Northwest Iowa — The Iowa Department of Natural Resources has released their weekly fishing report for northwest Iowa. This weekly fishing report is compiled from information gathered from local bait shops, angler creel surveys and county and state parks staff. You can check the activity of your favorite lake or stretch of river, including which species are being caught, a rating of the bite (slow, fair, good or excellent), as well as a hot bait or lure pattern.
NORTHWEST
Arrowhead Lake
Black Crappie – Fair: Try minnows on a small jig fished under a bobber along shore with structure. Bluegill – Fair: Look for bluegills guarding nests near shore in 2-5 feet of water. Use a small jig fished under a bobber.
Black Hawk Lake
Water temperature is around 70 degrees with about 2 feet of water clarity. Lake level is about 4 inches below the crest of the spillway. Black Crappie – Fair. Use a small bare jig or a jig with a small minnow or piece of crawler in Town Bay around the fish house, along Ice House Point and in the marina. Fish are 8- to 12-inches. Bluegill – Slow. Walleye – Fair: Anglers are picking up fish along shore. Use a twister or a leach or minnow fished under a bobber along Ice House Point shoreline, the north shore picnic area, or the east end near the outlet structure. Yellow Perch – Fair: Try a small jig and minnow or piece of crawler fished under a bobber. Anglers are having luck fishing around the fish house in Town Bay. Largemouth Bass – Fair.
Brushy Creek Lake
Water levels remain about 2-3 feet low. The second dock at the west ramp is in and is installed at its normal anchor point. Yellow Perch – Fair: Use crawlers or minnows on a jig near shore in 5-10 feet of water. Some sorting is needed. Black Crappie – Fair: Use a bare tube jig or a small jig and minnow fished under a bobber near shore. Bluegill – Fair. Walleye – Slow. Largemouth Bass – Good: Bass anglers are doing well along shore and structure.
North Twin Lake
Black Crappie – Fair: Try a tube jig or a minnow fished on a small jig under a bobber along shore and docks. Channel Catfish – Fair: Fish for catfish along shore with cut bait or crawlers fished on the bottom. Walleye – Fair: Try a leech or minnow fished under a bobber from shore.
Swan Lake (Carroll County)
Water temperatures are in the low 70’s. Water clarity is around 2 feet. Bluegill: Fair: Fish are 7- to 8-inches. Use a small jig fished under a bobber near shore. Black Crappie: Fair: Fish are 6- to 10-inches. Most have moved off shore. Largemouth Bass: Fair.
Storm Lake (incl Little Storm Lake)
Water temperatures are around 70 degrees. Water clarity is about 8 feet. If fishing from shore, evenings or low light conditions may be most productive due to the water clarity. Offshore bite for walleye and white bass has picked up. Black Crappie – Fair: Try a tube jig or a jig and small minnow under a bobber near shore. Channel Catfish – Slow: Use cut bait or dipped catfish baits fished on the bottom along shore. Walleye – Fair: Walleye fishing has been fair to good in the main lake. Try trolling along the dredge cuts. Anglers have picked up a few walleye from shore with a minnow or leech fished under a bobber. White Bass – Fair: Fish are being picked up while trolling along the dredge cuts with crankbaits and spinners with crawlers.
Water temperatures are in the low 70’s in most district lakes. For more information, contact the Black Hawk District office at 712-657-2638.
Beeds Lake
Black Crappie – Fair: Try a small minnow or tube jig fished from the causeway. Best bite is early morning. Yellow Bass – Fair: Drift fish a tube jig. Bluegill – Slow.
Bluebill Lake
Crappies are biting on minnows fished off the jetty. Use a slip bobber to position your bait above the brush piles. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Bass anglers are catching fish on a variety of baits. Make long cast to fish the vegetation edge with the really clear water.
Clear Lake
Water temperature is in the lower 70’s. Black Crappie – Good: Use a small minnow fished in the open pockets in the rushes. Early morning bite is best. Walleye – Fair: Try a jig tipped with a minnow or crawler fished near vegetation on the north shore. Also try slip bobber fishing a leech on the rock reefs. Shore anglers are having success fishing minnows from docks. Best bite is after sunset. Yellow Bass – Fair: Shore anglers are having success fishing small jigs from the jetties and docks. The bite at the Island is still going; best bite is at first light. Bluegill – Fair: Use a small piece of crawler below a bobber in open areas of vegetation. White Bass – Slow.
Crystal Lake
Black Crappie – Fair: Try a small minnow or tube jig fished on the outside edge of the vegetation or near woody habitat. Bluegill –Slow: Use a piece of crawler under a bobber fished near the vegetation edge. Largemouth Bass – Fair.
Lake Smith
Anglers are catching crappies and bluegills along the shoreline rocks. Black Crappie – Fair. Bluegill – Fair.
Lower Pine Lake
Largemouth Bass – Fair: Bass are biting on a variety of baits. Try fishing near the woody habitat. Bluegill – Good: Use a small piece of crawler under a bobber near shore.
Silver Lake (Worth)
Largemouth Bass – Fair: Use dark colored plastics fished around vegetation and near the jetty. Bluegill – Fair: Try a piece of crawler under a bobber fished near vegetation.
Upper Pine Lake
Black Crappie – Good: Try small jigs or a minnow fished near the downed trees. Bluegill – Good: Use a small piece of crawler under a bobber near shore. If you don’t get a bite right away, try slowly reeling in your bobber.
For information on the lakes and rivers in north central Iowa, contact the Clear Lake Fish and Wildlife office at 641-357-3517.
East Okoboji Lake
The muskellunge and walleye seasons are open. The water temperature is 66 degrees. Leaches with a slip bobber are a simple way to get some success out fishing with kids. Try this setup in about 8 feet or less of water. The current water temperature is 60 degrees. Black Crappie – Fair: Try fishing close to docks and hoists. Trolling weed lines has been successful for many anglers. Bluegill – Fair: Bluegill are starting to be found in shallower water and around docks and hoists. Leaches or worms and a simple bobber setup work well.
Lost Island Lake
Anglers have had consistent success with yellow perch and a few other species this spring. Yellow Perch – Good. Bluegill – Fair. Black Crappie – Fair. Walleye – Fair.
Minnewashta Lake
Panfishing has been good for anglers trolling weed lines, as well as fishing docks and hoists near shore. Black Crappie – Fair: A nice crappie bite can be found with a little movement around the lake. Bluegill – Fair. Pumpkinseed – Good.
Silver Lake (Dickinson)
Walleye – Fair.
Spirit Lake
The muskellunge and walleye seasons are open. The walleye bite has been hit-or-miss most nights. Perch and panfish are making their way in shallower, making shoreline and dock fishing advantageous. The water temperature is 65 degrees. Yellow Perch – Fair. Walleye – Fair: Bite is hit-or-miss at dusk.
West Okoboji Lake
The muskellunge and walleye seasons are open. The water temperature is 63 degrees. Try fishing for panfish in 8 feet or less and around docks and hoists. Anglers slowly trolling weed lines have been successful catching a variety of species. Bluegill – Fair: Bluegill are starting to be found in shallower water and around docks and hoists. Leaches or worms and a simple bobber setup work well. Black Crappie – Fair.
The muskellunge and walleye seasons on West Okoboji, East Okoboji, and Spirit Lakes, as well as all Iowa-Minnesota border waters, are open. Slowly trolling weed lines close to shore can catch a variety of species such as panfish and bass. The extended forecast has cooler temperatures with highs in the 50’s and 60’s. Lake levels are currently lower making navigation and launching more difficult. For current conditions, call the Spirit Lake District Office at 712-336-1840.
