Regional, Iowa – Here is this week’s Northwest Iowa Fishing Report as released by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Thursday, January 22nd.
Spirit Lake Management District
- Contact Person: Jed Siegwarth – 712-330-2542
Most lakes have 11 inches of fishable ice. Some accesses have periodically become heaved up, making getting on the ice more difficult in some areas. Ice quality and thickness should improve in the coming week. Recent cold weather has closed up a few areas where ice conditions were not great; be aware of changing ice conditions as you travel across the lake. The lakes are relatively free of snow. Last updated on 01/22/2026
- Ice Condition: Fishable
- Water Temperature (°F): 32.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Ice thickness is around 12+ inches in most areas. Anglers are catching quality-sized panfish species. Hole hopping may be needed.
- Black Crappie – Fair: Anglers have been successful hole hopping to catch quality-size fish.
- Bluegill – Good: Anglers have been successful hole hopping to catch quality-size fish.
- Pumpkinseed – Good: Anglers have been successful hole hopping to catch quality-size fish.
- Ice Condition: Fishable
- Water Temperature (°F): 32.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Ice thickness is around 13 inches.
- Walleye – Fair
- Ice Condition: Fishable
- Water Temperature (°F): 32.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Ice thickness is around 12 inches.
- Yellow Bass – Good: Anglers are catching lots of smaller yellow bass.
Silver Lake (Dickinson) (Dickinson)
- Ice Condition: Fishable
- Water Temperature (°F): 32.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Ice thickness is variable at 9-12 inches.
- Walleye – Good: Anglers are catching 9- to 13-inch walleye.
- Ice Condition: None
- Water Temperature (°F): 32.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
Ice thickness is 12+ inches in most areas. Fishing and travel is not advised on the north end of the lake as a large hole has opened up. Porta-potty units are available at Marble Beach and Mini-Wakan boat ramps. Many boat ramps have poor access due to ice heaving. Be wary of smaller holes that opened up during recent warm weather and have since capped over.
- Black Crappie – Good: With a little movement, anglers are catching crappie on jigs with minnows or plastics, as well as Berkley PowerBait shiners.
- Yellow Perch – Good: Anglers are catching good amounts of quality-size fish.
- Ice Condition: Fishable
- Water Temperature (°F): 34.0
- Ramp Condition: Useable
The lake has entirely frozen over except for some small areas on the main basin that have frozen over recently. Some bays permit fishing and vehicle traffic with upwards of 13 inches of ice. Travel is still not recommended on the main lake.
Black Crappie – Fair
KIWA Staff Photo
