Black Hawk Lake
Water temperatures are around 80 degrees. Water clarity is about 12 inches. Water levels are 10 inches below the crest of the spillway. Panfish have moved to deeper habitat. Try fishing the dredge cuts and the rock piles. Black Crappie – Fair: Try fishing over the rock piles and from boat in 2-6 feet of water. Bluegill – Fair: Pick up 7- to 8-inches fish along shore and off the rock piles. Channel Catfish – Fair. Walleye – Fair: Try fishing in 3-6 feet of water and on the rock piles by boat. Yellow Perch – Fair.
Brushy Creek Lake
Black Crappie – Fair: Fish have moved to deeper habitat. Look for suspended fish along woody structure or weed edges in 5-15 feet of water using a small jig or minnow. Bluegill – Fair: Try fishing the edges of the vegetation along shore in 3-8 feet of water. Largemouth Bass – Good: Try fishing along the weed lines in 2-6 feet of water. Walleye – Slow.
North Twin Lake
Water levels are 2 feet below the crest of the spillway; use caution when launching boats at the ramps. Black Crappie – Fair: Crappie are off shore. Try fishing in 3-6 feet of water near rock or structure. Channel Catfish – Fair: This lake has a good population of catchable-sized fish. Catfish are spawning; find them near shore by rocky structure. Use cut bait or crankbaits. Walleye – Fair: Try fishing off shore; boat anglers are using planer boards and crankbaits.
Storm Lake
All walleye between 19 and 25-inches must be immediately released unharmed at Storm Lake; and no more than one walleye longer than 25-inches can be taken per day. Channel Catfish – Fair: There is a good population of 3-6 pound catfish. Try cut bait, dip baits or crankbaits fished in the bottoms from shore. Walleye – Fair: Boat anglers fishing the cuts havr been productive. Yellow Bass – Fair: Most fish are 5- to 7-inches.Yellow Perch – Slow.
Swan Lake
Bluegill – Fair: Anglers have had luck with bluegill from the jetties. Most fish are 7-inches.
Water temperatures are around 80 degrees in most area lakes. Panfish have finished with spawning; look for them in more offshore habitats. For more information, contact the Black Hawk District office at 712-657-2638.
Beeds Lake
Black Crappie – Fair: Drift fish a small jig along the north shore. Bluegill – Fair. Largemouth Bass – Fair.
Clear Lake
Water temperature is in the low 80s. Lake level is 2 inches below crest. Water clarity is 5.5 feet. 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 – Slow: Anglers are catching crappies around the rush beds. Early morning bite is best. Channel Catfish – Fair: Try cut bait or crawlers near rocky areas. Largemouth Bass – Good. Walleye – Fair: Anglers are having success fishing a jig and live bait near vegetation or slip bobber fishing the rock reefs. Best bite is after sunset. Yellow Bass – Fair: Try a small jig near vegetation. Best bite is near sundown.
Lower Pine Lake
Bluegill – Fair: Try a piece of crawler under a bobber in 2 to 4 feet of water. Channel Catfish – Good. Largemouth Bass – Good: Cast a topwater bait close to woody habitat and vegetation near shore.
Rice Lake
Bluegill – Fair: Try a small piece of crawler under a bobber in 3 to 4 feet of water. With the clear water, you may have to cast further to avoid spooking the fish. Largemouth Bass – Good. Walleye – Slow: Best bite is after sunset. Yellow Perch – Slow.
Silver Lake (Worth)
Bluegill – Fair: Try a small piece of crawler under a bobber in 2 to 3 feet of water. With the clear water, you may have to cast further to avoid spooking the fish. Largemouth Bass – Good: Use topwater baits. Yellow Perch – Slow.
Upper Pine Lake
Black Crappie – Fair: Drift fish a tube jig in 10 to 12 feet of water. Bluegill – Good: Try a piece of crawler under a bobber in 2 to 4 feet of water. Channel Catfish – Fair. Largemouth Bass – Good: Cast plastic baits near woody habitat.
Winnebago River
Water level is 5 feet.
For information on the lakes and rivers in north central Iowa, contact the Clear Lake Fish and Wildlife office at 641-357-3517.