Crawford Creek Impoundment

Fishing at Crawford Creek has been slow.  Water levels are down about 3 feet.

Moorehead Park Pond

Some bluegill and bass are being caught at Moorehead, but most of them are small.  Water levels are about 3 feet low.

Bacon Creek Lake

Trout will be stocked on November 15.

Storm Lake (including Little Storm Lake)

White Bass – Fair: Anglers that have been targeting walleye are usually getting into a few white bass.  Walleye – Slow: Walleye fishing continues to be slow.  Cooling water temperatures may help to turn on the fall bite. 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 at Swan Lake.  Water levels are very low and it may be difficult to get a boat in.  Most of the jetties and the fish house are still fishable.  Channel Catfish – Slow: Some channel catfish have been caught from the fish house with stink bait.  Bluegill – Fair: Some 7 to 7.5-inch bluegills are being caught.  Casting as far as you can into deeper water may help produce some larger individuals.  Crappie – Fair: The crappie bite is picking up.

Black Hawk Lake

Black Hawk Lake will be closed to boat traffic on November 8.  A chemical renovation will be carried out on November 8.

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 crappie 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.  There are some reports of walleye being caught.

Moorland Pond

Trout will be stock on November 18 at Moorland Pond.

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 hittiing 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 Racoon River (Auburn to Perry)

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

Water temperatures are in the mid to upper 40s.

Clear Lake

The fish cleaning station is closed for the winter. 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 – Fair: 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.

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.

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 to 14-inch range along with a few slots.  Trolling crankbaits has yielded a few fish  but the action is still a little hit or miss.

East Okoboji Lake

Walleye – Fair: Trolling and jigging rock piles and drop offs have been producing a few fish.  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. Try using red worms and wigglers either on a jigging spoon or under a slip bobber.  Yellow Perch – Fair: Try fishing 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

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.

Scharnberg Pond

Trout stocking will be on November 10 around 12:30.