Arrowhead Lake
Ice thickness is 6 to 8 inches near the ramp. Conditions are variable; use caution and check thickness often if venturing out.
Bacon Creek Lake
Ice thickness is 8 to 10 inches. Rainbow trout were stocked on Jan. 22. Use minnows, pieces of crawlers, or powerbaits fished under a bobber. You need a valid fishing license and pay the trout fee to fish for or possess trout.
Black Hawk Lake
Ice thickness is 8 inches near the Ice House Point boat ramp, with several inches of snow and slush on top. Conditions are variable; use caution. There is open water in Town Bay. 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: Use waxworms or crawlers on a jig. Walleye – Fair: Try minnows or crawlers on jigging spoons. Yellow Perch – Fair: Use waxworms or small minnows.
Black Hawk Pits
Ice thickness is 3 to 4 inches. Conditions will deteriorate with warmer temperatures throughout the week.
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
Ice conditions are variable throughout the lake. Ice thickness is 8-10 inches on the North end, but only 4 inches near the NW corner of Taylor’s Island. Use caution and check ice thickness often. ATV’s are not recommended around Taylor’s Island and other variable areas. Warmer temperatures throughout the week may further weaken ice. Bluegill – Fair. Yellow Perch – Fair.
Moorland Pond
Rainbow trout were stocked on Jan. 25. Use minnows, pieces of crawlers, or powerbaits fished under a bobber. You need a valid fishing license and pay the trout fee to fish for or possess trout.
Storm Lake
There is open water by the big island. Ice thickness is 6 to 10 inches off the Casino Point area. Other areas may have thinner ice conditions, but it is difficult to see with the snow and slush cover. Warmer weather may deteriorate conditions; use caution and check ice thickness often.
Ice thickness is 3 to 11 inches in the district. Conditions will become more variable with the warmer temperatures throughout the week. Ice will likely soften along the shoreline. For more information, contact the Black Hawk District office at 712-657-2638.
Blue Pit
The Iowa DNR will stock rainbow trout on Jan. 26. You need a valid fishing license and pay the trout fee to fish for or possess trout.
Clear Lake
Ice thickness is 8 to 12 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. Bluegill – Slow: Use a small jig tipped with bait near the edge of the rushes. Walleye – Slow: Best bite is after sunset. Yellow Perch – Good: 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 9 to 13 inches. The winter aeration system is operating. Black Crappie – Slow: Bluegill – Fair: Try a small jig tipped with bait. Walleye – Fair.
Rice Lake
Ice thickness is 9 to 13 inches. The winter aeration system is operating. Bluegill – Slow: Use a small jig tipped with bait near the edge of vegetation. Largemouth Bass – Fair.
Silver Lake (Worth)
Ice thickness is 9 to 13 inches. The winter aeration system is operating. Bluegill – Fair: Try a small jig tipped with bait in near vegetation. Best bite is early morning. Yellow Perch – Slow.
With warmer weather forecast for the next several days, be cautious of changing ice conditions. 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. 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. The largest lakes have been the last to freeze. For current conditions, call the Spirit Lake District Office at 712-336-1840.