Yellow Smoke Park Lake

Yellow Smoke still has around 7 inches of good ice.  Water clarity is excellent.  However, fishing has been very slow.

Crawford Creek Impoundment

Anglers are doing well for nice sized bluegill and crappie.  Most anglers are using wax worms and fishing off the Christmas tree south of the boat ramp in about 13 feet of water.

Oldham Lake

Oldham has 7 to 10 inches of ice depending on location.  Fishing has been very slow.  Anglers are marking a lot of fish, but are having difficulty getting them to bite.  Recent surveys show an abundance of 7.5 to 8.5-inch bluegills.

Badger Lake

Ice is between 8 to 10 inches depending on location.  Anglers are reporting decent bluegills.

Brushy Creek Lake

There is around 10 inches of ice in the near shore areas and in the upper end of the lake.  Avoid the main body of the lake as ice conditions can be quite variable.  There is open water east of the beach. Most anglers are targeting the north end.  Bluegill – Fair: Bluegills are biting, but most are on the small side.  Crappie – Fair: Crappies are biting, but most are on the smaller side.

Bacon Creek Lake

Bacon Creek has about 7 inches of ice.  Trout fishing has been good with waxies on a small jig head or a Kastmaster spoon.  Trout will be stocked between 1:30 and 2 p.m. on Jan. 12.

Storm Lake (including Little Storm Lake)

Fishing for walleye seems to have picked up over the last couple weeks.  However, many of are 12 to 14 inches.  The mornings and evenings have been the best with anglers fishing in 4 to 5 feet of water.

North Twin Lake

North Twin has around 10 inches of ice.  Anglers are doing okay for yellow bass.  Target the south west portion of the lake.

Black Hawk Lake

Black Hawk Lake was renovated in November 2012 so there is no fishing to be had.  Ice is around 8 inches thick.  Waterfowl are keeping a small area open in the Town Bay.

Browns Lake

Browns Lake has about 8 inches of ice.  Anglers have been catching some bluegill and crappie, but there hasn’t been a lot of size to them.

Southwood Conservation Area Pond (east)

The east pond has around 9 inches of ice and the fishing has really turned on.  Bluegill – Good: A lot of 8 to 9-inch bluegills are being caught using waxies and spikes on a jig head.  Most fish are being picked up between 8 and 18 feet of water. Fish in the middle of the water column and raise or lower your bait to the fish when located on the fish finder.  Largemouth Bass – Fair: Some largemouth are being picked up fishing closer to shore. Crappie – Good: A lot of 10 to 12-inch crappie are being caught in the same manner as the bluegill.  The crappies have been preferring waxies and spikes over minnows.

Southwood Conservation Area Pond (west)

The west pond has around 8 inches of ice. Fishing in the west pond is slower than the east pond.  Some bluegills and crappie are being caught, but a lot of sorting is required.

Arrowhead Lake

Arrowhead Lake has around 7 inches of ice.  Anglers reported catching some 7.5 to 8.5-inch bluegill and a few large yellow bass.

Black Hawk Pits

Black Hawk Pit has around 7 inches of ice.  Anglers have been fishing it pretty hard, but are having difficulty locating fish.  Keep moving as the fish are likely stacked into a small area of the pit.

Moorland Pond

Moorland Pond was stocked with trout in mid-November.  Anglers should experience good trout fishing through the ice there right now.  The next stocking is scheduled for Jan. 18.

For more information or questions contact the Black Hawk Fish Management Office in Lake View at 712-657-2638.

Maynes Grove Lake

6 to 8 inches of ice.

Briggs Woods Lake

The ice thickness is around 6 to 8 inches.

Interstate Park Lake

8 inches of Ice.

Lower Pine Lake

Good sized bluegills are being caught in fair numbers.  Bluegill – Good:

Upper Pine Lake

Upper Pine Lake is seeing minimum activity however a few smaller crappies have been caught.

Lake Smith

Ice depth is 10 inches plus.  Bluegill – Good: Anglers having good success on bluegills, but some sorting required.

Lake Catherine

Ice thickness is 12 inches.  Bluegill – Good: Large bluegills still biting late afternoon at Thorpe Park.

Clear Lake

Ice thickness on the little lake area is 14 to 18 inches. Main lake is around 10 to 15 inches.  The bite is slow in midday. Best bite is in the morning or evening.  Crappie – Good: Most of the crappies are ranging from 9 to 10 inches with a few being reported at 12-13 inches. Some anglers are reporting good success for crappies well past sunset. Most are being caught on minnows. Fish in deeper water; 15-20 feet, or near the drop-offs to those deeper areas.  Yellow Perch – Fair: Anglers are catching modest numbers and an occasional 12-13 incher. A few of the bigger ones have been taken by the Lynne Lorenzen access or close to the deeper water northwest of McIntosh Woods State Park access.  Walleye – Slow: Anglers are catching a few under 14 inches but the larger ones seem to be hard to come by.  Yellow Bass – Good: Anglers seem to be doing better for numbers on the west end of the little lake and by the aerator mid-lake. Yellow bass are being caught around 8 to 15 feet of water.

Lake Cornelia

10-12 inches of ice.  Walleye – Fair: Some reports of small walleyes being caught.  Yellow Bass – Good: Lots of 6 to 8-inch yellow bass.

Little Wall Lake

Ice 8 to 10 inches. Fishing has been slow. Try fishing in the deeper pockets of the lake with wax worms.

Crystal Lake

Bluegills and an occasional Walleye or Largemouth Bass. Fish near the dredged area 8 to 12 feet of water. Bluegill – Good:

Bluebill Lake

11 inches of ice.  Bluegill – Fair:   Yellow Perch – Good: Yellow perch still biting good at in 12 to 15 feet of water.

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

Big Spirit Lake

Expect to find 10 to 13 inches of ice across most of the lake with ATVs currently being the best means of travel. Northern Pike – Fair: Most pike are being caught by accident on walleye tackle but setting tip-ups with chubs around structure has been producing. Bluegill – Slow: A few gills are being caught in Little Anglers Bay and off the grade.  Try small jigs and being very quite as they are spooky. Yellow Perch – Slow: Look for perch off the ends of structure as well as in the main basin.  Moving to find active fish may be necessary to catch any numbers.  Wigglers, waxies, and minnow heads on either spoons or small jigs seem to be the go to lures.  Walleye – Slow: Action seems to be restricted to dawn and dusk without much of a pattern.   Try spoons and jigging raps tipped with a minnow head.

West Okoboji Lake

There is 6 to 10 inches of ice and ATVs are driving on much of the lake. Be aware: geese kept holes of open water in a few areas, avoid discolored ice and when in doubt turn back or test the ice with a spud.  Northern Pike – Fair: Setting tip-ups in or near weeds is producing a few pike as well as setting them on drop-offs. Bluegill – Slow: Look for bluegills in the bays (Emerson and Millers seem to be the best) in or near standing weeds. Sight fishing has been the most popular method but a few choose to hole hop. Try small jigs tipped with wax worms or wigglers but don’t overlook some of the finesse plastics.  Yellow Perch – Fair: Look for perch in 20 feet plus of water along drop-offs or on mudflats. Try spoons tipped with live bait such as wigglers, wax worms, or minnow heads.

Lost Island Lake

A few yellow bass, walleye, and perch are being caught but fishing has slowed from earlier in the year.

For more information contact the Spirit Lake Hatchery at 712-336-1840.