Crawford Creek Impoundment

Anglers are having mixed success for bluegill and crappie.

Brushy Creek Lake

The lake is now iced over completely.  There is around 14 inches of ice in the near shore areas.  Anglers are still catching bluegill, crappie, and perch with mixed success.

Bacon Creek Lake

Trout fishing is excellent at Bacon Creek.  Focus efforts around the dam.

Storm Lake (including Little Storm Lake)

Walleye fishing has picked up a little bit over the past week, but there still hasn’t been a lot of angler effort due to the weather.  Focus efforts around the college island and east end of the lake.

Arrowhead Lake

Arrowhead Lake has 10 plus inches of ice.  Anglers are doing okay for bluegill.  Bluegills are ranging from 7.5 to 8.5 inches.

Moorland Pond

Moorland Pond has 10 plus inches of ice at Moorland.  Trout fishing is excellent. Rainbow Trout – Excellent: Fishing for trout has been good since they were stocked a week ago.

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

Beeds Lake

Anglers are saying that action is slow; a few bluegills.

Maynes Grove Lake

14.5 inches of ice.

Briggs Woods Lake

Crappie – Good: Crappies started biting well towards evening on jig and wax worm.

Lower Pine Lake

Bluegill – Fair: Bluegills, average size, being caught deep, right on the bottom.

Lake Smith

Ice thickness at Smith Lake is 14 inches. Bluegill fishing has been slow.

Clear Lake

Ice depth is 15-17 inches.  Warning: Be cautious around the pressure ridges that have developed near shore on the main lake. Watch the weather and changing ice conditions. Wind can widen the open water near the aerators, so be careful around them.

Fishing has slowed some but anglers have had good catches on the warmer days. Some anglers are venturing out on the main lake and having catches comparable to those on the little lake.  Crappie – Slow: Crappies are mostly being found in 15-20 feet of water and are being caught on minnows or wax worms. Yellow Perch – Slow: Perch are being caught in low numbers; a few are over 10 inches. Try a small spoon and a minnow or minnow head.  Walleye – Slow:   Yellow Bass – Fair: Yellow bass are scattered. Move around till you find numbers of them. Look for 9-14 feet of water. They seem willing to bite whole minnows, cutbait, or wax worms.

Lake Cornelia

14.5 inches of ice.

Little Wall Lake

14 inches of ice.

Crystal Lake

Bluegill – Fair:  Fish near the dredged area 8 to 12 feet of water. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Largemouths and an occasional walleye being caught on minnows.

Blue Pit

Rainbow trout were stocked Jan. 19.

Bluebill Lake

16 inches of ice. Fishing has been slow. Spawning structures were added in the area near the boat ramp, so anglers will need to avoid areas where ice was disturbed.

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 12-16 inches of ice across most of the lake with ATV travel being the best means at this time.  Northern Pike – Slow: Most pike are being caught by accident on walleye tackle but setting tip-ups with chubs around structure has been producing some fish. Bluegill – Slow: A few gills are being caught in Little Angler’s Bay and off the grade.  Try small jigs and being very quite as they are spooked easily.  Yellow Perch – Slow: Look for perch off the end of structure and in the main basin.  Searching for active fish may be needed to catch numbers.  Wigglers, waxies, and minnow heads on either spoons or small jigs seem to be the go to lures.  Walleye – Slow: Action seems restricted to dawn and dusk without much of a pattern revealing itself.  Try using spoons and jigging raps tipped with a minnow head.

West Okoboji Lake

There is currently 12-16 inches of ice and ATVs are driving on much of the lake. Truck traffic is not recommended. Northern Pike – Fair: Setting tip-ups in or near weeds and on drop offs is producing a few pike. Bluegill – Slow: Look for bluegills in the bays (Emerson and Millers seem to be the best) in or near standing weeds.  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 plus feet of water along drop-offs or on mudflats.  Small jigs tipped with either wigglers or plastic seem to produce the best.

Lost Island Lake

Walleye – Slow: Look for walleyes around dawn and dusk as well as into the night.  Try jigging raps and spoons tipped with minnow heads.

Silver Lake (Palo Alto)

Walleye and perch fishing has been slow but if you pay your dues, some nice fish can be caught. Being very quiet and fishing during low light will bring the most fish.

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