Black Hawk Lake
Water levels are 6 inches over the crest of the spillway. Anglers are doing well from shore and boat. Black Crappie – Fair: Anglers are starting to pick up crappies from shore. Fishing along Ice House Point shoreline and in the marina have been productive. Walleye – Fair: Anglers are picking up fish. Boat anglers have been doing well with minnows on a bottom bouncer rig.

Brushy Creek Lake
The courtesy docks are in place. Black Crappie – Fair: Fish can be picked up near shore in 2-8 feet of water near submerged structure. Walleye – Fair.

Storm Lake (incl Little Storm Lake)
Water temperatures are in the mid to upper 50s. Anglers are catching crappie, walleye, and yellow bass in the marina. Black Crappie – Slow: Anglers have picked up a few fish in the marina. Walleye – Fair: This time of the year fish can be picked up near shore and also out deeper by boat. Use minnow leach or crawler fished near the bottom under a bobber from shore. Or from boat use a bottom bouncer rig near the dredge cut. 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 mid 50s. Water level is at crest. All the courtesy docks are in. Walleye – Good: Anglers wading and boat fishing are catching walleye. Try jigs, minnows, or slow retrieved crankbaits near reefs and shallow rocky shorelines. Shore anglers try near the canals and the jetties after sunset. Yellow Bass – Slow: Fish will move shallow on the north shore on warm afternoons.

Crystal Lake
Black Crappie – Slow: Crappie are suspended in the dredge cuts. Walleye – Slow.

Rice Lake
Largemouth Bass- Fair: Target woody habitat near the shore. Yellow Perch – Slow: Try fishing near the cattail edges on warmer days.

Winnebago River
Water level is 6.36 feet. Northern Pike – No report: 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 (Dickinson)
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.

Most boat ramp courtesy docks are in and useable. Water temperatures are around 60 degrees. 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.
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 – Fair: Greenfield has a good largemouth bass population.

Lake Anita
Lake Anita has good bass, bluegill and crappie populations. Black Crappie – Good: There is a big year class of 9-inch fish. Sorting will be necessary. Bluegill – Slow: Anglers should be able to catch bluegills around deep structure. Largemouth Bass – Fair.

Littlefield Lake
Black Crappie – Fair: Littlefield has a good population of 9-inch black crappie. Look for spawning fish along the dam.

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. Black Crappie Fair: Anglers report catching black crappie around the rock piles and jetties. Bluegill – Good. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Anglers are catching largemouth bass around the jetties.

Red Rock Reservoir
Black Crappie – Fair: Crappies will begin moving shallow into early May. The first areas to check are any shorelines with riprap. Cast small two inch or less plastics or live minnows under a float.

Viking Lake
Water clarity is good. Black Crappie – Good: Cast small jigs two feet under a bobber in the pontoon arm of the lake. Sorting will be necessary for 9 inch fish. 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

Green Valley Lake
The dock is in at the main boat ramp. Black Crappie – Fair: Try using jigs tipped with live bait fished near cedar tree brush piles for crappies up to 9 inches.

Little River Watershed Lake
The dock is in at main boat ramp. Black Crappie – Good: 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 – Fair: Catch crappies of all sizes with jigs in shallow coves.

Water temperature is in the upper 50s in most district lakes. For more information, call Mount Ayr Fisheries office at 641-931-6031.

Iowa boat registrations expire April 30
Current boat registrations expire April 30. Boat registrations are good for three years. Registration fees support boater education and safety, water trails, navigation enforcement and aquatic invasive species.

Boat owners may bring their current registration to any Iowa county recorder’s office when they renew. Learn more about how to register your boat on the DNR Boating website.