Brushy Creek Lake

Surface temps are in the high 70s to low 80s.  Bluegill – Slow: Anglers are reporting bluegill have moved into 15-20 feet of water.  Largemouth Bass – Fair: Look for bass in shaded areas.  Try a finesse presentation that will allow for a slow retrieve, such as a Texas rig worm.  Muskellunge – Fair: Anglers are reporting increased muskie activity during small windows of time triggered by fronts, changes in wind speed/direction, etc.  Anglers can expect to fish for an extended amount of time and see all the muskie action within a short window.

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 – Fair: Try shrimp, dip bait, or cut bait.  Walleye – Fair: Some keepers and slot fish are being caught trolling cranks.

Black Hawk Lake

Water levels are at or near crest. Heavy algal blooms have reduced water clarity. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Anglers have reported decent action for largemouth. Most fish under the legal length limit.

Little Sioux River (Linn Grove to Correctionville)

Water levels have come up some due to recent rains.  The river should still be fishable, though.  Channel Catfish – Good: Anglers have had good luck using chicken guts and fishing along high banks in the current and around snags. Many fish are around 17-18 inches.

Water levels are at or near crest at most of the lakes in the Black Hawk District.  For more information on fishing in this area contact the Black Hawk District Office in Lake View at 712-657-2638.

Lake Smith

Channel Catfish – Slow: Try after dark near the rocks or steeper shorelines.  Bluegill – Slow: Try in near the rocks at dark or out deeper looking for suspended fish with a depth finder.

Lake Catherine

Channel Catfish – Fair: There are some nice 22-27-inch cats in the lake. Try after dark with some cutbait, worms, or stink bait.  Largemouth Bass – No Report:

Clear Lake

Channel Catfish – Fair: Fishing is slow to fair. The best bite will be after dark but some fish will bite throughout the day. Target the edge of reeds or rocks with Sonny’s or similar bait. White Bass – Slow: An occasional white bass near the reeds on the little lake.  Largemouth Bass – Fair: An occasional largemouth near the edge of the reeds, rocks, or lily pads on the little lake.  Walleye – Slow: Wader fisherman or boats fishing near the edges of the reeds seem to be doing the best. Fish where the wind is pushing into the reeds.  Muskellunge – Good:   Yellow Bass – Fair: Some anglers catching yellows in about 6.5 feet off the north shore.

Crystal Lake

Bluegill – Fair: Fish with a popper or a bobber set shallow for the bluegills closer to shore or try with a slip bobber 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 – No Report: Try on the dredge cut weed line or up close to the rock shorelines.  Walleye – No Report: An occasional walleye may be caught near the edge of the dredge cut along the edge of the curlyleaf.

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 – Fair: A few pike are being harvested by anglers using spinner baits near weed beds.  Largemouth Bass – Fair: Soft plastics and spinner baits worked near vertical structures should produce a few decent bass right now.  Walleye – Slow: Walleye fishing has slowed down recently. A few slot fish are still being caught but harvest has been tough the past week or so. The best action has been on live bait presented very slowly near weed lines and rocky points.

East Okoboji Lake

Walleye – Fair: Anglers with the best success are working deeper areas with live bait rigs and deep running crankbaits. Yellow Bass – Fair: Deep weed lines and structures are providing the best action to anglers who use small jigs tipped with live bait.

Little Spirit Lake

Bullhead – Fair: Anglers continue to harvest 9-11-inch bullheads from the shorelines using crawler rigs.

West Okoboji Lake

Bluegill – Fair: Tiny jigs tipped with live bait have been producing a few keepers when worked near the edges of weed beds.  Yellow Perch – Good: Fishing has slowed a little bit but anglers are still catching quite a few perch by working deep weed lines and rocky structures with live bait.  Walleye – Fair: A few walleyes are being harvested from rocky points using leeches and crawler rigs presented slowly.

Lost Island Lake

Channel Catfish – Good: Using cut or stink bait after dark is producing some nice size cats.  White Bass – Fair: A small hair jig tipped with a white or chartreuse twister should get white bass interested.  Bluegill – Fair: A small jig tipped with live bait near weed edges is producing small size class fish.  Yellow Perch – Fair: Small jigs under a slip bobber tipped with live bait near weed lines and rocky structures should attract a few perch for anglers.  Yellow Bass – Fair: Small jigs tipped with twister tails will get you a few small yellows with the occasional keeper.

Little Sioux River (state line to Linn Grove)

Channel Catfish – No Report: Catfish should be hitting cut or stink bait presented near deeper pools and tree snags right now.

West Fork Des Moines (state line to Emmetsburg)

Channel Catfish – Good: Catfish should be hitting cut or stink bait presented near deeper pools and tree snags right now.  Walleye – Slow: Anglers are working areas below rock and sand bars with shiners and leeches for a few fish right now.

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