NORTHWEST
Nelson Park Lake
The invasive plant species brittle naiad is present at Nelson Park.  Please make sure to inspect and clean boat trailers, boats, and lower units to avoid transferring the plant species to other bodies of water.

Yellow Smoke Park Lake
The invasive plant species brittle naiad is present at Yellow Smoke Lake.  Please make sure to inspect and clean boat trailers, boats, and lower units to avoid transferring the plant species to other bodies of water.

Crawford Creek Impoundment
Channel Catfish – Good: Channel cat fishing has been picking up.  Bluegill – Fair:   Largemouth Bass – Fair: Largemouth bass fishing has been spotty, but some anglers have done very well.  Crappie – Fair:  The invasive plant species brittle naiad is present at Crawford Creek.  Please make sure to inspect and clean boat trailers, boats, and lower units to avoid transferring the plant species to other bodies of water.

Moorhead Park Pond
Moorhead Pond was renovated in 2009 and restocked.  The panfish are now at a size worth keeping.  Fishing for bluegill, crappie, and bass has been good.  Most of the bass are a sub-legal size, though.  Bluegill – Fair: Anglers are still catching fair numbers of bluegill with some crappie mixed in.  Largemouth Bass – Fair: Bass are still being caught, but most are sub-legal fish. The invasive plant species brittle naiad is present at Moorhead Park Pond.  Please make sure to inspect and clean boat trailers, boats, and lower units to avoid transferring the plant species to other bodies of water.

Brushy Creek Lake
Fishing has slowed for many species.  Channel Catfish – Fair: Anglers are catching a few catfish.  Bluegill – Fair: Anglers are still catching bluegill, but many of them are small.  Crappie – Fair: Fishing has slowed for crappie.  Most of the fish are between 7 and 9 inches. The invasive plant species brittle naiad is present at Brushy Creek.  Please make sure to inspect and clean boat trailers, boats, and lower units to avoid transferring the plant species to other bodies of water.

Storm Lake (including Little Storm Lake)
Channel Catfish – Fair: Some catfish are being picked up on cut bait, stink bait, shrimp, and night crawlers.  White Bass – Slow: Anglers are catching a few white bass in the inlet area and also on the east side of the lake early in the morning. Boaters should use caution on Storm Lake.  The hydraulic dredge is in operation in the east basin of the lake.  There is a pipeline running from the dredge to the shoreline and may rise to the surface at times.

North Twin Lake
Fishing is slow for most species.  Channel cat fishing has picked up slightly.

Swan Lake
Water levels are low.

Black Hawk Lake
The lake is 11 inches below crest.  Bullhead – Good: Bullheads can be caught on night crawlers or leeches.  The bullheads are mostly between 10 and 11 inches and they are abundant. Channel Catfish – Good: Fish the windy shorelines close to shore and use crawdads for bait.  Some catfish are being picked up on twisters and crankbaits while targeting walleye.

Great Western Park Lake
The invasive plant species brittle naiad is present at Great Western Park.  Please make sure to inspect and clean boat trailers, boats, and lower units to avoid transferring the plant species to other bodies of water.

Fishing has been slow during this hot weather; it may pick up a bit after several cool nights.  Catfish have been the most reliable fish to pursue. For more information, contact Ben Wallace or Don Herrig at the Black Hawk District Office in Lake View at 712-657-2638.

Lower Pine Lake
Anglers are catching bluegills on wax worms and crawlers.

Upper Pine Lake
Largemouth bass are biting on buzz baits and crankbaits.  Anglers are picking up a few bluegills and crappies using wax worms.

Lake Smith
Bluegill fishing is fair.  Anglers are catching bluegills using jigs tipped with bait fished along the weed lines and sandy shore areas.

Clear Lake
Channel Catfish – Fair: Channel catfish are slowing down but some are still being caught with live bait fished over the rock reefs. Walleye – Fair: Walleye are being caught while drifting or trolling with live bait over rock reefs and also in areas of 8 to 10 feet of water in the little lake. Yellow Bass – Fair: Anglers are picking up yellow bass while drifting live bait and cut bait in 10 to 12 feet of water around the rock reefs and in areas north of the island.  A few are being caught in the little lake using the same method. Note: The lake level is 14 inches below crest. Due to these low water conditions, boaters are reminded to use caution in near-shore areas of the lake.

Lake Cornelia
Channel Catfish – Fair: Channel catfish are being caught on stink bait and live bait.  Crappie – Fair: Anglers have reported catching 6 to 10-inch crappies using twisters.  Walleye – Fair: Walleye are biting on live bait and twisters.

Little Wall Lake
Anglers are having success catching channel catfish with chicken livers fished during early mornings and evenings.

Crystal Lake
Bluegill fishing is good. Bluegills are being picked up along the edges of weed beds in 5 to 8 feet of water.  Fish these areas with a small tube jig or jigs tipped with bait. Anglers are also catching largemouth bass with spinner baits fished along weed beds.  A few walleyes are being caught on jigs tipped with live bait.

Kuennen’s Pit W.A. (north)
Anglers reported catching 5 to 8-inch bluegills using jigs tipped with bait.

Worth County Lake
Anglers reported catching 5 to 8-inch bluegills using jigs tipped with bait.

For more fishing information in the north central area contact the Clear Lake Fish and Wildlife office at 641-357-3517.

Mill Creek (Lake)
During a recent fish survey many 10 inch bullheads and bluegills up to seven inches were captured.  Largemouth bass numbers were also good with many in the 10 to 14-inch range with a few larger ones mixed in.

Big Spirit Lake
The water temperature has climbed into the mid 80s. Bullhead – Fair: Action has slowed a bit but the best action continues to be at the grade.  Worms have been the choice bait but a few are being caught on leeches while fishing for walleye. Northern Pike – Fair: Northern pike may become more difficult to catch but they will still be hanging out along weed edges.  Casting or trolling along or near these weed edges should produce the best action.  White Bass – Fair: Look for schools breaking the surface in the mourning and afternoon, once located a popper or minnow bait should get some action.    Smallmouth Bass – Fair: Some of the bigger smallmouth are being caught on weed edges but the rock piles are still producing a few.  Largemouth Bass – Fair: Largemouth are still being found near weeds but some are also starting to disperse to other areas in the lake.  Yellow Perch – Fair: Action is picking up look for schools of perch on the mudflats in the 18-plus foot range. Try drifting live bait on bottom bouncers or with slip bobbers.   A GPS or marker buoy could prove to be very useful once a school is located. Walleye – Good: Live bait rigs seem to be the top choice of most fishermen but plastic also has its place.  Leeches continue to shine on either a Lindy rig or bottom bouncer spinner combo. Plastics rigged on a jig head such as a gulp minnow or other finesse walleye baits may out produce live bait in some situations.

East Okoboji Lake
Bullhead – Fair: Try using worms on bottom. Channel Catfish – Fair: Try using cut bait around rocks and wood during low light conditions. Walleye – Fair: Try fishing near bottom with crawlers and leeches or trolling crank baits.  Twister tails can also be productive.  Yellow Bass – Good: Many yellow bass are being caught near rocks and wood on small baits.

West Okoboji Lake
Try fishing early in the mourning to avoid boat traffic.  Northern Pike – Fair: Find weed beds and you have found the pike try using spoons or most anything resembling a minnow and don’t forget the steel leader. Bluegill – No Report: Look for bluegills around weed edges and try fishing in the early morning or later afternoon.  A small jig on a slip bobber  or a plain hook with live bait should bring results. Smallmouth Bass – Fair: A few smallies have been caught off rock piles but with the clear water most fish are spooky.  Largemouth Bass – Fair: Try fishing around weed edges in the bays.  Walleye – Fair: A few fish were caught trolling crankbaits as well as live bait rigs with crawlers and leeches.

A reminder to bow fishermen please dispose of your fish properly and it is unlawful to sell fish.  With the summer season upon us remember to be curious to fellow lake users. For more information on fishing in northwest Iowa, call the Spirit Lake Hatchery at 712-336-1840.