Nelson Park Lake

Anglers should try fishing bluegills along the face of the dam. Use a small black hair jig with a small piece of bait. Bluegill – Fair: Bluegills are starting to move onto the nests. Bluegills are ranging from 8.5 to 9.5 inches.

Crawford Creek Impoundment

Anglers should start looking for the bluegill to move onto the nests. Recent surveys show good numbers of bluegill in the 8.5- to 9-inch size range. There are good numbers of sublegal largemouth bass in the lake. Anglers looking for some catch and release largemouth bass fishing should target the face of the dam.

Moorhead Park Pond

Bluegill and crappie fishing has been good at Moorehead. Crappies are hitting on the west side around the stumps.

Brushy Creek Lake

Water clarity is excellent. Anglers should do well for crappie and bluegill as they move into the shallows. Bass fishing has been good near shore areas and structure.

Storm Lake (including Little Storm Lake)

Storm Lake has reached crest with the recent rains. 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. Anglers are allowed three walleye per day, all fish between 17 and 22 inches must be released and only one fish over 22 inches may be kept. Boaters should use caution as there may be debris floating in the lake from the recent heavy rain. Channel Catfish – Excellent: Anglers are catching good numbers of channel catfish from shore. They are in the 18- to 22-inch size range. Night crawlers and cut bait are working well. Crappie – Fair: Last week anglers did very well for crappie in the state marina. Fishing for the crappie has slowed down some since then. Walleye – Fair: Walleye fishing has been good, but recent weather may slow the fishing some. A lot of small walleye were being caught in the marina.

North Twin Lake

Water levels at North Twin have reached crest elevation. Channel Catfish – Fair: Some anglers are catching catfish from shore. Try using night crawlers on the bottom. Walleye – Slow: Some walleye are being picked up around the outlet of North Twin.

Swan Lake

Bluegills and crappies were biting prior to the heavy rains.

Black Hawk Lake

Black Hawk Lake was renovated last fall. Although fish have been restocked, there are no catchable size fish in the lake. Water clarity has decreased substantially due to recent rains. The lake is near crest elevation.

Browns Lake

Catfish are biting on shrimp and crawlers.

Arrowhead Lake

Water clarity is good. Water levels are around 2 feet low. Bluegill – Fair: A few larger males are starting to move onto the beds. Expect more to move into the shallows over the next few weeks. Use a 1/32 ounce black feather jig. It helps to put a small piece of night crawler on the jig. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Largemouth bass are biting on small hair jigs near shore and around downed trees. They are biting aggressively, but are on the small side. Most are ranging from 8 to 12 inches. Crappie – Slow: A few crappies can be picked up while targeting bluegill. Also try drifting and jigging for crappies.

Black Hawk Pits

Water clarity is excellent. Water levels are around two feet low. Largemouth Bass – Slow: Some nice largemouth bass can be caught using minnows or casting twisters. Walleye – Slow: A few smaller walleye have been caught with fire tiger colored twisters. The water is very clear so anglers may have to try fishing in the early morning, late evening or at night.

Little Sioux River (Linn Grove to Correctionville)

Conditions on the Little Sioux are hazardous. Anglers should use extra caution near the Linn Grove Dam.

North Raccoon River (above State Highway 175 bridge near Auburn)

The North Raccoon is out of its banks.

For more information on lakes and rivers in the Black Hawk District contact the Black Hawk Office in Lake View at 712-657-2638.

Beeds Lake

Water is high and muddy due to rainfall. Water temperature is around 61 degrees. Sucker – Fair: There are lots of white suckers in Beeds. A worm and sinker on the bottom should entice them to bite. Channel Catfish – Good: No reports yet, but catfish should be feeding in the shallower west end. Try fishing along the causeway when the wind is from the south or southwest. Largemouth Bass – Good: Largemouth bass are near shore and should be biting well. Crappie – Good: Anglers are catching some crappies near the cuts of the causeway.

Upper Pine Lake

Water is high and dirty due to the large rainfall. Crappies, bluegill and largemouth bass were biting on Pine Creek (between the lakes, mostly on grub-type baits. Bluegill – Good: Bluegills are staged in 4 to 5 feet of water and are close to spawning. A bobber and small jig with a piece of worm should work. Largemouth Bass – Good: Largemouth bass are near shore and are close to spawning. Crappie – Fair: Some crappies are being caught near structure.

Lake Smith

Channel Catfish – Good: Try with some cutbait, worms or stinkbait. Bluegill – Fair: Largemouth Bass – Good: Bass are near the shorelines and should be biting well. There are some nice size bass (19 to 20 inches).

Clear Lake

The lake is full, at crest. Water temp is 62-64 degrees. Channel Catfish – Good: Catfishing is good right now as they are close to prespawn mode. If you find the fish, action is fast and aggressive. Try with some cutbait, worms or stinkbait on a windward shoreline or near some of the water sources coming in. Anglers are picking up some catfish when fishing for yellow bass with cutbait. White Bass – Fair: Anglers are catching some white bass when they’re fishing for yellows. Try around the island or Dodge’s Point. Bluegill – Fair: Crappie – Good: Anglers are catching some crappies and bluegills in the reeds with small jigs. Walleye – Good: A few bigger fish have been caught but most anglers are catching a mix of sublegals and small legal walleyes. Most are caught on jig and a minnow. Some are catching walleyes drifting or trolling. Action on the Rock reefs and rock piles is picking up; anglers are using live bait and bobbers or right on bottom. Muskellunge – Fair: Anglers are catching some muskies while fishing for walleye with minnows. Yellow Bass – Good: Waders near the island are picking up large numbers of yellows. Some fish are spawning. Most anglers are using bobbers and minnows or a small jig with a piece of crawler on bottom.

Lake Cornelia

Fishing has been good. Lots of fish being caught.

Channel Catfish – Good: Cats should be biting on cutbait or stinkbait on a warmer day. Bluegill – Good: Bluegills are keeper size. Crappie – Fair: Crappies are around 8 inches. Yellow Bass – Good: Yellow bass are small, 7 to 7.25 inches.

Little Wall Lake

Little Wall is full; at crest. Largemouth Bass – Good: Bass are also biting along the shorelines. Crappie – Good: Anglers are catching crappies (7-8 inches) and gills off the north fishing jetty and other shorelines.

Crystal Lake

Northern Pike – Good: Northerns have been caught up to the mid 30-inch range. Anglers may have success using presentations such as weedless spoons or bobbers with chubs. Channel Catfish – Good: Bluegill – Good: Great population of 7- to 8-inch bluegills in the lake.

Bluegills are starting to stage up in shallows for spawning. Largemouth Bass – Excellent: Anglers have reported catching lots of largemouth. Walleye – Good: Anglers are catching some nice walleyes (16-17 inches).

Bluebill Lake

Bluegill – Fair: Largemouth Bass – Good: Largemouth bass are biting good along shorelines at Bluebill. Please remember the 15” minimum length limit on bass. Crappie – Fair: Crappies are biting on minnows under a bobber.

Fin and Feather Lake

There has been some activity for panfish. There was a partial fish kill this winter but there are still some bluegills and largemouths left to provide some action. Bluegill – Fair: Largemouth Bass – Fair: Largemouth are near shore. Remember the 15-inch minimum length limit.

Interstate Park Lake

There was a partial fish kill this winter on this lake but anglers have been reporting catching a variety of fish this past week. Bluegill – Fair: Largemouth Bass – Fair: Largemouths are cruising the shorelines. Crappie – Fair: Crappies are a nice size and should be biting off the boat ramp point or off the east rock side.

Iowa River (Iowa Falls to Marshalltown)

Iowa River is flooding from recent local rains. There is some activity below Steamboat Rock for walleye and northern pike.

Shell Rock River (above Greene)

Water levels are high. Northern Pike – Slow: A few northern pike are being caught with a chub and bobber, or slow artificial presentations, between Northwood and Nora Springs below dams, backwater areas and anywhere a creek feeds into the river. Walleye – Slow: A few small walleyes are being caught on Shell Rock River on jig/twister.

Winnebago River

Water level is high/ flooding. Northern Pike – Slow: Northern pike are being caught in Fertile by the dam and the park point east of the dam. Anglers are using a slow retrieval with Mepps number 4 or 5 spinner baits or a Rapala 3-inch Countdown Minnow. Some pike are also hitting chubs presented below bobbers. Channel Catfish – Slow: Anglers should try below the dams or in backwater areas using cutbait, stinkbait or minnows.

East Fork Des Moines (Algona to Humboldt)

The East Fork is running high right now.

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

Big Spirit Lake

Bullhead – Good: The grade is providing some good bullhead action and don’t overlook the north side. Largemouth Bass – Good: Start looking around the rushes for prespawn bass. Walleye – Fair: The fishing has picked up from previous weeks try drifting lindy rigs with leeches or trolling crank baits. Wader fishermen are also catching a few fish but it’s day by day. A few walleye are also being caught at the grade and remember all walleyes 17 to 22 inches must be released.

West Okoboji Lake

Bluegill, crappie and bass fishing have been good in the canals. Try using small jigs under a bobber for the bluegill and crappie. Largemouth Bass – Good: The bass are still biting good in the canals and in the back of the bays. Walleye – Slow: The clear water has made the fishing tough during the day but the night bite is a bit better.

West Fork Des Moines (Emmetsburg to Humboldt)

The water is up from recent rains but look for catfish and walleye in slack water areas. Try cutbait and worms for catfish and minnows and twister tails for the walleye.

Little Swan Lake

Bullhead – Good: Try fishing around the outlet with a gob of worms.

For more information contact the Spirit Lake Hatchery at (712) 336-1840.