Black Hawk Lake
Water temperatures are in the mid- to upper 50s. Water clarity is about 10 inches. Water levels are 14 inches below the crest of the spillway. Black Crappie – Fair: Try fishing over the rock piles and from shore in 2-5 feet of water. Anglers have also had success in the fish house in Town Bay. Bluegill – Fair: Fish near rock piles and rocky areas near shore. Try floating a bobber with live bait or a jig tipped with a minnow or plastic. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Use a plastic or crankbait near shallow rock piles and outcroppings. Walleye – Fair: Boat and shore anglers are picking up fish. Try from shore in the evenings with minnows under a bobber or pulling twisters.
Brushy Creek Lake
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 and near structure along the edge of the channel. Walleye – Slow: Try a jig tipped with a minnow/plastic or crankbaits near structure along shore or along the channel.
North Twin Lake
Water levels are about two feet below the crest of the spillway; use caution when launching boats at the ramps.
Storm Lake
Water temperatures are in the mid-50s. 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. Walleye – Fair. Fish from shore in the mornings and evenings. Yellow Bass – Fair: Most fish are 5- to 7-inches.
Water temperatures are in the mid- to upper 50s in most area lakes. Shoreline fishing action should continue to pick up. For more information, contact the Black Hawk District office at 712-657-2638.
Clear Lake
Water temperatures are in the low 50s. Water clarity is around two feet. The lake level is about 13.8 inches low. Clear Lake has a protected slot on walleye. 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: 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: Try a jig and minnow near vegetation. Best bite is after sunset. Yellow Bass – Fair: Use your electronics to find 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.
Silver Lake (Worth)
Bluegill – Fair: Nice-sized bluegill are available. Drift fish or slow troll small baits across the mid-lake flats. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Cast jigs and spinnerbaits along vegetation. Yellow Perch – Fair: Fall is a good time to target perch. Use small jigs tipped with a piece of crawler.
Winnebago River
Water level is 4.49 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
Water temperature is in the mid-50s. 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-50s. Black Crappie – Fair. Walleye – Fair: Try trolling with spinners over weeds. Walleyes should start to move more shallow in the evenings as water temperatures drop.
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: Expect the walleye bite to improve this week with falling water temperatures.

Spirit Lake
Water temperatures are in the mid-50s, but are dropping. Wader and shoreline fishing have been good. Water levels are nine inches below crest. Black Crappie – Good: Use minnows and plastics. Many nice-sized fish have been seen lately. Bluegill – Good: Fishing has still been good from docks using a small hook and a small piece of worm. In deeper water, use pilkies with wigglers or a slip bobber setup. Walleye – Good: Leeches and minnows work well. Wader fishing off shore has been good. Yellow Perch – Good: Good numbers can be found; may need to be sorted for size.

West Okoboji Lake
Water temperatures are in the mid-50s. The bass bite has been getting harder. Water levels are three inches below crest. Wader fishing in the evening for walleyes has been good. 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 have been working well. Yellow Perch – Fair: Sorting may be needed.

Water levels have gone up with recent rains, but are still a few inches below crest. Area water temperatures are in the mid-50s. Anglers have found the most success fishing off rock points and the edges of weed lines. Shoreline wader fishing has been improving. Most courtesy docks are still in place. For current conditions, call the Spirit Lake District Office at 712-336-1840.