Arrowhead Lake
Ice thickness is 7-8 inches near the boat ramp. Areas in the middle of the lake may be thinner. Use caution and check ice thickness often as you move around.

Bacon Creek Lake
Rainbow trout were stocked 2 weeks ago. You need a valid fishing license and pay the trout fee to fish for or possess trout. Daily limit is 5 trout per licensed angler with a possession limit of 10. Children age 15 or younger can fish for trout with a properly licensed adult, but together, they can only keep one daily limit. Children can pay the trout fee, allowing them to keep their own daily limit. Rainbow Trout – Fair: Use a small hook with a nightcrawler, corn, or powerbait trout bites under a small bobber. A small and shiny jig or spoon tipped with bait also works well.

Black Hawk Lake
The aeration system in Town Bay is operating. Expect thin ice and open water in Town Bay. Ice thickness is 8-9 inches off of Ice House Point boat ramp. This is the best ice on the lake – other areas in the middle may be thinner. There are open areas in the main part of the lake, use caution. There is open water fishing at the fish house in Town Bay. Black Crappie – Fair: Use a waxworm, small minnow, or jigs. Most luck has been around the fish house in Town Bay and near Ice House Point. Walleye – Fair: Pick up walleye around Ice House Point boat ramp, near the Gunshot hill area, and in the inlet bridge bay area. Yellow Perch – Fair: Anglers are picking up some perch with minnows and waxworms. Most are having luck between Denison Beach and Gunshot Hill area.

Black Hawk Pits
Ice thickness is 7 inches near the boat ramp. Conditions are vaiable.

Brushy Creek Lake
Anglers have been out on the north end where ice thickness is 7-9 inches. Conditions are more variable elsewhere on the lake. Expect open areas and weak ice around protruding trees and other structure that absorb heat from the sun. Other areas of the lake are thinner or have pockets of open water. Use caution if venturing out; check ice thickness often as you move around (ice conditions on this lake are variable). Black Crappie – Fair: Pick up crappie by the north boat ramp. Sorting is needed. Bluegill – Slow. Yellow Perch – Fair.

Moorland Pond
Rainbow trout were stocked 2 weeks ago. You need a valid fishing license and pay the trout fee to fish for or possess trout. Daily limit is five trout per licensed angler with a possession limit of 10. Children age 15 or younger can fish for trout with a properly licensed adult, but together, they can only keep one daily limit. Children can pay the trout fee, allowing them to keep their own daily limit. Rainbow Trout – Fair: Try a small hook with a nightcrawler, corn, or powerbait trout bites under a small bobber. A small shiny jig or spoon tipped with bait also works well.

Storm Lake
Ice thickness is around 10 inches. Conditions are variable, with the usual thin areas/open water around the big island and ice seams. The top several inches of ice have gotten weaker from the recent warmer temperatures. Use caution; check ice thickness often as you make your way out. Walleye – Slow: Some fish are being picked up along the dredge cuts. Yellow Bass – Fair. Yellow Perch – Fair.
ice thickness is 6-10 inches on most district lakes. Last week’s warmer weather created more variable ice and open seams. Use caution if venturing out. For more information, contact the Black Hawk District office at 712-657-2638.

Clear Lake
Ice thickness is 12-16 inches on most of the lake; there are several areas of open water and a few ice heaves. Wear safety gear and check ice thickness as you go. Black Crappie – Good: Use caution when fishing near the rushes on the north shore. Bluegill – Fair: Use a small jig tipped with waxworm in 2 to 3 feet of water near vegetation. Walleye – Fair: Try a minnow near rocky habitat. Best bite is early morning and near sunset. Yellow Bass – Slow: Use a jig tipped with bait in 2 to 3 feet of water. Yellow Perch – Good: Most perch being caught are 4 to 6 inches. Use a bigger bait to target the larger fish.
Crystal Lake
Ice thickness is 16-18 inches with open water on the southeast side. Black Crappie – Slow: Use a small jig tipped with minnow near the dredge cut. Bluegill – Fair. Walleye -Slow.
Eldred Sherwood Lake
Ice thickness is 12 to 14 inches. Avoid the area near the aerator. Bluegill – Fair: Try a jig tipped with waxworms in 2 to 6 feet of water.
Rice Lake
Ice thickness is 16-18 inches. Bluegill – Slow. Walleye – Slow. Best bike is around sunset. Yellow Perch – Fair: Try a jig tipped with bait near vegetation. You may have to upsize your bait to avoid the small fish.
Silver Lake (Worth)
Ice thickness is 16-18 inches. Bluegill – Fair: Use a small jig tipped with waxworms near vegetation. Yellow Perch – Good: Try a jig tipped with bait in 2 to 3 feet of water.
Aeration systems are running at Crystal Lake, Rice Lake and Silver Lake. Avoid any open water areas. Check ice thickness often as you move. For information on lakes and rivers in north central Iowa, contact Clear Lake Fish and Wildlife office at 641-357-3517.
East Okoboji Lake
Watch for a handful of areas that are open or have just frozen over recently, mainly on the northern most basin. Ice thickness is around 14 inches in most areas. Black Crappie – Good: Bluegill – Good: Largemouth Bass – Fair: Yellow Perch – Good: Many perch seen; sorting most likely needed.
Ingham Lake
The lake is fully ice covered with around 15 inches. Walleye – Fair: Morning and afternoon bite is best.
Silver Lake
Caution: The lake aerator is in operation. Ice thickness is more than 15 inches. Walleye -Fair: Bite hit-or-miss, but very good when bite is on.
Spirit Lake
The lake has ice thick enough for fishing, but also has a large open water section off Big Stoney Point. Ice thickness is more than 15 inches. Black Crappie – Good: Anglers are finding quality-size crappie up to 14-inches. Bluegill – Good. Walleye – Good: Yellow Perch – Good: Sorting is needed; anglers are finding many of acceptable size.
West Okoboji Lake
Ice thickness is 14 inches or more in most areas, but there are still many unsafe areas or areas of open water on the main lake. Black Crappie – Fair: Bluegill – Good.
Most area lakes have 14 or more inches of ice, but many lakes have areas of open water that have persisted throughout the winter. Ice conditions should only continue to improve with forecasted temperatures well below freezing. The Walleye season on the IGL’s closes February 15th. For current conditions, call the Spirit Lake District Office at 712-336-1840.