Northwest Iowa — Here is this week’s Northwest Iowa Fishing Report from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, as released Thursday, January 11, 2024.
East Okoboji Lake
The lake is fully ice covered, but be wary of holes that have closed up more recently. Ice thickness is 4 inches or less in most areas. Black Crappie – Fair: Use minnows and plastics. Bluegill – Fair: Try 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 most likely be needed.
Ingham Lake
The lake is mostly ice covered. Ice thickness is around 5 inches. Lots of waterfowl are residing on an open hole on the lake. Walleye – Fair: Anglers have been successful morning and evening.
Lost Island Lake
Ice thickness is around 5 inches. There is a large open hole in the center of the lake. Black Crappie – Fair. Walleye – Fair: Anglers have been successful fishing from shorelines in the evenings.
Minnewashta Lake
Ice thickness is 4 inches. Black Crappie – Fair: Try slowly trolling over vegetation with minnows and plastics. Bluegill – Fair. Pumpkinseed – Good.
Scharnberg Pond
You need a valid fishing license and pay the trout fee to fish for or possess trout.
Silver Lake (Dickinson)
The lake is fully ice covered, but still has relatively thin ice. Average ice thickness is 3 inches. Black Bullhead – Good. Walleye – Fair: Expect the walleye bite to improve with falling water temperatures.
Spirit Lake
The lake is fully ice covered, but only the northeast bay and closer up shore has ok ice. Ice thickness is 5 inches or less in most areas. Black Crappie – Good: Minnows and plastics work well. Many nice-sized fish have been seen lately. Bluegill – Good: Try 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. Yellow Perch – Good: Find good numbers; may need to sort for size.
West Okoboji Lake
Large portions of the the lake are ice covered. Only a few bays have safe ice for travel; use caution. 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.
Ice thickness is 5 inches or less on most area lakes. Current temperatures are below freezing and should continue to get colder over the next week. Expect ice conditions to improve each day. The largest lakes have been the last to freeze. Bays and smaller lakes are best for safe ice fishing access. Check ice thickness frequently; there are many open areas that have frozen more recently. For current conditions, call the Spirit Lake District Office at 712-336-1840.
