Brushy Creek Lake

The docks are in place at the west and south boat ramps.

Storm Lake (including Little Storm Lake)

Water clarity is poor. The east boat ramp and marina boat ramp are usable.  Avoid the Bel Air boat ramp.  Water levels are approximately two feet below crest.  Anglers were catching a few walleye earlier in the week.  Channel Catfish – Fair:   Walleye – Slow:

Swan Lake

Anglers have started to catch 9-inch crappie from the piers and fish house.  Water levels are approximately 3 to 3.5 feet low.

Black Hawk Lake

Water levels are 24 inches below crest.  The fishery in Black Hawk Lake was renovated in fall of 2012 so there are no fish to catch at this time.  Bluegills have been restocked and additional species will be stocked over the next several months.

Arrowhead Lake

Anglers are catching a few bluegill and yellow bass in the south end of Arrowhead.  Water levels are approximately two feet low.

Black Hawk Pits

No fishing reports have been received for Black Hawk Pits.  However, anglers might try fishing for catfish with cut bait or shad guts.

For more information on lakes in the Black Hawk District contact the Black Hawk District Office at 712-657-2638.

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

A few northern pike have been caught but fishing is slow due to unstable weather.

Lake Smith

Little or no activity this week due to the poor weather.

Clear Lake

The lake is about 14 inches below crest. Water temperature is around 51 degrees.  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. Anglers are picking some catfish up when fishing for yellow bass with cutbait.  Walleye – Slow: Anglers are catching walleyes on the east and north shores. A few bigger fish have been caught but most anglers are catching a mix of sublegal and small legal walleyes. Most are caught on jig and a minnow retrieved slowly.  Muskellunge – Slow: A few fish have been reported but fishing is slow.

Lake Cornelia

Channel Catfish – Slow: Cats should be biting on cutbait or stinkbait on a warmer day.

Little Wall Lake

Crappie – Fair: Crappie (6-8 inches) and bluegills have been hitting on the north end off the jetty.

Crystal Lake

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.  Rainbow Trout – Fair:   Crappie – Fair: Anglers have caught a few crappies on minnows this week.

Bluebill Lake

The courtesy dock is in at Bluebill and the boat ramp is open.  Angler activity and panfish activity has been picking up.

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)

Northern Pike – Slow: A few northern pike are being caught with a chub and bobber, or slow artificial presentation. 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 Shell Rock River on jig/twister.

Winnebago River

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.  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 should try below the dams or in backwater areas using cutbait, stinkbait, or minnows.

East Fork Des Moines (Algona to Humboldt)

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

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

Big Spirit Lake

Walleye season is closed until May 4. Bullhead – No Report:  As the water starts warming, look toward the grade for some early bullhead action.  Smallmouth Bass – Slow: Best angling during calm sunny days fish shallow rock piles and then work deeper.  Crappie – Slow: As the water continues to warm the crappies will move inshore look for them around rock piles and in protected areas.

East Okoboji Lake

Walleye season is closed until May 4.  Channel Catfish – No Report:  Good numbers channel catfish exist in the lake and right now is an excellent time to catch good numbers of them. Try cut bait around brush piles, points and drop-offs. Crappie – Good: Fishing off the trestle bridge has been good; try fishing near the pillars with minnows and small jigs.  A few bluegills are also being caught in the same manner.

West Okoboji Lake

Walleye season is closed until May 4.  Bluegill, crappie, and bass fishing has been good in the canals. Try using small jigs under a bobber for the bluegill and crappie.

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