Northwest Iowa — Here is this week’s Northwest Iowa Fishing Report from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, as released Thursday afternoon, October 19, 2023.
Water temperatures are in the mid-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 pikies with wigglers, or a slip bobber setup. Walleye – Fair. Yellow Perch – Fair. Sorting will likely be needed.
Ingham Lake
Walleye – Fair: Anglers have been successful morning and evening.
Lost Island Lake
Water 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 Lake
Black Crappie – Fair: Slowly troll over vegetation with minnows and plastics. Bluegill – Fair. Pumpkinseed – Good.
Silver Lake (Dickinson)
Black Bullhead – Good. Walleye – Fair: Expect the walleye bite to improve this week with falling water temperatures.
Spirit Lake
Water temperatures are in the mid-50s, but are dropping. Wader and shoreline fishing have been good. Water levels are nine 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 using a small hook and a small piece of worm. In deeper water, use pilkies with wigglers or a slip bobber setup. Walleye – Good: Leeches and 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 Lake
Water temperatures are in the mid-50s. The bass bite has been getting harder. Water levels are three inches below crest. 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 – Fair: Leeches and minnows have been working well. Yellow Perch – Fair: Sorting may be needed.
Water levels have gone up with recent rains, but are still a few inches below crest. Area water temperatures are in the mid-50s. Anglers have found the most success fishing off rock points and the edges of weed lines. Shoreline wader fishing has been improving. Most courtesy docks are still in place. For current conditions, call the Spirit Lake District Office at 712-336-1840.
