Black Hawk Lake
Water levels are several inches over the crest of the spillway. Anglers are doing well from shore and boat. Black Crappie – Slow: Anglers have picked up a few from the fish house. Shore fishing will improve once water temperatures continue to warm. Walleye – Fair: Anglers are picking up fish. Cast jigs along the east shore. Town Bay, Ice House Point shoreline and the inlet bridge area have been productive. Use a jig or a slip bobber with minnows Yellow Perch – Fair.
Brushy Creek Lake
The courtesy docks are in place.
North Twin Lake
Water clarity is about 2 feet. Water levels are about 12 inches below crest. Courtesy docks are in.
Storm Lake
Water temperatures are in the mid-50s. Anglers are catching crappie, walleye, and yellow bass in the marina. Expect shore fishing to improve as water temperatures continues to warm. Black Crappie – Slow: Anglers have picked up a few fish in the marina. Walleye – Fair: Look for shore fishing to improve as fish start to increase post-spawn feeding activity. Cast jigs and twisters or use a minnow on a slip bobber near shore. Yellow Bass – Fair: Anglers are catching bass in the marina. Yellow Perch – Fair.
For more information, contact the Black Hawk District office at 712-657-2638.
Clear Lake
Water temperatures is in the upper 40s. Water level is 3.2 inches below crest. Walleye – Good: Anglers wading and boat fishing are catching walleye. Try jigs, minnows, or slow retrieved crankbaits near reefs and shallow rocky shorelines. Yellow Bass – Slow: Fish will move shallow on the north shore on warm afternoons.
Crystal Lake
The courtesy dock is in at the boat ramp. Black Crappie – Slow: Crappie are suspended in the dredge cuts. Walleye – Slow.
Rice Lake
Yellow Perch – Slow: Try fishing near the cattail edges on warmer days.
Winnebago River
Water level is 5.5 feet. Northern Pike – Fair: Use suckers, chubs, and jigs in slack current areas and where tributaries enter the river.
For additional information, contact Clear Lake Fisheries Office at 641-357-3517.
East Okoboji Lake
The walleye season is closed. Black Crappie – Fair: Bluegill – Fair. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Yellow Perch – Fair: Many fish have been observed; sorting will most likely be needed.
Ingham Lake
Walleye – Fair: Morning and afternoon bite is best.
Silver Lake
Walleye – Fair: The bite is hit-or-miss.
Spirit Lake
The walleye season is closed. The Marble Beach fish cleaning station is inoperable; the projected timeline for repair is to have it open again by walleye weekend. Black Crappie – Fair: Anglers are finding quality-size fish up to 14-inches. Anglers report some success around Templar Lagoon. Bluegill – Fair. Yellow Perch – Fair: Sorting is needed; anglers are finding many of acceptable size.
West Okoboji Lake
The walleye season is closed. Black Crappie – Fair: Bluegill – Fair.
A handful of courtesy docks are in and useable at boat ramps. Water temperatures are still relatively low. Most lake are close to crest level. The walleye season on the IGL’s is closed until May 3rd. For current conditions, call 712-330-2542.
Big Creek Lake
Walleye – Fair: Day bite has been slow. Find walleye in shallow near rip-rap shoreline and jetties around sunset and after. Cast jigs with twister tails, swim baits or minnows.
Boone District Farm Ponds
Community ponds are the quickest to warm up after ice out, creating a fair to good pre-spawn largemouth bass and crappie bite. Check the Fish Local page to find ponds with public access. Black Crappie – Fair: Slowly retrieve small twister tails or swim baits. If it exists in the pond, target edges of cattail stands and any wood habitat. Largemouth Bass – Good: Slowly retrieve plastics and shallow diving crankbaits.
Saylorville to Red Rock
Walleye – Fair: Cast jigs with twister tails, swimbaits or live minnow below the Saylorville Spillway and Des Moines dams. White Bass – Fair: Cast small jigs with plastics or minnows below the dams.
For information on Central Iowa lakes and rivers contact Andy Otting at 515-204-5885.
Greenfield Lake
Channel Catfish – Fair Use shad sides or cut bait along wind-blown shorelines. Greenfield has a good channel catfish population. Largemouth Bass – No report: Greenfield has a good largemouth bass population.
Lake Anita
Lake Anita has good bass, bluegill and crappie populations. Black Crappie – Fair: There is a big year class of 9-inch fish. Bluegill – Slow: Anglers should be able to catch bluegills around deep structure. Largemouth Bass – Fair.
Littlefield Lake
Black Crappie – No Report: Littlefield has a good population of 9-inch black crappie.
Mormon Trail Lake
Black Crappie – Fair: Bite will pick up along the dam and around the jetties. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Mormon Trail has a good largemouth bass population with a good percent of fish over 15-inches.
Prairie Rose Lake
Prairie Rose has an excellent largemouth bass population, large bluegills and black crappies. Bluegill -Slow. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Anglers are catching largemouth bass around the jetties.
Viking Lake
Water clarity is good. Black Crappie – Slow: Bite in the pontoon arm should pick up on warm sunny days. Channel Catfish – Fair: Use shad sides or cut bait on the windy shoreline. Largemouth Bass – Good: Anglers are having good luck casting the shoreline.
For information on lakes in the Southwest District, call the Cold Springs office at 712-769-2587.
Alliant Energy customers in the Greenfield area can purchase up to two trees per planting address at $25 per tree. You must preorder online. Find details and pick-up location, date and time on the DNR Residential Tree Programs webpage.
Green Valley Lake
The dock is in at the main boat ramp. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Catch largemouth bass up to 19-inches with finesse plastics along wind-blown rocky shorelines.
Little River Watershed Lake
The dock is in at main boat ramp. Black Crappie – Slow: Use jigs fished in shallow coves to catch all sizes of crappie.
Three Mile Lake
Driving is prohibited on any service roads used to access the lakebed and the lakebed itself. Lake level is 10 feet below normal pool. Boat ramp lanes are out of the water at the main boat ramp.
Twelve Mile Creek Lake
The dock is in at the main boat ramp. Black Crappie – Slow: Catch crappies of all sizes with jigs in shallow coves.
Water temperature is in the mid to upper 50s in most district lakes. For more information, call Mount Ayr Fisheries office at 641-931-6031.