Beeds Lake
Sucker – Good: There are lots of white suckers in Beeds. 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 Pine Creek (between the lakes), mostly 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 cutbait, worms, or stink bait. Fish are probably biting best the last hour of sunlight to an hour after sunset.  Bluegill – Slow:   Largemouth Bass – Fair:

Lake Catherine
Channel Catfish – Good: Cats are biting on minnows or chicken liver. Try early morning or right at dark. They are decent size with some running 7-9 pounds.  Largemouth Bass – Good: Largemouth bass are biting on spinners.

Clear Lake
The Lake is full. Water temperature is around 75 degrees.  Channel Catfish – Good: Catfish are staging for spawning. Look around the rock reefs, or island. The jetties by Ventura or the mouth of the Harborage are also worth a shot. If you find fish, action is fast and aggressive. Try cutbait, worms, or small live bait.  Bluegill – Fair: Bluegill numbers are low, but some fish may be caught below docks or on the edge of bulrush.  Largemouth Bass – Slow: Some largemouth have been caught near the reeds with live bait.  Crappie – Good: Some crappies are still in or near the Venetian Village and the Harborage. Some of the larger crappies, though, have been hitting near the edge of the bulrush at dusk.  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 – No Report:   Yellow Bass – Fair: The spawn is mostly done. Numbers of smaller fish can still be caught on some of the reefs (Billy’s). Some anglers are picking up a few larger ones near the bulrush edges.

Lake Cornelia
Channel Catfish – Good: Cats should be biting on cutbait or stink bait. Fish during the last hour of sunlight to the 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 72-73 degrees.  Channel Catfish – Good: Channel cats are spawning on the rocks. Try with 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 – Fair:   Crappie – Slow:

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.  Channel Catfish – Slow:   Bluegill – Excellent: Great population of 7-8 inch bluegills in the lake. Bluegills are spawning on the shorelines.  Largemouth Bass – Good: Anglers have reported catching lots of largemouth. Fish on the outside 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 – Good:   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 largemouths 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 have been reporting catching a variety of fish this past week.  Bluegill – Fair:   Largemouth Bass – Fair: Largemouths 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 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 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, stink bait, 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 bass around the weeds; try top water early and late in the day along with crankbaits, jigs and plastic worms.  Walleye – Fair: Fishing has been best early and late in the day with leeches being the live bait of choice.  Trolling, drifting, and slip bobbers have all been proven fish catchers.  Some are trolling crankbaits as well.

Silver Lake (Dickinson)
Try throwing a bottom rig for quality size bullheads around the shorelines and don’t be surprised to catch a catfish.

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.