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
Arrowhead Lake
Ice fishing is not recommended.
Black Hawk Lake
On March 4, there was 8 inches of good ice under 4 inches of poor quality ice near the Ice House Point boat ramp. Anglers are out on the ice. Conditions will continue to deteriorate quickly with the warm temperatures. There is open water in Town Bay from the winter aeration system. Ice is thinner in the inlet bridge bay; avoid ice near the bridge. Black Crappie – Fair: Try waxworms and small live minnows. Sorting is needed; 8- to 10-inch fish reported. Bite has been hit or miss. Yellow Perch – Fair: Use waxworms or live minnows on a small jig in the southwest portion of the lake between Provost Point, Denison Beach and Ice House Point. You may have to move to find fish; fish are 6- to 12-inches. Walleye – Slow. Bluegill – Fair: Try a waxworm on a small jig fished in 3-6 feet of water. Sorting is needed with some fish up to 8-inches.
Black Hawk Pit
Ice fishing is not recommended.
Brushy Creek Lake
Ice conditions are deteriorating due to the warm weather and will continue to do so quickly to where ice will be unsafe. Areas near inflows are unsafe. As of March 4th, anglers were still making their way out with foot traffic only. Use caution and check ice thickness often. Water clarity on the north end of the lake is lower due to snowmelt running into the lake. Yellow Perch – Fair: Try minnows or waxworms fished in 10-20 feet of water; 10- to 12-inch keepers with lots of sorting. Black Crappie – Fair: Anglers have had luck in 10-20 feet of water. Walleye – Fair: Try a jigging spoon with a small minnow or minnow head fished in areas with up to 25 feet of depth. Bluegill – Fair: Use waxworms in 20 feet of water.
Storm Lake (incl Little Storm Lake)
On March 3rd there was 14 inches of clear ice under 4 inches of poor quality ice in the west end of the lake. Ice is covered with slush and water in some places and will continue to deteriorate quickly with the predicted warmer temperatures. There are thinner areas from a pressure seam extending from Casino Point to the northeast. Ice near the big island and near Chautauqua Point may by thinner and unsafe. Avoid these areas; use caution and check ice thickness often as you move around. Yellow Perch – Fair: Use waxworms and minnows near the dredge cuts along the west and north portions of the lake. Move around to find fish. Larger fish are 10- to 13- inches. Walleye – Fair: Try a small minnow on a jigging spoon in the dredge cuts and flats. Best bite is mornings and evenings. You may have to move around to find groups of fish. Anglers have had luck in the north end and western portions of the lake. Black Crappie – Fair: Use a waxworm on a jig or minnow on a small jigging spoon. You may need to move to find fish near the dredge cuts.
As of March 4th, anglers are still fishing larger bodies of water. The top 5-6 inches of most ice is cloudy and rotten. Ice will continue to deteriorate quickly to where it is unsafe with the predicted warm temperatures. Use caution and check ice thickness often if you venture out. For more information, contact the Black Hawk District office at 712-657-2638.
Blue Pit
Rainbow Trout – Excellent: Trout are biting on a variety of baits. You need a valid fishing license and pay the trout fee to fish for or possess trout. The daily bag limit is 5.
Clear Lake
Ice thickness is 14-18 inches. With the warmer weather, the condition of access points will change quickly. Use caution around the rushes and the near the aeration holes boundary. Avoid the channel between the little lake and the main lake and around the island. Yellow Bass – Fair: Yellows are biting on a variety of baits. Use your electronics to find fish; stay mobile. Best bite is a half hour before sunset. Yellow Perch – Excellent: Try near vegetation in 2 to 6 feet of water. Use bigger bait to catch keeper-sized fish. Walleye – Fair: Try dead sticking a minnow while you fish with another rod. Best bite is near sunrise and sunset. Black Crappie – Fair: Look for suspended fish along the dredge cuts. Bluegill – Fair: Use a small jig in the open areas near the rushes.
Crystal Lake
Ice thickness is 14-18 inches. Black Crappie – Fair: Use a jig and small minnow fished along the edge of the dredge cut. Yellow Perch – Slow. Northern Pike – Slow.
Lower Pine Lake
Ice thickness is 12 inches off the boat ramp; the top 6 inches is soft and areas near shore are deteriorating.
Rice Lake
Ice thickness is 14-18 inches. Yellow Perch – Fair: Try near vegetation in 4 to 5 feet of water on the west side of the lake. Walleye – Slow.
Silver Lake (Worth)
Ice thickness is 14-18 inches. Bluegill – Good: Try a small glow jig tipped with spikes near vegetation. You may need to use a 1 to 2 pound leader with the clear water. Yellow Perch – Slow.
Upper Pine Lake
Ice thickness is 12 inches off the boat ramp; the top 6 inches is soft and areas near shore are deteriorating.
For information on the lakes and rivers in north central Iowa, contact the Clear Lake Fish and Wildlife office at 641-357-3517.
Center Lake
Caution: Winter aeration system is currently in use. Ice thickness is around 16.5 inches.
Dog Creek (Lake)
Fishing has been fair to good.
East Okoboji Lake
The walleye season is closed. Ice conditions vary across the lake with averages around 18 inches or more. Bluegill – Good: Easily catch lots of bluegill; a lot of sorting may be needed with many 7.5- to 9-inch fish. Yellow Perch – Fair. Black Crappie – Fair.
Ingham Lake
Caution: Winter aeration system is currently in use. Ice thickness is around 16 inches or more with a major open hole from the lake aeration unit. Yellow Perch – Fair: Anglers are catching larger yellow perch, but with low frequency. Some good sized perch have been seen recently.
Lake Pahoja
Bluegill – Fair: Use small jigs tipped with waxworms. Black Crappie – Fair: Try small jigs tipped with waxworms.
Lost Island Lake
Caution: Winter aeration system is currently running on the northeast side near the nature center. Ice thickness is 18-20 inches. A good amount of fishing pressure has been seen recently. Yellow Perch – Good. Walleye – Fair.
Minnewashta Lake
Ice thickness varies around 19 inches. Bluegill – Good: Lots of 4- to 6-inch fish are being caught. Black Crappie – Good.
Silver Lake (Dickinson)
Caution: Winter aeration system is currently in use. Ice conditions are around 18-22 inches, but can be variable. Use caution; a side-by-side went through the ice the last week of December. Walleye – Fair.
Spirit Lake
The walleye season is closed. Ice thickness across the lake is around 18 inches or more. Caution: There are many open holes around the lake, and many of the accesses have deteriorated due to large vehicle traffic. Yellow Perch – Fair: Perch fishing is getting better; you may need to move around to find them, many quality 9- to 10.5-inchers have been caught. Walleye – Fair: Walleye bite has been tough.
Trumbull Lake
Ice thickness is around 11 inches with an open hole on the north end caused by geese.
West Okoboji Lake
The walleye season is closed. Ice thickness varies, starting around 19 inches. Caution: there are many seams across the lake. Panfishing has been spotty in many of the bays where many anglers have been able to sight fish in around 10 feet of water along weed lines. Many fish are headed to the basins with the latest cold front. Yellow Perch – Fair. Bluegill – Good.
The walleye season is closed on Spirit, East Okoboji and West Okoboji Lake. Ice is still in good condition, ranging from 18-24 inches. Many boat ramps have deteriorated ice due to large vehicle traffic and warm weather. The extended forecast calls for continued warm temperatures with highs in the 60’s and lows in the 30’s. For current conditions, call the Spirit Lake District Office at 712-336-1840.
