Arrowhead Lake
The lake is ice-free.
Black Hawk Lake
The lake is open. A few anglers have picked up bluegill and crappie in Town Bay since it opened up. More reports will be available as we receive them. Black Crappie – Fair. Bluegill – Fair.
Black Hawk Pit
Black Hawk Pits are ice-free.
Brushy Creek Lake
The lake has just recently opened up; unsafe ice conditions.
Storm Lake (incl Little Storm Lake)
As of March 11th, most of the main lake is still covered with ice; unsafe ice conditions. The Marina is open. Anglers are starting to fish in the marina.
Many lakes in the district are ice-free, except for a few larger water bodies. Unsafe ice conditions. 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
There are many areas of open water. Any remaining ice is deteriorating quickly; unsafe ice conditions. Black Crappie – Fair: Wader fish open pockets in the rushes. Bluegill – Fair: Wader fish open pockets in the rushes.
Lower Pine Lake
There is no open water on Upper or Lower Pine Lake; unsafe ice conditions.
Upper Pine Lake
There is no open water on Upper or Lower Pine Lake; unsafe ice conditions.
Winnebago River
The northern pike bite should pick up; try fishing a chub in slack water below dams and where smaller creeks enter the river.
Ice conditions are rapidly deteriorating on all area waterbodies with the warm temperatures and high winds. Ice fishing is not recommended. 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
Ice conditions have deteriorated significantly; unsafe ice conditions.
East Okoboji Lake
The walleye season is closed. Ice conditions have deteriorated significantly; unsafe ice conditions
Ingham Lake
Ice conditions have deteriorated; unsafe ice conditions.
Lost Island Lake
Ice conditions have deteriorated significantly; unsafe ice conditions.
Minnewashta Lake
Ice conditions have deteriorated significantly; unsafe ice conditions.
Silver Lake (Dickinson)
Ice conditions have deteriorated significantly; unsafe ice conditions.
Spirit Lake
The walleye season is closed. Ice conditions have deteriorated significantly; unsafe ice conditions. Yellow Perch – Fair.
West Okoboji Lake
The walleye season is closed. Ice conditions have deteriorated significantly; unsafe ice conditions.
The walleye season is closed on Spirit, East Okoboji and West Okoboji Lake. Ice fishing is not recommended. Recent warm temperatures have quickly deteriorated much of the ice in the area. The extended forecast calls for continued warm temperatures with highs in the 40s and 50s. For current conditions, call the Spirit Lake District Office at 712-336-1840.
Big Creek Lake
As of March 10, Big Creek Lake was mostly open water with some ice remaining in coves. Channel Catfish – Fair: Channel catfish are feeding on winter-killed gizzard shad as the ice goes off. Bottom fish dead shad from shore on the wind-blown side of the lake. The shallower shorelines on the upper half of the lake are the best to target.
Des Moines River (Saylorville to Red Rock)
Walleye – Fair: Through March, catch walleyes below the dams from Saylorville to below Red Rock. Cast jigs tipped with twister tails, swimbaits or live minnows. Northern Pike – Fair: Catch pike below the dams and near the mouths of creeks entering the river. Cast jigs tipped with twister tails or swimbaits.
As of March 10, Central Iowa ponds and lakes were mostly to completely ice-free. For more information on Central Iowa lakes and rivers, call Ben Dodd at 641-891-3795 or Andy Otting at 515-204-5885.