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
Bluegill – Fair: Use crawlers fished under a bobber in Town Bay off the stone piers, the floating dock, and the fish house.Try also the rock pile off Gunshot Hill as fish have moved deeper. Walleye – Slow: 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. Mornings and evenings are best. Channel Catfish – Fair: Try a minnow on a small jig under a bobber or cut bait fished on the bottom near the stone piers along Ice House Point shoreline, near the inlet bridge and the rock piles off Shotgun Hill and Cottonwood Point. Any rocky shoreline should be good places to target catfish this time of year. 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.
Brushy Creek Lake
Black Crappie – Fair: Use minnow or crawler on a jig fished near submerged structure in 5-10 feet of water. Bluegill – Fair: Use crawlers and small minnows fished under a bobber near shore and submerged structure. Largemouth Bass – Good: Catch bass along the shore near weed lines using traditional bass lures. Weedless and topwater lures work well.
North Twin Lake
Water temperature is in the low 80’s. Water clarity is around 3 feet. Walleye – Fair: Pull crankbaits or fish live bait in areas where walleye gather to feed on baitfish near vegetation and inlets. Early mornings or evenings are best.
Storm Lake (including Little Storm Lake)
White Bass – Fair: Use leeches, crawlers and twisters. Walleye – Fair: Try leeches or crankbaits. Trolling crankbaits along the dredge cuts on the east side of the lake and to the west of the big island has been working well. 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 upper 70’s. Walleye – Fair: Anglers are having success slip bobber fishing the rock reefs with a jig and leech and fishing under docks with a minnow. Channel Catfish – Good: Drift fish the rock reefs with crawlers. Yellow Bass – Fair: Fish the edge of vegetation in 4 to 6 feet of water with a small piece of crawler or leech.
Crystal Lake
Largemouth Bass – Good: Try spinnerbaits fished on the edge of the vegetation. Bluegill – Good: Use a small piece of crawler fished under a bobber in 2 to 3 feet of water. Black Crappie – Fair: Drift fish a minnow or tube jig in the dredge cut.
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.
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
Bluegill – Good: Fish have moved shallow; fish deeper wooden docks for the best action or from docks at dusk for good 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.
Lake Pahoja
Bluegill – No Report: Recent surveys show good numbers of angler acceptable size and larger bluegill in the lake.
Lost Island Lake
Walleye – Fair: Report of 14 – 18 inch fish being caught. Yellow Bass – Fair: Anglers report that the yellow bass action has started. Channel Catfish – Good: Good numbers of large angler acceptable size fish continue to be caught. 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 – No Report: Recent surveys show good numbers of fish approaching 11 inches.
Spirit Lake
Walleye – Good: Report of walleyes being caught in the flats; don’t overlook the weed edges. Use leeches and slip bobbers or troll crankbaits.Yellow Perch – Good: Good numbers of fish being caught. Try a yellow and white mini jig tipped with wigglers fished in the outside edges of the weed beds. Move often to find active fish.
Trumbull Lake
Northern Pike – Good: Cast traditional northern baits below the spillway areas with calm spots.
West Okoboji Lake
Bluegill – Good: Bluegill action has picked up; fish the outside weed edges for larger sized bluegill.
For more information throughout the week, contact the Spirit Lake Fish Hatchery at 712-336-1840.
