Nelson Park Lake

The invasive plant species brittle naiad is present.  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.  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

Some OK bluegill fishing; it’s really hot and cold.  Some trips are good, some are a bust.  Channel Catfish – Good: Channel catfishing has been fairly good.  It really picks up later in the day.  Bluegill – Fair:   Crappie – Fair:  The invasive plant species brittle naiad is present.  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. The invasive plant species brittle naiad is present.  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

Anglers are catching some bluegill and crappie; fish in about 15 feet of water.  Channel Catfish – Fair: Anglers are catching a few catfish.  Bluegill – Fair: Anglers are catching some bluegill, but many of them are small.  Fish in 15 feet of water.  Crappie – Fair: Anglers are doing OK; fish in 15 feet of water. Most of the fish are between 7 and 9 inches. The invasive plant species brittle naiad is present. Make sure to inspect and clean boat trailers, boats, and lower units to avoid transferring the plant species to other bodies of water.

Bacon Creek Lake

Fishing has been pretty slow.  Anglers report catching a few small bass on minnows and some small bluegills on pieces of night crawlers.

Storm Lake (including Little Storm Lake)

Very few anglers have been targeting Storm Lake.  Water levels are low.  Channel Catfish – Fair: Some catfish are being picked up on cut bait, stink bait, shrimp, and nightcrawlers. 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

Anglers have been catching small yellow bass and a few more catfish.  Channel Catfish – Fair: People have been catching a few more channel catfish.  Yellow Bass – Fair: Yellow bass have been biting fairly well.  They are small to medium sized fish.

Swan Lake

Water levels are very low.  Water temperatures are in the mid to high 80s.

Black Hawk Lake

The lake is 16 inches below crest.  Catfish and bullhead fishing has slowed.  Avoid fishing the inlet area of the lake as water levels are extremely low there.  Bullhead – Fair: Bullheads can be caught on nightcrawlers or leeches.  The bullheads are mostly between 10 and 11 inches and they are abundant.  Channel Catfish – Fair: Fish the windy shorelines close to shore and use crawdads for bait.

Great Western Park Lake

The invasive plant species brittle naiad is present.  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.  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 worms and jigs tipped with bait fished along the weed lines and sandy shore areas.  The best bite is early or late in the day due to the heat.

Clear Lake

Channel Catfish – Fair: Channel catfish are still being caught with live bait fished over the rock reefs and in areas of the little lake.  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 18 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

Catfishing is good.  Try using chicken liver or stink bait 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.

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

Mill Creek (Lake)

A netting survey took place recently and good numbers of bluegills and bullheads were sampled as well as a few catfish, largemouth bass, and black crappie.  The bluegills averaged 6-7.5 inches with a few reaching 9 inches.  Bullheads ranged from 8-11 inches and should be easy to catch. Catfish were sampled up to 6 pounds with the majority of them in the 1 to 2-pound range measuring 17-22 inches. The water was in the low 80s and the thermocline was a 7 feet so don’t fish to deep.

Big Spirit Lake

Water temperature has climbed into the mid 80s. The warm water has also contributed to a significant bluegreen algae bloom in the lake turning it green. Bullhead – Fair: Action has slowed on the grade but a few fish are being caught on the main lake around weeds. Use traditional presentations like a worm on the bottom.  Northern Pike – Slow: 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 morning and afternoon. Once located a popper or minnow bait should get some action.  A few smallmouth bass should also be expected while fishing a school of white bass.  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: The 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 feet of water.  Try drifting crawlers on bottom bouncers or with slip bobbers.  A GPS or marker buoy could be useful once a school is located. A few perch are also being caught in or near the weeds while targeting walleye or other species.  Walleye – Slow: With the warm water fishing has slowed a bit but a few fish are still being caught. Best results have been coming in early morning, at dusk, and after dark using slow presentations.

East Okoboji Lake

Bullhead – Fair: Use worms on bottom. Channel Catfish – Fair: Try cut bait around rocks and wood during low light conditions. Walleye – Fair: Fish near bottom with crawlers and leeches or trolling crankbaits. Twister tails can also be productive. Yellow Bass – Good: Many yellow bass are being caught try looking for rocks and wood. Use small baits.

West Okoboji Lake

Avoid boat traffic by fishing early in the morning. Northern Pike – Fair: Find weed beds and you have found the pike. Use spoons or most anything resembling a minnow and don’t forget the steel leader.  Bluegill – No Report: Look for bluegills around weed edges in the early morning or later afternoon.  A small jig on a slip bobber or a plain hook with live bait should produce fish.  Smallmouth Bass – Fair: A few smallies have been caught off rock piles but with the clear water most fish spook easily.  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.

Big Sioux River

Fishing has been slow but a few catfish are still being caught.  Try fishing deeper pools and brush piles after dark.

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