Black Hawk Lake
Water temperatures are in the upper 70s. Water levels are several inches above the spillway. Water clarity is about 12 inches. 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 – Slow: Try a nightcrawler under a bobber fished from the fish house or around the rock piles. Largemouth Bass – Slow. Walleye – Slow: Walleye action has slowed; try the submerged rock piles in the east basin and the shoreline along Ice House Point. Yellow Perch – Fair.
Brushy Creek Lake
Water temperatures are in the upper 70s. Black Crappie – Fair: Find crappie in 10-15 feet of water. Bluegill – Slow: Find bluegill near submerged rock/brush piles in 5-15 feet of water. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Bass have moved into deeper habitat. Try soft plastics in deeper weedlines and rock/brush piles in 8-15 feet of water. Walleye – Slow: Pick up walleye in 10-15 feet of water on rock/brush piles. Yellow Perch – Fair: Some sorting is needed.
North Twin Lake
Water levels are about 11 inches below the crest of the spillway. Surface water temperatures are in the upper 70s. Water clarity is about 2 feet. Channel Catfish – Fair: Try fishing from shore in 2-6 feet of water near rocky structure. A recent survey showed good numbers of 16-inches to 24-inches fish.
Storm Lake (incl Little Storm Lake)
Water temperatures are in the mid to upper 70s. Black Crappie – Slow. Channel Catfish – Fair. Largemouth Bass – Slow. 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 – Fair: Drift fish or troll small jigs along the north shore. Bluegill – Fair. Yellow Bass – Slow.
Clear Lake
Water level is about .8 inches over crest. Water temperature is in the upper 70s. Water clarity is 20 inches. Channel Catfish – Fair: Try fishing the rock reef areas and wind-swept shorelines. Best bite is after sunset. Walleye – Fair: Anglers are catching walleye with live bait and crankbaits. Fish are in 3 to 8 feet of water. Try rock reefs areas and near the edge of vegetation. 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. Bluegill – Fair. Walleye – Fair: Try fishing near the vegetation edge and along the old roadbed.
Rice Lake
Bluegill – Slow. Largemouth Bass – Good: Try fishing in the woody habitat. Morning bite is best
Upper Pine Lake
Largemouth Bass – Good.
Winnebago River
River level is 5.5 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 just below 6 inches over crest. Black Crappie – Good: Bluegill – Good: Many 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 3 inches over crest. The lake is experiencing an algae bloom. Walleye – Good: Bite has been hit-or-miss, but has been very good when the bite is on.
Spirit Lake
Lake level is around 3 inches over crest. All major boat ramps and docks are available. 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 just below 6 inches above crest. All ramps and docks are available. Black Crappie – Fair: Bluegill – Good. Pumpkinseed – Good. Walleye – Fair. Yellow Perch – Fair: Sorting may be needed.
Water levels are normal on most lakes. Many lakes are greening up and starting to experience algae blooms. Area ramps and accesses are fully functional. Area water temperatures are in the upper 70s to low 80s. Cooler night temperatures have started to lower area lake temperatures. For current conditions, call the Spirit Lake District Office at 712-336-1840.