Black Hawk Lake
Water temperatures are in the low to mid 80s. Water clarity is 14 inches. Water levels are 12 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. Anglers have also had success in the fish house in Town Bay. 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 – Fair: 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
With warmer water temperatures, there is a slight green algae bloom. 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 – Fair: Use a plastic or crankbait in 6-10 feet of water or isolated vegetation and structure along the edge of the channel. Walleye – Slow: Try a jig tipped with a minnow/plastic or crankbaits near isolated rock and brush piles in deeper water. 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. Use cut bait or dip baits near shore and around rocky structure.
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 – Fair: 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 – Fair: Most fish are 5- to 7-inches. Yellow Perch – Slow.
Swan Lake
Bluegill – Fair: Fish are around 7-inches. Try a piece of crawler under a bobber near edges of vegetation or structure in 2-4 feet of water.
Water temperatures are in the low to mid-80s. For more information, contact the Black Hawk District office at 712-657-2638.
Beeds Lake
Black Crappie – Fair: Try drift fishing or troll tube jigs along the north shore. Bluegill – Fair: Use a small piece of crawler under a bobber in 2 to 3 feet of water.
Clear Lake
Water temperature is in the 80s. Lake level is 3.3 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. Black Crappie – Slow. Channel Catfish – Good: Try cut bait near rocky areas or near the edge of vegetation. Largemouth Bass – Fair. Walleye – Slow: Try a jig or live bait near vegetation. Best bite is early morning and after sunset. Yellow Bass – Fair: Use a small jig tipped with bait in 8 to 10 feet of water. Use your electronics to find fish.
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 – Slow: Try a small piece of crawler under a bobber on the edge of the vegetation. Largemouth Bass – Good: Use topwater baits. Yellow Perch – Slow.
Winnebago River
Water level is 4.68 feet.
For information on the lakes and rivers in north central Iowa, contact the Clear Lake Fish and Wildlife office at 641-357-3517.