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 low 70’s. Bluegill – Fair: Use crawlers fished under a bobber in Town Bay off the stone piers, the floating dock, and the fish house. Walleye – Fair: Use leeches or crankbaits near the inlet bridge along Ice House Point shoreline, the east end near the outlet, or rock piles off Cottonwood Point and the east basin. Most action has been in the mornings or evenings. Black Crappie – Fair: Anglers are picking up crappie from shore and around the fish house in Town Bay using live minnows fished under a bobber. Channel Catfish – Fair: Try a minnow on a small jig under a bobber near the stone piers along Ice House Point shoreline, near the inlet bridge and the rock piles off Shotgun Hill and Cottonwood Point. Muskellunge – Fair. Largemouth Bass – Good: Catch fish about anywhere in the lake along shore using traditional bass lures. Try the Ice House point shore, east shore near the outlet, and the inlet bay near the inlet bridge.
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: Fish near submerged structure along the weed lines. Bluegill – Fair: Use crawlers and small minnows fished under a bobber near shore and submerged structure. Yellow Perch – Fair. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Catch bass along the shore near weed lines using traditional bass lures.
North Twin Lake
Black Crappie – Fair: Use crawlers or minnows fished on a jig under a bobber. Anglers have had luck fishing early morning. Walleye – Fair.
Storm Lake (including Little Storm Lake)
White Bass – Fair: Use leeches, crawlers and twisters. Walleye – Fair: Try leeches or crankbaits. Most action has been off shore in the dredge cuts. Channel Catfish – Fair: Try cut bait, stink bait or crawlers fished on the bottom. Target areas with rocky structure near shorelines.
For more information, contact the Black Hawk District office at 712-657-2638.
Clear Lake
The water temperature is in the low 70’s. Walleye – Fair: Anglers are having success slip bobber fishing the rock reefs with a jig and leech. Channel Catfish – Good: Fish the windswept shore and areas where water is coming into the lake with cut bait or crawlers fished on the bottom. Yellow Perch – Fair: Fish the edge of vegetation with a small minnow or leech. Yellow Bass – Fair: Fish the edge of vegetation with a small piece of crawler or leech.
Crystal Lake
Largemouth Bass – Good: Try spinnerbaits fished on the edge of the vegetation. Bluegill – Good: Try a small piece of crawler fished under a bobber in 2 to 3 feet of water. Northern Pike – Good: Use spinnerbaits fished on the edge of the vegetation. Black Crappie – Good: Try a minnow under a bobber in 6 to 7 feet of water.
Lake Smith
Anglers are catching bass on a variety of baits. Largemouth Bass – Good. Bluegill – Good.
Lower Pine Lake
Largemouth Bass – Good: Bass are biting on a variety of baits. Bluegill – Fair: Try a small piece of crawler fished under a bobber in 2 to 3 feet of water.
Silver Lake (Worth)
Largemouth Bass – Good: Bass are biting on a variety of baits. Bluegill – Good: Use a small piece of crawler fished under a bobber in 2 to 3 feet of water.
Upper Pine Lake
Bass anglers are doing well on a variety of baits.
For information on the lakes and rivers in the north central area, contact the Clear Lake Fish and Wildlife office at 641-357-3517.
Center Lake
Black Crappie – Good: Fish shoreline habitat as the fish are shallow. Cast a mini jig or use a minnow under a bobber.
East Okoboji Lake
Walleye – Good: Anglers report angler acceptable size fish are being caught after dark trolling crankbaits. Bluegill – Good: Fish have moved shallow; fish deeper wooden docks for the best action.
Five Island Lake
Channel Catfish – Good: Local bait shop reports a good bite with large fish being caught. Walleye – Fair: Some fish are being caught.
Lost Island Lake
Walleye – Fair: Report of 14 – 18 inch fish being caught. Expect the action to improve as the water temperature warms. Black Crappie – Fair: Report of black crappie and bluegill being caught in shallow water. Yellow Bass – Fair: Anglers report that the yellow bass action has started at the lake. Channel Catfish – Good: Use cut bait to provide plenty of pole bending action.
Silver Lake (Dickinson)
Walleye – Good: Boat anglers report that walleye fishing has been hit or miss. Troll crankbaits or other popular walleye baits for the best action. Yellow Perch – Slow: Recent surveys show good numbers of fish approaching 11 inches.
Silver Lake (Palo Alto)
Black Bullhead – Good: Good bite with jumbo size fish reported being caught.
Spirit Lake
Walleye – Good: Report of walleye fishing improving with fish caught throughout the day. Use leeches and slip bobbers in shallow, emerging weed beds. Black Crappie – Good: Fish Trickles Slough or emerging reed beds for crappie and bluegill. Black Bullhead – Good: Action is picking up at the north grade using the traditional worm fished on the bottom.
Trumbull Lake
Yellow Perch – Fair: Report of some fish being caught.
Virgin Lake
Walleye – Good: Cast twisters or live bait under a slip bobber.
West Okoboji Lake
Bluegill – Fair: Some bluegill and crappie action has been reported. Expect the action to improve as water temperatures warm.
For more information throughout the week, contact the Spirit Lake Fish Hatchery at 712-336-1840.
