Brushy Creek Lake

Water clarity is good.  Yellow Perch – Fair: Anglers have been catching nice perch by slowly moving along the weeds and vertical jigging small shiners in the openings.

Storm Lake (including Little Storm Lake)

The dredge machine is in operation on Storm Lake.  Boaters should use caution and stay clear of the dredge machine, booster pump barge, and pipeline.  Channel Catfish – Excellent: Good numbers of catfish are being picked up on Sonny’s dip bait blood/cheese flavor.  White Bass – Good: Anglers are picking up white bass on chrome/pink crankbaits, silver Mepps, Kastmasters, or other shiny lures.  Walleye – Good: Anglers are still catching walleye.  Try using a #5 Shad Rap or a slow death rig with leeches or crawlers.  Focus efforts around the dredge cuts. The daily bag limit for walleye is three.  All walleye between 17 and 22 inches must be released, and only one over 22 inches may be kept.

Black Hawk Lake

Lake levels are about 3-4 inches below crest. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Many sub legal largemouth bass can be caught fishing the woody shorelines along Ice House Point and Shotgun Hill.

Browns Lake

Water levels are high. Channel Catfish – Good: Anglers are catching 1-4 pound channel cats.  Use stink bait.

Snyder Bend Lake

Water levels are high. Channel Catfish – Fair: Some catfish are being caught, but there is a lot of incidental catches of gar.

The natural lakes are around 4-10 inches below crest, whereas most of the small impoundments are at full pool. For more information on rivers and lakes in the area contact the Black Hawk District Office at 712-657-2638.

Lake Smith

Bluegills and crappies are being caught along the rocky shorelines. Channel Catfish – Good: Catfish are near the rocks, spawning. Cast a piece of cutbait with a light splitshot about one foot above the hook, near the rocks. If you don’t get bit in 15 minutes, recast. Cats will bite if it’s close to their nests.

Lake Catherine

Catfish and bass are biting.  A few large bluegills are being caught.  Channel Catfish – Fair: There are some nice 22-27-inch cats in the lake. Try after dark with some cutbait, worms, or stinkbait.

Clear Lake

Channel Catfish – Good: Catfish are spawning. Try on the rock reefs, shoreline rocks or just try on the windward shorelines with some cutbait, worms, or stinkbait. North shore docks and Ventura Grade are also worth a try.  White Bass – Slow: An occasional white bass near the reeds on the little lake.  Largemouth Bass – Fair: An occasional largemouth near the edges of the reeds. Walleye – Good: Action has slowed some this week. Shoreline docks have been okay at dark or on windy days. Boats have been picking some up yet trolling, or fishing near the rock reefs near state reef, Billy’s or Gilmore’s. Some fish by the edges of the reeds where the wind blows into them. Muskellunge – Fair:   Yellow Bass – Fair: Walleye anglers are picking 5-10 up while walleye fishing. The state reef area or Dodge’s Point are worth a shot.

Crystal Lake

Bluegill – Excellent: The bluegill bite is going strong. Angler catches have been great this last week or so. Fish with a popper or a bobber set shallow for the bluegills closer to shore. Or try with a slip bobber for the bluegills near the deeper dredged water (11-13 feet). Casting a lighter jig and letting it slowly sink will also catch some fish. Tip with a worm or leech.  Largemouth Bass – Good: Bass are biting along shore in shallower water. Cast a bobber and a minnow or any weedless type presentation. Also try deeper with minnows or artificials. Walleye – Fair: An occasional walleye near the edge of the dredge cut along the edge of the curlyleaf.

Bluebill Lake

Channel Catfish – Good: Fish near the rock shorelines or on the jetty. Try with worms. Fish are spawning near the rocks.  Largemouth Bass – Good: Bass can be caught casting lead heads tipped with a minnow or artificials.

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

Northern Pike – Good: Fishing for pike has been good lately. Trolling crankbaits and spinners near weed lines should produce good results for anglers. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Bass have been hitting top water baits and jigs tipped with live bait near rocky points.  Walleye – Fair: Anglers are continuing to catch many slot walleye during the day and in the evening. A few fish are being harvested by drifting and/or trolling live bait near weed lines and across rocky points.  Black Bullhead – Fair:

East Okoboji Lake

Bluegill – Good: Bluegill fishing has been good fishing near docks with small jigs and live bait.  Walleye – Fair: Many small walleyes are being caught fishing in the evenings with live bait along with a few angler acceptable sizes. Yellow Bass – Good: Jigging live bait over deeper rocky areas is producing a few nice sized yellow bass. Many small yellow bass are being caught on the north end of the lake near the spillway from Big Spirit.

West Okoboji Lake

Bluegill – Fair: A few bluegills are being caught near docks and over deeper rock piles. Fishing live bait with a small jig is producing the best results. Yellow Perch – Fair: A few yellow perch are being reported caught by anglers jigging live bait over deeper rock piles and rocky points.

For lake updates and fishing information for northwest Iowa, contact the Spirit Lake Fish Hatchery at 712-336-1840.