Arrowhead Lake
The lake is ice free.

Black Hawk Lake
Shore fishing has been productive. Anglers are catching crappie and walleye. The cold weather will likely slow down the bite temporarily. Black Crappie – Fair: Use a waxworm, small minnow or jigs. Fishing along shore has been productive, especially around Ice House Point and the inlet bridge area. Walleye – Fair: Anglers are catching walleye from shore in 1 to 5 feet of water. Morning and evening bite is best. Anglers have had luck using twisters in Town Bay fishing from shore and from the floating dock and stone piers. Ice House Point shoreline and the inlet bridge area have been productive as well. The recent cool weather will likely slow down the bite.

Black Hawk Pits
The lake is ice free.

Brushy Creek Lake
The courtesy dock on the west ramp is in place.

Storm Lake
Anglers have had some luck in the marina. The recent cool snap will likely slow down the bite temporarily. Black Crappie – Fair: Anglers have picked up some fish in the marina. Walleye – Slow. Yellow Perch – Fair: Anglers have picked up some fish in the marina.

Swan Lake
Anglers are doing well from the fish house. Water levels are 1 to 2 feet low. Water clarity is roughly 2 feet. Black Crappie – Good: Anglers have had good luck fishing from the fish house. Some sorting is needed; keepers are around 9-inches. Bluegill – Fair: Try fishing from the fish house and along shore.
Shorefishing has been productive, but has likely slowed down temporarily after the recent cold weather. For more information, contact the Black Hawk District office at 712-657-2638.

Clear Lake
Water level is about 7 inches below crest. Water temperature is in the upper 30s. Walleye – Fair: Use plastics and live bait from the jetties. Best bite is after sunset. Yellow Bass – Slow.

Rice Lake
Yellow Perch – Slow.

Winnebago River
River level is 5.48 feet. Northern Pike – Fair: Suckers, chubs and slow retrieved jigs work well for early season pike. Walleye – Slow.
Area lakes are ice free. For additional information, contact Clear Lake Fisheries Office at 641-357-3517.

East Okoboji Lake
A few anglers have already launched boats. Courtesy docks at the Upper Gar boat ramp can be used. The walleye season is closed. Black Crappie – Fair: Bluegill – Fair. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Yellow Perch – Fair: Many fish have been observed; sorting will most likely be needed.

Ingham Lake
The lake is ice free. Walleye – Fair: Morning and afternoon bite is best.

Silver Lake (Dickinson)
The lake is ice free. Walleye – Fair: The bite has been hit-or-miss.

Spirit Lake
The courtesy dock can be used at the Templar boat ramp. The walleye season is closed. Black Crappie – Fair: Anglers are finding quality-size fish up to 14-inches. Bluegill – Fair. Yellow Perch – Good: Sorting is needed; anglers are finding many of acceptable size.

West Okoboji Lake
The walleye season is closed. Black Crappie – Fair: Bluegill – Fair.

Most area lakes are completely ice free, allowing for anglers to fish by boat. Only a few permanent courtesy docks are in and useable. The walleye season on the IGL’s is closed until May 3rd. For current conditions, call 712-330-2542.

Boone District Farm Ponds
Community ponds are the quickest to warm up after ice out, creating a fair to good pre-spawn largemouth bass and crappie bite. Check the Fish Local page to find ponds with public access. Black Crappie – Fair: Slowly retrieving small twister tails or swim baits. If it exists in the pond, target edges of cattail stands and any wood habitat. Largemouth Bass – Good: Slowly retrieve plastics and shallow diving crankbaits.

Des Moines River (Saylorville to Red Rock)
Walleye – Slow: Cast jigs with twister tails, swimbaits or live minnows below the Saylorville Spillway and Des Moines dams .
Ponds and lakes in Central Iowa are open water. For information on Central Iowa lakes and rivers contact Andy Otting at 515-204-5885.

Greenfield Lake
Greenfield Lake is a good early season catfish destination. Channel Catfish – No Report: Ust shad sides or cutbait along wind-blown shorelines. Greenfield has a good channel catfish population.

Lake Anita
Lake Anita will provide good fishing this spring. The lake has good bass, bluegill and crappie populations. Black Crappie – Fair: Anglers report catching black crappie around deep tree piles last week. There is a big year class of 9-inch fish in the lake.

Mormon Trail Lake
Black Crappie – Good: Catch 8-inch black crappie in 25 feet of water.

Prairie Rose Lake
Prairie Rose will again be a good fishing destination this season. The lake has an excellent largemouth bass population, large bluegills and black crappies.
For information on lakes in the Southwest District, call the Cold Springs office at 712-769-2587.

Lake Icaria
Channel Catfish – Fair: Try cut bait along wind-blown shorelines to catch all sizes of channel catfish.

Three Mile Lake
Driving is prohibited on any service roads used to access the lakebed and the lakebed itself. Lake level is 11 feet below normal pool. Boat ramp lanes are out of the water at the main boat ramp.
Lakes in the Mount Ayr district are 100% ice free. Water temperature is in the low 40s. For more information, call Mount Ayr Fisheries office at 641-931-6031