Brushy Creek Lake

Some smaller bass are being caught in the upper ends and creek arms where the water is warmer.

Storm Lake (including Little Storm Lake)

Spring gillnetting efforts indicate a good population of walleye with a lot of fish in the slot.  Fishing for walleye has been slow over the past week.

North Twin Lake

Fishing has been slow for anglers targeting northern pike and walleye.  There have not been any reports for other species.

Swan Lake

Anglers have been catching crappie; most are around 8.5 inches.

Browns Lake

A few small bass and smaller crappie have been caught. Fishing has been fairly slow.

Snyder Bend Lake

No fishing to report.

Water temperatures are in the mid 50s at most lakes in the Black Hawk District.  For more information on rivers and lakes in the area contact the Black Hawk District Office at 712-657-2638.

Upper Pine Lake

There is fishing activity but no reports.

Lake Smith

Channel Catfish – No Report: Channel cats should provide a late afternoon bite near the bridge by the boat ramp during the ice out period. Cats will likely move into the shallow water in the bay. Use cutbait, stinkbait or minnows.  Largemouth Bass – No Report: Anglers should be able to catch some bass in along shore with jigs and minnows or jig and plastic.

Clear Lake

Surface temperature is 48-50 degrees.  Channel Catfish – Fair: Catfish can be caught on the warmer days with cutbait or minnows. Look for the windy side of the lake.  Crappie – Good: Looks like crappies are biting in the harborages on the north shore.  Walleye – Good: Some wader fisherman are catching walleyes near the outlet with a 1/16 ounce lead head jig and minnow. Action has been best after dark, later than some anglers expect, with a few anglers catching their limits. A few walleyes have been caught on the little lake with lead head and minnow jigged on bottom. Yellow Bass – Fair: Some yellows have been caught on the little lake with small artificials. Fish in the shallows on warm days with a slight breeze or try deeper near the boat ramps.

Lake Cornelia

Catches have included bluegills to eight inches, some crappies to nine inches, yellow bass 7.5 inches.  You will need to sort the bluegills and yellows. Some small walleyes also have been caught.

Little Wall Lake

Fishing activity has been slow.

Crystal Lake

Bluegill – Slow: No reports but bluegills can probably be caught on warm afternoons with a bobber and an ice fly or small jig with a piece of crawler or wax worm.  Largemouth Bass – Fair: Bass are biting along shore in shallower water. Cast a 3/16 ounce lead head jig with a minnow hooked through the lips.  Walleye – Fair: Some walleyes are being caught from boats.

Bluebill Lake

Largemouth bass and catfish have started biting at Bluebill Lake.  Anglers are having success fishing with minnows or crawlers and a bobber near the fishing jetty.  Largemouth Bass – Fair: Bass can be caught casting lead heads tipped with a minnow or artificials.

Winnebago River

No reports but the river is stable. Try below some of the dams in Mason City, Forest City or Fertile for pike, catfish or walleye.

East Fork Des Moines (Algona to Humboldt)

East Fork has been pretty good for walleyes. Near Humboldt, there is quite a bit of fishing activity.

Streams and rivers are stable and should provide some action for northerns and walleye and perhaps a smallmouth. Try below some of the dams with a jig and minnow.

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

Smallmouth Bass – No Report: Fish shallow water rock piles early on clear sunny days as these areas warm first, attracting and concentrating fish early. Fish slowly; a jig tipped with a minnow will produce the best action.

East Okoboji Lake

Channel Catfish – No Report: Fish after dark with bait on the bottom will produce excellent angling for this species as channel catfish will typically go on the feedbag after ice out.  Bluegill – No Report: Fish the north end for bluegill and crappie action early.  Fish the wooden docks on the west side of the lake early, as the water warms fish docks located on the east side.  Cast a mini jig to locate panfish, persistence and patience will be rewarded with a mix bag of crappie, bluegill and yellow perch.

Silver Lake (Dickinson)

Walleye – No Report: Wader fisherman angling after dark traditionally produces good catches of walleye. Fish slow early; a jig tipped with a minnow slowly retrieved will produce nice catches. As the water warms cast twister tails and minnow intimating baits for consistent action.

West Okoboji Lake

Crappie – No Report: Fish the canal areas for largemouth bass, crappie and bluegill, best action will occur during sunny warm days.

Ingham Lake

Crappie – No Report: Fish the submerged brush piles on warm sunny days using a minnow under a slip bobber will produce fish up to 11 inches. Once bullheads become active cast a mini jig and swim it back to the boat to find active fish.

Five Island Lake

Channel Catfish – No Report: Good opportunities exist to catch angler acceptable sized and larger channel catfish. Walleye – No Report: Expect walleye angling to pick up in the next few weeks after the water warms.

Lost Island Lake

Crappie – No Report: Fish the canal s for crappie action, activity will continue to improve as the water warms.

Diamond Lake

Fisheries survey completed in April reflect excellent numbers of northern pike and yellow perch are present within the lake.  Yellow Perch – No Report: Good numbers of yellow perch were sampled averaging nine inches.

All lakes in the Spirit Lake District are ice free.