Black Hawk Lake
Water temperatures are in the upper 60s. Water clarity is roughly 10 inches. Water levels are 14 inches below the crest of the spillway. 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 – Fair: Try fishing offshore near rock piles and dredge cuts, and in 3-6 feet of water with rocky structure near shore.
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. Black Crappie – Fair: Look for suspended fish near isolated brush and rock piles in 5-15 feet of water. Bluegill – Fair: Try fishing around woody or rocky structure 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, particularly along the edge of the channel. 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.
Storm Lake
Water temperatures are in the upper 60s. 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: Try cut bait or dip baits fished on the bottom near shore. Most fish are 3-6 pounds. Walleye – Fair: Try fishing the dredge cuts with crankbaits and crawler harnesses. Expect shore fishing to pick up as water temperatures drop. Yellow Bass – Fair: Most fish are 5- to 7-inches. Yellow Perch – Slow.
Water temperatures arein the upper 60s in most area lakes. For more information, contact the Black Hawk District office at 712-657-2638.
Clear Lake
The lake level is about 12 inches low. 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 – Good: Use small jigs or minnows along vegetation edges or the dredge cuts. Muskellunge – Fair: Fall is an excellent time to target muskie. There is a 40 inch minimum length on muskellunge in Iowa. Walleye – Fair: Walleye angling is improving. Try fishing in the evening as fish move shallow looking for forage. Wind-swept shores are the best areas to target. Yellow Bass – Good: Angling has picked up this week; the western third of the lake has been best. Use small jigs crawlers or minnows.
Crystal Lake
Black Crappie – Good: Drift fish or use a trolling motor to target suspended fish.
Rice Lake
Any water west of the north boat ramp is a waterfowl refuge and is closed to all activity from Sept. 1st through the final day of the duck season. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Use jigs or spinnerbaits. Yellow Perch – Fair: Fall is a good time to target perch. Use small jigs tipped with crawlers.
Silver Lake (Worth)
Bluegill – Fair: Nice-sized bluegill are available. Drift fish or slow troll small baits across the mid-lake flats. Largemouth Bass – Good: Cast jigs and spinnerbaits along vegetation. Yellow Perch – Fair: Try drift fishing minnows and small jigs.
Water temperatures have dropped into the 60s on northcentral Iowa lakes. For information on the lakes and rivers in north central Iowa, contact the Clear Lake Fish and Wildlife office at 641-357-3517.
Ingham Lake
Walleye – Fair: Anglers have been successful morning and evening.
Lost Island Lake
Water temperatures are in the upper 60s. Black Crappie – Fair. Walleye – Fair: Try trolling with spinners over weeds.