Black Hawk Lake
Water temperatures are in the low 80s. Water levels are several inches above the spillway. Water clarity is about 1-2 feet. Black Crappie – Fair: Pick up crappie in and around the fish house in Town Bay and along Ice House Point shoreline. Crappie are up to 10- to 12-inches. Morning and evening bite are best. Bluegill – Fair: Try a nightcrawler under a bobber fished from shore. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Find bass along the shoreline and submerged rock piles; try a variety of bass baits. Walleye – Fair: Walleye action has slowed; try the submerged rock piles in the east basin and the shoreline along Ice House Point.
Brushy Creek Lake
Water temperatures are in the low 80s. Water clarity is about 3-4 feet. Black Crappie – Fair: Find crappie near submerged structure in 5-15 feet of water. Fish are 5-inches up to 13-inches. Bluegill – Fair: Find bluegill near submerged rock/brush piles in 5-15 feet of water. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Bass have started to move into deeper habitat. Try soft plastics in deeper weedlines and rock/brush piles in 8-15 feet of water. Walleye – Fair: Pick up walleye in 10-15 feet of water on rock/brush piles. Yellow Perch – Fair: sorting is needed.
North Twin Lake
Water levels are about 10 inches below the crest of the spillway. Courtesy docks are installed.
Storm Lake
Water temperatures are around 80 degrees. Water clarity is 2-3 feet. Black Crappie – Slow. Channel Catfish – Fair. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Find bass along the shore near rocky habitat with overhanging trees. Walleye – Fair: Pick up walleye off shore near the dredge cuts; use a crawler harness or crankbaits. White Bass – Fair. Yellow Bass – Fair.
For more information, contact the Black Hawk District office at 712-657-2638
Beeds Lake
Black Crappie – Good: Try small jigs trolled or drifted in 6 to 12 feet of water. Crappie are up in the water column; don’t fish too deep. Channel Catfish – Fair: Summer is a good time to target catfish. Use chicken liver or prepared baits along the causeway walk path.
Clear Lake
Water level is about 5 inches over crest. Water temperature is in the upper 70s. Water clarity is 25 inches. Channel Catfish – Good: Summer is an excellent time to target catfish. Try fishing the reef areas and wind swept shorelines. Walleye -Good: Anglers are catching walleye with live bait and crankbaits. Fish are in 3 to 8 feet of water. Rock reef areas have also been good. Yellow Bass – Fair: Anglers are catching a few yellow bass while targeting walleye. Live bait below slip bobbers or drifting works best.
Crystal Lake
Black Crappie- Fair: Drift fish or troll small jigs in the dredge cut.
Winnebago River
River level is 6.65 feet. Smallmouth Bass – 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
Lake level is 2 feet above crest. The lake is under a 5 mph no wake ordinance until July 20. Most boat ramps and docks are now functional. The walleye season is open. Black Crappie – Good: Bluegill – Good: Lots of bluegill have been seen and are easily catchable around functional docks. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Bass are a little ways off shore; you can still find some around docks and other structure. Yellow Perch – Good: Many perch have been seen; sorting will most likely be needed.
Ingham Lake
Walleye – Fair: Anglers have been successful morning and afternoon.
Silver Lake (Dickinson)
Lake level is 6 inches over crest. The lake is under a 5 mph no wake ordinance until July 20. Walleye – Good: Bite has been hit-or-miss, but has been very good when the bite is on.
Spirit Lake
Lake level is just under a foot over crest. The lake is under a 5 mph no wake ordinance until July 20. All major boat ramps are available. The walleye season is open. Black Crappie – Good: Anglers are finding quality-size crappie; they are biting on almost anything. Bluegill – Fair. Walleye – Good: Anglers are catching quality-sized walleye. Evening bite is best with leech and bobber from shore or crankbaits and slip bobbers by boat. Yellow Perch – Good: Sorting may be needed.
West Okoboji Lake
Lake level is 2 feet above crest. The lake is under a 5 mph no wake ordinance until July 20. Most ramps and docks are available. Some public docks that were damaged from high waters have not been repaired. The walleye season is open. Black Crappie – Fair: Bluegill – Good. Pumpkinseed – Good. Walleye – Fair. Yellow Perch – Fair: Sorting may be needed.
All lakes in Dickinson county are currently under a 5 mph no wake ordinance. The ordinance is scheduled to be lifted Saturday July 20. Water has been receding around an inch a day on many lakes. Most ramps and accesses are out of the water. Area water temperatures are in the upper 70s to low 80s. For current conditions, call the Spirit Lake District Office at 712-336-1840.