Bacon Creek Lake

Trout will be stocked at Bacon Creek on November 15th.

Storm Lake (including Little Storm Lake)

White Bass – Fair: Anglers targeting walleye are usually getting into a few white bass.  Walleye – Slow: Walleye fishing continues to be slow.  Cooling water temperature may help to turn the fall bite on. Water levels are very low.  Avoid using the Bel Air boat ramp.  The dredge machine is still in operation on Storm Lake.  Boaters should use caution and stay clear of the dredge barge, pump barge, and pipeline, especially with the low water conditions.

Swan Lake

Fishing is starting to pick up.  Channel Catfish – Slow: Some channel catfish have been caught from the fish house with stink bait.  Bluegill – Fair: Some bluegills are also being caught.  Expect the bluegills to be 7 to 7.5 inches.  Crappie – Fair: The crappie bite is picking up. Water levels are very low and it may be difficult to get a boat in.

Black Hawk Lake

Water levels are about 31 inches below crest.  Boaters should use caution when on the lake as there are several hazards with the low water.

Browns Lake

Anglers are catching some crappie.

Snyder Bend Lake

Anglers are catching some crappie.

Great Western Park Lake

Anglers are catching a few crappies and catfish.  Channel Catfish – Fair: Catfish can be caught on stink bait.  Crappie – Fair: A few large crappies are being picked up.

Black Hawk Pits

Catfish are biting on worms on the bottom and minnows under bobbers.  Largemouth bass are hitting on shad raps in the shallows.

Moorland Pond

Trout will be stocked on November 18.

Little Sioux River (Linn Grove to Correctionville)

The Little Sioux from Cherokee to Anthon has been producing some walleye and catfish.  Target the deeper holes in the river and also try below the Linn Grove Dam.  Fishing has been the best right before sunset.  Channel Catfish – Fair: Catfish have been hitting well on minnows; twisters have also worked well.  Walleye – Fair: Anglers have been having good luck with minnows; chartreuse twisters have also worked well.

North Raccoon River (Auburn to Perry)

The Raccoon River is low, but anglers wading the river and finding deeper holes have been catching some catfish.

Cold front moving through the area could slow things down a bit: otherwise, fishing has been about the same as last week.

Clear Lake

Note to boaters: as of Oct 23, all hazard and channel buoys have been removed from the lake.  The water level is 28 inches below crest. Use caution when launching and boating near shore.  Yellow Perch – Fair: Anglers are picking up yellow perch using minnows, crawlers, and cut bait while fishing from shore and while drifting or vertical jigging in 2-6 feet of water.  Anglers are having the best luck fishing north of the island, along north shore just east of the state dock area, and in the little lake.  Walleye – Slow: A few walleyes are being picked up with minnows and cut bait fished from shore in 2-6 feet of water during mornings or evenings.  Drifting and vertical jigging in 3-6 feet of water has worked for anglers fishing near the north shore just east of McIntosh Point and in the little lake.  Yellow Bass – Good: Yellow bass are biting on crawlers, cut bait, and minnows. Drifting and vertical jigging in 2-6 feet of water along north shore just east of the state dock area and in the little lake is working well.  Shore anglers are catching yellow bass in 2-4 feet of water using cut bait, minnows, and crawlers.  Shore anglers fishing cut bait in mornings and evenings from the Ventura jetties and outside of the reeds along the north shore between The Venetian Village and McIntosh Point are doing the best.

Lake Cornelia

Yellow Bass – Fair: Anglers have been picking up yellow bass using crawlers and minnows fished from shore and also drifted in the deeper water.

Little Wall Lake

Anglers have reported picking up yellow bass and crappies off the north jetty using minnows and crawlers.

Bluebill Lake

Yellow perch are biting on live bait with slip bobbers fished along the shorelines.  Also a note to boaters: the courtesy dock by the boat ramp has been removed.

All hazard and channel buoys in Clear Lake have been removed.  For more fishing information in the north central area contact the Clear Lake Fish and Wildlife office at 641-357-3517.

Big Spirit Lake

White Bass – Good: Action can be great once a school is located but they don’t seem to stay in one place for more than a few days.  Most anything resembling a minnow can get hit.  Smallmouth Bass – Good: Try throwing crankbaits around rock piles and don’t overlook the top water option on nice days.  Yellow Perch – Fair: Action has been spotty but active fish can be found it just takes a little leg work.  Try drifting mud flats or weed lines with either wigglers or minnows. Walleye – Good: Action seems to be picking up especially for wader fishermen in the evening many of the fish being caught are in the 11-14 inches range along with a few slots.  Trolling crankbaits has yielded a few fish, but the action is still hit or miss.

East Okoboji Lake

Walleye – Fair: rock piles and drop offs have been producing a few fish.  Trolling and jigging have been the best producers.  Yellow Bass – Good: Yellow bass action has been good look for rock piles and drop offs.  Wigglers and worms produce well on either a jigging spoon or a slip bobber.  Trolling small crankbaits can also prove effective.

Silver Lake (Dickinson)

We have received no information regarding fishing on this water body this week.

West Okoboji Lake

Bluegill – Fair: Look for bluegills around weeds and on rock piles. Use red worms and wigglers either on a jigging spoon or under a slip bobber.  Yellow Perch – Fair: Fish 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

A mixed bag of walleye, crappie, and yellow bass has been coming in and action has been good.  Try pitching jig and minnow combos for all three along drop offs and other structure.