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: Anglers are starting to pick up more fish. Try fishing near the rock piles and along shore during evenings.
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: Use 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, especially in mornings and evenings. Yellow Bass – Fair: Most fish are 5- to 7-inches. Yellow Perch – Slow.
Water temperatures are in the upper 60s in most area lakes. For more information, contact the Black Hawk District office at 712-657-2638.
Clear Lake
Water levels are near a foot low on Clear Lake. Water temperature are in the upper 60s. 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 crappie in the dredge cuts and artificial vegetation beds on the main lake. Check the Fishing Atlas to help you find the two artificial vegetation beds. Walleye – Fair: Walleye bite is improving, especially near and after sunset. Yellow Bass – Good: Drift and cast live bait and small jigs. Drifting is a good technique to find schools of 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. Signs across the lake mark this area. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Use spinnerbaits or crankbaits along shore.
Silver Lake (Worth)
Lake levels are low; use caution launching and loading boats. Bluegill – Good: Drift fish live bait across the mid-lake basin. Largemouth Bass – Good: Try crankbaits and spinnerbaits. Yellow Perch – Fair: Use small jigs and live bait.
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
Water temperature is in the mid-60s. Black Crappie – Fair: Use minnows and plastics. Bluegill – Fair: Most fish have moved deeper; anglers can find success fishing from docks 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 likely be needed.
Ingham Lake
Walleye – Fair: Anglers have been successful morning and evening.
Lost Island Lake
Water temperatures are in the mid-60s. Black Crappie – Fair. Walleye – Fair: Try trolling with spinners over weeds.
Minnewashta Lake
Black Crappie – Fair: Slowly troll over vegetation with minnows and plastics. Bluegill – Fair. Pumpkinseed – Good.
Silver Lake (Dickinson)
Black Bullhead – Good. Walleye – Fair: Try trolling with spinners over or off weed lines.
Spirit Lake
Water temperatures are in the mid-60s. You may have to move out deeper to find edges of weed lines. Water levels are 6 inches below crest. Black Bullhead – Good: Anglers have been successful when fishing the north grade. Black Crappie – Fair: Many nice-sized fish have been seen lately. Use minnows and plastics. Bluegill – Good: Try a small hook and a small piece of worm from the docks. In deeper water, use pilkies with wigglers or a slip bobber setup. Walleye – Fair: Leeches and minnows work well. Angler have been successful with slip bobbers off points and pulling spinners over vegetation. Yellow Perch – Fair: Larger fish have been more difficult to find.
West Okoboji Lake
Water temperatures are in the mid-60s. Bass topwater bite has been good. Water levels are 2 inches below crest. Black Crappie – Fair: Try small jigs tipped with a minnow. Bluegill – Good: Use pilkies with wigglers or a slip bobber setup. Pumpkinseed – Good. Walleye – Fair: Leeches and minnows work well. Yellow Perch – Fair: Sorting may be needed.
Water temperatures are dropping fast with the colder nights. Area water temperatures are in the upper to mid-60s. Most area water levels are a couple inches below crest. Anglers have found the most success fishing off rock points and the edges of weed lines. Slowly trolling over weed beds in around 15 feet of water has been working for a handful of species. Many weed beds are starting to die back as water temperatures decrease. For current conditions, call the Spirit Lake District Office at 712-336-1840.