Bacon Creek Lake
Rainbow trout were stocked last week. Try a small tube and twister jigs, in-line spinners, small casting spoons, or a live minnow or a piece of crawler on a hook fished under a bobber. You need a valid fishing license and pay the trout fee to fish for or possess trout.
Black Hawk Lake
Water temperatures are in the mid to upper 40s. Water clarity is about 1 foot. Water levels are 15 inches below the crest of the spillway. The fish cleaning station is closed for the season. Courtesy docks at the SE boat ramp and Ice House Point boat ramp are removed for the season. Black Crappie – Good: Try jigs or crawlers under a bobber near shore in 2-5 feet of water and in and around the fish house in Town Bay. Bluegill – Fair: Try fishing near rock piles and rocky areas near shore. Float 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 – Slow: Try minnows under a bobber or pulling twisters from shore in the evenings. Yellow Perch – Fair: Anglers are picking up some perch with crawlers under a bobber from shore and from the inlet bridge area.
Brushy Creek Lake
Courtesy docks are removed for the season. 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 – Fair: Try a jig tipped with a minnow/plastic or crankbaits near structure along shore or along the channel.
North Twin Lake
Courtesy dock at the south boat ramp is removed for the season. Water levels are over 2 feet below the crest of the spillway; use caution when launching boats at the ramps.
Storm Lake
Water temperatures are in the mid-40s. Channel Catfish – Fair: Use cut bait or dip baits fished on the bottom near shore. Walleye – Fair. Try fishing from shore in the mornings and evenings. White Bass – Fair. Yellow Bass – Fair: Most fish are 5- to 7-inches.
Water temperatures are in the mid to upper 40s in most area lakes. For more information, contact the Black Hawk District office at 712-657-2638.
Clear Lake
All courtesy docks are out for the season. Water temperatures are in the mid-40s. Water clarity is around 3 feet. The lake level is 14 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. Muskellunge – Fair: Fall is an excellent time to target muskie. There is a 40-inch minimum length on muskellunge in Iowa. Walleye – Fair: Anglers are having success fishing the grade and wader fishing around the Island. Best bite is after sunset.
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 – Slow.
Silver Lake (Worth)
The courtesy docks have been removed for the season. Bluegill – Slow: Nice-sized bluegill are available. Drift fish or slow troll small baits across the mid-lake flats. Yellow Perch – Slow: Fall is a good time to target perch. Use small jigs tipped with a piece of crawler.
Winnebago River
Water level is 4.56 feet. Walleye – Fair.
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 low 40s. 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-40s. Black Crappie – Fair. Walleye – Fair: Anglers have been successful fishing from shorelines in the evenings.
Minnewashta Lake
Black Crappie – Fair: Slowly troll over vegetation with minnows and plastics. Bluegill – Fair. Pumpkinseed – Good.
Scharnberg Pond
Rainbow trout were stocked last week. You need a valid fishing license and pay the trout fee to fish for or possess trout.
Spirit Lake
Water temperatures are in the low 40s. Wader and shoreline fishing have been good. Water levels are 9 inches below crest. Black Crappie – Good: Use minnows and plastics. Many nice-sized fish have been seen lately. Bluegill – Good: Fishing is good from docks; use a small hook and a small piece of worm. In deeper water, use pilkies with wigglers or a slip bobber setup. Walleye – Good: Minnows work well. Wader fishing off shore has been good. Yellow Perch – Good: Good numbers can be found; may need to sort for size.