Black Hawk Lake
Water clarity is around 12 inches. Water levels are several inches below the crest of the spillway. Fish cleaning station is closed for the season. Ramp docks are removed for the season. The dock at the marina boat ramp at the NE side of the lake will remain in year-round. Black Crappie – Fair: Pick up crappie in and around the fish house in Town Bay, along Ice House Point shoreline, and near the inlet bridge. Crappie are up to 10- to 12-inches. Bluegill – Fair: Use a small hair or tube jig tipped with a small piece of bait near shore areas and under docks as water cools. Bluegill numbers are not high, but large individuals are here. Walleye – Fair: Try fishing along Ice House Point, the east shore near the outlet, and Shotgun Hill. Throw twisters or fish a crawler near the bottom or under a slip bobber.
Brushy Creek Lake
The north, east, and south boat ramp docks have been removed. The west ramp dock is still in and will likely remain in year-round. Black Crappie – Slow: Find crappie in 5-10 feet of water near submerged wood structure. Bluegill – Slow: Find bluegill near submerged structure in 3-10 feet of water. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Look for largemouth bass along shore. Target areas with wood structure. Walleye – Slow. Yellow Perch – Fair.
North Twin Lake
Water levels are around 20 inches below crest. Boat ramp courtesy docks on the south boat ramps are removed for the season. Channel Catfish – Slow: Try fishing from shore in 2-6 feet of water along rocky structure and the wooded shores in Muddy Bay. North Twin Lake good numbers of 16-inches to 24-inches fish (~1 to 3 pounds). Walleye – Slow. Find walleyes around docks and boat lifts. Cast around those structures; move often to find actively feeding fish.
Storm Lake (incl. Little Storm Lake)
Water level are below crest. Walleye – Slow: Pick up walleyes from shore. The Chautauqua Jetty and Frank Starr Park attract a lot of walleyes in the evenings. If there is flow coming through the inlet, it is worth fishing.
The near shore bite has been fair to good. Water temperatures continue to cool down. Most ramp docks have been removed. For more information, contact the Black Hawk District office at 712-657-2638.
Clear Lake
Water level is 10 inches below crest. Water temperature is in the mid-40s .All courtesy docks at McIntosh and Ventura access have been taken out for the season. Walleye – Fair: Try live bait and jigs near rock reefs areas and near the edge of vegetation. Best bite is after sun set. Yellow Bass – Slow: Anglers are catching a few yellow bass while targeting walleye.
Crystal Lake
The courtesy docks have been removed for the season. Black Crappie- Fair: Drift fish or troll small jigs in the dredge cut. Bluegill – Slow: Use a jig tipped with a piece of crawler near shore. Walleye – Slow: Try fishing near vegetation edge and along the old roadbed.
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. Bluegill – Slow. Walleye – slow. Yellow Perch – Fair. Use a jig and a piece of crawler near vegetation.
Silver Lake (Worth)
Bluegill – Slow: Try a piece of crawler under a bobber near edges of vegetation. Yellow Perch – slow.
Winnebago River
River level is 4.84 feet. Smallmouth Bass – Fair. Try fishing a jig in the deeper pools. Walleye – Fair.
For information on lakes and rivers in north central Iowa, contact Clear Lake Fish and Wildlife office at 641-357-3517.
East Okoboji Lake
Lake level is just below crest. The ramp/dock at upper gar can be used for the remainder of the open water season. Black Crappie – Good: Bluegill – Good: Many bluegill seen; easily catchable around functional docks. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Bass are a ways off shore; you can find some around docks and structure. Yellow Perch – Good: Many perch seen; sorting most likely needed.
Ingham Lake
Walleye – Fair: Morning and afternoon bite is best.
Silver Lake (Dickinson)
Lake level is below crest. The algae bloom is dying back as water cools. Walleye – Good: Bite hit-or-miss, but very good when bite is on.
Spirit Lake
Lake level is a few inches below crest. The ramp/dock at Templar can be used for the remainder of the season. Black Crappie – Good: Anglers are finding quality-size crappie up to 14 inches. The ramp/dock at Templar can be used for the remainder of the season. Black Crappie – Good: Anglers have been finding fish of quality size up to 14-inches. Bluegill – Good. Walleye – Good: Evening bite is best with leech and bobber from shore or crankbaits and slip bobbers by boat. Yellow Perch – Good: Sorting is needed; anglers are finding many of acceptable size.
West Okoboji Lake
Lake level is a few inches below crest. Triboji dock is in. Black Crappie – Fair: Bluegill – Good. Largemouth Bass – Good. Pumpkinseed – Good.
Area buoys have been pulled for the season. The bite for most species has been good. Most fish have moved closer to shore as temperatures drop. Weedlines have been slowly fading back and most lakes have been clearing up. Most ramp docks have been pulled for the season. For current conditions, call the Spirit Lake District Office at 712-336-1840.