Black Hawk Lake
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: Use 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: Find crappie in 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. 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 or dip baits fished on the bottom near shore. 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.
For more information, contact the Black Hawk District office at 712-657-2638.
Beeds Lake
Black Crappie – Good: Drift or slow troll small jigs to target suspended crappie. Move around to find locations fish are holding.
Clear Lake
Water temperature is in the upper 70s. The lake level is down about 6 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. Black Crappie – Fair: Anglers are catching a few crappie targeting other species while using live bait and small jigs. Walleye – Fair: Use crankbaits in 8-10 feet of water. A few fish are being caught on live bait around the docks. Yellow Bass – Fair: Try a small jig tipped or live bait. Drift areas with 6-12 feet of depth to find schools.
Rice Lake
Largemouth Bass – Good: Use surface lures or jigs.
Silver Lake (Worth)
Largemouth Bass – Good: Try surface lures and weedless jigs. Fish up to 5 pounds are being caught.
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: Most bluegill have moved deeper; you can still be successful fishing from a dock or shore. Use a small hook and piece of worm. In deeper water, use pilkies with wigglers or a slip bobber setup. 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 mid-70s. Black Crappie – Fair. Walleye – Fair: Try trolling with spinners over weeds.
Minnewashta Lake
Black Crappie – Fair. Bluegill – Fair. Pumpkinseed – Good.