Arrowhead Lake
Ice thickness is around 7 inches near the ramp. Conditions are variable; use caution and check thickness often if venturing out.
Black Hawk Lake
Ice thickness is 7 inches near the Ice House Point boat ramp, with several inches of snow cover. Conditions are variable; use caution. The area around the fish house in Town bay is kept ice-free with a water agitator to provide open water fishing opportunities. Black Crappie – Fair: There is open water at the fish house in Town Bay; use a small jig. Yellow Perch – Fair: Try a small jig or a piece of crawler under a bobber.
Black Hawk Pits
Ice thickness is 0 to 4 inches.
Blue Lake
Aerators are in operation off-shore near the park visitor center for the winter season; expect open water and thin ice in this area.
Brushy Creek Lake
Reports of ice thickness up to 4 inches in some places; highly variable conditions.
North Twin Lake
Ice thickness is around 7 inches near the south boat ramp.
Storm Lake
Ice thickness varies from 0 to 10 inches. The ice thickness variability is difficult to see with the recent snow cover. Use caution and check ice thickness often.
Ice thickness is 0 to 10 inches in the district. The ice variability is difficult to see with snow cover. For more information, contact the Black Hawk District office at 712-657-2638.
Clear Lake
Ice thickness is 7 to 10 inches. 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. Yellow Perch – Fair: Use a small jig tipped with a waxworm. You may have to switch to bigger tackle to avoid the small fish.
Crystal Lake
Ice thickness is 7 to 10 inches. The winter aeration system is operating.
Rice Lake
Ice thickness is 7 to 10 inches. The winter aeration system is operating. Bluegill – Slow: Use a small jig tipped with bait near the edge of vegetation.
Silver Lake (Worth)
Ice thickness is 7 to 10 inches. The winter aeration system is operating. Bluegill – Slow: Try a small jig tipped with bait in near vegetation.

For information on the lakes and rivers in north central Iowa, contact the Clear Lake Fish and Wildlife office at 641-357-3517.
East Okoboji Lake
The lake is fully ice covered. Ice thickness is 12 inches or less in most areas. Black Crappie – Fair: Use minnows and plastics. Bluegill – Fair: Try a small hook and piece of worm. In deeper water, use pilkies with wigglers or a slip bobber setup. Walleye – Fair. Yellow Perch – Fair: Sorting will most likely be needed.
Ingham Lake
The lake is completely ice covered. Ice thickness is 10-12 inches. Walleye – Fair: Anglers have been successful morning and evening.
Lost Island Lake
Ice thickness is around 12 inches. Black Crappie – Fair. Walleye – Fair: Anglers have been successful fishing from shorelines in the evenings.
Minnewashta Lake
Ice thickness is 10-12 inches. Black Crappie – Fair: Try slowly trolling over vegetation with minnows and plastics. Bluegill – Fair. Pumpkinseed – Good.
Scharnberg Pond
You need a valid fishing license and pay the trout fee to fish for or possess trout.
Silver Lake (Dickinson)
The lake is fully ice covered. Ice thickness averages 12 inches. Black Bullhead – Good. Walleye – Fair: Expect the walleye bite to improve with falling water temperatures.
Spirit Lake
The lake is fully ice covered. Ice thickness is 10-12 inches in most areas. Be aware of large heaves. Black Crappie – Good: Minnows and plastics work well. Many nice-sized fish have been seen lately. Bluegill – Good: Try a small hook and a small piece of worm. In deeper water, use pilkies with wigglers or a slip bobber setup. Walleye – Good: Minnows work well. Yellow Perch – Good: Find good numbers; may need to sort for size.
West Okoboji Lake
The lake is fully iced up. West Okoboji is one of the last lakes to completely ice up; it has some of the thinner ice in the area. Foot traffic and small ATV use should be possible in most areas. Use caution. Black Crappie – Fair: Try small jigs tipped with a minnow. Bluegill – Good: Use pilkies with wigglers or a slip bobber setup. Pumpkinseed – Good. Walleye – Good: Minnows and plastics work well. Yellow Perch – Fair: Sorting may be needed.

All area lakes are completely ice covered. Area ice thickness range from 8-12 inches. Ice conditions should continue to improve with continued below freezing temperatures. The largest lakes have been the last to freeze. For current conditions, call the Spirit Lake District Office at 712-336-1840.Arrowhead Lake Ice thickness is around 7 inches near the ramp. Conditions are variable; use caution and check thickness often if venturing out. Black Hawk Lake Ice thickness is 7 inches near the Ice House Point boat ramp, with several inches of snow cover. Conditions are variable; use caution. The area around the fish house in Town bay is kept ice-free with a water agitator to provide open water fishing opportunities. Black Crappie – Fair: There is open water at the fish house in Town Bay; use a small jig. Yellow Perch – Fair: Try a small jig or a piece of crawler under a bobber. Black Hawk Pits Ice thickness is 0 to 4 inches. Blue Lake Aerators are in operation off-shore near the park visitor center for the winter season; expect open water and thin ice in this area. Brushy Creek Lake Reports of ice thickness up to 4 inches in some places; highly variable conditions. North Twin Lake Ice thickness is around 7 inches near the south boat ramp. Storm Lake Ice thickness varies from 0 to 10 inches. The ice thickness variability is difficult to see with the recent snow cover. Use caution and check ice thickness often. Ice thickness is 0 to 10 inches in the district. The ice variability is difficult to see with snow cover. For more information, contact the Black Hawk District office at 712-657-2638. Clear Lake Ice thickness is 7 to 10 inches. 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. Yellow Perch – Fair: Use a small jig tipped with a waxworm. You may have to switch to bigger tackle to avoid the small fish. Crystal Lake Ice thickness is 7 to 10 inches. The winter aeration system is operating. Rice Lake Ice thickness is 7 to 10 inches. The winter aeration system is operating. Bluegill – Slow: Use a small jig tipped with bait near the edge of vegetation. Silver Lake (Worth) Ice thickness is 7 to 10 inches. The winter aeration system is operating. Bluegill – Slow: Try a small jig tipped with bait in near vegetation. For information on the lakes and rivers in north central Iowa, contact the Clear Lake Fish and Wildlife office at 641-357-3517. East Okoboji Lake The lake is fully ice covered. Ice thickness is 12 inches or less in most areas. Black Crappie – Fair: Use minnows and plastics. Bluegill – Fair: Try a small hook and piece of worm. In deeper water, use pilkies with wigglers or a slip bobber setup. Walleye – Fair. Yellow Perch – Fair: Sorting will most likely be needed. Ingham Lake The lake is completely ice covered. Ice thickness is 10-12 inches. Walleye – Fair: Anglers have been successful morning and evening. Lost Island Lake Ice thickness is around 12 inches. Black Crappie – Fair. Walleye – Fair: Anglers have been successful fishing from shorelines in the evenings. Minnewashta Lake Ice thickness is 10-12 inches. Black Crappie – Fair: Try slowly trolling over vegetation with minnows and plastics. Bluegill – Fair. Pumpkinseed – Good. Scharnberg Pond You need a valid fishing license and pay the trout fee to fish for or possess trout. Silver Lake (Dickinson) The lake is fully ice covered. Ice thickness averages 12 inches. Black Bullhead – Good. Walleye – Fair: Expect the walleye bite to improve with falling water temperatures. Spirit Lake The lake is fully ice covered. Ice thickness is 10-12 inches in most areas. Be aware of large heaves. Black Crappie – Good: Minnows and plastics work well. Many nice-sized fish have been seen lately. Bluegill – Good: Try a small hook and a small piece of worm. In deeper water, use pilkies with wigglers or a slip bobber setup. Walleye – Good: Minnows work well. Yellow Perch – Good: Find good numbers; may need to sort for size. West Okoboji Lake The lake is fully iced up. West Okoboji is one of the last lakes to completely ice up; it has some of the thinner ice in the area. Foot traffic and small ATV use should be possible in most areas. Use caution. Black Crappie – Fair: Try small jigs tipped with a minnow. Bluegill – Good: Use pilkies with wigglers or a slip bobber setup. Pumpkinseed – Good. Walleye – Good: Minnows and plastics work well. Yellow Perch – Fair: Sorting may be needed. All area lakes are completely ice covered. Area ice thickness range from 8-12 inches. Ice conditions should continue to improve with continued below freezing temperatures. The largest lakes have been the last to freeze. For current conditions, call the Spirit Lake District Office at 712-336-1840.