NORTHWEST

Crawford Creek Impoundment

Channel Catfish – Good: Anglers have been doing well for catfish using stink bait and fishing from shore.  Evenings have been the best.  Bluegill – Fair: Decent size bluegill are being caught, but not large numbers of them.  Drift across the lake with a small jig with a small piece of bait.  Crappie – Fair: Fish for crappie the same way as bluegill.

Moorehead Park Pond

Bluegills are biting well at Moorehead.  The fish aren’t huge, but they make for fun fishing.

Storm Lake (including Little Storm Lake)

Fishing is pretty slow.  Focus efforts around the return pipe from the dredge spoil site on the east side of the lake.

Blue Lake

Bass fishing with top water lures has been good in the late evenings.

Little Sioux River (Correctionville to Missouri River)

The water is low. Fishing is slow, but some smaller channel catfish are being picked up using nightcrawlers.

Water temperatures have cooled over the area, and water levels are low at most lakes.

Lower Pine Lake

Crappie fishing is fair. Fish a minnow on a jig near the rocks in deep water.

Upper Pine Lake

Anglers reported catching channel catfish with chicken liver in the mornings and evenings in both the lake and Pine Creek between the lakes.  Crappie – Fair: Try fishing a minnow and jig around the rocks in deep water.

Lake Smith

Largemouth Bass – Fair: Anglers are having the best luck throwing top water and buzz baits in the evening.

Lake Catherine

Bluegill – Fair: Drift small jigs or crawlers along the rocks and along the aquatic vegetation lines.  Largemouth Bass – Fair: Spinner baits worked along the aquatic plant beds seems to be working the best.

Clear Lake

Due to low water levels, use caution when launching and boating near shore.  Channel Catfish – Fair: Stink bait, cut bait, and crawlers are working in the evenings and mornings near reefs and off the Ventura jetties.  Crappie – Fair: Anglers are picking up some crappies while drifting and vertical jigging minnows and crawlers in 6-10 feet of water in the little lake, around the reefs, and between the state dock area and the island.  Yellow Bass – Good: Anglers are catching yellow bass on crawlers, cut bait, and minnows.  Drifting and vertical jigging in 6-10 feet of water off the State Dock area, the rock reefs, and in the little lake has been good.  The fish are schooled so move around until you find active fish.

Little Wall Lake

Channel Catfish – Fair: Anglers are drifting fish guts and cut bait.

Crystal Lake

Bluegill – Fair: Drift small jigs and crawlers in the dredged area and along aquatic plant beds for the best action.  Largemouth Bass – Fair: Spinner baits and top water baits worked along the aquatic plant beds are catching bass.

Shell Rock River (above Greene)

Anglers have reported catching smallmouth bass on artificial baits fished in the remaining deeper pools.

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

Big Spirit Lake

Fishing pressure has been very light this week with harvest of all species being limited.  Fishing activity should improve with the cooler water temperatures. Current water temperature is 70 degrees.

For more information on fishing in northwest Iowa, call the Spirit Lake Hatchery at 712-336-1840.