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
Bacon Creek Lake
The DNR will stock trout at Bacon Creek Lake on Nov. 8 at 1:30 p.m. Use small tube and twister jigs, in-line spinners, casting spoons, and live minnows under a bobber. You need a valid fishing license and pay the trout fee to fish for or possess trout.
Black Hawk Lake
Water temperatures are in the upper 40’s. Walleye – Fair: Anglers have picked up some walleye from Ice House Point and along 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 – Good: Catch perch from shore along the east end of the lake near the outlet Ice House Point and the inlet bridge; use crawlers or small minnows on a jig fished under a bobber. Black Crappie – Fair: Anglers are having most luck fishing from the fish house and near the inlet bridge. 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.
Moorland Pond
The DNR will stock trout at Moorland Pond on Nov. 1 at noon. Use small tube and twister jigs, in-line spinners, casting spoons, and minnows or crawlers fished under a bobber. You need a valid fishing license and pay the trout fee to fish for or possess trout.
North Twin Lake
Channel Catfish – Fair: Use crawlers or cut bait fished on the bottom from shore. Walleye – Fair: Try fishing next to shore with twisters or live bait. Fish range from 11 up to mid-20 inches long. 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, along docks and in the marina; use a small jig tipped with a piece of crawler or power bait fished under a bobber.
Water temperatures in most of the district water bodies are in the upper 40’s. For more information, contact the Black Hawk District office at 712-657-2638.
Clear Lake
The water temperature is in the upper 40’s. The fish cleaning station is closed for the season. Walleye – Fair: Shore anglers are catching walleyes fishing at night. Yellow Bass – Fair: Drift fish a small jig tipped with a small piece of crawler in 4 to 6 feet of water. Best bite is early morning.
Crystal Lake
Due to weather delays, the boat ramp remains closed. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Anglers are catching bass from shore.
Rice Lake
Yellow Perch – Fair: Use a jig tipped with a small minnow or piece of crawler along the north shore near the boat ramp; also try the deeper water on the south shore by the homes or by the outlet. Best bite is early morning and late evening. Bluegill – Fair. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Bass are biting 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.
East Okoboji Lake
Water temperature is 48 degrees. Bluegill – Fair: Bluegills are being caught along the weed line and around remaining docks; use small jigs tipped with a worm. Yellow Bass – Good: Yellow bass size quality has been fairly good; fish are being caught in 9-10 feet of water and from docks in the evening. Use small jigs or crankbaits.
Lost Island Lake
Reports are few, but recent sampling shows nice largemouth and bluegills in shallow feeding and getting ready for winter. Walleye numbers continue to be good. Walleye – No Report: Use crankbaits or a jig and minnow fished in the evening or after dark. Bluegill – Fair: Reports are sporadic, but a few nice fish are being caught.
Scharnberg Pond
The first of two trout stocking will occur this Saturday, Oct. 26th from 12 to 1 p.m. Come join the fun and catch some trout. You need a valid fishing license and pay the trout fee to fish for or possess trout. Rainbow Trout – Excellent: Fish stocked this Saturday will be ready for catching immediately; they are usually very aggressive after stocking. Use small spinners, cast small jigs or fish jigs under a bobber. This is a great time to take a kid fishing.
Silver Lake (Dickinson)
Some reports of good walleye fishing. Fall sampling shows great numbers of nice sized walleyes in the lake. Walleye – Good: Try plastic baits and/or jig and minnow fished from shore in the evening.
Spirit Lake
Water temperature is 49 degrees and is falling. Walleye – Fair: Walleye fishing reports are sporadic with the poor weather over the past week. Fishing in the evening and early morning near shore or with waders has been the most productive. Recent sampling at night showed plenty of walleyes in shallow water. Yellow Perch – Good: Nice perch continue to be caught in between poor weather events. Fish are being caught in and around the aquatic plants in 8-10 feet of water. Some yellow perch are being caught in deeper water on the basin, but are harder to find. Use minnows or tube jigs. Smallmouth Bass – No Report: Smallmouth bass fishing reports have been sporadic. Smallmouth will be hunting over the weeds and points. Try casting plugs.
Trumbull Lake
Trumbull Lake was renovated in 2012 and restocked with yellow perch and northern pike. Those efforts have yielded better water quality and habitat. Perch growth has been excellent. Anglers are catching several year classes of perch with the largest fish topping 13 inches. Access is best with smaller boats on this shallow natural lake. Yellow Perch – Good: Fishing has been tough in the recent weather pattern. Larger perch are being caught sporadically with some sorting. Northern Pike – Fair: Anglers are picking up a few nice northern pike.
Tuttle Lake
Walleye – Good: Walleye fishing has picked up along shore in the evenings.
Virgin Lake
This shallow natural lake was renovated and restocked with perch, walleye, and northern pike a few years ago. Fish are now good size. The lake is best accessed with smaller boats and kayaks/canoes. Walleye – Fair. Yellow Perch – Good: Use minnows on a jig and slip bobber.
West Okoboji Lake
Water temperature is 52 degrees and is falling. Fall turnover occurred during the week of October 7th – fish can now access all parts of the lake. Water clarity is over 20 feet. Walleye – Good: Fish are being caught in the evening and after dark. Anglers are pulling plugs or casting shallow. Bluegill – Fair: Some bluegill are being caught on the weed line and deeper rocks. Good size fish.
Angling activity over the past two weeks has been limited by the weather. Reports on fishing success have been sporadic. Water temperatures have dropped dramatically over the past 2 weeks; Big Spirit Lake is now at 49 degrees and West Okoboji is currently at 52 degrees. West Okoboji Lake had its fall turnover early last week. It’s the only natural lake in Iowa to experience this process. Other district lakes temperatures are in the mid to high 40’s. For more information throughout the week, contact the Spirit Lake Fish Hatchery at 712-336-1840.
