Beeds Lake

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

Lower Pine Lake

Bluegill – Fair: Average sized bluegills are being caught at sunset with wax worms.  Crappie – Fair: A few 12 to 14-inch crappies are being caught.

Lake Smith

Ice thickness at Smith Lake is 8-12 inches.  Bluegill – Fair:

Clear Lake

Ice depth on the little lake is 14-17 inches; ice on the main lake is highly variable. Warning: Be cautious around the pressure ridges that have developed on the main lake. Watch the weather and changing ice conditions. Colder weather has refrozen areas near the aerators that were open earlier, so be aware that thin ice extends a long ways out from the aerators. Channel Catfish – Slow: Anglers have been catching some 20 to 24-inch catfish using minnows on the main lake in deeper water. Try near the island or Baptist Camp.  Crappie – Slow: Crappies are mostly being found in 15-20 feet of water, suspended 3 to 10 feet off the bottom. They 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: An occasional report of a keeper walleye being caught near the island and a few in the little lake.  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

There is 14 to 16 inches of ice on the main lake. Warning: In the channel leading to the quiet water area has a lot of variation in ice thickness.  Channel Catfish – Fair:  Bluegill – Slow:   Yellow Bass – Slow:

Crystal Lake

Bluegill – Good:  Fish near the dredged area with 9 to 14 feet of water. Anglers are still catching 7-9 inch bluegills on wax worms. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Largemouth bass and an occasional walleye or northern pike are being caught on minnows.

Rice Lake

Crappie – Slow: Lots of 5-6 inch crappies and perch; some crappies are 9-14 inches. Fishing has slowed down.  Walleye – Slow: A few walleyes are being caught.

Blue Pit

Rainbow trout were stocked on Jan 19.  Rainbow Trout – Fair: Trout are still being caught in the morning or evening.

Be mindful of warming weather and changing ice conditions on area lakes. For ice condition updates and fishing information in the north central area contact the Clear Lake Fish and Wildlife office at 641-357-3517.

Mill Creek (Lake)

Bluegill fishing has been decent and a few bass are being caught.  Try small jigs and hang on a big bass may hit at any time.

Big Spirit Lake

Walleye season is closed until May 4. Northern Pike – Slow: A few have reported seeing pike while sight fishing for bluegills.  Try tip-ups in shallow areas and around weeds.  Bluegill – Slow: A few gills are being caught in Anglers Bay using small jigs tipped with live bait or plastic.  Yellow Perch – Slow: Perch continue to be finicky but a few are being caught once located. Try spoons and small jigs with wigglers.

East Okoboji Lake

Walleye season is closed until May 4. Yellow Bass – Fair: Finding a school of yellow bass may be a challenge but once found, they can be fairly active. Try jigs tipped with live bait or plastic.

West Okoboji Lake

Walleye season is closed until May 4. Northern Pike – Slow: Try tip-ups around weeds. Bluegill – Slow: Emerson and Miller bays are the most popular areas to fish for bluegills with Smiths Bay gaining some attention.  Sight fishing with small jigs and light line produces a few fish.  Yellow Perch – Slow: A few perch are still being caught out deep as well as in the weeds while bluegill fishing.

Lost Island Lake

Walleye – Slow: A few walleye are being caught in the early morning hours. Try jigging spoons and jigging Rapalas tipped with minnow heads along with a dead stick or tip-up set nearby.

Scharnberg Pond

Ice conditions vary from 6 inches near shore to about 2 inches toward the middle.  Rainbow Trout – Good: With the clear water sight fishing is possible and fish are in the entire water column. Jigging gold colored fat boys tipped with waxies around the five feet mark is a proven tactic.

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