Black Hawk Lake
Water temperatures are around 80 degrees. Water levels are about 4 inches above the spillway. Water clarity is about 1-2 feet. Black Crappie – Fair: Pick up crappie around the fish house in Town Bay and along Ice House Point shoreline. Crappie are up to 10- to 12-inches. Bluegill – Fair: Bluegill fishing from shore is productive; bluegill are on beds. Catch keeper-sized bluegill from shore with nightcrawlers. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Pick up bass along shore with a variety of bass baits. Walleye – Slow: Walleye action has slowed; try the rock piles in the east basin and the shoreline along Ice Hoise Point.
Brushy Creek Lake
Black Crappie – Fair: Find crappie near submerged structure in 5-10 feet of water. Fish are 5-inches up to 13-inches. Bluegill – Good: Pick up bluegill near shore with a piece of crawler under a bobber. Fish are on beds. Largemouth Bass – Good: Pick up bass along shore near weed lines with traditional bass baits. Walleye – Fair: Pick up walleye in 5-10 feet of water near rock and woody structure Yellow Perch – Slow.
Crawford Creek Impoundment
Water temperatures are in the upper 70s. Bluegill – Fair: Bluegills are guarding nests along shore; use a small jig with a piece of crawler under a bobber. Channel Catfish – Fair: Find catfish tight to shore near rocky structure. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Find bass along shore near weed lines; can be picked up with a variety of traditional bass baits.
North Twin Lake
Water levels are about 1 foot below the crest of the spillway. Courtesy docks are installed. Black Bullhead – Good: Try a nightcrawler on the bottom from shore on windy shorelines. Bullheads are 10- to 11-inches.
Storm Lake
Water temperatures are in the upper 70s. Black Crappie – Slow. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Find bass close to shore near rocky structure and overhanging trees. Walleye – Fair: Pick up walleye off shore near the dredge cuts; Use crawler harness and crankbaits. White Bass – Fair. Yellow Bass – Fair.
Water temperatures are around 80 degrees in many area lakes. Bluegills can be seen on nests in many area lakes. For more information, contact the Black Hawk District office at 712-657-2638
Beeds Lake
Black Crappie – Good: Try a small jig or minnow off the causeway or drift fish the north shore. Bluegill – Fair.
Clear Lake
Water level is 1 inch over crest. Water temperature is in the low 70s. Water clarity is 34 inches. The fish cleaning station at the McIntosh access is open. Black Crappie – Slow. Channel Catfish – Fair: Try crawlers or cut bait from the wind-swept shore or spots or rocky areas. Largemouth Bass – Good: Try fishing near the edge of vegetation. Walleye – Fair: Anglers continue to catch walleye near shallow rocky habitat and vegetation with jigs and live bait. Evening bite is best. Yellow Bass – Slow: Best bite is early morning.
Crystal Lake
Black Crappie- Fair: Drift fish small jigs or live bait near the dredge cut. Bluegill – Good: Use a piece of crawler under a bobber in 2 to 3 feet of water. Largemouth Bass – Good. Walleye – Slow.
Lower Pine Lake
Bluegill – Good: Try a piece of crawler under a bobber near shore. Largemouth Bass – Good: Find bass close to shore near woody habitat.
Rice Lake
Bluegill – Fair: Bluegills are on beds near shore. Largemouth Bass – Good: Try fishing the edge of vegetation and near woody habitat. Walleye – Slow.
Silver Lake (Worth)
Bluegill – Good: Try a piece of crawler under a bobber in 2 to 3 feet of water. Largemouth Bass – Good: Bass are biting on a variety of baits.
Winnebago River
River level is 6.42 feet. Smallmouth Bass – Fair.
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
Lake level is 1.4 feet above crest. The walleye season is open. Black Crappie – Good: Bluegill – Good: Lots of bluegill have been observed in shallower waters; many fish are on beds. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Bass are a little ways off shore; you can still find some around docks and other structure. Yellow Perch – Good: Many perch have been observed; sorting will most likely be needed.
Ingham Lake
Walleye – Fair: Anglers have been successful morning and afternoon.
Silver Lake (Dickinson)
Lake level is 8 inches over crest. Walleye – Good: Bite has been hit-or-miss, but has been very good when the bite is on.
Spirit Lake
Lake level is 1 foot over crest. The walleye season is open. Large amounts of curly-leaf pondweed have died off for the season; it’s piling up on shores due to higher winds. Black Crappie – Good: Anglers are finding quality-size crappie; they are biting on almost anything. Bluegill – Fair. Walleye – Good: Anglers are catching quality-sized walleye. Evening bite is best with leech and bobber from shore or crankbaits and slip bobbers by boat. Yellow Perch – Good: Sorting may be needed.
West Okoboji Lake
Lake level is 1.5 feet above crest. The walleye season is open. Black Crappie – Fair: Bluegill – Good. Pumpkinseed – Good. Walleye – Fair. Yellow Perch – Fair: Sorting may be needed.
Expect water temperatures to increase rapidly in the next week; temperatures in the 80s-90s forecast. Area water temperatures are in the low 70s. Water levels are well above crest and have flooded some lower level areas. For current conditions, call the Spirit Lake District Office at 712-336-1840.