NORTHWEST
Black Hawk Lake
Water levels are about 5 inches below the crest of the spillway. Surface water temperature is in the low 80s. Water clarity is roughly 10 inches. Black Crappie – Fair: Fish are 8- to 11-inches. Most fish have moved to more off shore areas, but can still be picked up along Ice House Point and around the fish house and stone piers in Town Bay. Bluegill – Slow: Find bluegills along shore near Ice House Point and the rock pile by Gunshot Hill. Fish are 6- to 7-inches. Channel Catfish – Fair: Look for cats around the deeper rock piles or try drifting in the evening and at night. Use cut bait, crawdads or dip bait. Catfish average 4 to 7 pounds.

Browns Lake
Water levels remain low; use caution when launching boats.
Brushy Creek Lake
Surface water temperature is in the low 80s. Black Crappie – Fair: Find crappie near submerged woody structure in 5-20 feet of water. Use a small jig tipped with a crawler or small minnow. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Try plastics and traditional bass lures along submerged woody structure and weed lines near shore.
Storm Lake (incl Little Storm Lake)
Surface water temperature is in the low 80s. Water clarity is variable between a few inches to up to two feet depending on location. Green algae blooms are present in some areas, especially near the downwind shorelines. All walleye between 19 and 25-inches must be immediately released unharmed at Storm Lake; no more than one walleye longer than 25-inches can be taken per day. Black Crappie – Fair. Channel Catfish – Fair: Storm Lake has a good population of 4-6 pound catfish. Try cut bait, liver or crawlers fished on the bottom along shore. Walleye – Fair: Boat anglers are trolling crankbaits using crawler harnesses and drifting leeches and in the edges of the dredge cuts. Also try a minnow under a slip bobber. Yellow Bass – Fair: Fish are 5- to 11-inches long. Use a small piece of crawler fished under a bobber. Yellow Perch – Fair: Try crawlers or small minnows fished under a bobber near rocky shorelines.
Surface water temperature is in the low 80s in most area lakes. Some lakes are experiencing varying levels of green algae blooms with recent warmer temperatures and calmer days. For more information, contact the Black Hawk District office at 712-657-2638.
Beeds Lake
Black Crappie – Fair: Drift fish or troll a tube jig along the north shore. Yellow Bass – Slow.
Clear Lake
The lake is at crest. Water temperature is in the low 80s. Water clarity is about 17 inches. Clear Lake has a protected slot on walleye. All walleye between 17 and 22 inches must be immediately released unharmed. No more than one walleye longer than 22 inches may be taken per day. Channel Catfish – Good: Try cut bait or chicken liver from the wind-swept shore. Best bite is after sunset. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Try fishing weedless baits near the vegetation edge. Walleye – Slow: Try fishing a slip bobber with live bait on the rock reefs or a jig and minnow near the vegetation edge. Yellow Bass – Slow.
Crystal Lake
Black Crappie – Fair: Drift fish a small jig in the dredge cut. Bluegill – Fair.
Lake Cornelia
Channel Catfish – Fair: Use cut bait from the windswept shore after sunset. Yellow Bass – Fair:
Upper Pine Lake
Black Crappie – Fair: Drift fish or troll small jigs or minnows. Best bite is early morning. Largemouth Bass – Good: Bass are biting on a variety of baits fished near woody structure.
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
Lake temperature is in the lower 80s. The water level is one inch over crest. Fish are out deeper during warm water temperatures. Trolling has been working very well. Find crappie and yellow bass in 12-17 feet of water. Try fishing weed lines where there is new vegetation growth. Black Crappie – Good: Best bite is in 10-15 feet of water along weed lines. Bluegill – Good. Walleye – Fair: Try spinners, crankbaits and long and shallow shad raps in the main basins. Best bite is an hour before and after sunset. Yellow Bass – Good.

Lost Island Lake
Fishing/trolling is getting more difficult as aquatic vegetation reaches the surface in many places. There has been a decent-sized algae bloom lately. Black Crappie – Fair. Walleye – Slow: Try trolling crankbaits or with lindy rigs off weed lines. Best bite is an hour before and after sunset. Yellow Perch – Fair.