Nelson Park Lake

Channel Catfish – Good: Anglers are catching good numbers of catfish in the cove east of the dam. Bluegill – Good: Bluegills are starting to move onto the nests.  Bluegills range from 8.5 to 9.5 inches.

 

Crawford Creek Impoundment

Anglers should start looking for bluegills to move onto the nests.  Recent surveys show good numbers of 8.5 to 9-inch bluegills.  There are good numbers of sublegal largemouth bass in the lake.  Anglers looking for some catch and release largemouth bass fishing should target the face of the dam.

 

Moorhead Park Pond

Bluegill and crappie fishing has been good.  Crappies are hitting on the west side around the stumps.

 

Brushy Creek Lake

Bluegill – Good: Good sized bluegill were being caught close to shore earlier this week.  Crappie – Good: Live minnows are working a lot better than plastics.  Walleye – Fair: Some walleye are being picked up casting crankbaits.

 

Storm Lake (including Little Storm Lake)

Storm Lake is at full pool.  Nightcrawlers and cut bait are working well.  Walleye – Fair: Fishing has been hit or miss.  Boat anglers have been trolling crankbaits, but most of the fish that are caught have been slot fish.  Anglers should also try crawler harnesses or bright colored jigs. Shore anglers should try fishing with a night crawler on the bottom near the return flow from the dredge machine (on the east side) or along the high banks on the north shore. Boaters should use caution on Storm Lake.  The hydraulic dredge is in operation in the east basin of the lake.  There is a pipeline running from the dredge to the shoreline and may rise to the surface at times.  Anglers are allowed three walleye per day, all fish between 17 and 22 inches must be released, and only one fish over 22 inches may be kept.  Channel Catfish – Good: Anglers are catching good numbers of channel catfish from shore.  They are in the 18 to 22 inch size range.

 

North Twin Lake

Water levels have reached crest elevation.  Water clarity is poor.  Channel Catfish – Fair: Some anglers are catching catfish from shore. Try nightcrawlers on the bottom.  Crappie – Fair: Decent sized crappie are being picked up around the docks.  Walleye – Fair:   Yellow Bass – Fair: Anglers having been catching decent numbers of yellow bass, but sorting is required.

 

Black Hawk Lake

Black Hawk Lake was renovated last fall.  Although fish have been restocked, there are no catchable size fish in the lake.  Black Hawk Lake is now flowing over the spillway.

 

Browns Lake

Catfish are biting on shrimp and crawlers.

 

Snyder Bend Lake

White bass and catfish are biting.  Some anglers are picking crappie.

 

Southwood Conservation Area Pond (east)

Bluegills are hitting on leeches and worms under a bobber.

 

Southwood Conservation Area Pond (west)

Bass are hitting on spinner baits, purple plastic worms with a slow retrieve, and worms under a bobber.

 

Arrowhead Lake

Water clarity is good.  Water levels are around two feet low.  Bluegill – Fair: A few larger males are starting to move onto the beds.  Expect more to move into the shallows over the next few weeks.  Use a 1/32 ounce black feather jig tipped with a small piece of nightcrawler.  Largemouth Bass – Fair: Largemouth bass are biting on small hair jigs near shore and around downed trees.  They are biting aggressively, but are on the small side.  Most are 8 to 12 inches.  Crappie – Slow: A few crappies can be picked up while targeting bluegill or drifting and jigging.

 

Black Hawk Pits

Water clarity is excellent.  Water levels have returned to near normal.  Largemouth Bass – Slow: Some nice largemouth bass can be caught using minnows or casting twisters.  Walleye – Slow: A few smaller walleye have been caught with fire tiger colored twisters. The water is very clear so anglers may have to try fishing in the early morning, late evening, or at night.

 

Little Sioux Park Lake

Fishing for bass has been good.  Use a worm or leech under a bobber or try a slow retrieve with a plastic worm.  Focus around the north part of the lake near the fork or between the catfish cages and the swim beach.

 

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

 

Beeds Lake

Sucker – Good: There are lots of white suckers in Beed’s. A worm and sinker on the bottom should entice them to bite.  Channel Catfish – Fair: Cats should be close to spawning. Anglers might try near rocks.  Largemouth Bass – Good:   Crappie – Fair: Try for crappies around the jetty’s with minnows.

 

Upper Pine Lake

Crappies, bluegill and largemouth bass are biting on both lakes and in Pine Creek (between the lakes) on grub-type baits. Bluegill – Good: Bluegills are spawning in 4 to 5 feet of water. A bobber and small jig with a piece of worm should work. Small grub-style baits are also working.  Largemouth Bass – Good:   Crappie – Fair: Some crappies are being caught near structure.

 

Lake Smith

Channel Catfish – Good: Try with some cutbait, worms, or stinkbait. The last hour of sunlight to an hour after sunset has the best fishing.  Bluegill – Slow:   Largemouth Bass – Fair: Bass are near the shorelines and should be biting well. There are some 19-20 inch bass.

 

Lake Catherine

Largemouth Bass – Good: Largemouth bass are biting.

 

Clear Lake

The lake is full. Water temperature is in the low 70s. Channel Catfish – Good: Catfish are staging up for spawning. Look around the rock reefs or the island. If you find the fish, action is fast and aggressive. Try with some cutbait, worms, or small live bait.  White Bass – Fair: Anglers are catching some white bass while fishing for yellows. Try around the island or Dodge’s Point.  Bluegill – Fair:   Largemouth Bass – Slow: Some largemouth have been caught near the reeds with live bait.  Crappie – Good: Anglers are catching some crappie and bluegill in the reeds with small jigs.  Yellow Perch – Slow: Anglers might catch a few perch when fishing near the reed edges. Size is mostly small along with a few up to 10 inches.  Walleye – Good: A few bigger fish have been caught but most anglers are catching a mix of sublegals and small legal walleyes. Most are caught on jig and a minnow. Some are catching walleyes drifting or trolling. Action on the rock reefs and rock piles is picking up; anglers are using live bait and bobbers or jigging right on bottom. Muskellunge – Good: Anglers are catching some muskies while fishing for walleye with minnows. Anglers are also catching some muskies while fishing for yellows (island and Dodge’s). Anglers fishing the edges of the weeds are also picking up fish.  Yellow Bass – Good: Waders near the island are picking up large numbers of yellows. Most anglers are using bobbers and minnows or a small jig with a piece of crawler on bottom. Anglers are also catching yellows on the north shore docks fishing shallow on the edge of the reeds. Use a split shot and small hook with a worm on the bottom. The best fishing seems to be right at dawn to an hour after or right at sunset. Anglers can catch large numbers of yellows on some of the rock reefs, also.

 

Lake Cornelia

Channel Catfish – Good: Cats should be biting on cutbait or stinkbait. Fish during the last hour of sunlight to an hour after sunset. Or try during the day on a windward side of the lake.   Bluegill – Good: Bluegills are keeper size.   Crappie – Fair: Crappies are around 8 inches.  Yellow Bass – Good: Yellow bass are 7-7.25 inches

 

Little Wall Lake

Little Wall is full; at crest. Water temperature is around 73 degrees.  Channel Catfish – Good: Channel cats are spawning on the rocks. Try a bobber and minnow, small live bait or chicken liver. If you’re after flatheads use a live fish for bait and fish after dark.  Largemouth Bass – Good: Bass are biting along the shorelines. Bass have been biting fairly well the last week.   Crappie – Good: Anglers are catching 7-8 inch crappies and gills off the north fishing jetty and other shorelines.

 

Crystal Lake

There is lots of curlyleaf growing in the lake. Try fishing on the edge of weeds near the deeper dredged water for bass, walleyes, and pike.  Northern Pike – Slow: Northerns have been caught up to the mid 30-inch range. Anglers may have success using presentations such as weedless spoons or bobbers with chubs.  Channel Catfish – Slow:   Bluegill – Excellent: Great population of 7-8 inch bluegills.  Bluegills are spawning on the shorelines.  Largemouth Bass – Good: Anglers have reported catching lots of largemouth. Fish on the outside weed edges with a bobber and live bait or try a weedless spoon.  Walleye – Slow: Anglers are catching some 16-18 inch walleyes.

 

Bluebill Lake

Channel Catfish – Good: Look for cats near rocks. Bluegill – Fair:   Largemouth Bass – Good: Largemouth bass are biting well along shorelines. Remember the 15-inch minimum length limit on bass. Crappie – Fair: Crappies are biting on minnows under a bobber.

 

Fin and Feather Lake

There has been some activity for panfish. There was a partial fish kill this winter but there are still some bluegills and largemouth bass left to provide some action.  Bluegill – Fair:   Largemouth Bass – Fair: Largemouth are near shore. Remember the 15-inch minimum length limit.

 

Interstate Park Lake

There was a partial fish kill this winter on this lake but anglers report catching a variety of fish this past week. Bluegill – Fair:   Largemouth Bass – Fair: Largemouth bass are cruising the shorelines.  Crappie – Fair: Crappies are a nice size and should be biting off the boat ramp point or off the east rock side.

 

Iowa River (Iowa Falls to Marshalltown)

Iowa River is flooding from recent local rains. There is some activity below Steamboat Rock for walleye and northern pike.

 

Shell Rock River (above Greene)

Water levels are high.  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 Shell Rock River on jig/twister.

 

Winnebago River

Water level is still high. Try fishing any slower water areas or backwater areas you can find.  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 three-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)

The East Fork is running high right now. Fishing is marginal.  Walleye – No Report:

 

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

Bullhead – Good: Action on the Grade is still hot. Throw a worm on the bottom and be ready.  Smallmouth Bass – Good: Look for smallies on the rock piles try throwing crankbaits, jerk baits, and plastics.  Largemouth Bass – Good: Look for largemouth around the weeds try top water early and late in the day along with crankbaits, jigs and plastic worms.  Walleye – Fair: Try fishing deep during the day and moving shallow during dawn and dusk. Drifting and trolling leeches, crawlers, and minnows has produced a few fish. Wader fishing is still producing a few fish try casting twister tails or live bait under a bobber.

 

West Okoboji Lake

Bluegill – Slow: Fishing in the backs of the bays around the weeds can be good at times look deeper for the biggest fish.  Smallmouth Bass – Slow: Look toward the rock piles for smallmouth action.  Largemouth Bass – Fair: Try fishing around the weeds in the bays top water and soft plastics should produce.

 

Five Island Lake

Channel Catfish – Fair: Try drifting Lindy rigs and bottom bouncers during low light periods.  Walleye – Fair: Try drifting Lindy rigs and bottom bouncers during low light periods.

 

Lost Island Lake

Walleye – Fair: Drifting live bait with Lindy rigs and bottom bouncers has been producing a few fish some days are better than others.

 

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