Iowa lakes are freezing over

Cold weather settled in over the upper Midwest sealing many Iowa lakes under a layer of ice. As a reminder, a minimum of four inches of quality ice is recommended for fishing and at least five inches for snowmobiles and ATVs.

Safety Tips on the Ice

• There is no such thing as 100 percent safe ice.
• Ice fishing is a social activity, don’t go out alone. If the worst should happen, someone would be there to call for help or to rescue.
• There could be pockets of thin ice or places where ice recently formed, so it would be wise to check ice thickness as you go out.
• Ice thickness is not uniform on any body of water.  Things like current and springs slow ice growth. Rocks, trees or docks that poke through the ice like will conduct heat and make the ice around it less stable.
• Avoid off-colored snow or ice. It is usually a sign of weakness.
  • The insulating effect of snow slows down the freezing process.
  • Safety items in the bucket: Ice picks, about 50 feet of rope and a throwable floatation seat cushion for use in case of rescue.

NORTHWEST

Brushy Creek Lake

The main lake is still open, but ice is starting to form near shore and in the upper part of the lake.

Bacon Creek Lake

Bacon Creek was stocked with 1,500 catchable size rainbow trout on Nov. 20th. Bacon Creek is mostly covered with ice and ice thickness is around 1.5 inches.  Rainbow Trout – Excellent: Anglers have been catching limits of rainbow trout casting very small spinners and Kastmasters.

Storm Lake (including Little Storm Lake)

Storm Lake has about 1.5 inches of ice in most areas.

Black Hawk Lake

Black Hawk Lake has around 3 inches of ice.  There is open water in the Town Bay area.

Arrowhead Lake

There is around 2 to 2.5 inches of ice on Arrowhead Lake.

Black Hawk Pits

There is around 2 to 2.5 inches of ice on Black Hawk Pits.

Moorland Pond

Moorland Pond was stocked with 1,500 catchable size rainbow trout on Nov. 16th. Rainbow Trout – Excellent: Anglers have been catching limits of rainbow trout casting small spinners and Kastmasters.

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

Clear Lake

Clear Lake is mostly covered with ice. Ice thickness is 2 to 3 inches. If you venture out use caution and drill test holes as you go.

Blue Pit

Blue Pit was stocked with 1,500 catchable size rainbow trout on Nov. 27th.

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

Iowa Great Lakes – Limited fishing activity at this time.  Shallow lakes have ice; however, ice conditions are unsafe with less than one inch of ice.

Scharnberg Pond

1,500 rainbow trout were stocked Nov. 9th.

Iowa Great Lakes – Limited fishing activity at this time.  Night time wader fishing is a key component.  Some activity is also present at the north grade.