Northwest Iowa — Here is this week’s Fishing Report for Northwest Iowa, as release by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources as of Thursday afternoon, November 2nd.
East Okoboji LakeWater temperature is in the low 50s. Black Crappie – Fair: Use minnows and plastics. Bluegill – Fair: Most fish have moved deeper; anglers can find success fishing from docks or shore. Use a small hook and piece of worm. In deeper water, use pilkies with wigglers or a slip bobber setup. Walleye – Fair. Yellow Perch – Fair: Sorting will likely be needed.
Ingham LakeWalleye – Fair: Anglers have been successful morning and evening.
Lost Island LakeWater temperatures are in the mid-50s. Black Crappie – Fair. Walleye – Fair: Try trolling with spinners over weeds. Walleyes should start to move more shallow in the evenings as water temperatures drop.
Minnewashta LakeBlack Crappie – Fair: Slowly troll over vegetation with minnows and plastics. Bluegill – Fair. Pumpkinseed – Good.
Scharnberg PondRainbow trout will be released around noon on Wednesday, November 8th. You need a valid fishing license and pay the trout fee to fish for or possess trout.
Silver Lake (Dickinson)Black Bullhead – Good. Walleye – Fair: Expect the walleye bite to improve with falling water temperatures.
Spirit LakeWater temperatures are in the low 50s. Wader and shoreline fishing have been good. Water levels are 9 inches below crest. Black Crappie – Good: Use minnows and plastics. Many nice-sized fish have been seen lately. Bluegill – Good: Fishing has still been good from docks; use a small hook and a small piece of worm. In deeper water, use pilkies with wigglers or a slip bobber setup. Walleye – Good: Minnows work well. Wader fishing off shore has been good. Yellow Perch – Good: Good numbers can be found; may need to be sorted for size.
West Okoboji LakeWater temperatures are in the low 50s. The current water level is 3 inches below crest. The bass bite is improving. Wader fishing in the evening for walleyes has been good. Black Crappie – Fair: Try small jigs tipped with a minnow. Bluegill – Good: Use pilkies with wigglers or a slip bobber setup. Pumpkinseed – Good. Walleye – Good: Minnows and plastics work well. Yellow Perch – Fair: Sorting may be needed.
Most area water levels are a few inches below crest. Area water temperatures are cooling fast with below freezing temperatures at night; temperatures are in the lower 50s to upper 40s. Angling for multiple species of fish in the Iowa Great Lakes has been good. Shoreline wader fishing has been good. Some courtesy docks are still in place. For current conditions, call the Spirit Lake District Office at 712-336-1840.
