Black Hawk Lake
Water levels are several inches over the crest of the spillway. Water temperature is around 60 degreess. Water clarity is roughly 2 to 3 feet. Black Crappie – Fair: Anglers are catching crappie along Ice House Point shoreline and in the marina. Bluegill – Fair: Anglers are picking up some keeper-size bluegill (7-inches) while fishing near shore for crappies. Walleye – Fair: Throw a twister or soft plastic near shore during late evening right before sunset. Also use a leech, crawler, or minnow under a slip bobber near shore. Yellow Perch -Slow.

Brushy Creek Lake
Black Crappie – Fair: Pick up crappie near shore in 2-8 feet of water near submerged structure. Bluegill – Fair: Use small jig tipped with a piece of crawler fished under a bobber near shore.

North Twin Lake
Water level is about 6 inches below crest. Walleye – Fair: Anglers are catching walleye from shore and docks during the evening. Throw a twister or use a crawler or minnow under a slip bobber.

Storm Lake (incl Little Storm Lake)
Water temperatures are in the upper 50s. Channel Catfish – Fair: Try crawlers or cut bait on the bottom fished from shore. Walleye – Fair: Best bite is late evening. Pick up fish from shore or by boat. As water temperatures warm back up after this cool weather, look for fishing near the inlet to be productive. Throw a twister or soft plastic or fish a crawler or minnow under a slip bobber from shore. If fishing by boat, use crankbaits or a bottom bouncer rig fished near the dredge cut. White Bass – Fair.

Water temperatures have dropped to around 60 degrees in most of the district. The panfish bite has slowed with the recent cooler water temperatures. For more information, contact the Black Hawk District office at 712-657-2638.

Clear Lake
Water level is at crest.Water temperature is in the upper 50s. Water clarity is about 30 inches. Black Crappie – Fair: Target the rush beds on the north shore. Walleye – Fair: Try jigs, minnows or slow retrieved crankbaits near vegetation. Best bite is early morning and after sunset. Yellow Bass – Slow: Use small jigs near rocky habitat. Best bite is early morning.

Crystal Lake
Black Crappie -Good: Crappies are moving shallow. Target near the old roadbed and woody habitat near shore. Bluegill – Fair. Walleye – Slow.

Rice Lake
Bluegill – Fair. Largemouth Bass- Good: Target woody habitat near the shore. Yellow Perch – Good: Try fishing near the vegetation edge.

Silver Lake (Worth)
Bluegill – Fair: Use a piece of crawler under a bobber near shore. Largemouth Bass – Good: Try slow retrieved plastic baits. Yellow Perch – Fair: Use a small jig tipped with bait near vegetation.

Winnebago River
Water level is 6.73 feet.
For additional information, contact Clear Lake Fisheries Office at 641-357-3517.

Center Lake
Black Crappie – Good: Some sorting is needed.

East Okoboji Lake
Water temperatures are in the low 60s. 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: Best bite is morning and afternoon.

Silver Lake (Dickinson)
Walleye – Fair: Bite is hit-or-miss.

Spirit Lake
The Marble Beach fish cleaning station is fully operational. 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 acceptable size fish.

West Okoboji Lake
Water temperatures are in the mid-50s. Black Crappie – Fair: Bluegill – Fair.
Water temperatures have dropped a bit due to the recent colder weather and rain. Most are still in the low 60s. and have been rising quickly. Most lakes are at crest level. The walleye season on the IGL’s is open. Panfishing has been very good close to shore as fish are moving in shallow as water temperatures increase. For current conditions, call 712-330-2542.

Big Creek Lake
Anglers may notice orange and white buoys in the northwest arm of the lake. These buoys are marking equipment on the bottom of the lake used in an ongoing fishery research project. Please do not disturb them. Bluegill – Good: Catch bluegill shallow on the upper half of the lake and in the backs of coves with chunks of nightcrawlers or leeches. Walleye – Fair: Jig or troll live bait rigs off humps and around points in 10 to 20 feet of water during the day and shallower in the evenings near sunset.

Hickory Grove Lake
Black Crappie – Fair: Find crappies in shallow water. Cast small plastics or live minnows under floats near any wood or rock habitat along and just off shore. Bluegill – Good: Bluegills have moved shallow for spawning. Use worms or very small plastics under a bobber near shore in 2 to 5 feet of water.

Red Rock Reservoir
Black Crappie – Fair: The crappie spawn is finishing up; Check shorelines with rip-rap for fish still in shallow water. Cast small two inch or less plastics or live minnows under a float.

Roberts Creek Lake
Black Crappie – Good: Cast plastics or minnows under a bobber in shallow water near any wood or rock structure to catch crappies still spawning. Drift or troll small twister tails or swim baits at depths of 3 to 6 feet in the lower half of the lake to catch post-spawn crappie.

For information on Central Iowa lakes and rivers contact Andy Otting at 515-204-5885.

Greenfield Lake
Channel Catfish – Fair. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Greenfield has a good largemouth bass population.

Lake Anita
The crappie bite has picked up. Bluegill – Good: Find bluegills close to historical spawning sites. Largemouth Bass – Fair.

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

Mormon Trail Lake
Bluegill – Fair: Cast the shoreline to find spawning bluegill. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Mormon Trail has a good largemouth bass population with a good percent of fish over 15-inches.

Prairie Rose Lake
The water is extremely clear after the alum treatment. Black Crappie – Slow: Look for late spawning crappie around the rock piles, reefs, and jetties. Bluegill – Good: Bluegills are starting to move up to spawn. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Anglers are catching largemouth bass casting the shoreline.

Viking Lake
Water clarity is good. Black Crappie – Slow: Cast small jigs 2 feet under a bobber in the pontoon arm of the lake. Sorting is needed for 9-inch fish. Bluegill – Fair: Bluegill average 7.5-inches. Largemouth Bass – Fair: 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
Bluegill – Fair: Catch bluegill up to 7.5 inches with jigs tipped with live bait near the fishing jetties or cedar tree brush pile. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Catch all sizes of largemouth bass with finesse plastics fished near cedar tree brushpiles.

Little River Watershed Lake
The dock is in at main boat ramp. Black Crappie – Slow: Use jigs or minnows along weedlines to catch all sizes of crappies. Bluegill – Fair: Try jigs tipped with live bait near the fishing jetties or shallow brush piles to catch all sizes of bluegill. Walleye – Fair: Catch walleye up to 18-inches with crankbaits fished along the weedline.

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: Use jigs or minnows along creek channels to catch all sizes of crappies Bluegill – Fair: Try jigs tipped with live bait near shallow rocky areas to catch all sizes of bluegill.
Water temperature is in the mid-60s in most district lakes. For more information, call Mount Ayr Fisheries office at 641-931-6031.

See you at the ballpark!
Join the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, in partnership with the Iowa Cubs, for Outdoors Day with the Iowa Cubs, on May 30.
The first 750 fans through the gate will receive a special co-branded lure.
Kids activities near the indoor playground include backyard bass and t-shirt coloring.
Visit with State Conservation Officers at the Turn in Poachers trailer and race a sailboat.
Learn more about ways you can enjoy Iowa’s great outdoors and a chance to win great prizes at the DNR informational booth.
Gates open at 6 p.m., first pitch is scheduled for 7:08 p.m.
Tickets are $11 each, and $4 from the sale of each ticket goes to support the Iowa Hunter Education Association. Go to https://www.gofevo.com/event/IowaDNR2025 for ticket information.