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. Walleye – Fair: Anglers have picked up some walleye from the East shore near the outlet. Use twisters, crawlers or plastics on a jig head. Channel Catfish – Slow: Use crawlers and cut bait fished on the bottom from the East Shore near the outlet off the inlet bridge and from shore in Town Bay. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Use traditional bass lures anywhere along shore. Yellow Perch – Fair: Catch perch from shore along Ice House Point from the fish house in Town Bay and the inlet bridge; use crawlers or small minnows on a jig fished under a bobber. Black Crappie – Fair: Anglers are having most luck from the floating dock in Town Bay along shore of Ice House Point and at the fish house. Fish are 6-11 inches. Use a small piece of crawler or power bait on a small jig fished under a bobber.
Brushy Creek Lake
Largemouth Bass – Fair: Use traditional bass lures and topwater lures along the edges of vegetation. Bluegill – Fair: Catch bluegill near structure using a small jig tipped with a piece of crawler. Yellow Perch – Fair: Find perch along vegetation edges and structure in 5-10 feet of water. Use a small jig with a minnow or crawler.
North Twin Lake
Water temperatures are in the mid-60’s. Channel Catfish – Fair: Use crawlers or cut bait fished on the bottom from shore. Walleye – Fair: Try next to vegetation near shore in 5-8 feet of water. Black Crappie – Fair: Find crappie near shore; use a small jig tipped with a piece of crawler or small power bait.
Storm Lake (including Little Storm Lake)
White Bass – Fair: Use crankbaits , crawlers and twisters fished from shore and near the inlet. Walleye – Fair: Use crankbaits, live bait and twisters near shore on the east shore, north shore and near the inlet. Channel Catfish – Fair: Try crawlers or cut bait fished on the bottom from shore. Black Crappie – Fair: Find crappie near shore and along docks; use a small jig tipped with a piece of crawler or power bait fished under a bobber.
Most water temperatures in west central Iowa are in the mid-60’s. For more information, contact the Black Hawk District office at 712-657-2638.
Beeds Lake
Black Crappie – Good: Drift fish or troll a small jig or minnow.
Clear Lake
The water temperature is in the low 60’s. Walleye – Fair: Anglers are having success slip bobber fishing the rock reefs with a jig and minnow. Shore anglers are catching walleyes fishing from lighted docks at night. Yellow Bass – Fair: Drift fish a small jig tipped with a small piece of crawler in 4 to 6 feet of water. Channel Catfish – Fair: Use cut bait and crawlers fished on the bottom from the windswept shore and areas where water is entering the lake.
Crystal Lake
The boat ramp is closed for repairs. Largemouth Bass – Good: Cast spinnerbaits near downed trees. Black Crappie – Good: Drift fish or troll small crappie jigs in 5-9 feet of water.
Rice Lake
Yellow Perch – Fair: Use a jig tipped with a small minnow along the north shore near the boat ramp; also try the deeper water on the south shore by the homes. Bluegill – Fair.
Silver Lake (Worth)
Largemouth Bass – Good: Try topwater baits fished near vegetation.
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: Bluegills are moving to shallower water. Yellow Bass – Good: Action remains good with 8 – 9 inch fish being caught. Channel Catfish – Good: Action has picked up with the cooler water temperature. Use traditional baits fished after dark. Largemouth Bass – Good. Northern Pike – Good: Fish around weed lines in 10-12 feet of water on the south end of the lake.
Five Island Lake
Yellow Bass – Good: Anglers report good numbers of fish being caught from docks; sorting is needed. Channel Catfish – Good: Action has picked up; use traditional baits fished after dark.
Lost Island Lake
Walleye and northern pike fishing should improve with falling water temperatures. Yellow Bass – Good: Cast mini-jigs tipped with wigglers in shallow water or from docks during the morning and evening. 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.
Spirit Lake
Walleye – Good: Walleyes action has improved with the drop in water temperatures. Use crawlers and bottom bouncers or troll crank baits in the basin. Wader and dock anglers will catch fish; evening hours are best. Yellow Perch – Good: Fishing for yellow perch is starting to become more consistent. Vertical jigging with live bait is best. Try fishing in 9-10 feet of water if you’re having trouble finding fish in deeper water. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Falling water temperatures should start triggering fish to increase feeding. Use light colored jigs and crankbaits fished on the weed line and shallower.
West Okoboji Lake
Bluegill – Good: Fish the outside weed edges for larger sized bluegill; do not overlook deeper rock piles in 20 – 25 feet of water with aquatic plants. Fish are transitioning to shallow water; watch for them to move up around the docks. Walleye – Fair: Fishing will pick up around weed edges and shallower water in the evening.
Water temperatures have started to fall and a number of species should become more active. Water temperatures on the Iowa Great Lakes fell 10 degrees over the past few days. Temperatures on the Iowa Great Lakes are 60-63 degrees. Action for perch, walleyes, northern pike, and smallmouth bass in the district will pick up as fish prepare for winter. For more information throughout the week, contact the Spirit Lake Fish Hatchery at 712-336-1840.
