Crawford Creek Impoundment

Fishing has been slow at Crawford Creek.

Moorehead Park Pond

Fishing has been slow at Moorehead.

Storm Lake (including Little Storm Lake)

The dredge machine on Storm Lake is in operation.  Stay clear of the dredge, booster pump, and pipeline that runs from the dredge to the east shore.  Recent sampling has indicated a fair amount of walleye (less than 17 inches) are in the state marina complex.

North Twin Lake

Fishing for yellow bass and crappie is starting to pick up.  Anglers are focusing their efforts around the docks.  Recent sampling has shown large numbers of nice walleye hanging out around the end of the docks.  Try casting a large twister or hair jig baited with a minnow and casting to each dock that is still in.

Black Hawk Lake

Black Hawk Lake is approximately 10 inches below crest.  Black Hawk Lake’s fishery was renovated last fall. Although we have been restocking the lake with sport fish, there are not a lot of harvestable size fish in the lake yet.

Browns Lake

Water temperature is around 58 degrees.  Catfish are being caught on stinkbait.

Snyder Bend Lake

Fishing has been slow.

Little Sioux River (Linn Grove to Correctionville)

Walleye fishing is starting to pick up a little.  Anglers should throw white or chartreuse twisters or other similar baits.  Rocky pools, deeper outside bends and below riffles are good places to target fish.

Little Sioux River (Correctionville to Missouri River)

Anglers have been catching good numbers of nice walleye.  Fish in the morning and evening hours and focus efforts around rocky habitat and deeper water.  Throw white twisters when fishing the channel.  If you’re fishing a deep hole you might want to try live bait, such as chubs or large shiners.

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

Upper Pine Lake

A few are fishing for crappies on both lakes.  Some very nice bass being caught on Upper Pine Lake with deep diving crankbait.

Lake Smith

No reports from anglers but the DNR sampled some nice thick 9-10-inch crappies in shore nets this fall. Try drifting with minnows or anchoring near the rocks.

Clear Lake

Channel Catfish – Slow:   Bluegill – Slow: Some bluegills are still biting near the rocks by the Ventura grade. You might catch a half dozen if they’re biting.  Walleye – Slow: A few walleyes are being caught near the Harborage or from boats. Anglers might try wading near the channel to the little lake or near the Ventura Grade after dark. Some walleyes are starting to bite better by the little lake reed edges.  Muskellunge – Fair: Musky fishing has slowed down with the weather but anglers have been targeting the little lake reed edges a little more.  Yellow Bass – Good: Shore fisherman are having luck by the Ventura grade and near the harborage outlet. Boat anglers are doing well in shallower water (4-5 feet) on the west end of the main lake (Farmer’s Beach and Baptist camp) and in the little lake near reeds. Find the windward side. Some anglers are also doing well north of the island in 8 feet of water with cutbait.

Crystal Lake

Largemouth Bass – Good: Shore anglers are catching largemouth.

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

Yellow Perch – Slow: Only a handful of perch are being caught and the few that are, are mostly in the 4-7-inch range. Keepers are rare. Walleye – Slow: With the water cooling down the fishing has picked up a bit but is still fairly slow.  The best fishing has been in the late afternoon into the first hour after sunset.

East Okoboji Lake

Yellow Bass – Fair: Try a pilkie tipped with wigglers over rock piles.

Silver Lake (Dickinson)

Wader fishing should be picking up; try fishing the late evening with twister tails or a jig and minnow.

West Okoboji Lake

Bluegill – Slow: bluegills should start to move shallower as the water cools. Continue to fish around weed edges and open pockets.  Yellow Perch – Fair: Try using a pilkie tipped with wigglers for perch around some sort of structure be it weeds, rocks, drop-offs, or a combination.  Most are reporting many small fish with a few nice ones mixed in.

Little Sioux River (state line to Linn Grove)

Try white twister tails in the deeper holes for walleye

West Fork Des Moines (state line to Emmetsburg)

Throw white twister tails into deeper holes for some walleye action.

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