Black Hawk Lake
Water levels are 6 inches over the crest of the spillway. Anglers are still picking up fish even with the fluctuating water temperatures. Expect shore fishing to be more productive as water temperatures gradually warm up throughout the week. Black Crappie – Slow: Anglers have picked up a few from the fish house. Shore fishing will improve once water temperatures start to climb. Walleye – Fair: The bite has slowed some; anglers are still picking up fish. Many fish are being picked up in the 1-3 feet of water right along the shoreline. Town Bay Ice House Point shoreline and the inlet bridge area have been productive. Use a jig or a slip bobber with minnows Yellow Perch – Fair.
Brushy Creek Lake
The courtesy dock is in on the west ramp. No courtesy dock are in place at the north and east ramps due to high water levels.
North Twin Lake
Water clarity is about 2-3 feet. Water levels are about 12 inches below crest. Courtesy docks are in at the South and SE ramps.
Storm Lake (incl Little Storm Lake)
Water temperatures have cooled to the low 40s. Anglers are catching crappie, walleye, and yellow bass in the marina. Expect shore fishing to improve as water temperatures gradually warm up throughout the week. Black Crappie – Slow: Anglers have picked up a few fish in the marina. Walleye – Fair: Look for shore fishing action to improve as water temperatures gradually warm up. Yellow Bass – Fair: Anglers are catching bass in the marina. Yellow Perch – Fair.
Swan Lake
Black Crappie – Fair: Anglers are catching crappie from the fish house. Some sorting is needed; keepers are around 9-inches. Bluegill – Fair: Try fishing from the fish house and along shore.
For more information, contact the Black Hawk District office at 712-657-2638.
Clear Lake
Water temperatures are in the low 40s. The courtesy dock is in at the boat ramp near the Island. Walleye – Good: Clear Lake has a protected slot on Walleye. Fish between 17 and 22 inches must be immediately release. Try jig and minnows on reefs and the east shoreline. Best bite is near and after sunset. White Bass – Fair: White Bass are hitting small jigs on warm afternoons. Yellow Bass – Fair: Use small jigs on the west end of the lake. Warmer afternoons are best.
Lake Cornelia
Black Crappie – Good: Use small jigs and minnows below a bobber. Yellow Perch – Good: Anglers are catching perch on warm days with small jigs and minnows.
Winnebago River
Northern Pike – Fair: Use chubs and jigs in slack current areas and where tributaries enter the river.
For additional information, contact Clear Lake Fisheries Office at 641-357-3517.
East Okoboji Lake
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
Walleye – Fair: Morning and afternoon bite is best.
Silver Lake (Dickinson)
Walleye – Fair: The bite is hit-or-miss.
Spirit Lake
The walleye season is closed. The Marble Beach fish cleaning station is inoperable; the projected timeline for repair is to have it open again by walleye weekend. Black Crappie – Fair: Anglers are finding quality-size fish up to 14-inches. Anglers have reported some success around Templar Lagoon. Bluegill – Fair. Yellow Perch – Fair: Sorting is needed; anglers are finding many of acceptable size.
West Okoboji Lake
The walleye season is closed. Black Crappie – Fair: Bluegill – Fair.
A handful of courtesy docks are in and useable at boat ramps. Water temperatures are still relatively low. The walleye season on the IGL’s is closed until May 3rd. For current conditions, call 712-330-2542.
Big Creek Lake
Walleye – Fair: Catch walleye shallow near rip-rap shoreline and jetties around sunset and after. Cast jigs with twister tails, swim baits or minnows.
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 retrieve 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 – Fair: Cast jigs with twister tails, swimbaits or live minnows below the Saylorville Spillway and Des Moines dams .
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 – Fair Use shad sides or cutbait along wind-blown shorelines. Greenfield has a good channel catfish population. Largemouth Bass – No report: Greenfield has a good largemouth bass population.
Lake Anita
Lake Anita will provide good fishing this spring with good bass, bluegill and crappie populations. Black Crappie – Fair: Black crappies will move into the pontoon area as the water temperature warms. There is a big year class of 9-inch fish. Bluegill – No Report: Anglers should be able to catch bluegills around deep structure in early spring. Largemouth Bass – Fair.
Littlefield Lake
Black Crappie – No Report: Littlefield has a good population of 9-inch black crappie.
Mormon Trail Lake
Black Crappie – Fair: Bite will pick up along the dam on warm sunny days. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Mormon Trail has a good largemouth bass population with a good percent of fish over 15 inches.
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. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Anglers are catching largemouth bass around the jetties in the lake.
g Lake
Water clarity is good. Black Crappie – Slow: Bite in the pontoon arm should pick up soon on warm sunny days. Channel Catfish – Fair: Use shad sides or cut bait on the windy shoreline. Largemouth Bass – Good: Anglers are having good luck casting the shoreline.
For information on lakes in the Southwest District, call the Cold Springs office at 712-769-2587.
Green Valley Lake
The dock is in at the main boat ramp. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Catch largemouth bass up to 19-inches with finesse plastics along wind-blown rocky shorelines.
Little River Watershed Lake
The dock is in at main boat ramp. Black Crappie – Slow: Use jigs fished in shallow coves to catch all sizes of crappie.

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.

Twelve Mile Creek Lake
The dock is in at the main boat ramp. Black Crappie – Slow: Catch crappies of all sizes with jigs in shallow coves.
Water temperature is in the upper 40s in most district lakes. Some anglers are having success catching crappies in ponds and small lakes; not much activity on larger lakes yet. For more information, call Mount Ayr Fisheries office at 641-931-6031.