Beeds Lake

No reports, yet, but catfish should be feeding in the shallower west end. Try fishing along the causeway when the wind is from the south or southwest.  Anglers should also try by the cuts for bass or crappies.

Upper Pine Lake

Water temperature is less than 40 degrees; a few northern pike have been caught.

Lake Smith

Little or no activity due to poor weather.

Clear Lake

Lots of rain and wind have melted Clear Lake’s ice this past couple of days. A few anglers have already taken boats out on the east end. The water level has come up 8-10 inches with rain and snowmelt.  Channel Catfish – Fair: Fishing for channels should be good on any warm day this week. Try with some cutbait, worms, or stinkbait on a windward shoreline.  Walleye – Slow: Some anglers are trying their luck but no reports of success, yet. Unstable weather and cold water is likely keeping the walleye bite slow.   Muskellunge – Slow: There is a good population of musky in Clear Lake.  The city beach and east shoreline would be a good starting point for anglers wanting to catch an early season musky.

Lake Cornelia

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

Little Wall Lake

Crappie – Excellent: Fishing has been excellent on the north end off the lake off the jetty.  Most fish are 6-8 inches.

Crystal Lake

Ice is finally out. No reports from open water anglers, yet.  Northern Pike – Slow: Anglers may have success using slow presentations such as weedless spoons.  Bluegill – Slow: Great population of 7 to 9-inch bluegills.

Rice Lake

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

Blue Pit

Rainbow trout were stocked on Jan 19.

Iowa River (Iowa Falls to Marshalltown)

Water level in the Iowa River is on the rise from runoff and recent local rains.

There is some activity below Steamboat Rock for walleye and northern pike.

Shell Rock River (above Greene)

The Shell Rock is rising with recent rains. Anglers might try below some of the dams for walleye, northern pike or catfish.  Northern Pike – Slow: A few northern pike are being caught with a chub and bobber, or slow artificial presentations. Between Northwood and Nora Springs below dams, backwater areas and anywhere a creek feeds into the river.  Walleye – Slow: A few small walleye being caught on jig/twister.

Winnebago River

The Winnebago water level is rising with recent rain. Anglers might have success at some of the dams in Mason City, Fertile or Forest City. Look for eddy areas, where the current is slower, and fish with minnows or cutbait for northern pike, walleye or catfish.  Northern Pike – Slow: Northern Pike are being caught in Fertile by the dam and the park point east of the dam.  Anglers are using a slow retrieval with Mepps Number 4 and 5 spinner baits or a Rapala 3-inch Countdown Minnow. Some pike are also hitting chubs presented below bobbers.  Channel Catfish – Slow: Anglers might have success fishing with minnows or cutbait for northern pike or catfish.

East Fork Des Moines (Algona to Humboldt)

Walleye – Slow: Anglers are catching a few walleyes on the river on jigs/twister tails.

Ice is out on many of our area lakes. River temperatures are low and levels are up and down with rain and ice melt. Fishing activity has been limited with the variable weather but should be good with a day or two of warmer stable weather.

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