Black Hawk Lake
Water levels are 10 inches below the crest of the spillway. Panfish have moved to deeper habitat. Try fishing the dredge cuts and the rock piles. Black Crappie – Fair: Try fishing over the rock piles and from boat in 2-6 feet of water. Bluegill – Fair: Pick up 7- to 8-inch bluegill near rock piles and isolated timber near shore. Try floating a bobber with live bait or a jig tipped with a minnow or plastic. Channel Catfish – Fair. Largemouth Bass – Good: Try a plastic or crankbait near shallow rock piles and outcroppings. Walleye – Slow: Try fishing offshore near rock piles and dredge cuts.
Brushy Creek Lake
Black Crappie – Fair: Fish have moved to deeper habitat. Look for suspended fish near isolated brush and rock piles in 5-15 feet of water. Bluegill – Fair: Try fishing around open patches of vegetation along shore in 3-8 feet of water. Largemouth Bass – Good: Use a plastic or crankbait in 6-10 feet of water or isolated vegetation along shore. Walleye – Fair: Try a jig tipped with a minnow/plastic or crankbaits near isolated rock and brush piles in deeper water. Target fish near dusk, dawn or during cold fronts. Yellow Perch – Fair: Look for perch near isolated vegetation and shallow brush piles.
North Twin Lake
Water levels are about 2 feet below the crest of the spillway; use caution when launching boats at the ramps. Black Crappie – Fair: Crappie are off shore. Try fishing in 3-6 feet of water near rock or structure. Channel Catfish – Fair: This lake has a good population of catchable-sized fish. Catfish are spawning; find them near shore by rocky structure. Use cut bait or crankbaits. Walleye – Fair: Try fishing off shore; boat anglers are using planer boards and crankbaits.
Storm Lake
All walleye between 19 and 25-inches must be immediately released unharmed at Storm Lake; and no more than one walleye longer than 25-inches can be taken per day. Channel Catfish – Good: There is a good population of 3-6 pound catfish. Try cut bait, dip baits or crankbaits near shallow rocks. Walleye – Fair: Try fishing the dredge cuts with crankbaits and crawler harnesses. Yellow Bass – Good: Most fish are in 5- to 7-inches. Yellow Perch – Slow.
Swan Lake
Bluegill – Fair: Look for lots of 7-inch bluegill in clearings in the vegetation near shore. Try floating a bobber or use a small jig tipped with live bait or a plastic. Largemouth Bass – Fair.
For more information, contact the Black Hawk District office at 712-657-2638.
Beeds Lake
Black Crappie – Slow. Bluegill – Good: Try a small piece of crawler under a bobber in 2 to 3 feet of water.
Clear Lake
Water temperature is in the upper 70s. Lake level is 1.9 inches below crest. Water clarity is 3 feet. 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 crawlers near rocky areas or vegetation. Largemouth Bass – Good. Walleye – Fair: Anglers are having success fishing a jig or live bait near vegetation. Best bite is early morning and after sunset. Yellow Bass – Fair: Try a small jig near the edge of vegetation. Best bite is near sundown.
Rice Lake
Bluegill – Slow: Try a small piece of crawler under a bobber in 3 to 4 feet of water. Largemouth Bass – Good. Yellow Perch – Slow.
Silver Lake (Worth)
Bluegill – Fair: Try a small piece of crawler under a bobber in 2 to 3 feet of water. With the clear water, you may have to cast further to avoid spooking the fish. Largemouth Bass – Good: Use topwater baits. Yellow Perch – Slow.
Winnebago River
Water level is 4.98 feet.
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
The water temperature is in the upper 70s. Black Crappie – Fair. Bluegill – Fair: Bluegill have moved deeper; spawning has finished. Use a small hook and piece of worm. Walleye – Fair. Yellow Perch – Fair: Sorting will be needed.
Ingham Lake
Walleye – Fair: Anglers have been successful morning and evening.
Lost Island Lake
Water temperatures are in the upper70s. Black Crappie – Good. Walleye – Good: Try trolling with spinners over weeds.