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
The courtesy dock at the boat ramp has been removed for the season.
Black Hawk Lake
The fish cleaning station is closed for the season. The courtesy dock at the State Marina boat ramp will remain in place year-round. Water level is about 10 inches below the crest of the spillway. Water clarity is about one foot. Black Crappie – Fair: Anglers are picking up 10- to 12-inch crappie. Most fish are being picked up in and around the fish house in Town Bay. Try also along Ice House Point and near the inlet bridge. Fish are biting on jigs tipped with a minnow or without bait. Most are being fished under a bobber. Bluegill – Slow. Walleye – Slow. Yellow Perch – Fair: Perch fishing is fair to good. Pick up fish in the fish house and near the inlet bridge with a minnow fished under a bobber.
Brushy Creek Lake
The fish cleaning station is closed and the courtesy docks have been removed for the season. Water temperature is in the low-40s. Black Crappie – Fair: Try a small jig and minnow in 15 feet of water near woody structure. Walleye – Slow: Walleye have moved off shore to deeper water with cooling water temperatures. Yellow Perch – Fair: Use a small jig tipped with crawler or minnows fished in areas of 10-15 feet of water.
North Twin Lake
Black Crappie – Fair. Yellow Bass – Fair: Anglers are picking up yellow bass fishing from shore.
Storm Lake (incl Little Storm Lake)
The courtesy dock at the Bel-Air boat ramp has been removed for the season. Courtesy docks at the ramp in the DNR marina will remain in place throughout the season. Water clarity is less than one foot. Walleye – Slow: Cast twisters or crankbaits from shore. Also try live bait like minnows or leeches fished under a bobber along shore during evenings or mornings. White Bass – Fair: Cast twisters along shore or use crawlers fished under a bobber in areas along shore.
Water temperatures have dropped to around 40 degrees. For more information, contact the Black Hawk District office at 712-657-2638.
Blue Pit
Rainbow Trout – Good. 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
Water temperature is in the upper 30s. The lake is five inches low. All courtesy docks have been removed for the season. Walleye – Fair: Anglers are having success fishing jigs and a minnow after sunset from the jetties and along the north shoreline. Yellow Perch – Fair: Anglers are catching a few perch from the Ventura Grade jetties using slip bobbers with minnows or a jig and minnow with a slow retrieve.
Rice Lake
The refuge area west of the north boat ramp is closed to all boating activity. Walleye – Slow: Use a jig and minnow after sunset. Yellow Perch – Slow: Use a sllip bobber and a minnow in the deep water out from the homes.
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
Many anglers are observing higher catch rates with sorting needed to limit out on various fish. Many people have had success with slip bobbers/spoons as well as vertical jigging and dropshot. The current water temperature is 35 degrees. Black Crappie – Fair: Catch has been picking up and fish have been moving in shallower and hanging out around pockets of vegetation. Bluegill – Fair: Bluegill are biting like crazy recently. Leeches or worms and a simple bobber setup work well. Pumpkinseed – Fair: Fun and easier to catch from most docks. Use a small hook, bobber and piece of worm.
Lost Island Lake
The walleye bite from shore has been very good with many anglers fishing off the southern stony point and eastern shore. Black Crappie – Fair. Bluegill – Fair. Walleye – Fair. Yellow Bass – Fair. Yellow Perch – Fair: Good catch rate with some sorting needed.
Minnewashta Lake
The panfish and crappie bite has been fairly decent and will continue to improve as the water cools and starts to ice up. Black Crappie – Good: A nice crappie bite can be found with a little movement around the lake. Bluegill – Good. Pumpkinseed – Good.
Scharnberg Pond
Trout were stocked unannounced this fall. You need a valid fishing license and pay the trout fee to fish for or possess trout. Rainbow Trout – Good: Trout are biting on a variety of different baits. Try a worm or lure that imitates a minnow.
Silver Lake (Dickinson)
Walleye – Fair: Try using slip bobbers and finding weed lines.
Spirit Lake
The water temperature is 35 degrees. Fish are moving in shallower. The perch and walleye bite has slowed with the latest cold front. Black Crappie – Fair: Mostly being caught along with perch; use tube jigs with wigglers or pilkies. Bluegill – Fair: Mostly being caught along with perch; use tube jigs with wigglers or pilkies. Walleye – Fair: 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. Yellow Perch – Fair: Perch are moving in shallower allowing for great catch with some sorting. Try mini jigs and minnows; bring plenty of minnows as smaller fish will strip you of your bait.
West Okoboji Lake
The water temperature is 36 degrees. Anglers have been successful fishing for bluegill and crappie in 10-15 feet of water. Most any bait has been working. Use lead core or tadpole baits. Black Crappie – Good: Crappie have been very picky lately, but can be easily caught if you aren’t afraid to switch things up. Can also be caught frequently while picking through other panfish or have been found around weed edges. Bluegill – Good: Bluegill are biting like crazy with fish up to 10-inches seen. Try a shucks jigger and bobber fished in 10-15 feet of water. Jigging, casting, and slip bobbers work well. Try trolling with twister tails and ripple shads or shucks jiggers with a bobber. Walleye – Fair: Walleye have been hard to target, but many anglers are catching them while fishing for other species.
The panfish/perch bite has slowed a bit due to the most recent cold front. The evening walleye bite from shore has been slower. The forecast calls for highs in the 40s with much colder nights leading to some freezing. Most lake temperatures are now in the 30s. Many of the the smaller lakes have been icing over during the nights. For current conditions, call the Spirit Lake District Office at 712-336-1840.
