. With the clear water, the best bite is early morning and evening. Black Crappie – Fair: Fish the edge and open areas of the rushes with a small minnow. Yellow Bass – Fair: Use small jigs in 3 to 4 feet of water on warmer days. Channel Catfish – Fair: Fish the windswept shore and areas where water is coming into the lake with cut bait fished on the bottom.
Lake Cornelia
Yellow Bass – Excellent: Use little jigs minnows and twister tails. Bluegill – Slow: Some sorting is needed, but keepers can be caught. Black Crappie – Slow.
Lake Smith
Anglers are catching bass on a variety of baits. Panfish bite has been slow. Largemouth Bass – Good.
Little Wall Lake
Channel catfish are biting. Bass are just starting to move into their spawning areas. Channel Catfish – Good. Largemouth Bass – Fair.
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
Walleye – Good: Anglers report angler acceptable size fish are being caught after dark trolling crankbaits.
Silver Lake (Dickinson)
Walleye – Good: Wader fishing is at its prime after dark with the clear water. Fish slow with a jig and minnow or twister tails on light jig heads. Yellow Perch – Slow: Recent surveys show good numbers of fish approaching 11 inches.
Spirit Lake
Black Crappie – Good: Reports of crappie being caught at the North Grade; use minnows under a bobber in the morning hours. Walleye – Good: Report of wader anglers having good success after dark. Bluegill – Good: Anglers are catching bluegill from Templar Park lagoon; sorting is needed.
West Okoboji Lake
Bluegill – Fair: Some bluegill and crappie action has been reported. Expect action to improve as water temperatures warm.
For more information throughout the week, contact the Spirit Lake Fish Hatchery at 712-336-1840.
