Northwest Iowa — Here is the regular weekly fishing report from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.
East Okoboji LakeThe lake is almost entirely iced over with around 4.5 inches in most areas. Use caution when going out; watch for holes that have iced over more recently on the south bay The water level is 10 inches below crest. Black Crappie – Good: Try small jigs tipped with a minnow or tube jig and bobber. Bluegill – Fair: Use tube jigs, plastics, or other small jigs. Walleye – Fair: Try crawler harnesses, crankbaits, and minnows. Yellow Perch – Fair: Minnows work well; some sorting may be needed.
Lost Island LakeIce thickness is around 6+ inches in most places. Walleye – Good: Try spinners, crankbaits, and shallow shad raps. Evening bite is improving as the water cools.
Minnewashta LakeIce thickness is around 6.5+ inches for fisherman traveling on foot and some light machines. Black Crappie – Excellent. Bluegill – Good.
Silver Lake (Dickinson)Ice thickness is 4.5 inches. Walleye – Good: Use spinners, crankbaits, and long and shallow shad raps.
Spirit LakeThe lake is almost entirely iced over with 5+ inches of ice in most places. The best ice is on the south end and Anglers Bay. Marble beach access has many holes and is heaved up along the shoreline. Watch for holes that have more recently iced over. Muskellunge – Good: Try crankbaits, buck tails, and rubber baits. Walleye – Good: The bite is hit-or-miss at dusk, but the day bite is improving. Many anglers have started to fish in shallower with slip bobbers along weed edges. Try spinners, crankbaits, and long and shallow shad raps; look for weed lines to troll or jig off of. Yellow Perch – Good: Use small jigs tipped with a minnow. Sorting may be needed.
West Okoboji LakeMany of the bays are starting to freeze over, but the majority of the lake is still open. Use caution, areas such as Emerson bay have very spotty ice conditions ranging from 4 inches to open holes spotting the entire area. The water level is 10 inches below crest. Black Crappie – Fair: Try small jigs tipped with a minnow. Bluegill – Good: Use tube jigs, plastics, or other small jigs. Walleye – Fair: Crawler harnesses, crankbaits, and minnows work well. Yellow Perch – Fair: Use small jigs tipped with a minnow. Sorting may be needed.
Most lakes are almost entirely frozen over with good enough ice to walk out on. Many lakes also have a ice/slush layer on top of them due to recent warmer temperatures and rain. Larger lakes may have holes that have more recently iced over; use caution when going out. A good amount of snow is forecast in the area which will make reading ice conditions more difficult. Check ice thickness often and bring a friend
