Arrowhead Lake
Water temperature is in the mid to upper 70s. Water clarity is good. Some bluegills are still on nests. Bluegill – Fair: Look for bluegill nests along shore and in areas of 2-6 feet of water with gravel/sand substrate. These can be great areas to target larger bluegill with a small jig fished under a bobber.
Black Hawk Lake
The dredge is working in the east basin of the lake. The floating and submerged portions of pipe is marked with buoys. Dredge barges are marked with buoys; boaters should use caution and stay away from the equipment and pipe. Water levels are about 8 inches below the crest of the spillway. Surface water temperature is in the upper 70s. Water clarity is about 1.5 feet. Black Crappie – Fair: Fish are 8- to 11-inches. Most fish have moved to more off shore areas, but can still be picked up along Ice House Point and around the fish house and stone piers in Town Bay. Bluegill – Fair: Find bluegills along shore. Fish are 6- to 7-inches. Areas along shore in Town Bay and near the stone piers may be most productive. Walleye – Fair: Boat anglers are trolling crankbaits and picking up fish. Using twisters or shallow diving crankbaits if fishing from shore. Water clarity is about 1.5 feet.
Browns Lake
Water temperature is in the mid to upper 70s. Water clarity is about 8 inches. Water levels remain low; use caution when launching boats. Find crappie up to 10-inches near shore. Find channel catfish along shore near rocky areas and downed trees.
Brushy Creek Lake
Water clarity is good. Surface water temperature is in the mid to upper 70s. Black Crappie – Fair: Find crappie near the jetty and along shore in 5-20 feet of water near submerged trees. Use a small jig (with or without bait) or small minnows on a jig. Bluegill – Fair: Find fish near shore in 1-5 feet of water guarding nests. Use a small jig fished under a bobber. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Try plastics and traditional bass lures along submerged woody structure and weed lines near shore. Walleye – Fair. Yellow Perch – Slow.
North Twin Lake
Water levels are about a foot below the crest of the spillway; use caution when launching boats. Water clarity is about 1.5 feet. Yellow Bass – Fair: Yellow bass are close to shore. Most fish are 7- to 8-inches.
Storm Lake
Surface water temperature is in the mid to upper 70s. All walleye between 19 and 25-inches must be immediately released unharmed at Storm Lake; no more than one walleye longer than 25-inches can be taken per day. Black Crappie – Fair. Channel Catfish – Fair: Anglers are catching fish from shore. Storm Lake has a good population of 4-6 pound catfish. Try cut bait, liver or crawlers fished on the bottom along shore. Walleye – Fair: Best bite is the evening; use a lead head with a twister tail from shore. Also try a jig with a crawler or tipped with a minnow. Shallow diving crankbaits can also work well from shore. Boat anglers are having luck with crawler harnesses and trolling crankbaits. Yellow Bass – Fair: Find yellow bass close to shore. Fish are 5- to 11-inches long. Use a small piece of crawler fished under a bobber. Yellow Perch – Fair: Find perch along shore. Try crawlers and minnows fished under a bobber near rocky shorelines.
Surface water temperature is in the upper 70s in most area lakes. Water temperatures will continue to rise with the predicted warmer weather throughout next week. For more information, contact the Black Hawk District office at 712-657-2638.
Clear Lake
The lake is 5 inches above crest. Water temperature is in the low 70s. Clear Lake has a protected slot on walleye. All walleye between 17 and 22 inches must be immediately released unharmed. No more than one walleye longer than 22 inches may be taken per day. Black Crappie – Fair. Channel Catfish – Fair: Try cut bait or crawlers on the bottom in wind-swept shore and spots where water is flowing into the lake. Best bite is after sunset. Walleye – Good: Try fishing a slip bobber with live bait on the rock reefs and near wind-swept points. Yellow Bass – Slow.
Little Wall Lake
Channel Catfish – Fair: Try cut bait or crawlers on the wind-swept shore. Best bite is after sunset. Lower Pine Lake
Bluegill – Good: Use a small piece of crawler under a bobber near shore. Largemouth Bass – Fair.