Crawford Creek Impoundment

Fishing for catfish has been good with anglers to the best using stinkbait and fishing from a boat at night.  Bluegill and crappie fishing has been fair and a few largemouth bass are being caught.

Moorehead Park Pond

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

Brushy Creek Lake

Fishing has been fairly slow with some bluegill and bass being caught on small minnows.

Storm Lake (including Little Storm Lake)

Water levels are very low at Storm Lake.  Boaters must use extreme caution when boating at high speeds.  The dredge machine is still in operation.  Boaters must stay clear of the dredge barge, booster pump barge, and pipeline that runs from the dredge to the east shore.  Channel Catfish – Slow: A few channel cats are being picked up.  White Bass – Fair: Anglers are catching some white bass from the east shore.  The bites come in waves as the schools move through.  Walleye – Slow: A few walleye have been caught.  The ones that have been caught were mostly slot fish or just under the slot.

Browns Lake

Catfish and bullheads area being caught on shrimp and stinkbait.

Southwood Conservation Area Pond (east)

Largemouth bass are biting on purple and white plastic worms.  The east pond has had the best fishing.  Water clarity is poor and water levels are low.  Panfishing is slow.

North Raccoon River (Auburn to Perry)

Anglers have been doing well wading the river and catching catfish out of the deeper holes.

Water temperatures continue to cool at lakes in the Black Hawk District.  Fishing is about the same as last week.

Clear Lake

The water level is 27 inches below crest. Use caution when launching and boating near shore.  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.  Walleye – Fair: Walleye over the 14-inch minimum legal length limit are starting to be picked up. Vertical jigging crawlers and minnows in 6-10 feet of water over the reefs and in the little lake seems to be working best.  Yellow Bass – Good: Anglers continue to catch yellow bass on crawlers, cut bait, and minnows. Drifting and vertical jigging in 5-10 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.

Lake Cornelia

Channel Catfish – Fair: Fishing with cut bait near shore has been effective for channel catfish.  Anglers have also reported picking up channel catfish while fishing crankbaits in deeper water.  Yellow Bass – Fair: Anglers have been picking up yellow bass using crawlers and minnows fished from shore and also drifted in the deeper water.

Crystal Lake

Bluegill – Fair: Drift small jigs and crawlers in the dredged area and along aquatic plant beds for the best bluegill action.  Largemouth Bass – Good: Try throwing spinner baits and buzz baits along the aquatic plant lines for largemouth bass action.  Anglers are also having success using soft plastic baits fished in the same areas.

Bluebill Lake

Yellow Perch – Fair: Fish small jigs and crawlers along the aquatic plant beds and near rocks for the best yellow perch action.

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

Big Spirit Lake

Fishing has been slow with the best action coming early in the morning and late in the evening.  White Bass – Good: Use plastics like twister tails and shad on a lead head; top water lures may also be good at dawn and dusk.  Smallmouth Bass – Fair: Rock piles continue to shine for smallmouth but don’t overlook nearby weed lines.  Yellow Perch – Slow: Once an active school of perch is located, fishing can be good but locating numbers seems to be difficult.  Look in or near the weeds, on the mudflats or on transition areas in between. Try wigglers on a jigging spoon and don’t be surprised to pick up some bluegills or walleyes.   Walleye – Slow: With the warm conditions this past week fishing was slow but a few fish can be caught.  Troll crankbaits and spinners near bottom or fishing around the weed lines. Live bait rigs have not been as effective as they were earlier this year but a few fish may be picked up on Lindy rigs.

East Okoboji Lake

No Report

West Okoboji Lake

Northern Pike – Fair: Try fishing with buck tails or spoons around weed lines or holes in the weed beds. Bluegill – Fair: Look for bluegills around weeds and on rock piles. Try using red worms and wigglers either on a jigging spoon or under a slip bobber.  Yellow Perch – Fair: Fish on the drop offs and don’t be afraid to move around to locate a school of bigger fish as there are many small ones.  Fishing 8-15 feet of water using jigging spoons with wigglers has been bringing some results.  Yellow Bass – Good: Try using a jigging spoon tipped with wigglers in 15-25 feet of water just off the weed edge and down the drop a bit.

Lost Island Lake

Yellow bass and bluegill fishing has been decent with good sized yellow bass leading the way.

Water temperatures have fallen into the 60s.