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 okay 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.  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

Bluegill – Fair: Anglers are catching some bluegill, but many of them are small.  Fish in 15 feet of water.  Largemouth Bass – Good:   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.  White Bass – Slow: A few nice white bass have been caught. 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 temperature is in the mid to high 80s.

Black Hawk Lake

The lake is 17 inches below crest.  Avoid fishing the inlet area of the lake as water levels are extremely low there.  Annual carp contest is August 11 and 12. Bullhead – Slow: Bullheads can be caught on nightcrawlers or leeches.  The bullheads are mostly between 10 and 11 inches and they are abundant.  Channel Catfish – Fair: Anglers have been catching decent numbers of channel catfish drifting across the lake and fishing from shore.

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.

Southwood Conservation Area Pond (east)

Channel Catfish – Good: Fishing has been best at night and early morning on chicken liver and other prepared baits.  Bluegill – Slow: Some panfish are being picked up in the deeper water.  Largemouth Bass – Fair: Bass have been hitting top water lures in the evenings.

Little Sioux River (Correctionville to Missouri River)

Catfish are biting on stink bait and live baits.  Freshwater drum and carp are being caught while fishing for catfish.

Black Hawk District Farm Ponds

Farm pond fishing has been slow.  Try casting plastic worms for bass and using nightcrawlers for bluegill.

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 bluegill and crappie using a piece of crawler fished under a bobber.  Largemouth bass fishing is good.  Anglers have had success using deep-diving crankbaits.

Upper Pine Lake

Largemouth bass fishing is good.  Anglers have had success using deep-diving 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 – Slow: A few walleyes 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 6-10 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 6lbs with the majority of them in the 1-2lb range measuring 17-22 inches.   The water was in the low 80s and the thermocline was at 7 feet so don’t fish to deep.

Big Spirit Lake

The water temperature has climbed into the mid 80s and has contributed to a significant blue green algae bloom turning the lake green. Bullhead – Fair: Action has slowed on the grade but a few fish are being caught on the main lake around weeds using a worm on the bottom. Northern Pike – Slow: Northern pike will 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 of white bass 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 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 crawlers on bottom bouncers or with slip bobbers. A GPS or marker buoy could prove to be very 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: Fishing has slowed 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: Try using worms on bottom. Channel Catfish – Fair: Try using cut bait around rocks and wood during low light conditions. Bluegill – Fair: Action has picked up a bit but can still be sporadic.  Try fishing around weed edges with worms. Walleye – Fair: Try fishing 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 and use small baits.

West Okoboji Lake

Try fishing early in the morning to avoid boat traffic. 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.  Yellow Perch – Fair: A few perch are being found along weed edges and adjacent drop offs. Try jigging with crawlers and wigglers or using slip bobbers.  Walleye – Fair: A few fish were caught trolling crankbaits as well as live bait rigs with crawlers and leeches.

Five Island Lake

During a recent netting survey many catfish were sampled in the lake with an average size of 16-22 inches. Good numbers of fish over 24 inches were also found. Try using cutbait or stinkbait in the afternoon and into the night.

For more information contact Mike Hawkins at the Spirit Lake office at 712-336-1840.